The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

Chapter 69

[The accumulated fatigue makes your body feel heavy.]

[A problem may occur if you dont get sleep.]

[It has been 5 days and 16 hours.]

Karen, who was by Seols side, looked at him with a strange glint in her eyes.

Your beard grew a lot.

Yeah?

I mean it makes sense since it wasnt an easy journey. Still, this was why I said we should rest at some towns on the way.

We didnt because there werent any suitable towns on the way to the canyon. If we wanted to do it, wed have to go around.

Is that why youre so lethargic?

By the way, how much time passed?

Karen had a confused look on her face as Seol asked an obvious question. She side-eyed him as she slowly gave a response.

A bit over five days? Why?

Nothing. It was tiring, huh?

It was fun. Except for the time I fell into the swamp.

Hm

Seol was trying to confirm something using Karens responses.

He was trying to confirm how his summons experienced the passage of time.

If I act under the assumption that summons are originally residents of this world then they would likely experience it completely.

For example, using this Long Distance Adventure as an example

Even though five days and 16 hours passed, it didnt even feel like an hour to Seol. As such, Seol had an incomplete experience of the past five days.

And in comparison, Karen fully experienced the five days directly. She experienced the swamp, the cries of animals at night, and the dead animals corpse, everything had fully happened for her.

Its surprising

Since it was a fantasy world, space and time likely bent to the gods will.

Even if Seol and Karen were affected by severe distortion, Seol could do nothing other than accept it and move on.

Still, its fortunate that my summons are in control even through the Long Distance Adventure.

Since Seol couldnt control his body through the Long Distance Adventure, he couldnt predict what situations hed face. But since his summons were still active, he was doubtful that he would end up in that big of a predicament.

Cooking and Insight helped too.

Tanning, Butchery, Herbalism, and Survivalism were all helpful talents and there were many more that existed other than Cooking, but none of them came close to Cookings potential.

First, lets set up camp.

Youre not going to search right away? Ah, is it because its already night?

Yeah, and Im tired from the journey.

Alright, then Ill look for a place to avoid the wind.

Fwoooosh Fwooosh

Their clothes fluttered like a flag on a flagpole.

The cool canyon greeted them with a majestic view and sharp, fierce winds.

Furthermore, messages appeared when Seol arrived at the canyon, notifying him that his Adventure had started.

[You begin your next Adventure.]

[Your 11th Adventure is starting.]

[Adventure 11. Her Last Descendant.]

[Adventure 11. Her Last Descendant

You have received a request from Hamun to acquire a rare material. As his request originated from your request, you gladly agreed to it.

Hamun passed you information that south of Nobira, in the Shade Canyon which stands on its lonesome, traces of a descendant of Anachindria, the Spider Queen, have been found. Hamun was quite confident about this as well.

You, believing that information as well, went alone to the Shade Canyon, a place that most adventurers avoid as it is the most dangerous of dangerous locations.

You plan on investigating whether the legend of Anachindria was actually true and if her descendant really had reappeared after all this time.

And, if possible, you plan on acquiring a lot of the blood of the ancient monster as well.

But for now, you must start by looking for the traces of the legends.

Objective: Acquire the blood of Anachindrias last descendant.

Hamuns favorability toward you will drop upon failure. The Red Lotus Sword will not be reforged upon failure.

Remaining Time [About 30 days]]

* * *

A month, hm Seol thought for a moment while rubbing his chin.

Im sure theres a reason why they gave me so much time.

A few reasons popped up in Seols head. Finding the traces of the fire spider could just be so difficult that it was practically like reaching for the stars. Another reason was that the fire spider was so powerful that it took all that time to defeat it.

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Im sure its the former though.

Because the canyon was so jaw-droppingly massive, finding a single spider in a place as big as this was incredibly difficult.

Over here! Come on!

Yeah.

Thankfully, as it was still near the entrance to the canyon, there was a suitable resting place for travelers.

Haah its cold.

Lets light a fire. We have ample firewood anyway.

Still, we should still save them if we can.

We might have lost our food but we still have a bunch of oil and wood. Itll be alright.

Fine, lets just use it then. Alright, this should be good.

After the campfire was set up, it was ignited very quickly.

It was because Karen lit it up.

The fact that Karen did this of her own volition despite Seol not giving her orders surprised him a bit.

You must be tired. You should rest too.

No, Im fine. Whos going to keep the fire going if both of us rest?

Fwirl!

In response to Karens words, Jamad popped out of the Shadow Space.

Stretch

The moment Jamad came out, he stretched his arms out.

Ill do it. Staying in a dark place all day like that makes me want to stretch.

Thanks, Jamad.

Hmph. Its nothing.

Jamad warmed up by the fire, facing it. As his large body protected the fire from the winds, the fire grew larger.

Oh you troll! Youre really reliable in moments like these!

Well, there is a reason he trusts me the most.

...Really?

Karen then looked at Seol with furious eyes.

I thought you hadnt yet?

What?

I thought you hadnt accepted me as your master.

Well thats true. Hahaha. Karen scratched her head.

Crackle Crackle

The more the campfire burned, the more Seol felt his fatigue.

Nod

After a few seconds, Seol couldnt overcome his drowsiness and collapsed onto the bedding he prepared earlier.

Karen and Jamad simply blankly watched the campfire.

- So awkward

- This is so uncomfortable

- Can we be friends?

- The normal development is them ending up dating

- SHIPPERS GET OUT. SHIPPERS GET OUT.

- Okay, bye

- (Spits)

Jamad, who had been enjoying the silence, glanced at Karen and asked her a question.

Not yet?

What are you talking about?

Accepting him as your master.

I dont know what I should do.

Karen leaned back onto some baggage and hugged her legs.

I dont know either.

Whats so complicated about this? Whats stopping you?

Haha Why? Are you going to get rid of whatevers stopping me?

No, thats something you have to do yourself.

Man, and I was so looking forward to it.

You can stop it with the jokes now.

Karen saw the serious look on Jamads face and pouted.

Troll, did you immediately follow that human after you became a shadow?

Of course. I hate lukewarm relationships.

But why? From what I saw, you were probably someone who was high up for a troll.

Hah youre right. But, I ended up losing to that guy over there whos sleeping without a care in the world.

Huh? Doesnt that just mean you lost to Karuna then?

Its different. I lost to Snowman.

I think you just dont want to recognize Karun

No, youre the one that doesnt want to recognize him. Are you worried?

......

Worried that youll eventually end up recognizing his skills.

Dont cross any lines.

If youre having a hard time deciding, let me talk about myself.

Jamad then looked at the campfire with reflective eyes.

The Rock Molar Tribe that I ruled was indomitable. No one could freely enter our land and we only grew stronger by the day.

How strong was your tribe? Was it big?

We were, we ruled over an entire mountain. Does that suffice as an answer?

Wow you were more amazing than I thought?

Regardless, I thought that I could control everything as the tribes leader. I thought I could control the way we thought and our strength as well.

Jamad grabbed a small rock and tightened his fist.

Crumble

And as he released it, the rock had become sand.

But I was mistaken. Even though Snowman had only infiltrated my tribe for a day, he had made my tribes name disappear overnight.

......

You might be right. I did lose to Karuna. But I definitely had an opportunity then, and I poured everything into it. I really, really could have beaten him. Though Karuna is strong, I was stronger then.

Jamad grinned.

But, things didnt turn out that way. I was defeated by Karuna and my tribe disappeared. The reason why I serve him after becoming a shadow? Its simple. Its because I admitted it down to my bones. My tribe, my brothers, and everything else What defeated me wasnt Karuna but him.

Was it simply because you lost?

No, its because of how he did it. That annoying bastard uses every single method at his disposal to achieve his goals. And in the end, he always does it.

......

After I became a shadow, when I watch what he does I find myself stepping forward before I realize it. I, Jamad, chief of the Rock Molar Tribe, was stepping forth to help him.

Karen, who had been listening earnestly to Jamad, responded as she believed Jamad had finished talking.

It was a nice story. I enjoyed it.

But what Im curious about is you. Are you simply just tied down here because your brother is?

Hm Thats what Im not sure about. I wonder what Karuna likes so much about a guy like him that he sticks by him?

Dont reach a conclusion so hastily. He might be physically weak but he is a deep thinker.

Hahaha! Yeah, Im sure he is. Judging by how someone like you is following him.

Crackle

Chirp

The chirping of a bird could be heard from far away.

Though the campfire warmed everyone near it, it wasnt warm enough to reach someones heart.

Karens head drooped before telling a story.

Her own story.

Do you have dreams?

What?

Im asking you, troll. Have you had dreams since you became a shadow?

No, I havent had one.

Yeah?

Do you have dreams?

Karen nodded

Chirp

Once again, it was the sound of another bird.

I do. Awful dreams at that.

I want to hear about it.

Its nothing much. I just dream about my time in Montra.

Youre talking about that fallen empire. Isnt it about time you let it go? I dont think Ive ever heard Karuna even mention Montra.

But you know I cant do it. The burning capital the horrific sounds of those usurpers and I cant forget Jin. Am I weird for this?

A bit. You just have a good memory.

Its hard to forget something so awful.

A bit. Youre also probably someone whos slow to take things in.

Well, youre not wrong.

Karen then looked at the temporary sword she was given as her equipment.

On our way here, I tried doing a bunch of things, yknow?

What kind of things?

Like resolve! Because I need to keep that bastard alive until at least Karuna comes back, right?

I wouldve done that even without you though.

Im uneasy if its just you. Im just uneasy. Ah, I wasnt trying to talk about this

Then tell me.

I cant pull out my sword.

Jamad quickly turned around like he was shocked by Karens ridiculous statement.

What kind of nonsense is that?

Do you think Im joking?

What do you mean you cant pull out your sword? Why wouldnt I think its ridiculous?

I dont understand it either. But When I try pulling out my sword for someone other than Jin, I

Karen pleaded to Jamad with empty eyes.

The sword is heavy. It is so, so heavy.

I think Im going to go crazy.

Hahaha thats what Im saying.

Chirp

Crackle

The birds chirping broke the silence once again.

But with the chirping, Seol woke up while rubbing his eyes.

- (He was listening)

- (He was pretending to be asleep)

- (You shouldve seen his nostrils flare)

Ah, we were just about to wake you.

Yeah, we can worry about sleep later.

Karen and Jamad reacted as if they expected him to wake up that early and then, Karen looked at the sky.

The chirping. You woke up because of that, right?

...Yeah.

Yeah, and its getting closer.

Chiiiiiirp!

Seol looked up at the sky.

I think its coming here. Is it because of the campfire? said Seol.

The shadow of the massive bird was coming closer to them.

Its aiming for us! Oi, protect Snowman!

Got it! Ill put out the fire first, though!

Fwoosh

When Karen waved her hands, the fire was extinguished.

But in that short moment, the massive bird had already rushed toward them.

Duck!

CRAAAASH!