The scan on your iris and vein has determined that you are an unregistered user. Do you want to create a new account?
* * *
When Lee Hyun was connected to Royal Road, the first sound that reached his ears was a feminine voice.
He looked around to see who had spoken to him, but there was no one else; a space within the universe. Then he realized that he was in the middle of the activation process of a new account.
"Yes!"
— Select the name of your avat—
"Weed." Weed, the lowliest of the low in the plant kingdom. To Lee Hyun, it sounded most suitable for him.
— Select your gender from male, female or neutr—
"Male!"
— Royal Road has forty-nine races. You may select your race from the primary twenty-nine—
"Human!"
You may alter your appearan—
"The way I am."
— Your account has been activated. Your stats and class shall be determined while you are playing Royal Road—
"Pass!"
— Select a city and kingdom you want to start.
"The Citadel of Serabourg, Rosenheim Kingdom!"
— Welcome to Royal—
"Pass!"
Afraid to waste even a second, Lee Hyun skipped the tutorial stage and made quick decisions according to his prearranged plan. Three hundred thousand won monthly bill for the game was a great expense to him.
* * *
In Royal Road, there are over a hundred major cities and thousands of towns. A new player begins his adventure in a capital or a major city of comparable size.
Similar to where Weed is starting out.
Flash
With a flash of light, he appeared in the Citadel of Serabourg, Rosenheim.
"This is…"
Weed was swayed by the sight of countless avatars, users and NPCs—Non-Player Characters—alike, that he thought he was lost in the middle of Seoul.
"Where am I? Unbelievable!"
Astonished, Weed couldn't believe his eyes as he looked around. The racket of those haggling and chattering rang in his ears. The view unfolding before his eyes was exactly the same as the real world, with people busy coming and going.
He lowered his eyes to his legs standing on the ground. His senses told him that it felt absolutely solid. Strangers passed him by as he stood still in a daze.
"Look at him. I'm sure he's a newbie."
"It looks like he's never played a virtual reality game before."
While passing by, some users threw fleeting remarks over their shoulders. They stung him enough to pull himself together.
They're right. It's Royal Road here. The world of virtual reality, and my new workplace.
No matter how thoroughly Weed had prepared, his knowledge of virtual reality and his research into the game system came second to the strange experience he was having now.
He had been bewildered, but it was temporary, and he soon calmed down, differences also began to catch his eye.
His senses were consistent with reality, yet people around him were clad in armor or wearing leather vests.
Close to the spot where he had shown up was a bulletin board exhibiting maps and descriptions of Rosenheim Kingdom, and directions for using the basic interface.
It's time that I start.
Weed clenched his fist, and then he started to exercise. He sat down and stood up, and then proceeded with standing high jumps, tumbling, kicking and punching.
He twisted his waist around and carefully tested one joint after another. He wiggled fingers and toes, and jerked his head back and forth.
Even though a tsunami of humiliating comments gushed forth from other users nearby, Weed was determined to overcome it.
"What the heck is he doing now?"
"It looks like he's moving his body. I guess he's still uncomfortable with the virtual reality game."
"Oh, I see. But what's the point of making a show in the middle of a crowded street?"
The sense of humiliation which Weed had been fighting so hard to keep back prevailed over his determination. What a scene he'd been making in front of strangers.
"Dammit!" Weed left in a hurry and headed elsewhere.
A newcomer in Royal Road is confined to the city of origin for a week in real world and four weeks in the game, thanks to the parallax between one place and the other.
A great majority of newcomers were getting down to basics, simple quests, or learn craft skills, such as tailoring, blacksmith and cooking, which are relatively easy to acquire.
The game boast of its unrestricted flexibility, almost to the extent of disorder, and while all the highest ranking positions arc still occupied by NPCs instead of users, this reinforces the need for personal contacts.
On the other hand, a considerable number of users work in libraries or stores to make money.
The Central Square brims with merchant wannabes who set up kiosks to buy and sell with fellow users and many new parties in pursuit of adventure are formed on the spot every minute.
After watching them casually, Weed didn't hesitate to head for the Training Hall.
The Training Hall is open to any user as long as he pleases, and most users visit the hall to experiment with newly acquired skills.
It is nearly impossible to find someone who, like Weed, would go straight to the Training Hall as soon as he created a new avatar.
It's not only that newcomers are more interested in finding out what the kingdom and city where they were born look like, but it's also largely because training in the Training Hall is deemed rather ineffective.
The moment the instructor saw Weed walk in the entrance, his eyes glared fiercely.
"Young adventurer, I presume you have arrived at the Versailles continent very recently," the instructor said.
"Yes, Sir" Weed said shortly. He was still upset that he had made a laughing stock of himself on the first day.
"You shall find sword training absolutely necessary when you come to confront monsters. Do you need my guidance? I tell you, take any unattended scarecrow and strike him in any way you want. A wooden sword is placed in front of a scarecrow, and it is all yours."
"Thank you, sir. That's enough. I don't need any more guidance."
"Godspeed"
Weed clutched the wooden sword and walked to a scarecrow standing alone in the most remote comer. Then, he began beating it, once, twice, thrice. His hands were gradually getting accustomed to the weight of the wooden sword and the sense of hitting the scarecrow.
In Royal Road, a new avatar's level is locked for the first four weeks, for he is forbidden to travel beyond the city's gate and to hunt monsters in the field.
It is most common to carry out as many quests as possible, thus building up favorable public service points, earning money and forming your own web of personal contacts.
Nonetheless, Weed silently carried on striking the scarecrow with the wooden sword.
There are about a thousand scarecrows in the Training Hall of the Citadel of Serabourg, and an unlimited supply of wooden swords on the walls, which could come in handy. The Hall is usually frequented by users who crave to test their skills.
At this moment, however, everyone's eyes were fixed on somewhere in particular.
"This guy's definitely got iron guts."
"He's freaking tough."
"Can't believe any sane man's going so far"
Weed was soaked in sweat.
The white shirt and pants issued to him in the beginning had absorbed sweat and stuck fast to his body. He still dealt one blow after another to the scarecrow without a minute's break.
Strength increased by 1 point. (+1 STR)
After six hours of striking the scarecrow, Weed heard good news. He felt as if the muscles in his hand clutching the wooden sword were getting lighter."Stats window," Weed mumbled while striking the scarecrow.
Character Name
Weed
Alignment
Neutral
Level
1
Profession
None
Title
None
Reputation
0
Health
100
Mana
100
Strength
11
Agility
10
Stamina
10
Wisdom
10
Intellect
10
Luck
0
Leadership
0
Attack
3
Defense
0
Magic Resistance
Fire
0%
Water
0%
Earth
0%
Black Magic
0%
Weed's avatar was so feeble that there was nothing remarkable.Five hours later—
Vitality rises by 1 point. (+1 VIT)
Agility rises by 1 point. (+1 AGI)
The two stats rose almost at the same lime.
"Whew."
Weed finally put down the wooden sword and look a short break. Without eating or drinking, he had been hitting the scarecrow for nearly eight straight hours.
He was physically fatigued, and worse, his throat was burning with thirst, his stomach empty and hollow.
"Inventory window"
Given the preset keyword, the semitransparent images of all the belongings in Weed's inventory floated in front of his eyes. Inside his inventory were a canteen and ten pieces of rye bread. That was all.
In Royal Road, you have to get hold of what you need on your own. Other users make money by carrying out easy quests for the four weeks, but Weed could not spare even a minute.
He took out a piece of rye bread and the canteen, and nibbled a mouthful of bread. As he ate food, it appeased his hunger and the satisfaction factor rose.
"I'm supposed to have a meal every five hours. I'd better eat more often if I exercise intensely, but I don't need to raise the satisfaction factor to the full. All I need to do is just stay away from death."
Once Weed finished the meal swiftly, he took the wooden sword in his grip and stood in front of the scarecrow.
"He's at it again."
"He's nuts."
"I think he holds a grudge against it or something."
"I don't think he'll stop until he breaks that scarecrow into pieces."
Was it an illusion that the scarecrow looked like it shivered at that very moment? Weed's wooden sword struck every inch of the scarecrow. The same type of questions arose among all the spectators.
"Why the heck is that guy striking the scarecrow?"
"I don't think it will help at all—if he wants to raise the expertise rating for a skill, it's much better to go out to the field and use it on a rabbit than the scarecrow here."
"Look at what he's doing. He's not using any skill. To me, it looks more like he's beating up the scarecrow on impulse."
"Maybe he's bringing up his stats," a knight in dazzling armor commented, immediately attracted the attention of everyone else on the scene.
"Can you improve your stats by just hitting the scarecrow?" a dark-skinned ranger asked.
"Huh? Ah, yes, that's right," the knight said.
"Then, why don't you just keep hitting a scarecrow instead of sweating hard to raise your level?" the ranger asked again.
The knight named Pluto had a considerably high level, so he has learned a wealth of information from reliable sources. He was also the only man who correctly guessed the motive of Weed's actions.
If an avatar uses up his stamina, his vitality and stamina will develop as a consequence, and if a wizard casts a great many spells, his wisdom and intelligence will rise.
But such an increase is trivial compared to stat bonus points accompanied by a level up.
Half a day of hitting a scarecrow without a rest might yield one or two stats. Considering that the number of stat bonus points as reward for a level up is five, what Weed was doing looked idiotic.
"It really is silly."
A sorceress shook her head when she heard Pluto's explanation. But he thought otherwise.
"It works," Pluto said.
"Excuse me?"
"You can earn only small amount of experience points if you kill a weaker monster than your current level. You know that, right?"
"Of course"
"In other words, the higher your level is, the harder it is to gain a level. But if you improve your strength by undergoing such a drill in the initial phase, you can hunt monsters easier later on. It will take effect throughout the game."
"You know this method, so I guess you went through the same training? No, wouldn't everyone do the same if they knew about it?"
"Not really. Even if people knew, no one would do it. Back to the point, is there anyone who wants to keep hitting that scarecrow for ten hours to improve their strength by one point?"
"…"
"There are limits to how far you can increase your stats by working on a scarecrow that's known as the weakest opponent. In the case of strength, I estimate it's forty or so. Is there anyone who wants to keep hitting the scarecrow for at least a month to raise forty points in strength? I would get sick and tired of it, and give it up in days."
The crowd watching Weed nodded in unison.
You'd rather look for a cool weapon than to strike a scarecrow ceaselessly for a full month in order to bring up your strength by forty points. An item that keeps up strength by forty points is unique, yet far from rare.
"This works only for newbies who can't go beyond the walls. It was once popular to beat a scarecrow like this, but it was quickly abandoned because, when you weigh against it what you can get in the long run, it's way too boring, and painstaking."
Weed overheard the heated discussion that those around him were having. He wished he could have trained somewhere else, but so long as he wasn't allowed to leave the Citadel, he could not avoid attracting unfavorable attention in the Hall.
What makes you call this boring and painstaking? Weed swung the wooden sword at full strength.
If you work hard, your avatar gets stronger step by step. When your avatar evolves, it can defeat stronger monsters and make more money. For Weed, this was the ultimate entertainment in his lifetime.
Weed was inherently inclined to routine physical labor. All this time, the instructor was watching him with awfully gratified eyes.
* * *
Three weeks had passed.Weed logged on to Royal Road on a daily basis, except for minimum sleeping hours, to the point of addiction.His physical condition, which he had resolved to build up before he started the game, enabled him to sleep no more than four hours a day. Now that he looked back at the last three weeks, it made him sick to even think of it.
Once he signed into the game, he spent eighty hours on average striking the scarecrow monotonously, which had mentally worn him out. Had it not been for pop-up messages encouraging him, he would have given up.
Strength rises by 1 point. (+1 STR)
Agility rises by 1 point. (+1 AGI)
New stat: Fighting Spirit
New stat: Sustenance
In Royal Road, a new stat is sometimes created besides the original ones.
Fighting Spirit
You can call on superhuman strength temporarily, or bring weaker monsters to their knees with a force in your eyes alone. You are prohibited from distributing stat bonus points to this stat, and it rises spontaneously, depending on the avatar's action, especially if you fight monsters for a long time, or often confront monsters stronger than your current level.
Pop-up messages related to the skill occasionally appeared, too.The only skill Weed had at that point was Sword Mastery.
Level Up: Sword Mastery
[3]
Increases Attack Power with a sword (+30% ATK)
Increases Attack Speed with a sword (+9% ATK SPD)
Sustenance
You are likely to use less stamina in action. You are prohibited from distributing stat bonus points to this stat.
Every time a pop-up message appeared, Weed was secretly delighted by the progress he was making. But what was deeply troubling him was a sense of frustration that he had been falling behind in his goals.
For the last three weeks, as he devoted himself to beating down the scarecrows, his strength had increased only by twenty-eight points, agility twenty-five, and vitality twenty-two.
"Unless I pick up my pace, I'll end up wasting more precious time on this scarecrow even after the restriction is lifted. I must finish it before I can leave the Citadel."
Weed's eyes burned with determination.
Rumble
At that moment, Weed's stomach decided it was time to eat. Aside from slow progress with his stats, he was tormented by the fact that he was running out of bread.
He could run to a nearby fountain and fill the canteen with water, but bread was different – he had to pay money for it.
Sniff He smelled an appetizing scent coming from somewhere.
Weed, swinging the wooden sword, paused and caught a glimpse of the instructor, who was taking out his lunchbox for the lunch break.
"Hehe, Honorable Instructor." As Weed wagged his invisible tail, he walked to the instructor.
"Hmm, who is this, none other than Weed-nim? What has brought you here?" the instructor said warmly.
"Wouldn't it be lonely to have lunch alone? I am here to keep you company," Weed said obsequiously.
Growl While his stomach growled, Weed lied with a straight face, but he could not deceive the instructor.
"I take it that you are hungry. Sit beside me! I have brought plenty of food, sufficient to feed two mouths."
"Thank you, sir."
"Enough with your humility! It is my honor to serve a meal to a would-be great adventurer like you, Weed-nim. I assure you that your reputation will someday resound beyond the bounds of the Citadel of Serabourg. When that day comes, please remember me!"
"Yes, Sir. I certainly will."
After flattering the instructor lightly, Weed enjoyed lunch together with him. It was kind of a sad scene, yet he was grateful that with little effort, he could stuff his belly.
He wasn't sucking up to a real man, anyway. What was the big deal about smooth-talking an NPC with artificial intelligence?
Beside the stats that Weed had increased while beating the scarecrow for the last three weeks, he established an affinity with the instructor. This supplementary effect was somewhat admirable.
While Weed was busy devouring lunch, the instructor suddenly asked, "By the way, Weed-nim, what do you think of Sculpture Mastery?"
Sculpture mastery? What the heck is sculpture mastery?
Weed chewed a mouthful of boiled rice and swallowed it before he asked back, "What do you mean by Sculpture Mastery?"
"I am merely curious of your opinion. I wonder what sort of view you have about Sculpture Mastery in general," the instructor said.
AI that moment, the speed of Weed's brain racking, despite it being absurd to convert it to a numerical value, multiplied roughly by five.
I've so far figured out that the instructor is a simple-minded and nearsighted guy. He sincerely believes that the sword is invincible, and to him, it's the highest virtue to exercise hard enough to break out in a sweat in the Training Hall. And now he's asking me what I think about Sculpture Mastery?
As soon as Weed collected his thoughts, he frowned.
"Honorable Instructor! I can't believe you even mentioned it. I am a man of the sword. Did you ask for my opinion upon, God forgive me, Sculpture Mastery? I am most disappointed. This is my answer—never, ever, not even once has such a lowly handicraft crossed my noble mind."
Despite Weed's offensive tone, which would have enraged him in other situations, the instructor unexpectedly clapped his hands in delight.
"I knew you would say so!"
"It is out of question. The likes of Sculpture Mastery are nothing but awful mistakes of God which do not deserve a second of our attention. Why do I, a man of the sword, need to ever think of it?"
"You are most agreeable, Weed-nim" Weed sensed that, though it was invisible, his friendship with the instructor moved to a higher degree at that moment.
This is the way to make friends with somebody. You don't need to shed blood with them. You don't need to squander time and money on them. You just join them in speaking ill of something at the first opportunity, and it will invoke their sympathy.
Weed expected the instructor to change the topic of the conversation, but he rubbed the back of his head and stayed on the subject.
"It is rumored that the unknown man who mastered sculptural and once carved the moonlight," the instructor said.
"I doubt it, sir. A rumor is always prone to distortion. How can anyone learned in worthless Sculpture Mastery carve the moonlight? Perhaps it was a pebble in the shape of a moon," Weed said cheerfully.
"You think so, too? But I was told by my predecessor. His honorable name is Mellium, currently a Royal Knight…"
Sculptural was perceived as a fruitless skill, no more than trimming a small block of wood to produce a fine ornament.
Rumor had it that if you elevated the craft beyond a certain stage, you would be capable of making projectile weapons of metal. But it was undoubtedly one of those obsolete skills that nobody bothered learning.
"On that account Weed-nim, this question of Sculpture Mastery intrigues me. It surely is beyond doubt that the craft cannot possibly rival our sword under any circumstances, but would you find out whether the rumor has a grain of truth? I am asking a favor of you because you are a trustworthy man. If you accept my request, I'd be happy to hear it," the instructor said.
Then a pop-up message appeared in front of Weed's eyes.
Ting
A Mystery Sculptor Rumored to Have Visited the Royal Palace
A rumor that a man who had mastered sculptural art did carve the moonlight has been prevalent in tile royal court of Rosenheim Kingdom for long. Look into the rumor to determine whether it is true or not!
Difficulty level: E
Quest requirements
Close friendship with instructor reserved only for those who have not acquired Sculpture Mastery.
Acknowledged as reliable by the instructor for a constant passion for Sword Mastery
Weed barely held a whisper of triumph at bay. His instinct told him that this quest was the rarest of the rare.
This was because the quest had to meet very tricky conditions in order to get it started. Close friendship with the instructor—who would have ever thought of that?
Most users in general don't even know the location of the Training Hall, let alone visit it when they acquire a new skill, they don't need to come all that way to practice it on a scarecrow of all things. Moreover, it is a rare occasion that anyone is willing to get stuck in the Hall and thrash the scarecrow over and over to bring up his stats in the crudest way, as Weed had done.
If you dig out enough dirt, you might find a few users like that, but in Weed's case, he had spent almost all of the last three weeks with the scarecrow. Who else could have toughed it out to such an extent?
Speaking of close friendship with the instructor, it is nearly impossible to achieve unless someone like Weed approaches him, fawning to cam a share of his lunch.
Even with all the conditions above met you still have to begin your new adventure at the Citadel of Serabourg in Rosenheim Kingdom against all odds, not to mention that you have to find the right moment to slander Sculpture Mastery along with the instructor.
This is great. I'm about to go broke and starve to death. At difficulty level E, this quest looks like it's easy to finish.
Weed nodded at the instructor.
"I am honored to accept it. Although I do not believe any of the nonsense, I will find out what it was like carving the moonlight."
You accepted the quest.
"I appreciate it. I entrust you with this task. Take this money as a retainer," the instructor said, handing over two silvers. "I give you my advice: visit the sculpture shop first and glean information from there"
A piece or rye bread, literally tasteless yet enough to fill the stomach, costs three coppers. Since a silver coin equals a hundred coppers coins, it is safe to say Weed had just received the equivalent of sixty-six pieces or rye bread for the retainer, plus change.
He was certain that once the quest was completed, he could expect more rewards from the instructor.
"Great! I don't need to worry about running out of bread for the time being."
Many years of first-hand experience of habitual famine persuaded him to avoid being malnourished at any cost.
Weed first walked to the fountain and filled his canteen with water, and then he headed for the sculpture shop. It was Weed's first trip down the street, and it was crammed with users and NPCs.
"We need a cleric at level 17 or above"
"Hey, guy! We're going to raid on Cave Lasok. Anyone want to join us?"
Plenty of users were on the street, but none of them gave a passing glance at Weed. He didn't mind it though. Wandering around in a traveler's outfit, deprived of even a breastplate, revealed that he has yet to meet the minimum requirement of four week' game play before he could leave the Citadel.
Among the innumerable stores that operate in the capital of Rosenheim Kingdom, the sculpture shop holds a special position.
Most ordinary adventurers can barely recall where the sculpture shop is located because if was meaningless to them. Only an extremely small number of users who learned the Sculpture Art visit periodically. But the sculpture shop stands right next to the jewelry store on Central Avenue, and is one of the few frequently visited shops by the noblewomen.
Chime
Weed entered the sculpture shop.
"Welcome to—what brings you here, stranger?"
The shopkeeper was receiving a new customer with a gentle smile, until he saw Weed's outfit at that point, he suddenly changed the tone of his voice.
Weed looked around the shop, only to find that there was no other customer except for him. A blacksmith's workshop or a grocery store is always full to the limit of occupancy, but the sculpture shop only entertains a few customers a day, if any.
If comparing daily revenues, however, the sculpture shop does lag behind the blacksmith's workshop. In other words, the sculpture shop sells pretty expensive merchandises.
Weed adjusted his collar and asked politely,
"I have come here to find an answer to the question which troubles me so dearly, sir."
"So you want to ask me a question, stranger?"
"Yes, sir. If you could spare me a second"
"I am busy right now, please leave"
The shopkeeper rejected him right away, sounding very annoyed. As Weed's fame was zero, and they were unacquainted, the shopkeeper had every right to chase him out of the shop.
"Yes, sir. I will see you later"
"Goodbye" said the shopkeeper.
Weed was taking his time to retreat to the doorway. Then, he casually shot a glance at the statues that were on display.
"How grand!"
Weed exclaimed
"The grandeur of this statue fascinates my soul. Do you supply this to the Rosenheim Court?"
The shopkeeper could not help but lend an ear to Weed.
"Which one are you talking about, stranger?"
"This two-headed eagle made of pure gold. I dare not guess which master carved this, but I can sense the excellence of his workmanship. It is dignified beyond dispute. It is so full of life that I almost mistook it for a real eagle, and I am blessed in visiting the place. This store deserves this class of item. They have opened my humble eyes to a heavenly beauty descended to Earth"
Whether or not the shopkeeper realizes, his mouth was forming a horizontal crescent. "Are you interested in sculptural art, traveler?"
"I daresay I am—I am only wishing to feel peace of mind at the sight of outstanding statues, and my soul craves to be even a small part of the magnificent spirit embodied in them"
"Come over and sit down. You may be good company to arouse me from boredom"
"Thank you, sir"
"Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Only if you're kind enough of offer me cold honeyed water. I will be satisfied with a cup of cold water"
"Sure! Of course I have it"
Weed drank the honeyed water blended by the shopkeeper, which soothed the exhaustion that he had accumulated over the last three weeks.
"Now tell me what has been troubling you so much." The shopkeeper said.
"Yes, sir. But can you please forgive me for asking for a brief tour of these statues on display before everything else? I have business that demands your guidance, yet it is less urgent that comforting my poor soul that wants to have a good look at these masterpieces of art" Weed said.
"You may look at them for as long as you wish. Isn't it the raison d'être of fine statues to please those who appreciate their value?" The shopkeeper consented with a content smile.
Weed felt that it had won his goodwill, one scarcely disturbed by visitors and away from public attention. Suppose that you asked to look at various items in a grocery store—the next second you would be kicked out.
Weed relished the statues on display at leisure. But he had his own agenda. "I doubt sculpture mastery will make a pile of money." The most expensive statue that is currently present is worth 30 silvers. The quality statues are made of stones or rare wood, and in spite of the impressive workmanship, the materials themselves were not costly in the first place. They were nothing more than wooden carvings, or engraved stones.
Weed knew that there would be money if he could create a gigantic lion statue or bronze status, but he wasn't fooled by the possibility that was so far off. What kind of nobleman with so much money would order a new statue every year? He needed to reach the top of the ladder in order to do really well as a sculptor. Little competition guaranteed that it wouldn't need too much effort to become the best in the industry.
Still, it was a niche market, too small to count on. The guaranteed way to make a fortune was to target other users as potential consumers. They were always leveling up and demanding better equipment, so on and so forth.
Fire weapons, strong equipment enchanted bracelets and rings were popular among users, but statues were valueless to them except in rare instances.
"Waste of time, waste of money"
Weed's primary purpose for starting this game was to make money, with a capital M. He looked around the display for the last time and passed his verdict on sculpture mastery.
"The skill is worth a dime in a dozen" Weed sat down across from the shopkeeper.
"Now, what are you looking for?" The shopkeeper asked
"I am interested in a past event. I was told that someone had carved the moonlight in the Royal Palace fifty years ago. I would like to know if there's any truth of that event" Weed said.
"Oh that event! It is legendary tale that has been passed down among the sculptors. I also heard it from some trustworthy patrons from the Royal Court"
Weed had thought that carving the moonlight was impossible, another urban legend, but the owner of the sculptor shop also knew the rumor that the instructor at the Training Hall had claimed to have heard.
Quest Complete!
A Mystery Sculptor who is rumored to have visited the Royal Palace.
The rumor that had reached the instructor's ear really took place. A sculptor carved the moonlight, and it was widely, yet secretly, known amongst the Serebourgians, though it remained an enigma how he carved the moonlight.
Reward: Return to the instructor to claim it.
Weed grinned broadly. This was, after all, a simple quest with the lowest difficulty level E. At the same time, unless he had succeeded in making friends with the shopkeeper, it could have turned out tricky.
How that he was done with the quest, the next move was to return to the Training Hall and earn a reward from the instructor. As Weed was looking for the right moment to say his farewells and leave, the shopkeeper, absorbed in thought, finally spoke out.
"I have not heard how he carved the moonlight"
"Did the patrons from the Royal Court not tell you about it?"
"Hmm, they always omitted it in their tale. They refused to tell me about it. They said Queen Evane of Rosenheim, O may her soul rest in peace, was involve in the event. Can you do me a favor and look into this, so that my curiosity shall be gratified?"
The Sculptor's Past
The rumor has it that Queen Evane was involved in the event when the sculptor presented himself in the Royal Palace and carved the moonlight. The shopkeeper of the sculpture shop wondered what link existed between the two of them.
Difficulty Level: E
Warning: If you are found to be investigating the rumor in question, you will be exposed to hostility from Royal Knights.
Weed's clenched fists were shaking in excitement. "This, it's a serial quest"
Even when the difficulty level of a quest is awfully low, the level of rewards shoots up in case of serial quests. The more stages you complete, the more difficult the quest becomes, and so most serial quests are likely to make it highly difficult for Weed at his current level to solve.
The only quests that Weed could complete are the ones that are inside the Citadel, asking around and gathering information from people.
"I am still incompetent. I am afraid I may not be worthy of your request" Weed said.
"I am certain you are up to this task. You prudence shall lead the way to safety" The shopkeeper replied
"If you say so, I will take it willingly" Weed said.
You have accepted the quest.
"Thank you traveler. A bard with knowledge in ancient tales and street gossip is the one whom you should ask about Queen Evane. Beware! This matter is very sensitive, so you should not cause trouble that might lead to any defamation of the Royal Family"
* * *
Keeping down a sudden impulse to hum a tune, Weed headed straight to a pub across the street.
"Good afternoon" Returning the greeting from a waitress, Weed looked around in search of a bard. There were a few conditions to meet. First, he counted the bard users out when he looked for the right man. It was a long shot that any user had ever heard of an event that had happened in the Royal Palace half a century before. Weed would be better off to find a Serabourgian native, possibly an elderly.
Whether he could sing ballads favorably or not, an old bard was reliable when it comes to worldly gossip. Weed stopped by several pubs until he found a bard who lived up to his expectations. It was a middle-aged bard in his forties, experience buy with both charm and youth. Clapping both hands, Weed approached the bard.
"Thank you for a fine ballad, sir. Forgive me for interrupting you, but I want to ask you a few questions… Do you know what happened fifty years ago in the Royal Court of Rosenheim?"
The bard's thrust his palm out and Weed could not miss what this gesture implied. He frowned immediately, his mouth twitching with a grave sense of responsibility that he would not waste a penny.
"You sure have a charming voice. I appreciate your talent in writing both the lyrics and the music for that ballad. Also your skills in the instrument were more than impressive…"
"…"
"I bet you broke the hearts of many Serabourgian ladies back when you were a young ray of sunshine at the peak of your career. Of course, I do not doubt that you are still stealing ladies' hearts… For a bard, adventure and romance is everything. I also love romance"
The palm didn't go away, and the bard snapped, "I'm sick and tired of cheap compliments from the likes of you, foreigner. Show me the money, or get lost"
Weed was momentarily lost.
"Do I just give up the quest in the middle? Anyway, the quest doesn't penalize me even if I decide to drop out. But maybe it would give me sweet rewards later, and I would hate to miss out on them"
Weed's hand slipped into his pocket and fished out a coin before he realized his mistake. Two silvers! There were two silver coins in his pocket. That was everything that the instructor had given him as a retaining fee for the previous quest.
The bard seized the silver coin from Weed's palm.
It was a basic mistake that he had forgotten to exchange his money into smaller coins in advance.
"I can't believe I made such a silly mistake!" Weed's body shook in distress and grief.
"Hmph, this is a secret, so you must keep it to yourself" The bard said under his breath "Queen Evan and the sculptor had been on intimate terms since they were children"
"What do you mean by intimate terms…?" Weed asked
"You fool! I know nothing else for intimate terms between a man and a woman—they loved each other"
"Point taken" Weed now realized why poking his nose into the rumor had to remain a secret from the Royal Court.
Given that the former Queen's sacred name was mentioned in that scandalous matter. Royal Knights would be willing to silence anyone at any cost to keep her honor intact.
The bard glanced around the pub and added cautiously "They were born in the same village, and grew up bearing each other dearly in mind. They boy's name was Zahab. The girl was always carrying ornaments carved and given by him when she was a child, with a dream that she would become his wife someday. But Destiny played tricks on them! The girl was chosen to be the Royal Maid and the boy left her. But in the end, there was a promise between them"
"What promise, if I may ask?" Weed asked, now curious.
"Zahab promised to show the girl the most beautiful statue under heaven"
"I guess it was not kept, then. The Queen must have a great number of beautiful, magnificent statues in her place"
"No, he kept it. Many years later, Zahab presented himself as a quest to the Royal Court. It was said that, at the sight of his work, she was most touched, saying it was the most beautiful creature under heaven"
"Then, what statue, for Freya's sake, did he present to Queen Evane? A Queen doesn't easily cherish an ordinary piece"
"True. Pay a visit to a lady's maid who witness the day, and hear the rest of the story. This is as far as I can tell you because I also heard it from someone else"
"Is she still alive?"
"Yes" The bard told Weed the way to the house of the lady's maid.
Weed went to visit her. She had retired, and when he mentioned Queen Evane and the sculptor, she gave him a joyous welcome.
"Her Highness was very virtuous and gracious lady. So do you want to hear about what happened back then?
"Yes, ma'am"
"You have found the right person to ask. I personally served Her Highness. She first resented Zahab-nim when he visited the palace.
"Why so, if I may ask?"
"It was his promise. When they were young, they made a promise, a promise that Zahab-nim would present Her Highness with the most beautiful statue under heaven. But when he appeared in the palace, he was carrying a sword, not an engraving knife. To the eyes of everyone, he looked like a fine swordsman who was proficient in the sword. You should have seen how heartbroken Her Highness was. It was indescribable! Her Highness so believed in Zahab-nim that even if the world turned upside down, he would be the same eternally, and likewise, the promise between them was divine"
"…"
"On that day, Brent Kingdom, which bordered on Rosenheim, dispatched a band of assassins. They revealed a treacherous ambition to seize our Kingdom, and Freya only knows how shocked I was when assassins stormed in and assaulted Her and His Highness in the garden"
"Those wicked scoundrels!"
"Yes, young traveler, you can say that again. A couple of Royal Knights were trapped, thus incapable of holding them in check—and we were left to face death. At that very moment, Zahab-nim walked into the garden. As you can see, right in the middle of fighting, Her Highness warned him and ordered him to leave. But Zahab-nim only smiled—"
"He smiled in the middle of such a dangerous situation?"
"—and he said he would show her the most beautiful statue that he had ever carved under heaven. To everyone's surprise, the moonlight shattered into pieces at Zahab-nim's sword. Its beauty was really striking. He was singing a song while he carved the moonlight. I cannot remember the lyrics word by word, but the title was A Sculptor's Heart. Listening to the song, Her Highness was overflowing with tears. It was really the most beautiful statue Milady had ever seen. Had Zahab-nim only inscribed his name on a crude plank, but Her Highness would have taken it for the most beautiful sculpture in the world, but I tell you, the sight he was carving with the moonlight was literally heavenly. The assassins scattered at the inconceivable sight, and Zahab-nim kept his promised. Many years since gone, but I still cherish that moving memory."
Then, a mysterious flashback flittered before Weed's eyes
* * *
Whittle
A boy is holding a tiny engraving knife in his hands
As the engraving knife slides up and down, a piece of wood is shaping into a form
It seems he is carving a maiden
A little, lovely maiden
Through his craftsmanship, the piece of wood is endowed with life
A girl, blushing up to her ears, is watching him
The boy's hand moving the engraving knife, and his serious look
The girl loves him, everything about him.
Soon the boy hands her the complete statue. It looks so much like the girl.
"For now, all I can do is carve a piece of wood. But someday, I will give you the most beautiful statue in the world"
"Thank you Zahab. I'm looking forward to that day"
The boy and girl make a promise with each other, hand in hand.
* * *
As the girl grows up, she blossoms in beauty.
She caught the eyes of the King. She eventually became Queen. But the girl is not happy at all.
Her Highness is still unhappy the day Zahab comes back to see her.
Zahab carried a sword, not the engraving knife.
Talking a walk alone in the garden, Her Highness gives way to fit of passion and clutches a thorny rose. Her palm bleeds with ruby red blood.
"Why did you forget our promise? Your promise was everything to me…"
Her Highness grieved over the broken promise.
That evening, the assassins raid the palace.
Brent Kingdom, a hostile neighbor as always, has sent assassins.
Knights of Rosenheim Kingdom collapse one after another.
She and His Highness are fearful of their imminent and inevitable death.
Zahab clutches his sword, and the moonlight begins to dance.
Quest Complete!
The Sculptor's Past
The promise between the boy and the girl was honored. The bluish moonlight shattered into pieces, which in turn defeated the assassins. Moonlight Sculptor Zahab—His Sculpture mastery has reached the stage of a Master. Presenting the most beautiful statue to his childhood friend.
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
To Weed' surprise, two levels went up for a single quest, and that wasn't the end of it. A message window popped up. To his surprise once again, it was a class conversion window.
Class Change!
You can convert to a secret class Moonlight Sculptor. If you accept it, you can learn exclusive skills for the class that are withheld from the primary classes.
Do you want to convert to Moonlight Sculptor?
An infinite number of users are bustling about to discover secret classes in Royal Road, but fewer than one out of a thousand actually discovers one.
Weed answered, "I refuse"
Please confirm your decision. You can convert to a secret class Moonlight Sculptor.
Do you want to convert to Moonlight Sculptor?
"I refuse"
To Weed, being stuck in the corner of a closet and making unwanted statues wasn't considerable. He had to admit that being a sculptor could make quite an amusing class if properly trained. But he needed a financially lucrative class for his personal gain. When Weed came to his senses, the old lady's maid was watching.
"It was a wonderful story. Thank you very much, ma'am"
"You're welcome. It's my pleasure to tell you their story like this. So, young adventurer, I want to give you a small present. Will you please take it?"
Wouldn't it be unkind to reject a present out of goodwill? Weed was not so cruel as to decline anything offered to him. A man should accept any present with gratitude.
"I will gladly take it, ma'am"
The old lady's maid took something bundled up from deep inside a drawer. It resembled an ancient scalpel.
"This engraving knife used to belong to Zahab-nim. He left it to Her Highness, and I happened to keep it now. And this wooden statue is carved by Zahab-nim. Please take these" The lady's maid said.
"I shall long treasure your present" Weed said.
He received two items from her.
You have received Engraving Knife.
You have received Zahab's Legacy.
Weed thought that these items were uncommon as they were left by one of the Masters of Sculptural Art. Even the wooden statue looked classy at a casual glance.
"Please keep Zahab-nim's engraving knife with great care"
"Yes, ma'am"
Weed calculated that this might sell and make good profit.
"The wooden statue will show you where Zahab-nim's resting place is located. I hope his sculpture mastery will not be buried forever"
"I hope so too, ma'am"
"If only I could hear the song of that day again… Everything about sculpture mastery is concealed in that engraving knife"
"Excuse me?"
"In Zahab-nim's engraving knife"
That moment Weed looked at the engraving knife. He had a gut feeling that an irresistible destiny was drawing near.
Follow Zahab's Last Wish
Zahab did not die that day. He left for a faraway continent to test his Sculpture Mastery. Once you graduate in Sculpture Master, you should find Zahab to learn the song A Sculpture's Heart from him. Then, you should come back here and sing it to this old lady's maid. The tradition runs that Zahab's was last seen heading for the Gray Pass Region.
Difficulty: A
Quest Requirement:
You must complete the quest before the old lady's maid passes away.
Cancellation is not permitted.
Reward:
You can learn Item Identification Skill, Sculpture Mastery, Repair Skill, and Handicraft Skill.
A serial quest with a difficulty level of A, rewarding four skills. Weed couldn't tell if he's lucky or not.
For one thing, he knew that it was extremely difficult to acquire skills unrelated to his own class. Those skills, such as Item Identification and Repair Skill, which he had learned without converting to the sculpture class, could come in handy in numerous ways, but an A level quest was far beyond his ability for a long time, possibly many years.
The average level for Royal Road users is currently a hundred or so. The highest ladder is in the low 300s. The difficulty of a quest that requires a balanced party of power rankers a level 300 to finish is known to be B-level.
That means Weed had just accepted a quest that requires him to be above level 400 to be able to cope with the quest, let alone finish it.
As if it were not bad enough, the Gray Pass region is the most perilous of the perilous areas, inhabited by the most forceful monsters. It is one of the top Ten Forbidden Areas on the continent, where you are absolutely guaranteed to be chopped to pieces the moment you stepped in the area.
"Dammit"
The number of quest that a user can store at a time is only three. Now that one of them was taken by the quest Zahab's Last Wish, Weed was left with only two spaces for new quests.
But in case of serial quest, it is unpredictable what rewards await the user in the end. This serial quest introduced a secret class at the second stage. Even after he refused to convert to the class, he was given four practical skills. Imagine what rewards in the final stage would be like.
Weed wasn't stupid to say no to a good opportunity. Yet, it remained unknown when and how this would work out.
He bid farewell to the old lady's maid, and went back to the sculpture stop.
"O Weed-nim, I appreciate your hard work to bring me results so soon. I am once again assured that it was the right decision to entrust you with this quest" The shopkeeper said.
The shopkeeper paid Weed as a reward for the request.
Weed received 2 silver coins, recovering the silver coin that had been virtually robbed by the bard.
When he returned to the Training Hall, he received another silver coin, along with a word of commendation from the instructor. Therefore, it was a total of 5 silvers that Weed had earned so far.
He also leveled up twice, to level 3. He distributed those earned stat bonus points equally to AGI and STR.
"Why aren't you taking on another quest?" he asked himself.
Weed wrestled with a sudden temptation, but picked up the wooden sword again. A quest that was undisclosed to the public similar to the quest he just undertook, was rare. That was why Weed earned generous rewards for his level.
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GOT IT