by Japtem
*Fame has increased by 50.
*Your alignment to Good has increased by 50.
Since you've succeeded in Miracle Nursing, your title has been elevated to 'Soul Caretaker.'
Your fame as a caretaker has increased and you will come to receive the praises of many of the sick.
*As a title-related bonus, all stats increase by 1 each.
*Fame increases by 50
A stone fragment and necklace fell at the spot where Adelaine had disappeared.
Mysterious Stone Fragment Infused with Ancient Power
It is a mysterious stone that emits a dark energy from its surface.
You can check it once Knowledge of Ancient Artifacts becomes level 50. Until it is checked, the owner will suffer a -50% penalty to all stats.
Adelaine's Necklace (Rare)
Item type: Necklace
Restriction: Level 70
A necklace used by Adelaine, it is a simple pearl necklace. However, it responded to the Adelaine's affection as she prayed for her loved one's safety and came to possess a magical power.
Effect: Defense increased by 30, Affection increased by 5.
Special Effect: Once a day, you can use the ocean's blessing to raise defense by 40%.
'It's a R-rare item! And an accessory!'
Users who hadn't been able to put on a single ring even at level 100 were among the majority. Accessories were extremely precious, moreover, if it was Rare then it was an item hard to find even in an auction.
He had been very expectant since he'd defeated a level 100 boss monster in a hidden dungeon, but this was truly above his expectations.
The penalty imposed on the owner of the Stone Fragment wasn't a problem. Once he put it in Snake's belly, it didn't affect Ark.
As Ark drooled while grabbing the items, a humming voice rang in the space.
- Thank you. Adventurer.
"Huh? Wh-who?"
- I am the owner of the body you are inside of.
"Body? Then, perhaps White Whale Gallic?"
- That is my name.
"Haven't you gone insane?"
- I was insane. However, when you purified Adelaine, I came to my senses. Adelaine is my long-time companion. She spent hundreds of years inside me as she waited for someone who would not return. Her body died long ago, but her mind remained and waited for him. However, that was the problem.
Gallic let out a big sigh and said in a bitter voice.
- Dark energy lies in the object she stole. It does not exert very much influence on a living being, but it is fatal to a soul. In addition, she was wrought with guilt over having betrayed him. Her guilt was as strong as her love. Because of it, she was consumed by the dark force the stone emanated. And I, who shared a spiritual bond with her, was also assimilated into that darkness, thus I lost my senses.
"Someone who would not return? What do you mean?"
- Actually, he died before Adelaine came into me.
"What? Then why didn't you tell her?"
- She also knew. Even though I did not like knowing, she came to know it. However, she did not acknowledge it. She drew her last breath, and her soul believed he would return. That is love.
Although he was just a whale he was talking about all sort of things.
In any case, after listening to his words, Ark felt even sorrier for Adelaine. As Ark lowered his head with a melancholic expression, the white whale spoke in a loud voice.
- Raise your head with pride. Adventurer! Straighten your shoulders! You have freed a lover from the pain she suffered for hundreds of years. Where could you find a more praiseworthy deed for a man?!
RUUUUUMBLE!
The space suddenly shook and an enormous amount of sea water rushed into the stomach. Unable to prepare the Sharkman's Shackles, Ark was swept by the torrent in the space of a single breath and sucked into somewhere. In the next moment, he was launched up by an incredible force.
At the same time it became bright before his eyes, and he could see the blue sky.
"Blechh, bleeech!"
From his mouth came the sound of Ark trying to draw breath in vain.
Ark surged into the sky riding the plume of water that was bursting from Gallic's blowhole. He saw the blue sky illuminated with sunshine and the ocean stretching endlessly underneath him all at once.
He saw the White Whale's back as it surged above the sea like a mountain range. It was a magical and beautiful spectacle.
"So that's what happened."
The Mermaid Queen nodded.
Ark returned to Nodelesse with the White Whale. When he conveyed the tangled truth about Adelaine, the Mermaids received a considerable shock.
Since everything they had believed as the truth originated from misconceptions, it wasn't easy for them to acknowledge it.
However, they couldn't help but believe the words of Gallic, who had witnessed the very truth himself.
"Your courage and love, which just looked foolhardy, have brought about a good result in the end. All Merpeople should feel ashamed for misunderstanding and hating the Meow all this time from a hasty judgment."
'Eh? Meow? What is this absurdity?'
Until now, he had never once heard of the Meow from the Merpeople. But why did this term suddenly pop up after everything had been settled?
As Ark made a confused expression, the Queen asked as if she was surprised, "Didn't you know?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Christin was the hero of the Meow. They also call him Hero Maban."
"Hero Maban?" Ark was shocked.
Dark Walker was Hero Maban's initial profession. Because of this, ever since his job-change, Ark had been examining tons of data to try and find information about Hero Maban.
All of New World's professions had a related hero. If you found information about that hero, there were many cases where you earned a linked quest. It was an essential quest that granted items, skills, or stats matching the profession.
But Ark hadn't been able to find any information yet and had half given up. But to think the hand mirror quest was a quest related to the Hero Maban!
'That's right, why didn't I think of that? Debra desired the power of Hero Maban. Then the item he dropped could be hiding a secret to earning Hero Maban's strength. And Merpeople are also related to beasts in the end.'
At last all the clues came together in his mind, though it was meaningless since everything was already over...
"Now he is called Hero Maban, but back then he was just a Meow boy. Because of that, many Merpeople opposed the former Mermaid Queen's love. Before then, the Meow and the Merpeople did not have a good relationship."
'No wonder. At the heart of it, it was the relationship between a cat and a fish?'
"And then he eventually left Nodelesse, and the former Queen hid herself while longing for him. Gallic also went crazy as a result, and in the end the Merpeople who hated Christin from the beginning pinned all the blame on him and became sworn enemies of the Meow. All of the Beasts saw Hero Maban as the savior, but the Merpeople did not acknowledge it. Though that was all hundreds of years ago..."
"Will the misunderstanding clear now?"
"Yes, your effort has resolved all misunderstandings. I will represent the Merpeople and send an ambassador to the Meow to apologize for the wrongs so far. I do not doubt the era of hostility will end, and an era of harmony and peace will come." Queen smiled and nodded.
"Also we will not forget the favor you have done for us. You have returned our patron guardian Gallic to us. You have done what no one, let alone a Merperson was able to do. As the hero of the Merpeople, I give you our most heartfelt thanks."
The Mermaid Queen approached and gave Ark a kiss. At Ark's embarrassment, the Mermaid Queen laughed softly as she spoke, "This is the sign of thanks Merpeople convey to someone who has become a true friend."
'Ah, so she does know.'
Ark remembered Adelaine's last kiss and let out a bitter smile.
"You are
the most heroic friend and benefactor of the mermaids. I, the Queen of the Merpeople, do so vow. Just as you have sacrificed for the Merpeople, and we promise to help with all our strength when you are in need."
"For the benefactor!" The Merpeople pulled out their swords and raised them as they shouted.
- The Encroaching Darkness quest has been completed.
When the quest was completed, his level rose by 1 and became 65.
But Ark was restless.
The process of the story was progressing similar to the quest with the young Lord of Jackson. The story of them becoming friends and what not, and sending him right off without a single reward!
But Ark's worry was baseless.
Perhaps because she was a Queen in name, she was quite different from the young Lord.
"This is the small gift we have prepared to thank you for your work."
The Mermaid Queen gave him an armor made out of transparent scale.
Guardian Armor of Merpeople (Magic)
Armor Type
Leather Armor
Defense
80
Durability
100
Weight
35
Usage Restriction
Level 60
Guardian armor, only Warriors who has received the recognition of the Merpeople can equip. Legends say it is made from the scales of a Sea Dragon. It is a light and soft material, so one can move with great ease. In addition, anyone who equips this armor will not receive any water-related damage or penalties.
Option: Water Attribute Resistance +100%, Penalty based on water is nullified.
Ark's eyes became as wide as a cauldron lid.
Although all the options were related to water, it still had a whopping defense of 80. It was double the defense of the Black Bear Mouse leather armor he was using now! Though it was a Magic item, it was Rare-class considering the defense.
It was a leather armor, but it had a much higher defense than the level 40 plated armor he'd taken from Andel.
The one thing that bothered him was the durability, it couldn't be repaired with normal methods.
'Che, if it wasn't for that I could have sold it at rare item price.'
"There is one more thing I would like to ask from you."
"If it is for the Merpeople I would be willing to do anything." Ark perked his ears and quickly nodded.
"Since we have lived in isolation for too long, there is no one among the Merpeople who knows the outside world. Therefore, if possible, we would like you to go to the Meow as the ambassador of the Merpeople and convey our apologies."
Envoy of the Merpeople
The Queen of the Merpeople regrets the past mistakes and wishes to reconcile with the Meow. For you who has high Intimacy with both the Merpeople and Meow, you should be able to easily reconcile the two races.
Difficulty: G
Quest Requirement: Meow and Mermaid intimacy must be over 70%.
Although there was a quest requirement, the difficulty was G. It didn't really seem like a quest that would yield money.
But Ark always welcomes a quest.
"I understand."
"However, I do not know if you will be able to meet them. According to the rumors that have floated through the ocean, it has also been a while since they hid themselves on land..."
"If that's what you're concerned about, there's no need to worry."
Ark laughed as he interrupted her. Then he told the tale of how he saved the Meow in the ruins and obtained the title of 'Cat Knight'.
"If I go the Meow will forgive the past misunderstanding."
"No way, to think you'd have such a relationship with the Meow... I see. Now I can understand why you were able to find Nodelesse and free Queen Adelaine from her fetters. He... in the end, he kept his promise with Queen Adelaine to return."
"Perhaps he did."
"Then it would be good for you, the Seeker of Truth, to keep the stone Queen Adelaine protected so preciously. There's no way to check, but if the idea I've formed after hearing your explanation is right, I think it is one of the three marvels of Hero Maban told in legend."
"Three marvels?"
"They are the three treasures and they are the root of Hero Maban's strength. They disappeared with Hero Maban, so their whereabouts are currently unknown. But I've heard the rumor that one of them was left in the underground world Hero Maban visited last."
'It's quest information for the next profession!'
Ark immediately asked, "Where is the underground world?"
"No one knows. They are Beasts like us, but before the Dark Age, the residents of the underground world lived disconnected from the outside. They are a race completely shrouded in a veil. Among the Beasts, the only person who communicated with them was Hero Maban."
In the end, he had to find out himself. They were disappointing words, but at least he had a clue.
"Now, please come outside--- everyone will want to see the face of the hero."
Queen led Ark outside.
Once he came out of the castle, countless Merpeople of Nodelesse burst out in a cheer. Once he passed the square filled with Merpeople, he was covered in a flurry of kisses everywhere.
He could handle the female Mermaids' kisses, but it was really hard to withstand kisses from the burly Mermen and grey bearded elderly.
When they got out of the square and reached the entrance of Nodelesse, the Queen said, "Since Gallic has returned, the Merpeople will traverse the ocean again for the first time in hundreds of years and return to our native land. Since it is the far side of the endless ocean, even if it's you, we won't be able to meet again for a while, but the Merpeople will definitely return here again. Until that time, please take this."
Queen handed him a small flute.
Flute of the Merpeople (Special)
A flute that calls friends of the Merpeople. You can use it anywhere at sea.
When Ark took the flute and moved a few steps, all of Nodelesse shook. Then, as if there was an earthquake, the ground cracked as the whole city rose. The gigantic White Whale Gallic hefted all of Nodelesse and was rising.
Gallic rolled his building-like eyes to gaze at Ark and let out a roar that resounded through the ocean. Then he raised a tsunami-like current as he cut through the ocean.
The colorful underwater city Nodelesse slowly got further. After settling its dark history, it was leaving to find its home after hundreds of years.
'Haa, for some reason I feel empty.'
Ark stared at Nodelesse blankly until it was completely out of sight.
It was a place where many things had happened. But although it was regretful, he couldn't go with them either, and a new adventure, even more EXP, and items were waiting for Ark on land!
Ark blew on the Flute of the Merpeople.
Since he was underwater, there was no way sound would come out. But after a few seconds, a school of dozens of dolphins approached while cutting through the currents. The dolphins lowered themselves and extended their backs as if they were telling him to ride.
Once Ark got on, the dolphins surged to the surface at an incredible speed. Scores of dolphins raised a spray as they sprang above the surface. And like a surfboard, they began to speed towards the shore.
Although he had walked for days to get to Nodelesse, by riding on the dolphins it didn't even take 30 minutes. From afar, he saw the sight of the lovely shore.
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Battle of Grey Ridge
"Do you know you've committed a sin worthy of death?"
"Yes, I've really reflected a lot on it. Something was wrong with my head when I suddenly rose to success after spending my earlier days so deprived. If you would just give me one more chance..."
"And to whom do you owe your success to?"
"Of course, it's thanks to Master. I was impudent without knowing your grace."
Dedric shed large drops of tears.
'Look at the rascal.' Ark
laughed to himself.
Ark had lived while unwillingly receiving affected sympathy from many people. Thanks to that, he gained an unwelcome ability; by simply looking at the other person's eyes, he could tell if the words coming from their mouth were sincere or not.
Dedric's words were not sincere.
He was just an NPC, but he knew how to cunningly trick someone.
'It seems I shouldn't have thoughtlessly evolved him.'
Bat also had a bad personality, but he wasn't cunning. After evolving into Dedric, he learned how to be crafty. It meant ego also increases with each evolution. He wasn't sincere, but it seemed Dedric had yielded this time. However, there was no guarantee it would be this easy if it happens again.
Skull was the same. Though it was a faithful Familiar now, there was no way of telling how it would change when it evolved.
'Summons are also intelligent beings.'
This incident changed how Ark viewed his Familiars.
Each Familiar had a different personality. Even so, Ark tried to treat the Familiars equally. He didn't favor one and neglect the others. That was the problem.
'Seems like I have to use control; the carrot and stick approach."
Just as there are fellows who do better if you praise them, there are those who get cocky. In addition, there are those who perform properly only with the use of violence and threats.
Granted, even a good medicine can be counterproductive if overdosed, he would need to regulate it.
This was why Ark had beaten Dedric to the point where it seemed overboard. Even the highly loyal Skull or Snake might change personalities one day. To prepare for that day, he set an example with Dedric. In other words, Dedric had been severely punished because he was unfortunately chosen to set an example.
'Whew, it isn't easy taking care of 3 Familiars. I think I can finally understand how hard it is for teachers who have to teach dozens.'