Vol 2 Chapter 45

"...Ah."

"Actually, Palton and I have a long way to go if we want to find even a clue for our blocked quest, but what kind of trouble is this for months because of that bastard who doesn't even show a hair? That crazy Palton is making a fuss saying he absolutely can't leave until he fights that guy again..."

"What about you, hyung?"

The moment Kapros asked, implying whether Kion-hyung wanted to fight that person again, he slightly widened his eyes looking at Kion-hyung's face. Kion-hyung was smiling with a cold expression Kapros had never seen before.

"Not me."

Before Kapros could express his surprise that someone who was always so passionate could make such an expression, Kion-hyung lowered his eyes.

"Not now. Someday I'll have to face him again, but..."

In that voice, Kapros felt a slight sense of defeat along with rising fighting spirit. Come to think of it, he remembered Kion-hyung saying before that he had fought him and ended up running away. Kion-hyung, who had to flee even in a favorable 2:1 situation. Kapros could understand how much that must have hurt his pride.

"Hyung..."

Just as Kapros was about to put his hand on Kion-hyung's uncharacteristically slumped shoulders, Kion-hyung suddenly jerked his head up.

"That damn helmet bug bastard, I'll definitely rip off his helmet and expose his ugly face to the world!"

Kapros was startled and almost bumped into him, but seeing Kion-hyung return to his usual self made him laugh. Then he thought about the "blocked quest clue" Kion-hyung had mentioned earlier.

"Hyung, you said earlier that your quest was blocked..."

"Ah, yeah. I have six quests excluding the linked ones, and I've cleared four of them and need to go find the fifth. But that... Ah, Kar. You have that gem too, right?"

"What gem?"

"You know, that one. The one with the same function as the yellow gem that Kran bastard who's doing the Shine quest received before."

Ah...

As Kapros recalled the red Superior brooch that would be attached to his chest hidden by his robe, Kion-hyung nodded and spoke without even looking.

"The one with the function that shows a mark on the map window and guides you to where the next quest is. But after clearing the fourth one, it started making a fuss about having to find your own way, and then really, it just gave one hint that doesn't even seem like a hint and nothing is marked on the map. So... in short, I've lost my destination."

Kapros was momentarily surprised for several reasons at Kion-hyung's words.

"...Hyung's quest is six?"

Kapros hurriedly called up his quest window.

"Quest window on."

Soon, the familiar Superior quest window appeared before him.

He saw that the quest had become 2/8 at some point.

2/8... That meant his quest had a total of eight parts. Why was there such a difference? As he was staring seriously at the window, Kion-hyung patted his shoulder and spoke.

"If you're surprised that the numbers are different, you don't need to be. It's different for everyone. If you ask your friends, they'll all be different too. By the way, that Palton bastard has five."

"Why are they all different?"

As Kapros, having regained his composure, asked out of belated curiosity, Kion-hyung shrugged.

"I don't know about that either... but it's certain that having fewer quests doesn't mean you can finish them faster. That Palton guy has only managed to clear three despite running around so much."

I see. Nodding, Kapros signaled Kion-hyung to continue his earlier story.

"Hmm... Right. Anyway, the problem is that the one and only hint for finding that fifth quest is completely indecipherable to me, so I can't go looking for it."

"What is it?"

"Head to the goddess's last temple where the final memory of the Holy Knight and his friend lies. It was protected in the name of friendship, but now it's nothing more than a vain ruin that has lost its former appearance and become defiled by darkness. ...Damn it, that guy had many friends, how am I supposed to know which friend he did what with! Moreover, Skaga's temple doesn't exist anywhere except the newly built one in Zagreb. Can you understand anything from hearing this?"

Kapros thought for a moment. Currently nothing more than a ruin that has lost its former appearance and become defiled by darkness... It felt like there might be something more, but he did have an idea for now.

"...If it's a defiled ruin, it means it's not a temple now, so why don't you first look for a dungeon with parts related to a temple or a hunting ground with a related name?"

As Kapros answered, muttering, Kion-hyung's eyes widened as big as saucers.

"What, you, you!"

When Kion-hyung suddenly grabbed Kapros's shoulders and rushed at him, Kapros narrowed his eyes and said, "That hurts." Kion-hyung quickly let go and started clutching his head in agony.

"I've been going around all sorts of dangerous places looking for the real temple, but how can you figure it out so well after hearing it just once! You genius!"

"..."

Kapros sighed at the sight of Kion-hyung believing so firmly in what he had said without even thinking about it further, when it was just a simple guess. He didn't know what Kion-hyung was planning to do otherwise. Kapros was the type of person who used his body more than his brain, so it wouldn't be of much use even if Kion-hyung believed him.

But not wanting to take away the hope from Kion-hyung who was so happy, Kapros just watched him. After making a fuss for a while, Kion-hyung finally hugged Kapros tightly.

"I should have asked you earlier, you bundle of luck! You pretty boy! I'm going to tell that Pal-deung bastard right away...!"

Kion-hyung, who had been jumping around while hugging Kapros suffocatingly, suddenly called out to Palton and ran out.

"Hey! Pal-deung~!"

Kapros sighed, feeling as if a storm had just passed through.

"Anyway, I got a lot of information today..."

Kion-hyung didn't return even after waiting for a long time. Thinking that this was very typical of him, Kapros got up and went outside, but realized he had nowhere particular to go. Previously, he would have gone to find Kran, but Kran was currently struggling to clear his last remaining quest. It didn't feel right to go and disturb someone who was working hard.

"..."

Standing among the people walking on the street, for the first time since starting MIST, Kapros thought that he too was a guy with nothing to do. Naturally, the face of the other guy came to mind.

Yu-wan.

He had planned to ask all the questions that had been bothering him as soon as Yu-wan returned, but he was nowhere to be seen, doing who knows what. So now, Kapros was thinking of hitting him once first as soon as he showed up.

'Still, it's nice to see the blue sky after a long time.'

Until now, he had been so busy that he didn't even have time for his usual walks. Kapros decided to just walk anywhere comfortably for now.

'Come to think of it, I met Kion-hyung before while wandering around alleys like this.'

"Ugh!"

Yes, with a sound just like that.

"Hmm?"

As Kapros stopped walking at the sudden small scream from somewhere, he felt the wall and ground vibrate heavily with a thud, as if they had been waiting. Listening carefully, he could hear faint shouting from not too far away. He could hear the voices of what sounded like dozens of people simultaneously, which was unusual to hear in such a secluded place. Following that, the sound of clashing swords and a secondary explosion tore through the air.

'...What's this?'

Although he didn't know what was happening, he had a rough idea of the location. Kapros thought for a moment about what to do, but eventually started walking leisurely towards that place. Wherever this aimless walk led, it was his choice after all.