Light of Arad: Forerunner

Chapter 41

The creature that took on the form of Apostle Lotus.

However, true to its name “Petite,” it was small enough to be considered cute.

Above all, it didn’t resemble Lotus’ original form with multiple tentacles like an octopus.

Instead, it was a cute depiction of the moment when players faced Lotus in Behemoth, with just its eyes and tongue sticking out between the cracks of the GBL Church building.

To top it off, the temple building it had been stuck in even came as part of the set.

“Gorrrk.”

Petite Lotus let out a peculiar gurgling sound as it flapped around as if it was struggling to breathe underwater.

It flapped and squirmed, making a fluttering sound, which startled Jinseong for a moment since it wasn’t wings but tentacles causing the noise.

He was at a loss for words, not knowing what to say about the creature.

It was Lotus, yet it wasn’t. It had been an Apostle, but not anymore.

“A creature… Petite Lotus.”

“Haha, it’s so cute, lol.”

Standing a step behind Jinseong, Sunsu Rasura approached the while laughing.

Her voice, full of amusement, was undoubtedly genuine.

“It is cute, but… why this?”

Jinseong also wanted to own a creature at some point.

When he planned to sell the weapon design, his target price was between 8,000,000 to 10,000,000 gold.

Once the sale was completed within that range, Jinseong had also intended to purchase a creature.

“Yeah? It’s cute though, lol. Besides, you don’t really need an endgame creature for scenarios anyway.”

“Well, it’s true, you don’t need an endgame creature, but having at least a semi-endgame one would be nice…”

Although he couldn’t get the best creatures available, he could still afford something a tier below.

There were creatures that increased all stat points by at least 100, raised attack speed, movement speed, and casting speed by 2%, and added 10 to elemental reinforcement, while also increasing physical and magical critical hit rates by 3%.

Moreover, if he could just get a semi-endgame creature, it would boost his skills.

Even if Jinseong hadn’t learned certain skills yet, as he leveled up and acquired them later, the creature’s effects would still result in increased damage and reduced cooldowns.

‘To put it bluntly, I could’ve gotten a creature that’s better than all my current items combined.’

That was the type of creature Jinseong had been eyeing.

“No need for a semi-endgame creature, lol. You’ll just have to replace it with an endgame one anyway, so spending money twice is a waste. For someone like you who plays Dungeon & Fighter steadily, there’s no need for it.”

Not a bizarre thing flapping its tentacles like wings!

Though the eyes peeking through the cracks of the GBL Church and the drooping tongue had a certain eerie cuteness, this wasn’t it!

Jinseong wanted to say something but couldn’t bring himself to speak.

If he shouldn’t buy a semi-endgame creature because he’d have to upgrade to an endgame one later, what was the point of the Petite Lotus with its tongue hanging out in front of him?

As if hearing the cry of his heart, Sunsu continued.

“Haha, but still, you can use cute creatures as skins later, lol. I have a few myself, like the Popping Popping 8-bit creature or Marbas, lol.”

Weapon appearances can be changed with weapon avatars or skins.

Armor appearances can be altered with avatars.

In Dungeon & Fighter, even creature appearances can be customized.

This way, you can keep the performance of a ‘top-tier’ creature while having a creature that suits your taste following you around.

‘…The Popping Popping 8-bit one is genuinely cute, and Marbas is a buffer-switching creature, so it’s originally good… This is different, though, for crying out loud!’

Sunsu was sincere.

She bought this creature because it was cute. For Jinseong himself.

Knowing she didn’t have any malicious intent behind it, all he could do was express his gratitude.

“Right. I’ll use it thankfully.”

Sunsu, seemingly feeling slightly embarrassed, fidgeted awkwardly.

“Haha, no need to thank me, lol. Think of it as payment for the weapon skin, haha. I just valued it at around 1.5 million gold.”

“1.5 million gold… wow.”

Of course, for Jinseong, the statement was nothing short of bewildering.

Valuing it at 15,000,000 gold was something to be immensely grateful for.

It was far above his original goal.

But thinking about how much more he could’ve done if it had all been in gold made it hard for him to shake off a sense of disappointment.

‘…Wait, did she say Petite Lotus is worth 7,000,000 gold? In that case, she could’ve just bought me a semi-endgame creature! You can get one for around 7,000,000 gold too!’

A semi-endgame creature priced around 7,000,000 gold could provide noticeable assistance to Jinseong at this point.

On the other hand, the gave him +30 Strength, restored 31.2 HP per minute, increased his maximum MP by 5%, and added 2% to attack speed.

‘Setting aside its performance, how much of this price comes from its weird appearance?!’

Especially when stats like evasion and accuracy weren’t even that important to Jinseong, now as a ‘Dark Knight,’ the creature’s only real benefit was the MP increase.

“Gorrrk! Gorruk!”

Jinseong looked at the creature, which rattled as it tried to talk to him.

But what fault could the have?

“It sounds like it’s drowning… Wait, I guess I don’t have to worry about it suffocating. It must’ve longed for this.”

The sound effect resembled the noise of something drinking water.

Perhaps this creature was making up for the unfulfilled wish of Apostle Lotus, who could never reach the ‘Middle Ocean.’

At that moment, Jinseong responded to his new creature.

“Haha, I knew this would happen, lol.”

And this was exactly what Sunsu had been waiting for.

“What?”

“Haha, I just figured someone like you would end up talking to the creature like that, lol. Jinseong, you’re really the best.”

Sunsu could have bought a semi-endgame creature.

Even if she planned to upgrade to an endgame creature later, she knew she could use a semi-endgame one for buff switching or as a skin. But she still bought for this reason.

Jinseong could only let out a hollow laugh.

“Haha… Yes. Thank you.”

To Jinseong, it seemed like Sunsu was almost out of breath, gasping for air from laughing too hard.

He wondered just how much laughter the player behind the keyboard must’ve been holding back.

‘Getting too close to someone like this could be dangerous.’

Jinseong made a mental note.

It was a resolution entirely different from what Sunsu had in mind.

“Haha, if you ever have anything to sell again, make sure to contact me first, haha. If you can’t whisper me as Sunsujikgi or Sunsurara, just shout with a megaphone and my guildmates will let me know, lol. Okay?”

Sunsu’s eagerness to stay close was enough to make Jinseong feel like stepping back.

However, the offer itself was something Jinseong couldn’t refuse.

Unable to use the auction house and lacking reliable players, here was someone who had money and knew Dungeon & Fighter well.

“Yes, in that case, let’s trade some megaphones-”

“Ten for 1,000,000 gold, lol.”

“-That’s quick. Yes, I’ll contact you when I have something good to sell.”

Forming a connection with such a quick and efficient player.

‘At the very least, there’s no harm in it. Sigh, it’s just his personality that’s…’

Even with a sense of unease, Jinseong nodded in agreement.

And thus, Jinseong concluded his third encounter with Sunsu.

What he gained was 7,000,000 gold.

The creature .

And ten .

Having more than reached his original target of 10,000,000 gold, Jinseong walked away feeling satisfied.

—

Sharan blinked in surprise, staring at the entrance of the Mage Guild.

“Jinseong? What’s that?”

“Gorrrk.”

“…A creature.”

Jinseong responded in a weary tone.

After parting ways with Sunsu and greeting Linus, his natural next stop was, of course, the Mage Guild.

“A creature? I’ve seen some adventurers carrying those around lately, but… where did you get that all of a sudden? Besides, its appearance… I didn’t see it myself, but from what I’ve heard, it seems like a cute simplification of Apostle Lotus.”

“It’s not like it has Apostle-level powers or anything. I’d actually prefer it if it did… sigh.”

After a quick reorganization, Jinseong was about to leave, but Sharan’s interest, while appreciated, felt like a burden to answer.

Sensing his reluctance, Sharan didn’t probe further.

There was a more pressing issue at hand.

“Well, anyway. Something’s happened. The problem

you mentioned earlier has come up. The Kingdom of Peness suddenly deployed forces to the border of the Duchy of Bell Meyer…”

“And that’s because of rumors that the plague affecting the Dark Elves was spread by humans, right?”

“Yes. The Duchy has sent a small group, including adventurers, but I’m not sure how well they’ll manage. For something like this, you’d need a large-scale investigation team, but the mood is so tense right now.”

This was the next step in the main scenario quest.

It was something Jinseong had already anticipated and had warned Sharan about in advance.

“It’ll work out. If you focus in advance before any requests come in, it’ll be much easier for you, Sharan.”

“Will it? I know adventurers defeated Zieg Hart and dealt with Lotus, but I’m still uneasy… They’re not official agents of the Duchy, after all. Even though the Queen personally requested them-”

“Still, I believe…”

Jinseong tried to think of reassuring words, but it turned out he didn’t need to.

Because someone else had faith in the adventurers more than anyone else.

“Adventurers will do well.”

A clear, calm voice rang out as someone entered the Mage Guild.

At the sight of the person, Jinseong immediately shot up from his previously relaxed position.

“Se-Seria! Seria!”

“Oh? Do you know me?”

It was only then that Jinseong realized.

As a player, as the , at this point in the story, he had no direct interactions with Seria. He had momentarily forgotten, but in ‘reality’…

‘I see. Seria fought in the tutorial battle, repaired the Grand Magic Circle at the Sky Castle, and then parted ways with the adventurer after that… At this point, she’s learning magic from Sharan.’

Seria was, in her own way, studying and performing her duties as a member of the Mage Guild!

However, the reason Jinseong was so flustered was because, since his arrival in this world, he hadn’t once spoken directly to Seria.

As Seria tilted her head curiously, Jinseong quickly nodded.

“I do… Yes. I’ve heard a lot from Sharan. She mentioned that you’re very diligent and incredibly talented.”

“Oh? Sharan said that? But really, I haven’t done anything worth mentioning.”

Seria blushed, turning to look at Sharan.

Sharan glanced back and forth between Seria and Jinseong, playing it off with a chuckle.

“Oh, haha, no, Seria, you’re really… Well, just as Jinseong said, you’re remarkable. Every time I see you, I’m amazed. Oh, by the way, this is Jinseong. He’s G.S.D’s disciple and now works as the [Special Task Force for Phenomenon Management] of our Mage Guild, being dispatched to various locations.”

“I see. It’s nice to meet you, Jinseong.”

Seria greeted him with a bright smile.

As he watched her smile, Jinseong couldn’t help but feel his heart race, along with a strange sense of emotion welling up.

‘Any Dungeon & Fighter player would feel this way…’

Moreover, given that Jinseong knew all of Seria’s ‘secrets,’ he found himself worrying about accidentally blurting something out while with her.

So, Jinseong hurriedly started gathering his belongings.

“Yes, nice to meet you. Ahem. Well, I think I’ve said everything I needed to. I should be heading out to the ‘field’ now, right, Sharan?”

“That’s… right. So, your next mission is-”

“I’ll be heading to the Alfrayla base, right?”

Jinseong winked.

Sharan understood his signal immediately.

“Yes, please. And make sure to report back as soon as you find anything.”

“Understood.”

Just as Jinseong was about to dash out of the Mage Guild, Seria’s voice called out from behind.

“Jinseong, right? You’re heading to the Alfrayla base, which is at the border between the Duchy of Bell Meyer and the Kingdom of Peness? Where the adventurers are?”

“Huh? Yes, that’s right.”

Jinseong stopped briefly to look back at her.

Seria met his eyes for a moment before speaking.

“I know it’s a tough task, but… Please take care of the adventurer.”

Those words struck a chord deep in Jinseong’s heart.

Because he was that adventurer.

Because he was a player.

But it wasn’t just that.

At this moment, Seria’s plea or request wasn’t necessary.

‘To protect the dew… so that the one who seeks it can safeguard it.’

As , his role was to ensure that the grew safely and proved their worth as true adventurers.

“Yes, don’t worry. That’s my job.”

That was exactly the role Jinseong had to play.

Jinseong headed towards the Alfrayla base.

It was time to hunt for ‘contamination’ once more.