Chapter 234: The Road to Despia

Kang Oh clung to Eder and kept asking him how he made all that money.

"It's a secret..."

"Oh, c'mon. We're friends, aren't we?"

"Hmph. You know that I was once a legendary healer, right?"

The abused Eder. That was nothing but the past now. He was such an exceptional healer that he was once called the 'Healer that Overcame Death Itself!'.

"Indeed." Kang Oh quickly nodded his head.

"I know how to make various medicines," Eder said.

"So?"

"Mr. Man Bok and I sold medicine together."

"Did you make a lot of money?'

"I made plenty."

Eder was filthy rich! It felt like he was looking at a friend who'd won the lottery.

'Ah, I'm so jealous!'

Ultimately, the auction raised 22,500 gold! Adding the 10,000 gold from the secret room, as well as another 10,000 gold from the Witch's Forest, made the total come out to 42,500 gold.

"Then, as promised, 70% goes to the Witch's Forest, 20% goes to Bart's party, and 10% goes to Mr. Kang Oh."

Kang Oh received 4,250 gold, while Bart received 8,500.

"We're done divvying up the loot!" Sporting a lighthearted expression, she continued, "Ah, we've prepared a celebratory party. Please have some fun before you go."

"Oooh!"

"A party!"

Rohan, Bart, and Eder cheered.

The Witch's Forest only consisted of women. To think they'd be able to enjoy a party with them. What a joyous occasion!

Kang Oh was happy too. After all, he'd be able to celebrate with Asu.

"I'll take you to the party grounds!"

The central hall was already prepped for the party. Food and snacks were the table, as well as unique alcohol and drinks, which could only be enjoyed in Arth.

Bards were performing on the stage, singing merry tunes.

The Witch's Forest members were dressed immaculately, and came with one or two of their friends.

Kang Oh stayed with Asu everywhere he went. He danced with her, drank with her, and tasted/judged the food with her too. They also had fun speaking with Chef Lee Soo Min, who joined halfway through the celebrations.

Eder, irritated that Kang Oh had a girlfriend while he didn't, was determined to get himself a girlfriend and looked around resolutely.

Meanwhile, Bart was surrounded by women. It was because of his cute face, as well as his popularity as one of the Numbers.

Helena was nowhere to be found. According to Asu, she almost never showed up at parties.

The members of the Eclipse hunting party partied like there was no tomorrow.

* * *

"Mr. Kang Oh, please don't come looking for me for a while," Eder said.

"You're going to remodel Eclipse's body?"

"Yes. I'm pretty rich now, so I'm going to really give it my all." Eder looked excited, as if he were a child who'd just gotten his hands on a new toy.

"Eclipse is a level 400 Lich. I can look forward to it, right?'

"Of course."

"Mm, then I'll be looking for a way to get to Despia. When you're done remodeling Eclipse's body, let me know."

"I'll do that. Take care."

Kang Oh exited Eder's house and messaged Sephiro.

- Mr. Sephiro.

However, he didn't get a reply back. It seemed like he was incredibly busy with that hidden class quest of his.

'I hoped to get some information from his information brokers, but... I guess it can't be helped.' Kang Oh started walking.

* * *

Despia. It's said that you could reach it by going straight west. A few players had actually tried that, and had gone to the western edge of the continent, but they weren't able to find Despia there.

All they found at the end was a steep cliff and darkness of an unknown depth! People called this area the Dark Sea.

One player thought that crossing the Dark Sea was the way into Despia. Another player believed that the road to Despia existed somewhere in the Starving Desert. Someone even suggested that Despia didn't even exist!

It was impossible to tell who was right. After all, no player had ever gone to Despia before! Thus, he needed to gather some information on Despia.

"Tino!" Kang Oh, who'd come to the Jurento Bar, shook the slumped over old man.

"Mm? Yawn." Tino lazily stood up and yawned.

"I have a question."

"Mm, let me wake up first..." Tino rubbed his red nose and studied Kang Oh's face.

"Please bring over some really strong liquor."

"Hehe, thanks."

"I want to go to Despia. Do you know anything about it?"

"Despia, huh... It's called the Land that Borders Hell. Do you know why it's called that?"

"Why?"

"It's an underworld. That's why it's said to border hell."

"How do you get there?"

"Death exists within the time of a time-eating entity," Tino said.

'Death exists within the time of a time-eating entity... What does that even mean?" Kang Oh couldn't help but furrow his brow.

"It, along with other rumors, are always said about Despia."

"Hmm. What about info regarding the Goddess of Death, Deborah? Info on her temple is fine too," Kang Oh said.

Tino pulled the cork off and began drinking directly from the bottle. "Kyaa, that hits the spot!"

"Do you know anything about Deborah?"

"Pay me first."

"Here." Kang Oh passed him 10 gold.

"At the beginning, there were four gods in existence. Creation and destruction, and life and death. Those four gods created Arth, and conceived the other gods that followed."

"Please keep going."

"The Goddess of Death is one of the first four gods. She's also the mother of countless other gods, like the Goddess of Contracts, Sabra."

He recalled reading about the genesis of the world before.

"I remember reading that the first gods created their own personal sanctuaries... Is Despia Deborah's sanctuary?"

"I'm not entirely sure. Some say yes, while others say that only a part of Despia is her sanctuary."

"Does Deborah need something for you to enter Despia... Hmm, I have one more question. I heard that the Black Hammer Dwarves ran away from the Black Dragon, Inarius, and hid in Despia."

The Black Hammer Dwarves, which were purportedly hiding in Despia! If he traced their steps, then maybe he'd be able to find Despia.

"I don't know much about them," Tino said, and began guzzling the bottle.

"Do you have any other noteworthy information?"

"No."

"Alright then. Keep up the good work."

"Take care."

* * *

Kang Oh went to the Adventurer Guild next.

He approached Jayce, the man with a scar over his eye, and took off his mask.

"Oh, it's you! Welcome," Jayce said.

"Hoo, hoo. Mr. Jayce. Do you recognize the leather armor I'm wearing?"

"Mm. Let's see here... This looks like wyvern skin. It's red and black, which means... You didn't?"

"I did."

"Oooh!" Jayce's face was filled with astonishment and awe.

"Do you want me to fill you in?"

"Of course. Follow me."

Kang Oh followed Jayce upstairs.

"I have a room now." Jayce welcomed him into his office. "Sit down and relax."

The room was small, but it was quiet. Jayce immediately brewed some tea and gave Kang Oh a cup.

"Alright. About that wyvern, was it a unique boss?"

"Yes, it was a unique boss."

"Ooh, tell me all the details," Jayce urged.

Kang Oh grinned and began telling the story of his battle against the Wyvern King, Draka.

"To think that there's a wyvern capable of controlling the weather. It's the very definition of mysterious," Jayce said.

"It's more formidable than mysterious."

"Mm, if it's ok with you, can I take a closer look at your armor?"

"Of course." Kang Oh passed him the Draka set.

"Hoh. Oh."

After carefully inspecting the armor, Jayce returned it to Kang Oh. "Thanks!"

[Closeness with Jayce has increased.]

[You may now receive more adventuring quests from him.]

'My turn now.'

"Do you know anything about Despia?" Kang Oh asked.

"All I know is that it's called the Land that Borders Hell."

"You don't know how to get there, I assume?"

"No."

"Do you know anything in particular regarding the Goddess of Death, Deborah?" Kang Oh kept asking question after question.

Jayce shook his head.

"What about the Black Hammer Dwarves, which escaped the Black Dragon, Inarius, and hid in Despia?"

"Huh?" Jayce looked shocked.

"What is it?"

"How do you know about the Black Hammer Dwarves?"

"I heard about them. To my knowledge, they escaped Inarius and hid in Despia."

"Mm, so they chose to hide in Despia?"

"Yes."

"Hmm." Jayce furrowed his brow.

"It sounds like you know something..." Kang Oh's eyes and actions were screaming 'Please tell me what you know.'.

"Don't spread what I'm about to tell you."

"My lips are sealed."

"The Adventurer Guild helped the Black Hammer Dwarves escape from Inarius's grasp. That wicked dragon can never learn of this!" Jayce said.

Kang Oh gestured that his lips were sealed.

Then, Jayce continued quietly, "We moved them from the northern end to the southern end of the continent."

"The southern end?"

"The Great Forest. I heard a certain tribe moved them again later on."

[You have acquired a solid clue that points to the whereabouts of the Black Hammer Dwarves.]

[If you acquire more clues, then you will receive a quest.]

"Do you know which tribe moved them?"

"I don't."

"Mm. Thank you very much for the info."

"Are you going to try and find them?"

"Yes, I have something to ask them."

"Good luck."

"Yes, sir!"

Kang Oh left the Adventurer Guild and headed for the intercity transfer gate.

* * *

Kang Oh came to Nuwak Village, where the people traditionally wore bird feather cloaks and drew a third eye on their foreheads. Due to his role in killing the Snake Queen, Cassio, Kang Oh had maxed out his friendship with the Nuwak Tribe.

"Mr. Kang Oh, it's been a long time."

"Please, come in and make yourself at home."

Kang Oh thanked them for their warm welcome and entered the village. Then, he immediately met with the Nuwak Chieftain, Shula.

The hale and hearty Shula, who's rumored to have lived more than 100 years, greeted him.

"It's been a while."

"Yes, it has. Have you been well?"

"I haven't."

"Why is that?"

"Wukong is tearing up the Great Forest."

Wukong was the mythical creature that Kang Oh had found at the Stone Monkey Hideout.

The Empire Guild was the last of the 5 great guilds to attempt the Wukong raid. However, they too hadfailed, allowing Wukong to wreak havoc on the Great Forest.

"I see."

"Do you want to try and take him down?" Shula asked.

"I can't right now. I may be able to in the future, after I've become stronger."

"Ugh. Is that so? Anyhow, what did you come here for today?"

"Do you know about the Black Hammer Dwarves?" Kang Oh asked.

Shula's eyes slightly shook.

'As expected of the most well-informed man in the Great Forest. He knows something!'

"No, I don't." However, Shula acted like he didn't know them.

"Are you really going to be like that? Aren't we close?"

"I said I don't know them."

"I'm not trying to hurt them. Inarius hasn't ordered me to capture them either. I heard that they're hiding in Despia; I have some business in Despia myself. By tracking their whereabouts, I hoped to find out how to get into Despia too," Kang Oh said.

"Mm."

"And I'll keep the information to myself," Kang Oh said, and closed his mouth in a thin line.

"Find Krohn. His father helped bring the dwarves someplace else, so..."

Not only was Krohn the Nuwak Tribe's greatest warrior, but Kang Oh had fought alongside him against the Snake Queen, Cassio, before.

"Can't I just speak to Krohn's father in person?"

"He's dead."

"Understood."

Kang Oh immediately headed for Krohn's house.