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In the Chronicles of the Lion King, it was narrated that Terodamas met his final death in a place not far from the Demia Empire Academy, called Obitus. At that time, the army led by Terodamas was literally on the verge of unifying the continent, with only one kingdom remaining, which would later become the foundation of the Infractus Empire.

However, the opportunity to achieve a historic feat of continental unification, which Terodamas had believed in without doubt, was forever lost due to the betrayal of his trusted officials. Perhaps, in what could have been the final battlefield of Obitus, the greatest conqueror in the continent’s history fell and disappeared.

That was the life story of Terodamas, known as the Lion King.

‘Though it’s heavily romanticized.’

Gilbert, who was almost arriving at the Obitus Territory, scoffed at the contents of the chronicle. He was the only man who had cleared all achievements in Tactical Combat. Since uncovering hidden stories within the narrative was one of the achievements, he was well aware of all the secret histories related to Terodamas.

Gilbert had no objection to the fact that the Lion King had left behind great achievements. Indeed, he was a king on the brink of unifying the continent, and it was clear that his abilities had brought him that far.

However, he could not agree that Terodamas was a benevolent ruler who would be remembered for ages. No matter how many countries he conquered, if the situation dragged on for over a decade, the suffering of the people under his rule was immense.

Moreover, King Terodamas, as talented as he was, could not well understand the thoughts of ordinary people. It might have been his innate nature, or perhaps he became arrogant due to the invincible myth he had created.

The prolonged war impoverished the lives of the people, and the Lion King, blinded solely by the great achievement of continental unification, neglected internal affairs.

No matter how many administrative officials there were, they could not handle all the problems that arose from subjugating numerous countries spread across the continent. There was an absolute lack of both manpower and the physical time needed to organize the system.

As a result, the treatment of war orphans and the restoration of devastated territories were neglected, and all efforts were focused solely on expanding the land. That was the Lion King Terodamas.

Gilbert thought that the rebellion of the officials might have been inevitable.

‘And splitting the land and rivers with a single sword?’

That part made Gilbert snort. Currently, it is known that the Colossal Mechs are products of modern magic engineering, but in reality, it was different. The current Colossal Mechs were born from the discovery of ancient ruins. It was merely that the power structure and intellectuals, wanting to present historical discoveries as modern inventions, dazzled the public as if they had made a great invention.

Originally, the supreme Colossal Mech in Tactical Combat was the legacy of Atlantica. And that Colossal Mech was…

“Are you a cadet of the Demia Empire Academy?”

“Is there a problem with my cadet ID?”

“No, it’s just a procedure to confirm. Welcome to Obitus.”

Snapping out of his thoughts, Gilbert nodded at the guard checking the territory’s entrance and stepped inside.

Originally, to obtain the Lion King’s Mana Meditation Technique, one had to proceed with a sub-quest and find the journal left by Terodamas. Contrary to the chronicle’s narration, Terodamas, despite the rebellion of his officials at a decisive moment, managed to lead his loyal followers and escape the battlefield.

His martial prowess was formidable, and he had the capability to withdraw from the battlefield. However, even the Lion King could not avoid injuries, and after losing all his troops, he met a lonely death in a place only he knew.

The exact cause of death was likely the worsening of injuries sustained in the Obitus battle, and sensing his end, he left behind what could be called his life’s journal.

The journal described the three legacies that had placed him at the pinnacle, one of which was the Mana Meditation Technique, obtainable right where the journal was found. Hence, the primary goal of the sub-quest was to locate the hidden retreat where Terodamas breathed his last.

To gain information about the retreat, one first had to find Obitus, where Terodamas fought his final battle. The Obitus Territory still held festivals commemorating the Lion King’s achievements, indicating the abundance of information about Terodamas there.

Among them, hints could be found in the songs of minstrels active around Obitus, and upon finding the hidden retreat in Obitus, one could obtain the journal.

Of course, that was the design of the sub-quest, but it wasn’t necessary to follow that flow strictly.

Fortunately, this sub-quest wasn’t a step-by-step mechanism that required clearing preliminary stages to proceed. Once accepted, one could rush to obtain it at any time, assuming the location was known.

However, even upon arriving at Terodamas’s retreat, one couldn’t simply take the journal and leave, so it was standard for newbies to grow somewhat before seeking it out.

But Gilbert was the cream of the crop, and he had more than enough ability to handle that level of difficulty.

The reason he came to Obitus without heading straight for the retreat was to find an item that could enhance his Mana Ability Stat.

Although the protagonist Ian naturally obtained this item while progressing through the main story, Gilbert also urgently needed to boost his Mana Ability Stat, so he intended to pocket it discreetly.

As the sun set and darkness fell, Gilbert first sought a place to stay for the night. Familiar with the scenery often seen in the game, he felt a sense of warmth and easily found an inn. Upon opening the door and entering, he saw lodgers gathering here and there in the dining area, just about to have dinner.

“I’d like to stay for a night.”

“How did an academy cadet end up here? Did you run away?”

The innkeeper asked curiously. As far as he knew, the semester had just started a month ago, so it wasn’t yet time for leave.

If not, then it must be either expulsion or voluntary departure, but such a person couldn’t be a noble, so he didn’t bother to speak formally.

“No need to tell you.”

“If you’ve run away, it’s customary to contact the academy… I roughly understand the situation, so I won’t ask further. Including breakfast, 50 coppers will suffice.”

The quick-witted innkeeper realized that Gilbert was moving with the academy’s permission and gave up on detailed inquiries. As a commoner, he knew from experience that getting involved in academy affairs would only lead to trouble.

Gilbert paid him, received the key, and went to his assigned room. He tossed his bag to one side of the room and flopped onto the bed. Having been homeless for a while, his body ached all over.

He needed to wash off the accumulated dust and eat, but Gilbert thought he’d lie down and rest for a bit.

Considering the tight schedule ahead, he needed a little break.

***

The next morning, after an early breakfast, Gilbert headed to the back alleys of Obitus. Unlike the clean, well-maintained main streets of the city, this place was filled with a musty, unpleasant smell, the dark underbelly of the city.

Including illegal activities, the trade of stolen goods was also brisk here, earning it the nickname ‘Black Market’ among gamers.

Newbies, unaware of what this place was, often came here in a hurry and ended up stripped of everything, leading to game over. However, players somewhat familiar with the game frequently used this place.

The reason was, of course, for information gathering and back-alley exclusive sub-quests. The back alleys of Obitus were one of the places one had to visit at least once while progressing through the main story.

Gilbert came here to execute his original plan. The top priority was to find consumables that could enhance his Mana Ability Stat, and while at it, he also came early to facilitate the progression of the main story.

Walking through the smelly, dirty alley, he found a tavern that looked sinister at first glance. It wasn’t hard to find due to its game-like appearance, but the flies buzzing around his pockets on the way were quite annoying.

However, with his Physical Ability Stat already comparable to late-game characters, he easily broke their limbs, and the back-alley flies, realizing his demeanor and skills were extraordinary, no longer approached him.

‘They’re unnecessarily picking a fight.’

Twisting the corner of his mouth, he strode into the tavern without hesitation.

The rough-looking men inside eyed Gilbert as he swaggered in, but upon noticing his Demia Empire Academy cadet uniform, they merely licked their lips.

They knew all too well that in the back alleys, failing to properly assess your opponent could lead to disaster.

Gilbert approached the bartender wiping glasses and uttered the predetermined code phrase.

“A Black Lagoon, hot please.”

“I wondered what brought an academy cadet here, but it seems you’re a guest. It’s surprising, having worked here for quite some time.”

“Is this place for unnecessary talk?”

“My apologies, it was unexpected for me as well.”

The bartender bowed his head, apologizing for speaking out of turn, and opened a hidden passage. Normally, one would only come here after progressing halfway through the early game, but that was irrelevant to Gilbert.

Arriving at the real ‘Black Market,’ he ignored the gazes on his academy cadet uniform, which didn’t fit the place, and headed straight for a certain spot.

Merchants with stalls on the street were soliciting customers, but the place he sought wasn’t among them.

Going further in, proper buildings began to appear instead of street stalls. This was where the somewhat famous figures of the back alleys operated.

He stopped in front of a large building further inside. Its flashy exterior stood out in the back-alley atmosphere.

Commonly known as the Wild Rose.

It was the name of this place, primarily dealing in information.

As Gilbert opened the door and entered, his keen senses picked up on the gazes targeting him. If his Mana Ability Stat were higher, he could have pinpointed their locations, but with his Sixth Sense based on physical ability, he could only tell that people were watching him. If Sixth Sense were a skill, it might have been possible, but with his still-developing body, it was out of the question.

“The wayward young master of the Count family coming to such a place, what an interesting turn of events.”

A man dressed entirely in black greeted him. He was the branch manager of Obitus, a figure Gilbert had seen countless times in the game. Starting with a provocative remark, it seemed the manager’s goal was to verify the rumors spreading within the academy.

“Rule number one: No unnecessary talk.”

“…”

The manager’s expression, who had approached with a smile, stiffened slightly. He hadn’t expected to hear the internal trading rules of the Wild Rose directly to his face, causing his response to be a bit delayed. Having recently received reports, the manager, who had matched the accuracy to over 80%, bowed his head as if apologizing for his rudeness.

“My excessive curiosity has upset you. I apologize.”

“Accepted.”

“In compensation for my rudeness, I will offer an appropriate reward. Consider it a tasting service for a potential first-time customer.”

Seeing the manager’s smiling face again, Gilbert felt he had stumbled upon an unexpected windfall. One of the tasks he needed to do in the back alleys was to obtain an item that could enhance his Mana Ability Stat, for which he needed to confirm one piece of information.

“I’ll take that tasting reward after our first deal.”

“Indeed, then it becomes a bonus rather than a tasting, so you must be asking for something bigger. Very well. If a refreshing first deal is made, I am willing to offer anything.”

The manager slightly bowed his head.

Gilbert nodded in satisfaction.

“Good. What I want to hear is information about the vicinity of Lithuania.”

“…”

The manager’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Any information, I will bring it to you. So, what exactly is the information you desire?”

“All the peculiarities of the western border region of Lithuania.”

“The western border region… You must be referring to the barbarian tribes.”

Lithuania’s borders were on three sides, literally like the gates of the Infractus Empire. The fortress-like gate cities blocking the northwest and south directions. And the person guarding that place was none other than Gilbert’s father, the Iron-Blooded Frontier Count.

The manager could infer much from Gilbert’s words. Something significant was about to happen in the conflict zone of the barbarian tribes, which had recently quieted down, and that Gilbert Lion Heart, notorious as a wayward youth, had changed as recent rumors suggested.

“Right. If any unusual situations occur in the western conflict zone, I want to be informed immediately. No matter how trivial.”

“Well, well. The first deal benefits us as well. Normally, the service of seeking out information is costly, but I will make an exception. The cost is 1 gold.”

While the lodging fee was 50 coppers, the price for information was 1 gold. Considering Gilbert’s financial situation and the advantage of knowing the situation in advance, 1 gold was a bargain.

“A reasonable price.”

“Consider it a special discount from the manager. I’ve learned many interesting facts through this deal.”

“Then I won’t refuse.”

As Gilbert handed over 1 gold, the manager quickly pocketed it.

“Thank you for always using the Wild Rose. Now, it’s time for the promised reward. What do you desire? However, if the value of the reward is too high, I may not be able to provide it.”

“Do you have Dragon Fruit here?”

“Of course, but… You must know that offering that as a reward doesn’t make financial sense.”

“I know. Dragon Fruit is worth at least 100 gold.”

Dragon Fruit, a type of fruit that grows in mana-rich areas, was an insanely priced item worth at least 100 gold. Considering that the living expenses for a family of four commoners were roughly 20 silvers, one could understand how outrageous that price was.

But Dragon Fruit was a valuable item for a reason.

“Since you know so well, mentioning Dragon Fruit must mean you have another proposal in mind.”

“Do you have Swat here?”

“…Are you suggesting we wager Dragon Fruit as a prize in Swat?”

A slight sneer appeared on the manager’s lips.

Swat was a mini-game within Tactical Combat, a type of card game. Usually, such games included a card game, and during the main story, when buying information at the Wild Rose in Obitus, the high cost led to the opening of the Swat mini-game, where winning could get you the information for free.

In the setting, it was a fairly famous game within the empire, not just a simple card game but an official competition where skills were tested. Especially, the manager before him was a former empire tournament champion, taking great pride in his Swat skills, and there was a sub-quest where one could compete for Dragon Fruit.

If defeated, there was a penalty of paying 10 gold, but the temptation of 100 gold was always strong. Many users often lost all their wealth trying to defeat the master manager.

“Very well. You always pick the most interesting topics, young master. But if you lose, you must pay 10 gold. Is that acceptable?”

“Do I need to show my funds?”

“There are various ways to collect money, so no need to worry… But for the sake of our long-term dealings, let me give you a piece of advice. I have never lost in Swat.”

At the Swat master’s confident words, Gilbert shrugged. It was a natural confidence for a Swat master, he thought.

But.

“Is that so? What a coincidence. I’ve never lost either.”

Gilbert, or rather Kang Do-jun, was a person with South Korean nationality before coming here.

In the land of duels where duel omnipotence reigns.

South Korea was a place where all people were duelist monsters.

 

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