The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

Seol first reviewed the messages related to Tancreed's death.

[The Earth Mother, Tancreed's long life has ended and vanished into the embrace of the stars.]

[The position Earth's Guardian has become vacant.]

[Tancreed has entrusted someone with that noble duty.]

[Pandea's long order has collapsed.]

[Tendency: Negative forces stir over a long time.]

[If Earth's Guardian remains vacant, the entire land will face a great famine every 10 years.]

[The cycle of the famine will shorten the longer the Guardian position remains vacant.]

[Bountiful Harvest will only manifest if the farming dice rolls a 6.]

[The toxicity of poisonous herbs increases.]

[The efficiency of medicinal herbs has diminished.]

[The quality of ores has decreased.]

[Earthquakes have caused severe damage to Tancreed's temple.]

[Faction: Azanic, the Sky Dragon, rises in power.]

…

Messages ranging from minor details to significant occurrences continued to pop up.

'To think Tancreed's influence would reach so far…'

Certain Transcendents were hard to define simply as singular beings. As living worlds themselves, they were both nature and the connection to it.

During her lifetime, Tancreed's influence had become so vast that her absence was expected to be even more profound.

'This is going to be troublesome.'

An empty position needed to be filled. And there was no way the circling vultures would leave it empty.

'That's something we must worry about later… For now…'

Whoosh…

"…"

A green spherical object began floating in the air.

It was none other than an object that had been created upon Tancreed's death.

Its lack of reaction indicated that it most likely wasn't her soul.

"It's the Earth's Essence."

At Tantuinu's words, Jamad and Seol's gazes turned to her.

"Mother entrusted you with more than just duty. It seems she also left you the power to fulfill it as well."

"Tancreed's power…"

Jamad mumbled.

"Although it's now dormant, it will be of help to you. Take it."

"But you're Tancreed's descendant."

"Although I might have inherited her blood, I did not inherit Mother's will."

Jamad reached out to the green, floating sphere.

As he did, the green light was absorbed into his body.

[Jamad has acquired Earth's Essence.]

[Awakening: Changes are happening to the Supreme-rank.]

[Enlightenment has been accelerated.]

[Under specific conditions, Supreme-rank power can be manifested immediately.]

…

In simple terms, Jamad could now reach the real Supreme-rank earlier and more easily.

Considering how long Karen had been trapped in the Void, this was a huge advantage.

What Tancreed had left to Jamad and Seol wasn't just this.

The giant egg shone with a blue glow. Even at first glance, it felt that a mini Tancreed might be inside it.

However, considering how long dragon eggs take to hatch, when the dragon would be born would depend on how long Tancreed had nurtured this egg.

'Wait… Can this egg hatch in the first place?'

Seol asked Tantuinu.

"Can this even hatch in the first place?"

Seol asked Tantuinu.

"Tantuinu, shouldn't a dragon's descendant hatch from a dragon?"

"That's correct. Unlike wyverns, dragon's descendants are born already attuned to the world. Only a dragon can guide another about the world."

"Then, that means…"

"However. my mother, Tancreed, was worried about the future. I cannot protect her descendant."

"…"

"Mother entrusted the future to you and that troll. And I will honor her will."

- Wait… Can it even hatch?

- Edison… You were right.

Seol frowned.

"So… doesn't hatching require someone to nurture it?"

"Indeed."

"We have no means to nurture this egg."

"We'll have to find one."

On the way here, Seol found Tantuinu difficult to talk to. If asked whether she liked it or not, she would say yes—because it didn’t cause trouble—but hate it because that very fact made it troublesome.

Jamad seemed to fall in thought for a moment.

Seol thought he would have to discuss this problem with him, too.

For now, there was one convenient method they could try.

Seol and Jamad simultaneously voiced the idea.

"Void."

"First, let's take it to the Void."

"So we've thought the same."

Seol closed his eyes and envisioned the Void's door. And then, the egg that was in his hand.

The egg…

'Damn it…'

The egg wasn't there.

This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.

He gave up on the idea of taking the egg to the Void for now. He would have to find another way.

At that moment, he got a new idea.

Seol grabbed the egg and slid it somewhere.

"It fits perfectly."

"You're right…"

It was the Shadow Space.

He noticed that there was some extra room recently, and fortunately, the egg fit perfectly.

However, whether the hatching conditions could be met in this space still remained a mystery.

"Jamad, is this place warm by any chance?"

"…"

- Hahaha.

- The quality of the question, hahaha.

- Does this place have hot water?

- How much does this place cost? Whoa! How cheap.

Having dealt with the biggest problem, Seol turned his attention to the Adventure-related message he had noticed earlier.

[Adventure 33-(Special). 'Dragon's Revenge'

The Earth Mother, Tancreed, has passed away and has vanished into the embrace of the stars. Yet, Azanic still pursues her remnants.

By improvising, you have managed to evade Azanic’s pursuit for now. If you keep running, you might be able to escape entirely. But your shadow, Jamad, disagrees. He’s determined to avenge Tancreed’s death.

Although it is a foolish decision, it might be the fastest way for Jamad to ascend to a higher realm.

And you, another fool, have decided to go along with this idiocy.

Failure is acceptable as long as you survive.

There's a high chance Jamad will obtain enlightenment during the Adventure.

Objective: Inflict damage on Azanic.

Caution. This Adventure is very dangerous.

Caution. This Adventure can change at a moment’s notice.

Remaining Time 「Unknown」]

'Inflict damage, huh…? Well, at least there's some kind of reward.'

If Jamad fully reached Supreme-rank, he would likely become the strongest among Seol's summons.

"But… is that method really possible?"

Tantuinu approached Seol and asked.

It seemed that she wanted to hear the rest of the plan she hadn't been able to hear before.

"Yes."

"The opponent is Azanic. A monster that has ruled the skies as a tyrant for countless ages. Are you aware of this?"

"Yes, I am."

"Then, how can you speak so easily about defeating him…?"

Seol corrected her.

"I never said I would defeat him."

"What…?"

- Now that you mention it, that's true.

- Jamad: If I don't let this rage out… (A scratch is enough)

Seol turned briefly to Jamad and said.

"My plan is to land a hit on that arrogant dragon and flee. That's the extent of it."

"I-Isn't that the same as defeating…?"

"No, it isn't. The latter is impossible for now, while the former is relatively easy."

"Easy…?"

"Anyway, we don't have much time, so let's focus for a moment."

Swish—!

Seol pulled out a sheet of paper he had been carrying, waiting for the day it might be useful.

On top of it, he began using a chalk-like tool to draw.

Swosh…

Swosh…

It was a rough map.

Although it was simple in design, he meticulously detailed various relevant points.

[You are creating a map.]

[The map's quality depends on your map-making skills. The higher the map’s quality, the more information it can contain.]

No one present knew what location the map was depicting, but Seol kept confidently drawing.

He then added tiny, densely packed notes on things to watch out for before handing over the map.

[A precise map has been created.]

[Unexpected talent! You have awakened Mapmaking 1.]

[Artistic sensibility has been incorporated into Mapmaking.]

[A reader who has learned Navigation Skills or Intermediate Interpretation can interpret your maps more easily.]

…

Jamad and Tantuinu looked at the map.

They seemed quite impressed by its precision.

Seol then gave his next instructions.

"From now on, we're going to split up."

"Hmm…"

"There will be only one chance to attack. As soon as he's attacked, he's going to counter. And we won't be able to defend against it."

"That's true. What should I do?"

"Go ahead to the designated location and wait. Once I give the signal…"

Upon hearing Seol's plan, Jamad nodded and said.

"How fun…"

Meanwhile, Tantuinu's reaction was different.

"Certainly, with this method, we might be able to escape. But… Azanic's scales can repel all harm. Unfortunately, your attacks will be futile. I think it would be better to…"

"Perhaps that would be the case elsewhere. But this is the Underground Garden. We can do it if everything goes according to the plan."

"This is crazy…"

Jamad chuckled and said.

"Seol, I believe in you. I'll prepare to give it my all."

"But…"

"Dragon, let's go. It's already decided."

"Ugh…"

Tantuinu shook her head in disbelief and vanished along with Jamad.

Tantuinu wasn't entirely wrong. Had Seol not come to this place directly and only stumbled upon it by chance, she might have simply opted to flee.

To land a blow on a dragon required thorough preparation. That preparation would bear fruit in the Underground Garden, but the process demanded significant time and effort.

"Well, then, let's make this a bit easier."

However, Seol possessed the power to offset the considerable time and effort required to make such preparations.

Rip…

For the first time in ages, Seol tore someone's invitation.

* * *

Whish…

A fog rolled in.

The ominous backdrop still didn't sit well with him.

Seol crossed his arms and waited. Somewhere in the distance, the sound of drums began echoing.

BOOM…

BOOM…

The sound of drums grew closer and closer.

Eventually, as the fog cleared, strange masked figures appeared.

"Woah! It's Snowman! Snowman!"

"I'm a fan! I've been watching you!"

"What kind of gimmick are you planning to show us this time? I had just been watching you!"

The group seemed awkward. They even held a ridiculous banner that said, 'We love you, Snowman.'

'They aren't merchants…'

They didn’t seem like merchants.

At that moment.

Swoosh—!

Swooooosh—!

[Someone seems interested in the Madness you have collected.]

Flower petals began dropping from the sky, announcing someone's arrival.

"Janet… is it me, or are your entrances becoming more extravagant?"

"Fufufu… That's true."

The onlookers began clapping as Janet, wearing an evil ghost’s mask and a flashy outfit, appeared.

Clap, clap, clap—!

"Don't tell me… Did you hire them?"

"It's a self-esteem restoration service. What do you think?"

"My self-esteem isn't low enough that I need this…"

"How unfortunate…"

"That noisy toad doesn't seem to be here today."

"I got rid of it. Its fuel efficiency was an issue."

Janet clapped.

Clap, clap…

"Bring it out."

"Yes!"

The goods loaded on the cart quickly began piling up on the hastily set up stall.

It felt as if an entire market had been relocated.

'Even the scale of the transaction seems to be growing.'

Janet held a folding fan in one hand and bowed slightly before asking.

"So… what goods are you looking for?"