Chapter 76 076

Chain Quest: Faded Memories.

*Quest Progress: 466%

The quest chain was progressing swiftly. It had been a long time since he had filled the basic requirements. Judging by the growing numbers, a bonus reward seemed to have been prepared as well.

'Gotta grab everything while I can. It's the right time to do so.'

Seojin, Odie, Haydall, and Roth had led more than a thousand players to restore the Southern Island. It was almost like a huge development project, except for the fact that it hadn't cost Seojin a penny in labor.

Players were simply satisfied with the fact that they could play with Seojin and gladly boasted about what they could do best.

"I didn't do it for the money. I did it for the sake of this place!"

"The players who contribute the most can meet Seojin and ask anything they were curious about, one on one!"

"Don't worry, townspeople! We don't expect anything from you in return!"

They did want one thing that motivated them though, and that was a Q&A session with Seojin. He promised that some of the top contributors would receive one. In addition to that, those in the top few were given the opportunity to meet him alone.

"There are some things you don't know. I'll tell you guys about Midgard's hidden system and how I managed to pull off everything I did."

It was a simple, sweet suggestion. The player's hearts burned with unbridled passion, which led to the fast progression of the quest.

Odie, Haydall, and Roth were at the forefront of the ranks. Odie changed her tune once she found out Seojin was Anti-Mainstream, and Haydall and Roth followed her example shortly after hearing Seojin was that guy from Asgard. In the end, they were no different from the other players.

"Let's have a personal conversation after work. You guys will have to bare minimum contribution too since people are watching us."

The three didn't seem to care about his seemingly cold treatment.

"All right."

"Contribution, got it!"

"Money! I need to spend more money!"

They were looking at Seojin like they were seeing a celebrity for the first time. To Roth and Haydall, he was a legendary top player and to Odie, he was a rebel hero.

"You're very good at makin' paypul do thangs. Amazin'. How can yawl adapt so easily as soon as thay change thur attitude?"

Flappy grumbled from beside Seojin as he took their change of attitude like it was a given and even exploited it to its full potential.

"Well, they need me, I don't need them."

"Thet's whut Ah'm tawkin' bout. Ah knew yawl hawh? mans wuz adaptable, but show sum more hesitation at thuh very least."

"Why?"

"Cuz thayre's nuthin' far may tuh do! Ah lived for thray hunnerd years an guess whut Ah'm doin' raht now? Gunna check sumpn hare an gunna look at sumpn ovare."

Flappy kept grumbling on and on. It seemed she had a lot pent up.

'Now that she's mentioned it, that's true.'

She lived for three hundred years and even though she said those experiences was like watching a movie, she could definitely give Seojin one or two useful pieces of advice. .

'Too bad for her since this is a game.'

It had only been a year since Midgard launched, but Valaran alone had thousands of players using the online community.

'One little fairy who's lived for three hundred years versus the collective mind of thousands. The latter obviously wins, even if there are some errors or mistakes.'

Seojin had also confirmed that Midgard shared the same background lore as Asgard. He knew lore and stories that one wouldn't know by just living for a long time.

So, he didn't need Flappy's help, however…

"Oh, can I ask you one thing, then?"

Seojin was willing to waste his time in order to make Flappy feel better.

"Wadja mean can Ah ask?"

"I thought you didn't want to recall those memories. You said that you feel like you didn't experience it yourself."

"Naw, but… did Ah rilly put it lahk thet?"

Flappy held her head high proudly, tapping Seojin's neck as if she was being generous.

"I'll grant thee the wisdom of mine, an elemental spirit yond hath lived for hundreds of years…for a magic stone!"

"I haven't rewarded you enough for helping me this time, have I?"

"Zakly, partner! Yawl sly, likable son uh uh hooman!"

Flappy paused and looked at Seojin, the enormous magic stone in her arms.

"But izit okay tuh keep givin' may these? Yawl monly gained sicks hunnerd gode frum them guys, raht?"

"Can't say I'm rich now, but paying the help is the right thing to do. I want to keep things like this."

"Well… if you say so…"

Flappy nodded her head.

"Ah shouldn't refuse, should Ah?"

'I'm sorry, Flappy, that's only worth ten gold.'

The truth wasn't important when they both could get what they wanted.

Suddenly, a system message popped up before Seojin.

Additional mission conditions achieved.

Progress increases significantly.

Chain Quest: Faded Memories.

*Quest Progress: 800%

*Progress has reached maximum level. It will not increase any further.

Seojin had to go and check the bonus reward.

* * *

The Southern Island boasted beautiful nature, but still, there were monsters and hazards. Furthermore, the place almost fell into the demon's clutches, so its name had been tainted somewhat. However, a thousand adventurers had restored the Southern Island back to its former glory and possibly made it even grander.

"Landmark construction is over, just as you instructed."

"We designed activities that would cause minimum damage to the environment."

"Ranch! It's a perfect ranch! I raise cows in real life, and I tell you, this is so perfect!"

The island had been famous for its nature, but that was all the island had.

Things were now different as they had created a lot of landmarks, from being able to raft down a mountain to the beautifully"weathered"—meaning artificially destroyed—valley.

In addition to that, sheep farms, where people could go to communicate with cute lambs, which were rarer than monsters, popped up in every corner of the island.

Just as Seojin had emphasized time and time again, such facilities had little effect on nature. That was possible because it was a world of magic.

Island development was not the only part of the adventurers' efforts.

"God will take care of the wound. Tell me your troubles and God will lift your burden. I'll be your window to God."

"There, forget it… forget it, that day didn't exist. Focus on this coin, and…"

They also provided psychotherapy for the villagers!

Psychiatrists, counselors, and players with related skills sat down with the villagers one by one and provided some intensive care.

'That's not even the most important thing. I've gotta make sure the demons can't return.'

The townspeople's biggest fear was that the demons might show up again.

Seojin managed to solve the problem thanks to the two people arguing in front of him.

"In theory, it's possible to pinpoint evil energy and block it."

"Let's be scientific, eh? I mean real science, not the pseudoscience you're muttering about right now."

"No, I'm telling you, it's possible! Don't undermine the greatness of magic!"

"Can't you see the people who came from workshops sighing at you? Typical Wizards! Do you really think you're the only people with brains around here?"

"What? Are you done talking?"

On one side, there was a female wizard, who wearing a robe with geometric patterns that fluttered underneath her scarlet hair.

"I'm not done yet! What are you going to do about it, huh?!"

A stout male with a hammer on his shoulder snarled back at her.

Both of them were top-tier players, around Level 180. They had suddenly approached Seojin, saying that they wanted to lend a hand, but it wasn't hard to guess they had other intentions judging by their positions.

<Guildmaster of Red Tower. >

<Kiri, Lv. 181>

<Guildmaster of Résistance. >

<Lv. 178 - Bigfoot>

'They're not even trying to hide it…'

Seojin didn't believe them from the beginning that they were simply"here to help," but gladly accepted it anyway. Psychological counseling and environmental improvement weren't going to be enough to soothe the residents.

While there was some trouble, thanks to them, the Southern Island gained a defense system that covered the entire island. That had also boosted the progression meter a great amount.

"Stop fighting, you two. It's finished, right?"

"Yes, from a magical point of view…"

"Don't call it magic! It's science. Well, perhaps an atom of it was magic, but…"

"You must be out of your mind! This is the most unscientific barrier in the entire world!"

Seojin stared at the two, who were quarreling enthusiastically, thinking that they would make a perfect couple.

'They're a little too into their shtick. Maybe they've been playing the game too much?'

Kiri, the red-haired woman, was acting as if she was speaking on behalf of every wizard, but Bigfoot still didn't budge an inch.

"Amazin', neither uh them is wrong,"

Flappy remarked as Seojin just looked up into the clear sky. It looked as if there was nothing there, but there was actually a transparent shield that fended off evil energy.

"Demons uh thuh sort way saw earlier would bay purified by gist touchin' it."

"How about adventurers? Like warlocks."

"Thay're essentially hoomans, so it'd not affect them… unless thay exhaled evil energy."

"Oh, wow, three hundred years of wisdom. You're smart!"

"Ahem, thets gist common sense."

Flappy twisted her body as if she was excited.

'I'll have to ask her some questions once I get a chance.'

Seojin made a mental note to himself as he glanced between the two who were still arguing.

"You two, calm down for now."

"Okay, I'm sorry, I'm just allergic to such inflexible traditionalists."

"I'm calm. Oh, those irrational, absurd daydreamers…"

"Yes, yes, I understand, but if you waste another word belittling each other this meeting is done."

Seojin effectively forced both of them to shut up and nervously wait for his decision. He checked their names and guilds one more time.

"So, you both want me to join your guilds, right?"