...Did he know me? No, did he know Zigma? Looking back, there was a small goblin holding a skeleton staff. Based on the long beard, he was a bit older. The old goblin asked again, "Why did you come here? Didn't I tell you to gather the troops and get ready to hit Mulan?"

Hit Mulan? What was this guy? Suddenly, I wondered about the name.

[Lv. 120 [Goblin Priest] Ragneos]

This was Ragneos. It seemed he had mistaken me for Zigma. If so, it was good for me to use this. I quickly fell to one knee. "I'm sorry, Ragneos. Kiruk."

"What does that mean? Explain it, Zigma. Kiik."

I kept bowing my head while answering because I felt I would be caught if I looked into his eyes. "We were beaten by humans."

"By humans?"

"There was an ambush using the cave. Kik."

This was the feeling of acting. I raised my head and saw Ragneos glowing with anger. I once again entered the right state. Ragneos' anger naturally erupted. "What are you saying now?!"

"I-I'm really sorry. Kiik."

He seemed very angry. For a moment, black flames appeared in his eyes before disappearing. If h.e.l.l and Yama, king of h.e.l.l, existed, he must have such eyes.

"Those humans. They dare! Get revenge! Kiiik!" Ragneos' eyes burned even darker as he swore vengeance. "Follow me, Zigma!"

I followed Ragneos, whose cloak fluttered as he moved at a fast pace. The place where I arrived was a huge tent with various bone trinkets. This was the residence of the orc chief. In addition, the orc chief was now sitting in front of me.

[Lv. 200 [Blue Tooth Orc Chief] Gorba]

...It was a tremendous pressure. My bone wouldn't even survive if I was. .h.i.t by that arm. I was admiring Gorba's greatness when Ragneos next to me opened his mouth. "This is Gorba, a distant relative of us goblins."

"Call me Brother. Chwiiik."

I could see smoke billowing from Gorba's mouth and nose. He must have terrible breath.

"The humans destroyed our tribe in Mulan. Next, it might be the turn of the Blue Tooth tribe here. Kiiik."

"What?! Kruruk! Would they really attack our tribe? They have never invaded our tribe before, Brother." 

The chief seemed friendly to humans. Moments after I realized something was strange, Ragneos started to chant a strange spell.

"#%^&*())"

[The first apostle, 'Prometheus,' is frowning.]

The unknown words felt ominous. The skull staff was shaken and the purple aura encroached on Gorba. Gorba was suffering. "Keeook! Aaack!"

Something wasn't right. That staff, what the h.e.l.l was it? At this moment, a small light could be seen from the skull staff. It was a light I had seen before. I frowned at the familiar feeling and took a closer look. Was this perhaps..?

[Bead Fragment Dyed in Darkness]

[Rating: ?

The use is unknown but fragments of an evil power can be felt. 

* The information about the item is incomplete.]

It was the bead fragment I obtained by defeating Zigma. It was an evil power and I wanted to throw it away, but Proma had told me to keep it. However, Ragneos had three of them. Gorba's necklace shook lightly and a dark light swirled. Gorba's necklace had the same bead fragment. Each fragment resonated with each other. Gorba's bead fragment eventually became dark purple, emitting a dark light that dyed his eyes black.

Gorba instantly stood up, causing the land to shake. Gorba started to shout in a grotesque voice, "Guruk. Hu.man. jud.ge. th.em!"

"Kikikikik! Yes. We will judge the humans! Gorba, prepare for war! We will hit Windia tomorrow!"

"Un.der.stoo.d. Rag.ne.os."

Gorba moved his ma.s.sive body and headed outside. Every step he took caused the ground to shake and I held my breath.

...He was behind everything. I had to go out quickly and let people know.

At this moment, someone ran into the barracks. "Kirik, Ragneos. You were here. I'm sorry. I couldn't find the spider king."

"What?!" Black flames appeared in Ragneos' eyes again.

"Kiiik! I-I'm sorry. I went to the cave and he wasn't there. I searched the mountains carefully but couldn't see him."

"Useless person. Die! Swamp of Pain!"

A purple hand shot up at the goblins' feet. It was like the hand of a demon from h.e.l.l. The goblin was caught by the hand and dragged into the swamp.

"K-Kiiik! R-Ragneos!"

"M-Mercy! Kiik!"

The swamp captured the goblins and the ground returned to its original state. No more voices were heard. It was b.l.o.o.d.y. It seemed like a real h.e.l.l. I felt compelled to live a good life.

"Zigma."

"Yes."

"There is no one as trustworthy as you. You should know where the spider king's cave is. Kiruk."

"I know."

"Go there and find the Giant Spider King. Once you find him, come and report to me. The war will begin after I have ingested the spider king's inner core. Kiik."

Spider king's inner core...? It was something I already had. Unfortunately, I had no intention of giving it to him. Still, I had to postpone things if I was going to survive here.

Ttiring~

[Spider Raised by Ragneos]

[Difficulty: B

There is a Giant Spider King raised by the goblin priest, Ragneos.

His subordinates have looked for him but don't know where he is.

Search the Loch Mountains for the Giant Spider King.

-Completion Conditions: Report back after the discovery of the Giant Spider King.

* If the quest fails, you might lose your credibility with Ragneos and die.]

My conscience was p.r.i.c.ked but I couldn't help it. If I didn't do it, he would summon a demonic hand and take me to h.e.l.l. Of course, I was confident against Ragneos in a one-on-one fight but this was the orc's village. I didn't want to start anything in the orc village.

"I understand. Kiruk."

[The quest has been accepted.]

[You have already found the abode of the Giant Spider King.]

[The quest completion conditions for 'Spider Raised by Ragneos' have been met.]

Indeed, it worked out like this. I quickly exited the barracks.

"Sigh." The moment I came out, the tension I felt was relieved.

Gorba was seen convening the soldiers in the distance. Each soldier had the modifier of 'warrior.' There were also fighters among the warriors and they gave off a fierce impression. All the orcs were two or three times larger than the guard orcs. They had black eyes and a fierce air.

...I had to be prepared to fight them later. However, there were orc families who formed a harmonious contrast to the soldiers. I was immersed in various thoughts as I looked at them. Maybe Gorba might be a pretty good leader. Then he was snared by the goblin called Ragneos.

"It is only when the water is clear that the bottom is clear..."

War should be a last resort. It shouldn't be the first means. After the horrors of the 6.25 incident, I vividly knew this. [1]

I was looking at them with a bitter expression when Sujeong sent me a whisper.

-Crystal: Father, is your quest going well?

-Jackson: I finished and going down now.

-Crystal: I'm glad. By the way, you should come soon.

-Jackson: Why? What's happening?

-Crystal: The lord of Windia wants to meet you.

-Jackson: ...Eh?

-Crystal: Come here first. There will be amazing news. Huhut.

-Jackson: I understand. I'll go down quickly.

Amazing news... my head hurt. I would have to think about it while going down. I started to quickly descend the Loch Mountains. The way down was much easier than when I climbed up. For climbing and life, you became much lighter after accomplis.h.i.+ng something.

Suddenly, I arrived at the north gate.

"Father, over here!" In the distance, Kim Sujeong beckoned to me. She was standing at the entrance of the gate. By the way, there was a familiar face next to her.

"Kerenos?"

He looked a bit different from his normal appearance. He was wearing a sleek white and light green armor. The armor and the spear he held looked very good together. I started nagging him as soon as I saw him. "Where did you go? This guy. Is it good to wear expensive clothes alone?"

I was grumpy because he suddenly disappeared and came back wearing something good. Kerenos laughed. "Haha, I'm sorry Old Man." 

"Father, there is a reason for this."

"Reason...?"

"Yes, in fact, Kerenos..."

Kim Sujeong told me a small story about what had happened. It started with going to a flower garden after they split up, the guard arresting her, and then Kerenos saving her from prison. Kerenos accidentally learned that I was scouting the Loch Mountains and said he wanted to see it for himself when I reported to the lord.

"This is what happened."

"Hrmm, so he is a knight here?"

"Yes, that's right."

...It wasn't unusual. I told him, "Don't expect me to speak in honorifics, whether you are a knight or knight captain. This guy."

"Haha, I don't want that either. I'm a lot more comfortable now."

"d.a.m.n guy. So where it the lord?"

"I'll take you."

After a while, Kerenos and I were able to reach the lord's castle. Kim Sujeong decided to wait outside with Cer.

Knock knock!

"Lord, it's Kerenos." 

"Come in!"

Creak.

The door opened and the lord's clean office was revealed. There was an eagle head on the wall, a silver sword and armor were visible and the bookcases filled with all types of books were quite impressive.

"h.e.l.lo! Are you Grandfather Jackson?"

I lowered my head at the sudden voice. Why was a kid here? Don't tell me...?

"I am the lord."

Huh? He looked to be the same age as Seohui... no, a bit older? I went down on one knee and bowed as Kerenos taught me. "I greet the lord."

"It is nice to meet you. I am Edward, lord of Windia. Are you an adventurer?"

Edward had a boyish voice.

"That's right."

"I see. I received a report that you went to the orc village to complete the map of the Loch Mountains. Is that true?"

"That's right. I've been to the orc village myself."

The two people looked surprised by my words. I saw their eyes growing wider than I expected and was also surprised.

"You went in there by yourself? Amazing! It is amazing that you came back alive from Windia's forbidden zone!"

...Forbidden zone? I didn't know that. I just entered it.

"I like you. How about you become my knight? Do you want to be my knight?"

Ttiring~

[The lord has asked you to be his knight.]

[If you agree, your cla.s.s will change to 'Knight of Windia.']

Knight of Windia...

Maybe if I met this little guy first then I would have agreed right away. However, now I was walking on the culinary path. I firmly declined. "I'm sorry. I can't be a knight."

"It is too bad. What is the reason?"

"I'm a person walking on the culinary path."

"...A chef?"

"That's right."

"Is this a lie?"

Edward wondered like he couldn't believe it. Well, I could understand why they didn't believe it. It was the same with Chen and Sujeong.

"It is true."

"Don't lie! How can a chef enter the forbidden zone and come back alive? Tell me honestly!"

"There seems to be a misunderstanding. I'm really a chef..."

"Uhuh! Are you lying because you don't want to by my knight?"

I couldn't help laughing. It was because the image of my second granddaughter, Seohui, overlapped with the image of the little lord. Suddenly I wanted to see her. I should make a video call.

"Be honest! What is your real cla.s.s?" He was reprimanding me but he wasn't dignified at all. He looked cuter than I thought and I unwittingly became mischievous.

"Sigh, it can't be helped. I'll tell you the truth."

"Huhu, yes. It seems that you will tell the truth now after my stern rant. Tell me. What is your real cla.s.s?"

I almost burst out laughing at Edward's pretenses. I bit my lip. "I..."

"You...?"

"I don't have an ordinary cla.s.s."

"Huhu, my guess is correct. I'm a genius. Hahaha."

I saw him boasting about his keen observation and felt like laughing again. I was struggling to resist my laughter.

"I'm a legendary..."

"Ohh! Knight? Warrior? Or a.s.sa.s.sin? Archer? No, Grandfather wouldn't do a manual job like that. Yes! Are you a retired archmage? Yes, you must be! You are a legendary..."

"Chef..."

"Hey!!!!"

"Hohoho ♡"

It was always fun to tease a little boy.

[1] 6.25 incident stands for June 25th, 1950, the date when North Korea invaded South Korea