"The Second Queen is looking for me?"
As Karia finished explaining, Heyshan lowered her gaze and began fidgeting with her fingers. Unlike Karia, I couldn’t read people’s emotions, but I could guess what she might be feeling. In the game’s side stories, Heyshan had moments where she voiced her true feelings.
Longing for an old friend. Regret over an inevitable parting. Resignation to the impossibility of overcoming real-world barriers.
Now, having learned more about the Second Queen’s story—something absent from the game—there were likely a few more emotions added to the mix, but the core of it wouldn’t have changed.
"What will you do? If you want to meet her, I can arrange it."
"...Do I have a choice?"
"Does it seem like you do? As someone who graduated from the Academy, you should know better."
Karia gave her a sunny smile, and Heyshan slumped her shoulders in defeat.
"Why? Are you reluctant to meet her?"
"We didn’t part on the best terms. I’m not sure what I would even say if we met again."
She chewed on her lips, her expression becoming conflicted as if imagining the reunion with the Second Queen.
"Can you give me a moment to prepare myself?"
‘No.’
"You didn’t seriously think I’d say yes, did you? I expect more sense from a graduate like you."
Normally, I might have shown some consideration, but not this time. I needed to get Heyshan out of here before Lasha arrived.
Lasha had disguised her malice as kindness to humiliate me, and in retaliation, I had been plotting how to return the favor.
As much as I wanted to provoke her, getting into open conflict with Lasha would be problematic. Beyond being half-insane, she possessed a level of power I couldn’t handle right now.
So, I decided to return her "kindness" with some of my own. Lasha’s target? I had no idea. I was simply fulfilling a noble request from the esteemed Second Queen of Soladin. If this caused Lasha a pointless detour, that wasn’t my concern.
"Then... do we have to leave immediately?"
Heyshan asked cautiously, and Karia glanced at me for confirmation.
Hmm. To be honest, there was no need to rush. According to what Karia and Curz Newman had told me, Lasha couldn’t use teleportation magic circles.
She had caused so much chaos in her hunt for strong opponents that those managing the circles refused to assist her.
Think about it: if Lasha achieved her goals and left a mess behind, who would deal with the aftermath? Not Lasha herself. She was powerful enough to be acknowledged by Benedict, and most wouldn’t dare challenge her without facing certain death.
In the past, a few fools had tried to punish her, only to end up as sacrifices creating new rules rather than toppling Lasha.
Humans learn from failure. After witnessing the carnage, people stopped challenging Lasha directly and began targeting those who helped her instead.
Despite their protests, the associates’ opinions didn’t matter. What was important was that someone had to take responsibility for the damages caused by Lasha.
This had happened enough times that people now outright refused to cooperate with her.
A more brutal individual might have resorted to threats, but Lasha wasn’t like that. She was a lunatic dedicated to hunting the strong, not a mass murderer.
Deprived of assistance, Lasha resolved to do everything on her own. This time was no different. Leaving the Teresha Empire, she traveled toward the archipelago on foot.
Even with her absurd physical capabilities, which surpassed a carriage’s speed, it was nothing compared to teleportation. According to Karia, it would take her at least two weeks to arrive here.
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‘I’ll give you about a week.’
"I find your dumb face amusing, so I’ll graciously grant you a week. Even an idiot should be able to sort things out by then, right?"
When I said we’d leave after the dungeon explorations, Heyshan gave a weak smile.
"Could you perhaps grant me just a bit more mercy?"
‘Do you want to leave right now?’
"Oh, so the stupid, worthless adventurer wants to leave immediately? I’m kind-hearted enough to grant you that wish."
"I’m sorry. I overstepped."
Her smile disappeared the moment she saw my sharp grin. What could she do? She was a powerless adventurer with no real backing, and I was the only daughter of the Allen family.
Unless someone like that jealous lunatic Lasha or someone equally strong intervened, there was no escaping my "tyranny."
"It doesn’t seem like you’re dragging your feet because you’re avoiding the Second Queen. What are you doing here?"
Karia, picking up on Heyshan’s hesitation, cut straight to the point.
Heyshan initially tried to deny it, but any resistance was meaningless before Karia, who could read emotions with just a gesture. What use was lying in front of such a person?
"Well, while exploring dungeons in other regions, I discovered something hidden in the archipelago."
"Hidden? Here?"
"Yes, it’s..."
While Karia listened intently, I leaned on my hand and let her words wash over me. I already knew what Heyshan was looking for, how to find it, and what would happen once it was uncovered.
Instead of paying attention, my thoughts drifted elsewhere.
By now, Joy must have delivered the rabbit ears to Arthur. Knowing him, he would have reluctantly put them on, trembling in frustration. He’s oddly rigid about those kinds of things.
Joy would have struggled to contain her laughter at the sight. As for Frey... well, who knows? That kid is unpredictable. It’s a shame I couldn’t watch the scene myself because of this meeting with Heyshan.
"This is a map I found in a desert dungeon."
"It doesn’t seem special at first glance."
"That’s what I thought at first too."
When I returned to the lodging, Arthur would probably confront me, demanding an explanation. I’d respond by saying, "Did you think the bet was over after one day? There are more punishments coming daily."
As I kept pushing him, Joy would eventually protest that I was being too harsh. At that point, I’d propose shared responsibility—teaching dungeon strategy in exchange for her participation in the bet.
By now, it should be clear: Arthur was just bait. My real target was Joy! I wanted to see her flustered and embarrassed.
Heheheh. Just imagining it makes me giddy. I guess I can understand what it feels like to be an airheaded fox now...
"But when divine energy is applied to this map, its true nature is revealed."
The moment I saw the divine energy emanating from the map, I realized this wasn’t the same as the map from the game.
After all, there was no such gimmick in the game’s version.
Had I simply not tried it? Impossible. As someone obsessed with Soul Academy, I had exhausted every possibility to collect every clue.
This map was unique to this world. A variable.
Normally, the word "variable" would terrify me. Variables in my life usually aimed to put my neck on the line.
But this one was different.
"There’s definitely an incredible treasure hidden in this archipelago."
New content and rewards not present in the game. I could feel my blood boiling with excitement.
Taking the map from Heyshan, I frowned at the faint, unclear drawings on it. The problem likely stemmed from the fact that Heyshan, not being a cleric herself, had used some tool to imbue divine energy into the map.
No matter. We had an Apostle of the Main God here.
As soon as I infused the map with my own divine energy, the faint drawings became vivid, and an alert rang loudly in my ears.
[Find the Treasure of the Archipelago!]
[A hidden opportunity has been revealed to you. Don’t miss this chance—find the treasure of the archipelago with your own hands!]
[Reward: ???]
[Failure: ???]
The quest itself was similar to the one in the game, but since the map’s details had changed, the process—and likely the rewards—would differ. Who knows? Perhaps the treasure might even come with some bonus gift from the Lazy Main God.
Laughing with satisfaction at the unexpected bonus, I examined the now-clear map. Then it hit me: interpreting a treasure map with an intelligence stat of 58 was almost impossible.
Ugh. This does look like a map of the archipelago, but... where are the clues? What are these scribbled markings?
Feeling my brain spin, I ran a hand over my face and placed the map back in front of the others. Humanity is a cooperative species, after all. When knowledge is lacking, you ask for help.
Both Karia and Heyshan’s eyes sparkled as they studied the now-clear map.
"This is a proper map now. It was only half-usable before."
"It took divine energy at my employer’s level to bring out its details. Now I’m intrigued."
"The most prominent mark here points toward Asara Island, but..."
"There’s also this symbol here..."
Resting my chin on my hand, I half-listened to the lively discussion between the two. It wasn’t that I lacked interest; it was just that their pace was too fast for me to keep up.
As a proud veteran gamer, I couldn’t help but lament. True "old-timers" should make an effort to accommodate the noobs, yet these two were completely disregarding me! This is why new players rarely join—only the same old players stick around.
Please, explain it so I can understand. I want to know the process, not just the results.
Oh, right. Grandpa should be able to translate this map for me. He’s smart enough to manage.
‘Grandpa.’
<...>
‘Grandpa? Are you asleep?’
<Oh, uh... Yes, child. What is it?>
‘Why do you sound so flustered? What’s going on?’
Although his usual demeanor was that of an aged, wise elder, his sudden nervousness piqued my curiosity. Yet he didn’t offer an explanation.
‘Grandpa, how many times have I told you not to leave me hanging mid-sentence? It’s so annoying.’
<No, no. That wasn’t my intention this time. I was simply trying to decide how to phrase my explanation.>
‘What’s so complicated about this map? Is there something on it?’
<Do you see the writing in the bottom-right corner?>
‘Yes, those squiggly lines that are completely illegible?’
<That is the script once used by the followers of the Main God. Even in my time, it was half-forgotten and primarily used as a cipher for those in high-ranking positions.>
‘Can you read it?’
<Of course. Before becoming the Hero’s companion, I served as a captain of the Paladin Order.>
‘So, what does it say?’
<I can’t be entirely sure of my interpretation, but here’s what it seems to convey:>
"A miracle left behind by the Main God. When one who is worthy reaches the trial, that miracle shall once again illuminate the world."