Chapter 2629 – 2629. Dark Moon

I arrived at the battlefield, in the Raven Knights’ sector.

It was a fortress. A fortress with large, solid walls. On top of the walls, weapons including machine guns and missile launchers were prepared. To enter the fortress, it seemed the only way was through the gate at the center of the wall.

Fly in? I don’t know how many planes it would take to enter that fortress filled with anti-aircraft weapons.

The bus stopped after entering the fortress. From somewhere, knights and soldiers swarmed out and surrounded the bus.

“We’ve arrived. Get off. If you do anything suspicious, you’ll die.”

The bus driver’s face was serious and sharp. The mercenaries swallowed hard and got off the bus. Interrogation began for them. Mercenaries with identification problems were subdued and dragged away somewhere.

‘They do the check that could have been done before boarding the bus after arrival? Malicious.’

I didn’t know for sure, but once dragged away, it wouldn’t be easy to get out. Since it was a battlefield sector, even if they were lucky enough to escape, it would be hard to return.

I leisurely stayed on the bus until the end, then slowly got off. Two knights approached me. One of them was the bus driver.

“I saw your skills in the bus earlier. At least a Level 5 or higher battle mage. This examination might not be to your liking. But it’s the procedure, so please understand. Anyone entering the Raven Knights’ fortress must undergo an examination.”

The bus driver, who had been like a thug, spoke politely. I was doubtful if he was the same person who had been ignoring the mercenaries.

“It’s like an entry examination. I understand.”

I handed the knights the identification I had prepared in advance. As if I wouldn’t have prepared something like this.

“An identification card issued by the Neo London Magic Association. The name is Cha Eun-yu. Level 6 mage. A baronet title… You had a title? My, you were a noble. My apologies.”

“Aren’t you a knight? If you’re a knight, you’re a quasi-noble, so there’s no need to be so humble.”

“Haha. Less than 10% of the Raven Knights are officially appointed knights. In fact, despite the name, we’re closer to a private military company.”

“And Neo London hired you?”

“It’s a well-known fact, but it’s something we keep quiet about. In the battlefield, it doesn’t matter which country or company is behind you. What matters is that you don’t lose, survive, and occupy the sector.”

The knight confirmed that the identification wasn’t forged and returned it to me. The identity was fake, but the identification card was real, issued by the Magic Association.

“May I ask what your purpose is for coming to the battlefield?”

“I heard there’s a dungeon nearby. I came because I was intrigued.”

“A dungeon nearby… There are so many, it’s hard to pinpoint. Be careful in the dungeons. Even veterans die if they’re careless.”

“I’ll take care of myself.”

“Would you consider staying with the Raven Knights after you finish your business? Mage power is important. I guarantee a solid reward. You could make a good amount of money even if you work for a few months.”

Battlefield. A place where war is as common as eating. It’s an extremely dangerous place, but people are gathering. There’s only one reason. It’s profitable. However, it’s not solely for money that mercenaries head to the battlefield.

“Besides, in the battlefield, you can easily obtain elixirs due to the influence of the Dark Moon. If you find them yourself, they’re yours, and if you achieve merit, the Raven Knights will also bestow elixirs.”

If you work here, you can become a veteran in a few months. This is because the Raven Knights provide combat know-how and elixirs. For mercenaries without money or skills, they get a chance to grow in exchange for risking their lives.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll decline the offer. I have enough money, and I came to the battlefield for my own purpose.”

“Is that so? That’s a shame.”

The examination was over. I looked around the fortress from a suitable spot. It was like a small city.

As the sun set and the sky gradually darkened, the buildings inside the fortress were emitting light. It was the entertainment district. Bare-chested prostitutes were promoting their shops, and men who had spent a hard day were drawn in as if bewitched.

I headed to the most luxurious-looking building.

“Oh my. A handsome man, rare to see here. How about a round? I’ll give it to you for free.”

“What are you? Oppa, I’ll do it for you. I’m 20 years old.”

Even if I had my hood up, my face was bound to be seen up close. The prostitutes who saw my face quickly gathered around me. I looked at the other prostitutes and shook my head. The cheap prostitutes promoting on the street couldn’t satisfy my eyes.

“I’m not interested.”

[Telekinesis]

I pushed away the bare-chested prostitutes and went on my way.

The hotel I arrived at was a building with a luxury that wouldn’t be out of place in Neo London’s C district. Of course, the building size was incomparably smaller.

When I opened the door and went inside, a neat-looking old butler greeted me. He was wearing a butler’s uniform, and a badge with three diamond shapes forming a triangle, signifying a triple-level.

“Welcome. You’re a first-timer.”

“…Butler? Does a butler run a hotel? And a triple-level one?”

“Haha. There’s no rule that a butler has to be just a butler. And broadly speaking, managing a hotel is also managing a house, so isn’t it a butler’s job?”

“…Are you the manager of this hotel?”

“No. My master is the commander of the Raven Knights. This hotel is my master’s business. Managing my master’s business is also a butler’s job.”

“I want to rent a room. How much is it per night?”

“900,000 credits.”

“…900,000? Per night?”

“Yes. That includes dinner and breakfast. There are no discounts.”

“Are there any guests who use a hotel at that price in this fortress?”

“It’s a place to treat special guests who come to the fortress. Mercenaries also come on very special days.”

“Birthdays?”

“Birthdays, weddings, successful dungeon explorations, successful survival… Special days can be named as you like.”

Mercenaries working in the battlefield would receive a lot of pay, so they could afford to use such a hotel occasionally. Understanding this, I paid the fee and checked in.

“I’ll prepare dinner. It will take about 30 minutes.”

“Okay. Oh, can I also get a prostitute? Not the cheap ones on the street.”

“Of course. Here’s a list. I don’t think you need a prostitute, but…”

“It’s hard to find pretty women among female mercenaries.”

I pointed out a woman on the list who was somewhat to my liking and headed to the hotel room. It was quite luxurious. It was worth the high price.

The prepared dinner was satisfactory.

“It’s better than most restaurants in Neo London.”

“I’m glad you’re satisfied.”

I spent the night embracing the prostitute who came into the room.

The next day. After finishing a satisfactory breakfast, I went outside the hotel. Unlike last night, I walked through the quiet streets towards the fortress entrance.

At the entrance, knights and soldiers were gathered, checking personnel and receiving supplies before heading out.

The Raven Knights’ sector isn’t just this fortress. The area around the fortress is the Raven Knights’ sector. Patrols to protect the sector and explorations to gain profits are carried out daily.

I approached the knight who was guarding the fortress entrance and writing in the entry and exit log.

“I want to leave the fortress.”

“Ah. You’re the mage? The entertainment district was buzzing about a handsome mage coming. What’s your purpose for leaving?”

“Dungeon exploration.”

“It will take at least a few days. Take this pass.”

The pass was a card the size of a business card. A black raven was drawn on a white background. I felt the magic contained in the card.

“It’s a recognition magic that lasts for about a week. Did they scatter the spell array haphazardly? It wouldn’t be easy to copy.”

It wouldn’t be easy, but it wasn’t impossible. Even though there was a fairly delicate lock, I could decipher it in 30 minutes.

“You recognized it right away. Yes, the magic on that card lasts for a week. So you must return within a week.”

“What if I can’t return?”

“You’ll be processed as deceased. Even if you return after a week, you won’t be able to enter the fortress. We’ll think of you as something that has taken over your body. Please leave the battlefield on your own. Otherwise, a rather troublesome examination will proceed.”

“I understand.”

I went outside the fortress.

I took out a compass from my pocket.

‘If it’s like the original game, the dungeon is hidden. Only mages above Level 6 can sense it.’

I walked northwest for now. When I opened my astral, I became sensitive to mana. However, the mana detection range was lower than I thought. Perhaps due to the aftermath of the war, the mana concentration in the battlefield was fluctuating.

‘It’ll be hard to use magic that’s sensitive to mana concentration.’

[Electric Detection]

I moved forward, using search magic at regular intervals. After an hour, an anomaly occurred.

‘The search magic can’t detect the area 300m behind me. The magic is blocked by something.’

It can detect other places, but not behind me? Of course, that means there’s something behind me.

‘Am I being followed? They’re experts. It’s hard to detect them with just pure presence. Since they said my story spread in the fortress… They must know my purpose is the dungeon and are following me.’

They probably didn’t expect me to move while detecting all directions with search magic.

‘Should I fight here? Or should I ignore them and enter the dungeon?’

In the original game, only players who met certain conditions could enter such dungeons. It was a single open-world game in the first place.

‘Even if they’re following me, if only I can enter like in the original game… The followers will be left chasing a ghost.’

It’s worth trying. To see if the characteristics of the dungeon in the game are maintained in reality.

Even if they follow me into the dungeon… I didn’t think I would lose. Considering the characteristics of the dungeon, I would be more advantageous.

I walked forward.

And I arrived at my destination.

A meadow full of grass. On the surface, there was nothing unusual.

‘I can feel it through the astral. An enormous presence.’

A distortion of space that could be felt even though it couldn’t be seen. A fragmented magic circle could be felt there.

I looked at that place and gathered and combined the scattered pieces of the magic circle into one. It didn’t take long. Even though it was a magic puzzle, it was an easy answer that even a Level 3 mage could understand.

‘The important thing isn’t the answer to the puzzle. It’s the sense of feeling the puzzle itself.’

A completed purple magic circle appeared in the air.

The magic circle shone intensely and then exploded. However, no physical impact occurred. Instead, a somewhat alien mana wave swept around. The grass fluttered.

A purple portal appeared where the magic circle had been. It was a dungeon.

Swoosh.

Dozens of arms made of magic appeared from inside the portal, trying to grab my body.

“Stop.”

[Telekinesis]

The countless magic hands stopped just before touching my body. I twisted the telekinesis. The purple arms caught in the telekinesis were twisted and torn off. The arms were reduced to mana and disappeared.

“I’ll go in on my own, you don’t have to drag me.”

I walked straight into the portal.