Jae-Hyeok checked the information on the heart that Do-Jin picked up. A curse colder than ice[1] is engraved on the heart. But it is incomplete. Perhaps it’s the key to breaking the curse... Could the reason it hasn’t melted be that the curse is incomplete? It seemed the poor drop rate wasn’t without reason. Jae-Hyeok took out a wooden box from his inventory and placed the heart inside. He handed it to Hae-Rin. “I hope it’s helpful for your father.” The carnage that Jae-Hyeok had unleashed against the tide of dark elves was a feat that rivaled the old epics of legends in their youth. But unlike others, who were awed and amazed, Hae-Rin was relatively calm. She wasn’t surprised. The image of her friend clashing with the black-winged Jeong Jae-Uk was etched in her heart and mind. “All three hearts?” Elder Gu Suk was surprised. “Weren’t we supposed to divide the loot according to the contribution? How can you give all three away?” “I agreed that the hearts would go to Guardian.” “But only one is needed to make the medicine... ” “Elder, consider your own condition. It’s possible you might need two. In addition, someone else might need one.” Jae-Hyeok looked around at the other players, many of whom were wounded. Possibly others had been saturated with the curse. They couldn’t know until their condition declined to the point where the symptoms presented themselves. Elder Gu Suk dipped his head, “Thank you, Young Master Kang, for your attentiveness. My debt to you is increasing by the day.” “Don’t worry about it. For my Kang family, an alliance is like a family,” Jae-Hyeok said. Then he fell into thought. As we are now, it is probably impossible for us to challenge the boss. He’d already determined the location of the Sky Bow, and they were in a good position to advance. Unlike during Guardian’s last expedition, the Sky Bow had been positioned in the outer area. Combined with the dense enemy presence and ambush tactics, the weapon had posed a significant threat to him and Guardian. But with the dark elves decimated, they now had an opportunity: They could rush down and destroy the Sky Bow before it could be returned to the boss area. If they succeeded, the raid difficulty would drop drastically. Even then, that doesn’t mean the raid will be easy. The grade of a gate was a strong predictor of the gate boss’s strength. And with their current power, it was almost impossible to raid the boss of an S-grade gate. Of the thirty-two Guardian members accompanying Elder Gu Suk, a mere four were A-class, and the rest were B-class. Elder Gu Suk himself was S-class, but he was an old man who was not only past his prime but also battling the effects of the dark elves’ curse. Jae-Hyeok closed his eyes and let out a breath. We can’t challenge the boss . Da-Hee, Do-Jin, Hae-Rin, and Gu Suk-Jeong were brilliant talents who could perform beyond the typical B-class player, but they would be like puppies against an S-class boss. People will die if I insist on pushing for the boss... Guardian’s gate strategy surely included descriptions of the boss’s attack patterns, but that was not enough to set Jae-Hyeok’s mind at ease. He knew well that there were too many variables in combat. And to respond dynamically, they needed experts in various fields and a large number of high-level players. It would be foolish to push for a boss raid just because he’d reached the level of a National Treasure candidate. Jae-Hyeok calmed down. In the first place, our team wasn’t built with a raid in mind. The goal was to get the heart of a dark elf. Since we’ve got it, all we need to do is wait for the quest to escape, and it can be considered a success. I can’t get greedy and risk my friends. At that thought, Jae-Hyeok let go of his lingering regrets. Still, he announced, “I’m going to destroy the Sky Bow.” “The Sky Bow? Why?” Elder Gu Suk found the black-haired boy’s intentions hard to understand. The Sky Bow was the second largest threat in the World Tree Outskirts, second only to the boss, but there was no merit in destroying it. “This place will reset once we leave the gate. Destroying it now won’t help us on our next expedition.” Jae-Hyeok nodded. “I know. It’s just a shame. I don’t want to miss the opportunity to see the real thing.” “I see. Well then, the master’s strategy describes the structure and operation of the Sky Bow in detail. I will share it with you.” Strategies for high-grade gates were hard to find for sale and even harder to buy—a player might never see one unless they invested a lot of Community points; however, Elder Gu Suk handed it over as if it were yesterday's newspaper. In truth, however many of Guardian’s strategies he handed over, Elder Gu Suk was confident it would be a worthwhile investment A smile spread across Jae-Hyeok’s face as he read the Elder’s goodwill. “Thank you. This is a good opportunity for me to gain experience in destroying the Sky Bow.” “Do you plan on returning to this gate in the future?” “Yes, but I’ll have to trouble you for help with the gate permit.” Elder Gu Suk sniffed. “That’s a small matter.” The reason the World Tree Outskirts gate was such a headache was due to the dark elves’ stealth. Their guerrilla tactics made the journey to the boss's area slow and perilous. However, Jae-Hyeok was different. With that boy’s strength and swordmanship, he needs only to set a tree on fire, and the experience will come running... Elder Gu Suk suddenly felt a chill. With Jae-Hyeok using an S-grade gate as a hunting ground, his future growth would be difficult to estimate. Jae-Hyeok said, “I’ll return soon, Elder. Do-Jin—” “Jae-Hyeok, look! Look there, look there, and look there too. Oh, and look over there... ” Do-Jin had stars in his eyes while running around the forest. “Those elves dropped so many items!” “Let Guardian’s teams handle them. Come with me for now. Hae-Rin, Da-Hee—you guys, too.” “What?” Do-Jin staggered back. “But... but what if those guys sneakily take some things?” “At least try to hide your thoughts... ” One of the team leaders grumbled. Gu Suk-Jeong reassured them, “Don’t worry. Guardian is a prestigious guild. There is no way they would do such a thing. Even if you don’t trust them, trust me. I’ll keep a close watch.” “You? Your grandfather is also in Guardian. How can I trust you?” “Hey! Baek Do-Jin! Don’t you dare doubt Grandpa!” “Alright, let’s go, quickly now.” Jae-Hyeok sighed, grabbed Do-Jin by the back of the collar, and dragged him away. “That’s... the Sky Bow... ” Do-Jin and Da-Hee fought to catch their breath. Do-Jin had been using Flash Steps repeatedly during the battle and was particularly tired. Hae-Rin didn’t even have the energy to speak. She joined the team late, so her training is insufficient... He raised Heavy Moon. A three-foot steel great arrow clinked against the little blue shield and plopped to the ground. I’ll make a new training plan for her when we get back... “Alright,” Jae-Hyeok pointed Iyarugt at the super-sized balista. “Let’s break it.” Jade-colored mana circuits traced the Sky Bow’s bone-white surface, and as they pulsed, another great arrow automatically slid into place. It looks both strange and familiar. It reminds me of arcane technology. Could it be that what we have on Earth was sourced from gates? Jae-Hyeok wondered while using a Skill to attract the aggro of the Sky Bow. “Smash it to pieces!” As Jae-Hyeok dealt with the arrow, Do-jin, Da-Hee, and Hae-Rin closed in and launched a fierce attack on the Sky Bow. The Sky Bow loaded another arrow but failed to counterattack, unable to aim underneath itself. “Everyone, stay calm!” The durability of the Sky Bow, made of otherworldly metal, was beyond imagination. Even so, now that they stood in its blind spot, the Sky Bot was little more than a hard nut. One by one, they analyzed the Sky Bow’s components and joints until they discovered its weaknesses. Under a targeted flurry of attacks, the Sky Bow eventually collapsed. [You have destroyed a hidden mechanism of the World Tree Outskirts.] [The hidden quest, Purification of the Forest, has been completed.] [Your level has risen by 3.] As Jae-Hyeok had expected, destroying the Sky Bow was the final requirement for the hidden quest. Jae-Hyeok and Do-Jin had destroyed the mechanisms firing the cursed stingers, in addition to the Sky Bow, so they gained 3 levels each from the hidden quest. Meanwhile, Da-Hee and Hae-Rin gained one level. “Yes! Hahaha! Low-level rookies!” “Please remember that you are a senior.” Da-Hee rebuked Do-Jin. Just then, a gentle voice reached the group. “Noble one. How did you possess Iyarugt?” Jae-Hyeok was the first to spot her. On a nearby branch crouched a girl with pointed ears. Different from the dark elves, her skin was milky white, and she watched them with green eyes that gleamed like emerald chips. “An elf!” Do-Jin shouted. Elves were a race that survived on dew and were known for their gentle and wise nature, as well as their beauty. However, they were a reclusive species, so most players went their entire lives without meeting one. “Hello? Just so you aren’t disappointed, let me say it now: I am a half-elf, not a full elf. I am a hybrid between an elf and a human.” “R-really? Is that why you are looking for yogurt?” Do-Jin wondered. Meanwhile, Jae-Hyeok thought, This is the person that Elder Gu Suk told me about—the half-elf girl who appears and gives a quest after we’ve endured for twenty-four hours inside the gate. He recognized her identity, but he was still wary. How did she recognize Iyarugt? His question was quickly answered. “Do you have a relationship with Peak Sword?” It was said that elves lived for hundreds of years. To Kang Jae-Hyeok’s surprise, it seemed this elf had known the founder of his family and recognized his sword, Iyarugt. “I... I am his descendant.” The girl clapped her hands in admiration and jumped up and down with joy. Her long, pointed ears twitched like butterfly wings. “Then, have you ever heard of the name Piaro?” 1. The description “a curse colder than ice” may or may not have anything to do with the actual temperature of the heart. It’s unclear. ☜