Chapter 260

0.

The theme of the seventh city, Lumencia, was none other than Light and Darkness.

It could be called common and cliché.

But it was just as popular.

An undead army trying to invade the city that shone with seven colors was the center of that scenario.

A scenario based on a central figure that users active in Lumencia commonly called the Demon King.

The Lumencia scenario was popular because advancing toward the castle by defeating the undead army was like the story of a hero and a demon king.

Ir's party was the same.

A party made up of Japanese and Korean members.

They all admired the fantasy world, so they all chose fantasy-like nicknames.

"We finally got the quest to head to the castle!!!"

At Ir's words, the party members reacted one by one.

"It's just because we don't have a guild."

Stella, who spoke as if she was a little dissatisfied, needlessly touched her large shield.

"It certainly might have been a bit faster if we had a guild."

Claudine said, pushing up her glasses.

"Huhu, it was long and arduous. But finally...!"

Basque didn't pay much attention to the two and couldn't hide his excitement.

Stella and Claudine seemed to speak coolly.

But judging by their flushed faces, even though they spoke bluntly, they both seemed to be in a very good mood.

Was it because they had worked together for a long time?

They could all feel each other's emotions very well.

Getting the quest was good.

But there was a slight problem.

"But we don't have enough damage to go on our own."

"Ugh!"

"Keuk."

Claudine, who was usually calculating, pointed that out.

At those words, the dealers, Ir and Basque, hung their heads and shoulders as if they were ashamed.

Seeing that, Claudine looked a little flustered and said.

"I-it's not because you two are lacking, it's just that our party is small..."

It was a rather timid correction.

But seeing the two look hurt, Claudine immediately corrected herself.

And seeing Claudine, Stella nodded and said.

"It's true that we're lacking damage. Should we recruit new members?"

At Stella's words, Claudine soon regained her composure and nodded.

There was no problem in reaching what users called the enemy's fortress.

But the guides said that damage would definitely become important after entering the fortress.

In any case, they had to solve it.

Because what their party desired was to become the protagonists of the scenario.

"I'd like to achieve it on our own, but..."

As the party leader, Ir, said that.

Everyone nodded their heads.

It was a party that had been together for a long time.

They had the desire to achieve it on their own.

But it was an impossible feat no matter how they looked at it.

Even if they reached the level cap from here, it might still be difficult.

"To find a skilled player, should we keep an eye out in the hunting grounds?"

"That would probably be best."

"But at this level range, the number of people who travel in small groups without a guild is small..."

"Still, traveling in a small group is also proof of skill."

"Alright, let's go find one."

Everyone nodded at the party leader Ir's words.

They wandered around the hunting grounds of Lumencia, looking for users who traveled in small groups or those without guild marks.

But would such people be common?

By this point, the majority had joined a decent guild.

It wasn't easy to find such a user.

Just as they were thinking they should just post a recruitment message instead.

"Huh? What's that over there???"

At Basque's words, all the party members turned their heads.

Then they could see a violet flame flickering and engulfing the surroundings.

The undead scattered in terror and fled, but were swept up in the blaze and instantly cremated. The party members all stood with their mouths agape at the overwhelming sight.

Of course, the ranged dealer in this party, Ir, could also produce that much firepower.

If he received all the buffs from the healer and buffer, Claudine.

But that user had no other users around him.

In other words.

"I-it's a solo user!"

"To have that much firepower while being solo..."

"That's amazing..."

"...Don't you think he's exactly what our party needs?"

At Basque's last words, everyone nodded, and the moment they came to their senses.

Ir was the first to run out.

Flash—!

Thump-thump-thump-thump!

When they saw Ir had already teleported and was running quickly.

"Ah! Ir!"

"Haa, I wonder when he'll ever stop being so reckless."

"Let's hurry and stop him."

Worried he might make a mistake, all the party members ran after him.

As they watched, sure enough, the user showed signs of being on guard.

Anyone would if another user suddenly ran towards them while they were hunting alone.

Towards the user who was on guard, Ir shouted out of the blue.

"Would you like to go hunt the Demon King with us?"

"Yes?"

Seeing the user ask back in bewilderment, the party members thought, 'as expected,' and frowned.

'We need to get there quickly and apologize somehow.'

As the party members hurriedly followed and arrived.

"The Demon King? Are you perhaps talking about the one from Rapid Guild?"

"Pardon?"

Ir was taken aback by the user's unexpected response.

The Demon King of Rapid Guild.

As Ir paused, stunned into silence, Stella scolded him.

"Ir! Your explanation was lacking!"

"I'm sorry. We're in the middle of recruiting a new party member, so I asked a bit hastily."

"Hahaha, it's a pleasure to meet you."

He seemed to have softened a bit at the party members' demeanor.

But the user, Seonghyun, was still on guard.

'Wouldn't things change if they knew I was the Demon King?'

However…

"Ah, ah! Not the Demon King from Rapid Guild, the Lumencia Demon King."

"Ah."

Only then did Seonghyun realize his misunderstanding and scratch his chin.

'No wonder something felt off.'

'This is a bit embarrassing.'

He felt a little ashamed, as if he were being self-conscious.

But he was glad he was wearing a mask.

Moreover…

'My outfit has a cloak, so it's not noticeable.'

The Crown of Obsidian Twilight was too flashy for a crown, so he had made it invisible for now.

The same went for other conspicuous equipment.

After Silvanor was discovered before, he had been trying to move around as carefully as possible.

Seonghyun inwardly told himself it was a good thing he did that beforehand and looked at the party.

Then.

"Ah! We haven't introduced ourselves, we are the Prism Effect party, and I am Ir, the party leader and a light-attribute mage!"

"I'm Stella, the tank of the party."

"I'm Claudine, the healer."

"Haha, and I'm Basque, the rogue."

A surprisingly balanced party.

And they even seemed to get along well.

Seonghyun thought, 'I see,' and nodded.

He had to introduce himself too.

But what if he revealed his name was Seonghyun after they had already mentioned the Rapid Guild's Demon King?

'They might realize...'

Well, it didn't matter if they knew.

But having already brought it up himself, Seonghyun didn't have the audacity to say, 'Haha, actually, I am that Demon King of Rapid.'

This was awkward.

Then he suddenly thought of his sister and said vaguely.

"...A mage, my name is Yoohyeon."

Just like with Yoo Mina, he introduced himself by leaving out the middle character of his name.

If they did party up, he could just not reveal his nickname.

'Just in case, I should change the settings in advance.'

As Seonghyun deftly changed his settings.

The party members nodded.

It seemed they had glossed over it.

Well, who would think Seonghyun was the Demon King here?

His equipment was hidden, his nickname was hidden, and he was using violet flames.

It was plausible that they wouldn't make the connection.

They all moved on without any particular suspicion.

"So, do you want to go hunt the Demon King?!"

"Hmm."

At Ir's enthusiastic demeanor, Seonghyun was lost in thought for a moment.

They all thought Seonghyun was contemplating the offer, but.

'So, what is the Lumencia Demon King?'

Seonghyun was actually quickly searching the internet because he didn't know what the Lumencia Demon King was.

Since others couldn't see him searching.

He quickly searched through the internet window.

He was able to grasp it in an instant.

Including the scenario of Lumencia.

'The Necromancer Lord sends undead from his castle to overthrow Lumencia.'

The Necromancer Lord...

Didn't one of the items Seonghyun had share that name?

The 『Cuirass of the Necromancer Lord』.

The cuirass that Helena was said to have made, and that the Necromancer Lord had used since before he became a lord.

Unless he was an idiot, he could tell as long as he was wearing it.

'It might be related to the Overlord somehow.'

He already knew that Helena and the Necromancer Lord had a connection.

Well, Helena had said he wasn't her disciple.

She said they happened to cross paths and she made something for him?

That's why he thought there might be something more with the Overlord.

'Is this why my sister recommended I come here?'

As Seonghyun's thoughts reached that point.

He looked at the group asking him to go with them to the Demon King's, that is, the Necromancer Lord's castle, and felt that it was worth accepting.

'I could probably go alone, but...'

While searching the internet, he saw.

That the quest to reach the fortress takes a very long time to obtain.

The fastest person to get the fortress quest took a whopping two months.

If he could get the quest shared here, it would honestly be a huge gain for Seonghyun.

There was no reason to refuse.

"I hear it's a quest that takes a very long time, yet you're willing to share it so readily. I have no reason to refuse. In fact, thank you."

At Seonghyun's acceptance, everyone's expressions brightened.

Just then, Claudine, wearing glasses, poured cold water on the mood with a cool expression.

"But there's a bit of a problem with sharing it."

"A problem?"

"Ah..."

"That's right..."

"Hmph. I didn't think that far."

Seonghyun tilted his head in confusion at the party members' reactions.

'Why are they like that?'

Just a moment ago, they were excited to go together.

But then.

Stella answered.

"To share the scenario quest we received, we need to get approval from the NPC who gave it. So, Yoohyeon-nim will probably need to get that NPC's approval for it to be shared."

"But that NPC is quite picky..."

"It might take some time."

"...Still, it won't take longer than doing the scenario from the beginning, right? About two days?"

At those words, Seonghyun nodded, thinking that must be why.

Still, if two months were reduced to two days, that was enough.

Seonghyun looked at them as if to say it was fine and said.

"Then shall we go right away?"

"Great! It's better to go quickly!"

"Thank you for accepting, even though it might take some time."

"That's right."

"Hahaha! You won't regret it, Yoohyeon-nim!"

As the party members said that, Seonghyun returned to Lumencia, which he had left as soon as he arrived.

He went with the Prism Effect party.

They certainly took him to an old woman who looked quite picky.

'Won't it take another two days?'

As Seonghyun was thinking that and waiting from behind.

"Grandmother, we thought it would be a bit difficult for us to go alone, so we have a new member. Is it alright if he comes with us too?"

At Ir's kind explanation, the old woman instantly scowled and, narrowing her eyes, looked towards Seonghyun.

As if this was a big deal, everyone gulped.

On the other hand, Seonghyun just looked at the old woman nonchalantly.

The old woman's eyes widened and she shouted.

"Ooooh!!! If it's this person, I can trust and entrust it! I permit it!"

"...???"

"Huh???"

"What???"

"Ehh?!?!"

The members of Prism Effect were all surprised and looked at Seonghyun.

And Seonghyun, looking at them, recalled the title he had received yesterday, 『World Star』, and scratched his chin.

He thought it would be useless.

'The effect is better than I thought.'