After giving his final instructions to his second uncle, Kaito let out a soft breath and turned toward the marketplace.
The trade area of South Glade Town was still bustling—but far less than before. Most players had already logged out. As expected, the majority had been using virtual helmets, limiting their playtime to a maximum of twelve hours per day. Now, only those with the cabins remained online.
That included Kaito, his core Genesis team, and his family.
Earlier, his mother had also mentioned that after personally experiencing the game, Kaito's grandfather had taken the initiative to ask Grandpa Gou to log in and bring along several members of their household staff. A few maids, some servants, and even the kitchen chefs had been instructed to enter the game so they could gain practical experience firsthand.
In response, Kaito had asked his second uncle to assist in making the necessary arrangements. As for now, Grandpa Gou was fully occupied, personally training them using the techniques excavated from the ruins that kaito's grandfather had given him in the martial arts grounds of the villa.
Now Kaito didn't need to do much after his second Uncle took over.
So, Instead, he moved quietly through the rows of merchant stalls lining the cobblestone streets—eyes half-lidded, mind wandering.
With the purpose that If he sees something familiar… it may trigger a memory.
The vendor area was a mishmash of smells, glowing crystals, rough-forged weapons, potion bottles, monster parts, herbs—cluttered chaos at its finest, depicting the realism in Glory.
Kaito's gaze swept over an assortment of minor items. Most were trash in his eyes. A few, however, sparked the faintest flicker of memory—but none were worth buying yet.
...
He then passed through a few more stalls, before taking a short detour to the local bank vault.
Inside, he deposited all the items that Mei Rin and the others had given him after their dungeon runs. Materials, gear pieces, enhancement stones, rare herbs, crafting drops.
Then Kaito reached back into his chat messages and found a detailed message by Suzune. It was a handwritten list compiled by Mei Rin and the others—items looted across their multiple runs of Echoing Deep, each line meticulously recorded by Suzune's sharp memory. Kaito went through it slowly, his eyes scanning all the contents.
So they really did push all the way to the Sovereign variant room.
There were even records of rare herbs like Ashleaf Root, Frostvine Moss, and Ghostpetal Lily—plants normally associated with alchemy recipes that were extremely useful after the next major update of Glory.
They had pulled off far more than he expected.
Quietly, Kaito slipped the note back into the secure slot of his inventory. Taking out a necklace again from among the items he didn't think they would be able to get this also.
Lost Necklace: Special Item. This seems to be connected to viscount Elrick of South Glade Town.
This necklace was an item to a unique quest from the viscount.
.....
After securing it all, he pulled open a smaller compartment where two skill scrolls rested—neatly sealed and glowing with faint magical energy.
Both had been found in different high-difficulty dungeons and handed to him by his teammates.
Kaito narrowed his eyes.
[Skill Obtained: Odin's Wrath]
Description: Summons a surge of divine lightning, channeling the fury of the storm into a three-part sword combo. Each strike releases a thunderclap that damages all enemies in a cone.
Strike 1: +150% weapon damage + 100 Thunder damage (Stuns for 0.5s)
Strike 2: +180% weapon damage + 150 Thunder damage (Interrupts casting)
Strike 3: +220% weapon damage + 200 Thunder damage (Pierces defense by 30%)
If all 3 strikes hit the same target, a final bolt descends from above, dealing +300% Thunder damage in a 2-yard radius.
This skill Scales with Agility and Intelligence. Best used as a burst opener or anti-caster tool.
Kaito's lips curved slightly. A perfect match for my dual-class setup…
The next scroll he examined was was also a rare burst type skill.
[Skill Obtained: Overlord's Rage]
Cooldown: 8 Hours
Duration: 10 minutes
Description: Enter a berserk state for 600 seconds, increasing all primary and secondary stats by 60%. Movement speed, attack speed, casting speed, and critical chance all receive additional 30% boosts. While in this state, skill cooldowns are halved.
Drawback: After 600 seconds, enter a weakened state for 30 minutes. During this time, all stats are reduced by 70%, and movement speed is halved.
Of course, Burst Skills are high-risk, high-reward ultimate techniques—comparable to the final berserk state of dungeon bosses. They are best reserved for boss fights, solo survival, or overwhelming moments where victory must be seized instantly. Only skilled players know when to activate it—and how to survive the aftermath.
….
Kaito closed the skill panel. And then departed towards the viscount's mansion.
Arriving at the grand stone gates of Viscount Elrick's mansion, Kaito didn't even slow his pace.
A long line of players stretched out from the entrance, all waiting their turn to speak with the guards. Most were likely here to submit minor quests or attempt to trigger reputation chains.
But Kaito ignored them entirely.
"Hey! Swordsman—get in line!"
"Yeah, who do you think you are? Behind me!"
One of them squinted. "Wait… isn't that… Raen?"
"Raen? the guy from Genesis?!"
"So what if he is? Everyone lines up!"
Amused, Kaito simply shook his head.
Standing calmly before the two Level 30 Elite Guards stationed at the mansion entrance, he noted the flickering yellow question mark above their helmets—denoting a quest-related hand-in.
These two guards weren't ordinary NPCs. Their power at this stage was unmatched. Even ten parties of current players wouldn't be able to take one of them down.
"Excuse me, both of you! I've found the Viscount's lost necklace." Kaito said casually,
The two guards immediately straightened. One, a middle-aged man in red-plated armor, stepped forward.
"That necklace…" His voice turned solemn. "This is the last keepsake left by the Viscountess before her passing. Since its loss, the viscount has not smiled once."
He took the necklace from Kaito with reverent hands, his eyes briefly reflecting gratitude.
"Oh! Young man," he said, stepping aside, "please come with me. The Viscount will definitely reward you handsomely."
At this moment, Gasps erupted behind them.
"F-Fuck! He really didn't need to line up?!"
The crowd murmured, but no one dared to stop him as the guards opened the heavy mansion doors and led him through.
Despite having seen this place countless times in his previous life, Kaito couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Only those of Viscount rank or higher were allowed to own such a mansion in Glory. The towering marble columns, crystal chandeliers, and polished obsidian floors spoke of status far beyond what any current player could afford.
He followed the guard into the grand hall, where dozens of other players were waiting for their turn to meet the noble NPC. Now, they could only watch as Kaito walked past them without resistance.
At the far end of the chamber stood Viscount Elrick, a refined old man clad in a regal blue robe, trimmed with silver.
The guard knelt respectfully. "My Lord, this young man has returned the necklace."
Elrick's expression shifted the moment he saw it. His hand trembled slightly as he accepted the worn silver chain, his eyes softening.
"Young, favored one of the gods, thank you for returning the necklace. This… this means more to me than you can imagine," he said, voice barely above a whisper.
System Prompt:
Viscount Elrick's Favorability has increased by 30 points.
Not bad. A thirty-point jump meant the beginning of personalized interactions. And—most importantly—it unlocked hidden story branches.
Kaito offered a small, noble salute. "It was my duty."
But then, his tone subtly shifted.
"Although… I do have a question. If the necklace was this important, how did it end up inside a dungeon like Echoing Deep?"
Viscount Elrick's face darkened instantly.
Kaito's heart skipped—not from nerves, but anticipation. Got it. He had successfully triggered the quest.
A moment later, Elrick spoke again, his tone heavy with restrained fury.
"It's all because of the Demon Cult… that wretched cult that continues to spread its evil across the continent. They seek to undermine everything the Glory Temple protects."
He clenched his fist. "A while ago, a high-ranking temple priest, Senior Believer Bernard, sensed an evil aura infiltrating South Glade. He warned me—and I began strengthening the town's defenses. I even conducted an investigation myself."
"But," Elrick sighed, his voice tinged with regret, "while I was tracking the source of that taint, I was ambushed by something. And in the struggle… I lost this necklace."