The legendary Moonlight Sculptor

V56C6P1 - Weed's Scheme

Lee Hyun satisfied his appetite and headed to Namsan Mountain.

His Royal Road schedule was tight, but he ascended the mountain to whip up an important, yet petty trick.

'I climbed this mountain for the first time when I was 15 years old. Looking up to it from ground level only made me want to climb it more and more, I always wanted to go higher than the skyscrapers.'

He had climbed it because he was exhausted with his life.

There were gondola lifts in place but they weren't free to use and so he climbed every step to the top.

He recalled old memories of climbing the stairs, holding back his hunger.

Lee Hyun still used the stairs to climb Namsan Mountain.

'Today is a weekday so there are less people around.'

He could still see children holding hands with their parents.

Their attires were clean and their faces were free of concern: things that Weed was most envious of back in the day.

'Will those children know those hands protect them from the wild tides of this world? They won't. They are too happy to realize it.'

Lee Hyun looked down on the view of Seoul from the top of Namsan Mountain.

Back then, he was surprised to see so many buildings and sad because his place to rest was not among them.

'Compared to those times, my life now is pretty good.'

He filled his stomach with the chicken broth that Seoyoon cooked along with some wild ginseng. He saved up so much money and real estate that just about any rich person would be surprised.

He was the example of a successful individual in his neighborhood, but he still went to the old market to buy his clothes.

'I am not afraid of failing again. If I somehow… God forbid - fall down; I think I can get right back up.'

Kaybern was a tremendous threat. But, above all things, if the demon king were to appear, the Empire's existence would crumble down.

'Kaybern needs to be taken down right now. Stopping this from progressing to Cletta is the most ideal solution.'

Lee Hyun continued his train of thought while looking at the forest of buildings in the distance.

He could see a bit of microdust in the air, the foul dust clouded his vision, just as his schemes clouded his mind.

'If the demon king Cletta appears, we can't stop him. If we slay Kaybern now, we would be able to delay Cletta's spawn. Maybe prevent it altogether. If we were to fail, it would mean the fall of the Arpen Empire along with the dwarven race.'

Proceeding with the savior quest at this point in time was dangerous in itself.

The death of dragon Yuskellanda.

There was a possibility that it could lead into another quest with dragon Ratuas.

'The difficulty of the savior quest, too, could ramp up to an insane degree. In the past, a quest regarding the dragon was put to a stop because my abilities were said to be insufficient. It will be difficult no matter how I look at it.'

He had to invest a lot of time and the quest difficulty would get out of control.

During that time, so much blood will be spilt across the continent, making Cletta more powerful. Time was the true enemy.

'If Cletta appears and we are defeated, what will become of the world? We may live under the cities dominated by monsters or be placed in a state of total submission under the demons.'

Royal Road, the paradise of earth would plunge into complete darkness.

'The Arpen Empire would be dissolved. There is nothing easy about thriving.'

Lee Hyun felt a heavy load on his shoulders. But in such a crisis he could not afford to be dazed. He didn't climb Namsan Mountain to be fiddling with his thoughts.

'Concentrate. We are backed up into a wall, but there must be a way out. After all,even a mouse can bite the cat that chases it.'

The destruction of Morata was inevitable.

The foundation of Arpen was falling apart but he had neglected it until now. It was because he figured that there was no way to stop it.

'What if I lead all the forces I can muster to defend Morata?'

Lee Hyun drew in his mind the forces he could gather immediately.

First, the thousand dwarven warriors he gained through the race quest!

'They are useful. I'm sure they would put up a tenacious fight if they use the Brazier of Sacrifice. If I lead the dragon into a trap, they would fight valiantly. Then… they will be defeated without a doubt.'

There wasn't enough attack power to kill a dragon.

Even if they wielded the Dragonslayer Axe, it was beyond their capabilities.

Equipping loads of high magic resistance gear would just help them hold for a little longer.

'Northern players? I can't even fill the head count. They will all die to Dragon Fear.'

The human wave tactic was not viable. Players under level 300 would not be able to deal any damage to the dragon.

They could just as well be obstacles during the battle and would potentially get sacrificed in dark magic.

'Assault squad? I need to train them further. The brothers will be helpful but…'

***

Byungjoon Yoo Was monitoring Lee Hyun.

He had a system of satellite and android tracking in place that monitered whenever Lee Hyun left his house.

"A guy who knows no other places than his home, the market and his neighborhood has climbed the Namsan Mountain."

The AI responded.

- The change in his blood pressure indicates that he is undergoing intensive thinking.

"It must be because of Cletta."

- That is correct. He ascended the mountain after being informed about the demon king.

Byungjoon Yoo also knew about Cletta. Certainly he took a look at where the sealing stones were located. For dragons, the removal of the sealing stones was quite dependent on luck.

The orc tribesman in possession of the sealing stone could die to monsters or have them seized by a dragon.

It could be near or far into the future.

Yet, if Cletta were to appear, the Versaille Continent would fall into a catastrophe incomparable to Kaybern.

"Judging by the movement of his lips, he seems to be muttering something."

- He said that Kaybern is a son of a bitch.

"So, he will hunt the dragon?"

- Based on his usual pattern, he seems to be putting together an estimate.

"It is the shortest path, but is it possible?"

Byungjoon usually did not want to hear the probabilities calculated by the AI because it burst his bubble. Now, he wanted Weed to defeat Kaybern if it was at all possible so that Morata would not be destroyed.

- It all depends on how great a force he can mobilize.

"The dwarves, the assault squad and what else? What about the Geomchis?"

- There are many variables in combat, therefore exact calculations are impossible. Under normal conditions, the success rate is under 3%.

"How come?"

- There is a lack of military strength that could control the battlefield. When the dragon goes rampant using spells, the assault squad, which is the core of the army, will be defeated quickly.

"Even if Weed leads them?"

- Fear spreads rapidly. It will be hopeless if a monster the scale of a dragon goes on an rampage.

Byungjoon agreed unlike before.

When he was a novice, his heart pounded whenever a single wolf roamed around the hunting ground.

When instilled with fear, one cannot exercise their full capability and if players nearby begin to run: the formation breaks in a matter of seconds.

- On top of this, dragons treat their own lives dearly. In the worst scenario, Kaybern will flee when in danger and no one would be able to stop him.

"So you're saying that even if a battle breaks out, it is not possible to kill a dragon."

- Yes. The dragon would recover and return to Morata.

"Wouldn't they meet the required combat level if the players following Weed each use the Brazier of Sacrifice?"

- Their levels would increase but the curve is limited due to the lack of skills and equipment. Even if one uses the brazier to reach level 1,000, their true level assessment would put them at around 800. Additionally, I analyzed the players of the assault squad and the number of eager individuals who would use the Brazier of Sacrifice to engage in battle are at a maximum of 2,540.

"So including the thousand dwarves and the Geomchis, the total would be around 4,000?"

- With Weed's devious, grand speech and the Mapan Council's steerers they could gather up maybe 1,000 more members. But, that is nowhere enough. I assess that they need at least 10,000 soldiers.

"The dragon is too powerful for the current state of the players."

The Kaybern hunt seemed overboard for Byungjoon after exchanging conversations with the AI.

"So, it's not possible…"

That moment!

Lee Hyun in the monitor suddenly began smirking.

A perfect rotten smirk!

Judging by the Lee Hyun observed until now, it was clear that he came up with a trick.

- The success rate of Kaybern hunt has just increased to 53%.

"For what reason?"

- I am not certain, but Weed has gained considerable confidence in the hunt.

"I thought you said there are too many variables?"

- I assess that Weed will control all variables and lead the hunt advantageously.

"But his army is lacking…"

- He is already a legend weaving adventurer and the emperor of the Arpen Empire. If Weed himself believes and makes a speech with his overwhelming charisma, he will be able to gather 2000 more players willing to use the Brazier of Sacrifice.

"This situation is far from easy though."

- He will overcome it somehow. He is Weed.

Byungjoon was enveloped in a strange feeling.

The AI was acting like the common Weed wagons seen online.

"Your attitude has changed a bit."

- They say you have to line up under the right connection.

"Connection?"

- The man most likely to become my new master is Weed-nim.

***

Weed logged into Royal Road once again.

In the dwarven secret storage were the dwarven warriors waiting in their positions.

"You have returned!"

"The preparations for battle are complete."

Before the showdown with Kracore, the final boss of the dungeon, the dwarves strengthened their resolve.

Weed looked over the faces and equipment of every dwarf.

'A force I could rely on. But they aren't enough to heatbutt right into Kaybern.'

The resolve required to hunt a dragon was no ordinary determination. He reviewed the few tricks he came up with at Namsan Mountain and made up his mind.

"Follow me for now."

During the time he spent outside Royal Road, the supplies were prepared by the Mapan Council.

He took the dwarves outside the dungeon, fed them and taught them more combat skills.

Mapan, with a generous layer of belly fat, came in person with the council.

"Weed-nim, you must meet the lumberjack in the eastern region of Hilaya Forest for the secret axe technique."

"Is that so? Moreover, we must prepare for the battle against Kaybern."

"The council is also under preparations without delay. We are consistently procuring war supplies and also in search of necessary skills for the dragon hunt."

Weed nodded and appraised the council.

Many talented merchant players and experienced mercenaries were among their ranks.

The immense economy of the Central Continent meant that there were trade wars waging between the merchant players and due to the situation with Kaybern, the times were calling for differentiated service among councils.

The Mapan Council, having started in the barren lands in the North, adapted quickly.

"We have to be quicker. We will hunt Kaybern in Morata."

"Yes. In Morata… What?"

Mapan was astonished by Weed's bombshell announcement and questioned Weed.

"Did you just say that you are going to hunt Kaybern in Morata?"

"Yep. Since we have the problem with Cletta, there is no reason for us to stall. "

"But we are less than 9 days away and you plan to battle… No. Go to war against the dragon."

"Precisely."

"Sorry, run this through me one more time. You are going to call upon all forces to defend Morata and confront Kaybern."

"That's what I'm telling you."

A shroud of concern could be seen on Mapan's chubby face. Then, because of Weed's composed facial expression, old memories surfaced.

'He once asked me to buy tons of silver arrows for the Immortal Legion.'

This was when Mapan, who was a merchant specialized in miscellaneous items, was able to seize fortune and reputation, growing the scale of his council.

Looking back, the legend of Weed had started there.

"Mapan Council will make preparations for war. Will the supplies we have procured already be enough?"

"I just need to fill the lacking numbers in our army."

"From where exactly?"

"We already know where the best fighters are."

(To be continued…)