Chapter 229

Chapter 229

Prepare Thoroughly, Travel Light

Hippolyte said,

“There’s no training today. Instead, starting tomorrow, we’ll be sealing the Abyssal Rift.”

What is the Abyssal Rift?

I was wondering about this when the most noticeable reaction came from Antiope, who was curled up under the blanket on the bed, groaning.

“Are you saying we’ll be descending to the deepest level of the ravine? Are you crazy?”

“No, I may be many things, but not crazy. Eventually, someone had to do it. We kept delaying it, and in the end, what needed to happen did.”

“What exactly happened?”

In response to Antiope’s question, Hippolyte seemed to look out toward the scenery framed by the window.

“A Silver Tier adventurer party has gone missing. I’ve been entrusted with finding them. I’ll lead the party.”

A missing adventurer party, huh.

I thought of Delphina and the other members of the Silver Rose, including her. Although I couldn’t clearly recall everyone other than Delphina and Elpride.

So they’ve ended up disappearing in the Abyss—this gave me a strange feeling.

Had Delphina gone missing too?

In a world where people disappearing isn’t rare, it was still hard not to be shaken at the sight of familiar faces vanishing.

So this was why Elpride sought Hippolyte.

While I didn’t know why Elpride herself wasn’t joining, it felt like I understood why she had Hippolyte look for her team.

Elpride must have commissioned Gold Tier adventurer Hippolyte to rescue her party from the Abyss, and it seemed Hippolyte had accepted the job.

Still, Antiope looked as though she couldn’t grasp why.

“Isn’t that place prohibited to everyone as a restricted area? Did you at least report this to the Minerva Guild?”

“No, if I had reported it, they wouldn’t have given me permission to enter. It seems that I entered the Abyss without telling anyone.”

“Are you guys just hungering for fame points? It’s fairly common, right? If adventurer parties are missing, why not just leave them be?”

Antiope’s words were extremely pragmatic.

Did she not want her older sister Hippolyte to place herself in danger rescuing a missing party that had gone into a forbidden area?

However, Hippolyte shook her head.

“If it were just any adventurer party, I might have left them. But, in the middle of the alliance between Kolkata and Sodomora, a group of adventurers invited from a distant city has gone missing….”

“Sis, you’re not one to act on such things, right? Did you take money for it? How much are you getting?”

“120 gold.”

The room fell silent for a moment at Hippolyte’s response.

“Wow—. That’s impressive. Why did you take so much?”

“It’s the life savings of a comrade who commissioned the rescue. We’re using their entire wealth to save lives.”

120 gold.

I had no idea how many bowls of national soup that would buy at five copper each. If we approximate gold as ten million won, it would equate to over 1 billion won in Korean currency.

For Hippolyte, who was perpetually short of funds, that money surely had the potential to change her life.

Of course, it was likely Elpride paying with her entire fortune of 120 gold to save her party.

“Well, then, best of luck to you. With your skills, you won’t d*e there, will you sis?”

“You’ll help too, Antiope. You’re also coming along. You don’t have anything better to do anyway.”

“What? Why should I go there?”

“Come on, it’s somewhat your fault too. Those Pluto priests who surrendered to you were all transferred to the prison city, leaving the Abyss unmanaged, right?”

“I-I was just doing my job! Good cultists belong in jail, after all…!”

“Anyway, you and I, along with Hassan of Samaria. And one more; we’re setting out as a four-person party. In truth, just the two of us might suffice…”

Hippolyte narrowed her eyes and looked at me, her gaze seemingly settling on Pluto’s pendant dangling around my neck.

“Samaritans have resistance to hellish magic, so in case of abyssal erosion, they might be able to help.”

“Hmm, indeed, you have that resistance. Strong resistance.”

Antiope nodded in agreement.

“So, who’s the last one? We’re going in as a standard four-person party, right?”

“Yes. I need some time to decide the last person today. Anyway, this is an official Gold Tier mission from the Mars Guild. It’s more task-like than a commission. It would be best if we all prepare carefully.”

So we’re forming a party with the Hippolyte sisters.

For me, it’s like riding along on a bus. But I couldn’t quite understand what I, venturing into such a perilous situation, could gain from this.

“Do we absolutely have to go?”

“You can refuse. It’s just a vacant spot; it could easily be filled with someone else. However, the public contribution points from this job are quite high. Daphne has calculated that if we complete this mission, your contribution will be maximized.”

“Maximizing my contribution, does that mean I can level up to Silver Tier?”

“Yes, if your Karma points exceed 30.”

Oh—.

If leveling up can instantly bring a Silver Tier promotion, that’s not a bad thing for me.

“In any case, it doesn’t seem like someone like you would d*e in the dark. Now’s not the time to pretend otherwise, is it?”

At that moment, Antiope spoke to me. Her brown eyes, peeking out beneath her ash-colored hair, were somewhat sleepy.

“Pretending weak? What are you talking about, Antiope?”

“Hmm, something like that.”

…

“Hassan, you’re going into the Abyss?”

Back at the cabin, I explained the situation to Luna.

A missing adventurer party from Kolkata.

And the Mars Guild’s official mission to rescue them—stuff like that.

“It’s a 120-gold mission.”

“Wow, that’s incredible. 120 gold feels like more money than I could earn in a lifetime!”

In fact, the pay for this mission is more than 120 gold, with an added alpha.

That means, in a four-person party, at the very least, each person could receive around 30 gold as their share.

30 gold.

A bag of gold coins.

A large sum of money.

Of course, the money is important, but having an opportunity to owe Elpride something also seemed quite advantageous.

Since Antiope and Hippolyte are coming along, I won’t be in much danger.

“Can I come, too?”

“Luna, you?”

“I’ve been to the Abyss before. In Ideope, there are many rifts of Erebor. I can help, too!”

However, Hippolyte reacted coldly to such talk from Luna.

In the Mars Guild headquarters office.

While packing her equipment, Hippolyte said,

“Is Noxdotty coming along? Can’t do it. Five members are too risky. The goal of this mission is to finish it quickly in the shortest time, not monster extermination.”

“But, I can really help, I-I’ve defeated you before, Hippolyte!”

“Noxdotty, know your place. You may demonstrate great strength against me specifically, but adding unnecessary personnel is just extra baggage. Less is more when dealing with baggage.”

“Baggage…”

Hippolyte’s assessment left Luna speechless, as if struck by immense shock. Her words were as cold as ice.

“But I, I can help…”

“No. The plan is not loose enough to escort you, as it would be in Erebores. It’s been three days since the missing adventurers entered the Abyss. Humans can mentally endure up to five days. We need to ensure their safe return within two days.”

It seems Hippolyte is attempting a time attack.

Time attack.

A hallmark of veterans, where shedding unnecessary elements for the most minimalistic approach is the strategy.

“…”

Luna couldn’t say another word as if she understood this.

She just alternated her gaze between Hippolyte’s face and mine, and reluctantly nodded as if accepting her fate.

“Alright… Then, let me help with the preparations.”

“Noxdotty, please understand, this isn’t because I dislike you. It’s a mission. There’s no room for personal feelings.”

With a slightly softer and comforting tone, Hippolyte consoled a disheartened Luna. Luna responded with a slight, defeated tone.

“No, I understand. I’m sorry for the unreasonable request, Hippolyte.”

Luna has been getting stronger lately, but she’s still not skilled enough to take on a Gold Tier mission.

I also opposed the idea of Luna following us down into the deep darkness.

It’s one thing to hunt or eliminate goblins in the usual way.

But I didn’t want to bring Luna into danger where creatures like manticores and wyverns abound.

Thus, we prepared to enter the Abyss the next day.

Even with a gold-level mission announced, the market was as noisy and lively as ever.

“Since the mission is classified and urgent, publicizing it wouldn’t do.”

According to Hippolyte, there was no upside to word of the mission getting out. The tale of an adventurer team from outside disappearing and the city’s manpower getting involved would only create confusion.

Is this like an embargo in this world?

“Hassan, grab lots of these!”

At that moment, Luna approached me after wandering around the market separately. She placed a heavy pouch in my palm.

Inside, it was tightly packed with little pods that looked like acorns and rattled around.

“What is this?”

“Lightning nuts! If you bite one, it’s super bitter and spicy, but it wakes you up instantly. Chew one when you’re tired or sleepy in the dark!”

Sort of like anti-drowsiness gum while driving?

“Also, here’s some dried rations and wildling potions I made…”

Luna handed me a large bag she had on her back. It was heavy with all sorts of stuff inside.

At this, Hippolyte interjected,

“It’s best to carry only minimal gear into the Abyss. Materials for torches and campfires, along with emergency supplies and holy water are the best to carry.”

“But, but-.”

Luna seemed to hesitate, worried about us heading into dangerous territory as she looked at the fully-packed bag.

So I said,

“I’ll carry it all. With Lady Antiope and Lady Hippolyte present, I won’t have much to do.”

Since I’d already done endless turns as the expedition’s porter, it didn’t make much of a difference to me. When I said this, Luna’s expression brightened.

“Carrying it all yourself is better! It’ll help!”

Afterward, we continued shopping.

We bought premium holy water for dispelling curses and rifts, each costing 60 silver for about ten bottles. We also purchased blessed bitumen and resin, which burned much brighter and longer than regular torches for 2 gold per bottle.

In half a day, I had already spent upward of 20 gold, and my perception of money was becoming somewhat distorted.

But neither Antiope nor Hippolyte seemed to care about the cost, only meticulously inspecting the quality of the items.

Is this the way Gold Tier adventurers prepare?

Sure enough, the income may be good, but the early stage preparations and investment costs are immense.

—

That night, we had a quick discussion in the tent behind the Mars Guild in Hippolyte’s office.

“I’ll take the front line. Antiope, you cover the rear. Swap with Samarian if any surprises arise…”

Witnessing this operation briefing between high-level adventurers and Shrine Knights was a first for me, and it was somewhat helpful.

When I had joined Bronze Tier adventurers in exploring Pluto’s dungeon, it was often just a matter of charging in and rampaging.

But Hippolyte had predetermined positions and outlined exact actions to take in emergencies right from the start.

She was somewhat meticulous, but this attention to detail was undoubtedly what had kept her alive this long.

“Samaritan, what’s your role again?”

“Left flank and monitoring Hippolyte’s condition in the front if anything happens. I’ll ensure the torch doesn’t go out and will quietly report any discovered creatures…”

For some reason, memories of military drills came to mind.

Thinking about it, it didn’t seem very different from that.

“Alright, that’s enough. We could’ve used more time, but that’s the thing with urgent missions. There’s always too little time. Expect a lot of unforeseen events.”

“Still, with you and I, we should be fine. What a solid team. With Samarian too, there probably won’t be any big issues, right? Who’s the last member?”

“We’re meeting tomorrow at the North Gate. For now, get some rest.”

Thus, as time passed into early morning,

Before dawn even broke,

In the unusually deserted North Gate where no one roamed, we quickly moved clad in heavy robes to avoid being noticed.

“Hassan-.”

As we were waiting at the North Gate to meet the rest of the party,

Luna’s figure appeared, she had come here earlier.

“Luna, what brings you here?”

—

[Author’s Postscript]

Daosn, Volpidtongho, Outdated, RuinSV, Kadeom, and Potetoserver!!! Your support means the world!

To everyone who sent in support coupons and submitted original works, my gratitude! Can’t wait for the Paranoi’s illustration to be ready.

As always, really appreciate your comments and support! Expect slow-moving Sunday’s “voodoo” magic!

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