Chapter 56: The Shepherd of Las Vegas

* * *

Senia’s wings fluttered nervously. Although she maintained an expressionless facade, inwardly she was quite shaken.

‘Is there really a Special Hidden Piece in this place?’

Even as an intermediary manager, Senia was unaware of this information. And to think such a hidden piece existed, not in some high-tier section, but right here in the beginner zone.

Special Hidden Piece—a term that could make even the normally indifferent guardians go crazy.

The guardians’ activity and responses were nearly at a frenzy.

[Unnamed guardians are entering Channel #19207 en masse.]

[‘The Shepherd of Las Vegas’ has applied for a regular sponsorship contract in Channel #19207.]

[‘The Pearl of Mount Cheonma’ donates 200 coins to the intermediary manager.]

…

[‘The Lady of the Scales’ donates 120 coins to the intermediary manager.]

Notification after notification flooded Senia. She had discovered a ‘Special Hidden Piece’ in an unexpected beginner zone, and now she was exclusively broadcasting it. The guardians spared no expense in their support for this lucky(?) intermediary manager. The new guardians entering the channel. Guardians who hadn’t quite grasped the situation. And among those, the unnamed guardians began pouring out their relentless questions.

[What the heck is this?]

[Isn’t this a beginner zone? There was a Special Hidden Field here?]

[Did some guardian create this special space?]

[Can someone explain what’s going on?]

Aside from these outsiders, true guardians—’True Name Guardians’—watched the situation calmly. They were reserved with their words, but it was clear they were paying close attention to the situation.

Senia was bewildered.

‘This is the power of quality content.’

She knew it well. She was not a great speaker. She couldn’t entertain like the other intermediary managers or cater to the guardians’ whims. The only advantage she had was her beauty, which could compete with any of the other managers.

‘Looks alone aren’t enough to survive here.’

And yet, some guardian had already expressed the intention to provide regular sponsorship, and countless coins were being donated already.

Numerous guardians, who hadn’t even visited other managers’ channels, were now entering her channel, #19207.

Senia observed Kim Hyukjin, who stood before the gate leading into the ‘Unknown Forest.’ His steps were without hesitation or reluctance.

To Kim Hyukjin, it must be an unknown land, yet there seemed to be no fear in him.

‘Player Kim Hyukjin.’

Just as he had promised, he had proven the value of ‘quality content.’ Without Kim Hyukjin, Senia wouldn’t have come this far.

[‘The Valiant Lion King’ has applied for a regular sponsorship contract in Channel #19207.]

[Several unnamed guardians begin to get excited.]

[Several unnamed guardians can’t take their eyes off Player Kim Hyukjin.]

Kim Hyukjin appeared once again. Unable to take their eyes off him.

‘Don’t die.’

Then suddenly, Senia was startled by her own emotions.

‘No. This must be my misconception.’

Senia silently shook her head to herself, three times, as if to deny her thoughts.

‘These aren’t feelings of concern for Player Kim Hyukjin.’

Senia. She herself does not indulge in such concerns. Such feelings are worthless. She believed she was devoid of such emotions. So her recent thought couldn’t possibly be a concern.

‘It’s just anxiety over what might happen to this quality content.’

Even though there was no one listening, she reassured herself with that thought.

‘Content this great might be hard to come by again.’

Meanwhile, Kim Hyukjin had entered the ‘Unknown Forest.’

‘How did I ever stumble upon this.’

Senia followed suit. The landscape changed. True to its name, a dense thicket was in sight.

[‘Unknown Forest’ entry confirmed.]

[A clear quest has been assigned.]

[Speak with the master of the ‘Unknown Forest’.]

A clear quest was given: to find and converse with the master of the forest. Senia spread her senses far and wide.

‘It’s vast.’

A forest too large to exist in a beginner tier area. The size of the forest was almost comparable to the entire city of Seoul.

‘How can there be a quest to find the master of such a vast place? Is this even a clearable hidden piece?’

No idea where the master was or who it could be. It was a quest that truly required one to hit the ground running.

Kim Hyukjin’s voice reached her ears.

“This… if I’m not careful, I might starve. I’m almost Level 30.”

“……”

Senia didn’t reply. Kim Hyukjin wasn’t wrong. Starvation was a possibility. They had entered such a vast area with no food supplies.

Kim Hyukjin was hopeful. This was a place even guardians would be ecstatic about—a Special Hidden Piece.

Guardians wouldn’t enjoy seeing a super rookie like himself die here.

‘My Level 29. The time for guardians to make their choice is approaching.’

Alright then, guardians. What cards will you play for me? Notifications began pouring in instantaneously.

[‘The Shepherd of Las Vegas’ lends you a ‘Magic Camping Set’.]

[‘The Lady of the Scales’ lends you ‘Magic Spring Water’.]

[‘The Pearl of Mount Cheonma’ lends you ‘Sky Demon’s Inner Qi’.]

[‘The Valiant Lion King’ lends you ‘Magic Campfire’.]

[‘The Nameless Observer’ temporarily upgrades the rank of your ‘Sense Eye’.]

Even Kim Hyukjin was momentarily at a loss for words.

‘What’s all this?’

The number of guardians who could send messages at one time was limited to five. So, a full capacity of messages had been sent his way.

‘Magic Camping Set, Magic Spring Water, Sky Demon’s Inner Qi, upgrade of Sense Eye’s rank, Magic Campfire?’

The Magic Camping Set, in simple terms, was a collection of basic cooking tools and camping equipment.

Senia approached me.

“I will start explaining the items. The Magic Camping Set is…”

I already knew everything without needing an explanation.

‘Magic Camping Set. Though it looks shabby, it’s a camping set worth over 30 million won.’

An item set that future rankers would have at least one of, it was not something typical for a beginner level area. With it, one could even set up a relatively safe campsite.

“Also, Magic Spring Water is…”

“Drinking water.”

“…Correct.”

Magic Spring Water is even more crucial than the Magic Camping Set for long dungeon expeditions. It could supply at least 1000L of fresh water.

“And Sky Demon’s Inner Qi is a special skill temporarily bestowed by the Pearl of Mount Cheonma…”

That skill is obtained by the future Sword Lord. It’s a panacea that quickly restores stamina. It’s an essential ability for the Sword Lord, and now I had temporary access to it.

“And the Magic Campfire…”

This item, also enchanted with magic, can be ignited and extinguished at will. It is known to sustain a fire for at least 3000 hours, does not go out in the rain, and is effective in deterring monsters.

“Player Kim Hyukjin. Are you listening to me?”

I glanced at Senia for a moment. Somehow, she seemed to raise her voice.

‘Did I offend her by ignoring her? Is she angry?’

But what Senia’s ‘Sense Eye’ captured was a slightly strange emotion.

‘It doesn’t seem like simple anger.’

I couldn’t know precisely what it was. For the time being, thanks to the ‘Nameless Observer’, my ‘Sense Eye’ rank was upgraded.

[Your ‘Sense Eye’ rank has temporarily increased.]

And with that, Senia’s emotions felt a bit more detailed. Things unseen before became visible.

──────────

[Intermediary Manager]

Name: Senia

Age: 332 years

Level: ?

Race: Angel

Regular Sponsoring Guardians: [The Valiant Lion King], [The Shepherd of Las Vegas], among others.

Status: Neutral/Observing/Aloof

Summary: A woman who denies her emotions

+ Unable to determine level.

+ Due to low proficiency in Sense Eye, detailed information cannot be viewed.

──────────

‘Something’s off about the status and summary.’

Neutral and observing, I get that. But what’s with aloof? And ‘A woman who denies her emotions’ in the summary?

‘Is there some kind of restriction that forces her to deny her emotions?’

‘It would have been nice if I could view the detailed information.’

The interesting part is that ‘The Valiant Lion King’ and ‘The Shepherd of Las Vegas’ are regularly sponsoring Senia.

‘That was quick.’

And there’s ‘among others,’ indicating another person, but their identity was unknown.

‘Sense Eye…’

Oddly, there seemed to be a faint sense of ‘concern’ mixed in Senia’s emotions. But that feeling quickly vanished.

‘It must be my imagination.’

An intermediary manager worrying about a player? Unlikely.

The player and intermediary manager relationship is one of mutual benefit—a business relationship. Concern for a business associate is difficult to conceive. That’s what Kim Hyukjin thought.

Senia spoke once more.

“Player Kim Hyukjin. I asked if you were listening to my explanation.”

“I heard everything. Don’t worry.”

Surprisingly, Senia’s face turned red and her wings trembled noticeably.

“I do not concern myself with such things. Don’t be mistaken, Player Kim Hyukjin.”

“……”

It looked like she really was worried. But then Senia continued.

“I will issue a quest under my authority as an intermediary manager.”

Intermediary managers sometimes grant quests to spice up the content, provided it doesn’t shift the scenario too much.

But the quest she gave was strange. Really strange.

[A quest, ‘Review,’ has been issued.]

I asked Senia again for confirmation.

“This is the real quest?”

“Yes. It is confirmed.”

Review. Literally to rewrite what has been said.

──────────

[Review]

An intermediary manager Senia’s quest. Detail and explain again all the previous information conveyed by Senia.

Quest Reward: 300 COIN

──────────

The quest seemed hardly like a quest. Is she actually worried about me? Asking for a clarification on purpose, even staking valuable coins to do so?

‘Well, it’s easy.’

“First, the Magic Camping Set is…”

I was already familiar with all these items.

“And the Magic Campfire has… those abilities.”

When I finished all the explanations, the quest clear notification rang.

[The quest ‘Review’ has been cleared.]

And there, I caught a strange point. Something was amiss, and I did not miss it.

‘What’s with this?’