Rustle-! Rustle-!
Ayleen Mayfield was walking softly and quietly in a forested area similar to the Virtual Battleground that A-1 students of first years, specifically Han Jiho's and Samantha's group went through.
It's the Cemetery of Oblivion, one of the confidential Strayed Dungeons that was under the authority of the Obelisk Organization. But this Strayed Dungeon was different in the land area because the copied data through virtual technology only encompasses 5 km., but the entirety of a single-floor Strayed Dungeon, Cemetery of Oblivion has a span of at least 50 km., ten times bigger than the Virtual Battleground that was used in one of Professor Murak's activities.
There were no monsters anymore in this Strayed Dungeon, and the white moon hanging above the sky had its eyes already close as Lunaria, the Boss Monster that's similar to humans when it comes to physique structure, has been awoken from her dream since Ayleen cleared the Cemetery of Oblivion in the way that Samantha did; Recite the Poem of Remembrance, act it out based on the right interpretation.
If the recital and interpretation turned out to be wrong, a player would be forgotten from people's memory and their bodies will be buried under the tree with a nameless grave, completely succumbing into oblivion.
There was also no something called the Fog of Oblivion that demands the rule of sticking together or else, one would disappear. The forested area was as clear as though pollution haven't reached this place.
After traversing the parts of Cemetery of Oblivion from the entrance with an insane speed as an SS+ rank player, having a staggering 5 digits stat of Agility, Ayleen eyes quickly caught the view of the cabin from afar, situated in the middle of the Strayed Dungeon.
She then took her time until she arrived at the front grayish wooden door that seemed engulfed by the rivers of time due to its condition.
Knock-! Knock-!
Creak-!
Ayleen knocked twice before a creaking sound echoed through her sense of hearing. She smiled at the womanly figure that's considered a Boss Monster but her features were borderline of beauty and stunning.
Lunaria — the considered Boss Monster — has gray hair that extended almost to her knees, it's very long hair that's very captivating under the moonlight. She has a pair of eyes that are dyed in both white and black, a combination that seems to depict the dark and bright side of the moon hanging above.
"Hi, Ayleen."
Lunaria spoke in a human language, something that Ayleen understands. It's Korean.
After the Emergence that wiped billions, it's not just people that died, but also countless cultures of humanity.
During the progression of humanity throughout the years, the most spoken language in the world fell under the Korean and English languages, but with the help of the System, communication was made easier due to Translating function that the System has, at least it's only among humans, one would need a human translator or profession related to language interpretation when humanity needed to converse with the Elves and Dwarves, and other races that humanity might come across in the future.
But the being, Lunaria, in front of Ayleen remained a mystery because according to the standard of humanity's perspective when it comes to the understanding of Boss Monster, no one ever has a kind of intelligence that spoke Korean. Lunaria fell under the category of mystery just like the Close Mystery Towers that even after 40 years, still remained close.
"Hello, how are you?"
Lunaria invited Ayleen inside the small cabin that was dilapidated. The Obelisk Organization tried to help Lunaria by sheltering her or renovating the inside of Strayed Dungeon, but they only received one reply...
"Humanity has no right to change something unless you are Master."
For some reason, after Lunaria spoke firmly, the representatives who communicated with her experienced the most painful psychological attack they'd ever know. An E+ rank Strayed Dungeon with a very dangerous Boss Monster, this was also one of those times that the Obelisk Organization doubt the ranking system that the System presented to them.
After snapping back to her senses, Ayleen answered Lunaria who was wearing tattered clothes.
"I'm alright, thank you for asking, I hope you're okay, too."
Ayleen said genuinely, although Lunaria was considered a Boss Monster, she was a rare case that was labeled as a Top Secret.
"What's the question this time?"
Lunaria went straight to the point, prompting Ayleen to smile faintly.
Without waiting for Ayleen to say her next words, Lunaria added with a smile of amusement as if she was a child, playing with an adult, but Ayleen knew very well that she has a connection with her Constellation, Witch of Dreams, which means that Lunaria shouldn't be taken lightly even though she's only A- rank inside an E+ rank Strayed Dungeon.
"I'll answer only what's necessary at the moment."
Ayleen organized her thoughts and arranged the questions in her mind, the sole reason she visited Lunaria this time.
"Hmm... Okay, Lunaria... there's an incident that happened in the Elnira Kingdom more than a month ago, it says in the report that an attendant of the Queen of Elves died due to mysterious reasons after attempting to say something in front of the Queen. It also happened after a World Announcement was just announced..."
Ayleen took out a stack of paper from her Dimensional Inventory and presented it to Lunaria.
It contained the report about the case, and the written World Announcement that same day.
Lunaria read it thoroughly as her lips slightly curled up before she firmly asked as she put the stack of paper on a wooden table.
"Did something happen to the King of Elves? I'm sure you all noticed, it's a Kingdom, but it's the Queen that rules..."
Ayleen smiled at the sudden question that was unrelated to the case before she casually answered Lunaria's question.
"It's a piece of information that's strictly confidential even for us. No one knows what happened to the Queen's father."
Lunaria's fair-skinned right-hand slides to her right cheek softly before she said, looking at Ayleen sitting on the other side of the table.
"Okay. About your question, I have an idea, but it's knowledge with a cost. A cost you won't be able to pay, and you probably won't understand, so I'll just give you another piece of information.
"Is that alright Ayleen, or you'll forget me?"
Ayleen was used to Lunaria's behavior so she didn't force the issue and instead said with anticipation...
"Alright, what information you wanted to share?"
It was the first time that Lunaria volunteered to share a piece of information for some reason.
'She seems to avoid talking about the case...'
Although she became curious about the cost she needed to pay for Lunaria to answer the case of the mysterious death of one of the Queen of Elves' attendants, she had this nagging feeling that the moment she agreed to pay the cost, something terrible would happen.
Lunaria's next words cut Ayleen's flow of thoughts as her eyes dilated as soon as she processed what she just heard.
"A Close Mystery Tower will open in about two months."
...
"What did you just say?"
Ayleen's ears seemed to prick up in disbelief at what she just heard, but her tone and composure remained firm as an experienced player who had been with various trials and incidents.
"You heard right, Ayleen."
Lunaria didn't repeat what she previously said, but rather affirmed it with a smile on her face. Although Lunaria acts like a child, her figure and bearing speak the opposite.
"I see..."
Ayleen said succinctly, still feeling a shred of disbelief with the words she just heard because it was a bombshell that would shake the entirety of humanity if it was publicly announced earlier.
"Ayleen, don't worry about it. I'm sure it'll be announced through World Announcement a month prior to its appearance."
"..."
Ayleen just continued to listen to Lunaria, then after some time, she asked in curiosity, trying to get more specific information.
"Lunaria... do you know anything more about Close Mystery Towers?"
She smiled faintly at Ayleen's words before she said casually.
"Ayleen, it's been many years since I woke up from my slumber. Ironically, the Poem of Remembrance states that I entered a 'Sweet Dream' which is truly referring to the moon hanging above the sky.
"When I'm awake, the moon is dreaming and while I'm dreaming, the moon is awake.
"But the moon is my third eye, it might seem different from me, but it's still my eye that sees from above."
Ayleen listened to cryptic words that came out of Lunaria's mouth which were totally unrelated to her question based on her perspective.
With a faint smile, Lunaria continued.
"Sorry Ayleen for babbling some nonsense, heh heh. I just want you to hear it.
"..."
"Ayleen, thank you for hearing me out. And as a payment, I shall tell you about the Close Mystery Towers."
Ayleen didn't speak about the odd behavior of Lunaria who spoke randomly, but rather she waited for her next words.
"Close Mystery Towers are the kind of towers that has floors numbering 30 as the minimum. These towers have different characteristics and themes and don't open at the same time, but the moment one opens, it would bring great change whether for the improvement or loss of the world..."
Ayleen's eyes constricted with the information, not because of the towers' different characteristics or themes which were also present in a Strayed or Tower Dungeon, but rather the number of floors it possessed.
'30 minimum...'
Her scalp mildly tingled as Peak Dungeon Towers that have 15 floors took an average of 6 months to clear depending on conditions applied when raiding it.
"I know what you're thinking, Ayleen, but you're wrong on this one...
"Close Mystery Towers are scattered throughout the world, but Close Mystery Towers, depending on its characteristic or theme, can either be accessed physically or through the System, and can be cleared either faster or slower than what you thought."
The moment Ayleen heard the word, 'System,' she recalled one of the reasons Lunaria was considered as Top Secret information of the Obelisk Organization...
Case 0: Lunaria, a Boss Monster that talks about the System itself.
...
"Ayleen... promise me one thing and I'll tell you the specific Close Mystery Tower that'll open across the world."
"..."
Ayleen nodded, wanting to know more.
"Promise me... you'll never ever ask me again in any way you can about the mysterious death of one of the attendants of the Queen of Elves."
After processing the information, Ayleen nodded as a thought surfaced in her mind.
'Did she tell me this information just because she wanted to avoid being asked about it again? Strange... She's intensely avoiding it.'
Although she's curious why... Ayleen understands that some mystery wasn't meant to be probed into.
"Alright. I promise... in the name of Constellation, Witch of Dreams."
She made an ultimate promise, prompting Lunaria to smile upon hearing it before she proceed to tell Ayleen about the Tower of Growth.
...
After an unknown period of time, Ayleen's thoughts were occupied with pieces of information as soon as she came out of the Cemetery of Oblivion which seemed to become a tourist spot for the Obelisk Organization, but it was rather a limited tourist spot due to its confidentiality.
...
After a few hours of commuting via Air Train, Russell, Amelie, and Maya arrived a few blocks away from the entrance of a secret branch of the Shadow Guild which handled the mining of a mineral called Urum (UR).
"...Let's go."
Russell firmly said, looking at Amelie and Maya, who responded with a nod.
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