Ark the Legend 1-12

by Yoo Seong

  “Chasing parties have been sent all over the place so information should arrive soon.”

  “Don’t make me wait too long.”

  Red eyes gleamed through the animal helmet. The old man’s face quickly drained of blood and bowed.

  “I will do my best, Lord Set!”

  “I will see.”

  Set spoke with a low voice before turning his body.

  ————————————-

  ‘…..Even though…..’

  Ark sighed and shook his head.

  -I believe in Ark.

  Kuhwen had said that before they left. Ark wanted to return all his expectations. He liked the NPC Kuhwen and he also needed to complete the quest in order to escape this place.

  “Ark, you couldn’t take formal lessons before the Elim has been killed but the training admitted that you are the Elim’s Heir. So unofficially you are equivalent to an Elim. Although the Elim is an honorary post, as Horus I can give you the right to become the commander. I will leave command of the expedition to you and wish you the best in accomplishing this mission.”

  And Kuhwen delegated the power to him. The troops in the expedition consisted of 80 people. Of those, 50 were city guards without proper training and Ark who had fallen into a completely different time and space. Ark couldn’t feel excited.

  ’80 people. It isn’t a small number but the Valley of Darkness is a place that frightens the nobles just from hearing the name. I don’t know how strong the monsters on Muratio Star are but having 80 troops is no guarantee of safety.’

  Actually, the morale of the troops visibly fell when they heard the destination. It was to the extent that Tori and Ferguson were affected by the atmosphere despite not knowing what the Valley of Darkness was.

  ‘And it isn’t the end once we escape from the Valley of Darkness. According to Tot, Set has stationed soldiers at various Holy Lands. The number of soldiers can’t be confirmed. It might mean a large war in the end.’

  Battles was originally Ark’s specialty. But it was different when talking about a war consisting of hundreds or thousands of troops. Fighting alone and fighting while leading troops was completely different.

  Of course, Ark also had a lot of experience in fighting large scale battles. But that experience was in New World. He fought in wars in Galaxian on Beltana and Athamas but Ark was just leading a small troop of his own party members.

  He didn’t have experience directly fighting hundreds of troops. Furthermore, New World and Galaxian were games with entirely different backdrops. The tactics differed depending on the game.

  ‘But Kuhwen said there is no one else to take control of the expedition. So I have no choice but to learn how to lead the soldiers in this room.’

  Ark focused on this part. No, he wanted to focus on it. But his stress wasn’t easy once the expedition actually began. The cause of his stress was Kuhwen’s attendants, the nobles.

  “Pant pant pant. Ah, damn! How long do we have to walk for?”

  “I am a noble. Do I have to keep walking in this hot desert?”

  “Damn, I can’t move anymore. I’m going to take a break here. Otherwise I will die before reaching the Valley of Darkness. Hey Ark, are you listening to me? Are you trying to kill us?”

  The nobles kept on complaining. Ark was dumbstruck.

  He had definitely forced them to march non-stop since leaving on the expedition. However the nobles were riding camels. The soldiers were the ones marching on foot in the sizzling desert yet the nobles were the ones complaining. Their behaviour really matched those of aristocrats. Right now Muratio Star was in rebel situation yet these guys were acting like they were going on a cruise?

  “Take care of your health. The soldiers are the ones walking but they are still fine. If the soldiers hear people riding a camel saying that then wouldn’t their morale lower?”

  Ark quietly told them.

  “What? The soldiers? Are we going to be treated just like soldiers?”

  “We are the Murat nobility. We are different from the Murat with conventional lineages. Yet the Elim’s Heir dares compare us to common soldiers?”

  “This would be hard to ignore even if you are the official Elim!”

  “We have a status close to a king so we are much higher than you!”

  “Tsk tsk, indeed an uncivilized human. The eyes of a undeveloped human can’t recognize the aristocrats. Entrusting my life to such a person is really miserable.”

  …..The nobles swarmed and bit after hearing his words. They didn’t hesitate to make discriminatory remarks about his race. Naturally Kuhwen scolded the aristocrat’s behaviour. The nobles closed their mouths with dissatisfaction but started complaining again once Kuhwen looked away. Ark’s insides seethed with anger as it continued.

  ‘I’d like to bury them all in the sand but…..’

  He knew that they all had considerably high positions based on Basak’s explanation. Even if Kuhwen was Horus, their status meant that he couldn’t easily punish them so the complaints continued. And he braced himself to hear their talk whenever Kuhwen left. Ark wasn’t the one being offended. Jed was to blame for the nobles’ attitudes, not Ark.

  “Hyung-nim really has stomached a lot in the meantime. Warriors that can match Hyung-nim can only be counted on one finger. Nevertheless, these nobles who only live in a castle are complaining about uncivilized humans. No. The nobles are acting this way because they are scared of Hyung-nim’s personality. That is why I decided to follow Hyung-nim. But the nobles don’t know Hyung-nim like I do. You just endured it and watched on in silence. The nobles also despise the fact that you have become the Elim’s successor.”

  The person called Jed was absolutely a docile character. But that alone wasn’t enough to 100% satisfy the nobles.

  ‘It is probably the same for Kuhwen. He can’t do anything against the aristocrat’s complaints. They don’t listen to Kuhwen’s scolding even if he is to become the next Horus. Maybe their aim is to delay the marching speed since they don’t want to take my orders.’

  He could see their intentions based on the attitudes of the nobles at the shrine. Once again, this was a desperate situation that needed a speedy solution. If Set took control of the major cities on Muratio Star then his rebellion wouldn’t be able to be suppressed even if they released Abraxas. Yet the nobles still objected to going through the shortcut that was the Valley of Darkness.

  ‘The reason Kuhwen is taking this risk….’

  If Set’s revolt succeeded then Kuhwen would be 100% dead anyway. Leaving an heir to Horus alive would just be allowing another rebellion. The situation was so dangerous so how could Kuhwen wait for the volunteer army to arrive?

  ‘These guys are worried about their own lives instead of Kuhwen’s. The viewpoint of the nobles and Horus is different. Even if Set’s revolt succeeded, there is no guarantee that these nobles would be killed. The power of the nobles is required in order to reign over the villages so Set might try to reconciliate with them instead of killing them. However, if the expedition to the Valley of Darkness is wiped out then the nobles will definitely die. Therefore the Valley of Darkness is more dangerous than the rebellion in the nobles’ minds.’

  This was the real reason why the nobles opposed the expedition. Kuhwen was young but intelligent so he probably knew the hearts of the nobles.

  This was also why Kuhwen couldn’t treat the nobles harshly. The nobles were Kuhwen’s only supporters at the moment. But there was a chance they could leave the expedition to join Set’s camp and become an enemy. Therefore the nobles possessed a complex position despite Kuhwen being the next Horus.

  ‘But in this situation, they won’t be the first ones to die. It really is crazy. It isn’t possible to talk to the nobles when their heads are buried in the sand. At this rate, it won’t be possible to arrive at the Valley of Darkness in time let alone their destination. No, this mood will be a problem even if we arrive at the Valley of Darkness.’

  Ark exam
ined the soldiers with pained eyes. The soldiers were sweating in the mud while the nobles riding camels were whining.

  The soldiers’ morale was low from the nobles’ attitude so this would be dangerous once they reached the Valley of Darkness. Besides, the person called Jed was just a human so the guards ignored him.

  Ark was the Elim’s Heir so he commanded the soldier’s respect but they were affected by the nobles’ attitude towards Ark. They didn’t express it plainly like the nobles but their attitude was still impudent.

  ‘Whether they like it or not, I have to lead the soldiers through the Valley of Darkness and fight the rebels beyond that. But it is impossible to move the troops with this atmosphere. Right now it is possible thanks to Kuhwen but it will be no use in the confusion of battle. The soldiers need to seriously consider me as a commander and follow me in battle. Tactics are an essential part of leading soldiers. But that isn’t the only thing required. I need to get rid of the root cause behind the soldiers’ dislike. I have to change the nobles’ attitudes.’

  The problem was how to break the nobles.

  ‘But……’

  Ark worried for a while before turning around quickly. He looked at Tori following in the rear with Ferguson, A and B and smiled.

  ‘The most direct way is to scare them.’

  ————————————-

  “Event?”

  Ferguson blinked his eyes. Ark nodded and replied.

  “Yes, I don’t understand it that well but we seemed to have entered another world and time after being sucked into the black hole. It is a world thousands of years ago. We seem to have entered a different dimension due to the influence of the black hole.”

  “A different dimension? Is this like the Netherworld in New World?”

  “Eh? Netherworld in New World? You guys also played New World?”

  “Of course. Huhuhu! We…..”

  “W-what is this brat talking about?”

  Ferguson quickly covered A’s mouth.

  “I don’t know! We haven’t played New World. Netherworld….yes, we saw in on a broadcast.”

  He seemed suspicious but it wasn’t important right now.

  “Yes, if you look at it from the view of a user then it is similar to the Netherworld of New World. But the system applied is different. You guys, didn’t your equipment and items disappear once you entered this world? That’s because this world is thousands of years ago. You guys were using equipment and items made thousands of years in the future. It can’t exist in this world so it disappeared. Even the spaceship that you were riding disappeared.”

  That was the conclusion Ark came to. It was why all of Ark’s items disappeared except for the Elim’s Helmet and Heir’s Sword. Unlike other items, those two items were originally used by the Elim. It wasn’t strange that Jed would have it. From such a perspective, it was ridiculous that Baius’ Shield would be lost but Jed was just the Elim’s Heir.

  Anyway……

  “What? This world doesn’t have it?”

  “Then can you find it?”

  “T-that is ridiculous! Do you know how much money those equipment were worth? I invested my entire fortune into those equipment. And that spaceship was prepared with the insurance from the previous spaceship. If I lose this ship then the insurance payout will be terrible!”

  Ferguson, A and B screamed in a panic. Ark watched them with irritated eyes and continued.

  “Listen to a person’s words until the end! Like I said, we lost items and the ship because they don’t exist in this world. But that doesn’t mean we can’t regain the items and ship.”

  “No? There’s a way?”

  “Yes, it ‘isn’t here.’ But it still exists in the right time. In other words, if we return to our original time then the ship and items can be found again. In order to do this, we must meet the conditions.”

  “Conditions?”

  “Moving back to the original time zone.”

  “Back to the original….that is simple isn’t it? We just have to die.”

  In fact, Ark also had such a plan. The Fairy hadn’t been renewed after coming into this world. No, he hadn’t even seen a Fairy. So if he died he should appear at the last Fairy. In order words, Turan in his original time. If Ark’s hypothesis was correct then he was likely to find his lost items after resurrecting. However there were two problems with this.

  The first was that there was no way of knowing if the spaceship that entered the black hole with him would be restored. And the second was that there was no guarantee he could recover the items. If the equipment didn’t return when he died then they would be lost.

  ‘That is something to consider in the worst case scenario…..’

  “T-that’s right.”

  Ferguson sighed with relief and nodded. He had no intention of committing suicide.

  “As I said, if we return to our original time then it is likely that we can find our items and spaceship. And I already know a way. Right now I have a quest. If I successfully complete this quest then I can get a clue to return to my original time. Then it will be possible to find the spaceship and items that disappeared.”

  “R-really?”

  “My words are 90% certain. But there’s one problem. It won’t be easy to complete this quest based on the atmosphere. It is hard to explain but there will be a lot of difficulties. The nobles being like this is a problem. So you guys have to be helpful. This quest isn’t just a matter involving one person.”

  “W-what do you mean?”

  “We aren’t that helpful….”

  “No, there is no need to think about it. If we lost our ship and items then we will be no different from beggars. If it is to recover that then we help out without grumbling!”

  “Are you serious?”

  “As expected from Ferguson!”

  Ark laughed as he looked at Ferguson, A and B.

  “You promised.”

  Ferguson, A and B couldn’t imagine what this would result in.

  ————————————-

  “Kurai-nim.”

  Ark approached a complaining noble. Wearing ornaments carved with Egyptian style paintings, Kurai was the highest ranking noble in Kuhwen’s entourage. And he was the mastermind behind Ark’s bullying. Naturally he didn’t look beautiful to Ark. Kurai looked at him with an offended expression.

  “What is it?”

  “The procession of nobles is slower than the speed of the soldiers. This is detrimental to the soldiers’ morale and we might fall behind schedule.”

  “Hoh, that is a fairly heavy handed tone.”

  Kurai said with a strange expression.

  “So what are you going to do? Do you intend to run behind Kuhwen again? Ah, how frightening. You are the commander so I should listen to you. You’re lashing out. Isn’t that right?”

  “Kuk kuk kuk, that’s right.”

  The nobles around them laughed. That was also reflected in the eyes of a few soldiers in the area. Then three men approached from behind Ark.

  “Ark, are these the people causing you problems?”

  The three monkeys gazed at the nobles with serious eyes. They were Ferguson and his brothers A and B. Ferguson, A and B formed fists with their hands.

  “Should we take care of these guys?”

  “What?”

  Ark then turned his body. And he shouted sharply at Ferguson.

  “You dare do something like this when I’m here? Do you know who you are talking to? They are the Murat nobility that have power throughout the galaxy. Savage monkeys aren’t allowed to see them!”

  “W-hat are you saying? This is against the agreement!”

  Ferguson stuttered after he was hit by an uppercut. But Ark stepped on A and B before Ferguson’s words ended and exclaimed.

  “What is different? Yes, I was complaining a little bit. Because I was mad at the nobles! Yet how could such a thing happen? They are nobles who control the seat of power. Does it make sense that some
monkeys came to hit them?”

  Puck puck puck! Puck puck puck! Puck puck puck!

  Fists and feet poured onto Ferguson, A and B. Ark’s violence didn’t stop despite the protests of ignorance.

  The Murat nobles were baffled.

  “Yes! Okay! Frankly, there were also one or two times I was so mad that I wanted to bury the nobles! No, I pushed it down and endured it but there is a bitter taste! But you’re not allowed to do that! They are the nobility! So even I clenched my teeth firmly! Yet you monkeys don’t know your social position and attempted to do something?”

  Kwok kwok kwok! Kwok kwok kwok! Kwok kwok kwok!

  “Ouch! Ouch! W-wait a minute! S-save me!”

  “This bastard, are you multiple? Multiple personality?”

  “Ugh! Dammit! If it is like this then I won’t endure it either!”

  Ferguson, A and B ran towards Ark with bloody noses. However Ferguson, A and B were basically naked aliens. Meanwhile Ark was equipped with a full set of armour and his lightsaber. No, he didn’t even bother to use his lightsaber.

  “What? You want to try me? Haven’t your spirits been rearranged yet?”

  Ferguson was hit by a storm of kicks from Ark. That was it for the three monkeys’ insignificant resistance. However Ark’s violence was just beginning. Ark continued aiming his fist at them as the three monkeys fell down.

  The Murat nobles looked on anxiously.

  “Now will you test my nature? Didn’t I tell you? I have a ton of stress piled up! I endured it firmly despite wanting to bury those nobles! No, I want to run up to them right now and turn them into bloody rice cakes. But I can’t! They are the nobility! Because they are nobles! Yet you stood up and threatened them! Why? Why? Why? Why?”

  Sseok sseok sseok! Sseok sseok sseok! Sseok sseok sseok!

  It was the sound of the three monkeys being kneaded. The nobles didn’t dare step forward as Ark spoke in a voice full of resentment. It was natural. His bloody fists made Ark look truly evil! An evil spirit! Devil! His reckless violence stopped once the three monkeys’ faces were literally changed into bloody rice cakes.