The Gate to Nergal City
After completing Quest 2, a new system window appeared before every member of Guild TEMPLAR.
Main Quest: Cosmia History
Quest 3 — Meet King Leon of the Kingdom of Atlas.
Reina stared at the quest for a long moment.
"If this were still just a game," she murmured, "we could probably ask anyone. But in this world... perhaps only the king knows the answer."
Lisa nodded in agreement.
"Then that's where we'll start."
The following morning, Guild TEMPLAR arrived at the gates of the Kingdom of Atlas.
This time, however, only Reina and Lisa approached the palace gates. The rest of the guild remained at a distance so they wouldn't crowd the entrance.
Before they could even speak to the royal guards, the palace's massive front doors slowly opened.
A noblewoman emerged, accompanied by several attendants and royal guards.
Every soldier immediately knelt in respect.
Seeing this, Reina and Lisa lowered their heads as well.
The woman stopped in front of them.
"You..."
"Are you the adventurers from another world?"
Her voice was gentle, yet carried undeniable authority.
"What business brings you to the royal palace?"
She then introduced herself.
"I am Clarissa, Queen of the Kingdom of Atlas."
Reina immediately explained the purpose of their visit, from their encounter with NPC Galdier to his instructions directing them to King Leon.
Queen Clarissa remained silent for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.
"I'm sorry."
"King Leon is gravely ill."
"He cannot receive visitors for the time being."
Lisa looked disappointed.
"Then... how can we meet him?"
The Queen explained that the royal physicians had been desperately trying to prepare medicine for the king, but several essential ingredients were extremely difficult to obtain.
She listed each required material one by one.
Reina and Lisa exchanged glances.
Then they smiled.
"We have all of them."
Queen Clarissa looked genuinely surprised.
"Truly?"
Reina immediately opened the Guild Bank and took out every material the Queen had requested.
Thanks to Guild TEMPLAR's habit of collecting every useful drop, they already possessed every ingredient without needing another hunting trip.
Queen Clarissa looked at them in amazement.
"Even the royal physicians said these materials were nearly impossible to obtain..."
"Thank you."
As a reward, she produced a small box filled with precious gemstones.
"You may choose."
"Either these jewels..."
"...or the information Galdier told you to seek."
Without needing a lengthy discussion, nearly every member listening through Guild Chat gave exactly the same answer.
"Take the information!"
"Forget the gems!"
They feared this opportunity would disappear just as Galdier himself had vanished after the quest was completed.
Representing the guild, Lisa answered,
"We choose the information."
The Queen smiled faintly before closing the jewel box again.
"In that case..."
"You must travel to Nergal City."
"In one corner of the city lives a fortune teller named Xina."
"But remember..."
"She refuses to receive visitors without a letter of recommendation from me."
The Queen handed a royal letter bearing the kingdom's seal to Reina.
"Take this."
"Xina will understand why you've come."
Reina accepted it respectfully.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
As the Queen returned to the palace, Lisa quietly whispered,
"That's all?"
"I thought we'd get the answer immediately."
Reina chuckled.
"You really..."
"If the Main Quest were that easy, it wouldn't be called the Main Quest."
Lisa laughed as well.
Several guild members who overheard the conversation simply exchanged puzzled looks.
Without wasting any time, Guild TEMPLAR prepared for their journey to Nergal City.
Naturally, the most excited among them was Yukio.
"Finally!"
"I get to visit the city of the Craftmen!"
He nearly jumped with excitement.
For a long time, he had heard stories that the finest blacksmiths in the entire Kingdom of Atlas lived in Nergal City.
According to rumors, it was also home to a Master Craftman capable of teaching the Catalyst Skill, an ability that enhanced the attributes of weapons, armor, and accessories.
The journey to Nergal would not be easy.
They first had to cross the Avia Desert, a dangerous region inhabited by Mostro ranging from Level 100 to Level 150.
Everyone now understood why Reina had insisted they raise both their own levels and the guild's strength before continuing the Main Quest.
The next stage simply wasn't designed for low-level players.
Around noon, the guild entered the Avia Desert.
An endless expanse of brown sand stretched to the horizon.
Rocky hills rose throughout the landscape, while enormous cacti stood scattered across the barren wasteland.
Mostro roamed everywhere.
Giant Level 100 birds circled overhead.
Level 120 Stone Golems lumbered slowly between the dunes.
And the most terrifying of all...
Knight Armor.
An empty suit of armor with no human inside, yet capable of moving and fighting like a living knight.
Level 150.
Unlike previous hunting areas, nearly every Mostro in the Avia Desert was aggressive.
Even so, only two parties could be seen leveling there.
They barely paid any attention to Guild TEMPLAR.
"Hey!"
"Don't steal our Mostro!"
one player shouted from afar.
Reina simply raised a hand in acknowledgment.
"We're not stopping."
"Keep moving."
The guild continued forward without interfering with anyone else's hunting grounds.
Several hours later, they finally reached the southern edge of the Avia Desert.
No other players were there.
Only a massive wooden gate blocked the road leading to the next map.
Curled before the gate was a gigantic serpent with a human face.
It possessed two muscular arms and carried a massive stone spear.
Above its head floated the name:
Sindra
Map Boss
Level 180
Reina immediately understood.
"So this is the guardian of the gate leading to Nergal City."
There was no hesitation.
Every member of Guild TEMPLAR was now equipped with Level 150 equipment crafted by Yukio.
"Attack!" Tanaka shouted.
The Knights charged first.
They took turns using Provoke to keep Sindra's attention focused on them.
Meanwhile, the Warriors, Rogues, and Mages launched coordinated attacks from every direction.
The battle was fierce.
Sindra possessed an enormous amount of HP.
Even with all thirty-one guild members fighting together, it still took nearly twenty minutes to bring the boss down.
Finally...
Sindra let out one last roar before dissolving into countless particles of light.
A shining object dropped onto the ground.
Gate Key
Reina picked up the key.
Only then did everyone realize something.
"Then..."
"Maybe no player has ever reached Nergal City."
Because without defeating Sindra, the gate leading there could never be opened.
Reina walked toward the gigantic gate.
Slowly, she inserted the key into the lock.
Creeeak...
The enormous wooden doors gradually swung open.
Beyond them, a glowing portal appeared.
One by one, the members of Guild TEMPLAR stepped through.
Moments later...
The landscape before them was the complete opposite of the Avia Desert.
Behind them lay endless sand beneath a blazing sun.
Ahead of them stood a city blanketed in snow.
Nergal City.
Mining railways stretched throughout the city, weaving between sturdy stone buildings. White smoke billowed endlessly from the chimneys of blacksmith workshops, while the rhythmic clang of hammers striking metal echoed through the crisp air.
Yukio could only stand there in awe.
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Finally..."
"...I've reached the city of my dreams."