“You guessed right.
I do trust you, and I hope you’ll live up to that trust…”
From what had been shown in the storyline, Sampo was a good person.
However…
In an hour’s worth of game footage, Sampo only had about ten minutes of screen time.
How could that possibly reveal his entire character?
“I’ll try my best…” Sampo replied with a laugh.
March 7th narrowed her eyes.
“Is he really trustworthy?”
“Maybe we should warn him first, so he knows what happens if he crosses us…”
Stelle didn’t bother lowering her voice.
“For instance, fusing him with a pig so he can experience a whole new way of life…”
*…Are you a demon or something?*
“You’re…
a bit…
um…” March 7th couldn’t find the right words to describe her inner shock.
“Hey lady, I haven’t done anything to you, have I?!”
Beside her, Sampo was equally flabbergasted, looking at Stelle as if staring at an evil demon!
*Are you really a Nameless?
You must be a hitchhiker…*
“Stelle makes a good point.
If you dare play any tricks, I’ll sign you up for a ‘Pet Survival Challenge.'”
Su Yan raised the Fusion Gun and fired a fusion beam at a nearby cliff face and dead tree…
The beam flashed, and a bizarre “rock-tree”—a hybrid of stone and timber—sprouted directly from the cliff face.
“…!!!” Sampo’s pupils shrank.
*So you guys are actually serious?!
I thought you were just joking…*
“My honored guests, ol’ Sampo is at your service, body and soul…”
Without a second’s hesitation, Sampo caved completely.
His script was ruined anyway.
If he got turned into a tree or a boulder, he would truly have zero chance of salvation.
As things stood, compliance was his only way out.
Abandoning his original plan of letting the Nameless “accidentally” run into Silvermane Guard patrols, Sampo led the group straight toward Boulder Town.
After all, his identity had been exposed.
If any more “coincidences” happened, he was likely the one who would suffer.
Until he earned the Nameless’s “trust,” he had to behave.
***
The Underworld, Belobog’s mining district.
Perhaps a few years ago—or maybe a decade or two ago—most Belobog residents considered going down to the mines an honorable calling, something they could brag about to friends and strangers alike.
Now, however, the Overworld and Underworld were severed, with all travel between them strictly forbidden. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Some in the Overworld were consumed by anxiety, worrying for loved ones trapped below.
Meanwhile, most of the trapped people in the Underworld burned with hatred, eager to make certain individuals pay.
As for escaping…
“Nobody escapes.
Nobody dares to try…”
Sampo’s voice dropped, thick with sadness and helplessness.
“Jarilo’s ‘habitable’ zones consist solely of the Overworld and the Underworld.
They have nowhere else to run.”
Certain truths were obvious after spending a short time in Boulder Town; some locals made no effort to hide their resentment toward the Overworld anyway, so telling the Nameless ahead of time changed nothing.
“…” March 7th parted her lips but hesitated, unsure of what to say.
Stelle and Dan Heng kept their gaze lowered, their thoughts inscrutable.
Su Yan already knew Belobog’s situation, so Sampo’s story didn’t stir much sadness in him—until he saw Boulder Town with his own eyes.
The group stood on a cliff edge near the mines, overlooking Boulder Town below.
Half the town lay in pitch darkness, with lights clustered only around the central hub and the blocks connecting to the mining area.
Along the side where the settlement met the steep rock wall, mountains of refuse had accumulated.
Even from a distance, the stench was unbearable.
Further out lay the mining zone, swallowed entirely by darkness…
“The situation really is terrible…”
Hearing others talk about how bad things were could never give a clear picture of the reality, but seeing the grim sight firsthand drove home just how dire it was…
The expressions on Stelle, Dan Heng, and March 7th’s faces darkened.
The contrast between the story and reality struck them like a physical blow, leaving a heavy weight in their chests.
Glancing at Sampo, Dan Heng leaned in toward Su Yan and whispered, “Once we enter town, we split up.
I’ll keep an eye on Sampo while you take Stelle and March 7th to gather information around town.”
“Sounds like a plan.” It fit Su Yan’s intention to do some good deeds in Boulder Town anyway.
The group filed into Boulder Town, walking from the dark, deserted outskirts toward the “bustling” commercial sector.
Clad in fine clothing, they instantly drew hateful glares from everyone along the way.
Recalling the story Sampo had told them earlier, Stelle easily guessed the reason.
“Taking the fall for someone else feels awful!
I want to hit something…”
“I feel like they might pounce on us at any second…” March 7th kept a wary eye on both sides of the street, where miners were scraping their pickaxes, watching them with dark eyes.
Dan Heng tightened his grip on Cloud-Piercer, its sharp tip serving as a deterrent to the onlookers.
“Rest assured, my esteemed guests.
Ol’ Sampo has a bit of muscle himself.
Taking down a few ordinary folks is a walk in the park for me.”
Sampo didn’t bother lowering his voice.
The restless crowd threw fierce glares at him, but none argued.
In the Underworld, Sampo was widely considered a shady peddler, yet he managed to live comfortably—proof enough that he wasn’t lacking in combat ability.
“You’re a Pathstrider.
It would be strange if you couldn’t take down a few civilians.”
Su Yan jabbed at Sampo while surveying their surroundings.
The real Boulder Town was far worse than the version depicted in the game.
“Besides, I have no interest in watching you fight ordinary people.
We can talk about the safehouse later.
First, take me to the leader of the Underworld.
I have some business to negotiate…”
Hearing this, Sampo froze for a second before flashing a grin.
“Of course!
No problem at all.”
The group adjusted their route.
The bystanders who had overheard the conversation exchanged glances before dispersing to spread the word.
Sampo bringing three Overworlders into Boulder Town was practically unprecedented over the last few years.
Such an exceptional event naturally piqued everyone’s interest…
Why had people from the Overworld come down to the Underworld?
Was there any profit to be made from this?
“My honored guests, please wait inside the clinic for a bit.
I’ll fetch Oleg as quickly as possible.
He’s the leader of Wildfire, the group that maintains order in Boulder Town…”
As he explained, Sampo winked, repeatedly throwing glances toward Natasha nearby.
The hint couldn’t have been more obvious.
If he didn’t need to hide his identity, he would have blurted out her real role directly.
With that, Sampo turned and left, with Dan Heng following right on his heels.
If Dan Heng said he would watch him, he would keep an eye on him non-stop—he was a Masked Fool, after all.
“Doctor Natasha, I need to borrow the clinic’s front plaza.”
Knowing Natasha’s true identity from the start, Su Yan cut straight to the point.
“What for?” Natasha asked.
“My companions and I are Nameless from beyond the stars.
On humanitarian grounds, we would like to offer assistance to a civilization in distress—for example, supplies…”
“???” March 7th and Stelle looked at Su Yan in bewilderment, their eyes practically screaming: *Supplies?
We don’t have anything…*
“Nameless…
beyond the stars…” Hearing those words, Natasha blinked in surprise, then looked enlightened a moment later.
The sky beyond and the starry cosmos were not unknown secrets in Belobog.
Records of past trade with interstellar factions, such as the Interastral Peace Corporation, were still preserved inside Qlipoth Fort.
The public library also contained introductory books about the cosmos…