Max Level Newbie - Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Just like how the Act 1’s Main Plaza was booming with people, Espo City’s Main Plaza was crowded with people .

There were people looking for comrades to train with and protect each other . There were others who just came back to the city with return scroll and were drenched in blood . There were also others who just arrived at Act 2 for the first time and were looking around to see if there were others of same race as themselves .

Yakumbo and Shakun, a party made of a warrior and a mage, were amongst those people in the Main Plaza .

They were waiting for an elf who was going to go with them to the Forest Area to get rare herbs .

There was still some time left until the meeting time they promised with the elf . To kill the time, Yakumbo said,

“That Fowaru, he seemed to be out of wack?”

“It’s been a while since his personality changed . What about it?”

“I’m saying it because he had gotten worse . Today was really…”

Yakumbo cringed big time and talked about what happened earlier .

Having heard what he said, Shakun asked with surprised look,

“Really? I’m finding it hard to believe . ”

“Do you think I’m making this up? Why would I? Go to a pub later and ask anyone about him . They are all badmouthing about Fowaru . ”

“Still… He was getting weird since 40 to 50 years ago, but to think he had gone that far…”

Shakun was also cringing like Yakumbo . Yakumbo said,

“He is past the point of being just a little weird . Now… I could say he is a completely different person . His personality is that broken . Until now, all I remembered was his kind personality from the past, so I went to see him, and it was totally… It is just too much . I don’t plan to ever go there again . ”

“Um… Still, isn’t the potion there the most effective one in the market?”

If it was some trivial item, then that would not have mattered to them . However, when it came to potions, the item was directly affecting their life, so Shakun wished he could continue using Fowaru’s General Store, which sold certified potions .

However, after listening to Yakumbo, he changed his mind .

“Instead of Fowaru’s store, there is a new place, and the rumor has it that this new place is pretty good . The store is run by a high-elf and a god beast . I heard that the potion has superb effect . ”

“Ah, really? In that case, before we go to the west islands, it would be a good idea to visit the store…”

Their conversation continued on without interruption .

They were such chatterboxes that they were putting veteran gossipers to shame .

What they were talking about weren’t secrets either, so they were speaking loud enough for people passing by to hear .

So, the man under black robe sitting at a bench nearby, Vulcan, was able to hear their conversations .

After hearing their conversations, Vulcan was swimming in loads of questions .

‘Mr . Fowaru’s… personality has changed?’

It was not like Fowaru was going through chaotic adolescent years from teenage to adulthood .

He was one of the figures in Act 2, and they had average age that went over a thousand years . It was puzzling for Vulcan to hear that someone so old could have a sudden change in personality .

Vulcan could not understand this .

He thought about Fowaru he remembered from 100 years ago when he went to Fowaru’s shop to purchase potions .

He had kind smile hanging on his face . Fowaru looked like a good man .

‘… I don’t think I’ll be able to believe this unless I saw him with my own eyes . Did something happen?’

It was not like Vulcan was very close with Fowaru, but Fowaru was one of very few people who Vulcan knew, so Vulcan was indeed worried .

However, Vulcan had to handle his own business first .

After picking up on the two men’s conversation for a little while longer, Vulcan walked away when they started to keep on talking about useless things .

Vulcan was headed to Oracle, the only information organization in Espo City .

* * *

As always, Oracle handled Vulcan’s inquiry with expediency .

This time, Vulcan requested a lot of information, so instead of a neatly folded piece of paper like the last time, Vulcan left the store with a thick stack of papers .

Of course, in proportion to this, the cost had increased as well . However, Vulcan had enough money to handle it .

He had enough money because Vulcan received cash in addition to all potions from Fowaru’s store last time for selling the items to Fowaru . Vulcan’s items were worth that much during the transaction .

‘To think all that money ended up going down the drain for these… These bastards… . It is no different from a highway robbery . ’

Vulcan shook his head and badmouthed about the Oracle . Vulcan went to a room at an inn and started to read the information slowly .

Actually, Vulcan pondered hard about if he should go to Oracle .

He felt that information about himself was leaked a lot more ever since he had been visiting Oracle .

After Vulcan finished the violent battle against Hellmout and returned to Earth, Vulcan wondered about the following throughout the 100-year grinding,

‘How did Bae Su Jin obtain information about me?’

Vulcan could understand how Chimera Maker could . Vulcan ran into the Chimeras that he made many times .

However, it was different with Bae Su Jin .

Vulcan never once ran into anyone who he suspected of being a part of the organization . Vulcan never caused any big stir to make his name known to the entire city either .

Still, the other possibility, which was Chimera Maker selling information about Vulcan to Bae Su Jin, didn’t seem plausible .

In the end, there was only one suspicious party .

It was highly likely that Oracle, the mysterious organization who kept tabs on everything in Act 2, was the one that spread information about Vulcan .

At first, this was just a guess . However, Vulcan was almost certain of this now .

Vulcan was not particularly angry .

From the start, Vulcan was aware that there was not even one bastard in Act 2 that was trustworthy . Adding one more to the long list didn’t make him feel disappointed .

However, Vulcan went to the Oracle despite such distrust and ill feeling toward the organization because it no longer mattered to Vulcan if anyone knew of his whereabouts .

‘When it comes to nobodies and small fries, they were no match against me since 100 years ago… Now, I have enough Vitality Marbles to make a mountain, so…’

Vulcan was confident enough to wipe the floor with anyone from Act 2 .

He was so certain about this that he thought there was no danger in letting information about him leaking out .

‘It would be a big loss for me instead if I cannot use Oracle because of such a concern . ’

So, Vulcan threw away the hesitation and got the information he wanted from the Oracle . Now, the resulting information was steadily piling up in his brain .

‘List of names and power of all bastards who are targeting me, and their locations… These are quite a lot . I thought there would be many bastards who I don’t know about, but I never thought there would be this many…’

There was no need to be surprised about Bae Su Jin and the Chimera Maker who decorated the front page . They obviously belonged there .

However, reading about long list of people in later pages, who he had never seen before, Vulcan almost wanted to sigh because of unlucky and unfortunate life he had in Act 2 .

‘The ones I got to have positive connections with are… Phantaero, Blue Dragon, Fowaru, Kiba, Toolkas, Elcane… Fuck . I can’t think of more people!’

Vulcan had walked the lands of Act 2 for over 100 years, yet his personal networks were in shambles .

His face crumpled on its own .

However, there was nothing he could do when things had ended up the way they did already .

Instead of complaining about this issue, Vulcan focused on reading the list of bastards that he was going to hunt down and give thorough trampling .

“Who is this Chilma… Wow… I think these guys might be pretty strong… Um . Still, are the rest of the list on the average side…”

Vulcan received a lot of information, but as he checked their estimated strengths, he tore off the pages of the ones that he thought was not a threat to him . The thick stack of paper he had grew thinner .

Eventually, Vulcan tore off most of the papers . He scratched his head and thought,

‘Still, compared to the number of bastards on the list, there aren’t that many that I should watch out for . I suppose that’s a good thing… No . I shouldn’t be saying that . I did nothing wrong, yet I had to stay in hiding and grind because I was being hunted like this . Ugh…’

Vulcan eventually checked most of the information . He was looking at the man on the very last page .

Vulcan’s eyes instantly popped .

He was like a shocked person who was not able to get a grip because of an unexpected situation . Unable to lift his gaze off from the paper, Vulcan read the name on the paper .

Vulcan looked infuriated . He raised his hand and brushed his hair back in exaggerated motion . Vulcan ignited fire and turned the last page to dust .

“Fowaru…!”

If Vulcan was to name the one person he was closest to in Asgard, he would be naming Dokgo Hoo . However, Vulcan had established just as good friendship with Jake, the Act 1’s merchant .

Fowaru was acknowledged by a man like Jake . Also, Vulcan only had positive experiences with Fowaru, so Vulcan never suspected him . However…

Vulcan went to the bed and plummeted on it .

Lying down on the bed, Vulcan held his forehead with his hand and said in quiet voice,

“… There really isn’t anyone I can trust . ”

Vulcan didn’t think the Oracle would have added false information on purpose . Vulcan was certain now that Oracle was selling information about him at will . However, the Oracle never sold him false information to him before .

Vulcan figured that Oracle just didn’t care who it was that they were taking advantage of and will sell information as long as there was money to be made . He thought that Oracle would keep the basic principle as an information organization .

‘… Still… . I don’t like the Oracle bastards, but… Dirty bastards…’

Vulcan closed his eyes and organized his thoughts .

Chimera, Bae Su Jin, bunch of nobodies…

In addition, there were Fowaru and Oracle .

There were so many out there who were pestering him .   To handle all of them, it looked like Vulcan was going to have to go on a tour .

Vulcan’s face was turning red like a volcano that was on the verge of erupting .

“Phew…”

However, Vulcan quickly overcame the shock .

He developed hardened mental strength from 100 years of grinding . It was also because he didn’t expect much from Act 2’s residents .

In the end, what he had to do didn’t change much .

He just needed to repeat the work a few more times .

‘I’m glad that I collected the marbles for 100 years instead of getting out of the dungeon in the middle of the grinding . ’

Vulcan had mountain worth of Vitality Marbles in his inventory .

When he left the Lava Demon Cave, he thought he won’t end up spending all of the marbles . Now, Vulcan was not certain .

It seemed Vulcan completed organizing his thoughts . With focused look on his face, Vulcan left the inn .

He then glared at the Fowaru’s General Store in the distance .

‘Well, fine . I don’t know what it is that you are trying to gain by targeting me despite the fact that I’m a friend of Jake, but… If you are going to come at me, I’ll fight you . I’ll chew you off like a ferocious eater . ’

Vulcan’s eyes gradually fired up in flames .

However, Vulcan didn’t go to the store and cause trouble .

Espo City was protected by the Gods .

He couldn’t just go in there and destroy Fowaru . This was not the right place for that .

Also, Vulcan was still not completely certain if Oracle was telling him the truth about Fowaru, so there was a bit of hesitation in Vulcan .

So, Vulcan decided to handle Fowaru’s case later .

However, if Fowaru tried to sneak up on him, Vulcan was intending on ending Fowaru’s life without hesitation .

‘Ah, Of course… You will be next after Bae Su Jin . ’

Vulcan moved casually so that he won’t draw attention . He walked slowly and left Espo City . He started to move quickly once he reached a place without anyone around .

In the end, his biggest foe was the Bae Su Jin .

Vulcan never forgot about this fact through the past 100 years .

It was making the back of his head itch . It felt like Vulcan was not going to able to do anything properly unless he went and resolved this matter by ending the bastards .

‘In that case, I’ll go destroy you bastards first . ’

A battle was going to take place soon .

Actually, what Vulcan had in mind was more of a one-sided slaughter . Running that simulated battle in his head, Vulcan smiled .

The smile was unlike anything Vulcan ever had on his face before . The smile was a merciless one of an executioner .