Chapter 70

Level Up Heretic Judge – Episode 70 (70/227)

Episode 70: Light and Shadows

In most RPG games, the easiest way to gauge power is usually through level differences.

When your level goes up, not only do your basic stats increase, but you also get access to better gear, naturally creating a clear gap between high-level and low-level users.

This is true in Warode as well.

However, that doesn’t mean rapid leveling alone is everything in Warode character progression.

Even with equal skill levels, what often matters more than just a 10 or 20 level difference is how a player has combined and set their skills.

Because of this, top-tier skill books play an extremely important role in character development.

And that’s exactly why Ail is going through all this trouble.

“Ughh!”

Clenching his teeth, Ail stretched out his arm.

Hanging precariously on a steep cliff, he climbed upward by grabbing onto jutting rocks while pebbles tumbled down below him.

Consciously avoiding looking down into the deep ravine beneath, Ail kept moving his arms steadily.

The fall from such a height would be fatal without exception.

So why was Ail risking his life like this?

It was because of a quest he received from the High Elves.

According to a message sent from the White Forest, there had been an intruder who tried to reclaim the ancient spirit stone taken from the Rotum tribe.

The reckless thief who dared step into the White Forest got torn apart, but the secret document retrieved from them revealed the next rendezvous point, which the High Elves forwarded to Ail for investigation.

A request to track down the culprit behind the previous incident.

Since High Elves rarely leave their territory, they entrusted this task to Ail instead. It was also a follow-up quest related to the events in the Spirit Forest.

With no reason to decline—especially since quality quests provide lots of experience points and are often good sources of valuable skill books—Ail accepted it readily.

Famous quests with great rewards usually involve either defeating bosses during the mission or receiving high-tier skill books as completion rewards from NPCs.

Elven quests were known for offering generous skill book rewards, so this one likely held promise too if completed successfully.

With a final burst of strength, Ail reached the entrance of a cave protruding between the cliffs.

“Phew, that was exhausting.”

Collapsing at the cave entrance, Ail wiped his sweat and caught his breath.

No matter how much stat boosts helped, climbing such a perilous cliff wasn’t easy.

But without hesitation, Ail brushed himself off and entered the cave.

“I haven’t heard of any hunting grounds or special spots around here. If this cave’s entrance is so obvious, it shouldn’t still be undiscovered.”

More likely, this “rendezvous point” meant facing hostile NPCs or other players rather than new monsters or dungeons.

Perhaps the player he encountered in the Spirit Forest might even be waiting here.

With his longsword drawn in preparation, Ail ventured further inside and noticed sporadically placed torches.

“Hmm…?”

Reaching the end of the cave, Ail stopped, perplexed.

The cave didn’t extend very far, ending in a dead-end after just a short walk.

Yet there was nothing to find inside—not even signs of human presence or artificial structures besides the torches.

Slick!

Suddenly, someone appeared behind Ail.

It was the hooded man in black whom he’d suspected might show up—the same player from the Spirit Forest.

Though it seemed he hadn’t intended an ambush, his presence had been completely undetectable until he chose to reveal himself.

Even if he’d been hiding in the shadows, Ail wasn’t careless enough to miss noticing him—a strange detail indeed.

But now face-to-face, Ail had to put aside such thoughts for the moment.

“We meet again.”

As Ail raised his sword, the man silently drew his dagger.

Despite having already fought once, there was no ill will between them.

However, both being on opposite sides of an important quest meant a fight was inevitable.

“It’s unfortunate we’re meeting before I’ve obtained my third skill…but there’s nothing to be done about it.”

Pahhh!

Both rushed toward each other simultaneously.

But as they charged, the ground beneath their feet collapsed, and instead of clashing swords, an unexpected sound echoed.

Clunk!

Ail immediately recognized this sound—it was the unmistakable effect of a trap.

“Damn…I fell for it!”

But before Ail could fully grimace, he noticed the man’s expression mirrored his own confusion.

“So this wasn’t a trap he prepared…”

Crash!

The floor completely gave way.

Caught off guard, both were pulled downward amidst chunks of debris, soon landing on another surface.

Boom!

“Ow, damn it…”

Groaning, Ail grabbed his head and stood up.

Looking up to see how far they’d fallen, all he could see was some dark barrier blocking the way back.

Clearly, returning through the upper entrance would be impossible.

At that moment, remembering the man who’d fallen with him, Ail quickly turned his head.

They’d both tumbled down in disarray, causing the man’s dark hood to slip off, revealing his calm face and tousled ash-gray hair.

Kweeeek!

From the distance came loud monster roars.

Their gazes turned simultaneously, spotting hordes of creatures rushing in from a connected passage.

Reacting swiftly, Ail opened his inventory and pulled out holy water.

Swinging it forcefully, he sprinkled a long line across the entrance and activated his skill, placing the seed of Sacred Flame upon it.

Whoosh!

The holy water ignited instantly, transforming into fierce white flames that spread rapidly like oil-soaked fire.

The charging monsters hesitated at the powerful flames; those attempting to cross were quickly consumed and destroyed by the intense Sacred Flame.

“Phew…”

Ail let out a brief sigh of relief.

Though only a temporary solution, the flames would hold them back for as long as they lasted.

“Surely you knew about the trap, right?”

Turning back, Ail questioned the ash-haired man, who simply shook his head in silence.

“Tch…”

Ail couldn’t hide his astonishment.

If the man, who was supposed to be waiting here, didn’t know about the trap…

Then there was only one explanation for their current predicament.

“This is your side’s rendezvous point, so obviously the NPC who instructed you must have set this up. Given that it seems designed to kill indiscriminately…looks like you’ve been betrayed too.”

Ail voiced his half-confirmed speculation.

Judging from the mysterious barrier formed after their fall, someone had clearly used magic to prevent escape.

Moreover, the trap only activated after Ail arrived, despite the man being there first.

This wasn’t just a random crack or ordinary trap—it was clear that the cunning NPCs of Warode had betrayed them.

“Come to think of it, it did seem odd that someone would try stealing something as important as an ancient spirit stone from the infamous White Forest using just one thief.”

While unclear who had commissioned the job, Ail surmised that they deliberately leaked the rendezvous information to the High Elves and lured him here to eliminate interference.

Maybe the man standing before him had also been betrayed due to failing the previous mission.

“…”

Frowning deeply, the man remained silent, lost in thought.

Being betrayed by NPCs instead of users was bound to cause confusion or resentment—but the man’s demeanor didn’t fit either reaction.

After an awkward silence…

Ail stared oddly at the man who hadn’t spoken a word since, then suddenly crouched down.

Using his dagger, he began scratching words into the ground.

“Reasonable points”

“…So you agree with what I said?”

Ail asked incredulously, and the man silently nodded.

Chuckling wryly while scratching his head, Ail approached and crouched beside him.

“What’s your name?”

“Nesha, yours?”

“Ail. Do you really need to keep up this act even in this situation? There’s a bunch of monsters right outside.”

“Can’t help it”

Shrugging, the man finished writing and held up his dagger almost proudly, lightly running his hand along its sharp edge.

Sssss!

Zzzziiing!

An eerie coldness accompanied by pitch-black frost bloomed from the dagger, leaving Ail utterly baffled.