Hidden Quest

Looking at the texts in front of his sight, Zeus hurriedly double-checked them. After confirming it was the same, his lips evoked a smile.

Even then, he didn't ignore it for now as he was still occupied by the enemy before him. After the system window, Zeus gazed at the center of the small crater soaked with never-ending raindrops.

"Robert…"

Robert sprawled weakly on the ground with his body sunk a few centimeters below. Blood oozed out of his head, the place where the staff hammered him down. His eyes drooped low as he stared at the rain falling on the dark clouds. He could feel it. Any moment now, his life would come to an end.

Tap, tap, tap—

Khan's footsteps rang. He walked beside Zeus with his eyes full of complicated emotions.

"He's still alive." Khan muttered. The rage in his heart already subsided but it also made him indifferent to Robert's current condition.

Zeus shook his head.

Robert clung to life but it's vividly clear how death already grasp his soul. However, before that happens, Zeus wanted to clear something.

With that in mind, he shuttled forward and stood near Robert's body.

"Are you here… cough…to mock me?" Robert said with a heavy cough.

"Even if we won against you…" Zeus' gaze darted towards the villagers' lifeless bodies, clenched his fists before continuing, "...we still cannot save everyone. It's safe to say that you won."

Robert chuckled before coughing blood once again. His throat had already gone numb. Every part of his body was broken and his breathing started to become ragged. If not for the residual power of the curse spell, his life would have ended already.

A minute passed by and his vision started to blurry. Only the silhouette of a young man standing near him could be seen through his vision. However, Zeus' contempt for him was as bright as a day.

At that moment, Robert forced himself to speak.

"Tell me…young man…" After gathering his breath, Robert continued, "If I offered you something that you truly wished for, would you accept it."

"Staff guy, don't answer him." Khan hurriedly intercepted the conversation. In his opinion, Robert was nothing more than a madman whose conscience had been tarnished by evil.

However, Zeus didn't listen to him.

"I will."

"My daughter…died. I cannot accept it." Robert closed his eyes and began to reminisce. "Drown in sorrow I…I seek that method. I traveled…tens of thousands of miles… finding the method to bring my daughter… back to life."

Hearing this, Zeus' cold gaze began to fluctuate into a different emotion.

Robert continued, "By chance… I stumbled…upon

Lazarus…a legendary figure known for his ability to command the dead—a necromancer."

'Lazarus…' Zeus murmured.

"Cough! But…but his method…cannot grant true…life." Robert's voice started to run out, "Devastated…I tried to end…my life but… that was until…a man…approached me."

…

"Aren't you tired of crying all day long?"

A deep and eerie voice rang inside the cold cave. It was coming from a silhouette sitting on a granite. Hearing it, Robert flinched but quickly ignored it. Holding the blade in his hand, he aimed it at his heart.

"Suicide is for cowards. You're a talented man but because of your inability to change the outcome, you've become pathetic." The voice said.

Hearing this, as if a bomb exploding out of its shell, Robert shouted.

"What do you know!? Gina is my life! If she's gone what's the purpose of my existence!? I cannot save her… I'm… a failure."

"Hehehe, is that so? What if I say I can give her back to you? Not the half-hearted necromancy…" After a brief pause, the silhouette continued, "...but the true resurrection."

As soon as those words echoed in the cave, the blade on Robert's hands stopped. His hands trembled, obviously shocked by the man's voice.

"Is…Is t-that true!? D-do you really have a way!?"

"Of course, it's easy. However…everything comes with a price."

"Tell me! I'd do anything! Even if it's my life you wanted, I'll give it to you just…just bring her back to life, please." Robert begged as he knocked his head to the ground. His eyes were red with tears clouding his vision.

"Can you hear what you're saying?" The man chuckled. He was amused by the sight before him. "You're in the contract of a devil, Doctor."

"I don't care! If the gods cannot grant my wish, I'd rather seek help from the devil!"

"HAHAHAHAHA, very well. As long as you do this, I will bring back your daughter. This is…our contract."

…

Robert's consciousness went back to the present.

"Be careful, young man. That devil will surely… surely…"

"Surely what?" Zeus asked as he carefully neared his ears towards Robert's mouth. However, no words came out of his mouth.

'He's dead.'

Robert finally fell but his last words surely mean that all of this was not meant to happen if not for this 'man' behind the shadows. Of course, Zeus didn't believe it at first but somehow, his instincts were telling him it was true.

After all, what's the purpose of lying to him?

'Robert called it man at first…but he called it the devil in his next statement.' Zeus tried to make use of this information to gather a concrete conclusion but his thoughts end up at a dead end.

< You have received a hidden quest. >

'This is!' Zeus hurriedly stood up and opened it.

[Hidden Quest: Man and Devil. (Part 1)

Description: You have obtained information about the Devil's existence and its involvement with the plague. One of them is coming at you.

Quest Conditions: Find out more information about the Devils.

Time Limit: None.

Reward: [Growth Skill: Devil's Eye], 10,000 SP.

Note: The next part of the quest would only be activated once this part is completed.]

'A hidden quest?' Zeus whispered. His eyes were glued to the rewards. 'And a growth skill as a reward? Is that even possible?'

What's a growth skill?

It's a skill even more valuable than a 9 Star Skill as it could grow into a realm beyond that as long as requirements are met.

However, because of its rarity, this kind of skill was said to be a myth and it didn't exist at all.

So, in other words, it's a priceless treasure! And the only perquisites he needed to acquire it is to gather information about the Devils.

'It feels like cheating.' Zeus thought. Originally, he planned to become strong step by step but since there's another way, it's only normal to take a shortcut right?

"What did he say?" Khan asked obviously curious about Robert's last words.

"He said that he was ordered by someone to do this." Zeus did not keep this information as Khan was also a target. "Moreover, he told me that this certain someone would be targeting us after we foiled his plans. Although I don't know how he'll deal with us, it's better to prepare."

"Maybe he's lying?"

Zeus shook his head. There's a hidden quest so what's the point of doubting?

"It's pointless to lie just to scare us. Although I also doubted it, I have to believe it so you have to as well." Zeus patted Khan on his shoulders and smiled, "Since we're in this together, do you want to join my team? I saw many adventurers move in groups so it's obvious they do missions in groups too. Although the reward is distributed evenly between us, the safety is a little guaranteed."

"What?" Khan stood there dazed, still processing the information coming to his head. However, as soon as he heard the 'join my team', Khan immediately waved his hand.

"No, no. That's impossible. I'm not going to join you!"

When that happens the reward is divided! Zeus is already rich since he's the son of a Duke but how about him? He's going to get kicked out next week if he can't pay his rent!

Zeus shrugged his shoulders.

"I mean, I'm not forcing you, you can refuse." After he said this, Zeus smirked, "But if you die, don't blame me for refusing my help."

"I…" Khan was confused. Although he appreciated Zeus' warning, he's not someone to be trifled with. But he didn't want to die either.

"So you still refuse?" Zeus asked once again.

Khan looked at the sunny smile on Zeus' face. This is obviously a fake! He was plotting against him earlier.

In the end, Khan sighed in defeat. "Fine."

However, to Zeus, it was an answer worth celebrating.

He got his first companion!

At the same time, the system rang inside his head.

< You have unlocked the system Party Function. >

Reading the rest of the message, Zeus almost jumped out in delight. This is surprise after surprise!

"Hahaha, I guess we're partners now huh?" Zeus mused, "Of course, you're under me."

Khan's eyebrows twitched, seemingly annoyed by Zeus' remarks. If he has the power to, he already smashed Zeus' shameless face to the floor. Even then, he didn't refute it. They are not in the right place to discuss it either.

At that moment,

Splash!

Sounds of water splashing reverberated under the rain. It's a very loud simultaneous noise that can be heard from a distance.

Zeus and Khan turned their heads to where the noises were coming from. As soon as they saw the armored horses, Zeus and Khan exchanged meaningful glances.

"Knights?" Khan asked.

"I don't know. Maybe."

Seven people strolled around the village as if they were shopping. After a short while, one of the armored men waved his hands signaling the end of their surveying.

They stopped in the middle of the village, more specifically just a few meters away from Zeus and Khan. One of the armored men jumped down from his mount and scanned the surroundings before shifting back to the two.

Based on his armor which was thrice as elegant as the others, he seemed to be the leader.

"Adventurers, thank you for purging the plague. We, the Kingdom's knights, will take it from here."