In Kavel’s view, Pureum Co., Ltd.’s ability to run its game was incredible.

Just recently, CEO Lee Sejin had answered people’s question—“Are there dragons?!”—by saying yes.

But people were disappointed.

Because they became convinced a dragon’s level would be at least 800.

But Kavel knew far more than most, so he understood the meticulousness behind Lee Sejin’s answer.

He knew users couldn’t actually encounter a real dragon—and wouldn’t even be a match for one.

And yet Pureum Co., Ltd. already knew it.

That users dreamed of hunting dragons.

Me too.

Owlbear, Ettin, Death Knight, Dullahan, Ogre...

Names of monsters that were familiar to anyone who played games.

But if you asked someone who didn’t know games at all, you’d get this back.

What even is that, you nerd?

But a dragon was different. Even five-year-olds knew dragons—special, iconic creatures.

They couldn’t show a real dragon right away, so they intended to show it indirectly to users through a downgraded substitute: Dragon’s Grave.

It’s amazing.

Kavel genuinely admired it. Even he had only known the information—he hadn’t known the location.

Then Kavel turned back and pictured Bokdeongi, probably happy inside.

Before he knew it, it had been several months since Kavel started staying in Vallas Territory.

The reason he’d stayed was the hidden quest Bokdeongi gave him: Bokdeongi and One Walk a Day.

Bokdeongi and One Walk a Day lasted for one month, and just by doing the walks, he managed to raise an assassin skill by 1 level.

And after that, Kavel had tried to separate from Bokdeongi.

But he couldn’t, because a linked quest appeared.

[Link Quest: Bokdeongi’s Training!]

Grade: A

Restriction: Those who touched Bokdeongi

Reward: 3 stat points

Penalty on failure: None

Description: After a month of walks, Bokdeongi has come to like you. Teach Bokdeongi “Sit, stand, wait, bang!” excellently. Training period is one month.

This quest was excellent too.

To high-level users, 3 stat points carried tremendous value.

Considering that an elixir that raised stats by just 1 point cost a fortune, it was huge.

So Kavel stayed longer.

And though he kept it hidden, there was another reason too.

After living with Bokdeongi for months, he’d grown attached.

Then he heard voices again from inside.

“It’s a big problem. Can we really manage Vallas with this level of forces—and also develop the new territory we’ve obtained properly?”

It was Nell’s voice. Right after, Hyunsoo said,

“I think we should select those among the territory residents who want to relocate and go together. And I can’t say I’m not worried either. We need stronger people.”

Kavel nodded without thinking.

Yeah. Hyun’s Forge needs better talent.

Then Hyunsoo said,

“The problem is we can’t accept just anyone. Now that I and Hyun’s Forge have become famous, we can’t indiscriminately take in people whose reasons for joining we can’t figure out.”

Kavel nodded again. Nell answered,

“Right. If we accept people indiscriminately, we’ll have a major problem. Especially since we’ve become China’s target. After the server merge, there’s a high chance Chinese users strike us first.”

This time too, Kavel nodded.

Then he started walking again.

Their worries were natural.

They needed more talent, and now that their territory had expanded, they needed strong people to lead it.

It won’t be easy.

And Kavel thought,

Bokdeongi can probably give more Link Quests. And Bokdeongi will go to Atlas, which will become the main territory. So I’ll support them and go to Atlas too.

Even now, Kavel hid his true feelings, telling himself it was for the quest that he was going to Atlas.

And there was one more interesting fact.

After leaving the lord’s castle, Kavel saw several people.

They’ll be going to Atlas too.

A few people Kavel looked at.

They’ll ease Hyun’s worries a bit.

Who were they, and why were their eyes meeting Kavel’s?

It was something that started happening not long after Kavel came here.

*****

In Ares, there’s a saying: 20% unofficial rankers and 80% official rankers.

Some people couldn’t understand unofficial rankers.

“If you become a famous ranker, you make a ton of money and it’s great. So why do unofficial rankers hide themselves?”

If you become a known ranker, ads are more likely to come in, your social media followers increase, and you get more chances to profit.

So why did 20% of rankers stay unofficial?

To someone’s question, an unofficial ranker answered.

“Most famous rankers slowly get pushed down in the rankings. There are exceptions, but most do.”

“Why?”

“Because they got famous. If they go to hunting grounds, users recognize them, and they have to shoot ads and do all sorts of other things. But unofficial rankers are different. Since they hid themselves from the start, they can focus only on Ares and concentrate on hunting.”

“Ooooh...”

“And that’s why, even though unofficial rankers are fewer than regular rankers, they tend to be better. And unofficial rankers aren’t stupid. They want to be famous too. They want their faces known. But the reason they don’t reveal themselves immediately is because they know they’re diamonds.”

“Diamonds?”

“Yeah. Unofficial rankers can become official rankers anytime. The moment they go public, the impact is massive. You know why? Because when these people are revealed, they’re usually higher level and stronger than ordinary rankers. So they’re not in a rush. Yeah—the time they spend unofficial is the time they’re polishing the diamond to be more beautiful and precise.”

That was the reason unofficial rankers existed.

And for exactly those reasons, there was someone walking the path of an unofficial ranker.

His name was Bangbae.

Bangbae was a figure comparable to Korea’s number-one spear-user ranker.

He was carving himself into something more precise and beautiful.

And because he’d felt his limits, he’d visited Vallas Territory to purchase gear.

Then Bangbae made a puzzled face.

“Woof, woofwoof!”

A pure-white Samoyed appeared, wagging its tail hard as it looked up at him.

And Bangbae owned a dog.

There was something all pet owners had in common.

“Awww, good boy, good boy—aww, you’re so cute.”

Even dogs they didn’t know—they liked them.

Then—

[Bokdeongi’s Cuteness activates.]

Bangbae felt strange.

He’d been planning to pet that pink, chubby belly anyway, but his arm moved on its own toward the dog’s belly.

What is this...?

It was an irresistible force.

And when he touched that belly—

[Vitality fills the body, and the mind becomes calm.]

[You are a target of Bokdeongi’s Cuteness.]

[You cannot harm Bokdeongi.]

His exhausted body and mind melted, and his head cleared.

On top of that, when he touched Bokdeongi, an indescribable happiness surged up.

Then—

DING!

[Hidden Quest: Bokdeongi and One Walk a Day!]

Grade: A

Restriction: Those who touched Bokdeongi

Reward: Increase the selected spear-user skill by 1 level.

Penalty on failure: None.

Description: You have been chosen by Bokdeongi. If you walk Bokdeongi for 1 hour every day for one month, you will receive a special reward.

Bangbae’s eyes went wide.

T-This is...!?

Bangbae couldn’t hide his shock. There was one spear-user skill he absolutely wanted to raise.

I can choose and raise a skill?

From that day on, Bangbae registered Vallas Territory as his return-scroll point.

When he came back after hunting, he walked Bokdeongi first.

But then...

“Hey.”

Someone approached.

His name was Raon. On the outside, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} he looked like an ordinary territory resident.

When he appeared, Bokdeongi wagged its tail, happy.

“...I think I’ve figured something out about this guy. It’d be better not to spread that information.”

“...?”

Bangbae panicked.

Because he realized he wasn’t the only one who’d received a hidden quest like this.

“Of course. It’s a being that can grant absurd blessings. Which means it can probably grant absurd curses too.”

Those with some level knew the principle.

And there were even notifications like this attached.

[Bokdeongi’s existence must not become known to many.]

[If Bokdeongi’s existence becomes known to many, all effects obtained through it will disappear.]

[However, if Bokdeongi wishes, this restriction can be lifted at any time.]

So Bangbae had no intention of ever revealing it.

“How about this—I'll do the morning walk, and you do the midday walk?”

At Kavel’s suggestion, Bangbae accepted readily.

And a few days later...

“...?”

“...?”

This time, the two of them saw Bokdeongi with a different user.

That person had been chosen too.

As Bangbae tried to move, Kavel said,

“We watch what kind of person they are for a week, then approach.”

Bangbae could tell Kavel had watched him too before approaching him.

Bokdeongi went up to quite a lot of people and gave them that quest.

The two of them found several common points.

It mostly goes to unofficial rankers.

If there’s a problem with the walker’s character, Bokdeongi cuts off the quest.

If Bokdeongi judges them to be a good person, it gives a Link Quest.

“What’s the standard for judging someone ‘good’?” Kavel asked.

From the perspective of a dog owner, Bangbae said,

“There’s something people say among dog lovers. ‘Among those who truly cherish and hold dogs close, there are no bad people.’”

It was a plausible point.

And Bangbae added,

“And while walking, Bokdeongi probably feels better than anyone whether someone’s good or bad.”

Yeah. Bokdeongi was testing them by being with them.

As time went by...

There ended up being a morning walker, a midday walker, an evening walker—walkers at any time.

“Let’s properly introduce ourselves among us. We’re in the same boat now.”

They learned about each other.

[Informant Kavel Lv.374]

[Spear-User Bangbae Lv.370]

[Crimson-Flame Mage Jane Lv.371]

[Territory King Glass Lv.364]

“...So I get to meet Kavel, famous even among unofficial rankers.”

“Crimson-Flame Mage Jane—your name is impressive too.”

“I’ve wanted to meet Spear-User Bangbae too.”

“And Glass, I heard you develop territories insanely well whenever you so much as touch them?”

Unexpectedly, four people gathered.

Then Jane—the mage whose hair was so red it looked like an adjective—made a suggestion.

“Since it’s come to this, we should at least make a name for our group.”

They focused on Jane.

“How about Boksa-mo?”

“Boksa-mo...?”

Jane smiled lightly and explained what it meant.

“Yes. A group that loves Bokdeongi.”

Coming out of the memory, Kavel met eyes with the Boksa-mo members.

They were nodding where no one could see.

Kavel understood.

They would be going to Atlas too.

And so, without Hyunsoo knowing, a group called Boksa-mo was becoming part of Hyun’s Forge.

*****

Special User Management Team.

Taeseok, who knew about the birth of Boksa-mo, raised one question.

“Why is Bokdeongi walking like that? Four walks a day—it should get exhausted.”

Taeseok had never raised a dog.

But CEO Lee Sejin and Associate Lee Jihee, who were with him, were different.

Sejin had first sent off a dog he’d raised for fifteen years. And Jihee was still raising one.

“Do you really not know? I think I do,” Sejin said.

“I think I know too,” Jihee said.

The two wore an inexplicably satisfied smile.

Taeseok looked puzzled.

Then Lee Sejin told him,

“The reason is...”

*****

In Hyunsoo’s arms, Bokdeongi looked up at him.

“We’re leaving for the new territory, Atlas.”

With the owner’s words, a pitifully small number of people set off for the new land.

Woof...

But Bokdeongi could see.

The members of Boksa-mo looking at it.

And Bokdeongi looked at Hyunsoo, who was full of worries.

It remembered the things he always said to it.

Can I do well?

I need strength.

I can’t collapse.

The inner thoughts he poured out to it from time to time.

As it looked at Hyunsoo like that, Bokdeongi gave a small smile, as if telling him to feel at ease now.

“Woofwoof!”

The reason Lee Sejin and Lee Jihee knew—why Bokdeongi walked and gathered strong people.

If it could speak, it would have said this.

—I will protect you.

Yeah. That one reason, and only that one reason.

To protect Hyunsoo.