「Quest—To Live」
[Requirement: Don't die]
[Time limit: 10 days]
[Reward: Fragment of Original Memories]
[Penalty: Death]
———
"What… is this?"
I muttered, eyes narrowing as I scanned the holographic panel floating in front of me.
-Cr-crack… crack…
The space around me fractured, splintering into countless shards.
The scene shifted.
***
In a dark, confined space, a figure knelt on the ground. Thick metal chains bound his wrists and ankles, linking him to the ceiling.
The figure's eyes were closed, unmoving. Anyone would have mistaken him for dead if not for the faint rise and fall of his chest.
Silence filled the darkness.
Then, the figure stirred, breaking the stillness.
***
There was no trace of the room I'd been in before—only endless darkness.
But soon, a dim light began to reveal my surroundings.
A dull ache pulsed through my blood-stained feet, a shiver wracking my cold body.
-Clang! Clang!
The sound of chains echoed through the room.
My wrists burned in agony, the iron shackles tearing into broken skin each time I moved.
"What… kind of situation… is this?!"
I looked up and down, noticing a long chain binding not only me, but five or six hollow-eyed prisoners to it as well.
A filthy room.
Corpses littered the floor, flesh torn and blood splattered everywhere, while I and the others were shackled along a long chain.
"Hey, who are—"
I tried to ask the man next to me, but a holographic panel appeared mid-sentence.
———
「Side Quest—To Escape」
Description: You are now inside the body of the former king of 'Everbright Kingdom.' Betrayed by his own brother, he was poisoned along with his loyal knights. His brother, now in power, plans to execute him publicly in five days.
Requirement: Escape the 'Eternal Prison'
Time limit: 5 Days
Reward: Death Element
Failure: Death
———
"Haaa… another screwed-up situation."
I sighed, frustration mounting as I took in the condition of my new body.
Broken bones. Bruises everywhere. Shallow skin.
This body… it was a mess.
"Is my luck stat zero or something?"
I grumbled in my head, though no sound came from my throat.
Taking a shaky breath, I glanced at the other prisoners chained beside me and tried to speak to the man closest to me.
"Brother, do you know how to escape this prison?"
But the man didn't respond. Not even after a few minutes.
Undeterred, I called out to another prisoner, but he too remained silent.
With hollow eyes, they all stared blankly into space.
"Are you listening to me?"
"Don't ignore me."
"Hey, at least say something."
They were getting on my nerves, but I clenched my teeth, swallowing my frustration.
———
「Side Quest—Name」
Requirement: Find the name of the body you're possessing and the knights around you
Time limit: 10 minutes
Reward: Status (see your stats) | Basic understanding of stats
Failure: Inability to access status
———
Another panel, another quest.
First, it was to survive ten days, then to escape this prison, and now this?
I had to figure out the name of this previous king and his lifeless knights.
"Whatever up there, howmany cursed situations do you plan to throw at me?"
I muttered, shifting my attention back to the hollow-eyed knights.
"Let's try sounding like a real king and see if it stirs them up."
Taking a deep breath, I raised my voice.
"Heed my command, my loyal knights."
The words echoed, and suddenly, a faint light radiated from my body, spreading through the room.
The light reached each prisoner, and gradually, their empty gazes began to clear.
"Y-your majesty, you called?"
Despite being shackled, the moment they regained clarity and heard my call, they attempted a salute, voices trembling slightly.
It was clear they were still shaken by whatever had happened to them.
"No need to feel down, my loyal knights. I already have a plan to escape this hell. Keep your spirits high."
"You truly are a dragon among men, your majesty."
A fierce-looking, middle-aged man, who didn't seem the type to flatter, spoke up with words of admiration.
A moment ago, his eyes had been hollow, unseeing, yet now he was showering me with praise.
Ignoring his flattery, I observed him carefully, realizing his loyalty would make completing this quest easier.
Even though I didn't know why I was clinging to this life so desperately, something within me pushed forward.
The knights, inspired, raised their voices in a cheer that echoed through the chamber.
Oddly, no one came to check on the noise, as if no guards stood outside.
With little information to go on, I focused on the fierce-looking man and asked, "My loyal knight, I fear I am losing some memories…"
The man's face twisted in concern before I could even finish my sentence.
"Oh, heavens above! Your majesty, you've lost memories? Have you lost much?"
"There's no need to worry," I reassured him.
"I may have lost some memories, but my instincts remain intact. Yet, it pains me to forget my own knights."
Feigning sadness, I watched as the man's concern deepened.
"My lord, we, your loyal knights, will walk through fire and water for you. This small matter of memory loss will be healed once you regain your strength. Allow me to explain our situation here."
"You, my majesty, are the rightful ruler of Everbright Kingdom, Armon L. Bright."
He loudly proclaimed my name and, after a pause, continued.
"I am Tim Sherwood, your captain of personal knights. And behind me stand the elite knights of our squad."
He began introducing each knight, but my attention was drawn to the holographic panel that had appeared.
———
「Side Quest—Name」