River’s Servant — Part 1
The fog was thick.
Towering columns of mist rose like cumulonimbus clouds, swallowing the world whole like a mushroom cloud.
[Warning! Warning!]
The control magic spirit of the private aircraft flashed a red light.
[This is a magic detection suppression zone. Magic radar and magic communication devices will be disabled. It is advised to take a detour around the fog-covered area.]
“How big is that area?”
[According to satellite imagery, approximately 10,000 square kilometers.]
“Wow, that’s huge.”
For comparison, the area of Seoul Special City was around 600 square kilometers.
It was more comparable to the size of an entire province.
Clicking my tongue, I gazed ahead at the fog-covered region.
A domain of mist that stretched from the ground up to the sky—reaching all the way to the stratosphere where I was.
There was nothing natural about it.
This was the result of divine intervention.
Even if that “god” was barely worthy of the title—a mere level 8 minor deity and a deranged spirit.
‘No need to take unnecessary risks.’
Lake Nasser, in the southern part of Egypt.
An artificial lake formed by the construction of the Aswan Dam.
In the original world, it spanned about 5,000 square kilometers, but in this world, it had doubled in size.
All because of the River Goddess.
Driven mad, she endlessly spewed magical mist, prompting the Egyptian government and the Osiris Temple to designate Lake Nasser as a restricted area.
“Let’s head to Aswan.”
The only place nearby with functioning governance was Aswan—the city where the Aswan Dam was located.
I pushed the control stick in that direction.
The magic spirit blinked its lights and busily exchanged signals.
[Entry permit, landing clearance, and stay approval have all been granted. You may land at Aswan International Airport. During your stay, your private aircraft will be stored in the airport hangar.]
A privilege of being a superhuman.
If I were an ordinary person, even arriving in a private jet wouldn’t have exempted me from immigration screening.
Still, there was one thing to correct.
“A hangar? No need for that. Tell them I’ll handle storage myself.”
[Excuse me? Understood. I will relay that response.]
Clack, clack, clack.
The magical runway unfolded.
There was no need to land cautiously from a distance or adjust auxiliary wings.
The magic spirit handled all the difficult parts.
As the speed decreased, I leaped off the Sky Harpy.
Landing first on the runway, I reached into my pocket and retrieved my skyship.
I expanded it to its maximum size—about as large as an aircraft carrier—then completed the landing.
As I was about to fold and store the skyship, the magic spirit sent another transmission.
[City Hall wishes to prepare a welcome ceremony for you.]
“A welcome ceremony? Why?”
[They conveyed a message saying it is an honor for the Stigmata’s Protector and the Knight of Paul to visit, and they would greatly appreciate your attendance.]
This spirit was a bit too mechanical.
If it were the Red Cougar’s magic spirit, it would’ve analyzed and provided a reason as well.
I thought it over.
The reason City Hall was hastily preparing a welcome ceremony was obvious.
Because of the River Goddess.
And because of the River’s Servant.
I couldn’t take down the River Goddess, but the River’s Servant was within my ability to hunt.
Since the Osiris Temple regularly conducted extermination campaigns against the River’s Servant, there was a high probability they would ask me to do the same.
In that case, I might as well attend.
Wandering into that fog alone would just be a wasted trip.
Even if I didn’t go on a full extermination, I still needed at least one quest item.
“Alright. Tell them I’ll attend. Where do I need to go?”
[They are sending a limousine for you.]
As we spoke, a sleek, black limousine silently approached.
The kind you’d see in movies—long and luxurious.
It looked even more high-end than the one I rode in Brazil last time.
“Greetings. It is an honor to escort you, Sword Star.”
A dark-skinned man greeted me with a respectful bow.
Aswan City Hall seemed to be putting in quite the effort.
The man was a superhuman.
Level 3—just at the threshold of being recognized as a true superhuman.
“I will ensure a comfortable ride to City Hall.”
“Thank you.”
Inside the limousine, the atmosphere was both luxurious and comfortable.
A bottle of champagne worth tens of millions of won rested in an ice bucket, cold mist drifting from it.
Pop!
I uncorked it and took a sip.
The crisp and slightly sweet taste was an absolute delight on my tongue.
‘Still not as good as nectar.’
Nectar was truly exquisite.
If only it didn’t flood the body with magic to the point of feeling like it would explode.
After a single sip, I set the glass and bottle down.
The liquid in the glass didn’t ripple in the slightest.
The limousine’s magical suspension absorbed and nullified all shocks completely.
Boom! Boom!
Magic cannons fired ceremonial salutes.
Fireworks shot up, causing passersby to turn their heads in curiosity.
A military band had even been mobilized.
They blew trumpets, beat drums, and a formation of Paladins raised their signature S-shaped single-edged swords in unison.
“The Stigmata’s Protector, the Knight of Paul, the Witness of Divinity, and the Sword Star of Asia—salute!”
“Salute!”
“Welcome to Aswan, the fortress of Egypt!”
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
For something hastily arranged, the ceremony was quite thorough.
Hundreds of people were passionately applauding.
They didn’t look forced or insincere.
Their faces, their eyes—brimming with curiosity and genuine welcome for me.
I felt a slight sense of pride.
‘I’ve truly become famous.’
Back when I stopped the terrorist attack in Seoul, I was only known within Korea.
But after slaying the Wraith King in São Paulo, my name had spread worldwide.
Well, I did save tens of millions of lives.
And the Mama Quilla Cult and the Poca Cult fervently broadcasted my deeds.
I bowed my head respectfully.
“Thank you for the warm welcome.”
“Hahaha! To be this humble as well—truly, the bearing of a hero! Sword Star! Once again, welcome to Aswan. Please, come inside.”
The mayor of Aswan eagerly pulled me inside.
City Hall Banquet Hall.
Lavish food and alcohol were piled up like small mountains—perhaps slightly exaggerated, but not by much.
An orchestra played enchanting melodies in one corner, while barely-clad dancers swayed seductively in front of them.
They were beautiful.
As my gaze lingered briefly on one of the dancers, the mayor chuckled slyly and whispered beside me.
“If you desire, she can attend to you during your stay.”
“No need.”
“If one is not enough, I can arrange for all the dancers… Ah, or perhaps you prefer something younger? In that case, young boys—”
“I said no.”
What the hell was this guy saying?
I shot him a sharp glare, and he cleared his throat awkwardly.
Then, for no reason, he turned and scolded the orchestra.
“What are you playing?! A distinguished guest has arrived, and you play such a song?!”
The music changed.
Gone was the sultry, seductive tune, replaced by a grand and lively march.
The dancers disappeared, replaced by additional instruments.
The rich, full sound filled the hall.
As a man, I felt a small pang of disappointment, but I forced myself to stay focused.
‘This is no time to be distracted by women.’
The Saintess’s fangs were already at my throat.
Not just every day, but every minute, every second counted.
I needed to run until my legs broke—if I got distracted by women now, I’d be sealing my own fate.
If I didn’t want to die, I couldn’t afford to lose focus.
And did the mayor offer me women purely out of goodwill?
Of course not. He had his own motives.
“The music is wonderful. Mind if I join in?”
“Excuse me?”
I didn’t need permission.
I pulled out the Manpasikjeok from my golf bag.
[Performance] [Incantation] [Song]
[Magical Resonance] [Thor Cultivation Technique] [Deep Breath]
I took a deep breath.
And then, I played the Song of the Dragon on my flute.
My vast and deep mana was woven into my breath, resonating through the banquet hall.
It completely overwhelmed the professional orchestra.
Their years of experience, their skill—utterly eclipsed.
But I didn’t crush them.
I didn’t overpower them.
Instead, I blended in.
Harmoniously, beautifully—like a single flower nestled in a bouquet.
No, more like the decorative ribbons that made the bouquet’s colors stand out even more.
“…Huh.”
As the performance came to an end, the mayor wore a dazed expression.
“I never imagined that the Sword Star possessed such artistic soul.”
“You flatter me.”
Why did I suddenly play the flute?
To shift the atmosphere in my favor.
If I let the mayor have his way, this welcome banquet would drag on—meeting local elites, drinking, socializing…
I didn’t have time for that.
“Mayor. The truth is, I came here for a reason.”
The mayor nodded heavily.
“Of course. A figure such as the Sword Star, the Knight of Paul—you wouldn’t come to Aswan without purpose. I believe I can guess why.”
He waved his hand lightly.
The people cleared out like receding tide.
The orchestra, the foreign dignitaries, the guards, the Paladins—gone.
Only the mayor and I remained in the banquet hall, now enclosed within a soundproof and anti-surveillance barrier, forming the perfect sealed space.
The mayor looked at me knowingly.
“You’ve come to hunt those fish bastards, haven’t you?”
…Huh?
What did he just say?
Ah.
Well, technically, he wasn’t wrong.
The River’s Servants—those fish-like humanoids that lurked in the mist.
Hunting them yielded valuable materials.
In Arcane Seoul, they had been added as a late-game update, making them less relevant.
“That’s about right.”
I played along.
If I told him I was here to collect the River Goddess’s blood droplets, he’d be suspicious.
After all, the River Goddess was level 8.
A level 7 superhuman wouldn’t waltz in alone to take down a level 8 boss.
And since the Osiris Temple was openly hostile to the River Goddess, I couldn’t afford to give them any reason to be suspicious.
“Just as I thought!”
The mayor slapped his knee.
“I knew it. Of course, hunting those creatures has its rewards. Their bodily fluids, once purified and extracted, serve as an ingredient for Nectar, do they not? And since you advanced to level 7 so quickly, you must need a lot of Nectar. Their cores, once refined, also make for excellent magic stones for enchantments.”
“Aha. So, that’s a local specialty here?”
“It is, but they’re not easy to obtain. You might not be aware, but those creatures are quite strong. The Paladins are stationed here, but all they can do is defend against attacks.”
“No extermination efforts?”
“We conduct localized hunts from time to time, but that’s it. Those bastards are too powerful within the mist. With an evil deity’s blessing, what can we do? Unlike the Mama Quilla Cult, we don’t have a Living God among us. And the Pope himself can’t personally intervene… We simply have to wait for the One Who Is Both Life and Death to grant us a saint.”
Even with an 8th-level saint, it wouldn’t be easy.
That mist was the River Goddess’s domain.
Her power was massively amplified there.
Among level 8 bosses, she was said to be on par with the Saintess.
Unless special methods were used, she was extremely difficult to take down.
“That does sound dangerous.”
“It is. But can it be worse than the Wraith King? If the Sword Star, who single-handedly slew the Wraith King, hunts a few disgusting fish-men, it’ll be no problem at all.”
He was desperate.
Of course he was.
If I hunted the River’s Servants, the mayor would reap enormous benefits.
Because it would be his achievement.
And if Aswan profited from selling their byproducts?
Or process them further?
That would be an absolute jackpot.
The River’s Servants were as valuable as high-level demons from the Grand Labyrinth or high-level extra-dimensional beings from the Great Rift.
The only problem was that they were far more difficult to hunt and rarely caught.
“I think so too.”
I told the mayor exactly what he wanted to hear.
“I needed some water-element materials anyway. That’s why I came here instead of the Grand Labyrinth or the Great Rift.”
“Aha! I knew it! Of course! When it comes to crafting water-element artifacts, there’s nothing better in the world than those creatures’ magic cores! You’ve come to the right place. The right place indeed! While you’re here, we will provide full support!”
The mayor rummaged through the inside pocket of his suit.
His hand disappeared up to his forearm.
A spatial expansion pouch, huh?
When he finally pulled his hand out, he was holding a small flashlight.
That was it.
The reason I played along with him.
The reason I didn’t flat-out refuse the welcome ceremony.
The mayor handed me the flashlight.
“This is an artifact created by the Osiris Temple. Within the range of its light, the mist is nullified.”
Even my Bright Eyes trait was useless in the mist.
A divine power at work.
If I wanted to explore the mist, if I wanted to interact with the River’s Servants, this flashlight was essential.
The mayor clenched his fists.
“Please, wipe out those vile spawn of evil. You don’t know how much harm they bring. Droughts wither our crops. Floods wash away our homes. And worse—every year, dozens of people fall under the mist’s magic and walk into the lake to their deaths.
“If you bring back their severed ears and noses as proof, we will provide a small bounty. One million dollars per kill—it’s just a token of our gratitude.”
One million dollars?
At an exchange rate of 1,300 won per dollar, that was 1.3 billion won per kill.
A small bounty, he said? That was basically winning the lottery back in the original world.
And that was just for the body parts—without counting the rest of the materials.
That was how significant the River’s Servants were. And how deep the hatred Aswan’s citizens had for them.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you. We’re counting on you, Sword Star.”
“I’ll head out right away. Can you provide me with a sturdy boat? It doesn’t need to be anything fancy. It might sink in the middle of a fight.”
“I’ll give you the best one we have. And don’t worry—if it sinks, we’ll just replace it. Just make sure you take down as many of those fish bastards as possible.”
Departure.
I boarded a large boat—alone.
No magic spirits. No AI assistance. A completely manual vessel.
Vroom!
I activated my Dragon Knight trait and accelerated forward.
The boat cut into the mist.
A world of pale whiteness.
Only the faint ripples in the water ahead, illuminated by my flashlight, confirmed my movement.
Then, I heard it.
A strange, eerie sound.
[Hrrrrhh…]
[Huuuuhhh…]
[Hkkk… Hkkk… Hhhhuuuuu…]
Like the wailing of ghosts.
The mist bounced the sounds in all directions, making it impossible to tell where they originated from.
I ignored them and kept going.
Straight ahead.
Toward the heart of the lake.
Splash!
Now, there were sounds of something breaking the water’s surface.
Hearing that, I cut the engine.
Silence fell over the lake.
A deep, suffocating quiet.
No more ghostly wails.
No more splashes.
Instead, within the thick mist, eerie blue flames began to appear.
Eyes.
Pairs of them.
Glaring at me, floating above the water like those of carnivorous beasts.
Dozens of them.
I shone my flashlight.
And saw them.
Grotesque. Monstrous.
They weren’t just fishmen.
Their faces were sunken and crushed like deep-sea anglerfish.
Instead of hair, their heads were covered in sharp, menacing spines.
Their glowing blue eyes rolled wildly as they stared at me.
They were servants of an evil god.
Their very forms seemed crafted from the world’s hatred and fury.
“Keaaaak!”
“Kiyaaaak!”
“Kiiiieeek!”
The fishmen opened their mouths.
Their jaws stretched unnaturally wide, like lampreys.
A nightmare-inducing sight.
My instincts screamed at me.
Run.
Run now.
These creatures were about to lunge.
But instead of fleeing, I ignited a flame.
Supreme Flame.
A golden fire.
Not to attack them—
—but to carve letters into the air.
[Hello]
The fishmen froze.
They stared at me blankly.
A long standoff followed.
Then, finally, one of them waved a hand.
The river water surged up, forming a crude shape.
It wasn’t a picture.
Looking closer, I realized—
It was a word.
[Hi]
The River’s Servants.
With mouths that couldn’t form human words.
There was only one way to communicate with them.
Through written dialogue.
–TL Notes–
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Thanks for the chapter!
new allies possibly? thanks for the chapter! Cant wait for next week!