In the game's lore, Ludger had been a human mage who'd betrayed his own kind and joined the demon race, becoming one of their most powerful champions. Players faced him during a major questline involving a war between humans and demons. He was infamous—difficult mechanics, devastating spells, a multi-phase fight that had made countless players rage quit.
But all that was supposed to be later, much later… At least fifty levels from now, and yet here he was, standing inside what was supposed to be a glitched room left by the developers as an easter egg, looking very much human and very much ready to spill blood!
What was all this?!!
"Please," Yamamoto said again, forcing himself to sound calm despite the terror and confusion coursing through him. "I didn't know anyone was here. I'll leave right now. You'll never see me again."
Look at him! Sounding like a thug/bandit side character caught by the MC! This was just unfair.
Ludger's eyes narrowed as he listened. "You found this place. That means you're either very lucky or very knowledgeable. Neither option makes me inclined to let you leave alive with this information."
Magic crackled along the length of his staff, building in intensity. Yamamoto could feel it, danger!!
His mind raced. How could he survive this?
Ludger was level 50-plus in the game. Even if he was weaker now, he was still monumentally beyond Yamamoto's capabilities! Fighting was suicide, running was impossible—Ludger could probably kill him with a single spell before he reached the door… this was Corvin.
If all that was impossible, the only other way was to try and talk his way through, but even that…
"Wait!" Yamamoto blurted out. "I can help you! I know where to find the Codex of Eternal Flames!"
'FUCK!'
The name came from deep in his memory—a legendary item, one of the most powerful mage artifacts in the game. Players had speculated endlessly about its lore significance and connection to various questlines, anticipating it alongside more in the update that was to come before Yamamoto disappeared.
'Why did I mention that?' He thought to himself.
Even if he tried to stay calm, standing before a villain and knowing he could lose his life had a different feeling than a monster. 'How can someone who had such information be normal?'
Hearing what Yamamoto said, Ludger's expression shifted, and even though the magic energy in his staff didn't diminish, his eyes flashed something that spelled survival for Yamamoto, interest.
"The Codex," Ludger said slowly, "has been lost for three centuries. Entire orders of mages have searched for it. And you—a boy with a cheap sword and shabby clothes—claim to know where it is?"
"I do," Yamamoto said confidently. "I swear it. Let me live, and I'll tell you everything. I'll even help you find it."
Ludger thought about it, seconds stretching out as Ludger continued studying Yamamoto with intense, calculating eyes. Yamamoto could practically see the man weighing his options: kill this intruder and maintain secrecy, or risk letting him live in exchange for potentially invaluable information.
Finally, more to the surprise of Yamamoto, Ludger lowered his staff slightly. The magic didn't dissipate, but the immediate threat of imminent death receded.
"You will swear an oath," Ludger said. "A binding magical oath. You will help me find the Codex, and you will tell no one—no one—about me or this place. Break either promise, and the oath will kill you. Painfully. Do you understand?"
Yamamoto nodded frantically. "I understand. I swear it."
"Kneel."
Yamamoto dropped to his knees without question.
Ludger approached him, though not fully, then extended his staff so that its tip was close to his forehead.
"Repeat after me," Ludger commanded. "I swear upon my life and soul—"
"I swear upon my life and soul—"
"—to aid Ludger in finding the Codex of Eternal Flames—"
"—to aid Ludger in finding the Codex of Eternal Flames—"
"—and to speak of him and his sanctuary to no one, lest death claim me."
"—and to speak of him and his sanctuary to no one, lest death claim me."
There was almost no real change in reality, like a bright light or surge of magic, but Yamamoto felt it almost immediately and gasped as something locked into place inside him. It felt like chains wrapping around his heart, invisible but undeniably present. While that happened, a notification appeared in his vision.
..
[BINDING OATH ACCEPTED]
You have sworn a magical oath to Ludger. Breaking this oath will result in death.
Oath Terms:
-Assist in locating the Codex of Eternal Flames [Time Limit, Three Months]
-Do not reveal Ludger's existence or location to others
..
Ludger withdrew his staff, then asked Yamamoto to stand.
"You have three months," he said. "Bring me the codex within that timeframe, or consider the oath broken. Now, get out of my sight." He said.
Yamamoto started to turn toward the exit, then paused. He'd come here for a reason. The chest was right there, just a few feet away.
"May I..." He gestured weakly at the chest.
Ludger's expression was unreadable, though he was actually very surprised. "You're either very brave or very stupid. Take whatever's in there and leave. Quickly, before I change my mind about letting you live." He said, knowing it was empty.
Yamamoto hurried to the chest and opened it. As expected, it appeared empty—just old wood and dust. But the moment he looked inside, a notification appeared:
[HIDDEN REWARD DISCOVERED]
+3 Free Stat Points
"Thank you," Yamamoto said to Ludger, then left. He wanted to run, but he held himself from doing so and just walked out quickly.
He soon came to the gitched wall and burst right through and back outside.
'Who would have thought that the unfinished area became the villain's lair?'
As the moment passed and he calmed down, he thought about what had just happened and was genuinely surprised. In the game, Ludger had been a monster and villain in all sense of it, but the man in that room, though every bit dangerous, seemed rather human and logical, recognizing the value of a living informant rather than a dead intruder.
'But aren't all villains wise and intelligent when it truly matters?' He thought to himself, dumb villains were a trick.
Well, at least Ludger was not yet a villain.
Thinking about it all, this was more evidence that the world was real, perhaps the glitched wall and waterfall were all magic barriers set by Ludger? It wasn't impossible.
'Then what about the hidden dungeons?' He wondered.
After a bit, he had gone over it enough and decided that he couldn't dwell on it further, he still had a dungeon to clear.
He pulled up his status window and allocated the 3 points he got to his agility, bringing it up to 15 from 12.
With that done, he approached the entrance to the dungeon that brought him all the way out into danger.
As soon as he stood before it, something popped up before him.
..
[DUNGEON DISCOVERED: Lost Abandoned Den]
Clear Condition: Eliminate all Giant Rats (0/100)
Time Limit: None
Exit Restriction: Cannot leave until clear condition is met
Rewards:
-Mystery Chest
-Random Rare-grade Equipment
-5 Free Mastery Points
Enter Dungeon? [Yes] [No]