In the original D/Z SAGA, there were various production and life skills systems.
Honestly, aren’t dungeon drop items better? There’s even the First Emperor’s legacy there—but it’s not entirely that simple.
Usually, First Emperor items or boss drop items have strict equip restrictions and are very difficult to obtain.
It’s true that drop items generally have better options than crafted items, but drop items also have quite a few extreme options. There are demon swords like [Deals 70% of the damage dealt to the opponent to the user as well].
Anyway. In D/Z SAGA, you can reach the ending through life skills and crafting alone. The difficulty is significantly higher than the combat route, but you can just recruit high-tier party members, give them good equipment, and become a support who throws buffs from behind.
Anyway. When you raise a production class to 【1T】, you can make quite interesting things. The material costs fly into space, but you can even make airships.
Anyway, as D/Z SAGA boasts vast crafting freedom, there are plenty of hidden pieces—or more precisely, the developers’ mischief—which are skill-triggered quests.
Like needing to clear a quest to rank up 【Shining Patissiel】 to 【Miracle Patissiel】.
And of course, 【Fishing】 also has such mischief—namely the 【Underwater Temple】 related quest. When fishing, there’s a certain probability of encountering a mermaid, and after conversing, you get invited to the underwater temple.
And there’s actually a serious problem at the underwater temple, and Kelter’s party solves it. That’s the sub-quest.
It’s a very common story, but it has a way of stimulating gamers… well, anyway.
Actually, I was quite curious about how you encounter it while playing the game. So it was being caught, huh.
**【Imperial Bloodline activates.】**
**【Cannot take actions unbecoming of the Imperial Family.】**
**【Confusion subsides.】**
How flustered do you have to be for Imperial Bloodline to activate and calm my confusion? Really.
The mermaid was looking this way and thrashing her body about.
“Uh… Master. Is this a fish? Or a person?”
“A mermaid.”
“I see. Then could we eat just the ‘mer’ part and leave out the ‘maid’ part?”
Oh, what a novel dismemberment show.
But that would kill both, so let’s not.
Anyway, looking at the mermaid thrashing with the fishing hook in her mouth, we fell into thought for a moment.
Should we just send her back to the sea gently? Pretend we didn’t see?
Besides, 【Underwater Breathing】 is hard to obtain, so even clearing it would be difficult.
“Wolfram! Off on your own again. Step back from there for now!”
“This beast…!”
From behind, my Bloodline Mate was shouting excitedly, then saw the mermaid and froze just like me.
“…A mermaid?”
Well, yeah.
Ah, if it had just been me and Patrasche, I would have thrown her back into the sea and pretended not to see, but now we have unnecessary spectators.
“Ughp. Ughbubp.”
Hm.
Since sending her back gently seems out of the question, let’s first remove the hook from her mouth.
—
The first thing I did after removing the hook was cast Eve’s rapid healing magic.
“【Light Spear: Rapid Heal】”
“…Oh, ohh. It’s all healed. I offer my gratitude.”
“You can talk? No, you can speak?”
“I am the proud first daughter of the Southern Sea Dragon King. Ariel. I have more than enough intelligence to easily learn human language. Learn. Is ‘learn’ too difficult? Then I shall speak in simpler terms.”
Well, of course.
Eve, surprised by her introduction, widened her eyes, then scowled and glared at me.
Why are you doing that again.
“Wait a moment. First daughter of the Southern Sea Dragon King?”
“That’s what she introduced herself as.”
“Again, again you make connections with big shots without me knowing, and then when it gets troublesome you’re going to dump it all on me, aren’t you? Like you always do!”
“Hm…?”
“What is it this time? Did you read it in the Imperial Library? Or is it the arrangements of our great ancestors? Or maybe she’s that person’s second adopted daughter? What new thing are you going to add to my headache this time?”
“…I just cast the fishing rod and she got caught.”
“Do you think I’d believe that!?”
What am I supposed to do when it’s true?
“No. The man is right. I was eating an incredibly delicious smell from the nearby bait, and then I just went *mmph*. An excellent trap.”
“It’s called fishing. You were simply caught.”
“I see. So this is the legendary fishing I’ve only heard of. Indeed. I must warn my subordinates to be careful too. This was a good lesson. I offer my gratitude for the instruction upon our first meeting.”
“Don’t mention it.”
My conversation with Ariel flowed smoothly, and Eve tilted her head sideways.
“Is this really your first meeting…?”
“First meeting.”
“Hah, but why is the Southern Sea Dragon King’s daughter here?”
“This is our safe food supply. I came to eat fish.”
“Do mermaids eat fish?”
“Fish eat fish too, don’t they?”
“…Ahah.”
Wow, look at her talk. Cutting it sharp as a knife.
“Anyway, I smelled a delicious scent from the sea, followed it, saw something delicious-looking squirming nearby, took a bite, and then…”
“You got caught. I apologize for that.”
“Don’t mention it. You were also hunting fish to eat. Rather, I should thank you for not killing me.”
Wow.
Who is she?
Why does conversation flow so well?
“…A female Wolfram?”
“I am Ariel, but isn’t it against etiquette to mistake someone’s name?”
“Ah, ah… I apologize.”
“I shall forgive you.”
Ariel smiled brightly and tapped the ground with her tail.
“Ahem. Well first, I am the student council president of the surface academy, Zefflin, and the youngest of the Lohengrin Imperial Family.”
“…Lohengrin. I know of the legend. When the volcano of the southern central region last erupted. When the currents of the fish changed three hundred times. When the waters of the south warmed the same number of times—the name of one who fought alongside us.”
“You express the seasons of the sea through the movement of fish. An interesting expression.”
“Is that so. That there are other ways of expression is even more interesting.”
“Knowing the differences in each other’s expressions is the first step to understanding culture.”
“Truly excellent. I think so as well. Since the cultures of the surface and the sea are different, is this not the first tail-sweep of a fateful exchange?”
While Ariel and I exchanged small talk for a moment, Eve cleared her throat and interjected.
“Ahem, anyway, have you been hunting here for quite a while?”
“Has hunting not occurred in this sea since this sea was born?”
“…Ugh. No, that’s not what I meant. This is Zefflin’s sea.”
“Do you claim territory all the way to the other side of the deep sea?”
“…Excuse me?”
“What an amusing perspective. Very well. Then come and exercise force. We are prepared to receive you at any time.”
“Ugh.”
“Eve. Stop. If she’s the first daughter of the Southern Sea Dragon King, she could easily sink one or two passing merchant ships with just sound waves. If all the mermaids of the southern sea united, they could even cause a tidal wave. Do you intend to destroy the south?”
Then you’ll get assassinated by Rudika. Be careful, really.
“I’m, I’m sorry…”
“Don’t mention it. I have no reason to harm the surface. I forgive you.”
“Th, thank you…”
“That aside, recognizing my greatness—you’re a decent man. Or is this flattery to seduce me?”
“Don’t mention it. I merely gave treatment befitting your status. There is no flattery.”
“You two, is this really your first time meeting?”
“Of course, we met today.”
“Yes. It’s our first time.”
“Really?”
Yes, really.
Have you only ever been deceived?
After that, Eve grumbled and stepped back. “If Wolfram alone is annoying, two is twice as annoying, so do whatever you want!” she said, retreating to a corner.
“Anyway, this was quite an enjoyable meal after a long time. What did you make?”
“It’s surface food, dried and mixed with animal fat. It’s bait that fish like. It’s called ‘ddukbap’ [bait].”
“I see. Such food exists on the surface. I couldn’t help but be amazed.”
“Was it that much of a delicacy?”
“Of course. If I spread this taste to the other mermaids, my support base would… Hmm.”
“What is it?”
“You came to this sea to hunt, and that is indeed bait to catch other fish, correct?”
“Yes, but.”
**【Then, are you interested in selling that favor to me? I’ll pay handsomely.】**
Oh.
That’s the dialogue at the start of the sub-quest.
Now. What to do.
I know the content of this quest, and the trials.
To be honest, it’s really hard to clear. First of all, learning 【Underwater Breathing】 itself is difficult.
Now, what to do…
“Tell me the situation.”
“…The sea is currently divided into east, west, south, and north. Are you aware?”
“Do you divide territory even where there is no land?”
“That’s what I’m saying. The 【Power Struggles】 of the Dragon Kings ruling each sea are in full swing. It’s no exaggeration to call it 【War】. They call themselves the 【Blood Alliance】.”
At those words, the soul within me flinched.
I know it. I know what this is about… but hearing it directly is quite impactful.
“We are the smallest and weakest 【Faction】. And the southern sea is under 【Control】.”
【Blood Alliance】 【Power Struggle】 【War】 and 【Control】
As a Korean, these are words that can never be forgiven. They touch the soul of gamer Lee Young-jin.
Do not forgive 【Control】. Seize freedom.
Even though I’ve only played D/Z SAGA my whole life… maybe it’s because I’m a gamer that my heart boils with such fervor.
“So?”
“I want to 【liberate】 this sea from 【Control】. But it won’t be easy. I need outside help.”
I know. That’s why the sub-quest involves Kelter personally negotiating with the east, west, and north Dragon Kings.
I want to help.
I want to beat down that damn 【Control】. A game should be free and enjoyable. Do not allow oppression!
“But I can’t learn underwater breathing. Do you know? I’ll be of absolutely no help in combat.”
“Hm. That delicacy you gave me. You called it bait?”
“Yes.”
“Can you procure that for me?”
“…I don’t have that much quantity.”
“That’s fine. With that delicacy as bait, we can procure food that can produce such taste. And use it to raise the southern momentum.”
“Indeed, it would also serve as a display to the other factions.”
“Yes. This war is our southern fight. I will ask for help, but I have no intention of forcing sacrifice. Will you help?”
“Hm.”
This mermaid—Ariel is, as in the original, bold and generous.
Even if I refused here, she’d say “I see. It was a pleasant encounter,” and leave.
That’s right. If I get entangled with her, when I go to sea, my magic power could be read and I might end up fighting other Dragon King factions.
But,
But you know.
But, a 【sovereign】 of a 【weak faction】 under 【Control】, fighting to seize victory from other factions and 【grant freedom】 to the sea?
That’s romance. How can I hold back?
“Alright. I’ll help.”
“Really? Even knowing that helping the weakest of us might be meaningless?”
“Meaning isn’t determined by the size of a faction. True meaning lies in the righteousness and cooperation one possesses.”
“…There were men like this on the surface too. Fufu. Good. Man. Your name?”
“Wolfram von Lohengrin.”
“Good. When this fight ends and we emerge victorious, be sure to visit the sea once. I will introduce you to the Dragon King.”
“…Understood. I promise. I’ll deliver the ground bait as soon as it’s made.”
“It’s a promise? You’re promising me?”
“Of course. I don’t break promises.”
“…Fufu. Truly, that there are men like you on the surface. I will sincerely await that moment from the bottom of my heart.”
At my promise, Ariel nodded and dove straight into the sea.
I’ve accepted the underwater temple sub-quest, but it’s not bad.
Let’s consider it a good ally gained.
“…Good heavens.”
“Took fifteen minutes.”
“You caught a female of a different race with a fishing rod, and it took fifteen minutes to charm her…?”
“That’s just how eloquent my master is.”
“…Trash. An enemy of women.”
“W, well. That’s true. Even to me, this is… quite severe.”
“Fufu…”
“Why do you look happy?”
“Oh no. I was just worrying for nothing. What does the throne or ambition matter? After all, he’s going to get chopped into pieces anyway.”
“Chopped?”
“Yeees. You brought four women here, right? And in just fifteen minutes, you added one more.”
“…”
“If you get chopped up, we’ll have to throw one piece into the sea. Then the southern mermaids won’t attack merchant ships, right?”
“Even so, isn’t he still your older brother? Chopped into pieces… no, he might actually get chopped up. I don’t need even a single piece.”
“Me neither.”
Behind me, a wolf and a Bloodline Mate were chattering noisily.
What on earth are they talking about?
I heard the word “chopped,” though.
Is it about fish?
