Linian – the Mysterious Informant and Secret NPC of Liberta
Even the people living in Liberta barely know of her existence.
However, as long as one offers an appropriate price, Linian will reveal almost every hidden element that exists within Crusader Bryden NX.
The problem is that the price she demands is entirely arbitrary.
Sometimes, she asks for an absurd amount of wealth; other times, she demands a test of skill against her.
And in some cases, she outright kills the player without a word.
The existence of this unpredictable NPC became widely known through a few players, but due to her completely erratic behavior, no one could figure out her logic.
As a result, she was met with immense criticism.
Even when players met the same conditions, Linian would sometimes kill them on sight, making her one of the most hated NPCs in the game.
Many players quit out of sheer frustration because of her irrational antics.
She was infamous for making people rage-quit, and even I couldn’t claim to fully understand her.
However, Linian’s true identity was that of a dragon, one of the Primordial Race—the most powerful beings in existence.
Despite this, she always appeared in human form, never once revealing her true appearance in the game.
Obtaining information from Linian was essentially a gamble, but there was one thing she consistently valued: if someone displayed a “skill” she found satisfactory, she would treat them favorably.
And thanks to my Eyes of Truth, I was able to uncover a new fact about Linian that even the game itself never revealed…
▶Primordial Race, Azure Dragon, Daughter of the Three Shining Stars. Liniaras has many epithets accumulated over the ages, but the one she takes the most pride in is Daughter of the Three Shining Stars.
Having lived thousands of years under different races, ages, and names, she has now lost the ability to return to her original form due to the schemes of those she calls the Underground Vermin.◀
“Lost the ability to return to her original form? So that’s why she never transformed into a dragon, even after her true identity was revealed.”
A long-standing question of mine was finally answered.
Linian, who was looking at me with a curious smile, seemed completely unaware that I had discovered her secret.
“Well? What made you crawl all the way here? If you have the skills to pass my great trials, I’m curious to know what’s on your mind. Speak. I’ll listen.”
“Can you tell who destroyed an object if I show you something that’s been damaged by magic or sorcery?”
“I won’t be able to pinpoint their exact identity, but I can at least determine what kind of power they wield.”
“Then, I’d like you to take a look at this.”
I pulled out a shattered barrier stone that I had retrieved from the mid-slopes of Mount Presia.
Even though it was destroyed, Linian immediately recognized what it was.
“This is a barrier stone from the mid-tier section of Mount Presia. Now that you mention it, I’ve heard that gargoyles have been multiplying abnormally in that area for the past few weeks. So, are you asking me to fix it?”
“No. The problem there has already been dealt with, so the barrier stone itself isn’t urgent. What I want to know is the identity of the ones who destroyed it.”
“Oh? You’re quite confident that it was deliberately broken, aren’t you?”
“If I have enough skill to pass your trial, I can at least figure that much out.”
Linian burst into laughter at my words.
“Pfft… Hahahaha! How audacious! Do you even know who you’re talking to? Fine. Hand it over. Since you’ve entertained me, I’ll be generous for once.”
Linian took the shattered barrier stone and focused her mind.
Soon, a faint black aura began to rise from the stone.
It was almost identical to the dark energy I had seen before when exploring the Goblin Cave with Ravi—the same sinister aura that emanated from the corpse of the Goblin King.
Ravi, who also seemed to remember it, widened her eyes in surprise and glanced at me.
Meanwhile, Linian’s expression darkened in real time as she examined the artifact.
Her face turned increasingly grim until she suddenly snapped her gaze toward me with an incredibly fierce look.
“You… Where did you get this… No, who did this?! You said you knew who destroyed it! Where are they? Tell me!!!”
Completely uncharacteristic of her, Linian had lost her composure.
Her bloodshot eyes locked onto mine as she grabbed me by the collar.
I was taken aback by how different she was from the game version, but I tried not to let it show and maintained my usual demeanor.
“Calm down, will you? It’s not very fitting for the great astrologer Linian to lose her composure like this.”
Realizing she had grabbed my collar without thinking, Linian exhaled sharply and let go, trying to steady herself.
“I’ll say this upfront—I don’t know who exactly they are, when they destroyed the barrier stone, or where they went. All I know is that a few unidentified individuals destroyed it and then teleported away.”
Linian, still fuming, ground her teeth as she spoke.
“The traces of magic left in this stone… I’m certain. It was the Underground Vermin.”
“The Underground Vermin?”
That was the name I had just learned from her abilities.
They were the ones who had set the trap that prevented Linian from returning to her dragon form.
“I don’t know exactly what they are. But one thing is certain—they operate in the shadows of this world, manipulating it to their liking. I named them Underground Vermin myself because it suits the way they slither around in the darkness.”
“If they destroyed this barrier stone, then that means they were also behind the abnormal gargoyle infestation at Mount Presia. But… something doesn’t add up.”
“What do you mean?”
“They do like controlling the world from the shadows, but they usually avoid causing outright chaos like that. They prefer maintaining a certain level of order—it makes it easier for them to manipulate things from behind the scenes.
More importantly… the fact that you’re still alive is even stranger.”
“Me? Why?”
“Are you seriously asking me that? You’re a Crusader, an Apostle of the Goddess.”
Linian pointed at me with an expression that suggested she couldn’t believe I didn’t know.
Her words were so absurd that I was momentarily speechless, simply blinking at her in shock before responding.
“…What do you mean I’m a Crusader? I’ve never even been officially appointed.”
Ravi and Elfin, who were beside me, chimed in to back me up.
“Alvis… is a Crusader? That’s a bit…”
“Pfft… Puhahaha! I thought he was someone with incredible abilities, but turns out he’s just a total fraud! Alvis, a Crusader? Hey, fortune teller, if you’re going to scam people, at least make it somewhat believable. He wasn’t even present at the appointment ceremony, and he’s far weaker than Bryden. How the hell is he supposed to be a Crusader?”
Hearing Elfin mock her, Linian’s forehead veins bulged with irritation.
“You damn primitive pointy-eared brat! How dare you spew such insolent nonsense?! Do you think I’m someone you can talk to like that?!”
Linian had just uttered the two most offensive insults an elf could hear—calling her a primitive and a pointy-eared brat.
Elfin’s laughter vanished in an instant.
Her eyes turned bloodshot, and she leaped to her feet.
“P-Primitive…? Pointy-eared brat…? There are things you can say and things you can’t, you crazy bitch! Say that again, I dare you.”
Unfortunately, Elfin had no idea who Linian really was and was unknowingly sticking her head straight into a tiger’s mouth.
Realizing that Linian might actually kill Elfin on the spot, I immediately stepped between them, trying to calm the growing hostility radiating from Linian.
“Liniaras.”
The moment I spoke her true name, Linian froze in shock.
“What… did you just say?”
“How about the Daughter of the Three Shining Stars grants some mercy, just this once? She didn’t know who you were.”
“!!!”
The instant I addressed her by the title she was most proud of, the raging mana around Linian dissipated entirely.
At the same time, Elfin also froze, breaking into a cold sweat.
Any elf with even a basic understanding of history would recognize the term Primordial Race.
Even if they had never seen one in person, they would know what it meant.
“T-The Daughter of the Three Shining Stars…? T-That… That’s the name of a dragon from ancient elven legends…? H-How do you know that…?”
“Because the so-called fortune teller standing right in front of us is the Daughter of the Three Shining Stars.”
“I’ve lived for thousands of years, yet I never imagined that some tree-climbing pointy-eared brat would have the audacity to call me ‘crazy bitch’ to my face. Truly, life is full of surprises. Tell me, elf, should I show you a vision of what your ancestors were doing five generations ago to prove my words?”
With a snap of Linian’s fingers, the surrounding scenery shifted instantly.
A vision unfolded—a much smaller version of the World Tree of Arvones, with elves gathered around, slowly building a village.
Towering above them was an enormous azure dragon, bestowing the tree with a blessing of the stars.
The elves in the vision bowed before the dragon, carving murals into the tree to commemorate the moment. And just like that, the illusion faded.
“O-O-O…”
Elfin trembled like a leaf, completely overwhelmed by shock.
“You tree-climbing brats live in an eternally flourishing land, under a tree that never withers, all thanks to my blessing. And yet, you dare to get cheeky with me? That tree mural you just saw—go check the World Tree of Arvones right now. That exact mural is still there.
If you still don’t believe me, should I rip out your guts and lay them out in front of you? How many seconds would it take for you to believe then?”
Tears welled up in Elfin’s eyes as she collapsed to the ground in submission.
“I-I-I’ve committed an unforgivable sin! I-I spoke so rudely without knowing the presence of such an esteemed being! P-Please, spare my life!”
Beside her, Ravi—who, as a descendant of the Vani race, likely had a deep-seated fear of the Primordial Race—was also trembling and bowing down.
“O-O Great One, I-I didn’t say anything! P-Please don’t be angry with me!”
As Linian looked down at the two shaking figures, her gaze slowly shifted toward me.
“You… How much do you know?”
“Probably everything?”
“…I knew it. From the moment you walked in, I could sense something interesting embedded in you.”
With a smirk, Linian pointed at me.
“You—you’re definitely the Crusader chosen by the Goddess.”
“Nope. I already told you, I’m not a Crusader.”
“With that divine radiance inside you? Deny it all you want, but it won’t change the truth.”
“You mean this?”
I activated my Lightsaber ability, letting the glowing blade shine in front of Linian’s eyes.
Linian observed my skill with an amused expression, but to me, her claim was utterly ridiculous.
“This is just a trick of light. Sure, it’s bright, but it has nothing to do with the Goddess. There’s no way something tied to divine power would be left lying around in some random dungeon. The real Crusader chosen by the Goddess was appointed through the official ceremony.”
“Hmm? Is that really what you think?”
“…?”
Linian stared at me for a moment before shrugging and letting out a quiet chuckle.
“Well, you’ll figure it out soon enough. For now, just do whatever you want. Either way, carrying that power inside you will eventually make the Underground Vermin come looking for you.”
BOOM!
At that moment, the small underground room trembled slightly.
A loud commotion erupted outside—heavy footsteps, frantic voices, and the sound of a large group moving somewhere in a hurry.
“Are the Underground Vermin already here?”
“No, I’d be the first to know if that were the case. Let’s see…”
Linian closed her eyes briefly, as if listening to something, while Ravi and Elfin also perked up, catching fragments of conversation from outside.
“…Get out of our way…”
“Looks like a noble family is involved… Cleansing project? …Told to piss off?”
“Oh, it’s that nonsense again.”
Linian snorted, gesturing for us to go outside.
“Some clueless noble has been causing trouble lately, trying to ‘purify’ Liberta or whatever. Naturally, all the criminals living here aren’t happy about it.
Well, Alvis, wasn’t it? How about you step in and handle this? Perfect opportunity to make a name for yourself as a Crusader of the Goddess.”
“What? Why the hell would I get involved in this mess? If a kingdom noble is involved, this is way out of my jurisdiction—”
BOOM—
▶Because you chose to ignore Liberta’s crisis, you have received a Level 1 Rebound penalty.◀
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
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