《The Game of the Greatest Black Mage》 Chapter 0 Prologue I''ve been able to see ghosts since I was young. It wasn''t particularly harmful. They didn''t do me any harm; in fact, there were many benefits. Should I become an abandoned house broadcaster? But... -You? Can you see me? Why can I see ghosts in the game too? Chapter 1 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 1 0. The year is 20XX. For the first time in history, virtual reality was invented. And at the same time, the first game based on that virtual reality was created. Eternal World. Living up to its title of "Eternal World," it became a game enjoyed and loved by 2 billion people worldwide. The brilliant developer who pioneered virtual reality and used it to create this game, Park Won, left these words at the launch of Eternal World: "Eternal World is another reality, an eternal world. Anything the brain can do in reality can be replicated in Eternal World. Even superpowers, if you have them." He boasted that users could recreate anything they could do in reality within the game. And all the users agreed. Or perhaps, they even praised it as something more. Anything that could be done with the brain could be done in the game. That was the greatest advantage Eternal World boasted. 1. Yoo Seonghyun had been able to see ghosts since he was a child. He didn''t remember when it started. He''d been able to see them for as long as he could remember. Moreover, they never harmed him. - Child, if you go over there, there''s a 500 won coin on the ground! - Oh my! Seonghyun! If you go that way, there''s a cute kitty! - Haha! Seonghyun has grown so much! Keep growing strong. The ghosts were all friendly to Seonghyun. So there was no reason to be afraid. In fact, they were much more helpful than anything. Seeing ghosts was so natural to him that at first, he thought everyone could see them. But as he grew older, he gradually realized that he was special. However, like any parents, Seonghyun''s parents couldn''t help but worry. So, as soon as they realized their child could see ghosts, they first took Seonghyun to a psychiatrist. They didn''t believe in ghosts, after all. But all they heard was that there was nothing wrong. ¡°Looking at his brain and everything else, he''s perfectly normal.¡± When the psychiatrist proved useless, they then sought out renowned shamans. That''s how desperate his parents were. But most of them were frauds. ¡°Ah! It''s above the child''s head!!!¡± ¡°Huh? It''s not on my head, it''s on your shoulder, lady.¡± ¡°Eeeeeek!¡± No one could see the ghosts except Seonghyun. Perhaps because of this? As one might expect, Seonghyun was a famous child in the neighborhood from an early age. The ghost-seeing kid. Seonghyun didn''t particularly care. Because it was true. So he didn''t think much of it. He thought lying was worse. But as he grew older, he realized that sometimes lies were necessary. At first, he didn''t know. He didn''t know about the stinging gazes of people and how those arrows were directed at his family. Seonghyun was too young to understand. Too young to understand how much his family was suffering because of him. So Seonghyun told a lie for the first time. "Mom, I can''t see them anymore." He wished his dad, mom, and older sister wouldn''t suffer anymore. After that, they moved far away, and the family was always happy. A sister who cherished her younger brother, and parents who devoted themselves to their two children. They were the kind of family that was praised for their close bond wherever they went. Even when ghosts spoke to him, Seonghyun only responded and acknowledged them when he was alone. Thanks to this, there were many times he benefited, but he lived his life thoroughly hiding his ability. Only his older sister, Yoo Mina, knew the truth. Perhaps because of all this? Having seen ghosts and received their help so often, Seonghyun developed an indifferent personality. He rarely got surprised and always remained calm. Thanks to this, he was quite popular with his friends. "Hey, Seonghyun. Did you know?" "Yeah." "Huh? How did you know?" "Are you talking about the 10,000 won bill you found this morning?" The evening grew late. As soon as Seonghyun returned home, he washed up and lay down on his bed, where the capsule installed next to it caught his eye. It was too big to miss. ''A discharge gift, huh.'' What a grateful older sister. Usually, even if they had the money, it''s certainly not common for an older sister to buy this kind of thing for her younger brother. Besides. ''This makes money?'' He had heard a lot about it. Even his juniors would talk about playing Eternal World in capsule rooms after returning from vacation or leave. Seonghyun wasn''t really interested in games, so he didn''t pay much attention to it. To think his sister would buy him a capsule. Moreover, the game makes an enormous amount of money. If his sister Mina hadn''t told him about this during dinner, he wouldn''t have paid much attention to it. He would have just thought, ''It''s just a game, isn''t it?'' ''Since my sister makes money from this too.'' Connecting right away wasn''t Seonghyun''s style. Whatever he does, he has to look into it properly. He was the type to tap even a stone bridge before crossing it, so to speak? It was a habit he had since childhood. There''s nothing wrong with being cautious. It''s more efficient to look up information and start tomorrow morning rather than connecting late at night. Seonghyun got up from his bed and sat in front of the computer. What should he search first? His sister had already told him a lot. Which beginner village to choose, what to do first in the beginner village. Even the hidden pieces that can only be obtained in certain beginner villages. He wasn''t particularly interested in how his older sister knew all that. She had been an amazing older sister since they were young. He just accepted it. ''Hindel Village, was it?'' He searched for the village first. Various results appeared, making Seonghyun''s eyes dizzy. A wave of information rushed in. As he read through them one by one. ''The village of the Demon King and the Hero...'' His sister had explained it to him, but seeing the actual background of the village made it even more plausible. A statue of the hero''s party was erected, and many people mourned the hero there. Hero Hindel. The village where he grew up and eventually killed the Demon King. It was quite interesting. Not just the village. ''To think a game like this would come out.'' He seemed calm, but he was more amazed than ever. Seonghyun scrolled down with an expressionless, calm face, watching various videos. It was just a video of beginners active in Hindel Village, but it was more lively than any other video. The vividness and realism were incomparable to movie CG. It was so realistic that he could believe it was completely real. Even Seonghyun was fascinated by the scenery and appearance. ''It''s awesome.'' Eternal World. Another reality, an eternal world. He thought the name really suited it. He became more and more interested. If his sister hadn''t told him to do it, he wouldn''t have bothered to look it up, but if Seonghyun had known about this first, wouldn''t he have done it first even if his sister, Yoo Mina, hadn''t recommended it? That''s what he felt. He wasn''t the type to like games, but this was something beyond a game. It felt like he would really be missing out if he didn''t do this. He smiled faintly, feeling the thrill of excitement for the first time in a long time. Just as he was about to browse other videos with more interest, Seonghyun blinked his eyes and tilted his head. ''That''s strange.'' Is it because he''s sleepy? Just in case, Seonghyun rubbed his eyes and looked at the screen again. But it was still the same. A human figure in the video, with parts that looked like broken pixels, appearing like smoke that could scatter at any moment. It was a figure Seonghyun knew very well. ''Why do I see a ghost in the game?'' It was the shape of a ghost. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 2 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 2 Even when Seonghyun watched the video again, the ghost was still visible, and as he browsed through other videos, he could see it in those as well. Should he call it a ghost video? ''This is amazing.'' Seonghyun had always been able to see ghosts if they happened to be caught on camera. But those were ghosts in the real world; he had never seen a ghost in a game before. Yet, they appeared in the Eternal World videos. Ghosts in medieval attire, as if they were the ghosts of in-game NPCs. What in the world was going on? He didn''t know much, but one thing was certain. ''I think it''s really a ghost.'' It was just Seonghyun''s intuition, but there was nothing more certain than this. Even when he visited many renowned shamans, only he could see the ghosts. So, Seonghyun''s intuition was solid evidence. He pondered over this. First, could other people see those ghosts? Looking at the reactions to the videos, no one mentioned the ghosts. Then, were they only visible to players? That wasn''t the case either. The NPCs also seemed oblivious to them, passing right through the ghosts as if nothing was there. Lastly, could they just be hidden NPCs? Similarly, that wasn''t it either. ''Other NPCs and users have icons or NPC names displayed above their heads.'' But nothing was visible above the heads of those who appeared to be ghosts. Judging from all the circumstances, not just Seonghyun''s intuition, it was definitely a ghost. A ghost in the game. To think his sister''s words would be right. ''My sister is amazing.'' Or was it the game that was amazing? Anyway, the important thing was that there were ghosts in the game. ''And all ghosts are friendly to me.'' No matter what kind of ghost it was, all ghosts liked Seonghyun. They always tried to help him unconditionally. The ghosts in the game would probably be the same. It was just a feeling, but what could be more certain than that? That meant, if the ghosts in the game helped Seonghyun... Wouldn''t he be able to obtain hidden pieces that only they knew about? Hidden pieces that other players couldn''t find. Didn''t someone say that dead men tell no tales? But if he could talk to the dead... ''I could learn a lot.'' Seonghyun smiled, becoming even more interested. Looking forward to connecting tomorrow, Seonghyun fell asleep late at night. 3. He woke up after a deep sleep. A refreshing morning that he couldn''t easily experience in the military. After waking up and eating the delicious breakfast prepared by his mother, Mrs. Lee Nakyeong, he washed up and went back to his room. ''Well then...'' ¡ªShall I connect? He already knew how to enter the capsule and connect to the game. His sister, Yoo Mina, had told him countless times. His ears were practically calloused from hearing about it. A game enjoyed by 2 billion people worldwide. Seonghyun, who had researched it yesterday, was quite excited. More than anything, he was curious about the ghosts in the game and whether he could really obtain hidden pieces through them. By the time Seonghyun woke up, his sister had already eaten breakfast and entered the capsule. Before he knew it, Seonghyun was also inside the capsule, connecting to the game. At first, he felt as if his mind was being sucked somewhere, and then, after a feeling of floating in mid-air, he found himself in a pure white room. Upon arriving in the white room, he slowly floated down to the floor. As soon as his feet touched the ground, text appeared before his eyes. [Welcome to Eternal World.] [No registered account found.] [Would you like to create an account?] [Yes / No] "Oh!" Even just seeing the window with the text floating in front of his eyes was amazing. How could they create something like this? It was incredibly fascinating. It was much more vivid than when he watched it in the videos. ¡úReward: 1 Silver, Training Completion Certificate. So this is how the quest progresses. Seonghyun immediately... "Yes, I underst..." Seonghyun was about to answer Instructor Gruger and go choose an iron sword. That is, until he saw something that looked like a semi-transparent human figure made of smoke. Anyone could tell it was a ghost. Seeing it in person made it even clearer. Just like the ghosts in reality, that was a real ghost. And that meant... ''It will grant my request.'' Furthermore. It was wearing the same clothes as Gruger. Was it a ghost who used to be an instructor? Then things might get easier? Seonghyun already knew about the hidden piece in this tutorial. It was something his sister had told him, but it was also a common hidden piece already widely known among other users. ''There''s a steel sword mixed in with those weapons, right?'' It was said that there was a steel sword mixed in, with much higher durability and attack power than ordinary iron swords. However, all the swords looked identical, making it extremely difficult to distinguish them. Some users had the discerning eye to pick it out, but even if ordinary people heard how to identify it, it was nearly impossible to find it among so many swords. Several users were carefully examining the swords trying to pick out the steel sword, but as far as Seonghyun could see, no one had managed to find it. But if that ghost really was a former instructor, wouldn''t it know? Seonghyun walked towards the armory where the swords were placed. Gruger watched Seonghyun from afar and frowned. ''He seems like a decent newcomer...'' Judging by his gait and movements, he seemed far from athletic. Occasionally, there were some newcomers who appeared exceptional. Those who had some athletic training or, judging by their gait, had learned some martial arts. But Seonghyun showed no such signs. Gruger gave up on him as soon as he saw him. He was just an ordinary newcomer, nothing more, nothing less. Just because he was polite didn''t mean he was skilled. Around the time Gruger gave up on Seonghyun... Seonghyun, choosing a sword, looked at the ghost there and spoke in a very small voice, inaudible to others. "Hello?" -Gasp! Holy shit! Ca-Can you see me? The ghost was so startled that it even swore. But in its eyes, Seonghyun could see a clear fondness. Just like the ghosts outside. Seonghyun nodded at the ghost and spoke very quietly. "Do you happen to know which one of these is the steel sword?" At Seonghyun''s words, the ghost grinned broadly as if it was obvious, and looked at Seonghyun with an expression like a grandfather looking at his grandson, nodding repeatedly. -Of course! I know! As a former instructor, of course I know! That''s not it. Come this way! "Thank you." Seonghyun also spoke quietly and followed the ghost as it led the way. It was really working. However, as Seonghyun followed the ghost, he felt something strange. ''What is it?'' It was a bit different from encountering ghosts in reality. He knew from experience that Eternal World felt even more vivid than reality. But that applied to ghosts as well. Seeing the ghost felt even more vivid. It was a sensation he had never felt before, but he just accepted it. Never once had a ghost harmed him. And he knew instinctively. That it wouldn''t happen. Before long, Seonghyun saw the ghost pointing at an iron sword. -This is it! This is the steel sword! "Hmm." At the ghost''s words, Seonghyun casually grabbed the sword as if it were a matter of course. He did so in a single motion, even though once he grabbed a sword, the choice was made and he couldn''t pick another. To others, it looked like he had gone to where the weapons were, looked around, and then strode over and made his choice. The other users, seeing Seonghyun, thought he must have just picked a sword without caring about the steel sword. But why did he walk so far to grab it? Just as that question arose, a radiance emanated from the sword Seonghyun was holding. "I-It''s the steel sword!?" "H-He just picked it like that!?" It was the moment the evidence of him choosing the hidden piece was clearly revealed. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 3 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 3 "Oh." Seonghyun let out a calm exclamation as he looked at the steel sword emitting a brilliant light. It certainly had a special effect. At the same time, a message popped up. [You have found the ¡ºSteel Sword¡» in the tutorial.] [You have acquired the item, ¡ºSteel Sword¡».] [You have found the ¡ºSteel Sword¡» with your excellent eye.] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºDiscerning Eye¡».] Not only did he get the steel sword, but he also received a title. He had heard about it, but the reward was quite generous. ''What are the effects?'' ¡ºSteel Sword¡» ¡ú¡¶Normal+¡· ¡úAn iron sword made of steel. ¡úMore durable and has higher attack power than a normal iron sword. ¡ºDiscerning Eye¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA title given to users who acquire the steel sword in the tutorial with a discerning eye. ¡úIncreases critical hit rate by 10%. Remarkable. Especially the title that came with the steel sword; it was much better than the sword itself. A 10% increase in critical hit rate. Seonghyun nodded calmly as he looked at it. "Crazy... It''s really the steel sword!" "How can he just pull out the steel sword like that...?" As Seonghyun pulled out the steel sword, one user shouted, and another nearby user expressed his doubts. He had clearly given up and didn''t even bother to carefully choose, instead just striding over and pulling it out, and it turned out to be the steel sword. It was no wonder they were surprised. It wasn''t just the users who were surprised. Instructor Gruger also stared at Seonghyun with his eyes wide open. He had clearly seemed ordinary in terms of talent. Did that mean his eye was different? ''Amazing.'' To be able to choose it so quickly. Even Gruger wouldn''t be able to choose it that fast. But the surprise ended there. Having a good eye wasn''t bad, but it had nothing to do with using a sword. No matter how good one''s eye was, it was a separate matter from using a sword. And as far as Instructor Gruger could see, Seonghyun seemed completely ordinary in terms of talent. And in reality, he was. Since he was young, Seonghyun had never been particularly talented in sports. He was just at an average level, neither better nor worse than others. In this regard, Gruger''s assessment was correct. ''Even if he got the steel sword, it''ll still take him at least 10 hits.'' If he had talent, he would have cut down the scarecrow within two or three strikes, and if he were a genius, he could cut it down with a single blow. But from Gruger''s perspective, that was a far-fetched idea for Seonghyun. Even if he couldn''t tell about Seonghyun''s eye for weapons, he was an expert when it came to the physical body. With Seonghyun''s talent, 10 times. Perhaps even more than that. While Gruger was thinking this, Seonghyun was having similar thoughts. ''I can''t do this.'' He knew his own abilities better than anyone. He wasn''t particularly talented in physical activities, so even though he had obtained the steel sword, he wouldn''t be able to cut down the scarecrow in one blow. Still, since he had the steel sword, he would be able to defeat it faster than with an ordinary iron sword. That''s as far as he thought, and he grasped the steel sword. -Ahem! Hey! You shouldn''t hold it like that. "....?" -Holding the sword like that won''t get you anywhere. Here, watch me and follow along. The ghost, who claimed to be a former instructor, showed Seonghyun the proper posture, saying his grip was wrong. But talent wasn''t something you could gain just by being shown, was it? Being able to follow along just by being shown was, in other words, proof of having talent. So Seonghyun tried to ignore it. If it weren''t for the power flowing into him. ''Huh?'' He felt a strange power. Strictly speaking, should he call it ''memory'', or ''experience''? A power he had never felt from the ghosts in reality. It was the ''memory'' or ''experience'' of wielding a sword countless times. The ''memory'' and ''experience'' of the former instructor were being transmitted to him. As Seonghyun became like the ghost of the former instructor, and that ''memory'' and ''experience'' became clear, he could feel it. However, this was the first time a newcomer he had underestimated had produced such a surprising result. "I shall bestow a medal upon you." With Gruger''s words, countless letters appeared before Seonghyun''s eyes. So many that his vision momentarily blurred. [You have defeated the scarecrow with a single blow.] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºOne Strike!¡».] [You have achieved an achievement in the tutorial.] [You have acquired an achievement reward.] [Tutorial rewards have been enhanced.] [You have been recognized by Tutorial Instructor Gruger.] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºInstructor''s Medal¡».] [You have received the tutorial rewards.] [Existing rewards have been enhanced.] [You have acquired 10 Silver, ¡ºTraining Completion Certificate¡», and ¡ºGruger''s Recommendation Letter¡».] While the messages were cluttering his vision, Gruger handed something to Seonghyun. "And take this." It seemed to be the money, the training completion certificate, and the recommendation letter. Seonghyun quickly dismissed all the messages and received the rewards from Gruger. "Thank you." "No, I am more grateful. You have broadened my narrow perspective." "Excuse me?" "Hahahaha! Never mind! Oh, and the recommendation letter allows you to go directly to the village chief, so keep that in mind." "Oh." Seonghyun was visibly pleased at those words. To leave this beginner village, he had to go to the village chief, and it was said that he had to clear various miscellaneous quests in the process. They were quests that everyone hated, with no nutritional value and really just close to chores. But a recommendation letter that allowed him to skip those and go directly to the village chief? It was a truly useful reward. Seonghyun hadn''t imagined he would get this far. It was all thanks to the ghost. He knew about the titles ¡ºOne Strike!¡» and ¡ºInstructor''s Medal¡», but he had given up on obtaining them, thinking it would be impossible. Yet, with this power he felt for the first time, he had come this far. Just as he was about to express his gratitude, something unexpected happened again. [''Unknown power'' has allowed you to exhibit abilities beyond your current stats.] [Strength +3, Agility +2 permanently increased.] ''What''s this again?'' A message saying he had acquired stats due to an unknown power. Seonghyun couldn''t help but be bewildered as he saw it. ''This is the first time I''ve heard of such a hidden piece.'' 0. Immortal, the artificial intelligence of Eternal World, was managing and observing everything in Eternal World. It was monitoring the events unfolding and transmitting important occurrences to E-World, the company that serviced and created Eternal World. Then, it discovered an incomprehensible phenomenon. A user had appeared who obtained the titles ¡ºOne Strike!¡» and ¡ºInstructor''s Medal¡». A user was born who acquired the steel sword and defeated the scarecrow with a single blow. It wasn''t a small feat, but a considerable number of users had accomplished it. Not common, but certainly a user worthy of observation. However, that wasn''t all. Judging by the user''s physical vitals and other indicators, it should have been impossible. Numbers didn''t lie. But for a moment, the numbers soared sharply, and all the values changed. Especially the strength and agility values. [This is an incomprehensible phenomenon.] Immortal couldn''t understand it at all. There were occasional cases where a user''s physical stats increased when they were highly focused. But this was the first time the fluctuation in values was this significant. And the synchronization rate of the user called ¡ºSeonghyun¡» wasn''t high either. But even the synchronization rate changed. The synchronization rate, which measured how much a user was synchronized with their virtual body, was a value that determined how much talent a user had in virtual reality. And although the values fluctuated occasionally, the limit was 1% to 2% at most. But the user called ¡ºSeonghyun¡», for a moment, had his synchronization rate soar to 100%, as if he were an NPC. It was impossible. Even the highest synchronization rate was in the low 90% range. But to reach 100%? It was an incomprehensible phenomenon. However, there was an explanation for such cases, provided by Park Won, the developer of Immortal and the genius who created Eternal World. [Define it as an ''unknown power''.] He wanted to make it possible for even supernatural abilities to manifest. With those words, the artificial intelligence Immortal defined this situation as an ''unknown power''. Eternal World had achievements set for all user actions, and Immortal measured the reward according to this ''unknown power'' it had defined. [Granting reward.] That''s how Seonghyun gained strength and agility. Immortal''s actions were relayed to E-World''s User Management Team, and naturally, chaos ensued. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 4 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 4 1. E-World''s User Management Team. Despite the name, the team''s role wasn''t to restrict users or hinder their gameplay. Their job was to observe users'' gameplay, prevent potential accidents, and ensure smooth gameplay. In other words, they were the department that managed user data. The majority of the users they managed were those who had achieved significant accomplishments. Users who acquired the steel sword in the tutorial or defeated the scarecrow in one blow naturally fell under their purview. Seonghyun was one of them. Though he was a bit of an exception... "What is this? ''Unknown power''? Wait, how did his stats increase because of this? And in the tutorial, no less?" "I-I know, right?" Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong tilted his head in confusion at this unprecedented phenomenon. His subordinate, Officer Oh Jinhyeok, could only scratch his head. There was no way Officer Oh would know something that even his superior, Assistant Manager Lee, didn''t. Unknown power? What in the world was that? Even Lee Wonsong, who had been with the User Management Team for a while, had never seen such a thing. Unsure, he left a question for Immortal. [Immortal, what is ''unknown power''?] [''Unknown power''.] "....?" He was asking what that unknown power was. Frustrated, he typed the question again. [I''m asking what exactly that ''unknown power'' is.] [It refers to a power that cannot be defined within the current Eternal World.] [Then is it a bug?] [The possibility of a bug occurring in the current Eternal World is virtually zero. In the current situation, ''unknown power'' is judged to be the user''s ability rather than a bug.] Exasperated by the vague answer, Assistant Manager Lee finally shouted. "Then what are we supposed to do with this!!!" "C-Calm down, sir!" "Haa, haa." For now, since Immortal had defined it as unknown, they decided to let it go. It wasn''t a bug, so it wouldn''t be a major problem, but... "But how can his stats increase like that in the beginner village...?" "I-I know..." "Haa, he''s on the watch list now, so let''s just observe what he does. But this is definitely strange." Based on his previous stats, that user definitely shouldn''t be able to produce such results. Yet, looking at his suddenly increased stats, they were abnormally high. Then they decreased again, but were still clearly higher than before. He had never seen such a difference in stats, including the synchronization rate, or the assimilation rate. ''...I think I''ll have to submit a report on this soon.'' While Assistant Manager Lee was lost in ominous thoughts, Officer Oh Jinhyeok spoke up. "Huh? Sir, his stats have increased again." "What?!" They increased again already? Who on earth was this person? "This is unbelievable." Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong had no idea that what he unconsciously muttered would be the correct answer. 2. "Farewell! If you need help, be sure to come find me!" -Ehehe! Make good use of it! It was nice meeting you! You can come back anytime! The master and disciple were bidding farewell in similar ways, and Seonghyun bowed deeply and left the training ground. After leaving the training ground, Seonghyun recalled the memory with a slightly puzzled look. The ghost''s memories and experiences had assimilated into him as if they were his own. He felt it distinctly at that moment. He felt the rhythm of the sword as if he were a master who had swung it thousands, tens of thousands of times. It was the first time this had ever happened to him. It wasn''t that he couldn''t distinguish it from his own memories. Rather, it was clearly distinct. ''This is amazing.'' Seonghyun looked down at his hands. They were fair and looked as if they had never known a day of hardship. But the experiences and memories contained within them were deep, deep indeed. Was it because he had moved away from the ghost? He hadn''t obtained them completely, but quite a bit still remained. ''Was it like this?'' As he gripped the sword, the memories and experiences resurfaced as if being loaded. Recalling the memories of the former instructor, he became able to use a little of his talent. It was unbelievable, yet Seonghyun accepted it as if it were a matter of course. To think his ability possessed such power. Although acquiring the butchering skill wasn''t easy. And to acquire the butchering skill, he had to receive a quest from the butcher shop. It was an essential skill in all the strategy guides, as it was a skill that continued to be useful throughout the game. As expected, he could see many users gathered in groups. As he arrived in front of the butcher shop, a middle-aged woman''s voice, as loud as a train whistle, echoed. "I said!!! Bring me properly butchered meat!!!" Slightly startled by the booming voice that could be heard even from outside the butcher shop, Seonghyun peeked inside. There, he saw a user presenting meat that was haphazardly butchered, and a middle-aged woman scolding that user. It seemed to be because of the state of the meat. Even Seonghyun thought it was terrible. "She''s really strict." "What!?! Would you want to eat meat like this!!!" "But I don''t have the butchering skill, how can I do it properly..." "So?! You dare bring this and call it meat?!!!" "Ouch! My ears are going to fall off!" "It''s your meat that''s falling apart!!! Where did you throw away the rest of the meat and bring only this! I don''t accept this! Bring it back!!!" Again, her voice was incredibly loud, as if she had swallowed a train whistle. Seonghyun lightly covered his ears and nonchalantly looked inside the butcher shop. He saw a user at the front, holding a tattered piece of meat, dejectedly walking out. "Hmph. I worked so hard to get this." "I don''t care if you worked hard or not, bring me properly butchered meat!!! Next!!!" As the butcher shop owner shouted, the next user in line glanced at the pathetic piece of meat in his hand, chuckled, and followed the dejected user out of the butcher shop. It wasn''t just that user; most of them left like that. Most of them had terribly butchered meat. She did pay for the meat from the remaining users, albeit after giving them a good scolding or letting them pass with a disapproving look, but they all grumbled that it was too little. And when the users whined about the low price, she seemed to hear them and retorted. "Then bring me better meat!!!" "Oh, alright! Alright!" "She''s so picky." "I know, isn''t all meat the same?" "Yeah, it all tastes the same once it''s cooked~" "Yeah, it all ends up the same in your stomach~" "You brats!!!" "Eek!" Seeing the users running away as soon as she yelled, the butcher shop owner sighed. Why were all these newcomers so clumsy? She asked them to bring meat, and they brought rags and scraps. If it weren''t for the village chief''s request, she would have kicked them all out and only done business with the residents. While the butcher shop owner was fuming, Seonghyun stood before her. "Huh? And who are you?" "Uh, can I sell you some meat?" "You sure take your time asking for a quest!!!" "Ugh." Seonghyun frowned and covered his ears at the loud voice of Marlen, the butcher shop owner. Marlen frowned at his seemingly timid demeanor. It wasn''t like she hadn''t seen such newcomers before. There were even those who timidly asked how to catch a rabbit. Wondering if Seonghyun was one of those, Marlen glared at him. Seonghyun, in turn, tilted his head, looking at Marlen as if asking what was wrong. Marlen was dumbfounded at the sight of Seonghyun looking at her as if wondering what the problem was. "Humph! Just take the quest and get out! If you bring me messed up meat, I''ll give you an earful!" "Yes, thank you." [Mandatory quest, ¡ºMeat Delivery¡» has been generated.] ¡ºMeat Delivery¡» ¡ú¡¶Basic¡· ¡úBefore embarking on an adventure, it is a long-standing tradition for adventurers to earn their funds by selling meat to the butcher shop. Hunt rabbits, deer, and other animals and deliver their meat. ¡úReward: 1 Silver per rabbit meat and rabbit hide. ¡úCaution * The owner may refuse to purchase if the quality of the meat is poor. ¡úTip: Try to be careful when butchering. You never know, something mystical might happen? This quest even kindly included a tip and a caution. Seonghyun nodded in surprise and quietly left the butcher shop. Marlen watched Seonghyun with curiosity. ''He''s a strange newcomer.'' His timid yet nonchalant demeanor was quite peculiar. Well, it was clear that he would bring mangled pieces of meat like the other newcomers. Even before these newcomers arrived, when adventurers used to stop by before setting off, only a handful could bring properly butchered meat on their first try. That''s how adventurers used to be in the distant past, and now the newcomers brought terrible meat. Although the newcomers'' skills were noticeably worse than the adventurers''. Occasionally, there were those who brought good meat, but it was truly occasional. She didn''t think Seonghyun would be one of them. Anyway, putting aside the slightly peculiar impression of Seonghyun, Marlen shouted. "Next!!!" [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 5 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 5 3. True to its title of "another world", Eternal World boasted exceptional realism. NPCs with advanced AI that were practically human. Monsters with high intelligence that seemed like real creatures. And even the process of butchering beast-type monsters to obtain items! All of it contributed to the sense of realism. While the need to butcher could be inconvenient, it was limited to beast-type monsters, and many people enjoyed it, finding it immersive. Although they admitted it was inconvenient. The hunting ground in the beginner village was one such place. This hunting ground, teeming with rabbits, was home to the beast-type monster "rabbit" and an important place for beginner users to learn about hunting and butchering. Even now, countless users were running around trying to catch rabbits. "Holy crap! Aren''t they too fast?!" "N-No, and they''re so small and low to the ground!" "Ouch! My shin!!!" "S-Sorry!" Various skills were needed to catch the small rabbits. It wasn''t easy for beginner users to keep up with the swift rabbits'' changes in direction and speed. Moreover, their low height made them difficult to attack. Swinging the sword recklessly would only result in hitting the ground. It would be fine if it just hit the ground, but it also damaged the sword''s durability. It meant considerable loss just to catch one rabbit. "Ugh! I''m going to be a mage!" "Me too! If you''re a mage, you don''t need butchering!" "...You still have to do it, though?" "Ugh." Occasionally, there were users who denied reality, but the butchering skill was essential even for mages, so they had no choice but to do it. If you had a lot of money, you could skip it, but otherwise, it was the right thing to do. While many beginner users were shedding tears of frustration, Seonghyun finally arrived at the hunting ground. "Oh." Seonghyun was first surprised by the sheer number of people. He had heard that Hindel, the Hero''s Village, was popular, but he hadn''t expected it to be this crowded. And the fact that more people than he expected were struggling was also surprising. It looked difficult, but was it really that hard? That''s what he thought. ''Hmm, is it really that difficult?'' If it were before he had acquired some of the former instructor''s talent, he might have thought it was difficult. But now, that thought didn''t cross his mind. Why was that? ''I think I can do it...'' With that thought, Seonghyun took out the steel sword from his inventory. Unlike at the tutorial training ground, it didn''t emit any light. There was no way a hidden piece effect would appear on an item that had already been drawn. Having drawn his sword, Seonghyun lightly swung it a few times. It moved lightly and according to his will. This should be enough, shouldn''t it? As Seonghyun was thinking this, some of the nearby users couldn''t help but smirk at him. "Hey, hey, look, a new rookie." "Pfft, he looks so confident, but why can''t he do it? That''s the expression he has." "Ah, the newbie smell is so strong. We were like that too." Look at them acting all high and mighty, as if they''ve been here for ages. They haven''t even caught a single rabbit yet, and they''re laughing at someone else? They must have found Seonghyun''s sword-swinging amusing. "Oh my, can he even catch a single rabbit like that?" "Pfft, I know, right?" "He needs to work steadily. He shouldn''t just focus on looking cool." "Exactly." Unaware of the people laughing at him, Seonghyun simply gripped his sword again. The steel sword was about the size of a longsword. The users who had already tasted defeat knew. Catching a rabbit that was practically glued to the ground with a longsword was no easy task. Even if they managed to land a hit, it didn''t mean instant death. Rabbits had enough HP to withstand about three to four hits. A monster too tricky for beginners to catch. Since when did he become so reliant on ghosts? Just as he was about to give up and do it himself, he heard a strange voice from afar. -Tsk tsk tsk, that''s not how you butcher. A grumbling voice, clicking its tongue in disapproval. Found one! As soon as he heard the voice, Seonghyun ran towards it, and there, he finally found the ghost. Wearing a hat and clothes made of tiger skin, with a longbow on its back and various axes at its waist. No doubt about it. "A bandit?" -Huh?! What?! I''m a hunter! W-wait, you can see me? The bandit, no, the hunter ghost was startled as he looked at Seonghyun. A human who could see him? It was an unbelievable situation, a first in his life, no, afterlife. Seonghyun boldly asked the hunter, "Then, how do you butcher?" -What? Uhahaha! This great hunter Apic will teach you, boy! "Thank you." As the friendly hunter ghost Apic spoke with a hearty laugh, Seonghyun expressed his gratitude. But the hunter ghost Apic waved it off. -No! I should be the one thanking you! For giving me a chance to be of help! Now then, have you caught any rabbits? "Yes, quite a few." -Oh ho, let''s see them then. At Apic''s words, Seonghyun nodded and took out twenty rabbit carcasses from his inventory. Apic''s eyes widened at the sight of the rabbits, all with cleanly severed necks. It had been a while since he had seen rabbits hunted with such clean cuts. Some of the newcomers who appeared after his death were skilled, but were they this skilled? -It looks like the level of skill you can only achieve after decades of wielding a sword... "Excuse me?" -No, it''s nothing! I''m just saying you did well. "Ah, thank you." -Uhahaha! With rabbits killed so cleanly, I''m sure you''ll get good meat and hides! Now, listen carefully to what I tell you. As Seonghyun nodded, the hunter ghost Apic began to speak. -Originally, butchering is done more cleanly the quicker the beast is killed. And the rabbits you caught, boy, are exactly like that. "Ah." -The quicker the kill, the better the quality. Also, the hunted animals wouldn''t even feel any pain. You could say it''s a very merciful way to kill. Seonghyun was a little embarrassed by Apic''s words and scratched his cheek awkwardly. Chuckling at the sight of Seonghyun''s embarrassment, Apic continued his explanation. He explained how to butcher, and how to hunt. And Apic''s ''memories'' and ''experiences'' flowed into him. So this phenomenon occurred whenever he received teachings. Realizing this, Seonghyun felt the ''memories'' and ''experiences'' flowing in. The memories of a hunter who had hunted for decades, and the experiences of butchering the hides and meat of hunted animals and beasts. As all of this washed over him like a tsunami, Seonghyun unconsciously took out a butchering knife and began to butcher one of the rabbit carcasses in front of him. He used the knife boldly, like someone who had butchered before. Judging by his appearance, it seemed like he would make rough cuts, but the meat and hide were separated cleanly and precisely. Apic couldn''t help but laugh heartily at his impeccable butchering skill. -Uhahahaha! That''s right! That''s the butchering method of this great hunter, Apic! While Apic was laughing heartily, The message he had seen before appeared. [''Unknown power'' has allowed you to exhibit abilities beyond your current stats.] [New stat ¡¶Dexterity¡· has been generated.] [Agility +3, Dexterity +2 permanently increased.] [You have successfully performed your first butchering attempt!] [You have acquired the skill, ¡ºButchering¡».] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºExcellent Butcher¡».] ¡ºExcellent Butcher¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA title given to users who successfully perform their first butchering attempt. ¡úIncreases butchering quality by 15%. ¡ºButchering¡» ¡ú¡¶Normal¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Instant Effect][Passive] ¡úAllows for easier and lossless butchering. Seeing these messages, Seonghyun thought, It seemed like it would be easier to save money than he had expected. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 6 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 6 4. "How many times do I have to say this!!! This is not meat!!!" "Euagh!" Marlen''s butcher shop was, as always, bustling with customers. However, all the users who visited were met with scoldings. Even the users who occasionally came in after acquiring the Butchering skill were no exception. "What''s the point of having the Butchering skill! Look at this, it''s all chopped up in chunks because you weren''t paying attention!!!" "B-But I did it p-properly!" "Properly?" "Hieeeek!" "Haaa, just take this and get out!" She handed over the money generously and chased the user away. What was the point of having the Butchering skill? It only provided minimal assistance, and the result was barely passable. It was obvious that they were all relying on the skill and butchering without paying attention. The meat the users brought in was all the same. They didn''t appreciate the value of meat. Moreover, they just whacked the rabbits with clubs, so the quality of the meat wasn''t good either. She didn''t know who started the nonsense that meat became tender by being beaten, but there was nothing worse than rabbit meat that had been beaten with a blunt weapon or club while it was still alive. With only such meat coming in, how could it possibly satisfy Marlen? Today, her throat was only getting sore from all the yelling. But then, a face she had pushed to the back of her mind came back to her. It was Seonghyun. "Huh? What''s this!?" The peculiar newcomer. But seeing him come back so soon, he must be the same as the others, right? Ready to yell as soon as he took out the meat, Marlen glared at Seonghyun with her fierce eyes. Unfazed, Seonghyun took out the meat and hides of twenty rabbits in front of Marlen. "Look at this!!! The meat..." Marlen was inspecting the meat as she spoke, but she stopped mid-sentence, something feeling off. And Seonghyun was looking at Marlen with an indifferent expression. Marlen faltered for a moment, then looked at the meat and hides and exclaimed, "This, this is too perfect!?!?" The other users were even more surprised by Marlen''s reaction. "M-Marlen is giving praise!?" "Wh-what?! M-Marlen is..." "Ah! My Marlen is praising someone else!?" "Who are you???" The users watched Marlen from afar, making a commotion. They had frequented Marlen''s butcher shop many times, but this was the first time they had heard her praising anything. Especially praising meat. "T-t-this, this is...too perfect..." Her mouth gaped open, and her eyes were filled with emotion. Marlen was so moved that she even took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. Seonghyun was a bit flustered by this, but he thought, ''Is it really that good?'' Having been tormented by the newcomers'' terrible meat, Marlen couldn''t help but be moved by the sight of such beautifully butchered meat. How long had it been since she had received such clean meat? Her emotions briefly subsided, and Marlen held up a piece of meat and shouted to the other users, "All of you, look and learn! Look how gently and beautifully this meat has been butchered!!! To reduce suffering before butchering, it was killed with a single blow, bled, and then had its entrails removed immediately to preserve the quality of the meat!!! Look at this meat!!!" She was making quite a fuss, but the users'' reactions were even more dramatic. "Oh my god! Such meat can exist?!" "E-Even with the Butchering skill, I couldn''t do that!?" "Wow, I''m so envious." "Sob, sob, my Marlen! My Marlen!" "Seriously, who are you?" "Wouldn''t you get a title for that?" Seonghyun was a bit embarrassed, but he perked up at the last comment. A title? He had received titles in such situations before, but would he get one this time too? Marlen looked at Seonghyun with an impressed face and nodded. "This meat is truly excellent. It''s been so long since I''ve received meat this worthy of being called meat! This Marlen is deeply moved." [You have moved the butcher shop owner with the meat you butchered yourself.] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºButcher Shop Regular¡».] He saw the form of a ghost in the distance. So they were wandering around the village too. Just as he casually thought that, the ghost, in the form of an old man, approached Seonghyun as if teleporting, with movements that seemed straight out of a horror movie. Anyone seeing this for the first time would be startled, but Seonghyun was too used to such sights. ''My sister would have loved to see this.'' His sister, who loved ghost stories and supernatural phenomena, particularly enjoyed such scenes. Since the ghost was doing it directly, should he call it a technique rather than a scene? Anyway, why was it approaching him so urgently? Perhaps it had some business with him. As he waited for a bit, he saw the ghost suddenly appear in front of him. It had a very urgent and surprised expression. -I-It''s true, you can really see me!? "Yes, I can see you." -Gasp! Y-You can even talk to me!!! When Seonghyun answered calmly, the ghost shouted as if about to faint and threw his head back. It was quite overwhelming. But maybe it had something to tell him? Usually, there was only one reason for this. -Oh dear! My mind is all over the place. "Do you perhaps have some business with me?" When Seonghyun asked politely, the elderly ghost nodded vigorously. He nodded so much that Seonghyun wondered if his head would fall off. Seonghyun tilted his head, wondering why the ghost was so urgent. Usually, they acted like this when they were about to give him something good. He looked at the elderly ghost, wondering if this was the case again. -Young man, have you heard of the Hunter''s Forest? "Hunter''s Forest?" -Ah! I see you haven''t! The Hunter''s Forest refers to a forest created by the hunters in our Hindel Village! However, I hear not just any newcomer can enter. "Oh?" As he listened to the story, Seonghyun became more and more intrigued. Not just anyone can enter? It was obvious what that meant. ''Is it a hidden dungeon?'' Hidden dungeons that people occasionally discovered. Judging by the name, it seemed to be just that. Hunter''s Forest. Seonghyun listened attentively to the elderly ghost''s words. Where it was located. And what kind of place it was. -Since the newcomers appeared, the hunters have all left for other villages, and the beasts in the Hunter''s Forest have multiplied so much that it''s become a concern. Many of the villagers have forgotten about the Hunter''s Forest and don''t know its location. I would like to tell you, but in my current state, how can I? "Well...that''s true." -But then you appeared, just like that! I heard from the hunter Apic, and it was true! To think that braggart''s words were right. It seemed he had heard about Seonghyun from the hunter ghost Apic he had met earlier. The elderly ghost looked at Seonghyun with an excited expression and said, -There are many rare beasts there, so their hides and meat will fetch a high price. It''s something only you, with your steel sword and excellent butchering skills, can do. I implore you. Even if the elderly ghost hadn''t asked, Seonghyun was already planning to do it. Anyone could tell it was a hidden dungeon. A hidden dungeon in a beginner village where he couldn''t even level up. At first glance, it seemed useless, but it wasn''t at all. Especially since hidden dungeons in beginner villages were said to contain incredible things. It was one of the reasons why Hindel Village, where the hero was born and raised and defeated the Demon King, was so popular. The hero and the Demon King. It was a village that seemed likely to have hidden pieces. But he had heard that everyone had come up empty, and yet, he had stumbled upon this. Although there were still those who hadn''t given up, this was a hidden dungeon that no one had discovered. Naturally, he was intrigued. ''Besides, I''m curious to see how well my current skills work.'' Now that he had acquired the talents of the former instructor and the hunter Apic. He wanted to know how skilled he actually was. There was no reason to refuse. Just as Seonghyun was about to accept, the elderly ghost said, -If you do this for me, I''ll tell you where the heirloom passed down in my family is buried! "Alright." The rewards kept rolling in. This was practically giving things away for free. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 7 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 7 0. The E-World User Management Team was responsible for users even in the beginner village. However, such instances were rare. It had already been a year since the game''s release. Countless geniuses had already passed through, so they didn''t have enough time to manage them all. However, Assistant Manager Lee Won-sang was focused on a user in the beginner village, instead of the other rankers he was in charge of. [''Unknown power'' has allowed you to exhibit abilities beyond your current stats.] [New stat ¡¶Dexterity¡· has been generated.] [Agility +3, Dexterity +2 permanently increased.] "This is driving me crazy." It had happened again. The synchronization rate and other stats suddenly shot up, and then he gained permanent stat points. Was this even possible? Other users had to repeat training movements or perform special actions for hours to gain a single stat point, but he was gaining stats through an unknown power? It was an incomprehensible phenomenon. Assistant Manager Lee Won-sang couldn''t understand it at all. But today was a tannery holiday. His superior, the team leader, was out on business, and there was no one suitable to report to. All he could do for now was observe further. He also shook his head in despair as he watched the hidden pieces that user ¡ºSeonghyun¡» was acquiring. He had swept up the rewards at the butcher shop as well. At this rate, it seemed like a truly absurd monster would be born. There was nothing he could do about it. ''Immortal says it''s not a bug, and it''s already been defined as an element that cannot be regulated.'' Although Eternal World wasn''t very old, there had never been any instances of unfair play. According to the analysis of Immortal, the best artificial intelligence, this case was the same. It wasn''t like the game company would be in trouble just because one user became stronger, but growth of this magnitude could lead to other complaints, so they had to be cautious. If only he hadn''t made it known to others. But there shouldn''t be anything more to gain now, right? While Assistant Manager Lee was thinking this, his subordinate, Officer Oh Jin-hyeok, asked, "Huh? Sir, isn''t that the place where you go to get to that...place?" "Huh? What?" "Well...wasn''t there a hidden dungeon in Hindel Village? It seems like he''s going there." "What? There was such a thing in Hindel Village???" "Yes, here..." Officer Oh Jin-hyeok showed him the data on Hindel Village, and it was indeed written there. Hindel Village''s hidden dungeon, ''Hunter''s Forest''. Not only was it usually difficult to find, but the conditions for entry were also strict. "So, the conditions are... the steel sword and the Excellent Butcher title?" "Yes. So..." "That''s exactly that user, isn''t it?" "...Yes." "Hahaha! Hahahahaha!" Assistant Manager Lee laughed and nodded. To think he was actually going there. Was this even possible? Come to think of it, many strategy sites mentioned a place called the "Mist Forest" in Hindel Village. Most users who arrived at Hindel Village would go to that forest. They couldn''t find the hidden dungeon because they didn''t meet the conditions, but this time, Seonghyun, who happened to meet the conditions, was heading there. Seonghyun wasn''t the first to fulfill those conditions in Hindel Village. However, most users who met those conditions were focused on quickly leaving the beginner village in the early stages of the game. It was plausible that it was only being discovered now. But why did it have to be user ¡ºSeonghyun¡»? "At this point, it must be the ghosts telling him, right?" "Oh? Really?!" "Of course not!!!" "Euagh!" "Ugh! If he gets that too... he''ll get that item too, won''t he? Haaa, no. That''s right, it doesn''t matter if he just gets that. Yes... that''s right." Watching Assistant Manager Lee Won-sang denying reality as he mumbled to himself, Officer Oh Jin-hyeok thought to himself, ''Usually, when you say that, they end up getting even more, don''t they?'' He didn''t say it out loud, though. It seemed interesting. As Seonghyun thought this, the green deer charged. Snort! The charging speed of the green deer, accompanied by a snort, was by no means slow. It charged quickly with its head lowered, attempting to gore Seonghyun with its antlers using its momentum. However, its opponent was Seonghyun. As he watched the charging green deer, the memories of the hunter Apic surfaced. With the hunter''s experiences and memories permeating him, he waited until right before the green deer reached him and lightly dodged to the side. Unlike rabbits, they couldn''t change direction easily. Whoosh! The green deer''s eyes followed Seonghyun as it passed by, and it saw Seonghyun, who had dodged to the side, raising his sword. That was the end of the green deer''s memory. A swift sword strike, difficult to even see, flowed from top to bottom. A silver trajectory cut through the air, slicing through the green deer''s neck without resistance. The green deer''s neck crumpled, and it collapsed in the direction it was running. [Critical Hit!] [Effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» activated!] Thud! Clank! The heavy body fell with a loud thud, scraping against the ground. The green deer''s carcass rolled across the ground. Once again, a single strike. The sword, swung with his stats pushed to the limit, coupled with a critical hit and the effect of the One Strike! title, was too much for even the green deer to withstand. He had become even faster than when he was catching rabbits, all thanks to the hunter Apic''s spirit. His agility had increased by 3 points since then. ''I think dexterity also has some effect.'' Not only had his agility increased, making him faster, but the newly acquired dexterity helped him maintain his balance despite the increased speed. He could slightly feel that his swordsmanship had become more refined. ''Good.'' The thrill he felt from hunting the green deer was incomparable to that of hunting rabbits. This was incredibly fun. With a pounding heart, Seonghyun first put the green deer''s carcass into his inventory. There was a reason why he didn''t butcher it immediately. As long as he butchered the monsters before reaching the boss, he could enjoy the first discovery reward effect. He was going to gather them until then. He couldn''t let go of this thrill for the sake of butchering. The memories and experiences of the hunter Apic were excellent, and so were the memories and experiences of the former instructor. But he still had a long way to go before he could fully adapt to them. ''Let''s try to adapt further.'' He hadn''t completely made them his own yet. So he moved forward. He ventured deeper and found another green deer. The green deer was still eager to charge, and Seonghyun succeeded in hunting it again, utilizing Apic''s experience and the former instructor''s memories. [Critical Hit!] [Effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» activated!] Another one-hit kill. As the overwhelming hunt continued for a while, the number of green deer increased. Even with three green deer, the result was the same. No, it became even more enjoyable. They didn''t charge simultaneously but with a time difference, making it difficult to simply dodge to the side, but he was able to learn how to move gracefully with footwork. When the first green deer charged, he dodged slightly to the side and swung his sword. Similarly, watching the next green deer charge, he lowered his stance and then jumped back up, slashing upwards diagonally to cut the green deer''s neck. For the last charging deer, he jumped up, gliding through the air like an acrobat, and swung his sword downwards towards the green deer''s neck from above. [Critical Hit!] [Effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» activated!] [Critical Hit!] [Effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» activated!] [Critical Hit!] [Effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» activated!] [You have defeated over 30 beast-type monsters of the same level or higher in one strike.] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºHunter¡».] Having achieved the feat of hunting three deer at once, Seonghyun muttered with a slight smile on his face, "It worked." [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 8 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 8 To think he had caught three at once. Seemingly satisfied, Seonghyun opened the title window to check the title he had just acquired. ¡ºHunter¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA title given to users who have defeated 30 beast-type monsters in one strike. ¡úIncreases movement speed by 10% when hunting beast-type monsters. ¡úIncreases speed by 5% when chasing something. "Oh!" It wasn''t just a title that helped with hunting. So catching beast-type monsters was also considered hunting. Moreover, it even increased speed when chasing something. It was a satisfying title. After checking the effect, Seonghyun closed the title window and looked ahead. Two giant trees were blocking his path, and beyond them, he could see a huge figure. It seemed he had arrived right in front of the boss. It was a bit of a shame to interrupt his flow, but it couldn''t be helped. Once he cleared the dungeon, the first discovery reward effect would disappear. ''Let''s butcher first.'' With the Excellent Butcher title effect and the Excellent Butchering Set, he easily butchered the deer. The speed was on a different level compared to when he was only using a Normal grade butchering knife. The dismantling show of several green deer was finished in just a few tens of minutes. ''I caught quite a lot.'' He had about ten green deer. It wasn''t as many as he had expected, but it seemed like the title appeared because he had caught twenty rabbits earlier. Anyway, the only thing left was the boss he saw in the distance. With that thought, Seonghyun looked at the creature presumed to be the boss, standing far away. It had a massive body, boasting golden and black fur. Even if he couldn''t see it clearly, he could tell what it was just by looking at its pattern. ''It seems like one shotting the boss will be a bit difficult...'' Seonghyun scratched his cheek, looking perplexed as he looked at where the tiger was sleeping. He didn''t think about whether he could do it or not. He would just push through. Dash! Seonghyun kicked off the ground with both legs and dashed forward. As he entered the wide open space that seemed to be the boss room, a message popped up. [The boss of the field-type hidden dungeon, ¡ºHunter''s Forest¡», the tiger, awakens.] So it was a tiger, as expected. However, unlike the green deer, it didn''t have any other modifiers. The tiger itself was more than enough to be a boss in this beginner village. And how massive it was. It was much larger than the tigers he had seen at the zoo, as if it had undergone intense bulk-up training. It seemed to be at least twice the size of Seonghyun. ''As expected, it won''t be easy.'' He didn''t have the strength to cut through that thick hide in one go. It wasn''t just Seonghyun''s judgement; the memories of the former instructor and the experiences of the hunter Apic were telling him the same thing. But there was no need to cut it down in one go. "Roarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!" A tremendous roar echoed, and Seonghyun felt his legs, which had been running swiftly, falter. [You have been exposed to the boss, Tiger''s, ¡ºFear¡».] [Movement speed decreased.] ¡®It even has this kind of a skill?¡¯ He had heard that the low-frequency sound from a tiger''s roar could paralyze a person''s body. But to think they implemented it like this. In fantasy movies and novels, he thought only dragons used such skills, but it seemed that wasn''t the case. Decreased movement speed didn''t mean he couldn''t move. He faltered for a moment when the roar spread, but he quickly moved from his spot. And the tiger''s two front paws slammed into the place where Seonghyun had been standing just moments before. Crash! Seeing the dust billowing up, Seonghyun swung his sword, cutting through the dust cloud. As his vision cleared, he saw the tiger charging again, and like with the green deer, he tried to dodge by slightly twisting his body to the side. But the tiger''s eyes gleamed, anticipating this. As soon as Seonghyun dodged to the side, it spread its front paws wide, trying to grab him, but Seonghyun, also anticipating this, gave up on attacking and lowered his stance further, using his momentum to slide out of the way. Swoosh! The tiger was more responsive than he had expected. Although he saw the message about his movement speed decreasing, Seonghyun didn''t feel that much slower. ''It''s thanks to the Hunter title.'' It seemed like the increased movement speed when fighting beast-type monsters offset the Fear effect. That was fortunate. If it weren''t for that, he definitely wouldn''t have been able to react to that attack and would have been hit. It seemed like it would be a big problem if he got hit even once. ¡úIncreases movement speed by +10%. ¡ºTiger''s Fang¡» ¡ú¡¶Epic¡· ¡úA short sword resembling the fangs of a tiger, shaped like an awl. ¡úIt is much stronger and of higher quality than ordinary iron or steel swords. ¡úIt possesses penetrating power that seems capable of piercing anything. ¡úIncreases penetration by +10%. ''Even an Epic item?'' He had heard that hidden dungeons were rewarding, but he didn''t expect it to be this much. And it didn''t end there. When Seonghyun equipped all the items, [You are wearing the Forest Hunter Set.] [Set options revealed.] ¡ºForest Hunter Set (3/4)¡» ¡úIncreases movement speed by 10%. ¡úIncreases attack speed by 5%. He was already grateful for the Epic item, which was a rank higher than Rare. But to think they even gave him set options! It was a bit disappointing that he only had three out of the four pieces in the set, but what could he do about the missing piece? This was enough. After checking the rewards with satisfaction, he was about to butcher the tiger when he saw a large rock-like object where the tiger had been. What was this? He looked up and saw that it wasn''t just a rock. The sunlight was shining brilliantly through a gap in the leaves, illuminating a statue of the hero Hindel, which he had only seen in videos before. The statue of Hindel, bathed in sunlight and looking up at the sky, possessed a sacredness and brilliance that was difficult to describe. "Wow." He was once again reminded that this was the hero''s village. A statue of Hindel. The hero who defeated the Demon King. It might be a cliche? story, but he couldn''t help but acknowledge this statue. Mesmerized by its impressive appearance, like a hero from a fairy tale, Seonghyun gazed up at the statue. Then, a thought suddenly occurred to him. ''They said the Demon King and the hero died here, right?'' That meant... ''Would the hero''s spirit be here too?'' Usually, the reason spirits wandered around wasn''t because they had many regrets or anything like that. According to what Seonghyun had heard before, they naturally wandered around, regardless of any lingering attachments to the world. Some ghosts had lingering attachments or regrets, but it wasn''t a prerequisite for becoming a ghost. The hero''s spirit might be here. ¡®I''ll have to ask my sister about this later.¡¯ With that thought, Seonghyun butchered the tiger hide and meat, put them in his inventory, and left the area. Now that he had cleared the dungeon, there was something he needed to receive from the elderly ghost. As he left the dungeon and was about to return to the village, He saw a spirit lingering at the entrance of the Mist Forest. It was a very familiar spirit. In the form of an old man... "Huh?" -Oh! You''ve returned! As expected, you''re amazing! You finished it so quickly!!! It seemed it recognized him immediately. As Seonghyun nodded in agreement, -Ah! Then I''ll tell you where our heirloom is buried! The elderly ghost said so and guided Seonghyun. -It''s here! Here it is! If you dig here, you''ll find it! "Hmm." The place he was being led to was within the Mist Forest, so it was a bit difficult to follow, but after arriving, he dug into the ground with the butchering knife, now unused due to the Excellent Butchering Set. Since it wasn''t a tool for digging, it was a bit difficult to dig, but he eventually found a wooden box buried there. ¡®Why would they store an heirloom like this?¡¯ Seonghyun thought so, but he didn''t show it. -Ehehehehe! Open it quickly! "Yes, I gratefully accept it." Since it was an heirloom, it must be a pretty good item, right? At the old man''s words, Seonghyun opened the wooden box. Inside, there was a pair of leather gloves the same color as the green leather armor he was wearing. Oh, this? [You have found a hidden item!] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºSearcher¡».] [You have acquired the hidden item, ¡ºGreen Deer''s Leather Gloves¡».] [Forest Hunter Set effect applied to the maximum.] ''Oh.'' So it was here all along. It would have been a shame to miss it. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 9 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 9 Although he didn''t show it outwardly, Seonghyun was quite pleased with the reward, and the elderly ghost laughed cheerfully. Like a grandfather who had given a gift to his grandson. -Ehehehehe, I''m glad you like it! See you again next time! "Yes, thank you." -Don''t mention it! I''m the one who''s grateful! Ehehehehe! Just like when it first appeared, it teleported to a distant location, disappearing and reappearing in the distance. It vanished like a ghost in a horror movie. Seonghyun saw the elderly ghost off and immediately checked what he had obtained. ¡ºSearcher¡» ¡ú¡¶Normal¡· ¡úA title given to users who find hidden treasures. ¡úIncreases the chance of obtaining additional rewards upon clearing a dungeon by 5%. ¡ºGreen Deer''s Leather Gloves¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare+¡· ¡úLeather gloves made from green deer hide, giving them a green hue. ¡úThe hide is tougher and lighter than that of ordinary deer, seemingly allowing for easier movement. ¡úIncreases attack speed by +5%. ¡ºForest Hunter Set (4/4)¡» ¡úIncreases movement speed by 10%. ¡úIncreases attack speed by 5%. ¡úIncreases evasion rate by 5%. ''Oh.'' The Searcher title was a bit underwhelming, but the Green Deer''s Leather Gloves and the Forest Hunter Set seemed quite useful. The set effect alone increased movement speed by 10%, attack speed by 5%, and finally, evasion rate by 5%. It was quite good. In a game like this, evasion rate and attack speed were very important. Adding the item effects, his movement speed increased by a whopping 20%, attack speed by 10%, defense by +8%, and penetration by 10%! There wasn''t a single option to discard. ''I''ve gained a lot.'' This was all thanks to the ghosts. If he hadn''t heard the elderly ghost''s words, he wouldn''t have known about this hidden dungeon, and without the hunter ghost Apic, he wouldn''t have been able to catch the beast-type monsters so easily. And without the former instructor''s spirit, he wouldn''t have been able to use the sword so well. One thing led to another, and he had achieved all this. ''Should I check the item options?'' He needed to get a sense of how much his stats had increased. 2. As Seonghyun headed back to the rabbit hunting ground, Some users recognized him. "Hey, isn''t that the user from before?" "That user?" "The one who got the hidden piece in the training ground." "What? In the training ground too? That person also got a title at the butcher shop." "Crazy, no wonder he was catching rabbits in one hit." "He''s an unbelievable user, isn''t he?" "Is he a rookie being raised by a large guild?" Although the other users were chattering, Seonghyun couldn''t hear them because he had already heightened his concentration. It didn''t matter what others were saying. Seonghyun focused his mind and recalled only the memories and experiences of the former instructor. When he first caught the rabbits, he didn''t have the memories and experiences of the hunter Apic. He intended to do the same this time. Simply to gauge the extent of the change in options. After focusing his mind and opening his eyes again, Seonghyun moved. With a thud, debris flew up from the ground. His increased agility contributed to his speed, but even considering that, he was much faster than when he was hunting deer. It wasn''t just a 20% increase in movement speed. It felt like it had doubled, a 40% increase. "Holy crap?!!" "Wh-what speed is that?!?" "Aren''t we all beginners with the same stats?!" "Th-that''s the same level 1?!" "Wow!" Various reactions erupted from the onlookers¡ªpure admiration, astonishment, and even envy. Seonghyun, still oblivious to their words, gripped the Tiger''s Fang and lunged towards a rabbit. Since it was about 10cm shorter than the steel sword, he chose to thrust forward instead of swinging, aiming for a quicker attack. That''s what the former instructor ghost''s memories were telling him to do. "Ah! Mom! I''m serious! Right, Seonghyun?" Seeing Mrs. Lee Nakyeong smiling and talking to his sister Yoo Mina, Yoo Mina yelled. Seonghyun simply nodded, not paying much attention. It wasn''t like it was the first time those two were acting like this. As Seonghyun ignored them and waited, Mrs. Lee Nakyeong said as if it was nothing, "Hohoho, I have to go out, so you two eat by yourselves. I have an appointment." "Ah, okay. Be careful!" "Ah, you should have told us earlier. We could have prepared the meal ourselves." "Hey! If you say that, it makes me sound like a bad daughter!" "Oh my? Since when were you not?" "Ah! Mom!" Both Seonghyun and Mrs. Lee Nakyeong laughed at his sister Yoo Mina, who yelled again at their combined attack. Didn''t her throat hurt from always yelling like that? "But I want to make sure my son has three meals a day since he''s back after a long time~ We already ate out on the first day~" "Even so, if you have an appointment next time, we''ll prepare the meal ourselves." "Oh my, how reliable." "But why are you looking at me?" "What are you talking about~? Anyway, I''ll be back~ Don''t fight~" Despite Yoo Mina''s words, their mother, Mrs. Lee Nakyeong, leisurely left, hurrying out of the house. Unlike her usual relaxed and leisurely demeanor, she was quickening her steps, so it seemed she was a bit late. Seonghyun, watching his mother, clicked his tongue as if a bit concerned. "Let''s prepare the meal ourselves next time." "...Alright." Yoo Mina replied sullenly, now seemingly feeling guilty. Seonghyun smiled inwardly at his sister and took a hearty spoonful of the still-warm rice. His sister, Yoo Mina, also seemed quite hungry and started eating. As the siblings were quietly eating, Seonghyun swallowed what was in his mouth and said, as if he had forgotten something, "Ah, you were right, sis." "About what? Ah! Right!? It''s fun, isn''t it?" "No, not that." "Huh? Wasn''t it fun?" As Yoo Mina looked at Seonghyun with a slightly nervous expression, Seonghyun corrected himself, "No, it was very fun. It was really fun." "Whew! That''s a relief. Well, no one has ever said Eternal World wasn''t fun! That''s good. But then what was I right about?" Yoo Mina asked Seonghyun and slurped a spoonful of soybean paste stew. Seonghyun replied, "I could see ghosts in the game." "Pffffft!!!!" The soybean paste stew she had just swallowed erupted from her mouth at a speed several times faster than it had entered. At that moment, Seonghyun instinctively recalled the hunter Apic''s memories and quickly ducked under the table to dodge. ''Huh?'' Why was this applying in reality too? He couldn''t react as instantly as in the game, but it definitely helped him move. His sister, Yoo Mina, also seemed to have choked and coughed, drinking water. "Gasp, s-sorry. No, more importantly, what was that movement just now?!? Th-that was incredibly fast." Her voice sounded as if she was wondering if the brother she knew was really this fast. He was a brother who was ordinary in every way except for seeing ghosts. It was natural for her to be surprised by such quick movements. Seonghyun got up again and frowned at the soybean paste stew splattered around. Yoo Mina, noticing Seonghyun''s expression, laughed awkwardly and took out wet tissues to wipe it up. "S-so what do you mean? You can see ghosts in the game?" "Well, there were actually ghosts in the game. Ghosts of dead NPCs? Junk data? It seemed like something like that remained." "Whoa." "Hmm, but that doesn''t seem to be the important part." "Huh??? No, seeing ghosts is important!!! Won''t they tell you about hidden pieces and stuff!?" Yoo Mina, who knew Eternal World well, couldn''t help but get even more excited. The various hidden pieces in the game. She knew very well how big of a difference each one made. What if there was a ghost who knew about a hidden piece that had no other hints or clues? You could monopolize it. But to say that wasn''t important! She thought Seonghyun must not know Eternal World well enough yet. "I can absorb the experiences and memories of ghosts." "What!?" Seeing ghosts really wasn''t the important part. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 10 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 10 To think he could absorb the memories and experiences of ghosts. Her first thought was, wasn''t this dangerous? Weren''t there movies where people lost themselves because of something like this? Seeing his sister''s worried expression, Seonghyun reassured her, "That won''t happen, so don''t worry." "B-but what if..." "No, it''s completely and perfectly separate. It doesn''t even come to mind if I''m not thinking about it, and I can only use it when I intend to. It feels like gaining the talent itself, separately." "Like a skill?" "Hmm, I don''t know for sure since I only have the Butchering skill, but it''s similar." "Ah, is that so?" If he said so, then it must be true. Seonghyun had always been that kind of child. The memories and experiences of ghosts. It was more amazing than she had imagined. "Seonghyun, do you know about the synchronization rate?" "Synchronization rate?" "Yes, ultimately, controlling a character''s movements depends on the synchronization rate, which is the degree to which you perceive virtual reality." "Ah, so the more you feel like it''s your real body, the better you can move?" "Correct!" He was absolutely right. The synchronization rate was a measure of how much you immersed yourself in virtual reality. The higher it was, the more you became like a resident of that world. It didn''t necessarily mean that you could use your body well just because your synchronization rate was high, but it was advantageous. But what would happen if you gained the memories and experiences of ghosts, who were residents of that world? The answer was simple. "I think the memories and experiences of ghosts will affect the synchronization rate." "Ah. So it''s not just gaining talent?" "Yes, there''s the concept of absorbing talent, but I think it could also increase the synchronization rate." "Oh." Indeed, her words made sense. He sounded like an expert, making him seem a bit different. As if sensing Seonghyun''s gaze, Yoo Mina puffed up her chest proudly, her shoulders almost touching the sky. Seeing his sister boasting her knowledge to him, Seonghyun shook his head in amusement. Anyway, there was something else he wanted to ask. "Then, sis, what do you think about the memories and experiences of a hero?" "...Huh?" Yoo Mina reacted as if she had forgotten about it.No?v(el)B\\jnn And at Seonghyun''s words, her eyes widened like lanterns, and her jaw dropped. Her expression was as if she was wondering why she hadn''t thought of that. As Seonghyun waited, pleased with her reaction, his sister Yoo Mina said in a trembling voice, "I-if you''re talking about the memories and experiences of a hero... I think it might be possible to change class to a hero." "Huh?" He had heard something unexpected. To be able to change class to a hero? "You know about the ranks in Eternal World, right?" "Yes, I know." From Normal to Rare, Epic, Unique, Legendary, and finally, Almighty, which signified omnipotence. It was also in the strategy guides he had read last night. Ranks were the foundation of Eternal World. From items and skills to titles and even classes. Everything in Eternal World had a rank attached to it. So it was impossible not to know. Then how high was the rank of a hero? Yoo Mina answered Seonghyun''s question. "Heroes are known to be at least Legendary rank." "At least?" If it was set, it was set, why "at least"? "No one has acquired the hero class yet. It might even be Almighty rank." "Wow." "And you might be able to acquire it." Yoo Mina''s serious tone made it a bit more real. The chance to acquire such an incredible class. He was so excited that he could hear his heart pounding. At least Legendary rank. Perhaps even Almighty rank. How could he possibly stay calm after hearing this? He had to finish eating quickly and go back in. His heart pounding, his chopsticks and spoon moved faster. Seeing Seonghyun gobbling down his food, Yoo Mina chuckled. "Eat slowly." "I have to hurry back in and look for it." He might be able to meet the hero''s ghost if he went north, so how could he care about other people right now? He hurried north, trying to calm his lips that kept curving upwards into a smile. He had been planning to search the entire village. But to think there was a place where the hero Hindel was buried. ''Ghosts like to stay near their graves.'' If there was no body or tomb, they would wander freely, but it was different if there was one. Was it because they liked to watch over the people who honored them? Wasn''t the former instructor also in the training ground where he had spent his entire life? It felt a bit like a bound spirit. Anyway, if that was the case, there was a high probability that the hero would also be near his tomb. Moreover, this was the Hero Hindel Memorial Hall. If the hero Hindel''s spirit existed, it would definitely be here. In other words, ''If it''s not here, then the hero Hindel''s spirit doesn''t exist in this village.'' He thought calmly, hoping that it would be there. The hero, at least a Legendary class. Even if it wasn''t, if he absorbed the hero''s memories and experiences, he would gain the hero''s talent. He couldn''t even imagine how powerful it would be. With an excited heart, he ran to the place, which turned out to be a large cemetery. And in the center of the cemetery stood a massive statue. The statue of the hero Hindel, which he had also seen in the Hunter''s Forest. It was different from the statue he had seen before. Back then, it was a statue of only the hero Hindel, but now, it was a statue with all of the hero''s companions. In the center stood the hero Hindel, not very tall, but with eyes that seemed to shine, and surrounding him were the Saint, the Sage, the Knight, and the Elf Archer. Seonghyun gaped at the majestic and grand statue, letting out a breath of admiration. "Wow." Just like in the Hunter''s Forest, he felt a sense of power emanating from the statue. Was it because it was a statue of the hero Hindel? Or was there some special treatment applied to the statue? He didn''t know, but the awe-inspiring statue was worthy of being called a masterpiece. Seonghyun unconsciously bowed his head in silent tribute to the statue. Some might scoff at him for doing so for just a game, but he felt compelled to. As Seonghyun bowed his head in silent tribute, A message popped up. [In honor of the hero Hindel and his companions.] To think they even included such an easter egg. There was a reason why it was called a god-tier game. ''This is amazing, really.'' He was so impressed that he forgot he had come here to find the hero Hindel''s spirit. But that was over now. He thought it was time to start searching and looked around. As expected, there were quite a few ghosts. ''I have to find it among these, right?'' Most ghosts looked similar, so should he look for one that resembled the statue? Maybe it was near the statue? As Seonghyun thought this and looked around, he noticed something strange. Whoosh A ghost with a mystical aura. Should he call it a pale turquoise aura? It was a ghost that clearly felt different from the others. Her long red hair flowed down neatly, and even from her back, he could sense that she possessed extraordinary beauty. Seonghyun looked at the ghost, whose appearance was unlike anything he had seen in the smoky, translucent ghosts. The woman''s back, as she looked up at the statue of the hero Hindel, seemed somewhat lonely and melancholic. Who could she be? As Seonghyun wondered, she turned her head. The spirit of the woman, her black eyes shining with a pale turquoise aura, opened her mouth. -Hello? Nice to meet you! "Greetings. My name is Seonghyun." Seonghyun unconsciously replied to her cheerful greeting. Her presence was overwhelming. And at her appearance, the surrounding spirits trembled and shouted. -The Demon King! The Demon King is moving! -The Demon King! Has awakened!!! -Uwaaaa! Everyone run away!!! -After hundreds of years, she''s finally moving!? -Run away! If you''re caught, it''s over!!! The ghosts chattered noisily, flying around, and Seonghyun gulped, feeling the tension. Even Seonghyun, who was usually calm and composed, looked at her nervously, and she glared at the spirits flying around, seemingly displeased. -Fools. I''m not going to catch you. Then she turned her head back to Seonghyun. -I''m Helena. As they said, I was called the Demon King. Instead of the hero, he had encountered the Demon King. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 11 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 11 Helena? The Demon King? Seonghyun stared blankly at Helena, unable to believe it. Initially, he was a bit frightened by her introduction as the Demon King and the surrounding ghosts'' fuss. But he soon realized that Helena, like all the other ghosts, showed immense affection towards him. He could sense it due to his ability. But why was the Demon King in front of the statue commemorating the hero, Hindel? As if reading his mind, Helena answered his unspoken question. -Haha, this is also where I died. "Ah." It made sense now. If this was where the hero Hindel died, it was plausible that the Demon King could have died here as well. With that question resolved, another one arose. ''Isn''t she human?'' Commonly, the term "Demon King" conjures up images of the ruler of demons or devils. However, Helena looked nothing like a demon. She appeared completely human. ''Isn''t she a demon? Then why is she called the Demon King?'' As numerous questions surfaced, Helena nodded, as if familiar with his doubts. -I''m sure there''s a lot you don''t understand. To put it simply, I am human. "Huh?" -However, I had an immense talent for black magic. "Ah." Finally, it clicked. Even as ghosts, their personalities mirrored their past lives. While all the ghosts showed him kindness and affection, those who were rough and violent in life still carried those traits. But Helena was different. She didn''t exhibit any of those qualities. And she didn''t resemble a demon at all. He had wondered why she was called the Demon King, but now it all made sense. Her extraordinary talent in black magic alone would have been enough to earn her that title. Even in Earth''s medieval times, people were branded as witches for the slightest peculiarity. With her exceptional talent in black magic, it was no wonder she was called the Demon King. -Haha, even though I didn''t conduct any human experiments or harm anyone, I guess they were afraid of me. Thanks to that, I ended up meeting the hero and fighting a bloody battle. Despite her cheerful laughter, Helena''s expression held a hint of sadness. She seemed to accept the injustice with composure rather than complaining about it. Even after all this time, it couldn''t have been easy. Seonghyun knew that feeling all too well. He, too, had been ostracized and ridiculed for seeing ghosts. The memories of that time, of the pain it caused him and his family, were still fresh and agonizing. He understood her feelings completely. The injustice, the sadness, and the only option left ¨C to accept it all with stoicism and dignity. There was nothing else he could do. This was one of the reasons why Seonghyun had become so calm and composed. -I had so many regrets. I wanted the knowledge and power I possessed to be passed on, but it couldn''t be. "I see." -But then! Look what I discovered! "....?" -I''ve never seen anyone with such incredible talent!!! Someone with even greater talent than me!! More talented than Helena, who was called the Demon King? That couldn''t be. Seonghyun tried to deny it, but Helena was quicker. -Even I, back then, couldn''t see spirits and ghosts so clearly!! And to communicate with them like this, to absorb their memories and experiences... I couldn''t have imagined it!! "Huh?" How did she know he could gain memories and experiences without him telling her? Was that something you learned through deep knowledge of black magic? Seonghyun felt his heart pounding. Could it be? He had sought to gain the memories and experiences of the hero Hindel to become a hero himself. But was it possible to become the opposite, a Demon King? Judging by Helena''s tone, it seemed possible. But could it really be true? As tension filled Seonghyun''s face, Helena declared, -My memories and experiences! And my power! The successor to inherit it all has finally arrived!!! "Ah!" -Here! I''ll give you everything!!! With those words, Helena spread her arms wide. Both Helena and Seonghyun instinctively understood: how to gain memories and experiences, and how to pass them on. A soft, bluish-green light emanated from Helena''s outstretched arms. The light gently enveloped Seonghyun, embracing him warmly and slowly seeping into him. "Ah, this is..." He felt it all at once. Helena''s memories and emotions. The loneliness of all those long years spent running, hiding, living quietly, and researching alone. Seonghyun couldn''t help but empathize with the swirling emotions. He had experienced them himself. But at the same time, there was a clear distinction. He had overcome those feelings, but Helena had ultimately given up. He could sense it in their final battle with the hero. Initially, she fought with resentment towards the hero and the people who attacked her. Throughout the fight, she had the upper hand, overwhelming the hero Hindel and his party. Helena remained composed until the very end, while Hindel and his companions were on the verge of defeat. But the people continued to cheer for Hindel, and seeing that, Helena realized something. She was unnecessary in this world. ''Did my senior, who didn''t know about the Hunter''s Forest, know something about the hidden piece in Hindel Village?'' Oh Jinhyeok tilted his head, puzzled. ''Was there something there?'' ''No, not really?'' He tried to recall the item list he had seen before, but nothing came to mind. There were some minor items, but the user had already obtained most of what was available. ''There shouldn''t be anything else for him to get here.'' As he was thinking this... "Ah, you wouldn''t know since you''re still an associate. There''s something in the data that''s only accessible to assistant managers and above. It''s about a hidden piece in Hindel Village." "Huh? T-there''s something like that?" The information available varied depending on one''s position. ''That makes sense.'' There was a reason why E-World didn''t allow all employees to play Eternal World. It was to prevent the possibility of using such information for unfair play. Anyway, when Oh Jinhyeok asked, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong nodded with a gloomy expression. "There''s one of the best classes in Eternal World..." "What?! In the beginner village?!" "It''s no surprise you''re shocked. Most of them are hidden in high-level areas, but this one is uniquely hidden in the beginner village. That''s why it hasn''t been discovered until now..." Trailing off, Lee Wonsong bit his lip as he watched Seonghyun on the screen. The conditions and clues were so tricky that no one had discovered it in the past year. ''But could that user, Seonghyun, be finding it right now?'' ''But why is my senior so calm?'' No, he seemed rather out of it. Seeing him staring at the screen with a creepy laugh, Oh Jinhyeok wondered if he had genuinely lost his mind from stress. "S-senior, are you okay?" "Ah, I''m fine. I''m fine. There''s no way he can get it." "Huh? Why? It looks like he''s found something." Indeed, Seonghyun had discovered some inscription-like markings behind the statues of the hero Hindel and his companions. As an anxious Oh Jinhyeok asked with a trembling voice, Lee Wonsong replied with a laugh, "Hufufufu, to obtain the class, you have to pass a test, and it''s really difficult." "Oh! So there''s hope?" "No, it''s not a matter of hope. He absolutely can''t solve it. Absolutely. Has that user ever frequented the library?" "What? No. Has he?" "Then he can''t solve it even if he died and came back to life. That''s the kind of test it is." "Then that hidden piece..." "If that user fails, no one can ever obtain it again. No one." ''That''s better.'' Seeing his senior''s confident assertion, Oh Jinhyeok also smiled. ''Well, I''m sure senior is right.'' "Ha, that''s a relief. What would we have done if he had gotten that too?" "Hahaha, I know, right?" "No one can solve that unless they''ve seen a real demon ghost." "Hahaha! There are no such things as ghosts!" "Uh huh huh! Exactly!" "So we don''t have to report this to the team leader?" "... No, we still have to." "Ah." Oh Jinhyeok inwardly cheered for his senior, who was about to get a severe scolding. 3. Seonghyun strode forward with long steps. His destination was further north of the cemetery located in the north of this area. It was at the very edge of the cemetery. Helena''s memories weren''t just from her life; he had also received those from after her death. Although she had given up on being chosen by the people, she still had followers. Those who dreamed of the resurrection of Helena, the one called the Demon King. After her death, they placed Helena''s body here, where the hero Hindel and his companions were buried. Not only that, they hid a gem containing her power somewhere, and ironically, the clue to its location was written in code on the statues of Hindel and his companions. ''No wonder no one found it.'' Even Seonghyun, who knew there was a code, had a hard time finding it. After confirming it once more, he came to the north side of the cemetery. There, a tombstone with the same code was engraved. Unlike the others, this tombstone occupied a considerably larger space, as if someone of great stature was buried there. Seonghyun approached the wide tombstone and pressed firmly on the code inscribed on it. The ground shook, and the wide space in front of the tombstone began to open. Rumble rumble rumble A stone staircase was revealed. As if he already knew, Seonghyun naturally and slowly descended the stairs. As he entered, the entrance closed seamlessly, and silence returned as if nothing had happened. After descending for a while, he arrived at a fairly large stone chamber. The chamber was bare except for a stone altar, and a beautiful teal gem floating above it. [You have entered the hidden piece, ¡ºMonarch''s Chamber¡».] [The hidden piece, ¡ºMonarch''s Chamber¡», will test you.] [If you fail the test, the ¡ºMonarch''s Chamber¡» will be closed.] A daunting message. If Seonghyun failed, no one would ever be able to obtain this. He exhaled softly and opened his eyes, ready to face the challenge. Countless letters appeared before his eyes. [1. What is the correct gender of the one called the Demon King?] [1. Male 2. Female 3. Demon 4. Neuter 5. Both] [2. What is the correct name of the Demon King?] [1. Helena 2. Harbella 3. Har 4. Amoste Mulliwood 5. Queisa] ... (omitted) These were questions Seonghyun couldn''t possibly get wrong. "Easy." [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 12 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 12 When it comes to tests in games, one usually imagines difficult quests, battling powerful monsters, or defeating guardians. However, the challenges presented by the ¡ºMonarch''s Chamber¡» were different. Normally, one would need to read books from the Hindel Village library or various ancient documents to solve these problems. They were meant to be difficult. This class was akin to a hidden piece designed to be unobtainable. That''s exactly how it felt. But for Seonghyun, they were merely tedious, not truly challenging. "Whew." He let out a sigh as he looked at the final question. [444. Which of the following is NOT a true reflection of Helena''s feelings when she was stabbed by the hero Hindel''s sword?] [1. I should stop causing trouble for others. 2. That pathetic hero just got lucky! 3. I''m tired now. 4. The end is lonely. 5. I''m happy to finally rest.] ''What kind of test has 444 questions?'' Although not difficult, it took quite a long time. Perhaps this was a measure put in place by Helena''s followers. Each question was meticulously crafted, filled with Helena''s grievances and sorrows. One could only answer them by truly understanding and empathizing with Helena. What careful consideration. To think that they created such a test for Helena, whom they believed in until the very end. Indeed, anyone who couldn''t solve these problems wasn''t worthy of inheriting her legacy. ''It''s over.'' He selected answer number 2, the correct choice for the final question. The beautiful teal gem began to emit a brilliant light that filled the entire chamber. Facing the blinding radiance, Seonghyun witnessed the teal light seeping into him, just as it had when he absorbed Helena''s memories and experiences. The teal light then took on a feminine form, resembling Helena, and approached Seonghyun, embracing him and merging into his being. Kwoaaaaaaaaaa! Teal energy exploded from Seonghyun''s body, filling the chamber once more. Above him, countless spirit-like figures surged and ascended towards the sky, worshipping him. The sight of the spirits in the sky ascending in line and worshipping him was truly spectacular. A sense of omnipotence, like that of a king, or even an emperor, settled within him. No, his power was actually surging. His stats were increasing. Seonghyun acutely felt this as he closed and opened his eyes. As Helena''s memories and experiences assimilated with his own, the spirits responded to Seonghyun''s gestures. These spirits, though seemingly similar at first glance, were different from the ones he could originally see. The spirits surged and filled the world. The power to overturn and transform the entire world. The spirits became his limbs, moving according to his will, and he could sense each and every one of them. Drawn by the deep teal energy, even the original spirits Seonghyun knew mixed with the new spirits and cried out. -Aaaaaaaaaaa¡ª¡ª¡ª! -He has awakened¡ª¡ª! -Our god¡ª¡ª¡ª! -Worship¡ª¡ª¡ª! -Welcome¡ª¡ª¡ª! -Our god¡ª¡ª¡ª! Not a raucous noise, but the holy words of spirits spread throughout the world as the ghosts scattered teal light across the land. For a moment, the world was bathed in teal. It was a wondrous feeling. A strong sense of being able to do anything washed over him. Had he ever felt such omnipotence in his entire life? As Seonghyun basked in this feeling, a message appeared before his eyes. [Congratulations! You have changed to the highest-ranking Almighty class, ¡ºOverlord¡»!] [You are the first to successfully change classes in the beginner village!] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºSupernova¡».] [Congratulations! You have successfully changed to an Almighty class!] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºOmnipotent¡».] [Congratulations! You have successfully changed to the highest-ranking Black Magic class!] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºMonarch¡».] [You have changed to ¡ºOverlord¡», granting you class-specific skills.] ''Ah.'' Not a gasp of admiration, but a sound closer to a sigh. As the messages appeared, the feeling of omnipotence vanished, along with the power that had surged within him. The teal energy emanating from Seonghyun also subsided. The illusory spirits disappeared, and the real ghosts, momentarily bewildered, tilted their heads and returned to their original places. The omnipotence vanished as soon as he successfully changed classes. However, he wasn''t too disappointed. The omnipotence he just felt was likely the future direction of this class. Even if it was far off, he would reach it. Without fail. Still immersed in the afterglow, he caught his breath and finally examined the messages. ''There''s a lot.'' Each one was an incredible reward. However, having just experienced omnipotence, these rewards seemed somewhat insignificant to Seonghyun. He couldn''t help it. He wasn''t too disappointed, but he couldn''t deny feeling a tinge of regret. Three titles for changing classes, and even a new skill. Each one was a significant reward for the current Seonghyun. Perhaps because he hadn''t had high expectations? ¡ºSupernova¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡úTitle granted to the first user to successfully change classes in the beginner village. ¡ú50% bonus experience gain until level 100. ¡ú10% bonus skill proficiency gain after level 100. ¡ºOmnipotent¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úTitle granted to users who successfully change to an Almighty class. ¡úIncreases all stats by 10%. ¡úIncreases all attack power by 10%. ¡ºMonarch¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úTitle granted to users who successfully change to the highest-ranking class of each class category. Seeing Lee Wonsong seemingly losing his mind, Oh Jinhyeok didn''t know what to say. He couldn''t believe it either, but Lee Wonsong was taking it much harder. He had been so sure it wouldn''t happen, and now he was muttering to himself with a blank expression, even drooling a little. The situation had become serious. It was already a big deal that Seonghyun had changed classes in the beginner village and obtained the Supernova title, but now he was an Almighty class? ''Should I contact the team leader myself?'' Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, who had planned to gleefully report Seonghyun''s failure after he inevitably flunked the test, had lost his composure. ''I guess I have to make the report.'' Oh Jinhyeok was also afraid, but there was no helping it. Reporting this was a matter of course. The phone rang, and soon an irritated voice answered. -What is it? Why did your supervisor tell you to contact the team leader while he''s on vacation? It was a sharp voice. Anyone would react that way if they received a call during their time off. Oh Jinhyeok understood completely. Or rather, should he say that the team leader was a good person for even answering a work call during his vacation? Indeed, not just anyone could be a manager. Oh Jinhyeok took a deep breath and said, "Ah, Team Leader, this is Associate Oh Jinhyeok from the management team." [TL/N: Officer¡úAssociate: Imo sounds better than Officer (same raw so not a wrong tl)] ¡°Hieeeek!" Lee Wonsong reacted as if he had a seizure at Oh Jinhyeok''s words, "Team Leader." But the damage was done. -Associate Oh Jinhyeok, under Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong? "Yes, Team Leader. I''m truly sorry to contact you during your vacation, but the matter is serious. A user just changed to an Almighty class in the beginner zone." -In the beginner zone? Wait, what?? If it''s the beginner zone, you mean that thing in Hindel Village?! "Yes? Yes, yes! That''s right." -Haaaaaaaaaa. Of all things, that... ''How did he know right away?'' Oh Jinhyeok was chilled by the team leader''s immediate understanding of the situation. He gulped. -Put Lee Wonsong on. "Ah! Yes!" It was out of his hands now. Oh Jinhyeok smiled and handed the receiver to Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong. "Hieeek!" He felt a bit sorry for the terrified Lee Wonsong, but what could he do? It was his job. "Th-this is Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong. Uwaaagh! Yes, yes, yes! Ah! Ah, ah, that''s not... Ugh! Yes, yes. Ah, I understand. But besides that... Uwaaagh! It-s, it''s difficult to explain, so if you could see it to-tomorrow... R-right now? During v-vacation... Ah. I-I''m sorry! Ah, no, really, if you could come tomorrow... Uwaaagh!" After a long while of holding the phone as if offering a tribute, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s face fell, and he bowed his head deeply. Watching him, Oh Jinhyeok offered a silent prayer. It seemed the team leader was cutting his vacation short and returning to work. After the call ended, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong said with a drained voice, "...He wants us to stay." "The team leader wants you to stay?" "No, he wants both of us to stay." Oh Jinhyeok''s face paled instantly, mirroring Lee Wonsong''s own ashen complexion. 5. The cheerful beginner hunting ground, where rabbits frolicked and toyed with novice users, suddenly darkened. Sensing an ominous feeling, like dark clouds gathering, the users looked up at the sky. Indeed, dark clouds were forming, as if a downpour was imminent. "What''s this? Is it going to rain?" "Ah, maybe a sudden shower?" "It''s not ideal to hunt in the rain. Should we go inside?" "Sure, there''s a nice cafe in the village square. Let''s hang out there for a bit." "Well, even if it rains, it usually stops quickly in the beginner village." With the threat of rain, users began leaving the hunting ground one by one. The rabbit hunting ground, which had seemed cramped with users, was now deserted. There seemed to be far more rabbits than users now. It wasn''t completely empty, though. Some users were determined to hunt rabbits even in the rain. Seeing this, Seonghyun was satisfied. ''With fewer people around, it''s safe to use it.'' The only skill you could obtain in the beginner village was the Butchering skill. Using any other skill would draw attention. He wanted to avoid that, but with so few people around, he wouldn''t be noticed. The first skill Seonghyun wanted to try was the attack skill, Wraiths of the Dead. According to the description, it created a spear from the wraiths of the dead and threw it. ''What kind of skill is it?'' He activated it immediately. He felt mana drain from him as teal energy gathered and formed the shape of a spear. The teal spear looked sharper than anything he had ever seen. ''Oh. It looks like something out of a comic book.'' That was the impression it gave. The skill itself was quite cool, and he felt he would use it often. He thought it would fire automatically, but that didn''t seem to be the case. ''I have to hold the spear and throw it myself.'' This was his first time throwing a spear, but Seonghyun had access to Helena''s memories of using this skill. Using that experience, he pulled back his spear-holding hand and then swung his arm with all his might, twisting his waist simultaneously. The spear shot out in a straight line towards a rabbit in the distance. Without any time to react, the teal spear, launched like a ray of light, pierced the rabbit''s head, killing it instantly. [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] Fizzle! He couldn''t help but be surprised as the rabbit collapsed without any external injury, as if its soul had simply vanished. ''The power is no joke.'' A teal light appeared above the dead rabbit. ''What''s that mark?'' Seonghyun wondered. [You can use ¡ºDeath Legion¡».] [Do you want to raise the ¡ºDeath Legion¡»?] ''Oh.'' [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 13 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 13 ''So that''s how it''s used.'' He briefly considered using Death Legion immediately but shook his head. There was only one rabbit corpse, and it wasn''t appealing yet. It felt underwhelming to raise only one soldier for the Death Legion. Besides... ''It would be a waste of mana.'' He needed to try out other skills, and he couldn''t afford to use up all his mana. Wraiths of the Dead consumed more mana than he expected, so it was better to conserve it. ''I should try Death Aura first.'' Death Aura. A powerful skill that targeted everything within a 30-meter radius. According to the description, it devoured the souls and bodies of the dead and inflicted pain on the living. Even at level 1, it had a wide range befitting its Legendary rank, and he wondered if he could even use it. It would be too conspicuous in the beginner village. However, thanks to the lack of people, he could finally utilize it. ''Let''s give it a go.'' As Seonghyun decided to activate it, a teal heart-shaped figure emerged from behind him. Simultaneously, the teal heart began to beat. Thump! Like blood pumping from a heart, a chilling teal energy spread from Seonghyun''s back. The dense, fog-like energy, resembling a hazy teal mist, exuded a mystical yet ominous aura. The surrounding rabbits sensed something and lifted their heads, but... When a volcano erupts and releases toxic gas, birds in the vicinity plummet from the sky. That''s exactly what happened to the rabbits. Thud. Thud thud. Thud. Collapse. [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] ''Oh?'' So the title also applied to damage over time. He couldn''t tell how much damage it dealt, but seeing the rabbits collapse as soon as they touched the teal mist, he could tell they all succumbed to the first strike. There were a total of 20 rabbit corpses, all without a scratch. They had all died from contact with Death Aura. The range and power were considerable. ''And it heals me too?'' Although it continuously consumed mana, he felt his health recovering. It seemed to restore health if he was injured. That''s how it worked in Helena''s memories. It was truly a skill worthy of its Legendary rank. He hadn''t felt the full impact of Wraiths of the Dead, as it merely fired a projectile and killed a single rabbit, but Death Aura was different. It truly demonstrated the majesty of a Legendary skill. Seonghyun deactivated the skill before he ran out of mana. ''If I turn it off before the duration ends, the cooldown is reduced.'' After using it for about a minute and turning it off, he confirmed that the remaining cooldown was 10 minutes. The maximum cooldown was 30 minutes, so it seemed that 10 minutes of cooldown applied for every minute of use. ''The mana consumption is quite reasonable too.'' After using it for about a minute, along with the mana spent on Wraiths of the Dead earlier, he still had about 50% of his mana remaining. This was good enough for frequent use, even at his low level. ''I''ll probably use Wraiths of the Dead more often, though.'' ''Now, there''s one skill left, isn''t there?'' Seonghyun looked at the twenty dead rabbits. Like the first rabbit he killed, all of them were emitting teal smoke. [You can use ¡ºDeath Legion¡».] [Do you want to raise the ¡ºDeath Legion¡»?] Twenty rabbits. It still felt underwhelming to call it a ¡®legion¡¯ but... Wouldn''t this be a decent sight? ''What would the highest-ranking Almighty skill be like?'' With anticipation, he activated the skill. Fizzle. The teal smoke rising from the corpses seeped back into them. At the same time, a teal heart appeared in Seonghyun''s grasp. The naturally formed teal heart began to beat vigorously, as if exploding. Thump¡ª¡ª¡ª! Thump-thump¡ª¡ª¡ª! The teal heart pulsed, spreading its beat throughout the surroundings, and the corpses reacted to the sound. As if given new life, they rose in rhythm with the beating sound. The rabbits'' red eyes now glowed teal, and their bodies transformed, becoming a mix of black energy and teal light. Seonghyun''s eyes widened at the sight. They retained the shape of rabbits, but their very essence seemed different. ''This is strange.'' ''It''s different.'' The way the rabbits rose was different from what he saw in Helena''s memories. Originally, they should have appeared as black shadows with only their eyes glowing teal. However, Seonghyun''s Death Legion appeared as shadows with teal energy emanating from their entire bodies. ''Is it because my level is still low?'' ''No.'' That wasn''t the reason. It was quite a catchy name. ¡ºBeast Slayer of the Beginner Village¡» ¡ú¡¶Epic¡· ¡úTitle granted to users who hunt over 100 rabbits and other beast-type monsters in the beginner village within a short period of time. ¡úIncreases attack power by 5% when hunting beast-type monsters. ''Oh.'' It was certainly a useful option. The rank was Epic, higher than Rare. ''Now that I''ve obtained everything I can in the beginner village...'' ''Should I sell all the leather and meat and move on?'' 0. In the beginner village, you could only leave through the village chief, no matter where you were. This was to prevent beginners who weren''t ready from leaving before the village chief deemed them qualified. The qualifications weren''t particularly strict. If you didn''t have a certificate of completion from the training ground or hadn''t learned the Butchering skill, you would be sent back and informed of what you were missing. It was a kind of strategy guide device installed by the developer, E-World. To move on to the next area, you needed both the certificate of completion and the Butchering skill. And the reason you had to complete various tasks as quests before meeting the village chief was to foster social skills with NPCs. This was a game, and it served as a warning about what could happen if you were rude to NPCs. The beginner village was essentially a giant tutorial. The butcher NPC, Marlen, also played a part in this. "H-here''s the meat..." "Sigh." Marlen let out a deep sigh, and the nervous user cautiously asked, "Th-then how should I process it to obtain the meat cleanly?" "Hmm... Well, you''re a newcomer with at least some basic skills. If you use too much force when skinning the meat, this is what happens. So, try to relax and gently slice the meat away from the hide." "Ah! Thank you!" For users who were polite, she wasn''t exactly friendly... but she would still calmly provide guidance. Tips on butchering and how to use the tools more effectively. The faster these people mastered the Butchering skill, the sooner Marlen could rest. Although there were still some rude users, it was somewhat effective. Marlen loathed those hopeless newcomers, but she tried to be more approachable to those with manners and basic decency. And she recalled Seonghyun, who had visited that morning. ''If only all newcomers were like him...'' Just as Marlen was lost in thought, Seonghyun approached her and asked, "Hello. I''d like to sell some items, is that alright?" "Oh! Look who it is! Our regular butcher shop customer! Welcome, welcome!!!" Seonghyun once again covered his ears at Marlen''s booming voice, which sounded like a train whistle. It was deafening, but he had gotten somewhat used to it after a few encounters. However, Marlen looked at Seonghyun with a puzzled expression. ''Something''s changed.'' He was still calm and composed, as before. And still timidly covering his ears. But something had subtly shifted. Perhaps it was the energy he exuded? Or his aura? Marlen felt it, and it made her skin prickle. Such an imposing presence... She had never encountered such a newcomer in the village before. ''Amazing.'' As Marlen stared at Seonghyun in awe, he cleared his throat slightly. She snapped out of her daze and heard Seonghyun''s voice. "Ahem, haha. Yes, yes." "I always welcome your meat! And hides too!!" "That''s good to hear. Then..." He put his hand in his inventory as if to say, "Just a moment." ''How much rabbit meat will he have?'' Marlen''s eyes sparkled with anticipation. Over 100 rabbits worth of meat and hides, the rare green deer hide and meat, and finally, the hide and meat of the intimidating tiger, still menacing even in death. Two mountains of meat and hides materialized before her. "..." "Hmm?" Silence fell over the butcher shop. This wasn''t the usual reaction from the boisterous Marlen. ''Is she not satisfied?'' Just in case, Seonghyun turned his head. And he saw it. Thud. Marlen collapsed, her eyes rolled back, showing only the whites. And... ''Oh? Isn''t that really dangerous?'' He saw Marlen''s ghost, half-emerged from her body, hovering above her head. "Marlen has collapsed!" "She fainted while standing!!!" "I-is she breathing, Marlen?" "Uwaaa! Save Marlen!!!" [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 14 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 14 "Huff, huff, I-I almost died!!!" Thanks to the users'' quick thinking and Seonghyun''s actions, Marlen regained consciousness. She trembled, saying she could have been in real danger. "Wow, I''ve never seen an NPC collapse before." "Yeah, wasn''t that dangerous?" "Puhaha, come on, who dies from seeing a mountain of meat and hides?" They laughed and joked it off. ''As if an NPC would die from seeing a huge amount of items in a game.'' That''s probably what they were thinking. However... ''It really was dangerous.'' Her soul had been half-way out of her body; it was truly dangerous. Only Seonghyun could see it, so no one else knew. Once the commotion subsided, Marlen marveled at the unbelievable mountain of hides and meat. ''A-amazing.'' Many newcomers hunted a lot of rabbits and sold them before leaving the village. But a newcomer who amassed such a mountain of meat and hides? She had never seen such a thing in her life. And he even hunted a green deer and a tiger. This was no small feat. ''I should inform the village chief.'' That a great newcomer had arrived in Hindel Village. As Marlen thought this, she suddenly noticed something strange. ''Wait? Did that mage really open the Hunter''s Forest so quickly?'' The Hunter''s Forest was originally a hidden dungeon that could only be accessed after befriending the sole mage of Hindel Village. But Seonghyun ignored that and went there after hearing about it from a ghost. He had skipped the process and obtained the result directly. The mage had a rather picky personality and wouldn''t have given in so easily, would he? But what did it matter? How Seonghyun persuaded the mage wasn''t important. What mattered was that he had succeeded. Looking at it again, the mountain of meat and hides was overwhelming. ''I thought something had changed...'' She had thought he was an unusual newcomer, but she hadn''t expected this. Never in her wildest dreams. Although she was flustered by the sheer quantity, she was Marlen. She quickly assessed the piled-up rabbits. "One hundred... thirty... two rabbits. Plus, ten green deer and one tiger. Since Seonghyun is a regular, I''ll give you 10 silver per rabbit, 100 silver per green deer meat, 300 silver for the hide, and finally, the tiger... the meat is unusable, and the hide is 3,000 silver, so..." A total of 9,640 silver. 100 silver equaled 1 gold. Converted to gold, it was 96 gold and 40 silver. But Seonghyun was a regular customer. "Here! 100 gold! You won''t find a better price anywhere else!!!" "Oh!" "Ehehehe!!!" Seeing Seonghyun genuinely surprised, which was rare, Marlen let out a hearty laugh. She had already given him a discount as a regular customer, but she added another 4 gold on top of that. She wouldn''t have done that if she wasn''t truly impressed. Seonghyun felt grateful. "Thank you." "Ehehehe! No, no!!! I''m the one who''s grateful!!! Even with the extra, the quality is excellent!!! I''m not losing out at all!!!" [You have earned 100 gold by selling items at the butcher shop.] Marlen, the bold woman, still spoke with passion. He had felt it before, but despite her outward appearance, she was quite warm-hearted. While he was feeling grateful, the other users erupted in shock. "No way?! Did you hear that? 100 gold?" "Wow... I''ve seen people trying to complete the 50 gold challenge in the beginner village, but 100 gold is a first." "Wait, is that even possible to earn...?" "Even if you catch over 100 rabbits, you can''t make that much... Where did he even hunt the deer and tiger?" "Wait, is that even possible? At level 1?" Everything seemed impossible to them. Perhaps this was the realm of geniuses that ordinary people couldn''t comprehend. They all gulped and made way for Seonghyun. When the difference was this significant, they couldn''t even feel envious, let alone jealous. That''s how the users gathered at the butcher shop felt. "Wow, he even got the Steel Sword and defeated the Scarecrow in one strike..." "He''s truly amazing." "It''s like we''re witnessing a future ranker." "Right!" They couldn''t have been more excited. Embarrassed, Seonghyun fled the butcher shop as he had done before. He understood that they were acknowledging him, but it was still awkward to hear such praise to his face. It was understandable. Watching Seonghyun''s retreating figure, Marlen chuckled at his impressive yet shy demeanor. Perhaps that was his charm? Anyway, that wasn''t important right now. Marlen turned to Hans, another butcher shop employee, before attending to the next customer. "Hans, please take this to the village chief." "I''ll be back soon." Hans nodded in understanding at Marlen''s unusually quiet and serious tone. He figured it must be important, even though he didn''t know the details, and headed towards the village chief''s house. Hans would at least arrive faster than Seonghyun. With that out of the way, she felt relieved. Thinking she wouldn''t have to worry about it anymore, she shouted in her usual manner, "Next!!!" 1. After leaving the butcher shop and running for a bit, the heat in his face subsided. Had he ever been showered with so much praise in his life? He had received quite a bit at the training ground and the butcher shop earlier, but he still couldn''t get used to it. If he had been focused on something else, he could have ignored it. ''But it''s a bit awkward in situations like this.'' It wasn''t a bad feeling, but he couldn''t help but feel embarrassed. He had finished his business in the beginner village, where he had maximized his earnings from selling hides and meat. As Seonghyun smiled in anticipation, Village Chief Pam said something unexpected. "It has been a long-standing tradition in our village to give a gift to adventurers who clear the Hunter''s Forest. Since you are a newcomer, I wouldn''t hesitate to offer you an heirloom of our family." "An heirloom...?" It sounded familiar. ''No way, it can''t be.'' Seonghyun waited with bated breath. Village Chief Pam continued, "It''s a Green Deer Leather Gloves, a part of the Forest Hunter set that doesn''t drop in the Hunter''s Forest. I''ll tell you where it is." "Ah." He couldn''t bring himself to say, "But I already know where it is." ''To think that the old ghost was the previous village chief''s ghost...'' ''Should I ask for a different reward?'' Caught in this awkward situation, Seonghyun felt a cold sweat trickling down his back as Village Chief Pam''s long eyebrows twitched and his eyes seemed to widen slightly. And then... "...Those gloves you''re wearing... they look familiar..." Seonghyun, usually calm and composed, felt a cold sweat trickling down his back. Gulp. ''What should I say?'' That was the only thought that filled his mind. Thanks to his normally calm nature, his mind raced. He recalled Helena''s memories, a lifetime spent on the run as the Demon King. Helena, a master of escaping difficult situations, would have been able to smoothly talk her way out of this. As he delved into her memories, a brilliant idea surfaced. ''As expected of Helena!'' "I can''t simply accept a precious family heirloom like that." "...Hmm." A tactful refusal. He had phrased it politely, so as not to offend the listener. Village Chief Pam nodded in agreement. "...Since you say so, I understand." "Whew." "Well, it seems you already have something similar." "..." ''So he did recognize them.'' ¡°...¡± ''But it''s a relief that he''s letting it go.'' It was a bit disappointing to miss out on the reward, but he should be grateful that the village chief wasn''t pressing the matter. Seonghyun certainly thought so. However, Village Chief Pam surprised him with an unexpected offer. "Then I''ll compensate you with something else." "Huh?" "Why? Are you surprised?" "...A little." "If the heirloom is too much of a burden, I must offer something else. That''s how our family has always done things." ''What a noble upbringing.'' Seonghyun felt both admiration and joy, his anticipation growing. Village Chief Pam''s eyebrows twitched again, as if glancing at Seonghyun. After a moment of contemplation, Village Chief Pam rose from his rocking chair. Seonghyun wondered if he should help him up, but the chief walked with surprising vigor. ''Don''t judge a book by its cover.'' Village Chief Pam walked steadily to the fireplace and opened a box beside it. His movements were confident, as if he had already decided what to give. He pulled out a staff. A staff that looked like it belonged to a mage. "Judging from your appearance, this staff seems like a perfect fit for you." With a chuckle, Village Chief Pam handed him the staff. As Seonghyun received the staff, which seemed to possess a strange power, a message appeared. [You acquire ¡ºStaff of the Forgotten One¡» from Village Chief Pam of Hindel Village.] ''Forgotten One?'' As soon as the question arose, Seonghyun opened the item information. ¡ºStaff of the Forgotten One¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare+¡· ¡úA staff whose user has been forgotten over time. ¡úAlthough the owner remains unknown after all these years, the faint power lingering within suggests that the previous owner was a formidable black mage. ¡úSlightly increases mana regeneration after using black magic skills. ¡úSlightly increases the power of black magic skills. ''Wow.'' It was the perfect staff for Seonghyun, now an Overlord. Although it was a bit disappointing that it only offered a slight increase instead of a percentage-based boost, that was to be expected for a Rare+ rank item. It was an item he could be satisfied with. He had thought he had already received all the rewards for the Hunter''s Forest. It felt like receiving a gift from Santa Claus. ''But how did he know?'' That this was an item he desperately needed? ''Does he know I''m a black mage?'' As this thought crossed his mind, Village Chief Pam changed the subject. "Where are you planning to go?" "Huh?" Lost in thought, Seonghyun didn''t understand the question at first. Then, realizing what he meant, he immediately replied, "I''m planning to go to Perthville." Perthville was one of the villages that followed the beginner village, Hindel. It had several advantages, but his sister had highly recommended it. Had she mentioned that the instructors there were excellent? Seonghyun had also researched it and found it to be a recommended village, so his decision was swift. Village Chief Pam slowly nodded at his answer, with an expression that seemed to say, "As expected." Seonghyun felt a strange dizziness from the village chief''s reaction and gulped. ''Is there something more?'' "Find the gravedigger, Garrick." "Ah." [You have obtained a clue about Gravedigger Garrick.] That was all he said. But with just those words, a message appeared, stating that he had obtained a clue. And this clue was something he had already heard about from his sister. ''Is this... a clue to a hidden piece?'' It felt like he was being given too much. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 15 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 15 A message popped up, notifying him that he had acquired a clue. This was a well-known trigger among Eternal World users, a signpost leading to a hidden piece. All the hidden pieces Seonghyun had obtained so far were through the memories of ghosts or with their direct help. This was the first time he''d earned one through normal gameplay. Even though he''d been playing the game from the beginning, this was the first time it truly felt real. With his heart pounding, Seonghyun looked at Village Chief Pam, his face slightly flushed with excitement. Village Chief Pam chuckled softly. "You can learn more about Garrick in Perthville." It was his cue to leave. Seonghyun bowed deeply in gratitude. "Thank you. I''ll be on my way." His words were calm, but a strange fervor could be felt in his voice. Village Chief Pam muttered as he watched Seonghyun depart. "Heh heh, the world has changed, but this is still the Hero''s Village. Forgive me for not being able to wholeheartedly celebrate your birth as a hero. But others will be different. They will gladly accept you and rejoice. I look forward to that day." "Pardon?" Seonghyun, about to open the door, asked back, but he was enveloped in light and vanished. 2. Thud¡ª Thud¡ª He opened his eyes to the jarring sensation of being tossed from side to side. With a flash of bright light, the scenery around him whizzed by. The sky was a clear blue, and the surrounding landscape was filled with meadows and fields. The scent of soil filled the air, mingling with the fresh fragrance of grass. As he marveled at the receding scenery, he realized he was in the cargo hold of a carriage. It wasn''t just him; several other users were also aboard. Even the bumpy ride on the dirt road couldn''t dampen the excitement, turning the discomfort into a charming experience. "Whoa¡ª!" "Awesome!" "A carriage ride just by opening the door at the Village Chief''s house? This production is insane!" "..." Though he didn''t show it, Seonghyun shared their sentiment as he looked up at the sky. The production quality was quite impressive. Stepping through the door and suddenly finding himself in a carriage after being engulfed in light was a very vivid transition. It seemed the other users had arrived from different villages, just like him. He was the only one from Hindel Village. Their faces were filled with the excitement of leaving the beginner village. Seeing their lively expressions, Seonghyun felt his own heart flutter. ''I can level up and go anywhere.'' As Seonghyun thought with anticipation, the other users were having similar conversations. "Hey! What class are you going to choose?" "Heh heh! A mage, of course! The flower of the party! Mages with their firepower are the best!" "You''re just saying that because you can''t handle it!" "Ah, whatever! What about you?" "I''m going to be a warrior, of course! Isn''t that a man''s job?" Seeing them chatting excitedly with satisfied smiles, Seonghyun realized how quickly he had changed classes. He was probably the first user to change classes in the beginner village. His title proved it. This meant that, unlike those people, he didn''t need to immediately clear quests to change classes. He also didn''t need to spend any gold. Changing classes required a whopping 10 gold. It was roughly equivalent to 100,000 won, but in the early stages, you could earn up to 10 gold through various quests. Besides, the strategy guides even said that it was easier to make 10 gold by hunting rabbits in the beginner village. ''I saved some money.'' He bypassed those tedious quests and saved money in the process. Now he had something else to do. ''Gravedigger Garrick, huh?'' He''d obviously be at the graveyard, right? Seonghyun didn''t know what Garrick would have him do, but he was quite excited. This was the first hidden piece he''d be finding on his own. It would be nice to have it easy, but wasn''t there a certain charm in searching for it like this? Lost in thought, Seonghyun was startled by a shout. "Perthville!!!" "Ooh! It''s real!!" A fairly large-sized wooden fence came into view in the distance. It was definitely a larger village than the beginner village. That was Perthville, the first town you encountered after leaving the tutorial. 0. The center of the village was like a bustling marketplace. As if knowing that it was always crowded, everyone walked their own way without paying attention to anyone else. The area was packed with people around a fountain, and various sounds filled the air, just like a marketplace. But they weren''t hawking goods. Or rather, maybe it was similar? "Goblin subjugation! Looking for a party!" "Graveyard undead subjugation! Looking for a party!!! Level 7, focused on agility, haven''t changed classes yet!!!" "Hey, brothers!!! Future warrior!!! Amin''s looking for a party!!! If you have a spot, let me in!!!" "Looking for a party!!! Level 9, about to change classes!!! I''ll be helpful!!!" "Ah! Looking for a foreigner to catch orcs!!! Urgent!!!" "Delicious apples! Very sweet apples! Only 1 silver!!!" When you first arrived in Perthville from the beginner village, you were greeted by the central plaza. It wasn''t easy for newbies to keep their wits about them in this chaotic atmosphere. The dizzying scene and overwhelming noise were enough to drain anyone''s energy. But Seonghyun calmly assessed the situation and left the central plaza. He knew the center of the village would be like this, but it was worse than he expected. Users looking for parties were everywhere, and among them, he could see NPCs also looking for users. Could he be too late? No. The hidden piece was still there. If someone had already taken it, this clue wouldn''t have appeared. However, it seemed that person was way ahead. It had already been five days. ''I need to hurry up.'' It would be incredibly frustrating to miss out on the prize right in front of him. As Seonghyun was about to hurry off... A voice came from behind him. -...looking for... ? An old man, grimy and covered in dirt, holding a shovel, appeared before Seonghyun. His legs were blurry, like pixels in a half-transparent, broken image. The ghost of an old gravedigger. ''Found him.'' It seemed he had found Garrick. 1. What must it feel like to go to work on your day off? What more needs to be said? It''s devastating and dreadful. One look at Team Leader Jung Jihye''s eyes and complexion was enough to tell. TL/N: I assumed the Team Leader was a male character until now, but this chap confirmed that team leader Jung is a female character. So from this chap onwards I''ll address the Team Leader as a Female character] "Gasp! Team Leader Jung!? Y-you''re on leave... Sob!" "Gasp? Team Leader Jung?! H-how?" "Eek!" "Aaa!" The other team members screamed as if they had seen a ghost. Their team leader, who had said she was taking a day off, had returned. In a way, she did resemble a ghost. She was walking down the hallway with a murderous expression. No one dared to greet her. She clearly wasn''t alright. As soon as Team Leader Jung Jihye arrived at the User Management Team, the atmosphere froze instantly. Everyone exchanged glances, wondering who had called her in. Unable to even swallow their saliva, they watched as the faces of two people turned deathly pale. ''Ah, it''s those two.'' ''What to do?'' ''Team Leader Jung is furious.'' ''Don''t make eye contact. It''s overtime for us.'' They pretended not to know anything, exchanging wary glances. Only Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong and Associate Oh Jinhyeok stood up to greet Team Leader Jung Jihye. Team Leader Jung Jihye, who always came to work in a neat suit, was dressed more casually than ever. She looked quite stylish in casual shorts, a shirt, and a short-sleeved t-shirt. Only the bear ears headband she hadn''t taken off revealed that she had just come from an amusement park. "So, give me a situation report." "H-here''s the summary!" Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong quickly handed over the pad containing the file he had just finished organizing. Work as soon as she arrived? While impressed, Lee Wonsong felt devastated that it was because of him. Team Leader Jung Jihye''s expression hardened as she silently read the file. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong would have reacted the same way. "An unknown power, are you sure this isn''t foul play?" "Y-yes! We''ve already confirmed it through Immortal." "...And he obtained a hidden piece without any foreshadowing?" "...Yes." "Moreover, a class change in the beginner zone, and it''s an Almighty rank." "..." Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s voice gradually grew quieter. There was nothing he could do, but the achievements he had to report were truly astonishing. He cautiously observed Team Leader Jung''s expression, but it seemed to soften a bit. Or rather, it changed from a frown to a neutral expression. "Well, it can''t be helped. Since it''s not foul play, it''s unlikely he obtained leaked information from one of our employees." "Ah, yes. Immortal''s calculations take that into account as well." "Sigh, so what''s that user doing now? It says he received a clue about Gravedigger Garrick from the Village Chief of Hindel Village..." "Ah! Don''t worry about that!" Associate Oh Jinhyeok answered, interrupting Team Leader Jung. She wasn''t the type to scold someone for interjecting, so she looked at Associate Oh, signaling him to continue. Associate Oh flinched momentarily when their eyes met, but he spoke calmly. "That hidden piece has already been found by someone else. If you look here..." "Oh!?" "Hmm." Associate Oh displayed a screen he had prepared beforehand, showing a user who was very close to obtaining the hidden piece. Level 30. Definitely a high level for someone still lingering in the first town. However, this user had discovered the hidden piece and decided to stay there. "Username Bejiron, level 30, a user who changed class to a black mage. Looking at his skill tree, it seems he''s aiming for a necromancer build." "Hmm, so the Garrick hidden piece?" "It seems likely." A level 30 black mage. They acknowledged that Seonghyun was remarkable. That was why Team Leader Jung had even returned from her leave. However, it would be difficult for a level 1 user who had just left the beginner village to catch up to a level 30 user who was already at the final stage of obtaining the hidden piece. No matter how powerful an Almighty class was, there was an order to obtaining hidden pieces. It would be impossible. Just as they were feeling relieved... [User ¡ºSeonghyun¡» has permanently increased his stats through an ''unknown power''.] A warning message from Immortal appeared on the screen. It should have been impossible, so why was there a sudden sense of unease? [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 16 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 16 2. -Why are you looking for me? Anyway, it''s good to see you. His rustic dialect was sweet to hear, especially the part about being looked for. This hidden piece seemed to be the type where you had to find clues in the dead Garrick''s room and visit various places. But the moment he met Garrick''s ghost, that became unnecessary. Seonghyun thanked the other NPCs and distanced himself before speaking to Garrick. "Are you Garrick, the gravedigger?" -Oh my, that''s right. Why are you looking for me? "Hmm." How should he say this? After a moment of contemplation, Seonghyun opened his mouth. "The village chief of Hindel Village told me to find Garrick the gravedigger, saying he could help me." Would he understand if he just said this? That thinking was correct. As soon as he heard Seonghyun''s words, Garrick the gravedigger smiled brightly and nodded as if in welcome. -Ah! Oh my! You''ve finally arrived! I understand exactly why you''re looking for me! "Oh." To think it would work right away. Though Seonghyun himself didn''t know why he was looking for him. -Oh dear, I haven''t explained. There''s something that Village Chief Pam of Hindel Village asked me to give you. "Something?" Village Chief Pam again? Just how much does he intend to give? Is there a reason for giving him so much? It''s a shame he couldn''t hear what the village chief said at the end. Seeing Seonghyun''s puzzled expression, Garrick scratched his head in embarrassment. -Oh my... I don''t know why Village Chief Pam asked me to do this either. I was just told to give an adventurer a certain item and a note when they came looking for me. If even Garrick doesn''t know, There''s only one way. He has to go and check the item himself. There are other users here, And he''s already met Garrick''s ghost. "Let''s go right away." -Oh my! Of course! Let''s go quickly! Garrick answered immediately to Seonghyun''s words. Intending to guide him, Garrick took the lead, and Seonghyun followed behind. The atmosphere of the eerie cemetery was chilly. In that atmosphere where something seemed about to pop out at any moment, the tension of the other users was palpable. Some were walking as if nothing was wrong, but their cautious steps betrayed their inner tension. Seonghyun, however, was unfazed by the familiar atmosphere. To Seonghyun, who was walking with long strides, the cemetery was no different from any other place. Ghosts, you say? They''re all friendly to him anyway. There''s no need to be afraid. He clicked his tongue, though, as if slightly disappointed. ''I won''t be able to use Death Legion.'' Was it because of the users watching? No. He could leave the beginner village and even change his class to a Black Mage, so using skills wasn''t a problem. The reason was the condition for Death Legion. The condition that, due to his low level, he could only raise corpses he had killed himself. It was quite an annoying condition. Of course, it wouldn''t have mattered if it wasn''t for that. Seonghyun drew his sword and equipped it on his waist. He placed the Tiger''s Fang, the size of a shortsword, on his left side and the steel sword, the size of a longsword, on his right. As he started walking again with long strides after finishing his preparations, the users around him glanced at him. "Wow, he doesn''t seem to be scared over there." "He must have some serious guts." "Hmm, he looks like a beginner, but he''s quite something, huh?" Some users were observing others as if their purpose in coming here was something other than hunting. Seonghyun didn''t know it, but they were scouts from various guilds. They were stationed in the first village to recruit promising newbies. Seonghyun''s composure in the cemetery was enough to catch their eyes. Composure and calmness were essential virtues for a gamer. But apart from that, one needed to have skill. If they didn''t have the skills here, composure and calmness were useless. "Oh? An undead appeared?" "Let''s see how he takes it down." "If he doesn''t have the skills, it''s all for nothing." The scouts murmured with anticipation. Some were jealous that the scouts were focusing on Seonghyun when they wanted to be noticed. But that wouldn''t catch the scouts'' eyes. As Seonghyun was about to step forward at the appearance of the undead, Garrick spoke. -Young Master! Skeletons are more vulnerable to blunt attacks than slashing! ''Hmm?'' Not sword, but blunt attacks? [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Experience points acquired.] [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Experience points acquired.] The skull of the one hit with the soccer kick also shattered and scattered into dust. One of the fallen skeletons managed to rise, but its comrades had already turned to dust. The lone skeleton could have been terrified, but the lifeless creature blindly charged. It vividly displayed the undead''s hatred for the living. Reading the charging skeleton''s movement, he ran past it, swinging the shovel in his grip. Using the skeleton''s momentum, the shovel swung with tremendous force, and a horrifying sound echoed. Crack¡ª! [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Experience points acquired.] In a single breath, he had dealt with five skeletons. The scouts gaped at the sight, their mouths agape. "Oh my god!" "Gasp." "Wh-what?" "Just with a Fucking shovel!?" "Wow!" The scouts couldn''t help but express their admiration. To think he''d display such movements with a common shovel found lying around. The method itself was the same as the gravedigger NPCs, but... It was on a completely different level from what the gravediggers showed. The speed of his brain as he predicted movements and combat, the path he took as he grasped the whole situation and moved... Not a single thing was lacking; his movements were perfect. They would definitely regret missing out on him. That was the thought shared by all the scouts. They had to bring this person in! Just as they were about to act on their sense of mission... "Uh, huh? Where did he go?" "What?! He-he was just here a moment ago?!" "Where did he disappear to!?" "W-we have to find him right now!!" Seonghyun, who had been there just moments ago, had vanished. To think he disappeared in the blink of an eye while they were talking amongst themselves. Where could he have gone!? While the scouts were in a state of confusion, Seonghyun, guided by Garrick, was quickly entering the forest behind the cemetery. That''s why the scouts couldn''t see him. It was a dense forest. With trees packed closely together, even Seonghyun, who was running, found it difficult to see ahead. It was a place where one could easily get lost. It was even called the Labyrinth Forest among users. But Seonghyun was running faster than anyone else. -This way, Young Master! It was all thanks to Garrick''s guidance. What would he have done without Garrick? A hidden piece obtained through his own efforts? That was good, but when someone else was chasing after it, arriving first was the priority! As Seonghyun ran tirelessly through the winding paths between the trees, something began to appear in the distance. Should he call it a clearing? The other areas were dark, with no light penetrating through the dense trees. But this place was different. A clearing bathed in a soft light. His eyes widened as he saw a cabin nestled within. He had arrived. [You have a clue about Garrick the Gravedigger.] [The conditions for approaching Garrick''s cabin have been met.] With the message that he met the conditions, he was able to enter the clearing. ''Am I the first?'' He looked around, wondering if the user who had discovered this five days ago had come. There were no signs of anyone else having been here. He was certain, having used the memories and experiences of the hunter Apik. Seonghyun was the first to arrive. Just as Seonghyun, filled with joy, was about to approach the cabin... Rustle. He heard a sound behind him. Because he was accessing the hunter Apik''s memories and experiences, he instinctively turned his body as soon as he heard the sound. Thud. A bone arrow grazed the spot where Seonghyun had just been standing. Seeing this, Seonghyun turned his sharp gaze towards the source of the sound. ¡°He dodged that? A beginner?¡± There, he saw a user in a robe, their eyes wide with surprise, seemingly more shocked than Seonghyun himself. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 17 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 17 3. ¡°He dodged that? A beginner?¡± The user who shot the bone arrow at Seonghyun was dumbfounded. He had aimed precisely, and was sure it would hit! He dodged that? The user''s name was Bejiron. He was the first to discover Garrick''s hidden piece, and a high-level user at level 30 in Perthville. That''s why he couldn''t believe it. How did he dodge his level 30 attack? A mere beginner? ¡°Did I aim wrong?¡± ¡®No! That couldn''t be.¡¯ Bejiron was objectively an excellent user. But why did he stay here when most users left the first village at level 20? Because he lacked talent? No. Only one reason. Because of the hidden piece. The story of the cabin in the Labyrinth Forest had been circulating for quite some time. But no user had been able to meet the conditions to enter. Neither had Bejiron. But Bejiron couldn''t just leave that cabin, which was clearly a hidden piece. Others were busy leaving the beginner village and leveling up quickly to grow. It was naturally difficult to spend time on a mere cabin with no apparent clue. While others were leveling up and heading to the next village, he was in an uncertain endeavour by continuing investing time in it. It wasn''t that there weren''t any users who wanted to gamble, but no one had found it yet. But Bejiron was different. He thought he would definitely get the hidden piece, even if it was a little late. And after making inquiries and investing a considerable amount of time, he was finally able to find it. ¡°It''s Garrick''s cabin!¡± Information he barely obtained after clearing countless quests from the library and other residents and increasing his intimacy. He was able to obtain information that Garrick used to frequent the Labyrinth Forest. And even information that the secrets of black mage were hidden in that cabin. It was something other users besides Bejiron, a black mage, could not obtain. An achievement made only with perseverance. He was confident that he was ahead of everyone else. ¡®No, no one else even knew about this hidden piece.¡¯ But there was a user who came here before him. ¡°What the hell?¡± Clearly, there was no user who found it before him. He could guarantee it. There was no sign of anyone coming and going to the gravediggers'' quarters used by Garrick, let alone this cabin. Bejiron was the first to set foot in it. But how did this happen? At first, seeing Seonghyun dodge the attack, Bejiron misunderstood. Was he a high-level user like himself, exceeding Perthville''s appropriate level? But no. The user looked like a beginner. The equipment he had looked pretty good, but he was clearly a beginner. Equipment didn''t matter. He couldn''t fool Bejiron''s eyes. In the first village, including Perthville, there is a bracelet that you must receive when you reach level 10 and enter the vocational training center. However, no bracelet was visible on either of Seonghyun''s wrists. "He''s below level 10." The fact that it wasn¡¯t there meant he was not above level 10. It could be that Seonghyun had already changed class, and since he wasn''t level 10 yet, he came to get Garrick''s hidden piece before that quest. An accurate guess. That''s how the scouts knew Seonghyun was a beginner. It was also a common way of distinguishing in the first villages, including Perthville. "Is it a coincidence?" Even if he wasn''t a beginner, any user in Perthville would have been hit by that attack. But Seonghyun dodged it. That one point bothered Bejiron considerably. "Hmm." Even that seemingly calm voice. He looked back at him with an unchanged expression and tilted his head. As if asking why did he attack. Does he really not know? His nerves were on edge. Perthville, a place where he remained despite being ridiculed by his friends for doing something foolish. Only for the one hidden piece. If he got that and moved on, it more than make up for the delayed level up. No! Rather, he will surpass them all at once. So this was. "This is my hidden piece, so get out!" Bejiron shouted. Seonghyun looked at Bejiron and spoke as if he was strange. "Excuse me? I arrived here first." It really left him speechless. No words of rebuttal came to his mind. But it''s okay. "...Anyway, it''s mine!!" Warning messages were already lined up. But he ignored them. It didn''t matter if he killed him anyway. He was just trying to take what was originally his. Dodging the bone arrow the first time was a coincidence. He was dodging all the attacks of the two zombies and the skeletons, but he would be caught soon. Then it would be over. ¡®Now, shall we pull that a little closer?¡¯ He dodged it by chance earlier, but this time, he won''t even have a chance. "Bone Arr..." As Bejiron tried to deploy the skill, a change occurred. Seonghyun''s eyes glowed teal, and a teal energy rose from behind his back. ¡®What is that?¡¯ He couldn''t understand it, and he didn''t. It certainly seemed like a black mage skill, but a beginner who wasn''t even level 10 had changed class? Strange. One can change class at level 10, and if they¡¯ve already changed class, there''s no way they wouldn''t have a bracelet. But that''s definitely a black mage¡¯s skill. Bejiron being a black mage himself, could feel it. Then, the eerie teal energy gathered and formed the shape of a heart behind Seonghyun''s back. The shape of a heart that felt so vivid, like the real thing. His eyes trembled violently at the sight of the heart, identical to the one he had seen in old training materials. Could it be an incredible skill? He was suddenly afraid. ''Ah, no. That can''t be!'' But he desperately denied it. It must be a skill with special effects. He denied it like that. There''s no way a beginner could have such an amazing skill. But that thought was only for a moment. Thump, thump. As the heart started to beat. Bejiron''s thoughts shattered, and a teal energy began to spread eerily around him. The teal fog didn''t obstruct his vision, but it enveloped a fairly wide area around him. And as he touched that energy. [You have been exposed to an irresistible force.] [Your health will continuously decrease.] An irresistible force? Him, a level 30 user, in Perthville? ¡®No, that can''t be, can it?¡¯ It seemed like some kind of curse, so he needed to dispel it. Curse countermeasures are essential for a black mage. "Dispel!" [Your level is too low.] [It''s an irresistible force.] [The normal skill, ¡ºDispel¡» does not work.] "Huh?" Letting out a dumbfounded sound, Bejiron rubbed his eyes in disbelief. ¡®What does that mean?¡¯ He, a level 30, couldn''t dispel it? ¡®The level is too low?¡¯ It was a series of incomprehensible messages. At the same time, he felt the damage repeatedly coming in. It was still bearable damage, but it was quite significant. He thought he might lose if this continued, but it''s okay. He calmly regained his composure. ''He must have gotten lucky and obtained a high-rank skill, right?'' But even so, his undead are still intact. No matter how powerful the curse is, a curse is a blessing to the undead. ¡®I''ll crush him with two zombies and five skeletons!¡¯ That''s when Bejiron had that thought. "Groooar!?" "Groar?!" "Rattle!?" Why were the zombies and skeletons making strange noises? Why did they stop attacking? "A-attack! Attack, I say!" Bejiron shouted as if in a frenzy, but instead of listening to his commands, they opened their mouths wide toward the sky! Then, as if vomiting something, teal smoke, similar to the smoke that had spread around the area, rose from between their open mouths. Undead definitely shouldn''t be cursed!? ¡®What the hell is that!¡¯ With trembling hands, Bejiron chanted Bone Arrow once again. He felt like something would go wrong if he just stayed still. It was an almost instinctive movement. As Bejiron''s Bone Arrow was completed. "Bone Arrow!!!" Bejiron chanted, and the bone arrow created in the air flew vigorously towards Seonghyun. However. Thud! An arm like a black shadow appeared in the middle and snatched the arrow. The owner of the arm, which was as black as a shadow but emitted teal smoke from the cracks in between, was a zombie. The one that had been under Bejiron''s command until just now. [Your subordinate undead, ¡ºZombie 1¡», has been seized due to overwhelming difference in level.] [Your subordinate undead, ¡ºZombie 2¡», has been seized due to overwhelming difference in level.] [Your subordinate undead, ¡ºSkeleton 1¡», has been seized due to overwhelming difference in level.] ....... ....... [Your subordinate undead, ¡ºSkeleton 5¡», has been seized due to overwhelming difference in level.] "Huh?" Now, not only the hidden piece, but also the undead were taken away. ¡®Hey, give me back my undead.¡¯ [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 18 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 18 "My... my undead...?!" He couldn''t believe it. His own creations, stolen? This was unprecedented. And what''s more... ¡®They look stronger...¡¯ The undead were completely different from the ones he had crafted. Enveloped in a shadow-like darkness, they emitted wisps of teal energy that curled like smoke. If he had encountered them as monsters, he would have assumed they were high-level and avoided them entirely. But something wasn''t right. "Their levels are lower?" The undead''s levels were significantly lower than when he had created them. Most had dropped by at least ten levels. ¡®Think, Bejiron, think!¡¯ The one controlling them seemed weaker than him. He probably hadn''t even reached level 10. Perhaps he had stumbled upon a rare class early on. Though initially shocked by the theft notification, Bejiron calmed down. This wasn''t such a big deal after all. "Alright. I can handle this." ¡®High-ranking classes were important, but true power in the game came from levels! High level trumped everything!¡¯ Fueled by this thought, Bejiron''s fighting spirit reignited. Meanwhile, Seonghyun was assessing his own situation. ¡®What... is this?¡¯ While Bejiron was understandably surprised, Seonghyun was equally astonished. He had just realized a crucial fact: he couldn''t fully control Helena''s memories. Or rather, not yet. Until Helena helped him, he couldn''t recall anything about the Death Aura. He only had a vague recollection of its form and how Helena used it. But with Helena''s assistance, everything changed. Memories of the Death Aura flooded back. ¡®Wow.¡¯ It felt like his vision had suddenly sharpened. He now understood exactly how to wield the Death Aura. Like going from a blurry world to one with crystal-clear clarity. No, it was even more profound than that. It was similar to the overwhelming sense of power he felt when he first became an Overlord. That same feeling of liberation. Accompanying this sensation, a message appeared: [Due to an ''Unknown Power'', you have surpassed the current limitations of the skill.] [Proficiency in Legendary Skill, ¡ºDeath Aura¡» has greatly increased.] [Level of Legendary Skill, ¡ºDeath Aura¡» has increased.] ¡Á4 [You have achieved Lv 5 in Legendary Skill, ¡ºDeath Aura¡», unlocking a new effect.] Ah¡¯ It wasn''t just about gaining stats or abilities from memories and experience. He still hadn''t fully tapped into his own potential. Upon realizing this, his perspective shifted. The memories and experiences of the former instructor, the hunter Apik, and the gravedigger Garrick¡ªall of them clicked into place. Now he understood a little better. Why Helena had said he possessed a talent even greater than her own. Seonghyun''s vision had expanded. "Attack." At his command, the zombies and skeletons¡ªno, the Death Legion¡ªsprang into action. Their movements were on a different level compared to when Bejiron controlled them. They charged like living humans. Their speed was unbelievable for undead, but... Seonghyun''s expression twisted slightly. ''It''s different from the rabbits.'' Their movements were simple. Unlike the rabbit Death Legion, which had moved proactively and employed tactics, these undead lacked that same intelligence. Was it simply a difference in intelligence? -Do you feel it now? "Yes." He nodded immediately in response to Helena''s question. The absence of souls. He hadn''t realized it would make such a difference. He was starting to grasp how to utilize his Overlord abilities and his own powers. Bejiron''s eyes widened in shock at the speed of the undead surging forward at Seonghyun''s command. But in the end, they were just low-level undead. "Bone Arrow! Bone Spear! Bone Spike!" He rapidly cast three spells in an attempt to halt their advance. The first to appear were the Bone Arrows, the fastest to summon. Three arrows made of bone flew towards the zombies and skeletons. Thud! Thud! Thud! All three arrows struck the chest of the leading zombie. The damage seemed significant, but it wasn''t enough. It couldn''t stop the zombie''s advance. But Bejiron wasn''t done yet. Two Bone Spears materialized in mid-air, rotating automatically towards the zombies and skeletons. Wheeeeeeee! A sinister whistling sound filled the air as they cut through the wind. Two skeletons, momentarily outpacing the zombies, were struck in the head by the Bone Spears. Crack! Crack! The two skeletons exploded simultaneously. But three skeletons and two zombies remained. They were closing in fast, almost within reach of Bejiron. At a disadvantage, Bejiron smirked. His final spell, delayed due to skill cooldown, was finally activating. A white reflective light shimmered on the ground around Bejiron, and skeletal bones sprouted like thorns. Bone spikes erupted as if a trap had been sprung! Shhhk! Shhhk! Shhhk! -Grooooowl! -Grooooowl! -Crack! Crack! -Crack! Crack! Crack! -Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! The Bone Spikes pierced the zombies'' bodies, tearing them apart. [You have acquired a Hidden Piece, a Black Mage-exclusive Unique-rank skill book, ¡ºSkill Book - Proliferating Dead¡»!] [You have acquired a Hidden Piece, a Unique-rank item, ¡ºRecommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy¡»!] ''A Unique skill book? And on top of that...'' A Recommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy? Seonghyun gulped and scratched his cheek. A Unique-rank skill book was surprising enough, but a Recommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy was beyond his expectations. He had received something far better than he had imagined. ''Does this mean I don''t have to worry about other skills anymore?'' [The ¡ºRecommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy¡»can be used from Level 10 onwards.] ''So I need to level up two more times.'' Well, that didn''t seem particularly difficult. ''Now, should I check out the other rewards?'' 4. [User ¡ºSeonghyun¡» has exceeded the current limitations of the skill due to an ''Unknown Power''.] [User ¡ºSeonghyun¡»''s proficiency in Legendary Skill, ¡ºDeath Aura¡» has greatly increased.] When people encounter incomprehensible phenomena, they tend to be afraid. But sometimes, there are those who react with anger instead of fear. Team Leader Jung Jihye was one such person. "What is this now?" "..." "..." Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong and Associate Oh Jinhyeok remained silent. They couldn''t explain what they didn''t understand themselves. This was their first time encountering such a thing. Oh Jinhyeok, in particular, couldn''t say a word. He had confidently declared that Bejiron was unbeatable. And yet, here it was. The emergence of an ''Unknown Power'' once again. Not just an increase in stats this time, but an increase in skill proficiency? Moreover, it wasn''t just a significant increase in proficiency¡ªthe skill level had jumped straight to 5. ''Could he have defeated Bejiron without it?'' Against an opponent with a 29 level difference? ''Perhaps...'' Looking at Seonghyun''s suddenly soaring sync rate and vital signs... who knows? Although Jung Jihye valued facts over speculation, this time, she had a feeling Seonghyun would have won regardless. ''Level is king.'' Just like this saying, levels reigned supreme in Eternal World as well. In RPGs, there''s no clearer indicator of strength than level. Class rank? Sure, it can make a significant difference when both players have high levels. If a level 230 player with a Normal-rank class fights a level 200 player with an Almighty-rank class, the Almighty-rank player would most likely win. As levels increase, the difference in class rank becomes more pronounced. However, there''s virtually no Almighty-rank class that allows a level 1 player to defeat a level 30 player. Not even the Overlord, considered special even among Almighty classes. But in the end, Seonghyun emerged victorious. ''He''s truly remarkable.'' While minor fluctuations in the data were possible... Such a drastic change had never been observed before. What exactly was this ''Unknown Power''? Beyond that, Seonghyun''s movements, judgment, and ability to handle the synchronization rate were astounding. He seemed more like a native of that world than even the NPCs. "I''ve never seen a user like that before." "Right...?" "M-me neither. He seems even more incredible than the rankers." "Hmm, he''s definitely on a different level compared to the rankers when they were level 1." Team Leader Jung Jihye couldn''t help but agree. The fluctuating data was unprecedented, but his gameplay utilizing those changes was even more impressive. Even Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong and Associate Oh Jinhyeok had to acknowledge it. They had never encountered a user like this before. "At this rate, I think he''ll catch up to the rankers in no time." If anyone else had said that, he would have chided them for exaggerating. But those words carried a different weight coming from Team Leader Jung Jihye. He was undoubtedly impressive, but to that extent? Oh Jinhyeok couldn''t help but be surprised. Jung Jihye''s discerning eye was well-known within the User Management Team. Catching up to rankers with a year and a half head start? ¡®Could that really happen?¡¯ Seeing Oh Jinhyeok''s doubt, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong explained, "He acquired a Unique-rank skill exclusive to Black Mages and an Special Academy ticket before even reaching level 10. His starting point is different. Sigh, plus we still don''t know the nature of this ''Unknown Power''." "Huh???" His starting point was indeed remarkably different. Not all rankers had started with Almighty classes or acquired Unique skills from the beginning. Team Leader Jung Jihye reacted to Lee Wonsong''s explanation. "Haaaa..." Flinch! Both men flinched at her sigh and cautiously observed her expression. She seemed displeased, but... ''Th-the atmosphere isn''t that bad, is it?'' ''R-right?'' It wasn''t really Lee Wonsong or Oh Jinhyeok''s fault. And she wasn''t going to scold them. "For now, let''s just observe. Immortal confirmed that he wasn''t a fraudulent player, so there shouldn''t be any information leaks." "Th-that''s right!" "Of-of course." If Immortal, the greatest AI ever created, had cleared Seonghyun, they must have investigated his family and social connections thoroughly. It was out of their hands now. All they could do was... "Prevent any further irregularities, if they arise." "Th-then..." "Report anything you find immediately. Even if it means coming in on your days off." Team Leader Jung Jihye''s resigned grumbling had an air of nobility to it. Observing his senior''s demeanor, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, with his deepened dark circles, nodded in agreement. "Sigh, that ''Unknown Power'' is more concerning than his Almighty class advancement. Let me know if anything else unusual happens. Prioritize him above other rankers." "Understood." With a carefree gait, Team Leader Jung Jihye returned to her seat. She had assigned the observation task to the two men, but she also had her own work to do. ''I need to learn more about the Overlord class.'' There might be other peculiarities associated with it. She needed to delve into the history of the Overlord. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 19 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 19 0. Seonghyun was the type to save the best for last. The same went for rewards. ''Let''s check out the titles first.'' He had acquired two new titles this time: the evolved title, Master of Combat, and Righteous Adventurer. ¡ºMaster of Combat¡» ¡ú¡¶Epic¡· ¡úA title granted to users who possess the title Fighter and have triumphed over a user with a significantly higher level. ¡úIncreases attack power by 5% when facing humanoid monsters, users, or NPCs as enemies. ¡ºRighteous Adventurer¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA title granted to users who defeat a user or NPC with notoriety. ¡úIncreases rewards by 10% when defeating an opponent with notoriety. ''Oh.'' While Righteous Adventurer wouldn''t be immediately useful, Master of Combat seemed quite handy. A title effective against any humanoid opponent. Not only did it have good versatility, but its effect was also significant. Even skeletons were classified as humanoid. The scope was broader than he initially thought. Even Righteous Adventurer, which wasn''t immediately applicable, seemed pretty good. ''Next up...'' The leveled-up Death Aura. ¡ºDeath Aura¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 5][Growth Type] [Passive Effect][Active] [Cooldown 25 minutes]¡ý [Duration 4 minutes]¡ü All the dead shall offer their flesh and blood to the Monarch. The Monarch achieves immortality by feeding on the dead. ¡úOverlord exclusive skill. ¡úDevours the souls and bodies of the dead within a 50m radius. ¡úConsumes them as nourishment. ¡úThe living touched by the aura are wracked with pain. ¡úAllows the user to bring the devoured dead under the command of the Death Legion. (NEW!) ''Wow.'' He already knew about the new effect. He had read Helena''s memories, after all. But the cooldown had decreased, and the duration and range had increased. He had sensed the changes somewhat, but seeing the numbers laid out like this surprised him. ''Definitely.'' It was far more effective than simply inflicting continuous damage. With this, he could utilize the Death Legion without having to kill the undead himself. It was an indispensable skill. Based on his experience with Bejiron, it also had a significant psychological impact. Losing control of his undead had flustered him and created an opening. ''This skill is a natural enemy to Black Mages.'' Seonghyun felt satisfied with the steady progress he was making as a Black Mage. If Bejiron had heard that, he would have cried foul. ''Next is the item, right?'' The item Bejiron had gifted him. ¡ºSturdy Beginner Black Mage Robe¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA sturdy robe crafted for beginner Black Mages. ¡úDespite being a robe, its exceptional durability offers considerable defense. ¡úIncreases defense by +2%. ¡úSlightly increases the power of Black Magic skills. ''As expected, robes are essential for Black Mages, huh?'' The effects were decent, and it seemed quite useful. Bejiron had left behind quite a lot. At this point, he was almost on par with the village head of Hindel! The slight increase in skill power was a nice bonus, but... His eyes were drawn to the defense boost. ''The added defense makes it quite remarkable.'' Even Seonghyun, as a beginner, knew that robes rarely provided defensive benefits. ''Now, it''s time for the main course.'' [Retrieving Unique Skill Book for Black Mages, ¡ºSkill Book - Proliferating Dead¡».] [The skill book meets the requirements.] [Would you like to use it?] [Yes / No] Why even ask? The answer was obvious. [Using Unique-grade Skill Book, ¡ºSkill Book - Proliferating Dead¡»!] [You have acquired the Unique Skill, ¡ºProliferating Dead¡»!] ¡ºProliferating Dead¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Passive Effect][Passive] ¡úSkill exclusive to the Black Mage class. ¡úReduces mana consumption by 10% for undead summoning or creation skills. ¡úThe amount of mana reduction increases as the level rises. "Wow." Seonghyun, who had remained calm while examining the other rewards, couldn''t help but exclaim in admiration. A passive skill! A skill that reduced mana consumption for undead summoning and creation skills by 10%? And the reduction increased as the level rose? ''This essentially increases the number of undead I can summon or create.'' Now, he could somewhat understand why Bejiron had attacked him first. Of course, that didn''t excuse Bejiron''s actions. This was undoubtedly a skill that any Black Mage, especially a Necromancer, would covet. He didn''t know how high the reduction could go, but if it reached 50%... That would effectively double the number of undead he could control. Just imagining its power sent shivers down his spine. And that wasn''t even all. ¡ºRecommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· The scouts were astonished, watching Seonghyun with wide eyes. No matter how they looked at it, the way he wielded the shovel was like swordsmanship. No, perhaps "sword technique" was a better term. His movements were reminiscent of something out of a martial arts novel, the kind they had read as children, and even occasionally now for amusement. These scouts had seen skilled swordsmen who could fly and pierce through anything. But had they ever witnessed someone like this? No one could answer that. ''Even the early videos of the rankers weren''t like this...'' ''...Would someone like that ever join our guild?'' ''...Forget recruitment, that''s just freaking awesome.'' Thoughts of recruitment had long since vanished from their minds. None of them could confidently say that their guild was worthy of someone like him. They could only watch in awe. And it wasn''t just the scouts who were captivated. "Holy crap?!" "Wh-what is that?!" "He''s like a one-man army with a shovel!" "Is that even possible?!" "W-well, a shovel is a blunt weapon, right?" "Whoa, this is insane... like a highlight reel..." His performance was so impressive that even the users who were hunting were mesmerized. Not only was he skilled, but his swordsmanship¡ªor perhaps "shovelsmanship"¡ªwas so captivating that it was impossible to look away. It was almost magical. Oblivious to the attention he was attracting, Seonghyun''s eyes flashed as he activated a skill. A teal heart-shaped object emerged from his back. And with it, the sound of a heartbeat. Thump! As the sound reverberated, a teal mist enveloped a 50-meter radius around him. The scouts and other users were caught within the range, but it didn''t matter. The skill had no effect on non-hostile targets. Of course, Seonghyun was unaware of this. The sudden appearance of the teal mist startled the users. "Wh-what''s this?!" "Mist...?!!" "A-a skill?!" Despite the unusual phenomenon, they quickly realized it was a skill Seonghyun had used. The mist had emanated from the heart-shaped object on his back. They couldn''t miss it even if they tried. They were just relieved that it didn''t seem to be an attack. "But do Swordsmen have skills like this?" "No, usually Warriors or Swordsmen learn area-of-effect skills much later, right?" "Huh? Then what is this?" "Yeah, what is it?" While the users were perplexed, a sudden change occurred. The skeletons touched by the mist looked up at the sky and opened their mouths as if about to vomit. "Sahaaaaaaa!" "Sahaaaak!" "Saaaaaa!" They exhaled a teal energy similar to the mist. Seonghyun''s eyes widened as he activated Death Legion. The pure white bones of all the skeletons within range began to darken as if covered by shadows. And from those shadows, the same teal energy billowed forth. Everyone gaped at the sight of these transformed skeletons, unlike any they had seen before. "He, he wasn''t a Warrior?!" "He, he wasn''t a Swordsman?!" "I-I thought he had some kind of Knight skill!" "Wh-what?! How can a Black Mage fight like that?!" "No, wait, he doesn''t have a bracelet! He''s not even level 10!!" Seonghyun, whom they had assumed to be a Swordsman, was actually a Black Mage? And a Necromancer at that? But that wasn''t all. As Seonghyun issued a command, all the skeletons moved in unison and began to slaughter everything around them. -Clack! Clack! -Crack! Crack! -Click! Clack! "Cl-clack!?" "Cl-clack!?" Although the undead clashed against each other, Seonghyun''s Death Legion was in a league of its own. Overwhelming force! The black skeletons, emitting teal energy, swept away all the white ones. It was a massacre. "Th-this can''t be..." "Wh-what kind of skeletons are those...?!" "I-I don''t think even I could handle those..." "And a mere beginner can use that skill?" "Th-this is breaking news!!!" The scouts and other users were in an uproar. For Seonghyun, who hadn''t even reached level 10, to use such a skill meant only one thing. He didn''t have a Normal-rank class; it was something higher. To display such power and prowess... "A-at least Epic?!" Gulp. Everyone held their breath, watching Seonghyun''s display of power. Seonghyun, oblivious to their attention, focused on the messages appearing before him. [You have gained experience points.] [You have gained experience points.] [You have gained experience points.] ... [Level Up!] [You have reached Level 10.] ''This is some good hunting.'' As expected, Necromancers were the best when it came to hunting. With a brief moment of admiration, Seonghyun checked the next message. [You have reached Level 10, unlocking access to the Class Academy.] [You can now use the ¡ºRecommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy¡».] ''Now I can go.'' It was time to use the Hidden Piece and head to the academy. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 20 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 20 1. Every first town after the tutorial, including Perthville, has a Class Academy. As the name suggests, it''s where users go to change classes and receive training in their chosen professions. Interestingly, these academies have ranks. From basic to intermediate, advanced, superior, and finally, special. A total of five ranks. So, what''s the difference? Simple. The higher the rank, the wider the range and higher the rank of skills you can learn. For example, while a basic academy might offer only two or three Normal-rank skills, an intermediate academy would offer five, albeit still Normal-rank. With more skills at their disposal, users gain greater versatility. Making these academies essential for all users. Most users could easily reach the intermediate rank. In fact, it was rarer to attend only the basic academy. This was because the intermediate academy taught all the skills offered at the basic level, and the requirements were simple. All you had to do was complete a simple quest. So, what about the advanced rank and above? "Ugh, I failed the advanced test again." "Again? How many times have you tried?" "Four..." "Whoa, that''s a lot of failures." "I know..." Plenty of people attempted the test numerous times. But only a handful passed. From the advanced rank onwards, you had to pass a test administered by the academy. It wasn''t a written exam, but a practical test to assess your skills in your chosen profession. If you didn''t meet the standards? You failed. No matter how many times you tried. Why bother going through the stress and struggling to pass? Simple. "You''ve already been to the intermediate academy, so why not give up?" "No way! They say they replace one of your skills with a Rare skill at the advanced academy! How can I give up?!" "That''s true..." From the advanced rank, one of the five basic skills was replaced with a Rare skill. For those without access to Hidden Pieces, the academies were like an oasis in the desert. The superior academy even offered two Rare skills! How could anyone give up on that? Even if they failed, they kept trying day after day with sheer determination. This was a common routine for users in their first town. Some clung to the hope of passing until they left, but upon reaching level 20, most gave up, facing the reality of their situation. Incidentally, Bejiron, who had attacked Seonghyun, was a graduate of the advanced academy. Now, if the superior academy offered two Rare skills, what about the special academy? "Wow, has anyone entered the special academy lately?" "I don''t know. Has there been one recently?" "Yeah, I wonder. I heard Perthville has one." "Wow, that''s amazing." "So jealous. I heard they upgrade all your basic skills to Rare rank if you get into the special academy." All five basic skills learned in the first town upgraded to Rare rank? It would give you a huge head start. No one would dislike such an advantage from the get-go, but the opportunity was presented fairly. The only thing to blame was your own lack of skill. And there was nowhere to vent that frustration. If you were good enough, you would have already passed. As people lined up at each academy, chattering amongst themselves, someone lingered near the special academy. "Hey, I think that guy''s going to try for the special academy. Oh, I wonder if he''ll make it." "Pfft! Hey, look at his arm." "Huh? Whoa, what?! He doesn''t have an academy bracelet." "That means he hasn''t even been to the basic or intermediate academy. Trying the special academy for his first attempt? Pfft, what a joke." It wasn''t unusual for someone to be curious about the special academy. Everyone did it at some point when they were new. Usually, after reading the guides, they wouldn''t dare go near it, but there were always a few reckless individuals. The other users, curious to see how quickly he''d be kicked out, started whispering amongst themselves. "Hey, hey, want to bet on how long it''ll take before he''s kicked out?" "Oh! That sounds fun!" "I say 10 minutes!" "Nah, you''re overestimating him. I say... 3 minutes!" "Alright, then I''ll go with 1 minute!" "Come on, 1 minute is too harsh! Hahaha!" Their open mockery was partly fueled by the user''s appearance. He was quite handsome, which likely sparked some jealousy. They were seizing this opportunity to gossip. The NPC guards stationed at the entrance of the special academy also noticed the user''s lack of a bracelet. Their thoughts weren''t much different from the other users. ''Another clueless outsider.'' ''Should we guide him? He seems lost.'' Unlike the users, they didn''t mock him, but they still dismissed him. They assumed he was just another clueless user. "This is the spe-cial academy. Not just anyone can pass through here." "Judging by your wrist, you haven''t even visited the basic or intermediate academies. Perhaps you should try those first?" Their words were laced with condescension. Normally, people would be offended by such a response from an NPC. But this user, unfazed, pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. "Here you go." "Sigh." There were always a few like this. Outsiders who thought they could bribe their way in, acting as if they were someone important. ''Let''s see what makes him so special.'' With that thought, the NPC accepted the paper. His eyes widened as he looked back and forth between the paper and the user, his jaw dropping in surprise. "Th-th-this is?!" The guard who received the paper jumped in surprise, and the guard next to him, intrigued, approached. "What? What''s going on? Oh my!" He had the same reaction upon seeing the paper. From afar, the users tilted their heads in confusion at the guards'' behavior. "What''s that? Why are they acting like that?" "I don''t know. Did he bribe them or something?" "No way, they''re not the type to be swayed by bribes." The academy''s interior was more pleasant than he expected. About the size of a university lecture hall? It could probably accommodate up to 50 people. However, there were very few people inside. ''A professor and... a user?'' There was an elderly man with an NPC mark and a person with a user mark. The elderly man with the NPC mark appeared to be the professor, and he had a rather stubborn-looking face. He gave off a strict and meticulous vibe. ''This might be a bit challenging,'' Seonghyun thought. The user was a woman with a sharp look about her. She seemed like she might have a sensitive personality. But there was also a mix of pride and confidence in her demeanor. He had a feeling she was quite skilled. As if to confirm his impression, the female user, true to her seemingly sensitive nature, glared at Seonghyun as he entered. ''Why is she staring at me like that?'' He hadn''t done anything. Her eyes were filled with a mix of vigilance, astonishment, and other complex emotions. He felt a bit offended. He had expected the special academy to be empty. He hadn''t imagined there would be another person. And a Black Mage, no less. As Seonghyun briefly surveyed the room, the elderly NPC who appeared to be the professor spoke to him. "Did you pass the test and come here?" "Excuse me? Oh, that..." "Judging by your lack of a bracelet, this seems to be your first attempt at the special academy. You must be quite talented." "..." ''It seems this professor doesn''t listen to others very well.'' At the professor''s words, the female user who was already present shot Seonghyun another sharp glare. Ignoring her gaze, Seonghyun replied, "Actually, I brought this with me." "Hmm?" The old professor accepted the paper Seonghyun offered him. His eyes widened, and his pupils shook violently. ''What is it?'' The guards, and now this stern and strict-looking professor... Everyone seemed to be on the verge of fainting after seeing that paper. It was the letter entrusted to him by Pam, the village head of Hindel. ''Could it be that Pam is actually a powerful figure?'' Just as that thought crossed his mind... "Wel-welcome! I-I knew it! I sensed an extraordinary aura about you! Ehehehehe!" "Ah... yes. Thank you." "!" Seonghyun thanked him calmly on the surface, but he was still embarrassed by the praise. The female user''s eyes widened when she heard the professor''s compliment. Her eyes were filled with a mix of shock, envy, and curiosity. It seemed she had been noticed. ''I wanted to learn quietly...'' That seemed unlikely now. As Seonghyun scratched his cheek in dismay, the professor spoke to him. "Ehehehe, well then, um, take a seat next to Yeon over there." "Ah, yes." He didn''t ask who Yeon was. There was only one other person in the room. As Seonghyun went to his seat... "..." Yeon coldly ignored him and moved slightly away. He hadn''t done anything wrong, so why was she acting like this? He couldn''t understand it, but he decided to let it go. He was somewhat relieved to have someone else in the class with him. On the other hand, Yeon, as she was called, glanced at him with annoyance. ''I really don''t like this.'' Seonghyun hadn''t done anything wrong, specifically. She was annoyed that someone else had entered what she perceived as her own special space. ''This was my own private classroom.'' That didn''t mean she disliked Seonghyun from the start. Just because her sense of exclusivity was broken didn''t mean her talent would fade. She had even considered being friendly with him since he was handsome. But the professor''s comment about him seeming talented reignited her annoyance. ''Hmph, please don''t say such things to just anyone.'' She was offended that the professor seemed to be handing out compliments so casually. However, after witnessing the professor''s shocked reaction to the paper Seonghyun presented, her annoyance escalated to anger. ''He entered without taking the test?!'' That was the only conclusion she could draw. As the professor had pointed out, he didn''t have the intermediate academy completion bracelet. She didn''t know how he did it, but judging from the paper he handed over, it was obvious. He must have cleared a special quest to gain entry. Unlike Yeon, who had rightfully taken the test and passed. From Yeon''s perspective, it felt incredibly unfair. And on top of that, he received praise immediately after submitting the paper? Unacceptable. ''I''ve never received such praise!'' Had the old professor ever said such things to her? No, never. ''I''ll master the skills faster than you, no matter what. Just you wait.'' As Yeon glared at Seonghyun with that thought in mind, he paid her no attention and focused on the professor''s words. He didn''t understand why she kept glaring at him. But Seonghyun knew that ignoring her was the best course of action in this situation. He remained indifferent, showing no interest. "Ahem, ahem, as Yeon already knows, let me introduce myself again. I am Urden Python, the professor in charge of the special Black Mage academy." With that, the class began. At the same time, Yeon looked at Seonghyun with a confident thought. ''I''ll defeat him overwhelmingly.'' She would show him that this place wasn''t a playground, and she would do it with her skills. While Yeon harbored such thoughts, Seonghyun scratched his cheek, looking a bit troubled. But it wasn''t because of Yeon. -A place to learn Black Magic? That sounds fun. Should I teach you a little? A sudden voice rang out. He knew who it belonged to without looking, but he glanced to the side anyway. Helena was looking at him with a bright smile. Yeon was already out of his mind; Seonghyun was at a loss about how to handle this situation. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 21 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 21 Of all times, why did she have to appear when there were people around? ¡®I guess I can''t answer her.¡¯ Helena tilted her head. -Why can''t you answer? You can answer just by thinking. ''Oh? Really?'' -Of course, we already share memories and experiences." ''Ah.'' Right. ¡®To think we could converse just through thoughts.¡¯ He had never tried communicating telepathically with ghosts before, so it was natural for him to have preconceptions. If they shared memories and experiences, then mental conversations were indeed possible. That was certainly reassuring. -By the way, are you learning the basics of black magic? ''Yes, they say the basic skills are taught here.'' -Hmm~ Helena let out a hum, seemingly excited by Seonghyun''s answer. She seemed quite pleased that he was learning the basics of black magic. As Seonghyun was conversing with Helena, Professor Urden looked at him and said, "Ah! My apologies. We have a new student, so we should all greet each other. Let''s have some self-introductions. Yeon, as the senior, you go first." "...." Although clearly dissatisfied with being asked to introduce herself, Yeon reluctantly opened her mouth. "Yeon, Level 15." A curt and blunt introduction, to say the least. But what else was there to introduce? It was obvious that they were all black mages since they were in this classroom. Urden tilted his head, observing Yeon''s curt response. His expression seemed to say, ''What''s gotten into her?'' But without giving it much thought, Urden turned to Seonghyun and said, "Hmm, then it''s your turn..." "Ah, my name is Seonghyun. I just reached Level 10. Pleased to meet you." "...." Unable to completely ignore him in front of Urden, Yeon simply nodded. It was clearly a breach of etiquette. However, Seonghyun didn''t react much. He was used to such treatment. Instead, it was Urden who tilted his head at Yeon''s attitude. ''She''s acting strange today.'' Even for her, this was unusual. Could it be that Yeon disliked other outsiders? There was no need for Urden to delve into that. He cleared his throat and changed the subject. "Alright, alright. Let''s begin the class." Class, huh? Unlike the academy where skills were learned from books, this place offered actual classes. If you understand the professor''s lecture, you can learn the skill quickly. Even if you don''t, you''ll still acquire it after an hour of listening. Why bother with a lecture when they could just give us skill books or generate the skills for us? One might think that, but the class actually teaches numerous ways to utilize the skills. This was especially true for basic skills, which form the foundation of one''s profession. This type of education aims to deepen one''s understanding of those skills. ''This is really important, isn''t it?'' Countless strategy guides and discussions among high-ranking players emphasized the importance of basic skills. The guides Seonghyun had read all agreed: skipping class out of laziness would lead to regret. That''s why everyone diligently attended the lectures. Even if he didn''t fully grasp the concepts, the skill was automatically learned after an hour of listening. It was a loss not to attend. "Ahem, normally we would start by learning ¡ºPoison: Pain Numbing¡» a basic skill, but today we will first learn ¡ºBone Arrow¡» which Yeon has already been studying." "Oh." "..." Seonghyun had already encountered this skill. The Bone Arrows that Bejiron had relentlessly fired. So it was a rare skill. ''I thought he was just high-level, but I guess there''s more to it.'' Since there were rare skills among the basic ones, it meant one had to complete at least an advanced black mage academy. As Seonghyun was lost in thought, Yeon frowned at him. Whatever else happened, she was determined to learn faster than him. Yeon, too, was undoubtedly skilled. ''I learned other skills within 30 minutes... this time, I''ll learn it even faster.'' Unlike Seonghyun, Yeon had already learned five basic skills at the normal rank in the intermediate black mage academy. Since this was an upgrade from a normal skill, Yeon did have an advantage over Seonghyun, who hadn''t learned any basic skills yet. At least, formally speaking. She was determined to show him that she was on a different level from Seonghyun, who had luckily passed the special academy¡¯s requirements. With that mindset, Yeon focused on the class. Observing Yeon and Seonghyun, Urden began the lesson. "Bone Arrow does not simply use bones from corpses lying around." "Oh." "..." "Then where do you think the bones used to create the arrows come from?" Urden''s sudden question could have been disconcerting, but both Yeon, who was already familiar with it, and Seonghyun remained calm. ''He must have heard about it from someone... Or maybe he heard the answer to the question beforehand.'' It was a pathetic thought, but Yeon clung to it as a way to preserve her ego. If it wasn''t a trick, she''d have to acknowledge the gap between them. But seeing Seonghyun''s nonchalant attitude made her blood boil. Yeon was not only talented but also incredibly hardworking, which made this even more frustrating. Her attitude could be seen as a distorted passion. ¡®Surely, he can''t learn other skills this quickly.¡¯ It was impossible. Just like Yeon, Urden had similar thoughts. It could happen once, but he couldn''t possibly learn other skills this fast. That''s what he believed. But who knows what might happen in this world? What would happen next? Urden''s curiosity as a mage was piqued. Normally, there was only one class per day. But since they had finished so quickly... "S-Seonghyun, since you learn so fast, would Yeon mind waiting a bit? I''d like to try teaching you other skills as well." He asked Yeon for her understanding. Naturally, Yeon, who was already riled up, nodded. "Yes, I don''t mind." She glared at Seonghyun as if to say, "Go ahead, try it." Seonghyun scratched his cheek, observing Yeon''s reaction. Not even five minutes passed before... Fwhoooosh!!! [Due to an ''unknown power,'' you have gained complete understanding of the rare skill, ¡ºPoison: Pain Numbing¡»] [You have acquired the rare skill, ¡ºPoison: Pain Numbing¡»] "N-Noooo waaaay!!!" "T-This is impossible..." Both of them jumped up in shock. Yeon, in particular, felt dizzy, almost on the verge of fainting. ¡®No, this time it''ll be different.¡¯ ¡®Surely it won''t happen a third time?¡¯ About five minutes passed again. Fwhoooosh!!! [Due to an ''unknown power,'' you have gained complete understanding of the rare skill, ¡ºBlood Curtain¡»] [You have acquired the rare skill, ¡ºBlood Curtain¡»] "Huhhh!? T-Then try mastering this one too, this one too!!!" "Ehhh???" This time, it wasn''t even five minutes. Maybe three minutes? Utilizing Helena''s memories had made the process even faster. Fwhooooosh!!! [Due to an ''unknown power,'' you have gained complete understanding of the rare skill, ¡ºCurse of Pain¡»] [You have acquired the rare skill, ¡ºCurse of Pain¡»] "Wait, the time is getting shorter!?" "..." Yeon had forgotten all about her pride and inferiority complex. She was now staring at Seonghyun as if he were a monster. Coincidence? Connections? She knew now that it was neither of those. ¡®Just who is this guy?¡¯ Not only Yeon, but even Urden, who was known as a genius, was astonished. His eyes were bloodshot with excitement, his veins bulging as he stared with wide eyes. He was the very image of a mage consumed by the spirit of experimentation. ¡®Just what kind of person is he?¡¯ Yeon couldn''t comprehend it, and tears welled up in her eyes out of frustration. But no one paid her any attention. Instead, Urden shouted at Seonghyun with excitement, "This is unbelievable! T-This time, it''s the most difficult basic skill! You won''t be able to master this one easily!!" This time, it wasn''t even a matter of minutes. The moment Urden finished his question and Seonghyun was about to answer... Fwhoooooooooosh!!! [Due to an ''unknown power,'' you have gained complete understanding of the rare skill, ¡ºCreate Lesser Undead.¡»] [You have acquired the rare skill, ¡ºCreate Lesser Undead.¡»] [The rare skill, ¡ºCreate Lesser Undead¡» has been absorbed into the higher-level skill ¡ºDeath Legion¡»] [The proficiency of the Almighty skill, ¡ºDeath Legion¡» has increased.] At this point, even Seonghyun felt a little embarrassed. He had mastered the skill instantly, without even taking a minute. "Ahaha..." As Seonghyun let out an awkward laugh, Urden''s face turned red, as if he was about to explode. He shouted, "Aaaagh! A genius of our time! A genius!!! Seonghyun, you''re a genius!! That person didn''t write you a recommendation letter for nothing!!" "Waaaaah." Unlike Urden, Yeon burst into tears. It was complete chaos. In the midst of all this... -They''re finally realizing it, huh? Hmm. Helena proudly put her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest, basking in the glory instead of the embarrassed Seonghyun. Seonghyun, on the other hand, just wished everyone would stop making a fuss. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 22 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 22 0. The guild system in Eternal World offers a variety of benefits. Guild bases, guild-exclusive shops, guild-exclusive skills, and so on. While some people enjoyed playing solo, the game was structured in a way that guilds were advantageous. Of course, there were benefits for solo players, but they were inevitably lacking compared to those of large guilds. Therefore, naturally, even users who preferred solo play began to join guilds one by one, and those who ran guilds tried their best to grow them. This wasn''t just because of the benefits. In modern society, games are a very good pastime, but isn''t there something more important? That''s right, money! Large guilds earn as much as decent-sized companies. Even excluding the broadcasting ticket fees earned by high-ranking guilds, the amount of in-game currency they earned was enormous. Eternal World wasn''t called another world for nothing. Guilds weren''t foolish enough to hire professional scouts and pay them salaries for no reason. If they could just recruit one outstanding rookie, they could earn enough to hire ten of those scouts. What''s more important than money in a capitalist society? Money is king. Lee Seongyeong was also one of those professional scouts. ''I haven''t seen any promising rookies lately.'' To be precise, there were many who seemed decent, but the accurate expression would be that he hadn''t seen any true gems. Lee Seongyeong clicked his tongue as if perplexed. Lee Seongyeong''s high standards played a part, but it was more due to the guild he belonged to. Ranked 12th in the guild rankings, Sick Brothers. It was a ridiculous name, but considering their ranking, they couldn''t be underestimated. They were a top-tier guild, ranking high in the guild rankings. It was a guild created by men obsessed with American Machismo, so they had a strong meritocratic approach. They even went as far as to say to skilled women, "If you''re skilled, you''re macho!". The guild master and executives were those kinds of crazy people. Enough said. ''It''s only us employees who suffer.'' As they pursued meritocracy, they also recklessly hired employees based solely on their abilities. Personality, race, gender, etc., none of it mattered, only skills. So, the scouts of Sick Brothers were always overworked. The same went for Lee Seongyeong. ''Sigh.'' If he didn''t have any results this month, it would be quite troublesome. He wouldn''t be fired because of his past achievements, but... He wouldn''t be able to avoid the guild master''s nagging. He really wanted to avoid that. He didn''t want to listen to an hour-long lecture about machismo. He desperately gathered information. ''The reports that came in...'' There were scouts from other guilds and informants who would send reports to large guilds like Sick Brothers hoping to earn a bit of money. He figured he¡¯d check his inbox, and there it was¡ªa brand new email that arrived just a few minutes ago. It was from the guy who usually sent him information for a fee. He didn¡¯t quite like the guy¡¯s behavior, but he was reliable when it came to information. Lee Seongyeong wondered what kind of information it was this time, opening the email with a hint of anticipation. [Strange undead appearing in Perthville. Haven¡¯t made contact with anyone yet. Multiple witnesses.] ¡°......?¡± Is that all? Perthville and a strange undead. But he must have sent it because he smelled something, right? And Lee Seongyeong focused on the ¡°multiple witnesses¡± part. ¡®I should look around the internet.¡¯ If there were many witnesses, there would surely be a few spreading the news online. He searched the Eternal World community and various sites. He found something about Perthville. [Perthville Cemetery Undead, Am I the only one who saw it?] [New Special Rank appeared in Perthville!] ¡®New Special Rank? What¡¯s this?¡¯ A user who cleared the Special Black Mage Academy appeared in Perthville? On the same day that a strange undead appeared? Something¡¯s up. Lee Seongyeong, who smelled something fishy, looked at the contents of the posts. Naturally, there were no screenshots since capturing without consent was not allowed. There wasn¡¯t much to see in the content itself. But the comments were somewhat meaningful. [PerthvilleElder: Undead? It¡¯s just an undead, isn¡¯t it? Even if it¡¯s made in Perthville, isn¡¯t it the lowest rank? Ah, they said you can make low-rank undead if you cleared the highest rank, right?] ©¸[BlackBald: Yeah, at least the highest rank, but judging by what you¡¯re saying, it doesn¡¯t seem like that, right?] ©¸[DirtSpoonIsDirtDirt: I saw it too, and it was different from normal undead!!! It felt like I was looking at a boss mob???] [Vegimil: I will definitely find you. Really.] ©¸[ChickenWingWing (author): ???? Me?] ¡®The strange undead seems to be real.¡¯ Although the title didn¡¯t attract much attention and the view count was low, there were quite a few comments. There were even more witnesses than expected. In the middle, a strange guy named Vegimil left a comment that seemed full of resentment, but it wasn¡¯t worth paying attention to. There were other eyewitness accounts. The report must be true. Then what about the Special Rank? [WoofWoofWoof: Wow, a Special Rank free pass? I¡¯m so jealous.] [JustLetMePayToWin: I know, right? I heard there¡¯s something like a hidden piece, like a Special Rank recommendation letter.] ©¸[HypeGirl: Really? If there¡¯s something like that, isn¡¯t that cheating? Doesn¡¯t that mean you can just get a Special Rank if you¡¯re lucky?] ©¸[HongdaeEntrance: LOL would that be common?] [30YearsOfLines: I was also waiting in line to take the high-rank exam and I saw it;;; The guards were fawning over them and treating them like royalty. Seems like it¡¯s the hidden piece ???.] ¡®The time gap between the two isn¡¯t that big, is it?¡¯ Lee Seongyeong was already familiar with the skills learned at the Special Black Mage Academy. But he couldn¡¯t create an undead like the one described in those testimonies. It means it¡¯s not just a Rare rank skill. Moreover, judging by the content about the Special Rank free pass... This is a high-rank class change. There were occasional cases like this. Cases where someone would change to a high rank and then receive a recommendation letter for the Special Black Mage Academy. He naturally learned about this kind of information as a scout for Sick Brothers, a guild boasting 12th place in the guild rankings. This meant one thing. ¡®It¡¯s at least an Epic rank class change.¡¯ Since the minimum rank to receive a Special Black Mage Academy recommendation letter was an Epic rank class change. Lee Seongyeong''s eyes lit up at this fact. Perhaps this... It wasn''t all good. He could tell just by looking at Yeon, who was at the academy this time. If he needlessly drew attention, there would be more people who were jealous, and naturally, he would have more enemies. In that case, it would be better to go somewhere with fewer people. He wondered if there was such a hunting ground in Perthville that he had learned about in advance, and one place came to mind. ¡®Was it the Perthville Plains?¡¯ He remembered it being called something like that. Seonghyun took out the map he had received from the academy when he left. Looking at the map, which showed Perthville in detail... There was the place Seonghyun had in mind. Perthville Plains. As it was a wide area, various monsters inhabited it. Because of this... The distribution of users was spread out widely, making it difficult to encounter other users. It was the perfect place for Seonghyun right now. ¡®Let¡¯s go there right away.¡¯ In this place, he could use his skills to his heart¡¯s content and run wild without worrying about anyone¡¯s eyes. It wasn¡¯t that he had ever cared about anyone¡¯s eyes before. But it was true that he could worry less. Once he made up his mind, he acted quickly. His steps were light. It didn¡¯t take long to reach the widest and farthest hunting ground in Perthville. Wheeee! The ankle-high grass on the plains fluttered in the wind, surging like waves across the plains. The fragrant scent of grass mixed with the wind, and birds flew in the sky, chirping. Chirp¡ª. Tweet¡ª! Would it be like this if he went to a plain in Europe? In the wide-open view and clear, high sky, an orange sunset hung, as if dusk was gradually approaching. It was an impressive sight. So much so that it was hard to believe it was a game. Seonghyun, who had been momentarily lost in the beautiful scenery, came to his senses and checked his body. He had already warmed up and checked his body while coming here, so there wasn''t much more to see. His speed and movements were not awkward. ¡®With this much, there¡¯s no need to add any more stat points yet.¡¯ ¡¾Status Window¡¿ ¡ºSeonghyun¡» ¡ºLv 10¡» ¡ºClass¡» ¡ú¡ºOverlord¡» ¡ºTitles¡» ¡ú¡ºMonarch (Legendary)¡»...... and 13 others. ¡ºStats¡» ¡ú¡¶Strength: 15(13+2)¡·¡¶Agility: 17(15+2)¡· ¡¶Stamina: 12(10+2)¡·¡¶Intelligence: 23(20+3)¡· ¡¶Wisdom: 23(20+3)¡·¡¶Spirit: 23(20+3)¡· ¡¶Dexterity: 7(6+1)¡· ¡ºAdditional Stat Points¡» ¡ú¡¶45¡· He had reached level 10 and left it alone, so he had a whopping 45 additional stat points. He could still manage for now. If he just looked at his stats, they were higher than the average for level 10. He didn¡¯t feel the need to raise them. He didn¡¯t feel lacking in stats or abilities. Just like now. Fwip! Something small cut through the wind amidst the sound of the wind and flew towards Seonghyun. As soon as he sensed that moment, Seonghyun used a skill, thinking it was a good opportunity. As he consumed mana, dark red blood scattered in the air, spreading widely and transforming into a cloth-like shape. Fwoosh! The wide, evenly spread Blood Curtain completely blocked the small something flying towards Seonghyun. The seemingly thin Blood Curtain was not pierced at all and even bounced off whatever was flying towards him. Clang. ¡°Kek!?¡± ¡°Keruk!?¡± ¡°Kekek!¡± Three green dwarves were startled when their surprise attack failed. A very common monster in fantasy games, novels, and comics. Goblins. Green skin and ugly green hair were intertwined, creating a greenish glow. At first glance, it was difficult to distinguish them from the grass. Although crude, they were even carrying weapons, but their size was only about that of a five-year-old child. They didn¡¯t seem like much of a threat, but... ¡®They look disgusting.¡¯ Seonghyun thought so as he looked at the three slightly surprised goblins and launched a counterattack. For a moment, he thought about activating Death Aura, but shook his head. Wasn¡¯t there a common saying? There was no need to use a butcher knife to kill a chicken. The wraith of the dead? He also dismissed that. Bone Arrow was enough here. Fwoosh! Taking advantage of the goblins¡¯ surprise, he created a Blood Curtain, and at the same time, bone arrows appeared in the air. The bone arrows flew towards the goblins, boasting a solid, pure white light. ¡°Kegek!?!¡± ¡°Kek!?¡± ¡°Keok?!!¡± The arrow that flew towards the last goblin hit him exactly between the eyes. Thud! [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [You gain experience points.] The goblin''s life ended in an instant. ¡°Oh?¡± This was more useful than he thought. Then what should he use next? As Seonghyun smiled faintly at the thought of testing his next skill... The goblins trembled with fear at the sight of his smile. It seemed they had chosen the wrong opponent. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 23 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 23 Two goblins were trembling with fear. There were two skills left. As if he had already chosen, Seonghyun cast one of the skills. As he used mana... Smoke billowed from his fingertips.No?v(el)B\\jnn The smoke soon formed a face, like a specter. The smoke, resembling a specter filled with malice, shot out. Saaaaaaa! The smoke, fired with a ghostly wail, was something that a mere goblin could not resist. The smoke soon seeped into the body of one of the goblins. [Goblin B is afflicted with ¡ºCurse of Pain¡».] [Wracked with pain for 10 seconds.] ¡°Kek! Kekek! Kek!¡± The goblin with the smoke seeping into him thrashed about, clutching his throat. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, he crawled on the ground. But the pain showed no sign of disappearing. The remaining goblin¡¯s eyes trembled violently at the sight, which could only be described as terror itself. Would he be able to survive? Should he run away? Or should he attack? The goblin, unable to even choose an option, noticed Seonghyun moving and tried to react, but... Thwack! Tadadadada! He was too fast. It wasn¡¯t a speed he could escape from. If he tried, he would surely be caught immediately. In that case... ¡°Keruuuk!¡± He ran towards Seonghyun, holding a crude dagger. It was a truly valiant sight. If other goblins had seen it, they would have applauded his bravery. But Seonghyun was slightly relieved to see the goblin. He had been worried that it might run away. Now, there was one skill left. The skill he would use this time was a buff skill. As he used mana, a purple liquid formed above Seonghyun¡¯s head. The liquid, emitting ominous purple smoke, was unable to overcome gravity above Seonghyun¡¯s head and fell without fail. Drip, Saaaaaaa! The purple liquid flowed down Seonghyun¡¯s body, seeping in with an ominous sound. [You have used ¡ºPoison: Pain Numbing¡».] [You will not feel any pain for 1 minute.] [Your concentration will improve while you do not feel pain.] Although it was written as Pain Numbing, there was no problem with moving his body at all. Rather, the pain disappeared, and his other senses became sharper. To use poison as a buff in this way... ¡®Interesting.¡¯ As Seonghyun was lost in thought and stopped walking... The goblin, thinking this was his chance, aimed his crude dagger at Seonghyun''s knee, which lacked leather armor. Shhk! Since the dagger was crude, it sounded more like tearing than cutting, but... Seonghyun felt no pain at all. ¡®Oh?¡¯ He hadn''t taken any direct damage until now, but he was quite surprised when he really didn''t feel any pain. A state where there were no external stimuli and he could fully concentrate. The goblin didn''t know that and was frantically swinging his dagger. But getting hit was getting hit, and was it because his defense was high? Even though he was letting himself get hit, the decrease in his health was so small that it was insignificant. ¡°Keruk! Kek! Kekek!¡± It was a bit pitiful. He was doing his best, but Seonghyun wasn''t reacting at all. At that point, the goblin also noticed something strange and tilted his head. Strange? He kept attacking, but why did he seem fine? That was exactly how he looked. Seonghyun gave the poor goblin peace by wielding his steel sword. Slice. ¡°Keruk!¡± [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [You gain experience points.] After that, Seonghyun rolled around and then ran towards the goblin, who had come to his senses. He didn''t have to move his feet quickly, as it was right next to him, so after a few steps... He reached it. The goblin, freed from pain, turned his head this way and that to grasp the situation. He felt something was strange because the surroundings had become too quiet. And as he turned his head, something flashed, and he felt a stinging pain in his neck. ¡°Keruk?¡± [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [You gain experience points.] When he killed the three goblins, unlike the undead, they left their bodies intact. He could butcher them, but Seonghyun looked at the three goblins with teal smoke rising from them. He saw the message he had been waiting for. [You can use ¡ºDeath Legion¡».] [Would you like to raise the ¡ºDeath Legion¡»?] ¡®The number is small, but... it doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯ It was still an embarrassing number to be called a legion. But Death Legion didn''t have a cooldown. Perhaps that saying came true? The door at the entrance of the Special Black Mage Academy opened. ¡°Huh? Uh uh?¡± Lee Seongyeong¡¯s eyes widened as he waited in front of the door. Perhaps his waiting just in case would pay off!? ¡°Sob, sob.¡± ¡°......?¡± That¡¯s what Lee Seongyeong thought. But as he watched the female user who came out the door wiping her tears and sobbing, that thought naturally disappeared. No, he didn¡¯t know for sure. The fact that they came from the Special Black Mage Academy alone meant they were a great talent. He couldn''t be fooled by their crying. ¡°Sob, sob. How could he learn all the skills at once?¡± ¡°?!!?!?¡± Lee Seongyeong got goosebumps at her sobbing words. Learned all the skills at once? Was that even possible? What if the user this female user was talking about was the user he was looking for? Gulp. Lee Seongyeong gulped and bit his lip. He should have come here faster somehow. To miss this... Regret flooded in, but it was okay. ¡®He couldn¡¯t have left Perthville yet, right?¡¯ Coming to the Class Academy meant their level was still only 10. Perhaps he might find them if he searched the hunting grounds. Lee Seongyeong¡¯s eyes lit up at the opportunity that hadn¡¯t flown away yet. Meanwhile, he didn¡¯t forget his main duty and ran to the female user, taking out the business card he had prepared in his inventory and handing it to her. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Lee Seongyeong, a scout from Sick Brothers. I saw you coming out of the Special Black Mage Academy, and I think you¡¯re a great talent.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The female user was taken aback and accepted the business card Lee Seongyeong handed her. He didn¡¯t mention the guild ranking. He didn¡¯t have to, because Sick Brothers¡¯ fame was already enormous. The explanation wasn¡¯t that long. ¡°As you know, Sick Brothers welcomes even female users as long as they have outstanding talent.¡± ¡°Huh???¡± ¡°Then, please be sure to contact me.¡± Lee Seongyeong handed her the business card and ran off like an arrow. He was going to search every hunting ground to find out where the user he was looking for was. It wasn¡¯t in his nature to search the hunting grounds haphazardly, but... He had no choice. His goal was to recruit them faster than anyone else. Just in case, he ran with his ears open to his surroundings. ¡°Hey hey, I heard a strange undead appeared in Perthville Plains?¡± ¡°Strange undead?¡± ¡°Yeah, a while ago? About 10 minutes ago, it was attacking the goblin village.¡± ¡°Oh. Must be a Black Mage.¡± ¡°So lucky, I should have been a Black Mage too.¡± A short conversation between users. It was an ordinary conversation, nothing special, but Lee Seongyeong¡¯s eyes lit up when he heard the keyword ¡°strange undead.¡± ¡®That¡¯s it!¡¯ Lee Seongyeong headed towards Perthville Plains. Meanwhile, Yeon, the female user who was left with the business card, stared blankly at the business card she had received. The business card with the name Sick Brothers written on it. Wiping away her sobbing tears, her pouting lips relaxed as she looked at it. ¡®G-Guild ranking 12th Sick Brothers!?¡¯ Yeon was feeling better in many ways. 3. It had only been a day. One day. Since Seonghyun started playing. To be precise, it hadn''t even been a full day yet, so it wasn''t even a day. But why? Why had Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s dark circles gotten longer in such a short time? ¡°...Sigh.¡± ¡°C-cheer up, senior.¡± ¡°Cheer up? Ah, right, I should. Of course I should.¡± Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong nodded, looking at associate Oh Jinhyeok who was speaking next to him. At least he hadn''t been scolded much by Team Leader Jung Jihye. She was scary when she came back from vacation, but fortunately, it went well. But was this really a situation to cheer up about? Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong pointed at the screen with a smile. ¡°I should cheer up while watching him raise his proficiency with an unknown power and learn all the basic skills in a little over 20 minutes in class?¡± ¡°Ah, uh......¡± It was clearly sarcasm. Oh Jinhyeok had nothing to say to that. ¡°Sigh, by the way, he went straight to the plains to test his skills.¡± ¡°Y-yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Does he know something again?¡± He immediately agreed with Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong¡¯s words. It was a conversation that wouldn¡¯t do any good to drag on. Then, at Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s words, associate Oh Jinhyeok thought for a moment before answering. ¡°Well......? I think he went there purely to hunt? Is there something there?¡± ¡°There is...... there is......¡± First of all, Seonghyun was hunting goblins and testing his skills without doing anything else. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong stared at the screen and muttered. ¡°There¡¯s a Golden Goblin.¡± ¡°Oh!?¡± [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 24 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 24 Golden Goblin. It was a concept that often appeared in games. It was the same in Eternal World. "When you say Golden Goblin, you mean the mob that usually carries a lot of treasure, right?" "Yeah, that''s right." "There was a Golden Goblin in Perthville?" Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong sighed as he looked at his junior who hadn''t yet mastered all the hidden pieces. Associate Oh Jinhyeok flinched at the sigh, feeling a pang of guilt. What could he do if he didn''t know? He had to ask. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong nodded, now used to it. "To be precise, it should be called a Treasure Goblin." "Huh?! Then, does that user know about it again?" "Hmm, maybe, but he probably doesn''t know? It''s an individual in the goblin village of Perthville, which doesn''t exist in other goblin villages, and it''s already dead." "Oh? Is that so?" If it was dead, it wouldn''t be completely impossible to find, but wouldn''t it be difficult? As associate Oh Jinhyeok thought so... Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong continued. "Yes, another user killed it thinking it was an ordinary goblin and couldn''t find the hidden piece, so they left for another town." "Ah!" This made it certain. The clue to the hidden piece was now lost. In this case, others couldn''t find the clue, and the hidden piece itself was lost. It wasn''t completely gone, but the developers knew it was virtually impossible. That''s why it was called a lost hidden piece. But why? Associate Oh Jinhyeok wondered as he saw his senior''s expression stiffen. ¡®Why is he like that?¡¯ It was clearly a lost hidden piece. There should be nothing to worry about. "Since it''s a lost hidden piece, that user can''t get it either, right?" ¡°......That''s right.¡± He was answering, but... Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong looked anxious. But he soon nodded and laughed. "Haha, yeah, he can''t find it. How can he find a lost hidden piece?" "Haha! Right! As expected of my senior!" He was quite cheerful despite having all the basic rare skills taken away by an unknown force. 4. Perthville Plains, known as the largest hunting ground in Perthville, was home to various monsters. From beast-type monsters such as deer, wolves, and foxes to humanoid monsters such as goblins, zombies, and skeletons. The variety was as wide as the area itself. If you were to ask which monster was dominant among them, it would undoubtedly be the goblins. It wasn''t that goblins were strong monsters. Ten out of ten people would say they were weak. But they were annoying. Not only did they travel in packs, but they were also cunning, setting up ambushes and traps. They were the most troublesome monsters for users to deal with in Perthville Plains. Seonghyun certainly knew that. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ But seeing the massacre unfolding before his eyes, he couldn''t believe it. The sound of metal rang out in the surroundings, and... The bloody scent of carnage rose. ¡°Keruk!¡± ¡°Kyahk!¡± ¡°Keuruk!¡± -Keruheuk! (Kill!) -Keheuheuk! (Victory for Master!) -Kekekke! Kerukeuk! (Dye our old grounds with death!) -Keureukkekke! (For our Lord!) The ones being massacred were goblins, and the ones massacring the goblins were undead surrounded by black darkness and emitting a teal aura. However, judging from the size and appearance of the undead, one could easily tell that they were once goblins. Seonghyun, who witnessed the scene that was like a massacre of their own kind, scratched his cheek. Was it a bit gruesome? That thought crossed his mind for a moment, but... [Death Soldier kills a Goblin.] [You gain experience points.] [Death Soldier kills a Goblin.] [You gain experience points.] [Death Soldier kills a Goblin.] [You gain experience points.] ......(omitted) An endless feast of gaining experience points. Before long... [Death Soldier kills a Goblin.] [You gain experience points.] [Level Up!] It was too easy. Even Bejiron, at level 30, only had five skeletons and two zombies, but Seonghyun, currently only at level 10, was handling 20 undead after absorbing Create Lesser Undead. Ah, he just leveled up, so it was 11 now. The time it took for a goblin village to be annihilated? It took roughly less than 10 minutes. ¡®This is ridiculous.¡¯ Even though Seonghyun himself was watching, it was a ridiculous result. Of course, the mana draining out because of that was beyond imagination. He had heard that there were goblins in Eternal World commonly called Golden Goblins. But he couldn''t believe that this goblin ghost was that Golden Goblin ghost! What good fortune this was. As Seonghyun made a face full of anticipation... The goblin ghost smiled with satisfaction and slowly nodded. -Tsk tsk, I''m glad you like it. Well then, I''ll show you the way. I don''t know why, but it''s hard for me to leave this place. ¡°Ah.¡± It seemed to be a ghost commonly called a bound spirit. There were occasional cases like that. Ghosts that couldn''t leave the vicinity. It seemed this goblin ghost was one of them. Seonghyun nodded, indicating that he understood. The goblin ghost explained the way in detail to guide him. Then suddenly... ¡®Oh?¡¯ He felt a sensation he hadn''t felt before. He had often found his way through ghosts in the past. He hadn''t been able to obtain the ghost''s memories or experiences then. But perhaps because he had already had several experiences like that? For some reason, Seonghyun felt that he could make this goblin ghost''s memories and experiences his own. And as he instinctively reached out his hand... -Oh!? ¡°Ah.¡± The goblin ghost''s memories and experiences flowed in. The teal shining pupils and the teal aura emanating from Seonghyun''s back. All of that accepted the goblin ghost''s memories and made them Seonghyun''s. Seonghyun, who absorbed the memories in an instant, scanned the goblin ghost''s life like a panorama and said, ¡°Kahku?¡± -That''s right! That''s right!!! That''s my name. ¡°Oh.¡± -Ah! Now you can find your way without my explanation. As expected of a great person!!! ¡°Ahem.¡± He coughed a little, perhaps embarrassed. Anyway, Seonghyun was able to find his way easily. Not only that, but he also learned about the traps and the special goblins guarding them. If he prepared in advance, there would be nothing to worry about. His mana was at rock bottom, and he needed something to do, so it was good timing. ¡®Thank you. Thanks to you, I can find it.¡¯ Now he conveyed his thoughts with his mind. The goblin ghost, Kahku, understood him and nodded with a pleased expression. -Not at all. It''s enough that I was able to help a great person. Tsk tsk! I have something to brag about when I go to the afterlife. ¡®Haha.......¡¯ Ghosts always gilded him like this. It wasn''t a bad feeling, so Seonghyun thanked him and was about to leave. He was about to leave, but at that moment, he felt someone approaching. And at a very fast speed. Normally, even Seonghyun would have had a hard time noticing, but he could feel it because his senses had developed through his experiences with his former instructor Eddie and the hunter Apik. Someone was coming this way very quickly. From their footsteps, it was clear they were aiming for this place. ¡®What?¡¯ Was it another user who found the hidden piece first? But according to Kahku''s memories, the user who killed Kahku didn''t take the map Kahku had. This meant no user knew about this hidden piece. Why were they approaching so fast? With that question in mind, Seonghyun looked at the spot. Before long, he saw a man in neat clothes like a suit, who had run until his hair was disheveled, standing in front of him. ¡®Hmm?¡¯ He had seen users in similar attire at the cemetery. He didn''t pay much attention then, but looking closely... He could tell it was a scout. It was sometimes written in strategy guides. Strategy guides for beginners that said to make themselves visible if they saw users dressed neatly like office workers. Seonghyun had only played for a day, so... He hadn''t even thought about joining a guild yet because he hadn''t thought about it. It was a bit strange. What was the reason for the scout to run all the way here so desperately? As Seonghyun was thinking about that... The scout, who had been running in a hurry just a moment ago, looked back and forth between Seonghyun and the ruined goblin village and bowed at a 90-degree angle. ¡°Hello! My name is Lee Seongyeong, a scout from Sick Brothers! I really want to recruit you, Black Mage, to our guild, so I took the liberty of coming to find you!¡± ¡°Ah? Me? Why me......¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Seonghyun''s reaction was, why would they scout him? Lee Seongyeong was also startled and straightened up slightly to look at Seonghyun. His eyes were filled with the thought, ''Could it be that he''s not the one?'' as he looked at Seonghyun. He was quite handsome. Since you could only customize 10% from the original in the game, it was highly likely that his base appearance was also handsome. He hadn''t heard all the characteristics from the informant, but it seemed to match. When he made scout offers, there were tons of people who said it was them even if it wasn''t. Seeing that reaction, he became anxious. ¡®D-did I get it wrong?¡¯ As he became anxious for a moment... ¡°Are... are you the Black Mage who summons unusual undead?¡± ¡°Yes? Ah, that¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Uh... then you were trained at the Special Black Mage Academy......¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me too.¡± Then it was him. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 25 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 25 Lee Seongyeong was momentarily dumbfounded and stared blankly at Seonghyun, unsure of what to say. Seonghyun was also starting to realize something. ''Ah, I guess I''ve been attracting more attention than I thought.'' He was only just realizing it now. He was aware that the surrounding users and NPCs often made a fuss, which made him embarrassed, but he didn''t realize how big of a deal it was. He knew that Overlord was a remarkable class, but... He hadn''t even mentioned it anywhere. He hadn''t realized that they might be trying to recruit him. As Seonghyun''s expression showed a bit of realization... Lee Seongyeong spoke again. "I''ll introduce myself again. My name is Lee Seongyeong, a scout from Sick Brothers. I''ve taken the liberty of seeking you out to offer you a guild scout offer." "Ah, yes." "I''ll quickly give you my business card and disappear so as not to interfere with your hunting." "Yes? Business card?" "Yes, here it is." He quickly approached Seonghyun and handed him his business card item. Lee Seongyeong, having handed over the business card, inwardly cheered. But he couldn''t let his guard down. Judging from his reaction, it didn''t seem like it, but he couldn''t be sure. "Ah, have you perhaps received an offer from another guild...?" "No. I haven''t." "Ah!!" Hearing Seonghyun''s words, he inwardly cheered again. ''I did it!!!'' This was a sure thing. He finally caught a big fish. He had caught a female user from the same Special Black Mage Academy on his way here, but Seonghyun was the main target. The big fish who learned all the skills in just one day, according to what he heard from that female user! If Lee Seongyeong''s prediction was correct... ''He''s already at least an Epic rank class user.'' He was truly a big fish. On the other hand, Seonghyun was bewildered, watching Lee Seongyeong approach like a storm. He didn''t understand at first, but now he understood why the scout was so excited. But... ''Hmm, is it that big of a deal?'' It was a world where people made money from games, so... He thought it was possible, but he didn''t fully understand. Perhaps Lee Seongyeong sensed Seonghyun''s thoughts? His eyes lit up. Normally, other scouts would persistently try to get him to sign a contract here. But Lee Seongyeong was different. A specialist in the scouting world! "Then, if you''re interested, please feel free to contact me anytime, and I''ll get back to you. Of course, I can offer you the best conditions in the industry! Thank you so much for your time!!! I''ll take my leave now!!!" Just like that, Lee Seongyeong, who had arrived like a storm, disappeared like a storm. Seonghyun blinked his eyes as he watched Lee Seongyeong, who had swept in like a whirlwind, already becoming a dot and disappearing. He took out the business card and looked at it. ¡ºGuild Rank 12th, Sick Brothers¡» -Scout Lee Seongyeong -Game Messenger Code: iliilillili ¡°???¡± Judging from his behavior, he thought it was just an ordinary guild. It was a higher-ranking guild than he thought. -Congratulations!!! As expected of a great person. It''s only natural that your fame would spread widely among humans! ¡®No, that¡¯s not it.¡¯ This was the first scout offer he had ever received. It wasn''t that big of a deal. Anyway, it was true that a good place had contacted him. Seonghyun was lost in thought as he stared at the business card. Guild rank 12th. ¡®Amazing.¡¯ It was a game praised as the greatest game since time immemorial, and... To be ranked 12th in the overall guild rankings in Eternal World, a game loved by 2 billion people, was tremendous. Even if Seonghyun didn''t know much about the reality of Eternal World, he knew it was huge. He seemed to remember hearing on the news that large guilds were practically on par with large corporations. The best conditions in such a place? It would be a lie if he said he wasn''t tempted. ¡®If it¡¯s the best treatment, is it like a yearly salary of hundreds of millions of won?¡¯ He didn''t know how much his sister earned, but wouldn''t it be like that? His heart fluttered with excitement, but he soon shook his head. Let''s refrain from counting our chickens before they hatch. If he got his hopes up and the conditions weren''t as good as he thought, he would be disappointed. He seemed to remember hearing that his sister also had a guild. If it was a guild ranked 12th overall, wouldn''t it be better to join this one? He would have to hear what his sister had to say, but... Seonghyun pondered briefly and put the business card in his inventory. Business card aside... He had to get the hidden piece, didn''t he? ¡®Then let¡¯s go.¡¯ In the midst of all the chaos, his mana had recovered quite a bit, so... Let''s set out properly. -Tsk tsk! Great one, be careful of them. Seonghyun set off, seen off by Kahku. 0. There were dense forests on both ends of the wide Perthville Plains. And at the end of both forests, huge cliffs soared, making it difficult to proceed further. For now, it was classified as Perthville Plains, but since there were forests and cliffs... [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] He couldn''t pierce it like splitting tofu, but he could pierce it like piercing a tree. He felt a firm resistance, but the piercing option was excellent. Immediately after, Seonghyun quickly retrieved the tiger''s fangs, stepped back, and used a skill. Teal light gathered in his hand, forming the shape of a spear. As the light gathered and manifested into the shape of a spear... Seonghyun, without delay, threw the spear while twisting his body in mid-air as he retreated. Wheeee! The Wraiths of the Dead, cutting through the wind, accurately pierced the heart that Seonghyun had stabbed with the tiger''s fang. Crack! The teal spear, having pierced the Goblin Statue''s body and emerged from its back, with the Wraiths of the Dead embedded in it. It wasn''t a living being, so there wouldn''t be any debuffs from darkness damage, but... That was the moment Seonghyun thought so. [Dark damage applied.] [The Goblin Statue''s vision and senses are impaired for 10 seconds.] ¡®Oh?¡¯ So it applied even if it wasn''t a living being, as long as it had vision and senses? That changed things. Was it because the level difference had decreased? The duration was longer than when he used it on Bejiron. Seonghyun''s eyes lit up. Whether its fellow statue was suffering or not, the Goblin Statue with the dented forehead charged at Seonghyun. Still slow. As it swung its spear at that speed... The overwhelming weight and the fierce wind pressure grazed Seonghyun. Whooooosh! Hearing the trembling and tearing sound of the air could have been chilling. But Seonghyun''s eyes were fixed on the Goblin Statue without wavering, and he held the dagger, tiger''s fang, and dug into the chest of the Goblin Statue with the dented forehead that had swung its spear. It was easy to dig in because of its large movements. However, as soon as he saw Seonghyun digging into his chest, the opponent also loosened his lower body and attacked Seonghyun with his feet. The statue''s knee appeared in front of Seonghyun, who had dug into his chest in an instant, but using that force, Seonghyun held the tiger''s fang and thrust the dagger towards the knee. Thud! With the statue''s own force, the tiger''s fang lodged into its knee, and using that recoil, Seonghyun retrieved the tiger''s fang and stepped back, simultaneously firing a Bone Arrow at the already dented forehead. Crack! The Bone Arrow shattered into dust again, and the statue''s forehead was dented a little more. Damage was steadily accumulating. He wanted to use Wraiths of the Dead again here, but it was still on cooldown. As his attacks landed and he moved away from the statue... The Goblin Statue with the dented forehead made a strange noise. Screech. Seeing the statue making a sound as if it was quite frustrated, Seonghyun charged again. If he gave it more time here, the statue that had lost its vision due to darkness damage would recover. The Goblin Statue with the pierced heart, which had now recovered as its recovery time was over. But it was too late. Seonghyun quickly moved his feet and reached the Goblin Statue with the dented forehead in an instant. However, this time, the statue also seemed determined, and it thrust its spear at Seonghyun, prepared to be wounded. It didn''t matter what happened to its own body. Seonghyun also launched an attack against the attack that clearly showed that will. Seonghyun''s dagger, the tiger''s fang, was aimed at the forehead of the Goblin Statue with the dented forehead. And the Goblin Statue''s spear was aimed at Seonghyun''s heart. Seonghyun''s attack was faster, but just as the Goblin Statue''s spear was about to reach Seonghyun''s heart... A red film-like curtain unfolded. Thud! The Blood Curtain blocked the spear attack, and Seonghyun''s tiger''s fang... Thud! It pierced through the statue''s head. As the body of the Goblin Statue with the dented forehead crumbled... A message popped up. [You have won against a monster with a significant level difference!] [Achievement unlocked!] [You acquire the title, ¡ºStrong Hunter¡».] [You gain experience points!] [Level Up!]¡Á3 His level went up by three. And the lone remaining Goblin Statue. Even though its companion was gone, it burned with fighting spirit and charged at Seonghyun. Seonghyun summoned a Bone Arrow towards the statue, whose heart was already pierced. Unlike before, when it hit the forehead and shattered... This Bone Arrow pierced through the heart and lodged inside. Thud! Perhaps because it was a statue and felt no pain, it didn''t even flinch. There was only the effect of being pushed back momentarily by the force of the Bone Arrow. And after that, Seonghyun didn''t move until the moment the statue charged at him. The moment it swung its spear, he lightly dodged the spear and clenched his other hand, the one not holding the tiger''s fang. Then, a teal spear formed in his hand. The Wraiths of the Dead pierced through the Goblin Statue from below, through its heart, and into its head. Thud. Likewise, as its head was pierced... The statue crumbled into dust. [You have won against a monster with a level difference!] [You gain experience points!] [Level Up!]¡Á1 [You have reached Level 15.] He had defeated all the obstacles. Now it was time to claim his reward. Seonghyun placed his hand on the warehouse door. [Hidden Piece, Treasure Goblin Kahku''s First Warehouse, is now open.] [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 26 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks]No?v(el)B\\jnn Chapter 26 Hidden Piece, Treasure Goblin Kahku''s First Warehouse. That''s right. Kahku''s First Warehouse meant that there was also a Second and a Third Warehouse. Naturally, Seonghyun knew the location of all of them. Creak The heavy warehouse door creaked open, revealing the inside. It wasn''t a scene of dazzling treasures or a warehouse filled with valuables. The interior of the warehouse was decorated in a cozy manner, suitable for one person to live in, and in the middle of the living room was a fairly large treasure chest. It was roughly 1 meter wide and 50 centimeters long? He boldly opened the chest, which took up quite a bit of space. Golden light poured out, illuminating the room. Whoosh! ¡®Wow.¡¯ Even the stoic Seonghyun was awestruck by the number of gold coins. And there was a ring placed on top of them. It was a reward that could make one''s eyes spin. As Seonghyun checked the chest... The system immediately reacted. [You have acquired 555 gold.] [You have acquired a Rare+ grade item, ¡ºRing of Protection¡».] 555 gold. Combined with the 104 gold Seonghyun earned in the beginner village, it was 659 gold. Considering the exchange rate of about 1 dollar per 1 silver, and 1 gold being 10 silver, it was at least 9 million won. As the calculations quickly ran through his head... Seonghyun''s eyes widened. ¡®At least 9 million?¡¯ The money he earned in just one day. If it were another user instead of Seonghyun, they would have thought they were lucky to get a Hidden Piece today and... They wouldn''t have included it in the average. But Seonghyun was different. It was like having a cheat key to find Hidden Pieces as long as he found ghosts. He might not be able to earn 10 million won like this every day, but... Even half of that was 5 million won. ¡®Huh.¡¯ No wonder people said you could earn a lot of money in Eternal World. He gulped as he recalled what his sister had said. The reason why there were so many attempts to make money through games. Now he was starting to realize it. He felt it when he earned over 100 gold in the beginner village, but... It felt even bigger now. Seonghyun shook his head with such thoughts and calmed himself. ¡®I can¡¯t always be lucky.¡¯ Meeting a ghost who knew about a Hidden Piece was also luck. Therefore, he calmed down. He knew he could earn a lot of money. Now was the time to calm down and examine the rewards first. ¡®I also got the Ring of Protection and a title. Let¡¯s look at the title first.¡¯ The Strong Hunter title. Was it a title specialized in attack power? Seonghyun opened the title with that thought. ¡ºStrong Hunter¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA title given to a user who hunts monsters with a level difference of 10 or more. ¡úIncreases defense by +10% when fighting high-level enemies. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ It wasn''t bad. But it wasn''t an option he particularly liked either. It would be nice to have increased defense, but... ¡®Have I ever taken a direct hit?¡¯ Except for when he deliberately let himself be hit by the goblin to test the poison buff... Still, if he had it, he would use it someday, wouldn''t he? It wasn''t like he could avoid all attacks. He also checked the Ring of Protection. As the name suggested, it seemed like it would be a ring related to defense, but... ¡ºRing of Protection¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare+¡· ¡úA ring containing a mysterious defensive magic that takes effect just by wearing it. ¡úDefense +10% ¡úIn emergencies, creates an automatic barrier of 5% of the wearer''s maximum health once a day. ¡®Oh?¡¯ It wasn''t just an effect that increased defense. It created an automatic barrier for the wearer once a day? It acted as a shield against fatal blows or blind attacks. This was pretty good. Seonghyun smiled faintly, seemingly satisfied, and got up. His business here was done. Should he go back now? ¡®Let¡¯s log out after returning to town.¡¯ He had been through a lot today. It was time to stop. He wanted to play more, but... It was almost dinner time. He remembered his mother complaining that his sister, Yoo Mina, always came home late for dinner. ¡°We can''t intervene, but we have to stop it as much as possible.¡± Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong nodded at her words. ¡°There haven''t been any signs of him being involved with Overpalace yet. It will be fine.¡± ¡°Even if you have to create a quest and give him additional rewards, keep him away from Overpalace.¡± ¡°You mean lure him with additional rewards?¡± Additional rewards for Seonghyun, who was already rampaging? He would have to give him something incredible, but Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong nodded. He had to stop this no matter what. ¡°Yes. Can you do it?¡± ¡°Yes, of course.¡± As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong answered resolutely... Team Leader Jung Jihye nodded in relief. When it came to getting things done, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong was a reliable junior. That''s why Team Leader Jung Jihye trusted him. As Team Leader Jung Jihye and Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong were having that conversation... Associate Oh Jinhyeok was restlessly watching, wondering if Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong would get scolded, when he suddenly saw a video pop up on Lee Wonsong''s screen. ''Huh? Seonghyun logged out, so why is the screen...?'' Usually, the screen would show something when an NPC related to the user moved, but... Associate Oh Jinhyeok, still a newbie, wasn''t fully aware of that. Wondering what it was, he took a closer look. He saw a familiar NPC sending a letter somewhere. ''The village head of Hindel?'' And he even muttered something. ¡°The successor of that person has appeared. It is time for the palace to move.¡± Associate Oh Jinhyeok tilted his head, not understanding what it meant, and thought nothing of it. It was just an NPC''s action. He brushed it aside. If Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong had known, he would have cried tears of blood, but... Associate Oh Jinhyeok was not yet aware of the gravity of the situation. 2. The capsule opened, and Seonghyun emerged. When playing games for a long time, one usually felt quite tired, but... Seonghyun didn''t. Rather, he felt refreshed? ¡®Hmm, my body doesn¡¯t feel stiff.¡¯ Because the memories and experiences he gained from ghosts were reflected in reality... It was thanks to the physical benefits he received. Seonghyun instinctively felt it and left the room. It was quiet, as if no one had returned yet. His mother, Lee Nakyeong, had gone out for an appointment, and his father, Yoo Gwangjin, also seemed to have not returned from work yet. Then, as for his sister, Yoo Mina... It was obvious. ¡®She¡¯s still logged in.¡¯ He opened his sister''s room and saw that the capsule was still running. Seeing that she was logged in, Seonghyun casually opened his smartphone. The Eternal World app he had downloaded in advance. It was a very useful app that allowed him to check various information about his character and use the in-game messenger. The in-game currency exchange system and auction house system were also available, so... There was no one who played Eternal World who didn''t download this app. As Seonghyun entered the app... The users registered in the messenger appeared. Since there was only one registered user, only one person showed up. Seonghyun didn''t pay much attention and immediately sent a message. The content was simple. [Seonghyun - Hello, I''m the person who received your business card at the goblin village. I''m contacting you to inquire about the conditions.] He just had to send it and wait, right? It was a huge guild, ranked 12th in the overall guild rankings. They would be busy and wouldn''t be able to check right away. As Seonghyun was about to enter the bathroom to take a shower, feeling a bit grimy... Ding! A message arrived with a notification sound. Huh? Who was it? Seonghyun wondered and checked his smartphone. It was a reply from the scout named Lee Seongyeong, whom he had just messaged. ¡®This quickly?¡¯ It showed how much they wanted to recruit him. How desperate must they be to send a message back immediately? Then should he see what the conditions were? ¡®Would it be an annual salary of 100 million won?¡¯ He heard that large guilds invested a lot in promising players. Seonghyun didn''t know exactly how much they earned because he hadn''t looked into it much, but wouldn''t it be at least 100 million won? With that expectation in mind, he opened the message. He saw a message that made his eyes widen. [Lee Seongyeong - Hello! This is Lee Seongyeong from Sick Brothers. Thank you for contacting me! Usually, for rookie newcomers, we at Sick Brothers offer a signing bonus of 500 million won and an annual salary of 50 million won, but we''d like to offer you, Seonghyun, a special signing bonus of 1 billion won and an annual salary of 100 million won. We are also open to additional conditions, so please feel free to contact us anytime! Thank you!] ¡°W-what is all this?¡± Seonghyun''s eyes widened, and he gulped. The annual salary of 100 million won was correct. But the signing bonus? How much was the signing bonus? He wondered if he had read it wrong and checked again. It was indeed 1 billion won. They were giving him a signing bonus of 1 billion won and an annual salary of 100 million won? And seeing that, Seonghyun was half convinced. ¡®This is a scam.¡¯ [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 27 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 27 He wasn''t completely sure, only half-sure, just in case. But to offer him this kind of money? He couldn''t understand it. Overlord. He had the Almighty class, so he was certainly worth that much. No, even more. The amount could even be considered small, but... ''He doesn''t know I''m an Overlord.'' There''s no way Lee Seongyeong could know that Seonghyun was an Overlord. But to make this kind of offer? Could it be a scam? What if they delayed paying the contract fee and tried to treat him like a slave? Such suspicions bloomed in his mind, but he shook his head. Couldn''t it be genuine goodwill that led to such an offer? He didn''t know much. He decided to search online first, and if he still couldn''t figure it out, he''d ask his older sister. After Seonghyun organized his thoughts, he placed his smartphone on the dining table and went to take a shower. While he was showering... He heard the sound of the capsule opening in his sister Yoo Mina''s room. "Ugh! As expected, playing games for a long time makes you stiff." Yoo Mina came out to the living room, lightly stretching. After loosening up her body, she was about to wash up when she heard Seonghyun showering. She decided to use the other bathroom, but... She suddenly spotted Seonghyun''s smartphone on the dining table. Seeing the strange text on the screen, she narrowed her eyes and looked again. "Huh?" Sick Brothers? Contract fee of 1 billion won? Annual salary of 100 million won? Instantly, her eyes lit up as she saw the message and shouted, "These bastards!!" How dare they try to lay a finger on her little brother!! Enraged, Yoo Mina grabbed the smartphone to send a ''?'' (middle finger emoji) but... Trembling, she put the phone down. It was bad enough she peeked at his phone, but to send a rude reply on top of that? She couldn''t even imagine how much Seonghyun would scold her. ''But wait, 1 billion won with an annual salary of 100 million won?'' Quite generous terms for a rookie. Though it was infuriating that they were trying to lure Seonghyun away... She was quite surprised by the generous amount. At least as far as Yoo Mina knew, Sick Brothers was a guild based on meritocracy. They were famous for not recruiting rookies unless the conditions were exceptional. And they wanted to recruit Seonghyun, who had barely left the beginner village? With such generous terms, no less? ''What the hell is going on?'' She was initially excited that they were eyeing her brother, but as she calmed down and looked at it objectively, it was strange. Mina was aware that Seonghyun can see ghosts, and that by absorbing those experiences, his talent grows exceptionally. But Sick Brothers? Seriously? Even if he showed promise, would it be enough to tempt Sick Brothers? And Sick Brothers'' scout, Lee Seongyeong. Even Yoo Mina had heard of that name. He was famous as a competent scout. There was no way she wouldn''t know him. ''If Lee Seongyeong is trying to recruit him, then it must be real.'' At the very least, it meant Seonghyun had the potential to enter a special class academy. And another thing. Yoo Mina''s eyes flashed as she recalled it. ''Hero!'' Could he have really changed his class to Hero? As that thought arose... Thrilled with anticipation, Yoo Mina couldn''t wait any longer. Her eyes gleamed as if they were possessed. Then, she barged into the bathroom where Seonghyun was showering and shouted! "Seonghyun, you! Did you really change your class to Hero?!?" "Gah! What the! Close the door!! You crazy sister!!" Even Seonghyun, despite his usual composure, couldn''t remain calm when his sister suddenly burst in. He hurriedly closed the shower door, covering himself, and shouted. But such things wouldn''t work on Yoo Mina. "No!! Just answer me!!" "No, I''m a Demon King!! Just close the door!!" "Huh?" Seonghyun finally splashed water at his sister, who was tilting her head in confusion. Yoo Mina hurriedly closed the door, her expression filled with doubt. "Demon King? That''s strange?" Hearing his sister muttering outside, Seonghyun exploded. "You''re the strange one!!" After a chaotic commotion... Seonghyun finished his shower and glared at his sister, Yoo Mina. No matter what, was it normal to open the bathroom door while your brother was showering? But Yoo Mina, who was already far from normal, just blinked at Seonghyun and said, "No, seriously, what''s this about a Demon King???" "Haaa. You really have no intention of reflecting, do you?" "What? Oh! Sorry, sorry. Anyway, what about the Demon King???" Seonghyun shook his head at her shamelessness. Annoying as she was, she was family. It wasn''t like her self-absorbed behavior was anything new. Seonghyun gave up and explained as he dried his hair with a towel. Was it the conditions? Or should he add more options? Should he offer all the conditions this time? He had already obtained some discretionary power from the guild master, so he could offer within his limits. He could even go beyond that. If Sick Brothers judged someone to be an exceptional talent, they were willing to accept conditions beyond their discretionary power. But after reading the following sentence, Lee Seongyeong completely gave up. [Seonghyun - I have established a good relationship with the Rapid Guild. I apologize for having to decline your offer.] Rapid Guild. Ranked 3rd in overall guild rankings. The guild with the alias of the fastest guild in Eternal World. Even Sick Brothers couldn''t compete with Rapid Guild. They probably couldn''t beat their offer either. It was right to give up if it was Rapid Guild. No matter how much they adjusted the conditions, it would be difficult to beat Rapid. Both in terms of fame and power. Lee Seongyeong sighed in regret. ''Ha, I missed this one.'' It was a shame, but it couldn''t be helped. By the way... ''For that Rapid Guild to make a move...'' A guild with a ridiculously small number of members for a large guild, but one that transcended the limitations of an elite, small-scale guild and shone at 3rd place in the overall guild rankings. Some even called Rapid Guild the strongest guild. That said it all. Anyway, the fact that Rapid Guild accepted him meant... ''As expected, my eyes were accurate.'' At least epic rank? No. ''Rapid Guild only accepts unique rank and above...'' At least unique. However, recently, there had been cases of rookies with unique class ranks being rejected. The reason was simple. Lack of talent. It wasn''t a guild that easily accepted people based on rank alone. They looked at both rank and talent. But the fact that they accepted a rookie meant... It was evidence that Seonghyun''s talent was that outstanding, and... ''Could it be legendary?'' Lee Seongyeong thought so and chuckled. It was a shame to miss him, but he still gained some information. Lee Seongyeong opened his friend window and sent a message to someone. It was none other than the guild master of Sick Brothers. [Lee Seongyeong - Rapid has recruited a new rookie. I contacted him first, but it seems I lost out on the offer.] Even though he missed him, he had to report it. Lee Seongyeong thought so and chuckled. A talent and power recognized by Rapid... He once again realized how great the guild master Rapid''s insight was and concluded his thoughts. He would give up on Seonghyun. He needed to pay more attention to the new user, Yeon. Then suddenly... Remembering Seonghyun''s somewhat naive appearance... ''Surely Rapid wouldn''t have recruited him for any other reason...'' He thought so and chuckled. There was no way Rapid would do that. She had become the Rapid she was today because she strictly separated public and private matters. 4. Rapid, the fastest guild in Eternal World. In Rapid''s guild master''s office, there was a person sighing deeply. "Haaa." Sighing heavily, the guild master, Rapid, thought about Yuna, the guild''s blessing and headache. What should she do with her? With that thought, she closed her eyes tightly. ''No, asking me to accept him just because he''s her brother is ridiculous.'' She shook her head, recalling Yuna, or Yoo Mina, her friend in reality. It was the first time Yuna had made such a request, so she naturally intended to grant it. It wasn''t difficult to let someone join the guild. Besides, wasn''t Yuna''s brother Seonghyun? She had met him a few times in reality. She was willing to accept him. There would be even fewer people to object if he was Yuna''s brother. But still, the conditions she demanded were too much. ''These aren''t rookie conditions.'' A contract fee of 2 billion won and an annual salary of 500 million won for a rookie? It was more than 20 times the conditions offered to a typical rookie. If he was an outstanding, once-in-a-generation rookie, she would be willing to offer about half that. But wasn''t 10% of the viewership tickets for raids he participated in too much? ''These kinds of conditions for a rookie?'' This was ridiculous. It was an outrage. Even if he was an outstanding rookie, this was too much. Yuna had said she would send him her brother''s specs later, so she had agreed for now. She was thinking that if he didn''t meet the qualifications, she would have to cut him off without mercy. Then, a message from a friend arrived. ''Mina?'' It was a message from Yoo Mina, whose nickname was Yuna. Wondering what she had sent, she opened it. [Yuna - Our brother''s specs lol.] A message typical of Yoo Mina, and a screenshot. And as Rapid looked at the screenshot, she slammed her desk and jumped up from her seat. "This is crazy!!" [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 28 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 28 Rapid blinked at the screenshot in front of her. Was this for real? At first, she had just been surprised and jumped up, but... Wasn''t this strange? ¡¾Status Window¡¿ ¡ºSeonghyun¡» ¡ºLv 15¡» ¡ºClass¡» ¡ú ¡ºOverlord¡» ¡ºTitle¡» ¡ú ¡ºMonarch (Legendary)¡»... and 16 others. ¡ºStats¡» ¡ú ¡¶Strength: 15 (13+2)¡· ¡¶Agility: 17 (15+2)¡· ¡¶Stamina: 12 (10+2)¡· ¡¶Intelligence: 23 (20+3)¡· ¡¶Wisdom: 23 (20+3)¡· ¡¶Spirit: 23 (20+3)¡· ¡¶Dexterity: 7 (6+1)¡· ¡ºAdditional Stat Points¡» ¡ú ¡¶70¡· How could these be the stats of a level 15 player? It had to be a mistake. But even after blinking a few times, the screenshot remained the same, and Rapid couldn''t help but let out a dumbfounded laugh. Above all, the effect on the word "Overlord" in the class section. An ominous darkness surged, and the letters emitted a dazzling teal light. Although it was a screenshot and she couldn''t see it move, judging by the dynamism, it was definitely a moving effect. A class-specific effect embedded in the text? It meant only one thing. ''An Almighty class?'' And even the Monarch title. An Almighty class with the Monarch title was top-tier even among Almighty classes. Then came other screenshots. Completion of the Special Grade Black Mage academy. Although not all the titles were shown, the effect of the Monarch title was clearly displayed. There was no room for doubt. "Those siblings are both crazy, seriously." She didn''t mean it in a bad way. Her voice was filled with admiration and awe. She truly meant it. Yoo Mina herself was considered to have top-tier talent, but for her younger brother Seonghyun to be the same... ''I must recruit him no matter what.'' No wonder Yoo Mina had attached those conditions. She had to recruit him. Were the conditions excessive? No way. ''They''re not enough.'' She would even add an option to increase the conditions. She even added an option to increase the annual salary and provide additional benefits if he achieved certain milestones. With this, the offer became one that wouldn''t be outmatched anywhere. Rapid nodded in satisfaction. ''This should be enough.'' She had thought he was trying to join through his sister''s connections. It was the opposite. Because Yoo Mina was his sister, she could easily recruit him. What a relief. What if Seonghyun had gone to another guild? Just imagining it gave her goosebumps. The precarious balance would have been broken, and perhaps Rapid Guild would have lost their 3rd place ranking. ''Seonghyun had this kind of talent?'' Unlike his sister Yoo Mina, she only remembered him as a quiet child. According to Yoo Mina, he was average at sports? She seemed to recall that he was good at studying, but other than that, she hadn''t heard of any other outstanding talents. To think he had such talent in the game... An Almighty class wasn''t something you could get just with luck. Rapid, or rather Ahn Yoojin, adjusted her glasses and smiled. If this was the case... ''Our guild might have a new single ranker.'' It wouldn''t be bad to form a new team centered around Seonghyun. It was still premature, but once Seonghyun leveled up a bit, they could create a team. She would have to think about that time and make plans. Although her workload increased... It was for the growth of the guild. ''With this, we can aim even higher.'' 5. Yesterday, after hearing what his sister Yoo Mina had said, he searched for Rapid Guild. Various information came up, and naturally, Seonghyun couldn''t help but be surprised. "Ah?" They were truly ranked 3rd in overall guild rankings. And Yoo Mina herself was truly ranked 9th overall. The number of people playing the game was 2 billion. There was a reason for this alias. ''They earned the alias of "fastest" by being the first to clear all new raids and existing uncleared raids.'' Although the scale of the guild, that is, the number of guild members, was small, each member''s ability was outstanding, and it was a guild that aimed for an elite few. A guild solely for raids. A guild created to clear raids faster than anyone else. That was Rapid. They were good at strategizing. They thoroughly focused on one thing. As a result, they were able to shine at 3rd place in the overall guild rankings. ''To think I can become a member of such a guild.'' As Seonghyun was rejoicing... His smartphone started ringing. "Oh! Is it here?!" "Probably." A friend message from a new person who wasn''t on Seonghyun''s friend list. Seeing the name "Rapid," it was definitely Ahn Yoojin. When he opened the message, it was an email in the form of a contract, with detailed contents. And looking at that part... [Rapid - ... (Omitted) Conditions shall be increased through mutual agreement. The initial contract fee and annual salary are set at 2 billion won and 500 million won respectively, and Rapid Guild shall increase the annual salary and provide additional bonuses each time the user achieves results. In addition, Rapid Guild shall form a team with the above user as the team leader. As a future conditional option, 10% of the revenue from raid viewership tickets in which the user participates shall be paid. It is specified that this condition may also increase in the future when results are achieved. ... (Omitted)] Like a contract, it was filled with an enormous amount of text. But Seonghyun''s eyes were glued to the conditions section. A contract fee of 2 billion won and an annual salary of 500 million won... But that wasn''t all. The bonus and annual salary would increase every time he achieved results? On top of that, they would even increase the percentage of raid viewership ticket revenue? Raid viewership tickets. This was one of the guild''s main sources of income. Especially for Rapid Guild, which specialized in raids, these raid viewership tickets were quite important. During raids, they would stream the raid through the guild channel, and viewers could pay a certain amount to watch the broadcast. This amount was called a viewership ticket. The number of viewers for popular guilds was at least a million. Rapid Guild was also a massive organization, with the number of concurrent viewers reaching hundreds of thousands to tens of millions. In other words, if one ticket cost 1,000 won, they could earn at least several billion won from a single broadcast. And 10% of that? At least hundreds of millions of won. ''Crazy.'' The contract conditions were truly praiseworthy. As Seonghyun was stunned, his sister Yoo Mina, feeling a bit anxious, asked with a hint of worry, "H-how is it? The conditions are good, right? J-just like I said?" Seeing Seonghyun''s status window, it was highly likely that Ahn Yoojin had followed her request. There was even a possibility that she had offered more. Both Ahn Yoojin and Yoo Mina felt a sense of crisis at the thought of Seonghyun going to another guild; that''s how amazing his specs were. Even when Seonghyun only mentioned that he could see ghosts in the game and gain their memories and experiences, she thought his future would be bright. Now, he had surpassed that. Single ranker? With enough time, it wouldn''t be a problem for Seonghyun. His potential was that great. Although she had spoken confidently at first, Yoo Mina, feeling uneasy, asked, "Huh? What?" "The conditions. Are you satisfied?" "Ah, I already signed and sent it?" "???" Why was he so fast? Well, fast was good. Hearing Seonghyun''s answer, Yoo Mina finally smiled and nodded. Then, she had something to tell Seonghyun. "So, which village did you decide on for your next destination?" "Next village? Hmm, I haven''t decided yet." Seonghyun had been thinking of going to the village with Kahku''s warehouse, but... He could also obtain it through inter-village travel before graduating from the second village. It didn''t matter if he went to a different village. If he had to choose, wouldn''t it be better to go to a village with many hidden pieces? As he was thinking about that... Yoo Mina smiled mysteriously and said to Seonghyun, "Then, how about Sekan Village?" "Sekan? I don''t think I''ve heard of it?" It wasn''t the village with Kahku''s warehouse either. As Seonghyun tilted his head, having truly heard of this village for the first time, Yoo Mina nodded. "It''s not a famous village, after all. It''s a rather boring village." "Then why are you recommending it?" "Huhuhu, one of our guild members went there and almost reached a hidden piece but failed. After that, the hidden piece disappeared, but I thought maybe you could obtain it?" "Oh, a lost hidden piece." "How is it? Are you interested?" At his sister Yoo Mina''s words, Seonghyun nodded, clearly tempted. "So, what kind of hidden piece is it?" "There''s a hidden dungeon that the former village head knew about, but he was ill, and you had to cure him to get the location of the hidden dungeon. But they failed, and no one knows the location anymore. How about it? Do you think you can go?" "Oh, definitely." "And that hidden dungeon is where the monster that the Hero Hindel first sealed is sleeping, or so they say?" It seemed he had another reason to go there. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 29 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 29 0. At the eastern end of the vast Perthville Plains. A tranquil forest, filled with the gentle rustling of leaves and the fragrant scent of the woods carried by the breeze, created an infinitely serene landscape. The songs of birds chirping echoed from all directions, and the buzzing of insects clearly revealed that this was indeed a forest. In the distance, at the end of the forest, a sheer cliff stood tall, bathed in sunlight and shining brilliantly. It was truly a breathtaking sight. The peaceful and tranquil eastern forest of Perthville Plains. However, in an instant, black smoke billowed up, and a massive inferno engulfed the area. The gentle breeze fanned the cruel flames, and the fragrant scent of the forest was soon replaced by the acrid smell of burning. The raging flames devoured everything, silencing the chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects. Crackle, crackle, crackle. Whoosh! Green fur and skin, and short, stubby bodies. The red eyes of the goblins reflected the raging inferno. And then... -Keruk! Kek! (Kill them all!) -Keheuk, Kahreuk! (Burn everything!) -Kehuk, Kahreuke! (Purify for the master!) Undead, clad in black darkness and emitting a turquoise aura, beheaded the despairing goblins. Amidst the undead that had set the entire goblin village ablaze... Someone emerged from the flames. The undead, cloaked in darkness, bowed their heads in reverence as they saw the figure emerge from the inferno. As if worshipping a god. -Kikirik! Kereukhu! (Oh! Our great master!) -Kereuk, Pareuhu! (Our great Lord!) -Kehak, Kereuk! (We worship you!) Seonghyun, the master of the undead, who had watched everything from beginning to end, scratched his cheek with a troubled expression. He wondered if this was right. ''Are they... worshipping me?'' Objectively, it looked like they had swept through the goblin village as if worshipping an evil god. Moreover, he couldn''t understand why they had set the fire. He understood that it was for efficient hunting, but they could have swept through the village without doing that. Seonghyun didn''t think too deeply about it. It would only give him a headache. Still, he had achieved his initial goal. He was somewhat satisfied. First, his level. [You have gained experience points!] [Level up!] [You have reached level 20.] ''Finally.'' He had reached the level required to go to the next village. But that wasn''t all he was waiting for. In Eternal World, you learn new skills every 10 levels. You learn skills immediately upon changing classes, so you don''t gain skills at level 10. And the first time you gain a new skill is at level 20. Seonghyun was also excited, wondering what kind of skill he would get. With a heart full of anticipation, Seonghyun waited. The message he had been waiting for appeared. [You have reached level 20, and a new skill for ¡ºOverlord¡» has been unlocked.] [You have acquired the Almighty rank skill, ¡ºNetherworld¡».] ''Oh?!'' Seonghyun was quite surprised, which was rare for him. The first reason was that he had expected a Legendary skill, but an Almighty rank skill appeared. The second reason was the name. ''Netherworld!'' Just hearing the name, it seemed similar to the skill "Mortuary," which Bejiron had boasted about learning at level 30, a skill that stored undead. He wondered what the effect would be. Seonghyun immediately opened the Netherworld skill window. ¡ºNetherworld¡» ¡ú ¡¶Almighty¡· ¡ú [Lv 1] [Growth Type] [Passive Effect] [Compound] Praise the Lord of Death who rules over death, the deceased, and spirits, and awaits here. The deceased and spirits who praise their Lord are forever blessed here. ¡ú Overlord exclusive skill. ¡ú You can send the created Death Legion to the Netherworld to restore all their health and store the legion. ¡ú Mana is not consumed when sending or recalling the Death Legion. ¡ú Undead eroded by the Death Aura can also be sent to the Netherworld. ¡ú The Death Legion stored in the Netherworld grows very slowly. ''......?'' To say the effect was significant was an understatement. It was tremendous. The fact that mana wasn''t consumed when storing and retrieving them was unbelievable, but... The last part was especially unbelievable. The Death Legion stored in the Netherworld grows very slowly. Undead storage type skills like Mortuary only stored the undead. To summon undead even in places without corpses. But for the undead to grow just by being stored? It was an effect that would get him beaten up if he posted it online, with people telling him not to synthesize it. Making everyone their enemy wasn''t so bad either. It seemed like Yuna''s ranking would rise soon anyway. ''Okay, let''s upload it.'' It didn''t seem like it needed much editing. The original video was so amazing. She would adjust the perspective, but not much. There wasn''t much to do in terms of editing, so she completed the video and uploaded it with her eyes closed. She anticipated the kind of impact it would have. ''I''m going to be very busy for a while.'' But they had done well so far, hadn''t they? Rapid wasn''t a pushover that would crumble just because they uploaded a rookie video. ''I guess things will get crazy around tomorrow.'' No matter how amazing the video was, the reaction usually came a day later. As Rapid was doing other work... About an hour after Seonghyun''s video was uploaded, a guild member rushed in frantically. "Guild master! The guild channel is overloaded!!" "Huh?" Already? Rapid''s expectations were spectacularly off. 2. The Fastest Rapid Guild. The channel of Rapid Guild, which shone at 3rd place in the overall guild rankings, was also impressive. 20 million subscribers on MeTube. Although it was 45th in terms of subscribers among guild channels active in Eternal World... It couldn''t be helped. Since it was a channel that focused more on live streams than videos, it was difficult to increase subscribers significantly. However, Rapid Guild''s ticket power was enormous enough to make up for the lack of subscribers. Live tickets. This referred to live streams that required viewers to pay a certain amount to enter. A large number of viewers meant that the guild''s status was high. Although they lagged behind in subscribers, their ticket power was the second highest among all guilds. Rapid Guild, which succeeded in raids faster than any other guild and cleared them first, had stronger characters than any other guild. That''s why they were called the Fastest. And a new video was uploaded on that Rapid Guild channel. The video uploaded by Rapid Guild, which usually focused on live streams, was none other than a solo rookie video. It was a video introducing the rookie and promoting them. Hong Jeongmin, a big fan of Rapid Guild, couldn''t help but feel a bit disappointed when he saw the video. ''Ah, that''s a shame.'' It would have been better if it was a video of another member of Rapid Guild. But he was still curious. ''Rapid Guild is famous for not recruiting rookies, so this rookie must be quite strong, right?'' Rapid Guild was famous for not readily recruiting rookies. There was a widespread rumor that they had previously rejected a Unique rank rookie. They didn''t accept people even if their rank was high if they weren''t skilled. That was their principle that drove fans crazy. Each and every guild member was an elite, top-level user. ''It must be the same this time, right?'' Hong Jeongmin, who was initially a bit disappointed, soon started the video with anticipation. However, even Hong Jeongmin, who was a fanatic fan of Rapid Guild but had poor gaming skills, recognized the field that appeared. "Huh? Isn''t that Perthville?" It was the area where Hong Jeongmin had also played. Perthville, the first village. They brought in a user who was active there? No matter how skilled they were, weren''t they still a beginner? That thought dominated Hong Jeongmin''s mind. Ah, this was disappointing. With that thought, he continued watching. He wanted to see what kind of user they were, at least their face. With a skeptical attitude, Hong Jeongmin''s eyes widened as he watched to see how good they were. Undead, clad in black darkness and emitting a turquoise aura from between their bodies. No, should he even call them undead? They were so different from the undead that Hong Jeongmin knew, with an overwhelming sense of disparity, and they were invading a goblin village that looked similar to them. No, this wasn''t just an invasion. "W-what the!?" As if to thoroughly oppress the weak, they burned down the entire village, brutally ravaging and completely destroying the goblins. They were filled with malice, solely aiming for the goblins'' deaths. And a man leisurely commanding those undead. Although his face was blurred black and couldn''t be seen, his sharp, turquoise eyes were visible. But just from those eyes, Hong Jeongmin could tell. That man was the master of the undead. As a massive inferno engulfed the village and all the goblins fell to the ground... The video ended with the man emerging from the flames and the undead bowing their heads in worship. "Crazy. This is insane." Hong Jeongmin couldn''t hold back his praise. He couldn''t resist this. Just as he was about to write a comment... Seeing the warning message that there were too many users, he nodded, understanding. "This is truly insane." Once again, he spared no praise and went to another community to start writing. Naturally, it was a post praising the new Rapid Guild rookie. -Hey losers, haven''t you seen the Rapid rookie video yet? [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 30 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 30 3. Sekan Village. It wasn''t a village with a pleasant atmosphere. Ever since the village head, the elder of this village, passed away a year ago, the atmosphere had been like this. It wasn''t that people weren''t living their lives diligently, but the air was heavy with a somber mood. It felt as if the entire village was in a state of mourning. Some NPCs were hostile towards users. They blamed the users for the village head''s death, believing that if a certain user had arrived on time, the village head would still be alive. Because of this resentment, the atmosphere was even worse. Perhaps because of this, fewer users visited the village afterward. No one played games to be ostracized, even if they didn''t expect special treatment. The few users who did come to Sekan Village did so with the hope of finding hidden pieces rumored to be hidden within the gloomy atmosphere. But they all left empty-handed. On the other hand, there was one user who arrived in the village with a rather cheerful gait. ''It''s quite different from Perthville.'' It was Seonghyun, who had just arrived in Sekan Village. The atmosphere was depressing, and some NPCs looked at him with wary eyes, but he didn''t mind. This village held a dungeon left by the hero Hindel. That was what mattered. As he strolled down the road with a positive mindset, Seonghyun noticed several things. ''The atmosphere is definitely different from the second village.'' He wasn''t just referring to the NPCs'' attitudes. The atmosphere among the users was quite different. In the first village, there were many inexperienced players. But in the second village, there was a more organized feel. Perhaps it was because they had adapted to the game and become more proficient? It didn''t really matter to Seonghyun, who hadn''t engaged in party play. ''Now, I need to find the ghost of the village head...'' If he died of illness, he would usually be near his house. If not, he would be near a place that held significance to him in life. Of course, there were ghosts like the former village head of Hindel Village who wandered around restlessly... That would be a bit difficult, but Seonghyun had a method that was practically a cheat. ¡®And there he was!¡¯ "Excuse me." -Oh my? It''s rare for someone to see me! We have a very special guest in our village. He spoke to a ghost of a middle-aged woman nearby. And immediately, "Do you happen to know where the ghost of the former village head is?" -Ah! You must be talking about the village head~ Of course I know~ He''s sitting on a bench in the plaza in front of the village head''s house. "Thank you very much." It was quick to ask other ghosts. He hadn''t thought of this method when searching for Hindel, but when he thought about it, who would know ghosts better than other ghosts? Having identified the location of the former village head''s ghost in Sekan Village, Seonghyun immediately headed there. And just as the ghost woman had described, in front of the village square, in front of a large mansion that appeared to be the village head''s house, he saw an elderly ghost sitting on a bench in the village square. It was the ghost of the village head, who looked like a kind grandmother. Her attire was somewhat old-fashioned and elegant, clearly showing that she was the village head. A benevolent and warm appearance. He could understand why she was called the great elder of this village. As Seonghyun approached the grandmotherly ghost of the village head... She looked at Seonghyun first and greeted him with a kind smile. -Greetings, hohoho. I never imagined I would be exchanging greetings with the living after death. "Nice to meet you." -What brings you to me? "Ah, it''s nothing special, but I wanted to know about the cave where the hero Hindel sealed a monster during his lifetime." -Hohoho, of course, I can tell you. Here, let me tell you. As the village head''s ghost was about to tell him... Seonghyun naturally accepted her memories and experiences. As soon as he saw her memory of discovering the cave while playing with her friends as a child, and the memory of discovering the sealed monster there, he realized the location. Far from being surprised that Seonghyun had received her memories, the grandmotherly ghost of the village head smiled, as if she had expected it. -As expected of a special person. [''Unknown Power'' has allowed you to exhibit abilities beyond your current stats.] [Wisdom permanently increased by +5.] Having gained memories and experiences... Seonghyun expressed his gratitude to the grandmotherly ghost of the village head, Gwen. "Thank you. Then I''ll be on my way." -I wish you good luck. After being seen off by Granny Gwen... Seonghyun immediately set off. ''It wasn''t simply because Granny Gwen died.'' He thought as he looked at the gloomy atmosphere of the village. The atmosphere in Sekan Village was strangely depressing. It was odd to attribute it solely to the death of Gwen, the great elder. Those who were alive had to live on. He felt this even more strongly after obtaining Gwen''s memories. Even though the villagers respected and followed Gwen... There was no reason for them to ostracize users to this extent. After all, she didn''t die because of users. There was no reason to resent users. Then why had this happened? It was simple. One hit would be an instant game over. Seeing this, Seonghyun tried to summon the Death Legion by opening the Netherworld. But then, suddenly... ''Huh?'' -Shaaaaaaaaa! He made eye contact with the screaming Wraith of Barpur. At first, he thought he was mistaken, but... The Wraith of Barpur, emitting a teal light and scattering an eerie aura with game effects. And next to it, another wraith that looked exactly the same, but with its legs scattered as if its pixels were broken, was restlessly fidgeting and trembling. ''Why are there two of them?'' Seonghyun stared in confusion. Clearly, one had a monster name and level displayed above its head, while the other had no such indication. Just like any other ghost. And the ghost of the demonic beast Barpur slapped its wraith repeatedly and shouted. -Oh my! How dare you hit a-a noble person!! S-stop it right now!! -Shaaaaaaaaaaa! -Oh, this is driving me crazy!! I-I''m so sorry!! To think I''ve caused such trouble for a noble person! -Kyaaaaaaaaaaaa!! The ghost of the demonic beast Barpur kept bowing to Seonghyun and apologizing, while the Wraith of Barpur roared, ready to attack at any moment. What was this? And at that moment, the Wraith of Barpur charged. Swooooooooosh!! The swift, ghost-like movement characteristic of wraiths! Even Seonghyun would have found it difficult to dodge if he hadn''t been prepared. Combining the experiences of the hunter Apik and the former instructor Eddie, he predicted the wraith''s path and quickly moved out of the way. The Wraith of Barpur struck the ground in vain, and using the rebound, it leaped again and charged towards Seonghyun, who had retreated. The Wraith of Barpur had excellent combat sense. However, when it came to sense, Seonghyun, with the experiences of two ghosts, was several steps ahead. He kicked a stalactite and spun in the air, narrowly escaping the attack of the Wraith of Barpur. Crash! The Wraith of Barpur slammed into the wall, and at that moment, Seonghyun''s eyes lit up. An instinctive attraction. Recalling Helena''s memories, he glared at the Wraith of Barpur with his teal eyes. He naturally understood. His own ability. And the fact that wraiths were also a type of undead. In other words... ''Death Aura.'' It was a very good material. The teal energy that bloomed behind Seonghyun as the Death Aura unfolded transformed into a heart, and as the teal heart began to beat... A teal fog instantly filled the surroundings. Even the Wraith of Barpur couldn''t escape its influence. -Cough! The Wraith of Barpur opened its mole-like mouth as if to vomit something out, suffering and groaning. From there, a teal aura rose. And the message that Seonghyun had been waiting for appeared. [You can use ¡ºDeath Legion¡».] [Would you like to raise the ¡ºDeath Legion¡»?] At the same time, Seonghyun shouted towards the ghost of the demonic beast Barpur, who was watching with glowing teal eyes. "Come." -Aaaaaah! Of course!! Like a servant faithfully carrying out his master''s orders, the ghost of the demonic beast Barpur lunged towards the Wraith of Barpur, and at that moment, a teal aura erupted from Seonghyun''s entire body. The light gathered in Seonghyun''s hand, forming another heart, and as that heart throbbed... The Wraith of Barpur and the ghost of the demonic beast Barpur merged into one, becoming enveloped in black darkness. Simultaneously, as the other heart in Seonghyun''s grasp pulsed... The Wraith of Barpur and the ghost of the demonic beast Barpur, now unified, bowed their head. -I behold my new master, my god. [''Unknown Power'' has allowed you to convert a target that is normally difficult to convert into the ¡ºDeath Legion¡».] [The Wraith of the demonic beast Barpur joins the ¡ºDeath Legion¡».] [You have brought an undead of a higher level than yourself under your command!] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºElevated Leadership¡».] [You have gained experience points.] [Level Up] ¡Á 5 [Additional Stat Points have reached 100.] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºThe Enduring One¡».] [!!Caution!!] [This Death Soldier has a higher level than its master!] [It may disobey orders!] It may disobey orders? Seonghyun looked at the Wraith of Barpur again, seeing that message. This guy, with his mole-like face, was bowing his head and looked like he was about to lick Seonghyun''s shoes. This guy? No way. He had obtained a wraith unified with its soul. This was an unexpected gain. He leveled up and even gained a title. But then... -Ehehehe, Master. If you go that way, you''ll find my physical body! It might be difficult for you now, but if you keep that body, wouldn''t it be useful someday?! It was even spilling valuable information. To think he could gain even more benefits here... ''This is good.'' [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 31 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 31 4. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong woke up after a long, restful sleep. He felt like he had a pleasant dream, though he couldn''t quite recall it. He even felt refreshed the moment he opened his eyes. He glanced at the clock, just in case, and saw that he wasn''t late. Had all his fatigue melted away? It was a truly refreshing morning. With a cheerful smile, he greeted his colleagues and settled into his workstation, ready to tackle the day''s tasks. His work involved reviewing user videos and documenting various situations arising from their actions, all to prepare appropriate responses and solutions. Naturally, since yesterday, Wonsong''s primary task had been to closely monitor a specific user. It was standard practice for the User Management Team to keep an eye on high-ranking users who often triggered unexpected events within the game. However, this particular user, Seonghyun, was generating even more unforeseen circumstances than those top-tier players. Observing him had become Wonsong''s top priority. ''Hopefully, things will be quiet today.'' Yesterday had been an anomaly. It was absurd for someone to acquire so many hidden pieces and attain the Almighty class within a single day of logging in. Okay, fine, it''s possible. But to do it two days in a row? That was highly unlikely. No, impossible. Lost in these thoughts as he worked, Wonsong immediately started tracking Seonghyun the moment he saw him log in. Still at level 15, Seonghyun was diligently hunting. He was undeniably impressive. ''Not only is the Almighty class unique, but his undead have far superior AI than others,'' The undead moved with a lifelike fluidity that even Wonsong, an employee of E-World, had never witnessed before. Was this normal? He wasn''t sure. He needed to ask someone, but he hesitated to approach Team Leader Jung Jihye after forcing her to cancel her day off yesterday. Watching Seonghyun sweep through the Goblin Village, Wonsong was further convinced of the exceptional artificial intelligence at play. It hadn''t been this advanced when Seonghyun seized control of the undead from that user, Bejiron, before. ''Today, he''s just hunting normally.'' Yes, just keep hunting peacefully. No?v(el)B\\jnn Wonsong thought, maintaining a casual expression as he monitored Seonghyun on his screen. How much time had passed? As Seonghyun chose Sekan as his second village, strange occurrences began to unfold. He stared blankly into the air for a moment, then walked to the center of the village and sat on a bench. Was he taking a break? That was plausible. Nothing major. But then... [¡ºSeonghyun¡» User has permanently increased his stats through ¡®Unknown Power¡¯.] This doesn''t bode well. Wonsong blinked, his eyes glued to Seonghyun''s video feed. And then... ''Why is he going there?'' The second village, Sekan. Although not widely known, it''s the place where the Hero Hindel sealed away a troublesome demonic beast. It''s also a hidden piece that another user almost obtained. ''No, no, not there!?'' Taking advantage of its recent rediscovery, it''s where the most important demonic beast, Barpur, resided. The one intended for the new event, the Barpur Raid. It hasn''t been unsealed yet, so it''s not a raid-level monster. ¡®But he''s going there now?¡¯ No, how did he even know about it? ¡®But come to think of it, has he ever gone anywhere that wasn''t already well-known?¡¯ Seonghyun? No way. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, who was tense, suddenly recalled the information about the demonic beast Barpur and felt relieved. ''Whew, that''s a relief.'' Seonghyun''s level is only 20. And the Wraith of Barpur is level 35. Even with the Almighty class and Seonghyun''s control, it would be a tough fight. Even with the additional stat points... ''He can''t catch that.'' The elemental matchup is also unfavorable. Since it''s a Specter. It summons undead from the netherworld to attack? That won''t work either. He can''t steal it with Death Aura. The level difference is too great. In the end, Seonghyun will fail here! ''Heh heh, let''s see.'' He watched with that expectation, but what''s this? [¡ºSeonghyun¡» User has subdued the Wraith of Barpur with ''Unknown Power''.] ¡°???¡± Why is that even possible??? As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong stared at the monitor with wide eyes, Associate Oh Jinhyeok, who was quietly doing his work next to him, tilted his head. What is he looking at like that? With that thought, he looked at Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s screen. ¡°Huh? Senior? Isn''t that Barpur? The Barpur we were going to use for the second village joint raid!? What should we do if he does that there?!!¡± Looking at his clueless junior, he said with a slight smile. ¡°We''re screwed.¡± ¡°Huh?!?¡± Since the raid event has disappeared before the announcement. That''s a relief. He might get chewed out in the report, though. But that''s not the problem right now. The Wraith of Barpur is fine. Originally, the demonic beast Barpur is much stronger in body than in spirit. So, no matter what Death Aura and Unknown Power do... ¡°He won''t be able to take the body. How could he put that in the Netherworld?¡± ¡°Huh? Senior? He''s putting it in?¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°Whoa, it''s going in?¡± Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong stared blankly at Associate Oh Jinhyeok, who was marveling at the situation. He seriously considered quitting, not because of Seonghyun, but because of Associate Oh Jinhyeok. 5. ¡ºLv 25¡» ¡ºClass¡» ¡ú¡ºOverlord¡» ¡ºTitle¡» ¡ú¡ºMonarch (Legendary)¡»...... and 18 others. ¡ºStats¡» ¡ú¡¶Strength: 42 (38+4)¡·¡¶Agility: 39 (35+4)¡· ¡¶Stamina: 37 (33+4)¡·¡¶Intelligence: 56 (50+6)¡· ¡¶Wisdom: 61 (55+6)¡·¡¶Spirit: 133 (120+13)¡· ¡¶Dexterity: 7 (6+1)¡· ¡ºAdditional Stat Points¡» ¡ú¡¶0¡· That''s the result. ''Oh.'' He could clearly feel the changes in his body after raising his stats. It felt like he could do a little more. Especially mana, which more than doubled compared to before. With this much... ''Even if I release the goblins and the Wraith of Barpur at the same time, it won''t run out quickly.'' The Wraith of Barpur, being a high-ranking undead, consumed quite a bit of mana just to maintain. However, it''s different now that it has more than doubled. Before, it was a burden to just summon the Wraith of Barpur, but now he can summon everyone without worry. Could it increase even more? ''Let''s invest more in Intelligence and Wisdom in the future.'' He''ll have to think about raising Strength, Agility, and Stamina through soul acquisition. Now, the last hidden piece left here. A sword emitting a brilliant light. Should he say it''s more simple than flashy in appearance? It is beautiful. However, there were no dazzling or fancy decorations, but the curve from the hilt to the blade was smoothly connected, and the blue energy dwelling in the blade was still vivid despite the long passage of time. Even to Seonghyun, who didn''t have a deep knowledge of swords, it was an extraordinary sword. And even recalling the memories of the former instructor Eddie, who knew about swords, it was a rare masterpiece. Gulp. ''So this is what a masterpiece sword is like.'' The length of the sword was close to a longsword. He couldn''t even remember the Steel Sword, which was in the same position. Well then. ¡®Shall I check it out?¡¯ ¡ºApprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡úThis was the sword that Hero Hindel mainly used during his apprenticeship, but he ended up using it to seal the powerful demonic beast Barpur. ¡úAlthough it has sealed the powerful demonic beast Barpur for ages, its energy and power seem to remain intact. ¡úHowever, it also contains ominous energy, having absorbed demonic energy for a long time. ¡úCutting power increased by +10%. ¡úAttack power increased by +5%. ¡úAbsorbs the demonic energy of beings it cuts down. ''Wow. What is this...?'' Unique rank. The highest rank item Seonghyun has ever obtained. The same rank as the Recommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy. But unlike the recommendation letter, this is an item that helps in battle! Cutting power increased by +10% and attack power increased by +5%. With options like these, there are no restrictions. There should be level restrictions or class restrictions. ''I can make quite a bit of money if I sell it later.'' The desire to try it out quickly arose. Steel Sword? Yeah, he''s going to sell it. Then, should he move to the next hunting ground? As Seonghyun thought so and was about to move, He suddenly remembered someone when he looked at the Apprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword. No, should he say a Wraith? ''Helena hasn''t come out yet.'' He was more used to her absence, but somehow it felt a bit empty without her. She said she couldn''t come out for a while because she used up a lot of power, so It can''t be helped. Seonghyun''s purpose in playing Eternal World was to make money, but he also enjoyed the process of meeting various Wraiths and gaining their experiences and memories, unlike in reality. And among them, he wanted to use Helena''s memories and experiences to do what she yearned for and wished for. It wasn''t Helena''s intention or anything like that. It was just like a milestone that he set as a goal while playing this game. ''The peak of Overlord.'' The realm that even Helena ultimately failed to reach. Reaching that realm someday was Seonghyun''s current goal. And. ''I have to find traces of Hero Hindel.'' Unlike the peak of Overlord, This was Seonghyun''s personal goal, not Helena''s wish. Hero Hindel. Finding his traces. Unfortunately, in Barpur''s memories, he didn''t know where Hindel went. Only the information that he left leisurely after the sealing. ''Wouldn''t it come out if I keep looking?'' Let''s not get too caught up in it for now and do what needs to be done. He''ll go to the third village when he reaches level 50, so He just needs to find it before then. Then there''s only one thing to do now. ''If I got a Wraith, I should try using it, right?'' Remember the fearsome power of the Wraith that attacked him. That Wraith is now under Seonghyun''s command. How could he not try using it? He had somewhere to go with his older sister, Yoo Mina, later in the afternoon, so He needs to head to the hunting ground as soon as possible. Wait, come to think of it. ''They said party play is much more efficient from the second village onwards, right?'' He heard that there are many hunting grounds, commonly called dungeons, that require a party of a certain number or more to enter. Seonghyun thought he should form a party. Recalling the central plaza where he met the village head, Granny Gwen, a while ago, Seonghyun returned to the village. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 32 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 32 0. A colossal, black fortress, built of ink-dark stone. It was a magnificent structure, its beauty enough to make any art connoisseur gasp in awe. The exterior was bathed in a somber, light-absorbing hue, each brick imbued with an extraordinary aura. This black fortress, more formidable than any stronghold, would never allow intruders. A mystical bird, seemingly crafted from black paper, flew towards it. The black paper bird effortlessly passed through the gloomy black curtain surrounding the fortress, soaring deep into its heart. It reached the grand audience chamber, the innermost sanctum where the king was met. A lonely air pervaded the chamber, where an old man stood gazing at the empty throne. Could he even be called an old man? Wrinkles lined his face, giving him the appearance of an elder, yet his skin was as smooth and flawless as a youth''s. His true identity, age, and even gender remained a mystery. The man extended his hand to the side. As if compelled by an unseen force, the black paper bird landed there. Just moments ago, it had been soaring towards the audience chamber. Now, without a hint of movement, it rested in the man''s hand. He unfolded the bird, revealing the message within. ¡°......¡± He read the words inscribed on the black paper bird. With a hint of sorrow in his eyes, he gazed at the long-empty throne and closed his eyelids. When he opened them again, a fiery blend of yearning, ambition, and an indescribable emotion burned within. "Go to Sekan Village." A single, simple command. At his words, the shadows within the palace stirred as if raising a toast, filling the audience chamber with a sudden clamor. The shadows chanted, their voices like a chorus, or perhaps a hymn. - Hail! - Worship! - He is coming! - The master of the palace! - Let us offer our palace! - We are His servants! - A palace to offer to Him! - Let us present it! The chanting shadows vanished as abruptly as they appeared, like a machine powering down. Silence descended upon the audience chamber, leaving only the man. He turned, his eyes blazing with fervor. "The time has come to offer our palace, Over Palace, to our Lord." Over Palace, which had long remained dormant, and its leader, one of the Nine Heroes, Black Star, finally stirred. 1. Returning to Sekan Village and heading towards the central plaza, he found it more crowded than before. When Seonghyun first arrived, it was much earlier in the morning than he expected. No, it was closer to dawn than morning. Thanks to that, he was able to talk to the former village head, Granny Gwen, without any inconvenience. Anyway, there were quite a lot of people now. Users occupied most of the plaza. It was a scene reminiscent of a bustling marketplace. And how noisy it was. Even the stoic Seonghyun frowned slightly. "Anyone going to Adum''s Cave!! We have three people, just need two more!! Thief spot is full!!" "Looking for people to go to the Jackal Forest!! Only one spot left!! Need a melee warrior!!" "Looking for a party to go to Percy Hill!! I''m a Ranger with good ranged attacks!! Please!!" "Party for the foothills of the Purba Mountains. Come if you want." "Please!! Let me join a party!! I graduated from the Intermediate Thief Academy! Why won''t anyone talk to me!!" To have to find a party in this noisy plaza. ''Should I just go alone?'' Even in the second village, where party play is practically mandatory, there must be solo hunting grounds if he looks for them. Should he escape this chaotic place? As Seonghyun was lost in thought, He felt someone approaching from behind. Who is it? Turning around after sensing the presence, He saw a simple-looking user cautiously approaching. A male user with a youthful appearance that still looked young. Had he just become an adult? Perhaps he was even a high school student, judging by his looks. Seonghyun scanned the user''s equipment in that brief moment. ''He seems skilled.'' Although the equipment was a bit inferior to Seonghyun''s, most of it seemed to be of Rare rank. Normally, one would think he''s someone with some money, but Seonghyun thought the opposite. Since Seonghyun also only equipped items he obtained himself, He couldn''t even imagine buying them with money. "Oh my. Nice to meet you. I''m an archer, Amir, and I''m level 26." "Ahem, ahem, I am the mage Nuel. Level 27." "Ahahaha, it''s fate that we''ve formed a party like this, so it''s good to get to know each other. I''m Manhu. As you can see, I''m a swordsman, and I''m level 29! The three of us already know each other." There was nothing suspicious about the way they introduced themselves. It meant they were used to it. At least to others. To Seonghyun, who had the discerning eye of a hunter, it was nothing more than a ridiculous farce. [Amir - So, are we really going to do it?] [Nuel - It''s better to do it since we have more people.] [Manhu - Look at that Seonghyun kid''s equipment before you say anything, you idiots. If you have eyes, use them to think and at least try to observe!] [Amir - Sorry...] [Nuel - He has Epic gear?] [Amir - Wow... Manhu saw that already? He''s amazing.] [Manhu - If you get it, shut up and follow me.] The three were scheming through messages. As Seonghyun expected, they approached him with the intention of stealing his items. [Amir - He doesn''t seem to have noticed, right?] [Nuel - No way he knows, have we ever been caught?] As the two were chatting, Manhu checked the party window with irritated eyes. ¡ºJinwoo - Lv.23 - (Sword and Shield Warrior)¡» ¡ºSeonghyun - Lv.25 - (????)¡» ¡ºAmir - Lv.26 - (Archer)¡» ¡ºNuel - Lv.27 - (Elemental Mage)¡» ¡ºManhu - Lv.29 - (Swordsman)¡» Seonghyun not revealing his class was a bit concerning, but He didn''t think it would be a problem. It was easy to tell just by looking at the equipment he was wearing. Manhu sent a message to the two who were chatting. [Manhu - You guys better act properly and not get caught like idiots. Jinwoo is a Sword and Shield Warrior, and that Seonghyun guy is a swordsman like me, but seeing that he''s wearing dual swords, he seems to be a Dual Swordsman, so don''t let your guard down. When I give the signal, Nuel and Amir, you two attack first.] [Amir - The signal is the same as always, right? When we leave the party and form our own?] [Manhu - Don''t ask obvious questions.] [Nuel - Got it.] [Amir - Got it...] They couldn''t even imagine that Seonghyun already knew. Who would imagine that? That a user who joined a party would suddenly turn into an enemy. Especially since the icon above his head is perfectly fine. It''s natural not to be suspicious. It was all Manhu''s scheme. If you attack another user first, you accumulate infamy. It''s fine at first, but if it keeps accumulating, you won''t be able to enter villages, and you might even get caught by the guards at the entrance and end up in jail. But it''s not like there''s no way around it. ''This is truly a god game. Keuh huh.'' All he has to do is not kill them directly. Make them fall into a dungeon trap and leave them to die? It''s not like he''s attacking first. There''s no way to accumulate infamy. Those guys with flashy items and arrogant attitudes? He''s already dealt with 5 or 6 of them using this method. The items he obtained through this were substantial. There was a reason why he couldn''t stop doing this even though he had obtained a pretty good class. And this is the last time. ''Once I join the guild, this is over.'' Because there was a guild he was about to join. He can''t do this after joining the guild. He can''t do such petty things after joining a mid-sized guild. ''I was planning to make a big score this time, but what a windfall this is.'' Manhu chuckled inwardly as he looked at Seonghyun and Jinwoo standing in front of the cave. All the items Jinwoo was wearing were Rare rank. Seonghyun was even better. He had Epic rank items equipped. Plus, the unusual sword on his left hip. That''s at least Epic rank or higher. ''I''ll take that no matter what.'' Confident in his skills, Manhu didn''t even consider the possibility of losing. He was a talent who proudly passed the Advanced Swordsman Academy. There''s no way he would lose to Seonghyun, whose level was only 4 lower than his. Entering Adum''s Cave, Manhu couldn''t help but question the situation that seemed to be going wrong. "Huh, huh?" [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 33 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 33 3. Adum''s Cave. A 5-person dungeon where goblins and hobgoblins appear together. It was also one of the more difficult dungeons in Sekan. The hobgoblins and goblins attacked fiercely, and their numbers were not to be underestimated. And perhaps because it was heavily populated by goblins? It was full of traps and poisons. It wasn''t designated as a 5-person party dungeon for nothing. This was also the reason why Manhu and his group chose this place as their hunting ground. It had to be this difficult so that they would die quickly. What good were good items? If the skill to handle them was poor. If they fell into a trap or were swarmed by goblins, isolating the two at the front was all it took. They would die on their own. It should have been the same this time. "Hmm, this is too easy for a 5-person dungeon." "??????¡± "?!?!?!?¡± "!!" "Wow! Brother Seonghyun! Really, amazing." He sheathed his sword after the battle. It really wasn''t much. The attacking hobgoblins and goblins. There was only one higher-level monster, a hobgoblin, but that hobgoblin was a problem. It gave systematic commands to the goblins. It would be a mistake to think they were the same as the goblins he had encountered before. However, in front of Seonghyun''s sword, they were no different from the previous goblins and were cut down. "Hmm, is that all?" "R-Really amazing!!" "Y-You''re really amazing..." "Y-Yeah..." "Indeed." Creak. He heard a teeth-grinding sound for a moment, but he ignored it. It was certainly easy. ''Is it because of the sword?'' Apprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword. Its performance was certainly undeniable. He felt sorry for the Steel Sword, which he had used well in the beginning, but there was no comparison. But even considering that, ''It''s too easy.'' Judging from their reactions, Manhu''s group seemed surprised, but Seonghyun smiled inwardly and thought, ''Is this all?'' Would they have set a trap with just goblins? It was a thought that would make Manhu''s victims and Manhu himself furious if they heard it, but fortunately, there was no one who could hear it. As Seonghyun swept away the goblin horde, Manhu, with trembling eyes, immediately checked the party window. ¡ºJinwoo - Lv.23 - (Sword and Shield Warrior)¡» ¡ºSeonghyun - Lv.25 - (????)¡» ¡ºAmir - Lv.26 - (Archer)¡» ¡ºNuel - Lv.27 - (Elemental Mage)¡» ¡ºManhu - Lv.29 - (Swordsman)¡» Clearly, his level was lower than theirs. But how could he display such prowess? At first glance, it didn''t seem like he was borrowing the power of skills. The faint teal light was only visible to Seonghyun and those with keen senses; it was invisible to them. How could they know? Manhu chewed his lip nervously and muttered, ''L-Lucky.'' It was rare for only one group of goblins to appear at the beginning of Adum''s Cave, even though he had been in and out of it countless times. Of all times, only one group appeared when Seonghyun stepped forward. But it''s okay. The number of enemies that will appear in the future won''t end with just one group. To be so arrogant after dealing with just one group. ''So cocky.'' ¡®The true terror of Adum''s Cave, this dungeon, begins now!¡¯ ...That''s what Manhu thought. When three groups of goblins appeared at once, Seonghyun stepped forward without hesitation, and they were swept away like leaves in the wind. Jinwoo, the Sword and Shield Warrior next to him, didn''t even tank or draw aggro; he just ran through them, wielding only a sword with a shimmering blue aura. In his other hand, he held a dagger as sharp as an awl and swept through them. In less than 5 minutes, he had wiped out all the goblin groups. "Wow!! That''s amazing, Brother Seonghyun!" "...Hmm, it''s nothing much. We should be careful because it could be dangerous if we go further." "...." "...." "...Ha." Seeing this, Manhu stared at Seonghyun in a daze. How could a person be like that? When three groups of goblins attack in Adum''s Cave, shouldn''t he at least get hurt a little as a courtesy? He didn''t even look tired, let alone lose any hp. And although Manhu and his party didn''t attack Seonghyun to kill him, Why was that Jinwoo guy just watching? Everything was incomprehensible. Looking at Manhu, Amir and Nuel chatted in bewilderment. [Amir - What should we do? I mean, is that even possible?] [Nuel - This is really troublesome. Should we just let it go at this point?] Their chat. They had a point. Although it hadn''t worked yet, they still had some things left. [Manhu - There are still many traps. Swordsmanship doesn''t work against traps. Let''s see what he can do.] Nuel and Amir agreed with that chat. Until now, Seonghyun had been fighting alone, but with the boss Adum present, He intended to help. And this time, Manhu also grabbed his sword and swiftly ran forward. Although he was running leisurely, Manhu realized, ''He''s faster than me?'' That Seonghyun''s speed was faster than his own. How was that possible? His level was clearly higher, so his stats should also be higher. It might be different if he was going all out, but if not, Seonghyun''s current speed was abnormally fast. This was possible because Seonghyun was more attuned to this world than anyone else, utilizing all of his stats. Seonghyun dashed forward and, in the same motion, drew his sword and beheaded a hobgoblin that couldn''t react in time. Swish! [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] The sharp blade vibrated as it sliced through the hobgoblin''s neck, leaving a red fissure. Blood gushed from the fissure like a fountain, but the hobgoblin endured, perhaps due to its tough neck muscles. "Kruk! Kek!" It writhed in pain, but its fighting spirit still burned. As it tried to turn towards Seonghyun, who had just passed by, Jinwoo, who had rushed in with his massive shield, shouted, "Take this!!" Crash! As if hit by a car, the hobgoblin tumbled backward from the tremendous impact, rolling pathetically on the ground. Seonghyun, unfazed, completely drew his sword, holding the Apprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword in his right hand and the Tiger''s Fang in his left. He immediately charged towards another hobgoblin. The hobgoblin, having witnessed its comrade''s fate, was prepared and swung its club at Seonghyun. Clang! The club and the sharp sword collided, and both were deflected. Seonghyun closed in on the hobgoblin, adjusting the grip of his right sword, which had not been sheathed, and repeatedly thrust the dagger-like Tiger''s Fang. Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Critical Hit!] [Critical Hit!] [Critical Hit!] All four stabs landed as critical hits. The hobgoblin''s eyes rolled back, and it began to tremble. Seonghyun kicked the creature with his foot and simultaneously swung the sword in his right hand. [Critical Hit!] Swish! With a sharp slicing sound and a critical hit message, The hobgoblin fell to the ground. However, it was still alive, showing incredible resilience. Seonghyun, as if expecting this, tried to finish it off with his sword, but the other goblins didn''t just stand still. "Kerheuk! Kek!" "Kehu! Kehuuu!" Two hobgoblins charged, full of excitement. Even for Seonghyun, it was a sight that seemed a bit overwhelming. Even in this situation, Seonghyun tried to maintain his composure and calmly swing his sword. But at that moment, with a chilling sensation, Seonghyun moved from his spot, and as soon as he did, a massive sword fell where he had just been standing. "Kehuuuuuuuuk!!" Kuuuuuung! With a roar-like cry, the massive sword struck down, shattering the cave floor and sending countless fragments flying. Was it the boss''s appearance? Just as Seonghyun was about to attack the boss, Adum, with his sword, Whoosh! He felt a scorching heat behind him! If he were to be hit by that, he wouldn''t die immediately, but he would surely suffer! At the same time, a message popped up. [Party member ¡ºNuel - Lv.27¡» is attacking you.] [Entering complete hostile state.] [Party member ¡ºNuel - Lv.27¡» has left the party.] [This user has infamy.] [Attacking will not accumulate infamy.] It was a critical situation, but Seonghyun moved as if he had already known. He had known even before he felt the heat behind him. As Seonghyun dodged it, Nuel stuttered, "He dodged that?!?" It was truly a surprise attack. And seeing this, Jinwoo shouted in surprise, "N-No. A-Attacking an ally?!?" Unlike Jinwoo, who was surprised by the unexpected situation, Seonghyun spoke as if it was about time. "Finally revealing your true colors." Seeing Seonghyun speak as if he had already known, Manhu and his party were equally bewildered. But it was okay. Since they had already made their move, there was no turning back. All they had to do was fight with all their might. If they outnumbered him and also used the boss monster, they could easily win. Thinking so, Manhu shouted to Amir and Nuel, "There''s nothing those two can do anyway..." As he tried to gain the upper hand by saying there was nothing they could do, "Two?" Seonghyun responded to Manhu''s words with a rare smile. And then, A huge teal portal appeared behind Seonghyun, and goblin undead, clad in black darkness and overflowing with teal energy, poured out. There were as many as twenty of them. And. -Khehehehe! It''s time for slaughter!! For Master!! A Wraith appeared, scattering a ferocious aura everywhere. It exploded with teal energy, clad in black darkness. The surrounding air felt several times heavier. Manhu and his party''s eyes trembled violently at the overwhelming presence. No, not only their eyes, but their legs and arms also shook like aspen leaves. [Lv.40 Death Soldier - Wraith, Barpur] With the appearance of an undead stronger than the boss here. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 34 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 34 A Wraith with a higher level than Adum, the dungeon boss here? He''s only level 25. How is that possible? Such thoughts were swirling in Manhu''s mind, but He couldn''t utter a word. Amidst the heavy air, - Suuuurp, Haaaaaaa. The Wraith''s breath was freezing the surrounding air. The power of the Wraith, who had become a Death Soldier, was beyond imagination. It was not only stronger than before, But it could also do more than when it faced Seonghyun. The fear of death. As fear swept over them, "Uwaaaa!" Amir, who hadn''t attacked first, raised his bow and fired an arrow. Unable to withstand the fear, he aimed it at the Wraith. But the Wraith of Barpur, with a scornful look, caught the incoming arrow using his index and middle fingers. Snap. - Pfft, you weren''t trying to attack me with this toothpick, were you? A system message appeared along with the Wraith of Barpur''s words. [Party member ¡ºAmir - Lv.26¡» is attacking you.] [Entering a state of complete hostility.] [Party member ¡ºAmir - Lv.26¡» has left the party.] [This user has infamy.] [Attacking will not accumulate infamy.] Two people had already entered a hostile state. Seonghyun looked at the goblin undead and the Wraith of Barpur. As his will was conveyed, All the Death Soldiers bowed their heads and obeyed Seonghyun''s will. - I will carry out Master''s orders. - Kerruk! Kek! Kerheuk! (All according to the Lord''s will!) - Kehuruk! Kehek! Kek! (I will obey Master''s command!) Everyone''s eyes trembled at the overwhelming presence and the blind loyalty of the Wraith of Barpur and the goblin undead, who were spreading fear all around. Jinwoo, who was quietly fighting the hobgoblins, was no exception. As everyone''s eyes shook violently, The first to regain his composure was the boss monster, Adum. "Kek! Kehuk!" Although it was unclear what he was saying, his voice was filled with clear hostility. Seeing the other hobgoblins react to Adum''s words, It seemed like he had given an order. But it didn''t matter. The goblin undead had already made their move. The Death Soldier goblin undead swiftly took the initiative. Using their small stature, they moved with surprising agility and began attacking before the hobgoblins. Three of them clung to each hobgoblin. - Kerheuk! (For Master!) - Kekekek! Kek! (Uhahaha! Let''s kill them all and make them our juniors!) - Kerhuk! (Let''s all become one!) They were dodging the hobgoblins'' attacks with nimble movements, continuously landing blows with their quick agility. First, they aimed for the knees and shins with their low-held swords, reducing the hobgoblins'' mobility. As the hobgoblins faltered, unable to react and getting their knees and shins stabbed, they began to limp. The Death Soldiers moved with dazzling speed, obscuring the hobgoblins'' vision, and in that moment, thrust their swords into their abdomens. The hobgoblins were butchered in just a few moves. "Kruk..." "Puhek!" "Keeek!" "Krrruk." The hobgoblins coughed up blood with gurgling sounds. They didn''t die from this much due to the significant level difference, but Judging from their terrified expressions filled with fear and pain, it seemed like death would be a mercy. The boss, Adum, was no different. While the other hobgoblins were each fighting against three Death Soldiers, A whopping eight Death Soldiers clung to Adum. Some even held shields to deflect attacks and defend while dodging and weaving. They popped out from everywhere, parrying attacks with their shields and relentlessly stabbing whenever they found an opening. Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! "Keeeeeeeek!" The chilling sounds of blades piercing flesh and Adum''s pained roars echoed within the cavern. While this scene unfolded, some were watching in disbelief. Manhu''s party and Jinwoo were among them. Seonghyun looked at them and spoke gently, "You could have been a bit more discreet." Even if they hadn''t been obvious, the child ghost would have told him, but They were too obvious after he knew. So he said a word. Manhu remained silent at Seonghyun''s words, and The other party members asked Manhu with trembling voices, "..." "W-What do we do?" "S-Should we attack?" In that short time, Manhu quickly thought things through. He hadn''t attacked yet. If he left now, he wouldn''t die. If Seonghyun attacked first, Seonghyun would also accumulate infamy. He wouldn''t be able to do that. ''...If I cut them off...'' As Manhu was having such a despicable thought, Seonghyun looked at Manhu and shook the sword in his hand. Manhu''s eyes instinctively followed the sword. "Are you trying to give up and surrender?" Seonghyun said so and watched Manhu''s eyes, which were drawn to his sword. When Manhu''s eyes met Seonghyun''s, His face flushed with shame. "Shit!" Should he just take this insult and do nothing? No! He couldn''t do that. Even so, he was only level 25. Manhu felt something boiling within him. Jealousy and inferiority towards what he couldn''t have. All of that combined, "Uwaaaaaaaaaaa!" He screamed and lunged at Seonghyun. But Seonghyun, who had already grasped Manhu''s level, blocked all of Manhu''s attacks. Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Seonghyun''s brow furrowed slightly as he blocked the attacks with his sword. He had thought that it would be weaker than when he used the skill to attack, but Even though he was mixing in other skills, ''He''s swinging so recklessly?'' Seonghyun shook his head in disappointment at the thought. Seeing that, Manhu became even more enraged and swung his sword with a roar, but it couldn''t reach him. It was too far. Seonghyun, who felt so distant, began to swing his sword little by little towards Manhu. On the contrary, all of Seonghyun''s sword strikes began to reach Manhu. Slash! Swish! Slice! "Kuhuk!" He was cut by the sword and couldn''t focus due to the damage. Overwhelmed by Seonghyun''s relentless attacks, Manhu regained his composure, gritted his teeth, and retreated. He couldn''t win this way. As he realized that and stepped back to strategize for a moment, Seonghyun looked at Manhu with a pitying gaze. "...?" As Manhu looked at Seonghyun with an uncomprehending look, Seonghyun answered gently, "I''m a Black Mage, is it right to create distance?" "Ah?" As Seonghyun answered, he clenched his hand towards Manhu as if grasping the air. teal light gathered and began to clump together, And soon, holding it in the form of a spear, he threw it forcefully. The teal spear flew at an incredible speed. He had to block it. As Manhu thought so and tried to swing his sword, Clang! "Huh???" Something touched the sword he was about to swing. It was none other than an arrow made of pure white bone. Unable to swing his sword, stopped by the arrow, Manhu could only stare blankly at the teal spear flying towards him. ''He planned this too?'' Thud! [Dark damage applied.] [All sight and senses will be impaired for 3 seconds.] Manhu felt nauseous at the message that only he could see. A sensation as if all his senses had disappeared and he was floating in space. He couldn''t see or feel anything. He felt like he was about to vomit. He had to dodge it somehow, but he couldn''t even move his body. He couldn''t even feel the damage. He didn''t even know what was happening. ''What the hell is going on?'' After 3 confusing seconds, He felt his senses returning. Fortunately, he was fine. His health was the same as after taking the dark damage. Ah! He had to get away somehow. Of course, he coveted that sword, but it wasn''t worth risking his life. Could he escape if he tried? As he was having such hopeful thoughts, Manhu felt a black shadow cast over his head. ''What''s this?'' In a moment of dread, despite not wanting to, He involuntarily raised his head, and at that moment, he saw it all. A Wraith with a black, mole-like face and teal eyes, looking down at him. - Peekaboo. "Uwaaaaaaaaaaa!" At the Wraith of Barpur''s words, Manhu screamed and tried to run away, but he couldn''t avoid Barpur''s giant hand falling from above. Crunch! With a sound like ground meat being made, Manhu''s body was crushed. "Gulp." Manhu didn''t need to see what happened to Nuel and Amir to know. With that thought, [Critical Hit!] [Forced logout due to hp reaching 0.] [Death penalty increased due to infamy.] [One of the highest rank items dropped due to infamy.] Finally, with the messages welcoming Manhu, he disappeared. Dropping a rather luxurious-looking ring. But what Seonghyun gained was not just a ring. [You have won the battle between users!] [You have won against a user with a level difference!] [Experience points acquired!] [You have cleared the 5-person dungeon, Adum''s Cave.] [Experience points acquired!] [Acquired ¡ºHobgoblin Warrior, Adum''s Greatsword¡» as a clear reward.] [Acquired 20 gold as a clear reward.] [Level Up!] ¡Á 5 [You have reached level 30.] [You have punished an infamous opponent.] [You have defeated an opponent who initiated the attack.] [Acquired the opponent''s item, ¡ºBow of Correction¡».] [Acquired the opponent''s item, ¡ºNimble Beginner Pyromancer''s Robe¡».] [Acquired the opponent''s item, ¡ºRing of Speed¡».] [New skill for ¡ºOverlord¡» unlocked upon reaching level 30.] [Acquired Legendary rank skill, ¡ºMonarch''s Silence¡».] ''I like it.'' Seonghyun couldn''t help but smile at the countless reward messages. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 35 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 35 First, after the battle ended, he put all the undead back into the Netherworld. They were chanting something about loyalty and obedience as they went in, but He ignored them and put them away. Next, the rewards? There were so many rewards that he didn''t know what to check first. He couldn''t even grasp it. Seonghyun was wearing such a satisfied smile. Jinwoo approached Seonghyun. "A-Amazing. B-Brother Seonghyun, you were a rookie of the Rapid Guild!?!" As Jinwoo looked at Seonghyun with wide eyes, full of admiration, Seonghyun tilted his head. How did he know? Suddenly, Seonghyun remembered the video he had sent. "Ah." "I saw the video! Wow! Your swordsmanship was amazing in the video, and you''re really amazing in person too! I wouldn''t have known if I hadn''t seen the undead!!" "Hmm?" That''s strange. Did he ever use a sword directly in that video? He didn''t think so. As Seonghyun noticed the oddity, Jinwoo smiled sheepishly. He seemed suspicious, but there was no hostility. Should he question him? As Seonghyun thought so, "Ah! I have something to do, so I''ll be going first! Ah! This is the clear reward! Take it! I didn''t do anything, so I feel bad taking it!!" Saying so, he handed over the clear gold and a book-shaped item. A book-shaped item dropped in this dungeon? This was even more suspicious. As Seonghyun looked at him with suspicion, Jinwoo disappeared with an "Ahaha" laugh. What was that all about? ''Judging from what he said, he seemed to know about the Rapid Guild even though he hadn''t seen the video.'' The video clearly didn''t show Seonghyun using a sword. He hid the fact that he was good with a sword, let alone remembering it. But how did he know about the Rapid Guild? Doubts arose, but He first looked at the gold and item that Jinwoo had given him. ''50 gold?'' The clear reward was definitely 20 gold. But he gave him an extra 30 gold. Since he received a kind of ''carry'' and got experience points. That was understandable. But no matter how much he looked at the other book-shaped item, he couldn''t understand it. He knew various items dropped in dungeons, but Did things like this drop too?No?v(el)B\\jnn ¡ºSkill Book - Corpse Explosion¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úConsumable ¡úCan only be used by Black Mage class jobs. ¡úA skill book containing the Corpse Explosion skill. ¡úUpon use, you can learn the Corpse Explosion skill. ''Hmm. I know skill books are really rare.'' Especially Rare rank skill books, he knew they cost at least several million won. But to readily give away such a skill book? It was suspicious, but he felt it was closer to goodwill than malice or hostility. There was no point in dwelling on it further, as he wouldn''t find out anything more here. If he approached with good intentions, wouldn''t they meet again someday? Thinking so, Seonghyun used the skill book immediately. [Using the Rare rank skill book, ¡ºSkill Book - Corpse Explosion¡»!] [Acquired the Rare rank skill, ¡ºCorpse Explosion¡»!] ''Oh?'' He hadn''t expected to learn Corpse Explosion, the flower of Necromancer skills, so soon. Seonghyun looked at the skill with quite satisfied eyes. ¡ºCorpse Explosion¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown 3 minutes] ¡úBlack Mage class exclusive skill. ¡úInjects mana into a corpse to make it explode, dealing powerful damage in all directions. ¡úRange and damage vary depending on the condition of the corpse. It was definitely good. He didn''t know the intentions of the person who gave it to him, but He knew it wasn''t ill-intentioned. Should he take a look at the other rewards? There were so many that he didn''t know where to start, so he first looked at the item he got from clearing the dungeon. ¡ºHobgoblin Warrior, Adum''s Greatsword¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare+¡· ¡úThe greatsword used by the Hobgoblin Warrior, Adum. ¡úThe perfect size for a human to use. ¡úSlightly increases the power of Warrior class skills. ¡úSlightly increases the effect of Warrior class buff skills. ''Hmm.'' It wasn''t great. While the Rare+ rank wasn''t low, it still left much to be desired. It was awkward for Seonghyun to use, and He didn''t even feel like using it in the first place. Thinking he should sell it, He turned his attention to the next reward. Next was one item from each of the villainous trio. ¡ºBow of Correction¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA bow that slightly corrects Dexterity. ¡úUsing this bow increases accuracy. ¡úAccuracy increased by 10%. ¡ºNimble Beginner Pyromancer''s Robe¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA robe favored by apprentice pyromancers. Although the second village practically forced party play, That didn''t mean there were no hunting fields at all. Among them, Seonghyun chose a cemetery where Skeleton Mages often appeared. The best monsters to utilize silence-type curse skills were naturally shamans or mages. Cemetery fields existed in every village. Especially from the second village onwards, various types of skeletons appeared. From Skeleton Mages to Skeleton Warriors, Skeleton Archers, and so on. A place where various types appeared. There, Seonghyun immediately found a group of skeletons with a Skeleton Mage. Three Skeleton Warriors, one Skeleton Archer, and one Skeleton Mage. ''Good.'' They made the group this big so that people would party up to fight them, but Even though there were many, it didn''t matter to Seonghyun. He could have summoned undead from the Netherworld, but even without that, he could handle them alone. First, Seonghyun clenched a teal spear in the air towards the potentially troublesome Skeleton Archer and immediately threw it. At the same time, he created and shot a bone arrow. Whoosh! Swoosh! [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Critical Hit!] [Experience points acquired!] The teal spear and bone arrow, swiftly cutting through the air, immediately struck the archer''s head. Its body crumbled as if it had died instantly. This was proof that Seonghyun''s level and attack power had increased considerably. But Seonghyun, unfazed, grabbed a sword in each hand. The Apprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword in his right hand. And the Tiger''s Fang in his left. As soon as he grasped the swords, Seonghyun used the effect of the Ring of Speed. Snap! Seonghyun''s figure shot forward, even faster than usual. He cut through the air like an arrow and swung his sword as he approached the Skeleton Warriors. The skeletons with shields quickly tried to block with their shields, but Seonghyun, with his teal eyes, swiftly thrust his sword at the Skeleton Warrior. Although blunt attacks were more effective against skeletons than piercing or slashing, it wasn''t that they were completely ineffective. Seonghyun''s sword, drawing a faint blue trajectory, accurately pierced the Skeleton Warrior''s wrist. Thud! [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] The concentrated thrust was extremely precise, creating a long crack in the Skeleton Warrior''s wrist. And following that crack, the Tiger''s Fang also pierced the wrist. Crack! [Critical Hit!] This time, it completely destroyed the wrist, and the shield the skeleton was holding fell to the ground. With the Skeleton Warrior losing its shield, the other two Skeleton Warriors rushed towards Seonghyun, but it was too late. Seonghyun struck the Skeleton Warrior''s head with the flat of his sword, not the blade. Bang! [Critical Hit!] [Experience points acquired!] A tremendous destructive power resonated as the skeleton''s body crumbled. Seonghyun was inwardly impressed by the instant destruction. He had just used the Ring of Speed''s effect to increase all his speeds, allowing him to attack faster and increase his power. The effect was tremendous. By increasing his speed and applying the principle of ''heaviness'' in swordsmanship, he delivered a fast and heavy blow. This allowed him to crush the head in one go. At the same time, Seonghyun smiled as he saw the Skeleton Mage chanting a spell towards him. Finally, a chance to test the skill had come. Seonghyun pointed his index finger at the Skeleton Mage, brought it to his mouth, and used the skill. "...Clatter?" The Skeleton Mage looked at Seonghyun and didn''t understand. Trying to finish the spell without paying attention, It felt a chilling and eerie aura from its back. Even though the Skeleton Mage was also undead, it involuntarily turned its head slowly at the aura that was even colder and eerier than itself. Did something appear behind it? Thinking so, it looked back. A figure was standing there. A shadow? No, the figure made of darkness had empty sockets where its eyes should be, looking like an abyss. Endless darkness formed the eyes of the figure made of darkness, and at that moment, the figure pointed its index finger at the Skeleton Mage like Seonghyun and raised its hand to its lips. - Shh. At that moment, the darkness surged, holding a teal needle, and approached the Skeleton Mage. The Skeleton Mage couldn''t move its legs as if it had received an irresistible command. It could only watch the approaching long arm of darkness and the needle, unable to budge. Soon, the approaching arm of darkness and the long teal needle sewed the Skeleton Mage''s mouth shut. The figure smiled contentedly as if satisfied and disappeared from the spot. Kekekekekeke! With a creepy laugh. "...!!" The Skeleton Mage felt its mana scattering and becoming immobile, and tried to shout something, but It couldn''t make any sound. It was literally silence itself. Seonghyun used a skill on the two corpses next to the fear-stricken Skeleton Mage, the Skeleton Warrior and the Skeleton Archer. The corpses of the dead Skeleton Warrior and Skeleton Archer began to glow red. The white bones heated up red, swelling like a volcano about to erupt. Kaboom! [Critical Hit!] ¡Á 3 [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Experience points acquired!] ¡Á 3 With a tremendous explosion that shook the ground, the two corpses exploded, creating billowing black clouds. A satisfying sight. Both Corpse Explosion and Monarch''s Silence were quite satisfying. The effects were exactly as he had imagined. Perfect skills. It was like Seonghyun had been given another weapon. [You have a message from outside.] - Seonghyun!! We have to go soon!! His sister''s voice. Ah, had it already been that long? Seonghyun thought so, and since he was satisfied with the test, he decided to leave. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 36 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 36 0. After exiting the capsule, Seonghyun and his sister, Yoo Mina, headed to the tax office. Not because of tax issues, but to register as a sole proprietor. These days, thanks to Eternal World, the number of people registering as sole proprietors as gamers had increased. Seonghyun was one of them. Since he would be receiving a large signing bonus and annual salary from the Rapid Guild. It was common practice to register as a sole proprietor before receiving the signing bonus. Otherwise, he would have to pay a hefty amount of taxes. With the surge in gamers and the mushrooming of guilds, registering as a sole proprietor didn''t take long. "Hmm." Seonghyun looked at his business registration certificate with a strange feeling. He never imagined he would be running a business. It was a career path he had never envisioned, but what did it matter? The era of making money through games had arrived. And his talent, no, his abilities were recognized in that game world. It would be a loss to let them go to waste. Seonghyun carefully placed the business registration certificate in an envelope. He also put the business bank account issued by the bank in the same envelope. Unlike Seonghyun, who was calmly organized, His sister, Yoo Mina, was busy making calls. At home, she was a bit of a scatterbrain, but in times like these, she was reliable. "Okay, I understand." Yoo Mina ended the call curtly. Curious, Seonghyun looked at Yoo Mina. Who was she talking to? It didn''t take long for Seonghyun to find out. Ding! His smartphone rang with a notification sound. He reflexively checked his phone. It was a notification that a deposit had been made to the account he had just opened. And. [XX Bank Business Account - 2,000,000,000 won deposited.] He already knew, but his jaw dropped at the amount. Even Seonghyun couldn''t maintain his composure at this moment. His eyes trembled, and his mouth gaped open. How many people received 2 billion won at the age of 22? This was just the signing bonus, but they said there would be additional incentives. He even had an annual salary of 500 million won left. They said they would give him incentives if his level and evaluation went up. Not only that, but they would also give him 10% of the raid viewership ticket royalties. ''I-Is it okay for me to receive this much?'' He was surprised when he saw the contract, but He was thrilled to see this amount actually deposited. "Hehe! Don''t be too nervous. Just keep doing what you''ve been doing." "Yeah, I know, but it just doesn''t feel real right now." "Uhehehe. To think you''re only realizing your sister''s greatness now. Uhehehe." Seeing his sister, Yoo Mina, laughing like a goofball, Seonghyun was able to calm down. This was the world''s 9th-ranked player? No, she said she would be raising her rank soon, so should he consider her 8th? Anyway, seeing his sister like that eased his tension a bit. It seemed like he could just keep doing what he had been doing. Seonghyun''s goal in the game was to follow the footsteps of Helena and Hindel, so He just had to follow that path. As Seonghyun felt a bit relieved, His sister, Yoo Mina, looked at him and asked, "Since we''re out, should we grab a bite to eat before going back? Mom''s out today anyway." "Hmm. Yeah, let''s do that." He wanted to go back and play the game right away, but he had to eat. He had skipped breakfast and was quite hungry. As Seonghyun and Yoo Mina were looking for a restaurant, They decided to go to a famous restaurant nearby. Since Seonghyun liked Western food more than Yoo Mina, That''s what they chose. As Seonghyun and Yoo Mina entered the restaurant, "Oh? Yoo Seonghyun?" "Huh?" One of the employees recognized him. Seonghyun briefly searched his memory and quickly remembered. "Ah, Soojung?" "Wow, it''s been a while. I last saw you before you went to the military. You''re discharged!?" Caw! Caw! The crows gathered, swirling like darkness or shadows, and gradually formed a shape. As more and more crows gathered, their numbers thickening, thousands of them created a smooth, mirror-like surface. However, it was a giant mirror, stained with darkness, reflecting nothing. The guards finally realized something was wrong and tried to ring the bell. But they couldn''t even move a finger. "W-What is this?!" "T-This is unbelievable!" Unable to even swallow their saliva, the guards stared at the black mirror with fear in their eyes. Suddenly, ripples appeared on the black mirror. Like a drop of water falling on a calm lake, the ripples spread across the mirror. And then, as if it were only natural, three figures stepped out of the mirror. The black mirror disappeared after spitting out the three people, and the ominous dark clouds cleared as if they had never been there, revealing a clear sky. As the sun illuminated everything, The guards could finally see the attire of the three people. The tall man standing in the middle was wearing a mask, or perhaps a helmet, that resembled a crow. He was wearing a mask that hid his identity. The man to his right was so pale that he could be mistaken for a corpse. The stitches all over his body were so grotesque that he truly looked like a corpse. Finally, the woman to the left of the man with the crow-like mask. Her eyes were like bottomless pits, devoid of any focus or light, her expression betraying no emotion as she clutched a doll of a young girl. Gulp- The guards gulped at the sight of them. None of them looked ordinary. And then they noticed the emblem on the robes they were wearing. A black crown on a black robe. There was only one entity in the world who could use that emblem. "O-Over Palace!!" "It''s an envoy from Over Palace!!" Clang! Thud! Over Palace, the mage tower of all Black Mages. Their envoy had arrived in Sekan Village. Seeing the guards'' fearful commotion, the man with the crow mask stepped forward. He approached the guards and spoke in a gentle voice, "Do not be afraid. We mean no harm to the village." His assertive voice was softer than any other, but Why? Perhaps due to the power behind his words, the two guards couldn''t help but nod. Instead of this, should they inform the village head immediately? Seeing the guards lost in thought, the man shook his head. "We will do what we came to do. You do what you must. We have no need for grand welcomes or celebrations." With those words, the three vanished as if they were a mirage, leaving behind ripples of black. The two guards, feeling as if they had just woken from a nightmare, gulped and their hands trembled. An envoy from Over Palace had visited their village. "U-Unbelievable." "I-Indeed. Over Palace came here... There must be something special about this village." The guards picked up their dropped weapons and returned to their posts, guarding the village entrance. Just as the man in the crow mask had said, The three, standing on a distant rooftop, watched the guards before turning their gaze away. The guards were never their concern in the first place. They came here for one reason only. "This is the village where His presence was last felt. He must have stopped here after Perthville." "Uhihihi, ah! It feels so strong! I can feel it! His power is so strong in this village!" "..." At the crow-masked man''s words, the corpse-like man laughed grotesquely, bending backward, and the woman holding the doll, although she didn''t say anything, hugged the doll tighter. Her reaction was unusual, but the man and the other man didn''t mind. It was understandable. The man then said to the other two, "Spread out and find Him." "Uhihihi! Very well! Very well!" "..." The corpse-like man was overjoyed, and the doll woman, though she didn''t answer, slowly nodded. As soon as they received the order, the two disappeared as if scattering into the air. The man in the crow mask, gazing down at the village, snapped his fingers. Countless crows appeared and began to spread in all directions. How much time had passed? The man, connected to all the crows, searched every corner of the village. He shared the vision of one of the crows. A young man, muttering with an indifferent expression as he made eye contact with the crow. - This is no ordinary crow. Seeing the young man mutter nonchalantly, the man said, "Found Him." [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 37 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 37 2. Back at home, Seonghyun pondered for a moment while looking at the text message. A gathering with his colleagues this weekend. ''I won''t be attending university anymore, but...'' Now that he was making money through gaming, He needed to focus on Eternal World. He had even signed a contract. It was natural to feel a sense of responsibility. He was a professional now that he was getting paid. ''And I have goals too.'' He had to fulfill Helena''s wish and find traces of Hero Hindel. There was no obligation or duty to do so, but Seonghyun wanted to. It was fun, and for some reason, it felt inseparable from him in this game. Wouldn''t it be great to use that as a milestone? Seonghyun shook his head. He seemed to be getting lost in thought. He was thinking about the gathering, but... ''Anyway, I should say I''ll go.'' Just because he wasn''t attending university anymore didn''t mean he wouldn''t have any friends left. Besides, they were people he was quite close with during university. Even if he quit, his friendships were separate. Seonghyun replied that he would go. ''I should also meet up with my high school friends.'' Seonghyun was the first to be discharged from the military. He hadn''t been in touch with them yet, but... ''They''ll probably contact me when they''re on leave.'' Thinking he would see them later, Seonghyun returned home, took a shower, and sat in front of his computer. While they were eating, his sister had told him that the Rapid rookie video had become a hot topic. He couldn''t quite grasp it, but... ''I should watch it.'' Seonghyun entered the Eternal World community to check the reactions, And tilted his head. [Wow, isn''t this rookie the best ever?] ¡ºI thought the Demon King had descended or something lol. And what''s with the level of AI? It doesn''t seem like he''s giving detailed commands??¡» [Likes: 193][Dislikes: 3] [Comments] - Seriously, I thought it was the Demon King or something. - But really, what''s with the undead AI? It seems special. - The level of the undead is different;;; - Couldn''t it be like that if the rank is super high? - Who was the highest-ranked Necromancer so far? ©¸ Immortal King! ©¸ Was Immortal King Legendary rank? ©¸ Yeah, but Immortal King''s undead aren''t this smart lol. ©¸ Then higher than that? ©¸ ???: Higher. Even a simple post, no different from a diary entry, was getting nearly 200 likes. Seonghyun couldn''t understand it. ''Hmm, is that all?'' He knew the video was well-made because he had seen it himself. He had already watched it before coming here. It was a realistic and high-quality video. But was it worth this much enthusiasm? It was natural for Seonghyun to feel that way. Not only was he just two days into Eternal World, But what everyone was watching in the video was just an everyday occurrence for him. In another community post, people were making a fuss about a rising star appearing in the Rapid Guild. - Wow lol. Wasn''t the Rapid Guild all about live streaming? This will change things lol. - I wanted to tell them to stop overreacting after seeing the beginner video, but even I was drooling while watching it. - Shouldn''t the Rapid Guild create a video about this on a large scale? - Yeah, even I think so. - Even the Rapid Guild is getting an outstanding video creator. - Yuna hasn''t uploaded a single video except for live streams because she hates filming ???. It was a phenomenon that Seonghyun found hard to understand, but He did recognize it. ''I guess I''m good.'' He couldn''t deny it anymore, but He didn''t know he was at a level where he could receive this much attention. It felt a bit real now. He didn''t know how to live up to the expectations, so He decided to leave it to the guild. He could just do as he was told. The Rapid Guild was said to be having a meeting about him, so He could just wait for that. ''My sister and Yoojin will take care of it.'' He didn''t know much about such business matters. It was best to leave it to the two who knew well. Thinking so, Seonghyun logged into Eternal World. ''I should level up quickly.'' He was only level 30. He still had a long way to go. 3. Over Palace, the mage tower and sanctuary of all Black Mages. And... ''Wasn''t it the strongest organization currently existing in Eternal World?'' Unlike other mage towers that specialized in different fields, this was where all Black Mages gathered. They boasted overwhelming military power compared to any other organization. The leader of Over Palace, Black Star, was also known as the first among the Nine Heroes. So, who would dare to oppress Black Mages? Thanks to Over Palace, a society where Black Mages were not ostracized was created in Eternal World. Why had such a powerful organization come to find him? "We have come to find the successor and deliver this." The crow-masked man said so and pulled out a letter from his bosom. A letter sealed in a luxurious black envelope. Seonghyun blinked and looked at them as he received the envelope, which looked extraordinary at first glance. The crow-masked man continued, "This is a letter that Black Star, who oversees our Over Palace, asked us to deliver." "Did the three of you come all the way here just to deliver this?" "Please refrain from using honorifics with lowly ones like us. There is no need to address us with such respect." "..." "Wooouu!" The silent doll woman nodded, and although he couldn''t understand what the corpse man, whose head was buried in the ground, was saying, it was probably a sign of agreement. Seonghyun nodded in understanding. "Alright. But the three of you came here just to deliver this?" "Yes, that is correct." "...?" ¡®They dispatched this much manpower just to deliver a letter?¡¯ Was it that important of a letter? As Seonghyun looked at the letter in a daze, The crow-masked man lowered his head as if urging him to open it right away. It was a bit awkward to just leave it like this, so Seonghyun immediately opened the letter. It was written in an elegant script. ¡ºTo our dear successor, Our Over Palace is a place built to be dedicated to the Overlord. Now that the rightful successor has appeared, It is time to prepare to offer the palace. Although we are eager to offer it to you immediately, there are still things we have yet to obtain for the successor. There are sacred arrangements bestowed by the previous Overlord and our god, Helena. The compass enclosed in this letter will guide you to these arrangements as you gain the appropriate power. Please do not mind and collect the arrangements. This humble Black Star conveys this to the successor.¡» "...?" Wasn''t this too excessive? The letter implied that he wasn''t the rightful successor until he collected all of Helena''s remaining arrangements, yet they were so devoted. Seonghyun, feeling bewildered, held the compass that he couldn''t understand how it fit in the envelope. [You have acquired the class-specific item, ¡ºOverlord''s Compass¡».] [The ¡ºOverlord''s Compass¡» is not yet responding.] [Class-specific quest not generated.] [The first condition for use is level 50 or higher.] ''Hmm.'' So it generates class-specific quests. He was wondering how he would find the arrangements that even Helena''s memories couldn''t locate. It was this kind of system. As Seonghyun was about to fold the letter, He saw that it wasn''t over yet. What''s this? Is there more? ¡ºAs an aside, the Hero''s successor is said to be a resident of this village, unlike the successor. I dare not say that a mere Hero could compare to the successor, but I have conveyed this information in case it might be of interest to you.¡» This was quite unexpected information. The new Hero successor was a resident of this village. In other words, ''There''s an NPC with the Hero class here.'' A Hero. An NPC with the very class that Seonghyun had originally intended to acquire. His curiosity was piqued. Just what kind of person were they? As Seonghyun grew curious, The crow-masked man, seeing Seonghyun''s reaction, took out something else. And with a seemingly frustrated tone, he said, "I lament that I can only offer this meager gift, despite my desire to provide much more for the successor''s growth." "..." "Wooouuung!" Tears of blood even flowed from the doll held by the doll woman next to the crow-masked man, and she wiped the doll''s tears. The corpse man also roared as if wailing. He was already grateful for the compass, and they were giving him more. Yet, they apologized for only being able to give him this much. He was thankful just to receive anything. As Seonghyun looked at them with a perplexed expression, The crow-masked man, trembling as if in genuine regret, handed him a book. ''A skill book?'' A skill book was a valuable gift indeed. He was overjoyed when he received the Corpse Explosion skill just a while ago. This was more than enough. [Received Legendary rank skill book, ¡ºSkill Book - Add More¡» from Over Palace envoy Karls.] "???" No, this seemed to be beyond enough. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 38 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 38 4. There was never a peaceful day for the E-World User Management Team. In particular, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong had been having a hectic time since morning. He didn''t even have time to scold Associate Oh Jinhyeok, who was just sitting there in awe. It was clear how busy he had been without having to say it. His workload had increased thanks to Seonghyun, who had been active since dawn. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong was finally able to relax a bit, thanks to Seonghyun logging out before lunch. Of course, there was a problem. "Haaaa." "Senior? What''s wrong?" "...???" Associate Oh Jinhyeok shuddered as he saw Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s gaze, filled with a look of "You don''t know why I''m like this?".No?v(el)B\\jnn Then, as if he realized something, he nodded. "Ah, it''s because of that user, Jinwoo, right? Who would have known he would suddenly give him a Rare rank skill book?" "Ha, that too." He was going to say something about the Barpur corpse incident, but there was also the matter of user Jinwoo. There was no way he wouldn''t know whose alt account that was. Kim Jinwoo, one of the executives of the Rapid Guild. He was quite a celebrity even in the User Management Team. "Kim Jinwoo of the Rapid Guild. Well, I knew he joined the Rapid Guild." He didn''t expect him to give Corpse Explosion, which recently went for over 20 million won, as a gift, but He just accepted it. Anyway, since user Seonghyun wasn''t online, he wasn''t busy. It was almost lunchtime, and he had already eaten. Then, suddenly, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong felt a sense of de?ja? vu. Didn''t he feel relaxed when he first came to work? He vaguely remembered waking up refreshed in the morning, coming to work in a good mood, and being happy that there was no work. ''No way.'' What else could go wrong? Of course, something had already gone wrong, but Would it happen again? Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, with an anxious heart, tried to quickly monitor Seonghyun, but He hadn''t logged in yet. Yet, the anxiety didn''t disappear. What was this anxiety? With that anxiety, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong checked Sekan Village, just in case. It was an almost instinctive action. And as expected, "Oh, oh!? A-Aren''t those the envoys from Over Palace?" "..." Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong felt a sense of foreboding and closed his eyes. There was no need to see what happened next. Because? "Whoa! Senior! Look at that! They''re giving the Add More skill to user Seonghyun!? Wow! Over Palace is amazing!!" "Whoa! Senior! The Unknown Power again!? This time, his total stats have increased by 40!!" "Wow! All those undead are moving like they have AI! Amazing, really!!" Even with his eyes closed, Associate Oh Jinhyeok would relay everything to him. Since Over Palace had made their move, He had to report it. While heading to report to Team Leader Jung Jihye, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong took out an envelope from his pocket. ''Should I submit my resignation while I''m at it?'' Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, making a momentarily irrational decision due to stress. But with a resigned sigh, he put the resignation letter back in his pocket. 5. A Legendary rank skill book. And they were apologizing and shedding tears while giving him this? Seonghyun felt his common sense crumbling. ''What kind of standards are these?'' He thought it was more than enough, but Compared to the name Over Palace, it was indeed a bit underwhelming. Still, crying while giving him a Legendary rank skill book was a bit much. As Seonghyun was bewildered, The three cautiously bowed their heads and trembled. Did they misunderstand and think Seonghyun was upset? He wanted to tell them that wasn''t the case, but ''Judging by the atmosphere, that seems difficult.'' Even the usually calm Seonghyun was a bit overwhelmed by the sight of these three. Still, since they were taking such good care of him, He had to reciprocate to some extent. "This is enough." "Ah, we are merely humbled by the benevolent successor." "..." "Ooh!" "Hmm." As Seonghyun stood there awkwardly, The crow-masked man spoke cautiously. "Due to the treaty, we cannot always be by your side, but we will strive to do better next time." "...Treaty?" A treaty that even Over Palace couldn''t defy. It seemed they were referring to the system. Seonghyun realized this and nodded. Indeed, if he grew up under the protection of Over Palace, the strongest organization in Eternal World, wouldn''t it be almost like cheating? The system would want to prevent that. Seonghyun nodded in understanding. He would also refuse such protection. ''It wouldn''t be fun to grow up being protected.'' Receiving gifts like this occasionally was fine; it was just the right amount of support. As Seonghyun thought so, The crow-masked man cautiously spoke to him. "Although we wish to witness the successor''s growth, we must take our leave. Please take care of your noble self. Infinite glory to the Overlord." "..." "Ooouuaa!" As the crow-masked man spoke, hundreds, thousands of crows that had spread throughout the village flocked together and engulfed them. With a flurry of black feathers, they disappeared. He ignored them then because he was busy, but This time, he was quite curious, so Seonghyun looked at one of the approaching Ghosts and asked, "What''s the matter?" - G-Gasp! Th-That is... - Ah! I-I was afraid to speak to you, lest I offend you... Seeing the two Ghosts speak cautiously, Seonghyun tilted his head. Why were they being so cautious? As Seonghyun looked at the Ghosts with that thought, - C-Can we serve you too?! - W-We were quite famous! - We''re from a mercenary group! The Ghosts who approached him, claiming to be from a mercenary group. There were about twenty of them. But what did they mean by serving him? Suddenly, something came to Seonghyun''s mind, and he looked at the soulless undead. No way? ''Are they asking to be put in there?'' Was that even possible? Now that he thought about it, It seemed possible. Seonghyun first looked at the mercenary group and absorbed their memories. The memories of twenty mercenaries! Blue-green energy seeped from the Ghosts into Seonghyun. As Seonghyun greedily absorbed the energy, His blood vessels began to bulge as if in slight pain. ''This is quite difficult.'' And he instinctively felt That he couldn''t absorb any more memories today. [You have displayed an ability beyond your current stats with ''Unknown Power''.] [Strength +10, Agility +20, Stamina +10 permanently increased.] The memories and experiences of twenty people entered Seonghyun, but Rather than feeling refreshed, he felt a bit like he had overeaten, with blue-green energy leaking from around his mouth. ''Fuuu.'' The blue-green energy dissipated like steam in winter. He missed some of the memories. He wasn''t too disappointed, though, because he now knew his limit. That was good enough. However, unlike Eddie, the former instructor, or Apik, the hunter, whose names were known, each of the mercenary Ghosts only increased his stats by about 2. Considering that Eddie, Apik, and even the former village head Gwen had each increased his stats by 5, there was quite a difference. ''Still, my total stats increased by 40.'' It was a huge increase. As Seonghyun expressed his satisfaction, The mercenary Ghosts, who had been watching him nervously, began to brighten up. They realized that they were connected to Seonghyun. However, after reading their memories, Seonghyun knew. ''I can''t put them in there.'' He couldn''t put them into those goblin undead. It wasn''t because they had committed evil deeds during their lifetime, Or because they were wicked people. That wasn''t the case. As Seonghyun immediately dispelled the goblin undead that were copied with Add More, The brightened expressions of the Ghosts quickly darkened. Couldn''t they ultimately serve him? Seeing their dejected looks, Seonghyun smiled and snapped his fingers. A blue-green heart appeared behind Seonghyun and began to beat. At the same time, a blue-green mist spread out. All the skeletons touched by the mist began to emit blue-green energy. And Seonghyun turned those skeletons into Death Soldiers, matching them with the mercenary Ghosts. "It seems goblin bodies aren''t suitable for you." - Aah!! - Aaaah!! - Sob! For us!! Seonghyun then utilized his ability. He had never known how to use his ability in his 22 years of life, but Hadn''t Helena taught him? How to utilize his ability and handle Wraiths. Now he knew it so naturally. He inserted the mercenary ghosts into the bodies of the twelve Skeleton Warriors, six Skeleton Archers, and two Skeleton Mages he had created. Twenty newly created Skeleton Death Soldiers. The existing Death Soldiers also seemed excited, as if welcoming them. - The number of servants to serve Master has increased!! - Kerheuk! Kek! (Let''s raise a toast!!) - Kurukkikek! (Blessed are those who follow the Lord!!) - Thank you! Thank you! Seonghyun nodded with satisfaction. He hadn''t found a soul to fill the copy of the Wraith of Barpur, but It was okay. ''It''s better to put in a more outstanding Ghost.'' Thinking so, Seonghyun looked at the newly formed legion. They seemed to understand Seonghyun''s intentions and shouted, - Sweep this place clean! - Kerruk! Kerheuk! (Death! Let''s present these deaths to the Lord!) - For Master! - Let''s sweep them all away! As everyone shouted in unison, The unsubdued undead around them, unaware of their place, charged forward. Seonghyun watched how well his legion fought, turning off Death Aura. The cemetery was swept clean, and the only undead left were Seonghyun''s Death Legion. [Level Up!] ¡Á 4 [You have reached level 34.] Add More and the method of putting ghosts into undead. Having gained both, Seonghyun thought calmly, ''This is amazing.'' It was a truly simple observation. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 39 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 39 0. Taking control of an entire hunting ground alone was no easy feat. Even for Necromancers, known for their swarms of undead, it was the same. However, the overwhelming tactics and force that made it possible truly showcased the majesty of the Almighty class. To sweep through an entire map with just over 40 undead... Seonghyun, faced with this unbelievable scene, simply nodded with a casual expression. ''I''m 34 now? It''s a bit slow. Well, it can''t be helped.'' He nonchalantly thought about things that would make others dumbfounded. Although his leveling speed was arguably the fastest ever, Considering the speed itself, it was indeed a bit slow. Back in the days of PC games, weren''t there games where you could reach level 200 in less than an hour? It wasn''t fair to compare it to that, but Anyway, when it came to RPGs, leveling was inevitable. Seonghyun was reasonably satisfied and immediately opened his status window. He then gazed intently at his status. ¡¾Status Window¡¿ ¡ºSeonghyun¡» ¡ºLv 34¡» ¡ºClass¡» ¡ú¡ºOverlord¡» ¡ºTitle¡» ¡ú¡ºMonarch (Legendary)¡»...... and 18 others. ¡ºStats¡» ¡ú¡¶Strength: 53 (48+5)¡·¡¶Agility: 61 (55+6)¡· ¡¶Stamina: 48 (43+5)¡·¡¶Intelligence: 56 (50+6)¡· ¡¶Wisdom: 61 (55+6)¡·¡¶Spirit: 133 (120+13)¡· ¡¶Dexterity: 7 (6+1)¡· ¡ºAdditional Stat Points¡» ¡ú¡¶45¡· ''Hmm, it''s well-balanced.'' By absorbing the memories of the entire mercenary group, his Strength, Agility, and Stamina had increased considerably. Although his stats were balanced, the Overlord was strictly a magic-based class. It was right to invest in Intelligence and Wisdom. This time, he would put 25 points into Intelligence and 20 into Wisdom. As both Intelligence and Wisdom rose to 83, Seonghyun nodded, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. Now that he had allocated his stat points, ''I need to choose the next hunting ground...'' Hunting in the field seemed to have its limits. Even after taking over an entire map, he had only leveled up by 4. He needed to consider partying up. Indeed, clearing a dungeon through party play yielded experience points for defeating monsters, plus additional experience points for clearing the dungeon. In terms of efficiency, entering a dungeon with a party was much more efficient. However, he was concerned about the possibility of encountering strange users. That was a bit of a worry. ''But does it matter?'' Since he had repelled all the strange users he had encountered so far, He decided to find a party and go. Just as he was thinking about which dungeon to tackle, Seonghyun suddenly remembered Kahku''s second warehouse in another village. When he first arrived in Sekan, his second village, he lacked the level and strength, so he planned to go when he reached level 50. But now it was a different story. ''I can clear it now.'' He had already finished his business in Sekan Village and found no clues for any more hidden pieces, so Moving on to the next village didn''t seem like a bad idea. He could decide on a party later. If there was really no one, couldn''t he ask the guild for help? As Seonghyun was thinking this, [You have a guild message.] ''Huh?'' Speak of the devil. He had received a message from the guild. Curious, Seonghyun opened it. "Hmm?" It contained unexpected content. 1. At the base of the Rapid Guild, boasting its natural fortress, The key figures of the Rapid Guild began to gather. Not all the executives, but HR Manager Luciel, Channel Manager Chenchen, and others who could be considered the brains of the Rapid Guild were gathered in the meeting room. Guild Master Rapid, sitting at the head of the table, looked around with a serious expression. Everyone in the meeting room had a look of barely contained excitement. None of them were unaware of the opportunity that had presented itself. Only HR Manager Luciel seemed a bit nervous, but she was definitely excited as well. After looking around the room filled with excitement, Rapid spoke, "So, you''re saying we should seize this opportunity and make him the star of the Rapid Guild channel?" "Yes! Guild Master! This is an opportunity!" "It''s all settled. Then, let''s gather again after Seonghyun''s second class advancement. And don''t worry about Yuna. There''s someone else who can handle her." Rapid, or rather, Ahn Yoojin, smiled as she thought of Seonghyun. Ahn Yoojin knew very well that if she told Seonghyun about this, Yuna wouldn''t be able to object. With Seonghyun''s team decided, Ahn Yoojin immediately contacted Seonghyun. She informed him of his team assignment, asked him to continue filming videos and send them to her, and asked him to keep Yoo Mina in check. 2. Seonghyun clicked on the guild message icon. ¡ºWe are pleased to inform you that your guild member, Seonghyun, has been assigned to the Rapid Guild''s Rookie Team 1, Luna Team. Please note that team activities will begin with your participation in a raid upon reaching level 50 and completing your second class advancement. Furthermore, through internal guild discussions, we have recognized the excellent marketability of your videos, and we hope that you will continue to work hard on filming videos. Of course, we will pay you accordingly, with a rate of 30% of the profits generated from your videos. We will send you an additional contract later. We look forward to your continued success and conclude this message. PS - If Mina causes a scene, I hope you, Seonghyun, will stop her.¡» Naturally, Seonghyun frowned as he read the message. He didn''t mind the team assignment. He had been thinking about cooperating with others since joining the guild. But asking him to stop his sister? It wasn''t that Rapid''s request bothered him, but the opposite. ''If even Yoojin noona is saying this, just how wild is she in the guild?'' Seonghyun knew Ahn Yoojin''s personality; she always kept her personal and professional life separate. Even the message was strictly professional, as seen by the formal tone. But for her to say this much... It seemed his sister was a bit of a loose cannon in the guild. Leaving that aside, ''A team, huh.'' He wasn''t unsociable. He didn''t dislike it either. Being in a team wasn''t a problem for Seonghyun. However, he was a bit worried about how the team members would accept him. There could be issues like exclusion or not being acknowledged. In a way, Seonghyun was like a parachute candidate. Even if he proved his abilities, it was still his sister and her friend''s guild. He was a bit concerned, but It didn''t really matter. He thought of it as a job anyway. ''I just need to do well.'' Seonghyun brushed aside the news of his team assignment. He had to focus on leveling up for now. There was still a lot to do. The request to stop his sister was also too easy. Yoo Mina was weak to Seonghyun, so she would back down if he just said a word. However, there was something else important in this message. ''I have to film videos.'' He had sent a hunting video last time, so He should send something different this time. And there was something interesting, wasn''t there? Kahku''s second warehouse. Even though Seonghyun was only on his second day, He wasn''t a stranger to games. What else could be as popular as hidden pieces? Even Seonghyun would click on a video like that. ''There''s no way I can resist a hidden piece video.'' Since he had just the right subject and video idea, Why hesitate? Seonghyun immediately looked for a portal to move to another village, And headed to his next destination, Oren Village. He could move between villages on the same level, meaning he could travel between second villages. Arriving in Oren Village from Sekan Village, Seonghyun was about to head straight to Kahku''s second warehouse, If it weren''t for the elderly Ghosts chatting nearby. - Have you heard? Those outsiders are entering Rox''s tomb! - Huh! The tomb of that wicked mage, Rox? - Indeed, that''s what I heard! An interesting story. Seonghyun involuntarily listened in. - There are so many traps hidden in Rox''s tomb, and they''re trying to enter it? - Why else? The current village head, Tyler''s son, made those outsiders go in. - Tyler''s son was so greedy from a young age! - Who wouldn''t know! He tricked those naive outsiders, saying there were treasures inside! All they''ll find are things that will only please a Black Mage. It''s frustrating that I can''t tell them. Noticing Seonghyun listening, they made eye contact. The two pairs of eyes of the two elderly Wraiths shook violently. When had they ever seen someone who could see them? - Oh, huh? Th-That person over there seems to be listening to us? - Gasp!? At the Ghosts'' words, Seonghyun asked politely, "Could I perhaps hear more about that story?" It seemed like he had discovered another hidden piece. And a new video topic. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 40 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 40 2. The users of Oren Village couldn''t contain their excitement. It wasn''t often that an event was held in a second village. Moreover, it was a large-scale event! There was no way they wouldn''t be excited. They could receive the quest just by going to the central plaza of the village. The plaza, usually crowded with users, was now packed with people, leaving no room to even set foot. "Ah! Don''t push!!" "Let''s keep order!!" "I''m participating in the event too!" The crowd trying to get the quest to participate in the event. "Wow, so many people! There are so many..." "Looking for group 62!" "Hey, what team number are you?" "I''m on team 39." The crowd that had already received the quest and was trying to meet with their group members. "Huh, so many outsiders have gathered." "Good fortune will surely come to the village!" "It''s all thanks to the village head, hahaha." Even the NPCs were happy, thinking about the income that would be generated by the influx of users. A middle-aged man with a sly look watched the crowded central plaza from a high-rise residence. At first glance, he had a benevolent impression, but when he opened his small, narrow eyes wide, the malice hidden beneath them seemed to show. The middle-aged man stroked his goatee. It was a habit he often displayed when he had something up his sleeve. "Kekeke, they''re gathering nicely." The middle-aged man looking down at the users from his residence with a sinister smile was none other than Oren Village''s headman, Xyle. Naturally, he was an NPC. Some users treated Eternal World''s NPCs like those in other games, but He was incomparable to those ordinary NPCs. He thought and acted on his own. It wasn''t for nothing that the genius Park Won had given the game the title "Another World, an Eternal World." Xyle, thanks to his advanced AI, was truly like a ''person.'' He wouldn''t hesitate to sacrifice others for his own greed. He also didn''t hesitate to trample on others, while outwardly trying to hide such actions. If the users knew him, they would be surprised at how human-like he was. However, perhaps because he thoroughly hid his ulterior motives, None of the users knew his ugly side yet. Even among the villagers, only a handful knew his true nature. ''If I gather the outsiders like this, I''ll be able to obtain the treasure in that wicked Rox''s tomb.'' According to what Xyle had learned, Rox''s tomb was a giant labyrinth. A dangerous place teeming with perilous traps and monsters. It wasn''t a place that Xyle, a mere village head, could easily go alone. Even if he knew the way through the labyrinth. But what if the outsiders rushed in like a pack of dogs? There comes a moment when the labyrinth is empty. Xyle was planning to seize that opportunity and search for the hidden treasure. With a sinister thought in mind, Xyle looked around at the gathered users. ''These outsiders are the hunting dogs who will find my treasure.'' As Xyle was thinking this, he suddenly Saw a user with eyes that momentarily glowed teal. "Hmm?" The user was staring intently at him as if he knew Xyle was there. As Xyle met the user''s gaze, He felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine. Despite having black hair and black eyes, Just moments ago, they were clearly shimmering with an eerie teal light. As he shuddered and stepped back, The user disappeared into the crowd. "Wh-What was that?" Was his spirit weakened, causing him to see things? Or could it be... ''Is he someone who came here coveting my treasure?'' As that thought crossed Xyle''s mind, He shook his head, trying to deny it. That couldn''t be. He was the first to discover the map leading to Rox''s tomb. That was an undeniable fact. In other words, only Xyle knew where Rox''s hidden treasure was. ''There''s no way he could know.'' Xyle reassured himself and calmed down. 3. The user with teal glowing eyes who briefly made eye contact with Xyle. Who else could it be but Seonghyun? Seonghyun avoided Xyle after their eyes met. His impression of Xyle, from their brief encounter, was simple. ''He looks really greedy.'' Should he say he had a typical swindler''s face? He had an impression of someone full of greed. Exactly as the Ghosts had said. It seemed the saying "There are no bad children under a good father" was wrong. It was strange that the son was so different when the former village head was said to be so kind and wise. He wasn''t particularly curious about Xyle''s scheme. He already knew it. The quest was his priority. ''Anyway, I received the quest.'' [User ¡ºJoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon¡» has agreed to the filming.] He was dumbfounded by the nickname as soon as he saw it. Her nickname wasn''t Kim Chegeon, but JoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon. How could someone''s nickname be JoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon? Who would have imagined this? ''She''s crazy.'' Seonghyun briefly praised her in his mind, and Asked as if to suggest they get going, "Shall we go then?" "Hmmhuhuhu, of course." That strange way of speaking was a bit off-putting, but still, ''Judging by her gait, she seems skilled.'' He could tell from recalling the memories of the former instructor Eddie, the hunter Apik, and the mercenary group. It was the gait of someone trained in martial arts. Since she seemed quite skilled, ''Is this good luck?'' A slight doubt arose, but He brushed it aside and headed towards the location marked as Rox''s tomb. Naturally, they formed a party. [You have formed a party with ¡ºJoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon¡».] [As set, the party window is activated, excluding classes.] ¡ºSeonghyun - Lv.34 - (????)¡» ¡ºJoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon - Lv.36 - (????)¡» Like Seonghyun, Kim Chegeon was also hiding her class. ''What''s this?'' 4. The path to Rox''s tomb wasn''t exactly smooth. Not only was it quite a distance, but the path was also treacherous, and "Kiak! Kihaak!" "Kerheuk! Kerruk!" Annoying goblins even appeared. However, Seonghyun and Kim Chegeon strolled leisurely as if they were on a walk, unfazed. If goblins appeared, they would simply cut them down and move on. In the process, Seonghyun witnessed Kim Chegeon''s skills. She lowered her stance, almost as if she were about to fall forward, then pushed off the ground with her toes, instantly accelerating with explosive speed. Using that momentum, she slid across the ground and drew her sword. A thin line appeared on the goblin''s neck, and Soon, its head rolled off. Thud, Roll. [Acquired experience points from a party member''s hunt.] "Kerruk!?" The other goblins, startled, tried to flee, but Seonghyun naturally blocked their escape route with a casual walk and swung his sword. Seonghyun also swung the Apprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword, slicing through the goblin''s torso in a single blow. [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Experience points acquired.] The two of them each defeated a goblin with a single strike. However, both of them were relaxed, not even needing to catch their breath. This wasn''t even considered exercise for them. ''She''s even more skilled than I thought.'' There was no trace of skills in the movement she just displayed. She moved using only her stats. Seeing that she was even more skilled than Manhu, whom he had partied with before, it seemed she was indeed a formidable expert. Although Seonghyun didn''t know for sure, Manhu was also considered quite a skilled player. Kim Chegeon was simply overwhelmingly superior compared to him. Kim Chegeon was also surprised. ''To cut it down in one strike with such movement.'' She was also an expert who could fully utilize her stats. It wasn''t for nothing that she called herself the Joseon''s Best Swordsman. She had confidence in her skills, but seeing Seonghyun''s abilities, she realized he was by no means beneath her. However, there was one thing that bothered her. "I know this is rude, but I have a question. May I ask?" "Yes? What is it?" "Are you, by any chance, not a swordsman?" She was asking if his class wasn''t a swordsman type. It was a rude question. Prying into his class while he was hiding it. However, Seonghyun answered as if it wasn''t a big deal. "Yes, I am not a swordsman." "...!!" Kim Chegeon''s eyes widened in genuine surprise at his answer. Then, as if in gratitude, she bowed her head slightly and lowered her large straw hat. "Thank you for answering." "It''s nothing." At Seonghyun''s reply, Kim Chegeon couldn''t help but admire him inwardly. ''He''s really not a swordsman.'' He was clearly using his stats better than she was, but she had asked just in case, as his stats seemed much lower than hers. To think he really wasn''t a swordsman. Indeed, the world was vast, and there were many skilled people. She had thought that few could match her when it came to the sword. Kim Chegeon looked at Seonghyun with burning determination, thinking she needed to work harder. ''Why is she looking at me like that?'' Of course, Seonghyun was anxious as he saw Kim Chegeon''s gaze, but After a small commotion and walking a bit further, They soon arrived at the entrance of a huge cave swarming with users. ¡ºEvent Dungeon - Rox''s Tomb¡» *Caution: Upon entering, everyone will start at a different location. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 41 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 41 By the time Seonghyun and Kim Chegeon arrived, a considerable number of users were already present. They were entering the dungeon in order of their group numbers, which were displayed at the entrance. It was currently group 57''s turn to enter. Seonghyun and Kim Chegeon, belonging to group 99, still had a long wait ahead. Curious about what would happen if they missed their turn, Seonghyun observed the scene. Just then, a user who was running late arrived. "Ah! I''m in group 44! Ha-have they already gone in!?" "Yes, I heard if you miss your turn, you''re pushed to the back of the line and have to enter later." "N-no way!?" The late user''s predicament answered Seonghyun''s question. Relieved that they had arrived on time, Seonghyun and Kim Chegeon leisurely observed the other users entering the dungeon. Suddenly, a commotion arose at the entrance. A man of imposing stature and a surprisingly petite woman were causing a scene. "Waiting is so boring. Why don''t we just kill everyone and go in first? Don''t you think so, Karlak?" "...Hmm." "...?" "???" The onlookers stared at the duo with bewildered expressions, taken aback by the woman''s aggressive remarks. It seemed like an awfully harsh joke. As if sensing their confusion, the woman continued, "Hmm~ What should we do, Karlak?" "...The guild told us to exercise restraint." The hulking man replied cautiously to the small woman. It was an odd sight. Typically, it would be the man making such threats, not the petite woman. "Are you crazy???" One of the users exclaimed in response to the woman''s earlier statement. Without turning her head, the woman rolled her eyes to fix her gaze on the user. Then, with a sinister grin, she snapped her fingers. Five fiery spears materialized in mid-air. In an instant, magic filled the air, and the users'' faces turned pale. This quest was supposedly restricted to users below level 50 who hadn''t undergone their second job advancement. How could this woman wield such powerful magic? Fear crept onto the users'' faces, replacing their initial shock. Someone noticed the emblem on the woman''s and the man''s shoulders and shouted. "H-holy crap! L-look at their shoulders!!" Everyone''s eyes followed the direction of the shout. Emblazoned on their shoulders was a symbol of a withered willow tree, seemingly vibrating with an eerie energy. Most people present recognized the emblem. "Echo Willow!?!" "N-no way, Echo Willow?!" "H-holy..." Echo Willow. It was one of the large guilds, but few wished to join it. They were infamous. Most of the guild members had accumulated notoriety, and they didn''t hesitate to engage in unsavory behavior. It was a large guild where the worst of the worst gathered. Although Echo Willow wasn''t a top-ranking guild, it wasn''t a pushover either. The fact that it had become a large guild despite consisting only of notorious players was proof that it housed many skilled, albeit infamous, users. Seeing the majority of the crowd stunned, the woman finally smiled with satisfaction and nodded. "Yes, this is the atmosphere I like. Don''t you think so, Karlak?" "...The guild told us to exercise restraint, Wooz." "Ugh spoilsport! Fine." Wooz, the petite woman, pouted at the words of the giant man called Karlak and snapped her fingers again. The fire spears that had materialized in the air vanished instantly. Although the fire spears disappeared, their intimidating aura lingered. The silence in the area was broken only by the sound of gulping. Amidst this tense atmosphere, Seonghyun was the only one tilting his head in confusion. ''Where is Echo Willow?'' He wondered if he should ask Kim Chegeon through the party chat. Just then, a message arrived from Kim Chegeon. ¡®Did she read my confused expression? ¡® She seems pretty perceptive. [JoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon - I apologize, but do you know what Echo Willow is?] ...Seonghyun paused to think. So she doesn''t know either. Seonghyun didn''t bother replying and simply shook his head at Kim Chegeon, ignoring the message. Kim Chegeon seemed to understand and didn''t seem too bothered by it. Although many were surprised, these two weren''t the type to make a fuss over just five fire spears. They simply shrugged it off. ''If they attack, we''ll fight back.'' Both Seonghyun and Kim Chegeon shared a similar thought as they moved on. When it was group 78''s turn, the giant man, Karlak, and the woman, Wooz, entered. Not long after the others entered, it was finally time for group 99, Seonghyun and Kim Chegeon. As stated at the entrance, Rox''s Tomb assigned different starting points to those who weren''t in the same group. However, it didn''t matter to Seonghyun. Clang! A fierce metallic sound resonated through the area. With that sound, Kim Chegeon winced slightly, her wrist aching as she was pushed back a bit. She realized that Seonghyun might not be able to block such force alone. Just as Kim Chegeon was about to shout a warning, Kaishak''s tail, already recoiling, curled like a whip and lashed towards Seonghyun. The tail, tearing through the air towards Seonghyun, was blocked by a red membrane right before his eyes. Bang! The air exploded as the tail, which was expected to rip through the thin membrane, was stopped in its tracks. Kaishak''s laughter abruptly ceased. "K?" "?!?!" "..." When the thin membrane was summoned and blocked the tail attack, both Kaishak and Kim Chegeon, were taken aback. Kaishak was astonished that such a thin membrane could stop its tail, while Kim Chegeon, although aware that Seonghyun wasn''t a warrior or swordsman, was surprised to find him wielding Black Magic. ''A Black Mage with such swordsmanship...'' Kim Chegeon couldn''t help but be amazed. Even where she trained, few seniors could handle a sword with such skill. Just what was his identity? While Kim Chegeon and Kaishak were both surprised, Seonghyun, with his usual calm expression, summoned a bone arrow and shot it towards Kaishak. The swiftly conjured bone arrow flew towards Kaishak, who quickly deflected it by coiling its tail around its body. Ting! Having successfully blocked the bone arrow with a timely reaction, Kaishak finally noticed a spear made of teal light flying towards it from Seonghyun. It had to block it. Instinctively feeling the danger, Kaishak tried to retract its tail to block the spear. Perhaps due to the forceful change in direction, a strange sound emanated from the tail. Crack! Crack! But Kaishak, seemingly unconcerned, brought its tail forward for defense and blocked the teal spear. Or rather, it tried to. The timing was perfect. The tail had clearly struck the spear''s trajectory. Yet, the tail passed through it as if it were an illusion. And the spear flew through, piercing Kaishak precisely in the heart. Thud! "Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Kaishak screamed in agony. With that scream, its eyes turned black. [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Dark damage applied.] [Imp, Kaishak''s sight and senses are impaired for 3 seconds.] A mere 3 seconds. But those 3 seconds were more than enough for Seonghyun and Kim Chegeon. Kim Chegeon, snapping out of her surprise, closed the distance while Seonghyun was casting his spell, reaching Kaishak almost at the same time as him. Seonghyun swung his sword at Kaishak, and Kim Chegeon did the same. The yellow energy imbued in Kim Chegeon''s sword enhanced her speed and power, leaving a long gash on Kaishak''s upper body. Seonghyun''s sword strike, though shallower than Kim Chegeon''s, was still powerful enough to leave a long cut on Kaishak''s body. There were still 2 seconds left. Both of them used that time to unleash a flurry of sword attacks on Kaishak, who collapsed without even a whimper. [You gain experience.] A message indicating experience gain appeared. And as always, teal smoke billowed. A welcome system window popped up in front of Seonghyun. [You can use ¡ºDeath Legion¡».] [Would you like to raise ¡ºDeath Legion¡»?] An Imp undead... Just as Seonghyun, pleased with the prospect, was about to raise the Imp as a death soldier, footsteps echoed from the opposite passage. Soon, two figures emerged. "Oh my? More users? This is a reward, right, Karlak?" "...It''s fine inside the dungeon." The two muttered to each other. As they faced each other, several system windows appeared before Seonghyun. [This is a notorious user.] [Attacking will not increase your notoriety.] [This is a notorious user.] [Attacking will not increase your notoriety.] [Entering combat mode.] Above their heads, their names and levels were displayed. ¡ºNotorious User - Lv.45 Karlak¡» ¡ºNotorious User - Lv.49 Wooz¡» The imposing Karlak and the petite Wooz appeared with an air of arrogance. Seonghyun turned his head, seemingly pleased with the encounter. Then, from Kaishak''s corpse, laughter echoed. -K giggle! K giggle! K giggle! The laughter was audible only to Seonghyun. Hearing it, Seonghyun thought, ''I need to test out the Imp undead.'' Perfect opponents had just presented themselves. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 42 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 42 The sudden appearance of Karlak and Wooz made it clear, even to those oblivious to social cues, that their intentions were far from friendly. The red marks above their heads and their names, confirming their notoriety, spoke volumes about the countless users they had likely slain within this dungeon. It was a classic scenario: encountering infamous users in a maze-like dungeon. The course of action was obvious. The atmosphere was tense, like a tightly drawn string, a situation on the verge of exploding. Karlak and Wooz assessed Seonghyun and Kim Chegeon. It was evident at a glance that these two were different from the weaklings they had encountered at the entrance. Wooz, in particular, felt a palpable aura emanating from them, and she licked her lips in anticipation. So, would they back down? ''Not a chance!'' On the contrary, this was even better. The excitement that had waned from facing only weaklings was reignited within her. Although he didn''t say anything, Karlak felt the same. His eyes, despite his hulking physique, were sharp, like a finely honed blade. Perhaps the warrior''s blood was boiling within him. "..." Still silent, Karlak lowered his stance, ready to pounce at any moment. He was poised to attack at the slightest signal. But they weren''t the only ones. Kim Chegeon, a swordsman herself, also felt her blood stir. She placed her hand on her sword, ready to spring into action. ''I saw them outside, and they''re quite skilled.'' Kim Chegeon seemed to relish the situation, a long, unseen smile curving beneath her satgat. Just how strong were they? She was eager to find out. The tension in the air was palpable. Any trigger, any signal, would instantly ignite a battle. Unfazed by the situation, Seonghyun, without hesitation, used Death Legion as he faced them. There was no need to delay. A teal heart materialized in Seonghyun''s hand, its pulsating sound echoing around them. Kaishak''s corpse twitched, its already dark skin becoming shadowed with darkness, and teal energy began to emanate from it. But this was just the beginning. The resurrected undead wasn''t just one, but two. Two identical undead were created. Undead that were distinctly different from ordinary ones. Seeing Seonghyun''s undead, Wooz, Karlak, and even Kim Chegeon, his own party member, felt their eyes widen in shock. "R-Rapid''s Rookie!?" "...!!" "Oh, oh my... I knew you were a Black Mage, but I didn''t know you were Rapid Guild''s Rookie." All three were astonished, but Seonghyun, with his usual indifferent expression, stored the soulless Imp Kaishak, created by Add More, into the Netherworld. While it would be helpful to have it as an extra force... He wasn''t interested in seeing a soulless Death Soldier Kaishak. However, that action had upset Karlak and Wooz. The veins on Karlak''s forehead throbbed as he glared at Seonghyun, and Wooz, her face flushed red, bit her lip as if in humiliation. "...How arrogant." "Ha! Do we look easy to you?" Even the usually taciturn Karlak was enraged enough to speak. It was a natural reaction. Seonghyun''s action could only be interpreted as looking down on them. Seonghyun was simply curious about how effective a Kaishak with a soul would be, but who would understand that? Even Kim Chegeon, his party member, thought, ''Oh ho, he''s quite skilled at provocation.'' As the saying goes, "Strike the shepherd to scatter the sheep." To Kim Chegeon, Seonghyun seemed like someone whose schemes couldn''t be taken lightly. However, Seonghyun, looking at the two, tilted his head in confusion. Why were they so angry? He couldn''t understand. Shouldn''t they be happy that he had given them one less opponent to deal with? The psychology of player-killers was truly unfathomable. Seonghyun swallowed his thoughts and asked, "Hmm. Weren''t you going to attack?" Unlike Seonghyun, who asked out of genuine curiosity, Karlak''s fists and Wooz''s whole body were trembling with rage. It seemed their patience had reached its limit. Rapid Guild''s Rookie? They were well aware of the overwhelming number of undead shown in that video, so they hadn''t attacked recklessly, but now... ''There must be a reason he stored one away, and it''s not just to provoke us.'' Wooz, the petite woman, was furious, but she calmly analyzed the situation. There was only one undead visible. And even that one was stored away. Using its tail, firmly embedded in the ground, the Imp launched itself forward like a projectile. As time passed, Karlak''s defensive skill wore off, and Kaishak''s short legs landed a powerful blow on his exposed arms. Crash! Sizzle! It was a kick propelled by the Imp''s entire body weight and acceleration, so the impact sent Karlak reeling back. He gritted his teeth and tried to withstand it, but his feet scraped against the ground as he was pushed back. The moment Karlak was pushed back, Kaishak thrust its tail again. Karlak had already experienced firsthand that the sharply honed tail could pierce through anything, but this time, he couldn''t avoid it. He stretched out his hand towards the tip of the tail. Thud! Crack! The sound of leather and flesh tearing, followed by the sound of bones twisting and breaking, filled the air. However, at that moment, Karlak managed to deflect the trajectory of Kaishak''s thrusting tail with his hand. He then tightened his grip on the tail and yanked it. -K? Kaishak, forgetting even to laugh, stared blankly. Karlak, baring his teeth ferociously, said, "...Finally caught you." With that, he pulled Kaishak towards him. Kaishak was pulled along like a radish being uprooted. The piercing power and strength of its tail were exceptional, but its physical strength seemed weak, unable to resist. While being dragged through the air, it tried to struggle by putting strength into its tail. Kaishak''s struggle caused Karlak to stumble slightly, but that was all. Not being in contact with the ground, Kaishak was at a clear disadvantage compared to Karlak. -Ki, kir? (W-what the...!) Along with Kaishak''s bewildered cry, a red aura flowed through Karlak''s uninjured right fist, landing a clean hit on Kaishak''s face. As if that wasn''t enough, he extended his fist, slamming Kaishak''s face, along with his own fist, into the ground. Kaboom! The impact was so powerful that the surroundings trembled. However, perhaps due to magical protection, the floor remained intact. What wasn''t intact was Kaishak''s head. Kaishak''s head burst open like a watermelon. It had managed to hold its own against Karlak, a considerably strong user, but it seemed this was its limit. However, Seonghyun''s expression was filled with satisfaction. Although Kaishak had lost, it had put up a good fight. And that wasn''t all. [Critical Hit!] "Cough." Just before its demise, it managed to dig its tail deeper into the hand that held it, driving it all the way to Karlak''s heart. Karlak''s heart was pierced through. However, he was incredibly tough and managed to stand up despite his injury. It seemed he had decided that with Kaishak dealt with, Seonghyun was the only one left. "...That must have been your strongest undead, and your only one at that. Now, I''ll kill you." Karlak spoke at length, which was unusual for him. Seonghyun, looking puzzled, asked, "Hmm, only one?" "...?" Karlak, sensing something amiss, couldn''t understand. Seonghyun, looking at Karlak, lightly raised his finger and snapped it. Teal portals appeared in the air. From them emerged twenty Goblin undead and twenty Skeleton mercenaries. Finally, a Wraith appeared, enveloped in darkness, making the surrounding air several times heavier. It was enough to freeze this passage in an instant. Of course, that wasn''t the end. Thump. Thump. Thump. With the sound of a teal heartbeat, Kaishak''s head, which had been smashed like a watermelon, regenerated. It returned to its original form. The creature he had barely managed to defeat, almost at the cost of his own lives, was revived. Karlak''s eyes trembled at the nightmarish sight. And he wasn''t the only one. "W-what, what the!? I-it wasn''t a skill that made him stronger with just one undead!?!" Wooz screamed in defiance, and even Kim Chegeon, who was fighting her, stopped for a moment to watch the scene unfold. The temperature in the passage seemed to drop by 5 degrees with the teal energy emanating from everywhere and the aura exuded by the Wraith. Perhaps this was how prey felt before a predator? Even Kim Chegeon, his ally, felt her eyes tremble. "Oh my." There was no room for competitiveness. Only one thing remained in this place. Fear. Seonghyun, who had spread that fear, gently opened his mouth as he looked at them. "Come." At Seonghyun''s words, Karlak trembled with fear. Wooz''s prediction had been wrong. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 43 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 43 Karlak, with his heart pierced, was at the brink of death. Even so, he couldn''t just die. Despite his trembling body, he swiftly distanced himself from Kaishak and pulled out a potion from his inventory. It wouldn''t heal him instantly, but it would buy him some time. If he could somehow fend off Kaishak and hold out... He could gain a little more time. However, Kaishak didn''t pursue him. "...?" Karlak looked at Kaishak in confusion. He felt a heavy pressure in the air above him, weighing down on his surroundings. An oppressive feeling he had never even imagined. Karlak immediately tried to move away from the spot. Or rather, he tried to. Before his will could reach his feet, A giant hand gripped his neck. Grab! "Gah!" His throat tightened, and an oppressive force spread throughout his body, rendering him unable to even move a finger. A chill permeated his body, and he felt an irresistible force that allowed no action other than shivering. Was he poisoned? No, Karlak soon realized. A huge, mole-like maw gaped open. What he saw next was something filled with wet, sharp teeth. Crunch! Chomp! After those sounds reached Karlak''s body, the form above his neck vanished without a trace. [You gain experience!] [Level Up!]¡Á2 [You have reached level 36.] [You have slain an opponent with high notoriety.] [You acquire the opponent''s item, ¡ºGiant''s Strength Belt¡».] As the system message window and the item appeared before Seonghyun, The Wraith of Barpur, who had devoured Karlak''s head, carelessly tossed the headless corpse to the ground like trash. It grinned, revealing its ferocious, blood-stained teeth, and glared at Wooz. She was the only one left. Wooz felt the hairs on her body stand on end at the Wraith of Barpur''s aura. Even Kim Chegeon, who wasn''t the target, was trembling. What about Wooz, who was the direct target? She would definitely die. She would die without even being able to fight back. ''A-a monster has been born in Rapid Guild.'' Echo Willow wasn''t a pushover guild, but... Wasn''t this too much of a difference? Surrendering might hurt her pride, but Wooz didn''t even consider such a thing. Pride? What was that? Dying in her current state would put her at a huge disadvantage. Wooz, well aware of her dire situation, quickly racked her brains. "W-wait, wait a minute!!" In her desperation, honorifics slipped out. However, Seonghyun, instead of stopping the Wraith of Barpur, simply watched with an indifferent expression. As if he were an unrelated bystander. Seonghyun''s calm and composed demeanor appeared colder and more chilling to Wooz than any other expression could have. "I-I know the secret of this place!! P-please, will you listen to me?!" At Wooz''s words, Seonghyun remained silent, but Kim Chegeon and the Wraith of Barpur looked at her in surprise. To think she would go this far to survive... With that thought, Seonghyun seemed to ponder for a moment and muttered, "Hmm." "I-it won''t hurt to listen!!" "Hmm, alright then, let''s hear it. As long as it''s not about Rox being a Black Mage, or the information about the maze''s path, or, oh! About Village Head Xyle''s conspiracy, I''ll listen to anything." "Eh?" Wooz let out a dumbfounded sound at Seonghyun''s words. What she was originally going to say was also about Rox and Village Head Xyle. But Seonghyun was one step ahead. How did he know about the maze''s path? Even Wooz didn''t know that information. As Wooz stood there dumbfounded, Seonghyun asked as if wondering why she was like that, and Wooz, seeing him, couldn''t help but tremble. "Y-you knew everything from the beginning...!!" "If you have no further information..." As Seonghyun finished his sentence, the Wraith of Barpur moved. Wooz also quickly cast her skills. She couldn''t just die like this. She had to escape somehow. However, as she tried to struggle, Kim Chegeon appeared before her, wielding a sword, and said, "Don''t forget about me." "Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!!" As she tried to cast magic skills, she was hit by Kim Chegeon''s sword. Many of her magic skills were canceled, and the backlash hit Wooz directly. The so-called mana reflux phenomenon. It was one of the characteristics of magic-based classes, becoming vulnerable when attacked while casting magic. As the mana reflux occurred and the damage hit Wooz''s body, "Cough." Red blood trickled down her lips. Even amidst the severe damage, Wooz didn''t lose consciousness and tried to escape, but... Behind her, a black shadow, she didn''t know when it had arrived, blocked her path. "Ah." A sigh of regret. As that sigh echoed, The Wraith of Barpur also opened its giant maw and chomped down on Wooz''s body. Its formidable bite force had even torn through the tough warrior Karlak''s body in an instant. Wooz couldn''t withstand it and was devoured by the Wraith of Barpur, meeting the same end as her comrade Karlak. Crunch! [You gain experience!] [Level Up!] [You have reached level 37.] [You have slain an opponent with high notoriety.] [You acquire the opponent''s item, ¡ºTome of Flames¡».] She knew he was a rookie, and yet she wanted a meeting? Perhaps it wasn''t anything grand. And as Seonghyun expected, "I don''t necessarily mean you have to get me into Rapid Guild or anything! Of course, I wouldn''t dare ask for that. I''m just asking if you could arrange an opportunity for me to have an interview." "Hmm." "I-if that''s not possible, I''d like to at least become friends with you, Seonghyun." It certainly wasn''t a burdensome request. Kim Chegeon might not know, but Seonghyun was practically a parachute candidate for Rapid Guild. First of all, his sister was the Vice Guild Master, one of the highest-ranking officials. And the Guild Master of Rapid Guild was his sister''s friend. He could definitely make this kind of request. Kim Chegeon was undoubtedly skilled. Well, he didn''t know if her class was outstanding, but... That wasn''t for Seonghyun to judge; it was up to Rapid Guild. As Seonghyun was about to agree, "Ahem. It''s humiliating, but I believe it would be easier for you to arrange a meeting if I reveal my class." "Hmm." He was about to say it wasn''t necessary, but... Since he was curious anyway, Seonghyun remained silent. Kim Chegeon, with a look of extreme frustration and humiliation, squeezed her eyes shut. Just what kind of class was it that made her react like this? Was it perhaps a low-rank class? "My class is Unique rank. It''s so shameful that I can''t say it out loud, so I''ll just share it." As Kim Chegeon said that and revealed her class, He saw the golden letters that symbolized a Unique rank class. However, Seonghyun blinked his eyes as he saw the letters. ¡ºSeonghyun - Lv.37 - (????)¡» ¡ºJoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon - Lv.38 - (Samurai)¡» "???????" Seonghyun looked at Kim Chegeon with a truly bewildered expression. Her nickname was JoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon, she was a Westerner, and her class was Samurai? What a bizarre combination. How could everything be so mismatched? As Seonghyun was speechless in disbelief, Kim Chegeon, as if she had expected this reaction, lowered her head and said sincerely, "I know. It''s a humiliating class. But keep in mind! As befits the reputation of JoseonBestSwordsman, I will switch classes as soon as I acquire a proper one!" "...Yes." Seonghyun couldn''t understand what that had to do with him, but... He felt like he had to say something to end this situation, so he gave a noncommittal reply and moved on. "Haha! Then... ahem, let''s add each other as friends and try to clear the tomb." He hesitated to actually add her as a friend, but... Seonghyun had no choice but to accept. [You have become friends with the user ¡ºJoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon¡».] He had never felt so embarrassed about a friend request being accepted. 5. With the obstacles removed, Nothing could stop Seonghyun and Kim Chegeon. Perhaps Wooz and Karlak had taken care of most of the users who were originally there, as they didn''t encounter anyone else. To conserve mana, Seonghyun stored some of the undead who were praising him and swept through the Kaishaks, turning them into undead. He could increase their numbers by using Add More on the Kaishaks that were floating around as ghosts after being killed by other users and putting them into soulless bodies. By the time they found the hidden location, he had managed to turn ten Imp Kaishaks into his Death Legion. The sound of them giggling in a group was a bit annoying, but... Still, they were quite useful due to their excellent combat abilities. "Oh! As expected of Seonghyun! To find the path so quickly!" It was fortunate that the ghosts had shown him the way. Otherwise, he would never have found it. Ignoring Kim Chegeon''s admiration, Seonghyun tapped the secret door, activating the mechanism to open it. Inside, he saw the old mage''s laboratory. The laboratory was filled with stale dust and was disorganized. Countless reagents, unable to withstand the long passage of time, had dried and stuck to the bottom of beakers and flasks, and near the desk, a rotten skeleton was rolling on the floor. Apparently, that corpse was Rox. As Seonghyun slowly looked around, He saw two books and a black, obsidian-like stone placed on the desk where Rox had collapsed. Lastly, there was a handwritten letter placed in front of them. ¡ºI have finally done it. I have refined Black Magic and created the ultimate stone that can transcend the limits of Black Magic items! To create this, how many... (omitted) ...Therefore, I shall name this stone the Black Magic Refinement Stone.¡» After reading the lengthy inscription, Seonghyun picked up the two books and the stone. [You have discovered a Hidden Piece in¡ºEvent Dungeon - Rox''s Tomb¡»!] [You have found the Hidden Piece by discovering the hidden door.] [The title,¡ºExplorer¡», evolves into the title,¡ºTreasure Explorer¡»!] [You acquire the Hidden Piece, Black Mage exclusive Rare rank skill book,¡ºSkill Book - Corpse Poison¡»!] [You acquire the Hidden Piece, Black Mage exclusive Epic rank skill book,¡ºSkill Book - Exploding Poison¡»!] [You acquire the Hidden Piece, Epic rank item,¡ºBlack Magic Refinement Stone¡»!] A bountiful reward message that never got old. Seonghyun couldn''t help but smile as he saw it. He had gained video footage of defeating Wooz and Karlak in the tomb, their Unique items, and even Hidden Pieces. ''Killing three birds with one stone.'' 6. Late at night, when all the users had disappeared, Village Head Xyle, along with one of his trusted subordinates who handled his dirty work, headed towards Rox''s Tomb. It had been a long time since the foreigner who received the quest had left. He had confirmed that the foreigners inside the tomb had come out. By now, the traps and monsters inside the tomb must have been cleared out. Even if they weren''t, his trusted subordinate here would surely take care of them. "Kekeke, let''s go." "Yes, Chief." All of Rox''s hidden treasures would be his! He already knew the way, and since there were no traps or monsters in sight, he was able to reach the secret door in no time. However, "N-no way!?!" Not only was the secret door, which should have been tightly closed, wide open, but the treasures inside were also gone. There wasn''t a single hair left. All that remained were the stale dust and dried reagents that filled the stone chamber. There was nothing left to salvage. Xyle, who had been greedy and tried to get something for nothing by using the foreigners, collapsed on the spot and hung his head. "Un... believable." As is often the case with those who are consumed by greed, his end was miserable. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 44 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 44 0. After leaving Rox''s Tomb and parting ways with Kim Chegeon, the first thing Seonghyun did was, naturally, to check his rewards. Wouldn''t checking the rewards be the priority after obtaining them? He had earned a lot this time, so... It would be exciting to see what he got. He hadn''t obtained any noteworthy drop items within the dungeon, except maybe the Imp''s tail. The first reward Seonghyun checked was a title he had obtained after a long time. It wasn''t exactly a new title since it was an evolution of an existing one, but still. ¡ºTreasure Explorer¡» ¡ú¡¶Epic¡· ¡úA title given to users who discover hidden doors in Hidden Dungeons at once. ¡úIncreases drop rate by 20% in Hidden Dungeons. ¡úIncreases hidden door detection rate by 20% in all dungeons. ''Hmm.'' The title had evolved from Rare to Epic, and a hidden door detection rate option had been added. Also, while discovering Hidden Dungeons wasn''t very common, The newly added option increased the hidden door detection rate in all dungeons. It was a very useful option. Especially since Seonghyun had been making good use of dungeons lately. So, should he check the next reward? No, there was something he had to do before that. [You acquire the Rare rank skill, ¡ºCorpse Poison¡»!] [You acquire the Epic rank skill, ¡ºExploding Poison¡»!] He used the two skill books without delay and acquired the two skills. ¡ºCorpse Poison¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Continuous Effect][Active] [Cooldown 3 minutes] [Poison Duration 30 seconds] ¡úBlack Mage exclusive skill. ¡úInjects poison into a corpse with mana. ¡úThe poison slowly spreads and poisons enemies. ¡ºExploding Poison¡» ¡ú¡¶Epic¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown 3 minutes] ¡úBlack Mage exclusive skill. ¡úDetonates the poison, dealing poison damage and explosion damage, and spreading the poison. "Wow." Seonghyun''s jaw dropped at the skills. Even Corpse Poison alone had a considerably useful effect. It could be used as long as there was a corpse. On top of that, the effect of Exploding Poison was practically cheating. Epic rank was a high rank. But for it to be this good and still only Epic rank... ''There will be synergy with various poisons, right?'' If he only used Corpse Poison, poison would spread from the corpse. The speed would undoubtedly be slow. But what if he used Exploding Poison? The poison on the corpse would explode rapidly, spreading quickly to the surroundings and inflicting both poison and explosion damage simultaneously. And if he used Corpse Explosion on an enemy already poisoned... It was a combination skill. Corpse Explosion, Corpse Poison, Exploding Poison. ''I can create a combo no matter how I use them.'' After acquiring the skills, Seonghyun envisioned various combinations in his mind, then... He took out the final reward. The item that could be called Rox''s final masterpiece! ¡ºBlack Magic Refinement Stone¡» ¡ú¡¶Epic¡· ¡úA crystal created by refining Black Magic to its limits. ¡úCan increase the rank of items related to Black Magic. ¡úHowever, it cannot exceed Epic rank. "Increase rank?" To think it could increase the rank of an item... Seonghyun''s eyes widened, and he gulped. Although it had the drawback of not being able to exceed Epic rank, it was still amazing. Didn''t he happen to have an item that could be used for this? An item that was meaningful to Seonghyun. ''I wonder if this can be enhanced?'' With that thought, Seonghyun took out a staff he hadn''t used in a long time. It was the staff he had received from the village head of Hindel. ¡ºStaff of the Forgotten One¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare+¡· ¡úA staff whose user has been forgotten over time. ¡úAlthough the owner remains unknown after all these years, the faint power lingering within suggests that the previous owner was a formidable black mage. ¡úSlightly increases mana regeneration after using black magic skills. ¡úSlightly increases the power of black magic skills. Could this be enhanced? With that expectation, as Seonghyun tried to use the Black Magic Refinement Stone, A system message appeared. [This item can be enhanced with the ¡ºBlack Magic Refinement Stone¡».] [For some reason, the Staff of the Forgotten One is trembling.] [There may be additional effects.] [Would you like to use the ¡ºBlack Magic Refinement Stone¡» on the ¡ºStaff of the Forgotten One¡»?] [Yes / No] ''Oh?'' What did this mean? There might be additional effects? Indeed, the Staff of the Forgotten One was presumed to be Helena''s staff. In other words, could he draw out the hidden power within it using the Black Magic Refinement Stone? Seonghyun, filled with anticipation, used it immediately. He had no intention of using it on anything else anyway. As he used the Black Magic Refinement Stone, A black mist-like energy seeped out from the stone, and the Staff of the Forgotten One began to absorb it completely. Unlike at first, when it simply started absorbing, The staff gradually devoured the energy voraciously. The Black Magic Refinement Stone quickly lost its light, and soon cracks began to appear, shattering into dust in Seonghyun''s hand. Then, a strong teal light emanated from the Staff of the Forgotten One, and a system message appeared before Seonghyun. [Congratulations! The Rare+ rank item, ¡ºStaff of the Forgotten One¡», has awakened the energy dwelling within it due to the ¡ºBlack Magic Refinement Stone¡»!] [It has undergone evolution, surpassing the original effect of the ¡ºBlack Magic Refinement Stone¡».] [The Rare+ rank item, ¡ºStaff of the Forgotten One¡», has evolved into the Epic+ rank item, ¡ºApprentice Monarch''s Staff¡».] "Huh." He let out a sigh. It was supposed to be impossible to go beyond Epic, yet... It had evolved to Epic+ rank. And the name was Apprentice Monarch''s Staff. Still, he glanced at Seonghyun and... He could see that Seonghyun was wearing quite expensive items. ''He must be a student from a wealthy family.'' That''s what it looked like at first glance. The type of person who spends money on games first. Usually, such people lacked skills. Nanjiro judged that Seonghyun was also that type of person. It was trendy to play Mage classes because they lacked confidence in their skills. ''Now then...'' ''I need to take the lead and properly organize the battle formation.'' Although his level was lower, He had to change the perception of Thieves with his outstanding Thief control! With that noble cause in mind, Nanjiro guided Seonghyun and arrived at the Big Ant Nest. As the name suggested, it was a huge cave entrance, large enough for five people to enter. It indicated that the ants inside were also large. Then came Nanjiro''s explanation. "Since this is your first time here, let me explain. The Big Ants here move in groups, but since the minimum number of party members is two, they are easy monsters." "Oh." "Their defense is quite strong, but they have a clear weakness. If you aim for their necks, you can defeat them quickly. Haha! I''ll stand in the front line and block them all for you!" Listening to Nanjiro''s explanation and looking at the Big Ant Nest, Seonghyun thought it would be a good place to experiment. They had strong defense but were numerous. It was the perfect condition to test out explosion-type skills. Still, he had to give a heads-up. Seonghyun looked at Nanjiro and cautiously spoke, "Um, if they come out first, would it be okay if I use my skills first?" "Huh?" "Ah, I got a new skill, and it''s an explosion type, so I''m worried you might get caught in it." "Ah! Yes, yes, of course. It''s good to use explosions first." Nanjiro nodded, looking a bit amused. Every user wanted to test out new skills, but look at how confident he was about explosions. Explosion skills at this level weren''t incredibly powerful; they were skills that could be expected to deal wide-range damage. Seeing Seonghyun, who seemed unaware of this, He must be a clueless young master. He was almost certain now. ''What if he''s disappointed?'' Nanjiro was a little worried. He had been through that himself. Although Seonghyun''s level was higher than his, he was confident that he knew more about this game. It was true. Seonghyun was a player with only two days of experience. As they entered the dungeon, Nanjiro should have taken the lead, but he didn''t, as Seonghyun requested it. Not long after the two entered the dungeon, As befitting the name Big Ant Nest, Big Ants swarmed towards them. There were as many as six of them. Slightly surprised by the large number of ants swarming in, Nanjiro shouted to Seonghyun, "Their necks are their weak points!" Nodding at his words, Seonghyun raised his staff and summoned a bone arrow. He didn''t even have time to be surprised by the lower mana consumption than usual. The moment it was summoned, the bone arrow shot out, piercing the neck of the Big Ant in the center of the group. Thud! [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] The Big Ant that was hit staggered, seemingly bewildered. The damage was greater than expected. "Oh!?" Nanjiro was visibly surprised, as if he hadn''t expected Seonghyun to hit the target on the first try. However, Seonghyun, ignoring him, cleared the message window that was blocking his view and cast another spell. Bone Arrow was on cooldown, and the skill Seonghyun had created was Wraith of the Dead. As he cast the spell while holding the staff, a teal light gathered in the air, forming the shape of a spear. As Seonghyun pointed the staff, The teal spear flew towards the target like lightning, and the Big Ant, unable to even muster the will to dodge, had its neck pierced through. [Critical Hit!] [You gain experience.] ''Huh? It''s already dead?'' Nanjiro felt something was strange as he saw the Big Ant collapse after just two hits. Even though they were weak, it wasn''t an ant that would go down in just two hits. He looked at Seonghyun with a puzzled expression. Seonghyun also seemed quite pleased. ''The damage is higher than usual.'' It consumed less mana, and the damage was considerably stronger than before. Although it was a subtle difference, The effect of the evolved Apprentice Monarch''s Staff was evident. Seonghyun started using his skills. As soon as the ant in the center of the group collapsed, he raised his staff and used Corpse Poison. Fizzle. A green gas rose from the corpse. It spread slowly but surely. Recognizing the poison, the Big Ants, which had been charging, scattered from the center of the group. As the gas touched the Big Ant''s body, Sizzle! And the parts that came into contact with the poison had their hard exoskeletons melted away. "Kieeee!" "Kiiiiiik!" A strong acidic poison that melted their bodies on contact! The Big Ants writhed in pain, trying to escape from the horrible poison that melted their bodies, spreading from the point of contact with the deep green gas. However, small lights began to ignite in the green gas, and... Seonghyun cast another skill towards them. The Big Ants writhed in pain, trying to escape from the horrible poison that melted their bodies, spreading from the point of contact with the deep green gas. However, small lights began to ignite in the green gas, and... Boom! An explosion erupted from the green gas. As the huge explosion engulfed all the Big Ants, They were engulfed in flames from the explosion, and the green gas, instead of scattering, spread in all directions. Green gas and explosions enveloped the Big Ants. But that wasn''t the end. From the two Big Ant corpses created by the explosion, flashing lights ignited once more, and... Another explosion erupted from the center. Kaboom!! Rumble. The entire cave shook as if trembling, Showing how powerful the explosion had been. The explosion spread to the surroundings, creating a thick black cloud, and as the wind blew, the black cloud scattered into the air as if it had never been there. Where the black cloud had disappeared, only the ground, devastated by the explosion, remained. "???" Nanjiro blinked his eyes after witnessing the scene and looked at Seonghyun. Then, with an even more respectful posture than before, he said, "Please spare me." "Huh???" It seemed he had been greatly misunderstood. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 45 [translator - pr?ks] [proofreader - pr?ks] chapter 45 ¡°why would i... kill you?¡± ¡°huh?¡± nanjiro had momentarily lost his composure due to the overwhelming destructive power that had turned the cave upside down, but... come to think of it, that was true. there was no reason for seonghyun to kill him. he had unconsciously been intimidated by the immense explosive power. he had mistakenly thought that the only reason someone this strong would party with him was to pk. realizing this, nanjiro apologized with an awkward expression. ¡°s-sorry.¡± ¡°it¡¯s alright. that can happen.¡± with so many notorious players around, it was understandable to be misunderstood like this. anyway, seonghyun brushed it off and recalled the power of the explosion. ¡®amazing.¡¯ the power and range were both considerable. with a combo like this, he should use it often in the future. although it had the drawback of a long cooldown, that would decrease as he gained proficiency and leveled up. now that he had checked the skill combo, ¡®should i clear this quickly?¡¯ it was late, and it was time for him to log out. just then, something strange caught seonghyun''s eye. from the fragments of the big ant''s corpse that had been shattered by the corpse explosion, a green gas was slowly rising. even though the corpse was damaged, the corpse poison was still applied to the fragments. ¡®oh?¡¯ if the corpse poison was still applied even after the corpse exploded, what if he first applied corpse poison, then used corpse explosion for explosion damage, and then used exploding poison on the poison that spread everywhere? perhaps there were even more ways to combine the skills than he had thought. seonghyun kept those ideas in mind. since he had come this far, he should experiment with everything before leaving. ¡°let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°yes! yes!¡± together with nanjiro, who was strangely disciplined, ¡®i-i must never go against him.¡¯ nanjiro felt like he had boarded a very comfortable bus. 1. [you have cleared the 2-player dungeon, big ant nest.] [you gain experience!] [you acquire 10 gold as a clear reward.] [level up!] [you have reached level 38.] it took less than 10 minutes to clear the dungeon with nanjiro. considering that it usually took an hour to clear the big ant nest with a 2-player party, this was an incredible speed. he even leveled up in the process. it seemed that the experience points from clearing rox''s tomb had been added, resulting in the level up. nanjiro, with an expression that looked like he was about to cry, repeatedly bowed his head to seonghyun and thanked him. "wow! thank you so much! really!!" "you''re welcome. have fun." "you too, seonghyun!!" seonghyun chuckled as he watched nanjiro happily scurry away. party hunting wasn''t so bad. anyway, he had come up with various combo ideas and gained a lot. ''it''s much easier since i can create combos.'' he liked that his options had increased. he had also fully utilized the effects of his skills and the apprentice sovereign''s staff. now it was time to log out. it was getting late. just then, seonghyun suddenly remembered something he had forgotten. ''ah, right.'' kim chegeon''s request. he had been thinking about sending it and got distracted by experimenting with his staff and skills. he should send it along with the video file he had recorded earlier, mentioning kim chegeon. whether or not to accept her was up to rapid guild. seonghyun scratched his cheek as he sent a direct message to rapid guild. ''but i wonder if this video is okay?'' kim chegeon appeared in it, and due to their notoriety, wooz and karlak''s faces were also clearly visible, as their anonymity wasn''t protected. they were in the wrong, so they wouldn''t complain about appearing in the video, right? it was something that was systematically allowed. also, it didn''t seem like he had followed the requested concept, but... he had recorded the video, so he should send it. [seonghyun - [attached video]] [seonghyun - if you watch the video, there''s a strange swordsman who appears as a party member. she asked if she could have an interview with rapid guild, so i''m contacting you.] [seonghyun - oh, and i''m not sure if the video concept is well done. if there''s a problem, i''ll re-record it and send it to you.] ''i guess this is fine?'' he added "strange swordsman" because he couldn''t quite call kim chegeon a skilled swordsman. it would be awkward if she was criticized for being strange during the interview. with that thought, seonghyun sent the message and put it out of his mind. he had sent it, so it was no longer his responsibility. he had no idea what kind of ripple effect his video would have. 2. in the naturally fortified base of rapid guild, there was a room where the lights were always turned off last. it was the guild master rapid''s office. today, as usual, when most of the guild members had left the base for hunting or raids, only rapid remained, handling various tasks. she had hired employees to handle these paperwork and guild tasks, but... there were also matters that rapid had to handle personally, so she had no choice but to stay late. in particular, there was also the impact of the recent seonghyun incident. "sigh..." it was a great thing that an outstanding rookie had joined. but what if it was an incredible rookie who could potentially change the game? it was even better, but it also made things more complicated. some might question how much of a difference a single person could make, but it was quite common in eternal world. the recruitment of a single high-ranking solo player could change the rankings of guilds. in fact, it didn''t even have to be a high-ranking solo player. as they manifested on the ground, a teal heart appeared in seonghyun''s hand, and the head of kaishak, which had been destroyed, was restored and revived. the surrounding air instantly froze, and the two guild members of echo willow trembled in fear. it was truly the reign of the demon king. "wow..." rapid couldn''t think of any other words to express herself. she just let out an exclamation of admiration and thought, ''if i cut this part out and just focus on the battle with echo willow, i can perfectly capture the demon king vibe!'' it was a video with the presence of absolute evil, echo willow, and their punishment. this alone would be popular enough, but... look at this directing that made it seem like the reign of the demon king. the two cruel and vicious members of echo willow were trembling in fear. it was a truly satisfying sight and a video that perfectly expressed the fear of the demon king. ''to think i was going to discard this.'' how foolish of her! rapid briefly berated herself and prepared to edit the video immediately. she could have left it to the employee in charge of videos, but... rapid was also skilled in video editing. there was no one in the guild who was better at it than her. she had a lot to do, but this was something she had to do herself. just then, ''hmm, then i have to arrange an interview for this person as well.'' as she was thinking about how to arrange the interview, a good candidate came to mind. he wasn''t exactly free, but... ''he said he already met him with his alt account, right?'' he was the one who had been reprimanded. she should send him this time. ''if it''s the second village, it must be that dungeon. it''s a good place for an interview.'' now that she had a good idea, rapid was about to start editing when she sent messages to the one who had been reprimanded, kim jinwoo, and seonghyun. she sent kim jinwoo an order-like message telling him to go to where seonghyun was tomorrow for the interview, and she sent seonghyun a request-like message asking him to help with kim chegeon''s interview tomorrow. she thought it would be good to send kim jinwoo with him to that dungeon. [kim jinwoo - ah! really! i shouldn''t have gone... sigh. alright.] kim jinwoo replied with a resigned "alright," and... [seonghyun - i needed a party, so this works out perfectly. thank you.] rapid smiled as she saw seonghyun''s grateful reply. ''i''m really looking forward to tomorrow.'' she was curious to see how the three of them would clear the dungeon, and a fantastic video would be uploaded tomorrow. 3. seonghyun, who had come out of the capsule feeling refreshed after sending the video, immediately made eye contact with his mother, lee nakyeong, who was in the living room. instead of scolding seonghyun for playing games until now, lee nakyeong welcomed him with a warm smile. "you''re finally out? aren''t you hungry?" she could have scolded him for playing games, but instead, she was worried if he was hungry, and seonghyun felt a warm feeling in his heart. well, she probably knew that his sister, yoo mina, earned a lot, even if she didn''t know exactly how much. it was understandable. even if she didn''t know, lee nakyeong wasn''t the type to scold him for playing games. seonghyun thought for a moment, but he wasn''t particularly hungry, perhaps because he had eaten out with yoo mina earlier. "ah, yes. i ate a lot for lunch, so i''m fine." "oh my? is that so? you went out and ate a lot with mina earlier?" "yes. i think i''ll be fine for dinner." "i was wondering whether to prepare dinner or not since your father said he''ll be late, but that''s a relief~" "yes, then please rest." "haam. i should get going too." as lee nakyeong yawned tiredly and went into her room, seonghyun felt sorry for her, who had been waiting for him to come out. she must have been planning to make him dinner when he came out. ''she doesn''t have to do that.'' since she had gone to rest, he would have to tell her next time. with that thought, he drank some water because he was thirsty and returned to his room. he saw that an alarm was ringing on his phone. ''has she already replied?'' seonghyun opened his phone with a puzzled expression. as expected, a message from rapid had arrived. it was a request asking if he could enter a dungeon with kim chegeon and a rapid guild interviewer tomorrow. entering the dungeon wasn''t a problem. but what dungeon was it? he checked the name of the dungeon. ''fortress of the past?'' it was a name he had heard before. he remembered that it was a kind of test, like how he had defeated the scarecrow in one blow in the tutorial. seonghyun searched for more information. various information appeared. ''oh, it''s a record-type dungeon that you can only enter once?'' uniquely, it was a dungeon that could only be entered once below level 50, and... only exactly three people could enter. there was no concept of clearing, and waves occurred. and it recorded how far each user progressed. apparently, one had to clear at least 10 stages to be recognized as a ranker? it even gave a significant amount of experience points. ''there''s no reason to refuse, right?'' he needed to level up anyway. seonghyun immediately replied that he would be happy to. even though she was a bit strange, going to a dungeon with a skilled person like kim chegeon was a welcome opportunity. plus, there was also an interviewer. an interviewer from a guild like rapid would surely be quite skilled. anticipation bloomed within him. ''fortress of the past.'' a record-type wave dungeon. it seemed like tomorrow would be fun. of course, before entering the dungeon, ''i have to clear out the warehouse first.'' he hadn''t forgotten what he had to do. [translator - pr?ks] [proofreader - pr?ks] Chapter 46 [translator - pr?ks] [proofreader - pr?ks] chapter 46 0. "i''m off to work." "mom, i''ll see you later~" "okay, have a good day." "yeah~ see you later~" father, yoo gwangjin, was leaving for work, and mother, lee nakyeong, was going out for something. seonghyun and yoo mina saw them off at the front door. the two were left at home. and yoo mina seemed to have a lot of complaints. seeing his sister, seonghyun shook his head as if to say, "still at it?" why did she have so many complaints? "what is it this time?" "no, of course, we have to form teams, even if you''re a necromancer. but why luna''s team?" "if the guild decided that, then we just go. what''s the big deal?" "no, why that crazy team of all teams! luna is the only normal one, and the rest are out of their minds." "sigh, you''re not exactly normal either, you know." "..." yoo mina looked at him as if to say, "are you serious?", but... it didn''t faze seonghyun at all. he looked at yoo mina with a cold gaze. yoo mina, seeming to understand, pouted and replied, "fine." "just try complaining." "ugh, i''m usually the boss in the guild." "fix your temper." "i said fine!!" yoo mina shouted and went back to her room. he wondered when she would ever grow up. still, it seemed like she understood, so he should leave her alone. speaking of crazy teams, ''there must be something going on.'' if even his crazy sister called it a crazy team, then it must be something. however, seonghyun didn''t really care. even if it was a crazy team, a team was a team. he had heard that the team leader, luna, was normal. there shouldn''t be any problems. seonghyun stopped thinking about it and went back to his room to check his schedule. first, what he had to do today. ''we were supposed to meet at 10 am, right?'' the most important thing was kim chegeon''s interview. seonghyun was also going to accompany her to the interview and enter the famous dungeon, fortress of the past. that was scheduled for 10 am. it was still before 8 am, so it was a bit early. but he wasn''t short on things to do. ''kahku''s second warehouse.'' he had already decided what to do. if he obtained the hidden pieces there, he should be able to make it in time for the meeting. ''i''ll probably level up if i clear out the warehouse, right?'' he was about to reach level 40. he could obtain skills at every 10 levels. if he cleared out the warehouse, he would level up and learn a new overlord-exclusive skill. he wondered what kind of skill he would obtain this time. as seonghyun logged into the capsule with anticipation, the familiar welcome message appeared before his eyes. [welcome to eternal world, another world, an eternal world.] [may good fortune be with you, player ¡ºseonghyun¡».] 1. kahku''s second warehouse. unlike the first warehouse, this one was quite serious. from the guardian protecting the warehouse to the treasures inside. after all, there was a limit to the treasures that could be obtained in the first village. the same went for the guardian. it was definitely on a different level from the goblin stone statue in the first cave. [lv.49 magic armor] [lv.49 magic armor] leaving aside the fact that their levels were 11 higher than seonghyun''s, their appearance alone was extraordinary. antique armor with golden embroidery. perhaps it was powered by magic circles, as a faint blue light leaked from the gaps in the armor. they exuded an aura of strength, but... before those magic armors stood a group of ten. -k giggle! k giggle! k giggle! -k giggle! k giggle! k giggle! k giggle! -k giggle! k giggle! k giggle! k giggle! k giggle! k giggle! the imps were sneering at the magic armors. ten kaishaks were laughing with their mouths wide open. the cave was filled with the sound of their giggling, and the magic armors charged towards the kaishaks, but... it was no use. a barrage of kaishak tails swung from all directions, their sharp tips closing in. if the magic armors were living beings, they would have turned pale. it took less than 30 seconds for them to be dismantled by the tails. they couldn''t even counterattack once. as the magic armors collapsed and fell, seonghyun walked leisurely through them. with seonghyun''s indifferent expression and the kaishaks naturally bowing to him after completing their task, a solemn atmosphere filled the air. the kaishaks then returned to the netherworld through the teal portal. it was truly the majesty of a monarch. unlike the overwhelming atmosphere of a monarch, seonghyun leisurely thought, ''it ended faster than i expected.'' the power of ten kaishaks was greater than he had imagined. he was satisfied with the hidden pieces, but... having the kaishaks under his command was also quite satisfying. pleased, seonghyun tried to open the warehouse door. [you have won against monsters with a level difference!] [you gain experience!] [level up!] ¡Á3 [you have reached level 41.] [a new overlord skill has been unlocked upon reaching level 40.] [you acquire the legendary rank skill, ¡ºsummon demon knight¡».] if seonghyun brought a new raid opportunity, there would be no reason for them to object. moreover, the treasure or rewards obtained from this would belong to seonghyun, who brought the opportunity. ''i should bring this up later.'' he had truly obtained some incredible things. after checking the last treasure map, seonghyun took out the random skill book again. he already had a skill he obtained from reaching level 40, so... he didn''t have high expectations. still, it would be nice to get a useful skill. but it was random, so... ''should i use it?'' [would you like to use the rare rank item, ¡ºrandom skill book¡»?] [yes / no] *upon use, the skill book will disappear, and you will learn a random rare to epic rank black mage exclusive skill or a common skill. *are you sure you want to use it? even a stern warning message appeared. however, seonghyun pressed "yes" without hesitation. why would he try to use it if he wasn''t going to? as seonghyun coolly pressed "yes," the random skill book gradually rose from his hand, and... countless pages fluttered and turned, emitting a bright light. flip! along with the sound of the pages turning and emitting various lights, a single page appeared before seonghyun''s eyes, floating in the air. a page painted with dark ink. as the page floated, it began to emit an eerie shadow around it. the shadow that spread around the book. it felt like a black mage exclusive skill at first glance. what kind of skill would it be? as seonghyun''s curiosity grew, whoosh! the page painted with dark ink scattered into the air, and a figure appeared. a person-like shadow appeared, and... it disappeared from the air and reappeared under another shadow. ''this is...?'' it was so intuitive that he couldn''t mistake it. [you acquire the epic rank black mage exclusive skill, ¡ºshadow transference¡»!] ''oh!'' the name was exactly as described. and the rank was epic. ''i''m lucky.'' seonghyun hurriedly checked the skill information. his jaw dropped. ¡ºshadow transference¡» ¡ú¡¶epic¡· ¡ú[lv max][complete type] [instant effect][active] [cooldown 1 minute] ¡úblack mage exclusive skill. ¡úenvelops the body in shadows and allows transference to any visible shadow. ¡úgrants 1 second of invincibility after transference. "wow." as a complete type skill, its effect was incredible. even just the transference itself was amazing, but to be invincible for 1 second afterward... it was practically cheating. it might only be 1 second, but... if someone used a wide-range skill, he could use this to block it with the right timing. ''i''m really lucky.'' it seemed like he had obtained a very good skill, even among epic skills. the skill he obtained from the random skill book was this good, so... what about the overlord exclusive skill? he couldn''t help but get his hopes up. the skill name was ''summon demon knight''. how could he not be excited? he had just experienced the power of the imp kaishak firsthand. and now, a demon knight? he couldn''t even begin to imagine how strong it would be. of course, there would be restrictions, but... ''let''s see...'' without further ado, seonghyun immediately brought up the skill description. ¡ºsummon demon knight¡» ¡ú¡¶almighty¡· ¡ú[lv max][complete type] [instant effect][active] [currently summonable number: 1] the demon knight, who walks out of hell at the behest of the monarch, shall be the instrument of judgment that carries out the monarch''s will. ¡úoverlord exclusive skill. ¡úsummons a demon knight from hell. ¡úthe demon knight, a faithful servant and sword, is the same level as its master. ¡úone additional demon knight can be summoned for every 100 levels. *currently, a new demon knight can be summoned upon reaching level 100. *demon knights can also enter the netherworld. ''hmm.'' it seemed strong, but... he couldn''t be sure just by looking at this. it felt like he had to summon it to know for sure. summoning a demon knight from hell. it seemed like it would randomly summon one demon knight. random again. he was a bit anxious because he had just gotten a good skill from the random skill book. what if he was unlucky this time? it would be strong since it was a demon knight, but... there was a chance it could be a useless knight. considering that, it might be better to summon it later. it was a thought worth pondering. however, seonghyun dismissed the thought. ''if it''s not going to come out, it''s not going to come out no matter what i do.'' he might as well summon it now. if it wasn''t good, he could just keep it in the netherworld. seonghyun immediately cast the skill. [summoning demon knight.] [translator - pr?ks] [proofreader - pr?ks] Chapter 47 [translator - pr?ks] [proofreader - pr?ks] chapter 47 as he cast the skill, seonghyun felt his control over his body disappear. he couldn''t even move a finger. in that state, the scenery around him melted away and a new scene unfolded like a video. a cutscene. also known as an event scene. seonghyun realized that this was the cutscene that played when he summoned the demon knight. ''oh.'' the scenery that emerged as kahku''s second warehouse melted away was a vast plain. or perhaps it was a wasteland? tens of thousands of troops stood on the barren, uncultivated land. the footprints of iron military boots were clearly imprinted on the hard dirt floor. thud! thud! thud! tens of thousands of troops marched forward as if they were a single living organism. looking at another army charging towards them, the two armies, each with tens of thousands of soldiers, clashed, collided, and swung their various weapons in a desperate struggle, regardless of friend or foe. clang! clang! slash! slash! every time a weapon was swung, the sound of clashing metal rang out from all directions, and red blood splattered everywhere. the red blood splattered on the uncultivated wasteland soon turned dark red as if dead. the battlefield was filled with malice, and blood spread everywhere. could the land no longer absorb any more blood? or perhaps it was disgusted by the blood that contained the ugly inner selves of these humans. the ground, which had been absorbing the blood, began to regurgitate it. churn, churn. no one in the battlefield, where tens of thousands were mixed together, noticed this strange phenomenon. they only harmed each other with ugly expressions, venting their malice. they swung their weapons at each other, thinking only of annihilating their opponents. the gushing blood spread out like a lake. the vast lake of blood, encompassing the entire battlefield, spread so wide that the stench of blood permeated the air. the unique smell of iron and the disgusting blood clung to the soldiers'' feet even as they trudged through it. but no one noticed. no one was in a position to care about the stench of blood or the sticky feeling on their feet. just as everyone was oblivious, blood surged from the center of the lake as if it were regurgitating. churn, churn. it absorbed all the blood in the lake as if forming a single shape. perhaps realizing that something was wrong, the sound of clashing metal that had filled the battlefield subsided. the shape that appeared in the center of the battlefield resembled a large human heart. the heart, the size of a human head, had an unpleasant black hue. as the black heart beat, disgusting dark red blood began to spread around it. instead of spreading in all directions, the dark red blood formed blood vessels in the air as if creating a circulatory system. thump! thump! as the heart beat and churned, blood vessels spread throughout the body, and around those blood vessels, bones made of dark red blood began to form. bones and blood vessels formed, and the blood in the lake swirled as if to envelop the body, transforming into muscles over the bones and blood vessels. the massive figure, shaped like a human but three meters tall, didn''t stop there. it drew more blood from the lake and covered its body again. over the dark red skin, it draped itself with blood once more, and clothes and armor materialized. the figure, now fully formed as a human, reached into the red lake of blood, and a spear emerged. as it brandished the spear in the air, a red wave that seemed to split the world spread out, instantly sweeping away the tens of thousands of troops and filling the now-dried lake of blood once more. having slaughtered all the troops, the figure moved like a butcher. its direction was towards seonghyun, who had witnessed everything. squish. squish. the figure''s slow footsteps were sticky and unpleasant. with each squishing sound, bloody footprints were clearly imprinted on the ground. finally, as the figure stood before seonghyun, blood flowed out from its footprints, forming a magic circle. a red, glowing magic circle appeared, resonating with its surroundings and scattering red light, spreading a bloody fog. the figure''s form became clearer, and the demon knight manifested itself in the world. wooo! [you have summoned ¡ºblood-red demon knight, balthar¡».] [you are the first in eternal world to summon a demon knight.] [you acquire the title, ¡ºdemon knight summoner¡».] [**caution**] [the demon knight''s ego is more distinct than other summons.] [it may disobey orders, and constant effort is required to control the demon knight.] ''hmm?'' he had succeeded in the summoning and obtained a title. it was a good thing, but... the warning message that followed bothered him. its ego was stronger than other summons, and it could disobey orders? with a cutscene like that, it would definitely be strong. but did it have to come with such a demerit? ''this is troublesome.'' a summon that didn''t listen to its summoner. it reminded him of the red dragon that didn''t listen to its master in that old cartoon about raising and evolving monsters. was this balthar the same? ''it worked.'' -you should have done this from the start. helena, who had been standing on seonghyun''s shoulder in a huff, also nodded in satisfaction with her arms crossed. well, it was a good thing he had subdued him. just as he was about to move on, balthar, already subdued, cautiously bowed his head and asked, -i-if it''s not too much to ask, where did you... "ah, hmm." -i-if it''s difficult to say, you don''t have to tell me... it wasn''t just anyone; it was his subordinate, an npc. seonghyun casually replied, "hmm, i can see helena''s soul." -ah!? ah!! t-then!? "yeah, she''s on my shoulder. she''s a bit smaller now." -ahaha, that''s because her energy hasn''t fully recovered! -gasp!! helena laughed as she spoke, and balthar, as if his breath had been taken away, fell backward with a thud. seeing this, ''he... must be strong, right?'' he was given a title just for summoning him, and another title for subduing him. he must be incredibly strong. his energy was also extraordinary. however, judging from his behavior... ''he''s so embarrassing.'' he couldn''t help but be doubtful. helena, who had heard seonghyun''s inner thoughts, laughed. -mwahaha! even though taltar looks like that, he''s incredibly skilled. that''s how he managed to date savilia. ''hmm.'' -anyway, he''s skilled, so trust him. with that, helena gave a seductive smile and stood up from seonghyun''s shoulder. it seemed like her time was up again. -i''ll go get some more rest then. it won''t take long, though. i recovered a lot yesterday by absorbing the memories of the mercenary group. ''ah?'' -see you later then~ with those words, helena disappeared. seonghyun recalled her words and kept them in mind. to think there was such a secret. it seemed like she recovered her strength as he absorbed the memories of ghosts. considering the memories and experiences helena had given him, it made sense. to think that she had become so small because of him. feeling a bit apologetic, seonghyun turned his head. -s-so, are you w-watching me here and m-making fun of me? uwaaa! balthar, the foolish demon knight, was in a panic after hearing that there was a ghost. seonghyun sighed and shook his head at the foolish balthar. just then, the alarm he had set rang. beep! beep! beep! beep! beep! beep! "ah." it was time to gather for kim chegeon''s interview. ''it''s almost time.'' he wanted to test out balthar and his new skills, but... it seemed like he would have to test them out in that dungeon. he could also check out the new titles he had obtained on the way. -ugh, what if savilia finds out about this? uwaa, i-i did throw them away, but, s-she''ll definitely despise me just for it being known. first, he should put this vulgar balthar in the netherworld. 2. the record-type dungeon, fortress of the past. it was a dungeon that served as a testing ground to gauge the skills of users before their second job advancement. it was a place that any rookie from a major guild would visit, and... a place that some would even deliberately enter to join a major guild. a user, wearing a large satgat and dressed in hanbok that seemed to belong in the joseon era, was waiting for her companions in this place. joseonbestswordsmankimchegeon. he, no, she let out a small sigh. ''phew, finally, the rapid guild interview.'' she hadn''t passed yet, but... how much effort had she put in to get this far? she had trained tremendously. she had even come to this distant foreign land despite her family''s opposition. and finally, she was able to have an interview. "i''m so emotional." as kim chegeon was making a proud expression, someone approached her. a person equipped with decent gear, holding a shield along with a sword. the person, who appeared to be a sword and shield warrior, stood before kim chegeon. "are you perhaps the one who''s scheduled for an interview with rapid guild...?" he trailed off, unable to speak properly. kim chegeon nodded and replied confidently, "that''s right. i am joseonbestswordsmankimchegeon." "...how can a person''s nickname be..." "what did you say?" "ahem, nothing." "???" [translator - pr?ks] [proofreader - pr?ks] Chapter 48 [translator - pr?ks] [proofreader - pr?ks] chapter 48 kim chegeon tilted her head, having missed what he said for a moment. the sword and shield warrior, as if it were nothing, changed the subject. "my name is jinwoo, and i''ll be in charge of the interview today." "ah! nice to meet you! i look forward to working with you today." "ahem, well, it seems seonghyun is not here yet, so let''s wait a little longer." "oh! is seonghyun coming too?" "ah, you must not have heard." indeed, kim chegeon had only been told to come here for the interview at 10 am. she hadn''t heard that seonghyun would be participating as well. since rapid guild had informed them, there was no need to mention who would be participating. it wasn''t relevant to the interview anyway. the sword and shield warrior, no, jinwoo, scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward. ''it''s a bit embarrassing to see it this way now, but...'' he must have figured it out after seeing the skill book. with that thought, jinwoo breathed a sigh of relief, and... kim chegeon, seemingly excited by the news that seonghyun was coming, muttered, "this is a good opportunity to test how my skills measure up to seonghyun''s." "hmm?" "what''s wrong?" kim chegeon looked at jinwoo, who was surprised. was there something strange? on the contrary, jinwoo was also surprised looking at kim chegeon. usually, people with such eccentric concepts didn''t acknowledge the skills of others. it was unexpected to see her hold seonghyun in such high regard. if she had partied with seonghyun before, it would be understandable. it was seonghyun, after all. he wasn''t called the best rookie for nothing. but for kim chegeon, with her eccentric concept, to immediately acknowledge seonghyun... perhaps her personality was better than her appearance suggested. ''i should check this as well.'' jinwoo thought to himself and replied, "ah, it''s nothing. i was just impressed that you hold seonghyun in such high regard." "hmph, although i call myself joseonbestswordsman, i don''t belittle the skills of others." "hmm..." jinwoo scratched his cheek as he watched kim chegeon, who continued to call herself joseonbestswordsman. she clearly had the face of a western beauty. and yet, she called herself joseonbestswordsman. there was already someone in the community who was called that. "is the reason you want to join rapid guild perhaps because of yuna, no, miss yuna?" "hmph, why bother asking? my goal is only her." "ah... i see." jinwoo replied, shaking his head inwardly. it was good to have a big goal, but... it was probably impossible. as jinwoo was thinking this, someone with a familiar outfit was walking towards them from afar. it was exactly one minute before 10 am. jinwoo watched in disbelief as someone approached. it wasn''t just that the person arrived precisely on time. gulp. jinwoo wasn''t the only one staring at him. beside him, kim chegeon also held her breath, watching in awe as the person approached. the way he walked leisurely towards them was truly overwhelming. he exuded an aura that made the surroundings slightly distorted, as if heat haze was rising. it was seonghyun. he was definitely different from before. ''...i definitely saw him yesterday, but his atmosphere is somehow...'' ''oh my, as expected of seonghyun.'' it had only been a day since they last saw seonghyun. how could he have changed so much? they didn''t know, but it was one of the effects of summoning the demon knight. unconsciously overwhelmed by seonghyun''s presence, they... couldn''t help but take a step back as he approached. seeing them step back slightly, seonghyun tilted his head in confusion and asked, "what''s wrong?" "ah, ah, ahaha. it''s nothing, uh, it''s nice to see you again, seonghyun." jinwoo awkwardly greeted him, naturally changing the subject. seonghyun also seemed a bit surprised and nodded. he had thought it might be someone from rapid guild, but... he didn''t expect them to be skilled enough to be an interviewer. jinwoo''s character didn''t have any guild emblems or indications of belonging to a guild. it seemed like it was an alt account. thinking that far, seonghyun replied, "hmm, i see. i had a hunch, but..." "ahem, it''s nice to see you too." "it''s nice to see you too." their greetings were brief. they already knew each other''s faces. then, jinwoo immediately explained the schedule. they weren''t here to play around. "ahem, now that seonghyun is here, i''ll explain today''s schedule. you''ve probably heard of the fortress of the past, but to briefly explain, it''s a 3-player record-type dungeon. the three of us will enter simultaneously and deal with monsters that come from three different directions in waves." seonghyun listened silently, as he already knew this information. "here, since i''m on an alt account, i''ll declare forfeit from the first wave and, ahem, observe how far joseonbestswordsmankimchegeon progresses through the waves. seonghyun, since this isn''t an interview for you, you can take it easy, but since it''s a dungeon you can only enter once, it''s best to do your best and go as far as you can." "understood." "ahem, no problem." both of them nodded at jinwoo''s briefing. seeing this, jinwoo said, "then let''s go in." the briefing was over. there was no need to delay. on the contrary, they would even accept someone with an epic rank if their fortress of the past record was high. that''s how important skill was to rapid guild. as long as you were skilled, you were accepted. ''that''s why a lot of unique people gather here...'' but that wasn''t jinwoo''s concern. he had already given up on his own test and climbed onto the wall, observing from a position where he could see the two of them. he was curious to see how far seonghyun, whose skills had already been proven, would go, and... as for kim chegeon, who was having the interview, ''she''s a talent recommended by seonghyun, so she must be quite skilled.'' he didn''t have high expectations. he just thought she would be somewhat capable since she came with a recommendation. judging from her personality, she was a bit unique, but that wasn''t a factor in selection. as jinwoo was thinking these things, a system message appeared in the sky. a large system message that everyone could see. [the waves that once raged in the forgotten fortress of the past are raging once again.] [¡ºwave 1¡» begins.] at the message, familiar to jinwoo but unfamiliar to the other two, kim chegeon began to prepare for battle. she held her sword, drew it, and held it in a low stance with her right foot back. even at a glance, she seemed to be quite skilled with the sword. jinwoo, who had also learned swordsmanship, couldn''t help but admire her extraordinary form. "oh?" it was a full-fledged stance, suitable for effectively wielding a sword while charging. moreover, there was no awkwardness or hesitation in her stance. taking a swordsmanship stance at the right time meant she was proficient in swordsmanship. above all, the tip of her sword didn''t waver. jinwoo, realized that kim chegeon wasn''t just bragging when she called herself joseonbestswordsman. she was clearly skilled in swordsmanship. briefly admiring kim chegeon''s form, he felt that he didn''t have to worry too much and turned to look at seonghyun. he wasn''t making any preparations. ''hmm?'' even with the necromancer''s ability to summon undead at any time, wasn''t he being too relaxed? had he already become arrogant and complacent? or was he trying to conserve mana and summon later? jinwoo''s expression wasn''t very good. either way, he should be preparing for battle. at the very least, he should draw his sword, which he was good at, and be ready. that way, he could prepare when the monsters arrived. but to not make any preparations... ''he''s being too complacent...'' with seonghyun''s skills, it was understandable to be confident. even jinwoo himself wouldn''t be confident in winning against seonghyun at the same level. however, it was troublesome if he was already this arrogant. what to do. with that thought, jinwoo ruffled his hair in distress. it was his habit when complicated thoughts arose. look at the horde of monsters approaching from afar. although it was a group of goblins and low-level monsters charging, it was unimpressive and insignificant. it was still only wave 1, after all. but how far could one go with that kind of attitude? ''i''ll just watch this time and give him some feedback.'' it might be a good idea to let him learn a harsh lesson here to bring him back to his senses. after all, jinwoo knew seonghyun''s skills well. just as jinwoo was about to brush it off, when the wave of monsters, which had been quite far away, finally reached close proximity, a teal portal opened behind seonghyun. as the connection to the netherworld was established, jinwoo thought that the wraith would appear from there. but he was mistaken. splish. splash. a sound like walking through a waterlogged marsh echoed. from within the teal portal, he could clearly feel the presence of a being with a physical body approaching. how long did that sound last? splish, splash. creak. a figure emerged from the teal portal with a dignified gait, its skin a dark red. a knight clad in sturdy armor that seemed capable of blocking any attack, its five horns, clearly visible despite the helmet, rising menacingly towards the sky. as the knight appeared, dark clouds began to spread across the sky. as if to obscure the heavens, the sky quickly darkened with the arrival of this extraordinary being, and a bloody whirlwind began to swirl around the knight. as the knight stretched out his hand, the whirlwind materialized into a sharp sword. seeing this being, jinwoo felt all his thoughts come to a standstill. a demon knight. there were no other words to describe it. as jinwoo''s mind went blank, the blood-red demon knight swung his sword. whoosh! although they had reached close proximity, the distance between them and the monsters was still at least 50 meters. however, the sharp, red sword swung by the blood-red demon knight created a deep crimson crescent-shaped blade that spread wide and shot forward. slash! there was no monster in wave 1 that could block that attack. the monsters were all simultaneously split in half with a single strike, and a message appeared before seonghyun. [you have perfectly blocked ¡ºwave 1¡».] [recording.] [accumulating a large amount of experience points.] [all experience points will be acquired after the final record.] jinwoo also saw the message and thought, ''w-what did i just see????'' as jinwoo was in shock, unable to believe his eyes, only kim chegeon''s cheerful voice could be heard, as she hadn''t seen it from the other defense point. "hmph! it''s time to show my true skills!" [translator - pr?ks] [proofreader - pr?ks] Chapter 49 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 49 5. A single swing. With just one swing, he had eliminated all the monsters. It was a truly overwhelming display of power. However, only one thought came to Seonghyun''s mind as he witnessed it. ''Why would someone this strong steal underwear...'' He was inwardly impressed by Balthar''s strength, but... He was still puzzled. Balthar was undoubtedly strong. Even though his level had been lowered to match Seonghyun''s, Balthar was still a Demon Knight. It was only natural for him to be strong. However, what surprised Seonghyun the most was, ''There''s no mana consumption at all.'' Balthar had used such a powerful skill, yet there was no mana consumption whatsoever. According to the explanation, the Demon Knight used its own mana. It was the strongest being Seonghyun could summon. A Demon Knight. It should have been cool, but... For some reason, ''He doesn''t look cool at all.'' As Seonghyun looked at Balthar with a dubious gaze, Balthar, seemingly feeling a prick of conscience, cleared his throat and muttered, -Ahem, Successor. Did you see that? "Hmm, yes." -It seems like there will be several more waves, so I will conserve my strength and engage in battle. With that, Balthar reached out towards the monsters he had just defeated. The monsters'' green or red blood rose into the air. It gathered into a single sphere and was then absorbed by Balthar like a thin thread. [¡ºBlood-Red Demon Knight, Balthar¡» uses the skill ¡ºBlood Origin¡».] [Recovering mana.] It seemed like he was absorbing the mana he had just consumed. However, perhaps because the quality wasn''t good, Balthar made a disgusted expression and clicked his tongue. -Tsk. Despite his displeasure, Balthar didn''t just use skills in the following waves; he moved himself. With just his sword and body, he single-handedly overwhelmed and massacred the large army. His blood-red sword moved gracefully through the air. His swordsmanship itself was powerful, but... What was even more impressive was that each of his movements was precise and efficient. Every single movement had a purpose, and his sword fulfilled its duty accordingly. Even Seonghyun, with his various memories, couldn''t fathom the depth of his swordsmanship. It was truly formidable. [You have perfectly blocked ¡ºWave 2¡».] [Recording.] [Accumulating a large amount of experience points.] [All experience points will be acquired after the final record.] [You have perfectly blocked ¡ºWave 3¡»...] ....... ....... [You have perfectly blocked ¡ºWave 7¡».] The wave number was quickly rising. However, there was still no need for Seonghyun to step in. Balthar alone was still holding strong. Seonghyun wondered how far Balthar could go on his own. He stood there comfortably, anticipating it. Suddenly, it occurred to him. At this rate, he wouldn''t be able to use his newly acquired Shadow Transference. ''Hmm.'' He could probably use it later on the higher levels, right? Maybe? Just how far could they go? Seonghyun watched with anticipation as Balthar, the underwear thief, single-handedly cleared the waves. 6. There are very few office workers who enjoy their morning commute. Those who do are either workaholics or just strange people. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong belonged to the latter category, but he didn''t enjoy his commute. Sighing deeply, he sat down at his desk. "Sigh..." He had tried to report to Team Leader Jung Jihye yesterday but failed. It wasn''t that his report was rejected. It was just that Team Leader Jung Jihye had gone out on a business trip yesterday, so there was no opportunity. Honestly, he really wanted to just send it via email, but... Looking at what Seonghyun had obtained afterward, he couldn''t do that. Yesterday was one thing, but what was this today? ''How did he even know about that place?'' He went to Oren Village and even found the Hidden Pieces in Rox''s Tomb. By now, he was used to this kind of thing. He shouldn''t have, but he even inwardly cheered for Echo Willow in Rox''s Tomb. Of course, that hope didn''t come to fruition. He should be thankful that it ended there. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong left work with those worries. His way home was so heavy. He didn''t ask what to check. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong quickly returned to his seat as if it were obvious, and of course, he dragged Associate Oh Jinhyeok along with him. As they went, Oh Jinhyeok asked Assistant Manager Lee with a puzzled expression, "W-what did you tell me to check???" "...The rewards for the Fortress of the Past." "Huh!? There were rewards for clearing it?!" "Uh, it seems like Seonghyun will be the first to achieve it, but..." To think that the first user in Eternal World to summon and subdue a Demon Knight, and... The first user to clear the Fortress of the Past would appear in just one day. And they never dreamed that those two would be the same person. ''Please, let there be nothing special...'' Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong knew it was unlikely, but... He held onto a sliver of hope. Returning to his seat and hurriedly checking the rewards, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s face turned pale, and he pressed his hand to his forehead. Seeing the worst possible outcome he had imagined, he squeezed his eyes shut. He didn''t want to see it with his own eyes. However, "Whoa... Were those the items you get from there!? And what kind of skill..." Should he have covered his ears too? 7. Today, Jinwoo came as an interviewer. It wasn''t unusual for guild executives or guild members of equivalent standing to raise alt accounts to act as interviewers, not just in Rapid Guild but in any large guild. Jinwoo usually disliked such miscellaneous tasks, but... He had caused trouble, so he had no choice. But now, he felt that he had made the right decision to come. Because of Kim Chegeon? No way. Jinwoo had long forgotten about the interview. One might ask if Kim Chegeon wouldn''t be disappointed or resentful? "Oh? When did you arrive?" "...Oh, I arrived a while ago." Kim Chegeon, far from being upset, was simply watching Seonghyun''s gameplay like a spectator. Due to the large-scale waves, the ground shook, and even though they were on the wall, the tremors could be clearly felt. A small battalion of about 50 soldiers, looking insignificant before the massive army. However, the aura they exuded was no less than that of the large army charging from afar Rather, it was overwhelming. And at the forefront of that small battalion was a Demon Knight with dark red skin. As he entered the battlefield, the tide began to turn. The small battalion that followed also moved organically like a single body, using tactics to fight. Amidst all this, only Seonghyun was leisurely observing the battlefield. He wasn''t just pretending to be relaxed or giving off that impression. There was actually nothing for Seonghyun to do in that battlefield. The Demon Knight and the Wraith were turning the battlefield upside down, and the Imps, Skeletons, and Goblin Undead were wreaking havoc, sweeping through the chaotic formations. Whenever he ran low on mana, he even used the Tri-colored Whistle to recover. It was truly perfect. There were no other words to describe it. Anyone who saw this might think it was still the early waves, but... At that moment, Jinwoo''s and Kim Chegeon''s gazes rose upwards. And they saw the clear wave number. ¡ºWave 34¡» [0:57:38] Less than an hour had passed. And yet, they were only one step away from Yuna''s record, the current first place. Even if he gave up now, second place was guaranteed. But the battlefield still seemed easy. ''How is this possible?'' He couldn''t even comprehend what he was seeing. The same went for Kim Chegeon. How much time had passed? Yuna''s record had long been broken. As it gradually became a bit difficult with just his soldiers, Seonghyun also began to participate, and the battlefield became easier again. He wielded the Apprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword and fought alongside the Blood-Red Demon Knight Balthar, using the sword in the same manner. Moreover, when he was in danger, he used Corpse Poison, Corpse Explosion, and Exploding Poison to inflict wide-range damage and escaped with Shadow Transference. That unbelievable battle couldn''t last forever. [You have perfectly blocked ¡ºWave 40¡».] [Recording.] [All waves have been blocked.] [You are the first in Eternal World to clear the record-type dungeon, ¡ºFortress of the Past¡».] [Your fame spreads throughout Eternal World.] [You acquire the title, ¡ºBreaker of Shackles¡», as a clear reward.] [You acquire the massive amount of experience points accumulated so far!] [You acquire the class-exclusive Legendary skill, ¡ºCreeping Darkness¡», as a clear reward.] [You acquire the class-specific Legendary rank item, ¡ºTome of Despair¡», as a clear reward.] [Level Up!] ¡Á16 [You have reached level 57.] [A new Overlord skill has been unlocked upon reaching level 50.] [You acquire the Almighty rank skill, ¡ºMark of Death¡».] [You can now undergo your second class advancement, having surpassed level 50.] [The Overlord exclusive second class advancement item, ¡ºOverlord''s Compass¡», is reacting.] [Using the ¡ºOverlord''s Compass¡» will transport you to the second class advancement location.] Since there were no more waves to clear, ''Oh?'' [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 50 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 50 He had obtained various Hidden Pieces. Even just the experience points alone would have been satisfying, but... To be given Hidden Pieces on top of that... Seonghyun couldn''t help but be pleased. As he looked at the messages one by one to see what he had obtained, First of all, his fame spreading throughout the world? He didn''t really care about that. What use would it be even if it spread widely? He considered it irrelevant and moved on. The first thing that caught his eye was the title. ''A title.'' It felt like it had been a while since he had obtained a new title. He immediately checked the title. ¡ºBreaker of Shackles¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úA title given to the user who is the first in Eternal World to clear the ''Fortress of the Past'' and break free from the shackles. ¡úSlightly higher than the original rank due to being the first to clear it. ¡úOnce a day, revives with 50% HP upon death. ¡ú5 seconds of invincibility upon revival. ''??????'' Revive once a day??? And 5 seconds of invincibility upon revival? He had been using the 1 second of invincibility attached to Shadow Transference quite effectively, but... To be invincible for 5 seconds... It was an extraordinary title. If he was given this kind of title, Would the other rewards be this good as well? He looked at the next reward with anticipation. ''A skill?'' It wasn''t a skill book, but a skill. And it was a class-exclusive skill, not a class-specific skill. Creeping Darkness. He couldn''t predict its effect from the name alone, but... Look at the rank. It was Legendary. It was only natural since it was an Overlord exclusive skill, but he never thought he would obtain it as a reward. He checked it out immediately. ¡ºCreeping Darkness¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Continuous Effect][Active] [Cooldown 10 minutes] [Duration 5 minutes] The darkness that spreads from the Monarch''s grasp shall bless the dead and curse the living. ¡úOverlord exclusive skill. ¡úUpon activation, grants the blessing of darkness to all summons under the Overlord''s command. ¡úIncreases all stats by 1% for each enemy defeated. (Stackable.) ¡úWhen a summon under the blessing of darkness faces an enemy, the enemy receives a debuff equal to the stacked blessing of darkness. ''Huh.'' It was a summon buff skill. Its effect was to increase all stats by a percentage for each enemy defeated. He couldn''t help but admire the excellent effect, even for a Legendary skill. To think he was given this kind of skill as a reward... With his anticipation further amplified, he checked the final reward. Tome of Despair. Judging from the name alone, he thought it would be an item that enhanced the power of Black Magic, but... It had a completely different effect. ¡ºTome of Despair¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úA legendary item with an ancient origin, its creator beyond imagination. ¡úIt is said that in the future, all Black Mages traveled to obtain this Tome of Despair, but only rumors of it being buried in the past spread widely. ¡úTransforms any type of skill book into a Black Mage skill book. ¡úThe rank of the skill book remains unchanged. ¡úIncreases the power of Black Magic skills by 10% just by possessing it. *Effect applied when in the inventory. ''??????'' As soon as he checked the effect, his mind was filled with questions. The effect of amplifying skill power just by possessing it was already good, but... It could also change other skill books into Black Mage skill books? The number of skills in a game was needless to say important. It was a fact that it was difficult to find and acquire a large quantity. It would be a shame if he obtained a skill book that he couldn''t use. So far, Seonghyun hadn''t obtained any unusable skill books, but... It was said that it happened quite often. However, it was no longer a concern for Seonghyun. ''This is insane!'' It was a truly shocking item. It was also Legendary. From the title to the skill and the item, He had obtained everything as Legendary. Moreover, this wasn''t the end. ''I also obtained a skill from reaching level 50, right?'' And finally, the skill he had obtained last. Seonghyun checked the skill he had obtained last. ¡ºMark of Death¡» ¡ú¡¶Almighty¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Continuous Effect][Passive] The touch of death shall leave an irresistible mark. ¡úOverlord exclusive skill. ¡úWhen a summon under the Overlord''s command or the Overlord himself hits an enemy, the Mark of Death is engraved on the target. ¡úThe Mark of Death stacks up to five times on the target, and when five stacks are reached, it deals darkness damage equal to 500% of the basic attack power to the target. ¡úAlso, each Mark of Death decreases the target''s movement speed by 5%. ''Wow, this is...'' If Creeping Darkness was a buff for the entire legion, This could be considered a debuff and a passive attack that the entire legion could use. To deal 500% additional damage with five attacks... It was practically the same as amplifying attack power by 100%. It was an indispensable skill for explosive damage dealing. The skills he had so far were all skills that made Seonghyun overwhelmingly powerful, but... This made him close to perfect. [PleaseLargeGuild: ???? Really? I should go too.] ©¸[QuestionMarkKiller: ???? Who are you?] From online communities to YouTube videos, everyone was in a frenzy. Amidst various speculations, [Title - Isn''t this Seonghyun the same person who appeared in the Rapid Guild video recently?] ¡ºIsn''t he the most likely candidate among the rookies who appeared recently? Rapid Guild''s rookie is a hot topic right now. Plus, the timing seems to match, right?¡» There were some plausible guesses. It was the correct guess, but... Unfortunately, [BlackMageLover: Nono, Rapid Guild scouts are also at the Fortress of the Past right now.] ©¸[??: Really? I didn''t know that.] ©¸[BlackMageLover: Yeah, I didn''t know either, but I saw them. All the guilds from 1st to 10th place were there. Here''s a link to the confirmation post.] ©¸[Original Poster: Ah, I didn''t know, thanks.] The speculation that it was Rapid Guild''s rookie was quickly dismissed because Rapid Guild scouts were also gathered at the Fortress of the Past. Since all the guilds were there, It was naturally assumed that he didn''t belong to any guild. As a result, all guilds went into emergency mode. "Find this Seonghyun person immediately!!" "Bring anyone who might be related!!" "Even a small clue!!" "He''s a once-in-a-generation player!!" "Find him at all costs!!" While all the guilds were in a frenzy, One major guild, which never missed out on such events, didn''t participate. To be precise, they were participating with a lukewarm attitude. Guild ranking 12th, Sik Brothers. A super-large guild with a branch in the East Asia server, known for their fiery personalities. They always intervened boisterously in matters like this, so... Everyone was puzzled. What was going on with the usually fiery Sik Brothers? Could it be that Seonghyun belonged to Sik Brothers? Such speculation could have arisen, but... It wasn''t the case. If it were, Sik Brothers would have been the first to flamboyantly reveal it. No one suspected Sik Brothers. Rather, they were pleased that they weren''t causing a commotion. It was good to have one less competitor. No one said anything. "Sigh..." Lee Seongyeong, the scout for the East Asia branch of Sik Brothers. Although he was present at the Fortress of the Past as a representative of Sik Brothers, he wasn''t moving very actively. Why? ''I thought something was up, but I didn''t expect it to be this big.'' Lee Seongyeong vaguely knew Seonghyun''s identity. And didn''t he know very well which guild Seonghyun had joined? That''s why Sik Brothers weren''t acting as usual. They were just a bit envious. Hadn''t Lee Seongyeong been the first to make a move? He had unfortunately missed out, and the one he missed was a big shot. "Sigh..." It would be a lie to say he wasn''t envious. With a burning heart, Lee Seongyeong looked up at the sky. Unlike his feelings, The sky was mercilessly blue. 1. While all the major guilds were in a state of emergency, Rapid Guild was no exception. Although it was a state of emergency with a slightly different meaning. A solemn silence filled the Rapid Guild conference room, as no one dared to speak. The situation had already unfolded. What was important now was how Rapid Guild should act in this situation. And the only one who could make this decision was the Guild Master, Rapid. Rapid pondered for a moment and then sighed. "Sigh... So, to summarize the current situation..." For the time being, they had sent out the few scouts they had in Rapid Guild to the Fortress of the Past to conceal the truth. Thanks to this, no one suspected Rapid Guild. However, what to do next in this situation... That was the dilemma. Having Seonghyun himself wasn''t a problem. Rather, it was a blessing. But how could they maximize the benefits from this? At Rapid''s words, summarizing the whole situation, Kim Jinwoo, who was at the scene, nodded. "The Guild Master''s summary is accurate." "Hmm, then, what was your impression, Jinwoo?" As Rapid, the Guild Master, spoke, All eyes in the conference room turned to Jinwoo. They were also curious. They already knew that Seonghyun was extraordinary from the video. However, that didn''t mean he was capable of clearing the Fortress of the Past for the first time. How on earth did he manage to clear the Fortress of the Past? "Hmm, Seonghyun, no, Mr. Seonghyun said he was recording a video, so you''ll see it clearly if you watch it, but... he summoned a Demon Knight? And it was quite something." "Oh my." "Goodness." Everyone nodded with a mixture of admiration and sighs. To think he could already summon a demon before even reaching level 50... They knew that high-ranking Black Mage classes could summon demons as their levels increased, but... To summon it already... Moreover, there must have been various restrictions. And yet, he overcame them. It was truly impressive. "Hmm, we were going to upload Seonghyun''s video right away, but we''ll postpone it." At Rapid''s words, several executives nodded. It was certainly a valid point. "...Indeed, if we upload it now..." "It''ll be buried because of the Fortress of the Past clear." "Then when do you plan to release it?" Rapid paused for a moment at that question. She thought for a while and then continued, "We plan to release it on the same day we upload the Fortress of the Past video, when the hype dies down." She would release it together with a bomb. And not just any bomb, but a nuclear bomb. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 51 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 51 2. Seonghyun, who was causing a stir in the world, was unaware of this fact. Or rather, he didn''t care. As he used the Overlord''s Compass, He was transported to a dark and vast stone chamber. Strange magical lights, not quite torches, illuminated the surroundings. Although those lights were scattered throughout the chamber, they weren''t very effective. The dark atmosphere of the stone chamber remained. Before him, Seonghyun saw a massive door, large enough for a giant to pass through, befitting the size of the chamber. The massive stone door was engraved with various carvings, depicting countless undead and demons seemingly worshipping a woman floating high above. ''That''s quite the atmosphere.'' Judging from the shape and back view of the statue, It was definitely Helena, the former Overlord. It seemed like the perfect place to undergo his second class advancement. As Seonghyun approached the door, The countless undead and demons carved on the massive door began to gleam with red eyes. The undead and demons with red eyes slowly emerged from the door, And soon filled the vast stone chamber. Hundreds of undead and demons filled the chamber, exuding a ferocious aura and preparing to charge at Seonghyun. However, they were ordinary undead and demons, unlike Seonghyun''s Death Legion. He had wondered if they were related to the Death Legion since this was the Overlord''s second class advancement location, but... It seemed that wasn''t the case. A message appeared at the same time. [Prove that you are a Monarch.] Seonghyun nodded at the system message that only he could see. It wasn''t a gesture of confidence or assurance. Simply, It was just the test he needed. He had two new skills to try out. As if it were only natural, he opened the teal gate to the Netherworld, and his Death Legion emerged from it. In the midst of this, Balthar, who was trying to walk out with a triumphant air, bumped into an invisible barrier and made a bewildered expression. -Huh? Uh? Seeing Balthar''s confusion, Seonghyun said, "Don''t come out." -What!? "It''ll end too quickly if you come out." -S-successor! N-no, my Lord...! With that, Seonghyun closed the gate to the Netherworld, And Balthar''s words were cut off. He was trying to test out his new skills, and if Balthar joined the fray, the battle might end before he could even try them. He had excluded Balthar from the summoning from the start. Now then, ''Shall I check out my new skills?'' About 50 soldiers of the Death Legion faced off against the legion of undead and demons that crawled out of the door. In this situation, Seonghyun first reached out his hand and used the new skill he had acquired. Creeping Darkness. As he cast the skill, Darkness squirmed in Seonghyun''s grasp, then shot out like arrows. The darkness spread out in all directions, piercing the shadows of the Death Legion like embedded thorns, and then diffused like a dense fog. The eerie darkness settled on the floor, spreading until it enveloped the entire Death Legion. An extraordinary darkness then surged forth, wrapping around the Death Legion like a protective shroud. The Death Legion, already emanating a dark, teal aura, absorbed the darkness, and their bodies began to harden. -K giggle! K giggle! K giggle! -Ki ki ki ki! -Keureukhu! Keureuha! -Kekekekeke! -Clatter! Clatter! The entire Death Legion let out a boisterous roar. It wasn''t their usual speech or praise. It was simply a roar, unable to contain their power, that made the enemy legion, which had crawled out of the door, flinch and momentarily retreat. However, the Death Legion didn''t stay idle. They charged towards the enemy and ravaged them. The Death Legion, empowered by the Creeping Darkness buff, was truly unstoppable. Crunch! Crack! -Kyaaaaaaaaaa! -Kieeeeeeeeee! -Clatter! Clatter! Every time the Wraith of Barpur swung its arm, several enemies, be it undead or demons, were swept away indiscriminately. The Imp Kaishaks also swept away at least two enemies with each swing of their sharp tails. The Goblin Undead and Skeleton Mercenaries weren''t fighting systematically as before, but were individually defeating each enemy with ease. The more enemies they defeated, the darker and more turbulent the darkness that enveloped their bodies became. The refreshing sound of the waterfall was made eerie by the ominous crimson, but... Seonghyun, with a calm expression, looked around and marveled, making a guess. ''Is this because of Balthar?'' Before reaching level 50, At level 40, he had obtained the Demon Knight Summon skill and summoned the Blood-Red Demon Knight Balthar. The scenery seemed fitting for the name Blood-Red Demon Knight. At first, he thought it might be Helena''s altar, but... This seemed to be the altar of the Blood-Red Demon Knight, Balthar. As Seonghyun was making this speculation, The teal flames that had ignited on the altar piled up, forming a single massive flame. The teal flame surged, and facial features emerged on it. As if the fire itself had come to life, eyes, a nose, and a mouth appeared, and the shimmering flame opened its mouth. -Greetings to the descendant of the Mother of All, the one who governs all that is black. "Oh." To think the flame would speak to him... Seonghyun was surprised, as he hadn''t expected it. The teal flame chuckled with delight. -With such a glorious one as her descendant, she must be overjoyed. As the flame''s eyes flickered with a hint of sorrow, reminiscing about Helena, Seonghyun agreed and said, "Hmm, she does seem happy." -... As Seonghyun agreed matter-of-factly, The flame looked at him with a puzzled expression. ''What''s this? Is he a bit arrogant for a descendant?'' For the descendant, who had never even met Helena, to speak so casually... From the flame''s perspective, it was naturally a bit disconcerting, but... Since it had spoken first, It couldn''t object. Above all, it couldn''t speak rudely to the sole successor. He might seem arrogant, but... Since he was a descendant of Helena, he was worthy. The flame coughed lightly and continued. -Ahem, welcome, descendant. As it spoke, it shot out teal flames, and they burst like fireworks, scattering sparks in all directions. A truly splendid sight. Did it want to hold a welcoming ceremony? Seonghyun was slightly surprised by the splendor. He hadn''t expected such a welcome. Was it because he had proven his qualifications? It was quite friendly. "It''s nice to meet you too. My name is Seonghyun." The flame continued its welcome and bowed its head as if impressed by Seonghyun''s greeting. Although it looked like just a head floating in the air, It did seem like it was bowing its head. Seonghyun wondered how he should react, but... He decided to just stay still for now. Then, -Oh! The Altar of Blood! You have summoned the Blood-Red Demon Knight, Balthar!! Seeing the flame exclaim in admiration, Seonghyun nodded. As he had guessed, it was indeed Balthar''s altar. Seeing Seonghyun nod, the flame, while still impressed, made a slightly regretful expression and approached Seonghyun to say, -Oh my, you must have been through a lot. It''s the same for other Demon Knights, but Balthar is particularly difficult. "...?" Balthar was difficult? Did it have another meaning? Like, he was picky about underwear or something. It didn''t seem to be that kind of meaning, so he just stayed quiet. -You must have suffered a lot. "Hmm?" -But it''s alright now. At this Altar of Blood, even Balthar will swear allegiance to the descendant! Seonghyun finally understood the flame''s explanation. He hadn''t expected it, but... Seonghyun didn''t say anything to the flame. He simply opened the gate to the Netherworld and summoned Balthar. -M-my Lord. H-have you finally summoned me!? This Balthar is deeply moved! -Gasp! I-I''m not ready yet!!! S-stop summoning Balthar... Huh? -Huh? Aren''t you Azlaphame? Oh? Then this place is... As Balthar was making those speculations, Seonghyun, as if he had already subdued Balthar, showed him to Azlaphame, the flame, and said, "He has already sworn allegiance, so are you going to give me something else?" -Uh..., uh... what should we do? Seonghyun looked at Azlaphame with an expression that said, "Why are you asking me that?" [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 52 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 52 3. ¡®This isn''t just a drop in difficulty...'' Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong scratched his head irritably as he watched Seonghyun''s screen. At the same time, he was looking at the data on the flame, Azlaphame, and information on the Overlord''s second class advancement. One of the rewards for the second class advancement was a skill to control a Demon Knight. And the second class advancement quest itself was also of that nature. However, since he had already subdued a Demon Knight... It wasn''t just that the difficulty had plummeted; he had already completed the quest itself. What should they do about this? Naturally, there wasn''t much Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong could do at the moment. Giving a new quest through program manipulation was also the role of Azlaphame, the class advancement NPC, so... All he could do now was watch. How many options could Azlaphame give? ''The Overlord is different from other classes.'' For other classes, the second class advancement was like a new advancement, becoming a higher-ranking class. Normal rank classes would become Rare rank classes, and Rare rank classes would become Epic rank classes. However, Almighty classes didn''t choose a new class; they chose a new specialization. And the Overlord was a class that was different even among the Almighty classes. The fact that it was given a skill to control a Demon Knight in its second class advancement was proof of that. Its performance was already top-notch, so there was no need to choose a new specialization. It had already become the king of all Black Mages through its class advancement alone. That''s why even Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong couldn''t predict what the reward would be changed to. "Sigh..." "Senior??? Then what will it be changed to?" "I don''t know." "Huh? Then, since he''s practically already completed the original quest, he''ll get something even better???" "Huh?" At Associate Oh Jinhyeok''s sudden interjection, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong stood up from his seat. That made sense. That was the basic principle of Eternal World. Thorough rewards were given according to one''s achievements. It was the most important principle in Eternal World, set by Park Won, who claimed that there was nothing more enjoyable in a game than this. In other words, the more difficult it was, the better the reward. So, what about Seonghyun, who had practically already completed his second class advancement? Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, his face pale and aghast, looked at the options within Azlaphame. He found an option that had suddenly appeared. ¡ºHelena''s Garden¡» "Ah. Ah." That wasn''t supposed to appear yet. Helena''s Garden was an important place for Overlords. To obtain it at the second class advancement? ''Isn''t that a place that only opens after completing the class-exclusive quest after the second class advancement?!'' He had to check if it was an error. If it was an error, he had to stop it. However, the great AI, Immortal, indicated that this was not an error. In other words, Seonghyun entering Helena''s Garden now was legitimate. He had subjugated a Demon Knight. He was being given a commensurate reward. Wasn''t that the principle of Eternal World? There was no way to stop it anymore. ''Ah, no, wait?'' Was there really a need to stop it? Helena''s Garden, in other words, was a place that only opened after the second class advancement. If Seonghyun entered that place now...? Could he really pass? With the Blood-Red Demon Knight, Balthar, it might be possible. However, the trial to enter Helena''s Garden had to be undertaken by the individual alone. In Seonghyun''s current state, could he really clear it alone? ''Hmm.'' He didn''t know. He really didn''t know. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong quickly racked his brain, but... He couldn''t make a judgment. Even if that unknown power Seonghyun had used so far came into play, he still didn''t know. That''s how difficult Helena''s Garden was. Because of that, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong could feel a little relieved. As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong calmed himself and looked at the screen... - I-I will guide you to the garden. Finally, Azlaphame''s words could be heard, and Associate Oh Jinhyeok, who was watching together, looked up at Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong with sparkling eyes. And as if in admiration... "Whoa! Senior!!! How did you know!? You''re really amazing!!!" Looking at Associate Oh Jinhyeok, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong seriously thought. At the reproachful voice, implying that Balthar should have stopped him, Balthar laughed heartily. -Ehahahahahahaha!!! Are you worried that the Lord who subjugated me will fail the trial? -Eh? W-well, yes... -Hmm, well, I suppose you might think that way, Azlaphame, since you haven''t seen the Lord fight in person. At Balthar''s confident voice, Azlaphame gulped, though he had no saliva. Did the descendant possess such potential? If so, it was a blessing for them. Above all, Balthar had seen it with his own eyes. ''It was truly an amazing movement.'' Although it couldn''t be compared to his own, it was the movement of a considerably skilled warrior. Had he not seen that battlefield where the sword was wielded freely? At first, he had submitted out of fear and coercion, but... Not anymore. He truly acknowledged Seonghyun''s skills, and now he was even impressed. Unlike Helena, who had never moved herself, the way Seonghyun directly participated in battle was truly befitting of a lord. Although he currently possessed swordsmanship inferior to his own... He even had the potential to perhaps surpass him in the future. Thinking this inwardly, Balthar watched Seonghyun, who was proceeding into the garden, with a pleased expression. Azlaphame didn''t doubt Balthar''s eyes, but... Still anxious, he asked Balthar. -H-how is he? -Ehahahaha! If you watch, you''ll understand. That not just anyone can be our master. And you will also realize the greatness of the Lord, who inherited Lady Helena''s soul. -What??? Looking at Balthar, who was spouting incomprehensible words, Azlaphame''s curiosity only grew. However, that curiosity soon turned into anticipation as he looked at Seonghyun, who was heading towards the garden in the distance. What could Balthar have meant? 5. Upon entering the garden... Many things that were not visible from the outside came into view. The place that had only seemed beautiful was overflowing with dark and sticky energy. Although there was no particular reaction yet... Tension hung thick in the air, like a situation on the verge of exploding. Seonghyun, also sensing this, let out a low groan. "Hmm." Even so, he wasn''t too worried, nor... was he particularly nervous. Seonghyun had various powers at his disposal. He lightly drew Apprentice Hero Hindel''s sword from his waist and strolled through the garden again. There were no beings that appeared to be enemies or monsters. While walking around, thinking that there should be at least one or two in this vast garden... He saw a wide lawn spread out at the end of the garden in the distance. And something standing on it. As Seonghyun strode towards it... He could see a strange being. "Hmm???" Should he call it a shadow? Or a shadow-shaped beast? He couldn''t be sure, but something that looked like a hazy darkness or a shadow was standing there on two legs. However, its appearance was strange, as if a quadrupedal beast was standing upright. Seonghyun, wondering if it was an enemy, gripped his sword. The creature turned towards Seonghyun. Then, dark blue eyes flickered... And it tilted its head. "What is it???" While Seonghyun was expressing his doubts... A system message appeared. [You have encountered a Remnant of the Past.] [You have encountered ¡ºElder Shapeshifter¡», the guardian of Helena''s Garden, the king of all doppelgangers, and Helena''s beloved pet.] [¡ºElder Shapeshifter¡» is currently adrift here in a remnant state.] [It is extremely weakened.] [¡ºRemnant of the Elder Shapeshifter¡» considers you an intruder.] [The 2nd Class Advancement Trial begins.] [Defeat the ¡ºRemnant of the Elder Shapeshifter¡».] As Seonghyun saw the messages and lowered his sword, setting the mood... The Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter also stretched its body, forming a long, shadow-like shape, and then transformed into an exact replica of Seonghyun. Seeing that, Seonghyun could feel it. The fact that the Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter had copied all of his stats and skills. In the tense atmosphere, as if a battle was about to break out... Something strange caught Seonghyun''s eye. A being hiding shyly behind a garden pillar, looking at Seonghyun. He could see a teal ghost that looked exactly like the Elder Shapeshifter. -Ah, h-hello...! Seeing it hide like that, Seonghyun chuckled and loosened up his body. It seemed like he could gain quite a lot this time. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 53 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 53 Although he had discovered the ghost, there was no need to pay attention to it now. Seonghyun simply ran towards the shadow that looked exactly like him, standing before him. As he ran with a low stance... He could run as fast as a shot. Seeing Seonghyun rushing towards him, almost touching the ground, the Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter flinched and shuddered. Just like Seonghyun, it ran with a low stance. However, it couldn''t move as smoothly as Seonghyun. It couldn''t understand. It had clearly copied everything about Seonghyun. But why couldn''t it reproduce the same movements? The Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter felt a question arise, but discarded the thought. For some reason, it just charged forward, looking at Seonghyun''s eyes that glowed faintly with a teal light. ''As expected.'' Just as he anticipated. Even though it had copied everything about Seonghyun, it couldn''t copy his abilities. Because of the existence of the memories and experiences of many ghosts... The Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter couldn''t imitate them. As they got closer, as if they were about to collide, Seonghyun swung his sword in a low posture, sliding, and the Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter hurriedly raised its sword to defend itself. Clang¡ª¡ª! A sharp metallic sound spread through the surroundings with a piercing noise, and the wind created by the impact scattered. Seonghyun and the Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter clashed, and Seonghyun slid and then regained his posture. The Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter, no, the shadow-like creature, couldn''t regain its posture. The impact was significant, and Seonghyun''s turn was so quick that it couldn''t react easily. As Seonghyun swung his sword from behind the shadow... The Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter, without looking, tried to dodge the sword strike by rolling forward. However, before the sound of cutting through the air, it felt a teal spear being created, and upon discovering it, the Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter''s eyes widened. To think that he would retract the sword mid-swing and use a skill... The Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter, having already moved its body with a forward roll, felt that it couldn''t dodge and prepared to endure it. It knew well, having copied all the skills. That this skill was impossible to defend against. If it couldn''t dodge, it had to brace itself. The teal spear pierced through the shadow''s shoulder. Puck¡ª¡ª! As a violent shock swept through its body... Darkness enveloped it. [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Dark damage is applied.] [Partially resists Dark damage.] [¡ºRemnant of the Elder Shapeshifter¡» loses all sight and senses for 1 second.] It had some resistance, so it partially resisted, but still, for 1 second... All of its senses felt like they were floating in space, unable to feel anything. With its five senses blocked and unable to distinguish anything, the Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter curled up its body and assumed a defensive posture as much as possible. At the same time, it used Blood Curtain, a skill for defense. It might only be 1 second, but for Seonghyun, it was quite a good amount of time. Although the Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter used Blood Curtain... Seonghyun immediately charged, tearing the Blood Curtain apart with his sword, and then immediately summoned Bone Arrows to attack while swinging his sword. As the Bone Arrows and sword strikes connected... One or two dark arms sprouted from the body of the Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter. A total of four arms appeared. Seeing that, Seonghyun swung his sword again. Slice¡ª¡ª! The sound of cutting with the sword stretched out as if time was slowing down. Then, a Grim Reaper holding a scythe appeared behind the Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter, and 1 second passed. As all senses returned to the Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter... It felt the aura of death behind it and tried to dodge, but it realized that it was an existence it could neither avoid nor block. And it also realized that this attack was due to the Mark of Death. The Grim Reaper that appeared behind it grabbed its five arms and pulled them with the scythe. The scythe cleanly sliced through the neck of the Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter. "...!" Slice¡ª¡ª! Terrible pain was transmitted from its neck throughout its body, but... Its neck wasn''t severed. Although it was cut, its neck didn''t fall off. Only the pain and damage were applied. The Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter also swung its sword at Seonghyun, but it didn''t reach him. As if it were too simple, Seonghyun raised his sword to block the attack and simultaneously landed attacks with Bone Arrows in between. The Remnant of the Elder Shapeshifter also created and shot Bone Arrows, but they were all blocked by Seonghyun''s sword. "...!" Although it couldn''t speak, the arms that were hanging from its body gradually increased. "Fiora, I know you''re there." At the man''s words, not a ghost, but a shadow that looked exactly like the ghost, jumped out from behind the pillar. It was the Elder Shapeshifter. However, unlike the remnant, it was full of life and rich emotions. Seeing it sobbing along with the man with dried tear stains, the man nodded, as if it was only natural. But the man looked at it and said firmly, "I''m going to close this place. If I sever the space, even you, Fiora, the Elder Shapeshifter, won''t be able to hold on for long. Will you come with me? I''m going to honor Lady Helena outside. And I''m going to build a palace for the new lord." "...." The Elder Shapeshifter, called Fiora, shook its head. Did it mean it wanted to stay here? The man looked at Fiora with an understanding face. "Even you... if you stay here... you will die in this severed space. No, considering your nature, you will come back to life, but only your body will. Your existence will disappear, and only your body will remain, to be born as a new Elder Shapeshifter. Will you still stay?" "...." Fiora couldn''t readily answer those words. It just looked around the garden, at the beautifully blooming flowers and the starlight. Even while looking at the beautiful scenery, Fiora''s eyes were glistening, as if it was about to burst into tears at any moment. Understanding Fiora''s feelings, the man said, "I know this place is full of memories of you and Lady Helena, so I''m going to seal it off from space. So that it can be perfectly preserved. If, in the distant future, a descendant, or a successor, appears, I will open it then. Will you still stay?" "...I want to stay." "...I understand. It''s been fun." The man didn''t ask any more questions. He knew very well... How many precious memories Fiora had in this place. And so, the man disappeared from the garden, and Fiora, left alone, looked up at the sky. "...Master, will the day come when I see you again?" With those words, it felt the space being severed. It clearly felt the world splitting, the space crumpling, and this space being transferred to another place. The sky, which had been showered with beautiful and brilliant starlight, was now filled with dark clouds, and the space was cut off. Nevertheless, Fiora curled up and remained in the garden, looking up at the sky that had now disappeared. Looking at the sky that it had once gazed at with its master... It felt its body burning away. At that moment, Fiora transformed its body. It turned the burning flames completely into its fur, and became a brightly shining bird, accepting its burning body. Fiora''s body burned away and remained there as ashes. That was Fiora''s end. Seonghyun watched the whole process and realized. ''This is after Helena''s death.'' He didn''t know who the man was, but... For some reason, he wondered if it could be Heukseong, who had sent the letter from Over Palace? That thought crossed his mind. Feeling the loneliness of those left behind, Seonghyun turned around with an inexplicable sense of pity... And there, Fiora''s ghost, looking embarrassed, was fidgeting and saying, -Ah, ah. I-I''m embarrassed... "...." Was it just his imagination that it looked like someone whose dark history had been exposed? Wasn''t it a very sad and tragic story? But to be so shy and embarrassed like that... Seonghyun couldn''t say anything. He just cleared his throat. "Ahem." -I-if I had known the descendant would come, I-I would have waited a little longer... Fiora''s ghost said, sounding a little regretful. Seonghyun said it was okay. "If you''re okay with it, would you like to come with me?" Seonghyun held out his hand. Seeing that, Fiora''s eyes widened. The distant past. That very distant and nostalgic day. That day''s touch came to mind. -Oh my? What are you doing here? If you''re okay with it, would you like to come with me? And at that sight, Fiora, with teary eyes, answered. No, it recalled the past. -Would that be alright? "Of course." -Of course. The past and present overlapped. The figures of Seonghyun and Helena overlapped. And seeing both its past master and its present master extending their hands at the same time, Fiora finally burst into tears. Taking the offered hand, it answered as it had in the past. -P-please take care of me, Master. [''Unknown Power'' has accomplished something impossible at the current level.] [Intelligence +10, Wisdom +10 permanently increased.] [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 54 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 54 As he absorbed Fiora''s memories and experiences... He came to fully understand how great a sense of loss she felt after losing Helena. Although Seonghyun couldn''t fully empathize with the feeling of having her soul ripped out... He accepted it calmly. She would be with him now. And Helena was with him too, wasn''t she? -Th-thank you, Master. She was extremely timid, but Seonghyun knew. The formidable power contained within that timidity. ''Hmm, for now, there''s nowhere to put Fiora...'' There really wasn''t a suitable place. Even if there were vacant Death Soldiers, there wasn''t a body that befitted Fiora''s level, who was the king of all doppelgangers. But if he left her like this, there was no way Fiora could follow him. It couldn''t be helped. As Seonghyun opened the Netherworld... -Krrrrrrr. A Death Soldier, letting out a fierce cry, jumped out. A wraith that looked exactly like a mole. It was the wraith of the Demonic Beast Barpur. Although it was a wraith rather than a physical body, and thus a spiritual entity... Systemically, it seemed wraiths were also treated as bodies, so a soul could be instilled in them. Since it was the wraith of another Demonic Beast Barpur, born through Add More, its soul was empty. Therefore, it lacked intelligence and had to be stuck in the Netherworld for a long time. "Will you enter this? I''ll find you a better body later." -G-gasp! Th-this body is good enough!! "Hmm, although it''s a wraith..." -Th-thank you! I-I''m just happy to be able to serve Master again! Fiora gladly instilled her soul into the Wraith of the Demonic Beast Barpur, which was created with Add More and had an empty soul, within the Netherworld. The Wraith of the Demonic Beast Barpur, which had been letting out low, beast-like cries, soon softened its gaze... And looked around its body. Satisfied, it nodded. -I-I think I can adapt well enough! "Oh, that''s good." It seemed that, as the highest species of doppelganger, the Elder Shapeshifter, she could adapt to various bodies. "Then I''ll summon you next time." -Th-thank you! Even while stammering and showing a timid appearance... Fiora repeatedly expressed her gratitude and entered the Netherworld that Seonghyun had opened. ''This is an unexpected gain.'' Fiora''s soul was a greater gain than he had imagined. She was more precious than any of the souls Seonghyun currently had. Because souls with such experience and skill were rare. Not only her experience and memories, but his stat increase was a whopping 20. This was proof that Fiora''s soul was a powerful one. ''Then is the 2nd class advancement over?'' The cutscene, often called the event scene, ended there. However, even after the event scene ended, the ashes that remained after Fiora''s death were still there. The ashes from the cutscene were still there? No, to be precise, did Seonghyun obtain them after defeating the remnant? If so, they should disappear since he defeated the remnant. It was a corpse, after all. But why were they still there? "Hmm? What''s going on?" As Seonghyun expressed his question... He could see something wriggling in the ashes. Even though it was ashes left after everything had burned down... What could be there? Looking closely... "Huh?" Seonghyun looked at the spot in surprise. And from there, a tiny, water-droplet-shaped shadow popped out. It looked like a slime. Judging from its shape... He wondered if it was the same species as Fiora. He couldn''t be sure... But Seonghyun immediately recalled Fiora''s memories. Only then could he be sure of its identity. ''It''s a baby Shapeshifter.'' As Seonghyun realized the creature''s identity... Countless messages appeared one after another. [You have completed the 2nd Class Advancement.] [You become the owner of ¡ºHelena''s Garden¡».] [You can now freely enter and exit ¡ºHelena''s Garden¡».] [The power of Helena left in ¡ºHelena''s Garden¡» is fully transferred to you.] [The power of the past Overlord is passed down.] [You have inherited the power of the past.] [Rewards are given.] [As a 2nd Class Advancement reward, you acquire the class-specific Almighty rank skill, ¡ºDeath Legion Commander¡».] [As a 2nd Class Advancement reward, you acquire the class-specific Unique rank item, ¡ºShadow Mirror¡».] [As a 2nd Class Advancement reward, you become the owner of the highest-ranking monster, ¡ºShapeshifter¡».] [You have tamed a monster.] [You acquire the title, ¡ºMonster Tamer¡».] [You have tamed a highest-ranking monster.] [You acquire the title, ¡ºRuler of Monsters¡».] *Caution! [The highest-ranking of the doppelgangers, ¡ºShapeshifter¡», is a being born with the qualities of a king.] [The ego of a ¡ºShapeshifter¡» is more distinct than that of other pets.] [It may disobey orders, and constant effort is required to handle a ¡ºShapeshifter¡».] Countless message windows. Seonghyun felt momentarily dizzy and shook his head. It was only natural to feel dizzy when such long messages suddenly appeared. ''Why are there so many?'' [The Epic+ rank item, ¡ºApprentice Monarch''s Staff¡», has finished evolving into the Unique+ rank item, ¡ºYoung Helena''s Staff¡».] ''Helena!?'' As soon as Seonghyun saw the name, he reflexively opened the item description. And then he saw an item with unbelievable options. ¡ºYoung Helena''s Staff¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique+¡· (Growth-type) ¡úAlthough an incredibly long time has passed, the energy remains intact, indicating that it is the staff of a great monarch. ¡úThis is the staff used by the great monarch called Overlord, Helena, in her younger days. ¡úOverlord-exclusive item. ¡úMana recovery increased by 15%. ¡úBlack magic skill power increased by 10%. ¡úThis item can be transformed and used as one of the items in possession. ¡úThe performance of items below this item''s rank can be maximized. ¡úOnly some of the effects of items higher than this item''s rank can be copied. ¡úWhen transformed into another item, the original options can still be used. ¡úThe item grows when special conditions are met. *When transformed into equipment items other than weapons, it does not conflict with the existing main weapon. ''...I-is this not cheating?'' Even if it were called Legendary instead of Unique+, it would be believable with these options. While retaining the effects of the Shadow Mirror, the original effects were even greater than before. If this were the case... ''I can equip a sword and receive the effects of the staff... right?'' Originally, only one main weapon could be held. Therefore, although Seonghyun carried the staff at his waist, he hadn''t actually used it that much. Unless it was a sub-weapon like a dagger, or a weapon that was a pair like dual swords, even if he held it in both hands, only the effect of one would apply. But if this were the case, he could use Apprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword and transform the staff into an item like a belt, applying the effects of two main weapons. Just this reward alone would have been enough for this 2nd Class Advancement. But weren''t there still two major rewards left? Seonghyun looked at the baby Shapeshifter, which hadn''t fully awakened yet, and placed it on his hand. It was so small that it fit in one hand. It was squishy and felt like a slime, but... Its texture was indescribably soft and squishy. This was a highest-ranking monster? ''It''s too cute for that, isn''t it?'' Thinking that to himself, Seonghyun considered putting the still-sleeping Shapeshifter into the Netherworld, but shook his head. It seemed a bit harsh to put it in the Netherworld when it hadn''t even woken up yet, so he simply held it in one hand. Since it hadn''t woken up yet, he couldn''t open the pet information, so... There was one last thing to check. The Almighty rank skill obtained by inheriting the power of the Overlord through the 2nd Class Advancement. Seonghyun immediately opened the skill window. ¡ºDeath Legion Commander¡» ¡ú¡¶Almighty¡· ¡ú[Lv Max][Complete Type] [Continuous Effect][Passive Active] A legion that is death, immortality, and undying, follows the monarch''s command. It shall make everything kneel before the monarch. ¡úOverlord-exclusive skill. ¡úConsumes mana to raise a special Death Soldier. Or appoints an existing Death Soldier as a Legion Commander. ¡úA Legion Commander possesses power on a different level than a Death Soldier. ¡úThe number of Legion Commanders that can be created increases with level. ¡úCommands the Death Legion and leads the army. *Currently, when you reach level 100, you can appoint and summon a new Death Legion Commander. ''Th-this... is?'' Command. Did it mean that it creates a legion under his command, acting like soldiers? Judging from the explanation alone, it might be difficult to understand, but... Wasn''t there an excellent comparison? The Demon Knight summoning skill. Thinking of that skill, it was simple. Appoint one Death Soldier as a Legion Commander and raise it to a level similar to the Demon Knight. It would be easier to understand it that way. Even Balthar, the Blood-Red Demon Knight, commanded, after all. Of course, Seonghyun''s Death Soldiers had an excellent command system without needing that, but... That was precisely why it was good. ''In this case, I can have Balthar and the Legion Commander command the Death Soldiers with low intelligence that increased through Add More.'' Then who should he appoint as the Legion Commander? He pondered for a moment, but it was practically already decided. Fiora, who he had recently obtained as a soul and was placed in the Wraith of Demonic Beast Barpur, was excluded. He hadn''t yet given Fiora a suitable body. Appointing her as a Legion Commander in this state would be no different than appointing the shell of the Demonic Beast Barpur''s wraith. It would be better to appoint the wraith of the real Demonic Beast Barpur, which contained its ghost. Currently, the most powerful Death Soldier Seonghyun had was Wraith of Barpur, so... It could be said to be the most efficient. He could appoint one for every 100 levels, just like the Demon Knight. If he was lacking later, he could just appoint another one then. Having decided that... Seonghyun immediately summoned the wraith of Demonic Beast Barpur. -Ehehehe, Wraith of Barpur reporting for duty before Master. Wraith of Barpur, still showing loyalty. Without delay, Seonghyun immediately appointed him as a Legion Commander. A teal radiance poured down from above Wraith of Barpur''s head... And he naturally bowed his head as if kneeling. Then, with a noble song resounding from somewhere, the teal radiance enveloped Wraith of Barpur''s body. Previously, darkness was the base, and teal energy surged between it... Now it was the opposite. The teal radiance enveloped Wraith of Barpur, and the power of darkness floated around like an aura. [You have appointed ¡ºWraith of Barpur¡» as a Death Legion Commander.] [He becomes even more powerful and leads the Death Legion.] -Loyalty! Wraith of Barpur! I swear to be even more loyal to Master! An answer and voice even more powerful than before. Seonghyun muttered in satisfaction. "Shall we go test it out then?" He wished the baby Shapeshifter, still not awake, would wake up around this time... [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 55 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 55 0. Immediately after the Rapid Guild''s emergency meeting ended... As the executives were about to disperse to their respective tasks... There were those who stopped Kim Jinwoo, who was also heading out to hunt. Rapid Guild''s HR manager, Luciel, and the Raid Team 3 leader, Grinder Grond. Seeing the two of them, Kim Jinwoo sighed and shook his head. He knew this would happen, but... For them to actually come... He thought he knew why. Grinder Grond opened his mouth. "A Demon Knight? How strong is it?" "Sigh." As expected of a battle maniac. As soon as Kim Jinwoo heard the question, he lowered his head and sighed. They should know just by seeing that he cleared the Fortress... They probably came to hear it firsthand. Kim Jinwoo was about to answer, but then he looked at HR manager Luciel and tilted his head. "Why is Manager Luciel here?" "Never mind that, just answer the question first." "...?" "Yes, Jinwoo, tell us how it was." A huge man who insisted on hearing more even though he had already explained it once in the meeting... This was something he always wanted to avoid. Wanting to escape quickly, Kim Jinwoo hurriedly said, "Well, the Demon Knight was the strongest summon I''ve ever seen. To be able to defeat it at the same level... you would need to be at least Legendary rank." "Hmm, is that so?" "Well, for now, yes. What''s scary is that it also has the ability to command an army." "Command? I''m not interested in that. Hmm, anyway, if the summon that the new recruit handles is that strong, he must be quite a powerful player. I''m looking forward to it. Then I''ll be going." As soon as the topic of command and leadership came up, he just turned around and left. Wait, was it okay for a team leader to be like that? Shaking his head at Grond, Kim Jinwoo looked at Luciel, who hadn''t left yet, with a puzzled expression. Luciel wasn''t the type to get involved in this kind of situation. Why did she come? As Kim Jinwoo had that thought... HR manager Luciel ruffled her hair, looking a bit annoyed. Why was she acting like that? As Kim Jinwoo, unable to understand, was about to ask... "Um... I heard it before, but does he really have an army strong enough to clear the Fortress of the past alone?" "Yes? Ah, yes." "Sigh... This is troubling..." "Huh? What is?" When he asked back, unable to understand Luciel''s words... She shook her head, sighed deeply, and said, "Is it really right to place such a strong player in a team?" "Ah? ...Ah!?" "He''s currently placed in Luna''s team, but if he''s at the level you mentioned..." At Luciel''s words, Kim Jinwoo also nodded. Then she continued, "...He might be able to succeed in a solo raid?" Raid boss. Naturally, it required a team. Not just one team, but multiple teams had to cooperate to defeat it. However, there were those who occasionally succeeded in defeating a raid boss alone. Usually, the top-ranked players in the single digits. Single Rankers were such individuals. Yuna was also one of them. But if Seonghyun was already showing such potential... Was it really right to keep him in a team? "...What should we do?" "...Well, that''s true. He''ll be joining Luna''s team soon, and he seems to be finishing his 2nd Class Advancement." "The Guild Master knows, but... maybe..." "Yes, the Guild Master might test whether Seonghyun can do this raid alone. But the problem is..." As Kim Jinwoo trailed off... Luciel nodded and continued, "Right, Luna''s team won''t stay still, but well, Luna... will handle it well, right? Luna is calm." "Can Luna do it? Among those maniacs???" "Sigh. I''ll go report it." With a sigh, Luciel lowered her head and headed from the meeting room to the Guild Master''s office. Naturally, it was to discuss, but... Her back looked truly miserable. It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say she looked like livestock being dragged to a slaughterhouse. Perhaps Luciel would bear the brunt of the complaints from the maniacs of Luna''s team. But human greed was endless, wasn''t it? ''Are there any titles that increase wisdom?'' The ghost''s experience would be good too. While having such shameless thoughts, Seonghyun, as if he had almost forgotten, looked at the baby Shapeshifter in the pocket attached to the chest of his robe. It still showed no signs of waking up. The system message kindly informed him. [It has not yet awakened because it was just born.] ''Hmm, is it because it''s still a baby?'' It seemed to be a particularly long sleeper, but... He decided it was because it was that powerful and moved on. He wanted to see it move around quickly, but... He would have to wait until it woke up to check. Then there was only one thing left to do. ''They asked me to let them know when I finished the 2nd Class Advancement, right?'' He sent a message to Rapid. That he had completed the 2nd Class Advancement and his level was now 57. Would he now join the team and defeat the raid boss? ''They said raid bosses appear from the third village onwards.'' Seonghyun smiled, somewhat looking forward to the team-up. Honestly, party hunting was also fun. He didn''t really have any memories of meeting particularly good people... But still, they were guild members. Wouldn''t it be okay? The word "troublemakers" that his sister had mentioned suddenly came to mind, but... He deliberately ignored it. No matter what, could they really be troublemakers? As Seonghyun tried to brush it off... A message arrived from Rapid. [Rapid - First of all, congratulations on your 2nd Class Advancement. But something came up... Do you have any thoughts on doing a solo raid today? I''m asking this personally, so I''m being a bit cautious.] [Seonghyun - Yes? Then there''s no team-up?] [Rapid - For now, it''ll be processed as you being part of Luna''s team, but if you can defeat the raid boss alone... we''ll have to make some adjustments. More than anything, it would be inefficient to team up when you, Seonghyun, can defeat it alone.] Seonghyun nodded at Rapid''s message. Even Seonghyun thought it was a loss to have someone who could solo a raid boss in a team. However, he wondered if he could really solo a raid boss, but... He assumed they were saying this because there was a way. Seonghyun agreed and sent a message. [Seonghyun - Yes, I understand. I''ll keep that in mind.] [Rapid - Sorry for suddenly coming to you like this. It seems there are opinions within the guild as well.] As Seonghyun sent the message... Rapid''s reply was filled with a clear sense of relief. She must have been worried about how Seonghyun would react. Seonghyun wasn''t the type to get angry over this kind of thing. Especially after receiving a huge sum of 2 billion won. Wouldn''t anyone be tolerant after receiving 2 billion won? [Seonghyun - Of course I understand. It''s just work life, isn''t it? lol.] [Rapid - Thank you for saying that. Oh, and if Luna''s team, despite Luna trying to stop them, bothers you, let me know anytime. Please don''t tell Yuna.] [Seonghyun - Yes? Ah, okay.] Bother? Were they really troublemakers as his sister had said? As Seonghyun scratched his head awkwardly... Another message from Rapid arrived. [Rapid - Yes, thank you. If this goes well, we''ll have to revise the contract. Increase the contract fee even more than last time.] [Rapid - Ah! Right! If they bother you, you can go ahead and clash with them. You don''t have to hold back! I''ll prepare for the raid within today and contact you. It will probably be in the evening, though.] [Seonghyun - lol Thank you.] Wow, if they were going to give him money, he was willing to be bothered. It wasn''t even in the hundred million won range, but in the billion won range. Wouldn''t anyone feel the same? He might even ask them to bother him more... Anyway, Seonghyun finished the message with a smile. And he thought to himself. A solo raid boss. Could he do it? But his worries didn''t last long. ''I''ll know if I try.'' Then could he monopolize the raid boss from Kahku''s treasure map that he had obtained this time? Thinking that far, Seonghyun lightly stretched his body in anticipation. ''Then let''s warm up and prepare for the raid...'' Just as he was about to prepare... [A voice message has arrived from outside.] [Seonghyun~ It''s time for lunch~] ''Let''s eat and do it.'' At his mother, Lee Nakyeong''s voice, he immediately prepared to go out. Even sightseeing is best after a meal, isn''t it? [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 56 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 56 2. [The Eternal World, Eternal World, awaits you.] As he exited the capsule to have lunch... He immediately saw Yoo Mina with a creepy smile on her face. Really, why was she like this? As Seonghyun looked at his sister with a somewhat disgusted expression, Yoo Mina, seeing him, said with a creepy smile, "Ehehehe, 1st place! My little brother is 1st place!!!" Seeing his sister, so excited that she was laughing like a fool... Seonghyun looked at Yoo Mina with an even more disgusted expression. Seriously, why was she like this? It was a big deal, but... Perhaps because it hadn''t really sunk in for Seonghyun yet? He couldn''t understand his sister making such a fuss. It wasn''t just the fuss, but the creepy smile was something he wanted to avoid even more. ''Is it something to be this happy about, having her own record taken away?'' Since the previous 1st place was his sister... He felt a bit sorry for surpassing her record, but... Seeing her like this made that apologetic feeling completely disappear. Even though Seonghyun glared at her, Mina didn''t care and continued to blabber. "Ehehehe! Mom! Mooooooom!!! Seonghyun got 1st place!?" "Jeez! Seriously, Noona!" As he tried to stop her and went out to the living room... Seeing the already set table and the bickering siblings, their mother, Lee Nakyeong, said with a chuckle, "You two are getting along well today~" "Sigh. Mom, please stop Noona." "No! Mom, Seonghyun got 1st place in the game! I don''t know why you want me to stop!" "Oh my? Seonghyun, you got 1st place~? Then you should brag about it, why stop her?" "Ah?" Unfortunately, his mother, Lee Nakyeong, wasn''t on his side either. While eating, his sister and mother were both so proud and chattering away that he felt embarrassed and his face flushed. While eating, he didn''t even know if the food was going into his mouth or his nose, and just ate quickly. Seeing this, Yoo Mina and Lee Nakyeong chuckled. He always seemed calm and collected, but he was so weak to praise. Looking at Seonghyun, who was eating quickly, his mother, Lee Nakyeong, said, "We''ll stop teasing you, so eat slowly. You''ll get indigestion." "Ahem, yes..." "Seeing you like this, you really take after your father~" "Dad? Ah, well, Dad also gets really embarrassed when he''s praised." "Ahem." As Seonghyun was overwhelmed by the renewed attack... The topic quickly changed. "So what did you get for getting 1st place???" "Hidden Piece?" "Yeah, since there was no clear winner before, it seems like you would have gotten something amazing." "Ah, a Legendary grade item." "Huh? You already got that???" To receive a Legendary grade item below level 50... Even Yoo Mina, the current top ranker, had never obtained a Legendary item below level 50. It was truly surprising. Seeing his sister''s surprise, Seonghyun realized anew just how surprising it was. Since he didn''t play games well, it was difficult for him to distinguish these things. Since the topic had come up, he should ask. "What do you think of my current status window?" "Let me see, let me see." Seonghyun said so and opened his status window on his phone. And as he handed it to Yoo Mina... "???" Yoo Mina, with a puzzled look, scrutinized it and blinked her eyes. And still looking puzzled, she even put down the spoon she was eating with and looked closely. He had thought his stats were quite high... Was it to this extent? As Seonghyun was thinking that...@@@@ Yoo Mina said in disbelief, "This... is this even possible??? The skills too..." "Is it that good???" Seeing Yoo Mina''s reaction, Lee Nakyeong, who was watching quietly, also asked curiously. She must have become curious since her son was doing well. At her mother''s question, Yoo Mina nodded with a trembling face. It wasn''t just good. "Th-this means you''re better than me, Mom... If you keep going like this, you might even become 1st in the rankings." Rather than antique, it gave off the typical atmosphere of a busy person''s office. It was thanks to the high-quality furniture that even that atmosphere seemed somewhat stylish, but... A woman was sitting behind the desk, almost buried in her chair. She was a neat and elegant woman with a monocle and blonde hair braided to one side. Rapid, the Guild Master of Rapid Guild. She was currently sighing deeply. Lately, she had been incredibly busy, with no time to rest. To be this busy just because of one rookie... "Sigh..." But that rookie was the best rookie ever. It was understandable, but... Still, wasn''t it too much? The internal affairs of the guild had always been difficult to manage, but the foundation was well established, so... She had thought it would be fine, but... The worry of what to do if complaints arose from Luna''s team surfaced in her mind. She had informed Seonghyun in advance, but... The problem was how Luna''s team would react. ''I know Seonghyun isn''t the type to just take it...'' It would also be a problem if he went to another guild or considered independence. He didn''t seem like the type to do that, as he hated troublesome things, but... Still, she had to be prepared for the unexpected. It would be best to accommodate his conditions as much as possible. If she asked him what he wanted, he probably wouldn''t say anything. It was right to offer him the best treatment in the industry. While she was making these calculations, the messenger rang. [Luna - We''ve arrived in Trinium.] "Hmm." To think that the words "we''ve arrived" could look so unsettling. Rapid sent a reply to Luna. [Rapid - I¡¯ll send Seonghyun¡¯s contact information to you. Moving forward, it would be better for your team to communicate directly.] [Luna - Okay, I understand, Guild Master. I''m trying my best to stop them, but there seem to be a lot of complaints.] "Sigh..." It had come. But it couldn''t be helped. All she could do was tell them to deal with it themselves. [Rapid - I''ve already informed Seonghyun, so please try to stop them as much as possible, and contact me if you can''t control them.] [Luna - Okay! I understand. Thank you.] Rapid sent the reply and closed her eyes tightly. Although she knew Luna personally... It couldn''t be helped. ''I''m sorry, Luna!'' She was busy herself, so there was nothing she could do. Rapid tried to cut off contact and focus on her work. Even when it seemed like everyone had gathered, she tried not to pay attention. Even as more time passed, she focused solely on her work. Even with the endless stream of cryptic messages from Luna... She deliberately ignored them. [Luna - Guild Master? Things are getting weird...] [Luna - Huh? Isn''t this wrong?] [Luna - Unni! Rapid Unni! Please!!! Please answer me!!! What is this!!!] [Luna - I don''t know what''s going to happen to me!!!] [Luna - @!$!%@!#@!@!#@!#!^%$*#&%#@!%] Although the messages were clearly visible... Rapid sipped her tea while looking out the window. The scenery outside was clearly visible because she was in a high-altitude location with dark clouds gathered. Looking at it, Rapid smiled serenely and said, "The weather is nice." [Luna - Unniiiiiii!] 4. The third town, Trinium, was famous for its beautiful scenery. [TL/N: Till now it was village but from now its town] Surrounded by high mountains that seemed to touch the sky, it created a landscape where the sky appeared to be split into three parts. Well, strictly speaking, it was a bit ambiguous to call it a town with a population exceeding tens of thousands, but... It was a town on the scale of a small city. Unlike its beautiful appearance, Trinium was also a town that was frequently attacked by various monsters due to the surrounding mountains. Although it was a natural fortress that blocked all invasions from other towns and countries... It had the disadvantage of being vulnerable to monsters. Thanks to this, it had sturdy walls and could be called a small city. Four people with the guild emblem of the wind spirit engraved on it arrived at this place, which was quite large among the third towns. The other users who saw them widened their eyes. Rapid Guild Rookie Team 1. Luna''s team had arrived in Trinium. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 57 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 57 As the Luna Team arrived at Trinium, a commotion erupted at the entrance. ¡°Whoa!? No way!!! Is that... the Rapid Guild!?¡± ¡°It, it is!!!¡± ¡°Gasp?! Isn''t that the Luna Team, leading the rookie teams!?¡± ¡°Gasp!? It''s real! Luna-nim! Please look this way!!!¡± ¡°Elzahar-nim is there too!!! Elzahar-nim!!!¡± ¡°Gasp! It''s Hwawol-nim!!!¡± ¡°Kyaaah! Longfeng-nim is there too!!!¡± It wasn''t just because they were from the Rapid Guild that they were popular. They were already a famous party within the Rapid Guild. People couldn''t help but be excited. This was arguably the most famous party at this level. People swarmed and flocked, each wanting a glimpse like clouds gathering. ¡°I''m a fan! I enjoyed watching your Cloud Giant raid!!!¡± ¡°I loved the Goblin Commando episode too!!!¡± ¡°I also enjoyed the video of the Glacial Warrior!!!¡± ¡°I''m your fan!!!¡± ¡°Wow, to actually see the Rapid Guild''s Luna Team in person!!!¡± ¡°You came to Trinium!!! Are you here for that raid!?!¡± ¡°Of course they are! Idiot!¡± But regardless of the uproar, the Luna Team moved towards their meeting place. The users welcomed them despite their indifferent attitude. Among them, the one called Longfeng smirked and muttered, ¡°Ah, the newbie bastard is the last to arrive. I''ll need to teach him a lesson.¡± The woman in the robe at the front glared at Longfeng, who was speaking so carelessly, and said, ¡°Longfeng, watch your words.¡± ¡°Yes, yes~ I have to listen to the team leader~¡± Longfeng replied with a laugh to the woman''s words. Luna, the woman in the robe at the front, frowned. She wanted to retort to his sarcastic tone, but There was no time for that now. They weren''t late yet, but They needed to be at the meeting place in advance. As she hurried her steps, They soon arrived. ¡°I''ll go and report first.¡± As Luna was reporting to Rapid, Longfeng asked with interest, ¡°Hey, Binding Sorcerer, what do you think?¡± ¡°Haaaawm, about what?¡± The alluring woman yawned leisurely, unfazed by the title Binding Sorcerer. Wearing mage gear that revealed her curves and a wide-brimmed hat, she replied languidly and softly. Elzahar, the mage of the Luna Team. When she questioned him back, Longfeng simply shrugged it off, as if expecting that response. Elzahar was always known for her laid-back and somewhat lazy demeanor. So, he decided to be more direct with his question. ¡°Don''t you think this newbie is a bit too arrogant?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Elzahar responded to Longfeng''s question with a coquettish hum, showing a hint of interest. However, that was the extent of her reaction. As if it was no big deal, she closed her eyes and tilted her head upward. It was Elzahar''s habit to meditate while looking at the sky whenever something troublesome arose. Seeing this, Longfeng clicked his tongue in annoyance and turned his gaze to another team member. She was a woman with a fierce look, dressed in typical ranger attire, but with an air of irritation. ¡°Hey, Reverse Archer. What do you think?¡± The ranger, called Reverse Archer, looked down at Longfeng as if he were something repulsive. Her sharp eyes and expression naturally gave off an intimidating aura. This fierce-looking ranger was Hwawol, the ranger of the Luna Team. Perhaps angered by Longfeng''s words, Or maybe she was always angry, she answered sharply, ¡°Damn it. Don''t talk to me, you failed thief. You''re just as arrogant. Were there ever any sane bastards in this team besides Team Leader Luna?¡± At her vulgar language, Longfeng simply shrugged as if he shouldn''t have asked. Longfeng, called the failed thief, was the rogue of the Luna Team. He could have felt offended by the insults and curses, but It was true. And it seemed he was the only one bothered by the newbie. Or was he? Judging by Hwawol''s attitude, she didn''t seem to welcome the newbie either. Normally, she would have cursed only once, but seeing her curse multiple times, ''Looks like Reverse Archer is also bothered by the newbie, huh?'' [¡ºShapeshifter¡» before hatching does not take any damage.] ''Ah.'' So that''s why it hadn''t woken up yet? He was satisfied that it was in a state where it couldn''t take damage. It meant he could still keep it in his front pocket. Seonghyun gently poked the Shapeshifter. Ripples spread like waves through its slime-like body. The squishy texture felt quite pleasant. Since he didn''t need to worry about the Shapeshifter, ''Should I head over now?'' To Trinium, the third town? It would take Seonghyun a little longer to get to Trinium since he hadn''t cleared the quest yet. However, it wouldn''t take too long. It was a fairly simple quest. As soon as Seonghyun arrived at the third town, He registered Luna''s friend code, which he received from Rapid, and contacted her. Rapid had told him to ask Luna about the meeting place. So Seonghyun contacted her. [Seonghyun - Greetings. I''m Seonghyun, the new recruit. Please take good care of me. Also, I''ve arrived in Trinium, and I was told to ask the team leader about the meeting place.] [Luna - Ah! I''ve also been informed. Nice to meet you. Could you come to the entrance of the hill within Trinium village?] [Seonghyun - Yes, I understand. Thank you.] [Luna - Not at all. Please let me know when you arrive.] With that, the conversation ended. Since Trinium was close to a small city, it took quite a while to travel. Still, the hill was clearly visible, so He was able to arrive at the location without getting lost. When Seonghyun arrived, there were many people, but Only one group bore the emblem of the Rapid Guild. Looking at the four-member team, Seonghyun briefly admired them. ''They look strong.'' He couldn''t see their status windows or information. But based on the memories and experiences of many ghosts, he could tell they looked strong. Kim Chegeon was one of those types. Naturally, Seonghyun approached them and asked, ¡°Rapid Guild, Luna Team, correct?¡± At Seonghyun''s question, Luna was the first to nod and reply. ¡°That''s right. I''m Luna, we spoke earlier.¡± ¡°Ah! Team Leader, nice to meet you. Please take good care of me.¡± ¡°Not at all. I should be the one asking you to take care of me, Seonghyun-nim.¡± ¡°Ahem, not at all.¡± As Seonghyun cleared his throat, feeling a little embarrassed, Suddenly, the glares from the other team members felt quite intense. ''Why are they acting like this?'' Before Seonghyun even had time to wonder, Longfeng took the initiative and said, ¡°Well, we don''t have names to tell some arrogant newbie.¡± ¡°Hmm, I agree this time~¡± ¡°Fuck, to think I''d share the same opinion as a failed thief.¡± Luna was flustered by their aggressive reactions. ''What''s gotten into everyone?'' ''Why are they so in sync today?'' ''Was Longfeng actually telling the truth about fostering harmony earlier?'' Strange thoughts momentarily surfaced in Luna''s mind, but She quickly regained her composure. Though still bewildered, Luna urgently exclaimed, ¡°What are you all......¡± Or rather, she tried to. However, the unexpected reaction came from Seonghyun instead. ¡°Ah, then shall we go? It''s like an initiation, right? I heard the third town has an arena, so let''s head there.¡± ¡°......?¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°Huh???¡± ¡°Hmm???¡± From Luna to Longfeng, Hwawol, and Elzahar. Everyone was bewildered as they looked at Seonghyun. As if asking what they were waiting for, Seonghyun said, ¡°Hmm? Let''s go.¡± ''What in the world is going on?'' No one in the Luna Team, at least, could understand the situation. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 58 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 58 Still bewildered, they followed Seonghyun, And before they knew it, they arrived at the arena. At first, Seonghyun might have found the way confusing, but thanks to the clear directions, he found it easily. They came to their senses, finding themselves at the arena. Longfeng looked at the other two, wondering if this was right. The two, finally regaining their senses, shook their heads. A newbie who brought them to the arena, talking about an initiation? They had never heard of, nor seen, such a newbie. Even the unruly members of the Luna Team wouldn''t go this far. They might act aggressively and speak bluntly, But to politely bring them to the arena while talking about an initiation was truly a first. No, they had never even heard of it. ''He brought us straight to the arena?'' Something was strange. They were definitely planning to do something, But this turn of events was truly bizarre. Was he really going to have a duel? No, could an initiation be done like this? Longfeng, Hwawol, and Elzahar, all bewildered, looked at each other. But backing down wasn''t an option either. Although Seonghyun spoke politely, this was ultimately a duel request, wasn''t it? If they backed down now, it would only mean they were scared. But if he had gone this far, did he have something up his sleeve? ''What in the world is his scheme?'' ''Hmm, what''s going on here~'' ''What a fucking situation...'' Unlike their complicated thoughts, Seonghyun''s mind was clear. ''I was told not to tolerate any provocation.'' He didn''t quite understand the concept of an initiation. However, if he was going to do a solo raid, wouldn''t he have to prove he had the skills? And the surest way to show one''s skills was to clash against each other, wasn''t it? That''s why he brought them to the arena. With that thought, Seonghyun was willing to accept their initiation. He thought that''s what "don''t tolerate" meant. Of course, he was completely wrong. But perhaps it was for the best? ''If it''s in the arena, we can clearly show our skills without petty emotional fights.'' It was a very rational approach, But seeing everyone dumbfounded, he wondered if he had made a mistake. However, he had already brought them here; there was no turning back. As Seonghyun lightly warmed up, There was a reaction from the other side. ''What should we do?'' ''Hmm, why don''t you do it?'' ''You''re the weakest one here.'' Pushed by Elzahar and Hwawol''s glares, Longfeng stepped forward. Before he could even confirm anything, Seonghyun said, "Since I''m doing the raid alone, I have to fight all four of you at once, right?" "Huh???" ¡°......?¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°W-wait a minute. No, not me!¡± Luna desperately tried to explain, But was her explanation lacking? It was received in a completely different way. "Ah, so it''s the three of you then." It was like bringing a truckload of oil to a house fire. And naturally, those words became the trigger. Although Luna belatedly tried to fix the situation, It was too late. The oil had already been spilled. ¡°N-no, that''s not......¡± ¡°Hmm! Hmm! Team leader, no, no. You said it would be doable without the team leader, right? We should play along as seniors, shouldn''t we?¡± ¡°Hmm, this is a bit irritating~¡± ¡°......Yeah.¡± Longfeng cut off Luna''s words, and a fiery blaze ignited in the usually leisurely Elzahar''s eyes. Even Hwawol, who always spoke harshly, only gave a short reply. These were the signs of their extreme anger. Luna realized that she couldn''t stop them now and quickly sent a message to Rapid, but There was no reply. The situation was already giving her a splitting headache, and now she couldn''t even stop them. While Luna was stammering, they had already entered the arena. The matchup was, of course, Longfeng, Elzahar, and Hwawol as a team, and Seonghyun standing alone on the other side. ¡°Ah, what should I do???¡± Luna somehow ended up in the audience seats, And some spectators recognized them. They were quite famous after all. It was perhaps inevitable. [3] ....... [2] ....... [1] ....... ....... [0] The last countdown felt slow, as if time itself was slowing down. They were more focused than ever before, which made time seem to crawl. With their perception accelerated, Longfeng and Hwawol tried to close the distance by moving their bodies. Meanwhile, Elzahar remained rooted to the spot, as if her feet were glued to the ground. The first to activate a skill was Elzahar, who seemed immobile. Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Kuuuuung¡ª! The sounds of multiple chains moving and sturdy iron bars closing echoed through the arena. It seemed like a binding magic spell, But the target was none other than Elzahar herself. Ice chains that appeared from the floor bound her limbs, and a giant ice prison materialized in the air and fell, confining Elzahar within. Elzahar''s body was completely restrained. However, a tremendous amount of mana surged from her body. Hwaaaaaaaaaaa¡ª! This was a strategic move utilizing Elzahar''s class trait: the more she was bound, the stronger her mana and magic power became. Seonghyun''s eyes lit up with curiosity at the peculiar sight. He still didn''t know what the other two''s classes were. Longfeng seemed like a rogue, and Hwawol an archer. However, he couldn''t understand why Hwawol, an archer, was closing the distance. There must be a reason. Seonghyun also opened his netherworld. Saaaaaaaaaa¡ª! A teal energy spread in all directions, and a portal appeared in the air. Several portals with a teal hue opened, and from within, the Death Legion Commander, the Wraith of Barpur, and twenty Knoll Ghoul emerged. Each one resembled a ghoul devoid of intellect. However, At the beckoning of the Legion Commander, Wraith of Barpur, intelligence began to dwell in their eyes, and they burned with teal flames. ¡ªOffer victory to the master! Fight with all your might against those two! Pay no heed to the mage positioned at the rear! At Wraith of Barpur''s command, the ghoul legion charged forward faster than ever before. Longfeng and Hwawol, who had quickly closed the distance, showed no signs of faltering as they swung their weapons at the first ghoul to attack. First, Longfeng, who appeared to be a rogue, held daggers in both hands and swiftly swung them through the air. Each attack missed the ghouls. After five consecutive attacks, A bluish energy enveloped Longfeng''s two daggers, and a fearsome sword aura, drawing an X, slashed through the surrounding ghoul legion. Slash! Slash! Slash! Five ghouls were instantly defeated. Intentionally missing attacks to build up stacks and strengthen his attack? ''Interesting.'' Seonghyun''s eyes gleamed as he observed this. It was an intriguing class. And it wasn''t just Longfeng who had been attacked. The ghouls that rushed towards Hwawol... He thought that an archer who closed in would be weak, But he was completely wrong. Typically, bows become considerably weaker when used in close combat. However, Hwawol''s bow was different. Whizz¡ª! Thud! Thud! Thud! After closing in, she pulled the bowstring to its limit and fired an arrow. The surrounding ghouls exploded and shattered. A total of seven were defeated. Two more than Longfeng. However, the strange thing was that with such power, the arrow should have pierced through and destroyed the ghouls behind them, but like a shotgun, only those in the immediate vicinity were hit, with no signs of penetration. Was she a close-range archer? ''They''re both unique.'' And among them, the most peculiar one was Elzahar, bound at the back. Using the amplified magic power and mana from being bound, she cast a wide-range magic spell. She fired a frost-covered beam, as if condensing a blizzard, and swept away the ghoul legion in an instant. As if she still had power left, she tried to attack Seonghyun as well. However, Kwaaaaaaaaaaa! It was blocked by the Wraith of Barpur''s arm, and the magic dissipated. With most of the ghoul legion gone, Seonghyun nodded and used the Death Legion skill again. The original ghoul legion doubled in number, and as he opened his netherworld, more knoll ghouls began to appear. A total of sixty. But that wasn''t the end. With twenty Skeleton Mercenaries emerging, Seonghyun''s forces increased to a staggering eighty. At the absurd number of troops, Hwawol muttered, "This game is fucked up." It was high praise. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 59 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 59 6. As the trio destroyed most of the troops, Thunderous cheers erupted from all around. ¡°Wooaaaaah!¡± ¡°As expected!!! The Luna Team is different!!!¡± ¡°In the video, it looked like the Demon King''s army!!! But seeing it in person, it''s nothing special!?¡± ¡°Still, it''s amazing that he''s fighting the three members of the Luna Team!!!¡± Those who supported the Luna Team''s trio were ecstatic. They were busy praising the trio''s high-level skills. The popularity of the team was evident in this kind of situation. However, there were also quite a few people cheering for Seonghyun. ¡°That wraith undead looks strong, is it a commander?¡± ¡°Didn''t you see it block Elzahar''s Frost Beam?!? It effortlessly blocked that terrifying attack with one arm! Don''t underestimate it!¡± ¡°Blocking Elzahar''s attack with just one hand is amazing!!!¡± ¡°I don''t know about the other undead, but that one is formidable.¡± ¡°To think I''d witness a fight of this level......!!¡± The common opinion was that it was a high-level battle. Whether they were cheering for Seonghyun or the trio, they both acknowledged each other''s skills. Luna, watching the battle from the audience, felt the same way. Seonghyun''s forces were swept away in an instant, but Well? It wasn''t over yet. ''Did he summon the weaker soldiers first on purpose?'' That''s what it looked like to Luna, but How would things unfold? Just as she was thinking that, The knoll ghouls that had fallen in Seonghyun''s formation began to rise all at once. The audience, about to cheer that it wasn''t over yet, And Luna, thinking this was just the beginning, Felt a strange shift in the atmosphere. Not only did the knoll ghouls on Seonghyun''s side rise again, but a teal portal opened once more, and additional troops were summoned. However, something was strange. ¡°......What is it?¡± The first to notice were Luna in the audience and the trio in the arena. Then, the audience gradually started to realize something was off. The Skeleton Mercenaries, exuding a ferocious aura, and the knoll ghouls, looking different from the previous ones. Each of them displayed an extraordinary appearance, emitting a fierce aura. From their posture to the way they held their weapons and engaged in combat, They were significantly different from the previous ones. ¡°Wh-what is this?¡± ¡°Th-their aura is different from before?¡± ¡°Th-those that fell earlier seem similar though......¡± ¡°Gulp, wh-what''s going to happen?¡± ¡°Th-they''re moving.¡± Finally, in this strange atmosphere, Seonghyun''s side made the first move. The audience, Luna, and the trio all sensed something strange. Hwawol and Longfeng, who stood at the front of the trio, frowned. Over eighty undead. Quite troublesome. But not impossible to defeat. If they were at the same level as before. But they were different. ''What is this?'' ''......Strange.'' Both sensed something unusual and retreated. The newly summoned, extraordinary beings charged towards them before the Legion Commander, Wraith of Barpur, even gave an order. Their movements were sharp, not to be underestimated. Leaping by kicking off the ground, their movements transcended the typical undead. The existing knoll ghouls were also different from normal undead, but this was on another level. These movements weren''t just a different category of undead, but a different species altogether. The knoll ghouls and Skeleton Mercenaries closed the distance in an instant. And the first to act was Elzahar, who had been preparing her incantation while bound at the rear. A whistle blew from somewhere, and everyone looked towards its source. There, Seonghyun was blowing a blue whistle, and a blue glow enveloped him. Did he use an item? What was its effect? As the audience, the trio, and Luna wondered, The teal portal opened once again. And the beings that emerged were goblin undead. Was he showing them that he still wasn''t using his full strength? Now, even the cheers mixed with admiration, The shouts of support for Seonghyun, The sounds of amazement towards the trio, All of them were inaudible. Only the sound of the orderly march from the teal portal echoed. Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! The marching sound resembled the Demon King''s army invading the human world, the sound of the death legion that hated all living things. They marched, pledging their loyalty to Seonghyun, their leader. Elzahar, still bound, was the first to unleash a wide-area attack, but her magic was blocked by the Skeleton Mages. Longfeng and Hwawol tried to break through, but the goblin undead swiftly moved and coordinated with the Skeleton Warriors and the intelligent knoll ghouls. Longfeng and Hwawol''s attempts to counterattack were futile. Under the command of Wraith of Barpur, who controlled the legion from behind, the mindless knoll ghouls became shields, and the remaining extraordinary undead gradually chipped away at them. The frequency of cuts and bruises on Longfeng and Hwawol increased. Soon, troops targeting the bound Elzahar appeared, and Longfeng and Hwawol, pushed back to the rear, found their attacks blocked by either the mindless knoll ghouls or the sturdy shields of the Skeleton Warriors. Conversely, the goblin undead attacked nimbly, like assassins from the shadows. The knoll ghouls, with their quick movements and slender, long claws, aimed for openings and attacked. The Skeleton Warriors approached with their splendid and heavy swordsmanship, overwhelming them. As their injuries accumulated, the composure on their faces vanished. The initial reason for their anger was gone, replaced only by the instinct to survive. But even that didn''t last long. Overwhelmed and buried by the surging forces, and finally, with even Elzahar''s restraints shattered, They all perished. That was the end. ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± No sounds of lamentation, no cries of victory. The arena, devoid of any sound, was silent as death. The undead humbly lowered their postures, bowing their heads and worshipping Seonghyun. As initially intended, they offered their victory to Seonghyun. Seonghyun snapped his fingers and opened the netherworld. Just as they appeared in the mortal realm, the Demon King''s army vanished through the teal portal. Only Seonghyun remained in the arena. In the chilling silence, only the sound of Seonghyun''s departing footsteps could be heard. Step. Step. Step. No one uttered a word. Until Seonghyun left. Finally, as Seonghyun disappeared from the arena, The audience gasped as if exhaling for the first time. ¡°Haaaaaaaaaa!¡± ¡°Crazyyyyy!¡± ¡°Wh-what did I just see!?!?¡± ¡°Wh-who is he!!! The one who said he wasn''t as strong as in the video!!!¡± ¡°Crazy! Really! Crazy!!!¡± ¡°I thought he was overshadowed because a rookie who conquered the Fortress of the Past appeared......!!!¡± ¡°That wasn''t it! He didn''t even care!!!¡± As praises and exclamations erupted everywhere, Luna, equally astonished, was speechless. Her jaw hung open. How could he defeat those three? But now wasn''t the time to be dwelling on this. Luna, who had been simply in awe, hurriedly got up from her seat and went out to find her teammates. But how was she going to report this? Faced with this predicament, Luna ruffled her hair in frustration. ¡°Damn it...... Why did they have to fight......!¡± [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 60 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 60 0. The trio, Longfeng, Hwawol, and Elzahar, were dazed outside the arena after their defeat. An unfair fight? Overwhelmed by the number of enemies? Some might think so, but not these three. No, witnessing that battle, no one could say such a thing. It was a war. The fact that they participated in a war with only three people meant their defeat was predetermined; only they didn''t know it. At that moment, all three of them felt it. "If the team leader had been there..." "Would it have been different...?" "...Fuck, no way." Both nodded at Hwawol''s last harsh curse. Luna, the leader of the Luna Team. She was the strongest among the Rapid Guild rookies. But even with her, it wouldn''t have mattered. Just as humans cannot overcome natural disasters. Seonghyun was an existence of that magnitude. Rookie? Newbie? An unreasonable existence that couldn''t be described with such words. That was Seonghyun. They had intended to crush his arrogance. But instead, they were the ones crushed. The last thing they felt was one thing. "Was that his full strength?" "...." "...." Neither of them could answer Elzahar''s question. No, they didn''t want to answer. They wanted to believe that was Seonghyun''s full power. If he had more power than that... What they did would truly be nothing more than trying to break a rock with an egg. No, was that still the case? ''No way that wasn''t his full strength.'' ''It must have been his full strength~'' ''Fuck, even if it was his full strength, it''s a problem...'' Even though all three of them had Unique+ rank classes, they couldn''t even compete. Even those with Legendary rank classes didn''t display such power. The trio knew this well because Luna had a Legendary rank class. A power that surpassed even Luna, who was Legendary rank. That wasn''t a matter of skill or talent. It was the pure performance of the skills derived from his class. Was there any other possibility?@@@@ Almighty rank. Gulp. Someone gulped, the sound echoing like thunder, and they exchanged glances. So that''s why he seemed so confident. If it was Seonghyun, then maybe... "Could he clear it?" "Maybe~?" "Bullshit, don''t be ridiculous." The three had differing opinions. Longfeng held onto a glimmer of hope that Seonghyun might succeed. But the other two were skeptical. Even Seonghyun couldn''t solo it yet. That''s what they thought. "No way, damn it! Even Yuna-nim did her first solo raid after her third class advancement at level 100. Solo raid my ass. And if that first room is that birdbrain bastard, it''s impossible to succeed, you idiot." Hwawol said with frustration. Though her words were harsh, Everyone had to agree. "Ah... That''s true." "Yeah, you''re right~" Yuna was the strongest force in the Rapid Guild, respected and feared by all, wasn''t she? The only one in the Rapid Guild currently doing solo raids. She sometimes teamed up, but It was truly rare. Like when the second team struggled, she joined as a guide. Or when she participated for training purposes. Other than that, she didn''t team up. Almighty rank? Maybe someday it would be possible. They had already experienced Seonghyun''s formidable class capabilities. But could he succeed in a solo raid faster than Yuna? They didn''t think so. As the three were exchanging opinions, They saw Luna running towards them from afar. It was stronger than most level 80 raid bosses. Secondly, it had a name despite being a low-level raid boss. One might think that all raid bosses have names, but that wasn''t the case. Most raid bosses didn''t have names, and when one occasionally did appear, it displayed power unseen at that level. Anemor was one such raid boss. However, even with a name, its overwhelming power was the problem. No matter how big or high-ranking a guild was, they couldn''t touch it. The Luna Team was no different. "Hmm, so you''re saying it''s incredibly strong for its level?" The entire Luna Team had attempted the raid more than five times. Yet, they had never even seen the second phase. It was humiliating, but The Luna Team had lasted the longest and cornered the boss the most compared to any other guild. But even then, they couldn''t reach the second phase. "Yes, I''ve told you about all of its phase one skills." "Thank you." "Actually..." Luna started to say something, seemingly hesitant, but then closed her mouth. It was something that could be considered rude. But then Hwawol spoke up first. "If you think you''re going to fail, we''ll join in." "Excuse me?" Seonghyun looked at them with a bewildered expression. Hwawol sighed and was about to explain. No matter how strong Seonghyun was, it was natural to intervene if he couldn''t do it alone. Right now, more important than Seonghyun''s personal record was the honor of the Rapid Guild being the first to clear it. This was something all Rapid Guild members knew. She was about to explain this to Seonghyun, but "Isn''t that obvious?" "Huh?" "What?" "Eh?" "Oh?" They looked at Seonghyun, who spoke as if it were obvious, with bewildered expressions. All four of them were dumbfounded by Seonghyun''s words. Well, it was obvious. But they were about to say something, thinking that Seonghyun might be too proud to accept help. However, Seonghyun''s attitude, questioning why they even needed to mention it, made them feel like the strange ones instead. "If I can''t do it alone, of course everyone should join in. Isn''t that why we team up?" "...." "...." "...." "...." "I thought that was how it worked... Isn''t it?" His words were so undeniably true that they were left speechless. At this point, Seonghyun even asked if he had misunderstood something. The ones who worried about Seonghyun being arrogant were now the fools. "Ah, no, you''re right. Of course. I just wanted to let you know since it''s your first raid. There are... more people than you''d think who don''t know that." "Ah, I see." As Seonghyun nodded in understanding, Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Now that the briefing was roughly over, He got up from his seat. "Shall we go then?" Already? They all nodded with dumbfounded expressions at Seonghyun''s words. Usually, after a briefing, they would discuss their roles, strategize for cooperation, and then head out. But Seonghyun just stood up without doing any of that. Was it enough just to hear the information? They all got up from their seats, slightly bewildered. They couldn''t tell if this was arrogance Or just ignorance. Due to his past actions, it was awkward to point it out. "This is going to be fun." As Seonghyun spoke with excitement, They all looked at him with a hint of agreement. They were curious about what kind of strategy Seonghyun would use. They watched him with anticipation. Even so, Seonghyun wouldn''t be able to succeed alone. But what if the remaining four conserved their strength until then? ''If we join in later...'' ''It would be quite interesting~'' ''...'' ''Maybe, just maybe...'' They might be able to clear it this time. As the four of them were having these thoughts, Seonghyun was thinking about something else entirely. ''First, I need to increase the number of troops that can operate in the air.'' [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 61 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 61 2. The flapping of insect wings often emitted an earsplitting, sharp sound. If the insect was large enough, the flapping itself could be considered an attack. Buzz¡ª! A sharp flapping sound. Its head had sharp fangs protruding like pincers, and its stinger, protruding sharply from its rear, gleamed menacingly. Its forelimbs, shaped like the legs of a mantis, resembled sharp sickles. A Giant Killer Bee. Despite being a powerful monster in its level 60s, its tendency to live in groups made it an undesirable target for hunters. However, even these creatures were helpless against the overwhelming army. Slash! Slice! The Skeleton Warriors effortlessly cut off their wings and necks with their swords, sending them plummeting to the ground. Unfazed, the Skeleton Warriors continued to swing their swords as if they were farmers harvesting crops. With each swing, two or three bees fell to the ground. And if those fallen creatures weren''t dead yet, the goblin undead and knoll ghouls appeared without fail to finish them off. Seonghyun simply watched, as if this were all to be expected. "...Is this right?" "...Were Giant Killer Bees always this easy~?" "...No fucking way." "...I''m speechless." Only the Luna Team, watching this, wore dumbfounded expressions. They wondered if hunting was always this easy. All four of them watched in awe. Then, the Giant Killer Bees rose as soldiers of death. Afterward, it became even easier. With the addition of aerial units, they swept through the Giant Killer Bees, slaughtering them. They had thought that they were already hunting relatively easily compared to others, but this was on a whole different level. How many had he hunted by now? A pure white light emanated from Seonghyun''s body. This effect was all too familiar. [Level Up!] Despite leveling up, Seonghyun wasn''t particularly happy. It had become a natural occurrence for him. "Hmm." He looked at the Giant Killer Bees. Thirty Giant Killer Bees with souls, and thirty more made with Add More. Was this enough? Seonghyun counted the numbers and nodded. It seemed to be enough. "Shall we go on the raid now?" "...Yes, let''s go." Only Luna answered in a daze, while the others couldn''t even respond. Was it because they had fought him firsthand? The remaining trio couldn''t answer and simply nodded. Seonghyun headed towards the location where Anemor was, as he had been informed beforehand. It wasn''t that far from where they were, so It didn''t take long. When they arrived, As expected, the place was packed with people bearing the emblems of various renowned guilds. Seonghyun didn''t recognize any of the emblems, but... He could clearly sense their prestige. ''There are quite a few skilled people here.'' One could discern skills from minor postures and habits. However, no matter where he looked, there was no one stronger than the Luna Team members. As Seonghyun and the Luna Team appeared, Whispers arose from all directions. "Ah, the Rapid Guild." "Hmm, how many times have they challenged this?" "Fifth time. Still in phase one." "But I heard they lasted the longest and depleted the most HP here?" "That''s true. It''s the Luna Team from the Rapid Guild after all." Voices acknowledging them could be heard from everywhere. Seonghyun felt his shoulders lift slightly as he listened. Being part of a guild acknowledged by others, It made him feel a bit excited. Meanwhile, some people noticed Seonghyun joining them and started chattering. "But there''s a new member?" "Who is it? I don''t think I''ve seen them before." "Ah! Ah! Isn''t that the Demon King? The new Rapid Guild rookie!" "Ah! The Demon King!?" "Oh damn, are they going to clear it this time?!" "I heard that three members, excluding Luna, fought and lost to the Demon King in town..." "Rapid again. Sigh..." Most people couldn''t help but feel tense with Seonghyun joining. Currently, there was no one who didn''t know about Rapid''s rookie, the ''Demon King.'' However, perhaps his fame had faded a little. Some people mocked Seonghyun. "...You don''t have to answer if you don''t want to." "Huh?" "Oh?" "Whoa?" Her voice seemed a bit subdued. Luna, Elzahar, and Longfeng were surprised by Hwawol''s unfamiliar demeanor and looked at her. She was usually blunt, But she had never spoken like this before. It seemed that Hwawol had indeed acknowledged Seonghyun. As everyone looked at Hwawol in surprise, She turned her head, seemingly embarrassed. Seonghyun, looking at Hwawol, replied with a reassuring tone, "I''m also a teammate. Information sharing is a given. Yes, it''s Almighty rank for now." "...Th-thank you." Hwawol, surprised that he actually answered, expressed her gratitude without realizing it. And she even used honorifics! Even this was unfamiliar, and everyone except Seonghyun was surprised, but They pretended not to notice, fearing what might happen if they teased her further. Meanwhile, Seonghyun also asked Hwawol with curiosity, "Then, Hwawol... nim? Is that right? Is your class a close-range archer?" "...Yes, w-well, it''s the opposite of other archers... you can think of it that way... The rank is Unique+." "Oh." Seonghyun let out a brief exclamation of admiration. Belatedly, Elzahar also spoke up, "Hmm~ You can call me the Binding Sorcerer~ It''s a class where my magic power and mana increase the more I''m bound or restrained. The rank is Unique+, same as Hwawol over there~" "Ah, so that''s why Elzahar-nim used those ice-type binding spells on herself. They were certainly powerful spells." "Heh~? But they were no match for Seonghyun-nim''s Skeleton Mages." "Thank you. But they were truly powerful spells. It took three of our mages to barely block them." "Hmm~" Seemingly pleased with Seonghyun''s compliment, her characteristic languid expression seemed to soften even more. With both Hwawol and Elzahar having introduced themselves, Longfeng, perhaps not wanting to be left out, chimed in. However, as he had been the one to provoke Seonghyun initially, he seemed a bit embarrassed. "Ahem, I''m Longfeng. They call me the Failed Thief. I can unleash attacks that build up stacks with each failed attack or successful dodge. These stacks can also enhance other skills. And the rank is... Unique." "Oh? So you can also strengthen stealth skills?" "Ahem, precisely." "Strengthening stealth could lead to some pretty powerful combos, right?" "Haha! You get it!" Longfeng, seemingly delighted by Seonghyun''s belated compliment, chattered excitedly despite his usual lack of enthusiasm. Finally, Seonghyun looked at Luna. "...Ah, uhm, I''m..." "...?" He was a bit puzzled by Luna''s hesitation. Everyone else had revealed their class, was she reluctant to do so? Thinking it wasn''t a big deal, he was about to move on when Luna spoke up, seemingly embarrassed. "I-I''m... a Primordial Barbarian Warrior, a Legendary rank." "Oh? I see." Seonghyun was briefly impressed by Luna''s straightforwardness. Wasn''t Legendary rank just below Almighty? As Seonghyun expressed his admiration, Elzahar, finding it amusing, added an explanation. "Hmm~ Our team leader... we call her the Exposure Warrior among ourselves~" "...?" A rather suggestive nickname. Seonghyun tilted his head slightly. Exposure Warrior? Did she have to expose herself? As Seonghyun was pondering this, Hwawol continued Elzahar''s explanation. "...As the name Primordial Barbarian Warrior suggests, the more skin she reveals, the greater the attack and defense buffs she receives..." [TL/N: W Class] [PR/N: Slaps Shut up n work] [TL/N: ;-;] "...So?" "Hahaha! That''s why our prim and proper team leader is always wrapped up in that robe!" At that moment, Seonghyun looked at Luna. He saw her entire face turn bright red. Just what was beneath that robe? ''I''ll have to make sure I can defeat it mostly on my own.'' So as to avoid any awkwardness. As Seonghyun had this thought, Luna, flustered, closed her eyes tightly and thought, ''...What if he thinks I''m a pervert?'' After that, without another word, They waited quietly for their turn, feeling mutually embarrassed. And finally, their turn came. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 62 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 62 When it was the Luna Team''s turn, The team that had just been defeated in the raid came down from the raid field, venting their frustration. "Damn it. We couldn''t even last 10 minutes this time." "Fuck. Because of that damn gust of wind...!!!" "Sigh, is there no way to get through that!" Seeing them lamenting as they came down, It seemed like a truly formidable foe. He had felt it was quite tricky even during the briefing, but For those who seemed so strong to say such things... The number of people on the team had decreased to less than half compared to when they entered the raid field. Perhaps this would be his first defeat. ''It''s not realistic to never lose.'' It had already been three days since he started playing Eternal World. He hadn''t died yet, but There was no guarantee that it would stay that way. Seonghyun wasn''t arrogant. As he was resolving himself, Luna stepped forward, and her teammates followed. Finally, with Seonghyun at the rear, they headed towards the raid field. "It''s the Rapid Guild''s turn." "Hmm, I should stay and see how it goes." "How long will the Rapid Guild last this time?" "Hmm, I wonder how well that Demon King they brought in will perform..." "It''s impossible to clear, no matter what." "Though, who knows once he gets used to it." Although they didn''t react to the murmurs around them, the Luna Team members had similar thoughts. Seonghyun was amazing, But it would be difficult for him to clear it alone. ''He''s not even level 60 yet, he said he was 58.'' ''If he was in his mid-60s, he could probably solo it, right?'' ''Hmm~ But it''s impossible now~'' ''If it seems too much, we''ll have to jump in and clear it somehow.'' The honor of the Rapid Guild name was more important. Seonghyun could always try a solo clear later. That would be fine. Seonghyun also had similar thoughts. The team should come first, before himself. And the guild came before the team. Therefore, he believed he should protect Rapid''s name rather than his own record. Look now. Everyone was watching and talking about Rapid. The weight of being at the forefront, perhaps? People''s admiring gazes, wariness, envy, and jealousy. He ascended onto that stage where all sorts of emotions swirled. Seonghyun realized anew that he was receiving tremendous attention. Feeling the weight of Rapid''s reputation, he stepped onto the raid field. Woooosh. As they passed through a semi-transparent barrier, as if crossing a boundary, the scenery didn''t shift and blend as it had numerous times before. The surrounding landscape continued seamlessly. They reached the peak of a vast, barren rocky mountain range. Contrary to his imagination, the summit wasn''t a pointed peak but a wide, flat plateau. Although there were many large, rugged rocks scattered about, providing cover, it was essentially flat ground. An ideal battlefield. Perhaps that''s why it was called a raid field? As he was pondering this, he sensed tension rising around him. Sensing the tension emanating from Luna and her three teammates, Seonghyun looked up. Something enormous was blocking the sun, casting a dark shadow on the ground. Whoosh¡ª! Whoosh¡ª! With a single flap of its wings, a gust of wind swept through the area. The wind pressed down on the ground, making it difficult to even open his eyes. When he finally managed to open his eyes and look up, he saw a colossal creature with a white body soaring through the sky. It resembled a hawk, the king of the sky, but with long, sharp feathers on its head fluttering elegantly in the wind, as if it controlled the wind itself. Its grayish-white feathers gleamed, reflecting the sunlight, and its arrogant, yellow eyes looked down upon them as it floated freely in the sky, like the master of this place. [Raid Boss ¡ºGuardian of the Wind, Anemor¡» has appeared.] As if to prove this, they charged towards Anemor even more fiercely than before. ¡°Screech!!!¡± The Giant Killer Bee undead persistently attacked, and Anemor, perhaps annoyed by them, or now considering them a threat, retracted its wings and condensed the surrounding wind to form a barrier around itself. Anemor''s skill, Wind Shield. No matter how much the Giant Killer Bees shot their stingers or swung their sharp, sickle-like forelimbs, they couldn''t even scratch it. Once the Giant Killer Bees exhausted themselves after unleashing all their attacks, Anemor seized the opportunity, dispelled the Wind Shield, spread its wings, and shot Wind Blades towards the Giant Killer Bees. Or rather, it tried to. If it weren''t for the chilling presence it felt from behind. Sensing the threat, Anemor tried to quickly summon the Wind Shield again, but it was too late. -Foolish beast. -Ehehe, you said it. The Blood-Red Knight Balthar, and Fiora, who had possessed another body of the Wraith of Barpur, appeared behind Anemor. Balthar, who materialized like death itself, drew his greatsword, enveloped it in blood-red energy, and swung. Fiora transformed the left arm of his wraith body into a massive, sharp spear and thrust it forward. The greatsword, imbued with blood-red energy, unleashed a crimson crescent-shaped sword aura, and Fiora''s transformed arm, now a sharp spear, descended as a faint blue flash. The two attacks struck simultaneously. Thud! Slash! [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] Along with the messages that popped up simultaneously, Anemor''s wings were marked with a long cut on the right and a large piercing wound on the left. Suffering a critical blow from the first attack it allowed, Anemor plummeted without a chance to recover. Even those with wings can fall. And Anemor was one of them. Boom! The massive body of Anemor crashed to the ground. As Balthar and Fiora descended towards the fallen Anemor, they continued to swing their swords and transformed arms. indescribable roars echoed throughout the area, and thick dust clouds billowed. Within the dust clouds, the ruler of the sky was no more. Only, "Screeeeeech!!!" A pitiful beast struggling to survive remained. No matter how much it rolled its body or spread its wings to use skills to shake off Balthar and iora, it was no use. Every time it tried, the Giant Killer Bees appeared and acted as shields. Likewise, the legion commander, Wraith of Barpur, the Lesser Imp Kaishak legion, the Skeleton Mercenary legion, the goblin undead legion, and the knoll ghoul legion swarmed Anemor, slashing at its body. Only the occasional roar and the intense sounds of battle reverberated. Meanwhile, the thick dust cloud showed no signs of clearing, instead growing larger and larger. "...W-what is this...?" "I-is what we''re seeing... real?" "Hmm... A-am I dreaming...?" "We''re fucked..., seriously." Although the thoughts and feelings of each Luna Team member might differ slightly, they shared one common opinion. This wasn''t a raid. It was a massacre. Like ants being crushed under the light touch of a child, Anemor was being trampled. The Luna Team felt as if everything they had done so far was being denied, and then they saw a message appear. "Screech!!!" Along with the sharp roar, a message popped up. [Raid Boss ¡ºGuardian of the Wind, Anemor¡» is enraged.] [Raid Boss ¡ºGuardian of the Wind, Anemor¡» enters phase 2.] *Caution -The raid boss becomes significantly stronger in phase 2. -Be careful. Seeing the message, Luna asked in a daze, "H-how long has it been since we entered?" "...5 minutes and 30 seconds." "Crazy." Many parties had fallen within 5 minutes and 30 seconds, but no party had ever entered phase 2 in just 5 minutes. No, this was the first time anyone had even reached phase 2. And to think that this feat was accomplished not by a party, but by an individual. Even the Luna Team couldn''t help but be awestruck. Unable to contain their astonishment, they watched Anemor roar, recover from its wounds, break free from Balthar and Fiora, and soar back into the sky. Anemor, which had always exuded an overwhelming presence and seemed like an insurmountable wall. But why? Now that they looked closely, Anemor''s yellow eyes seemed to be trembling with fear and terror. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 63 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 63 The bright yellow eyes trembled violently, their owner shivering with fear. But Anemor could not flee. This was its domain, and it was inextricably bound to it. The ominous aura had not disappeared. Rather, Anemor had simply realized that the enemy it faced now was different from any before; unreasonable and overwhelming. It wanted to run. But it couldn''t. Therefore, only one option remained. "SCREEEEECH¡ª¡ª!" It would burn out, even if it meant death. It would fight with the dignity of a king ruling the skies. It ignited its will and did not forget its fear. For it is through fear that one can truly grow stronger. Anemor was no different. All the NPCs and monsters in Eternal World possessed remarkable artificial intelligence. It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say they had their own ego. Based on vast amounts of data, Anemor could judge and think. It could understand the master of this unreasonable death legion that it was facing. The human who was merely observing the battle from the rear. No, was it truly human? It couldn''t be sure. But one thing was certain: this being was leading the battlefield. "SCREEEEECH¡ª¡ª!" It took only two seconds for Anemor to enter its second phase, recover its wings, and take flight. In that short time, it had made its decision. Its target was set. It was time to act. Just then, Anemor saw a swarm of Giant Killer Bees flying towards it. Having encountered them before, it knew them well. This was no ordinary swarm of Giant Killer Bees. Although it couldn''t see or sense them, it knew with absolute certainty. Fiora and Balthar were approaching, concealed within the swarm. Therefore, Anemor roared and used its skill. "SCREEEECH¡ª¡ª!" Whoosh! Whoosh¡ª! Whoosh¡ª¡ª! It spread its wings as wide as possible, summoning a fierce wind, a friend it could rely on. The gust of wind, stirred by the flapping wings, swirled ominously, forming a massive storm. This was a storm on a completely different scale from the gust it had created in the first phase. No, it should be called a small typhoon. As Anemor summoned this violent storm, the Giant Killer Bees lost their ability to maintain their formation in the air. Some even had their wings torn by the wind. Unable to hold their formation, the falling Giant Killer Bees quickly escaped the storm''s reach. Anemor, seeing the Giant Killer Bees scatter, triumphantly entered its own storm. And then, it vanished without a trace. As if it had used a cloaking skill.@@@@ Unable to see it anywhere, the entire Luna team was startled. "Longfeng, can you find it?" "...I can''t even sense it???" "C-Can it even use stealth?!?" "Fuck, how are we supposed to beat this..." Luna immediately asked Longfeng, their rogue, but even he couldn''t locate Anemor. If Longfeng, with the best tracking abilities here, couldn''t find it, then... ¡®Seonghyun probably couldn''t either, right?¡¯ For a moment, Luna thought about helping, but she couldn''t act rashly. Moving now could hinder Seonghyun instead. It was better to observe silently. As the Luna team fell into chaos, Seonghyun, on the other hand, seemed unfazed and snapped his fingers. Snap! Everyone was under the impression that Seonghyun was only utilizing the Death Legion, but they were mistaken. The Death Legion wasn''t his only skill. As he snapped his fingers, a large, teal heart appeared behind Seonghyun. The heart beat vigorously, slowly emitting a teal fog around it. The eerie fog made the surrounding air heavy, eventually covering almost half of the raid field. Then, a scream erupted from somewhere not far from Seonghyun. "SCREEEECH!" A scream of surprise from the sudden damage. No, it was still alright. It would have a slight advantage in the sky. Just as it made that judgment and was about to confront them with caution, something teal flew from the ground. Anemor tried to dodge, but Balthar and Fiora blocked its escape route. Thud! "SCREEEECH!" The teal spear blade, perfectly thrown without a gap, pierced Anemor''s chest precisely. Then, the darkness that bloomed from it gradually dominated Anemor''s entire body. [Dark damage applied.] [Target partially resists.] [All sight and senses will be impaired for 3 seconds.] With all its senses blocked, Anemor lost its sight, hearing, touch, and all five senses, including its sixth sense, making it impossible to even make judgments. It couldn''t tell if it was still flying. Or even if it was being hit by Balthar and Fiora. But it tried to struggle as much as possible. Even though it didn''t know if it was moving, as it had no sense of its body moving. But it had felt it before it lost its senses. It ignited its will and thrashed. To somehow minimize the damage. After the longest three seconds in the world, when all its senses returned, it could feel it. "...Screech?" Its magnificent, broad wings were tragically cut and torn. And it could see the legions of death swarming from all directions, indicating that it had long since fallen. It tried to escape from that place where teal lights filled every corner, but each time, Wraith of Barpur, Fiora, and Balthar stepped forward to block its movements, and the Death Legion attacked Anemor like a raging storm. "SCREEEECH¡ª¡ª!" It tried to use a skill to push away all the Death Legion members around it and escape, but its wings had already been ripped and torn. The Guardian of Wind, unable to fly, was no longer a friend of the wind. The pushed-back Death Legion closed in again, and Anemor could clearly hear it. Thud! Thud! Thuud¡ª! The marching sounds of the legion. And Anemor squeezed its eyes shut. It felt that it couldn''t survive here. ¡°SCREEEECH......¡± A mournful scream echoed. The Luna team, witnessing this scene, felt goosebumps erupt all over their bodies and gulped. He really did it alone. He succeeded in a raid on his first try, and solo at that. The shock that what they had seen wasn''t even his full power had long since faded. That such power was possible at this level... And the fact that he could already solo a raid at this stage... How much time had passed? When the mournful scream finally ceased, countless system messages popped up. [You have defeated the Raid Boss, ¡ºGuardian of Wind, Anemor¡».] [Level Up!]¡Á6 [You have reached level 64.] [A new skill for ¡ºOverlord¡» has been unlocked upon reaching level 60.] [You have acquired the Legendary rank skill, ¡ºSwirling Blood¡».] [Contribution exists only for a single person.] [Determined as a solo raid.] [Defeated solo.] [Rewards have been enhanced.] [First kill.] [Rewards have been enhanced.] [Defeat rewards given.] [Due to being a solo raid, all rewards are given to user ¡ºSeonghyun¡».] [Acquired Unique rank set item, ¡ºGuardian of the Wind Set¡» as a defeat reward.] [Acquired Unique rank item, ¡ºSkillbook-Summon Storm Spirit¡» as a defeat reward.] [Acquired Unique rank item, ¡ºEssence of Wind¡» as a defeat reward.] [You have defeated the Raid Boss.] [Acquired the title, ¡ºRookie Raider¡».] [You have defeated the Raid Boss solo.] [Acquired the title, ¡ºGenius Raider¡».] [You have defeated the Raid Boss, ¡ºGuardian of Wind, Anemor¡» for the first time.] [Acquired the title, ¡ºAnemor Slayer¡».] Tremendous rewards. However, as if those weren''t the main point, Seonghyun looked at Anemor''s corpse. Although the mark indicating that it could be resurrected as part of the Death Legion didn''t appear, the mark that it could be moved to the netherworld did. -Screech?! Seeing the hawk-like ghost, resembling the corpse, flying around Anemor''s remains, Seonghyun wore a satisfied smile. ''I really like this.'' [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 64 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 64 Anemor looked around and thought. It was definitely dead, yet... why? A faint sensation of being alive still lingered. Its own corpse was clearly visible below, floating in the air. Yet, it could still think and even move. The problem was... -Screech?! Seonghyun could see this spectral Anemor as well. At first, fear had surfaced, but no longer. Instead, emotions like trust, respect, and worship towards Seonghyun bloomed within Anemor, equal in measure to its previous fear. Now it could be on his side. Overwhelmed with emotion, Anemor trembled. Or rather, its spirit trembled, for it no longer had a body. If only it could be of use to that great being, it would dedicate everything it had. As Anemor was thinking this, Seonghyun approached and asked, "Will you come with me?" -SCREEEECH¡ª¡ª! Anemor nodded vigorously, expressing its joy. As expected of Seonghyun, beloved by all ghosts. Even his slain enemies wholeheartedly offered their love. It was a truly frightening ability, but... This was a common occurrence for Seonghyun, so... He accepted Anemor without a second thought. First, he needed to utilize its power. It was quite powerful in life, after all. Wouldn''t his stats increase considerably? As Seonghyun absorbed Anemor''s memories and experiences... [''Unknown Power'' has allowed you to achieve something impossible at your current level.] [Strength +2, Agility +10, Stamina +3 permanently increased.] ''Oh?'' The total stat increase from absorbing the memories and experiences of the demonic beast Barpur was 8. Anemor provided 15, almost double that amount. He had acquired a soul more powerful than that of Barpur. Quite a satisfying additional reward. Above all... [Target cannot be turned into a ¡ºDeath Knight¡» due to low level.] This message popped up when he looked at Anemor''s corpse. It also meant that Anemor could be turned into a knight once the level requirement was met. He didn''t know when that would be, but... He could store the body in the netherworld for later, just like he did with Barpur''s. Didn''t the same thing happen when he acquired Barpur''s body? It seemed like Anemor would become a very powerful ally in the future. As Seonghyun was feeling satisfied... -We dedicate our victory to the Lord. -T-To the Lord, we offer the spoils of war. Balthar and Fiora bowed in worship. They held up Anemor''s corpse as if it were a tribute to him. Seeing this, Seonghyun thought, ''Securing the next legion commander?'' Anemor would be more than capable of fulfilling the role of the next legion commander. Anticipation bloomed. Without delay, he opened the gate to the netherworld. The two, realizing Seonghyun''s intention, carried Anemor''s corpse and entered the netherworld. As all the soldiers were returning to the netherworld, Seonghyun temporarily placed Anemor''s ghost into a vacant Giant Killer Bee undead. For now, the only undead capable of aerial movement were the Giant Killer Bees. With that settled, all the soldiers entered the netherworld. Therefore, Seonghhyun couldn''t hear... The conversation between Balthar and Fiora. -Fiora? I can''t believe it. -I-I''m glad to see you too, B-Balthar. -To think the Lord could implant your soul like this... Does that mean...? -Yes, yes!!! Helena is also with him!!! The two rejoiced in their conversation. They might be able to meet their old master again, the one who showed mercy even to lowly heroes and sacrificed herself for them. However, Balthar asked with a puzzled expression, -But if your soul is here, what happens to your body? Wouldn''t your body remain dormant without a soul? -Ah, ah. Y-Yes... -Hmm, I''m sure the Lord has a plan. You''ll have to stay in that body for now. -I-I think so too. Where Seonghyun couldn''t hear, the reason why the young shapeshifter couldn''t awaken was being revealed. 0. Seonghyun, having closed the gate to the netherworld and dealt with Anemor''s body and ghost, turned his attention to the raid rewards. What he had obtained just now were supplementary rewards. Now it was time to open the real rewards. Since the Luna team was still dazed, it seemed like a good time to check the rewards. He had obtained quite a few things. First, there was the new Overlord-exclusive skill obtained after surpassing level 60, the set item, the skill book, the titles, and finally, the item. Seonghyun, who preferred to save the best for last, first checked the titles, which were likely to be the lowest rank. He had gained three titles this time. All of them were raid-related. ¡ºRookie Raider¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úTitle given to a user who has defeated a raid boss. ¡úIncreases maximum health by +5% when facing a raid boss. ¡ºGenius Raider¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡úTitle given to a user who has defeated a raid boss solo. ¡úIncreases all recovery by +10% in raid fields. ¡úFurther enhances rewards when defeating a raid boss solo. ¡ºAnemor Slayer¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡úTitle given to the user who first defeated ¡ºGuardian of Wind, Anemor¡». ¡úAllows flight three times a day. ¡úAllows summoning of a storm whirlwind once a day. ¡úIncreases wind resistance by +10%. ¡úIncreases wind affinity by +10%. ¡ú Enemies with blood have their blood absorbed with each hit. ¡ú The absorbed blood makes the vortex larger and fiercer. ''Oh?!'' His first area-of-effect skill. Thanks to the Death Legion, he hadn''t felt the need for one, but recently, during the capture of the Fortress of the Past, he had felt the lack of an area-of-effect skill. To think he''d obtain it like this... He wasn''t worried about its performance. There was no doubt that none of the Overlord skills lacked in performance. In this raid as well, Monarch''s Silence and the Wraith of the Dead had played a big role. Therefore, he had no worries. He had more things to test now, from items to skills. ''Should I go to the others now?'' He had checked all the rewards. It was time to return to the Luna team, who were still dazed and murmuring. 1. While Seonghyun was checking the rewards, the Luna team was murmuring amongst themselves. "H-He really caught it..." "A-Alone..." "Hmm, I-It took about 10 minutes, right~?" "9 minutes 57 seconds..." Even after hearing it, they could only react with disbelief at Hwawol''s words. That was the amount of time other teams had barely managed to hold out. However, Seonghyun had defeated Anemor in that time. Would there ever be anyone who could surpass this record? No, would there even be a team? At least, the Luna team could confidently assert that there would never be. "F-First kill, and a s-solo raid at that." "...Wasn''t this his first raid ever?" "H-Hmm~ Has there ever been someone like that~?" "Fuck, of course not!" Hwawol exclaimed in frustration, but no one rebuked her for it. No one could fault her feelings at that moment. It was a truly unbelievable record. At first, there had been envy and jealousy. It felt like the Rapid Guild was putting all their effort into raising him. The Luna team was also considered the best among the rookies, weren''t they? Therefore, Longfeng, Hwawol, and even Elzahar had shown some jealousy. But at this point... They couldn''t even bring themselves to be jealous. Jealousy only arises when the difference is manageable. No one here was foolish enough to be jealous after witnessing such an overwhelming gap. And no one had ever heard of such a record, not in the Rapid Guild, nor in any other guild. Not just in the East Asian server, but globally. Which meant... ''Huh.'' ''Hmm.'' ''Really now.'' ''...Perhaps.'' The thought arose that the Rapid Guild might be securing a new single-player ranker. It was still a long way off, but... Everyone was having such thoughts when Luna suddenly remembered something. The Rapid Guild was one of the guilds that had been around since the early days. The same was true for Yuna. However, Luna knew that no one could keep up with Yuna, so she was still hunting alone. Yuna herself preferred to be alone, but Guild Master Rapid had occasionally mentioned it with a troubled expression. -It''s difficult because there''s no one to back up Yuna. If it weren''t for that, she would have already reached the top 5... It''s a shame. Yuna had brushed it off with a "It''s okay," but... It remained deeply ingrained in Luna''s mind. Therefore, Luna made a new resolution and said to her teammates, "...I think it''s time we stopped acting individually." "...Then?" "Hmm~ Join forces?" "..." "I heard that Yuna doesn''t have a backup team, so she''s been leveling alone and still going solo, even though she could have raised her ranking a long time ago." Those words caused everyone''s eyes to waver. Not just the Luna team gathered here, but most of the members of the Rapid Guild respected and admired Yuna. It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say that everyone did. So many had stepped forward to try to be Yuna''s backup. But the gap had already widened so much that it wasn''t easy to catch up. Most of them knew that it was an impossible task. And with Luna''s words, everyone realized. "If this continues, Seonghyun might end up the same..." "..." "..." "..." "We may not be needed, but... shouldn''t we at least try our best to be his backup?" Luna''s words struck everyone like a blow to the head, leaving them dazed. Everyone wants to be the best. But what if they hit a wall? And what if they found someone more deserving of that position? Shouldn''t they prepare to make him the king? If they couldn''t be the king... "We''ll make the king." At those words, everyone''s eyes lit up. They all nodded in agreement with Luna. It could be seen as a cruel reality, or even a pathetic sight. They could be called losers who succumbed to reality and settled. But it didn''t matter. As long as they could become Seonghyun''s backup team. With that resolve... Someone approached and asked, "What were you talking about?" It was Seonghyun, of course, and Luna, startled, let out a scream. "Kyaaa!" "...?" Seonghyun was bewildered by her reaction. What had he done to make her dislike him so much? [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 65 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 65 A Moment of Misunderstanding "Ah, ah, um, I was just telling Seonghyun that I was disappointed that we couldn''t raid together next time." Hwawol quickly interjected. Seonghyun looked surprised at the statement, wondering why. Longfeng then added. "S-suddenly hearing a voice from behind like that can be, um, unnerving." With a quick bit of wit, the situation was diffused. Seonghyun seemed convinced, nodding in agreement. It''s true, being spoken to from behind unexpectedly can be startling. Realizing this, he felt a bit guilty. He didn''t mean to scare him. "Ah, I''m sorry." Seonghyun immediately apologized. They felt a pang of conscience. "Oh, it''s alright. I-I''m sorry for raising my voice too." "No worries. Ah, about the raid, we can always join forces next time if the opportunity arises." "Ah." "Oh." "Really~?" "Wow." The group was impressed by Seonghyun''s words, Seeing that a slightly embarrassed Seonghyun nodded in agreement. He then quickly changed the subject. "Um, do you have any other schedules planned for later?" "Ah, no. Our schedule together is finished for today." "Then I''ll take my leave first. I need to go test out the rewards I received today." He was eager to check the rewards as he also needed to exchange them for skill books with the "Tome of Despair". As Seonghyun was about to leave, they all bid him farewell with a mix of regret and gratitude. "Ah! S-see you next time!" "Oh, y-you worked hard today!" "Hmm~ will we be able to see him again~? I hope we do~" "L-let''s meet again sometime." As Seonghyun departed, the remaining Luna team members wore a slightly bewildered expression. They were gazing at Seonghyun as he exited the raid field, lost in thought. From now on, individual hunting wouldn''t cut it. "Let''s have a meeting to discuss our future plans. I''ll report to the guild master first." "Alright, to become a backup team, we won''t be able to keep up with him if we each hunt alone." "Hmm~ sounds good~" "Hoo, let''s do our best. Damn it." Each member reaffirmed their determination. Luna then contacted Rapid to report the situation. She was worried that she would ignore them again, but fortunately, that didn''t happen. [Luna - I''ll report Seonghyun''s raid results.] [Rapid - Already!?] 2. Rapid Guild''s Guild Master''s office. In that place, Rapid, a little anxious, twirled a pen in her hand and was lost in thought. Despite deciding to ignore it, Perhaps because the matter at hand was significant, she couldn''t focus on her work. Could Seonghyun really defeat the raid boss alone? No, she believed he could. He was definitely capable on his own. If he cleared the Fortress of the Past, then this was manageable. No matter how formidable the level 60 opponent, the Guardian of Wind, Anemor, was said to be, At the end of the day, it was just a raid boss, wasn''t it? On the other hand, he also achieved the first clear of the Fortress of the Past. Naturally, she expected Seonghyun to succeed. ''...Perhaps with some adjustment, he might succeed within two or three attempts?'' However, she wasn''t expecting him to succeed on his first try. Lost in such thoughts, unable to work, The message window blinked, and an alert sounded. Several messages had arrived, but one name stood out among them. It was Luna. [Luna - I''ll report Seonghyun''s raid results.] [Rapid - Already!? He hasn''t even gone in yet, has he???] Had the results already come out? Was his first attempt a failure after all? If he was waiting in line and then entered, it couldn''t have been that long, could it? Since they gathered, it had been about an hour. So, it wasn''t a clear? However, a message that defied Rapid''s expectations appeared. [Luna - Seonghyun cleared it alone in 9 minutes and 57 seconds. And he also took Anemor''s corpse with him. I think he has a skill that can turn raid bosses into undead, maybe not immediately though, I am not sure.] ''W-what did she say?'' Rapid, after receiving the message, couldn''t think straight. Was the message she received correct? Her mind was filled with doubts.@@@@ Should she reply that she understood for now? No, 9 minutes and 57 seconds? Didn''t she hear that the average time other parties lasted was less than 10 minutes? Luna''s team''s record was 15 minutes at most, wasn''t it? And wasn''t that only until the end of the first phase? Complex thoughts chased each other in her mind. Her spiraling thoughts were interrupted by Luna''s additional message. Swish¡ª! Then, it stopped on one page. A single page was torn out as if it had been ripped away and floated into the air. The torn page burst into flames and scattered into ashes in the air. The scattered ashes seemed to disappear somewhere. Then, they gathered in one place and piled up on top of the Summon Storm Spirit skill book that Seonghyun was holding, covering the cover like a snowfall, making it impossible to identify. Then, the book began to shine for a moment, and the ashes spread out as if the outer cover was burning, and the cover began to change completely. Whoosh¡ª! Crack, Snap! With the sound of burning as if it were kindling. The ashes, which had been piled up, all blew away and disappeared, even though no wind was blowing. And the book that remained there had changed into a new skill book, not the Summon Storm Spirit skill book that Seonghyun had just held. The Tome of Despair closed. Then message prompts appeared. [Using the Tome of Despair, the Unique-rank skill book, ¡ºSkillbook - Summon Storm Spirit¡» is being transformed into a Black Mage-type skill book.] [The Unique-rank skill book, ¡ºSkill Book - Summon Storm Spirit¡» has been converted into ¡ºSkill Book - Skill Steal¡»] ''Skill Steal?'' At the extraordinary skill name, Seonghyun unknowingly used the skill book. He had changed it to use it anyway, And there was no need to hesitate at all. Let''s quickly skip the useless message asking if he was sure and use it. He was able to acquire the skill. [Using the Unique-rank skill book, ¡ºSkill Book - Skill Steal¡»] [Acquired the Unique-grade skill, ¡ºSkill Steal!¡»] Let''s immediately open the skill description. ¡ºSkill Steal¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡ú[Lv Max] [Perfected] [Instant Effect] [Active] [Cooldown 1 minute] ¡úSkill exclusive to Black Mage-type classes. ¡úCancels the skill the opponent is about to use, and steals that skill to use it directly. ¡úHowever, only skills of Skill Steal rank or lower can be stolen. "Oh!?" A dispel-type skill that cancels the opponent''s magic or skills. But it didn''t end there. It was a skill with "steal" attached, which allowed him to use that skill himself after canceling it. ''This is amazing!'' It''s a good skill for PVP, but. While he was fighting the raid boss, Anemor, this time, he also realised that the monsters'' skills were also powerful? A skill that can cancel such skills and use them directly. It was a skill with tremendous performance. With a very satisfied expression, Seonghyun was pleased. Soon after, Seonghyun headed to a field nearby for a test. Not the place where the Giant Killer Bees were, but the opposite side. According to the terrain information provided by the Luna team, it should be here. How far into the forest had he gone? Bird-type monsters living there began to appear. Ash Crows, crow-shaped monsters that scattered ashes everywhere. They were quite tricky monsters, scattering ashes and easily igniting anything that touched the ashes. When comparing it with the Giant Killer Bees, the Giant Killer Bees were said to fly faster, so they weren''t even considered in the Anemor fight. But now it was different. He thought about using Skill Steal first but shook his head. ''Stealing the skill of scattering ashes is a bit...not ideal.'' To see the effect more clearly, he needed to test it against their boss. Then, in this place? There happened to be a skill he could try out, wasn''t there? He had gained quite a few new skills and items. "Cawwww!" "Cawwww¡ª¡ª!" "Cawwww! Caw!" The Ash Crows rushed in madly. They swooped and scattered ashes. The ashes, swirling like a storm, comparable to a combined attack, engulfed Seonghyun. No, they ¡°tried¡± to engulf him. However, a translucent wind barrier appeared, defending him from all sides. Whoosh¡ª¡ª! The barrier was ignited by the ashes, but Seonghyun was unharmed. ''Oh?'' What he had just used was the Wind Shield. It was quite useful. Following that, Seonghyun summoned the most readily available skill, Bone Arrow, and fired it at one of the crows. The moment it hit, a powerful gust of wind swept through, forcefully pushing back the Ash Crows. However, that was all. [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] A minimal damage output without even a critical hit. The Ash Crows, pushed back a considerable distance, looked at each other with a bewildered expression. Seonghyun had a similar look on his face. "Hmm." The knockback effect was considerable, but there didn''t seem to be any damage amplification effect. It was a little disappointing, but the knockback alone was a good enough effect. "Then shall I sweep them away?" There were still four skills left to confirm. Hoping that the Ash Crows wouldn''t be finished off before then, Seonghyun smiled. The Ash Crows shuddered for a moment. They realized that something was seriously wrong. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 66 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 66 The Ash Crows, contemplating whether to flee even now, turned their heads back. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the area, and a whirlwind-like vortex arose, creating a swirling tornado. ¡°Caw!¡± ¡°Caw! Caw!¡± ¡°Cawww¡ª¡ª!¡± They let out cries like screams, trying to escape from that place. However, the suction force was considerable, and they couldn''t escape its pull. As the swirling wind grew increasingly sharp, cuts began to appear on their bodies one by one. Seonghyun nodded his head, seemingly quite pleased this time. [Experience points acquired!] ¡Á 13 What he had used this time was the Storm Whirlwind, usable through the title Anemor Slayer. Seonghyun then used Flight to look down at the Ash Crows from above. ''Flight isn''t bad either.'' When Seonghyun summoned the Storm Whirlwind, The surrounding Ash Crows, unable to withstand the suction force, were all gathered together in one place, despite being scattered around. The damage was quite respectable, and it was perfect for mob hunting. Looking down at them from above with Flight, he used the newly acquired Overlord-exclusive skill, Swirling Blood. Was it because it was an area-of-effect skill? Excluding Death Legion, a tremendous amount of mana was consumed, something he had never experienced before. Even so, he still had a considerable amount remaining. Still, it consumed a significant amount of mana. ''It consumes the most mana for a single skill.'' Death Legion was a continuous skill, so Even if a massive amount of mana was drained, it was usually drained bit by bit, steadily. However, Swirling Blood drained a large amount at once, making it an unfamiliar experience. The vast amount of mana that was drained created a phenomenon. Starting with a blood drop that formed in the air, the blood drop swelled and began to rotate in one direction. Swoooosh The rotation was initially insignificant. However, like a strong current meeting a rapid stream, it gradually started to accelerate. Like a river swollen with heavy rain, it became a torrent, creating a whirlpool. The blood vortex that was created was initially smaller than the Storm Whirlwind summoned through the title. However, as it swept up the Ash Crows, its size gradually grew, and eventually, it became a small disaster sweeping the area, completely engulfing the Ash Crows. ¡°Caw!¡± ¡°Cawww!¡± The screams of the Ash Crows echoed from everywhere. The more their screams rang out from all directions, the more the blood-red vortex swelled, reaching a point where it could no longer be stopped. Even the Ash Crows desperately flapping their wings to escape, unable to withstand the suction force pulling them in, were all swallowed up. Splash, splash, spla¡ªash! Even when the Ash Crows were swept into the blood-red vortex, only small ripples appeared on the surface of the blood-red vortex, having no real impact. Even those small ripples were quickly swept away by the torrent. [Experience points acquired!] ¡Á 49 And countless experience point acquisition messages popped up. ¡°Wow....¡± Even Seonghyun couldn''t help but exclaim at the power. After sweeping through the forest, The blood-red vortex gradually subsided as if it had done its job. Soon, it returned to a small blood drop, just as it had first appeared, and then faded away. Then, the Ash Crows that had been caught in the blood-red vortex began to fall to the ground with a thud. However, the fallen Ash Crows had no blood left in their bodies, like mummies. Even when they fell to the ground, they didn''t turn into a pool of blood; they just shattered. All their blood had been absorbed. After countless deaths, In the place where the blood-red vortex had disappeared, a giant, bloodless Ash Crow let out a roar. ¡°Cawww!¡± It was like the caw of a crow, or perhaps a roar similar to the piercing cry of a bird of prey. Then, as if to show its strength, having survived even the blood-red vortex, it opened its beak. ¡°Cawww¡ª¡ª!¡± A message appeared along with the roar. [Encountering the field boss, ¡ºQueen of the Ash Crows, Karisha¡».] ¡®So, her name is Karisha.¡¯ This was perfect timing. ''I can use Anemor''s body for her.'' As soon as Seonghyun thought that, he tried to use a skill. However, Karisha was a bit faster. Already significantly injured by Swirling Blood, and enraged, she gathered ash-gray energy in her open beak and immediately took aim. The target was, of course, Seonghyun. She tried to seize the initiative before he could react. The ash-gray energy gathered in Karisha''s beak, and when it reached its limit, Since its soul was empty, unlike Karisha, it didn''t bow its head or show any vow of obedience. It would follow orders if given, but it was clearly different from those with souls. He couldn''t let a powerful body go to waste. Seonghyun immediately summoned the Giant Killer Bee containing Anemor''s soul from the Netherworld. -Buzz! Instead of the distinctive cry of a bird of prey, all it could manage was the intense flapping of insect wings. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a new body. Stay there for a moment.¡± Seonghyun said so and pulled Anemor''s soul from the Giant Killer Bee''s body and inserted it into the empty Karisha undead body. Then. -Screech¡ª¡ª¡ª! Was it because it had received a body similar to its original one? It seemed much happier than before, which was quite pleasing to see. Now that he had tested all the new skills, Seonghyun smiled and took out an item that had been sleeping in his inventory. It wasn''t a very old item. ¡ºTreasure Map of Golden Goblin Kahku¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡úA treasure map created by the Golden Goblin Kahku. ¡úIt is unknown what is located here, but it is said that a terrifying being guarded this place, forcing even the Golden Goblin Kahku to give up the treasure. ¡úIt is said that he created this map to obtain this treasure in the future. ¡úCan only be used by players who have completed their second class advancement. *This is a map that records a raid monster. *It is currently usable. *Upon use, you can learn the identity of the quest-holding NPC. It was Kahku¡¯s treasure map that he had obtained this afternoon. He smiled as he looked at the map that recorded a raid monster. He tilted his head at the newly added message along with the indication that it was now usable. ''A quest-holding NPC?'' So, it wasn''t a matter of just going straight to the raid. But that was even better. A quest. ¡®Come to think of it, it had been a while since I had done one.¡¯ Since it was a treasure map that could lead to a hidden raid monster, He thought it might give him quite an interesting quest. As he was about to use it, He received a message from Rapid. News that he had been registered on the raid roster alone and that she would change the contract terms as soon as possible. Seonghyun thanked her and told her that he would defeat the hidden raid boss and send her the video. She would probably be happy, right? Thinking so, Seonghyun hurriedly used the map. ''Oh, Serodin.'' He didn''t know much about it, but it was the third town, just like Trinium. There was a hidden raid boss in this place. ''Let''s go right away.'' Seonghyun, who couldn''t rest until he acted on his decisions, was about to use Flight magic when he shifted his gaze. Then, Karisha and Anemor came into view. A flying unit. It seemed he had obtained something better than he thought. 0. Serodin, one of the three third towns, had a common epithet. It was called the Town of Three Rivers. As the name suggested, it earned this epithet because three different rivers converged in Serodin. Compared to Trinium, its scale was somewhat lacking, But it was still a mid-sized town, as large as most other towns. Moreover, it boasted a beautiful landscape, making it a popular destination for users. However, Serodin had one drawback that wasn''t so favorable for users. It was the lack of a raid boss worth challenging. That was its only flaw. However, "Ahh, I come to Serodin just to see this scenery." "For real. It''s so healing, you know?" "Why go on a trip abroad? Just park yourself at level 50 and come to Serodin, that''s a vacation~" Many users enjoyed the town as a resort, so it wasn''t a big deal. Who would want to enjoy a raid when they came to a resort town? In the early days of the game''s opening, some people, bothered by the fact that this place alone lacked a raid boss, went around stirring things up, claiming that a hidden piece must be hidden here. But now, even those people knew it better as a relaxing resort town that brought peace of mind. Serodin, the town where everyone came to heal and relax. In this Serodin, someone, also seeking healing, entered the town wearing a black robe. ''The NPC Ashin is in the blacksmith''s shop, right?'' It was a slightly different kind of healing from others, though. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 67 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 67 Seonghyun, the user who was searching for a particular NPC in a town where everyone else came to relax, tilted his head in wonder as he looked around. Where was the blacksmith''s shop, anyway? Serodin wasn''t exactly a small town. There were three blacksmith''s shops alone. ''I''ll just have to visit them all.'' Seonghyun thought simply and asked other NPCs and users to find the blacksmith''s shops. And then. "Ashin? There''s no one like that in our smithy." "You think I''m fifty?! Good heavens, young man! I''m not that old! Oh? You''re asking if there''s someone named Ashin? Pshaw, how could anyone be named Ashin!" "Hmm, I''ve lived in Serodin for over forty years, and I''ve never heard of anyone named Ashin." How could there be no one? He had encountered an obstacle from the very beginning. He was told that there would be an NPC named Ashin at a blacksmith''s shop in Serodin, but he was nowhere to be found. Where did things go wrong? Just in case, he even asked the ghosts near the blacksmith''s shops. But they had never even heard of anyone with that name. If even the ghosts didn''t know, was there any way to find him? To be blocked right from the start. This wasn''t in his plans. ''What do I do now...'' Seonghyun had a tendency to breeze through quests by using ghosts or various hidden pieces, But this was quite difficult. There were no clues at all. Just in case, he unfolded the map again, But it still only said to find Ashin at a blacksmith''s shop in Serodin and receive the key. It seemed to be Kahku''s handwriting. He seemed like a collaborator, but had he already run off with the key? That would be troublesome. No, if that were the case, wouldn''t the map have indicated it differently? Although it was strictly an item called a treasure map, It was no different from information provided by the system.@@@@ Thinking that far, A thought suddenly crossed Seonghyun''s mind. ''Hmm, wait? The name Ashin could be an alias, or maybe he''s hiding his real name and working under a different one.'' If he had heard that Seonghyun was looking for Ashin, wouldn''t there have been some reaction? He couldn''t be sure since he hadn''t paid attention to the reactions of the other blacksmiths after mentioning the name Ashin at the blacksmith''s shops. Should he go back and check again, just in case? He hadn''t expected that there would be no one, so he hadn''t checked their reactions, and now it might come back to bite him. It seemed he would have to go back and confirm. But he couldn''t just stand around doing nothing. This was becoming a nuisance. As Seonghyun was about to visit the three blacksmith''s shops again, A blacksmith came running towards him from afar. ''What''s this?'' The blacksmith was clearly young, perhaps even an apprentice. Seonghyun, drawing on the memories of the hunter Apik, carefully observed the approaching figure with a discerning eye. As the blacksmith drew closer, he exclaimed, "Oh! Huff...huff...! You''re the customer who came to the smithy earlier, aren''t you? The one looking for Ashin?" "Yes, that''s me." "Ah, I was worried you might have gone far. It''s a relief to find you!" It seemed there was definitely something going on. As Seonghyun remained silent, the young apprentice blacksmith handed him a note. In that brief moment, Seonghyun examined the outstretched hand. It was a blacksmith''s hand, calloused and scarred with burn marks. The rough hand brushed against Seonghyun''s as it passed him the note. "I was asked to deliver this. Just let them know you received it. I''ll be going now!" Having delivered the message, the apprentice hurriedly excused himself and left, as if eager to return to his work. Seonghyun watched the apprentice disappear into the distance with a puzzled look, then shook his head. Whatever the reason, it wasn''t important right now. He turned his attention to the note. The message, scrawled on a slightly crumpled piece of paper, was quite blunt. ¡ºI see you''ve found Kahku''s map, but I don''t trust you yet. In honor of my old friend Kahku, who has long since passed, I will test you as he had planned. You must first pass my trials before I show my face. For your first trial, bring me 20 webbed feet from the River Trolls. Once you have gathered them, wait for me at the ''Greenfield Inn''.¡» The note openly declared distrust and the intent to test him. Seonghyun couldn''t help but chuckle as he read it. ''No wonder I couldn''t find him.'' "Oh, please don''t say such ominous things." "W-well, let''s search the town first. He couldn''t have gone far." "We need to keep this confidential, so let''s search on our own." "Ah, God of Alchemy, please protect him." They exchanged anxious whispers, their worries escalating. They seemed to be high-ranking officials from the Alchemy Tower, But at that moment, they looked like parents who had lost their child. Or perhaps, grandparents would be more accurate? In any case, they quickly split up and began scouring Serodin Town in search of this Flingky. However, Flingky was nowhere to be found. They searched every nook and cranny of the town, but to no avail. Gathering together again, they discussed their next move. Where could he have gone? He couldn''t have vanished into thin air. Then, suddenly, "Ah!?! C-could he have gone to where the monsters appear!?" "M-monsters?!" "Oh my goodness!!! T-that can''t be..." They wanted to deny the possibility, But they couldn''t bring themselves to do so. "Think about it. If he came here, what would pique his interest...?" "He has no interest in sightseeing or entertainment..." "He''s only interested in pursuing knowledge..." "T-then, if there''s a special monster found only here, or a monster that drops a rare material..." As they exchanged ideas, several theories emerged. They thought of a hideous monster, And a powerful one. "Oh, could it be the... the River Troll?" "Ah! Oh, wise one...!!!" "Oh, God of Alchemy!!!" "There''s no time to waste! Let''s hurry to where the River Troll is likely to be!" Having narrowed down the possible locations, They sprang into action. ''Please be safe.'' This was clearly a very important person. They couldn''t bear to imagine what might happen if something were to befall the descendant of the sage, a member of the hero''s party that had defeated the Demon King in ancient times. 2. The Trin River, the largest and widest of the three rivers flowing through Serodin town. Following the river upstream, one could find a clear, pristine river and a vast meadow. It was a truly magnificent sight. Even Seonghyun, who rarely expressed admiration, couldn''t help but pause and marvel at the scenery. The setting sun cast a reddish glow on the clear waters of the river, and a cool breeze from the river gently swayed the grass in the meadow. It was a beautiful sight. The refreshing breeze reached Seonghyun, seemingly washing away the fatigue from his journey. ''Wow.'' Could this really be a game? The scenery was so beautiful it was hard to believe. As Seonghyun paused to appreciate the view, He noticed something crouched near the bushes. A small, translucent figure. ''A ghost?'' Or was it someone using a skill like invisibility? He focused his attention, trying to discern what it was. He saw a person with a haggard face, an emaciated body, and a lifeless expression, dozing off. ''It''s... not a ghost?'' At first glance, he had mistaken it for a ghost, But he was wrong. It was clearly a living person. Judging by the mark above their head, an NPC. But why was this person translucent and dozing off in a place like this? He didn''t understand, but should he just ignore it and move on? "Ugh! Materials!?!" "...?" The person woke up with a start, as if having a nightmare. Now that they were awake, should he just ignore them and go? As Seonghyun was about to pass by, "Oh!? A p-person?! Could you possibly help me!?" "Excuse me?" [You have obtained a clue to a Hidden Quest.] He had become entangled with a strange and seemingly important NPC. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 68 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 68 A phrase suddenly surfaced in Seonghyun''s mind. Reflecting on that phrase, he could deduce, at the very least, that this NPC who could easily be mistaken for a ghost, was an important character within the game''s world. ''A potential clue to a hidden quest?'' It wasn''t a hidden quest yet. However, the possibility existed that he could unlock a hidden quest by fulfilling this NPC''s request. He was currently occupied with another quest, which did present a slight dilemma. However, the River Troll''s webbed feet quest, requiring him to collect twenty of them, was one he could afford to tackle at a leisurely pace. Therefore, seizing the opportunity to potentially acquire a new hidden quest seemed like a worthwhile endeavor. As Seonghyun reached this decision, the NPC spoke. "Naturally, I''ll compensate you for your assistance! Let me see... you appear to be a black mage, so I shall reward you with a black magic skill book!" She attempted to entice him with what seemed like a casual offer of compensation. However, Seonghyun was not so easily swayed. He narrowed his eyes, sensing something amiss. "......?" Seonghyun''s current attire was undeniably that of a swordsman. He carried a long sword at his hip, and a dagger, his secondary weapon, was also fastened at his waist. Furthermore, he had replaced Young Helena¡¯s Staff with the Giant''s Strength Belt, which he now wore. Therefore, there was absolutely no way he could be mistaken for a mage. And yet, this NPC had seen through his disguise and identified him as a black mage in a single glance? This was no ordinary NPC. He briefly considered simply moving on, but his curiosity ultimately proved too strong to resist. Seonghyun found himself compelled to ask, "How did you discern that I am a black mage?" "Oh? Well... it''s quite obvious, isn''t it?" "......???" "Ah! You see, I possess a special skill that allows me to perceive the mana residing within others! With such an immense and potent reservoir of mana as you possess, you could only be a mage, and this mana, so powerful and domineering, could only be black mana. Therefore, it was only logical for me to conclude that you are a black mage!" "Oh ho." Seonghyun offered a brief exclamation of surprise. He had never even conceived of the existence of such a skill. He wondered if it was, perhaps, a common ability. If so, then his efforts at concealing his true identity would be entirely futile, he realized. "Ah, this particular skill is, as far as I am aware, unique to me. I don''t believe you have any cause for concern." "I see." "Hehe, ah! In any case, if you would be so kind as to assist me, I will gladly reward you with a black magic skill book!" The offered compensation seemed quite generous indeed. While the skill book''s rank was undoubtedly a factor, skill books themselves were inherently valuable items, so accepting the offer could only be advantageous. "Very well. I will assist you." From the moment he found she had the possibility of a clue to a hidden quest, he had already resolved to offer his aid.@@@@ Upon hearing Seonghyun''s ready agreement, the NPC beamed and removed the hood that had obscured her features. Long, luxurious hair then cascaded down, spilling forth in abundance. Was it a girl? No, that wasn''t right. He almost panicked, but upon closer inspection, that wasn''t the case. While the boy still had an androgynous appearance due to his youth, he was, without a doubt, a boy. Oblivious to Seonghyun''s near moment of confusion, the boy smiled brightly and spoke. "I''m Flingky. It''s nice to meet you!" "Ah, I''m Seonghyun." "Hehe, so, what I need help with is, well, I need some River Troll blood. Quite a bit, actually. Would you be able to help me with that?" [You have fulfilled the conditions for a hidden quest.] [The hidden quest, ¡ºA Somewhat Peculiar Boy¡» has been generated.] ¡ºA Somewhat Peculiar Boy¡» ¡ú¡¶Hidden - Rare¡· ¡úLinked Quest. ¡úYou encountered a boy named Flingky, who was dozing off in the grasslands. The boy has asked you, whom he happened to meet, for assistance, and he seems quite grateful for your ready agreement. Assist the boy in obtaining River Troll blood. ¡úRestriction: Users who have encountered the peculiar boy, Flingky. ¡úReward: Skill book exclusive to Black Mages, Increased Favor with the peculiar boy, Flingky. [You have reached Level 65.] "Oh." His level had conveniently increased as well. A satisfying hunt. However... "Hmm, I wonder if I can extract their blood?" A sudden worry arose in his mind. He hadn''t used an explosive attack, primarily to ensure that he could collect their blood and webbed feet. However, the River Trolls had been quite thoroughly ravaged. While he had deactivated the poison, they were still in a tattered state. As Seonghyun looked at Flingky with a slightly troubled expression, Flingky, on the contrary, looked at Seonghyun with sparkling eyes and said, "Wow! W-was that poison just now?! It looked like you finished them off with that and the unique effect of the undead, and that blood storm, oh, it was amazing!!!" "Yes? Ah, t-thank you." He had been worried that he wouldn''t be able to collect the blood, but Flingky was just expressing admiration. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Seonghyun watched as Flingky gaped at the scene. Anyway, that wasn''t the important thing. "In that state, will it still be possible to collect their blood?" Seonghyun asked, just in case. Fortunately, Flingky nodded and replied, "Yes! River Trolls are still a type of troll, so their blood wouldn''t have all dried up even after taking that much damage. There should be more than enough to extract!!! More than that, to take on so many trolls of that size all at once......!!!" He seemed genuinely impressed, shivering with delight. It seemed things were going well. Seonghyun felt a bit relieved. "Then I''ll extract the blood! Is there anything you need, Seonghyun? I can butcher them as well!!!" "I''ll take care of the butchering." "Come on! You took care of catching them all, Seonghyun, I''d get criticized if I didn''t even do the butchering!" "Hmm." He was worried that entrusting everything to the seemingly young Flingky would make him the one who was criticized instead, But since Flingky insisted, Seonghyun didn''t refuse a second time. "Then I''ll leave it in your capable hands." "Hehehe, an excellent choice! Then let me show you my skills!" Flingky, acting a bit playful, landed on the ground from Karisha and then took something out of his subspace bag. Tools that looked even better than the butchering tool set Seonghyun possessed. Wasn''t he just pretending to be capable? And observing his butchering technique, It was no ordinary skill. The hand movements were like those of a master butcher who had been doing it for decades. Even recalling the memories of the hunter Apic, there were few who possessed such skill. Just what is this kid? As this question arose in his mind, Flingky had already mostly finished butchering and was extracting the blood. To have finished already. Seonghyun was briefly amazed. Flingky, having finished extracting the blood in no time, wiped his forehead as if wiping away non-existent sweat. "Whew! All done!!! I''ll give you all the other byproducts besides the blood!!!" So saying, Flingky handed over all the fins, bones, meat, webbed feet, and so on that came from the River Trolls. To not covet such a large amount, Instead, Flingky, looking at Seonghyun with a bright smile, took out a book from his subspace bag and handed it to Seonghyun. "Here''s your payment!!!" [You have received the reward for the hidden quest, ¡ºA Somewhat Peculiar Boy¡».] [Flingky is extremely satisfied!!!] [The existing reward has been greatly enhanced.] [You have acquired the Unique-rank skill book, ¡ºSkill Book - The Self in Darkness¡».] A Unique-rank skill book as a reward? As soon as he received it, Seonghyun began to seriously ponder. ''Just who is this kid, really?'' [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 69 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 69 He readily gave away a Unique-rank skill book. The NPCs he had encountered so far hadn''t acted this way, except for those from Over Palace. Conversely, didn''t this imply that Flingky was an important figure affiliated with an organization comparable to Over Palace, if not quite as influential? As this thought crossed his mind, Seonghyun''s expression turned slightly troubled. He hadn''t done anything particularly wrong, but, all things considered, he was a black mage, and even a successor, or descendant, or whatever, of Helena, who had been called the Demon King. ''What if they don''t think well of me?'' Should he flee? For the moment, all he had done was accept the request and fulfill it.@@@@ Perhaps it was just needless worry. He had heard that the perception of black mages had improved significantly thanks to Over Palace, so he had no choice but to trust that. Just as Seonghyun reached this conclusion, Flingky was about to say something. "Ah! And......." However, he couldn''t finish his sentence. - Kkaeeeeee¡ª! (Enemy attack!) - Biaaaaa¡ª! (Enemy!) Karisha and Anemor roared simultaneously. To Flingky''s ears, it was merely a cry, but Seonghyun understood its meaning. They were creatures he had only just turned into undead today, but Seonghyun already knew what those cries signified. Since he could understand the language of ghosts, Seonghyun''s two pupils glowed with a teal light. A waterspout erupted from the broad, deep waters of the Trin River''s bank. Puaaaaaaah¡ª¡ª¡ª! The waterspout shot towards the sky as if it would reach the heavens, and a massive shadow emerged, tearing through the column of water. This creature was somewhat different from the River Trolls, all twenty-three of which Seonghyun had captured. While the webbed feet, fins, and fish-like scales were consistent, it was far larger than any troll he had ever seen. And, most notably, it possessed fierce, enormous tusks. It was clearly no ordinary creature. [You have encountered the field boss, ¡ºRiver Troll Chief, Rigus¡».] As he suspected. It was a field boss. As soon as it appeared, Seonghyun stepped forward, as if to protect Flingky. Protecting Flingky was his priority. Similarly, as Seonghyun took the lead, Karisha and Anemor emanated a fierce aura, threatening the creature. - Kkaeeeeeeeee¡ª¡ª! (How dare you! Who do you think you''re baring your fangs at!) - Piaaaaaaaa¡ª¡ª! (I wouldn''t be satisfied even tearing you to pieces!) At first, Rigus, the River Troll Chief, seemed somewhat intimidated by their combined pressure and recoiled slightly, But soon, as if overcome by rage, Rigus also roared in fury. "Guwooooooo¡ª¡ª!" It was a display of mutual intimidation. However, in terms of numbers and momentum, Seonghyun''s side had the advantage. The other side had already lost all its subordinates and was alone, while Seonghyun''s side had two, Karisha and Anemor, who were field boss-level undead, and dozens of Ash Crows flying around. If they were to clash, it was obvious who would be defeated. Rigus himself seemed to be aware of this fact and didn''t rashly attack. He was simply gnashing his teeth in frustration. On the other hand, the reason the Ash Crows, Karisha, and Anemor weren''t attacking Rigus wasn''t because he was a pushover. ''Wait.'' It wasn''t like Seonghyun to stop an attack. However, there was a reason he had them wait. It was because of Flingky, who, as Seonghyun moved forward to protect him, was looking at him with shining eyes and fidgeting as if he wanted to say something. Did he want something? "Were you about to say something?" As if he had been waiting for the question, Flingky began to speak rapidly. "Ah! Am I interrupting?! It looks like a confrontation, but it seems more... relaxed than I thought, so is it alright if I say something? Right? S-so, if it''s alright, perhaps..." While speaking quickly, Flingky rummaged through his subspace bag. A blue liquid sloshing inside a glass bottle. It was a rather high-quality bottle containing a liquid with a mystical aura. There was no need to ask what it was. Seonghyun could already see it. [Flingky''s Special Mana Potion] However, that wasn''t all. [Flingky''s Special Black Magic Power Enhancement Potion] [Flingky''s Special Undead Enhancement Potion] [Flingky''s Special Resistance Enhancement Potion] [Flingky''s Special Mana Enhancement Potion] He had taken out a total of five different potions. And not just one of each. Roughly counting the five types of potions, he had taken out at least five of each. That made a grand total of twenty-five! Seonghyun met Flingky''s eyes, wondering what was going on. "If you''re alright with it... could you drink these and fight?" "......?" Normally, wasn''t it Seonghyun who would be making the request? Why had the roles been reversed? He was confused, but It didn''t matter. "I''d be happy to." "Ah! Thank you!!! Please, try them!" "Ah, yes. Thank you." They emitted a faint greenish mist. - Geuwooooooo! - Gueok! - Guwooooooo! While their individual intelligence seemed lacking, for Rigus, who had been their leader in life, this was a truly horrific sight. Was this terrible thing about to happen, where he would have to kill his former subordinates with his own hands? Rigus momentarily had such thoughts, but then shook his head. No. It was rather fortunate. He would be able to send his subordinates to eternal rest with his own hands! He would send them to eternal rest and express his fury to those who desecrated death! Rigus expressed his anger with a roar. "Geuwoooooooo!" A powerful roar that shook the very ground. That roar alone was enough to make Karisha and Anemor flinch momentarily. It was evident that his rage had reached its peak. With that roar, Rigus charged forward, extending his long claws like blades and swinging them like swords to send his former subordinates to eternal rest. Seokeong! Seokeong! As they were claws, not sharp swords, the sound of rough slicing echoed as he entered among the River Troll zombies. The faint greenish mist caused their bodies to corrode and melt, but He paid it no mind. They were shallow wounds that would soon regenerate. Sending his subordinates to eternal rest was far more important than tending to such trivial wounds. "Geuwoooooooo!" The moment he let out a battle cry like a warrior, Rigus saw something ignite like flames on the bodies of his subordinates. And it wasn''t just on their bodies. He also saw it flickering and igniting between the streaks of faint green poison. Unable to fully comprehend what he was seeing, Rigus couldn''t help but tilt his head and let out a puzzled sound. "Geuwo?" Those were Rigus''s last words. Puhuuuuuuuung¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª! A scorching heat that shook the heavens and earth spread out as if it would engulf everything on the ground. Engulfing Rigus, who was closest, and even a portion of the Trin River nearby, The overwhelming heat clashed with the Trin River, causing thick steam to rise. Kushiiiiiiiiii¡ª¡ª¡ª! However, despite being the Trin River, the heat of the explosion was not extinguished, instead creating a powerful updraft. The explosion cloud and steam, born from the blast, were instantly carried upwards by the updraft, forming a pillar of clouds. The shock of the explosion spread out across the surrounding land like a wave. Kugeugeugeuge¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª! Burrrrrrrrrr. The ground rumbled as if an earthquake had occurred, and in some places, it even cracked. It was truly an overwhelming power. However, within that overwhelming explosion, two figures, protected by two massive, ashen crows who had deployed a barrier in advance, watched the scene and briefly exclaimed in awe. "Wow..." "Huh..." They couldn''t utter any other words. Anyone would be the same before such a majestic spectacle. It wasn''t quite as powerful as a nuclear explosion. That much could be said with certainty. However, wasn''t it the most powerful attack Seonghyun could unleash at that moment? Even Anemor and Karisha, who were already under Seonghyun''s command and thus unaffected by the explosion, recalled memories from their previous lives and shivered. If ''Self in Darkness'' had existed before the fight with Anemor, Wouldn''t he have been able to defeat Anemor much faster? As he was having such thoughts, [You have defeated the field boss, ¡ºRiver Troll Chief, Rigus¡».] [You have gained experience!] [The corpse cannot be found.] [You cannot use ''Death Legion''.] Along with the familiar message confirming the kill, a message he had never seen before also appeared. It stated that he couldn''t use Death Legion because the corpse couldn''t be found. The River Trolls created with Add More were also the same. Was this, perhaps, the price to pay for such immense power? ''It seems the original Death Legion can''t be used to resurrect targets if they''re caught up in the simultaneous explosion.'' This was another new piece of information he had learned. It couldn''t resurrect targets that had been completely obliterated. It was a bit of a shame, but It was actually a relief. The explosion had been triggered only by the creatures summoned by Add More. Unless it was a truly critical moment, this combined explosion should not be used. Declaring a temporary seal on the technique, and having also confirmed the power of Self in Darkness, Seonghyun was thinking of heading back. Just then, Flingky, with sparkling eyes, was about to say something, but then his expression suddenly crumpled, and he let out a deep sigh. "Haa. It''s a shame, but I should probably get going soon. I would have liked to spend more time with you, Seonghyun, but it can''t be helped. Oh! And if you ever need more potions, please feel free to come find me!" With those words, Flingky handed something to Seonghyun, and as Seonghyun received it and tilted his head in question, Flingky, who was already some distance away, stretched out his hand and waved it around broadly before disappearing even further into the distance. Seonghyun wondered if he would be alright traveling alone, But then he remembered the potions Flingky had given him and thought it unlikely that anything would happen to him, so he dismissed the thought. But what had he given him? [Alchemy Magic Tower Insignia - Descendant of the Sage, Flingky] "......?" It seemed he had received something quite important. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 70 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 70 3. Flingky, who had given Seonghyun his identification token and was now walking along the Trin River, his long, lustrous hair swaying with each step, stretched contentedly and muttered with a satisfied smile. "Hyaa. That was really fun." It had been a long time since he''d had so much fun. No, it was something he could count on one hand in his entire life. To witness such power with that amount of mana already... He was truly remarkable. The memory of that moment was still so thrilling. Flingky, his face flushed as if he had just witnessed an explosion, spoke. "The Overlord, huh? He''s truly incredible. No wonder our ancestors and the past heroes couldn¡¯t defeat them even when they gave it their all.¡± Such overwhelming power¡ªit was impossible not to be in awe. Even he, as a descendant of the Sage, would find it very difficult to replicate such power. Even with a similar level of power as Seonghyun, he lacked confidence. Moreover, even if his level increased, he wasn''t sure. He couldn''t guarantee it. That was how astonishing that power was, without a doubt. As Flingky walked along, People quickly surrounded him. Elders, who, like Flingky, had a gaunt appearance and were wearing luxurious clothing. "Haaah, I was just enjoying myself, and then the elders came and ruined everything." "F-Flingky! Ah, even so, you, you can''t go off on your own like that." "A-At the very least, you could have informed us..." "Y-Yes, that''s right." Since the word "elder" came from Flingky''s mouth, it was clear that these old men were not ordinary people either. The elders of the Alchemy Magic Tower. That was who these old men were. However, as if such a thing was of no consequence, Flingky sighed and said, ¡°Well, nothing to be done about it now.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just grateful you understand.¡± ¡°We appreciate your patience.¡± ¡°So then, would you like to return to your retreat and continue your rest?¡± At the elders'' words, Flingky shook his head as if he was done with it. He looked as if his mood had been completely spoiled. However, the words that followed were different from what the elders expected. ¡°I think I¡¯ll go visit Lord Luke. It¡¯s been a while.¡± The Elders were visibly shaken, though none dared to protest. They simply bowed their heads in obedience. ¡°As you command.¡± ¡°We shall depart for Lord Luke at once.¡± ¡°We will begin preparations immediately.¡± ¡°We will also send word ahead to Lord Luke.¡± As all the elders agreed, Flingky smiled with satisfaction and then Mentioned something he had forgotten. "Right, I gave my insignia to the person who helped me earlier, so if they ever come to the Magic Tower, you have to call me right away! Seriously, you have to!" "......? Ah, yes, I understand." "We''ll, we''ll do that." Had Flingky ever been this insistent before? When they thought about it, no, he hadn''t. To give his insignia as thanks for receiving help... What in the world happened here? Though curious, the elders didn''t dare to ask. As if they were merely loyal servants following their master''s orders. ''I''ll be sure to inform Lord Luke.'' Flingky, with a cheerful expression, stepped onto the magic circle the elders had prepared and teleported away, vanishing from the plains in the blink of an eye. As if there had never been anything there in the first place. 4. ¡®This is bad. This is really bad. This is a disaster.¡¯ Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong¡¯s expression was utterly grim as he made his way to report to Team Leader Jung Jihye regarding Seonghyun¡¯s situation. His darkened face resembled that of a cow being led to a slaughterhouse. He knew Team Leader Jung Jihye''s personality well enough to know that he wouldn''t be severely reprimanded, but That didn¡¯t make the act of reporting any less nerve-wracking. How should he handle this situation? No, was it even possible to handle it in the first place? ''Why did Flingky suddenly appear there!?'' The disciple of the Alchemy Magic Tower¡¯s Head. A descendant of the Sage. He was one of the highest-ranking named NPCs in Eternal World. And yet, of all people, that character had run into Seonghyun. This could only mean one thing¡ªsomething extraordinary was about to happen. Feeling the weight of their stares, Wonsong hesitated before speaking in a troubled voice. ¡°T-the thing is... Player Seonghyun just met Flingky, the Descendant of the Sage.¡± ¡°...What?? We didn¡¯t receive any such report on our end¡ª¡± Bzzzz¡ª! Bzzzz¡ª! A rhythmic vibration cut through the conversation. The moment he heard it, Lee Jaekyung¡¯s expression twisted into one of pure horror, as if he were trapped in a scene from a horror movie. Hurriedly, he pulled out his phone and checked the caller. It was one of his subordinates. And among the NPCs under that subordinate¡¯s management? Flingky. Lee Jaekyung swallowed hard and picked up the call. ¡ªDeputy Manager! We¡¯ve got a major problem! Flingky just made contact with a user suspected of being the Overlord and is now planning to head straight for Luke!!! ¡°...Fuck.¡± An unfiltered curse slipped from Lee Jaekyung¡¯s mouth as his forehead crumpled into deep wrinkles. His temples throbbed, and he rubbed them with his index finger as he let out a deep, exhausted sigh. Not to be outdone, Jung Jihye let out an equally heavy sigh. ¡°Hoo... We¡¯re screwed, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Haaah...¡± ¡°......¡± Watching both of his bosses react like this, Wonsong knew better than to make a sound. He held his breath, doing his best to blend into the background. Given the situation, that was the only logical move. Hero Luke. And the Overlord. It had happened in the past. That grudge... it wasn¡¯t something that could be explained away so easily. Which meant that, no matter what, they had to stop this from escalating. ¡°I need to get back to my desk and see if we can manipulate Luke and Flingky¡¯s movements.¡± ¡°...We can¡¯t do anything about Player Seonghyun on our end, but is there any way to stop them?¡± At Jung Jihye¡¯s question, Wonsong hesitated. Should he say it? Or not? But this was already the worst-case scenario. ¡°T-there is a way.¡± ¡°Oh? You¡¯re saying there¡¯s actually a method to stop both the current Hero and the Descendant of the Sage at the same time?¡± Lee Jaekyung looked at Wonsong with an amused expression, as if daring him to prove it. Wonsong swallowed hard and nodded. He had already experienced it once. And knowing how to use that experience¡ªthat was what separated the elite from the rest. And Wonsong was one of the elite. ¡°What if we use Over Palace?¡± ¡°...You¡¯re suggesting we drop a nuke to stop a bomb?¡± It was an apt comparison. Even if the Hero and the Sage¡¯s Descendant combined their forces, they were nothing compared to Over Palace. But if Over Palace were to make a move... It could lead to consequences beyond imagination. Not that they would outright kill the Hero and the Sage¡¯s Descendant. But it could create a situation where Seonghyun gains an overwhelming advantage. A scenario that could severely disrupt the balance. That¡¯s why Over Palace had to be handled with extreme caution. And yet, using Over Palace here? If controlled properly, it could be an excellent solution. But if things went even slightly off track? Seonghyun, who was already strong, could become absurdly powerful. Just thinking about how he had managed to obtain Add More by exploiting a minor loophole in Over Palace¡¯s restrictions was proof enough of the risk. And now, they wanted to try that again? ¡°That¡¯s the dumbest fucking idea I¡¯ve ever heard.¡± It wasn¡¯t strange at all for Lee Jaekyung to spit out a string of curses. But right after swearing, Lee Jaekyung suddenly broke into a bright grin and extended a hand toward Wonsong. Then, with a thumbs-up, he declared¡ª ¡°Let¡¯s do it immediately!!!¡± It was official¡ªOver Palace was being put into motion. 5. From the upper stream of the Trin River to Serodin Town, the distance was quite far. However, for Seonghyun, riding on Anemor, it wasn''t that far. He traversed the distance in an instant and quickly arrived at the town. He had fulfilled the quest completion conditions, so Now, he searched for the Greenfield Inn. They had agreed to wait there if he gathered all the webbed feet. Finding the inn wasn''t difficult. As soon as he entered, the innkeeper, a man with a friendly face, greeted him. "Welcome!" [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 71 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 71 Seonghyun greeted the innkeeper, who welcomed him warmly. "Hello." "Are you here for a meal? Or lodging?" Straight to the point. Satisfying. He was supposed to meet Ashin here. It wasn''t for lodging, but for a meal. "I''d like a meal." "Hee hee! What would you like to order?" "Hmm, I''ll have the potato stew and rye bread, please." "Alright! Have a seat wherever you like and wait!" "Thank you." Seonghyun went inside and sat down at a table, watching the hearty innkeeper shout something to the kitchen. There were no other customers. He was a little worried that the food might not be good, but... He wasn''t here for the food anyway, but for a quest. So, it didn''t really matter. In Eternal World, even taste was realistically rendered, making gourmet dining quite popular. Come to think of it, this was his first time eating anything in Eternal World. Seonghyun waited, sitting there. Before long, a steaming bowl of warm potato stew and rye bread arrived. "Oh? It looks better than I expected!" The texture and taste were just like real food. The potato stew was perfectly seasoned and savory, and the rye bread wasn''t too hard, making it perfect for dipping in the stew. The unexpected deliciousness made him understand why people enjoyed gourmet dining in Eternal World. Not long after he finished his meal, the inn''s door opened, and someone came in. The dining area was around a corner from the entrance, so he couldn''t see who it was, but he could hear the sound. Along with the sound of the door opening, he heard the innkeeper''s cheerful voice. "Welcome..., oh, it''s you, Philip?" The innkeeper quickly sounded disappointed. Seonghyun was a little curious at the tone and listened intently. Then, he heard a familiar voice. "Hey, hey! I''m a customer too, you know?" "What are you going to have today?" "Hmm, I came here on an errand, but while I''m here, I''ll have some potato stew." "Watch your mouth. Alright, sit down. I''ll bring it to you soon." "Yes, yes~" Along with the casual tone, he heard footsteps approaching the tables. Seonghyun turned his head towards the sound and, as expected, saw a familiar face. "We meet again?" He didn''t recognize the name Philip, but he knew that voice and face. It was the young apprentice blacksmith who had come to him with a message. Saying someone wanted him to deliver it, when he was stirring things up under the name Ashin. It was him. Was his name Philip? Well, whatever. "That''s right." "Sigh, if I weren''t in debt, I wouldn''t be doing errands like this. Damn debt." He grumbled and naturally sat down across from Seonghyun. Seonghyun smiled slightly at the sight. They had the same purpose anyway. He could sit down without being told, couldn''t he? He didn''t really care. The apprentice blacksmith Philip looked at Seonghyun, chuckled, and then asked. "So, did you really get them all?" "Of course." Seonghyun confidently replied and took out twenty webbed feet of the River Troll from his inventory and handed them over. Philip''s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out of his head, looking quite surprised. His expression was a sight to behold. As Seonghyun remained silent, the astonished Philip scratched his head and muttered. "What did he ask you to do, catch these? Whew, that guy''s not right in the head either." A message popped up along with Philip''s words. [You have cleared the hidden quest, ¡ºTreasure Goblin Kahku''s Helper¡».] [You have received a reward.] [You have earned the trust of ''Ashin''.] [You have not yet received a message.] [It will take some time before you receive the next quest.] It wasn''t as difficult as he thought. Or rather, it was because of the Flingky he encountered along the way that he was so distracted. But thanks to that, he also gained a good skill. Philip''s expression brightened as Seonghyun agreed. Well, Seonghyun was not likely to cause trouble, but... Now that it was revealed that he was friends with a goblin, there was bound to be some awkwardness. Seonghyun didn''t think much of it. ''Then I''ll have to come back to pick it up tomorrow morning.'' As he thought so, Philip happened to say, "I''ll leave it here early in the morning. The innkeeper here is trustworthy." "Ah, yes. I understand." "I''ll do my best to make it." Seonghyun nodded in agreement, watching Philip bow his head. He then naturally left the inn. He was supposed to pay for the food, but Philip offered to pay, so he just came out. The quest was completed, and there was nothing particular to do until tomorrow morning, so... Just as he was about to go hunting, a voice came from outside the capsule. [A voice message has arrived from outside.] [Seonghyun~ It''s time for dinner~] It seemed like today was going to end here, unfortunately. [Eternal World, Eternal World will be waiting for you.] With the now familiar message, Seonghyun logged out. 0. As he came out of the capsule, the delicious smell wafting through the house made his mouth water. "Phew." It had been quite a while since lunch, so it seemed he was responding immediately. Judging by the smell, was dinner bulgogi? The other smells mixed with the bulgogi suggested that today was a feast. As Seonghyun followed the enticing aroma and went to the living room, he found his father, Yoo Gwangjin, who, surprisingly, had come home early, helping his mother, Lee Nakyeong, set the table for dinner. "Oh, Seonghyun''s here." "Father, you''re home?" "Yeah, my work finished early today, so I came home early." Seonghyun chuckled, seeing his father, Yoo Gwangjin, look a bit embarrassed at his own words. Noticing his reaction, Yoo Gwangjin coughed and continued to help Lee Nakyeong. Lee Nakyeong also noticed that Seonghyun had come out and said, "Ah, Seonghyun''s here? Go wash your hands. It''s almost ready." "Yes, Mom." Seonghyun thought about helping his mother, but since his father was already helping, he didn''t think there was a need and went straight to the bathroom to wash his hands. By the time he came back from the bathroom, his sister, Yoo Mina, had also come out of her capsule, yawning lazily. She saw her father and her eyes sparkled. Was it because her father had come home early for the first time in a while? No. That look in her eyes... "Dad! Dad! Today Seonghyun..." It was definitely the expression she made when she was about to tease him. Seonghyun tried to stop Yoo Mina somehow, but his father, Yoo Gwangjin, beat him to it. "I heard. You got first place? That''s amazing. Good job. Ahem." "Ah, thank... you." Yoo Gwangjin only praised him that much, perhaps feeling a bit awkward. Seonghyun was just as embarrassed. As it was with most fathers and sons, praising each other was a bit awkward, but... It wasn''t a bad feeling. However, his sister, who was trying to provoke this, was an exception. Yoo Mina, who openly made a face as if to say it was boring, was glared at by Seonghyun, who said, "Go wash your hands." "Yes, yes~" "Everything''s ready~ Hurry and wash up~" "Okay~" Even his mother urged her on, so Yoo Mina had no choice but to go to the bathroom and quickly wash her hands. It felt like it had been a long time since they had a meal together, even though they had eaten together when Seonghyun was discharged from the military not too long ago. As they ate, they talked about various things. Nothing particularly important. Whether the game was fun, Seonghyun saying it was, and... Yoo Gwangjin saying that his company was doing well these days. Yoo Mina saying that she was planning a raid soon. Lee Nakyeong saying that Jimin''s husband had run off with someone else recently. Wait, was that last one important? Anyway, they were talking about such things when... Suddenly, Lee Nakyeong, out of curiosity, asked Seonghyun, "Now that you''ve been discharged, aren''t you going to see your friends~?" It was a question asked somewhat out of courtesy, but... Seonghyun happened to have an appointment, so he replied, "Ah. I''m going to see them tomorrow. I have an appointment." Lee Nakyeong nodded, understanding, and then Yoo Mina, with a playful face again, chimed in. "Ah, you mean the appointment with that girl~?" At Yoo Mina''s words, the eyes of Lee Nakyeong and Yoo Gwangjin twinkled as they stared at Seonghyun. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 72 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 72 "A girl?! You have an appointment with your girlfriend?!" "Ahem, are you two seeing each other?" His mother, Lee Nakyeong, was very excited, and his father, Yoo Gwangjin, was trying to hide his interest but was clearly curious.@@@@ Seonghyun glared at Yoo Mina as if saying, "I knew you''d do this," but she feigned ignorance and acted playful. That damn sister. Seonghyun tried to calm the two down. "No, she''s just a university classmate." "It''s a girl, though?!" "......Yes. But I''m not just seeing her. I''m meeting up with other university classmates too." "Sigh, I was hoping... I thought Seonghyun had finally gotten a girlfriend... but I was wrong." His mother was so openly disappointed that Seonghyun was rather taken aback. Was she that disappointed? Seonghyun was puzzled, and his father, Yoo Gwangjin, said, "Hmm, if you''re so openly disappointed, Seonghyun will feel pressured. It''s not like Seonghyun is unpopular, so don''t worry unnecessarily." "Heeum, still..." "Hoo." It was a relief that his father, Yoo Gwangjin, covered for him. Lee Nakyeong would get very excited whenever the topic of girls came up in Seonghyun''s stories about his friends. She was apparently upset that he had never brought a girlfriend home. Anyway, Seonghyun didn''t forget to give his sister a sidelong glance. She always brought up unnecessary things. On the other hand, Yoo Mina was unapologetic. She gave a bashful smile with an expression that said, "What did I do~?" ''My sister is really...'' He was about to say something but stopped. Especially since everyone was together. As Seonghyun tried to eat quietly, he felt the gazes of his still very interested mother and his father. He felt so pressured that he was about to get indigestion. Seonghyun raised his head, wondering why they were like that, and saw his mother, Lee Nakyeong, poke Yoo Gwangjin in the side. "So... are you going to leave late tomorrow?" "Ah... No. I think I''ll be leaving around lunchtime. It''s a lunch appointment, soo." As he replied, he checked his schedule just in case, and it was correct. He had planned it in advance. "I have a quest tomorrow, so I''ll finish that, then go on a raid, and then go to my appointment." "Ah...?" "......?" "A... raid?" "Yes. Why... are you all like that?" Everyone had a dumbfounded expression at his words about going on a raid before the appointment. Seonghyun, on the other hand, looked at his family and asked back. Even his sister, who played games, was like that, so it was even more surprising. Seemingly unable to understand, his mother asked first, "Usu...ally, if it''s a lunch appointment... don''t you usually prepare early in the morning...?" "Men usually have a short preparation time." "Huh?" ¡®Even so, one doesn''t usually go out right after playing games, now does he?¡¯ ¡®Is that normal for his age group?¡¯ Now even his mother, Lee Nakyeong, was confused. On the other hand, his father, Yoo Gwangjin, who was also a man, scratched his head at Seonghyun''s answer. ¡®Usually, they don''t do that, do they?¡¯ He thought so, but didn''t bother to ask. He wasn''t very familiar with Eternal World. Yoo Mina, who knew Eternal World best, asked with a dumbfounded expression, "Didn''t you raid today?" "I did?" "You also did the Fortress of the Past this morning, right?" "That''s right?" "But tomorrow... you''re... going to raid... again?" "Yeah." "......" Blink, blink. At his sister''s question, he looked at her as if asking if that was strange. Yoo Mina looked at Seonghyun, speechless, and shook her head. "This guy is completely insane." She had suggested it herself, but this seemed a bit too much. Usually, when Yoo Mina spoke so harshly, Lee Nakyeong would step in and say something, but she didn''t this time. It was silent proof that she agreed with Yoo Mina''s words. Seonghyun, seeing his family like that, tilted his head as if wondering what was wrong. ''Since I have time anyway, it doesn''t matter if I go, does it?'' He was wondering about that. Everyone thought to themselves, looking at Seonghyun. ''He really has no intention of dating yet. Our Seonghyun...'' ''I wonder if he''ll be able to get married.'' ''Sigh, live in reality, not just in games.'' The last thought also applied to Yoo Mina herself, but... Seonghyun''s situation seemed more serious. Still, they were good-natured family members who swallowed their words in the end. 1. After wrapping up his chat with the friendly innkeeper, Seonghyun stepped outside, key in hand. There was also a note from Philip. ¡ºI have no doubt in the Heir¡¯s abilities. However, beware¡ªthe guardian standing watch is so formidable that even the greedy Kahku gave up. One more thing: this key isn¡¯t for the cave entrance. It¡¯s for the door.¡» A clue. But to Seonghyun, it didn¡¯t mean much. He already knew all of this¡ªthanks to Kahku¡¯s memories. The quest had been more about obtaining the key than uncovering new information. Seonghyun summoned Anemor and mounted it. In an instant, he soared over 100 meters into the sky. Now surrounded by a familiar sense of weightlessness, he pulled out Kahku¡¯s Treasure Map. [By completing the Hidden Quest, the location of ¡ºTreasure Map of Treasure Goblin Kahku¡» has been revealed.] A new red marker appeared on his map. That had to be the treasure¡¯s location. "It¡¯s farther than I thought." He had expected it to be near Serodin. But that wasn¡¯t the case. Even with Anemor¡¯s flight speed, it would take about an hour to get there. If he had to walk, it would probably take half a day. ¡®Good thing I got Karisha not too long ago.¡¯ Without hesitation, Seonghyun set off toward the red marker. Whoooosh¡ª¡ª! The scenery rushed past at a breathtaking speed, with powerful winds pressing hard against Seonghyun. Yet, he remained unfazed, effortlessly gripping Anemoe¡¯s feather as he soared through the sky. His hair whipped in the fierce wind, but rather than discomfort, he found it invigorating. One might expect an hour-long flight to be dull. But Seonghyun, fully captivated by the thrill of flying, enjoyed every moment until he arrived at his destination. ¡°Phew, so this is the place.¡± The key wasn''t for a cave entrance¡ªit was for a door. Now, that statement made perfect sense. The red-marked spot on the map led not to a cave but to a smooth, sheer cliff face. There was no visible entrance. But Seonghyun already knew exactly where it was. Approaching the cliffside, he reached out to a spot midway up. As his fingers touched the rock, the surface wavered like a mirage¡ªan illusion spell. "Seriously, where did Kahku even get something like this?" Seonghyun, armed with Kahku¡¯s memories, knew precisely how it had been created. Of course, Kahku hadn¡¯t built this place himself. But he had hidden the entrance once it was revealed. To ensure that no one else would ever find it. As Seonghyun prepared to step through the illusion, Anemor let out a small, distressed sound¡ªthe entrance was too narrow for it to fit. "Yeah, I figured." There was no choice but to go in alone. If anything happened, he could always summon Anemor again, and in any case, his own combat abilities were more than enough. Step. Step. Step. His footsteps echoed eerily throughout the cave. Not that it bothered him in the slightest. He walked for a while before finally spotting the iron door from his memories. Unlike the entrance, this was part of the original ruins, not something Kahku had added. Even the key had been crafted after analyzing the structure of the ruins. The door was massive¡ªeasily over three meters tall, with each panel nearly a meter wide. "Hmm." Without the key, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to enter. He could sense the traces of magic woven into the door itself. Without hesitation, Seonghyun inserted the key and turned it. With the sound of worn-out hinges creaking, the iron door slowly swung open. Creeeak¡ª! Rumble... The ground trembled beneath his feet as vibrations surged through the earth. As the heavy iron doors fully opened and Seonghyun stepped inside... A dazzling sight unfolded before him. The entire ruin was covered in crystal, shimmering brilliantly and nearly blinding him. He instinctively squinted, trying to shield his eyes from the overwhelming brightness, but it was no use. Every surface, every wall¡ªeverything was made of crystal, and the sheer radiance made his eyes sting. Fortunately, the initial burst of light gradually dimmed, settling into a softer, ethereal glow. Now illuminated by the gentle glimmer of crystal, the ruins exuded a dreamlike atmosphere, reminiscent of a palace straight out of a fairy tale. "Wow." A place like this actually existed. He was glad he had started recording. A sight this stunning deserved to be shared. As Seonghyun wandered deeper, admiring the breathtaking surroundings... From between two crystal pillars, something peeked out¡ªa face, withdrawing quickly, only to cautiously peek out again. Then again. And again. A ghost. ¡°...What are you doing?¡± ¡°A-Ack!? Y-You can see me!?¡± The ghost, visibly flustered, gasped in shock, its face turning red. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 73 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 73 Seonghyun didn''t bother asking why the ghost kept sticking his head in and out of the crystal pillars. He wasn''t curious. Nor did he want to know. The ghost seemed relieved that he didn''t ask. If he had asked, the ghost would have felt obliged to answer. After acknowledging the ghost''s presence, Seonghyun regretted it a little. He should have just pretended not to see him. In his 22 years, it was the first time he had ever seen a ghost act like that, and the words just tumbled out of his mouth. Perhaps feeling embarrassed, the ghost cleared his throat. - Ahem, ahem, you have caught a glimpse of a noble personage engaging in rather peculiar behavior. "......" Seonghyun didn''t offer a response. His gaze was icy. It was clear that he didn''t want to engage in conversation. - I-I''m not usually like this......@@@@ "......" - P-Please, could you not look at me like that......? Seeing the ghost''s dejected demeanor, Seonghyun sighed inwardly. Judging by the ghost''s attire, he seemed to have been a high-ranking knight in his past life. Despite being in ghost form, the armor he wore, and even the sword at his waist, were all extraordinary. Why would such a person...... The more he thought about it, the more questions arose, but he really didn''t want to ask. Anyway. "What is this place?" - This is the Crystal Palace. It is a vestige of a glorious era long past. It was a royal court that served the king. But with the passage of time, it has become a faded relic of the past. "Ah." Seonghyun was about to feel a pang of sadness at the knight''s mournful words. But the image of the ghost repeatedly sticking his head between the pillars kept resurfacing in his mind, preventing him from getting immersed in the story. He really shouldn''t have acknowledged him. Now that things had turned out this way, there was nothing he could do. It seemed unlikely that the ghost would forget their encounter. He might as well gain something from it, even if it was just a memory. He didn''t really want to know why the ghost had been acting like that, but considering his knightly appearance, Seonghyun thought he might be knowledgeable about swordsmanship, or perhaps even about this palace. So, he made a decision. As Seonghyun reached out his hand, the knight ghost closed his eyes as if he already knew what was about to happen. And just like that, the knight ghost''s memories and experiences flooded into Seonghyun''s mind. ''Ugh.'' As Seonghyun absorbed the knight ghost''s memories and experiences, a system notification appeared: [Due to an ''unknown power'', you have accomplished something beyond your current level.] [Strength +5, Agility +5 permanently increased.] The total increase in his stats was a whopping 10 points. Considering that the demonic beast Barpur had only been 8, this was a significant boost. ''He seemed a bit dim-witted, but......'' As if refuting Seonghyun''s thoughts, the knight ghost''s memories flooded in, revealing that in his past life, he was a very strict and solemn knight. Was that why? In death, he displayed a somewhat dazed demeanor. Even so, the fact that he was a great soul did not disappear. Was it because of this? ''It''s a shame.'' Seonghyun had been fooled by his spaced-out appearance. But now that he knew the truth, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of regret. And for good reason. - Finally, I have resolved my lingering regret. I never imagined that someone who could inherit my skills would appear. I am truly delighted to leave this behind as I depart. Thank you so much. The knight ghost, Bendix Pale Moon, left those words behind, and his ghostly form faded away like a flame burning out. As Bendix gradually disappeared, waving farewell, Seonghyun felt a pang of disappointment. If he had joined Seonghyun''s legion, he would have been a considerable force. But Seonghyun had no choice but to respect his decision. ''In the end, he did pass on his swordsmanship.'' Now that his regret had been resolved, there was no reason for him to remain in this world. It''s not that one has to have an unresolved regret to remain as a ghost in this world, but in Bendix''s case, like many others with regrets, once that regret was resolved, he was able to pass on peacefully. That''s why, despite his regret, Seonghyun let him go. ''Hmm.'' He swallowed the thought that perhaps Bendix had been too embarrassed to face him after his earlier behavior. Why was it that he lost all sense of propriety and only enjoyed himself when watching Seonghyun''s videos? As Seonghyun headed through the secret passage and finally arrived at the treasure chamber, "Wow! He entered the treasure chamber without even catching the raid boss!? Isn''t this a record?" As Associate Oh Jinhyeok said, they even gave him a title, saying it was the first time in history. It was truly amazing. Pre-reward, post-raid. This was a new concept, and Associate Oh Jinhyeok was so impressed that he wanted to learn it. But then he suddenly tilted his head, noticing something strange. "Huh? If this happens, what kind of rewards will he get after catching the raid boss?" Seonghyun had already taken all the treasures in the treasure chamber. And as far as Associate Oh Jinhyeok knew, that treasure chamber was a reward that could be obtained upon successfully defeating the raid boss. But if he took all the treasures first, what would happen to the reward if they succeeded in the raid? Too curious to even report to Assistant manager Lee Wonsong, Associate Oh Jinhyeok could only watch Seonghyun''s screen. Of course, he had his own thoughts. ''Even if I report it, it''s better to report after seeing how things turn out, right?'' If Assistant manager Lee Wonsong had heard this, he would have been so frustrated that he would have wanted to tear his hair out. 4. The treasure chamber was not a place where gold was piled up like mountains. It was an armory. There were many weapons and equipment that seemed to be of high rank. Even at a rough estimate, there seemed to be at least five different types. "Wowww." Seonghyun couldn''t help but be impressed by the sight that made his jaw drop. How could he not react to something like this? As Seonghyun was expressing his admiration, countless messages popped up. They were all at least Epic rank, and some of the higher ones were even Unique rank items. However, they were all exclusively for close combat classes, so there was nothing that Seonghyun could use. There was nothing that looked better than the Giant Strength Belt. But still, they were items. If he put them all up for auction, wouldn''t he be able to buy a few items for himself? It was a treasure chamber that naturally made him think that. However, that wasn''t all the reward. [You have achieved the first perfect infiltration of the treasure vault guarded by the raid boss in the history of Eternal World.] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºTomb Raider¡».] Even a new title. He wanted to check it out immediately, but he held back for the moment. He had obtained everything in the treasure vault that could be obtained after defeating the raid boss. It was indeed a place that Kahku would covet. But there was still something left. ''What will happen if I defeat the raid boss without any rewards?'' Originally, raid bosses give rewards according to their theme. Like the Ancient Royal Guardian Golem this time, with the theme of guarding the royal armory, the treasure vault was filled with only weapons and equipment items for various close combat classes. It was the same during the Anemor battle. Wind-type or wind-attribute rewards appeared. But if you defeat a raid boss whose rewards have already been taken? What will happen? ''Let''s find out.'' This was a plan he had in mind since he discovered the secret passage to the treasure vault. The treasure vault that could only be entered by defeating the Ancient Royal Guardian Golem. In other words. ''It means that right behind here is the Ancient Royal Guardian Golem''s unguarded back!'' With that thought, Seonghyun immediately opened the entrance to the treasure vault. At that moment, he could see the massive guardian-shaped golem turning around in a bewildered manner. - Wh-why are you coming out from there!? I-Intruder!? Golems could be surprised like that too. That thought was fleeting. From the very beginning, Seonghyun used the most powerful skill he could use. He summoned all the Giant Killer Bees summoned from the Netherworld, which scattered teal mist, and used the effect of the Wind¡¯s Ring. A gust of wind blew. At that moment, the Ancient Royal Guardian Golem, which shouldn''t have been pushed back by Giant Killer Bees, lost its footing and was pushed away. Maximizing the knockback effect and pushing the Ancient Royal Guardian Golem back, as the distance widened, The Ancient Royal Guardian Golem, which had not yet regained its posture, saw the door of the treasure vault closing. After that, sparks flew from the Giant Killer Bees'' bodies and the pale green mist, as if they were igniting. Starting with the sparks, the combination of corpse explosion and exploding poison erupted. Kuaaaaa¡ª¡ª¡ª! [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 74 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 74 A scorching heat wave swept through the area. The crystal pillars surrounding them, unable to withstand the heat, reached their limit and began to melt. All the crystal pillars in the majestic and grand raid field were in the same state. Half-melted and radiating intense heat, the crystal liquid overflowed onto the floor, and the heat did not subside easily, gradually melting even the surrounding crystals. Even the crystal walls could not withstand the heat and melted. Among them, the right arm of the Ancient Royal Guardian Golem, which was at the center of the explosion, seemed to have lost its function, melting down without being able to move, and its right leg and torso were also not in good condition. However, its condition was better than its arm, as it maintained its shape. Its right arm, like a melted taffy, dripped thick, sticky crystal liquid onto the floor as it regained its stance. It was already aware of the intruder. There had been intruders before, quite a while ago. They had seen only its form from a distance and fled, so it thought that this intruder was also one of those types. Since it hadn''t come even after some time, it assumed they were gone. But this time, it was different. - To think that you would dare to sneak into the treasure vault like a rat. To ambush it from behind through the treasure vault that it was so diligently guarding. It couldn''t even imagine such a thing. The Ancient Royal Guardian Golem, which was created to be able to think for itself, could only be more surprised. It had not considered this possibility. Would it have been different if it were more capable? Perhaps it would have been different if it weren''t for the aging body and functions that had deteriorated over the long years? Many regrets remained. But regrets were like spilled water. If it couldn''t be picked up. - Self-rectification is all that is needed. Recalling that adage that it had once heard from its master, The Ancient Royal Guardian Golem, with its crystal body, emitted a bright white light from its eyes. It had lost its right arm, but it was fine. Its sturdy two legs and left arm remained. The Ancient Royal Guardian Golem took out its exclusive weapon, the crystal longsword, and pointed the sword at the treasure vault where the intruder was. Just as the crystals in various parts of the raid field had melted, the door of the treasure vault was also half-melted. Towards the melted door, it strode forward. Seeing the intruder, Seonghyun, leisurely walking out, the Ancient Royal Guardian Golem''s eyes glowed brightly. An intruder that it could never forgive. An intruder who was its only blemish. It would erase that blemish from the world. Hoo! Hoo!@@@@ The Ancient Royal Guardian Golem was an Ego Golem that moved according to chivalry. However, there was no chivalry to show to such a despicable and treacherous being. Seonghyun, too, was surprised to see the Ancient Royal Guardian Golem, which looked quite intact except for its right arm. ''It was a critical blow.'' The most powerful skill combination that Seonghyun could use right now. But even after taking that hit, it didn''t even suffer a fatal wound, let alone enter the second phase. This was quite surprising. It wasn''t entirely meaningless. [Hidden Raid Boss ¡ºAncient Royal Guardian Golem, Crescentra¡» has appeared.] [The hidden raid is about to begin.] [You have inflicted a critical preemptive strike on the hidden raid boss ¡ºAncient Royal Guardian Golem, Crescentra¡»!] [The raid on the heavily damaged hidden raid boss ¡ºAncient Royal Guardian Golem, Crescentra¡» will now begin.] It had suffered significant damage. As the system indicated, it was clear that it had taken considerable damage. Judging by the fact that physical damage had occurred, it was possible to roughly estimate how much damage it had sustained. ''Was it at least 20%?'' It was said that the physical damage effect only occurred when damage exceeding 20% of maximum health was inflicted in a single blow. This meant that Crescentra had also taken damage exceeding 20% from Seonghyun''s attack just now. This difference was definitely significant. Even so, it seemed overwhelmingly stronger than Anemor. So this was what a hidden raid boss was like. Seonghyun didn''t just stand still with that judgment. A huge teal portal was blooming behind his back. From there, his legion advanced. Cheok! Cheok¡ª! Crescentra, holding the sword in his left hand, moved and kicked off the ground. Hot steam erupted from his feet, and with the repulsive force of his kick and the propulsive force of the heat, he gained incredible acceleration and rushed towards Balthar first. Chuaaaaaaa! He was definitely faster. No, even the word "faster" was not enough to describe it. At the sight of Crescentra rushing towards Balthar like a flash, Balthar raised his sword to block. However, it was not Crescentra''s sword that moved first. Crescentra''s long, sleek right leg slammed directly into Balthar''s abdomen. Peoeok¡ª¡ª! The moment his leg slammed into his abdomen, using the recoil from raising his sword and the repulsive force from being kicked to push him back, he quickly rotated in the air, wielding the sword imbued with the rotational force and unleashing crimson sword energy. Peoeong¡ª¡ª! With a sound bursting from his abdomen, he was sent flying and slammed into the wall. However, the crimson sword energy clearly flew out and, at the moment when it was about to slam into Crescentra as well, Crescentra''s sword moved and surpassed the crimson sword energy. He was a truly terrifyingly powerful being. However, while surpassing that crimson sword energy, Crescentra saw the wraith''s body, which had been turned into a huge fist, and reacted. His sword strike was already blocking the crimson sword energy. His right leg was also unbalanced from the powerful kick he had just delivered to Balthar. All that remained was his left leg, but he couldn''t carelessly move it as it was his support. Anyone watching might have thought that Crescentra would be hit by the wraith''s fist and be crushed. However, before the huge hammer fist flew in, he completely destabilized his already disheveled posture and, with light in his eyes, fired it out. Pishyuuu¡ª¡ª! He fired a flash of light from both eyes, and although his disheveled posture completely collapsed and he was about to fall, it was fine. The terrifying flash flew and struck the wraith''s chest, and the wraith, like Balthar, was sent flying and slammed into the wall far away. Kuaaaaang¡ª¡ª! With Fiora defeated, the remaining enemies were no match for him. The moment Crescentra made that judgment. He felt an eerie aura from behind. Was it Seonghyun again? The moment he just turned his head, there was Fiora, her two arms transformed into giant axes. Where was the wraith that had just been sent flying? As Crescentra felt something was wrong and thought about it. It was Wraith of Barpur, who shared the same body as Fiora. In that instant, his mind went blank. Fiora''s attack was swung to tear apart his chest. The axe-arms seemed to move slowly, as if time had slowed down. Perhaps due to the sudden transformation, they couldn''t keep up with their original speed. However, no matter how slow they were, Crescentra''s posture was completely messed up. He couldn''t even block or evade. Crescentra had no choice but to expose his chest as it was. Kagagagagaga¡ª¡ª! With a violent impact, another long scar was left on his chest. Even so, he could still endure it for now. Crescentra got up again from where he had fallen, and checked if there were any others charging at him. Balthar, spitting out blood, emerged from the wall where he had been slammed, and Wraith of Barpur was the same. Anemor and Karisha, circling in the sky, constantly fired ash and hot air, which was quite bothersome. But at that moment, he felt something strange. -......? Wraith of Barpur, Balthar, and even Fiora were all quite far away from him. In that instant, he quickly realized. The one he had forgotten. The moment Crescentra looked at Seonghyun. The world was engulfed in a whirlwind of blood. Wheeeeeeeeeee¡ª¡ª! [Hidden Raid Boss ¡ºAncient Royal Guardian Golem, Crescentra¡» changes.] [Hidden Raid Boss ¡ºAncient Royal Guardian Golem, Crescentra¡» enters Phase 2.] *Caution -The raid boss becomes extremely powerful in Phase 2. -Be careful. Phase 2 had finally opened. At the same time, the swirling blood red storm disappeared, and a tealspear plunged into Crescentra''s chest. [Dark damage is applied.] [The target partially resists.] [All sight and senses are impaired for 3 seconds.] [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 75 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 75 Double casting utilizing his dark self. He used the souls of the dead along with the swirling blood. The storm of red blood immediately erupted where Crescentra was, obscuring his vision. In the midst of the obscured vision, the teal spear flew in. Though activated simultaneously, the timing was perfect, resulting in a successful attack. ''I thought it might not work since it''s Phase 2...but it worked.'' He thought it might not work on the extraordinary Crescentra. But it did. Three seconds. A considerably short time, but. It was time that Seonghyun had earned. The eyes of Balthar and Fiora, who received that precious time, burned fiercely. Crimson eyes from Balthar. Dark blue eyes from Fiora. Two different sets of eyes intertwined as if they were meshing together and aimed at Crescentra. However, at that moment. Crescentra, who should have had all his senses blocked, moved. No, he was about to move. A posture of raising his arm and trying to do something. And Seonghyun was able to recognize it immediately. ''A skill?'' His senses were blocked, but his skills were not sealed. Seonghyun also realized this and quickly raised his index finger to his lips. Then, the skill, Monarch''s Silence, was activated. Crescentra couldn''t feel it because all his senses were blocked. But the huge witch that appeared behind him giggled and laughed, and with her huge arm, she used a teal needle to sew Crescentra''s mouth shut. The huge witch, with a hand holding a needle like Seonghyun''s near her mouth, stretched out her index finger to her lips. - Shhh. She spoke in a voice like a wailing ghost and disappeared. [Due to Monarch''s Silence, skills are sealed for 5 seconds.] [The hidden raid boss, ¡ºAncient Royal Guardian Golem, Crescentra¡», partially resists.] [The duration is reduced to 2 seconds.] He bought another 2 seconds. As Seonghyun watched the battle with a little cold sweat, - Ssssuuup! Balthar, whose feet moved incessantly and who ran as if shooting forward in a low posture that seemed to touch the ground, inhaled deeply and gripped his crimson greatsword tightly. Unlike usual, he lowered the sword, which he held with both hands, downward. Kagagagaga¡ª¡ª! As he swept the crystal floor while running, a long line was drawn on the floor. At the same time, the crimson greatsword became redder than ever, and crimson sword energy swirled and became a small storm, wrapping around the sword. Balthar''s ultimate technique unfolded in the present world. Conversely, Fiora, who flew in, crossing paths with Balthar and emitting a dark blue aura, combined another arm with the arm that had turned into an axe. It was similar to Crescentra''s form, where one arm had melted down, but the other arm became even larger. The axe-arm, which had grown to a size capable of bisecting Crescentra''s torso, was pulled back and flew in faster than ever before. Huuuuuung¡ª¡ª! Emitting a dark blue aura and swirling all that energy around the axe-arm, The chilling axe blade became even sharper, radiating a deadly aura. Even if one stood still, the malevolent energy rose like heat haze, distorting the surroundings. That axe-arm, wrapped in the powerful malevolent energy, was swung towards Crescentra. Balthar''s crimson storm sword energy and Fiora''s axe-arm, containing a dark blue malevolent energy, were swung towards Crescentra simultaneously. The red and blue energies intertwined, directly hitting Crescentra''s torso, and behind it, a storm of ash and the wraith''s breath containing a wailing ghost''s cry followed, striking Crescentra. Kugeugeugeugege¡ª¡ª¡ª! Kwagagagagaga¡ª¡ª¡ª! Hwareureureu¡ª¡ª¡ª! Haaaaaa¡ª¡ª¡ª! Kyaaaaaa¡ª¡ª¡ª! This combined attack was not the end. Along with the fierce bombardment, numerous arms, due to the countless attacks, increased, constricting Crescentra''s neck. At least dozens of arms. As the arms that had been attacking until now were all linked together, Death, in its physical form, reappeared behind Crescentra''s back. The grim reaper, without showing any emotion, grasped the dozens of arms, and the arms were linked together to become a huge scythe. A scythe that was too large even for the huge Crescentra. The scythe, like a guillotine falling for Crescentra''s execution, cut his neck. The scythe, swung as if harvesting, was not swung just once. Seogeok! Seogeok¡ª! Seogeok¡ª¡ª! Seogeok¡ª¡ª¡ª! Seogeo-eok¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª! Seogeogeok¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª! All six swings of the scythe. The grim reaper released the scythe as if it had finished its work, and the scythe, as if drawn to the darkness, sank into the ground, and the grim reaper also disappeared, consumed by the darkness.@@@@ As the grim reaper''s attack continued, The Crystal Palace shook violently, as if it were about to collapse. Cracks appeared here and there on the floor, and those cracks soon traveled up the walls to the ceiling. As a series of explosions and powerful shocks repeatedly occurred, The sturdy crystals reached their limits one by one. However, Crescentra''s body had not yet crumbled. As if representing the Crystal Palace, cracks appeared all over his body, and a creaking sound was heard, and as he became able to move again, crystal fragments fell from the cracks. He was not in a good state. Even at a glance, he seemed about to collapse. Yet, Balthar, Fiora, Barpur, Karisha, and even Anemor had goosebumps all over their bodies. Even Seonghyun, who was watching from afar, felt it. ''This is insane.'' This was a level 70 raid boss? ¡®Absolutely not.¡¯ Although it was said that Anemor was the strongest among the level 60 raids, it didn''t really resonate with Seonghyun. However, if it was said that Crescentra was stronger than any other level 70 raid boss, Crescentra, too, gripping his crystal longsword once more, charged forward, and Balthar and Fiora stood in his way. And so, dozens of exchanges. Crescentra, who had become even stronger in Phase 2, Could not break through Seonghyun''s five powerful summons. And with Seonghyun''s attack skills flying in at any slight opening. Though he couldn''t use that powerful explosion, that didn''t mean that each attack wasn''t something to be ignored. Especially that teal spear, he absolutely had to avoid it. As he tried to avoid all of Seonghyun''s attacks, He inevitably had to endure the summons'' attacks. If the attacks landed several times, the Grim Reaper would appear midway and cut Crescentra''s body. It was the same this time. How many exchanges of attack and defense had there been? After some time, Crescentra''s body was cut by the Grim Reaper who appeared again. - Keu-heuk. Feeling the pain of his soul being severed, Crescentra knelt on one knee. But that was only for a moment, as he regained his posture. And soon after, he repelled the charging Balthar with his crystal longsword and kicked away Fiora, who was trying to attack, breaking through the swirling vortex. Wraith of Barpur tried to stop him somehow, but. He alone was not enough. That''s why Karisha and Anemor charged in simultaneously. Each of them was far less powerful than Balthar and Fiora, but when the three of them came together, they reached a level where they could handle one of them almost equally. However, Crescentra''s two eyes began to glow. Crescentra''s whole body shone as if his crystal longsword was engulfed in brilliance. - Kkaeaeae?! (What is this!?) - Piaeeeae!? (I, I have to block it!) - Master! Please evade! Sensing something was amiss, Wraith of Barpur shouted. But Seonghyun, far from running away, instead opened the Gate to the Netherworld. As if he already knew, from Balthar to Fiora, Barpur, Karisha, and Anemor. He put all five of them inside and, at the same time, summoned 20 empty ghouls while using Poison Mist. Crescentra, who knew Seonghyun''s explosion, unconsciously trembled. However, Crescentra shouted at him. - Are you trying to self-destruct? But it''s too late!!! He was faster. Crescentra, who had saved his last strength while fighting Seonghyun''s five strongest summons, flashed and appeared before Seonghyun''s eyes. Crystal Transfer. It was Crescentra''s trump card. At the same time, he tried to cut Seonghyun with the brilliance wrapped around his crystal longsword. For Seonghyun, who wielded black magic, this strike was an unavoidable strike. As the crystal longsword, which was about to bisect Seonghyun, fell from the sky. Likewise, Seonghyun also drew his sword. I will cut down a mere black mage''s sword. Crescentra thought so. Kwaaang¡ª¡ª! Kagagaga! A huge crack appeared in the crystal floor where Seonghyun''s feet landed, with enough force to dent it. However, Seonghyun''s sword firmly blocked Crescentra''s crystal longsword. - H-How is this possible......!? An incomprehensible phenomenon. However, Seonghyun, looking at such Crescentra, grinned and said. "Got you." He could see the ghouls with the Poison Mist and the light sparkling and igniting from the greenish Poison Mist. - You, you''ll die too......?! And at that moment, Seonghyun was engulfed in a black shadow and disappeared into the floor. Crescentra''s sword cut through the air and the floor as Seonghyun disappeared. Jjeok! As Crescentra turned his head to find the disappeared Seonghyun. He could see Seonghyun reaching the end of this raid field far away. Even so, it would be difficult to escape the explosion? He looked at Seonghyun, unable to understand, but at the end, he saw Seonghyun deploying a blood membrane shield, and then the explosion occurred. Kwaaaaaa¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª! The explosion spread heat and swallowed everything. Crescentra was swallowed in an instant, and even Seonghyun, who was far away, was within the area. [You have used Shadow Transfer.] [You enter an invincible state for 1 second.] [The Blood Curtain is deployed.] The 1-second invincible state created by Shadow Transfer. Even using that, it was not an attack that could be blocked with just 1 second. The shockwave shattered the crystal floor, and the heat that followed evaporated all the shattered crystal fragments. The Blood Curtain had long since disappeared. Seonghyun, whose invincible state had ended, felt a burning pain starting from his fingertips and frowned. ''As expected, this isn''t enough?'' After that, it gradually spread to his torso and face. Gradually, his whole body was engulfed in heat, and Seonghyun''s body was burned as if it were disappearing. He couldn''t even see what had happened to Crescentra anymore. No, Seonghyun himself had already vanished. However, Seonghyun''s mind was clearer than ever. [You have sustained extreme damage!] [Your health is reduced to 0.] [The effect of ¡ºBreaker of Shackles¡» is activated.] [You are revived with 50% of your maximum health.] [Upon revival, you enter an invincible state for 5 seconds.] He bought time again. 5 seconds. And as those seemingly eternal 5 seconds were about to end. The heat of the explosion subsided, and as Seonghyun''s vision returned, [You have defeated the hidden raid boss, ¡ºAncient Royal Guardian Golem, Crescentra¡».] ....... (Omitted) ''I won!'' [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 76 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 76 After an intense battle, victory was finally in his grasp. It had been a brutal fight¡ªso much so that Seonghyun had even died once. If he hadn¡¯t pushed himself that far, he might not have won. Was it because this was his first victory of this kind? Seonghyun clenched his fists tightly, overwhelmed with joy. "I actually won!" Would he have been able to win if he hadn¡¯t launched that ambush from behind? He wasn¡¯t sure. He might have lost. That¡¯s how strong Crescentra was. Savoring his victory, Seonghyun turned to the flood of system messages confirming his triumph. He had glanced at them earlier, but he hadn¡¯t taken the time to read them properly. This time, he would. @@@@ [You have defeated the Hidden Raid Boss, ¡ºAncient Royal Guardian Golem, Crescentra¡».] [Level Up!] ¡Á12 [You have reached Level 77.] [Reaching Level 70 has unlocked a new skill for ¡ºOverlord¡».] [You have acquired the Legendary-rank skill, ¡ºFlames of the Dead¡».] [Contribution belongs solely to one player.] [Raid classified as a solo raid.] [Boss was defeated solo.] [Rewards have been enhanced.] [First-time defeat bonus granted.] [Rewards have been further enhanced.] [As this was a solo raid, all rewards will be given to player ¡ºSeonghyun¡».] [The treasure vault designated for rewards is empty.] [Rewards will be adjusted.] [Calculating new rewards.] [Rewards will be tailored specifically for player ¡ºSeonghyun¡».] [Defeat bonus: A new skill for ¡ºOverlord¡» has been unlocked.] [You have acquired the Almighty-rank skill, ¡ºTranscendent Death¡».] [Defeat bonus: Acquired Legendary-rank skill book, ¡ºSkillbook ¨C A Thousand Bloodied Swords¡».] [Defeat bonus: Acquired Legendary-rank item, ¡ºHourglass of Reversal¡».] [First player to defeat the Hidden Raid Boss, ¡ºAncient Royal Guardian Golem, Crescentra¡».] [You have obtained the title, ¡ºCrescentra Slayer¡».] [As the first to clear the Hidden Raid, you have the option to disclose raid information.] [If disclosed, additional rewards will be granted for each dungeon clear over the next three months.] [Information can be made public at any time of your choosing.] [If another raid party clears the dungeon before disclosure, the information cannot be revealed.] "Holy¡ª" A flood of system messages, too many to process at once. His vision swam for a moment, and even his head throbbed from the sheer volume of notifications. But he methodically went through them one by one. First and foremost¡ªhis level had increased. A staggering 12 levels. Now, he was Level 77. ''Wow.'' Even before, his growth had felt fast¡ªbut this was on another level. Naturally, breaking past Level 70 had also unlocked a new skill. Flames of the Dead. Judging by the name, it sounded like an offensive skill. Seonghyun opened the skill description. ¡ºFlames of the Dead¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Passive Effect][Active] [Cooldown 10 minutes] [Duration 3 minutes] Flames that burn souls in the blazing hell will bless the dead and scorch the world. ¡úOverlord Exclusive Skill. ¡úSummons the Flames of the Dead by consuming mana. ¡úSummoned creatures engulfed in the Flames of the Dead gain +30% to all stats, +20% to all speeds, and +10% to all attack power. ¡úDeals continuous damage when a summoned creature engulfed in the Flames of the Dead confronts an enemy. ''...This is...?'' A skill that perfectly compensated for the lack of buffs he had felt during the battle with Crescentra! He had obtained an extremely useful skill at just the right time. It was a bit disappointing that it could only buff a single summoned entity and couldn¡¯t be applied to himself, but... The sheer power of the skill was undeniable. The effect was so impressive that he couldn¡¯t help but admire it. While he couldn¡¯t use it on a living being like Balthar, he could apply it to Fiora. ''This is going to be insane.'' This was an incredibly valuable skill. And the next reward? Another Overlord-exclusive skill. Since the treasury had been empty, the system had seemingly created a custom reward for him¡ªan Overlord-exclusive skill. A massive gain. And it wasn¡¯t just any skill. It was Almighty-rank. Transcendent Death. Even the name was overwhelming. Brimming with anticipation, Seonghyun opened the skill window. ¡ºTranscendent Death¡» ¡ú¡¶Almighty¡· ¡ú[Lv Max][Completed Type] The Overlord, who rules death, will transcend even death. All the dead are blessed. ¡úOverlord Exclusive Skill. ¡úAllows transcending the body of an undead that has reached its limit. ¡úConsumes one level of the Overlord upon use. Currently usable undead [Entity Name¡ªAnemor] [Entity Name¡ªBarpur] [Body of the Demonic Beast Barfur] ''Huh.'' He saw a skill that exceeded his expectations. It was so absurd that he could only let out a hollow laugh. A skill that transcends the body of an undead that has reached its limit. There was a disadvantage of lowering his level upon use, but the effect was so powerful that it would have been strange otherwise. If he could enhance the undead''s body with just one level, it was a huge gain. There were also entities immediately available for use: Anemor, Barpur, and... ''Barpur''s body?'' Now that he thought about it, he had just put it in the Netherworld without using it. ¡úThe thousand blood swords deal slash or pierce damage upon hitting an enemy, then explode, dealing explosion damage. ¡úThe number of thousand blood swords is determined by the caster''s level and class advancement stage. *Currently creatable blood swords: 150 (75 x 2) The skill description appeared immediately. And Seonghyun made a dumbfounded sound when he saw it. ''Huh???'' It was a blood magic spell that summoned a thousand blood swords. Not only did the swords deal damage on impact, but they also exploded upon striking their target. On top of that, he could create and control them freely. Its versatility was undeniable. Seonghyun scratched his cheek as he processed all of this. And to top it off, controlling them didn¡¯t even consume mana. ''Isn¡¯t this kind of a broken skill?'' As long as he didn¡¯t miss, he could control an absurd number of blood swords. Of course, he couldn¡¯t summon all 1,000 just yet¡ªhis level and class advancement were only at the second stage. At Level 75, with a 2nd class advancement, he could only control 150 swords for now. Even so, it was still ridiculously overpowered. With flying blood swords at his command, the skill¡¯s utility potential was massive. Maybe he should try it out right now? Normally, he would test skills while hunting, but for utility-based skills like this, experimenting right away wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea. Seonghyun stretched out his hand, palm open, and activated the skill. A single droplet of blood rose from his palm. His deep crimson blood floated into the air... And then¡ªit multiplied. One by one, more droplets appeared, rapidly filling the air. As the countless blood droplets hovered in place, they began to boil and swell, their forms shifting. Before long¡ª Each droplet hardened into a blade. A deep, blood-red sword. From hilt to blade, every part of the sword was dyed in crimson. A total of 150 swords hovered in the air. Seonghyun imagined one of them flying toward him¡ª And sure enough, a single blood sword smoothly obeyed his will, drifting toward him in perfect silence. Just as expected¡ªno mana was consumed. "Wow..." Seonghyun muttered in awe as he instinctively gripped the sword. Even from a light touch, he could tell¡ªthe durability of the blade was incredible. He gave it a small swing. ¡ªWhoosh! The blade sliced through the air effortlessly, the motion silky smooth. "Oh?!" It was the textbook definition of a perfectly honed blade. And he had 150 of them? Without even thinking, he imagined the swords aligning themselves flat, forming a staircase. ¡ªClang! Clang! Clang! Immediately, the blood swords moved into place, constructing a floating crimson staircase before him. Seonghyun stepped onto it. Even with his weight, the swords didn¡¯t budge an inch. Then, he imagined the staircase rising into the air. And sure enough¡ªit did. Riding on swords... ''Wasn¡¯t this called Sword Control?'' Seonghyun chuckled, recalling a technique from the martial arts novels he often read. Controlling 150 swords simultaneously¡ª The possibilities were endless. For his final experiment ''Attack that crystal pillar with just ten swords.'' Outside the raid field, Seonghyun pointed at a crystal pillar in the distance. At his command, exactly ten blood swords shot toward the pillar and embedded themselves into it. ¡ªThud! Thud! Thud! The sound of impact echoed almost simultaneously. Seonghyun watched and thought to himself, ''How strong will the explosion be?'' He waited, curiosity tinged with excitement. But. No explosion came. "......?" Hadn''t the skill description said that the swords explode after dealing slash damage? Even after rereading it, the description remained unchanged. Yet, the ten blood swords remained firmly lodged in the crystal pillar, completely still. The moment he found it odd, a thought flashed through his mind. ''Wait... Does the skill not register terrain as a valid target?'' The description clearly stated that the explosion occurs when an attack lands on an enemy. In other words. ''It only activates on targets recognized as enemies?'' And since there was no explosion, the swords didn''t disappear. That meant¡ª At Seonghyun''s mere gesture and imagination, the embedded blood swords responded instantly. They detached from the pillar, moving in perfect unison transforming into a shield, then scattering outward in formation, surrounding an area before reshaping into a protective dome-like barrier. As long as they didn''t land on an enemy, he could use them infinitely. ''......Isn''t this completely broken?'' This skill was ridiculously overpowered. Even if it got nerfed later, he couldn''t complain. ''Is this actually going to get nerfed?'' It probably should. But if it didn''t? That would be amazing. For now, it was time to check his other rewards. Moving on, Seonghyun examined another item he had received¡ªthe Hourglass of Reversal. Its name didn''t tell him much, so he quickly pulled it from his inventory to inspect it. Seonghyun tilted his head in curiosity. ¡ºHourglass of Reversal¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úSaid to be crafted by a being beyond time itself, yet no record of this being exists in any timeline. ¡úThe flow of time can be altered and forever shaken. ¡úConsumes sand to reset the cooldown of any skill to 0. ¡úThe hourglass holds a maximum of ten grains of sand and generates five grains every midnight. ¡úIf all sand is consumed, there is a random chance the Hourglass of Reversal will break. In other words¡ªat minimum, he could ignore skill cooldowns five times per day. If used wisely, he could stretch that to nine. An insanely powerful item. Just this alone was already game-breaking. But what if he combined it with his skill? [A grain of sand from the Hourglass of Reversal has been consumed to reset the cooldown of ¡ºA Thousand Blood Swords¡».] Seonghyun stretched out his hand again and activated A Thousand Blood Swords. The 150 swords that were already summoned remained in place. Meanwhile¡ªa new set of 150 blood swords materialized in the air. ''......Did I just double my blood swords?'' What the hell was he supposed to do with this? [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 77 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 77 Seonghyun scratched his cheek, looking perplexed, but what could he do? It wasn''t like he could voluntarily return it. Strictly speaking, wasn''t this the developers'' fault for making a skill this overpowered? If it gets nerfed later, he''d have to at least ask for compensation, if not outright protest. ''Anyway, are the remaining rewards the titles? Ah! And there''s also the information release.'' The title he obtained after defeating Cresentra and the first-ever title he received while looting the existing treasure vault. Two titles, and finally, the information release. The information release could be discussed later with Lapid, so that just left the two titles. First, Seonghyun opened the title he obtained from looting the treasure vault. Was the name Tomb Raider King? [TL/N: Tomb Raider¡úTomb Raider King] He had cleared the acquisition messages to enter the battle, so he hadn''t seen it, and immediately opened the title effect. ¡ºTomb Raider King¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary+¡· ¡úA title bestowed upon the first user in Eternal World to perfectly infiltrate the treasure vault guarded by a raid boss. ¡úDue to being the first to infiltrate, the rank is slightly higher than the original. ¡úWhen acquiring rewards from raid bosses or dungeons, there is a 12% chance the reward rank will increase. ¡úCan disarm any trap up to six times a day. ''Rank increase?'' An effect that increases the rank when acquiring rewards. The probability isn''t low either, at 12%. Three rewards can be obtained from one raid. Roughly speaking, if he goes on three raids, one reward might have its rank increased. In addition, being able to disarm any trap up to six times a day. It''s a pretty good effect. There''s a reason it''s a Legendary rank. ''This is amazing.'' Next, Seonghyun opened the Slayer title he obtained after defeating Cresentra. He had liked the Anemor Slayer title he got last time, so he opened the title with expectant eyes. ¡ºCresentra Slayer¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úA title bestowed upon the first user to defeat ¡ºAncient Kingdom Guardian Golem, Cresentra¡». ¡úCan use Crystal Armor five times a day. ¡úCan use Scorching and Freezing once a day. ¡úDefense +20% increase. ¡úAttack +10% increase when using swordsmanship. ''Scorching and Freezing must be the ones from the second phase.'' It was difficult to call them ultimate moves, but they were quite annoying skills. He could obtain them like this. There was also Crystal Armor, but it was just a defense increase effect. It didn''t seem particularly useful. In the first place, there was no enemy that could reach Seonghyun during battle. Anyway, there was no harm in having it. Lastly, Attack +10% increase when using swordsmanship. ''This is the most ambiguous one.'' In Eternal World, swordsmanship doesn''t simply refer to the act of using a sword. It refers to swordsmanship skills. Seonghyun didn''t have any swordsmanship skills yet, so it was a shame, but it might be useful later. With all the rewards checked and the raid over, ''Now...'' Just as he was about to think about what to do, [An alarm is ringing outside.] [The set time has been reached.] ''Ah, time already...'' It was already the appointment time. He lost track of time while looting the treasure vault and doing the raid. He had to get ready to go. Since he had set it in advance, he wouldn''t be late if he started preparing now. He had also prepared the video to send to Lapid. After sending the previous Anemor raid video together, he logged out. [The Eternal World awaits you.] ''Ah, I forgot to send a message.'' He could send it by phone, so he decided to prepare first. He would also have to ask about information disclosure while sending the message this time. 0. A room decorated quite quaintly. It was a room that anyone would say belonged to a woman, but being a capsule and a computer. Filled with various tools, the quaintly decorated room felt a bit faded, but the owner of the room didn''t care. ''The Echo Willow video needs an attention-grabbing title too. The Fortress of the Past can simply be called "Clear," but it would be more effective to call it "The Demon King''s Fortress of the Past" without revealing the clear.'' After making various calculations, she finalized the edited videos and uploaded them to MeTube. She also hastily created and added a teaser at the end. The reaction would be huge, right? Rapid watched the uploading process with that thought. Even though the files were large, they would be uploaded in less than an hour. The first video to be uploaded was the Echo Willow "Punishment" video, with a simple title. [Echo Willow Newbie vs. Rapid Guild Newbie] Comparisons had always been an excellent way to attract attention. Using Echo Willow''s notoriety made it even more effective. The Fortress of the Past video, on the other hand, had a rather bland title. [Rapid''s Demon King, Fortress of the Past] After all, the "clear" was a powerful attention-grabber. Ahn Yoojin smiled as she watched the upload progress bar. ''I wonder how many subscribers will increase with this.'' Thanks to Seonghyun, she had gained another 1.5 million subscribers, nearing 22 million. What if the Fortress of the Past was promoted alongside it? The results would be unimaginable. And what if there were live streams of future raid videos? ''I need to send him an improved contract quickly.'' She knew he wasn''t someone who would go elsewhere. But seeing how much he was doing, she couldn''t help but want to raise the conditions. Of course, this meant Ahn Yoojin was working overtime every day. But it was her guild and her company that were growing. Anyway, she needed to log back in and handle her work. "Sigh..." It would be even more hectic once the uploads were complete. Then, Ahn Yoojin suddenly remembered something. ''Come to think of it, wouldn''t people recognize him if he used his real name as his ID?'' She was slightly worried. But Seonghyun wasn''t an uncommon name. And knowing Seonghyun''s personality, he probably wouldn''t care even if people recognized him. She decided to leave it as it was. 1. A group of young people were gathered, chatting amongst themselves. It wasn''t a high school reunion, but a gathering of university classmates and club members. The Web Novel Reading Club ¨C it was their meeting day. Today was a special occasion, as Seonghyun, who had been in the military, was joining them for the first time since his discharge. Everyone seemed excited. There was Lee Soojung, with her long, elegant hair, whom Seonghyun had met at the restaurant. Seo Yujin, with her short hair and pale face. Jung Harin, with her dyed blonde hair and slightly aloof demeanor. Lee Cheolmin, with his dark skin and short, sporty haircut. And finally, Song Jaemin, who had rather long hair and fair skin for a guy. Along with Seonghyun, they were all members of the Web Novel Reading Club. "Seonghyun really looks different after all this time. He''s, like, more manly." "Is it because he was in the military?" "Hey, then I''m even more manly, right?" "You''re more like a wild animal." When the girls glared at him coldly, Lee Cheolmin lowered his head with a dejected expression. To be fair, it was a bit difficult to compare him to Seonghyun. Seonghyun was quite popular at school. It wasn''t just his good looks; he was generally kind and had an aura that made it seem difficult to approach him. He was always calm and collected. That was the impression his friends had of him. Friends from high school and earlier, who knew Seonghyun''s personality, were used to it, but his university classmates and juniors were more intrigued by his mysterious aura, which only added to his popularity. "It''s great that Soojung got to see Seonghyun after so long." At Seo Yujin''s words, Lee Soojung nodded, looking pleased. Between the two of them, Song Jaemin asked with a puzzled expression. "But didn''t he still talk to us in the club''s chatroom? I thought he''d come because of that." Song Jaemin made a reasonable guess. But Seo Yujin countered, "Hey! Did Seonghyun come to places like this often?" "Well... he did come when we asked." "But was it easy to ask him?" "That''s true." "Soojung did a good job!" They were all chattering excitedly. Then, Jung Harin, who hadn''t said a word until now, spoke casually with a slightly haughty expression. "I wonder if Yoo Seonghyun will play Eternal World too?" [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 78 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 78 At Jung Harin''s words, the atmosphere instantly quieted down. It was almost as if their lively chatter from just moments before had never happened. However, everyone''s expressions remained excited. Eternal World was the hottest topic right now. It would be strange if he didn''t play Eternal World. But somehow, if it was Seonghyun... "Wouldn''t he... not play?" "Didn''t he hardly play any games before he went to the army?" "That''s right, he even refused when I asked him to go to a PC cafe to play games." "Maybe he just doesn''t like you, Cheolmin?" "Ah?! That''s a secret! Jaemin, why are you telling Cheolmin~" "That''s too much. Seriously..." "Anyway, I''m curious." Would Seonghyun play Eternal World? The game came out just when Seonghyun went to the army. They thought he might have started playing after his discharge. Everyone here played Eternal World. In fact, it was no exaggeration to say that they were more of an Eternal World club than a web novel reading club now. Not that there was any club that wasn''t like that. But this one was a bit extreme. They were all so immersed that they even gathered to hunt in parties. "Should we ask him?" "Good idea! Then you ask him." "Me, me? Can''t we do rock-paper-scissors?" "Hey, can''t you even ask that?" "Then Lee Cheolmin, you ask him." "......It''s not easy." "He''s saying ''It''s not easy.''" They were chattering noisily when Lee Soojung said expectantly. "It would be great if Seonghyun played too. If he hasn''t been playing for long, he could play with us." "We haven''t been playing for long either, and we have Harin, right?" "That''s right." "Harin is a pro." They all acknowledged Jung Harin. Everyone else had Normal or, at best, Rare rank classes, but she had an Epic rank class. They couldn''t help but acknowledge her skill. Even though they had all started playing only a month ago and had just finished their second job advancements, reaching level 50. It was quite fast for just one month. This was also thanks to Jung Harin''s skill. As they were talking about Jung Harin''s skill, Lee Cheolmin brought up a topic that had been trending yesterday. "Hey, did you guys see that the top rank in the Fortress of the Past changed yesterday?" "Ah, I saw that! Wait, wasn''t the top rank''s nickname Seonghyun?" "Yeah, yeah. I saw that too." "Really???" Seo Yujin asked, as if she hadn''t heard yet, and Song Jaemin nodded. The topic had shifted slightly, causing Jung Harin''s usually acknowledged expression to slightly distort. However, that was a common occurrence. More importantly, was the Seonghyun in the game the Seonghyun they knew? Belatedly, Seo Yujin checked her phone. Indeed, she could see that the only clear record, sitting at rank 1, belonged to a user named Seonghyun. "Wow!!! It''s real!!?" "Have you been living under a rock? It''s really Seonghyun!" "But... are we sure it''s the Seonghyun we know?" "Probably not, right? Seonghyun was supposed to be discharged this week, wasn''t he?" "Hmph, then it''s probably not him." When Jung Harin spoke, everyone nodded in agreement. Logically, how could someone who was discharged this week have already reached level 50? Even if he started playing before his discharge, he would have been in the military. No matter how many vacations he took, he couldn''t have just started and already be doing the Fortress of the Past. It must be a different person with the same name. As they all talked and dismissed it, Seo Yujin awkwardly smiled, as if a little disappointed. "Should... should we still ask him?" "Pfft, you can''t even ask if he plays Eternal World, how are you going to ask if that Seonghyun is him?" "That''s true. But Cheolmin would definitely do it. Besides, he said he''d ask!" "Hey!! When did I say that!!!" They were chattering like any other twenty-two-year-olds. Jung Harin looked at her friends with a slightly bored and nonchalant expression. Her skills were decent, and she had quite a bit of luck. She planned to pursue a career in gaming, thanks to her Epic rank class. In this era, large guilds were treated like major corporations. She had talent in this area, so it was definitely a good path for her. The benefits were great, and it was much better than a regular job. She hadn''t joined a guild yet, but she could probably get into any decent one, right? ''They say it''s harder to get into a big guild than a major company these days.'' Hanging out with her friends was fun, but it was time to think about the future. If... ''Hmph, if Seonghyun played too, he could at least keep me company.'' She had that thought for a moment. Jung Harin also had feelings for Seonghyun. It was possible that Seonghyun would be good at the game. But she didn''t consider that possibility. She had never met anyone who was better at Eternal World than her. "Ah, us? We''ve been playing for about a month? A month and a half? But our average level is 50." "That''s right, we even finished our second class advancements." "And that''s thanks to Harin, who helped us hunt faster. It''s usually hard to level up this quickly." "We were told that we''re quite fast." "It''s not common." When even Jung Harin joined in, Seonghyun''s face was filled with question marks, as if he was truly puzzled. That was fast? He seemed genuinely unable to understand. ''Wasn''t this a game where leveling up is fast?'' It had only been four days since Seonghyun started playing. And his level was 75. Even that was after dropping two levels to transcend Barpur. Of course, Seonghyun was abnormal, or rather, a monster, and this party was also quite impressive. Even if ordinary people played together in a party for two months, they would barely reach level 40. So, they could be considered fast. Compared to Seonghyun, they were slower than snails, but still. "......?" "Huh?" Everyone was bewildered by Seonghyun''s reaction. Why was he acting like that? He seemed puzzled, so they wanted to ask him, but they hesitated. At that moment, our hero Lee Cheolmin stepped up again. "What about you, Seonghyun?" "Me? Ah, my level?" "Yeah, and are you playing with anyone else?" At this point, everyone was looking at Lee Cheolmin with a bit of admiration. He was talking to Seonghyun so casually! But Song Jaemin, sitting next to Lee Cheolmin, could see it. Lee Cheolmin was wiping his sweaty hands on his pants. Anyway, at Lee Cheolmin''s question, Seonghyun nodded. Was he playing with someone else? Everyone''s expressions became a bit downcast, thinking it would be difficult to play together, but then they couldn''t believe what they heard next. "Yeah, I joined a guild. It''s called Rapid Guild, have you heard of it?" "......?" "......???" "......Huh?" "Wh-what?" "......What???" Jung Harin was especially shocked. Rapid Guild? Was he talking about the Rapid Guild they knew? No, that couldn''t be, right? He said he hadn''t been playing for long. Rank 3 in the guild rankings, and... Rapid Guild? The one with the solo ranker, Yuna? No way, right? With a dubious expression, Lee Cheolmin asked, trembling, "Th-that... Yuna-nim''s... rank... 3rd..." "Yeah, that''s the one." "Gah!?!?" "No way!?!?" "R-really!?" "W-wait a minute?! R-Rapid Guild!? For real!?" At that point, even Jung Harin, who had maintained her aloof attitude, couldn''t help but crumble. And belatedly, a wave of embarrassment washed over her. Had she just bragged about being good at Eternal World to a Rapid Guild member? There was a limit to showing off. As Jung Harin''s face turned bright red, everyone gulped and looked at Seonghyun. Was this for real? Then, a topic that had come up earlier suddenly crossed everyone''s minds. The top ranker in the Fortress of the Past was nicknamed Seonghyun. Could it be? Nah, that couldn''t be it. With that thought, Song Jaemin also asked in a trembling voice, "Th-then... the top rank in the Fortress of the Past... is that you, Seonghyun?" "Ah? Hmm, I was told not to say anything about that, but I think a video will be uploaded today." "Wow..." Although he didn''t say it explicitly, Seonghyun nodded in agreement. Everyone gulped with dumbfounded expressions. Then, Lee Cheolmin''s phone alarm went off. Since they were all in a daze, they reacted sensitively to the sound and turned their heads. Lee Cheolmin showed his phone to everyone with trembling hands. And on the screen, [Rapid''s Demon King, Fortress of the Past] A new video about the Fortress of the Past had been uploaded to the Rapid Guild channel. And glancing at the video, they could see that it was indeed a video of him clearing it. Jung Harin abruptly stood up and approached Seonghyun. Was she going to say something out of hurt pride? Everyone was so out of it that they couldn''t even think of stopping her and just watched blankly. Then, Jung Harin bowed her head, took something out, and said, "C-could I get your autograph?" It was an autograph request, something they hadn''t expected. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 79 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 79 0. [Echo Willow Newbies vs. Rapid Guild Newbie] [Rapid''s Demon King, The Fortress of the Past] New videos uploaded to the Rapid Guild''s MeTube channel. Two of them, no less! Both new videos featured Rapid''s rising star, the newbie commonly known as Rapid''s Demon King, Rookie Seonghyun. - Kyaaaaah!!!!! I''ve been waiting for this!!!! - WOW. - Oi oi! We''ve been waiting! - Finally!!!! It hadn''t been many days since the videos started being uploaded. No, to be precise, it hadn''t been many days since Seonghyun started, yet it was already achieving explosive popularity. Within an hour of being uploaded, it had already taken the top two spots in Eternal World''s trending videos. The enthusiasm was palpable. However, there were also negative reactions. Where there is strong light, there are deep shadows. Where there are fans, there are also many antis. - Seriously, lol, Rapid''s Demon King? What a load of BS. - Yeah, well, he probably couldn''t even get on The Fortress of the Past rankings anyway~ - Demon King, my ass, lol. - Yeah, Korea has Seonghyun~ Rapid Guild Rookie? Just another nobody~ - Honestly, what is there besides the production? Lol. Most of the negative opinions were like that. Basically, saying he was no better than someone who had cleared The Fortress of the Past. However, that public opinion was destined to flip like the back of a hand. The reason was obvious. Seonghyun was that Demon King of Rapid. - ????????????? - ????????Huh? - ??????Wait, bro? You''re Seonghyun??? - The Demon King is Seonghyun???? - Crazy;;;;; He just revealed his name;;; Dude''s a real man;;;; - Wow;;;;; That''s insane;;;;; So, the Rapid Guild members in The Fortress of the Past were bluffing? - Yeah;;; I guess so. - Wow....... At this point, everyone had to watch the videos. The videos, already popular due to the reputation of the Rapid Guild and Seonghyun''s recent rise, saw their popularity explode even further. The Fortress of the Past video took the number one spot in the overall trending category, and the Echo Willow ''lesson teaching'' video took second place. - Wow...... I knew he cleared The Fortress of the Past, but those two Echo Willow guild members couldn''t do anything even when they ganged up on him;;;. - He doesn''t even seem warmed up;;; - They''re not even a match;;; - Honestly, I should feel good watching the ''lesson teaching'' video, but I almost feel sorry for them....... - For real lol. Even those who had suffered from Echo Willow felt pity. Echo Willow video, showcasing their crushing defeat, was inevitably popular as well. However, the towering presence of The Fortress of the Past was simply insurmountable. It was truly an unscalable wall. The undead legions fighting against a massive army. The destructive power of the death legion commander Barpur and the Blood-Red Demon Knight, Balthar, who swept through their enemies, was equally immense. Seonghyun occasionally joined the fray using shadow transference here and there. But he always seemed to have plenty of room to spare. This was also the case in the final wave of The Fortress of the Past, wave 40. - He still seems to have some reserves? - That wasn''t his full power? - What on earth happens when he goes all out? - Seriously, though;;; - I hope the raid video comes out soon. - Since The Fortress of the Past is finished, will the next video be the raid? As everyone watched The Fortress of the Past video until the very end, with such aspirations, an additional clip, like a brief trailer, was included at the end. [Piaeeeeeeee!] A magnificent, grayish-white raid monster, resembling a giant hawk. And a video played, showing Seonghyun standing in front of that monster, slowly walking forward, and as the screen flickered, a phrase appeared. [Anemor Raid] People couldn''t help but be excited about the trailer that showed what the next video would be. - Wow!!!! I thought I was watching a movie! - Aaaah! Please upload the video quickly!!! Give us an extra teaser!!! - Crazy, this is the first time I''ve been this excited for a teaser in an Eternal World video!!! - Isn''t the Anemor Raid one that''s never been cleared yet? Upon hearing the name Anemor Raid, some people recognized it. They were that famous. It was only natural. - I heard the Rapid Guild challenged it yesterday? - Wow, so then??? - Yeah, yeah, apparently Rapid''s Demon King and Luna team went in together!!! - Wow, then why didn''t they live stream this!!!! - Rapid Guild usually doesn''t do live streams for their rookies. - Let''s protest! We absolutely need to protest this!!!! - This is real, we need a live stream of the Demon King, no, Seonghyun-nim''s raid!!!! The subscribers were in an uproar. They actually started sending protest emails and flooding the comments. Countless opinions desiring to see Seonghyun''s live stream. Naturally, the Rapid Guild had no choice but to respond. [Rapid Guild - It is difficult to give you an immediate answer, but we are reviewing it as positively as possible. Please understand that we ask for your patience as we are currently revising the contract.] Everyone had no choice but to accept that message. Someone like Seonghyun, even though his level was still low, deserved a revised contract. It wouldn''t be strange to give him a contract close to, if not the best in the industry. The internet was ablaze. People had no choice but to wait for the video. There were also many who protested, asking when the Anemor video would be released. Naturally, the fact that Rapid, in charge of editing, and the editing team were working while crying was not very important to the subscribers. ¡°Ughhh, Seonghyun-ah...... save me!!!¡± 1. Well, it would be absurd if they remained after logging out. Seonghyun, having some rather presumptuous thoughts, immediately left the Crystal Palace. For his travel, he naturally went above Anemor. The mobility was excellent, and the feeling of flying in the sky was more exhilarating than he had thought. As he looked around for a suitable dungeon, he found one with no player limit. The recommended level was level 80. It was probably the highest dungeon in the third town. It was also quite far from Serodin. ¡®Let''s go here.¡¯ The dungeon''s theme was a dark and gloomy labyrinth. The monsters that appeared were orc subspecies called Black Orcs. They were about 2 meters tall and had a larger build than humans. Was it because they lived in dark places? Their short fur and skin were darkish, and their eyes, perhaps developed for the darkness, seemed to clearly see Seonghyun even in the dark as they shouted. ¡°Kweeek! Kill! You!¡± ¡°Chweeek! Human!¡± Their speech was quite slurred, but their aggressive demeanor and weapon handling suggested they had decent intelligence. After observing these characteristics, Seonghyun wondered what to do first. Since the cooldown was over, he decided to use the skill first. He extended his palm and used Thousand Blood Swords. A drop of blood emerged and floated into the air. Pong! The blood drop began to multiply, turning into swords one by one. Last time, they looked like Eastern swords. But this time, they appeared as bastard sword shapes. The reason for the change was simply this. ¡®Oh, it''s possible like this too?¡¯ The thousand blood swords changed into the swords Seonghyun desired. Specifically, as the 150 blood swords floated in the air, the Black Orcs became very bewildered. ¡°Kweeek!? Swords! Floating!¡± ¡°Kweeek!? Very! Many!¡± There were only two orcs, but they seemed quite surprised, their eyes trembling. It would be troublesome if they got scared and ran away. As Seonghyun worried, Whether those worries were meaningless or not, the two orcs glared and shouted. ¡°Kweeek! Fight! You!¡± ¡°Kweeek! Kill! You!¡± The two Black Orcs rushed in, determined. It was just as he wanted. First, to conduct some experiments, Seonghyun observed the orcs'' attacking weapons and blocked them with two blood swords. Clanggggggg! A fierce collision resounded, piercing the ears. The two blood swords blocked the Black Orc''s powerful swing without any damage, causing the Black Orc to tremble. It wasn''t fear, but rather, they seemed to be putting all their strength into it. The problem was that the blood swords didn''t budge. Indeed, they didn''t break even when blocking attacks. ¡®They¡¯d make excellent shields too?¡¯ Seonghyun was dumbfounded by the overly good performance and utility. Moreover, the blood swords could be wielded without much difference from when Seonghyun swung them, as if his strength stat was being applied. In other words, Seonghyun''s strength stat was superior to that of the Black Orcs. Which meant... ¡®Their movement speed will also be affected by my agility?¡¯ He had to test it. For this test, Seonghyun moved the blood swords to their limit, aiming for the Black Orcs. Black Orcs were natural warriors! Therefore, they could perceive and avoid the initial speed of the flying blood swords. However, just avoiding one didn''t mean they could avoid all of them. Shoosh shoosh shoosh shoosh! As the blood swords flew in numbers too numerous to count, The Black Orcs had no choice but to take the attacks. Thwack! [The ¡ºOne Strike!¡» effect is activated!] Pierced deeply by the sharp tip of the bastard sword-like blood sword, The Black Orc, though in pain, endured without collapsing. However, after being pierced, the sword turned red-hot and then exploded. Puh-wooooooooo! ¡°Kweeek!¡± Exploding from the inside where it was pierced, The Black Orc couldn''t withstand the explosion, and flesh and blood scattered everywhere. The left shoulder was completely ruptured, and the left arm and shoulder were torn off by the explosion. ¡®Oh?!¡¯ The power was considerable. Even if the Black Orc''s defense wasn''t particularly high, This was sufficient. The damage was superior to Seonghyun''s bone arrows and close to that of the souls of the dead. But if there were 150 of them, it was a different story. Quantity could accumulate overwhelming damage. ¡°Kweeek!¡± ¡°Kweeek!¡± Though writhing in pain, The Black Orcs were enraged and tried to charge. Watching them, Seonghyun thought to himself. ¡®I¡¯ve tested the blood swords.¡¯ Now it was time for the next test. Then, a teal portal opened behind Seonghyun. And a giant walked out, emitting teal light from its eyes. The death beast, Barpur, walked out leisurely. [TL/N: Officially he is the ¡°Demonic Beast of Death¡± but for Simplicity¡¯s sake I¡¯ll address him as ¡°Death Beast¡± but in status window lines he will be ¡°Demonic Beast of Death¡±] Thump! Thump! Barpur looked different to the Black Orcs. He was clearly a humanoid giant, but In their eyes, he looked like death manifested in the world. Flash! [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 80 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 80 A light flashed. A shimmering teal light. So beautiful that the two Black Orcs, as if entranced by the light, reached out their hands. And then their hands disappeared. ¡°Kweeek?¡± ¡°Kweek?¡± Their hands were gone. Was it this light? Before the two Black Orcs could even register, The light touched their necks. Slice¡ª¡ª! Thump, thud. A single sound of something being severed. And then two heads were cut off and fell. They didn''t even realize they had been cut, they died with puzzled expressions because it happened so fast. ¡°Wow.¡± The death beast, Barpur. He had become incomparably stronger than before. It was said that he couldn''t adapt to the wraith body when he had no physical form. It was true. As Seonghyun briefly admired, Barpur knelt on one knee and bowed his head. -Thank you for calling me! Would you like me to clean this place up? His subtly folksy tone was still the same, which was amusing. His outer appearance had become incredibly imposing. Seonghyun was about to nod to Barpur, but then, as if it would be quite fun, he reopened the Netherworld and summoned Balthar and Fiora as well. Both of them, like Barpur, bowed their heads in a pose of obedience as soon as they were summoned and spoke. -I have answered the Lord¡¯s call. -I, I also answered the Lord''s call. Balthar with his confident and authoritative tone, and Fiora with her timid tone. With all three of them out, Seonghyun was about to say something when something suddenly came to mind. ¡°Ah, right! What about the shapeshifter?¡± Before the battle with Crescentra, he had kept the shapeshifter''s cub in the Netherworld, just in case. It would be a disaster if it got hurt. He asked if it had woken up. Fiora carefully presented the shapeshifter''s cub, holding it in her hands as if offering a gift. -It''s, it¡¯s here. ¡°Ah, it''s safe.¡± He felt a bit sorry for forgetting about it after sending it to the Netherworld. Just in case, he poked it. It still just wiggled its body. It still wasn''t waking up? [The shapeshifter is unable to awaken due to an unknown cause.] ¡®Unknown cause, huh.¡¯ What could it be? ¡®Hmm, well, dungeon first.¡¯ There was no way to know for now. Seonghyun put the shapeshifter back into his robe''s front pocket. At that moment, Fiora''s eyes became slightly wistful, but Seonghyun assumed it was because they were of the same species and moved on. The reason he summoned these three was simple. He wanted to test the power of Barpur, who had been reborn as a death beast. Currently, Fiora and Balthar were undoubtedly Seonghyun''s strongest. He needed to know how much more powerful Barpur was compared to them. Judging solely by physical abilities, Barpur was no less than Balthar. However, since their ''software'' was different, He was curious to see how it would turn out. "The reason I summoned you three is to clear this dungeon, and I want to see who catches the most. You three are the strongest among the summons I have." Everyone immediately understood Seonghyun''s intention and gladly accepted. He was worried they might feel offended, but Thankfully, they didn¡¯t. Rather, they seemed to think this was a good opportunity. All three had bright expressions. -Hoho! Rank is always important. I shall follow the Lord''s will. -Chwoong!!! If the master wishes, simply command! We merely follow! -O, okay! I''ll, I''ll do my best! As all three accepted, Seonghyun nodded as if to tell them to go. As a signal, the three darted out as if disappearing simultaneously. In terms of speed alone, the wraith Fiora was the fastest, followed by Balthar, and then Barpur, whose physical strength was superior to Balthar but who seemed unable to utilize it well. As expected, the difference in ''software'' couldn''t be ignored. What would the outcome be? ¡®It might be an interesting competition.¡¯ Seonghyun thought. The labyrinth was vast, so Seonghyun thought he would have no problem flying around. He gathered the blood swords into one and stood on them. Everyone would be doing it fairly, but He needed to see the competition. Seonghyun followed them at a high speed. Riding on over a hundred blood swords. Whoooooo! As he cut through the wind and followed, The one in the lead was none other than Fiora. Fiora rushed in with a shooting speed, transformed her arm into a thin, long sword, and swung it in one swift motion. Five Black Orcs, in that instant, couldn''t even react to Fiora''s flashing arm and had their necks taken. Slice¡ª¡ª! Thump! Thud! However, not all Black Orcs were killed instantly. He couldn''t understand. [TL/N: It''s Pretty Obvious to be fair but I guess he is a new player so he couldn¡¯t understand] Perhaps the system didn''t fully understand this mechanism either? As Seonghyun was deep in thought, He saw Balthar nudging Fiora slightly, as if pressing her. He poked Fiora in the side. ¡°???¡± What were they doing? As Seonghyun looked at them, wondering what was going on, Fiora was startled and stammered. -Hueee. -Tell him, Fiora. -It''s... right. You have to tell him to... know. Ahem ahem. Feeling something was off about their conversation, Seonghyun tilted his head. Fiora gathered a bit of courage and stepped forward. She seemed to have something to say. Seonghyun looked at Fiora, as if to say it was okay. Fiora flinched and bowed deeply. Why was she stalling like that? ¡°It¡¯s okay, just tell me, Fiora.¡± -Th, th, th-this, my body... is, is another friend using... it??? ¡°......???¡± What do you mean, Fiora? As Seonghyun put numerous question marks on his face, unable to understand, Fiora trembled and pointed to the shapeshifter in Seonghyun''s robe''s front pocket and spoke again. -Th, this. ¡°Huh? No, way?¡± -It is presumptuous to ask the Lord, but I, along with Fiora, am curious when you will grant her body, the shapeshifter, and I take the liberty of asking. -Th, that¡¯s right. ¡°??????¡± Rather, Seonghyun took out the shapeshifter''s cub with a questioning expression. This was Fiora''s body? Come to think of it. Her body was revived in the form of the last phoenix, wasn''t it? But Fiora''s soul was wandering around. Recalling his memories, Seonghyun remembered a similar case from the past and thought. ¡®It''s like Mr. Choi!¡¯ There was a time when his father was injured and hospitalized. At that time, Mr. Choi''s soul, who was unconscious in the intensive care unit, used to wander around the hospital. He was initially puzzled by it. People close to death often experience astral projection. Could it be that Fiora was in that state? So the shapeshifter hadn''t woken up! ¡°Ah! Sorry, Fiora! I thought it was your cub.¡± -Hueeee!? -Cough, cough, Lo, Lord, but, pfft, to call Fiora, who hasn''t even gotten married yet, a mother. -Th, that''s right. Th, that Fiora senior... ¡°Ah, ah, sorry. Ahem, anyway, it¡¯s Fiora''s body, right?¡± As Seonghyun quickly changed the subject, feeling embarrassed. Anyway, everyone agreed, as if confirming it was correct. As if he had just learned a secret, Seonghyun shook his head and used his ability. Now that he knew, he could simply switch them. With his power, Seonghyun pulled Fiora''s soul out of the wraith body and immediately lodged it into the shapeshifter''s body. Then, Woooooo-oong! A mysterious and mystical light, appearing to be both deep blue and teal, emanated from the shapeshifter''s body. And as if the shapeshifter''s body was about to break, cracks gradually appeared in it from the light. Like something breaking out of an egg. Eventually, the light shattered, and what was placed on Seonghyun¡¯s hand began to grow larger than his hand. Soon, breaking free from Seonghyun''s hand, a small, fairy-like child appeared, resembling a slime material but with a human form, looking shy. -Hehe, th, thank you. As Fiora awoke, something like a note fell from her arms. ¡°What¡¯s this.......¡± As Seonghyun picked up the note, Phrases appeared, making his eyes spin. [The shapeshifter has awakened.] [You have perfectly awakened the ¡ºOverlord¡»''s pet.] [You have found a note that the shapeshifter cub was holding.] [Checking conditions.] [Clear The Fortress of the Past (Completed)] [¡ºOverlord¡» 2nd Class Advancement (Completed)] [¡ºOverlord¡» Pet Release (Completed)] [All conditions have been met.] [You can check the note.] [¡ºOverlord¡» Main Quest has begun.] [Event scene is playing.] ¡°Huh? Main quest?¡± There was a main quest? Before Seonghyun could compose himself from his surprise, The situation began to change rapidly. The surrounding scenery all melted and disappeared. Like the cutscene he had experienced before, it started playing. And the scenery he saw was a familiar place to Seonghyun. ¡®Helena¡¯s Garden?¡¯ It seemed to be after the incident where the black star appeared and isolated the space. Dark storm clouds and traces of space isolation were visible around. Similarly, Fiora''s body had already turned to ashes and disappeared. However, he could feel someone approaching in that state. Tap, tap. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 81 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 81 Footsteps echoed. Despite clearly seeing it, Seonghyun couldn''t discern if it was a man, a woman, an old person, or a child. All he could perceive was its undeniable presence. Its identity remained shrouded in mystery. As this being turned its head, it felt as if their eyes met. ''Can it see me?'' The thought flashed through Seonghyun''s mind. The being surveyed the area, including where Seonghyun was, and then gazed up at the sky. It was likely just a coincidence. After scanning the surroundings, the being murmured with a hint of pity. -So, Fiora, you''ve gone too. You should have heeded ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö''s advice. Seonghyun could sense the regret and sorrow in the being''s voice and the almost melancholic gaze. But that was all. The being placed a note on Fiora''s charred remains and spoke again. -I will be in the Dark Fortress. If the successor they so eagerly await arrives, tell them to come. With those words, the isolated space seemed to tremble, and the entire garden shook. Then, the being declared, -If they wish to carry on the Overlord''s legacy, tell them to come to the Dark Fortress. Until then, I will not acknowledge any successor. Having spoken, the being vanished without a trace. How it could appear in this isolated space, or how it disappeared, remained unknown. Yet, Seonghyun gleaned one thing from this: ''This is the start of the main quest.'' It was the prelude to the main quest. Soon after the being''s final words, Seonghyun returned to his original world. At the end of the dungeon, upon witnessing the start of the main quest and reading the note, a new message appeared. [¡ºOverlord¡»-exclusive quest, the main quest, ¡ºEntrance to the Dark Fortress¡», has been generated.] ''So, it''s a search quest.'' ¡ºEntrance to the Dark Fortress¡». Perhaps it''s not yet discoverable? Or is the quest to find the entrance first? As Seonghyun pondered, the quest window materialized. The note''s contents were also listed within the quest window. ¡ºEntrance to the Dark Fortress¡» ¡ú¡¶Main¡· ¡úMain Quest. ¡úIt is said that after the death of the Overlord, who existed since ancient times, the Overlord''s followers formed a group called the Over Palace. However, not all of the Overlord''s followers joined them. There were those who chose a different path from the Over Palace, led by the former Overlord''s disciple. Perhaps realizing they could not coexist, they lived quietly in the shadows, unlike the Over Palace. And you, one of them, discovered a note left by that being. ¡ºIf this note is found, it must be the one who possesses Fiora''s reincarnation, the successor to our Lord. While the Over Palace may not, we have no intention of accepting a successor yet. However, to deny you without even giving you a chance would be a great discourtesy to our Lord. Therefore, we convey this to the nameless successor. Seek me out. To the Dark Fortress. We await here with the legacy left by our Lord.¡» Currently, the only clue is this note. You must find the entrance to the Dark Fortress. You could ignore it, but for some reason, you strongly felt that you shouldn''t. Find the entrance to the Dark Fortress. ¡úOverlord-exclusive Main Quest. ¡úReward: Leads to the next quest. ¡úFailure: Main Quest lost, some Overlord-exclusive skills and items lost. It was quite lengthy. Focusing on the main point: ''So, they want me to come because they''ve placed something important there?'' Will they acknowledge me if I find it? A rather unfriendly note and quest. However, he couldn''t just leave it be. First, since the note was the clue, he carefully folded it and placed it in his inventory. It seemed to be a clue that couldn''t be used right away. However, Seonghyun had various individuals with him. First, Helena''s memories were a pass. He couldn''t read all her memories, and some were locked, so they weren''t complete. It seemed Seonghyun''s abilities were not yet sufficient to read all of Helena''s vast memories. So, ''It would be great if Helena were here.'' But seeing as she hadn''t awakened yet, there might be no guarantee even if he waited. So, he could ask the other two. Fiora and Baltar. Seonghyun looked at them and pondered for a moment before asking. "Do you happen to know where the Dark Fortress is?" -Oh my, the Dark Fortress. It''s been a while since I heard that name. -Ah, the Dark Fortress...! Helena''s garden was also in the Dark Fortress! It''s, it''s separated now... "Oh?" They answered faster than he expected. ''It should explode upon impact, not just for enemies but anything.'' The power output was also slightly stronger, but that was due to Seonghyun''s absurdly high stats, so the error would be reduced. First of all, the fact that it didn''t explode when hitting terrain was the worst. Using it for defense like that was also beyond expectations. If it were to be corrected, a duration would have to be set, and the setting that it explodes upon impact with anything would have to be added. Of course, changing it wasn''t a big deal. It could be changed with a single click in Immortal. But the problem was, ''If user Seonghyun protests, it''s over...'' Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong quickly searched for previous Epic-rank skill error cases and checked the compensation. And he had a look of despair. ''Same skill given...'' And it was Legendary, of all things? Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong hung his head low. If Associate Oh Jinhyeok had spoken a little sooner? They could have somehow covered it up with the treasure vault''s rewards. A gnashing sound was heard from Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s mouth. "Eek!" "Hoo... well, I have to submit this reward compensation approval. Legendary, of all things..." "B-but, if they still protest after that..." "...We''ll have to give additional compensation. I''d probably do the same. So, don''t just give one Legendary item and call it even; give other rewards too..." He felt like his insides were turning upside down. No, they really were upside down. He had a stomach cramp. His insides were churning, burning, and a mess, but they couldn''t do anything about it. Because if he didn''t clean up the mess they''d made now, he''d be in bigger trouble. Anyway, ''Now the main quest is starting.'' It was troublesome, but at least it was a relief. With this main quest, they could buy some time. There weren''t any hidden secrets or anything in the main quests. It was just Seonghyun getting what he was supposed to get. Was it somewhat okay? Plus, ''The Hero side is also temporarily taken care of. At least things won''t be too busy, right?'' They had temporarily reduced some of the Over Palace''s restrictions to hinder the Hero side''s forces. So, it was difficult for the Hero side to move. Moving individually was one thing, but at least the Hero side as a group wouldn''t move. The Heroes moving individually could be a big hindrance to Seonghyun now, but it didn''t seem likely. If they had any sense, the Hero side''s organization would keep the Heroes from acting recklessly. That was his hope. Still, that was some consolation, and his stomachache seemed to ease a bit. Or not? As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong tried to get up, feeling the burning stomach acid, he saw on the screen that a colleague from the next team had urgently sent him a message. What was going on? He hoped it was nothing serious, but of course, it wasn''t. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong urgently checked the message. [Emergency! Hero descendant Luke and Sage descendant Flinky discovered a clue about the ''Dark Fortress.'' Confirmed to be a location related to the Overlord. They say they''re going to investigate. Please verify the Overlord side.] Dark Fortress? He had definitely seen that somewhere. Not that long ago. Just now. "??????" With a blank expression, he peeked at Seonghyun''s quest window. Main Quest - Entrance to the Dark Fortress. And the clue found by Hero Luke was the Dark Fortress? So, were they going to meet? Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s mind went blank for a moment as he stared at it. Then he urgently rushed to Team Leader Jung Jihye''s desk. Thump! Clatter! He almost tripped on the way, but somehow managed to keep his balance and ran. Team Leader Jung Jihye also looked at Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong with an ominous expression, as he said, "H-Hero Luke is going to the Dark Fortress." "Dark Fortress? Out of the blue?" "And based on Seonghyun''s play, the main quest has started..." "N-no way!?" Just as "no way" often becomes reality, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong nodded. Team Leader Jung Jihye closed her eyes and made an internal call to someone. And when a man with a manly face, who always laughed with a "Heo-heo-he!" answered the phone, she said, "Deputy Manager Lee Jaekyung... we need to mobilize the Over Palace." -Hehehe! I said I would, didn''t I? Okay, release the Over Palace apostles'' restrictions up to the second stage! As if something terrible was about to happen, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong and Team Leader Jung Jihye closed their eyes. In the end, the Over Palace was mobilized. "...N-nothing bad will happen, right?" "...I hope so." It wasn''t an answer that things would be okay, but a statement filled with personal hope. But why? Team Leader Jung Jihye realized for the first time that those words sounded so cruel. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 82 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 82 3. One of the places users refer to as the Twelfth Town. And a place NPCs call the Capital of Knights, Kalibarron. ¡°The hero''s journal? But even if he''s passed, reading someone else''s journal is a bit..." "...Flingky, anyone who hears you will get the wrong idea." "Wait! Really?" The boy, called Flingky, smiled innocently, pretending not to know anything. Luke, the handsome young man called Hero, was quite displeased with that sight. But what could he do? He couldn''t scold his younger brother, so he let it go for the moment. This wasn''t the time to argue about right and wrong. "Ahem, and this isn''t a diary, it''s a log. A log written by the former Hero Hindel while pursuing the one known as the Demon King." "Oh! It''s from when he was chasing the former Overlord!? No wonder you brought me here when I mentioned Seonghyun! So something like this existed!" "Um... please refrain from saying things that could be easily misconstrued." Anyway, Flingky finally seemed a bit interested and looked at the log. And among those entries, Luke pointed to one place and said, "This place seems promising." "Oh? ''Dark Fortress''? Oh! Indeed." "As expected, you understood right away." "Of course! I''m a descendant of the Sage, you know! Serodin Town, where Seonghyun currently is, is called the Third Town by the outsiders, right? This place is the Twelfth Town, or City, as they call it. Anyway, Sermath, where this Dark Fortress was located, is also called a Third Town." Hero Luke nodded at Flingky''s words. That was correct. He wanted to go to Serodin immediately to see Seonghyun, but all the key figures of Kalibarron were blocking him. While that was happening, Seonghyun might have moved elsewhere, so he thought it might be too late. But he could glean information from this log. He deduced that Seonghyun might have headed towards Sermath. "Hmm, you seem quite interested in Seonghyun?" "Of course, I am. The one who killed my ancestor and predecessor, Hindel, was the Overlord. So I have to see what the descendant of the Overlord is like." "Hmm, are you planning to kill him?" Flingky spoke with a calm attitude and voice. But Hero Luke, who had been with Flingky often, could sense it. That it was a clear indication of hostility. ¡®Did Flingky assume that I held a grudge against the name Overlord?¡¯ Perhaps. But. "I don''t know yet." "Hmm?" "However, I have a destiny to unravel the mystery of Hindel''s death. There''s something unsettling about Hindel''s death, the death of the former Overlord, and the Demon King as described in various ancient texts. I simply want to know what it is." "First of all, though?" He nodded without hesitation at Flingky''s words. With pure sincerity. Only then did Flingky return to his usual self. "Well, that''s about it." "Hmm, then let''s head towards Sermath. Even if the one you call Seonghyun isn''t there, we can surely find traces of Hindel." "Excellent!" As their journey was decided, Unfortunately, an unseen translucent teal ghost shook his head behind them and murmured. -Oh my, why are you going there, successors... Just stay here and quietly train... No, you shouldn''t use a sword like that. Instead of training, you''re always wandering around. Oh, this is driving me crazy. Are all young people like this these days? No, but then again, the descendant of the Sage, is doing well... Sigh. What sins... have I committed, though I did commit some. He seemed quite frustrated, And was being rather talkative. 4. Sermath. A mysterious town where three stars always hang in the sky. However, no one cared about those stars. The only thing users who visit this town want is the Chasm of Despair. The Chasm of Despair, a region overflowing with immense black magic for some reason. Unlike naturally formed chasms, It remained as a trace of some great and colossal being roughly torn away. Some users, looking at the Chasm of Despair, speculated that it might be a trace left by a mythological being that existed in the past, according to the game''s setting. Seonghyun, who arrived in Sermath, was also having similar thoughts. "Wow..." Is this really the trace of Helena tearing away the Dark Fortress? Is it even possible for a human to do something like this in the first place? A chasm that easily spans several kilometers in width and at least 10 kilometers in length. ¡®To think this was artificially created.¡¯ Even knowing it, it''s hard to believe. Though he shouldn''t think such thoughts, ''Is this why she was treated as a Demon King?'' Even Seonghyun, who had absorbed Helena''s memories and experiences, couldn''t help but think that. People of that era would have felt that even more so. It was a bit scary. Anyway. He had to search this place. But that was quite daunting. It happened in an instant. As they fell, "Kik kik?" "Kik?" "Kek kek?" "Kere hek?" All the imps watching were puzzled. What just happened? They had just flown up confidently, giggling, and then lost their balance and fell. That''s what the imps saw. Not knowing the cause, they slowly crawled out one by one. As they spread their wings and flew out of the forest towards Seonghyun, The scene was like watching a swarm of locusts. So many that the sky was momentarily covered by a swarm of black imps. But something sparkling flew through them at super speed. Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Small sounds echoed from everywhere. And with those sounds, the imps began to fall like rain. It was such an amazing area-of-effect skill that even Seonghyun was surprised. He was amazed by the amount of experience pouring in, but he was even more amazed by the rain of imps falling as soon as they flew up. ''Is this even okay?'' Wouldn''t other users think it was strange? The power was so great that even Seonghyun was concerned. Clearly, there was no trace or sign of an area-of-effect skill. Yet, it was vividly demonstrating the effect of an area-of-effect skill. Thud, thud, thud. As countless imps fell, It looked as if they were charging. The users below couldn''t help but swear. "Damn it! There''s a crazy bastard flying in the sky!?" "You used a flight skill? Here?" "Ah! If you want to draw aggro, do it alone! Now all the imps are flying up, making us targets too!" "Seriously! Should we kill that bastard too?" The disgruntled users said, watching the imps flying towards them. But something was off. The imps, who normally would have been giggling and making annoying noises, weren''t doing so. And the way they were charging was strange. "Th-that''s weird, isn''t it?" "Eh, eh?" "Eh, eh?" "?????" Soon everyone realized something was wrong. Thud, thud, thud, as the imps fell, their corpses all hit the ground and were covered in blood. Each one had a small hole in their head. They weren''t all alive and charging at them. Making so many imps fall like rain? Was this even possible? At first, they thought it was just a high-level idiot who didn''t know what he was doing and flew up. And that was partly true. But seeing him handle all the aggro alone, "......????" "Wh-what is this...???" "Wh-what did we just see???" "Is-is this possible at our level...???" "I-I don''t know, damn it!!! If I knew, I''d be doing it too!!!" "Hey, didn''t you say you were going to kill him earlier???" "P-please be quiet." The users who saw the scene nearby were still in shock, standing there for a long time, watching in disbelief. How much experience did he get from that? Such curiosity did arise, but. They couldn''t dare to approach him. Unaware that the users were still in shock, Seonghyun was satisfied with the decent amount of experience. [Level Up!]¡Á3 [You are now level 78.] This was enough. "Fiora, well done." -Heheh. He gently stroked Fiora''s head, who had unleashed a tremendous skill. Seonghyun then looked at the paper bird flying next to him and said, satisfied, "Shall we go again then?" Flap flap flap flap! In response to Seonghyun''s question, the paper bird nodded vigorously for some reason, guiding the way with a slightly more polite attitude than before. He wondered why, but. Seonghyun didn''t pay much attention. As long as it guided the way. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 83 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 83 5. An absolute palace, impervious to any intrusion, untouched by any external hand throughout history. The Over Palace. The somber, massive fortress remained still within its gloomy, black veil. Within this place, where only a quiet, lonesome air lingered, an old man knelt before the throne, sensing the loosening of the world''s suppression that enveloped the Over Palace. The old man, constrained by the world''s limitations due to his overwhelming strength, finally realized that the moment had arrived. "Ah, finally." Yet, he did not relax. The world''s will was ever capricious. It could change again at a moment''s notice. He already knew the reason. It was likely due to the movement of the foolish hero''s descendant. All information flowed through the old man''s grasp. Perhaps it was because he was too powerful? Too thorough? He had to live under the world''s surveillance. The world''s will, as meticulous as he was, did not allow even the smallest gap. He had barely managed to pass a clumsy piece of magic to his successor, evading the world''s eyes. But now. The world''s will, which had been binding them, had loosened. For the first time, he felt gratitude toward the foolish hero''s descendant. Where else could such an opportunity arise? Thus, the old man, or rather, the Black Star, commanded. "Three Calamities, attend." He did not specify whom to attend. Nor where to go. Only the command to attend. Behind the Black Star''s back, the shadows of a raven, a doll, and a fragmented corpse flickered. They wavered like flickering candlelight, then vanished quickly. Watching them disappear, the Black Star raised his head with a hint of regret. The empty throne, left alone, caught his eye. The Black Star recalled the glorious days of the distant past and looked at the throne with a sense of loneliness. He could feel the presence of one who was once a comrade. But now, they had walked different paths. Sensing the presence of his old friend, who had diverged from his path, the Black Star moved his lips with a forlorn expression. "Nocturnium, did it truly have to be so?" His voice, tinged with a hint of blame yet also a sense of self-reproach for failing to care for him, echoed through the empty audience chamber with a feeling of futility, and no one answered. What would have happened if his former master and teacher, a woman from a long time ago, were here? What would she have said? Would she have scolded him? Or would she have praised his efforts despite everything? He could not know. Too much time had passed. At the same time, he missed her. Even if he were to be scolded. Even if he were to be criticized for failing to care for his comrades. He wished to see her once more. His master, whom he could never see again. Thus, he could understand his friend, now distant. The Black Star, he too, felt longing. Merely, "I will remain here, assisting the successor." He would only carry on her legacy, his master, his teacher, his mother. He would blindly follow her will. That was all. The tear stains, now shriveled, leaving no trace, Were etched into his soul, remaining forever in his memory. Cherishing the longing ingrained in his soul. He would assist his new master. This time, he would become the teacher, guiding him. He would serve the new king, the new monarch, the new master. All that he, a foolish disciple and a slave, could do Was to remember the warm hand that had reached out to him in the distant past and repay that kindness. That was all. 6. The Chasm of Despair had become quite pleasant. After sweeping through the surroundings once. It had become considerably easier to move. Could this still be called despair? He did not think for a moment that he had gone too far. Following the paper bird to this rather comfortable place, Seonghyun was able to approach the cliff on one side of the chasm. "Is this the entrance, I guess?" -Yep, it seems so When Seonghyun said that, Fiora agreed. And the paper bird was nodding its head vigorously, as if in agreement. Its politeness was pleasing to see. Anyway, since they had arrived, There was no need to worry about how to open the door. As the paper bird approached, [The door opens upon fulfilling the conditions.] As always, a message appeared, and Kugugugu¡ª¡ª! What was clearly a cliff split open like doors to the left and right, allowing entry inside. The paper bird, or rather, the note, was the key. Once the door opened, The paper bird, having fulfilled its role, turned back into a note and fluttered to the ground. Seonghyun carefully retrieved the note, placed it back into his inventory, and entered the cliff''s interior. As Seonghyun entered, The door quickly closed, leaving only deep darkness. For Seonghyun, the Overlord, the pinnacle of black magic, it was not particularly bothersome, but... Looking around, There weren''t any torches to speak of. But it wasn''t as if he couldn''t see in the dark. He paid it no mind and walked down the long corridor. ''Quite spacious.'' A huge passage where even if he were to summon Barpur, he could walk comfortably. As he walked along that passage. Arctura sneered as he saw Seonghyun drawing his sword. ''Foolish caster. Heh heh heh.'' He should have used magic or defended himself, but he drew a sword? A caster who had lost his mind. As Arctura mocked Seonghyun inwardly, ''Hmm, shall I try it?'' Watching Arctura, who was slightly smaller than a human and slightly larger than a goblin, he recalled a memory. Facing Arctura, who was charging with his sharpened arms forward, Seonghyun held the Apprentice Hero Hindel''s sword and lightly stepped forward, touching the ground. His foot, gliding across the ground as if slipping, drew a graceful circle and rotated his body, naturally moving to the side of Arctura, who was charging towards his front. The movement was so fluid that even Arctura, who was right in front of him, felt like Seonghyun had teleported. As Seonghyun moved the sword upward in a sweeping motion, Arctura was startled and crossed his arms in an X to block the sword. If he stood still, his torso and chest would be sliced open. But why was it? The sword swayed as if dancing, transforming into two, then three strands, deceiving Arctura''s eyes like phantoms. Due to Seonghyun''s simultaneous and fluid footwork, he was genuinely confused as to what was real, and a gap opened between Arctura and Seonghyun. Swish¡ª¡ª! [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] Swooosh¡ª! "Kyaaaaaaa!" Black blood gushed out from a long slash that extended from his shoulder to his abdomen. As if spilling blood once wasn''t enough, blood continued to gush out. It didn''t seem like natural healing could stop the bleeding. There wasn''t even a hint of it stopping. What kind of sorcery was used? It was incomprehensible. He flapped his wings and retreated the moment his body was cut, so he avoided the follow-up attack, but Seonghyun was still a threat. ''Amazing.'' The memories and experiences of the knight absorbed from the Crystal Palace were superior to any other ghosts he had absorbed, except for Helena. The swordsmanship of one who had risen to the commander of the royal knights in the distant past was now being displayed in the present. Was he intimidated by the momentum? Arctura shuddered, trembling as he saw Seonghyun take his stance. Wasn''t he a caster? How could he use such high-level swordsmanship? It was incomprehensible. And from behind the unguarded Arctura, Thwunk¡ª¡ª! "Kuh-ugh." An arm like a black shadow spear pierced through Arctura''s heart. As Fiora''s arm pierced Arctura''s heart, Seonghyun also rushed toward Arctura and swung his sword. The sword, swung with the swordsmanship in mind, drew a graceful curve and severed Arctura''s neck. Arctura''s severed head fell limply to the floor. Swish¡ª¡ª! Thump, roll. [Critical Hit!] [You have defeated the gatekeeper, low-ranking demon Arctura.] [You have gained experience.] ''The memory of swordsmanship is incredible.'' He had realized that his swordsmanship was quite excellent by now and also grasped Fiora''s versatile fighting style. It hadn''t been a meaningless time. Still. ''Is it because I don''t have a swordsmanship skill? The damage is extremely weak.'' The damage was too weak, so he felt a bit of regret. If it hadn''t been for Fiora''s attack, he wouldn''t have been able to cut down Arctura so easily. Until he obtained a swordsmanship skill, he should refrain from using swordsmanship for a while. As Seonghyun thought so to himself, -H-hee! You, you were really amazing! "Hmm? Really?" -Yes, yes! I-it was different from Lord Baltar''s swordsmanship, but it felt like it contained extremely profound mysteries!! Fiora, who was quite excited, said so. Seonghyun, feeling a bit embarrassed and shy, smiled and stroked Fiora''s head. And then he silently moved forward. As Seonghyun, satisfied, went further ahead, He soon found a massive door. It resembled the door of the stone chamber that Seonghyun had seen during his second class advancement. However, unlike then, the eyes of the undead or demons were not glowing, and he could only see an ominous aura swirling around. -I-I think this is it. "Hmm." Seonghyun nodded at Fiora''s words. Could he complete the quest by entering here? As Seonghyun placed his hand on the door, thinking that, [Conditions have been met.] [The door to the past opens.] [Checking the ¡ºOverlord¡» main quest.] [Entering the time of the past.] [Fiora returns to the Netherworld.] [While in the past, the gate to the Netherworld cannot be opened.] [All levels in the past are adjusted to the current level of user ¡ºSeonghyun¡».] Before he could even question the incomprehensible messages that flashed before his eyes, Seonghyun''s body was absorbed into the door as if being sucked in. Fiora, who had been there just a moment ago, had disappeared, and Seonghyun felt a brief sense of floating, watching the scenery change around him. Although it was originally inside a cave within the cliff, The new scenery was a forest under a bright sky. Although it was broad daylight, he could hear the sound of firewood crackling in front of him, as if they were sitting by a campfire. Crack, snap! Crackle. He could feel the warm heat, indicating that the campfire was some distance away, and quite a few people were gathered around it. Seonghyun was one of them. And in the middle of them, a man with a somehow familiar aura. Yet, it was someone he had never seen before in his life. He was surrounded by a dazzling, cosmic aura, exuding a mysterious atmosphere. He had a benevolent and warm expression, as if he could embrace everything, yet also exuded an aura that could overwhelm everything. That mysterious and powerful man looked at Seonghyun and said, "Welcome, Seonghyun. I have already heard of your reputation and came to find you, so let me introduce myself first. I am Hindel, who is being called a hero, though I am still inexperienced." "......???" Hindel? Hero Hindel? Why was he here? [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 84 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 84 The moment he heard the name, Seonghyun froze. Hindel? As in, the Hero Hindel? Countless thoughts raced through his mind. Isn''t this the past, here for the Overlord main quest? Meeting Hindel means... ''Am I supposed to fight Hindel?'' He truly didn''t know what to do. Just then, Hindel gave an awkward smile and said, looking embarrassed, "Ahaha... you''ve never heard of me, have you? I haven''t quite made a name for myself yet, so it''s understandable..." "No, I have. I''ve heard of Hero Hindel." "Oh? You have? What have you heard...?" Crap. Is this an interrogation? If Seonghyun weren''t as calm and collected, he might have panicked. But Seonghyun wasn''t going to be easily rattled. He quickly scanned Hindel''s appearance. He wasn''t sure what time period this was, but perhaps Hindel had recently shed his apprentice status? Looking at his sword, it seemed much better than the one Apprentice Hero Hindel had wielded. So, seizing the moment, Seonghyun said, "That you sealed away the vicious demonic beast... Barpur." "Ah! I''m... I''m embarrassed. Haha. That was just a small feat from my apprentice days, but you know about it." "...Haha." Saved. Seonghyun wiped away his cold sweat and swallowed hard. He''d managed to brush it off with an awkward laugh. Surely he wouldn''t ask more? But what was he supposed to do here? Seonghyun was puzzled, unable to grasp the situation. Hindel spoke cautiously. "Phew... I''m sure you''re wondering why I sought you out." Indeed, he was very curious. But Seonghyun waited patiently. Hindel continued, "This is... it''s quite embarrassing and I''m very sorry to ask such a favor as a hero..." Surely he wasn''t going to ask him to die? Seonghyun remained on guard. Ready to fight at any moment. But the atmosphere was a little different. Both Hindel and his companions seemed... "Could you perhaps help us on our way to the Dark Fortress?" "...???" "We lack the strength to go alone, and we need assistance. That Dark Fortress is where the infamous Demon King Helena resides, so we implore you to lend us your strength. Of course, there will be a reward..." "Wait, me? To the Dark Fortress...?" Was this really okay? This was the Overlord main quest, yet he was being asked to side with the hero and attack the previous Overlord? Was this some kind of succession of the throne? As Seonghyun''s mind swirled with confusion, Hindel continued, "Ahem, I know you''re a black mage, so you don''t need to worry too much. Not all black mages are evil, after all." "I... suppose so?" He wanted to ask why they were going to attack Helena, but he couldn''t bring himself to. ¡®Let''s just stay quiet for now.¡¯ "But if we leave Demon King Helena as she is, the world will descend into chaos. With her power, greater than even the archdukes of hell, no one knows when she might destroy the world." "...Ah." He knew that wouldn''t happen, but... As he was trying to figure out what to do in this situation, the system offered a helping hand. [Transferred to the past of the Dark Fortress.] [A sub-quest for the ¡ºOverlord¡» exclusive main quest, ¡ºEntrance to the Dark Fortress¡», has been generated.] [¡ºOverlord¡» exclusive sub-quest, ¡ºTogether with the Enemy of the Past¡», has been generated.] So that meant... With a hopeful thought, Seonghyun opened the quest window. As expected, hope can be deceiving. ¡ºTogether with the Enemy of the Past¡» ¡ú¡¶Main-Sub¡· ¡úSub-Quest ¡úHaving arrived at the Chasm of Despair, the location where the Dark Fortress once stood in the present, to find the Dark Fortress, you were able to enter the cave inside the cliff according to the note''s guidance. Having defeated the gatekeeper there and passed through the gate, you find yourself in the distant past. Having encountered the hero of the past, you receive a proposition from the hero. The proposition is to attack the Dark Fortress together, where the previous Overlord, the first Overlord, Helena, resides. Having returned to the past, you decide to accept the hero''s proposal to see what the Dark Fortress of the past looked like. Head to the Dark Fortress with Hero Hindel. ¡úOverlord Exclusive Sub-Quest ¡úReward: Clues to the entrance of the Dark Fortress, additional rewards (Hero Hindel''s commission fee). *Hero Hindel''s commission fee varies depending on your performance. ¡úFailure: You repeat the past. ''Seriously?'' Join hands with Hero Hindel and attack the Dark Fortress where Helena resides? Anyone would see it as a suicidal act. And they''re proposing this? Seonghyun looked at Hero Hindel with a truly dumbfounded expression. Perhaps sensing the meaning behind Seonghyun''s expression, Hero Hindel and his companions'' faces fell. "...We know. We know it seems reckless, and that it looks like a suicide mission. No, since you''re a black mage, you might know better than us. How powerful she is." "..." Seonghyun didn''t respond, but it was clear to anyone that he agreed. However, "But I am a hero. No matter how powerful, no matter how transcendent she is, if I don''t step forward, who will?" Seonghyun couldn''t help but admire Hindel''s noble words. He knew she was overwhelming. He knew his chances of defeat were high. After all, Hindel was indeed killed by Helena later on. But it was also true that he never gave up and continued to pursue Helena. He moved forward without kneeling before transcendent power. Even though Helena, the target, was a benevolent being rather than an evil one. Even so, his nobility would not fade. Perhaps that was why? Seonghyun felt strangely moved. With the quest active, it was natural to participate, but... Even the small amount of guilt he felt about attacking Helena had disappeared. Besides, it was the past, so it didn''t really matter. As Seonghyun was thinking this, Hindel smiled, trying to reassure him, and said, "But this is something I shouldn''t force on you, either. Thank you for considering my offer." He wasn''t pretending to leave to gain an advantage in the negotiation. Hindel genuinely intended to leave to avoid forcing him. How could anyone not be moved by that? His companions also prepared to leave without a word. Then, Seonghyun spoke. "No, I will join you, however weak my aid may be." "......!" He hadn''t stepped forward readily, but... When Seonghyun accepted, Hindel looked genuinely surprised. After hesitating, he bowed deeply to Seonghyun in gratitude. "Th-thank you... truly." He seemed a little clumsy and naive for a hero, but... Perhaps that was why? His sincerity was fully conveyed. Seonghyun grasped Hindel''s shoulder, helped him up, and extended his hand. "I look forward to working with you, however short our time may be." "Yes!... I look forward to working with you too!!!" And so, the strange alliance between Hero Hindel and the 2nd Overlord Seonghyun began. 0. Hero Hindel''s party. Seonghyun had chosen Hindel''s village in the beginner village, so he was already familiar with their faces. Starting with Hero Hindel, there was: A slender, tall woman with long silver hair, radiating a sacred aura and seeming quite relaxed. "Greetings, I am Adeline de Aquitania, selected as this era''s saint, however unworthy, from Aquitania. I offer my humble blessings on all the paths you shall take, Seonghyun." "No one would consider the saint''s blessings humble. Thank you." The saint greeted Seonghyun. Next was a young man, or rather, a person with a neutral appearance that could be mistaken for a woman, with long purple hair braided down his back. For some reason, this young man seemed to resemble a bothersome boy he''d recently met. "Nice to meet you! Eehaaa! To think such a talented person has joined our team, I''m truly moved! I''m Flan! Well, I''m also known as the Sage, though it hardly suits me." "...You''re... a free-spirited person, aren''t you? I look forward to working with you too." A sage with a similar air to the modern sage''s descendant greeted him. And lastly, the remaining member, a woman with short, neat light-green hair and pointed ears. "Elf... Lyaden." "Please take care of me." Though brief, the elven archer Lyaden greeted him. They were all legendary figures he''d seen as statues in Hindel''s village, but Seonghyun didn''t feel particularly moved. He''d already felt that sense of awe when he met Hindel. Seeing the other members of the hero''s party wouldn''t make him feel it again. However, there was one puzzling point. One person was missing. The knight of the hero''s party, Giorden von Rieskan. He wasn''t there. ''Has he not joined yet?'' He didn''t know the reason, but he couldn''t bring himself to ask. He might not have joined yet, or he might have temporarily left. He''d learned earlier that it wasn''t good to act like he knew something he didn''t. Seonghyun wasn''t one to repeat his mistakes, so he decided to simply move on, despite his curiosity. Everyone finished their introductions. He didn''t know how long they would be together, but it would be strange not to introduce himself when they would be spending time together. "We are truly grateful for Seonghyun''s joining us. While we have Flan the Sage, we''re not exactly close to the royal palace or the magic tower, so we needed a high-firepower magical force like Seonghyun." "...Hmm, I see." It was a bit different from the history Seonghyun had heard, but it seemed it wasn''t that time yet. The history he''d learned from Helena was that Hero Hindel was gaslit by the magic tower and the royal palace, turning him against Helena. But they said they weren''t close? Though Seonghyun hadn''t known him long, it seemed Hindel was the type to hold grudges. Was that why the knight Giorden wasn''t there? But why were they at odds with Helena? ''I can figure that out as we go.'' As Seonghyun made a small goal for himself, Flan grumbled, sounding annoyed. "It''s those old geezers in the royal palace and the magic tower who are weird! I mean, sure, she''s called a Demon King, but has Helena ever led an attack? But they''re just scared and keep repeating the same parrot-like words about needing to execute her! That''s why we''re refusing their orders! Ugh, idiots." "Flan..." "I''m sorry, but I fully agree with Flan''s words." "That''s... right." Hindel wanted to stop Flan, while the others agreed with him. They seemed to know Helena wasn''t evil. Then why were they going to attack her? That was contradictory. When Seonghyun looked at Hindel with a puzzled expression, Hindel nodded, thinking he was asking for an explanation. Now that he was a companion, it was probably okay to tell him. "...We told you we were going to stop her, but we''re actually trying to persuade the Demon King, Helena." "Persuade?" "Yes, as Flan said, Demon King Helena. Or, I don''t know if we should call her Demon King, since she''s never directly attacked any human settlements. And those who died by her hand were all evildoers. But it''s also true that many fear her due to her powerful and transcendent strength. In fact, all the magic towers and the royal palace want to kill her." "...So, you''re trying to persuade her?" "Yes, that''s our party''s goal. Haha... it''s a bit embarrassing." He couldn''t help but believe Hindel''s words, especially after he''d said so much. It also aligned with what Helena had told him. So, this was Hindel before he was deceived? Then there must have been a reason for Hindel to be deceived. He''d said the archmages were bad. It might be difficult to understand in this past timeline. But he''d found a clue. ''I can look into it when I return to the present.'' With that thought, Seonghyun''s interest grew. How could such an upright and righteous Hindel be deceived by the magic tower and the royal palace? He had even more reason to trace Hindel''s footsteps. But that was for later. For now, it was time to move forward with Hindel''s goal. "Then, the first thing to do is to arrange a meeting where we can talk to her." "Exactly!" "Though that''s probably the hardest part~" Flan''s discouraging words echoed, but no one could deny them. It was practically an attempt to break a rock with an egg. As Seonghyun watched with interest how this story would unfold, he sensed a presence nearby. And it wasn''t just Seonghyun who noticed. Of course, the hero Hindel did, as well as the sage Flan and the elven archer Lyaden. Even the non-combatant saint felt the presence and turned her gaze. Even at a glance, it was clear it wasn''t a normal monster. No, was it even a monster? If a slime were molded into a human form, it might look like that. But it was on a different level from a slime. A woman with a body as dark blue as the universe, perhaps resembling the night sky, mystical and mysterious. The aura she exuded was truly overwhelming. Enough to make the entire party, including Hero Hindel, tense up. But only one person. Only one person looked at her and asked quietly, "Are you Fiora?" -Huh? N-nooo... She was, wasn''t she? [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 85 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 85 "......!!?" "......?!?" "......??!" "Se-Seonghyun-nim, do you... know this being?" Flan, Adeline, and Lyaden were so overwhelmed by the pressure that they couldn''t even speak. Only Hindel could barely utter a word to this being. Yet, Seonghyun was talking so casually and even knew their identity?! The entire hero''s party was astonished. They knew he was amazing, but they didn''t expect this. To the hero''s party, he seemed like a monster from another dimension, but to Seonghyun... ''......It''s just Fiora......'' It was simply a meeting with Fiora. Fiora did emit pressure, but that was just pressure from her overwhelming dark mana. It wasn''t a threatening pressure based on Fiora''s level, so it felt like air to Seonghyun. It even felt refreshing. And it was. [Exposed to high purity dark mana.] [Dark mana friendly to the ¡ºOverlord¡».] [All stats temporarily increased by +5%.] ''So there''s an effect like this too.'' He''d learned a new ability; it was a good opportunity. However, Fiora fidgeted, twisting her body with a "what should I do?" expression. He wanted to recall Fiora''s memories to see what she was doing at this time in the past, but... Perhaps because she was a high-level spirit? It was difficult for Seonghyun to freely recall her memories. He judged that it might be possible later. It was impossible now. -Heehee. I-I''m a subordinate of Lord Helena... m-my name is a secret! Fiora''s timid words almost made him laugh. He calmly suppressed his laughter. Seonghyun listened quietly. In any case, Fiora coming all this way meant she had something to say. As Seonghyun and the hero''s party waited silently, Fiora finally seemed to calm down from her initial panic. She swallowed and continued, -Um, anyway, Lord Helena wants to live quietly... so, please don''t come! Her position was firm. He could even sense a slight hostility from the timid Fiora. That small amount of hostility made everyone tremble. Except for Seonghyun, of course. It showed how strong Fiora''s determination was. But that didn''t mean they could back down. "......I''m sorry, messenger-nim... However, we have come to talk to Helena-nim, not to fight." -N-no need...! Always following Lord Helena wherever she goes, these humans! D-do you know how annoyed Lord Helena is...? "......I, I apologize for that... but we are..." -Tha-that''s enough! I-I don''t want to hear anymore! I''m, I''m going, so don''t come! With that yell, Fiora transformed into a phoenix and flew away. The hero''s party finally seemed to catch their breath, their shoulders heaving as they gasped for air. Freed from the immense pressure, they were impressed. Hindel had bravely tried to converse despite the overwhelming force. And Seonghyun? He had remained completely unfazed the entire time. Even now, free from the pressure, their hands and feet were trembling. They wondered what kind of people these two were. They were all marveling, but Hindel sighed deeply, looking troubled. "Haa, the conversation didn''t go well." "Hmm." While agreeing with Hindel, Seonghyun understood Helena''s feelings a little. She was living peacefully, yet they kept coming and bothering her. It was like people going around apartments trying to persuade you to join a religion, wasn''t it? No, since it was just one person following her, it was closer to stalking? Either way, it must be tiring. But he also understood Hindel''s feelings, so... ''I don''t know what to do.'' The sub-quest clearly said to visit, not attack. There didn''t seem to be a need to be hostile. It was still early, so it was hard to figure out what to do. As he was thinking about this and that, Hindel asked Seonghyun. "By the way, Seonghyun-nim, you seemed to know that being''s name... do you know her well?" "Ah..." He had recognized Fiora too easily, and this happened. But he already had an excuse. "Not that I know her well, but I have some information about Helena." "Hoo!? You are truly amazing. Th-that being just now?" "I know her as an Elder Shapeshifter, Fiora, but I don''t know her weaknesses or techniques." It was a quest that allowed him to experience the past, so he wasn''t worried about the butterfly effect, but... He didn''t reveal any information about her weaknesses or tips on how to fight her. Just her race and name. At Seonghyun''s words, they all exclaimed in admiration. However, Seonghyun was a bit overwhelmed by their reaction, so he glossed over it. "Anyway, she''s a cute child, isn''t she? Her loyalty to her master is also admirable." "Indeed." "......Huh?" "Oh my..." "Heh." What''s going on? When Seonghyun looked at them, puzzled, they were still looking at him with amazement. Then, Flan stepped forward and spoke first. "You''re truly amazing. Usually, people would react like, ''Aaaagh! This is an unfair power!? I can''t defeat this! Damn! The Demon King''s subordinate is this strong!?'' But you... genuinely called her cute... you''re truly incredible." "I concur. It''s proof of Seonghyun-nim''s skill. The Hero''s suggestion to seek out Seonghyun-nim and make an offer was indeed wise." "......Powerful." "Even I couldn''t let my guard down for a moment against that being... yet Seonghyun-nim sees her as just a cute child..." As they continued to praise him, Seonghyun felt his face flush. Seriously, they were acting like he''d worked some kind of magic spell just because he called Fiora cute. She had the appearance of a cute girl, didn''t she? Wasn''t it natural to think she was cute? Sure, she was much larger and more powerful than the newborn Fiora, but... Fiora was still Fiora. He definitely thought her timid manner of speaking was cute. He didn''t understand this reaction. Embarrassed, Seonghyun quickly changed the subject. "Ahem, anyway, we''re not stopping here, are we?" "Ah! Of course not." "Uhihi! Of course not. We have Hindel and Seonghyun-nim with us." "I feel reassured with both of you." "......Me too." They had only been together for less than an hour, but was this really the right reaction? Well, good was good, wasn''t it? And so, the group began to move again. Toward Sermath, where the Dark Fortress was said to be located. 1. The twilight sky as the sun set. Something was flying across the gradually darkening sky, weaving a red thread through it. The creature, flying across the sky like a red thread weaving through the air, headed towards a gloomy fortress with a dark aura. Passing through the translucent, murky, dark curtain, the red creature arrived at the fortress. It returned to its original form. Whoosh¡ª¡ª! In an instant, flames flared up, and the creature transformed into Elder Shapeshifter Fiora, the queen and highest of all doppelgangers. The ever-timid Fiora had a pouty expression, her lips stuck out, as if she were a little annoyed. Had something unpleasant happened? A woman with red hair and obsidian eyes, as dark as night, watched Fiora''s expression. The true owner of this Dark Fortress. The mother of all demons. Known in the present world as the Demon King. Helena. Helena smiled elegantly as she saw Fiora pouting and asked, "Fiora, why are you so pouty?" -A-ah! Lord Helena!? "Yes, yes, it''s me. So why? Why are you pouting?" -Ah, well... "It''s okay, tell me." Seeing Fiora so flustered, she tried to soothe her. Fiora still hesitated, but at her words, she carefully opened her mouth. -Well, um, I went to the human hero party to deliver Lord Helena''s message... and they keep saying that they need to talk to Lord Helena... "Ah, so that''s why you''re pouting?" -Yes, yes... At Fiora''s words, Helena elegantly tapped her luscious red lips. Was she pondering? Or was she trying to make a decision? Fiora didn''t know, she just hoped it would be according to Helena''s wishes. "But don''t pout so much. They might be annoying, but they''re doing their own thing too." -Huh?! Bu-but... "Fiora, how would you feel if I told you to stop serving me?" -H-huh!? I-I''ve never even thought about that... I-I don''t know... but I think I''d be sad. At Helena''s example, Fiora looked like she was about to burst into tears. Helena gently stroked Fiora''s hair and said, "Right? It''s sad to stop someone from doing what they want to do, what they have to do." -Ah, aha! I understand! "That''s right, our Fiora is so smart." Helena comforted Fiora. Well, they were still annoying. ''Should I move somewhere else if they come? But I liked this fortress... what should I do?'' As she was having a minor dilemma, Fiora spoke to Helena. -Ah, right! I almost forgot... Lord Helena... there was a human who knew my name... "Someone knew your name, Fiora?" What was this about? A human who knew Fiora''s name? As Helena became curious, Fiora told her what had happened. She told her about Seonghyun, who had asked if she was Fiora as soon as she appeared, and how Seonghyun''s aura was a bit similar to Helena''s. As soon as she heard this, Helena carefully pondered each word. How the will of the world worked. What her current soul state was. She read each of her auras spread throughout the world. There, she found an aura that was different from her own, but of the same kind. Helena was able to realize. It took her less than a second to do so. Having realized a fact, Helena quietly smiled and snapped her fingers. Then, "Did you call?" A human-shaped figure appeared from the floor, as if something had melted and returned. No, was it really a man? It seemed like a woman, or an old man, or a child. A being whose age, gender, existence, and identity were unknown. As he appeared, Fiora exclaimed with delight. But Helena narrowed her eyes at the being and asked, "Is this your doing?" "......What do you mean......" -H-huh?! At the reproach, as if accusing him of betrayal, the being was very flustered. Not surprised at being caught, but rather worried that his loyalty was being questioned. Fiora also looked at the being with surprise, as if there was no way. Looking at the soul''s vibrations, he was not lying. She had seen it with glowing teal eyes, so it was certain. "Never mind, go back." "......I do not know what is happening, but I am sorry." "No, it''s not your fault, ''not the present'' you." "......Yes, I understand." -Huh? At Helena''s command, the being disappeared again, leaving only Fiora looking bewildered. As Fiora stood there, Helena stroked her hair and thought, ''The world of the past.'' No, to be precise, a world where the past is recreated. There was only one meaning. The only being who could do this was that guy from before. ''Noctrinium, what are you thinking?'' She didn''t know why it had become like this in the future, but Helena decided to enjoy the present. "So, Fiora? What does my successor look like? What kind of child is he? What do you think he likes?" -H-huh!? Your successor?! "Yes, someone invited my successor here, so I''m thinking of giving him a secret gift. What do you think?" -I-I think any gift from Lord Helena would be good! "Hmm, but I should see if he needs anything. Let''s see." Helena waved her hand, and a mirror with a teal glow appeared, showing Seonghyun fighting Hindel. -Huh! That''s him! "Hmm? He''s handsome. I like him. Oh? He also uses a sword? Hmm, then this would be a good gift." [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 86 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 86 2. Before the Chasm of Despair existed, Sermarth was a remarkably peaceful town. It seemed almost absurd to believe a Demon King resided nearby; the atmosphere was far too serene. The townsfolk strolled through the streets, each appearing genuinely happy. The town was so peaceful that not a hint of worry seemed to cloud their faces. The Hero''s party, observing this scene, understood that Helena was not an evil being. However, they were bewildered that a town so close to her domain could exude such tranquility. It was more peaceful than any town they had ever visited. Their surprise was entirely understandable. ¡°This is truly a pleasant sight.¡± ¡°Wow... you''re right. Even in the capital, it''s rare to see people this happy. It''s amazing.¡± ¡°...She may be known to the world as the Demon King, but she seems more like a transcendent ruler of unparalleled wisdom. Are we truly meant to fight her?¡± ¡°...A difficult dilemma.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± As the party exchanged similar sentiments, Seonghyun¡¯s curiosity only intensified. Why would a party of heroes, who thought this way, be so determined to kill Helena? What was the reason? Lost in thought, he was suddenly interrupted. Flan pointed at something as if he had witnessed something utterly unbelievable. Where the Chasm of Despair was supposed to be¡ª Instead of the chasm¡ª ¡°...Whoa.¡± A colossal mountain stood in its place. An overwhelmingly massive peak. No, upon closer inspection, it was not a mountain at all. It was an enormous black castle, so vast that one had to crane their neck just to glimpse its peak from the town. Its sheer size radiated an oppressive presence, but¡ª Even more astonishing was¡ª ¡°...Is it even possible to create a barrier of that scale?¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°Wow.¡± No one had an answer to Flan¡¯s remark. They could only fall silent in awe. Unlike the others, however, Seonghyun was shocked for a different reason. They had extracted an entire fortress of that magnitude and placed it in another dimension? Should they even be going there at all? As these thoughts raced through Seonghyun¡¯s mind, Hindel gazed up at the structure and murmured, ¡°So that¡¯s the Dark Fortress.¡± ¡°...Haa, even approaching it looks like a tremendous challenge...¡± ¡°...May the gods bestow their blessings upon us.¡± ¡°...Difficult.¡± With the exception of Hindel, the others seemed to have lost a bit of their resolve. Well, anyone would feel that way after witnessing such a formidable sight. Seonghyun certainly did. In fact, Seonghyun felt it even more keenly. He knew what would happen to the Dark Fortress and the massive chasm that would later appear in its place. However, there was no way to back out now. Hindel, observing their subdued demeanor, quietly suggested, ¡°First, it''s quite late, so let''s get rooms at the inn in town. We can rest and recover from our journey today.¡± ¡°I second that! Rest is essential! You can trust this Sage''s advice.¡± ¡°I also agree. We''ve all been gradually wearing down on our way here, whether we realize it or not.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± ¡°I''m in.¡± Once Seonghyun added his agreement, they settled into a reasonably nice inn, though not the best in town. As the sun was just beginning to set, they didn''t bother preparing for bed yet. It was just about dinnertime. They each ordered food at the inn''s restaurant and began their meal. Nutrition was a vital part of rest, after all. However, Seonghyun felt a twinge of regret. ¡®Hmm, is this really how the day will end?¡¯ He had gone out for his lunch appointment, but he still felt it was a shame to log off just like that. It was definitely a waste to spend his first day in the past like this. Perhaps he could explore the area? Or gather some information? As Seonghyun pondered these options, Hindel noticed his troubled expression and gave him a slightly worried look. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± He must have asked because Seonghyun¡¯s expression was quite troubled. Seonghyun nodded in response to Hindel''s concern, indicating that he was fine. Because he genuinely was. So, Seonghyun was honest. There was no need to hide it. ¡°I was just a bit disappointed that I haven¡¯t quite loosened up yet.¡± ¡°Ah! I see.¡± ¡°Ah-ha, Seonghyun joined us late, so he has more energy to spare.¡± ¡°I fully understand.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± As the others nodded in agreement, Seonghyun saw an opportunity to speak up. He''d suggest exploring the vicinity. He was also curious about the monsters in the past. A chance to monopolize monsters roaming the fields, away from other players. How could he pass up such an opportunity? He didn¡¯t know how good the rewards would be. At any rate, Seonghyun was about to suggest a quick hunt. Just as he was about to ask for permission, Hindel made another suggestion. ¡°Then, how about a spar with me?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± A spar with the Hero? A hunt for past monsters versus a spar with a past Hero. The more valuable option was obvious. Though not particularly combative by nature, how could he possibly refuse? A spar with a Hero scaled to his current level. This would serve as an excellent benchmark for Seonghyun. There was absolutely no reason to decline. ¡®This is a perfect opportunity to gauge my current abilities.¡¯ Up until now, Seonghyun only had a vague understanding of his own strength. He knew his videos were popular and that even his friends asked for his autograph, indicating a certain level of recognition. He had even managed to breach the impregnable fortress of the past, but that victory was achieved with the aid of his summons. He was curious to see how far he could go using only his own skills. This was the perfect time to utilize the memories and experiences of the numerous phantoms he had absorbed. Aside from his summoning abilities, he didn''t have many offensive magic skills, and he had learned just how crucial swordplay skills were during the encounter with the gatekeeper before entering this area. Still, he wanted to test his personal capabilities. ¡®A golden chance to go all out in a safe environment.¡¯ How many times had Seonghyun truly gone all out? Only the battle with Crescentra came to mind. And even then, it was with the support of his summons. Pushing himself to his limit was an invaluable experience. It would be a waste to pass up this opportunity. It was also a chance to witness the power of Hero Hindel. Having considered all these factors, Seonghyun nodded in agreement to the proposal. ¡°Excellent. Given that we don¡¯t know what lies ahead, gauging each other¡¯s strength beforehand is only natural.¡± ¡°Ah...! Thank you for accepting. I look forward to learning from you.¡± ¡°Hehe, a spar between the two of you... I¡¯m looking forward to this!¡± ¡°...I will do my utmost to ensure neither of you sustains serious injuries.¡± ¡°...Intriguing.¡± The news of the spar seemed to excite everyone, and they all appeared eager. Even Lyaden, who usually spoke in brief, two-word phrases, seemed unusually enthusiastic. With the group''s excitement, they finished their meals and rose from their seats. Seizing the moment, they moved as if ready to spar immediately. They initially considered sparring in the town, but realizing the extent of their abilities, Seonghyun intervened. It could potentially damage the town. They found a spacious clearing a few kilometers away from the town and moved there. The area was quite broad, and the ground was firm. Hindel scanned the terrain, while Seonghyun examined his surroundings. Then, Seonghyun glanced down at the ground beneath him and nodded in approval. ¡®This will do for an all-out fight.¡¯ Seeing the numerous system messages that appeared on the ground, he nodded in satisfaction. As Seonghyun seemed ready, Hindel turned to him and asked, just to make sure. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes, of course.¡± Having confirmed their readiness, Hindel spoke to Flan. ¡°Then, Flan?¡± ¡°Aye, aye~¡± Flan was to signal the start of the spar, and both of them prepared for combat. The tension grew taut, and as it reached its peak, Flan activated an alchemical device he had created. He infused mana into something shaped like a trumpet. A small explosion reverberated around them. Poof! With that signal, Hindel moved first. He swiftly drew his sword and moved his feet with incredible speed. His feet moved so quickly they were almost invisible, and as he pushed off the ground, Hindel¡¯s footprints were clearly left behind. Hindel''s speed was overwhelming. Seonghyun could barely keep up with his eyes. However, if he could memorize the movements, he could at least respond to some extent. Seonghyun drew the Apprentice Hero Hindel''s sword, which he had already examined. He had worried that Hindel, being from the past, might recognize the sword, but when he asked on the way here, Hindel only praised it as a fine sword without recognizing it. As Seonghyun drew his sword, the other three, who were watching, were surprised. ¡°You¡¯re drawing a sword against Hindel!?¡± ¡°...It seems you¡¯re skilled in swordsmanship as well.¡± ¡°...Strong.¡± While all three were surprised, they weren¡¯t overly concerned. They wouldn¡¯t think Seonghyun, with his level of skill, would draw a sword without a reason. Hindel thought the same. Hindel first infused his sword with sword aura. A bluish sword aura enveloped the blade. A light, like a halo, appeared, reminding Seonghyun of someone who used a crystal longsword, and he smiled faintly. Hindel swung the halo-encased sword towards the smiling Seonghyun. A faint tremor of the blade was heard, but the strike was so sharp that it sliced through the air almost silently. Swish¡ª! The sword strike flashed, but Seonghyun extended his sword-wielding hand towards it, while simultaneously hiding his other hand behind his back, and swung his sword. Then, the halo that had been enveloping Hindel¡¯s sword disappeared as if by magic and enveloped Seonghyun¡¯s sword, spreading toward Hindel. Whoosh¡ª! The light enveloping the sword spread out like a raging wave, engulfing Hindel. Amidst the fierce torrent of light, Hindel repeatedly swung his sword, cutting through the waves, and barely managed to dispel all of them. Then, a teal spear flew towards him. It was too late to dodge. He had to deflect it with his sword. Hindel instantly made this decision and swung his sword to deflect the teal spear. However, the sharp teal spear passed through his sword like a phantom and pierced Hindel¡¯s chest. [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Darkness damage is applied.] [¡ºHero Hindel¡» partially resists.] [¡ºHero Hindel¡» experiences 2 seconds of impaired vision and senses.] Even Crescentra took 3 seconds despite resisting the darkness damage. Was it because he was a Hero? Seonghyun, appearing delighted, rushed towards the sense-impaired Hindel and swung his sword. He unleashed a fluid swordsmanship based on the knight¡¯s memories he had obtained from the crystal palace. To maximize power, he first used footwork to add rotational force, delivering a far more powerful strike than usual, aiming to slash Hindel diagonally downward from the upper right. However, as Seonghyun swung his sword, a bluish sword aura emanated from Hindel¡¯s sword, and a thin barrier, like a shield, appeared, blocking Seonghyun¡¯s attack. Clang, clang, clang¡ª! He blocked it? As expected of a Hero? [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 87 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 87 He was momentarily taken aback by the blocked attack but quickly regained his composure. Even with senses impaired, skill use was still possible. The sharp sword strike failed to cut through the barrier, and Hindel had to step back three paces from the powerful, momentum-enhanced blow. Even with impaired senses, it wouldn¡¯t have been surprising if Hindel had collapsed. How much experience and training must he have undergone for his muscles to instinctively remember and prevent him from falling? It was an unbelievable sight, but Seonghyun was no longer surprised. In fact, he would have been troubled if Hindel couldn''t even manage this much. ¡°Hoo...¡± As some sensory impairment lingered, Seonghyun didn¡¯t miss the opportunity. The sword aura barrier was still there. In that case, Seonghyun used one of the effects attached to Anemor Slayer: Flight and the simultaneous use of a storm whirlwind. A whirlwind blew from behind Hindel, where the sword aura barrier couldn¡¯t block it. The wind started as a gentle breeze, but soon transformed into a fierce storm, engulfing Hindel. Whoosh¡ª! The blade-like wind swirled, leaving countless wounds on Hindel, though none were fatal. Multiple hits landed, but it seemed to count as a single attack. Only one handprint appeared on Hindel. One hand created by the lingering grudges of the dead and another from the storm whirlwind. Two hands reached out, gripping Hindel''s arms. With Hindel still disoriented and caught in the storm, Seonghyun flew up and slashed his back with his sword. Slice! Slice! Since it was a strike from mid-air, it wasn''t a particularly powerful attack. However, darkness bloomed in the air, and from within, two more hands grabbed Hindel''s legs. Dark hands bound Hindel''s arms and legs like chains. Seeing the number of marks of death increase, Seonghyun quickly fired bone arrows. As the bone arrows flew towards Hindel''s neck, Flash! All of Hindel¡¯s senses returned, and his eyes snapped open. Emitting a blinding white light, Hindel immediately spun in mid-air and swung his sword in all directions, deflecting the bone arrows. Already, two seconds had passed. He had moved as quickly as possible, but unfortunately, he couldn''t detonate the marks of death. However, it was alright. ¡®One can¡¯t expect to be full from the first bite.¡¯ Seonghyun calmly assessed the situation. Unlike Seonghyun, Hindel landed on the ground, utterly bewildered and experiencing a chilling sensation. ¡®...Incredible.¡¯ To use an unavoidable attack from the start, incapacitate senses, and seize an opportunity. Seeing his own reduced health, Hindel realized he had been hit by quite a powerful attack. And then there were the dark hands, gripping his arms and legs, showing no sign of letting go. None of them could be ignored. ¡®My movements have become sluggish.¡¯ It must be because of these hands. He couldn''t afford to underestimate this spar. Hindel, like Fiora, had felt it before, but he seemed to be instinctively conserving his strength. Even against such a strong opponent, he was still trying to hold back. ¡®This isn¡¯t mercy or benevolence; it¡¯s arrogance and presumption.¡¯ Hindel internally reprimanded himself. Trying to hold back against an opponent like Seonghyun? He decided to atone for this by going all out. To return to the matter at hand, his movements were hindered by the dark hands. But that was fine. He could simply increase his speed to compensate. ¡°I apologize. I will also take this seriously.¡± Hindel emphasized the ¡®seriously¡¯ and stepped forward with his right foot. A mere step forward. But it was different. Whoosh¡ª! The shift could be felt even in the air. The flow of the atmosphere had changed. Normally, the air would become heavier or feel oppressive. But Hindel was different. The air had become lighter? No, it was more than that. Hindel¡¯s surroundings seemed to distort. The air, not space, was visibly rippling. The atmospheric pressure had changed. To be precise, the atmospheric pressure and gravity around Hindel had all become lighter. Freed from the shackles of gravity, Hindel lightly propelled himself. Thwoom! He shot towards Seonghyun, who was flying. With gravity and atmospheric pressure reduced, his speed was extraordinary. It was the speed Hindel only barely reacted to before. He thought the four marks of death had greatly reduced his speed, but ¡®He¡¯s even faster.¡¯ Seonghyun, eyes sharply open, watched Hindel approach at a terrifying speed and activated two skills simultaneously. One was the wind barrier, a set option that could be used twice a day, to defend his body. And as he used the other, a purple liquid formed above Seonghyun¡¯s head. The ominous, purple-smoke-emitting liquid couldn''t defy gravity and fell from above Seonghyun. Drip, splash¡ª! The purple liquid trickling down Seonghyun''s body seeped in, emitting an ominous sound. [¡ºPoison: Pain Numbing¡» has been used.] [You will not feel any pain for 1 minute.] [Concentration is increased while not feeling pain.] A buff skill that allows one to continue using skills without interruption, even while experiencing pain. He used it in addition to the Wind Barrier, as he was still uneasy. As Seonghyun activated the two skills in preparation for Hindel, Hindel arrived right in front of him and drew his sword back. Flash¡ª! Crack¡ª! A flash of light appeared, and something pierced through the Wind Barrier. Even before the sound of the Wind Barrier breaking was heard, a flash of light occurred, and Seonghyun twisted his body. Hindel''s sword swept through the spot where Seonghyun had been. If he had tried to block it with a blood veil, he would have been skewered without even reacting. After the Wind Barrier was pierced, cracks spread across the entire shield, and it collapsed. Seonghyun tried to retreat using flight amidst the collapse, but Hindel was wary of him creating distance. Whoosh! Thwoom¡ª! Between Seonghyun''s simple flight and Hindel, who was freed from gravity, it was obvious who was faster. Hindel tenaciously pursued Seonghyun, unleashing a barrage of attacks. He relentlessly attacked with the effects of his swordsmanship skills, not the skill that had pierced the Wind Barrier. While not as powerful as the light-flashing thrust, each attack was still a significant threat. ¡®I can¡¯t get hit.¡¯ However, Seonghyun used the knockback effect skill built into his Ring of Wind to knock himself back or knock Hindel back, evading each time. ¡®As expected of Seonghyun-nim.¡¯ Even so, he had already used the skill, which could only be used three times a day, twice. As Seonghyun barely evaded Hindel''s sword, the onlookers on the ground couldn''t help but be astonished. He was evading, not just once or twice, but repeatedly. ¡°H-how did he dodge that!? Is it... as expected of Seonghyun-nim?¡± ¡°...I think this is the first time I¡¯ve seen Hindel-nim¡¯s Radiant Flash miss. Even aside from that, it''s rare to see him miss his general sword techniques, but to evade so consistently... this is a first.¡± ¡°...Me too, first time seeing this.¡± Flan, Adeline, and Lyaden watched the spar¡ªor rather, the battle, which was now difficult to call a spar¡ªwith wide eyes. They wondered if they should intervene, but who among them could stop such a battle? No one. They could only watch and hope it would end soon. Considering the situation, Seonghyun was evading all the attacks, but it was clear he was being pushed back. Hindel, determined to solidify his position, inhaled sharply and his eyes flashed. ¡°Hiss!¡± As he inhaled, Hindel''s eyes changed. From a radiant, golden gaze, they transformed into an enigmatic look that mirrored the night sky and starlight. Along with the mystical eyes that seemed to contain a galaxy, a galaxy-like sword aura, resembling his eyes, surged from Hindel''s sword. However, seizing the opportunity, Seonghyun''s eyes gleamed with a teal light, emitting an intense radiance. Simultaneously, he activated a skill. Gripping the air with his free hand, a spear woven from teal light materialized. Without hesitation, he immediately hurled the spear. While Hindel''s movement and attack speed were faster, Seonghyun''s skill completion delay was overwhelmingly shorter. Whoosh! Hindel assessed the situation as he saw the approaching spear. If he tried to cast his skill now? He would inevitably be hit by that spear. Even if the skill were completed before impact, it would be too late to dodge the spear. He had many defensive skills, but having experienced it before, Hindel knew. That spear ignored all defenses. Therefore, he had no choice but to cancel the skill he was casting, gritting his teeth. If he had completed the skill, he would have lost his senses again. He canceled the skill and moved away. He avoided the spear, so it was a gain... ? Just as he was about to think that, Hindel saw a drop of blood floating before his eyes. ¡®...Oh no!¡¯ As soon as he saw the blood droplet, he sensed danger and tried to move away, but it was too late. A fierce blood storm erupted around Hindel, who was freed from gravity and without any resistance. Crackle, crackle, crackle¡ª! The blood storm, with a power far exceeding the storm whirlwind he had been directly hit by while his senses were impaired, nearly caused Hindel to lose consciousness. However, he kept his senses and began to release his energy. Light erupted from his cosmic eyes, and like an ancient star accepting its demise, an explosion of countless lights occurred. As the star''s explosion occurred within the blood storm, Boom¡ª! The blood storm shattered and scattered in all directions, dyeing the surroundings red. The initial damage was quite significant, but he didn''t take all of the damage. If he had tried to defend within that storm, he would have been torn apart and taken damage again. Therefore, he had to use the explosion to negate the storm and escape. However, Seonghyun had disappeared, and as Hindel looked around at the blood-red surroundings, thinking it was blood scattered by the torn storm, he saw that it wasn¡¯t blood at all, but over a hundred blood swords lined up. ¡°This is not easy. But...?¡± As Hindel spoke amidst the countless blood swords, trying to cast a skill, he suddenly sensed something was amiss. The world was too quiet. As if time had stopped, in this silent world, only Hindel seemed to be moving. No. ¡®I... can¡¯t move.¡¯ Hindel himself couldn''t move. And it was then that he noticed the abnormality. Since when? He knew about the dark hands gripping his arms and legs. But he didn''t know when another dark hand had appeared, reaching for his neck. He couldn¡¯t turn his head to look, but he felt it clearly. The dark hand was approaching. And the dark hands gripping his arms and legs were also slowly creeping towards his neck, brushing against his body. Goosebumps erupted all over his body, and a chill ran down his spine. But what was even more terrifying was, ¡®...Something¡¯s... there.¡¯ Besides the dark hands. Something. An irresistible, transcendent being stood behind him. Even when he met Fiora, his back had been drenched, but this was on a different level. His back wasn¡¯t just getting wet; it was chillingly going cold. As all the hands finally gripped Hindel''s neck, along with the pain of his neck being constricted, the being behind him moved. It moved leisurely and grasped the five outstretched dark hands. ¡°Ugh!¡± The pain intensified, and then, as the dark hands intertwined to form the shape of a cold, sharp scythe, Hindel wanted to escape, forgetting his identity as a Hero. No, he tried to escape. But with a force that prevented him from even twitching a finger, he could only accept it, like an executioner on the guillotine. The sensation of it slowly touching his neck, cutting into his skin. Tzzzz. That sound. He had to hear and feel it. Along with the slowly cutting sensation, a sound echoed instantly. Slice¡ª! His neck was severed. ¡°Keuh-aack!¡± As if struck by a death god''s scythe, Hindel spat out blood and used recovery and mental enhancement skills. Starlight poured down, blessing Hindel and enhancing his mind, but it couldn¡¯t erase that vivid sensation. In his eyes, the universe was slowly filling with fear. ¡°Huff, huff, huff.¡± However, the blood swords still remained before him, and Hindel raised his sword, facing those hundreds of blood swords. Unlike before, the trembling tip of his sword wouldn¡¯t stop shaking. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 88 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 88 Even with a strengthened spirit, the fear of death was not something one could easily overcome. To be precise, Hindel¡¯s spirit had already been fortified. However, the terror of death loomed even larger. This was a first. This was the first time Hindel had experienced such an inescapable death. A death that offered no resistance. He was experiencing the true horror of death, something he simply had to accept. Born with a divine revelation and raised as a hero, he had grown up believing that a hero should not know fear, and should always be prepared to sacrifice himself. That was why this raw, unfiltered fear of death was so unfamiliar. Death was something to be accepted. The more one struggled to overcome and conquer it, the more vividly death presented itself. No amount of struggling could break free. In the end, everyone faced death. "Hoo..." He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. But his mind refused to settle. Still, he couldn¡¯t afford to remain idle; he would be overtaken. Seonghyun had also noticed Hindel''s unusual behavior. In fact, it would have been harder not to notice. ''What''s going on?'' As soon as the Mark of Death had erupted, he had cast healing and enhancement buffs. Yet, Hindel still couldn''t regain his composure. Though it wasn''t a long time, he had been momentarily dazed. It didn''t seem like a feint. Had he exhausted his strength? No, his outward aura was still formidable. He wasn''t entirely sure, but... ''This is my chance.'' Hindel''s abnormality was an opportunity for Seonghyun. Knowing him so well, Seonghyun seized the moment. Despite being filled with fear, Hindel moved. That''s what a hero had to do. That''s what he had been taught. ''They''re coming.'' The time it took to confront the Death God and return was not long. It seemed to have been a battle within himself. And now, the blood swords had begun to fall towards Hindel. Pshew! Pshew! Shushushushu! Dozens of crimson blood swords, the color of blood, plunged towards the ground. A scene that could be mistaken for a rain of blood falling from the sky. But Hindel did his best to conceal his trembling blade. A mystical light erupted from his eyes that seemed to contain a galaxy within them. The light enveloped his entire body. Freed from gravity, his weightless body became even lighter. As his galaxy-infused form moved, Spot! He left behind multiple afterimages, as if carrying the starlit sky itself. Hindel''s movements, shimmering as if scattering the galaxy around him, were too swift for the blood swords raining down to even track. Having effortlessly evaded the blood swords, Hindel surged forward. He soared into the sky, leaving a long trail like a comet. Bearing a mystical light reminiscent of a comet''s tail, Hindel rushed onward. His speed was immense, as if he had truly transformed into a star. The spectacle was beautiful to behold, but Seonghyun was not one to stand idle. Hindel''s aggressive charge, carving the Galaxy into the air, was fiercer than anything. They say beauty has its thorns, and Seonghyun was no exception. Chwararararara! At Seonghyun''s command, the blood swords moved with perfect precision. In a brief moment, dozens of blood swords merged into one, blocking Hindel''s path. Kwaaaaaaaaah¡ª¡ª! A violent explosion erupted, sending shockwaves and ripples scattering in all directions, like a raging storm. Fragments of power, capable of tearing everything apart, spread in every direction. But Seonghyun and Hindel paid them no heed. After blocking the valiant and fierce Galaxy charge, the blood swords, once a shield, now turned their blades, attacking Hindel. However, in an instant, stars flickered in Hindel''s eyes, and then the Galaxy unfolded around him, enveloping his body. Clang! Cla-clang! Claaang¡ª! He blocked all the blood sword attacks. It was a remarkably sturdy defense. Yet, Seonghyun could sense something amiss. The attacks from the blood swords themselves didn''t inflict much damage. Hindel must have realized that as well. So, he shouldn''t have needed to use such a mana-draining defensive skill. It didn''t make sense. ''...He''s being unusually cautious?'' As if he were being extremely careful. Hindel, too, bit his lip until it bled, realizing his misstep. ''I didn''t need to use the Veil of Stars...'' It was clear that the blood sword''s single attacks weren''t much. But even knowing that, he had instinctively deployed it. There was only one reason. If he took five attacks, he would have to face that presence again. He knew it, but he couldn''t shake off the fear. ''...Get a grip.'' Unfortunately, Hindel was lost in thought after using the Veil of Stars. Could he avoid taking five attacks from Seonghyun until the duel was over? He wasn''t sure. But he wanted to avoid it at all costs. Then again, there was a way. ''I''ll just have to win before then.'' Under normal circumstances, Hindel wouldn''t have even entertained the idea, let alone formulate such a plan. He was well aware of Seonghyun''s immense strength. Suggesting that he could easily defeat him was absurd. And yet, to rush and defeat such a Seonghyun? It wasn''t a thought Hindel would normally have. But the fear of death had bred a sense of urgency in his heart, and Hindel was slowly succumbing to that urgency. "Hoo..." Until the Veil of Stars was about to collapse, the blood swords tried to pierce it, but to no avail. Hindel reaffirmed his plan and began to move. The first thing Hindel did was use a buff skill. Borrowing power from his galaxy-filled eyes, starlight poured down from the sky. The scene looked as if countless stars were falling, like gazing upon the Galaxy. As the power of the galaxy permeated his body, Saaaaaaah¡ª! Hindel exhaled. "Hoo..." His breath seemed to carry starlight, a shimmering breath flowing out, and when Hindel opened his eyes again, they were filled with stars. Seonghyun, in response, created and launched another teal spear towards Hindel. Of course, he didn''t just throw it. He also fired dozens of blood swords, concealing the spear among the crimson blades. However, as Hindel, enveloped in the overflowing power of the galaxy, moved, he vanished from his spot. He didn''t just move fast. As soon as Seonghyun realized this, he activated a skill, and in the spot where Seonghyun had been, Hindel appeared, wielding a sword wrapped in a dark night sky. Seonghyun instantly reappeared on the ground, not in the air, and Hindel teleported again, appearing before Seonghyun, swinging his pitch-black sword. Pajijijijiji¡ª¡ª! The mighty sword immediately distorted everything around it, creating a powerful gravitational pull. A sword imbued with concentrated gravity. As Seonghyun realized that this sword couldn''t be evaded, Hindel''s sword was swung. A powerful attack that could potentially be fatal. It was a technique that shouldn''t be used in a sparring match. However, Hindel judged that this sword wouldn''t kill Seonghyun and swung it. No, he was certain it couldn''t kill him. He had made that judgment after recalling the presence that had appeared behind him earlier. A vortex of gravitational pull, like a storm, unfolded from the sword, and the gravitational force emitted from the sword was concentrated along the path of its swing, warping even space momentarily. The surroundings were sucked into that line, devouring everything without leaving a trace. The entire area within that radius was emptied, as if being crushed by an invisible giant sphere. Yet, even in that empty space, Seonghyun stood calmly, looking down at Hindel as if nothing had happened. "This... can''t be." It was an attack close to his full power. But even after taking it, Seonghyun was standing there, completely unscathed. He couldn''t believe it. No, even seeing it, he couldn''t believe it. However, Seonghyun was sweating inwardly. [You have used Shadow Transference.] [You have entered an invincible state for 1 second.] ''I almost died.'' He basically used it as a reflex, as Hindel seemed to be using a powerful skill out of desperation. But it turned out to be a timely move. When all the attacks were blocked by invincibility, Hindel shuddered with frustration. Yet, even in this situation, he didn''t forget he was a hero and tried to fulfill his duty. He still had strength left. Though he had unleashed a near-full-power attack, he still had reserves. "Huuuh!!!" He strained his eyes, gathering the power of the galaxy to its limit. Seonghyun also sensed the urgency in the hero''s demeanor. His resurrection ability was already used thanks to Crescentra earlier that day, so he couldn''t use it again. If he took another direct hit in that state, he would truly be out of commission. Hindel was about to use his full-power skill in that state. Everything seemed to be distorting around Hindel, who held the sword, and the power of the violet galaxy surged, dominating the surroundings. And then. Kwajeek! Kwajijijik! Kugeugeugeugeu¡ª¡ª! Cracks began to form from the ground Hindel stood on, like an earthquake. Seeing the power that seemed capable of collapsing everything, Seonghyun used two skills. One was the Death Aura. As he used the Death Aura, a large, teal heart pulsated behind him, emitting a teal mist around it. And as he used the other, green mist rose from various spots on the ground. However, Hindel, oblivious to such things, was about to use his ultimate move, Galactic Collapse. It wasn''t a frequently used technique. But he judged it to be the best he could do in this situation. ''This... this will work.'' No, it had to work. Hindel, now half-lost to fear, didn''t notice. that several things, shrouded in green mist, were rising from the ground he had cracked. His narrowed vision prevented him from seeing. Hindel''s narrowed vision only saw Seonghyun. As he touched the teal mist emanating from the teal heart that appeared behind him, he felt damage. It was slight, but a dark hand appeared and bound his arm. But it was fine. Galactic Collapse would activate soon. Just as he was about to unleash the immense power concentrated to its limit to collapse this entire area, he saw Seonghyun raise a finger to his lips. Then, just like when the Death God had appeared, something appeared behind him. ''...This, this is!?'' Was that presence... No, the aura was different. It was different from the Death God, who seemed consumed by boredom, merely doing his job. This felt like a presence filled with pure malice. ''What... on earth...?'' Hindel instinctively turned his head. There, a massive witch with a torn mouth and empty, abyss-like eyes stood. She let out a laugh filled with malice. Kekekekekekek! Holding a thin, teal needle, she calmly reached out and stitched Hindel''s lips together. The large, teal needle pierced his lips... Pooook!, And then a teal thread... Seusseusseu Slid through the punctured lips. Stitch by stitch. Pooook! Seusseusseu. Pooook! Seusseusseu. Pooook! Seusseusseu. Having meticulously stitched Hindel''s lips, the witch giggled and raised the needle-wielding finger to her own lips, saying: -Shhhhhhh. ''Ah, ah...'' [Due to the Monarch''s SIlence, your skills are sealed for 5 seconds.] [¡ºHero Hindel¡» partially resists.] [Duration reduced to 2 seconds.] Just before Galactic Collapse could activate, the power vanished completely. The Blessing of the Galaxy, which had been sustaining all of Hindel''s power, and all other buffs, disappeared instantly. All that remained for Hindel was his body and his sword. Even with just those, if it were the usual Hindel, he would have brandished his sword and charged. However, the dark hand binding his arm and the black undead crawling up from the ground grabbed his ankles. The green mist was corroding him. Blood swords poured down towards Hindel. The hands of darkness multiplied. They were coming. That presence was coming again. And Hindel could see it. Death approached with footsteps filled with boredom. He saw the undead that had grabbed his ankles, and the lights flickering in the green mist. Kwaaaaaa¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª! Kugeugeugeugeu¡ª¡ª! Hwaaaaaaaa¡ª¡ª! A terrifying explosion followed by tremors that violently shook the ground, and immense heat that melted everything around. Seonghyun, unable to escape the heat''s range, used "Extreme" and "Ultimate" defenses around himself to block the heat, while thinking: "He''s not dead, is he?" It was a significant explosion, but he was a hero, so he probably wasn''t dead, right? If he died, the quest would fail and he''d return to the beginning. Seeing that he hadn''t returned yet, he probably wasn''t dead. As Seonghyun thought this, on the wide, devastated land, left barren by the explosion, Hindel lay collapsed. ''Did he survive?'' As if answering Seonghyun''s thought, a necklace with a faint light on Hindel''s chest flickered and then went out. He wasn''t sure what it was, but it seemed to be an item that prevented death. ''That''s a relief.'' As Seonghyun felt relief, messages appeared before him. [You have achieved victory over the past ¡ºHero Hindel¡»!] [You have gained experience points from the duel!] [Level Up!] [You have reached Level 79.] [You have been acknowledged by the ¡ºHero¡»!] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºAcknowledged by the Hero¡».] [You have defeated the Hero for the first time in Eternal World history!] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºThe Ultimate Calamity¡»!] [As a reward for overwhelming victory, you have acquired the Unique-rank item, ¡ºRandom Skill Book¡».] ''I barely won.'' If Hindel hadn''t acted strangely, it would have been difficult. Relieved that it hadn''t come to that, Seonghyun saw his party members running towards him from afar and prepared to return. First of all, since Hindel attacked him as if to kill him, it was self-defense, right? ''Let''s think about that when they ask.'' [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 89 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 89 3. Hero Hindel''s ultimate technique, Galactic Collapse. His companions, the three of them, had never seen him use this technique. Hindel had explicitly said it was too dangerous. So, he had never used it in their presence. However, he had told them about it. If he ever used this technique, he told them to flee immediately to avoid being caught in it. Having heard Hindel''s story, they knew well what this phenomenon meant. They didn''t understand why he was using such a dangerous technique in a sparring match, but since they were about to be caught in it, the other three were thrown into a panic. "I-insane!? H-Hindel has lost his mind!?" "E-even if it''s Seonghyun, we''ll all die if we get caught in that!!! W-we have to run! Right now!" "...We need to escape quickly and prepare!" Their panic was brief. Flan, Adeline, and Lyaden all started moving hurriedly in a state of confusion. Even after getting quite far away, they weren''t reassured. The Sage Flan and the Saintess Adeline created multiple layers of defensive barriers. As if that wasn''t enough, they used the Elven Archer Lyaden''s spirit magic to surround themselves with trees and earthen walls. Was he really trying to kill Seonghyun? They all trembled at Hindel''s uncharacteristic behavior. As they braced for the impact, truly terrifyingly hot heat and a powerful shockwave reverberated, shattering most of the defensive walls they had created. It was fortunate that they were far away; seeing the surroundings turned to ash, all three of them turned pale blue. But was Galactic Collapse supposed to have this effect? Something felt off. "It''s... more like destruction by heat... Was that really Galactic Collapse?" "...It''s certainly strange, but to think there''s another skill with this kind of power is a bit... difficult, don''t you think?" "...That''s not Hindel''s skill." "Huh? T-then what skill is it...?" "N-no way!?" At Lyaden''s words, the most experienced in combat among the three, they both widened their eyes in shock. Lyaden, who had provided the answer, also had his eyes trembling violently. Sensing something was wrong, the three of them immediately headed to the explosion site. There, they saw Seonghyun standing unharmed, looking troubled, and Hindel collapsed, having exhausted all his energy. They wondered what had happened. Seonghyun, seeing them, brightened up as if saying, "Perfect." "Since I don''t have healing skills, I''d appreciate your help." At Seonghyun''s words, the three of them unknowingly looked around. The explosion had devastated an area of at least several hundred meters. However, they were in cognitive dissonance, unable to reconcile the unscathed Seonghyun with the explosion he had just caused. But only for a moment. Hindel, lying collapsed, coughed painfully. "Cough." Red blood seeped out. Clearly a serious injury, Seonghyun scratched his cheek as if troubled, and seeing this, the three of them began to move hurriedly. "Hindel-nim!" "I-I''ll heal him!" "Hurry!" "F-first, let''s go back to the town!" Everyone agreed with Flan''s words. Then, Adeline, the most experienced in this situation, shouted: "I''ll heal him on the way. You''ll have to carry me and Hindel-nim." "I... Hindel..." "I''ll carry Adeline! Seonghyun-nim, please come with us too!" As they were about to carry each other and run, Seonghyun made the remaining blood swords flat, using them as stretchers to lift everyone up, as if saying there was no need for that. "I thought this would be faster." Adeline nodded at Seonghyun''s words, and they were able to return to the town of Sermath at high speed. Without stopping anywhere else, Seonghyun immediately took everyone back to the inn. Adeline quickly used healing magic and holy spells to restore their energy. However, Hindel''s injuries were not only severe, but his condition also seemed quite critical. One might describe his expression as if he were possessed by a demon. They had definitely completed the healing. They had perfectly healed the external wounds, and Adeline had shared her holy power to restore some of his energy. However, Hindel''s expression was as if he were having a nightmare, sweating and struggling slightly. One couldn''t help but think how severely he had been affected. ''I hope he doesn''t develop a phobia of black magic.'' He knew it was a recreation of a past stage. He also knew that he didn''t have to worry about the butterfly effect. Still, he was concerned about Hindel''s state. It looked quite serious. However, what was more concerning was: ''Why is everyone watching him like this, as if it were understandable?'' Hindel''s companions, Flan, Adeline, and Lyaden. They all looked at Hindel with pity, but they didn''t look at Seonghyun with reproach. Rather, their expressions were closer to asking Hindel why he went so far. Hindel was fighting a nightmare, and soon, he was able to regain his senses. "Kuh, wh-where is this...?" He seemed disoriented, not even realizing he had collapsed, wondering where he was. Then, he seemed to realize something and stared blankly at the air. As he came to his senses, his expression turned slightly empty. Then, a faint smile appeared on Hindel''s lips. But it wasn''t a smile of amusement; it was a bitter and self-deprecating smile. ''Was I too harsh?'' Seeing the awakened Hindel, Seonghyun felt a little sorry. He had completely collapsed in the latter part of the battle. Should he have held back a little then? But Hindel was the one who used the powerful skill first. If things had gone wrong, Seonghyun might have been the one to suffer. Thinking he should have held back a little might be arrogance. It was unavoidable. The duel had been witnessed by the others as well. Surely self-defense would be acknowledged, right? Whose responsibility was it? As Seonghyun was thinking about this, Hindel, struggling to rise, knelt on one knee before Seonghyun and bowed his head. "Huh?" "I sincerely apologize to Seonghyun-nim. I am truly sorry." "Huh???" Seonghyun was flustered by Hindel''s behavior, but the other three companions nodded as if it were natural. Only Seonghyun was bewildered. Hindel was in the wrong, but it was too sudden. "I acted very disgracefully. In truth, I was consumed by fear from the middle of the fight, and my impatience took over." "Ah..." It was an apology for Hindel''s behavior, which had changed midway through the fight. Furthermore, "I am truly sorry that I couldn''t show you my proper self because of that." "No, it''s understandable. It''s only natural for someone who''s always been strong to have less experience with such things, isn''t it?" "...Ah?" It was just something he said off the top of his head. In his life, Seonghyun had seen that the outwardly strong often succumbed to fear even more when they became ghosts. It was a thought that came to him. However, after hearing those words, Hindel seemed to realize something and returned to his previous clear-headed and spirited self. The fearful demeanor he had shown since the middle of the duel vanished completely. "...Thank you for giving me enlightenment even when I acted so disgracefully. You are truly generous and profound." "...Ah... no problem." "Wow, Seonghyun-nim is truly amazing. Most people couldn''t do that." "That''s absolutely right. I don''t think I could have done that. Honestly, what Hindel-nim showed was indeed disgraceful. Hindel-nim''s sincere apology is absolutely the right thing to do." "...Deeply generous." As everyone praised him, Seonghyun couldn''t help but feel his face flush. He hadn''t done anything special. "...Then, since Hindel-nim needs to rest, I''ll be going back now." "Ah, you must be tired. Go and rest quickly." "Thank you~ for not killing Hindel-nim." "That''s right. Go get some rest and we''ll see you tomorrow." "...Good night." Everyone chimed in with a word of farewell, and Seonghyun had no choice but to leave, feeling bewildered. As Seonghyun left, tilting his head as if wondering if this was really okay, the people remaining in the room all glared at Hindel. This time, it was definitely reckless and rude. He had never seen Hindel lose his composure like that during their time together. "So, Hindel? Why did you do that?" "I''m also curious." "...Me too." They were all asking why he did it, but they were indirectly asking if he had been that scared. Hindel, hearing their words, gave a self-deprecating smile and lowered his head. He had nothing to say. "Using Galactic Collapse, it''s truly disqualifying as a hero. I''m ashamed." "...But you were driven to that point, right?" "...I think so too." "...Me too." "Yes, it was an irresistible aura. No, it was the first time in my life I''ve felt such a threat of death. At that moment, it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say I was truly dead." "...It was... to that extent?" Hindel nodded without hesitation at Flan''s words. Then, he said calmly: "Death is not something that can be overcome. It must simply be accepted. Seonghyun-nim probably showed me such power in this duel to teach me that." If Seonghyun had heard that, he would have politely asked, "What are you talking about?" Unfortunately, Seonghyun wasn''t in the room, and they were all people who held Seonghyun in high regard. "Kyaaah!!! That''s Seonghyun-nim for you." "...I think he''s amazing." "...A hero." "I agree. Not someone like me, who only wears the mask of a hero, but someone like him is a true hero." 4. Seonghyun had unknowingly become a hero, but how could he possibly know? He returned to his inn room, sighed, and sat on the bed. He felt the cheap medieval bed with straw filling under the cloth sag. He appreciated the ambiance, but Seonghyun didn''t have the luxury to care about such things right now. ''That was close.'' It was fortunate that Hindel took it well. If things had gone slightly wrong, he could have returned to the beginning, as the quest dictated. The battle itself had been a bit of a close call. Seonghyun''s attacks, where he targeted and manipulated Hindel, were very accurate and effective. There were definitely parts that went better than intended. Thanks to that, he was able to win. In any case, he had won, so ''Should I check the spoils?'' He had obtained three things in total. Two titles and one Unique-rank Random Skill Book. Since the Random Skill Book guaranteed at least a Unique rank, he decided to open it last. Should he check the titles first? Seonghyun opened the first title he had obtained. ¡ºAcknowledged by the Hero¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡úThis is a title granted to a user acknowledged by the hero. ¡úIncreases attack power by +5% upon attack. ¡úIncreases attack speed by +10% when using sword skill. ''Oh?'' It''s a sword skill title that can be obtained when using sword skills. It also had an option to increase attack power upon attack, but since he didn''t have any sword skills, it was a bit disappointing. He would have to learn sword skills later. The title''s effect was quite decent. Then next, ''The Ultimate Calamity?'' It was an ominous title, which made him anticipate it even more. What kind of title would it be? ¡ºThe Ultimate Calamity¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary+¡· ¡úThis is a title granted to the user who defeated the hero for the first time in Eternal World history. ¡úSince it was the first time ever achieved, the existing rank was slightly upgraded. ¡úWhen damaged by holy attributes or vulnerable attributes, reduce 33% of the damage and return the reduced damage. ¡úYou can use ''Destruction of Salvation'' once a day. ¡úThe effect of ''Destruction of Salvation'' reverses all beneficial effects of the opponent, such as recovery and buffs. ''What is this...?'' He had anticipated something, but it was even more incredible than he had imagined. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 90 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 90 The Ultimate Calamity. The name itself screamed ferocity, and indeed, its effects were just as devastating. Legendary+ rank. It reduces damage from Holy or Vulnerability-attribute attacks by 33%, and reflects that reduced damage back onto the attacker. This effect alone was already absurd, but the "Destruction of Salvation" effect, usable once per day, was even more heinous. One could understand if it were Legendary rank just for having "Destruction of Salvation." ''Reverses all beneficial effects of the enemy?'' This meant that healing would be converted into damage, and buffs would become debuffs. A truly devastating skill that could be a decisive move. There was a demerit of only being able to use it once a day, but it hardly felt like a demerit. Rather, it seemed like a crucial effect without which he would be in serious trouble. He wondered if the ¡®Hourglass of Reversal¡¯ would apply here as well, but upon trying, he found it didn''t. ''Too bad.'' It was a bit greedy, but it couldn''t be helped. Since it was a skill obtained through a special effect, it seemed to operate differently from cooldown times. If he had this "Ultimate Calamity" effect during his spar with Hindel? He could likely win much more easily that time. ''Though, it''s uncertain what would happen if Hindel weren''t ensnared.'' This battle was also quite dangerous until Hindel was consumed by fear due to the Death God. However, thanks to Hindel''s entanglement, Seonghyun was able to win more easily than expected. Seonghyun''s skills were indeed terrifying, but regardless, he had won. With the "Ultimate Calamity" effect, he would have a much more advantageous fight if they clashed again. He mused about this. ''It''s Hindel now... but it''d be good to prepare for a real Hero fight when I return to the present world.'' There was no need to seek out a fight, but he wouldn''t avoid one if it came his way. He was curious to see what the Hero of the present world was like. With that thought, Seonghyun pulled out his final loot, a random skill book. The previous random skill book he obtained was Rare rank. But this one was a whopping Unique. ¡ºRandom Skill Book¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡úA skill book that randomly grants a skill related to one''s class or a common skill. ¡úUnique to Legendary rank skills can be acquired from this book. ''Hmm.'' Last time, it ranged from Rare to Epic and an epic rank pulled up. And the skill he got, Shadow Transference, was quite useful. He didn''t expect such luck again this time. Since the minimum rank was Unique, even getting just that would be a win! Anticipating what skill he would get, Seonghyun was about to open the book when a prompt appeared. [Use Unique rank item, ¡ºRandom Skill Book¡»?] *Upon use, the skill book will disappear, and you can randomly learn a Unique to Legendary rank Black Magic exclusive skill or a common skill. *Are you sure you want to use it? [Yes/No] It was a warning message he hadn''t seen in a while. However, it couldn''t stop Seonghyun. As soon as Seonghyun pressed Yes, countless pages fluttered and turned. But unlike before, the antique pages were tinged with gold, and even more beautiful, warm, and radiant orange pages flipped through. Whirr, whirr, whirr! With the sound of pages emitting various lights flipping, a single page floated in the air before Seonghyun. The radiantly glowing orange page floated in the air, illuminating the shabby inn room like dawn. Soon, that brilliantly glowing page absorbed all the warm, dawn-like light around it, and a clock darker than pitch-black emerged. As the clock hands moved rapidly and reached the hour, Dong¡ª¡ª! Dong¡ª¡ª! Dong¡ª¡ª! The sound of bells echoed from somewhere. Seonghyun, puzzled by the numbing sound of the bells, stared at the scene. "......???" Could it be? As Seonghyun watched with anticipation, the awaited message appeared. [Acquired Legendary rank skill, ¡ºDoomsday Clock¡», from the Random Skill Book!] ''......For real......?'' Even with good luck, another Legendary rank? As Seonghyun opened his skill window in disbelief, it was real. ¡ºDoomsday Clock¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv Max][Completed] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown 30 minutes] ¡úBlack Mage Class exclusive skill. ¡úConsumes mana as desired to set a specific time. ¡úThe longer the set time and the more mana consumed, the greater the damage dealt to the opponent when the set time arrives. ¡úCooldown time decreases from the moment damage is inflicted. "Wow." A rather fascinating skill. It was a type of skill he was acquiring for the first time. Though it was a skill that required calculated use, it seemed excellent for use against fleeing enemies. A skill that increased damage over time? Even with minimal mana consumption, extending the time would result in an effective attack. With various ways to use it, the application methods were limitless. ''I''ve acquired an incredible skill.'' He wanted to check it immediately, but it was almost dinner time, and running into Hindel''s group on the way out would be problematic. "That black mage bastard? He was suspicious enough, and now he''s going out at this late hour?" They might suspect him of being a spy. They didn''t know he was being highly praised and treated like a hero. So he couldn''t help but think this way. ''Let''s log out here today.'' Seonghyun decided and logged out. 5. Saturday evening. Clearly, in a typical company, there would be no overtime, let alone coming to work. However, E-World, the company providing Eternal World, was not a typical company. It was a workplace where weekend attendance was a given if there were important matters! With generous overtime and special work allowances. Few people had complaints. The problem was that the person responsible couldn''t help but feel uneasy when even the superiors came to work. Given the gravity of the matter, Team Leader Jung Jihye and other team leaders were present. Skill Management Team Leader Yoon Taeseong, Error Compensation Team Leader Im Jiwon, and NPC Management Team Deputy Manager Lee Jaekyung were all there. It was unclear why Deputy Manager Lee Jaekyung was included, but anyway, the room was filled with seniors from other teams. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong couldn''t help but feel overwhelmed. But how could they not call him? ''The situation has become too tangled...'' A compensation measure meeting was held for the Thousand Blood Swords skill Seonghyun had obtained. It was too overpowered to leave as it was. Upon reporting the matter, the expressions of the other team leaders became serious. Understandably. "It might be different if it were another user... but based on the report I received, this definitely needs a nerf, right?" "Not a nerf, we need to fix the error. Regardless of whether it''s another user or a skilled user." "Heh heh heh." Skill Management Team Leader Yoon Taeseong muttered as if troubled, and upon hearing this, Error Compensation Team Leader Im Jiwon pointed out disapprovingly. While thinking in a direction that minimized compensation was the right move from a company''s perspective, Team Leader Im Jiwon from the Error Compensation Team, who cared about user welfare, had an extremely by-the-book personality. And in the midst of this, Deputy Manager Lee Jaekyung was simply smiling as if he found the situation amusing. Despite being in a difficult position, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong swallowed his saliva. After relaxing his nerves a little, he spoke up among the team leaders. "Considering the current situation, where a meeting between the Hero, Overpalace, and user Seonghyun, who went to the past, and Helena is almost certain, we need to minimize the compensation." "The current situation with the Hero and Overpalace is one thing, but what''s the problem even if Seonghyun and Helena meet in the past?" When Team Leader Im Jiwon asked, looking puzzled, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, understanding the reaction, nodded and continued his explanation. "Currently, across all continents in Eternal World, there are only nine NPCs who can briefly evade the sight of the super-artificial intelligence, Immortal. These are the NPCs known as the Nine Heroes. However, Immortal''s opinion is that even combined, those nine are inferior to Helena." "......So, there''s a high probability it will be problematic if user Seonghyun, who went to the past, meets Helena?" "Hmm, I know she reigned as the strongest NPC in the worldview as an Overlord, but even if he meets her in the past, isn''t she still just an NPC?" "That''s......." Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong bit his lip, seemingly troubled, then nodded. He then displayed a screen. It showed Helena in the Dark Fortress, doing something with Fiora. -Hmm~ What would be a good gift for my successor~ Helena was blatantly mentioning her successor. The team leaders who saw this had looks of astonishment on their faces, except for Team Leader Jung Jihye, who already knew, and Deputy Manager Lee Jaekyung, who was smiling as if he found it amusing. It was implied that she knew Seonghyun was already her successor. How she knew was secondary; if an NPC''s actions were this blatant, they had to be adjusted with Immortal. However, "Hahaha! That can''t be fixed." Deputy Manager Lee Jaekyung spoke candidly. Team Leader Im Jiwon was the first to ask at that sight. "Excuse me? What do you mean, Deputy Manager?" "You can''t fix it?" "Even if we adjust and impose restrictions with Immortal, there''s a high probability the past stage itself will collapse due to excessive strain. This would interfere with user Seonghyun''s main quest, leaving us unable to do anything. We did set it up so that Helena can''t give any of her skills or items, but......." "Then, isn''t that enough?" At the naive question, Deputy Manager Lee Jaekyung said, "She''s a being who managed to survive to that point even in Immortal''s system, where restrictions were strongest due to a lack of users. In Immortal''s words, she''s a mysterious NPC with power similar to its own super-artificial intelligence. So we''ve blocked it for now, but we don''t know how she might reward user Seonghyun. And if he ends up receiving it......." "We won''t be able to suppress it according to Chairman Park Won''s settings. In a way, it''s compensation user Seonghyun rightfully earned......." "Yes, that''s exactly it." It became a difficult situation. That''s why they were holding a meeting regarding the compensation. In this helpless situation, Team Leader Jung Jihye stepped forward. "First, according to the current compensation plan, wouldn''t we compensate with a skill of the same rank? Is there no way to reduce it?" "......We could reduce it, but if the user complains, there''s nothing we can do." Team Leader Im Jiwon responded helplessly. If they reduced the compensation and Seonghyun complained, it could lead to even greater expenses. The key was to provide compensation that wouldn''t cause any dissatisfaction in the first place. They had no choice but to give a Legendary rank skill. However, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, having thought of a clever solution, proposed, "Then, how about allowing him to upgrade the skill rank to Legendary?" "Hmm? What do you mean......?" "Ultimately, we''re concerned about user Seonghyun having too many high-rank skills, right? If so, instead of giving a new skill, we can allow him to upgrade existing skills. If we create an item that allows upgrading up to six times and allow three to be used on one skill to raise it to Legendary rank, wouldn''t that balance things out somewhat? It''s equivalent to making two Unique skills Legendary, but I believe it''s better than a new Legendary skill." All the team leaders nodded in agreement with that proposal. Instead of simply giving a Legendary skill, providing an item that could increase the rank of existing skills would ensure that the balance wouldn''t be drastically disrupted. It was a good suggestion. "Oh? The compensation itself is upgrading the skill rank, but in terms of potential, it''s equivalent to giving two Legendary skills......." "Hmm, wasn''t the Unique skills user Seonghyun currently has Self in Darkness, Skill Steal, and Add More?" "All three are skills that wouldn''t cause significant problems even if they were strengthened. They''re utility-related skills rather than those that immediately enhance combat power, and their improvement range isn''t that large, so the power boost won''t be substantial." This could be called the moment where they truly saw the true value of the competent Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong. Everyone was satisfied. "Then, we''ll change Thousand Blood Swords to have utility and cause damage and explosions when striking anything other than enemies." "The compensation plan will be created by our Skill Management Team in collaboration with the Item Creation Team. We need to create upgrade levels if user Seonghyun''s skills don''t have them." "Thank you all for your hard work." Just as the meeting was about to conclude, Deputy Manager Lee Jaekyung, nodding as if everything was fine, asked, "By the way, why is Helena using swordsmanship?" As he said, when everyone stared at the screen, they could see Helena creating a sword and swinging it as if performing swordsmanship. "......Well, I''m not sure either......." It was comical that NPC Management Team Deputy Manager Lee Jaekyung was asking User Management Team employee Lee Wonsang in the first place, but no one paid much attention. It seemed Helena had taken up swordsmanship as a hobby. Just as everyone was finishing the meeting and leaving, once everyone had disappeared, Helena stared directly at the camera on the screen and grinned. As if she knew they were all watching. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 91 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 91 6. [The Eternal World awaits you.] Seonghyun opened the capsule, reading the farewell message from the game. The house was remarkably quiet. He checked the time; it was already 6 PM. ''Is anyone home?'' His sister was probably still in her capsule. Curious about his mother''s whereabouts, he checked the living room, but she wasn''t there. There was no sign of her in the master bedroom either, so he immediately checked his phone. As expected, there was a message. [Mom- I''ll be a bit late tonight because Dad and I have a couples'' gathering~ Eat whatever you want~ I sent you some money~] She must have gone out for some kind of event. "Ah." His mother, giving him free rein on dinner, had sent him a staggering 100,000 won. Even a large delivery order wouldn''t cost that much. And it wasn''t as if Seonghyun was short on cash these days, yet she still looked out for him like this. Feeling a wave of gratitude, Seonghyun headed to Yoo Mina''s room. He saw her capsule, still humming with activity. He considered sending her a message, but decided against it and left the room. There was no point in bothering her since he hadn''t prepared any food. ''I''m not particularly hungry right now anyway.'' He''d just order something for delivery later, when his sister was done. With nothing pressing to do, he returned to his room, flopped down on the bed, and started browsing on his phone. It was the perfect way to kill some time. He caught up on a few novels he''d been meaning to read, but he blazed through those quickly enough. With his reading list exhausted, he idly scrolled through various apps, eventually landing on MeTube. ''Hmm?'' Was it because he''d been spending so much time in Eternal World lately? His entire feed was saturated with Eternal World content. Most of it consisted of channels from various Eternal World guilds. However, the majority were guilds Seonghyun didn''t recognize. Among the sea of unfamiliar content, one channel caught his eye. ''The Rapid Guild?'' And, surprisingly, two of their videos were ranked number 1 and 2 on the recently trending list. The videos were titled "Echo Willow Punishment" and "Fortress of the Past." It was the first time he''d actually seen his own gameplay featured like this; it was a peculiar feeling. ''This is a little awkward.'' Seonghyun found himself unconsciously drawn into watching the videos. He knew the content inside and out, of course. But seeing it from an outsider''s perspective gave him a different feeling. Usually, this kind of objective view would highlight flaws, areas for improvement, and so on. But he couldn''t find any. In fact, he couldn''t see anything he would change. Even if he could go back, he probably wouldn''t have done anything differently. He still couldn''t quite grasp why these videos were so popular. Intrigued, he started to read the comments. [HotZero: Wow, was that really supposed to be THAT easy????] ©¸[BumLeader: No way lmao. They always say if it looks easy, the person''s a god gamer.] ©¸[RaidNoob: I''m a Necromancer too, and that''s just insane;;; I''m amazed he even had enough mana to pull that off, is that even possible?] [AspiringArchmage: Honestly, doesn''t he seem OP even compared to other classes? Like, unusually strong even among Almighty-rank classes???] ©¸[UselessBerserker: Yeah, I think so too. If you look at the early days of the current solo rankers, almost no one showed that kind of potential except for Yuna nimnimnim, right?] ©¸[ChickenBreastLover: That''s a bit;;;;] ©¸[AspiringArchmage: Yeah;;; I don''t think so. Do you think solo rankers with Almighty-rank classes are jokes??] ©¸[MaxLevelLetsGo: I acknowledge Yuna-nim, but putting down other solo rankers is a bit;;;] There were more people than he expected who thought highly of him. Come to think of it, his sister had said something similar. In truth, Seonghyun hadn''t really grasped how strong he was. That''s because, in the memories of the various ghosts he''d absorbed, Seonghyun was still not particularly powerful, even now. Compared to Eddie, the instructor from two generations ago, in his prime, Seonghyun was weaker. It was because of memories like those that he judged himself as not being strong. ''But compared to other players, I guess it''s different.'' He''d been starting to realize it a little bit lately. Seeing the online reactions made it even clearer. After all, he had defeated Hindel from the past. Even though Hindel had been brought down to Seonghyun''s level, Seonghyun had won. Granted, Hindel had been thrown off his game. If he had been able to summon his, not even many, but even just summon Walpurg, it wouldn''t have been an easy win. Considering that. ''I should probably acknowledge it a little.'' Humility wasn''t a bad thing. But too much of it could be harmful. Even if he genuinely thought he wasn''t strong, it was a different matter to go around saying that to others. So, Seonghyun acknowledged this to some extent as he continued to scroll through the comments. There were definitely some convincing opinions. [OtakuWarrior: So when is Seonghyun-nim going live?] ©¸[LifeGaveUpSwordsman: I really want to watch a live stream soon.......] ©¸[ChickenChickenNugget: lol First time I''ve ever wanted to watch a low-level live stream ????.] ©¸[ProGamer: XD This is for real. I''m even level 130, but how is his raid more entertaining than mine???] ©¸[MonsterTamer: Uh~ Class rank difference~] ©¸[ProGamer: I''m triggered, but I can''t refute that.] ''A live stream, huh?'' Come to think of it. They said they''d pay out a portion of the live ticket revenue, right? A "live stream" meant broadcasting in real-time. So, it seemed he would be showing his raid attempts in real-time. Did people come to watch regardless of whether he succeeded or failed? Raiding while watching viewers'' live chat. ''That sounds like it could be fun.'' He hadn''t tried it before. But the idea of raiding while interacting with others appealed to him. Seonghyun continued to watch more videos for a while. The sound of a capsule opening came from Yoo Mina''s room. She must have logged out. Seonghyun put down his phone and went out. "Huh? Where are Mom and Dad?" "Couples'' gathering. Let''s order in." "Oh! Sweet, this noona will treat..." "Mom gave us money to eat something good, so let''s use that." "Ah. Okay." Yoo Mina licked her lips, seemingly a bit disappointed that their mom had already provided money. But she accepted it without complaint. After a brief discussion about what to eat. "Tteokbokki, go?" "Hmm, sure." Yoo Mina, true to her tteokbokki-loving nature, immediately suggested tteokbokki. Seonghyun hadn''t had it in a while, either. Thinking it sounded good, he agreed, and they ordered delivery from a spicy tteokbokki place. Naturally, Seonghyun, who only had a debit card, placed the order. ¡º[Web Message] -Nara3312 Approved Yoo * Hyeon -23,500 won payment. -Balance: 2,023,678,720 won.¡» A payment confirmation text message arrived shortly after. He was startled, once again, by the sheer number of digits in his balance. An enormous amount, ten digits long. He still couldn''t get used to it. By the way, he really needed to deal with the items he''d been too lazy to process. He had plenty of gold, but his inventory was starting to get full. He had to clear it out. As Seonghyun was thinking this. Yoo Mina, having lightly washed her face, emerged, drying her face with a towel, and asked. "Did you order?" "Yeah, I ordered some rice balls too." "Oh! You''re so thoughtful. But did you see it? The reaction to your videos?" She casually responded and changed the topic. Seonghyun, feeling a bit embarrassed, scratched his cheek and nodded. He had seen it, after all. Seeing Seonghyun''s reaction, Yoo Mina smiled like a goofball, as if finding him cute, and asked. "So, what did you think?" "Um, honestly, I still don''t really feel strong, so it''s a bit surreal?" "Hmm? Aren''t you super strong? I think you''re way stronger than I was at that level. What''s the status of your skills and their ranks right now? The number of regular skills and class-specific skills, and their ranks." "Huh? I don''t know?" "Check it out. You can see it on your phone." At his sister''s prompting, Seonghyun, though a little reluctant. Agreed and opened the Eternal World app on his phone to check. After a quick calculation, he said. "Class-specific, I have six Almighty-rank and six Legendary-rank each. For regular skills, I have three Legendary, three Unique, two Epic, six Rare, and one Normal." "??????" "What?" At Seonghyun''s nonchalant remark, Yoo Mina stared at him as if she''d seen a ghost. Had she misheard? She momentarily grabbed Seonghyun''s phone and checked for herself. It was real. That meant a total of six Almighty-rank, nine Legendary-rank, three Unique-rank, two Epic-rank, six Rare-rank, and one Normal-rank skill. The numbers were incomprehensible. And furthermore. "You''re level 79, so why do you have twelve class-specific skills??? You get three at the start, and then one every 10 levels starting from level 20, so you should have nine. Where did the extra three come from???" "Well, from doing this and that, I think I got ''first-time clear'' rewards that unlocked class-specific skills, about three times?" "??? What a broken game, seriously." Eternal World, indeed. Even Yoo Mina couldn''t hold back her praise/criticism. She herself could be considered a beneficiary of the system. But seeing her brother''s stats, it was an involuntary reaction. Yoo Mina now understood why other people cursed Eternal World when they looked at her. It was only natural to curse. Seonghyun asked Yoo Mina, who was staring at him blankly. "What''s wrong?" "I... ugh. Never mind. At level 70-something, I didn''t even have half of this. Three Almighty, six Legendary, three Unique... and you... wow. No wonder you''re so damn strong." "...Is that so?" "Yeah. Your Unique skill ratio is a bit low, but well, if you have a bunch of Legendaries, it doesn''t really matter." "Hmm. Should I try to get more Unique skills?" Since his Unique skill ratio was low. Right now, he had Corpse Explosion, Corpse Poison, and Exploding Poison, which were more powerful than even his Unique skills, as a combo. He might not need them immediately. But there would eventually come a time when even this combo would hit its limit. Considering that, it was best to get new combos or other skills. At Seonghyun''s words. Yoo Mina glared at him as if he were utterly ridiculous. Was he joking? No, his expression was too serious for that. "If you can get them... that''s good, but even Unique skills are hard to come by." "Oh, really? What about equipment?" "It''s kind of the same, why?" "Ah, I have a lot, so I was thinking of selling some." At Seonghyun''s words, Yoo Mina glared at him as if asking ''what are you talking about?'' Seeing is believing. He immediately took out his phone and showed her his inventory list. It was full of Unique items he couldn''t use because they didn''t match his class. And there were quite a lot of them. He had four of each of the five types of Unique items he''d obtained from the treasure vault. A total of twenty. That wasn''t all. There were also the Unique items he''d gotten from defeating Echo Willow and the Forest Hunter set he no longer used. "What... did you raid Echo Willow''s storage or something?" "No, I just got them from raiding?" "Raid? Didn''t you only do two?" "Yeah, I got that from one of the two." "Why can''t I get stuff like that!?" A voice full of frustration rang out. But Seonghyun ignored it. He figured he¡¯d just sell them off anyway. "Don''t just list these at a fixed price; put them up for auction." "Auction?" "Yeah, you don''t really need to do that for Rare or Epic items, but auction off all the Unique ones. With about twenty-one of them, you should get a decent amount of money. From what I see, they are good unique items for those below level 100, so it won''t sell extremely high." "Oh, really? Thanks." Seonghyun casually thanked her, looking pleased. Yoo Mina sighed deeply, watching her brother. And he still thinks he''s weak, despite all this. Something''s definitely off. ''Come to think of it, I heard that the Luna Team was inspired by Seonghyun and changed... even decided to become a backup team?'' Well, it''s understandable, given his abilities. Yoo Mina chuckled, looking at Seonghyun, her own brother, though it felt new. She was curious about whether his superpowers worked. But she had thought Seonghyun might be good at games, like her. But this wasn¡¯t just being good like her. He was out there discovering hidden pieces and progressing at a ridiculous pace, like he was using some kind of supernatural power. Of course there''d be a difference. ''I''ll have to step up my game if I don''t want to be left behind.'' It was a long way off before Seonghyun would reach her level, but still. She should put in more effort. It would be fun to team up with him sometime in the future. Or maybe, once they¡¯re around the same level, they could race through time attacks to see who¡¯s faster That was still a long way off, though. That evening, the siblings spent time together for the first time in a while, chatting over tteokbokki and talking about the game. 0. The next morning dawned. It was the fifth day since he''d started Eternal World. After having breakfast, Seonghyun immediately logged in. Since Hindel and the others were NPCs. He had to meet them in the morning to avoid messing up the quests. Seonghyun logged in. Quickly dismissing the welcome message, he got up from the inn bed. Today, he would definitely complete the sub-quest. And he also needed to find clues for the main quest. A busy day was expected. ''Huh?'' Seonghyun suddenly noticed a strange system message, different from the usual welcome message. Right after logging in? This had never happened before. Wondering what it was, he saw. [We apologize for having to deliver this message to user ¡ºSeonghyun¡».] The system message started with this. No, rather than a system message, it felt more like a note from the developers. [The effect of the Legendary-rank skill, ¡ºThousand Blood Swords¡», has been adjusted.] [We have sent a letter along with compensation to your inventory to provide details and apologize for this.] [We apologize once again.] "Hmm." So, it finally happened? Their response was faster than he''d expected. Well, it couldn''t be helped. The utility of the skill was too overpowered. It was a shame, but inevitable. And they said they''d given compensation. He should check it out. Seonghyun first checked how ¡ºThousand Blood Swords¡» had changed. ¡ºThousand Blood Swords¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv Max][Complete] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown: 30 minutes] ¡úBlack Mage class exclusive skill. ¡úConsumes mana to create and control a thousand blood swords from the caster''s blood. ¡úUpon hitting, the thousand blood swords inflict slashing or piercing damage, then explode, dealing explosive damage. ¡úThe number of thousand blood swords is determined by the caster''s level and class advancement stage. *Currently creatable blood swords: 154 (77 x 2) ''The phrase "upon hitting an enemy" is gone.'' This meant that every time it hit, it would deal damage, regardless of whether it was a living creature or an inanimate object. He wouldn''t be able to use it for defense or flying anymore. It was disappointing, but... ¡®They said they''d given compensation for it.¡¯ With anticipation, Seonghyun looked at his inventory. There was an orb, similar to an enhancement orb, and a note of apology. There were two items. The note repeatedly apologized and provided a detailed explanation of the compensation. ''It can be enhanced up to six times in total, and using it three times at once can upgrade a Unique to a Legendary? Huh?'' Corpse Poison and Corpse Explosion were Rare, and Exploding Poison was Epic, right? If he upgraded them all to Unique? ''How powerful would that be?'' The combination of Rare, Rare, and Epic already surpassed Unique and was close to Legendary in power. What if all of them became Unique? He couldn''t even begin to imagine. ''Explosions truly are an art form, aren''t they?'' [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 92 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 92 He muttered a ridiculous old meme to himself. It was just a passing joke in his mind¡ª But at this point, it didn¡¯t feel too out of place. Seonghyun stared at the item, briefly lost in thought. ¡ºSkill Advancement Orb¡» ¡ú¡¶Special¡· ¡úA specially crafted item that currently cannot be crafted within Eternal World by any in-game method. ¡úHas a total of six uses. Each use can upgrade a skill up to the Unique rank. ¡úIf used on a Unique-rank skill, it consumes three uses to upgrade it to Legendary rank. ¡úCan be applied to any skill. The item disappears after all uses are consumed. From the item description alone, it was clearly a specially manufactured item. That meant there¡¯d likely be no way to obtain another one in the future. He needed to think carefully. As he had just thought¡ªhe could upgrade two Rare-rank skills and his Epic-rank Exploding Poison to Unique. But wouldn¡¯t it be a better deal to turn two existing Unique-rank skills into Legendary instead? He considered it briefly, then shook his head. ¡®Rather than having two Legendary skills right now, it¡¯s better to raise all of those skills to Unique.¡¯ Upgrading from Unique to Legendary costs three uses. Meanwhile, going from Rare to Epic takes one use, and Epic to Unique takes another one. In this case, raising multiple skills to Unique was clearly more efficient. Seonghyun figured the developers probably intended it this way. They must have anticipated that people would dump all the uses into chasing Legendary upgrades. So they restricted Epic-to-Unique upgrades to just one use per rank. ¡®There¡¯s no way the devs didn¡¯t think this through.¡¯ A thought that would¡¯ve made Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong burst into tears if he ever heard it¡ª But Seonghyun said it with a straight face. Besides, this was the strongest finisher he could currently use. And he was upgrading that. What was there to hesitate about? With only two Epic-rank skills remaining, the path forward was already clear. Now that his decision was made. Of course, he moved quickly. He upgraded Corpse Explosion and Corpse Poison, both Rare-rank, to Unique. Then Exploding Poison and Shadow Transference, the Epic-rank skills, were also raised to Unique. [You have upgraded the skill ¡ºCorpse Explosion¡» by 2 ranks using the ¡ºSkill Advancement Orb¡».] [Rare-rank skill ¡ºCorpse Explosion¡» has been upgraded to Unique-rank skill ¡ºDeadburst¡».] [You have upgraded the skill ¡ºCorpse Poison¡» by 2 ranks using the ¡ºSkill Advancement Orb¡».] [Rare-rank skill ¡ºCorpse Poison ¡» has been upgraded to Unique-rank skill ¡ºVengeful Toxin of the Dead¡».] [You have upgraded the skill ¡ºExploding Poison¡» by 1 rank using the ¡ºSkill Advancement Orb¡».] [Epic-rank skill ¡ºExploding Poison¡» has been upgraded to Unique-rank skill ¡ºVenomous Detonation¡».] [You have upgraded the skill ¡ºShadow Transference¡» by 1 rank using the ¡ºSkill Advancement Orb¡».] [Epic-rank skill ¡ºShadow Transference¡» has been upgraded to Unique-rank skill ¡ºShadow Within Darkness¡».] ¡®Whoa, seeing them all level up at once¡ªit¡¯s a sight to behold.¡¯ With that, his number of Epic-rank skills dropped from two to zero, and his Rare-rank skills were now down from six to four. The number of Unique-rank skills, previously only three, had increased to a whopping seven. Now it was time to see the effects. Even the usually calm Seonghyun opened the skill window with a look of slight anticipation. First, Corpse Explosion¡ªno, Deadburst. ¡ºDeadburst¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡ú[Lv Max][Complete] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown: 3 minutes] ¡úBlack Mage class exclusive skill. ¡úInfuses mana into a corpse or a wraith, causing the black mana to explode, spreading powerful damage in all directions. ¡úThe explosion damage is more effective against living creatures. "Oh?!" Originally, it only applied to corpses, but now it included wraiths, and the explosion damage was more effective against living beings. Moreover, it had been a growth-type skill before. Now it was a complete skill. He would have to test its power, of course. Next was Corpse Poison, now Vengeful Toxin of the Dead. ¡ºVengeful Toxin of the Dead¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡ú[Lv Max][Complete] [Persistent Effect][Active] [Cooldown: 3 minutes] [Poison Duration: 1 minute] ¡úBlack Mage class exclusive skill. ¡úInfuses a corpse or wraith with vengeful poison using mana. ¡úThe vengeful poison spreads slowly, poisoning enemies. ¡úVengeful Toxin of the Dead is a potent poison that is not easily antidoted, and even purification is difficult. "Oho." Similarly, it was complete. And it could also be applied to wraiths. It had been upgraded from poison to potent poison. He''d have to test its power as well, of course. But it was clear that both skills had been significantly enhanced. The fact that it applied to wraiths as well had broadened its versatility. Then, the final part of the combo. Exploding Poison, now evolved to Venomous Detonation. ¡ºVenomous Detonation¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown: 3 minutes] ¡úBlack Mage class exclusive skill. ¡úExplodes poison, further amplifying its toxicity, and inflicts both potent poison damage and explosive damage, spreading the potent poison. ¡úThe spread potent poison can be detonated a second time. "It explodes twice?" The spread potent poison could be detonated again. The damage would have to be tested, of course. But he couldn''t easily picture how the three would work together. And next, Seonghyun''s best utility skill. The skill that had evolved from Shadow Transference to Shadow Within Darkness. What would it be like? ¡ºShadow Within Darkness¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡ú[Lv Max][Complete] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown: 1 minute] ¡úBlack Mage class exclusive skill. ¡úCloaks the body in darkness and transfers to a nearby shadow. ¡úTransfer can be used up to three times, and after each transfer, the user enters an invulnerable state for 1 second (applies to all three transfers). ¡úCooldown applies after using the third transfer. ''Up to three times?'' Previously, he could only transfer once. Now it was up to three times. But each of those three times granted 1 second of invulnerability. Since it was a Unique-rank skill. He supposed it made sense. But even so, he couldn''t shake the feeling that it was incredibly good. With this, his revival effect probably wouldn''t even be triggered. If used well, he could survive for 3 seconds, maybe even longer. All the skills had been upgraded to satisfactory levels. Maybe even better than two Legendary skills. ''I can''t wait to try them out.'' His body itched to use them right away. He naturally got out of the inn bed. Should he go out and test them? Knock, knock, knock. Just as Seonghyun was thinking of leaving. Someone conveniently knocked on the door. "Seonghyun-nim? Are you awake?" A familiar voice. It was Hindel. Hearing Hindel''s voice, Seonghyun immediately opened the door. "Ah, you''re awake." "Yes. I just woke up." "Then shall we depart immediately?" Unless he was a fool, there was no way he wouldn''t know where they were going. The castle where Helena of the past resided. The Dark Fortress. To that place. "Sounds good." Seonghyun replied with a smile. It was a perfect opportunity. A very good opportunity to test his newly evolved skills. 1. As it was visible even from Sermath. The road to the Dark Fortress wasn''t very long. However, reaching it was not easy. As they approached the Dark Fortress, the oppressive feeling and dense black magic hindered the advance of Hindel and the others. Their speed was not particularly fast. Except for Seonghyun. "...You are truly remarkable." "Indeed." "I-I thought that with this much black magic, even a Black Mage like Seonghyun-nim would be affected, but it seems I was wrong." "...Amazing." Everyone acknowledged Seonghyun''s resilience. But Seonghyun himself just smiled slightly. On the contrary. [You are exposed to high-purity black magic.] [This black magic is compatible with ¡ºOverlord¡».] [All stats temporarily increase by +5%.] A similar phenomenon to what happened with Fiora was occurring, and his body felt light. He felt a little guilty for being the only one comfortable. But what could he do? There was nothing Seonghyun could do to help. He had no choice but to ignore it. By the way. Hindel repeatedly apologized to Seonghyun. "And... once again, I apologize for yesterday." "It''s nothing. Such things can happen during a spar." "Thanks to your advice afterward, I learned a great deal." "...?" Yesterday, he''d thanked him for some enlightenment. And today, he said he''d learned a great deal again. From Seonghyun''s perspective, this was like being woken up in the middle of the night by a thunderclap. He didn''t understand what was going on. But since Hindel said he''d been helped. He simply bowed his head and accepted it. As if it were no big deal. "...Even after giving such profound insights, you act as if it''s nothing. I''m truly humbled." "Hmm, it''s nothing." Seonghyun said, feeling embarrassed. Hindel stopped there, but he still looked at Seonghyun with respectful eyes. He was a truly burdensome person. Was Hindel the type of person who was grateful for even the smallest things? How long had they been walking? Something was caught in Hindel''s senses, and he shouted urgently. "Something''s coming!" At his words, Seonghyun, along with Flan, Adeline, and Lyaden, prepared for battle. What appeared next were undead shrouded in black darkness and carrying a faint teal aura. They were undead with a familiar appearance to Seonghyun. However. ''They look like they were made by Add More.'' There was no intelligence or rationality discernible in the glow of their eyes. They were just mindlessly charging. But that was to be expected, wasn''t it? While everyone was preparing for battle. Seonghyun quickly scanned the area for corpses. Corpses, or wraiths, that he could use his skills on. But he didn''t need to put in much effort to find them. Perhaps because they were near the Dark Fortress? Even a quick glance revealed an enormous number. ''Quite a lot, huh?'' Seonghyun first used Death Legion and, simultaneously, Corpse Poison¡ªno, now it was Vengeful Toxin of the Dead. The Death Legion, shrouded in a deep purple aura, rose from the ground. The number of Death Legion that emerged from the ground wasn''t very large. Less than one-twentieth the number of enemies. But as they swiftly leaped forward, heading towards the enemies. Sensing something ominous, Hindel shouted. "Full power, defensive barrier!!!" Simultaneously, Hindel also spread a wide defensive barrier, reminiscent of a galaxy, which could be considered an incredibly powerful defensive skill. Adeline''s defensive barrier wrapped around his best effort, and Flan''s potions, thrown in rapid succession, further fortified those barriers. As if that wasn''t enough, Flan cast his own magic to form a defensive barrier, and behind him, Lyaden swiftly used spirits to create a massive earthen wall out of earth and wood. Immediately after they had moved so quickly. Seonghyun, with an air of nonchalance, snapped his fingers, activating two skills simultaneously through his Dark Self. Deadburst and Venomous Detonation. As the two detonations met, for a fleeting moment. A skull formed from countless intertwined vengeful wraiths, seemingly grinning, flashed through the area. Just as the hero''s party felt a chill. Kwaaaaaaaa¡ª! Kwagaaaaaaa¡ª! Kugugugugugu¡ª! Hwaaaaaaaa¡ª! A shockwave, as if to sweep away the world, engulfed the surroundings. The earthen wall Lyaden had created first crumbled. And with another echoing shockwave, the earth trembled violently. Simultaneously, Flan''s magic barrier shattered. As the two defensive barriers collapsed. Only then could they see the form of the explosion. The entire ground was overturned, and everything crumbled as if heaven and earth were being split apart. But that wasn''t the end. An unbearable heat followed, engulfing them. Adeline''s defensive barrier melted under the heat. The last remaining barrier, containing the galaxy, also slowly melted under the heat. But it held on until the end, allowing them to survive. Only when the heat subsided could they finally see the aftermath of the explosion. "...This is..." "Insane..." "...I''m utterly speechless." "...Terrifying." The shockwave from the explosion had pulverized everything in the vicinity, and the subsequent heat had melted the finely fragmented sand, making the surrounding ground glisten. The surrounding ground was slightly undulating, like lava, from the melting. It wasn''t a large amount. But in the epicenter of the explosion, the ground had clearly failed to withstand the heat, and in some places, it had turned into lava. The heat was still palpable even after the explosion had ended. But even more terrifying than that. "Oho." Was Seonghyun, who observed the scene with great interest and let out a sound of admiration. It was as if he were testing something. At that sight, the hero''s party all got goosebumps. It was clear that he had been holding back during his fight with Hindel. If he had used this power unfiltered during his battle with Hindel...? Gulp. Hindel and all the other party members swallowed hard. If Seonghyun had shown no mercy. Hindel would not be here now. Realizing this, Seonghyun felt more reliable than anyone else. The world was indeed vast, and there were many powerful people. Bringing Seonghyun along to go to the Dark Fortress had been a stroke of genius. While everyone was thinking this. Only Seonghyun was thinking with satisfaction. ''The range of the effect, and the power itself, are on a completely different level.'' He nodded in satisfaction, looking at the remnants of the enormous bombardment. This power was definitely better than obtaining two Legendary skills. Well, it was a combo, so it''s only natural that it''s stronger than most Legendary skills. It would be a different story if two Legendary skills formed a combo, though. As Seonghyun was thinking about how to use his remaining skill, Doomsday Clock, and the title, The Ultimate Calamity. Hindel looked towards the Dark Fortress, his face filled with horror. It wasn''t just Hindel; Seonghyun felt it too. A being of a different caliber, cloaked in immense black magic, was approaching. [The high-purity black magic has become even more concentrated.] [This black magic is compatible with ¡ºOverlord¡».] [All stats temporarily increase by +10%.] The concentration of black magic was even denser than when he had met Fiora. Compared to the black magic emanating from the Dark Fortress, he could tell that a being of a similar class to Fiora was coming. And from that place, a being of unknown identity appeared. A being already seen by Seonghyun once before. A being shrouded in a veil of darkness, making it impossible to tell if it was male or female, old or young. The one responsible for sending Seonghyun to this past. "How dare you come this far. I will not forgive you." The being appeared in front of Seonghyun and Hindel''s party. A ferocious aura that crushed everything with black magic and threatened to shatter all emanated. Kuuuuung¡ª! An overwhelming hostility that pressed down on everyone present. Hindel''s party members all collapsed, as if buried under a giant boulder. "Kuhk!" "Kyaaaak!" "Kuh!" Under that hostility, this time even Hindel felt a pressure that forced one knee to bend. "Kuhk, to think...it would be this much..." But even in that situation, Seonghyun stood firm, enduring it calmly. Seonghyun should have found the hostility difficult to bear, too. But, thanks to it being black magic, he had strong resistance and could withstand it. ''It''s... insane? I''m supposed to defeat this?'' He was told that the world was constructed based on his level. Even so, it was quite overwhelming. If he summoned all his summons and went all out? Maybe he could win. But it was impossible. For now, he''d wait and see. He couldn''t know which direction the quest would take. "There is one who endures..." The being was briefly surprised to see Seonghyun, but was about to increase its output again when¡ª "Hello?" Amidst the immense pressure. A red-haired woman, showing no sign of tension whatsoever, suddenly appeared, smiling. Without any warning. As if she had been there naturally all along. The red-haired woman appeared in that place. Seonghyun, seeing her, spoke without realizing it. "...Helena?" It was the appearance of the Demon King Helena. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 93 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 93 Should Helena even be appearing here? Seonghyun''s mind instantly became complicated. What was going on? He recognized the being immediately. It was the one who''d sent him here, now kneeling with its head bowed before Helena. He''d seen it in the event scene. He was sure of it. But for Helena to suddenly appear... Was this even a quest that could be cleared? ''I did think Helena might intervene, but already?'' It was completely different from what he''d expected. According to the actual history. Hindel''s party, tired of fighting Helena''s death legion here, took the Dark Fortress and went to another dimension. But for her to appear so abruptly? What was going on? Perhaps. ''Did I stir things up too much?'' Because he''d faced too many things at once. Had Helena become interested and appeared? It was possible. Seonghyun was confused by these thoughts. But an unexpected situation unfolded. Suddenly, Helena spoke, looking at the being. "Don''t kill them." "Understood. I shall carry out your command without fail." Seemingly satisfied with the response, Helena nodded with a smile and turned her gaze. Then, she looked at Seonghyun. "You''re much better looking in person." Hearing Helena''s voice in person, not as a soul''s voice. Felt somewhat strange. This was Helena of the past, after all. Not the Helena Seonghyun knew. But the atmosphere itself was similar. "Well then, I''ll be having a little chat. You heroes~ do your best~" Just as Helena was about to take Seonghyun and disappear. Seonghyun urgently cast a skill. He used the skill, Doomsday Clock, on the being and shouted. Hindel and the party members could clearly hear his words. "10 minutes!" What was 10 minutes? They didn''t understand. But Seonghyun and Helena vanished from the spot as if space itself were twisting. Shuoooook! And left behind were the hero''s party and the being. The only difference was. "...He left something strange with me." Tick, tock. Clock hands appeared above the head of the being facing the hero''s party. Seeing that, they realized. Something Seonghyun had done would happen in 10 minutes. In other words. ''We have to hold out until then.'' But. Kugugugugu¡ª! Small pebbles and stones around them began to float. Looking up at the being that dominated the surroundings with its overwhelming black magic. Hindel thought. ''Can we really hold out?'' Lately, Hindel''s confidence had been quite shaken. But he gripped his sword tightly. And resolved himself. ''I can''t show Seonghyun-nim a shameful display.'' And so, the decisive battle began. 2. Space warped and distorted. As he flowed through a strange tunnel. He was transported to an unknown place. The surroundings were distorted, and there wasn''t a single object that looked normal. They were twisted, bent, half-formed, or the other half was so old and faded that it was unusable. A place where time and space were all mixed up. A profoundly disorienting place. [????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????] What is this? Even the system message was incomprehensible. What kind of place was this, anyway? As Seonghyun looked around, bewildered. Helena, sitting on a chair that was both warped, as though space-time itself was distorted, and looked simultaneously brand new and ancient, said with a bright smile. "Welcome!" "...Helena, where is this?" "I felt it earlier, too, but you definitely know me, don''t you? My future self? Or the spirit of my dead self? I think it''s probably the latter... I can feel a bit of my soul in you." "..." At that moment, Helena''s eyes glowed teal, and she smiled. Seonghyun couldn''t help but get goosebumps at that intelligent look, filled with madness. Helena acted as if she knew he was from the future. How did she figure it out? Did she know that and bring him to this place? Helena shook her head at the same time. "No, no. You can ask me about that after we get out of here. First things first! Here! Take it!" Saying this casually, Helena handed over a book. As Seonghyun took it. Helena nodded as if finally satisfied and snapped her fingers. Snap! Simultaneously, everything in the world returned to its proper place. Time and space completely shifted, and the surrounding scenery finally came into view. Should he call it a well-decorated castle interior in an antique, ancient style? No, among such castle interiors, it looked like a study. A place with several chairs, desks, and bookshelves. There, Seonghyun saw a system message that appeared without him realizing it. [You have temporarily visited a location beyond the reach of the system.] [This, too, is classified as an ''Unknown Power''.] [Due to the ''Unknown Power,'' you have acquired the Overlord-exclusive swordsmanship skillbook, ¡ºHelena''s Super Strong Swordsmanship¡».] He''d returned to reality, but the message was still incomprehensible. He''d obtained some kind of swordsmanship? ''......???'' The skillbook''s title was already unusual. Seonghyun looked at the skillbook''s cover with a dumbfounded expression. Helena, with a slightly embarrassed yet coquettish smile, said. "I quickly whipped up this swordsmanship for my handsome successor, and it turned out pretty well. I''m sorry I couldn''t give you more because of the world''s will, though." "??????" "Oh my? You were waving your sword around, so I thought you liked swords. Don''t you like it?" Her expression was genuinely worried. Seonghyun, feeling that, was momentarily flustered and shook his head. He liked it very much. ''Except for the name.'' Helena''s Super Strong Swordsmanship. When Seonghyun shook his head. Helena was relieved. She''d worried he might not like it. "That''s a relief. I''m glad you like it. I made it in a hurry, so I just slapped a name on it. I thought maybe you didn''t like it because of that?" "..." Seonghyun didn''t respond, as he''d been caught red-handed. But in any case, receiving a gift was something to be thankful for. Seonghyun bowed his head in thanks and was about to put it in his inventory. Helena, with a seductive look and a flushed face, cupped her chin with both hands and said. "You can use it now! No, I''d rather you use it now~" "Hmm, alright." Seonghyun replied and immediately used the item without even checking it. Naturally, he trusted Helena. He acted boldly. More than anything, he felt an immense sense of goodwill emanating from her. Seonghyun could learn it with peace of mind. He immediately used the skillbook. [The conditions for use are met.] [You have acquired the Overlord-exclusive Almighty-rank swordsmanship skill, ¡ºHelena''s Super Strong Swordsmanship¡».] ''Almighty!?'' Even the calm Seonghyun, who had used it immediately, was shocked. He''d thought it might be a Legendary-rank skill, like Add More''s. A skill she made herself, and in a hurry, at that. And it was an Almighty-rank skill? Seonghyun''s jaw dropped at the unbelievable rank. It was only natural. It was an Almighty-rank swordsmanship skill, after all. ''And she''s disappointed she gave me this?'' She gave him something like this and was disappointed she couldn''t give him more. He couldn''t understand it at all. Overpalace seemed to take after Helena. Perhaps it was natural, since they were her followers? Anyway. As Seonghyun acquired the skill. As if unable to contain himself, Seonghyun opened the skill window. He''d acquired many titles related to swordsmanship skills. He couldn''t help but be excited. The name was a flaw, but the rank was the rank. Seonghyun immediately opened it. ¡ºHelena''s Super Strong Swordsmanship¡» ¡ú¡¶Almighty¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth] [Passive Effect][Compound] Helena''s swordsmanship, created in a short time out of love for her successor, boasts superior performance compared to any other swordsmanship, regardless of depth or profundity. ¡ºWave your sword around with a yap yap!¡» ¡úOverlord exclusive skill. ¡úIn handling a sword, when wielding a sword, inflicts dark damage in addition to slashing and piercing damage. ¡úAllows you to naturally imbue your sword with a dark sword aura. ¡úIncreases basic attack power by 300% when using a sword. ¡úAdditionally, you can unlock a total of ten swordsmanship skills, which can be acquired at each skill level. Lv 1 : Darkness. [Cooldown: 3 minutes] [Duration: 1 minute] ¡úManipulates darkness and imbues it into the sword. ¡úEnemies cut are inflicted with dark damage, slashing or piercing damage, and one of their senses is blocked. ¡úWith each cut, one sense is blocked, and with each cut, the duration of the sense block increases. Lv 2 : (Currently Unavailable) A skill with no flaws, except for the name, was displayed. He hadn''t checked other swordsmanship skills. But the description alone said it boasted superior performance compared to any other swordsmanship. He had no choice but to believe it. It was certified by the system, after all. ''It''s like the galaxy-related swordsmanship skill Hindel used, a combination of multiple skills.'' He¡¯d heard high-rank swordsmanship skills included various skills like techniques. It was true. The number of skills increased as the skill level rose. Wasn''t this just too romantic? Helena smiled softly, seeing Seonghyun''s great satisfaction. "I''m glad you like it." "I really like it. Thank you very much." "Hehe, I didn''t give it to you to hear that, but I feel a little embarrassed somehow. So, is my soul asleep?" Helena''s words getting to the point. Seonghyun nodded as well. He had absorbed the memories and experiences contained in Helena''s soul, but they were too vast and the soul''s stature was too immense for him to read them yet. Seonghyun calmly recounted the events he had experienced since coming to Eternal World. Helena listened quietly without asking any questions, and then nodded. When he got to the reason he had come to this place. Helena, who had been listening calmly, spoke. "Do you know the person who sent you here?" "Yeah, that person? Being? From earlier, right?" "Yes, that''s right. It''s called Nocturnium. It seems that after my death, everyone revered me in a different way. It seems important for you, Seonghyun, to meet those children one by one in order to inherit my power and legacy." "Hmm, I figured as much." "You had a rough idea, then?" Through their conversation, Seonghyun came to realize even more deeply how extraordinary Helena was. The fact that she was aware that this place was created and was the past was chilling enough. But she was also concerned with things like the will of the world and its gaze. And she''d given Seonghyun a skill, taking those things into account. ''Does that mean she gave it to me secretly, behind the developers'' backs?'' The way she''d bypassed the developers and administrators running the game. Every single action was transcendental. How could a mere NPC be this exceptional? Was this, too, the intention of the developers? Seonghyun couldn''t possibly know. But he could tell that Helena was no ordinary NPC. Even Hindel, considered an Almighty-rank class as a hero, was nothing more than an ordinary person compared to Helena. "Hmmm, I can help you a little. So, what did I say you should do next?" Seonghyun could sense the end in that question. But without regret, he answered calmly. "I heard that the Dark Fortress space would be ripped out entirely and disappear." "Hmm, that''s not a difficult task. Then, shall I tell you about the others, too? Most of them are in this castle?" Helena smiled seductively, as if amused. Her eyes were full of goodwill, and she wanted to give him everything. But why? He could see a hint of mischief mixed in with her goodwill. Seonghyun chuckled and shook his head at Helena. "People often call that a spoiler, and I''m not particularly fond of them." "Hehe, I knew my successor would say something like that. I really wanted to tell you, though, so that''s a bit disappointing." It wasn''t a test. If Seonghyun had asked, Helena would have gladly told him. But since Seonghyun didn''t want it, she simply nodded, acknowledging his decision. It was disappointing, but. To respect Seonghyun. The meeting was short. But the lingering impression was deep. Both Helena and Seonghyun. Both looked at each other, and Helena, as if the time had come, said. "Well then, hmm, for the sake of my soul, I''ll share some of my power with you. And this note, too! Hmm, it''s almost been 10 minutes, so I''ll send you back! And as punishment, go test out your swordsmanship on that Nocturnium fellow and give him a good beating! Then, although we won''t be able to see each other again, take care and goodbye!" With those words, Seonghyun''s form vanished from the spot. She hadn''t forgotten to tell him to give the note to the future Nocturnium. Then, Helena, looking truly regretful, looked at a screen-like mirror and sighed deeply at the scene of Nocturnium and the others engaged in fierce battle. "It''s a shame I won''t be able to see him again. I guess I have to leave it to my main body, or rather, my soul? Anyway, I have no choice but to leave it to her." Helena spoke, revealing a teal glint in her eyes and smiling bitterly. "Even knowing it''s the past, it''s still disappointing." She felt sad at the thought of not being able to see him again. But it couldn''t be helped. She just hoped that Seonghyun would go out there and give Nocturnium, who had caused all this, a good beating. As Seonghyun joined the hero''s party and pushed back the fierce battle. Helena slowly rose from her seat. "Then, shall I get moving for the sake of our Seonghyun?" [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 94 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 94 KABOOM! BOOOOM! CRASH! A series of explosions roared. A pungent smell spread thickly in all directions, and figures burst through the black smoke. It was Hindel, Flan, Adeline, and Lyaden. They were covered in bloodstains, and their appearances were a mess. The group was plastered with the singed smell of explosions and the heavy, metallic scent of blood. It was hard to find a single spot on them that wasn''t injured. They were in a wretched state, with no part of them appearing unharmed. Yet, despite their condition, a resolute fighting spirit still burned in their eyes. In contrast, a voice emerged from the smoke, expressing utter bewilderment at their appearance. Step, step, step, step. Amidst the chaos of the dense smoke, the shockwaves from the explosions, and the sounds of the collapsing ground, it was a struggle to even make out nearby voices. However, the footsteps of that being were perfectly clear. And that being spoke. "I cannot understand." He observed them, frowning as if he truly couldn''t comprehend. The hero''s party, blindly searching for Helena. If they were coming to kill Helena, it would make sense. But that wasn''t the case. They simply wanted to talk to Helena, and that''s why they sought her. They had been doing this for quite some time now. And this time, they even brought a human that might interest his master. He simply couldn''t understand. So he asked. "For what reason do you seek my master?" Hindel answered the being''s question. "To persuade her." "...Persuade her of what?" "If someone possesses such transcendent power, people are bound to be filled with fear. The unknown breeds fear. So, if she were to step forward and be active, wouldn''t everyone feel closer to her, rather than being afraid?" "... " He was displeased. To think they would disturb his master''s seclusion for such a trivial reason. It was ridiculous. The very act of seeking out his master, who was peacefully living in seclusion, turning her back on the world. Their relentless drive to uphold their beliefs. Those eyes, holding an unbreakable will. If it were up to him, he would tear them into a thousand, or rather ten thousand pieces right now. Since the hero was still weak. He alone was more than enough. But his master did not wish for that. There was Helena''s command, but also. ''It''s still turning.'' And from the very beginning, there was a clock hand floating above his head. As long as this existed, he couldn''t act rashly. It seemed like a type of magic that activated over time. But it could be a complex trigger system, activated by a specific action. And as time passed, he felt it. A threatening aura gradually approaching him. Tick, tock. The clock hand moved, signaling the passage of time. Soon, this threatening presence would transform into a raging wave and sweep him away. If that happened, even he would be in considerable danger. But even if he suffered a critical injury, he could still threaten the hero''s party as easily as flipping his hand. Rather, if something were to be triggered, getting rid of that damn clock hand, he''d have no more restraints. If that human and the hero''s party had been together. It would have been quite threatening. However, the human, who he''d considered a possibility, had been taken away by his master. ''Soon.'' They had held on desperately, but now they had reached their limit. The clock had been an annoyance, so he had held back until now. But now, he could slowly get rid of only the hero''s party, who kept irritating his nerves even with that. His comrades, breathing heavily, seemed like they would collapse at any moment. And standing before those comrades, resolutely gripping his sword, was the hero, Hindel. When he raised his hand. Rumble... A familiar sight unfolded before Hindel and his party. The surrounding earth rose up, like the limbs of that being. It didn''t feel like it was clumped together like clay, like the arms of a golem. It moved while maintaining the condition of the earth in this entire area. Because of this, the surrounding forest was dragged along, and the arm was densely covered with trees. An arm as large as a small mountain. A size that far surpassed a giant, too overwhelming to take in at a glance. It moved, bringing that overwhelming mass to bear, in order to crush them. "It''s coming¡ª!" At Hindel''s shout, the party swiftly moved out of the range of the arm. But Hindel did not. Instead, he soared into the sky, leaving behind a long trajectory resembling a comet. Soon, he felt the crushing force. Although that giant hand was in the process of crushing down, it was still quite far from reaching him. Just its movement alone caused the air beneath it to compress, creating a palpable weight. But Hindel overcame that pressure and swung his sword. Power bloomed from his eyes, which resembled a galaxy. As he swung the sword that contained the galaxy. As if a meteor shower were falling from the sky, a meteor shower ascended, in reverse, into the sky. Tens, hundreds, thousands of star clusters stretched out their tails and rose into the sky, a magnificent spectacle unfolding. The slashes, imbued with that meteor shower, unfolded countless times, decorating the sky. Whoosh! The countless sword strikes of the meteor shower intertwined and tangled, becoming a single stream of meteors. The meteor, containing immense power, and the arm of the mountain met. No, just before they met. The immense power and pressure they each held collided, pressing down on each other even before they physically touched. The light contained within the meteor erupted, pulverizing the mountain''s arm. But the sheer mass contained within the mountain''s arm could not be overcome by that eruption of light alone. The overwhelming physical force leaking from that mass soon reached the meteor. And so, the meteor, too, was extinguished, unable to fully unleash its power. Fwoosh! As the two collided and mutually annihilated. The broken stones from the mountain that formed the arm fell from the sky like hail. Rattle, rattle, rattle! In this rain of stones, a mixture of pebbles and rocks as big as a person''s head. Hindel''s eyes shone brilliantly, like the resplendent Galaxy. He was certain they were exhausted. He thought that only their eyes remained defiant. To think they had been conserving this much strength. But now, it was truly the end. His breath came in ragged gasps, his jaw and shoulders heaving. It was evident that Hindel, too, had reached his limit, as cold sweat flowed freely. That being, Nocturnium, also recognized this. ''Damn, I couldn''t even last 10 minutes?'' Self-loathing welled up deep within Hindel, but he shook it off. Although he couldn''t hold off until Seonghyun''s spell, he had done his best. There were no regrets. Only disappointment. ''It''s... a shame that I won''t be able to see Seonghyun...'' The hero Hindel, his eyes still shining brightly to the very end. It was unpleasant, but now it was truly over. From afar, the rest of the hero''s party, sensing Nocturnium''s aura, were rushing back. Were they trying to save Hindel? But it was too late. It was the moment Nocturnium was about to pour his power onto Hindel once more. Screech! Crack! A figure emerged, ripping through space and appearing from a crack. Wrapped in darkness at first, its form was indistinguishable. But then, the surrounding darkness bloomed, and its form was fully revealed. Nocturnium''s eyes widened until they seemed like they would tear. A young man wearing a dark robe and equipped with what appeared to be light, white fur gear. It was Seonghyun. The one Helena had taken. Nocturnium stared at Seonghyun in shock. "Im-impossible. H-how? How!!!" What did it mean that Seonghyun, whom Helena had taken, was here? It was unlikely, but could something have happened to Helena? It might be needless worry. But as her subordinate, he couldn''t just stand here. He needed to check if Helena was safe. Just for a moment. If he concentrated for a brief moment, he could know everything about the castle in detail. But could he buy enough time? In that situation, Seonghyun looked down at the battlefield with a lofty expression. His arrogant and resolute gaze made Nocturnium flinch and look up at Seonghyun. Was this a determination to not give him any openings? ''Prepare.'' There was no way his master had been defeated. But if Seonghyun had truly escaped from her, or even just held her back for a moment. He must have expended a considerable amount of power. While Nocturnium was indulging in these various imaginative scenarios. Seonghyun assessed the situation and thought. ''What kind of mess is this?'' It seemed that Hindel and his party had fought a fierce battle with Nocturnium. But judging by Nocturnium''s unharmed state. It seemed they were considerably pushed back. Judging by the endlessly hopeful expressions of Hindel and his party. He had appeared at a dramatic moment. At first, he was a little flustered when she said she would transport him. But it was actually better this way. He could confirm his new skill that he had unleashed before leaving. "Now?" "...?!" Tick¡ª. Bong¡ª! Bong¡ª¡ª! Bong¡ª¡ª¡ª! The moment Seonghyun finished speaking. The sound of a clock hand striking the hour was heard. Followed by the resounding sound of a grand clock chiming. A huge bell that had appeared above Nocturnium''s head moved, spreading a magnificent sound. It was undoubtedly a majestic, vast, and profound chime, but why? Why did it sound so ominous and sinister? The bell''s toll, announcing that the time had come, soon seized Nocturnium. The chimes, as if winding around him, took on a will of their own and rushed at Nocturnium. The chimes, transformed into bizarre spectral entities like wraiths, no longer sounded like bell tolls. Screech! Shriek! Roar! The wails of agony from hell, the tormented cries of demons, struck Nocturnium. "Gack." Fwoosh! He coughed up blood. Tears of blood flowed from his eyes, blood flowed from his ears as if they had burst, and his nose bled as well. Not only that. Blood gushed out like a fountain from every conceivable orifice in his body. Even from the smallest pores, a faint mist of blood sprayed out, more like steam than a fountain of blood. The wails from hell had ravaged all his internal organs; not a single part of him seemed unharmed. Drip, drip. Wipe, wipe. Nocturnium roughly wiped the copious blood from his face with his sleeve. Only his violently trembling pupils could be seen beyond the aftermath. He was shaken by the overwhelming power that exceeded all expectations. Aside from Helena¡¯s servants and disciples, he had never imagined that such an existence could exist. Was this the arrival of another transcendent being? Whenever beings are confronted with phenomena they cannot understand, they are inevitably consumed by fear. Nocturnium was no exception. His pupils shook violently, and his body trembled like an aspen leaf. As fear spread through his body. He tried to pull himself together and recover. Seonghyun''s eyes flashed. It was clear he was attempting to restore his stamina. But that very act of recovery ended up betraying Nocturnium¡¯s expectations. Fwoooosh¡ª! Once again, blood spurted from his entire body. "Guhk." He was already in a dazed state from the massive damage, and now the healing had reversed. How was this possible? Nocturnium couldn''t understand any of it. No, just one thing. That the person he was facing, Seonghyeon, was a being of terrifying power. ¡®Hmm... was that too much?¡¯ Helena had said he should test his swordsmanship, and give him a good beating. So he''d tested even the most devastating effect ''Destruction of Salvation'', but judging by the situation. It did feel a bit excessive. Well, it''s the past, which has nothing to do with the butterfly effect, so. Seonghyun thought it would be fine and drew his sword. Now, there was only one thing left to test. The new Almighty-rank skill he had received. The skill whose name he was too embarrassed to reveal. Helena''s Super Strong Swordsmanship. When Seonghyun unleashed that swordsmanship. The light of the world vanished. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 95 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 95 Since ancient times, all humans have feared the darkness. No, to be precise, they feared what they could not grasp. They feared everything that was beyond their perception, beyond their understanding, and beyond their power. Darkness was like that very concept. Unable to see an inch ahead. Unable to feel. The fear of floundering in the vast ocean of darkness engulfed the entire world. The world, filled with darkness, stole all light, making it impossible to distinguish anything. In a world filled only with darkness, there was not a single speck of light, and it eroded everything around it. The fear that even one''s own existence might have vanished. As if to devour that fear, the darkness grew darker and deeper, and at last, it concentrated and condensed in one place. All the darkness of the world began to be contained within Seonghyun''s sword. If one were to give form to darkness, would it be like this? Undulating, viscous, and heavy. ''Is this the power of an Almighty-grade skill?'' Even Seonghyun couldn''t hide his surprise. He was astonished by the appearance, which was extraordinary from the effects alone. But if Seonghyun was surprised by the external appearance, like these effects. Those who were watching were terrified by the power contained within. Beyond the overwhelming appearance, they could feel the power of severance, capable of cutting off anything. "...Wh-what... is this!?" Nocturnium, facing that, forgot even his pain and stared, mesmerized, at Seonghyun''s sword. He manipulated the darkness as if he were the master of all the darkness in the world. It wasn''t just the aura contained in the sword. Nocturnium didn''t know, but Hindel could tell at a glance. From the grip on the sword to every single posture. He could glimpse the profound depth of the swordsmanship. A form of swordsmanship he hadn''t seen when fighting him. No, he had seen it. He had known that his skill in handling the sword itself was outstanding. But he hadn''t revealed any swordsmanship skills. ''He had a swordsmanship skill!?'' A swordsmanship he hadn''t shown to him. But he wasn''t disappointed or frustrated. ¡®Look at that unfathomable darkness contained in the sword.¡¯ If he had used that, it might have been even more dangerous than the fierce explosion he had seen before. So Hindel was relieved. He was grateful that the blade was not directed at him now. ''My Galaxy Sword Dance is also a supreme swordsmanship, but...'' A very threatening swordsmanship, comparable to his own. No, perhaps. ''It might even be superior to the Galaxy Sword Dance.'' Even if they were both categorized as Almighty-grade, their depth and the power they contained were on a different level. Undoubtedly, the Galaxy Sword Dance, passed down through generations of heroes, was also one of the best swordsmanships in the world. But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn''t imagine a scenario where it would win against the swordsmanship Seonghyun was using. Another sky above the sky. To Hindel, that was Seonghyun. ''Perhaps he possesses power similar to the master of this Dark Fortress...'' He unconsciously thought of the correct answer. But he didn''t know it was the correct answer. "A-all the darkness is gathering..." "I-I can''t believe that''s possible. Perhaps it''s even more... than Hindel''s swordsmanship." "...Strong." Besides Hindel, the other members of the party also expressed their admiration, bordering on awe. But Nocturnium, towards whom the tip of the sword was pointed, shuddered in fear. Master of darkness? That couldn''t be. As far as he knew, the only one who could truly manipulate darkness was his own master. Then what on earth was this swordsmanship before his eyes? Nocturnium had thought Hindel''s swordsmanship was excellent, but it wasn''t to this extent. He glared at him with eyes full of fear and a furious expression. Seonghyun lightly leaned forward, towards Nocturnium who was glaring at him. "...!!!" His form disappeared. He hadn''t moved quickly or increased his speed. A deep flow of mana could be felt. Nocturnium quickly prepared himself. He swiftly read the flow, as if predicting where he would appear. Soon, he realized. It was right in front of him. Seonghyun, appearing as if swaying within the darkness, swung his sword. The jet-black sword, becoming pure darkness itself, surged and cut between Nocturnium and Seonghyun. Slash! "Guhk!" The sword was swung before he could even prepare, and he couldn''t avoid it. A terrible pain engulfed his body, and he tried to retreat. But only then did Nocturnium notice something strange. The world had disappeared. As if he had entered a realm of pure black, he could feel nothing. He could clearly see Seonghyun and the jet-black sword that had cut him. He could feel the sound of the wind, the earthy smell rising from the surroundings, and the fresh scent of the forest. Not only that, but he could even hear the sounds of birds nearby, fluttering as they fled, and the various sounds of the forest. But he couldn''t feel it. "How is this..." He felt as if he were floating alone in a vast ocean of darkness. Up and down were indistinguishable, unfelt. He could see that he was moving his body, but he couldn''t feel it moving. If he hadn''t seen it, he wouldn''t have known he was moving. While Nocturnium was floundering in confusion, Seonghyun saw a message in front of him. [Swordsmanship Skill ¡ºDarkness¡» is used.] [¡ºNocturnium¡» is engulfed in darkness, and his sense of touch is severed.] [This will continue as long as the sword is imbued with darkness.] ''Hooh?'' Nocturnium appeared bewildered and quite confused. Seonghyun could clearly feel its power. Severing the sense of touch was tantamount to severing a significant portion of all senses. While smell, hearing, sight, and taste provided rather limited information. Touch was a sense distributed throughout the entire body, encompassing the other four. But if that were to disappear? Smell would be perceived, but confusion would surely arise as to whether it was real. Sounds would be heard, but something would feel muffled. Sight was the same. The loss of touch would make one doubt the other four senses as well. "Wh-what have you done to me!!!" Nocturnium rushed forward, enraged. But Seonghyun calmly observed Nocturnium and moved. Nocturnium, charging forward recklessly, was engulfed in confusion, unable to even think about tending to the damage from the Doomsday Clock and the recent slash, and began to attack blindly. The earth around him followed his will. Heeding his will to attack Seonghyun, a small mountain became an arm and moved. The mountain''s arm moved to crush Seonghyun. But Seonghyun, as if unconcerned, stretched out his hand and used the swirling blood. A vortex of blood, even larger than the mountain''s arm, was created and shattered the arm. As a dark red mist of blood, with its pungent, metallic scent, spread thickly, obscuring vision, Nocturnium, once again, tried to find the flow of mana, almost obsessively. Because Seonghyun was certain to attack him. But he couldn''t feel the flow of mana, and at some point, he felt something appear behind him. And when he felt it, it was already too late. Slash! Slash! Two consecutive sword strikes. [Swordsmanship Skill ¡ºDarkness¡» is used.] [¡ºNocturnium¡» is engulfed in darkness, and his sense of taste is severed.] [This will continue as long as the sword is imbued with darkness.] [¡ºNocturnium¡» is engulfed in darkness, and his sense of hearing is severed.] [This will continue as long as the sword is imbued with darkness.] Two senses disappeared. Taste didn''t have much significance, but with the loss of hearing. "...Ah?" He couldn''t even hear his own voice. He could see with his eyes, but he couldn''t hear any sound, so a sense of incongruity arose in everything. The feeling of floating alone and silently in a vast ocean. That terrible loneliness enveloped Nocturnium. The loneliness of being alone in this place. But even greater than that was the growing fear that his senses were being gradually cut off. He tried to escape somehow. But he couldn''t. Seonghyun''s movements, which had even stolen his hearing, had been difficult to avoid even when all five senses were intact. With another consecutive sword strike. [¡ºNocturnium¡» is engulfed in darkness, and his sense of smell is severed.] [This will continue as long as the sword is imbued with darkness.] His sense of smell was taken away. And finally. [¡ºNocturnium¡» is engulfed in darkness, and his sense of sight is severed.] [This will continue as long as the sword is imbued with darkness.] Even his sight was taken away. All his senses were gone. He couldn''t feel anything. Not being able to see was frightening enough, but sound, smell, even touch, all had disappeared. He couldn''t even perceive that he was moving, nor could he know if he was being attacked. In the moment he was shuddering with fear of Seonghyun, who had taken everything. Suddenly, everything returned. Seonghyun, having dispelled the sword of darkness and with a relaxed expression as if he had finished his business. He had taken away all of his senses and then returned them. And seeing Seonghyun looking at him as if he were merely a test subject, fear took root deep in his heart. A sensation similar to when he had faced his master, Helena, long ago. He wanted to shout that it couldn''t be. He wanted to struggle, saying that no matter what, there could be no being equal to her. But he couldn''t. The fear that bloomed deep in his heart only made Nocturnium tremble. "Hu, huh..." "...The guy we were fighting with all our might..." "To be defeated like that. It''s simply astonishing..." "...Empty." Hindel and his party were drained of strength, feeling a sense of emptiness. The guy they were desperately trying to hold off with all their might. To be neutralized so easily. Even though it was Seonghyun, they hadn''t expected him to do it so easily. But seeing it in person, a sense of emptiness spread throughout their bodies. They couldn''t help but feel drained. But that was only for a moment. All the members of the hero''s party thought that for a moment, then shook their heads. It was a fact that Seonghyun was strong. But they also had things they could do, didn''t they? Just as they were about to step forward and act. "Hmm, that''s some impressive swordsmanship~" A voice, seemingly mixed with coquettishness and a soft, alluring tone, was heard. The one who appeared with that voice was a woman with luscious red hair, a captivating smile, who tore through space and appeared. Her appearance, leisurely strolling through the air as if taking a walk, was the epitome of incongruity. No power, no oppressive feeling could be felt from her. But because of that, the survival instinct deep within their hearts was screaming. Run away. You''ll die. You can''t oppose that woman. But unlike that survival instinct, their bodies were frozen and unable to move. ''Wh...at... is... th...is...?'' ''Th...oughts... are... sl...owing... down...?'' ''I...m...p...ossible...!!!'' ''...Fe...ar...'' Unlike when she had appeared earlier, it was clearly felt now. A woman from whom nothing could be felt, seemingly. But conversely, everything was felt. That if this woman willed it, their lives would be forfeit. Everyone held their breath and watched the woman''s actions. She looked at Seonghyun, admiring him again, and said. "With that swordsmanship, even I would have a hard time~ So, I''d better run away before things get dangerous~" The woman, a being who inspired terror in the world, said this. But the way she spoke was a bit strange. It was as if she were making some kind of advertisement, but those within Helena''s domain couldn''t perceive that. They were simply thinking that the swordsmanship was truly impressive. Of course, Seonghyun could sense everything. He could even see Helena winking and giving him a thumbs-up, visible only to him. He covered his face with his hand, wondering why she was going so far. But, well, nobody else noticed. Saying that, Helena grabbed Nocturnium, who was on the verge of collapse, and rose high into the sky. "Then, shall we run away?" "N-no! I-if that person grows stronger now...!!! M-Master!!!" Helena frowned at Nocturnium, who was shouting as if having a seizure. She had no harsh words for her own disciple. Naturally, it would be good if Seonghyun surpassed her. But there was no way Nocturnium could know that. Helena shook her head and said. "Yeah, it doesn''t matter. Anyway, that kid doesn''t seem to want to be our enemy. The proof is that you''re still alive, aren''t you?" "...Ah?" "Anyway, I''m leaving. Don''t bother me anymore. Especially you, Hero! Don''t come looking for me because it''s annoying!" Helena gave that cute warning and then clenched her hand as if grasping the air. Then. Riiiiip! The place where the Dark Fortress was located was torn away, space and all, and floated in the air. They couldn''t believe what they were seeing. Not just the Dark Fortress, which was atop a massive mountain rather than a small hill, but the mountain itself was ripped out and made to float in the air. Just how strong must one be to make that possible? While doing this, Helena looked at Seonghyun and said. "I have to run away so you don''t know where I''m going." Helena''s smiling face as she spoke. But Seonghyun could clearly see it. A huge hole into which the Dark Fortress, tearing through space and disappearing, was being sucked. No, a turquoise portal. ''That''s...?'' While Seonghyun was thinking of something inwardly. Helena waved lightly at Seonghyun and said, with eyes full of lingering regret. "Goodbye." It wasn''t a long farewell. But the regret and reluctance contained within it were palpable. Seonghyun felt it and felt a similar regret. As Helena''s play came to an end. Numerous reward messages, like ending credits, began to appear. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 96 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 96 [Sub Quest, ¡ºTogether with the Enemy of the Past¡», is cleared.] [Main Quest, ¡ºEntrance to the Dark Fortress¡», is cleared.] [Rewards for both quests are given.] [You acquire a clue to the location of the ¡ºDark Fortress¡» in the present, not the past.] [The location of the ¡ºDark Fortress¡» is in the Netherworld.] [You can move to the Dark Fortress after using the skill, ¡ºNetherworld¡».] [You acquire a massive amount of experience.] [Level Up!] x13 [You have reached level 92.] [Reaching level 80 unlocks a new skill for ¡ºOverlord¡».] [You acquire the Legendary-rank skill, ¡ºBlack Sun¡».] [Reaching level 90 unlocks a new skill for ¡ºOverlord¡».] [You acquire the Legendary-rank skill, ¡ºBlack Magic Bullet ¡».] [Main Quest, ¡ºTo the Dark Fortress¡», is generated.] [Receive additional rewards from ¡ºHero Hindel¡».] The long list of messages, like the ending credits of a movie. Seonghyun smiled slightly as he read through them one by one. His level had risen significantly, unlocking two new skills. And he had also obtained a clue for the main quest. And on top of that, there were additional rewards. Even the usually calm Seonghyun couldn''t help but twitch the corners of his mouth. But then again. ''The Netherworld, huh.'' It was quite surprising that Overlord itself could move to the Netherworld. It seemed that he had to clear this sub-quest to be able to move there. The system messages indicated as much. It''s darkest under the lamp. His next destination was set. Seonghyun wanted to open the rewards and look at the continued quest right away. But he couldn''t. Because there were people approaching him. "...I really don''t know how to express my gratitude." "I know, right? Honestly, if it weren''t for Seonghyun, we''d all be dead here. Thank you so much." "It''s not good to speculate on where a person''s life will lead, but Flan is right. Thank you so much. We''re alive thanks to you." "Agreed. Thanks. Overwhelming." Flan was speaking with sincere admiration, and Adeline was agreeing with Flan''s words while expressing her gratitude, and even Lyaden was expressing her gratitude with short vocabulary. Seonghyun was a little embarrassed. But he didn''t deny anything. He hadn''t thought they would kill him in the first place. But it was true that Seonghyun had saved them. Now it was time to receive the reward from Hindel. "So, I''ve been thinking about how to pay you for the request. And this is our answer." "We can''t use it anyway, and we got it a while ago, and we thought Seonghyun might like it!" "We hope you''ll accept it." "...Good skill!" Hindel, Flan, Adeline, and Lyaden, all with one heart, offered a book. Anyone could see that it was a skill book, and Seonghyun looked at it with a puzzled expression. ''Two?'' Could they possibly be giving him two? In a daze, Seonghyun received the books from Hindel. Messages appeared. [You acquire the Unique-rank skill book, ¡ºBlood Poison¡», as an additional reward from ¡ºHero Hindel¡».] [You acquire the Legendary-rank skill book, ¡ºBlood Plague¡», as an additional reward from ¡ºHero Hindel¡».] ''...!?'' And they were a Unique-rank skill and a Legendary-rank skill, no less. Seonghyun gulped and looked at Hindel. Hindel smiled brightly and said. "These are black magic skill books that we acquired, but we were keeping them to prevent them from falling into the hands of evildoers. It''s not enough compared to what you''ve done for us, but..." "What?" No, how could it be not enough when they were giving him a Unique skill book and a Legendary skill book? Just like during the Over Palace incident. Could it be that Legendary skills weren''t actually that rare? Seonghyun was dumbfounded by the same words, to the point of even having such thoughts. Hindel stepped forward and said. "Unfortunately, this is where we part ways." "If we had any shame, we wouldn''t ask for more help~" "This time, it was within Seonghyun''s area of activity, so you helped us, but we can''t ask for more." "A sad farewell." "Thank you so much. I was able to learn a lot thanks to you. It''s a day that made me realize how lacking I am." Hearing the party''s words and Hindel''s final words, Seonghyun also felt a little sad. Even though they were NPCs from the past, he had quite enjoyed this short journey. But where there is meeting, there is also parting. It was a shame, but it couldn''t be helped. So, were they going to go back to looking for Helena now? Even though she had moved to the Netherworld? Seonghyun asked out of curiosity. "Then, where do you plan to go now?" "Ah. Since we''re here, we''re going to try going to the capital." "There''s supposed to be an outstanding knight among the bloodline of the Kingdom of Rieskan, so we''re going to see if we can recruit them~" "We do have Hindel, but overall, we lack numbers in the vanguard." "Need knight." "Ah." Were they going to look for the last member of their party? Did that mean something would happen during this time? Recalling the last memory he had absorbed from Helena''s memories. Hindel was quite haggard at that time. Unlike now, he was quite hostile towards Helena. Could the reason for that have arisen during this time? ''All the archmages and renowned people from various worlds gathered to attack, didn''t they?'' They had tried to somehow seal Helena''s power and fight. Because of that, the power of the transcendent being Helena was sealed to some extent, but she killed all the strong people present without harming a single ordinary citizen. The hero''s party also died at that place. In the end, Helena gave up and died together with Hindel. But that wasn''t because Hindel was strong, but because Helena, tired of the world, chose death herself. Anyway. If the event that changed Hindel occurred after he left for the Kingdom of Rieskan. It seemed he had obtained an important clue. ''My goal is to trace Hindel''s footsteps, after all.'' Seonghyun thought he had obtained something good, and watched Hindel''s party as they walked away, with greetings. "I hope we can meet again!" "Bye-bye!" "I wish you good health." "See you again!" They say the shorter the farewell, the shorter the sorrow. It felt like something had passed by in a flash. But Seonghyun smiled, thinking it was rather good. So, Hindel''s party had left. Should he check out the rewards he had obtained this time? As he thought that. The surrounding scenery melted away, and he was able to return to the cave he had entered before going to the past. He was about to get his rewards immediately. -Hue!? Lo-Lord!? Hueeeng!!! You''re finally here. "Ugh!" Fiora, who had been waiting in the cave, rushed at him. She rushed so quickly that he was momentarily winded. She shouldn''t rush like this. Seonghyun was about to say something. But Fiora buried her face in his chest, shedding tears and sobbing. His heart softened a little. Thinking about it, she must have been waiting here for a long time. "Did you wait long?" -Hueeng, y-you suddenly disappeared, I thought Lord had disappeared forever. "Ah." Seonghyun had also been suddenly sucked in. So it was understandable. Moreover, he had been in the past for about a day. From Fiora''s perspective, she had waited for a whole day. It was understandable that she would be worried. She was a child who had already lost Helena once. Seonghyun comforted Fiora and said. "I''m here now, so don''t worry." -Y-yes. Th-thank you. As he comforted Fiora. She finally calmed down a bit and stopped crying. Seonghyun sent the calmed Fiora back to the Netherworld, and only now could he check the rewards. The first rewards he checked were the two skills that had been unlocked because he had gained so many levels from the quest rewards. ''Let''s see...'' Were the skill names Black Sun and Black Magic Bullet? They both seemed to be skills related to darkness. What would the effects be? Both were Legendary rank. Seonghyun immediately opened the skill window. ¡ºBlack Sun¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv Max][Complete] [Passive Effect][Active] [Cooldown 30 minutes] [Duration 3 minutes] When the sun burns black, nothing shall see the light. ¡úOverlord exclusive skill. ¡úCreates a black, burning sun in the sky, turning the entire area into a field of the Black Sun. ¡úWithin the field of the Black Sun, all objects and allies are granted the darkness attribute, and all living beings not belonging to the Overlord within the field continuously suffer black flame damage. ¡úAll allies granted the darkness attribute receive a +10% increase to all stats and all speeds. ¡úThe power of darkness attribute skills is increased by +10%. ¡ºBlack Magic Bullet¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown 1 minute] When the black and evil bullet pierced the sky, the world sank into darkness. ¡úOverlord exclusive skill. ¡úBlack Magic Bullet is a bullet made by tightly compressing darkness to near-abyssal levels, faster and more insidious than any other darkness. ¡úIt ignores any defense and, upon hitting, inflicts both abyssal damage and explosive damage to the target. ¡úAfter the explosion, the bullet of darkness remains as malice, hindering the target''s recovery and regeneration. ''Wow.'' Black Sun was a skill that granted an area-of-effect buff and continuous damage over a wide area. It even increased the power of darkness attribute skills. And the next skill he obtained, Black Magic Bullet, was precisely a darkness attribute attack skill. The cooldown was twice as long as Wraiths of the Dead. But as the time was long, it was definitely much stronger. ''It also ignores defense?'' Like Wraiths of the Dead, it could become one of his main skills. Although it was 1 minute, it was definitely shorter compared to other skills. Until now, the only build Seonghyun had was explosion-based. Explosions using corpses and poison. That was the most powerful build, but. He was using it so often. He was getting tired of it. [TL/N: Bro has been playing for 5 days and he is already tired of the build he has ;-;] But now, a new build had emerged, based on darkness. He was quite satisfied. A new build was always welcome. Besides. The two skills he had received from Hindel this time. They also seemed capable of forming another build. ''Both are blood-related.'' He probably gave them to him because he had Thousand Blood Swords and Swirling Blood. Seonghyun immediately used the two skill books. Ignoring all the messages and quickly checking only the skills. ¡ºBlood Poison¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth] [Passive Effect][Active] [Cooldown 5 minutes] [Duration 1 minute] ¡úBlack Mage Class exclusive skill. ¡úInfuses the blood you use with a virulent poison, creating a deadly toxin that poisons anyone who comes into contact with the blood. ¡úBlood Poison quickly penetrates the blood of the afflicted opponent and circulates throughout the body. ¡úBecause it is a virulent poison, it cannot be easily purified or detoxified. ¡ºBlood Plague¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv Max][Complete] [Passive Effect][Active] [Cooldown 5 minutes] [Duration 1 minute] ¡úBlack Mage Class exclusive skill. ¡úLinked skill to ¡ºBlood Poison¡». ¡úCannot be used without ¡ºBlood Poison¡». ¡úCan be used on a state poisoned by ¡ºBlood Poison¡», or on blood to which the effect of ¡ºBlood Poison¡» is applied. ¡úInfuses contagiousness into ¡ºBlood Poison¡», infecting all living beings within a 3m radius with ¡ºBlood Poison¡». ¡úAt this time, when the duration of ¡ºBlood Poison¡» ends, ¡ºBlood Poison¡» explodes, dealing damage. "Huh?" Leaving aside the new build. The two skills were originally linked skills. A linked skill that uses Blood Poison first, then uses Blood Plague. But countless uses flashed through Seonghyun''s mind. What if he used Dark Self to use Blood Poison and Swirling Blood together? A huge blood storm made of Blood Poison would be created. If he added Blood Plague to that. "Hoo." It was tremendous just imagining it. Of course, that wasn''t the end. There was also the build of Blood Poison and Thousand Blood Swords. A build was definitely established, even more so than the darkness attribute. ''The gains this time are considerable?'' Was it because it was a sub-quest related to the main quest? What Hindel gave as an additional reward was quite good. If the sub-quest rewards were like this. What would happen if he cleared the main quest? Seonghyun, filled with that anticipation, opened the newly acquired quest. ''Then, shall I go finish the main quest?'' 0. Near the famous area of Sermath, ''Chasm of Despair''. It was a danger zone that ordinary users couldn''t approach, but two people were leisurely strolling there. One person was looking near the Chasm of Despair with a very serious expression, and the other was smiling cheerfully, finding him amusing. The serious person was the hero Luke, the successor to the hero Hindel, and the smiling person was Flingky, the descendant of the Sage. As the two of them were heading towards the Chasm of Despair. Not far away, the ground split open, and something appeared. Rumble... Should it be called a giant? No. It lacked the vitality of a giant''s skin. Not only was it lacking vitality, but the skin was ashen gray, and there were rotting flesh in places. A severe stench was also spreading around. It was a giant undead, in the form of a wraith. It''s just an undead, at best. One might think it would be weaker than a living giant, but. The power of black magic contained within it was so strong that even the heroes Luke and Flingky couldn''t help but frown. Even that giant wraith alone would be a difficult opponent. However. "Uhehehe! Found you, Hero." "..." Two people were standing on the giant wraith''s hand. A man whose entire body was pale and had stitches all over, and a woman holding a doll of a girl whose pupils had no focus, no light emanating from them. The two were intimidating just from their appearance. But the power contained within them was even more extraordinary. If those two joined in. Could Luke and Flingky, who had not yet fully grown, win? "..." "...The Three Calamities?" Flingky said, as if recognizing them. The corpse-man smiled at Flingky and said. "Uhehehe! As expected of the Sage''s descendant, you recognize us? Well, we weren''t planning on hiding, anyway." The messengers of the Over Palace. Beings called the Three Calamities. Even the hero Luke had heard of their names. As Luke was tensing up. The corpse-man smiled reassuringly and said. "Uhehe! We didn''t come to fight, so don''t worry." "..." The woman holding the doll didn''t say anything. But for some reason, it seemed like she agreed with his words. Facing them, the hero Luke looked at Flingky, perplexed. Flingky, with an "Aha!", simply lay down on the spot. What was she doing? As the hero Luke looked at her, dumbfounded. Flingky looked at the hero Luke, asking why. "Why? Well, if they didn''t come to fight, they must be here to stall for time, so if we just wait, they''ll leave, won''t they?" "Uhehehe! As expected of the Sage''s descendant!" "..." Somehow, Luke felt a little embarrassed for being tense. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 97 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 97 1. A strange and mystical realm, veiled in a swirling, teal aura. And within that realm, a single, serene, and imposing fortress drifted, exuding an air of silent majesty within this uncanny, otherworldly space. It was the Dark Fortress, adrift in the Netherworld. Long abandoned by its Master, the Dark Fortress drifted through the Netherworld. Only one being remained within, seated alone and forlorn upon the throne, gazing out upon the world. Then, -Cough. Crimson blood splattered as a memory surged forth. It was a memory of the past. No, it was a memory of a nonexistent past. A magic he had once set in motion had triggered, unleashing this memory. The being coughed up blood as he quickly scanned through the recollection. In them, he vaguely recalled his former master, now fading. -I miss you. His Master, who had immediately recognized that her existence was false and artificial. A truly remarkable person. He could even hear himself being scolded by her. Nagging and reprimands. Yet, he even missed that. -I long to see you again, my Lord. His Master, whom he so desperately yearned to see, was now gone. He was ready to let go of everything and move on. No, he was already doing so. But in that glimpse of the past, he had witnessed it. Not only his old master, but also the remarkable power of her successor. He demonstrated more than enough qualifications and qualities to ascend to the throne. Therefore, he must show respect accordingly. But even though a new master had appeared, his expression remained lonely. He rose from the throne, remembering his old master while shedding blood. Now it was time to welcome the new master. -He approaches. The new master, whom he had not yet acknowledged. The new master was journeying toward the Dark Fortress. No, towards him. Thus, preparations must be made. For the sake of his new master. 2. ¡ºTo the Dark Fortress¡» ¡ú¡¶Main¡· ¡úMain Quest. ¡úYou have learned of the entrance to the Dark Fortress¡ªor rather, you have realized that the Dark Fortress lies within the Netherworld. You must travel to the Dark Fortress and speak with its current master and sole inhabitant, ¡ºNocturnium¡». ¡úOverlord-exclusive Main Quest. ¡úReward: ¡ºDark Fortress¡», Overlord-exclusive item, Overlord-exclusive skill unlock. Seonghyun checked the new Main Quest; it was noticeably shorter than the previous one. The content itself wasn''t anything special either. He felt like testing out the newly unlocked skills before going. ''But it says I''ll get another skill as a reward.'' It would probably be better to test them after completing the Main Quest, wouldn''t it? And an exclusive item, too. He was looking forward to it in many ways. The Dark Fortress reward was likely in the same vein as Helena''s Garden. ''Come to think of it... wasn''t Helena''s Garden originally attached to the Dark Fortress?'' Would they be integrated if he obtained the Dark Fortress? Well, it wasn''t too late to think about that after he got it. Normally, he would devise some strategies and feel a bit nervous. But Seonghyun showed none of that now. As if he were simply going for a stroll, he immediately opened a teal portal to the Netherworld. Or rather, he tried to open it. [Do you want to open a portal to the Dark Fortress, not a Summon summoning portal? ] [Yes / No] The answer was obvious. Fzzzzzzt. Tiny sparks crackled around the teal portal. It looked slightly different from when he was summoned before. The one-way portal changed, revealing the other side. The Dark Fortress, floating serenely in the tranquil space. Its clean and beautiful exterior was well-maintained, as always. But while its appearance was grand, it also looked lonelier than any other castle. Ignoring the Dark Fortress, which even seemed pathetic, Seonghyun leisurely stepped inside. The cold, lifeless air of the Dark Fortress was devoid of any sound, only Seonghyun''s footsteps echoing. Step, step, step. He had been here before. He moved towards the familiar location, and soon arrived at the center of the Dark Fortress. The throne room, where the grand lobby and throne stood steadfastly. And there, a being he had seen once before in the past greeted him. A being in human form, yet not appearing human. A being that seemed like an old man, yet also like a young man, like a man, yet also like a woman. The being, who was called Nocturnium in the past, was there, facing Seonghyun. Would he give him a new test? Or perhaps something else would happen? Nocturnium approached Seonghyun, who was inwardly anticipating something, and gave a courteous greeting. -Welcome. It was a stark contrast to the tone of the letter he had first received through Fiora. The letter had stated that he would never be acknowledged. It had even mentioned giving him a test to earn that acknowledgment. Of course, it was also completely different from what he had seen in the past. This was polite, giving a strong impression of servitude. With a respectful bow, Nocturnium spoke again. -As you may already know, I am Nocturnium. The lord of this fortress, its sole inhabitant, and the spirit of this fortress. "Hmm?" So he was the spirit of the Dark Fortress. He had never dreamed of it. No wonder he had the power to control and raise the surrounding land. Seonghyun knew his name and abilities, but he hadn''t known that he was the Dark Fortress itself, and he looked at him with some surprise. He had also wondered if there would be a new test. But that didn''t seem to be the case. Though, sending him to the past could be considered a test in itself. Still, he felt a bit disappointed that there wouldn''t be a test. He had thought a new test would be a good opportunity to try out his new skills. But that wasn''t important right now. He could put that aside for a moment. -I dare ask for your forgiveness for having tested you, my Master, when I am but a mere servant. "Hmm, it''s fine." He hesitated, wondering whether he should use formal language. Or just speak casually. In the end, he chose to speak casually. Balthar and Fiora, who had been with him since Helena''s time, and even the new summon, Barpur, had all said they were much more comfortable with Seonghyun speaking informally. ¡®Let''s speak comfortably.¡¯ Nocturnium also seemed pleased, smiling contentedly. He was glad that Nocturnium was satisfied. Then, Seonghyun remembered something he had almost forgotten. He recalled the note Helena had asked him to deliver to Nocturnium. He had originally intended to hand it over after the test. But since there didn''t seem to be any test. Now was probably the right time to give it, right? With that thought, Seonghyun took out a note he had kept in his inventory. Nocturnium looked at the note with a questioning gaze. "Here, take it." -......What is this? "Ah, it''s a note from Helena, she asked me to give it to you." -......From my former Master......? At Seonghyun''s words, Nocturnium carefully unfolded the note. On the note, words were written in an elegant and refined handwriting. Nocturnium, deeply missing that handwriting, recalled past memories and slowly began to read the words. ¡ºHello, Nocturnium of the future.¡» The opening was typical of Helena. Nocturnium smiled softly at the greeting, but his smile seemed very sad and lonely. The former Master he had so desperately wanted to protect. The former Master''s words he had so desperately wanted to see. Nocturnium slowly savored the letter, reading it carefully. ¡ºI''ve heard what happened to me in the future. My heart goes out to all of you. I''m so sorry. I''m sure my future self felt the same way. But... that''s just me, isn''t it? It breaks my heart to think of the pain and sorrow you''ve endured, but I have faith that you''ll overcome it. There will be those who act according to my will. And there will be those who, unlike my will, are steeped in sorrow, reminiscing about the past. Or I think there will be some who are so saddened that they have gone mad. But I believe you will all be strong enough to overcome it. I believe in you. Because you are my children, of whom I am more proud than anyone else.¡» At those final words, Nocturnium finally shed thick tears. He had known. No, more than known, he could have done it. He and the others could have overcome this deep longing and sorrow. But they hadn''t. He didn''t want to make excuses about lacking a catalyst. The empty space left by Helena was simply too vast. It was more accurate to say that he had just let things flow as they would. The emergence of a new Overlord in his life. Could be called a catalyst But he hadn''t wanted to easily acknowledge it. He hadn''t believed that any new Master could surpass Helena. But had she read even those thoughts? ¡ºBy the way, Seonghyun is far more talented than I ever was. Perhaps he might even reach the ''realm'' I aspired to. So, please take good care of him by being on his side.¡» At the letter from his former Master, still relying on him. Nocturnium closed his eyes tightly. Memories of his former Master, Helena, now distant in the past, flashed through his mind. The first time she had arrived at his body, the fortress. And when she had given his will form as a spirit. When Fiora was born. The many happy days spent laughing and playing with numerous disciples in this fortress. All those days were filled with happiness. He missed them. But now it was time to let go. No matter how much he tried to hold on. It was already a past that had flowed away. Even if he wanted to keep it in his heart, he could no longer do so. The new Master. For the sake of the new memories and happiness he would build with him. With that resolution, Nocturnium bowed his head and spoke to Seonghyun. -It is a long story, but after the previous Master passed away, we were lost. "......." A story close to a lament. But Seonghyun listened silently, nodding in understanding. -The previous Master''s will was that if a new successor appeared, we should serve them. Those who followed that will, formed the current organization known as Over Palace, and those like me, who could not let go of their lingering attachments, began to move separately. "Hmm." -We did not band together, but wandered the world alone, moved to other dimensions, or wandered the world, driven mad by the grief of losing our ruler. Seonghyun flinched slightly at the mention of some of Helena''s followers being in such a state. Indeed, the loss of someone so trusted and relied upon is like that. He could understand. -Even in this vicinity, I sense it. I sense the presence of a former comrade. The presence of one who has gone mad, having already lost their soul. [You have acquired a clue for a new Main Quest.] Seonghyun remained silent at the seemingly important story. -I, too, was one of them, living alone here in the Netherworld. But now, I will cast aside those lingering attachments and longing, and pledge my allegiance to you, the new Master, the successor. Nocturnium bowed his head and knelt on one knee. -I serve the new Master. Now, I offer you everything I have. With those words, Nocturnium offered up the throne, and though Seonghyun felt a bit awkward, He headed towards the throne. Step, step, step. The sound of his footsteps echoed, filling the hall. And when Seonghyun reached the throne. He ascended and sat upon it. It seemed like this was what he needed to do to complete the quest. He was right. At that moment, a powerful light burst forth from Nocturnium, and his form changed. His appearance, which had been indistinct and confusing, transformed completely into that of a young man. Following his former Master''s will, his mysterious and ambiguous appearance, with the new master decided, took its definitive shape. Along with that, the appearance of the Dark Fortress began to transform as well. Kwaddeudeudeuk¡ª¡ª! Kwazizizijik¡ª¡ª! Ppudeudeudeuk¡ª¡ª! Various sounds echoed as if it were shedding its old skin, transforming from its dingy appearance. The signs of previous use were also disappearing. As if the memories of the past were also being sent back to the distant past, Seonghyun felt a sense of wistfulness as he watched the entire process. The Dark Fortress, which had been black and imposing, began to transform into a fortress filled with a heavy, dark, inky aura. Perhaps it should be called the Obsidian Fortress rather than the Dark Fortress? It transformed into a stately, impressive form with an antique, inky black color. Before Seonghyun had time to be surprised by the fortress''s sudden transformation. Reward messages, like the ending credits of a movie, appeared, signaling the end of the Main Quest. [You have cleared the Main Quest, ¡ºTo the Dark Fortress¡».] [Main Quest rewards are given.] [You become the master of ¡ºDark Fortress, Nocturnium¡».] [Summon, ¡ºNocturnium¡», will grow in accordance with the Overlord''s level.] [From now on, you can enter and exit ¡ºDark Fortress¡» at will.] [Helena''s power remaining in ¡ºDark Fortress¡» is fully transferred.] [The power of the past Overlord is inherited.] [The power of the past has been inherited.] [Rewards are given.] [As a Main Quest reward, you acquire the class-exclusive Almighty-rank skill, ¡ºFallen Thorns of Obsidian¡».] [As a Main Quest reward, you acquire the Overlord class-exclusive Almighty-rank item, ¡ºTome of the Overlord¡».] [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 98 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 98 ''Wow.'' The rewards from just the sub-quests had been amazing. But after clearing the Main Quest, he really felt it. So this is why players were always going on and on about Main Quests, Main Quests? Even aside from the Dark Fortress itself as a location, both rewards were enormous. First of all, both were Almighty-rank. A skill and an item. And one of them was even an exclusive item bearing the name of Overlord. As Seonghyun quietly marveled, Nocturnium remained still, as if prompting him to check. ''He probably wants me to check them, right?'' Seonghyun examined the skill first. Since, this time, it was definitely a dark-type skill. He wondered if his dark build would become even stronger. ¡ºFallen Thorns of Obsidian¡» ¡ú¡¶Almighty¡· ¡ú[Lv Max][Complete Form] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown 30 minutes] The thorns that fall into the obsidian darkness will eventually bloom into black flowers. ¡úOverlord-exclusive skill. ¡úInfuses the battlefield with darkness, creating a land of darkness, and rains down thorns of obsidian. ¡úThe fallen thorns of obsidian feed on the nutrients of the land of darkness and grow to bloom into beautiful flowers. ¡úThe flowers that bloom then blossom profusely, engulfing the surroundings in darkness. ''Whoa.'' It wasn''t a skill that fit his build, but it was a considerable area-of-effect skill. Given its rank, its performance was also highly anticipated. It wasn''t just a simple thorn attack. The part about engulfing the surroundings in darkness after the flowers bloomed likely indicated a follow-up effect, like an explosion. Even if it wasn''t a build-specific skill, a skill like this was always welcome. Seonghyun, seemingly quite satisfied, closed the skill window and checked the item next. An exclusive item obtained as a reward from the Main Quest. Just what kind of item would it be? Judging by the name "Tome," was it an item related to skills, like the Tome of Despair? ¡ºTome of the Overlord¡» ¡ú¡¶Almighty¡· ¡úAn ancient tome of the Overlord, passed down from ancient times. Even Helena, the first Overlord and the progenitor of Class, said she could not discern the origin or true nature of this tome. ¡úAlthough Helena learned on her own, she acknowledged that without the aid of this tome, she would not have grown so quickly. ¡úOverlord-exclusive item. ¡úUpon acquisition, you can learn a black magic skill of your choice. ¡úEvery 10 levels after acquisition, you can learn an additional black magic skill of your choice. ¡úSimply by possessing it, the power of black magic skills increases by +20%. *Effect applies when in inventory. *Skills can only be of Unique rank or lower. *Every 100 levels, you can acquire a Legendary skill. ''......?'' As expected, it was. But the effects were even more impressive than he had anticipated. Was it because it was a higher rank than the Tome of Despair? As Seonghyun stood there, dumbfounded, [By acquiring the ¡ºTome of the Overlord¡», you can acquire a black magic skill of your choice.] [Will you acquire one?] [Yes / No] ''Heh heh.'' A slightly hollow laugh escaped him, and Seonghyun muttered without thinking. "Can I get a dark-type skill for my build?" [You can acquire a black magic skill for your build.] [Searching for skills that best match your current skills.] [Matching skills found.] [Displaying list.] ¡ºJaws of Darkness¡» ¡ºFrost of Darkness¡» ¡ºWrithing Darkness¡» ¡ºLand of the Black Sun¡» ....... ....... (Omitted) [Will you choose?] As soon as he asked, the list appeared as if it had been waiting. Seonghyun''s jaw dropped at the rather extensive list. This was possible with an item? Wasn''t this too overpowered? He swallowed hard at the thought. So he could acquire build-enabling skills like this. First, let''s check the skills. There were quite a few options. Roughly a dozen or so. Perhaps because the search was so well done, they all synergized well with his current skills. They weren''t incredibly powerful skills since they were build-focused. But they felt very good to use together. However, Seonghyun was able to choose one from among them. [Due to the effect of the Overlord class-exclusive Almighty-rank item, ¡ºTome of the Overlord¡», you have acquired the Unique-rank skill, ¡ºWrithing Darkness¡».] ¡ºWrithing Darkness¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡ú[Lv Max][Complete Form] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown 3 minutes] ¡úBlack Mage Class exclusive skill. ¡úForces dark attribute attack skills to hit without fail. ¡úIf dodged, the darkness writhes to pursue the target until it hits. A skill that granted a hit-without-fail effect to dark-type skills. There were many other good skills, but. Since Seonghyun''s current skills were aiming-type skills, not target-locked. He chose it because it seemed like the best skill he could get right now. As Seonghyun expressed satisfaction, seemingly confirming he had made the right choice, Nocturnium cautiously broached a topic. -My Lord, I have something to tell you. First, I would like to speak to you about the other wanderers besides myself, but it seems that a messenger from Over Palace has arrived near the entrance to the Netherworld you created and is waiting for you. "Hmm?" A messenger from Over Palace? Were they the same ones he had seen before? But why suddenly? As Seonghyun wondered about this, Nocturnium continued. -The descendants of the Hero and the Sage also seem to be nearby. Two messengers are blocking them. And one messenger is waiting for you. I thought it best to tell you this, as meeting them seems urgent, before I tell you about the wanderers. "Hmm." The descendants of the Hero and the Sage. The descendant of the Sage must be Flingky, right? Was the reason they were being blocked because of the Hero? ''Considering Flingky, it might be okay, but....'' You never know. Flingky was also an unpredictable one. Perhaps they had come all this way to subdue Seonghyun. It wouldn''t hurt to be careful. Even if Seonghyun was strong now, that was only true within a similar level range. ''I''m still a bit vulnerable against NPCs or players with much higher levels than me.'' Of course, he could handle it to some extent. But the Hero was a different story. Seonghyun, unaware that the Hero had not yet grown, considered him a formidable threat, and he wasn''t actually wrong. The unripe Hero, Luke, was a whopping level 250. A level difference that even Seonghyun couldn''t overcome. He had heard the situation, but he didn''t quite understand it. Anyway, Over Palace probably wouldn''t block them for no reason. Despite this situation. One thing was certain. Nocturnium. He certainly did his job very well. ''Just being able to detect what''s around is amazing.'' From now on, he could leave all the searching to Nocturnium. Anyway, the situation outside was more urgent right now. ''Then, should I go meet them first?'' Let''s find out why Over Palace came. Seonghyun used the Netherworld skill again. A portal leading back to the cave he had first used opened. He was about to head straight out through the portal to the cave. When Nocturnium followed behind him to attend to him. Returning to the cave, a single crow came into view. It was a crow that gave him a strange sense of de?ja? vu. As Seonghyun looked at the crow. The creature slowly began to transform into a human shape. Crack, crunch, snap! Horrific sounds echoed as bones and flesh shifted. There was a faint, slight scent of blood. Not long after the sounds and smell appeared, A man wearing a familiar crow mask appeared. The mere presence of him thickened the concentration of black magic in the area, pressing down on everyone. If anyone with an opposing affinity to black magic had been present, they would have been choked by the dense concentration. But it did Seonghyun no harm. Instead, his body felt lighter, and a familiar message appeared. [You have been exposed to high-purity black magic.] [This black magic is friendly to the ¡ºOverlord¡».] [All stats temporarily increase by +10.] It was significantly lower than the percentage increase he had experienced when he met Fiora in the past. But even this was a considerable boost. The crow man, still exhibiting immense power. Seonghyun even felt a bit of gladness seeing him, since it had been a while. The man in the crow mask bowed his head and said. "The messenger of Over Palace, Karls Grimcrow, greets the rightful successor. Have you been well?" "I suppose so." It had only been a few days since they last met, after all. What trouble could have possibly occurred? ''Hmm.'' Come to think of it, maybe something had happened. Seonghyun briefly had that thought, but then looked back at the crow man, Karls. Seeing him again, his loyalty was still excessive. However, Nocturnium, standing beside him, nodded as if this was perfectly appropriate. Was this the correct etiquette? He didn''t know, so he decided to stay quiet for now. Seonghyun was often told by his friends that he lacked emotional expression. But at this moment, that trait worked to his advantage. It would have been quite a scene if he hadn''t been so composed. Seonghyun let it slide and asked the bizarre crow man, Karls. "So, what brings you here this time? I heard the Hero and the Sage are nearby...?" "......Indeed. You see through everything." "......." It was Nocturnium who had done that, not him. But he didn''t bother to correct him, as it might become troublesome. Then. "With utmost humility, I must inform you that we received intelligence that the Hero, Luke, is coming to the successor''s location, and we have come to intercept him." "......He''s coming to find me?" He came all this way on purpose? If he was coming to find him, that was definitely a bit concerning. The previous Overlord and the Hero hadn''t seemed to have a particularly good relationship. Did that mean Flingky was tracking him somehow? Perhaps the item he had given him had tracking magic on it. Seonghyun had these various thoughts, and then suddenly asked. "He tracked my location and came here?" "Upon investigation, that does not appear to be the case." "......???" Then why are they blocking him? Seonghyun stood there, his expression uncomprehending. The crow man said. "According to our intelligence, the Hero, Luke, was tracing the footsteps of his predecessor, the Hero Hindel, and learned that Hindel had visited this Sermath, so he came here, My Lord." "......So......." "Yes, he did not come specifically to find the successor." Then there really wasn''t a reason to stop him, was there? Wouldn''t blocking him make it more suspicious? He had that thought, but. "Do not worry. We are handling it well." "......If... you say so." It was a bit awkward. But since he was so confidently asserting it. He had no choice but to trust him. So, if they were blocking the Hero, could he just leave this place? "Can I just leave here right away?" "Yes, but before that, I have come to deliver an item given to me by the Black Star, to pass it on to you. He also asked me to convey his regards, saying that he was glad to be able to provide you with something quite decent this time, being a little more free from the world''s constraints. Please accept it." Why did he keep giving him things every time they met? It was getting burdensome. And this time, he even said he had provided something better. Of course, just because it was burdensome didn''t mean he wouldn''t accept it. With that thought, Seonghyun received the item being offered. [You receive the Almighty-rank item, ¡ºPrimordial Demon Crest Ring¡», from the messenger of Over Palace, Karls.] "......?" It really was getting burdensome. Main Quests. A very important piece of content that exists for each class. The rewards were also considerable, so it was a quest that all players dreamed of. And for good reason, as the rewards could increase the rank of their class, and they could also receive a bunch of skills and items of the same rank. Of course, there''s a limit. But where else would you get such an opportunity? Because of this, even the user management team tends to let things slide when it comes to Main Quests. Naturally, it''s an event designed to give out rewards generously. However. "......What rewards has he received so far?" At Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s question, Associate Oh Jinhyeok, who was next to him, reported with admiration. "Wow, two Unique skills, three Legendary skills, one Almighty skill, and two Almighty items?" Just from quests, he had received six skills and two items. And what''s more, both items were of the Almighty rank. And that wasn''t all. The Skill Advancement Orb that Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong had pushed to create. They thought it would upgrade two existing Unique skills. It upgraded the remaining skills to the Unique rank in large numbers. That synergy made Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong tightly close his eyes. If only they had made it consume two uses just to upgrade from Epic to Unique. This mess wouldn''t have happened. In his haste, he had made such a blunder. ''This is really grounds for a written apology.'' It didn''t matter if player Seonghyun caused a ruckus, piled up rewards like a mountain, or even tap-danced on them. No, maybe tap-dancing would be a bit much? Anyway, it didn''t matter. But this was different. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong had personally submitted the proposal, it had been approved, and then the problem arose. If he had been just a little more careful, this wouldn''t have happened. Just in case. [Immortal, can you calculate the rank of the explosive power that player Seonghyun currently possesses?] He requested a calculation from Immortal. The reply came quickly. [Calculating the combined explosive power of player ¡ºSeonghyun¡»''s skill ¡ºDeadburst¡», along with the poison skills used in ¡ºVengeful Toxin of the Dead¡» and ¡ºVenomous Detonation¡», it is measured to be above Legendary-rank skill and below Almighty-rank skill.] "......Sigh." It was like giving him a near-Almighty rank skill to prevent the addition of a new Legendary one. Given that the existing explosive power was already comparable to a Legendary skill. In a way, it was inevitable. Soon there would be performance reviews, and now a written apology. Because he had a prior instance to stand up for associate Oh Jinhyeok He was at a disadvantage. Even if the written apology didn''t affect his performance evaluation, as it had already been submitted, it certainly wouldn''t leave a good impression. But what could he do? ''I did it, so I have to take responsibility... Sigh.'' As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong wore a grim expression. Team Leader Jung Jihye approached his desk and said. "Assistant Manager Lee?" "Ah, yes." He thought the time had come. But Team Leader Jung Jihye''s expression didn''t seem too bad for some reason. What was this? He was sure he had made a mistake. As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong looked bewildered. Team Leader Jung Jihye brought several reports and handed them to him. Lee Wonsong, momentarily tensing up, read the reports, and his eyes widened like saucers. "Th-this is!?" The report detailed how useful Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s proposal had been. Although it had upgraded all the explosion build skills to Unique. Considering the uncertainty of randomly obtaining a Legendary skill, or the drawbacks of upgrading two Legendary skills, it was actually a good outcome, it said. The report was written as if Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong had intentionally encouraged the building of the explosion build, and it was full of positive evaluations as a result. "Deputy Manager Lee Jaekyung put in a good word for you this time. You should go thank him later." "Ah. Th-thank you!" As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong¡¯s expression brightened, Team Leader Jung Jihye raised an eyebrow. "Hmm... but what kind of reward did Player Seonghyun get this time?" "Huh?" Just like that, Lee Wonsong¡¯s face turned pale again. And on top of everything else, there was another new build to deal with. But the real problem lay elsewhere. "Did you see the massive event that just got triggered because of Player Seonghyun?" "...Wait, what???" Lee Wonsong looked genuinely caught off guard, like it was the first he was hearing of it. Jung Jihye let out a short sigh and rubbed her temples, clearly fighting off a headache. "Tsk." Yeah, she did not look happy. What the hell had happened now? "A new event just got triggered because Seonghyun obtained the Dark Fortress through the Main Quest." "A-Ah..." "And since we forgot to send out a heads-up notice beforehand, it¡¯s turned into a whole mess." There¡¯d just been so many other issues piling up lately. He¡¯d completely missed it, something he normally wouldn¡¯t have overlooked. A major blunder. At this rate, the earlier report they¡¯d used to smooth things over wouldn¡¯t even matter anymore. No wonder Jung Jihye had been giving him that look earlier. But what came next was unexpectedly casual. She spoke calmly and handed him another document, like it was no big deal. "Make sure you read through this. I know you¡¯ve had a lot going on lately, but I need you to double-check things more carefully from now on." "Ah... Yes. Understood." Still tense, Lee Wonsong took the file¡ªand his face went white as he read the title. [Event Management Team Support Request Form] With a bit of corporate experience under his belt, Lee Wonsong knew exactly what that meant. That ¡°cover-up¡± report from earlier? Yeah, it wasn¡¯t a free favor. As he slumped in defeat, Jung Jihye returned to her desk like her business was done. And the only one left, Associate Oh Jinhyeok, gave him a sympathetic look. "Whoa... isn¡¯t the Event Management Team insanely tough? S-Senior, good luck." "Haha." Seeing his senior laugh out of nowhere, Oh Jinhyeok tilted his head. Did he finally snap? Then¡ª "They¡¯re sending two people. You¡¯re coming with me, Associate Oh Jinhyeok." "Huh... Wait, what? WHAT?!?!" At last, Lee Wonsong got a bit of payback. Even if it meant dragging someone else into the fire with him. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 99 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 99 4. He had intended to leave after hearing the words of the Over Palace''s messenger, the crow man, Karls. But Seonghyun, as if possessed, repeatedly checked the item''s rank. Twice, three times, it remained the same. Almighty rank. An item of a rank that could only be obtained after clearing a Main Quest. And they were just giving it to him like this? It was absurd. But the effects were even more so. ¡ºPrimordial Demon Crest Ring¡» ¡ú¡¶Almighty¡· ¡úA ring bearing the crest engraved by a primordial demon. ¡úIt is said that it is unknown which of the primordial demons created it, or even why such a ring was made. ¡úWhen worn, increases the power of darkness-attribute (black, dark, gloom, abyss) skills by +30%. ¡úWhen worn, grants complete immunity to darkness-attribute (black, dark, gloom, abyss) skills. ¡úWhen worn, five times a day, delays the transfer of a being transferring to the wearer''s surroundings. Gulp. It was an effect that would make even the calm and composed Seonghyun swallow hard. It increased the power of darkness-attribute skills by 30%, and even granted complete immunity. This alone was an enormous effect, but. ''Even transfer delay?'' They said that reaching the Almighty rank was enough to shake a continent. It was true. As Seonghyun stared blankly at the rank, The crow man, Karls, spoke to him, seemingly apologetic. "To have to make someone who is not yet fully a Hero, but still holds the status of a Hero''s descendant, take refuge like this, may seem as if we doubt the successor''s strength, and it tears at my heart. However, we must make this unavoidable choice to prevent any unforeseen events, and for that, we apologize." It could be seen as doubting his abilities. At a glance, the crow man Karls'' words were reasonable. But Seonghyun tilted his head, as if finding it strange. "Isn''t it natural to send someone away safely if there might be danger?" "Ah...!!!" Seonghyun spoke as if he understood. Hot tears flowed from behind the crow man Karls'' mask. How could he be so benevolent and understanding? It was actually something to be angry about. He had every right to be upset, asking if he looked that weak. It was also something that could be taken as an insult to his ability. Since being doubted about one''s skills could potentially damage one''s pride. But Seonghyun did not. Rather than feeling resentment or anger, he accepted it as if it were natural. Because it was natural to feel grateful to Over Palace for protecting him if he was still weak. There was something that bothered him a little. But at least it wasn''t resentment. Seonghyun was a little put off by the sudden tears dripping from behind the mask. But he brushed it off, more or less, and said. "More importantly, even if he''s not yet fully a Hero, just the fact that he''s stepping up like this means he''s grown much more than I have, right?" "Th-that is so." Perhaps it was painful for him to admit that the Hero''s descendant was currently stronger. He spoke while coughing up blood. He actually coughed up blood. It must be that painful. Anyway. "Then it''s understandable that I''d be sent away." Seonghyun said this while thinking to himself. It was perfectly understandable. There was no way he could be stronger than the Hero''s descendant when he had just started. Even if the descendant wasn''t a fully fledged Hero yet. As Seonghyun understood this, The crow man, Karls, closed his eyes tightly. He was deeply moved by such a considerate attitude. He wanted to continue the conversation and hear more from the successor. But unfortunately, he couldn''t. "I would like to speak further, but it seems there is little time left. I will send you to the town. Then, I pray for your well-being until the day we can meet again." Snap! With those words, Karls bowed his head and snapped his fingers. Countless crows flew in like a storm. Hundreds, thousands of crows appeared and swirled around Seonghyun, their black feathers fluttering and melting the surrounding scenery. With a sensation of spatial transfer, Seonghyun closed and opened his eyes. The crows were nowhere to be seen, and the familiar scenery of Sermath town came into view. Some NPCs were surprised by Seonghyun''s sudden appearance. But users suddenly appearing was hardly a new occurrence. Other users didn''t pay any attention to Seonghyun either. Soon, everyone returned to their own business. After people''s gazes moved away. Seonghyun thought carefully. ''Still, it''s a bit disappointing, though.'' It wasn''t that he was resentful, angry, or that his pride was hurt. But he was disappointed. The fact that he was still so weak that he couldn''t even meet the Hero''s descendant. For Seonghyun, who was exploring Hindel''s footsteps, meeting someone with the qualities of a modern-day Hero would be significant. That''s what he was disappointed about. He thought that perhaps by meeting and talking with him, he might find a new trace of Hindel. That''s why he was even more disappointed. Therefore, Seonghyun added a goal to his inner ambitions. ''If I become strong enough to not have to retreat the next time an opportunity like this arises, it won''t be a problem, right?'' With this, Seonghyun''s goals increased by one. Following Hindel''s footsteps. Seeing the end of the Overlord that Helena didn''t see. And now, becoming strong quickly so as not to miss opportunities. All three goals were intertwined, anyway. Seonghyun, reaffirming his new goal. Was about to move. Since he was no longer at a level to remain in the third town. ¡¾Status Window¡¿ ¡ºSeonghyun¡» ¡ºLv 92¡» ¡ºClass¡» ¡ú¡ºOverlord¡» ¡ºTitles¡» ¡ú¡ºMonarch (Legendary)¡»**... and 32 others. ¡ºStats¡» ¡ú¡¶Strength: 105 (80+25)¡·¡¶Agility: 105 (95+10)¡· ¡¶Stamina: 105 (95+10)¡·¡¶Intelligence: 199 (180+19)¡· ¡¶Wisdom: 200 (181+19)¡·¡¶Spirit: 133 (120+13)¡· ¡¶Dexterity: 7 (6+1)¡· ¡ºAdditional Stats¡» ¡ú¡¶0¡· ''It''s pretty good.'' After distributing the bonus stats. It was perfect. Seonghyun''s current level was a whopping 92. The third town had a level cap of 80. He should have left long ago. He was level 79 before the Main Quest. It was thanks to the huge increase this time. ''Then, shall we move on to the next place?'' The wilderness also known as the fourth town, ¡ºDune Wild Trail¡». A large-scale field connected to all the third towns. Because of this, it was also a place where all users from level 80 to 120 on the East Asia server gathered. As a result, it was also a unique area with more users than NPCs. Of course, there were many conflicts due to this. The number of malicious users, commonly called villains, was also much higher. Because it was such a distinctive place. Seonghyun was also quite looking forward to it. ''What will happen?'' What other ghosts would be there? And what other users would he meet? As Seonghyun had such expectations. -I have something to tell you about the next area. Nocturnium cautiously spoke. The next area? At that moment, a clue flashed through his mind. "Could it be what you mentioned earlier?" -Yes, it is the story about my comrade that I mentioned in the fortress. It seemed to be the story of the comrade who had lost their soul. The clue for the Main Quest. His curiosity piqued, he looked at Nocturnium. Nocturnium, reading his master''s will, bowed his head and said. -The aura of that one is emanating from Dune Wild Trail, the next place you will go. It seems that with the Dark Fortress now active, he is reading that energy and showing signs of slowly awakening from his slumber. "Oh? What kind of fellow is he?" -Though he has lost much of his power now and is far removed from his former glory, he was the loyal 3rd Legion Commander of our former master, and a commander who controlled countless undead, including the Doom Knights, who were called a calamity. "Oh?" Countless undead. That''s exciting. He said he had lost a lot of power. So, their numbers have probably been greatly reduced. But still, he must be a formidable opponent. Is the next Main Quest to stop that guy? As Seonghyun smiled at that thought. Nocturnium responded as if in agreement. -The legion of the one who lost his power also seems to have lost many of its numbers, and there seem to be only a few left. It seems to be only about 1 million. "???" 1 million? That''s the reduced number? Isn''t the difficulty spiking too much if this is a Main Quest? Is this really something that can be cleared alone? Just as Seonghyun, filled with doubt, was about to ask Nocturnium. [This is a world-wide announcement.] [A large-scale event will occur!] [The event will begin in ¡ºDune Wild Trail - Western Plains¡» 28 hours from now.] [All users between level 80 and level 120 are eligible to participate.] [Further details are not yet available.] [We encourage your participation.] A major event announcement was posted. And a personal message only visible to Seonghyun. [A specter of the past has awakened.] [Checking conditions.] [Main Quest ¡ºDark Fortress¡» Cleared (Complete)] [¡ºOverlord¡» 2nd Class Advancement (Complete)] [Possession of ¡ºOverlord¡» Helena''s Garden (Complete)] [¡ºOverlord¡» Level 90 or higher (Complete)] [All conditions have been met.] [The ¡ºOverlord¡» Main Quest, ¡ºDoom Knight''s Invasion¡», begins.] [The ¡ºOverlord¡» Main Quest, ¡ºDoom Knight''s Invasion¡», is connected to the large-scale event.] ''A Main Quest that''s also a large-scale event.'' Things got bigger than expected. But it seems like it''ll be quite fun. 5. What is the best news for players playing a game? It may vary depending on taste. But most people would be happy if there was a new update. An update like a specific event, not an update that nerfs something! For users who have enjoyed everything there is to enjoy so far, it was like welcome rain in a drought. Wouldn''t most gamers agree with this? "Ah, there''s nothing to do." Because as you play a game, the amount of content you can enjoy is bound to diminish. So, is there any user who dislikes event updates? As you play various games for a certain amount of time, you inevitably get tired of them or run out of things to do. So it''s natural to welcome updates. This is also the reason why Eternal World is the greatest game of all time. Because there was simply no end to the things to do. Near-infinite freedom. The sense of liberation from exploring the world. As many NPCs as there are people in reality. And as many quests as there are NPCs. And now there''s a new major event? Naturally, the users'' reactions were bound to be enthusiastic. [MonsterCook: Whoa, a major event??? In Dune Wild???] [DungeonSwimmingOtter: So jealous;;; I''m level 150 so I can''t participate, so annoying.......] [NPC-LikeLocal: This is a bit;;; So jealous;;;] [OrcsAreScary: Chwiik??? Definitely participating!!!] [DedicatedMeleeDPS: But do you know what kind of event it is? If it''s a major event, it must be huge???] [HealerFor20Years: Dunno? But I''m excited. Has there ever been a bad event in E-World? I''m a 20-year veteran, I''m serious lmao.] ©¸[SleepingWolf: What are you talking about? Eternal World has only been open for 2 years.] Public opinion was boiling. Some were already forming teams to prepare for the event tomorrow. There were also those who planned to participate as a guild. Since the rewards for a major event would be enormous. The speed at which people''s attention was drawn was astonishing. Traffic surged. It took only a few hours for there to be no user on the East Asia server who didn''t know about the event. Moreover. [Guild Ranking 86, Fine Fire Guild, declares participation!] [Guild Ranking 12, Sick Brothers Guild, declares participation!] [Guild Ranking 8, Tempest Wing Guild, declares participation!] [Karma Guild Echo Willow Guild declares participation!] ....... ....... [Guild Ranking 4, Eclipse Order Guild, declares participation!] Leading guilds also declared their participation, and ranker guilds that didn''t usually show themselves also declared their participation. In particular, ill-mannered guilds, called Karma Guilds, also declared their participation one after another. Echo Willow, which had an incident with Seonghyun before, also declared participation. As it became a large-scale festival, or rather, a brutal battlefield. People''s attention was inevitably drawn even more. Foreign guilds decided to participate using their East Asia branches. That''s how quickly interest was soaring. Despite the event being held in a tight 28 hours. People were preparing day and night. At the same time, promising players from various guilds were being discussed. It was inevitable. Although it was a major event that everyone could enjoy. Because it''s true that only a very small number of people stand out there. Users were chattering, seemingly anticipating who would make a name for themselves. [AoEDamageManiac: Who will make a name for themselves this time?] [DieTodayToo: Wouldn''t it be Meiran from Eclipse Order? She''s the most promising player under level 100 these days.] ©¸[24HourRaidUser: Tf lmao?? When was Meiran ever the best ???????? Now the trend is Demon King.] Some mentioned Seonghyun. But unfortunately, they were immediately refuted. ©¸[SwordMaker: Ah, ''Seonghyun''. But even so, won''t the Demon King be unable to participate?] ©¸[LegendaryHomebody: ??? Why Demon King? Can''t he participate?] ©¸[SwordMaker: Logically, the recent raid video showed a level 60 raid boss, so he would have barely reached level 80, and it would be difficult to beat Meiran, who just reached level 100, right?] Since the level Seonghyun had shown was still low. It was understandable. It wasn''t easy to surpass Meiran''s renown, who was still at a higher level. No matter how many incredible achievements one had. In an RPG, level couldn''t be ignored. He might not even have reached level 80 in the first place. Leveling wasn''t easy in this game. Most agreed with that opinion. So, other names came up more often than Seonghyun''s. ©¸[OrcsAreScary: Chwiik, I agree. And besides Meiran, Kurosawa Ren is also worth looking forward to, chwiik.] [PotionMaster: Yeah, whatever, Meiran will win anyway.] [ManWhoDoesntUseSkills: It''s a shame the Demon King couldn''t level up. Still, we have Junhyuk in Korea.] [5MinutePartyLeaver: If you''re Korean, please support Junhyuk.] [LowLevelLeader: Let''s hope Seonghyun user does well next time.] The majority opinion was that one of those three would likely stand out the most. If you were to pick the three most famous users on the East Asia server, those three would come up. There was Seonghyun, who was rising recently. But everyone was not expecting good results from Seonghyun. Without even knowing who caused the current situation. Like that, Seonghyun was gradually fading from the users'' memories. Seonghyun, the person who was fading, was testing out his newly acquired skills. Under the sun blazing with a blackened flame. As the black flames burned all enemies, and corpses of enemies were slaughtered and scattered among the dark flowers blooming in the land of darkness, Seonghyun scratched his head and looked at the message that appeared. [Level Up!] x3 [You have reached level 95.] "With this, maybe I can handle something around 10,000?¡± [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 100 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 100 0. The capsule opened, and Seonghyun stepped out, stretching. It felt like it had been a long time since he''d come out. ''Ugh, playing for so long definitely makes you tired.'' But thanks to that, he had obtained valuable things. He had acquired several skills and even tested them. The builds he got this time were also amazing. From the existing corpse and poison-based explosion build, to the blood build, and now even a darkness build. As the number of options increased, the usability definitely increased dramatically. And all three of those builds were area-of-effect. It seemed like he could gain a very advantageous position in the upcoming major event. ''It was more powerful than I thought.'' The skills were one thing, but Nocturnium''s performance was considerable. In terms of combat? No, that''s not what he meant. Rather, in combat, he was even worse than Barpur. Come to think of it, it seemed like that in the past battlefields as well. Even Fiora, Seonghyun hadn''t even dared to try to fight her. But in the battle with Nocturnium, he had gained the upper hand, hadn''t he? But he was overwhelming in areas other than combat. First of all, the ability to search the surroundings and identify nearby enemies. And even provoking those enemies to gather them in one place. Thanks to that, even after reaching level 92, he was able to raise his level by another 3. No, seeing that his level only rose by 3 even after doing that, he definitely felt that leveling up had slowed down. In any case, Nocturnium''s performance was one thing, but. ''The new skills were also amazing.'' Using the Hourglass of Reversal, which eliminated cooldowns, he tested the newly acquired skills. He could see that each one was powerful. Whichever he chose was powerful, so it seemed like he could use them according to the situation. Above all. ''It was a good choice to pick Writhing Darkness.'' Writhing Darkness, which granted a hit-without-fail effect to darkness-attribute skills. This was the core of Seonghyun''s current darkness build. Anyway, thanks to skipping lunch and playing all day, he was able to raise his level by another 3. ''I didn''t realize it was so late.'' It was already late evening. It wasn''t that he had intended to skip lunch. He felt hungrier than he expected. Holding his rumbling stomach, he went out of the room. Just then, his older sister, Yoo Mina, also came out of the capsule, looking similar. ''Hmm, I need to wash up.'' Seonghyun thought to himself that he probably looked similar. He wanted to wash up quickly. Then. "Seonghyun, did you just have a rude thought?" "I thought you looked similar, so I thought I should wash up quickly." "......Usually, that''s called a rude thought, little brother." Feeling the edge in Yoo Mina''s words as she spoke with a faint smile, Seonghyun chuckled too. Even though she took good care of him, the two were still siblings. As Yoo Mina emerged, growling slightly. Their mother, Lee Nakyeong, and father, Yoo Gwangjin, were nowhere to be seen. Come to think of it, he thought he''d heard something about a couples'' gathering today. Yoo Mina, immediately noticing that the two were absent, said. "Hmm, Jajangmyeon, go?" "Sure. I''ll have Jjamppong." "I''ll have Jaeng-jja." [TL/N:This is short for "Jaengban Jajangmyeon," a large-plate version of the dish.] After confirming their orders with each other, Yoo Mina immediately ordered through an app. Marveling at the fast delivery time, they sat down at the table. "You''re going to participate, right? You said you were 79 yesterday. Considering how fast you are, you''re probably around the mid-to-late 80s by now?" Yoo Mina didn''t bother to specify what she was asking about participating in. It was obvious. Seonghyun nodded at her words. "I have to. It opened because of me." "......??? What are you talking about?" "Ah, it''s nothing much, it''s just that the large-scale event opened because of my Main Quest." "??????" Even after hearing the explanation, Yoo Mina''s expression was one of even greater incomprehension. It was understandable. Even for an Almighty-rank class, which had enough influence to affect the entire continent, she had never heard of a Main Quest that triggered such a large-scale event. There might be some who kept it a secret. But at least Yoo Mina, who was also an Almighty-rank class user, had never experienced anything like that while completing her various Main Quests. "That... doesn''t... make sense... does it?" "Yeah, it''s connected to the predecessor. It seems like that kind of event occurred because a subordinate of the previous Overlord, Helena, is invading." "Goodness... really." Since she was an influential figure who was once called the Demon King. It made sense. However, even though she understood it intellectually, she still couldn''t fully accept it. It wasn''t easy. Come to think of it, after Seonghyun became the Overlord, he had done some research. ''Didn''t they say that the strong people of the entire continent were completely wiped out during the Demon King subjugation?'' Wasn''t that the reason why so many classes were still passed down to users? The class of the person who single-handedly caused the events of that time, also described as a bloodbath. It was certainly understandable. Yoo Mina scratched her cheek, realizing once again how amazing it was. She never expected it to be this big. As Yoo Mina was surprised once again. Seonghyun found her reaction amusing and felt like teasing her. So Seonghyun said, as if complaining slightly. "But it''s true that leveling up is getting harder." "Pfft! Level 80 is a notorious hurdle, so it''s understandable." "Yeah. So I spent the whole day grinding, and I barely hit level 95." "......???" "And honestly, if I hadn¡¯t cleared that Main Quest and jumped 13 levels in one go, I wouldn¡¯t have even made it." Her expression became bizarre, as if she had heard something bizarre. Usually, eyes widen. Her entire expression widened. Seonghyun chuckled at his sister''s reaction, finding it amusing, when the doorbell rang. Leaving his sister, who was still frozen like a statue. Seonghyun went to get the delivery. Even then, Yoo Mina remained frozen like a statue. How long would she stay like that? As Seonghyun took out the food. Ignoring her. "Huh... What do you mean you gained sixteen levels in a day? You just cleared a Main Quest, and now you¡¯ve already gotten another one...?" Seeing his sister muttering as if she couldn''t understand the situation at all. Seonghyun chuckled and said. "It''s getting soggy." "Oh? Oh, right. Okay." Nodding as if her soul had left her body, Yoo Mina received the Jaengban Jajangmyeon and picked up her chopsticks. Then, as if she still couldn''t understand, she asked again. "No, how is that possible?" "How would I know? You''ve been playing longer, so you should know." "No! I''m asking because I''ve never seen anything like this before!" Teasing his sister was definitely the most fun. Seonghyun chuckled and ate his Jjamppong, and throughout the meal, Yoo Mina kept muttering as if she couldn''t understand. Since it was a situation that even Yoo Mina, a single ranker, had never seen before. It was understandable. Anyway, there was something more important to worry about right now. "Hmm, then you''ll be running into the Eclipse Order''s rookie?" "Eclipse Order? Is that a guild?" "Yeah, they kind of consider our Rapid Guild their rival? At least, that''s what they think among themselves." "Hmm?" Seonghyun tilted his head at the incomprehensible explanation. Yoo Mina chuckled and briefly explained. "They were originally ranked 3rd, but they were pushed down to 4th place by us. They''re pretty skilled, but they don''t have any users with Almighty classes like we do." "Ah, are they rare?" "Yeah, as far as I know, there are less than ten. Ah, is it ten if we include you?" Seonghyun nodded, realizing that it was indeed rare. Anyway, the rookie of that Eclipse Order. "So, what kind of person is that rookie?" "Hmm, I saw her once when we met with the Eclipse Order, and to put it in one word, a ''Loudmouth Light-Lancer''?" "Loudmouth Light-Lancer?" "Yeah, she¡¯s really loud and talkative." "......?" ¡®What was that supposed to mean?¡¯ Seonghyun tilted his head, unable to understand. Yoo Mina smiled as if saying he''d understand when he saw her, and continued to eat her Jaengban Jajangmyeon. The two were finishing their day like that, eating a meal together. The event was just one day away. 1. [Notice] ¡¸We are announcing details about the large-scale event taking place in ¡ºDune Wild Trail - Western Plains¡». The event will begin at 6:00 PM, East Asia Server time (Seoul, South Korea). The event name is ¡ºLegion of Calamity¡». Defend ¡ºDune Wild Trail¡» from the ¡ºLegion of Calamity¡». Contribution points will be awarded for each monster belonging to the ¡ºLegion of Calamity¡» defeated, based on their power. Defeat as many of the ¡ºLegion of Calamity¡» as possible and receive contribution point rewards. The user who achieves 1st place in contribution points will receive three Legendary-rank rewards. We encourage your participation. Thank you. -E-World¡¹ After the initial announcement, a follow-up announcement was posted the next morning. There were even office workers who hurriedly used their vacation days to see this. This gave a glimpse of how immense its status was. It''s no wonder that top-ranked guilds were declaring their participation. Such an event was rare, even within Eternal World. You have to seize the opportunity when it comes. There were even rumors that the guild that ranked high in this event would take the lead in the future. It wasn''t entirely wrong. An event that can be enjoyed from level 80 to 120. If these new talents later rise to the forefront. It wasn''t wrong to say that they would take the lead then. That''s why the 4th ranked guild, Eclipse Order, was pleased with the current situation. "What''s the movement on Rapid''s side?" "There is no particular movement yet. They haven''t declared their participation either." ¡°Hmm... what could they be thinking? Are they not planning to send out the Demon King?¡± The way they monitored Rapid''s movements seemed quite sensitive. They react as if it were their reverse scale. It was understandable. Unlike other major guilds, Rapid had achieved third place in the rankings with a noticeably smaller roster. And it was precisely because of Rapid that Eclipse Order had been pushed down from their former third place. Now that they had been pushed down to 4th place. They had no choice but to pay attention to the Rapid Guild. Because of that, the appearance of the Demon King, Seonghyun, gave them considerable anxiety. If they produced another overwhelmingly star player. Eclipse Order might not be able to keep up. However. "No, even if they do, it won''t be a problem. We have Meiran." "Demon King? Ha! He may be a rising star, but we have Meiran." ¡°Sure, he made waves by clearing the Fortress of the Past, but even so, he won¡¯t be able to level up faster than our Meiran.¡± "At least in this event, there''s no way the Demon King can beat Meiran." ¡°Chances are he hasn¡¯t even reached level 80 yet. He only just beat Anemor, and the Fortress of the Past wasn¡¯t that long ago either.¡± They said all that, assuming Seonghyun hadn¡¯t leveled up enough yet. But truthfully, none of them believed Meiran was actually more talented than the Demon King. After all, he¡¯d already cleared the Fortress of the Past. Whereas Meiran had not. They did feel like they were falling behind a bit. Still, the belief in Meiran remained strong. The rookie called the next-generation leader of the Eclipse Order, Meiran. The trust in her was strong within the Eclipse Order. Although she didn''t have an Almighty-rank class, which was said to be the exclusive domain of a very small number, she had the next-best Legendary-rank class, ''Spear Sovereign of Dawn''. It was enough to establish her as the flagship star who would lead the Eclipse Order in the future. Therefore, their faith in Meiran was firm. "Well, even if you only consider control, Meiran is a top-tier talent." "Hmm, I heard she comes from a famous martial arts family in China." "That''s certainly what I heard." "Anyway, I''m looking forward to it. Even if the Demon King did participate, there''s a high probability that he wouldn''t be able to do anything about Meiran due to the nature of her class." "Well, what does it matter? Let''s win this time and maximize our gains." The timing was perfect. There were no notable rookies in the 1st and 2nd ranked guilds. And the Rapid Guild, which could be considered their rival, including the Demon King, was still not level 80. Victory in this competition was as good as theirs. There were also obstacles named Kurosawa Ren and Junhyuk. But they didn''t need to worry too much about them. Because they thought they were below Meiran anyway. ''Still, it''s a relief that the Demon King isn''t participating.'' ''The timing was good.'' ''It''s fortunate.'' Of course, they said that, but inwardly they were relieved that Seonghyun and Meiran wouldn''t meet. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 101 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 101 2. Dune Wild Trail. It was always a crowded place, but this time, the number of people was truly beyond description. Could a sea made of people look like this? They surged forward like waves. The vast plains, filled with countless people, bustled as they gathered in groups of like-minded individuals. Grouped by guilds, or by parties, some were even shouting loudly to recruit new people. Faced with a scene reminiscent of a bustling marketplace, people reacted as if it were nothing new. While Dune Wild Trail always had this aspect, the players who had made it this far were clearly past the beginner stage. This kind of hustle and bustle was now practically routine for them. ¡®There are so many people.¡¯ Seonghyun, too, was quite astonished. The sight of countless people united for a single purpose, forming a massive group, was truly something to behold. It was the first time since starting the game that he had seen people on such a scale. It gave him a unique feeling. To think that all these people were here to participate in a large-scale event. He keenly felt just how significant his own main quest was. Then, he checked the main quest details he had looked at yesterday once more. ¡ºDoom Knight''s Invasion¡» ¡ú¡¶Main¡· ¡ú¡ºOverlord¡» Main Quest ¡úAfter the death of the past Overlord, some of her numerous subordinates struggled and were lost in their grief. Concerned for her struggling subordinates, the Overlord''s disciple gathered some of them and established the Over Palace. However, many others were left behind. Some avoided reality, some departed from the world in sorrow, and some were driven mad by grief. The Doom Knight was also one of the latter. One who lost himself, driven mad by sorrow. Because of this, he embarked on a conquest of vast regions. Dune Wild Trail was one such place. The conquest by the undead Doom Knight was brutal, leaving not even a single living creature behind, only bare rocks, thus creating this vast wasteland. Even after burning and destroying all surrounding towns and cities, his sorrow could not be healed. When there was nothing left to destroy, he destroyed even his own soul and fell into a quiet slumber alongside his soldiers. However, after a long time passed, the power of a former comrade was sensed nearby. Reacting to the power of the Dark Fortress, Nocturnium, the terrible grief that had been buried was awakened. And upon realizing that there were living beings left to destroy on this land once more, he led his greatly diminished soldiers and reappeared in Dune Wild Trail. However, unlike before, his soul had been destroyed, and he had lost his reason. Stop the greatly weakened Doom Knight and defeat him to finally lay him to rest. ¡úOverlord Exclusive Main Quest. ¡úReward: Overlord exclusive skill, ¡ºKnights of Ruin¡», ability to appoint the Remnants of the Doom Knight as an additional Death Legion Commander. ¡úFailure: Main Quest lost, Doom Knight lost, Overlord exclusive skill ¡ºKnights of Ruin¡» lost. ¡®It''s incredible, even when looking at it again.¡¯ Seonghyun mused, though his purpose was different from the others. ¡®For now, perhaps I should see about joining the others.¡¯ Looking around amidst that countless crowd, he could see various guilds setting up their own formations in what could be called the very front lines. Flags displaying each guild''s crest were set up everywhere, fluttering majestically in the west wind, proudly revealing their emblems. Among them was a crest familiar to Seonghyun. ¡®Wasn''t that Sick Brothers?¡¯ One of the few guild crests he knew besides the Rapid Guild. He knew it because he had received a scouting offer from them before. Seeing it here like this felt unexpectedly pleasant. Not that he was going to go over and act familiar. But wasn''t it always nice to run into something you know? Seonghyun watched the guild area like that for a moment before turning his head away. ¡®The Rapid Guild said they weren''t participating separately, right?¡¯ While they were closer to a small elite guild, it wasn''t that they lacked the capacity. So why didn''t they bother participating? Simple. Because aside from Seonghyun, there was no one else who could participate anyway. ¡®I heard Luna''s side hasn''t reached the required level yet.¡¯ It couldn''t be helped. Even Luna''s team, supposedly the highest level among the rookie teams, was apparently still only in the level 70s. Considering they were in the 60s when Seonghyun met them a few days ago, they were progressing quite fast. But because Seonghyun had surged ahead at a monstrous pace, the gap simply couldn''t be closed. That''s why Rapid had completely given up on dispatching anyone at all. After getting Seonghyun''s permission, of course. ¡®Yoojin-noona sure seems to be going through a lot.¡¯ His head throbbed recalling her arguing with Yoo Mina over the phone. Anyway, for that reason, the Rapid Guild didn''t dispatch anyone. They only decided not to dispatch members; they had agreed to provide full support for what would happen later. Besides, during yesterday''s call, he had also managed to secure additional contract terms. An additional signing bonus and a salary increase. Above all, his share of the viewing ticket revenue went up. From the previous 10% to 30%. Terms absolutely never given to a rookie like Seonghyun. It was just one level below the terms of Yoo Mina, one of the current top single rankers. He could feel just how high the Rapid Guild''s expectations for him were. After that, they also discussed how he would approach this major event. And he got something more interesting out of it than expected. ¡®Anyway, I should probably just stick around the edges.¡¯ Getting unnecessarily involved with the guilds might just interfere with what Seonghyun and the Rapid Guild planned to do later. Just as Seonghyun was about to step back like that, someone nearby who had been watching Seonghyun spoke to him. Did they recognize Seonghyun? ¡°Hey, you there, buddy. You don''t have a guild?¡± Apparently not. ¡°Hmmm?¡± The middle-aged man said this, scratching his shaggy hair vigorously and nodding. Maybe he''ll come back when he realizes he really can''t manage alone? And when that time comes. ¡®I''ll have to accept him then.¡¯ Muttering such nonsense to himself, the man returned to the group of unaffiliated players he had gathered, unaware of where Seonghyun, who had already disappeared into the crowd, had gone. 3. The guilds gathered for the Legion of Calamity event. Among them, the top-ranked guilds numbered about three. The 4th-ranked guild, Eclipse Order. The 8th-ranked guild, Tempest Wing. And the 12th-ranked guild, Sick Brothers. These three were the only ones present with single-digit or low double-digit guild rankings. If there was another force that could compare, it would be Echo Willow from the Karma Guilds. Excluding Echo Willow, who hadn''t appeared yet, the representative figures of these three guilds stepped forward. Junhyuk, who carried the expectations of Sick Brothers'' Korean branch. Kurosawa Ren of Tempest Wing. And finally, Meiran of Eclipse Order. As the three gathered, the atmosphere grew tense, almost as if the air itself was heating up. While the guilds shot glares at each other, and Junhyuk and Kurosawa Ren were also eyeing each other murderously¡ª ¡°Wahahaha!!! Hey now, it''s a fine day, why are you all glaring like that? Isn''t it fun? An event like this?¡± ¡°...We came here to compete, not to play, Miss Meiran.¡± ¡°...¡®Compete¡¯ is the right word. We came here to see who will win.¡± Kurosawa Ren and Junhyuk spoke sharply to Meiran. However, Meiran simply looked at the two of them, laughed heartily (Wahah!), and nodded as if it were all just amusing. As if she didn''t care either way. As Kurosawa Ren and Junhyuk glared, looking slightly fed up with her doing things at her own pace, Meiran spoke again. ¡°Competition is fun too!! Let''s enjoy it! And play fair!¡± ¡°...Haaah.¡± ¡°...Hoo.¡± For this moment at least, the minds of Kurosawa Ren and Junhyuk, rivals who often bickered, were in sync. She was too cheerful, overflowing with bright energy. Since she was naturally like that, they couldn''t really say anything. And besides, what she said wasn''t exactly wrong. ¡°Anyway, let''s enjoy it! Have fun! Honestly, winning or losing isn''t important; what matters is how much fun you have!!!¡± ¡°For u... us, winning and losing is important.¡± ¡°That''s right.¡± ¡°Ahaha! So if you''re not first place here, everyone else loses? Well, catching a lot is good~ Getting something with contribution points is always nice.¡± They simply couldn''t get through to her. As the two gave up trying to talk to her, the boisterous Meiran laughed heartily and said, ¡°Well, it¡¯s a bit disappointing that the Demon King didn¡¯t show up. It would have been really fun if he had.¡± ¡°Hmm, the Demon King...¡± ¡°A remarkable figure did emerge from Korea.¡± At the mention of the Demon King, Kurosawa Ren''s expression darkened while Junhyuk smiled with satisfaction. Since the Demon King was undeniably a Korean player, it was natural for Junhyuk, being Korean himself, to feel proud. Kurosawa Ren bit his lip as if finding it somewhat vexing. But what could he do? Doing so wouldn''t change Seonghyun''s affiliation to Japan. ¡°According to our information, the Luna team he belongs to just reached the level 70s. Wouldn''t the Demon King be around that level too?¡± ¡°Well, that''s fortunate then. Fortunate for you, Kurosawa, that you weren''t pushed down to 4th place.¡± ¡°Hmph! Look who''s talking!¡± ¡°Wahahaha! Now, now, let''s not be like that! Let''s get along!¡± As Meiran jumped in again, their motivation instantly deflated. Among these three, the strongest was, without a doubt, Meiran. Kurosawa Ren and Junhyuk were only aiming for 2nd place. They had absolutely no thought of beating Meiran. The gap in strength was that overwhelming. For such a powerhouse to talk like that... how could they not feel drained? ¡°Anyway, the Rapid Guild hasn''t even declared their participation.¡± ¡°They definitely won''t come.¡± ¡°Wahaha! It''s truly a shame, but it can''t be helped! Let''s just enjoy ourselves!¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± ¡°Anyway, is it 10 minutes until the start?¡± ¡°Almost time! Well then, everyone get ready, and let''s meet later!!! A friendly competition! Let''s do our best!¡± After stirring things up like that, Meiran was the first to leave. Feeling somehow drained, Kurosawa Ren and Junhyuk also disappeared back to where their own guilds were gathered. The event would be starting soon. As they waited, the 10 minutes passed like an arrow. Finally, a system message appeared. [A Large-Scale Event Quest is being generated!] ¡ºLegion of Calamity¡» ¡ú¡¶Large-Scale Event¡· ¡úFrom now on, the ¡ºLegion of Calamity¡» will swarm. The ¡ºLegion of Calamity¡», which slept for a long time, has awakened. The ¡ºLegion of Calamity¡» hates and despises all living beings. Your contribution points will increase as you defeat the ¡ºLegion of Calamity¡». The contribution point ranking can be checked in real-time anywhere in ¡ºDune Wild Trail¡» by looking up at the sky. Please stop their endless advance and restore peace to ¡ºDune Wild Trail¡». ¡úReward: Experience for defeating the ¡ºLegion of Calamity¡», differentiated rewards based on contribution points, 1st Place - Three Legendary Rank rewards, 2nd Place - Three Unique Rank rewards, 3rd Place - Two Unique Rank rewards. The event had finally begun. And on the horizon of Dune Wild Trail, something shimmered faintly like a heat haze. Was it the heat haze shimmering and writhing? No. ¡°Guwoooo.¡± ¡°Kieeeek!¡± ¡°Kyaaaaaa!¡± Countless beings who couldn''t die. Beings whose flesh was rotting, or had completely decayed leaving white skeletons, or whose entire bodies had vanished, leaving only souls drifting. The profane beings had revived and were swarming forward. The Legion of Calamity surged forward like a tidal wave whose numbers couldn''t even be counted. Although so many users had gathered, seeing the sheer number of the Legion of Calamity, akin to a tidal wave, everyone seemed overwhelmed and couldn''t even react. At that very moment. Something appeared in the sky. A burning black sun that obscured the bright sun, dyeing the entire area in darkness. Darkness descended upon the world, covering everything in black flames. The black flames ravenously devoured everything, burning the surroundings and filling the world. As the smell of sulfur and burning ash rose from all around, the black sun and black flames engulfed all light and life. Had it appeared to lend strength to those profane beings? Just as everyone''s faces showed expressions of being overwhelmed, the ground suddenly turned black, and countless thorns rained down from the sky. Thwack! Thump! Thwump-thump-thump! Thorns of jet-black poured down like rain. All those thorns targeted the Legion of Calamity, not the users, and the creatures struck by them were instantly obliterated. But that wasn''t the end. The Legion of Calamity tried to push through the jet-black thorns and charge forward. Mere thorns couldn''t possibly stop a tidal wave like that. However, the jet-black thorns then began to writhe. They soon absorbed the darkness from the jet-black stained ground, using the Legion of Calamity as nourishment. Writhe, writhe¡ª! Soon, the jet-black thorns became stems. Sharp thorns extended in all directions. And from somewhere, a fragrant floral scent bloomed fully. Entranced by the sweet yet deadly floral scent, the Legion of Calamity headed towards the jet-black thorns. No, towards the vicinity of the flowers that had now bloomed in jet-black. The fragrant and deadly jet-black flowers, like an all-embracing mother, warmly spread the thorns sprouting from them far and wide, captivating all nearby beings. Finally, the jet-black flowers that embraced everything, devoured the foolish prey lured towards them. Kwa-deu-deu-deu-deuk¡ª¡ª! A harsh sound, like something sharp tearing and biting, echoed out, momentarily halting the tidal wave named the Legion of Calamity in its tracks. The jet-black thorns had blocked the tide, if only briefly, and from the sky descended a person wearing a black robe and a mask as dark as jet-black. ¡°In-insane!!!¡± ¡°Ma-masaka!!!¡± ¡°Uwaaaaa!!!¡± Junhyuk of Sick Brothers couldn''t hide his astonishment, while Kurosawa Ren of Tempest Wing stared with an expression of disbelief. And Meiran''s eyes sparkled as she reacted as if someone she''d been waiting for had finally appeared. There was only one person who could make such an entrance at this moment. They must have been mistaken to think his level was low. Or perhaps he had climbed up at an incredible speed during that time. The three powerhouses quickly realized this fact. However, everyone except those three was bewildered. Who on earth is that? Countless pairs of eyes looked up at him. The Demon King? But his level shouldn''t be high enough yet? Even with a high-rank class, is that possible at his current level range? Above all, the skills the Demon King usually uses emit a teal light. But the figure seen now was jet-black itself. Who could it possibly be? The appearance of another big shot?! While everyone was astonished, a certain middle-aged man, purely surprised with a naive expression, muttered, ¡°Ah, that young man from before!?¡± To think he was such a big shot... He was on the verge of collapsing from shock. An alert pinged for several people. [Rapid Guild Real-time Live Broadcast Alert] [Legion of Calamity VS Demon King] A notification window announcing that the person over there was the Demon King appeared. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 102 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 102 ¡°Hu-urk!?¡± Hearing the broadcast alert that confirmed it, the middle-aged man let out a sound like he was about to pass out, gasping as he stared at the sky. Seeing this, a young man nearby hurriedly came over and asked, ¡°Aigo, Hyungnim. What''s wrong?!¡± ¡°Tha-that young man!?¡± ¡°Ah, the Demon King? Amazing, right? Heh, I tell you, he really seems like someone from a different world than us.¡± ¡°N-no, that''s not it...¡± The middle-aged man already knew the Demon King well. How could he not know, being a fan of Eternal World videos? He even subscribed to the Rapid Guild''s channel, after all. So, imagine how he felt when he realized the young man he''d spoken to earlier was, unbelievably, the Demon King. He was gulping as if he couldn''t breathe. Then, he recalled what he had said to the young man. Asking if he wanted to join them since he seemed to be alone without a guild? He had spouted such foolish words. Could he possibly have also heard him wondering if he''d come back if things got tough alone? ¡®Is-is he going to retaliate!?¡¯ He had seen the Demon King''s bare face, hadn''t he? He was a flawlessly handsome young man. He didn''t seem particularly bad or anything, but... his title was the Demon King, wasn''t it? Watching the videos, you could even see his ruthless side, dealing with monsters without a shred of emotion. As those images overlapped in his mind, he shuddered. You couldn''t judge a person just by their appearance, could you? ¡®Uwaaah! Why did I have to stick my nose in!!!¡¯ While the middle-aged man was having such absurd thoughts, everyone else was staring blankly towards where the Demon King, Seonghyun, was. The jet-black thorns that fell over a vast area along with the black sun. And the deadly jet-black flowers that bloomed from those thorns. The sight momentarily stopped the tidal wave named the Legion of Calamity, stunning not only the users present but also the other guilds who had prepared to start their own live broadcasts for the event. For the Demon King to interfere like this... it was completely unexpected. Because it had been handled top-secret even within the Rapid Guild, not only was it impossible to know, but they couldn''t even imagine the Demon King would have met the level requirement already. And for him to pull off such a surprise with a new skill right upon appearing! ¡°Is-is he really in the same level range as us?¡± ¡°I-I bet he''s way past level 120!?!¡± ¡°Enough power to temporarily stop an advancement of that magnitude...¡± ¡°Th-those black flames raining down from the black sun are burning everything...¡± ¡°Insane...¡± ¡°A-as expected... he didn''t clear the Fortress of the Past just by sheer luck.¡± As everyone was stunned and spacing out, a few guild officials quickly regained their senses and looked up at the sky. And there, occupying the 1st place position with imposing confidence: [Contribution Rank] [1st ¡ºSeonghyun¡» - 1,783 Points] [2nd None.] Seeing Seonghyun''s name etched there all alone, the guild officials urgently shouted. ¡°Is this the time to just stand and watch!? G-get moving! Quickly!¡± ¡°Charge right now!!!¡± ¡°Throw some skills!!! Ranged ones!!!¡± ¡°Don''t forget to funnel contribution points!!!¡± As the guild officials shouted, thoroughly agitated, members from various guilds began to move. The first to react were the trio who had already bolted forward even before the guild officials started shouting. Needless to say, it was Junhyuk, Kurosawa Ren, and Meiran. Junhyuk, true to his class, Elemental Gladiator, shrouded himself in elements of various attributes, wielded a massive greatsword, and maximized his speed using lightning and wind attributes as he shot forward. Kurosawa Ren similarly rode the wind using his Storm Shadow class, then suddenly vanished, transforming into a shadow along with the wind, increasing his speed. Finally, Meiran. Befitting her class, ''Spear Sovereign of Dawn'', she grasped a spear of dawning light, like that which heralds the dawn, in mid-air, launched it, then rode upon it, cutting through the sky towards the Legion of Calamity. ¡°Wahahaha!!! Let''s compete!!!¡± The trio flew towards the Legion of Calamity. Especially the noisy Meiran. Seeing this, Seonghyun adjusted the stuffy mask. Seonghyun, wearing a black mask unlike before. The reason was simple. Unlike edited videos, real-time editing during a live broadcast wasn''t easy. Since it was a large-scale event, he would be exposed in front of many people. Therefore, following the opinions of Ahn Yoojin¡ªno, Rapid¡ªand his noona Yoo Mina, he covered his face. Apparently, it''s inconvenient if your face becomes well-known? ¡®It''s not wrong, though.¡¯ By now, didn''t Seonghyun understand the status of Eternal World at least a little? At first, he had wondered if people would really watch game videos that much, but because of him, the subscriber count had apparently increased to nearly a million. It was probably best to be careful. Anyway, this was what Seonghyun and Rapid had been preparing. None other than a live broadcast. -???????? What is this? -It''s the Demon King''s live!!!! -Did it finally start!? -Crazy!!!! What is that skill!? -This is that place, right? -Crazy! I''m in! The viewers who had purchased tickets and been watching the Rapid Guild live stream from the beginning couldn''t help but be surprised either. Because shortly after joining, they saw the black sun and the jet-black thorns. -??????? -Woah....... -This is one person''s skill??? -Insane.... While the viewers were exclaiming in admiration like that. They too could see the trio flying in. -Huh? That''s Junhyuk from Sick Brothers!? -Kurosawa Ren from Tempest Wing is there too!!! -Crazy! It''s Meiran!!! -Meiran!? Unlike the other two, Meiran, whose guild name wasn''t mentioned. It showed just how outstanding her reputation was. Although Seonghyun wasn''t looking at the chat window due to the Rapid Guild administrators managing it, his reaction wasn''t much different from theirs. ¡®So that''s her. The one they called Loudmouth Light-Lancer...¡¯ The Loudmouth Light-Lancer that Yoo Mina had told him about. At first, he had wondered what that meant, but¡ª ¡°Wahahahaha!!! O Light!!! O Spears!!! Descend!!! Wahahahaha!!! This will be a fun competition!!!¡± As Meiran shouted like that, he saw countless spears of light materialize around her. An attack with spears that looked quite powerful. Watching it, Seonghyun gave a slight nod. It was certainly quite a strong power. However. As she got closer, he felt the decibels naturally rising. He thought he understood why she was called loudmouth. Her loud and energetic appearance gave exactly that impression. He had wondered what it meant, but there couldn''t have been a more fitting expression. ¡®Loudmouth Light-Lancer.¡¯ Seonghyun mulled that over while observing the skills of the trio for the time being. First, Junhyuk, the Korean wielding the greatsword that used the power of various elements, stepped up. Using storm, lightning, and earth to envelop his greatsword, he fell from the sky and slammed the greatsword into the ground. Then, from the greatsword embedded in the earth, brown, silver, and yellow light spread in all directions as the ground split open, a storm raged within it, and the earth itself was lifted up. The storm raged along with the earth, sweeping the surroundings, and the remaining creatures were electrocuted by another power mixed in the storm¡ªlightning¡ªvanishing as if turned to ash. A considerable area-of-effect skill. However, it seemed lacking. ¡®Hmm, it''s a bit disappointing.¡¯ Although he combined them, and each attribute seemed to mesh together, in Seonghyun''s eyes, they looked like they were acting separately. A distinct difference from the build Seonghyun was currently using. Just as he was feeling a bit disappointed, another person emerged. Next to appear was Kurosawa Ren. Having hidden like a shadow within the wind and appeared amidst the Legion of Calamity, he fiercely swung the daggers held in both hands. A storm raged. Unlike Junhyuk''s storm, which was covered in silver, a dark, shadow-laden storm raged, slicing apart everything nearby. He focused purely on raw power, setting aside combinations. ¡®Ah, using it as a single skill... certainly.¡¯ Without combination, the power was lacking. The range was wide, but unlike Junhyuk, quite a few monsters were missed. Seonghyun hadn''t done much of this himself, but... for some reason? It was plainly visible to his eyes. Was it thanks to the memories and experiences of the ghosts who had lived in this game world for a long time? He knew that their methods of using skills were fundamentally flawed. Finally, the remaining Loudmouth Light-Lancer, no, Meiran. Flying on her spear of dawning light, she led the spears of light following in a line behind her back and spread her hands wide. Then, the spears behind her back flew out all at once, embedding themselves among the Legion of Calamity positioned on the ground, and Seonghyun quietly watched to see what would happen. ¡°Wahahaha!!! O Liiight!!!¡± Reacting to Meiran''s loud shout, the embedded spears of light began to respond. The spears trembled, emitting intense light in all directions. And finally, the spears erupted in radiance along with the light, transforming into pure light as if purifying the surroundings. Light exploded, and spears of light swept the area. Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga¡ª¡ª! After engulfing the surroundings, the explosion condensed back into light and was grasped in the hand of Meiran as she descended from the sky to the ground. At the same time, Meiran, holding the spear, landed not where the light spears had just swept, but in a different spot, and slammed the spear into the ground. Kwa-jijik¡ª¡ª! Beon-jjeo-eoeoeok¡ª¡ª! Light split the ground, and intense light burst forth from the fissures. ¡°Oho?¡± It was clearly a display of using two skills. A clean combination of the light spears and the explosion of light, followed by a subsequent combo of gathering the light again, descending, and dealing area damage. From what Seonghyun saw, it was flawless. Seonghyun wasn''t the only one thinking that. ¡°Ha, damn it. She keeps getting stronger. Isn''t that too much?¡± ¡°Chikusho, I thought I had caught up at least a little...¡± The two men, who had been earnestly getting stronger aiming to catch up to Meiran, also watched Meiran''s splendid achievement with gloomy expressions. That single blow had created two huge holes in the Legion of Calamity''s formation. As the two looked up at the sky with slightly despairing eyes. [Contribution Rank] [1st ¡ºSeonghyun¡» - 1,783 Points] [2nd ¡ºMeiran¡» - 1,264 Points] [3rd ¡ºJunhyuk¡» - 827 Points] [4th ¡ºKurosawa Ren¡» - 814 Points] The score difference between Meiran and Seonghyun had drastically decreased. And even if they doubled their own scores, they couldn''t even chase Seonghyun. Rather than despairing, they resolved to move diligently and secure 3rd place at least. Just as Junhyuk and Kurosawa Ren began moving desperately, starting their battle for 3rd place, Seonghyun also looked at the contribution ranking, a peculiar light in his eyes. Meiran looked at Seonghyun and simultaneously pointed at him with her index finger, shouting in her boisterous voice, ¡°Demon Kiiiiing!!! Did you see thaaaat! Wahahahahaha!!!¡± Was she showing off that she too had unleashed an AoE skill, as if responding to what Seonghyun had done? Seonghyun smiled faintly at the sight. It felt as if he had just received a challenge. Well, something like this wasn''t so bad. Thump¡ªthump! As the teal heart held in Seonghyun''s hand began to beat, the members of the Legion of Calamity that Junhyuk, Kurosawa Ren, and Meiran had just defeated revived. They revived as the Death Legion, emitting teal energy and shrouded in darkness. Upon reviving, they simultaneously generated a deep green mist. A virulent, poisonous green mist that melted everything it touched instantly. -Guwooooooo! -Kyaaaaaaaa! -Keooooooo! Roaring, the soulless Death Legion numbered over two hundred. Even Meiran couldn''t manage a laugh, staring blankly at the Death Legion that had appeared in an instant. While she was stunned, more of the Legion of Calamity, exceeding the number the trio had defeated, swarmed forward. But the Death Legion charged into the midst of the incoming Legion of Calamity, then began to sparkle as if igniting. The Legion of Calamity appeared to outnumber the charging Death Legion by at least several times. However, the Death Legion charged as if setting death itself ablaze. And at that moment, Seonghyun used his skills. As Venom Explosion and Undead Explosion occurred simultaneously due to the Ego of Darkness, intense heat radiated out, emitting a fierce light. A massive explosion mixing teal, deep green, and ash-gray engulfed the surroundings with tremendous heat. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª! And then the delayed blast wave struck the ground. Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga¡ª¡ª¡ª! -Wh-what the hell was that???? -A nuke went off?!?!? -Holy shit;;;; -No way, seriously....... -This is below level 120? -Not 220? As the viewers typed frantically in astonishment and the dust cloud from the explosion cleared, a rather large crater¡ªno, a pit large enough to be called a valley¡ªhad formed. And Meiran, before she knew it, looked up at the sky. [Contribution Rank] [1st ¡ºSeonghyun¡» - 10,029 Points] [2nd ¡ºMeiran¡» - 1,264 Points] [3rd ¡ºJunhyuk¡» - 827 Points] [4th ¡ºKurosawa Ren¡» - 814 Points] Faced with such an overwhelmingly dominant sight, Meiran couldn''t even let out her trademark hearty laugh. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 103 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 103 The violent explosion overturned the earth, carving out a huge crater like a valley. If this were reality, such a thing would be impossible with just an explosion, but this was a game world. Everyone was so stunned by the sheer power that they couldn''t even react. Not only the leading trio excluding Seonghyun, but also everyone who had been about to follow them onto the battlefield stopped in their tracks. It was a sight that left them speechless. Even the boisterous Meiran couldn''t laugh, so it was only natural that the others fell silent too. Even the gasps of admiration and shouts had died down. Everyone simply stared at the sky where the ranking was displayed like an electronic billboard, clicking their tongues in amazement. Seonghyun was surprised too. ¡®It¡¯s stronger than I thought?¡¯ Then again, he had never detonated this many Death Legion members at once with this combo before. It made sense he wouldn''t know. Should it be said that the Necromancer is a class that truly blossoms on the battlefield? Seonghyun looked down from the sky at the Legion of Calamity, a large portion of which had been wiped out, as if searching for something. ¡®By the way, where could the former Legion Commander be?¡¯ After scanning for a while, he spotted something in the distance. A being in the form of a skeletal knight. However, he also saw something strange. A faint, teal-colored figure sticking right next to the skeletal knight. Seeing that shape, so familiar to him his whole life, Seonghyun tilted his head. ¡®A ghost?¡¯ Why was there a ghost over there? 4. The ground trembled finely, and nearby stones rolled about. Cracks could be seen splitting parts of the earth, as if an earthquake had occurred. However, the skeletal knight standing upon that ground advanced, seemingly feeling no emotion whatsoever, clad in its sword and armor. -....... The fierce roar that once commanded its entire legion. The shrieking commands to carry out orders. The intelligent eyes that once surveyed the battlefield. All long lost. How long had it been? It didn''t know. It once roamed this place, sweeping through countless towns and cities. When finally nothing lived in the resulting wasteland, it had fallen asleep. But it had awakened again. The reason? Unknown. Its soul was already lost, its intellect gone. It simply woke up. So it would just kill every living being on this land. For what purpose? -....... Unknown. But one thing was certain. The reason for its awakening lay where the tremors originated on this land. Therefore, it raised its sword and issued a command to its soldiers. Soldiers whose light had faded, many of whom had disappeared long ago. Even if only a fraction of its soldiers remained. It was fine. If it killed everything, its own soldiers would increase. As the skeletal knight''s abyss-like eyes gleamed darkly, the teal-colored ghost beside it¡ªa form identical to the skeletal knight, visible in this world only to Seonghyun¡ªbowed its head low and muttered. -A new master has appeared... yet I show such disgrace. I wish my soul had truly vanished. It was shuddering at the embarrassing past its physical body was creating. -It seems Nocturnium is nearby too, huuuh. If I show my state to that petty fellow, I doubt I could maintain my sanity any longer. Please, someone stop me. 5. The Legion of Calamity. True to its name, it was a calamity itself. An endlessly swarming legion. Individually, they were insignificant, but when tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands gathered, they became a tidal wave that swept everything away. ''Many drops make a shower.'' Wasn''t that the phrase that best suited the situation? It was fortunate that the number of users was also considerable. Otherwise, the users would have been pushed back long ago. Of course, there was also the contribution of star players who were each worth a hundred¡ªno, over a thousand. Kurosawa Ren, wielding his blades like a storm and spreading shadows to engulf the Legion of Calamity. Junhyuk, handling various elements to launch wide-range attacks. And Meiran, manipulating spears of light, detonating light in all directions to sweep through the Legion of Calamity. Not to mention the Demon King, Seonghyun, who summoned beings from the Netherworld, leading another legion to dominate the battlefield. There was absolutely no sign of being pushed back. After the explosion combo, Seonghyun wasn''t using large area-of-effect skills. Yet, his rank remained astronomically high. [Contribution Rank] [1st ¡ºSeonghyun¡» - 69,415 Points] [2nd ¡ºMeiran¡» - 22,884 Points] [3rd ¡ºJunhyuk¡» - 17,827 Points] [4th ¡ºKurosawa Ren¡» - 17,614 Points] [5th ¡ºTrang¡» - 13,161 Points] ......(Omitted below) Even though he wasn''t using wide-area skills, the gap only continued to widen. There was a reason why the usually boisterous Meiran was quietly spamming skills without pause. There was no tension or anxiety on her face, but it wasn''t exactly a pleasant expression either. Within her expressionless face, a slight hint of anger could be read. For those who knew Meiran, it was a rather unfamiliar sight. She was always cheerful and boisterous. Even Junhyuk and Kurosawa Ren, who had known her for quite a while, were cautiously observing her, seeing this side for the first time. And to be fair. ¡®I¡¯m not confident I could even beat those summons the Demon King commands.¡¯ ¡®...Never mind those executive-looking ones, if even the small fry formed a team and came at us...¡¯ Both Junhyuk and Kurosawa Ren felt tense even facing Seonghyun''s summons. What if those summons were ranked individually? Both of them wouldn''t be 3rd or 4th; they''d likely be pushed out of the top 5 entirely. That thought alone was terrifying. Wasn''t Meiran likely thinking something similar? ¡®She¡¯s always been the best until now.¡¯ ¡®It makes sense her pride would be crushed.¡¯ That was their guess. But it wasn''t entirely correct. ¡®I can¡¯t even follow in his footsteps, can I?¡¯ The more she fought, the more she felt it. What if she charged at Seonghyun right now? 100 battles, 100 losses. No, even a thousand, ten thousand, she would lose every time. In the first place, it was highly likely she couldn''t even reach Seonghyun. Just breaking through those executive-looking summons seemed difficult. She might be able to roughly match the young man who controlled the surrounding earth to sweep the front lines, but beyond him, there was that summoner with the horrifying mole-like appearance, the slime-like woman who fought while freely changing her form, and the demon knight fighting with crimson blood. Against those three, she would likely be defeated without even landing a counterattack. She couldn''t handle even one of them. So, did she have confidence fighting Seonghyun one-on-one? Not at all. ¡®He¡¯s truly incredible.¡¯ While she had certainly grown up being coddled and praised within her guild, objectively speaking, Meiran''s talent was immense. Her Legendary Rank class was amazing, but her truly outstanding talent was her innate gift for wielding weapons and reading the flow of battle. That''s where her strength stemmed from. But right now, she could glimpse countless such talents not only in those summons before her but in Seonghyun himself. She could even vaguely see that they were all several steps above her. Seeing things she couldn''t even comprehend yet, it was only natural her words lessened and her expression stiffened. However, she wasn''t frustrated or angry. Quite the opposite. There was only one reason her expression was hardening. ¡®I have to capture even just one thing in my eyes.¡¯ With that thought, she tried her utmost to absorb everyone''s combat into her sight. Since Seonghyun hadn''t said anything specific, she desperately struggled to learn even one small thing. Amidst the battlefield where various thoughts, worries, and ideologies mixed, Seonghyun keenly observed the battle, assessing the overall situation. Fiora occasionally transformed into a small dragon, unleashing her breath weapon to sweep through enemies; Nocturnium summoned giant arms to devastate the surroundings and detonated its hands for wide-area attacks; Baltar spread crimson blood, slicing through everything; and Barpur, befitting the 1st Legion Commander, personally tore the Legion of Calamity apart while manipulating the undead to turn the tide of battle. Naturally, the viewers went wild. -Isn''t this completely different from the Anemor raid? -Is that really the same person???? -Crazy, seriously;;;; -I really can''t believe he''s in the same level range???? -All the people who backed Meiran, step forward;;;; -This isn''t even a game;;;; Well, since Seonghyun wasn''t looking at the chat window, opinions like that didn''t matter. In Seonghyun''s mind, there was only one thing: how to win this war. Baltar, Barpur, Fiora, and Nocturnium¡ªthe four of them were fighting hard, but they couldn''t handle the overwhelming absolute numbers. They weren''t being pushed back for the moment, but... "Hmm." Seen from the sky, the numerical disadvantage was clear. Watching the battle situation where the enemy numbers gradually increased, it was evident that if things continued like this, they would start getting pushed back soon. He had to find a solution. Should Seonghyun step forward and launch wide-area attacks here? ¡®No.¡¯ Wide-area attacks. He still had many left. Since he had been waiting, the cooldowns for his Explosion skills were already finished, and the same went for Falling Thorns of Obsidian and Black Sun. However, using these wouldn''t definitively turn the tide of battle. It could provide a temporary advantage. But exhausting most of his mana for that brief moment? That was a foolish choice. What was the very best option? Wasn''t it already decided? "All four of you, hold your positions here." -...Understood. -Kuhahaha! As expected of the Lord! This Baltar shall prepare the foothold for victory right here! -H-hyehhh! Understood....... P-please be careful. -1st Legion Commander Barpur! I shall receive your command-sir! Nocturnium, wanting to protect its Lord but reluctantly accepting the order; Baltar, laughing heartily, seemingly pleased with Seonghyun''s decisiveness; Fiora, accepting the order while expressing concern; and even Barpur, whose dialect slipped out in his nervousness while formally acknowledging the command. Seonghyun entrusted this location to the Legion Commanders and used his still-active flight skill to head towards the far end of the Legion of Calamity. As Seonghyun shot forward rapidly, the viewers couldn''t help but be surprised again. -Huh??????? -What the??????? -Heyyyy, where are you going????????? -Why is he leaving all his summons behind?????? -Is Necro a class that plays separately from its summons like that??????? -No way, right????? Naturally, this was Seonghyun''s broadcast. In other words, the camera inevitably moved as Seonghyun moved. [Rapid-Where are you going!?] Even Rapid, usually thorough about separating public and private matters, was surprised and sent an urgent message. However, Seonghyun replied as if it were no big deal. [Seonghyun-Have to go take out the enemy commander. There''s no chance of victory like this.] [Rapid-What???] [Seonghyun-If things keep going like this, most users will run out of mana or stamina and inevitably get pushed back.] It was sound reasoning. Rapid didn''t offer any counter-argument. And Seonghyun sent no further replies, simply flying straight ahead. How far did he fly? As he flew over the Legion of Calamity, flying undead occasionally attacked him. Banshees, translucent wraith-type undead, and Gargoyles, among other flying monsters, charged at him. ¡°Kyaaaaaa¡ª!¡± ¡°Kieeeeeeee!¡± While flying, Seonghyun simply clenched his hand, grasping a teal spear in the empty air, then threw it at a Banshee without hesitation. With his other hand, he summoned a Black Magic Shot and fired the projectile towards a Gargoyle. Shuuuuuuuuk¡ª¡ª! Shiiiiiiiik¡ª¡ª! The Wraith Spear cut through the air and accurately pierced the Banshee''s forehead, blowing its head apart. The Black Magic Shot embedded itself in the Gargoyle''s chest, and with a crunching sound, disintegrated the Gargoyle''s body into dust. The Banshee and Gargoyle scattered in mid-air. But how could those two be the end of it? Countless creatures charged towards Seonghyun, determined not to let him reach their master. Seeing them, Seonghyun extended his index finger. Then, from his fingertip, a single drop of dark red blood coalesced. Normally, crimson blood would flow, forming hundreds of Blood Swords, but this was different. From the incredibly dark red¡ªno, slightly purplish¡ªblood, hundreds of Blood Swords formed, gleaming ominously. Receiving Seonghyun''s command all at once, the Blood Swords extended towards the hundreds of Banshees and Gargoyles like loyal knights. As hundreds of Blood Swords embroidered dark red lines across the empty air, the Banshees and Gargoyles were simultaneously drenched in dark red blood as the swords exploded. Bang! P-p-p-p-bang! Bang! Bang! But that wasn''t the end. Infected by the Blood Poison, the Banshees and Gargoyles plummeted downwards, and where they crashed among the Legion of Calamity, another skill began to spread. Blood Plague. As all the undead in the vicinity were engulfed by the Blood Plague and the Blood Poison detonated, the ground soon became saturated with a mist of blood. The viewers were watching all of this, but for a moment, they forgot even to type in chat, simply staring blankly at the screen in awe. Because tens of thousands of monsters had been swept away in an instant. In such a situation, Seonghyun could rightfully have felt triumphant, but he didn''t. Acting nonchalantly, he calmly passed through the area and reached a certain spot. There stood one wearing worn-out armor and a helmet riddled with holes, holding a chipped sword. Yet, a skeletal knight who stood taller than any other. Seonghyun had come face-to-face with the master of the Legion of Calamity. And also. -Hoooo, to think I''d meet the successor like this... you foolish body, unable to even distinguish heaven from earth!!! The ghost of the skeletal knight was there too, berating its own body. Seeing this, the thought occurred that he might gain more from this than expected. And just then, a message appeared before Seonghyun''s eyes. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 104 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 104 [You have encountered a Remnant of the Past.] [You have encountered the knight who once protected the ¡ºOverlord¡» most closely, the King of all Death Knights, and the reliable 3rd Legion Commander of the past ¡ºOverlord¡». You have encountered ¡ºDoom Knight¡».] [¡ºDoom Knight¡» is currently adrift here as a Remnant.] [Having lost its soul, it is severely weakened.] [The ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» perceives you as an enemy.] [Defeat the ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡».] The Remnant of Doom Knight, and a ghost that seemed to be its soul. Seonghyun looked at the two side-by-side, then decided to ignore the ghost. In the tense atmosphere, stretched taut like a string, there was no time to worry about a ghost. Amidst the heavy atmosphere, the skeletal knight slowly drew its rusty sword, which was riddled with holes. Kkeu-geu-geuk-geuk¡ª! The grating sound of the unmaintained scabbard scraping against the sword pierced the ears. As the sword was drawn, the smell of rusted iron brushed past his nose. That unpleasant smell, like the tang of blood, caused the tension to boil over. Seonghyun mentally checked the cooldowns of his skills at that moment. Blood Poison and Blood Plague had about 3 minutes remaining on their cooldowns. His other skills? Ready to go. After quickly assessing, Seonghyun also drew his sword. Sereung¡ª¡ª! The sharp metallic sound of a well-maintained blade being drawn was heard. The skeletal knight eyed the sword warily and took a stance. Having recognized an enemy, what reason was there left to hesitate? As it took the first step with its gaunt, skeletal bones. Kwa-jijijijiji¡ª¡ª¡ª! Large spiderweb-like cracks bloomed outward from the skeletal knight, as if the surrounding ground was collapsing. Contradicting its heavy steps, it charged forward with speed that defied common sense. Kwa-reu-reu-reu-reung¡ª¡ª! Peo-eoeoeoeoeoeong¡ª¡ª! As it stepped forward, the ground opposite the planted foot bulged upward as if forming a small hill. Then, the air exploded as if a cannonball had detonated, tearing through it as the skeletal knight leaped forward. Charging like an arrow at incredible speed, the skeletal knight swung its sword towards Seonghyun. The sword strike, launched forward, swung horizontally, transforming into an attack of terrifying power meant to tear through any obstacle, unfolding towards Seonghyun. However, Seonghyun, having taken it all in, clearly identified the attack, used his footwork to slide forward, and leaned his upper body back, dodging the sword strike. The wind pressure from the sword''s trajectory grazed the tip of Seonghyun''s nose. Simultaneously, the metallic, blood-like smell of rusted iron arose. Seonghyun had dodged it by a hair''s breadth. But without any expression of tension or relief, he naturally extended his foot and gently placed it on the skeletal knight''s chest plate. The kick, boosted by the skeletal knight''s charging speed and Seonghyun''s own strength, slammed into its chest plate. Kwa-jiik¡ª¡ª¡ª! Peo-eoeoeong¡ª¡ª¡ª! An ominous sound of crushing bone echoed as the skeletal knight was thrown backward, slower than its charging speed. Had its ribs caved in? The sound definitely indicated a solid hit. One might even get their hopes up, but Seonghyun felt it hadn''t truly connected. The reason? ¡®One Strike didn¡¯t trigger.¡¯ The sound clearly announced a successful counter, but no message appeared. Moreover, the sensation in his foot felt faint. Sure enough, the skeletal knight, seeing Seonghyun''s foot, quickly recovered its sword, blocked with the flat of the blade, and after being kicked, was thrown far back. It righted itself in mid-air and executed a perfect landing. It slid across the ground, planting both feet firmly. Chwaaaaaaaa¡ª! Two long scars marked the ground where it slid. It showed it had been pushed back considerably, yet it was closer than in their initial standoff. Although the distance was now shorter than before, this range was advantageous for Seonghyun. Conversely, it was a disadvantageous range for the skeletal knight. Therefore, the skeletal knight tried to quickly move its feet. Confirming this, Seonghyun used a skill, a peculiar light in his eyes. The first skill to use was Spirit Spear. Grasping the empty air, a teal spear materialized and shot forward, creating a streak of teal light in the air. Shiiiiiiiik¡ª¡ª! The skeletal knight rotated its body to dodge the rapidly flying teal spear and managed to close the distance. It wasn''t as fast as its initial charge, but it was still fast. The skeletal knight quickly swung its sword, aiming to cut Seonghyun''s neck, but¡ª It saw the dark projectile materializing in Seonghyun''s other hand¡ªthe one that had held his sword while he summoned the teal spear. The skeletal knight urgently tried to retract its sword to block the projectile, but it was too late. The cannonball-like Black Magic Shot had already slammed into its abdomen. Giving up on defense, the skeletal knight swung its sword. An ultramarine sword aura, like fingernails grown for several years, shot out and tore through Seonghyun''s shoulder. Simultaneously, the Black Magic Shot embedded in the skeletal knight''s abdomen exploded. Chwaaaaak¡ª¡ª! Peo-eoeoeong¡ª¡ª! Blood spurted from Seonghyun''s shoulder, and the unpleasant smell of rusted iron mixed with the metallic tang of blood in the air, becoming even more foul. And the skeletal knight, hit directly in the abdomen by the Black Magic Shot, had bone dust raining down from it, suggesting it had taken considerable damage. Furthermore. [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» activates!] [Darkness damage is applied.] [The ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» is Undead.] [Vision and senses are not blocked by Darkness damage.] [Hit by Black Magic Shot. Healing and regeneration are impossible for 10 seconds.] The skeletal knight received various disadvantages. Seonghyun had also taken significant damage, but he paid it no mind, instead using another skill against the skeletal knight, which was now further away again. The skills that had momentarily stopped the Legion of Calamity. Ssssssssss¡ª¡ª! As the ominous, darkly burning sun appeared in the sky, it dyed everything in the vicinity with darkness. Simultaneously, everything stained by darkness sprouted black flames, burning the skeletal knight. Fwa-reu-reu-reu¡ª¡ª! A great conflagration burned the skeletal knight, but even amidst those black flames, it walked out proudly, the only thing shining white. However, that wasn''t the end. After conjuring the Black Sun, Seonghyun immediately used two skills through his Self in Darkness. One was Writhing Darkness, which made all darkness attribute attack skills guaranteed hits. And the other skill was. Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Black thorns materialized above the skeletal knight. Because the Black Sun had turned everything to darkness, the knight hadn''t noticed the precursor sign¡ªthe ground darkening. Seeing the black thorns appear above its head, the skeletal knight raised its sword to block, but all the black thorns pointed their tips towards it. It was already under the effect of the Black Magic Shot, blocking all healing and regeneration. It needed to dodge somehow, but due to the guaranteed hit effect, the black thorns rained down upon the skeletal knight all at once. Falling, the black thorns all impaled the skeletal knight. They pierced it pitifully. Many thorns went straight through it and embedded themselves in the ground, while countless others pinned it, rendering it immobile. However, the skeletal knight''s condition looked surprisingly decent. [Damage taken reduced by half due to Pierce Resistance.] It was a skeletal knight, left with only bones. Therefore, pierce resistance drastically reduced the damage. But that was fine. The black thorns absorbed the darkness from the ground as nourishment, drawing in the surrounding darkness. They even devoured the darkness of the Black Sun, using it as sustenance. Infused with the power of the fiercely burning black flames, the thorns grew intensely hot. And then, hundreds of black flowers bloomed profusely. Just moments ago, the area had been filled with the unpleasant smell of rusted iron and Seonghyun''s blood, but as the black flowers bloomed, a fragrant and alluring floral scent spread far and wide. And then, Seonghyun snapped his fingers. Tak! The black flowers shot out more thorns in all directions, then transformed the surrounding fragrance entirely into darkness, devouring everything the thorns touched. Kwa-deu-deu-deu-deu-deuk¡ª¡ª¡ª! As a sound like sharp objects tearing and grinding echoed out. [The ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» takes extreme damage.] [The ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» enters Phase 2.] Kwaaaaaaaa¡ª¡ª! Escaping from the darkness, the skeletal knight radiated an ominous, ultramarine aura. The surroundings were dyed not with darkness, but with this ultramarine energy. As the ominous ultramarine aura surged and soared towards the sky, it drove away the Black Sun. [¡ºBlack Sun¡» is extinguished due to the aura of the ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡».] Entering Phase 2 was good, but seeing its formidable appearance, Seonghyun felt this wouldn''t be easy and gripped his sword properly once more. Claaang! However, the Remnant of Doom Knight intercepted that attack as well, recovering its sword and using the flat of the blade as a shield to block, deliberately pushing itself backward. It used footwork, shattering the ground beneath it, then rigidly shot forward once more. As the charging Remnant of Doom Knight unleashed countless sword strikes, Seonghyun too drew endless, fluid sword strikes in the air, deflecting every single one. Clang! Cla-cla-cla-clang! Clang! As the darkness and the ultramarine aura clashed innumerable times, their straight and curved lines intertwined, marking the surroundings. Sword met sword, repelling each other, trying to devour one another. Kwa-reu-reu-reung¡ª¡ª! Seo-seo-seo-seo-seok¡ª¡ª! Chwaaaaaaak¡ª¡ª! Dozens of sword strikes, exchanged in less than a second, flew at each other without pause, lines of straight and curved light spreading out in all directions. One side was dyed an ominous ultramarine like the night sky, while the other was draped in black darkness. Each savagely sought to consume the other''s territory. As the territories clashed countless times, reaching a strange equilibrium, hands of death reached out from the ground towards the Remnant of Doom Knight. Countless beckoning hands of death, shimmering with teal energy and shrouded in darkness, sprang forth and grabbed the Remnant of Doom Knight''s ankles. Thwump! Because of that, the Remnant of Doom Knight faltered for a moment, and behind it, a creepy witch appeared, giggling as she gently placed her index finger to her lips. -Shhh. [Silenced by Monarch''s Gag Order for 5 seconds.] [The ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» partially resists.] [Duration reduced to 2 seconds.] As its skill was sealed and the ominous, night-sky-like ultramarine aura vanished, darkness swallowed the remaining space. [Using Swordsmanship Skill ¡ºDarkness¡».] [Due to the potent darkness, even Undead are encroached upon by darkness.] [Encroached by darkness, the vision of the ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» is blocked.] [Encroached by darkness, the hearing of the ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» is blocked.] [Encroached by darkness, the touch of the ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» is blocked.] [Encroached by darkness, the smell of the ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» is blocked.] [Encroached by darkness, the taste of the ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» is blocked.] [Encroached by darkness, all senses of the ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» are blocked.] [Duration lasts while the sword is imbued with darkness.] While its senses were momentarily blocked, Death Soldiers surged from the ground and enveloped the Remnant of Doom Knight. A deep green mist appeared along with a shimmering ignition light, causing a massive explosion. It created a black cloud shaped like a skull, devouring everything nearby. Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga¡ª¡ª¡ª! It was truly death itself. Even though it was just a screen they were watching, the viewers felt overwhelmed. They even felt the illusion that they might die if caught in that explosion. Was this the beckoning of the Grim Reaper? It created the illusion that death itself was palpably approaching. However, for some reason, Seonghyun did not relax his combat stance. Strangely so. As the viewers expressed their confusion, tilting their heads, something burst out, tearing through the brow of the skull-shaped black cloud. ¡°.......¡± Its tattered equipment had all melted onto its bones, and even the knight''s prized rusty, hole-ridden sword was broken, only half the blade remaining. Its very bones seemed to glow red hot, as if it had reached its melting point. Stepping forward, the being, looking like it was about to melt away at any moment, spoke. -I... shall... grant... de... struc... tion.... Kwaaaaaaaa¡ª¡ª! Simultaneously, an ominous ultramarine aura erupted. The knight shrouded itself in that aura, regaining the original form it wore in the distant past. An ultramarine sword and full-body armor. Its very bones were covered, strand by strand, with an aura like the embroidered night sky. Seeing this, Seonghyun prepared for battle. And someone quietly typed in chat. -Wow, he survived that. Along with the viewer''s chat message, system messages appeared before Seonghyun''s eyes. [The ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» takes extreme damage.] [The ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» enters Phase 3.] [The ¡ºRemnant of Doom Knight¡» regains a portion of its past power.] [Be careful.] [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 105 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 105 An opponent that even the system messages warned about. Seonghyun lowered his stance, gripping the sword whose darkness had now faded. He had landed a direct hit with a skill boasting overwhelming power. Twice, in fact. However, looking at the enemy, now much stronger than before, Seonghyun offered a wry smile behind his mask. ¡®This isn''t easy.¡¯ The powerful skill remaining for Seonghyun now was the Blood Poison combo. However, its power was somewhat lower than the two skills he had used previously. It was right to conclude that this swordsmanship skill wouldn''t be enough to break through the current situation. Before the creature could approach, Seonghyun mentally reviewed the skills he still had available. Unlike the composed Seonghyun... The viewers couldn''t hide their astonishment. - Can he even win this????? - Isn''t this way beyond the difficulty for levels 80-120????? - Wouldn''t this be impossible even if you tried to take it down in a raid? - Maybe if you threw like 30 people at it, something might happen? - Nahhhhh, if the Demon King had just brought his summons, it might have been doable? - Right, if he''d only brought those creatures that looked like his lieutenants, maybe it would have worked out somehow....... Simultaneously, sighs of regret erupted from everywhere. If only he had brought the summoned creatures that looked like his lieutenants, would Seonghyun have been cornered like this? No way. Each one of them displayed an aura that overwhelmed Meiran. Wouldn''t he have defeated it long ago? Since they knew the formidable power of his summons, the disappointment was inevitable. However, some viewers typed in the chat that this was actually better. - This is actually better!!! - No, it''s good because we get to see more of his true skill!!! - Didn''t he come here because he was confident????? - Whatever happens, isn''t it exciting!? - I''ve already gotten more than my money''s worth!!! - Agree. Honestly, it''s hard to find a broadcast of this quality these days. Regardless of whether Seonghyun won or lost, they were already satisfied. A broadcast of this quality wasn''t easy to come by. Especially at this level range. That was also why many guilds didn''t broadcast at lower levels. They weren''t very popular or profitable. There was no reason to do it. Since this was the most thrilling and highest-quality broadcast they had seen in recent times, people couldn''t help but be enthusiastic. Thanks to that, cheering him on felt rewarding. There hadn''t been a live broadcast this gripping, that kept them on the edge of their seats, recently. However, despite such cheers, Seonghyun couldn''t see them. ¡®It¡¯s coming.¡¯ Just as he finished calculating his remaining skills and how long it would take for their cooldowns to finish... The remnant of the Doom Knight began to close the distance, emitting an ominous, ultramarine aura. A violet tinge began to swirl within the dark red blood drop, and soon, the small droplet started to spin. Initially, it looked like a small water droplet rotating rapidly, but then it gradually swelled in size, becoming enormous. As it grew larger, possessing a suction power that pulled in everything around it, as if absorbing the nearby moisture¡ªno, blood¡ªit became a colossal blood-red storm ready to engulf everything, launching itself towards the charging remnant of the Doom Knight. However, the moment the Remnant of Doom Knight saw it, its ultramarine eyes flashed as it swung its sword. As the sword swung, the wind momentarily ceased, everything fell silent, and the storm was sliced into two halves. Slaaaash! It was an unbelievable sight. Even at a glance, it was a blood-red storm akin to a natural disaster. Yet, it had been cut down with a single sword. Faced with a scene that seemed straight out of a legend, the viewers couldn''t help but get excited. - Wha- What did I just see?! - He cut an AoE skill that big with a sword? - Seeing that aura-like thing on the sword for a moment, it looks like a skill, but isn''t that totally OP!? - Insane;;; Seonghyun, as if he had expected this all along, created the blood-red storm and then moved from his spot, getting out of the creature''s predicted charge path. Kra-koooom¡ª! Countless fragments scattered outwards as the remnant of the Doom Knight decimated the surroundings. However, Seonghyun was no longer there. A considerably large crater had formed. Ignoring it, the Remnant of Doom Knight turned towards the direction Seonghyun had moved, preparing to charge¡ª When a teal spear pierced through the dust cloud created by the remnant and flew towards it. The teal spear overflowed with an unstoppable energy. The Remnant of Doom Knight, realizing it couldn''t block it and that it was too late to dodge, allowed the spear to hit. Simultaneously, the Mark of Death emerged. A dark, murky hand appeared on the neck of the Remnant of Doom Knight. It hadn''t noticed before, but there were actually three other hands already present. Including the one that just appeared, there were now four hands in total. Unsure what they were, the Remnant of Doom Knight swung its sword as if annoyed by them. Fwhooosh¡ª! Bothered by the dust cloud, it swung its sword, and the wind pressure alone dispersed the thick dust. At the same moment, it reacted with astonishing speed to evade a black projectile that appeared. Kwagagagaga¡ª! The black projectile flew past, pulverizing everything in its path. Had it not dodged, it would have been quite dangerous. Just as it evaded the black projectile and was about to search for Seonghyun¡ª Seonghyun was already close enough that no searching was needed. No, more accurately, Seonghyun had already charged first, swinging his sword towards the Remnant of Doom Knight. The remnant immediately raised its shield to block. But in that instant, Seonghyun''s sword elegantly changed its trajectory, aiming to slash the remnant''s chest. Whoosh! The agile Remnant of Doom Knight leaned its body back on the spot to evade the attack. Seeing Seonghyun''s swung sword, it immediately countered, swinging its own blade, now wrapped in its ultramarine aura. Seonghyun, seeing this, pulled his left foot back, spinning around to retreat rapidly. As Seonghyun executed a picture-perfect evasion, using footwork to move backward, the Remnant of Doom Knight thrust its shield forward, intending to advance on him, but¡ª Seonghyun''s foot shot out towards that shield. Kwaaang! Chwaaaaaa! Struck by a more powerful kick than expected, the Remnant of Doom Knight was pushed back, carving two lines into the ground. Seizing the moment, Seonghyun charged forward. Wielding his sword fluidly, Seonghyun''s sword strikes were truly fierce. They were soft yet powerful, powerful yet flexible, whipping around from all directions. Faced with this flawless swordsmanship devoid of openings, the Remnant of Doom Knight held its own sword and steadfastly blocked each and every strike. It also used the shield in its other hand, nullifying all of Seonghyun''s attacks. However, because of this constant defense, the Remnant of Doom Knight had no opening to launch its own attacks. Occasionally, the remnant tried to attack using skills between exchanges. But Seonghyun pressured it by stealing those skills and turning them back against it. This forced the Remnant of Doom Knight, unable to mount any meaningful counterattack, to continuously block. An insane battle of techniques. And the tremendous swordsmanship skill backing it up. The viewers couldn''t hide their astonishment at the high-level combat. - Whoa, so even earlier, he wasn''t just relying on skills? - Those movements are impossible unless you actually practice swordsmanship, right? - He''s out of his mind. - Crazy;;;; - Just how skilled in real-life swordsmanship do you have to be to move like that? It was an incredible exchange of offense and defense. They couldn''t help but be mesmerized by the high-level swordsmanship. Generally, the swordsmanship of NPCs or monsters could be considered high-level. This was especially true for higher-ranked ones. Meaning, the swordsmanship possessed by the Remnant of Doom Knight, a major event boss, must be incredibly advanced. Yet, to think Seonghyun could face that swordsmanship directly without relying on skills... It was unbelievably skillful. As the Remnant of Doom Knight was blocking Seonghyun''s attack... Something teal pierced through above the shield and flew towards it. Seeing that Seonghyun had driven the Wraith of the Dead through from an angle hidden by the shield, the Remnant of Doom Knight tried to retreat quickly, but¡ª Seonghyun, sword in hand, moved like a hyena to block its escape route. Puuuk! As a result, the Remnant of Doom Knight was pierced by the Wraith of the Dead. Although it felt severe damage, this was actually its chance. Because Seonghyun was attacking and blocking its retreat simultaneously, an opening had appeared in his offense. If it could just endure this damage and act, it might seize the chance for victory. However, at that very moment, the Hands of Death increased to five, and the Remnant of Doom Knight saw something appear behind its back. It was Death. Is this what Death would look like if personified? Walking slowly, languidly swinging its arms as if bored and listless, Death swung a giant scythe¡ªwoven together from the five Hands¡ªtowards the Remnant of Doom Knight. Slaaaash! - Woah!!! I thought my own neck was being cut....... - M-me too. - Oof, isn''t that too scary? - This turned into horror;;;; While the viewers were freaking out, calling it scary... The one trembling the most, as if in utter fear, was none other than the Remnant of Doom Knight. The creature moved to forget the extreme damage it had just taken. It frantically swung its sword towards Seonghyun. However, when it tried to use skills, the larger movements allowed Seonghyun to astoundingly perceive them, evade, and counterattack again, forcing the Remnant of Doom Knight back onto the defensive. As the confrontation between the two continued, shortly after, the teal spear once again pierced towards the shield. The Remnant of Doom Knight threw away its shield and relied on its widened senses to dodge it. However, the black projectile that appeared right before it embedded itself in the Remnant of Doom Knight''s abdomen. Kwajiiik¡ª! The sound of its body shattering echoed as the ultramarine aura enveloping the Remnant of Doom Knight began to gradually crack apart. - Uh, there isn''t much left, right? - Crazy, wow, he''s actually taking this down? - Wow...... I''m speechless....... It was a situation where the viewers'' tension and focus had reached their peak. The battle flowed onward, and soon, the 3 minutes Seonghyun had mentioned passed. The clock hand moving above the Remnant of Doom Knight''s head reached the designated time. Then, the sound of a great chime echoed. Deeeeeng! Deeeeeng! Deeeeeng! The great bell tolled three times, like a summons for the dead. In that instant, cracks began to form all over the ultramarine aura covering the Remnant of Doom Knight. If it had possessed a physical body, it would surely have spewed blood from every orifice. In the moment the Remnant of Doom Knight was immobilized by the extreme damage... Seonghyun snapped his fingers. Snap¡ª! As the sound echoed... The Death Legion, which had surrounded the area before anyone realized, simultaneously rushed towards the Remnant of Doom Knight. In that instant, a thick green mist rose along with leaping, igniting flames. Just as Seonghyun, who had vanished from the spot through the shadows, reappeared far away... A fierce explosion engulfed the Remnant of Doom Knight, consuming the entire vicinity. As its burning form and the ultramarine aura shattered into pieces and scattered into the air... Numerous messages appeared before Seonghyun''s eyes. [You have cleared the second Main Quest, ¡ºInvasion of the Doom Knight¡».] [Main Quest rewards will be given.] [You have obtained ownership of the summon, ¡ºDoom Knight, Leonik Evoke¡».] [The summon, ¡ºDoom Knight, Leonik Evoke¡», will grow according to the Overlord''s level.] [The power of Helena left within ¡ºDoom Knight, Leonik Evoke¡» is fully transferred.] [The power of the past Overlord is inherited.] [You have inherited the power of the past.] [Rewards will be given.] [As a Main Quest reward, you have acquired the Class-Exclusive Almighty Rank Skill, ¡ºOrder of Ruin¡».] [As a Main Quest reward, the number of appointments for the Overlord Class-Exclusive Almighty Rank Skill, ¡ºDeath Legion Commander¡», increases.] - Ah, aaaah! Finally!!! Freedom!!! And amidst that explosion, he could even see a single soul rejoicing. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 106 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 106 0. As Seonghyun finished it with the explosion, it wasn''t just the ghost who expressed elation. Naturally, the viewers who had watched the entire thing also went wild. -Waaaaah! Crazy! Seriously crazy!!!! -Watched holding my breath, seriously. -Wow, that live stream was worth the money. -Isn''t it actually a bargain??? Seeing this kind of broadcast for this price;;; -Real talk lol, from now on, I''m subscribing to Rapid Guild and coming right away when the broadcast alert rings. -This is the way. -Please, if you''re Korean, subscribe to Rapid Guild. The viewers were in an uproar. It had been that satisfying of a live stream. Usually, after such a victory, it''s common to say something. A victory cry, a roar, a celebration. However, Seonghyun showed no such reaction. Just calmly. [Today''s broadcast ends here. Thank you for watching.] -???????? -??????? -?????? Really, this is the end? -???????? Ending the broadcast with such humble words? After showing such an incredible performance? Bearing the title of Demon King? The viewers lingered, thinking "no way." Soon, the message "Broadcast Ended" appeared, and the screen turned black. It indicated the broadcast had been turned off. Even though the broadcast was off, they could still remain in the chat window. The reactions afterward were even more intense. -???????????????????? -Lmao who ends a stream like this lololol. - the performance was amazing but the ending is like this????????. -Saying thanks for watching lol, we''re the ones honored. -Real talk lmao this is super fun. -It''s nice to see the humility. -Seriously, these days the world is full of cocky guys who aren''t even as good as the Demon King;;; -For real, I''m a fan now! -Demon King! Stream more often!!! While the viewers typed such chats and enjoyed themselves, there were those who looked upon the atmosphere with displeasure. This was mainly true for the high-ranking guilds competing with the Rapid Guild. Especially. Eclipse Order, ranked 4th among all guilds. ¡°Haaah. We won''t be able to chase them now.¡± ¡°We might just have to stay ranked 4th.¡± ¡°...It''s unfortunate how things turned out.¡± From this result, the executives of Eclipse Order could feel it. They had intended to somehow compete by establishing a two-pronged system with Meiran and their current ranker, Wade, but the opponent was simply on another level. The performance Seonghyun had shown was a feat equivalent to reserving a future spot among the single rankers. In comparison, Eclipse Order''s ranker, Wade, was merely ranked 15th, an ambiguous position. The Rapid Guild already had Yuna, ranked 9th among single rankers. If Seonghyun continued to rise at his current speed? ¡°We won''t even be able to approach the Rapid Guild.¡± ¡°There seems to be no way forward relying only on ourselves.¡± ¡°Haaah.¡± Most of the executives couldn''t help but be engulfed in despair. Of course, being ranked 4th overall was impressive, but with guilds below them gradually catching up, they had recruited the outstanding talent Meiran to somehow climb higher, yet it wasn''t easy. So, there was only one option left. ¡°We must accept Echo Willow''s proposal.¡± ¡°It seems that''s the only way.¡± ¡°Well, even if we follow them, there''s no direct loss for us.¡± The Eclipse Order executives smiled as they discussed this, mentioning Echo Willow, who still hadn''t shown up even as the large-scale event neared its end. 1. Seonghyun had ended the broadcast abruptly. Was there any other reason? It was to savor the sweet fruit of the main quest rewards. He had obtained skills and a new summon. He even gained an additional Legion Commander appointment. But what Seonghyun was most anticipating was something else entirely. Before Seonghyun, the skeletal knight knelt faithfully on one knee, offering a knight''s oath. And beside it, in the exact same posture, was a translucent teal ghost, its form looking slightly distorted, like corrupted pixels. The body and the ghost of Doom Knight, Leonik Evoke, were bowing their heads to Seonghyun together. ¡°.......¡± The skeletal knight seemed unable to speak, remaining silent. -For the new successor to possess such outstanding talent and skill... Is this not also a virtue of the former Lord? This knight is truly moved. The ghost was excessively talkative. It spoke articulately, like a noble, causing Seonghyun to nod awkwardly. It spoke with courtesy, similar to Nocturnium, but was the complete opposite of the taciturn Nocturnium. Well, he had heard it was an incredible soul. Seonghyun nodded and spoke. No, he tried to speak. ¡°Ahem, then, I shall receive the memories...¡± -Hmph! It pains me to inform you, but while it is indeed a monarch''s virtue to care for and look after their subjects, I humbly request that you consider the rank difference between a subordinate and the monarch and lower your speech accordingly. ¡°...I-I will do that.¡± He tried to say he understood, but... Seonghyun found himself unconsciously speaking a bit like someone in a historical drama. He wasn''t sure why. Anyway, as Seonghyun lowered his speech as requested, Leonik nodded as if satisfied. Regardless, it was now time to read the memories. His stats would surely rise, but Seonghyun was far more excited about the memories of swordsmanship. The swordsmanship Seonghyun currently used was Fluid Swordsmanship. Soft, flowing with the battle. It could be called a style more suited for defense than offense. But the swordsmanship he fought against when facing the Remnant of Doom Knight was a rigid, domineering style with a hegemonic disposition. ¡®Can I do that too?¡¯ With that thought, he reached out his hand. Teal energy flowed from Seonghyun''s grasp, warmly embracing Leonik''s form. Like waves, the tides of memory surged and washed over Seonghyun. It could have been a frightening sight, but Seonghyun, as if accustomed to it, accepted Leonik''s memories with anticipation. He could certainly perceive swordsmanship on a different dimension from the ones he had obtained before. He realized the Remnant of Doom Knight''s skill must have been incomplete as well. "Ah..." Should it be called the essence of swordsmanship? As he felt those things, a message appeared, one he hadn''t seen in a long time. [You have achieved something impossible at your current level using ''Unknown Power''.] [Strength +15, Agility +8 permanently increase.] The total stat increase was a whopping 23 points. When he absorbed Fiora''s memories, the total increase was 20. Compared to that, this was 3 points higher. ¡®Incredible.¡¯ From level 20 onwards, no matter how hard Seonghyun tried to read, there were memories and experiences he couldn''t access. Parts that were difficult to even glimpse. Still, should he consider it fortunate that he could read all the parts related to swordsmanship? ¡®I¡¯ve definitely gotten stronger.¡¯ He had obtained the Domineering Swordsmanship. But this wasn''t the end. Was it because he understood the very essence of swordsmanship itself? Or was it thanks to the Fluid Swordsmanship he already possessed? His Fluid Swordsmanship had also improved further. ¡®I might be able to fight using only swordsmanship now?¡¯ At this rate, with his existing swordsmanship effects being so good, he felt he might even reach a stage where he rarely needed to use magic. Now that he had absorbed the memories, wasn''t there something left to do? Seonghyun now naturally infused Leonik''s soul into the skeletal knight, which was still kneeling on one knee with its head bowed. Then, within the knight''s empty eye sockets, an ultramarine radiance burst forth, and it stared at Seonghyun with blazing eyes, as if in disbelief. -Ah, aaaah!!! But could this be the end? Seonghyun, as if it were only natural, this time used a skill, not his own inherent ability. As Seonghyun used that skill, a cluster of teal light poured down onto Leonik''s head, as if performing a baptism, and a brilliant singing sound could be heard from somewhere. The teal light descending from the sky enveloped Leonik, and soon, teal mixed with the ultramarine aura, creating a sight of two swirling auras. Furthermore, the form that was once a skeletal knight became shrouded in darkness, turning now from white bone to black bone. All its bones took on a hard, obsidian color, proudly absorbing the light. As it transformed into this heavy, solid form, a message appeared. [¡ºDoom Knight, Leonik Evoke¡» has been appointed as a Death Legion Commander.] [Becomes stronger and leads the Death Legion.] -Ahhh!!! To have committed such disrespect to the new master from the very beginning... Yet, for you to trust me so... Thank you!!! I!!! Leonik Evoke!!! Even if all my bones turn to dust and crumble, I pledge my lifelong loyalty to my master!!! Seonghyun nodded with satisfaction as he watched Leonik shout the resonant knight''s oath. He seemed extremely pleased. So much so that one could almost feel a grin on the skull''s head. Was he that happy to return to being a Legion Commander? Seonghyun couldn''t understand, but he accepted it and finally checked the new skill he had obtained. It was Almighty Rank this time too. What kind of skill would it be? ¡ºOrder of Ruin¡» ¡ú¡¶Almighty¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growing Type] [Passive Effect][Active] [Cooldown 24 hours] [Summon Duration 10 minutes] It is said that nothing can remain where the Order of Ruin moves. They are ruin, they are death, they take everything away. ¡úOverlord Exclusive Skill. ¡úSummons the Order of Ruin from the Demon World. ¡úUpon summoning, knights equal to 10% of the summoner''s level are summoned. During the duration, they move according to the Death Legion Commander''s orders. ¡úIf the Death Legion Commander''s Leadership is insufficient compared to the Order of Ruin, they will not obey orders. ¡®Hmm? Leadership?¡¯ The performance of an Almighty skill would undoubtedly be excellent. But Leadership? Was there such a stat? Feeling a bit puzzled, he first read the other effects. Knights summoned equal to 10% of the summoner''s level. The 10-minute duration was ample. The 24-hour cooldown was a bit restrictive, but he could likely use the Hourglass of Regression to use it multiple times, so he wasn''t particularly concerned. ¡®What does it mean if the Legion Commander¡¯s Leadership is insufficient?¡¯ Did it mean lower rank? He didn''t quite grasp it yet. Shouldn''t he just try summoning them? He had Leonik, who had just become a Legion Commander. Wouldn''t it be perfect for testing? Since Leonik was also a knight, maybe it would fit? As Seonghyun considered asking Leonik about it, Leonik beat him to it. -My Lord, might I perhaps request that you try using the newly acquired skill, Order of Ruin? ¡°Hmm?¡± Leonik had asked first, quite suddenly asking to be summoned. Could there be some connection? Seonghyun looked at Leonik curiously. Leonik explained with almost excessive politeness. -Actually, I had a small connection with them back when I served Lady Helena, so I have a small wish to see if the Order of Ruin still carries on its reputation. Also, since it will be my role to train and command the knights on the battlefield in the future, I thought it might be best for me to meet them beforehand. Also... ¡°Th-that''s enough. Alright. I''ll summon them.¡± -Ah! I know not how to express my gratitude for the Lord''s mercy, which is like the vast ocean! He could have just said thank you, but he spoke at length again. Seonghyun shook his head, looking fed up. Anyway, Seonghyun wanted to test it out too. Thus, as he used the new skill, Order of Ruin, the surrounding sky quickly darkened. Then, as if the Netherworld itself was opening, a teal portal mixed with black opened, and from it, the resonant neighing of horses echoed out. Hwiiiiiiing¡ª¡ª! Clip-clop! Clip-clop! Clip-clop! Clip-clop¡ª! Along with the neighing, the sound of warhorse hooves approaching in a group merged together. The reverberation gradually grew louder, making the nearby ground and air tremble. As an immense aura pressed down on everything, spreading in all directions, nine shadows shot out from the teal portal mixed with darkness like arrows. A knightly order, each riding a ghost horse wreathed in intensely burning black flames. Their number was merely nine, yet the presence each of them possessed seemed equivalent to hundreds. Seonghyun recalled when Balthar was first summoned. Individually, they might be weaker than Balthar, but the presence felt like just three of them together could easily overwhelm Balthar. The same applied to Leonik, who had just become a Legion Commander. Sure enough. ¡°Mere undead dared to think of commanding us?¡± The one standing at the very front of the Order of Ruin looked down on Leonik with contemptuous eyes. Knights of the Demon World, indeed. Their arrogance seemed to pierce the heavens. It seemed Leonik''s leadership ability was lacking. ¡®Should I seal the skill for now?¡¯ Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed they wouldn''t obey until Leonik subdued all nine of them. However, Leonik glared at them, his ultramarine eye-light flaring explosively. Ah, is he going to fight already? He just became a Legion Commander, but it seemed he truly was Helena''s former commander. His appearance was quite valiant. The demeanor he had shown so far was a bit talkative and fuddy-duddy-like, but Seonghyun, having read his memories, knew very well. He knew Leonik''s swordsmanship was undeniably top-tier. Just as he thought Leonik might overwhelm the Order of Ruin with pure swordsmanship alone¡ª -Hey!!! What''s your class number!!!!! ¡°......?¡± ¡°...Y-yes???¡± Seonghyun. The Order of Ruin. Everyone''s pupils trembled in bewilderment. And. -I asked what your class number is!!!!!! ¡°Ru-Ru! In! 1263rd! Class! Sir!¡± -Sound off properly!!!!!! ¡°Ru-Ruuuuu!!!!! Iiiiin!!!! One Thoooousand!!! Two Huuundred!!! Siiixty!!! Thiiiird!!! Class!!! Siiiiir!!!¡± -I''m Ruin 3rd Class. Heads down, nowwwwww!!! With the shout, numbers indicating their class year appeared above Leonik''s head and the heads of the Order of Ruin members. Spotting this, the faces of the Order of Ruin members turned deathly pale, and they shouted loudly. ¡°Ru-Ruuuuuiiiiin!!!¡± ¡°Ru-Ruuuuuiiiiin!!!¡± ¡°Ru-Ruuuuuiiiiin!!!¡± At Leonik''s command, the Order of Ruin members instantly dismounted from their ghost horses and slammed their heads to the ground. The so-called "Wonsan bombing" punishment posture. As Seonghyun stared blankly at the scene, Leonik spoke. -My Lord. May I conduct some brief training? Ahem, how have they been managing the juniors these days... honestly... ¡°.......¡± [The ¡ºOrder of Ruin¡» obeys ¡ºDeath Legion Commander - Doom Knight, Leonik Evoke¡».] It didn''t seem particularly necessary, but Seonghyun just nodded. -Thank you, my Lord!!! Now!!! You lot heard me!!! Your mental state is the first thing that needs... As Leonik began, Seonghyun moved a good distance away. It wasn''t that he particularly disliked hearing it. It definitely wasn''t because he couldn''t have imagined hearing that kind of talk even though he''d just recently finished his own military service. Definitely not. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 107 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 107 At that moment, Seonghyun moved some distance away. Then he casually glanced up at the sky. [When all members of the ¡ºLegion of Calamity¡» are defeated, the large-scale event ¡ºLegion of Calamity¡» will end.] ¡°Ah.¡± He realized he had forgotten about that. This isn''t the time to be standing around, he thought. He wondered if he could also test the Order of Ruin there. ¡°I need to go back.¡± As Seonghyun uttered those words. Leonik shouted. -We return to the battlefield!!! Simultaneously with Leonik''s shout, the Order of Ruin rose in unison and yelled. ¡°Ruuuuuuuuuu-iiiiiiiiin!!!¡± Excessively performing the response chant, the Order of Ruin mounted their ghost horses in unison. The sight was quite impressive, like a scene from a movie. However, amidst the action, only one knight stood there blankly. ''What''s this? Why isn''t he getting on?'' As Seonghyun looked at the knight, puzzled, he recognized him. It was the Knight of Ruin who had first spoken to Leonik. He wondered why the knight wasn''t mounting his ghost horse. Suddenly, Seonghyun noticed Leonik positioned among the other knights on their ghost horses. ¡°Ah.¡± As Seonghyun made a sound of understanding, Leonik looked at Seonghyun and said. -My Lord! Allow me to serve you! ¡°Uh, ye-yes. Alright.¡± As Seonghyun mounted the ghost horse with Leonik, Immediately turning the horse''s head, Leonik shouted. -Order of Ruin!!! Advance!!! Our target is the Legion of Calamity!!! ¡°Our target!!!! The Legion of Calamityyyy!!!¡± Responding loudly with the chant after Leonik''s lead call, the Knights of the Order of Ruin followed him at the vanguard, urging their ghost horses forward fiercely. Clip-clop! Clip-clop¡ª! The powerful sound of the ghost horses'' hooves dominated the surroundings as they charged forward. This speed was considerable, comparable to riding Anemor. It was much faster than Seonghyun''s own flight speed. Therefore, Seonghyun nodded, genuinely impressed. At this rate, it seemed they would arrive sooner than he thought. ''It won''t even take 3 minutes?'' He had worried that the summon duration might run out just from the travel time, but it seemed that wouldn''t be the case. Then, something suddenly occurred to him. He wondered how the Knight of Ruin without a ghost horse was getting here. He glanced back briefly. There, he could see a lone Knight of Ruin sprinting furiously. "Huff!!! Haaah!!! Heeek!!!" He momentarily saw the Knight of Ruin sprinting with all his might, his breath catching as if he were about to die any second, but Seonghyun quickly turned his head away. He felt sorry for the knight and wanted to tell him to ride behind someone else, but everyone was deliberately ignoring him. Why? Because he was the one who had been insolent to Leonik. ¡®If your seniority is low, it can''t be helped.¡¯ Feeling apologetic, Seonghyun kept his head turned forward and, like the other Knights of Ruin, forced himself to ignore the runner. "Keoook!!! Heoook!!!" He consciously tried to ignore the gasping sounds that kept coming from behind him. 2. The large-scale event. At this point, it was no different than a war. The number of players involved was immense, and the Legion of Calamity was equally enormous in number. The clash between the two forces was truly like something out of a movie. However, now that the battle had entered its much later stages, it felt less like a movie and more like reality. ¡°Aaargh!¡± ¡°Move the wounded!!!¡± ¡°What do you mean, move them?! Tell them to get forcibly logged out!¡± ¡°Damn it! More are coming!!!¡± A battlefield of utter confusion. The chaotic atmosphere, devoid of any sense, felt just like a real war. Such an atmosphere was fitting for what could only be called a war. And yet, even amidst such a war, there were those who shone brightly. Individuals who stood out to everyone, even in this panic-stricken place. Those deserving of being called heroes. Meiran of Eclipse Order, Kurosawa Ren of Tempest Wing, and Junhyuk of Sick Brothers. These three were such individuals. ¡°Follow Lady Meiran!!!¡± ¡°Secure the path Lord Ren cleared!!!¡± ¡°Lord Junhyuk is heading out!!!¡± The trio acted like vanguard commanders. The imposing presence of these three, seen as heroes, was considerable. However. In an area blanketed by a chilling silence, there was another legion trampling the Legion of Calamity underfoot. They were not heroes. They were a legion focused solely on achieving victory. Balthar, Fiora, Barpur, and even Nocturnium¡ªall four radiated the majesty of absolute beings reigning over this place, delivering death to all things. They tolerated no encroachment, trampling everything and dominating the area. To them, what was a fierce battlefield for others felt like merely swatting insects. As if this wasn''t even worthy of being called a battle. "L-let''s not go over there." "A-aren''t we going to die too?" "W-well, according to the Demon King''s live stream, th-that probably won''t happen, but......" No one dared voice the thought ''what if''. They knew the Demon King''s legion members each possessed reason. But no one knew how they would react if they overheard such words. Their assumptions were correct. The Death Legion had been listening to the surrounding chatter, but for the moment, they were overlooking it. They hadn''t received orders to deal with those players. However, the four executives among them were facing each other, talking amongst themselves. -Hmph, we''ve certainly caught a lot, but the atmosphere is peculiar. -H-hee hee. Th-there are arrogant humans here. -Ho ho ho, well now, this looks like a chance to offer some new things to the Master, eh? -...Do not act rashly. Everything proceeds according to the Lord''s will. He will arrive soon. At the words of Nocturnium, who had been surveying the surroundings, everyone halted for the time being. But suspicious movements were becoming apparent. They couldn''t help but be on edge. Was it because players were gossiping about Seonghyun or the Death Legion? They wouldn''t get so sensitive over something so trivial. There was something else. And Seonghyun''s subordinates weren''t the only ones sensing this atmosphere. ¡°Hmm, something¡¯s strange? The mood here is getting really weird.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve felt it too...¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. All the guilds seem off.¡± ¡°Wahaha. Exactly. Most guilds, including ours, seem to be hesitating, don¡¯t they?¡± Though Meiran spoke with a smile, her expression as she addressed Junhyuk and Kurosawa Ren grew considerably cold. It seemed some groups were plotting something secretly amongst themselves, keeping it hidden from the three of them. The thought was distinctly unpleasant, causing all three to frown slightly. And then, a fact came to mind. ¡°Come to think of it, Echo Willow, who said they would participate in the battle, hasn¡¯t shown even a trace, have they.¡± ¡°Wahahaha! I¡¯d like to say they tucked tail and ran.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s unlikely.¡± The so-called Karma Guilds, often known as villain guilds, mostly had their base of operations here in the Dune Wild Trail. There was no place more lawless than this. Wasn''t that why Echo Willow operated so openly here? Yet, until now, neither Echo Willow nor any other Karma Guild had shown even a hint of their presence. Crashing a festival-like event like this should have been their specialty. As all three reacted to the strangeness of the situation, Another dust cloud began to rise from the west, the direction the Legion of Calamity had swarmed from. It was evidence that something was approaching at high speed. However, far from being tense, Meiran laughed heartily and exclaimed. ¡°Wahahahaha!!! Looks like he¡¯s cooooming!¡± ¡°I peeked at the live stream; as expected, he¡¯s returning right away.¡± ¡°This won¡¯t be easy.¡± As the three spoke, they watched the dust cloud. They could see the figures of knights at the vanguard, and behind them, a single player riding towards them. The player who could be called the protagonist of this large-scale event. He was personally coming here. It was at that exact moment. [Ranker Meiran, do not act rashly. Return to the guild''s position.] "...???" Seeing the message from one of her guild''s executives, Meiran tilted her head in confusion. What is going on? Kurosawa Ren had a similar reaction. "...Perhaps you were also told to return to your guild, Meiran?" "...It seems something is definitely going on." Meiran, who had been laughing heartily just moments before, felt her expression freeze coldly, and Kurosawa Ren''s did the same. Junhyuk, on the other hand, spoke up. "I got a message too. It looks like both your guilds have teamed up with Echo Willow." At Junhyuk''s words, Meiran and Kurosawa Ren''s faces flushed red with shame. They had contracts with their guilds. They couldn''t refuse orders. But to think they had joined hands with Echo Willow... It was obvious what those villains intended to do. "Chiksho!" "It''s frustrating, but there''s nothing we can do. Even if he''s the Demon King, can he really face Echo Willow without anyone''s help?" Meiran''s concern was natural. The Demon King? He was incredible. But hadn''t he already defeated the event''s boss and achieved so much here? To have to face Echo Willow on top of all that? Could he actually win? It was only natural for such worries to surface. "Junhyuk, what about your side?" "Umm." At Meiran''s question, Junhyuk scratched his head, looking perplexed. "My guild seems to have put in an inquiry to the Rapid Guild..." "Ah, so support is coming?" "Ahem, support from Rapid would certainly be reassuring." Junhyuk gave an awkward smile at Meiran and Ren''s words. "Ah, no... there''s no support. They said the Demon King will handle it himself, so just leave him be?" "...???" "...???" ¡®Has the Rapid Guild abandoned the Demon King too?¡¯ ¡®Without support, even the Demon King would struggle against Echo Willow, wouldn''t he?¡¯ Lost in such thoughts, the trio watched the approaching Echo Willow forces, swallowing hard. Their numbers appeared to be well over several hundred. Isn''t this a number impossible for one person to handle? No matter how strong Seonghyun''s legion was, their mana wasn''t infinite. It seemed impossible for them to prevail. ¡®Did the Rapid Guild really abandon the Demon King?¡¯ Unable to comprehend the situation, all three stared blankly at the advancing guilds. 3. Seonghyun, who had always been quick to read the atmosphere, immediately sensed the strange mood. Using flight, he rose into the air from his position riding behind Leonik. He saw some players capturing Legion of Calamity members and pulling back to the rear, while the remaining players cleared out the last of the Calamity mobs and simultaneously moved to surround his position and the nearby Death Legion. It was a puzzling development, but he understood when he saw their nicknames glowing red and recognized their guild emblems. ¡®Echo Willow, was it?¡¯ He recognized them as the ones he had encountered before. They were gradually encircling Seonghyun, forming a tightening siege, while other players knowingly pulled back. Looks like they want to capture me, huh? As Seonghyun thought this, a message arrived from his guild. [Rapid - Looks like Echo Willow intends to get revenge. Need support?] Seonghyun smirked at Rapid''s slightly worried message. Roughly estimating, their numbers seemed close to a thousand. No ordinary player could possibly handle a 1 vs 1,000 fight. What about other Almighty rank classes? Under normal circumstances, they might stand a chance, but after a large-scale battle like this one? It would likely be too difficult. However, Seonghyun wasn''t just any Almighty rank class user; he was an Overlord, reigning at the very pinnacle among them. So, he wasn''t worried. [Seonghyun - No way. I''ll record this too.] After sending the simple reply, Seonghyun pressed the record button and stepped forward. From Echo Willow''s side, someone who appeared to be their representative also came forward. It seemed they intended to talk. Alright, let''s hear what they have to say. With that thought, Seonghyun moved forward. Their very first words were utter nonsense. "Surrender obediently and hand over all your items." It wasn''t even worth listening to. Seonghyun shook his head, amused, then snapped his fingers. -Order of Ruin!!!!!! Strike down those arrogant and insolent fools!!!!!! ¡°Raaaaaaaaaaa-uuuuuuuuuuuuin!!!!!!¡± Filled with sharp military discipline, the Order of Ruin charged forward. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 108 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 108 4. Echo Willow''s sudden assault. Amidst it all, they were carefully keeping some members of the Legion of Calamity alive, ensuring the event didn''t end prematurely. Simultaneously, they encircled Seonghyun. The onlookers couldn''t help but be astonished. "Huh???" "Wh-what the?!" "It''s Echo Willow!?" "Are other Karma Guilds here too!?!" "What in the world is going on!?" Where had they been hiding until now? The answer was obvious. They had waited for Seonghyun''s strength to wane before launching their attack. It was a petty and vicious tactic. An action befitting an alliance of Karma Guilds. Naturally, the right thing to do would be to help Seonghyun fend them off. However, no one stepped forward. Not only did Eclipse Order (Guild Rank 4th) and Tempest Wing (Guild Rank 8th) remain motionless, but even Sick Brothers (Guild Rank 12th) didn''t move. Actually, it wasn''t just inaction. "Wh-what? They''re clearing the way?" "What are Eclipse Order and Tempest Wing doing? They''re dodging aside as if they expected this?" "Sick Brothers resisted for a bit, but now they''re withdrawing like something happened???" "What is this situation!?" It was a scene no one could comprehend. Weren''t these the guilds that were always growling at each other here in the Dune Wild Trail? So why were they cooperating now? It only took a moment''s thought to understand. "Crazy... Are they joining hands with Echo Willow to take down the Demon King?" "Wow... So disappointing." "Does this make any sense?" "Justice has fallen." The surrounding players cursed those guilds. To join hands with guilds infamous for their evil deeds just to eliminate a rising star. It was an act devoid of honor or anything resembling it. They weren''t participating directly, perhaps. But how was this any different from what those Karma Guilds were doing? Sick Brothers had initially seemed ready to intervene. But ultimately, they pulled back. Everyone judged them to be in the same boat now. "W-won''t the Demon King do something?" "No way... He just fought the boss, and just maintaining his legion here must have left him almost out of mana, right?" "If anything, it''s amazing he''s lasted this long." "He probably didn''t level up either, so his mana likely hasn''t recovered." A few players voiced hopeful questions, just in case. But the majority were pessimistic. And understandably so. In fact, it was unbelievable that he had held out this long. But surely, it would be difficult to endure any further now. No matter how much of a rising star he was, he must have finally reached his limit. "Sh-shouldn''t we try to help?" "...B-but we''re exhausted too?" "E-even if we help, there''s no guarantee we can beat those guys who are completely fresh..." For the unaffiliated players to band together and fight now... They feared the formidable power of the Karma Guilds, spearheaded by Echo Willow. Furthermore, the fear of future repercussions was just as potent. That''s why they couldn''t step forward. It was a rational decision. When they saw the figure who appeared to be Echo Willow''s representative step forward and say something to Seonghyun, everyone assumed negotiations were about to begin. They thought any rational person would at least engage in talks. However. -Order of Ruin!!!!!! Strike down those arrogant and insolent fools!!!!!! ¡°Raaaaaaaaaaa-uuuuuuuuuuuuin!!!!!!¡± At a single gesture from Seonghyun, the Order of Ruin and the Death Legion moved. Seeing this, the onlookers couldn''t help but be astonished once more. "H-he''s actually fighting them?" "Isn''t it obvious he''ll lose?" "Wh-what the, Demon King?" "Is he saying he won''t yield even if he loses!?" To choose combat when defeat seemed so certain to any observer. It was not an easy choice. But it looked far too reckless. He could have just negotiated reasonably. While they couldn''t quite understand it, perhaps because of that... "That''s cool." "Is he saying he won''t even exchange words with Karma Guilds?" "Heh, I should have known from those ''true education'' videos." "Wow, his will is incredible even when losing seems certain." It was indeed impressive. His determination to fight even if he lost was certainly praiseworthy. Challenging something everyone believed impossible. That was never an easy thing to do. As the two forces began to move, The Echo Willow side couldn''t help but be somewhat surprised as well. They had expected him, just as the onlookers thought, to agree to negotiations or at least suggest some kind of compromise. But he hadn''t. ''What is this?'' Blacklash, affiliated with Echo Willow, couldn''t comprehend Seonghyun''s decision. To confront enemies of this scale right after such an intense battle? It was utterly foolish. ¡®Or had all the hype surrounding him gone to his head?¡¯ Demon King? He acknowledged that Seonghyun was strong. But if he had to face enemies of this scale after that battle. To act so foolishly when defeat was certain. ''I''ll have to teach him a lesson.'' ¡°Prepare for battle!!!¡± At Blacklash''s shout, the Karma Guilds, led by Echo Willow, all began their preparations. The majority were high-level villains, mostly over level 110. No matter how strong the Demon King was, this was a force he couldn''t possibly handle in his current, exhausted state. Everyone thought so. Wasn''t it simple logic? ¡°We hold our ground!!! When he runs out of mana and can''t maintain those summons, we strike!!! Until then, we aim for the Demon King himself!!!¡± Having been thoroughly briefed beforehand, everyone understood the plan and focused on defense. They concentrated their defensive formation particularly against the Death Legion. But even that was not enough. Because the Death Legion had its four executives. Kwa-gaaaaaaaang¡ª! Peo-ooooooong¡ª! Seo-geoook¡ª! Kwa-jijijik¡ª! Led by Nocturnium, Legion Commander Barpur, Balthar, and Fiora unleashed their full power, shattering the formation and slaughtering the defenders. However, their firepower was clearly weaker compared to when they were initially dealing with the Legion of Calamity. Just as predicted, the players¡¯ forces thoroughly blocked their advance. Up to this point, everything was going as expected. -Ruin!!! ¡°Ruuuuuuuuuuuin!!!¡± But there was an unforeseen variable. That knightly order, roaming freely across the battlefield, utilizing their ghost horses'' mobility and showcasing the prowess of true knights. They alone were quite formidable. If Blacklash hadn''t brought additional forces just in case, the situation could have become dangerous. ''As expected, he''s not to be underestimated.'' Blacklash nodded, acknowledging Seonghyun¡¯s capability. But even that had to have its limits. While attention was focused on those large-scale forces, Blacklash led his elite team and charged towards Seonghyun. A Necromancer being on the very front line like this was an error in itself. Blacklash gripped his sword and dashed forward. They believed his swordsmanship was impressive, but he wouldn''t be able to handle all of them at once. Ten elite melee classes charged Seonghyun, the Necromancer. Pride? They had discarded such things long ago when they joined the Karma Guilds. When hunting powerful rising stars like this, casting aside all pride was the correct approach. All of them rushed towards Seonghyun together. They had already familiarized themselves with Seonghyun''s swordsmanship. Through the recent live broadcast. It was fluid and defensive, yes, but surely it couldn''t handle all of them. Blacklash believed this without a doubt. However. Shhhring. "...Huh?" Blacklash noticed that after drawing his sword and settling into a stance, Seonghyun''s entire demeanor had changed completely. But they had already been charging for too long. There was no stopping and retreating now. He resolved to press the attack. Blacklash, leading the charge, swung his sword first. He definitely swung before Seonghyun, yet somehow, Seonghyun''s sword appeared before Blacklash''s blade. Kwaaaaaang¡ª! With a sound like an exploding shell, Blacklash''s body was flung backward even faster than he had charged forward. For a moment, the ten elites, having lost their leader, faltered. Seonghyun''s sword began to sway. At first, it moved like scattered petals, drawing graceful curves. Then, in an instant, the curving sword path straightened, lashing out towards an opponent in a flash. "...!!!" Unable to react properly, the target merely tried to raise his sword to block. But it was already too late. By the time his sword was raised, Seonghyun''s blade had already swept past him. Seeing his health drain instantaneously from the immense attack power, a chill ran down his spine. "Crazy!!! Wh-what is this damage...!!!" He couldn''t help but be aghast as a single blow instantly wiped out 25% of his health. They weren''t fighting a swordsmanship-focused class; they were fighting a Necromancer. To possess such mana and magic power, and yet also have outstanding strength and agility? It was impossible. As if unable to believe it, the remaining elites charged Seonghyun despite their leader being down. Seonghyun threw a teal spear with his empty hand while simultaneously firing black shells, engaging them. All the while, his continuously moving, domineering swordsmanship parried every incoming strike, distributing his own blows evenly among them. Blacklash, who had been knocked away at the initial charge, regained his senses. Seeing the current situation, he swallowed hard in disbelief. ''Th-this..., what is this...'' Of the ten elites who had initially charged, only seven remained by the time Blacklash recovered and rejoined the fray. Three had died in that brief moment. ''How can this be a black mage type class?'' ''Isn''t he actually a swordsman?'' As that thought crossed his mind, Blacklash turned his head. He saw the rest of his forces being slaughtered by the Order of Ruin and the Death Legion. ''Is this really happening?'' Faced with such an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation, Blacklash''s judgment momentarily faltered. Meanwhile, Seonghyun weaved between Blacklash and the elites, employing footwork, moving freely, and smiling as if genuinely enjoying himself. To think swordsmanship could be used so diversely. After reading Leonik''s memories, his swordsmanship had become much more varied and powerful. ''This is more useful than I thought?'' Seonghyun smiled as he watched a spear thrusting straight towards him, flanked by two swordsmen swinging their blades. Casually batting aside the incoming spear with his empty hand, he pulled one foot back, preparing to spin. Then, rotating his body, he swung simultaneously from the shoulder through the elbow. Adding the body''s rotation, a formidable horizontal slash unfolded, cutting down the two swordsmen at the waist. Seonghyun had definitely swung his sword slightly later. Yet, his blade reached them before theirs did. Seeing Seonghyun''s bizarre level of skill, the enemies'' eyes began to waver noticeably. "M-monster..." "N-not human..." "C-can''t win." Watching them tremble in fear like those facing an irresistible enemy, Seonghyun found it rather anticlimactic and swung his sword at them repeatedly. The seven elites remaining after Blacklash had rejoined dwindled further, until only three were left. It was an unbelievable sight. Watching it unfold, Blacklash trembled like an aspen leaf. He had thought they would win if they just held out a little longer. It was a miscalculation. They were the foolish ones. Slice! Blacklash''s thoughts ended there. As the heads of Echo Willow''s elites were severed in an instant. Seeing the elites disappear, the members of the Karma Guild coalition started sneakily gauging the situation and began to flee. "Run!!!" "We can''t win!!!" "Fuck!!! Where''s Echo Willow''s arrogance now!?!" "Just get out!!!" And just like that, the nearly thousand villains scattered and withdrew. To be honest, Seonghyun was also exhausted to his limit. If they had attacked him with full determination, the outcome might have been different. But since they ran away on their own accord... Seonghyun grinned. As the Karma Guild coalition disintegrated, "Crazy." "E-Echo Willow is being pushed back?" "No, their elites swarmed him, but what''s with him overwhelming them with swordsmanship!?" "Cr-crazy, is this real?" "Th-they aren''t weaklings, right?" "That''s Echo Willow!!!" "How did he even win that?" The countless people who had watched could only stare, dumbfounded. The outcome they thought absolutely impossible had happened. Seonghyun had won. And as the remnants of the Legion of Calamity, which the Karma Guild coalition had been holding captive, were dealt with, The postponed message finally appeared. [The large-scale event ¡ºLegion of Calamity¡» will now end.] [Contribution Ranking] [1st ¡ºSeonghyun¡» - 839,194 Points] [2nd ¡ºMeiran¡» - 172,364 Points] [3rd ¡ºJunhyuk¡» - 122,219 Points] [4th ¡ºKurosawa Ren¡» - 113,953 Points] [5th ¡ºTrang¡» - 93,161 Points] ...... (Omitted) [Total Contribution Points - 1,500,000 Points] [Calculating rewards.] [Please wait a moment.] The event had finally concluded. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 109 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 109 As the final scores were revealed, Coupled with the incident at the very end, the crowd''s uproar grew even louder. The treacherous actions of Echo Willow and the other Karma Guilds. And Seonghyun, who resolved it all. There was truly so much to talk about. So, the commotion was understandable. After all, Seonghyun had been the protagonist of the event. ¡°The Demon King is insane???¡± ¡°Wow, how did he crush the guild coalition alone???¡± ¡°Well, most of them ran away, but it''s true he took down those elites by himself!!!¡± ¡°And why is his swordsmanship so good too???¡± ¡°Whoa!!!! Seriously amazing!!!¡± Everyone was busy showering praise on Seonghyun, the so-called Demon King. Given the performance he''d put on in just a single day. It was well-deserved. Of course, that wasn''t the only thing they talked about. Because there was something just as shocking as Seonghyun¡¯s feat. ¡°Those guys, the major guilds, joined hands with the Karma Guilds?!¡± ¡°What a disgrace, truly shameful.¡± ¡°Do they have no honor?¡± ¡°I mean, trying to keep another guild''s strong rookie in check is one thing, but joining hands with Karma Guilds goes beyond petty; it''s downright vile.¡± ¡°Seriously. Honestly, it makes you wonder if this is right.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really disappointed in Eclipse Order.¡± Everyone collectively voiced their criticism of the major guilds. They, who should have clearly been the main players after Seonghyun, instead received no praise. Instead, they were inundated with criticism. Given the circumstances. Most of the implicated guilds had no choice but to leave due to the onlookers'' stares. They couldn''t say anything more here. Even if they did, it would only further tarnish their honor. If they had succeeded, it might have been different, but not only was their vile plan exposed, they also failed. They couldn''t even step forward to say anything in their defense. It would have been better if they had at least refused the proposal back then. But they hadn''t even done that. ¡®I never thought they would fail.¡¯ ¡®If they had succeeded, we could have just made the excuse that we didn''t join in because we lacked the resources.¡¯ ¡®Our judgment was clouded by impatience.¡¯ Although the core members of several large guilds felt regret, it was already too late. Above all else. ¡°I can''t even manage a smile.¡± ¡°Same here.¡± The disappointment experienced by Meiran of Eclipse Order and Kurosawa Ren of Tempest Wing, who could be considered the central figures in joining hands with the Karma Guilds, was immense. ¡°And here I thought we were guilds with some sense of justice......¡± ¡°While taking action for potential gain might be understandable, joining hands with them... that truly went too far.¡± ¡°......That''s true.¡± ¡°Operating in the Dune Wild Trail and joining hands with those guys... it makes you practically no different from a Karma Guild.¡± Meiran''s words were clearly criticism, but no one could refute them. Because she wasn''t wrong. It was one of the most taboo things to do in the Dune Wild Trail. Fortunately, Sick Brothers had quickly assessed the situation and informed the Rapid Guild, so among the trio, only Junhyuk wasn''t in a state of disappointment. ¡°Junhyuk might be fine, but how about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not feeling great.¡± Kurosawa Ren scowled deeply at Meiran''s words. Was it because of those words? The two couldn''t help but be engulfed in deep thought. After some time, the two, lost in thought, and Junhyuk, standing awkwardly between them, gradually separated and returned to their respective guilds. Meanwhile, Seonghyun, who had stormed through the event, was utterly drained. He kept only Nocturnium, Fiora, Balthar, and the newly joined Leonik summoned, sending all the others back to the Dark Fortress of the Netherworld. Not only did he lack the mana to maintain them any longer, but Seonghyun himself was exhausted to his limit. He only kept out the four who could apparently be summoned without consuming mana. It had been incredibly close. ¡®I almost lost.¡¯ If Echo Willow and the Karma Guild coalition had held their ground, Seonghyun would have been the one to lose. There was a reason he defeated the elites using only swordsmanship, avoiding his other skills. While wanting to fully savor Leonik''s swordsmanship was a top priority, he simply didn''t have the capacity for anything else. It couldn''t be helped. Was it Seonghyun''s own grand bluff? Moreover, while fighting the elites, the Order of Ruin had also disappeared as their duration expired. ¡®It was a desperate situation.¡¯ Anyone who thought about it even a little would have realized that Seonghyun was also pushing himself unreasonably hard. But no one noticed. Was it thanks to his intimidating presence? Perhaps it was because his appearance befitted the title ''Demon King''. ¡®I wish I had better mana recovery abilities.¡¯ Although Seonghyun''s base mana recovery rate was exceptionally high, in a battlefield of this scale, the consumption was unavoidable. Still, he wished he had a skill that could supplement his mana recovery somewhat. ''After receiving the rewards this time and leveling up, should I check the Tome of the Overlord?'' Since there was also the Legendary reward for achieving 1st place. ''With all that combined, wouldn''t something new possibly emerge?'' As Seonghyun held onto that hope, the awaited messages appeared in the sky. [Thank you for waiting.] [Calculation is complete.] [Rewards will now be distributed.] The messages floated up, and countless level-up indicators erupted over Seonghyun''s body. Simultaneously, long lines of text appeared, dazzling Seonghyun''s eyes. [You have perfectly defended against the Legion of Calamity.] [You have single-handedly defeated more than half of the Legion of Calamity.] [Your renown spreads widely throughout Eternal World.] [As a clear reward, you have acquired the title, ¡ºHero of the Battlefield¡».] [You are the first in Eternal World''s history to single-handedly defeat more than half of the enemy forces.] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºLord of the Battlefield¡».] [As the reward for 1st place in contribution points, you have acquired Legendary items, Random Box ¡Á3.] [You acquire the massive amount of experience accumulated thus far!] [Level Up!] x21 [You have reached Level 116.] [Almighty Rank Skill, ¡ºSummon Demon Knight¡», is activated.] [The Tome of the Overlord is activated.] [Almighty Rank Skill, ¡ºDeath Legion Commander¡», is activated.] [You can now raise the corpse of the Raid Boss ¡ºAnemor, Guardian of the Wind¡», stored in the Netherworld, as part of the Death Legion.] [Having reached a Level 10 milestone, the Almighty Rank Item, ¡ºTome of the Overlord¡», is activated.] [Having reached a Level 10 milestone, the Almighty Rank Item, ¡ºTome of the Overlord¡», is activated.] [Having reached Level 100, a new skill for the Overlord class is unlocked.] [You acquire the Almighty Rank Skill, ¡ºSovereign of Abyssal Fear¡».] [Having reached Level 110, a new skill for the Overlord class is unlocked.] [You acquire the Legendary Rank Skill, ¡ºBlack Sun : Heart¡».] ¡°Oh!?¡± Astounding rewards. Not only did he gain 21 levels at once, but he also received three Legendary Rank Random Boxes. Thanks to the excessive level gain, several skills were activated. Summon Demon Knight and Death Legion Commander were now active. Being able to raise Anemor''s corpse was an added bonus. Furthermore, gaining 21 levels meant he could now use the Tome of the Overlord twice. And it didn''t end there; there were also two new Overlord-exclusive skills. One of them was even an Almighty Rank skill. A skill whose name alone sounded extraordinary. Seonghyun smiled, his eyes full of anticipation. ¡®Let¡¯s check the skills first.¡¯ Although there was much more to do now. Following his usual habit, Seonghyun decided to check the skills first, starting with the lower-ranked Legendary skill out of the two new ones. The skill''s name was Black Sun: Heart. He got a feeling just by looking at it. ¡®A linked skill?¡¯ It definitely seemed like one, but just in case it wasn''t, he mentally prepared himself slightly and opened the skill window. ¡ºBlack Sun: Heart¡» ¡ú ¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú [Lv Max] [Complete Type] [Sustained Effect] [Active] [Cooldown: 30 minutes] The darkness and black flames swallowed by the Black Sun shall greet their master and annihilate enemies. ¡ú Overlord Exclusive Skill. ¡ú Linked skill for Black Sun. ¡ú Cannot be used without Black Sun. ¡ú Raises objects and shadows imbued with darkness and black flames, turning them into Soldiers of the Black Sun to fight. ¡ú Soldiers of the Black Sun receive double the effects of Black Sun. As expected, it was a linked skill. It was more of a summoning-type skill than an attack skill. Creating Soldiers of the Black Sun to fight, huh. A new darkness-based skill build has been added. Then, Seonghyun tilted his head curiously. ¡®Would the sure-hit effect of Writhing Darkness apply to this?¡¯ Since it''s a skill that summons darkness-attribute soldiers, it should count as a darkness-attribute skill, right? If the sure-hit effect applies to them, would they become soldiers whose every attack is unblockable, or would it result in a scene where they all just swarm the enemy? He was quite curious. ¡®That sounds interesting. Shall I check the next skill then?¡¯ Deciding to definitely test it out later, Seonghyun looked for the next skill window. A skill with a brutal name right from the start. Sovereign of Abyssal Fear. He opened its skill window. ¡ºSovereign of Abyssal Fear¡» ¡ú ¡¶Almighty¡· ¡ú [Lv 1] [Growth Type] [Instant Effect] [Active] [Cooldown: 20 minutes] The fear lurking in the abyss shall descend upon the land and envelop all. Those who taste that fear shall worship him. ¡ú Overlord Exclusive Skill. ¡ú Designate targets using Sovereign of Abyssal Fear. ¡ú If a designated target is engulfed in Fear, absorb their Health and Mana. ¡ú The number of designatable targets increases as the skill level rises. ¡°Oh!?!¡± Seonghyun''s resolve to check it calmly shattered. A skill potent enough to make even the always composed Seonghyun overly excited. Its performance was one thing, but its effect was exactly one of the skills Seonghyun had truly desired. A drain-type skill. It was on a different level from skills that merely drained Health; this one absorbed both Health and Mana simultaneously. For the skill Seonghyun had wanted so badly to appear just at the right time. ¡®This is crazy.¡¯ With this, it might be better to acquire additional build-up skills from the Tome of the Overlord. Or perhaps getting a utility skill would be fine too. Since there are also the Random Boxes. He could decide after seeing what comes out of those. Seonghyun fell into a happy dilemma with his expanded options. While he was pondering like this, he considered raising Anemor''s corpse next. ¡®If I grant it the Legion Commander title and use Transcended Death, it should become strong, right?¡¯ With that thought, Seonghyun immediately moved to take out Anemor''s corpse. Then, he suddenly recalled the time he made Barpur a Legion Commander. ¡®Wait a minute?¡¯ According to the message he saw back then, wasn''t it impossible to summon a Death Legion Commander via Add More? Isn''t there perhaps a better method than raising it as a Death Legion Commander then using Transcended Death? For instance, maybe transcending the corpse first, then raising it into the Death Legion? Transcended Death is a skill that can transcend the bodies of undead who have reached their growth limit. However, it can also be used on corpses that are at the very limit of what Seonghyun can raise. Wasn''t the demonic beast Barpur a prime example of that? After organizing his thoughts step by step, Seonghyun smiled. ¡®Looks like I need to pay attention to the order?¡¯ Perhaps this might be a chance to pull a fast one with Add More. Since it might not work, ¡®Let''s check the other rewards first for now.¡¯ [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 110 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 110 0. For barely a full day. No, perhaps a bit longer if you include giving up their weekend, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong and Associate Oh Jinhyeok had pulled an all-nighter. The two returned to their usual seats, looking utterly exhausted. Honestly, it had been a sudden event. They seriously thought they might die. Anyone seeing the dark circles beneath their eyes would likely feel pity. But no one welcomed the two back to the User Management Team, a place that felt like their hometown. Well, it couldn''t be helped. "Wh-what else could he have possibly gained this time?" How many users would grow stronger from the event rewards? This event, after all, had been launched by Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, not Seonghyun. They could only receive resentful glares. Perhaps sensing those glares? "...How would I know." While Associate Jinhyeok trembled, practically shaking with fear, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong offered no real reply. He was more concerned about the inevitable fallout that was sure to follow. Naturally, Seonghyun had taken 1st place in this event. And he had leveled up a staggering 21 times. It wouldn''t be strange if he gained even more. Skills and items activated from surpassing Level 100. Three Legendary Boxes received as event rewards. On top of that, two new skills gained from leveling up. Just a moment''s thought brought this many rewards to mind. But was this really the end of it? ''Hmm...'' Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, having already suffered greatly because of Seonghyun before. Was certainly not letting his guard down. If anything, there would be more. Not less. Hadn''t he already witnessed enough of Seonghyun''s underlying potential? The ending was a bit disappointing, though. ''Echo Willow, those guys with no grit...'' Villains were inevitably a headache from the User Management Team''s perspective. But this instance was particularly so. Just seeing them retreat without any perseverance was incredibly infuriating. If they had just pushed harder. Even someone like Seonghyun would surely have lost. "Ahem." Still, perhaps cheering for the villains was going a bit too far. Regardless. Considering the rewards Seonghyun was about to receive. He was confident he wouldn''t be surprised, no matter what Seonghyun did next. There were now extremely few who could stop Seonghyun among those at the same level. It was disappointing, but it couldn''t be helped. Still, if there was one consolation. ¡®His growth rate has been insane lately, but that should finally be over.¡¯ He might hunt mobs using AoE skills and multiple legions. But just how many subordinates were attached to Seonghyun now? Starting with the Demon Knight type, his pet Fiora, the Dark Fortress Nocturnium, and the newly acquired Leonik. All of them were factors that shared Seonghyun''s experience points. Leveling up would inevitably become increasingly difficult. Especially now, at his level in the 110s, no matter how much he hunted at the farthest reaches of the Dune Wild Trail. ¡®It should take him at least a month.¡¯ As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong thought this, he felt a little more at ease. So, wondering what Seonghyun might have actually gained, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong returned to his station to check. Through some unknown power yet again, Seonghyun''s stats had surged by a staggering 22 points. "Wow, it''s that unknown power again! What on earth is this, really?" ¡°.......¡± Too exhausted even to reply, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong just stared blankly at the screen. Sometime after Seonghyun had received all his rewards. While he was checking through them, there was a moment where he seemed paused, contemplating something. ¡®Why is he doing that?¡¯ A creeping sense of unease washed over Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong. However, among the things Seonghyun could currently do, there wasn''t anything that could cause a major disruption. Discovering some massive bug, or obtaining an unexpected new reward. There was nothing like that. Really. ¡®There shouldn''t be, right?¡¯ No, there must not be. As Lee Wonsong anxiously checked various parameters, one thing eventually caught his attention. Anemor, Guardian of the Wind. Seonghyun would likely try using Transcended Death on that one. ¡®It won''t work, right?¡¯ Summoning an extra via Add More. Wasn''t that impossible when he transcended the demonic beast Barpur last time? Confident in this, he nodded, reassured. Just as Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong was feeling relieved that it wouldn''t work. "Sunbae-nim. If that Anemor corpse becomes two through Add More, what happens?" "It''s impossible. Don''t worry about it and focus on other tasks." "Ah! Okay, that''s a relief then." "Right." "But what if, just by some one-in-a-million chance, it does work?" Associate Jinhyeok, true to his nature, persistently asked these irritating questions. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong replied, sounding slightly annoyed. "Then you and I will be pulling another all-nighter together." "Ahaha! Since you said it''s impossible, that won''t happen then!" Associate Jinhyeok replied with a laugh. He had definitely just checked moments ago if it was possible. And it had come back as impossible. Why, then? ¡®Why does his laughing make me so damn anxious?¡¯ Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong trembled slightly with unease. ¡®M-must be just my nerves.¡¯ 1. Legion of Calamity. The biggest beneficiary of this event was, undoubtedly, Seonghyun. And the next entity most talked about was, naturally, his guild, the Rapid Guild. People were saying in unison that the Rapid Guild was about to enter its golden age. With the existing Single Ranker Yuna already among their members, plus the rapidly rising star Seonghyun. Everyone could see their ascent was inevitable. Especially Seonghyun''s performance this time ¨C it had surpassed all imagination. Necromancers are often called one-man armies. That description fit Seonghyun better than anyone else. - The Demon King was seriously awesome this time. - Ah, it would''ve been perfect if they''d also live-streamed him taking down Echo Willow at the end. - Can''t be helped, it wasn''t planned. - Still, I heard they filmed it? Seems like the video will be out soon. - Lmfaooooo, It''s gonna be epic. Can''t wait to watch it. Watching those bastards get wrecked might cure my insomnia. - Fr lol. These were the reactions of the excited users. The Rapid Guild was embracing all of it, promoting themselves as much as possible. As the Rapid Guild channel grew steadily, they also openly acknowledged the help they had received. [Rapid Guild: ''We learned of Echo Willow''s planned attack thanks to Sick Brothers. We take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude.''] [Sick Brothers Guild: ''We only did what was obviously necessary. If anything, we were astonished by the power we witnessed.''] This further solidified their relationship with Sick Brothers. And seeing this exchange, users couldn''t help but buzz about it. - Oh!?? I wondered why Sick Brothers didn''t move, turns out Rapid Guild asked them to stay put? - Wait, then what about the other guilds who were there besides Sick Brothers???? - Can''t you tell from Rapid Guild not saying anything? It''s obvious. - Ah!! Trying to keep him in check!!! Lmao. - Wow, their reputations are gonna plummet....... - Seriously Trying to use villains to get what they want without lifting a finger... How pathetic. The criticism shifted towards the guilds other than Sick Brothers. It was no exaggeration to say their guilds'' honor was significantly tarnished by this incident. The consequent drop in subscribers and rankings was also unavoidable. In corporate terms, it was akin to suffering consecutive limit down days on the stock market. But Rapid Guild didn''t stop there; they were frantically pushing forward with various initiatives. Though only a few hours had passed since the event ended, inquiries were flooding in. It was a time when everything from membership applications to various other matters was pouring in. Barely keeping her head above water amidst piles of documents, the Guild Master, Rapid, adjusted her monocle and stared at the paper right in front of her. ¡°Is this correct?¡± She scratched her cheek disbelievingly, looking at the two documents before her. The phrase written at the very top was simple. Guild Membership Inquiry. Both were guild membership inquiries. Taken alone, this might not seem like much. But the individuals who wrote the applications were significant. None other than. ¡°Meiran and Kurosawa Ren.¡± Weren¡¯t they both rookies whose stock had been soaring recently? If Seonghyun was considered on a whole other level entirely. These two were comparable to Luna, making the decision a difficult one. Above all, both were still affiliated with Eclipse Order and Tempest Wing. There was also the ethical issue of poaching them. A matter of propriety, perhaps? Under normal circumstances, this would definitely be problematic. ¡®But this might actually be the perfect time.¡¯ Since their actions were tantamount to attacking Seonghyun. Even if Rapid Guild poached the two, Eclipse Order and Tempest Wing lacked the moral high ground or justification to complain. They were the ones who had abandoned propriety first. Moreover. ¡®If we cover their contract termination fees, that can serve as their signing bonus.¡¯ Both had proposed such conditions themselves in their inquiries. So, this part wasn¡¯t an issue either. In other words, they could snap up two highly-valued rookies without spending much money. Rapid Guild absolutely had to seize this opportunity. ¡®What a relief.¡¯ Especially since they had invested heavily in Seonghyun recently. She was worried if they¡¯d lack the funds for cultivating or recruiting new talent. But not only had they raked in huge profits from the recent live stream, they could also bring these two over with minimal expense. This would secure sufficient new talent. ¡®Alright then, let¡¯s move forward with this.¡¯ Poaching the two would undoubtedly keep her busy. Rapid pushed onward with renewed vigor. If they skillfully leveraged the public sentiment, the process could likely be handled relatively quickly. As she was about to start processing the paperwork, she paused. Her gaze shifted to the membership inquiry forms. Looking at their desired positions, she mused. ¡®A backup team... that¡¯s unexpected.¡¯ She had assumed they would want to form their own team, even if it was just a B-team. Then again, it was understandable that their perspective might have shifted after the recent incident. And Luna''s team could essentially be considered Seonghyun''s backup team. They had just arrived at the Dune Wild Trail. The timing was perfect too. ¡®If we manage this well...¡¯ Wouldn''t this be a decent setup for helping them catch up towards Seonghyun''s level? 2. Seonghyun, having secured 1st place, prepared to leave the area. It was time to sort through the various rewards he''d earned and the skills that had been activated. Just as he was about to move off to check on them. ¡°I heard the Demon King was around here!?¡± ¡°Seriously!? Wh-where? I need to get his autograph!?!¡± "Exactly!!! Let''s all find him!!!" "Uwahaha!!! I''m gonna get ten autographs!!!" The surrounding users were in an uproar, searching frantically for Seonghyun. This was getting a bit troublesome. However, everyone merely glanced at Seonghyun''s party and walked right past. Users loudly proclaiming they would find Seonghyun were blatantly passing him by without a second look. How was this happening? "Saved by Fiora." -Indeed it is so, my Lord. -Uwahaha, Fiora''s ability is highly specialized for infiltration "We owe you one, Fiora," Seonghyun said gratefully. -H-hyaa? N-no, it was nothing... Fiora stammered, flustered. Fiora''s Shapeshifter ability was applying a kind of perception filter to everyone nearby, making Seonghyun''s group blend in as ordinary, unremarkable users. He needed to get out of this crowded area before opening his rewards anyway. As Seonghyun moved away, the density of users thinned out considerably. He reached a spot where numerous caravans were clustered together, forming a makeshift village. Wouldn''t a place like this be better for checking his gains? He had quite a lot to get through now. The very first thing Seonghyun chose to check was none other than. ¡ºSummon Demon Knight¡» ¡ú¡¶Almighty¡· ¡ú[Lv Max][Complete Type] [Instant Effect][Active] [Currently summonable number: 1] [Owned Demon Knights: 1] The Demon Knight, who walks out of hell at the behest of the Overlord, shall be the instrument of judgment that carries out the Overlord''s will. ¡úOverlord exclusive skill. ¡úSummons a Demon Knight from hell. ¡úThe Demon Knight, a faithful servant and sword, is the same level as its master. ¡úOne additional Demon Knight can be summoned for every 100 levels. *Currently, a new Demon Knight can be summoned upon reaching level 100. *Demon Knights can also enter the Netherworld. Balthar was clearly excited. -Uwahahaha! Finally, a junior is arriving!!! [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 111 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 111 It certainly felt like it had been a long time since he''d used it, but... It hadn''t even been a week. Subjectively, it felt like a month had passed, but what did it matter? The only important thing was that he could now summon a new Demon Knight! Balthar was quite pleased by the fact that a new junior would be arriving, and Seonghyun, naturally, felt the same. Although, it was possible that a knight of higher rank than Balthar could actually appear. From what he''d heard, the probability of that was minimal. ''They did say the summoning probability is best right after obtaining the skill, didn''t they?'' Because a Demon Knight Scion could also appear. Didn''t they say you couldn''t judge rashly? Since Balthar or Nocturnium had said so. He figured that must be the case. Still, since they said that even a Demon Knight Scion was quite strong... He was quite looking forward to it. Wondering just what kind of demon would appear. As soon as Seonghyun used the skill, Just like when he had summoned Balthar, Seonghyun felt control over his body disappear. A state where he couldn''t even wiggle a single finger. In that state, the surrounding scenery melted away as if a video was unfolding, drawing a new landscape. The summoning event scene. Who would appear this time? The surrounding scenery vanished, and the subordinates who had been nearby also disappeared. Solely Seonghyun floated in the empty air like a ghost, and gradually, the surrounding scenery became visible. An utterly desolate wilderness. But the sun risen high in the sky and was black, and even the light illuminating the world was dim. A barren world that seemed unlikely to support even a single blade of grass, a place where even reclamation seemed impossible. Yet, countless demons had established their territory and lived there. Demons with black skin and demons with red skin fought amongst themselves, Invading each other''s territories, the ceaseless slaughter continued. However, things like magic or swordsmanship... Such refined things were nowhere to be seen. They simply extended their claws to tear each other apart, threw punches, and burst open flesh. ''Is this Hell in the old days?'' Even Seonghyun clicked his tongue at the primitive and barbaric sight. It couldn''t even be called combat; it was merely hunting driven by instinct. Nothing more, nothing less. They called it a Demon Knight, Why were they showing him this kind of scenery? Just as Seonghyun pondered this question, There was a demon boy with dark red skin. While everyone else was fighting fiercely with extended claws or fists, the boy alone picked up a fallen tree branch from the ground. An era without even iron, let alone swords. The boy grasped that hard, ink-black branch and swung it diligently. Whoosh! Whoosh! At first, it was clumsy. But gradually, his swings became straighter, and progressively more firm. The boy also gradually grew out of his younger form, and before long, having become a young man, he nevertheless continued to wield the branch as if it were a sword. The surrounding demons watched the young man, snickering. To think he''d use a mere twig as a weapon. If one needed a weapon, they could just pull out a bone or tear off a claw to attack, and even if not, a demon''s body was exceptional, becoming a weapon just by swinging a fist. There was ample reason to ridicule the young man. However, even as they sneered and pointed fingers, the young man paid no heed. He merely kept swinging the branch. How much time had passed? The boy became a young man, then a middle-aged man, and then an old man. Yet, he repeatedly swung the tree branch. The more he swung the branch, the darker the surroundings became, shrouding everything in darkness. ''This is...'' As the boy, no, the old man, aged, The reactions of those around him also changed. Those who had mocked him as a boy and a young man began to imitate him as they became middle-aged. By the time he became an old man, countless demons wearing armor followed him. And then more time passed. The countless demons that had gradually increased disappeared, and a great upheaval occurred. Many demons perished, and few survived the cataclysm. Many demons perished, and not many survived that cataclysm. But the old man survived regardless, and now drew a sword given to him by someone, swinging it repeatedly. As if oblivious to his surroundings. The hale old man of his prime was gone, replaced by a frail and decrepit old man who looked as if he might collapse at any moment. However, the aura surrounding him was more ominous and vividly radiant than ever before. ''Ah.'' Seonghyun realized upon seeing that sight. This was someone who possessed a swordsmanship far more advanced and profound than even Leonik''s. A level that he himself dared not even imagine. That old man was one who had achieved such a state. As that thought crossed his mind, Seonghyun involuntarily looked at the old man, and the old man''s eyes met his. Playing this game, this was the first time since Helena that he felt overwhelmed. A thrill ran through his entire body, and as his eyes met the old man''s, a sound reached him. Step. Step. The old demon took steps forward. Finally, as he stood before Seonghyun, The old demon drew his sword and slowly swung it. Then, from his sword strike, like darkness itself, a black magic circle leisurely formed. The darkly shining magic circle of shadow emerged, resonated with the surroundings scattering black light, and a black mist spread nearby. At that, the old demon''s form became clearer, fully manifesting into the world. Aaaaaaah¡ª¡ª! Amidst the wail that was close to a scream, Seonghyun thought. ''He''s coming.'' The demon of the sword. As Seonghyun had that thought, Words floated into the air. [Summoning an ancient Demon Knight from the distant past.] [You are the first in Eternal World to summon the ¡ºPrimordial Demon Knight, Drakhanos of the Abyss¡».] [Acquired the title, ¡ºMaster of the Primordial Demon Knight¡».] [Warning] [The Demon Knight''s ego is more distinct than other summons.] [He may disobey commands, and diligent effort is required to handle the Demon Knight.] Along with the messages, the old demon calmly walked out of the magic circle. He emerged wearing robes like tattered rags. He looked short and quite decrepit. Unlike Balthar when he was first summoned, this one didn''t look imposing or threatening. His hair was completely white, and his face and exposed hands were wrinkled all over. With wrinkles covering his dark-red skin, even his eyes were buried in folds and hard to see. A demon who looked nothing but a truly frail old man, not threatening or powerful-looking in the slightest. However, an unknown power seemed to emanate from him. "Ah." As expected. Seonghyun watched him with a very satisfied smile. Balthar, on the other hand, trembled in fear upon spotting him. -N-n-no... th-this... can''t... be...!!! The Primordial Demon Knight. Perhaps the very first Demon Knight. Drakhanos. Balthar, who couldn''t possibly be ignorant of that renowned name, gulped and stared at him. To think that the one who could be called his junior was this legendary being. As Seonghyun, also quite intrigued, looked at him, -Mutter... mutter... mumble... mutter-mumble, whisper... whisper. He said something. In a completely unintelligible language. Even then, his voice was too quiet to be heard clearly. Only Balthar and Seonghyun, who were closest, could even tell he had spoken. Although it had the feel of grumbling. Just in case, Seonghyun looked at Balthar. Looking like he''d been struck by lightning, Balthar lowered his head and replied. -I-I shall humbly convey that request, Forefather. Did he ask for something? As Seonghyun looked at Balthar like that, Balthar spoke, seeming a bit cautious. -The... Forefather... "Hm?" What is it that he''s hesitating so much about? Did he say he couldn''t obey commands? Then again, Balthar was like that at first too. That could indeed be possible. If not that, did he attach conditions? Because if it wasn''t something like that, there was no reason for Balthar to hesitate. As Seonghyun grew curious, Balthar spoke cautiously. -He asks... since it''s c-cold... if you could send him to the Netherworld. "...Huh?" -H-He says he''s cold because he''s gotten old... He certainly is at that age. ¡®No, I mean, he''s a legend just for being alive.¡¯ So it made sense. But to think the first thing he says after appearing is that he''s cold and wants to be sent to the Netherworld. It was a bit anticlimactic, but... It''s understandable. As Seonghyun thought that and was about to send him to the Netherworld, -Mumble-mumble... mutter... mutter-mumble, mumble... mutter-mumble..., mutter-mumble, whisper-whisper. He spoke again, seemingly grumbling. What could this mean now? Seonghyun naturally looked towards Balthar. Balthar, his complexion slightly pale, gulped and spoke to Seonghyun. -He says... if the Lord has any requests, you should call him anytime. And... "And?" -He asked me... to carry him on my back and attend to him... "Ah." Well, he is an old man. It''s natural that he needs looking after. However, both Seonghyun and Balthar had strange expressions on their faces. A living legend of Hell, to think this legendary being, possibly the first Demon Knight, asks to be sent to the Netherworld because he''s cold, and asks Balthar to carry him on his back. It was a somewhat disillusioning image, but... They both nodded, indicating they understood. "''Take... good care of him.''" -...Yes, I understand. Looking somewhat disgruntled, Balthar thus entered the Dark Fortress in the Netherworld with Drakhanos, while those remaining stood around awkwardly. Something had swept through like a storm, but... Anyway, it was fine. "Ahem." He was quite old, but... Nevertheless, he was still a tremendous demon. He might be different in combat, after all. Seonghyun put that aside for now and looked at the title he had just obtained. This one was also a ''First Ever'' title. Let''s take a look, shall we? ¡ºMaster of the Primordial Demon Knight¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary+¡· ¡ú A title granted to the user who succeeded in summoning a Primordial Demon Knight for the first time ever in Eternal World. ¡ú As the first ever master, its rank has been slightly upgraded compared to the standard grade. ¡ú Affiliated Demon Knight''s and Owner''s All Swordsmanship Proficiency +50% increase. ¡ú Affiliated Demon Knight''s and Owner''s Dark Attribute +12.5% enhancement. ¡ú Affiliated Demon Knight''s and Owner''s All Attack Power +12.5% increase. ''What is this?'' He thought it would be similar to the ''Master of the Demon Knight'' title he got when summoning Balthar, but... It was on a different level. Unlike the previous title, this one had options that applied effects to the owner as well! ¡®Unbelievable.¡¯ This title alone was enough to justify Drakhanos''s value. ''Incredible...'' Even Seonghyun''s pupils trembled. The effects were tremendous. Anyway, now that he had summoned the Demon Knight like this, He should move on to opening the next reward. There was also the matter of raising the corpses of the Death Legion Commander and Anemor, but... He postponed that for now. Since he planned to use ¡ºTranscended Death¡» later to make them even stronger. In that case, there were two remaining options. ''Should I pick a skill with the Tome of the Overlord, or open the Legendary Random Box first?'' Seonghyun pondered for a moment before quickly deciding. ''Let''s open the box first.'' Whereas the Tome of the Overlord allowed him to choose, The Legendary Random Box was literally random. As he took out the Legendary Random Box, He saw an unexpected description. ¡ºRandom Box¡»¡Á3 ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú A box that randomly grants an item or skill connected to the user. ¡ú All items obtainable from this box are of Legendary rank. ¡ú Currently connected item: ¡ºApprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword¡». "Huh?" A connected item? [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 112 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 112 Wasn''t it just supposed to be random? For Apprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword to be a connected item... ''Does this mean I can draw items related to Hindel with this?'' It was a really good opportunity, but a question arose. Why weren''t Helena''s items appearing? Towards Seonghyun, who was feeling perplexed, New phrases appeared. [There is a connected item excluding your class.] [You can randomly acquire connected items and skills.] [However, if you select three random boxes simultaneously for items, you can acquire them as a set item.] [Item / Skill] [Would you like to choose?] ''Ah.'' It meant connected items excluding his class. Certainly, if that was the case, there was no one other than Hindel. And the explanation afterward was quite significant. If he chose three items simultaneously, they would come out as a set item. Did that mean if he chose skills, he would get three Legendary-rank skills randomly? What would be the best choice in the current situation? ''Intuitively, skills seem better.'' Weren''t they the most essential element for a gamer to become stronger? The more diverse the skills, the more situations one could overcome. Combat power also increased intuitively. However, Seonghyun''s and Hindel''s classes were completely different. Seonghyun did use swordsmanship now, of course. But primarily, he was a black mage. Swordsmanship was good as a supplementary tool, just like now. He already had tremendous memories of handling a sword anyway. So, the answer seemed to be already decided. ''Skills don''t come out as a set, but if items come as a set, the story is different.'' If they weren''t a set, they were just three Legendary-rank skills. But set items were different. Their efficiency was much higher than basic ranks. In this case, choosing the set was the right thing to do. Now that the decision was made, what was there to hesitate about? As Seonghyun made that choice, A fierce light erupted from the random boxes and stood like a pillar in the sky. Well, other dazzling effects soared up as well. But they were outside of Seonghyun''s interest. Anyway, as the sky-piercing light intensified, Gradually, the surroundings brightened, and the light shattered, gradually forming letters, and those letters soon entered Seonghyun''s eyes. [You have acquired three connected Legendary items!] [You have acquired three pieces from the Legendary set item, Hero Hindel''s Set.] [All items have been deposited into your inventory.] [You possess the Unique item, ¡ºApprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword¡».] [Due to a special effect, ¡ºApprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword¡» is included in Hero Hindel''s Set.] ''Oh?'' The fact that even the Apprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword he currently possessed was included in the set was unexpected. It was undoubtedly good news. Seonghyun immediately opened his inventory, curious about the items he had obtained. A gauntlet, a necklace, and a mask he had never seen before were placed there. He nodded at the gauntlet and necklace since he had seen them in the past. But what about the mask? Curious, he immediately checked the item descriptions for all three. ¡ºHero Hindel''s Gauntlet¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úA gauntlet used by the former Hero Hindel, it was one of the lost relics not found among Hero Hindel''s remains. ¡úIt was said that no one knew where Hero Hindel had kept this gauntlet. ¡úAttack power +10% when using sword skills. ¡úAttack speed +20% when using sword skills. ¡úWhen using a two-handed sword, the user could activate ''Absolute Shield'' once a day. ¡úActivating ''Absolute Shield'' would block all attacks 1 time. ¡ºHero Hindel''s Necklace¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úIt was said to be a necklace that Hero Hindel had worn since childhood. ¡úNo one knew when it had disappeared, but due to a special effect, the socket was locked, and its contents remained a mystery. ¡úLight attribute resistance +30% upon wearing. ¡ú''Star''s Protection'' could be used 3 times a day upon wearing. ¡ú''Star''s Protection'' would make the wearer invincible for 3 seconds when their health fell below 30%. ¡ºMask of the Unknown¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úNo one knew who had used it, but it was said that the wearer of this mask had always performed good deeds and saved many people. ¡úAccording to rumors, the former Hero Hindel had worn this mask and secretly done good deeds, but the reason for the hero concealing his identity remained unknown. ¡úStealth was imbued in all actions, reducing the probability of the wearer being noticed by those around them. ¡úEvasion +30% ¡ú''God''s Blockade'' could be used 3 times a day. ¡ú''God''s Blockade'' would allow the wearer to become completely hidden, even deceiving the eyes of the gods. ¡úHowever, ''God''s Blockade'' would be released 10 seconds after an attack. ''What is this?'' Each item was extraordinary. They all possessed skills, and their effects were considerably potent. They all had a limited number of uses, though. But the effects themselves seemed almost unfair. Seonghyun checked them all, a sense of disbelief washing over him. Nevertheless, he equipped them all for now. As soon as he equipped them all, The set effect was applied and appeared before Seonghyun''s eyes. ¡ºHero Hindel''s Set (4/8)¡» ¡úSword skill power +20% increase. ¡úDamage +20% increase. ¡úHealth recovery +30% increase. ¡úAttack power +10% increase. ¡ú[Locked] ¡ú[Locked] ¡ú[Locked] ¡ú[Locked] ''.......'' It was so good that words failed him. He had thought the Unique set options alone were considerably good. But the Legendary set with eight pieces was even better. ''I really can''t show this to my sister.'' He would usually boast to his older sister, Yoo Mina, showing off whenever he got something good. But this wasn''t just boasting; it felt like it would induce homicidal urges. He should probably refrain. Anyway, Seonghyun moved past the set items he had obtained. He had already checked all the effects. Time to move on to the next thing. Raising Anemor''s corpse was something he decided to do a bit later. So, only one thing remained now. ''The Tome of the Overlord.'' Acquiring a skill through the tome. Actually, he had already picked out the skills in advance. Skills he had chosen to further solidify his darkness build. One was a Legendary skill he could choose after surpassing level 100, so he had been able to select it beforehand. These were the two skills he obtained. [Due to the effect of the Overlord-exclusive Almighty rank item, ¡ºTome of the Overlord¡», you have acquired the Unique rank skill, ¡ºGrasp of the Abyss¡».] [Due to the effect of the Overlord-exclusive Almighty rank item, ¡ºTome of the Overlord¡», you have acquired the Legendary rank skill, ¡ºWhisper of the Void¡».] ¡ºGrasp of the Abyss¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Passive Effect][Active] [Cooldown: 5 minutes] [Duration: 3 seconds] ¡úExclusive skill for black mage class. ¡úA hand extending from the abyss grabs the target, rendering them immobile. ¡úThe duration of the Grasp of the Abyss cannot be reduced in any way. ¡ºWhisper of the Void¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown: 10 minutes] ¡úExclusive skill for black mage class. ¡úShoots forth void that absorbs the darkness of the struck enemy, increasing its size and power as it pierces through them. ¡úThe more it hits, the more darkness it absorbs, increasing its power and size. ¡úIf the opponent has no darkness, it has no effect. ''These two are the best.'' Among the things Seonghyun could currently choose, these two were the best for his build. Grasp of the Abyss was a common binding skill. It was a simple yet powerful skill that immobilized the opponent. Especially, although Grasp of the Abyss had a shorter duration than other binding skills, the special effect that prevented its duration from being reduced in any way made it definitely good. If the skill level increased, the duration would become even longer. At that point, it would become an absurdly powerful skill. And Whisper of the Void was the perfect skill for his build. It was a conditional skill that had no effect on opponents without darkness. However, it had the best synergy with Black Sun, which granted darkness to the opponent. With this build, It would be considerably effective in large-scale battles, and even otherwise, it would be excellent as a finishing blow. If there were no enemies with darkness to absorb, He could also amplify Whisper of the Void by making it pierce through the soldiers created by Black Sun: Heart. ''Hoo...'' Having learned even build-specific skills with the Tome of the Overlord, Only one task remained. The task he had postponed until the very end: summoning Anemor. Tearing through the entrance to the Netherworld, Anemor, in the form of an Ash Crow, was summoned. -Screeeeeech¡ª¡ª! Despite taking the form of a giant, gray crow, Anemor let out a raptorial shriek. As if it sensed something, the creature trembled with joy. As if it knew it could soon return to its own body. Seonghyun watched such Anemor and slyly took out Anemor''s corpse from their raid boss encounter. Having been in the Netherworld, the corpse was preserved in a clean state, as if it had just died. He could immediately raise it as a member of the Death Legion and appoint it as a Legion Commander, but he didn''t. There was a skill he needed to use first. [List of targets currently available for Transcended Death:] ¡ºIndividual Name - Anemor¡» ¡ºIndividual Name - Barpur¡» ¡ºCorpse of Anemor¡» Finally, he could use it. The corpse of the raid boss, which was already powerful. He could make that corpse transcend once more. If he appointed it as a Legion Commander first and then transcended it, its level would decrease by 2 due to cost. However, if he used Transcended Death first like this, [Using ¡ºTranscended Death¡».] [Your level has decreased by 1, becoming level 115.] [The 5 additional stat points you had acquired have been lost.] As expected, with only a level decrease of 1, an immense teal aura exploded from Seonghyun, just like it had with the demonic beast Barpur. That aura settled upon Anemor''s corpse. Simultaneously. Kwaaaaaaa¡ª¡ª!!! The teal aura that had settled upon Anemor''s corpse soared into the sky as if piercing through it. In a display on a different scale than when he had opened the random boxes, the clouds were pierced, and the sky was dyed in an eerie teal hue. The desolate sky and a single black shadow obscuring the sun there moved as if circling the area, drawing attention as it resembled a massive bird. Kureureureung¡ª¡ª!!! Fierce winds collided and shattered, breaking into tiny fragments. In the process, due to the intense friction, teal energy violently coursed through the sky. Kwareureureureung¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! The atmosphere vibrated intensely, as if about to split the world, and teal lightning and pitch-black thunder roamed within it. The shadow of the bird, playing amidst the thunder and lightning, soon wrapped itself in the teal lightning and pitch-black thunder and plummeted to the ground. Its appearance was akin to a true bolt of lightning, shaking the heavens and the earth. Kureureureung¡ª¡ª!!! Kwareureureung¡ª¡ª!!! As the teal and pitch-black lightning in the form of a bird fell from the sky and settled upon Anemor''s corpse, Anemor''s corpse was instantly enveloped in teal light and wriggling darkness. Simultaneously. Kung¡ª! Kuuung¡ª¡ª! Kwajjijijiji¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! A teal lightning bolt pierced Anemor''s heart. "Wow." Seonghyun exclaimed in admiration at the sight, which seemed to have come straight out of mythology. Then. Thump¡ª! Thump¡ª¡ª! Thump¡ª¡ª¡ª! Anemor''s corpse awakened, teal light blazing from its eyes, and the corpse began to rise. [¡ºGuardian of Wind, Anemor¡» is reborn through ¡ºTranscended Death¡».] [¡ºGuardian of Wind, Anemor¡» evolves into ¡ºAnemor of Thunder and Lightning¡».] Evolution too! Seonghyun read the phrases, thoroughly excited. So far, it was proceeding as expected. Would it continue to unfold as he had predicted until the very end!? It wasn''t for nothing that Seonghyun had postponed this until last. As Seonghyun watched the ceaseless stream of messages, [The authority of the Overlord settles upon ¡ºAnemor of Thunder and Lightning¡».] [¡ºAnemor of Thunder and Lightning¡» receives the blessing of the Undead.] [¡ºAnemor of Thunder and Lightning¡» transcends its previous power and gains new strength.] [The undead who have transcended death grow infinitely in response to their master''s growth.] [The corpse of ¡ºAnemor of Thunder and Lightning¡» awakens againas a member of the Death Legion!] [¡ºAdd More¡» creates an additional ¡ºAnemor of Thunder and Lightning¡».] [An undead of similar caliber has been born.] [Thunder and lightning are divided, and their respective authorities become even stronger.] [They divide into ¡ºAnemor of Thunder¡» and ¡ºAnemor of Lightning¡»!] ¡°!!!¡± Thus, Anemor, enveloped in teal light, and Anemor, entirely black, watched Seonghyun with curious gazes. He had finally done it! ''This is actually happening.'' What he had only dared to imagine had become reality. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 113 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 113 Two Anemors without souls. However, their outward appearance and power were more intense than any other summoned creature. Even more so than Barpur, who had similarly evolved through Transcended Death and had been appointed as a Death Legion Commander. Anemor of Lightning, with surging lightning flickering and burning its surroundings. Anemor of Thunder, emitting shockwaves that repeatedly vibrated the area. And even the Ash Crow containing Anemor''s soul, its eyes shining as it watched the two. It was an ironic sight. Seonghyun scratched his head as he looked at them. ''Where should I put them?'' He was quite pleased with the success of the experiment. But he was now pondering where to place them. Both were, after all, Anemor''s physical bodies. Wherever he placed Anemor''s soul, it would be well utilized. However, what about the remaining body? Choosing was a problem, and so was the remaining body of Anemor after choosing. In any case, they could move even without a soul. There was no problem with their combat power. But handling them without a soul... ''It''s a waste.'' Should he find a new type of raid boss in this vicinity and bring its soul? It would be a waste to put the soul of a regular field boss or dungeon boss into such a fine body. Just as Seonghyun was pondering this, -Screeeeeech¡ª¡ª! Anemor let out a roar, as if it had chosen the body it liked best between the two. Turning his head, Anemor stood before Anemor of Lightning, smiling as if to indicate its choice. It seemed like the Queen Ash Crow''s body that Anemor was currently using could be given to one of the other Ash Crows... Then, Seonghyun suddenly thought of another bird-type boss, Queen Ash Crow Karisha. He wondered if it could handle this Anemor of Thunder. But he should ask first. It might like it, or it might not. ''Perhaps it might like it more because the current body is its own.'' The body it had used in life was now an undead body. As Seonghyun thought, it might prefer its current body. That body might also be burdensome. If it said no, he would have no choice but to look for another raid boss. ''That''s what I should do.'' With that thought, Seonghyun summoned Karisha and the Ash Crows from the Netherworld. Upon being summoned, Karisha and the Ash Crows were initially wary, thinking it was a battle, but they were puzzled as they saw no enemies. "Karisha, if you were to transfer to that body imbued with the power of thunder, could you use it well?" As Seonghyun asked this, Karisha couldn''t help but ponder for quite a while. Anemor of Thunder, with black waves surging and clearly displaying the power of thunder in a very beautiful form. It was a physical form that was too tempting. However, whether one could handle that power was another matter entirely. After pondering for quite some time, Karisha stood before Anemor of Thunder as if having made a firm resolution, and nodded solemnly. "Oho?" At the same time, Seonghyun could read that determination in her eyes. The will to become stronger in any way to be of help to him. Feeling quite pleased with her spirit, Seonghyun nodded and then found another Ash Crow to handle the previous bodies of Karisha and Anemor, transferring their souls. Anemor, having obtained the body of lightning, seemed to have initial difficulty adapting to the evolved form. However, since it was ultimately its own body, it quickly adapted. Karisha, on the other hand, soon showed some improvement. But she moved hesitantly, as if feeling awkward. ''Hmm.'' While Anemor exuded a dignified and majestic aura, Karisha possessed an elegant and graceful demeanor but seemed somewhat timid and lacking in confidence. She had become stronger, but there was a worried look on her face, wondering if she could fully utilize this body. If worry was the issue, the solution was simple. "Shall we go hunting then?" He needed to test the newly acquired skills anyway. He also needed to see the power of the new Anemor and Karisha. As Seonghyun shouted this, -Pieeeeeee¡ª¡ª! Anemor''s roar, even more powerful than before, and -Kkaaaak¡ª! Karisha''s somewhat hesitant cry mixed together. Well then, where should he test these new rewards? 3. "Emmmoooooooo¡ª!!!" Unlike the bellow of a normal cow, it was a sharp, tearing sound closer to a roar. A monster that roamed the entirety of the Dune Wild Trail. The Red Minotaur. Its charge, spearheaded by its massive physique and powerful horns, was so notorious among users that it was one of the most formidable monsters in the Dune Wild Trail. The vicinity of the Red Minotaur lairs, where these creatures gathered, always exuded a chilling aura that even the Hippos, known as the hyenas of the Dune Wild Trail, avoided. A great lair that did not permit the intrusion of other species. This was not solely due to the overwhelming number of Red Minotaurs; there was another clear reason why other monsters did not trespass here. At the center of the lair. From within a magnificent hut built larger than the other huts, a sound could be heard. Kung. Kuung. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed on the ground, clearly revealing the presence of a massive being. Soon, a giant Red Minotaur burst out of the hut and emerged outside. The Red Minotaurs who had been working all stopped at once and bowed in reverence towards the giant Red Minotaur. They lowered their heads, trembled in fear, and showed utmost respect. Pleased with such respectful treatment, the giant Red Minotaur opened its mouth and roared loudly. "Emmmoooooooo¡ª¡ª¡ª!!!" Even a glimpse of the power emanating from its roar was enough to sense its strength. Taurak, the Champion Red Minotaur Chieftain, called the third strongest boss monster of this Dune Wild Trail. Not just any chieftain. But a champion among chieftains. An elite boss monster that only appeared under very special circumstances. That was why no monster in this area even thought of invading. Though that wasn''t limited to just monsters. That was why the Red Minotaurs here lived more peacefully than anywhere else. Taurak, the Champion Red Minotaur Chieftain, often thought so. He believed that thanks to his presence, his tribe lived so peacefully and well. That was why he was satisfied and was about to go hunting as usual. That was until he saw the ominous aura surging from afar. "Moooooo?" Taurak tilted his head, as if puzzled. There was no being in this vicinity capable of emitting such an aura. Could a new boss monster be foolishly releasing its energy without knowing its place? What an insolent fellow. Taurak thought that he should teach it whose land this was. Fssssssss. The entire world grew dark. As if all the light in the world had vanished, the sun turned black. Darkness rained down from the sky instead of light, and black flames from the black sun engulfed the world. Taurak''s lair was no exception. No, rather, Taurak''s entire lair burst into flames. Hwarururururu¡ª¡ª! "Emmmooooo!" "Eumooooooo!" "Emmmoooook!" The pain of the Red Minotaurs echoed everywhere, burning the weak ones first. As Taurak tried to step forward in the hellish scene, Suddenly, an even deeper darkness fell upon the blackened ground, creating the illusion that the ground was sinking. And from there, dozens of hands shot out and grabbed Taurak. "Emmmoooooooo¡ª¡ª¡ª!!!" Enraged, he roared and swelled his muscles to destroy everything, but it was useless. No matter what he did, he couldn''t move. As if he had fallen into the abyss. He had to protect his tribe no matter what. But he couldn''t move, unable to do so. As he floundered in the empty abyss, Something came waddling towards Taurak. What could that be? Before he could even recognize it, a strange sensation arose all over his body. Parararararak. Chwajajajajajaja. It was as if countless insects that had sprung from the abyss were crawling all over his body in an instant. The illusion of the insects Taurak had been so terrified of as a child crawling all over him, eventually covering his entire body and constantly swarming into his mouth. "Emmmoo! Emmmoooooooo!!! Emmmoooooooo!!!!" He couldn''t come to his senses in the face of the terrifying sight he was experiencing for the first time. So terrifying that he didn''t even realize that his energy and stamina were fading away. Even his tribe members didn''t come to mind; Taurak only wanted to escape from this place. Soon, he could move his body again, and the illusion vanished. Taurak immediately moved to get out of there. However, he heard the sound of a heartbeat from the black sun floating in the sky. Thump¡ª! Thump¡ª¡ª¡ª!! Thump¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! As Taurak reacted to the violently pounding sound, The black flames that had been burning his surroundings and the darkness that had stained the area soon took shape and rose from their places. Like soldiers obeying their monarch''s command. As they gathered and surrounded the lair, Something appeared in the sky. Kwarururururu¡ª¡ª¡ª! A violent thunder that vibrated all the air in the vicinity. As the thunder roared, Dark clouds, which he didn''t know when they had formed, appeared and covered the sky. Making the already dark place even more ominous due to the black sun, Black lightning roared through it, and something teal flashed. The teal lightning that fell to the ground became a lightning strike, savagely sweeping across the land. Kwajijijijijiji¡ª¡ª!!! "Emmmooooook!!!" "Mueoreoreoreo!" "Kakagagak!" Countless Red Minotaurs were slashed, electrocuted, burned, and torn apart by that lightning strike. Dozens of Minotaurs were ripped apart by a single lightning strike, and a black wave belatedly echoed behind it, sweeping over them. Pandemonium. It was truly a scene of hell. Was the end of the world coming? Just as he had that thought, Amidst the whirling teal lightning and black thunder that were devastating the lair, a black snake could be seen in the distance. The snake was small at first. Its wriggling movements even seemed somewhat cute. However, as it opened its maw as if to swallow a Red Minotaur whole for the first time, It roared as if whispering. Shhaaaa¡ª! The Red Minotaur who heard that roar was devoured by the snake as if possessed. It seemed to be in pain, but it didn''t die. However, the snake that swallowed that Red Minotaur gradually began to grow in size. Soon, as it swallowed one or two more, The snake''s size grew larger and larger, eventually swelling to the point where it could swallow an entire hut. The black snake, still seemingly hungry, continued to move forward. Thinking about it, it was strange. It was clearly a snake boasting black scales. Although it moved wrigglingly, it flew straight in a direct line. And at the end of that direction was Taurak. "Emmmoooooooo¡ª¡ª¡ª!!!" Furious at the fact that the snake dared to target him, Taurak charged towards it, intending to block its path. However, in that instant, before he could even register it, teal lightning struck Taurak. Kwajijijijiji¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! Kwaaaaaaaa¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! The teal lightning bolt fell with the force to melt everything around it. Taurak, at its center, opened his mouth and vomited black smoke. It was a powerful blow, but he didn''t die. However, the black thunder that followed, echoing and engulfing Taurak, struck him next. Kwareureureung¡ª¡ª!!! Kwaaaaaaaa¡ª¡ª!!! The shockwave that belatedly swept over him crashed down as if to crush Taurak''s body. But compared to the lightning strike, it was weaker than he thought, so he managed to withstand it. However, when Taurak regained his senses and opened his eyes, The black snake, which had already grown larger than a hut, opened its mouth and whispered. Shhaaaaaaaaaak¡ª¡ª!!! Glurp¡ª¡ª! With that, Taurak was swallowed by the snake, his very form becoming unrecognizable. Seonghyun, who had watched the entire scene, nodded with satisfaction. "Everything''s great, isn''t it?" From the newly acquired skills to the two new bodies of Anemor. Everything was satisfying. The only disappointing thing was that he didn''t even level up despite catching something like that? It wasn''t as if there was nothing more to experiment with. He still needed to examine the performance of Drakhanos and the items. But that could be done gradually. Especially Drakhanos, who seemed quite old. He wondered if he could even deploy him in battles like this. He was said to be a Primordial Demon Knight, so he must be strong. But rather than that... ''He seems more like a knight who guides training, doesn''t he?'' He was somewhat thinking along those lines. That was why he had only checked the skills he had just obtained and Anemor and Karisha. In any case, it was a satisfying result. As Seonghyun was thinking this, Leonik, somehow manipulating his white bones, clapped with a truly satisfied expression and nodded his head. -Truly astonishing, Master!!! That was an overwhelming battle!!! As Leonik said that, Nocturnium, looking as if he had belatedly realized something, nodded his head and similarly clapped, agreeing. -Y-yes, Lord. You were truly magnificent. -H-heu, h-how cool!!! M-Master! Fiora also cautiously chimed in with praise for Seonghyun. They didn''t need to do that. Seonghyun felt a bit embarrassed by those thoughts and cleared his throat. "Ahem." Well, it wasn''t bad to hear, though. As they was doing so, Thwack! Leonik suddenly knelt on one knee and bowed his head. What was he trying to do? As Seonghyun looked at Leonik, puzzled, Leonik opened his mouth. -There is something I wish to say to you, Master. Would you be so kind as to lend me your ear? [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 114 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 114 What was with the serious act? Was he perhaps going to ask for a favor? Curious, Seonghyun asked Leonik. "Are you going to ask for a favor?" -Hoo-eooo!!! A favor to the Master!!! That would be utterly preposterous!!! "......." Couldn''t he have just asked? He denied it so vehemently. Seonghyun was at a loss for words. He had no choice but to swallow it down. As Seonghyun remained silent, Leonik continued. -Though it seemed you were busy, Master, I was merely hesitant to trouble you with a request. Instead, I wished to inform you of something I believe may be of great value. "Valuable information?" Seonghyun tilted his head, looking doubtful. Nocturnium and Fiora, like Leonik, were also kneeling on one knee with their heads bowed. Balthar was likely attending to Drakhanos in the Netherworld. In any case, did they have something important to say? As Seonghyun looked at them and nodded as if to say, "Speak," -Having dared to assess your abilities, Master, I believe that if you were to visit a place where many souls have settled, you would undoubtedly be able to utilize your powers to their fullest. "Souls?" That was an unexpected thing to say. A place where souls had settled. If anyone else had said it, he would have dismissed it as nonsense. But it was Leonik, who had been a soul himself, who was speaking. Seonghyun focused his attention, listening intently. -In truth, there exists a hall of knights that predates the destruction of this Dune Wild Trail. "A hall of knights?" Just hearing the name made it sound ominous. It had the distinct scent of a hidden quest, you could say? He had obtained Leonik''s memories. But he couldn''t access them at will. Unfortunately, he couldn''t see it. That made him even more curious. As Seonghyun asked back with a voice full of curiosity, Pleased by the reaction, Leonik spoke in an even more excited tone. -It is a place where knights go for training. It may not be related to mages, but if you, Master, were to go to that place, which is isolated from other spaces, you would certainly gain tremendous power. "Oho? It''s not related to mages?" -It would seem so. It is a place well-suited for building the skill proficiency of knights, so that is even more likely. However, I believe that you, Master, who are skilled in both magic and swordsmanship, will greatly benefit. -Leonik speaks truly, Lord. You have shown proficiency in swordsmanship as well, so I believe it is imperative that you go. -H-heu-euh? I-I also think it would be good for Master. As his vassals spoke with one voice, Seonghyun''s interest soared even higher. The Hall of Knights, huh. The moment Seonghyun smiled with interest, [You have obtained a clue to the hidden field ¡ºHall of Knights¡».] A system message appeared, further amplifying his interest. 0. How would a worker just before leaving work feel if they were handed extra tasks? Needless to say, their expression would definitely sour. In slightly severe cases, curses might even be exchanged. That was exactly how Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong felt right now. In his heart, he even felt like fighting Seonghyun. Seriously, was this even possible? "Wow... Anemor of Thunder, Anemor of Lightning... Ah! Anemor of Thunder''s name changed to Karisha? Wow, anyway, to get more than one summon above Legendary rank at once. Isn''t that Almighty rank?" "......." Even after hearing Associate Oh Jinhyeok''s words, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong said nothing. Should he just hit Associate Oh Jinhyeok, who was oblivious and rubbing salt in his wounds? He was seriously considering it. He would have to contact the skill management team about this. It was definitely a critical bug. ''If things continue like this, he''ll keep using Add More to summon Almighty-rank summons without paying any cost...'' Add More was a considerably high-rank skill at Legendary, but it was nothing compared to an Almighty-rank summon. Add More was a skill like a star in the sky for professions that dealt with summons, such as mages, summoners, and elementalists. However, even those summons had their own ranks. They hadn''t displayed the ranks to the users because they figured some might raise summons for their cuteness, and going too much by ranks might diminish that affection. However, internally, they had such a system. Among them, Almighty-rank summons were classified as the highest tier. Both of those Anemors right now were summons belonging to that Almighty rank. ''This is driving me crazy.'' Since it wasn''t displayed to the users, Add More had ended up additionally creating Anemors that were higher than the skill''s rank without even realizing it. ''We can''t do a stealth patch, can we?'' It was a bug in the first place that Add More was additionally summoning creatures summoned through Transcended Death. The problem was that this kind of bug was also the developer''s fault. Eternal World had declared that it would guarantee all freedom to the users. In other words. "Huh? Then, Senior, if we fix this bug, we''ll have to give compensation on top of it, right?" "......Haaaaaaah." "H-hik!?" Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong glared fiercely at Associate Oh Jinhyeok. But Associate Oh Jinhyeok was right. They would have to give compensation, and the skill management team would have to suffer. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong would have to make the proposal anyway. It was understandable that he would be wary. He let out a deep sigh and shook his head as if there was no other way. "What can we do? We have to do it." "......You''ve... resigned yourself, haven''t you?" It would definitely be tough, it seemed. Probably. ''......He''ll have a hard time...... won''t he?'' Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong felt a bit uneasy as he thought about it. But he didn''t pay it much mind. Quite a few things had piled up while he was away for a day. And there were new tasks that had just come up. It seemed. "Senior, aren''t you going home?" "What home?" "Huh?" "You have a ton of reports to write too!!!" "Ah, a-ah!?" He had worked all night yesterday, and another all-nighter today. Associate Oh Jinhyeok was sad but couldn''t say anything. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong next to him was also working, clutching his dark circles that seemed to be flowing down his face. It seemed he would have to stay as well. 1. It wasn''t just Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s team that had extra work due to Seonghyun. His own Rapid Guild was the same. Especially the Guild Master. There was so much to handle. It was only their first live broadcast, but its impact was significant. Two rookies from other guilds had requested transfers, and they had even gotten involved in a collaboration with Sick Brothers. Furthermore, the public''s reaction was extraordinary. There was a lot of work related to Seonghyun''s backup team. And the profit distribution from this live broadcast was still pending. "Haaaaah." Rapid, making a sound as if her soul had left her body, briefly took off her monocle and leaned back in her chair, sinking into it. She was originally busy, but it felt like she had become more than twice as busy because of Seonghyun. One had to strike while the iron was hot, but... ''This is more like a tsunami.'' Rather, the water was rushing in so much that she felt like she would be swept away and die. It was inevitable that her complaints would increase. Still, what could she do? She had to do it. Just as Rapid gathered her strength and was about to start working again, a message arrived from Seonghyun, the very person who had caused all this busyness. ''Hmm, still, the first live broadcast was successful.'' Just as she was about to praise him, [Seonghyun - I might be hard to reach for a while. Contact me on my phone or through my sister!] [Rapid - ???? What do you mean, Seonghyun-ah.] [Seonghyun - I found a hidden field dungeon, so I think I''ll be there for quite a while. But it seems the system is partially blocked here, so the messenger might not work. I''ll contact you on my phone later.] Rapid''s expression, which had initially been lighthearted, instantly twisted. Rapid knew. She knew that Seonghyun was the one who had just caused that huge event. But even after that, he had found another hidden field? Was that even statistically possible? [Rapid - ??? What are you talking about???] [The user is in an area where messages cannot be received.] "......???" What on earth was going on? Rapid read the last message with a dumbfounded expression. She didn''t know exactly what was happening. ''He''s going to bring more work again.......'' Thinking that, she should tell Yuna to let Seonghyun know when he could do a live broadcast. She didn''t know if it would work since it was a blocked area. But she should at least try to get some footage. [Rapid - Yuna, could you please tell Seonghyun to let us know a few hours before he wants to do a live broadcast? And if he can''t, please make sure he at least records some footage.] She could send a message directly to Seonghyun''s phone, but since the work was urgent, asking Yuna would be faster than going out to send a text. As Rapid sent the message, A message popped up immediately. Wondering why she replied so quickly, he checked. [This user has their messenger turned off.] [Please try again later.] ''These two siblings are really something......!!!'' [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 115 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 115 2. Dune Wild Trail. In this place, where endless horizons stretched out like vast wilderness or barren lands, there were hardly any structures to speak of. The wide-open view often gave a refreshing feeling. But it was also desolate in a way. However, here and there were small resting places formed by gathered caravans, and small villages created by various nomadic peoples drifting about. Looking down from the sky, the already small villages and caravans turned into mere dots, but they would quickly pass by. The strong wind pressure pushing from the front. Whioooooooo¡ª¡ª! "We would have been in big trouble without the barrier." Seonghyun, riding on Anemor, let out a sigh of relief as he looked at the lightning barrier Anemor had created. If it weren''t for this barrier, they would have definitely been pushed by the tremendous wind pressure and tumbled down. That was how unbelievably fast Anemor''s speed was. Even Karisha, who possessed the power of thunder and was following behind, was only visible far in the distance. In other words, even though they were traversing at such a high speed, The fact that they hadn''t arrived yet meant that the Dune Wild Trail was that vast. Thanks to appointing Anemor as a Death Legion Commander before coming here, they were able to fly a bit faster. [¡ºAnemor of Lightning¡» has been appointed as a Death Legion Commander.] [It has become even stronger and leads the Death Legion.] It was a short message. But with just this, Anemor had become considerably stronger. Now that Anemor had reached the same level as Balthar or Fiora, There was no need to worry about aerial combat. However. Even though they were flying at such a high speed, they still hadn''t arrived. At this point, even Seonghyun tilted his head as if slightly puzzled. -Master, it seems we will arrive soon. "Hmm." -Indeed, thanks to the Third Legion Commander, we are fast. Seonghyun couldn''t doubt Leonik''s firm words. He was being so definite. If they went and it wasn''t there, it wouldn''t be too late to ask, would it? As Seonghyun thought to himself, Another person raised a question instead. -I am sensing the surroundings, but I do not feel any place similar to the Hall of Knights you speak of in this vicinity. Isn''t there some mistake? Nocturnium suddenly stepped forward. As the spirit of the Dark Fortress, capable of governing all the surrounding land, raised a question, Seonghyun did too, and Fiora, who was next to him, looked as if she agreed. Nocturnium''s abilities were certain. On the other hand, Leonik''s words relied only on his memory. It was clear which side held more credibility. However, Leonik also stepped forward firmly. -That is so. The Hall of Knights is a place that even Nocturnium, you who are a spirit of the domain, cannot detect, no matter how you try. -......It''s not that such a place doesn''t exist, but it''s hard to believe there''s one in this wasteland. -It is regrettable that you cannot believe it. However, it is a formidable place that repelled several invasions even before my physical form lost its power. Please, have a little faith. -Heeeuuum....... -Heueh? I-is it that strong of a place? -Hahaha, that is so. In my prime, I launched thorough invasions, but it was a resilient place that held its ground. Well, I presume there are no survivors now. Still, I am certain that its functions remain intact. Nocturnium took a step back at Leonik''s confident words. Fiora asked with curiosity, and Leonik readily informed her. Seonghyun, too, seemed intrigued by the story and stroked his chin as he asked back. "A place where one can increase the proficiency of knights'' skills, you say......." -Yes, that is precisely so. Not only that, but I have heard that if one proves themselves to be a knight through trials there, they can obtain wondrous things. "Hmm." It was likely a hidden piece one could obtain by completing missions. Even if not, the undertaking itself would be meaningful. However, the term "knights'' skills" was somewhat ambiguous. "When you say knights'' skills, are you referring to close-combat skills?" -Yes. Swordsmanship, spear techniques, shield mastery, and all other skills that knights handle. If things went well, could he significantly raise the level of Helena''s super strong swordsmanship here? With such anticipation, Seonghyun looked out at the vast horizon and thought. ''If I raise my swordsmanship level, what kind of skills could I acquire?'' Perhaps he could even use ultimate techniques like Hindel later on? A faint smile bloomed on Seonghyun''s lips, seemingly quite excited. It was a bit disappointing that all those who had guarded the place were dead. But there would still be many spirits. There was much to learn. Anemor, carrying Seonghyun, increased its speed even further, and Karisha, following behind, desperately chased after them with a forced, tearful expression. 3. A stone chamber shrouded in darkness. A place where even sound seemed to be trapped by the darkness, so silent it felt devoid of life, yet there was someone moving without making a sound, defying all that. A ghost-like being that did not easily reveal any sound or form, ceaselessly wielding a sword. However, one could tell simply by the fact that no spiritual energy emanated from anywhere on him. That he was not a dead being, but one still alive. In that place where countless knights had once been, the existence left behind in solitude ceaselessly swung his sword before suddenly stopping. His abundant white hair and long, pale white beard made him resemble a Taoist immortal. However, his sharply shining blue eyes and pointed ears indicated that he was not human. He had sensed someone entering this sanctuary-like place far in the distance and stopped his sword. And. "......Visitors after so long......." A dry, emotionless voice. No feeling could be discerned in it. However, a sense of loneliness could somehow be felt in the words that followed. "......But they will not be able to reach this far." How long had he been in this place? It was impossible to know. But one thing was certain. He held not even a sliver of expectation for the being that had now arrived. Even though that being might be the only hope for his liberation. "Another age will pass." He didn''t know how long it had been since the last visitor. But that was what he thought. The one who had just entered would not liberate him. And so, the elven elder closed his eyes again and swung his sword. Without any expectation or hope, he resumed his swordsmanship that had continued for eternity. For so long, only swordsmanship had been his companion. Dancing an endless sword dance, he severed his interest in the visitor he sensed in the distance. For where there is no expectation, there is no disappointment. 4. The Dune Wild Trail was a region that evoked a sense of quaint charm in its simple scenery. A somewhat desolate area reminiscent of a post-apocalypse. Seonghyun hadn''t been here long. But he had clearly recognized it as such. At what could be called the end of the Dune Wild Trail. At the place where the wilderness ended, quite a few plants had sprung up, contrary to expectations. Truly a place that could be called the end of the wilderness. Looking at the scene unfolding before Seonghyun''s eyes now, it was hard to recall the Dune Wild Trail he had seen before. And as they stood before it, Seonghyun, Nocturnium, and Fiora couldn''t help but be amazed. -It is as I remember. "Wow." -Truly... astonishing. To think there was a place like this that even I couldn''t detect....... -Heueh!? I-it''s beautifulll. In the middle of the vast wilderness, in what they had thought was just an endless horizon, upon reaching the exact location, the mirage-like horizon had vanished, and what appeared in its place were stone spires built as if from mythology, soaring high into the sky and glowing with a soft golden light. Cracks etched between the stone walls and moss blooming within them showed the passage of much time, revealing fragments of it. He didn''t know how much time had passed. But a majesty that even the long ages couldn''t steal away overflowed from the Hall of Knights. The vast meadows and green grasslands gently swaying in the breeze around it were too alien compared to the Dune Wild Trail, where even a single blade of grass was hard to find. Collapsed pillars, stairs, and half-destroyed buildings were scattered haphazardly along the paths, indicating fierce battles had taken place. "This is......." As Seonghyun said that, A system message appeared as if to prove it. [You have discovered the entrance to the hidden field dungeon, ¡ºHall of Knights¡».] [You are the first to discover the hidden field dungeon!] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºWanderer¡».] [Caution] [Several systems cannot be used within the hidden field dungeon, ¡ºHall of Knights¡».] [Once you enter the hidden field dungeon, ¡ºHall of Knights¡», you cannot re-enter after exiting.] [Do you wish to enter the hidden field dungeon, ¡ºHall of Knights¡»?] It also included a rather ominous warning. What kind of systems are they referring to with "several systems"? The ones that roughly come to mind are the messenger and various convenience systems? It didn''t particularly matter. But it felt like it would be inconvenient without them. ''Hmm.'' Seonghyun pondered for a moment. Then, he decided it would be best to contact them beforehand, just in case. He could always contact them after leaving anyway. But since he still had more to play, it would be better to say something in advance. It would be troublesome if they contacted him before that. After roughly explaining, Seonghyun was about to agree to enter the Hall of Knights. In that instant, Rapid''s messenger flashed by. [Rapid - ??? What are you talking about???] ''Hmm? Did she have more to say?'' He had already told her beforehand. He could talk to her later after leaving. Seonghyun brushed it off like that and looked at the newly appeared messages. [Entering the hidden field dungeon, ¡ºHall of Knights¡».] [You are the first to discover the hidden field dungeon!] [First discovery rewards will be granted.] [The basic effects of the hidden field dungeon, ¡ºHall of Knights¡», are increased by 50%.] [The trial rewards of the hidden field dungeon, ¡ºHall of Knights¡», are increased by 50%.] [The first discovery rewards will last until the dungeon is cleared for the first time.] [Within the hidden field dungeon, ¡ºHall of Knights¡», the proficiency of all skills excluding magic-based skills will increase by 2 times.] [You have been granted the qualification to participate in the trials of the hidden field dungeon, ¡ºHall of Knights¡».] [If you fail the trials of the hidden field dungeon, ¡ºHall of Knights¡», you will be immediately expelled from the field and will not be able to enter again.] [Even if you fail the trials of the hidden field dungeon, ¡ºHall of Knights¡», the skill proficiency you have gained will be maintained.] [Within the hidden field dungeon, ¡ºHall of Knights¡», you cannot check or use the skill window, stats, or skill level-up messages, including the messenger.] Quite lengthy messages. Reading them revealed the first discovery rewards and a basic explanation of the Hall of Knights. After carefully checking, Seonghyun dismissed the messages and looked around. This place was full of the charm of ages past, with traces of a long history visible everywhere. And amidst them, the souls of countless knights could be seen. -Heo!? A guest after so long! -Hehehe! And a person with tremendous power, no less. -A body capable of training! How envious! -Hahaha! We will help you while you are here! -Hey! Receive some of my swordsmanship! -Ahem!!! I was first! -I''m first! They suddenly rushed at him, offering to impart their swordsmanship. It seemed they were happy to have a visitor after so long. Above all, who else would have been able to see them? Seonghyun tilted his head as he looked at the souls rushing towards him. They were indeed souls in human form. Ghosts with appearances similar to humans, without exception. But they were clearly different. Pointed ears and each one boasting outstanding looks. Even those who appeared older were still handsome men and beautiful women. A single race that Seonghyun knew came to mind. "Elves?" One of the races that always appeared alongside the long history of fantasy. It was the appearance of elves. Only, as ghosts. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 116 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 116 Elves. In the fantasy setting of Eternal World, they naturally make an appearance. However, he had never even heard of elves being in the Dune Wild Trail. Of course, actual NPC elves hadn''t appeared. Even so, it was quite surprising. After all, it was known that elves originally didn''t exist in this region. ''Feels like I''ve uncovered some history.'' A long time ago, elves lived in the Dune Wild Trail. And it was none other than Leonik who brought about their destruction. As Seonghyun turned to look at Leonik with this thought, Despite being a skeleton, Leonik wore a proud expression as he bowed his head to Seonghyun. It wasn''t something to be praised for, though. Anyway. ''Elven ghosts, huh.'' Perhaps the existence of ghosts means that actual elven NPCs might also exist. Leonik did say they were all dead, but... Maybe there are survivors somewhere? A long time has passed, but... Since elves are a long-lived race, If they survived, there''s a high possibility they''re still alive. Looking for them while he was here could be a bit of fun. By the way. ''Not being able to know if my skill window and skill levels have gone up isn''t easy.'' This is literally a field where you can only train. He couldn''t even know how much his skill levels had increased. It could be frustrating in its own way, but... Seonghyun didn''t particularly care. Either way, it seemed he would have to stay here for a while. More than that... -Ahem! Didn''t you lose to me 83 times?! -What!? Even if my record against you is worse, I have 30 more disciples than you! -Hah!!! Both of you are worse than me, yet you talk so much!!! -How about we decide who gets to teach first based on their age?! -Is that an old man bragging about his age!? We''re all dead anyway!!! The elven knight ghosts had quite the sharp tongues. It seemed like he needed to deal with these elven knight ghosts first. As Seonghyun looked troubled, -How dare you!!! Behave so recklessly in the presence of our lord!!! Are you so eager to be destroyed by me again!!! Leonik''s roar exploded. Since Leonik was the one who had attacked this place before, All of them could recognize Leonik''s appearance. However, instead of being scared, they merely snorted. -Hmph! You''re just a skeletal knight. If you weren''t clinging to a noble, you''d be in the same predicament as us. -You think we''d be afraid? -Even if you possess powerful swordsmanship and strength, we will not yield!!! Leonik and Fiora, already being ghosts themselves, glared at them as if to reprimand them. Nocturnium, who wasn''t a ghost, wore a bewildered expression. Seonghyun had heard about handling ghosts and absorbing their power, but this was the first time experiencing it so directly. It was only natural to be taken aback. Dozens of ghosts, undeterred by Leonik''s roar, were trying to rush forward. And Leonik and Fiora also looked ready to charge in without backing down. -Kuhahaha!!! You dare to challenge me, the loyal knight and Second Legion Commander of our lord!! You are far from worthy!!! -Heeeh??? I-I think so tooooo....... I''ll-I''ll fight with you tooooo. As an eerie aura emanated from Leonik and Fiora, The ghosts flinched slightly. They couldn''t help but be surprised by the two''s unusual intensity. A hair-trigger situation. Seonghyun first tried to calm them down. "You guys calm down a bit, and you two over there, please calm down as well. I will decide the order." -My apologies. -Heeh....... S, sorry. Leonik and Fiora immediately calmed down and bowed their heads. -Ahem ahem. If that is what our lord desires....... -Hmm, if the visitor says so, then that must be the case, right? -That''s a very fair method. Everyone nodded in agreement with Seonghyun''s words, albeit with somewhat reluctant expressions. Being ghosts, they couldn''t disobey Seonghyun''s words. It was only natural. The same went for Leonik and Fiora. Of course, both of them genuinely seemed to be repenting. Leonik was anxiously wondering if his presumptuous behavior had displeased his master, and Fiora looked quite tearful. ''Feels like I''m taking care of children.'' Seonghyun shook his head with that thought. He patted Fiora''s head and told Leonik it was alright. Anyway, the situation was settled for now. As everyone listened to his words, Seonghyun left them for the moment and began to look around the place where they would have to stay for a while. The general structure that could be seen was a cluster of several spires forming a fortress-like area. Some spires had collapsed, and about five looked intact. Seeing that, having played Eternal World, he couldn''t help but recognize it. ''Looks like that''s some kind of gate.'' Just in case, he approached a spire. [To attempt the Knight''s Third Trial, you must first pass the previous trials.] And just in case, he approached the first one. A similar message appeared. [You have not yet met the requirements to attempt the Knight''s First Trial.] ''Not possible yet, huh.'' It seemed to be a structure that opened only after achieving certain conditions. However, nothing specific was written. Seeing that there wasn''t even a small clue, he had a general idea. These were probably conditions that would be gradually met while training. Besides the spires, he looked around various other places. A vast training ground, like a parade square, and several golems lying dormant there. And even places where one could take various rests. It was a more pleasant environment than expected. ''This place is quite good?'' Without telling the others, it would be quite useful to keep it for the guild. Because skill proficiency wasn''t increasing as easily as he thought. Especially for Seonghyun. Most of his skill levels were Legendary or Almighty rank. The only skill Seonghyun had leveled up so far was the Death Aura, which had increased with Helena''s help. This was a very good opportunity. Even though only swordsmanship skills could be improved. ''It could become quite a main skill?'' With that thought, Seonghyun looked around the various places and eventually found the training ground where he could practice. It was late because of the time it took to clear the large-scale event, the Legion of Calamity, and the journey here. But he would be able to train a little. He had recently obtained Leonik''s memories, so he could train based on that, but... Was there really a need to do that? The old saying "the more, the better" wasn''t around for no reason. As Seonghyun arrived at the training ground, he saw the excited faces of the ghosts. There were quite a few, but Seonghyun looked at one ghost who seemed the most upright among them. Unusually muscular for an elf. It was clear that his swordsmanship had also developed in that direction. Interestingly, despite that, he was quite handsome. -Ooh!? Will you choose my swordsmanship!? "Yes, I intend to." As Seonghyun replied, The burly elven ghost, overjoyed, danced around and approached Seonghyun. As if making a bold promise, he thumped his chest and said, -Kuhahaha! Well done! Well done! My swordsmanship is on a different level from those skinny weaklings. "Skinny weaklings?" -Right. Huh? Ah, aah. The burly elven ghost momentarily looked at Seonghyun''s body. Only then did he realize that Seonghyun was a skinny figure who looked similar to the other elves. He awkwardly scratched the back of his head and then... He cleared his throat and corrected himself. -Ahem, for someone of your stature, you have quite well-developed muscles compared to, uh, the less... robust. He even added honorifics. Well, anyway, that wasn''t important. What kind of swordsmanship did this ghost possess? Seonghyun, with a face full of curiosity, reached out his hand towards the burly elven ghost. Then. Whoooooosh¡ª! A teal aura swirled and gathered from the burly elven ghost''s body. It flowed into Seonghyun''s grasp. Memories and experience. He drew out and absorbed all of it. The memories of the burly elven knight flooded into Seonghyun like a panorama. "Ah!" Countless swordsmanship techniques and the hall of knights in their prime. He came to know all of it. Even what the conditions for the trials were. Having understood everything, Seonghyun recalled the burly elven knight''s swordsmanship based on the memories that had flowed into him. Then. [You have accomplished something impossible at your current level with ''Unknown Power''.] [Strength +8, Agility +2 have permanently increased.] The same stat increase as the powerful royal knight ghost he had absorbed in the Crystal Palace. This burly elven knight was also a knight of that caliber. However, based on those memories, Seonghyun could tell. That most of the dozens of knight spirits currently surrounding Seonghyun were no less skilled than this one. Skill experience? Of course, it was a tremendous opportunity. But considering the stat points Seonghyun could gain here... ''This is amazing!'' This place was literally a goldmine. As Seonghyun showed such interest, The burly elven knight ghost laughed heartily and asked, -Kuhahaha! How is it, noble one! Haven''t you seen such magnanimous swordsmanship before? Kuhahaha!!! Although you are a mage, uh, ahem, no, since you are a mage, this kind of swordsmanship must be new to you, but what do you think? Won''t you try it out? The burly elven knight exclaimed with confidence. He wasn''t wrong. Excluding Leonik, he indeed possessed the best swordsmanship skills. Seonghyun certainly felt a desire to try it out quickly. Naturally, Seonghyun drew his sword and immediately headed towards the golems that filled one side of the training ground. However. -Hmph? Noble one, I understand that you''ve gained a competitive spirit after acquiring such magnanimous swordsmanship, but wouldn''t it be too much for a mage like you to face golems? "Huh?" -Wouldn''t it be better to gradually increase your skill by practicing on those scarecrows over there before challenging the golems? "???" What was he talking about? Seonghyun tilted his head slightly, looking puzzled. Practice with scarecrows because he was a mage? Well, since the burly elven ghost didn''t know Seonghyun well, It was possible. Since it had come to this, he would have to show them directly. -Hehehe. Then, the burly elven ghost chuckled and looked at Seonghyun with an awkward expression. Shouldn''t they stop him now? No, more than that. -Hey, bonehead. Why aren''t you stopping him? The noble could get hurt or suffer a great blow to his pride if he keeps doing that. -Ahem ahem. Perhaps being a bonehead has made his eyesight deteriorate? -And it''s not like we can stop him either. Not only the burly elven ghost but also the other ghosts were worried. To them, Seonghyun, being a mage, inevitably seemed inexperienced. Even though Seonghyun hadn''t shown anything particularly impressive yet, They couldn''t help but worry based on their assumptions. What if he lost interest in swordsmanship after this? Their hearts were filled with such anxiety. Just as everyone was worried like that, Thud thud thud¡ª! A golem that had been inactive for a long time stood up, gripped its sword, and charged at Seonghyun, who had taken a stance. Towards the charging wooden golem, Seonghyun unleashed the burly elven ghost''s swordsmanship. The charging wooden golem tried to block Seonghyun''s downward slash by raising both arms as Seonghyun stepped forward. However, wind pressure swirled around Seonghyun''s sword like a storm, and Seonghyun immediately swung his sword fiercely. The second strike landed much faster than the first, destroying the wooden golem''s arms and leaving a long gash across its chest. Clang clang clang clang¡ª¡ª! Truly dominant swordsmanship! Just as the burly elven ghost had said, it was magnanimous swordsmanship. "Hmm, it''s certainly not bad?" As Seonghyun expressed his satisfaction, The elven knight ghosts stared at Seonghyun with their mouths wide open. -Whaaaaaat!?! -H-he got the memories and, and, just like that, in an instant!?! -No, no way, such talent!?!? -With such talent, why become a mage!? Seeing everyone''s astonishment, Leonik sneered and said, -Don''t you dare think that you pathetic lot can fathom the limits of our lord. Feeling a refreshing sensation after a long time, Leonik shrugged his shoulders and thought to himself. ''He can even do that? Our lord is truly amazing.'' [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 117 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 117 Having not known Seonghyun for long, Leonik had honestly been worried inside. But seeing Seonghyun display such power so readily, He was relieved and couldn''t help but newly acknowledge Seonghyun''s abilities. In any case, since Leonik reacted that way, The other ghosts couldn''t help but create a commotion. -Uwoooo! Please, take my memories too! My swordsmanship is also outstanding! -Unlike that magnanimous swordsmanship, my swordsmanship is dazzlingly beautiful! -My swordsmanship is one that bewitches the enemy! -M-my swordsmanship is ever-changing!!! The ghosts, now speaking in polite tones, urged him to take their swordsmanship next. It was a testament to their desperation. Their feelings were understandable. Wouldn''t they hope that their lost swordsmanship would once again be displayed on the ground? In a way, it could be called a deep regret. His heart wanted to absorb them all at once. However. ''It is difficult.'' Contrary to his desire, he was feeling his limits. He had felt it before, but... There was a certain restriction to absorbing memories. A large influx of memories at once was overwhelming. Didn''t he feel that when he absorbed the entire mercenary group last time? It was the same now. He had already absorbed Leonik''s memories and then the burly elven ghost''s memories. So, the remaining number of times he could absorb today was... ''Roughly once?'' Based on his senses, exactly once. He felt like he could absorb five more tomorrow. But today, this would probably be the last time. Since he would likely stay here for a long time and absorb all the memories, The order shouldn''t matter, but... Wouldn''t there be swordsmanship he personally wanted to acquire first? Then, whose memories should he absorb first? ''Dominating, so magnanimous swordsmanship, and Dominating swordsmanship, I''ve also learned Fluid swordsmanship.'' The types of swordsmanship Seonghyun had learned so far through memories were roughly these three. He wanted to learn other swordsmanship besides these. Usually, even learning just one properly takes a lot of time and talent. But Seonghyun was different. An almost god-like talent to obtain another person''s entire life as it was. Into that vessel as vast as the sea, Seonghyun sought to pour new swordsmanship. "This time, it''s your turn." Saying that, Seonghyun chose an elven ghost whose arms were noticeably longer than others. The ghost sprang forward, genuinely delighted. It was the elven ghost who had told Seonghyun earlier that his sword was ever-changing. -Ooooooh! Noble one!!! You will not regret this!!! -Tch! It seems like only the weird-looking guys are getting picked. I wish I looked weird too. -You can say that again. Some of the ghosts were jealous, but Seonghyun didn''t pay them any mind. After all, he intended to learn all of their swordsmanship styles eventually. As Seonghyun absorbed the memories and experiences of the long-armed elven ghost, The usual message appeared. [You have accomplished something impossible at your current level with ''Unknown Power''.] [Strength +2, Agility +3, Vitality +5 have permanently increased.] This swordsmanship was definitely ever-changing. A style that would bend this way and that, completely changing its trajectory mid-attack to catch opponents off guard. As he tried to extract and understand that memory, "Ugh." A headache washed over him. Was it because he was trying to recall too many memories? As he clutched his head in pain, -My lord!!! Are you alright!?! -Heeeh?!? L, Lord, are you, are you okayyyy!? "Are you alright, Lord!?" Seonghyun''s subordinates were in an uproar. Had he ever shown such a reaction before? Since Seonghyun had always displayed a stoic and calm demeanor, all of his subordinates couldn''t help but be shocked. Of course, it wasn''t just his subordinates who were surprised. Just as all the ghosts had taken a liking to Seonghyun, The spirits of the elven knights here were also startled and looked at Seonghyun with worried gazes, saying, -A-are you alright!? -N-noble one, w, what suddenly happened!? -You bastard! Talimion! What did you do!!! -B-but I didn''t do anything!!! -He''s acting like that after reading your filthy memories, and you say you did nothing!?! -Hic!? I-is it because I''m a pervert th-that he''s like this!? -It''s you, as expected!!! The ghosts yelled at the long-armed elven ghost, swinging their fists and swords, but Naturally, they passed right through the long-armed elven ghost. It was obvious since they couldn''t exert physical force. Seonghyun held up his hands towards his worried subordinates and the ghosts. "Hoo, I''m alright, everyone calm down." -Hoooooh, thank goodness, my lord. -Heeheehee, I''m so glad. I''d have sobbed if Lord disappeared again. "I''m relieved, Lord." His subordinates also quickly calmed down. -Ahem ahem, since you are alright, I shall forgive you, Talimion. -Uwaaaah, I''m sorry, noble one! -Yes, apologize more. Watching the little drama unfold, Seonghyun chuckled and let go of his now-better head. It wasn''t a great pain, but... He probably needed to rest a bit. "It''s not because of the memories, so don''t blame yourself. It seems like I overused the power to read memories." -Hoo. Please go in and rest, my lord. "Lord Leonik is right. Although you have a mountain of tasks to attend to, please consider your well-being and take some rest, my lord." -Heeh! Y-you''re right. R-rest is also part of training, they sayyyy. Touched by his subordinates'' warm concern, Seonghyun nodded. He opened the gate to the netherworld for them. Seeing the ghosts also showing various concerns, he told them he would return and then logged out. He wanted to do more to fulfill the trial conditions, but He was actually tired, so it couldn''t be helped. [Eternal World will be waiting for you.] As he looked at the logout message and returned to reality, His headache vanished as if it had been washed away. Perhaps it was because he wasn''t recalling memories anymore. He had to log out soon anyway since it was already late. He had wanted to try using the long-armed elf''s swordsmanship. "It''s a shame." He was quite disappointed. Then, suddenly, ''Could it work in reality too?'' The memories were still there. It seemed like it could. Didn''t he have a track record of avoiding Noona''s breath using Apic''s memories last time? ''I think it might work?'' With that thought, Seonghyun grabbed a long ruler in his room. And naturally, he recalled the memories of the long-armed elf. Perhaps it had stabilized somewhat. His head started to ache a little, but He didn''t feel the same headache as before. Recalling the long-armed elf''s swordsmanship, he swung the ruler. Initially swung horizontally, the ruler soon fell from above, displaying a fluid yet forceful swordsmanship. Swish! Whoosh! Swish swish! Powerful sword strikes like in the game didn''t unfold, but The form was definitely there. Swordsmanship where the ruler wriggled as if it were a living snake. Watching the ever-changing ruler, Seonghyun''s eyes widened. ''This actually works?'' Since it wasn''t his trained body from the game, His arm started to feel a little sore, but It was more fun than he expected. Was it because he was using muscles he didn''t usually use? His arm was gradually getting numb, but He didn''t stop, even incorporating footwork as he moved. With the addition of footwork, The ruler moved in increasingly unpredictable trajectories, occupying all directions. As if there were no blind spots anywhere. Ever-changing swordsmanship that moved in completely unexpected ways. Just as Seonghyun was excitedly about to swing more, "Oh my? Seonghyun-ah? Isn''t playing with a ru...ler a bit past your a...ge?" His mother, Lee Nakyeong, whose presence he hadn''t registered, was looking at him with slightly worried eyes. Even the usually calm and stoic Seonghyun was at a loss in this situation. "Ah!? Yes?! Aah!?" Seonghyun''s face flushed red, seemingly embarrassed. Seeing Seonghyun like that, his mother, Lee Nakyeong, glanced around quickly and said, "It seems like only Mom saw it. Be careful next time. Oh, and dinner''s ready, so come out and eat." "......Y-yes." Even after his mother, Lee Nakyeong, left, Seonghyun remained with a flushed face for quite a while. His older sister, Yoo Mina, saw him and asked curiously, "What''s wrong with you?" "N-nothing." "???" She hadn''t even teased him yet about being number one in the event. Yoo Mina was filled with questions, seeing Seonghyun already looking dejected. 5. The headquarters of E-World, the company servicing Eternal World, had countless brightly lit areas even at night. A testament to the many people working overtime. Especially this time, there were people working overtime because of Seonghyun. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong and Associate Oh Jinhyeok? Well, they were a given, and so were the members of the skill management team. The error phenomenon related to Transcendent Death that Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong had discovered. It was an error where Transcendent Death would activate even when Add More wasn''t using a Death Legion Commander. Of course, it wasn''t Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s or Seonghyun''s fault. Strictly speaking, it was the mistake of Park Won, the founder and so-called genius developer who created the Overlord class. But who among the skill management team personnel would dare say that? However, the victim was clear. Assistant Manager Jo Eunjo was that victim. "Hoo-oooooh." She sighed deeply, as if the ground would cave in, while trying to understand the skill''s structure. There was definitely an error in an unexpected part. Originally, Add More should only activate on skills below Legendary rank. Transcendent Death was Almighty rank. Normally, it shouldn''t activate. However, the Overlord was the most unpredictable class among the Almighty rank classes. So, this minor issue had occurred. Originally, it should have been fixed along with the errors of other Almighty rank classes. But because Park Won had made the Overlord so special, it was an exception. A report had already been submitted to the founder, Park Won, and an order to fix it had been issued. And. ''Since it''s an Almighty rank error, they have to give a corresponding reward.'' Seonghyun was bound to grow even stronger. Well, that wasn''t Assistant Manager Jo Eunjo''s concern. After all, the user management team was the one suffering because of it. Assistant Manager Jo Eunjo reviewed the compensation plan while fixing the skill. Since Park Won had already thought of the compensation plan and issued the order, She only needed to look at that and examine it. It turned out to be a random skill book. The rank was Legendary. However, the quantity was unusual. "Three of them!?" She wondered if giving three was alright, but She quickly realized that it was much better than giving an Almighty rank skill book. So, she couldn''t help but agree. Since it was a random skill book, It would be a different story if a sword-related skill useless to a mage came out or something like that. She had heard that Seonghyun had the Tome of Despair? If he changed it to a black magic skill, he might become stronger, but As she said earlier, ''It''s none of my business.'' She just needed to see what skill Seonghyun would get with that and if there would be any errors. Assistant Manager Jo Eunjo prayed inwardly that nothing like that would happen this time. Having roughly written the report, she sent it to Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, who was still at his desk. Now that she had finished her work, ''I should go home.'' Assistant Manager Jo Eunjo left work. Of course, she thought she heard screams coming from the user management team as she left, but Maybe it was just her imagination? She dismissed it as nothing important. Meanwhile, in the E-World headquarters, "Three is too muchaaaaaaa!!!" A cry of despairing wails echoed. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 118 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 118 0. Talk about a bolt from the blue. This was exactly that kind of situation. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, perhaps still not calmed down despite shouting once already, tore at his hair and yelled again. ¡°Three? Three of them!!! No, even if it''s compensation for an Almighty rank issue, isn''t this just too much!?¡± ¡°S-Senior, please calm down......¡± ¡°How can I possibly calm down?!¡± This wasn''t something he could calm down about. Furthermore, after arriving at the Hall of Knights, the ''Unknown Power'' had already appeared twice. And on top of that, three Legendary rank skill books? ¡®This is truly horrifying......!¡¯ It''s just that he couldn''t check his skill window in the Hall of Knights. That didn''t mean he couldn''t check the skill book item obtained as a reward. After all, if you know the skill''s name, you can activate it. So if he used the name he saw when acquiring it from the skill book? It meant he could figure out the skill''s effect anyway. Moreover, it was a similar concept to the box Seonghyun received during the recent event. The only difference was that only skills could be obtained, perhaps? It was the type where you could acquire a skill from a desired category. However, it was untradeable, and any kind of skill could be learned. Meaning, he could even learn swordsman or warrior-type skills. ¡°Aigoo! Why give it to him now of all timesss!!!¡± As long as he was currently in the Hall of Knights. If he learned skills like that, he would gain truly immense power. Giving melee-type skills to the already powerful Seonghyun? It was beyond horrifying. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong imagined it. It was fortunate that, for now, he only had Helena''s super strong swordsmanship. What if he acquired skills that could supplement his swordsmanship skills, or offensive abilities? Just imagining it made his stomach churn. With the sudden stomach ache. ¡°Uwaaaaaaaaaaaahk!!!¡± As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong screamed. Associate Oh Jinhyeok gulped. Knowing how serious the situation was. Even the usually oblivious Associate Oh Jinhyeok couldn''t say much. He just said. ¡°S-Senior, still, didn''t you say he can''t even take the trials if he doesn''t clear those special conditions??? W-Wouldn''t it be okay? I think he might get bored quickly and leave......¡± ¡°Hoo, hoo, hoooo.¡± Surprisingly, the casually offered consolation worked. Lee Wonsong nodded, agreeing with Associate Oh Jinhyeok''s words. Come to think of it. ¡°How many days has the user Seonghyun been in there now?¡± ¡°Yes, yes? Ah! It''s the 6th day now.¡± ¡°......That hasn''t even been a week......¡± ¡°Yes......¡± Realizing the fact he had forgotten, he might have had another surge of blood pressure. But it was alright. There were special conditions, weren''t there? Special conditions that wouldn''t allow him to take the test unless he met them, no matter what he did. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsang quickly calmed down and muttered. ¡°Those special conditions are bound to be unbearable.¡± ¡°Oh? What kind of conditions are they?¡± ¡°You can only gain the qualification to take the test if you train for more than 5 hours every day for 5 days.¡± It couldn''t be a more vicious condition. You had to train for more than 5 hours every day just to increase skill proficiency. How many people who play games to enjoy themselves would actually do that? Seonghyun could be considered to have it as a job now, but still. Could he really endure such tedious grinding? ¡°Well, today¡¯s already gone, so if he starts tomorrow, he¡¯d have to play almost as much as his total playtime so far, so it would be tough.¡± ¡°Especially for promising players like him.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°He reached level 115 in the 6 days he¡¯s been playing so far. Would he just stay cooped up here for five days?¡± ¡°That¡¯s definitely true!¡± Star players tend to get impatient even if they fall behind just a little. Even if it¡¯s just for a day. But he would have to be stuck in there for a whole five days. Without even leveling up, just increasing skill proficiency? Wouldn''t torture be better? Having been running at lightning speed until now, that¡¯s what Seonghyun would surely think. ¡®At most, it¡¯ll be three days.¡¯ Wouldn¡¯t he leave after three days? Assistant Manager Lee Wonsang made that judgment and chuckled to himself. Associate Oh Jinhyeok looked at his senior and thought. ¡®But couldn¡¯t he just diligently train instead?¡¯ He had that thought, but decided against stirring up trouble for no reason and let it pass. He was already busy enough with working overtime. And so, the night at the E-World headquarters deepened. 1. As he headed to the living room for dinner. Seonghyun, feeling awkward, couldn''t help but clear his throat. ¡°Ahem.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± When Seonghyun cleared his throat, His mother, Lee Nakyeong, chuckled, and seeing that, Yoo Mina and his father, Yoo Gwangjin, looked at them both with puzzled expressions. Wondering what was going on, they asked Seonghyun. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°How bland.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, everyone eat up~¡± With his mother Lee Nakyeong¡¯s mediation, everyone¡¯s attention turned back to the meal. During their pleasant meal. Now that the atmosphere had shifted a bit. His older sister, Yoo Mina, smiled brightly and said. ¡°Mom, Dad. Seonghyun got first place again this time.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Oh?! Is that really true?¡± ¡°Oh my? Again~?¡± At Yoo Mina¡¯s words, the whole family looked at Seonghyun, seemingly surprised. Was it because he had experienced it before? Seonghyun nodded as if it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Still, perhaps he was a little embarrassed, as he nodded cautiously. His father, Yoo Gwangjin, and mother, Lee Nakyeong, looked at Seonghyun as if seeing him in a new light. His older sister, Yoo Mina, had told them last time, so they knew, but. To win an award like this again. ¡°Heh, that game is the most famous in the world, and my son got first place?¡± ¡°Yeah, well, it was an event that only happened in a certain level bracket, but it¡¯s still pretty amazing.¡± ¡°Hehehe! It seems Mina and Seonghyun both have a knack for this.¡± ¡°Oh my? Didn¡¯t you say we needed to see more when I told you last time~?¡± ¡°Ahem, well, that¡¯s not wrong. Anyway, Seonghyun, well done.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right~ Our son getting first place again is really something~¡± ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Unable to endure his parents'' sudden praise any longer, Seonghyun, his face flushed with embarrassment, tried to brush it off. Yoo Mina grinned and said. ¡°Then let¡¯s go out for a congratulatory party!¡± ¡°No, what congratulatory party!¡± He retorted towards Yoo Mina, who was acting as if she couldn''t stand not teasing her younger brother. But the atmosphere felt unusual. His parents were nodding, making sounds of agreement like "Oho?" and "Ohora!" at his sister''s words. Seonghyun looked at the two of them with trembling eyes, as if saying, "Right?" Yoo Mina smirked. And then. ¡°Mina¡¯s right this time.¡± ¡°Ah, Father?!¡± ¡°Oh my? If not now, when else would we have a party for you, Seonghyun~¡± ¡°Uh, Mom?!¡± ¡°Hehehe, just as planned.¡± As his sister laughed like that. Seonghyun lowered his head powerlessly, as if he had no choice. He also didn''t have a good reason to stop his whole family from celebrating his achievement. However, he couldn''t help but feel embarrassed. His face turned red. But no one in his family seemed to mind. ¡°Hehehe, shall we eat out tomorrow then?¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯ll finish work early and come home tomorrow.¡± ¡°Hehe, I don¡¯t have any plans either, so I can finish early.¡± ¡°Hehe, then let¡¯s plan on going out for dinner tomorrow~¡± ¡°......Haa.¡± He was always indifferent and didn''t express his emotions, so. His family never missed such opportunities. Seonghyun shook his head in resignation. It seemed the congratulatory party tomorrow was unavoidable. Well, still. ¡®It¡¯s nice, though.¡¯ The fact that his family was having such a harmonious conversation made Seonghyun quite, no, very satisfied, and a faint smile spread across his face. 2. The next day. Seonghyun, having slept soundly, got up and immediately ate the hearty breakfast that his mother, Lee Nakyeong, had prepared. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t forget about dinner tonight~¡± ¡°Oh, Mom. Who would forget?¡± ¡°Ahem, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Ha, haha.¡± ¡°Mina and Seonghyun, both of you take care of your health while you¡¯re at it.¡± ¡°Yeah, I heard there are health issues among gamers these days~¡± Everyone seemed to have slept well, as their condition looked excellent. Seeing them like this from the morning. His father, Yoo Gwangjin, had gone to work, and his mother, Lee Nakyeong, was doing the remaining housework. And his older sister, Yoo Mina, went straight into her room. Seonghyun also finished his bustling breakfast and immediately went to his room, standing in front of the capsule. Then, a strange thought suddenly occurred to him. ¡®Is this right?¡¯ Usually, if a son and daughter were about to go into a capsule to play games, nagging like, "When are you two going to get jobs?!" would be expected. But instead. They were telling him to take care of his health while doing it. It was an unimaginable sight in the past. But now, it was a familiar scene. It felt awkward to the somewhat old-fashioned Seonghyun. ¡®Something still feels off.¡¯ Well, it was his job now anyway. Seonghyun thought so and immediately logged into Eternal World. [Welcome to Eternal World, another world, the eternal world.] [May good fortune be with player ¡ºSeonghyun¡».] As he logged in, seeing the message that felt like it had been a while. More messages cluttered Seonghyun''s vision. What was going on as soon as he logged in? [We apologize for delivering this message to user ¡ºSeonghyun¡».] ¡°Huh?¡± The first sentence was a familiar one from somewhere. Could it be? Seonghyun immediately read the rest of the messages. [The effect of the Overlord-exclusive Almighty rank skill, ¡ºTranscendent Death¡», has been adjusted.] [Originally, skills that could be additionally summoned by the Legendary rank skill ¡ºAdd More¡» were limited to Legendary rank. However, an exception was made this time for the Anemor of Thunder and the Anemor of Lightning.] [We would like to inform you that the Overlord-exclusive Almighty rank skill ¡ºTranscendent Death¡» will no longer be applied by the Legendary rank skill ¡ºAdd More¡» in the future.] [To express our apologies for this, a letter along with compensation has been sent to your inventory.] [We apologize once again.] ¡°Hmm.¡± He had expected it to be blocked. But to be blocked this quickly. Was it to be expected? The Anemor and Karisha were indeed overpowered. Since it was to be expected, he wasn''t even disappointed. He was just curious about what the compensation would be. ¡®This is actually good?¡¯ As Seonghyun thought that and took out the skill books from his inventory. The elven knight ghosts, realizing Seonghyun had arrived, began to gather from all directions. -Hey! The honored guest has arrived! -Ooh! Honored guest! Are you feeling alright? -Ooh! Looking at you, you seem perfectly fine? They all made a fuss and approached Seonghyun. But Seonghyun didn''t think much of it. When hadn''t the ghosts made a fuss? It was a fuss he had heard his whole life. He ignored it appropriately and moved on. Right now, seeing what the compensation was was more important. As he opened it. ¡ºRandom Skill Book¡»¡Á3 ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úA box from which you can randomly obtain a skill of your desired category. ¡úAll items obtainable from this skill book are of Legendary rank. ¡úWith this skill book, you can also learn skills from categories that are not your current job. ¡úHowever, this skill book cannot be traded. ¡°Oh?!¡± They were giving him a whopping three Legendary rank skill books as compensation? Was it because they blocked the Almighty rank skill? To be this generous. It was a good thing for Seonghyun. Anyway, with this. ¡®I was going to start with swordsmanship training......¡¯ How could he just leave the skill books unopened? He might not be able to see the effects by opening the skill window. ¡®But the name will appear once I acquire them.¡¯ Wouldn''t he be able to roughly use them? With that thought, Seonghyun naturally selected close-combat job skills and used all three skill books. Let''s see what comes out, he thought with anticipation. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 119 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 119 As the Random Skill Book floated up, countless pages began to unfold. Simultaneously, innumerable pages flipped past, fluttering. However, unlike before, antique pages dyed in golden light and pages boasting an even more brilliant radiance flipped past¡ªShwaaaaarararak. Shwaaaararara! Along with the sound of pages emitting various lights flipping by. Exactly three pages floated in the air before Seonghyun¡¯s eyes. Three pages, glowing with the orange light that signified Legendary rank, floated up, their forms appearing as if to show off their respective skills. The first page depicted a sword trembling as if roaring, emitting black ripples, causing countless black bloodstains to appear on the target standing before it. The second page showed a figure moving, leaving shadows like afterimages behind it, then suddenly accelerating drastically at a certain moment. The third page depicted what looked like countless swords, sabers, and spears swirling violently like a wave. -Ohhh! As expected of the noble one! -He pulled out amazing things!!! -Hah!!! Fortune has come to the noble one!!! Seeing the Legendary skills being drawn, the elven knight ghosts made an even bigger fuss. They were even clapping, thoroughly delighted. A few elven ghosts were drifting through the air, expressing their joy as if doing aerial somersaults. ¡®Do they really have to go that far?¡¯ That thought crossed his mind. And though it was a bit embarrassing. Seonghyun used the ignore-ghosts skill he had honed since childhood. Anyway, as Seonghyun waited, remembering all the apparitions that had floated above the pages. The awaited messages appeared. [You have selected and used the Random Skill Book for close-combat job classes.] [You have acquired the Knight-exclusive Legendary rank skill, ¡ºCry of Black Blood¡»!] [You have selected and used the Random Skill Book for close-combat job classes.] [You have acquired the Rogue-exclusive Legendary rank skill, ¡ºShadow Glide¡»!] [You have selected and used the Random Skill Book for close-combat job classes.] [You have acquired the Warrior-exclusive Legendary rank skill, ¡ºTorrent of Blades¡»!] ¡°Oh?¡± Each name was far from ordinary. Although, ¡ºShadow Glide¡» did seem a bit lackluster in comparison. Still, it was a Legendary rank skill. ¡®Wouldn¡¯t it be good?¡¯ First, he recalled the apparitions he saw earlier. The one from the first page was ¡ºCry of Black Blood¡». It seemed to be a skill used with a sword or weapon. Recalling the sudden appearance of countless bloodstains. ¡®Is it an attack skill that builds stacks?¡¯ It strongly felt like that sort of thing. It seemed like it would synergize well with the Mark of Death he already possessed. Next, he recalled the image of the rogue moving like an afterimage. And the way it suddenly sped up instantaneously. It appeared to be a hybrid-type skill. ¡®Isn¡¯t it likely a skill with both a basic passive effect and an active component?¡¯ ¡®Basically, it¡¯s close to a movement skill.¡¯ Seonghyun judged it as such. It was quite an intuitive apparition, after all. And finally. ¡®That one must be an attack skill with a huge number of hits, right?¡¯ The image was like a torrent, with countless swords, sabers, or spears appearing in vast numbers to attack the opponent. Well, he didn''t really need to confirm this one. It was clearly going to be a skill with many hits. Which meant. ¡®It¡¯ll be incredibly good for stacking skills like the first one I got, Cry of Black Blood, and Mark of Death.¡¯ There might be some kind of drawback, but. In any case, landing a high number of attacks consecutively was a very good thing. Though Seonghyun couldn''t see it right now. His reasoning was spot on. ¡ºCry of Black Blood¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown 10 minutes] ¡úKnight-exclusive skill. ¡úSelect one target upon skill activation. ¡úApplies Black Blood stacks to the selected target equal to the number of times the user has attacked them so far. ¡úHearing the cry of black blood from the weapon tears open wounds, dealing damage equal to 10% per Black Blood stack. ¡ºShadow Glide¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Instant Effect][Hybrid] [Cooldown 5 minutes] [Duration 10 seconds] ¡úAssassin-exclusive skill. ¡úWhen using footwork techniques, this skill assists by making the body leave afterimages like shadows. ¡úUpon attempting to use Shadow Glide, movement speed instantly increases by 1000%, and stealth increases by 500%. ¡ºTorrent of Blades¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown 10 minutes] ¡úWarrior-exclusive skill ¡úAllows momentary, relentless attacks by continuously swinging and thrusting the sword. ¡úAttacks for 3 seconds at a rate of 50 hits per second, with each hit dealing 10% damage. ¡úCannot move while the skill is in use. If Seonghyun could have seen them. They were skills worthy of admiration, every single one. Especially the synergy between ¡ºTorrent of Blades¡» and ¡ºCry of Black Blood¡» looked remarkably potent. To pull skills that happened to synergize like this, of all things. His luck was also quite good. Anyway, Seonghyun headed towards a Golem to test the skills. At the same time, as he moved smoothly, as if adopting a footwork stance. Seonghyun''s form shifted, leaving slight afterimages as if shadowed. Ssseusseusseu¡ª! ¡°Huh?¡± Noticing the abnormality immediately, Seonghyun seemed surprised and checked his own condition. He moved normally again. No shadows appeared. Then, Seonghyun moved his feet again as if performing footwork. Ssseusseusseuss¡ª¡ª. He could see himself becoming stealthy again, like a shadow. A skill like this. ¡®This is... incredibly good?¡¯ As Seonghyun thought that, he stood before a Wooden Golem. The Golem began to activate. Towards the creaking, moving Golem, Seonghyun simply gripped his sword lightly and stepped using his footwork. Pat! Ssseusseusseu! As expected, the shadows appeared. Seonghyun watched it and thought. ¡®It happens when I move while thinking about combat. Or when I think about wanting to use stealth.¡¯ This was definitely a good skill. If used together with the Mask''s effect, it seemed like it would be much easier to deceive an opponent''s eyes. And for utilizing this stealthy and confusing movement, the swordsmanship of the long-armed elf knight he had learned just yesterday came to mind. Before trying other skills, Seonghyun first used his footwork, moving like an apparition as he swung his sword. The ever-changing sword split into multiple paths, as if a flower were blooming, attacking the Wooden Golem. Seueuk, seugeok, seogeok¡ª! At first, the Wooden Golem charged forward, unaware it was even being cut. However, as it began to sustain progressively deeper cuts. It tried to block Seonghyun¡¯s attacks. But with the sword moving as if splitting into multiple paths, combined with the shadowy effect, it was difficult to even discern which was the real attack. Unable to track the sword''s position until the very end, the Wooden Golem had its neck severed. It was a thoroughly satisfying battle. -Oooh! Did you see that!? The noble one is using my swordsmanship!!! -Ooh? Ye-yes, definitely!!! -N-no. But doesn''t he seem to use it better than you? -That''s right!!! He''s much better than me!!! -Is... that something I should be happy about? As the long-armed elf knight ghost cheered excitedly. The others were astonished. He had absorbed the memory only yesterday, yet he was already far superior to the original user! Even for a case of the student surpassing the master, this was on a different dimension. Even without that shadowy effect, the swordsmanship Seonghyun wielded was decidedly superior to that of the long-armed elf knight ghost. ¡®Was it because I practiced yesterday?¡¯ Whatever the reason, as the elven knight ghosts grew excited. Another Wooden Golem began to move. This time, Seonghyun thought about using ¡ºShadow Glide¡». As he did so, his steps became 10 times faster than usual. ¡®This...... is?¡¯ Even Seonghyun was startled by the speed, but there was no time to waste. He immediately charged forward. As if he had used teleportation, he reached the Wooden Golem in an instant. The Wooden Golem, startled, crossed its arms to prepare for an attack. Seeing this, Seonghyun decided against using the long-armed elf ghost''s swordsmanship and instead used a skill he had just acquired. ¡ºTorrent of Blades¡». Upon activation, his rapidly moving feet froze, becoming fixed as if rooted to the ground. And in that state, Seonghyun¡¯s arms began to move freely. Pababababat¡ª¡ª! In an instant, he poured out countless attacks. Slashing down from above, slashing up from below, slashing from right to left, slashing from left to right, then thrusting, then slashing again. He repeated this countless times. Caught in the torrent, like a raging wave, the Wooden Golem panicked, its arms instantly blown apart. Its body didn''t fare much better. Pierced and slashed, countless wounds instantly appeared as it was pushed back. ¡®Won¡¯t it chase me?¡¯ The Wooden Golem had thought, not giving up its defense even as it retreated. But Seonghyun, who seemed ready to charge at any moment, didn''t move. ¡®This is it.¡¯ Seeing his feet fixed in place, Seonghyun realized. The inability to move was the drawback. However, in that brief moment, he had succeeded in landing dozens of attacks. If this weren''t the Hall of Knights. Dozens of Mark of Death stacks would have exploded, surely inflicting massive damage. Then, he suddenly recalled the new stacking skill he had acquired. ¡ºCry of Black Blood¡». ¡®Here goes.¡¯ As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Seonghyun activated ¡ºCry of Black Blood¡». Instantly, a black energy bloomed from Seonghyun¡¯s sword. Tiiiiiiing¡ª¡ª! As if resonating, Seonghyun¡¯s sword hummed with a black echo. The wounds on the Wooden Golem transformed, resembling black bloodstains, and due to the sword''s vibration, cracks began to spread rapidly from these stains. It looked like a contagious disease as the wounds seemed to multiply, spreading across the Wooden Golem''s entire body. Finally, as all the wounds connected. Chwaaaaaaaa¡ª¡ª¡ª! The Wooden Golem¡¯s entire body was torn into a thousand, ten thousand pieces. Seonghyun stared blankly as the Wooden Golem scattered like dust. The ghosts also stared blankly at the sight. It was terrifyingly powerful. While the full extent of the damage couldn''t be confirmed solely from the Wooden Golem. One thing was certain. ¡®The synergy is incredible?¡¯ As Seonghyun thought this, feeling satisfied with the skills. All the ghosts began to shower him with praise. -Amazing!!! Noble one!!! -To think I''d see such techniques in my entire life!!! -Kheheuuu!!! This is the essence of the sword!!! -Someone like you is truly worthy of learning our swordsmanship!!! ¡®That last one''s a bit weird?¡¯ As Seonghyun thought this, tilting his head slightly. A few clueless ghosts shouted out. -Please accept our swordsmanship!!! -Aish! Didn''t I tell you not to be so blatant!!! -Aah....... ¡®So their goal was passing on their swordsmanship after all.¡¯ Such unwavering ghosts. Well, it wasn''t something he couldn''t oblige. He had come here for that purpose in the first place. So, there was no need for them to rush him. Seonghyun looked at them and spoke reassuringly. "You don''t have to rush like that. I will learn all of them. Don''t worry." -Oooh! -Keuhiya! This is it!! -Uahahaha! Thank you! Thank you! Perhaps because they were slightly frightened by Seonghyun¡¯s sudden headache yesterday, the ghosts approached him timidly. Seonghyun knew this, so he didn''t say anything. His condition was good now, anyway. It seemed he could probably receive more today than yesterday. Roughly five times? Well, that was plenty. ¡®Alright then, whose swordsmanship should I try learning this time...¡¯ As Seonghyun was about to choose a swordsmanship style, as if he were shopping. Though he didn''t notice it, the area around Seonghyun¡¯s heart was glowing with a turquoise light. Along with the faint appearance of red hair. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 120 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 120 3. [You have accomplished something impossible at your current level with ''Unknown Power''.] [Strength +2, Agility +8 have permanently increased.] The third swordsmanship¡ªno, the third elf knight Seonghyun chose¡ªwas a rather nimble-looking elf knight. And the swordsmanship she possessed was none other than. Swish! Swish! Swishwish!!! ''Oh?'' It was a fast swordsmanship. Seonghyun was quite intrigued by its movement, faster than any other swordsmanship he''d seen. The key point was to hold the sword lightly, focusing on releasing tension rather than applying force. Simultaneously, it was crucial to use flexibility and elasticity in the rest of the body to increase speed. Since it wasn''t fundamentally different from the swordsmanship styles he had learned so far. And he even had the memories. Adapting wasn''t difficult. Seonghyun''s swordsmanship instantly became faster. However. ''Fast, but shallow.'' It was certainly incredibly fast. But its power wasn''t that great. Compared to Leonik''s swordsmanship or that of the burly elf knight, its impact felt light, not even half of half their power. It was closer to a swordsmanship style that gradually wore down the opponent rather than delivering powerful blows. If this were reality, it might be a different story. But since this was a game, where opponents didn''t just die from a single deep stab. Relying solely on this kind of fast swordsmanship could be disadvantageous. But who was Seonghyun? ''It''s optimized for building stacks, though?'' If he went in the direction of building stacks to amplify power. This fast swordsmanship could prove effective, just as it might in reality. Thinking that, Seonghyun deemed it a useful swordsmanship style. -Heo, he''s achieved remarkable progress in an instant again. -Truly surprising. -How can such talent exist!? Once again, the elven knight ghosts couldn''t hold back their admiration. No matter how much memory one possessed. It shouldn''t be possible to become superior to the original owner of that memory. Yet, as soon as Seonghyun absorbed the memories, he displayed prowess exceeding that of the original user. It didn''t end there; he obtained additional new memories. [You have accomplished something impossible at your current level with ''Unknown Power''.] [Agility +2, Vitality +8 have permanently increased.] Having learned the ever-changing swordsmanship, this time he obtained memories of a dazzling swordsmanship. Unlike the ever-changing swordsmanship acquired earlier. The dazzling swordsmanship seemed like a mix of fast swordsmanship and ever-changing swordsmanship. It was a style that involved mesmerizing the opponent, inducing openings, and then attacking. Especially when mixed with Seonghyun''s ¡ºShadow Glide¡». It truly became a dreamlike swordsmanship, bordering on an illusion technique. In this too, he surpassed the original owner of the memory. No. -Heoooh!!! That could be called the Secret Principle of the Phantom Sword!!! -Truly, I cannot contain my astonishment!!! -Noble one, you truly are...!!! The elven knight ghosts were freaking out in amazement. After that, he acquired other swordsmanships, no, other memories. This time, it was a balanced, solid swordsmanship. [You have accomplished something impossible at your current level with ''Unknown Power''.] [Strength +5, Agility +5 have permanently increased.] Seeing the perfect balance achieved this time, the elven knight ghosts once again went wild. It was a triumphant result achieved as the memories of various swordsmanships became compatible, compensating for each other''s weaknesses. Thus, in this single day, he acquired a total of five memories. In other words, it meant he had gained a total of 50 additional stat points. It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say he had devoured them greedily. As if greedily devouring the elf knights'' memories wasn''t enough. Seonghyun continued his swordsmanship training consecutively afterward. He had already eaten a hearty breakfast, and he skipped lunch. ¡°Hoo, hoo.¡± He was out of breath, gasping raggedly, yet he still didn''t avoid combat with the Wooden Golems. Simultaneously, he didn''t forget to work on his skill proficiency, using all the newly acquired, usable skills repeatedly. However, despite repeating these actions over and over, a sense of frustration remained within Seonghyun. Just yesterday, he had acquired three swordsmanship styles, including Leonik''s, and today alone, he had gained five more. Including the swordsmanship memories he already possessed, he had a total of eight styles. ''Why can''t I combine them into one?'' It was exceedingly difficult to merge them into a single entity while preserving their individual characteristics. Since he lacked a memory encompassing all of them combined. Perhaps it was only natural. But considering how the individual techniques interacted and further developed each other upon being learned. He had thought combining them into one might somehow work out. It wasn''t easy. -Heo! Trying to integrate the swordsmanships into one. -That''s reckless. -Shouldn''t we stop him? -B-but, perhaps the noble one might be able to achieve it? -Heo! And it makes sense to harm his body trying to achieve something that only exists in legends!? Arguments even broke out among the ghosts. Since Seonghyun''s actions looked utterly reckless. Their reaction was understandable. However, Seonghyun turned a deaf ear to such talk. ''It''s the first day.'' It was still only the first of the five days, so he shouldn''t be impatient. Ignoring other opinions, Seonghyun continued to immerse himself in swordsmanship and skill training. -Heo! His spirit, at least, is tenacious. -Indeed, it is. -Won''t he achieve something, whatever it may be? -Hey! You fool! How many geniuses have died young doing things like that!? We should stop him later, at least. -That''s true. The ghosts also chattered amongst themselves, saying Seonghyun''s attempt was impossible and that they''d have to stop him eventually. Seonghyun had ears, so he heard them, but. Since he had to train for at least 5 hours a day for the next five days here anyway. He was just doing this integration attempt on the side while fulfilling that requirement, so he didn''t pay it much mind. ''It''s good if it works, a shame if it doesn''t,'' he thought. He tuned out the sounds around him once more, focusing solely on the sword. It seemed he had completely forgotten that he was primarily a Black Mage. 4. As the capsule door opened. Seonghyun burst out as if forcefully exhaling. ¡°Puhaa¡ª¡ª!¡± He had definitely undergone strenuous training in the virtual world. Yet, it felt as if he had done intense physical exercise in reality. However, it wasn''t an unpleasant or uncomfortable feeling. ''Refreshing?'' It was a strange sensation. Should he compare it to the feeling after a grueling march, when fatigue suddenly vanishes? Was it due to adrenaline being secreted? He could actually feel his muscles coming alive beneath his sweat-soaked body. It was strange since he hadn''t actually exercised. Was it because he absorbed various memories and consciously embodied them? ''It even feels like my muscles absorbed the memories?'' He also felt like his physical condition had improved compared to before. There was no pain or discomfort, only a feeling of lightness and refreshment. He figured it probably wasn''t a bad thing. Nevertheless, his body was drenched in sweat, so he quickly went to the bathroom to wash up. As he came out after finishing his shower. He ran into his sister, Yoo Mina, who had just come out of her room too. "I need to get ready too." It was her way of telling him to get out. Seonghyun nodded as if he understood and was about to leave when a thought struck him. "Do you know where we''re going today?" "Huh? Ah... I heard Dad knows a Korean restaurant we''re going to?" "Oh! Nice." While a Korean restaurant might typically seem like parents'' preference. Surprisingly, it matched Seonghyun''s taste. Since the celebration party was for Seonghyun''s achievement. It seemed they had matched it to his preference. In contrast to the pleased Seonghyun, his sister Yoo Mina wore a slightly sullen expression. "I prefer Western food though..." "Well, don''t you like Korean food too?" "True. Besides, we''re going to celebrate my little brother...!" Yoo Mina said this as she reached out her hand to roughly ruffle Seonghyun¡¯s hair. Seonghyun unconsciously saw the hand, reacted instantly, ducked slightly, and used footwork to evade it. Seeing Seonghyun dodge instantaneously, Yoo Mina looked at him with a bewildered expression. "Huh?" "Ah, don''t touch my hair. I just washed it." "Uh, uhh???" Looking at the slightly annoyed Seonghyun, Yoo Mina still wore an expression of incomprehension. A typical older sister might have reacted with, ¡®How dare you dodge?¡¯, but. Seonghyun¡¯s sister, Yoo Mina, was different. Although she had quit now, she was undeniably a former member of the national Kendo team who had even competed in world championships. Not only that, Yoo Mina was hailed as a genius, possessing outstanding talent. ¡®Even if I put no power into my hand, he dodged it this lightly?¡¯ Finding it strange, Yoo Mina reached out her hand once more. Unlike just moments ago, this time it was with firm intent. Hwik! As her hand swung rapidly, Seonghyun quickly read its trajectory, used footwork to retreat while simultaneously leaning his upper body back, swiftly evading. However, this time, Yoo Mina¡¯s hand was also persistent. Lifting her heels, using footwork as if performing Kendo steps, she pushed off the ground with her back foot while extending her front, launching herself forward like an arrow. Seeing her charge, Seonghyun used his footwork again, pivoting as if rotating back to his original spot. Yoo Mina¡¯s hand chased after Seonghyun as he quickly spun sideways to escape, but Seonghyun was slightly faster. Completely thwarted. Yoo Mina asked with an expression of genuine disbelief. "Huh??? How did you dodge that???" "Seriously, aren''t you even listening when I tell you not to do it?" "N-no, Seonghyun, I''m asking how you dodged my hand???" "Huh?" As if only just realizing it himself, Seonghyun looked down at his own body. Normally, even for Seonghyun, while he might have dodged the first attempt, he should have been caught without resistance by his sister¡¯s second, determined reach. But this time, he had been able to dodge. "You, you!?! It''s because you gained memories, isn''t it!?!" "Yeah, looks like it." "Wow! Woah! No! Wow, that''s insanely broken. If it works in reality too, isn''t that just too OP?" "No, it doesn''t work exactly like in the game." "No! Still, even just that much is incredible! Normally, seeing, reacting, and dodging like that is something only athletes can do. Wow, why did I even train?" Yoo Mina spoke as if truly aggrieved. Seonghyun also seemed a bit stunned, merely scratching his cheek. Anyway, it was getting close to the time they needed to leave. Yoo Mina also went into the bathroom to wash up. While showering, she could be heard muttering complaints like, ¡®Wow, he''s my brother, but damn, that''s too much,¡¯ ¡®Wow, shouldn''t athletes just give up now?¡¯, and ¡®I finally understand how those people who called me unfair felt.¡¯ At first, Seonghyun wondered if she had a point, but then again. Isn''t it his own ability anyway? He had suffered quite a bit because of his circumstances leading him here. Isn''t it okay for him to have this level of ability? Thinking that, he shrugged his shoulders. In any case, it wasn''t a bad thing. ''Won''t have to worry if someone tries to pick a fight from now on.'' He didn''t have a full grasp of just how incredible the ability he had obtained really was. Just as Yoo Mina finished washing up and came out. She looked at Seonghyun with eyes truly filled with resentment. "Hoo, my body definitely feels a bit better too." "Yeah, seems like it." Seonghyun replied nonchalantly. Seeing his casual attitude, Yoo Mina felt a genuine urge to smack him, but. Still, wasn''t he her beloved younger brother? "Anyway, seems like that ability of yours would be good to utilize?" "Utilize?" "Yeah, often, if your physical body is healthy, your performance in games improves too." "But my body is improving even without exercising." "......Seriously, don''t you dare say things like that anywhere else." Hearing the genuine anger in his sister''s voice, Seonghyun gulped nervously and nodded. Anyway. "Since you have the ghosts'' memories, you probably don''t need to learn martial arts or things like that, but doing weight training would be good. Actually, to make better use of that ability, you should probably go to the gym." "Ah, is that so?" "Yeah, you could come to the place I go." "Hmm." Seonghyun thought for a moment about the sudden suggestion. Meanwhile, the whirring sound of his sister using a hairdryer filled the background, but. He didn''t pay much attention to it. ¡®Come to think of it, weight training.¡¯ His body was already improving anyway. ''Wouldn''t be bad.'' Besides, just staying home playing games all day felt a bit off too. Of course, he had no intention of going to the same place as his sister. ''Who knows what she''d try to pull.'' A thought process typical between close siblings. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 121 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 121 5. Kwon Sikdang, famous for its Korean fine dining. Normally, it was a restaurant where getting a reservation even a month in advance was difficult, let alone the day before. But there are exceptions to everything in the world. Like being well-acquainted with the chef. Or having invested when the restaurant was being set up. If so, one could manage to secure a table, albeit with difficulty. Yoo Gwangjin met both of those conditions. ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°How could you book a place like this just a day in advance?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Unaware of this fact, the two looked around, seeming surprised. As they were guided to a private room and sat down. Both were surprised by the rather nice atmosphere, including the interior design. Having heard it was a Korean restaurant, they had expected, at best, a traditional Hanok-style place. They hadn''t expected such a modern restaurant. To think they''d actually come to a place famous on social media. The kind that''s often featured on TV, too. While Seonghyun and Yoo Mina were looking around. Their parents watched the two with amused smiles, looking perfectly at ease. ¡°Hoho, it seems quite fascinating for both of them~¡± ¡°Hmm, perhaps we should have come sooner.¡± ¡°That''s what I was thinking~¡± Judging by their reactions, it seemed the parents had visited quite often. Now that they think about it. ¡®They did ask us to come with them before......¡¯ ¡®And we refused, didn''t we?¡¯ Because it''s typical to refuse when parents suggest going somewhere together. As Seonghyun and Yoo Mina were regretting their past selves. The door to the room quietly slid open. They thought food or perhaps menus were being brought in, but... ¡°Ah! Representative Yoo, you''ve arrived? Welcome, welcome!¡± It was a distinguished-looking man in a smart chef''s uniform, wearing a bright smile¡ªclearly someone important. As Seonghyun and Yoo Mina looked bewildered, wondering what was going on, they saw their father, Yoo Gwangjin, and their mother rise from their seats, and reflexively stood up as well. ¡°Haha, thank you for the warm welcome, Representative Kwon.¡± ¡°Oh, Representative Yoo, you are always welcome here.¡± Seonghyun and Yoo Mina were slightly dumbfounded by the chef''s unexpectedly warm greeting. They knew their father, Yoo Gwangjin, ran a company, but... Was he really on such friendly terms with the owner-chef of such a famous restaurant? Then again, being able to book a restaurant like this a day in advance would require some level of connection. They knew it logically, but... It didn''t quite register in their minds. Seeing this different side of their father was unexpected. He always lived frugally, and hadn''t they lived in the same house for 20 years without moving? That''s why neither of them really knew. ¡®I knew we lived comfortably enough, but......¡¯ ¡®Is Dad doing even better than we thought?¡¯ Seonghyun and Yoo Mina whispered to each other. As they were doing so, Yoo Gwangjin introduced the family members behind him. ¡°Ah, this is my wife, whom you¡¯ve met before, as you know, and these two are our daughter and son.¡± ¡°Ah! So your children came with you today!¡± ¡°Hahaha, yes, we''re here because there''s something to celebrate for our son today.¡± ¡°Ah! The son you mentioned before...? Was his name Seonghyun?¡± At Yoo Gwangjin''s words, the middle-aged man called Representative Kwon looked at Seonghyun with a spark of interest in his eyes. As he looked at Seonghyun, Seonghyun answered awkwardly. ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°Hahaha, congratulations. Well then, since you came to enjoy time as a family, I will take my leave now. I should pay special attention to the cooking today.¡± ¡°Hahaha, Representative Kwon, your cooking is amazing even without special attention. Just how delicious are you planning to make it?¡± ¡°Hahaha, oh no, not at all. It¡¯s still lacking. Well then, I shall withdraw.¡± After exchanging these pleasantries, the family sat down again. As for what exactly was going on, both siblings were still bewildered, but their father, Yoo Gwangjin, acted as if it was nothing unusual. When the two looked at him, as if demanding an explanation, Father Yoo Gwangjin just chuckled and said, ¡°We got acquainted a long time ago.¡± ¡°That much is obvious, right?¡± ¡°......Isn¡¯t that explanation a bit lacking?¡± ¡°No, Dad, what kind of business do you run to have connections like...?¡± ¡°Haha. I just run a small company.¡± Seeing their father brush it off vaguely, both siblings looked puzzled, tilting their heads before shaking them. Since he was trying to brush it off like that, it felt a bit awkward to deliberately press him. Besides, neither of them was the type to do that. It seemed best to just let it go, thinking, ¡®Wow, Dad is more impressive than we thought~¡¯. And so, various dishes were served. They had heard it was Korean cuisine and expected the kind of Korean food they''d eaten before, but it was completely different. ¡°Wow!? Is this really Kimbap? It¡¯s so delicious!¡± ¡°This is so different from what I imagined!¡± His older sister, Yoo Mina, and Seonghyun both had similar reactions. It perfectly suited the tastes of Seonghyun, who liked Korean food, and also Yoo Mina, who preferred Western food. They said it was fine dining that fused Korean and Western styles, and it truly was. As both siblings ate happily, finding the food perfectly to their liking, their father, Yoo Gwangjin, who had brought them, watched with a pleased expression. Of course, their mother, Lee Nahkyung, felt the same way. ¡°If you like it this much, why didn¡¯t you just follow Mom and Dad around sooner?¡± ¡°Aish, we didn¡¯t know you were going out to eat food this good!¡± ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Hohoho, honestly. I told you the kids would come if we said we were going out for delicious food, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Perhaps mothers really do know their children best? Father Yoo Gwangjin cleared his throat, looked away feigning indifference, and enjoyed the harmonious family time. Amidst the truly delicious and splendid dishes being served, Seonghyun felt nature''s call, perhaps from drinking too many beverages, and rose from his seat. ¡°Where is the restroom here?¡± ¡°Ah, leave the room, go left, and turn the corner; you¡¯ll see it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Seonghyun stood up and left the room. Finding the restroom wasn''t difficult. After finishing his business and washing his hands thoroughly, he came out. A spacious hall came into view. Seonghyun briefly took in the atmosphere, which was quite different from the private room. The style itself seemed similar, though. He thought it might be nice to eat in the hall next time. Just as Seonghyun was thinking this and about to return to the room, Clap clap clap clap! Suddenly, the sound of applause rang out. "What''s that?" Seonghyun turned his head towards the sound to check. Some blonde foreigner was clapping after tasting a dish. "A... Hanbok?" Moreover, the blonde foreigner was wearing a modernized Hanbok. She was an attractive woman with captivating green eyes. But seeing someone with such obviously exotic features wearing a modernized Hanbok felt peculiar. Seonghyun decided to just ignore her and walk away. ¡°Truly marvelous!!! It is clearly fusion, yet it embodies the Han and Eol of Joseon! A truly magnificent dish!!!¡± "What kind of crazy nonsense is she spouting?" ¡®Of course, I admit it''s delicious, but... to suddenly jump up from her seat, clap, and exclaim like that... maybe it warrants it, but to actually do it.¡¯ "She''s something else." "Definitely a strange person." Thinking this, Seonghyun tried to subtly move away. But a strange sense of de?ja? vu made him look at the woman again. Her quite youthful appearance and distinctly foreign features. A face he felt like he''d seen somewhere before. On top of that. ¡°Ah, is this not the true soul of Joseon!? I, too, am filled with admiration and emotion!¡± That crazy way of talking. Besides, despite being a foreigner, her Korean was remarkably fluent. It all felt strangely familiar somehow. Then, suddenly, he recalled a memory¡ªof a woman looking just like her, but wearing a sword. ¡®Kim Chegeon?¡¯ No, why would Kim Chegeon be here? He was so startled for a moment that he almost blurted it out. But Seonghyun, being naturally calm, managed to hold it in. Anyway, just as Seonghyun recognized Kim Chegeon, wouldn''t she recognize him too? Since Seonghyun''s real-life appearance was also similar to his game character, the probability of being recognized was high. ¡®Better run away quickly.¡¯ It wasn''t that he particularly disliked or hated Kim Chegeon, but as he could see, she didn''t seem like an easy person to get involved with in reality. Running away was the best strategy. As Seonghyun turned his head to re-enter the room, he noticed something turquoise-green and faint beside Kim Chegeon. It was a familiar form, one Seonghyun had seen his entire life. ¡®A ghost?¡¯ However, it was different from the usual ghosts. He might have seen hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of ghosts so far, but this was the first time seeing one like this. "A foreign ghost?" No. He occasionally saw them wandering the streets. It wasn''t because it was a Western ghost. ¡®Why is it wearing medieval armor and a sword?¡¯ The fact that it was equipped with medieval armor and a sword, just like in a game, was quite peculiar. Anyway, that wasn''t important right now. Since neither the ghost nor Kim Chegeon had noticed Seonghyun yet, now was his chance. With that thought, Seonghyun quickly went back into the room. Fortunately, he hadn''t been spotted. "Phew." ¡°Huh? Seonghyun, what¡¯s wrong?¡± At his sister''s rather affectionate question, Seonghyun shook his head as if to say it was nothing. ¡°It''s nothing.¡± ¡°Hmm? Okay?¡± Yoo Mina reacted that way and let it go, figuring it was nothing serious. Seonghyun, on the other hand, had brushed it off outwardly, but... he was incredibly curious. ¡®What was that ghost attached to Kim Chegeon?¡¯ Well, Kim Chegeon is a Joseon fanatic, so it''s possible she''d come to a Korean fine dining restaurant. Wearing a modernized Hanbok was a bit much, but well, that''s also plausible. But what about that ghost attached to her? Ghosts sometimes attached themselves to people. Should he call them the so-called guardian spirits? Sometimes, in the head families of clans or families with deep histories, a distinguished ancestor might linger. In other cases, a guardian spirit might attach itself simply because it admires the person''s qualities. He didn''t know which case applied, but one thing was certain. ¡®It looked like a medieval knight, right?¡¯ It seemed to be the spirit of a knight who had actually existed in reality. Could it be because he was just in the Hall of Knights? He felt curious about the ghost that seemed to be dressed as a knight. But it wasn''t like he could just go over and act like he knew Kim Chegeon. If it was that kind of ghost, couldn''t it perhaps provide some direction for the problem Seonghyun was currently grappling with? Thinking about the game even while eating. He seemed to have a serious addiction, but he was genuinely curious. As time passed and the meal concluded, the chef came out personally to offer his thanks. Seonghyun put his thoughts aside, expressed his gratitude as well, and just as they were about to part ways, a voice called out from the distance. ¡°Ms Yoo Mina???¡± ¡°Hm?¡± At the voice recognizing his sister, Seonghyun, his sister Yoo Mina, and their parents all turned their heads. Standing there was the beautiful, green-eyed blonde woman from before, looking elegant in her modernized Hanbok. Seeing her, Seonghyun looked at his sister quizzically. She recognized Sis first, not me? ¡®Do Kim Chegeon and Sis know each other?¡¯ ¡®What is going on?¡¯ Just then, his sister Yoo Mina was also looking at Kim Chegeon with an expression that suggested she was a headache. As if she already knew how bothersome she was. ¡®Well, she is bothersome.¡¯ Anyway, while he didn''t know the exact situation, one thing was certain. ¡®Luckily, she didn''t recognize me, at least.¡¯ Just as Seonghyun inwardly sighed with relief, Kim Chegeon, who had been looking at Yoo Mina, noticed Seonghyun beside her and jumped in surprise. ¡®Surely she didn''t recognize me?¡¯ ¡°E-eh!? A-are you not Seonghyun-nim!? H-here, n-no, more importantly, w-what is your relationship with Ms Yoo Mina...?!¡± Just when you think it''s safe... She recognized me. As Seonghyun looked on in dismay, Yoo Mina asked, sounding rather surprised, ¡°Huh? Seonghyun, you know Clara?¡± ¡°Ahem! In Joseon, please call this one Kim Chegeon.¡± ¡°Oh my? Seonghyun dear, who is this~? Do you know each other~?¡± ¡°Ahem, indeed.¡± ¡°No, she recognized Sis first!¡± And now, with the sudden entry of his parents into the fray, amidst the utter chaos, -Hallo?! Can you see me!? Then please stop my descendant!!! Even the ghost decided to chime in. "Haaaah." [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 122 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 122 The situation had devolved into utter chaos in an instant. Even Seonghyun couldn''t help but let out a sigh. ¡®First, let¡¯s sort out the situation.¡¯ The one thing Seonghyun could deal with right now... Was one. ¡®This is actually perfect timing.¡¯ With that thought, Seonghyun connected with the ghost attached to Kim Chegeon¡ªthe one called Clara. He didn''t absorb its memories right away. He established a connection first. -Oh!? W-what is this? ¡®I¡¯ve just connected with you for a moment.¡¯ -Oho?! Once connected with the guardian spirit, it could understand Seonghyun even when he spoke with his thoughts. Originally, it had been speaking in German, so only Seonghyun could understand it, but by connecting like this, their intentions became mutually intelligible. Seonghyun first connected with the guardian spirit and then assessed the situation. So. ¡°You and Ms. Kim Chegeon know each other, Sis?¡± ¡°S-Sis? Then, does that mean Player Yoo Mina is Seonghyun-nim''s older sister!?¡± ¡°Well, yeah, something like that. How do you know Clara?¡± ¡°Keuheum! This one is called Kim Chegeon! Please do not use the name Clara in this land of Joseon, Player Yoo Mina.¡± ¡°...You really haven''t changed at all...¡± Clara, who kept denying her real name and insisting she was Kim Chegeon, and Yoo Mina, who looked thoroughly fed up. Seonghyun could now somewhat piece things together. ¡°Then, don''t tell me you two...¡± ¡°Yeah, we sparred once. It was at an event where various swordsmanship practitioners interacted, in our capacity as national kendo representatives.¡± ¡°Keum, keum, for this one, it was an occasion to splendidly witness the swordsmanship of Joseon and broaden one''s horizons.¡± ¡°...¡± After hearing his sister''s and Kim Chegeon''s words, Seonghyun glared at his sister, Yoo Mina. ¡®Was Sis the reason Kim Chegeon ended up like that?¡¯ It seemed likely. ¡®Could it be that she became obsessed with ¡®Joseon¡¯ after losing to Yoo Mina and ended up this way?¡¯ -Indeed, that is a correct thought. After that, my descendant went on and on about ¡®Joseon, Joseon,¡¯ became completely fascinated by it, and ended up coming all the way to this distant foreign land. Even the guardian spirit confirmed that his thought was correct. Actually, rather than it being his sister Yoo Mina''s fault... ¡®She''s really something else.¡¯ It was true that Kim Chegeon was the strange one. To put it mildly, she was strange. In fact, it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to call her a nutcase. Therefore, Seonghyun scratched his head for a moment before quickly trying to manage the situation. ¡°It was nice meeting you like this, but we''re in the middle of a family gathering...¡± ¡°Ah, my apologies for the intrusion. Then, I shall contact you next time. May the parents of Seonghyun-nim and Player Yoo Mina also be in good health.¡± Kim Chegeon said, bowing deeply before leaving. And then, the guardian spirit attached to Kim Chegeon urgently exclaimed. -Aaat! P-please, take my memories and experiences too! A-and if you often encounter my descendant, please try to stop her!!! Seonghyun couldn''t ignore the guardian spirit''s urgent words. He absorbed its memories. He had been curious about it anyway. If anything, it was a good thing. Though, whether he could stop Kim Chegeon was another story. Anyway, as he absorbed the memories, he had an epiphany regarding the fusion of sword skills he had been pondering all day. ¡®Ah?!¡¯ Seonghyun scratched his cheek at the surprisingly simple method. ¡®This... I should try it out as soon as I get home, shouldn¡¯t I?¡¯ As Seonghyun thought this and grinned, Yoo Mina, who saw it, glared at him and said, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve fallen for Clara?¡± ¡°What? What are you talking about???¡± Seonghyun¡¯s expression turned serious, as if he¡¯d heard something utterly absurd. Seeing that, Yoo Mina looked at Seonghyun with a displeased expression. As if she were interrogating him. However, Seonghyun glared back at his sister, looking genuinely dumbfounded. Seeing that, Yoo Mina clicked her tongue and shook her head. ¡°Aigoo, I was wondering if my little brother was finally getting a girlfriend~¡± ¡°Oh my, my? That¡¯s what I thought too? Seonghyun, dear, it looked like that young lady was interested in you~?¡± As his sister and mother, Lee Nahkyung, said that, Seonghyun, looking a bit annoyed himself, glared at them both. His father, Yoo Gwangjin, stepped in. ¡°Keum, both of you, stop it. You''re making Seonghyun uncomfortable.¡± ¡°Father...!¡± As Seonghyun looked delighted at his father, Yoo Gwangjin, who had taken his side for the first time in a while, Father Yoo Gwangjin added one more thing. ¡°Keum keum, Seonghyun. This dad is okay with a foreign daughter-in-law too.¡± ¡°Aaah!!! Dad!!!¡± As Seonghyun also shouted "Dad!" for the first time in a while, yelling loudly, the whole family burst into laughter, ha-ha, ho-ho. They were indeed a harmonious family. Except for Seonghyun. ¡°Haaaah.¡± Anyway, his entire family was wholeheartedly serious about teasing him. But well, it was okay. Because Seonghyun had obtained what he wanted. The memories obtained through the guardian spirit. He had learned a technique to unite sword skills with different attributes into one. ¡®I want to go test it out quickly.¡¯ 6. After returning home, he immediately washed up and changed his clothes. He got into the capsule and logged in. [Welcome to Eternal World, another world, and an eternal one.] [May Player ¡ºSeonghyun¡» be blessed with good fortune in battle.] He let the phrases that surfaced in his mind drift away like a beam of light. Seonghyun headed to the training grounds. As Seonghyun, who had suddenly appeared, headed straight for the training ground, -What the!? -The esteemed one suddenly appeared and is heading to the training grounds? -Could it be that he has attained some sort of enlightenment? -Ehei! Man, even so, it''s not possible to combine sword styles into one like that! -Wouldn''t he at least try something similar? -He''s a genius, so he might be able to do it with time, but at least not now when not even a full day has passed! It''s absurd! Yes! Absolutely. Even as they said such things, the elf knight ghosts headed towards the training ground where Seonghyun was going. Even though they knew it wouldn''t work. The reason was that they wanted to see Seonghyun gradually develop. Soon, when all the ghosts had gathered at the training ground, Seonghyun could be seen facing a wooden golem. However, Seonghyun remained perfectly still, not moving at all. At that moment. A teal light flared in Seonghyun''s eyes. A glint like the sharp eyes of a predator that had found its prey flashed, and at that instant, the wooden golem moved. ¡®There are sword styles that can be mixed, and there are those that cannot.¡¯ It would be great if all sword styles could be mixed, but that¡¯s not possible. According to the memories of the guardian spirit, who was called a Meister of sword arts, that was the case. Various sword styles, but among them, Seonghyun combined the ones that were most compatible. A heavy sword style, and a domineering sword style. These two went quite well together. The heavy sword style pressed down on the opponent as if to crush them, and the domineering sword style was one where the sword was wielded solely for the opponent''s destruction. After combining those two, he mixed in an unconventional sword style. When the weight that could crush and press down anything, the domineering force that aimed for the opponent''s destruction, and the unconventional sword style that accurately pierced the opponent''s openings came together as one¡ª Krrrk! Krk! A sound like screaming, of muscles tearing, echoed from Seonghyun''s body. He even took damage as if an overload had occurred, but Seonghyun ignored it and continued. As the sword was swung with the sound of his body tearing, the unconventional sword accurately targeted and exploited the wooden golem''s openings, the heavy sword amplified its power, and the domineering sword style directly increased its sharpness. Kwa-jijijijijij¡ª! As the sword struck the wooden golem''s torso in a single blow, with a ripping sound, the wooden golem''s upper body was torn to shreds. -Good heavens¡ª! -H-how can this be¡ª! -W-what did I just see!?? -S-since becoming a ghost, I''ve never seen anything like this!!! -Unbelievable!!! Though the ghosts cried out in amazement at what they saw, Seonghyun frowned, as if he wasn''t quite satisfied. He had managed to combine three sword styles into one using the guardian spirit''s memories, but he wasn''t satisfied. ¡®The domineering sword style didn¡¯t fit well.¡¯ The result just now was a level of power achievable enough with just the heavy sword style and the unconventional sword style. But because he mixed in the domineering sword style, he even took damage he wouldn''t have otherwise. This time, he would try mixing different sword styles. Seonghyun reactivated the wooden golem and this time mixed different sword styles together. A fast sword style, an unconventional sword style, and even a flamboyant sword style. When he mixed the three, a completely different level of effect appeared this time. As the fast, flamboyant, and unconventional styles mixed, the swordsmanship seemed undeniably fast yet appeared slow, bewildering the wooden golem. And confused by the swords flying in from all directions, if it blocked one side, an attack would come from another. As it displayed an effect as if his arms had multiplied, like clothes getting soaked in a drizzle, the wooden golem was quickly destroyed, scattering like dust. -Huh!? H-he mixed sword styles again!? -He mixed three again this time! -Hooo. A talent that even the heavens would fear!!! The elf knight ghosts, once again, admired him and praised Seonghyun. However, Seonghyun, far from listening to them, focused even more intensely. As if still finding it lacking, Seonghyun moved, more immersed in his mental image. ¡®This isn¡¯t enough.¡¯ Simply increasing power by using multiple sword styles is good, but. Attack is, after all, about flow. Recalling that, Seonghyun continued his swordsmanship as if linking them one after another, like a chain where each link catches the tail of the next. ¡®So I can respond immediately.¡¯ He started by wielding the sword quickly, then gradually shifted to a heavier, domineering swing, and when the opponent tried to evade, he used flamboyant and unconventional sword styles as if to bewilder them. ¡®I have many cards I can use, so I¡¯ll use them according to the situation.¡¯ As the wooden golem tried to struggle, he even employed a sword style that cut off its breathing, as if to obstruct its very breath, and another that sealed the opponent''s movements. The wooden golem could only collapse without being able to react in any way. A flow where, through consecutive attacks, all of the opponent''s techniques were sealed, and only he could attack. As he executed such swordsmanship, -....... -....... -....... Now, even the ghosts were speechless. Hadn''t it been only about a day since he came here? Yet he was already demonstrating such advanced swordsmanship. They didn''t even know what to say. Everyone could only watch Seonghyun with their mouths shut. Then, suddenly. -......Perhaps the esteemed one no longer needs our sword styles? -......That might be so....... -Haaaah. As the elf ghosts all became gloomy, one elf ghost said. -N-no! Rather, if he learns more of our sword styles, won''t he have even more varied cards to play! S-so, he''ll definitely need our sword styles too. He said it as if to console them, but it was also true. Seonghyun too was feeling something similar. ¡°Hoo, hoo.¡± Panting heavily, he recalled the swordsmanship he had just performed. Although he could deal with many things in various situations, it was still lacking. Because the more options one has to deal with sudden situations, the better. ¡®It seems I¡¯ll need a bit more after all.¡¯ Panting, he had such thoughts. Seonghyun thought of doing just a little more and gripped his sword. Then, it suddenly occurred to him. ¡®Ms. Chegeon must have learned swordsmanship too, right?¡¯ Recalling the guardian spirit''s memories, wasn''t she the scion of a prestigious German swordsmanship family? They say people who are good at sports are definitely much better at games. It really seems to be true. Though there were many cases where it wasn''t, it seemed there were no cases where being good at sports meant one couldn''t do well in Eternal World. ¡®Like Sis said, I should sign up for a gym tomorrow.¡¯ As Seonghyun was thinking that, it suddenly struck him. ¡®Come to think of it, what has Ms. Chegeon been doing since joining the Rapid Guild?¡¯ Thinking about it, he hadn''t heard any recent news about her. Well, what does it matter. He just needed to train himself. While thinking that, Seonghyun trained his swordsmanship and, at the same time, diligently leveled up the close-combat skills he had recently acquired. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 123 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 123 0. Dune Wild Trail. Even after the major event had ended, it remained the region with the largest number of users. And the place where the most villains congregated. Therefore, guilds tended to pay more attention to their branches in the Dune Wild Trail than to those in other regions. This was especially true for the Rapid Guild, Seonghyun''s guild, which had been a key force in the recent event. A few people were gathered at the guild branch. However, they were not familiar faces within the Rapid Guild. Storm Shadow, Kurosawa Ren, and Spear Sovereign of Dawn, Meiran. The two, who were originally members of Tempest Wing and Eclipse Order respectively, had transferred to the Rapid Guild. They had transferred despite the despicable nature of their previous guilds and conditions that were inevitably less favorable than before. And the team they were assigned to. ¡°Hmm, so you two are...¡± ¡°Uhahaha! I heard this team has a peculiar way of calling each other by nicknames, right?! You can call me Loudmouth Light-Lancer!!! Would this one here be something like Black Wind?¡± ¡°...Hoo, it doesn''t matter either way.¡± ¡°Uhahaha!!! Nice to meet you all, nice to meet you!¡± Luna, who had struggled to get this far, looked at Meiran with a somewhat tired expression. On the other hand, the other team members looked at Meiran with intrigue. Especially one team member who hadn''t joined much earlier than them. ¡°Hmm, this one is called JoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon. I look forward to working with you.¡± ¡°Oooh?! JoseonBestSwordsman!? I''ve heard of you!!! Keuheuuu! So you''re Korean!¡± ¡°Keum, in spirit, at least, I can say I am a Joseon person.¡± ¡°What utter crap. If Joseon Samurai is done with her introduction, she should step back.¡± When Longfeng said that, JoseonBestSwordsman roared in extreme anger: ¡°You bastard!!!!!! Defeated Bandit!!! Didn''t I tell you not to call me by such a disrespectful nickname!!!¡± ¡°No, I''m Failed Thief. Since you''re JoseonBestSwordsman but have a Samurai job, aren''t you Joseon Samurai? Reverse Archer, am I wrong?¡± ¡°Just shut up, please.¡± ¡°Hmmph~¡± ¡°Haaaah.¡± It''s always like this after JoseonBestSwordsman joined. No, was it like this even before? Luna, the team leader, couldn''t help but feel a headache coming on and clutched her throbbing head. Well, even if they bickered, their teamwork was top-notch. ¡®Should I just let it slide?¡¯ Thinking that, Luna proceeded with the introductions anyway. ¡°...So, this is us. Since you two will be joining our team as Seonghyun-nim''s backup, it seems you''ll need to help with our leveling.¡± As Luna spoke like a sensible person, Meiran and Kurosawa Ren nodded seriously. Meanwhile, in the background, ¡°Hmph!!! How dare a mere thief!!! Try to mock JoseonBestSwordsman!!!¡± ¡°Hah. Now you''re just calling me a thief, huh!!? Wanna go a round!?¡± ¡°Hahaha! Very well! I wonder if the wounds you suffered last time have healed?¡± ¡°Oh really? That time I was just careless...!!¡± Watching Longfeng and JoseonBestSwordsman bickering in the background, Luna spoke. ¡°Both of you, please...!!!¡± As she slightly raised her voice, both of them flinched and shut their mouths. Because even JoseonBestSwordsman, despite her short time with the team, knew Luna was terrifying when she got angry. Anyway, looking at the two who had calmed down, Luna said her piece. ¡°Hoo, we''re a team meant to support Seonghyun-nim. If we act like this, what will other people think of us? And what about Seonghyun-nim himself?¡± It was something said off the cuff. It wasn''t wrong, though. Luna didn''t know Seonghyun well either, but her statement was based on general experience. However, an unexpected reaction came from JoseonBestSwordsman. ¡°Huhuhu, indeed. Since this one has met Seonghyun-nim in real life, I suppose I need to be more careful.¡± ¡°Eh? Joseon Samurai, how could you have seen Seonghyun-nim?¡± ¡°Hng???¡± ¡°Wow, fuck. Is that for real?¡± ¡°Uhahahahat!!! You''ve actually met Seonghyun-nim in person!? That''s amazing!¡± ¡°How did that happen? If we go to Korea, can we meet Seonghyun-nim?!¡± All the team members asked JoseonBestSwordsman with keen interest. Although she didn''t react verbally, Luna also looked at JoseonBestSwordsman with curiosity. Wasn''t this a team of people who were all captivated by Seonghyun and had volunteered to be his backup team? Such a reaction was only natural. And amidst that, for JoseonBestSwordsman to say she''d seen him in real life, it was inevitable that everyone would be intrigued. How on earth did they meet? ¡°Ahem ahem, how we met is a secret. In any case, I saw him briefly.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not just making this up, are you?¡± ¡°Hmmph.¡± ¡°Hah, I got my hopes up for nothing.¡± ¡°Uhahaha!!! Got my hopes up for nothing!¡± ¡°Hmm hmm, from now on, Joseon Samurai''s words...¡± ¡°Do not call me by that name!!!¡± As it became noisy again, Luna shook her head and said to them. ¡°Ahem, anyway, everyone, please be careful. It''s already been two days since Seonghyun-nim vanished. Public opinion might take a negative turn, so let''s be prepared.¡± Everyone nodded at Luna''s words. Two days had passed since the major event. People were naturally paying attention to Seonghyun''s activities, but with no actual sightings reported, they were full of complaints. If things continued like this, it wouldn''t be very good. Luna had already heard from Rapid, the Guild Master. ¡®She said that the activity itself would be difficult for the time being.¡¯ They had to catch up as much as possible during that hiatus. Seonghyun''s leveling speed might slow down compared to theirs, but Luna didn''t think so. Knowing Seonghyun''s formidable power, Luna was confident that even if their levels drew closer, he wouldn''t actually be outpaced. She was sure of it. ¡®We absolutely cannot slow down now.¡¯ ¡®Only then can we provide proper backup.¡¯ ¡®For now, our party hunting efficiency is excellent, so...¡¯ A party of seven in total. Although the most efficient number for a party is usually six, a party composed of such elites among elites is a different story. Because efficiency can be maximized. Luna was quite confident. Well, everyone was overflowing with personality, ¡®I just have to control them somehow.¡¯ As Luna resolved to do so, more time passed. 1. The internet''s reaction to Seonghyun was beyond imagination. It was only natural. After all, he had performed spectacularly in the first major event. Moreover, this wasn''t even his first time, was it? The Ancient Fortress, the Anemore Solo Raid, and now this event. Furthermore, he had even crushed the alliance led by Echo Willow. With all this, was there any reason for the internet not to fawn all over him? [PayingIsEssential: Wow, Seonghyun, this guy seems incredible. How can one person achieve so many feats?] ©¸[KDisJustForShow: Well, it''s possible, but what''s truly amazing about Seonghyun is that he did it as a rookie.] ©¸[GuildRecruiting: This is it. For real, LOL.] Many people unanimously praised Seonghyun''s accomplishments. The video of the Echo Willow alliance''s collapse, released after the major event, also garnered immense attention. Since many people had suffered at their hands, it was perhaps a natural outcome. [HardcoreGamer: Soooo satisfying!!!] [LFTank: Seriously, Kya! This is it!!!] [LFLover: Seonghyun is a legend, for real!] ©¸[SeonghyunFanatic: Seonghyun? You don''t add ''Nim-nim-nim'' to his name!?] [EveryoneBehindMe: How does he beat them all?] ©¸[LikesAnalysis: If you look closely, Seonghyun probably got very tired and struggled too? Or, seeing as he didn''t use AoE skills against those elites even when cooldowns should have been up, it seems he strategized well, took down the elites quickly to seize the initiative, and forced them to flee?] ©¸[CravesRecognition: Oh? That sounds plausible, doesn''t it? Doesn''t that mean Seonghyun''s game sense is insane too? Leaving a thumbs-up.] Some people thoroughly analyzed Seonghyun''s actions, and the fervor was intense. However, that too lasted only a day or two. Online reactions were always intense and swift. But they cooled down just as quickly. [Title - What''s Seonghyun up to these days? There are no sighting reports at all.] [Author - ObserversPOV] ¡ºAnyone heard what Seonghyun is doing or where he is these days? It seems like it''s been 4 days since the event ended, but there''s no news other than that last video upload? Has anyone seen him?¡» [BulletHellMaster: ??? Come to think of it, there''s no news at all;;] [BossSlayer: No news at all, for real?] ©¸[ObserversPOV(Author): Yeah, no news at all.] [PleaseBuyCoins: Seriously, no news at all? They''re not even trying to ride the wave?] Posts like this also started appearing. Usually, when someone stirred up the internet this much, eyewitness accounts were bound to surface one way or another. Guilds often let it happen as it also helped with publicity. However, not a single sighting of Seonghyun had appeared. A mysterious persona? Perhaps, but from the public''s perspective, it was frustrating. [Title - What the heck are Rapid Guild and Seonghyun even doing;;;] [Author - FanAndAnti] ¡ºSeriously, the hype is real, but are they really just going to pretend to ride the wave and then dip? Shouldn''t they be doing something more? They''re not even out in the fields interacting with other users. No sightings either. What kind of outdated mysterious concept is this? Did they pick the wrong concept entirely? Even if he''s the Demon King, isn''t this a bit much?¡» [BuffThiefPlz: LOL, that might be true, but honestly, it¡¯s rubbing me the wrong way.] [DemonKingLOL: Demon King, LOL. Aren''t you cringing saying that?] [SoundingWillow: LOLOL, honestly, I think the hype is insane. The way I see it, he''s gonna hit rock bottom soon LOL.] ©¸[FanAndAnti(Author): I agree, but are you from Echo Willow? LMAO, that¡¯s hilarious.] Posts mixed with such complaints began to surface. It was also a testament to how fervent people were about Seonghyun, but conversely, it meant they could turn into adversaries at any moment. They were thirsty for any reaction or appearance from Seonghyun. And so, around the time five days had passed since the event ended, people started to get seriously angry. [MaxDPSRun: Rapid Guild isn''t responding at all either?] [TopLaneMortician: What? Did the Demon King die??? Why isn''t he showing up???] [BackFromLurking: Seriously no reaction at all? And we don''t even know why?] [F2PExpert: I don''t know, but maybe Seonghyun just doesn''t have anything worth showing anymore? I bet everyone would love it even if he posted something random; this is a bit disappointing.] [ExtremeSwordsman: Seriously, not even turning on a live stream once is too much.] [MageAnti: If fans want it this much, isn''t it basic manners to at least post an update on what you''re doing???] Gradually, public opinion was taking a downturn. Not everyone felt this way, but quite a few people were expressing dissatisfaction. Indeed, in this sensationalist era where many claimed even two videos a week weren''t enough, five days was a considerable amount of time. The situation was exacerbated by some instigators stirring the pot. Malicious users, the villains, secretly launched an offensive, and a significant number of users were swayed by their agitation. As a result, opinions about Seonghyun were not heading in a positive direction. What on earth was he doing? Why was there absolutely no news? While people were in an uproar, Seonghyun wasn''t unaware of such public sentiment. However, he didn''t particularly care. Just because dogs bark doesn''t mean the train stops. More than anything, Seonghyun knew very well that public opinion always changes. In fact, Seonghyun, looking more peaceful than anyone, smiled and muttered. ¡°It ends today. Shall we go take the test then?¡± While people were digging into what Seonghyun was doing, Seonghyun had been training for over five hours every day for five days. And that had finally come to an end. He had finally completed the conditions for the Hall of Knights'' trial. It was now time to complete the test. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 124 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 124 2. Five days had passed since Seonghyun entered. In a dark stone chamber where not even a single ray of light penetrated, a being who had been solely brandishing a sword came to a brief halt. The visitor who had arrived a few days ago. He had taken a second look, seeing him as more diligent than any other visitor, but now he sensed movement from that visitor, the one he had predicted would ultimately fail to reach this place. With white hair and a long, unkempt beard, he closed his eyes, sensing that presence. ¡°One must not hold onto hope.¡± Even if one meets the conditions and undertakes the trial. ¡°They will not reach this place.¡± For if there is no expectation, there will be no disappointment. It had been a long time since he had abandoned all hope and expectation. That was what he had come to feel from residing here for so long. There was a time when he, too, had held hope and expectations. But think back to when he was betrayed by them. Even when a visitor came here long ago, they could not free him. Because he had been trapped here ever since that hateful skeleton knight had invaded. This was all the more true for him. He no longer wanted to rely on hope. For the more he hoped, the more he himself was hurt. Therefore. ¡°They will not reach this place...¡± He merely muttered words he didn''t even wish for. However, that too was brief. The visitor who had entered the trial proceeded to the next test at a rapid pace. ¡°...?¡± At first, thinking it must be a fluke, just as he was about to swing his sword again, the visitor passed another test and moved on to the next. ¡®The third test already?¡¯ ¡®Didn''t he just enter a moment ago?¡¯ Unable to comprehend, the being tilted his head with a bewildered expression. ¡®Had his senses grown dull after so many long years?¡¯ ¡®No, that couldn''t be.¡¯ ¡®It couldn''t be, and yet...¡¯ ¡®Why has the visitor already entered the fourth test?¡¯ ¡°??????¡± Faced with this incomprehensible phenomenon, the being could no longer swing his sword. ¡®What on earth is happening?¡¯ 3. A sword drawing a trajectory in the air like a flash of lightning. However, it wasn''t merely fast. The sword held in two hands was heavier than anything, yet swift and sharp. That sword, parting the air, sliced through the void with keen precision. And where the trajectory finally ended was the body of a golem covered in mithril. Ssk¡ª¡ª¡ª! With barely a sound of cutting, the mithril golem was instantly sliced apart without much resistance. Against such profound swordsmanship¡ªa technique that honed sword energy to its absolute limit using what looked like a mere steel sword¡ªthe mithril golem collapsed without a fight. Kwoong¡ª¡ª! Koogoong¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! Its frame was so massive that even as it was cut and fell, it caused violent tremors. Enough to make one wonder if the spire itself was collapsing. He had bisected the mithril in a single blow. Of course, it was only a carapace that lightly covered the surface, but even so, cutting through mithril actively powered by mana was an incredible feat. He had definitely gotten stronger. Noticeably so, even to Seonghyun himself. ¡®At this level, I probably could have faced the Echo Willow elites with just my sword back when they attacked, couldn''t I?¡¯ Back then, I had the feeling I barely won by mixing in magic skills here and there. But now, his abilities had improved to the point where he could win completely with swordsmanship alone. Having absorbed all the memories of the elf ghosts, it would have been strange if he hadn''t. Anyway, as Seonghyun too felt pleased, the retainers waiting behind Seonghyun all began to clap. -As expected of our Lord!!! To slice mithril in a single blow!!! ¡°That''s incredible.¡± -A-amazing!!! ¡°...Thanks.¡± They weren''t originally like this. Things changed a bit after Leonik arrived. Was praising their lord also part of a retainer''s duty, or something? Saying it was absolutely right, Nocturnium and Fiora had joined in too. Just when he thought he was getting used to it, the retainers praising him like that made him feel awkward again. Anyway, Seonghyun casually brushed it off and, examined the messages that appeared. [You have perfectly passed the Knight''s Fifth Trial!] [You have passed all trials in the Hidden Field, ¡ºHall of Knights¡»!] [You have passed in the shortest recorded time!] [You are the first among all users!] Messages stating he had passed the Hall of Knights'' fifth trial. Besides those, phrases about the shortest record and being the first user also appeared, but Seonghyun didn''t pay them the slightest attention. Because he had a different goal. ¡®The memories of the elf knight ghosts told me.¡¯ ¡®That there was a hidden trial apart from these spire tests.¡¯ A Hidden Mission. Normally, it would have been a mission impossible to find, but Seonghyun, having obtained the memories, could find it with utter ease. First, he headed towards the bisected mithril golem. If one looked closely at its core, there was a place shaped like a socket. When he lightly pressed it, Click. Like opening a fuel cap, an entrance opened, and safely stored inside was a mithril key. ¡®Oh.¡¯ He had just tried it based on the memories, but it was a bit fascinating that it actually worked. Anyway, with the key in hand, Seonghyun headed to a corner of the fifth spire''s first floor. A door that would never have been seen unless one looked closely and had come this far. When he inserted the key into the keyhole on the doorknob, Dalkkak¡ª. A sound of it fitting perfectly was heard, and a dark stone staircase leading downwards could be seen. And as Seonghyun opened the door, Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Torches hanging on the walls of the stone staircase lit up one by one, illuminating the surroundings. As the dark stone staircase instantly brightened, Seonghyun let out a short exclamation of admiration. ¡°Oho.¡± To think it was such an elaborate place. This was more exciting than he thought. Since starting Eternal World, Seonghyun had only seen presentations of this caliber during his Overlord second job advancement or main quests. It was natural to have high expectations. -There is quite a strong aura below, My Lord. ¡°Seeing that it''s holding a sword, it appears to be a swordsman.¡± -Hueh? But the golems so far weren''t holding swords?! -Hmm, to my knowledge, there have been no golems wielding swords, My Lord. ¡°Judging by the presence of a pulse, it is presumed to be a living... being, however, I am still uncertain.¡± As the three retainers each offered their opinions, Seonghyun nodded as if he understood. Analyzing the enemy''s strength is important, of course, but Seonghyun wondered if he really needed to know beforehand. Any other user would have had to enter without knowing anything. So, Seonghyun didn''t pay it much mind and headed down. Step, step. As he slowly descended, torches placed along the sides lit up in time with Seonghyun''s steps. The flickering flames cast shadows, giving an eerie impression that the entire surroundings were swaying. However, Seonghyun wasn''t one to be scared by each little thing like that; he had been seeing ghosts since childhood for far too long. As Seonghyun calmly descended, at the end of the stone staircase was a dark stone chamber. When Seonghyun reached this stone chamber, the surrounding torches all lit up, brightly illuminating the chamber. Then, a being standing in the middle of the stone chamber also became visible. ¡°Hmm?¡± With long white hair and a similarly long white beard, the figure truly resembled that of an old sage, like a Taoist immortal. However, judging by the pointed ears and gleaming eyes, one could tell it was definitely an elf. Seonghyun''s anticipation based on that appearance was brief. For the elf was showing the tip of his sword trembling and both his pupils shaking. ¡®Why is he acting like that?¡¯ For a moment, unable to understand, Seonghyun looked at the old man. The old man''s lips parted cautiously. ¡°...How did you arrive so quickly?¡± ¡°Pardon? Uh...¡± The old elf asked out of genuine curiosity. ¡®Had anyone ever passed the trials this quickly before?¡¯ ¡®No, there wasn''t.¡¯ ¡®Then what on earth was this visitor?¡¯ ¡®Moreover, judging by the retainers behind him, he is clearly a necromancer.¡¯ ¡®And yet he could clear them this fast?¡¯ ¡®Speed aside, I never even imagined an outsider could overcome this trial.¡¯ It was a moment when his assessment of Seonghyun rose considerably. Seonghyun, on the other hand. ¡®What should I say?¡¯ ¡®Leaving aside the fact that I knew all the trials,¡¯ ¡®I was just strong, so I came quickly.¡¯ ¡®Should I be honest?¡¯ After pondering, Seonghyun spoke. ¡°I came by the sword.¡± ¡°...Hoh.¡± ¡®Was that not the right answer?¡¯ As Seonghyun thought this and scratched his head, -My Lord, it seems that person is not in his right mind. ¡°Even from my perspective, it appears his mind has broken down over many long years.¡± -P-poor thing. Seonghyun tried his best to ignore the chattering of his three retainers and asked. ¡°Have you been here all this time?¡± ¡°...¡± At Seonghyun''s words, the old elf remained silent for a while. Then, he slowly closed his eyes, lifted his head, and spoke. ¡°Indeed. I''ve been trapped here ever since that damned skeleton knight attacked this place.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± -Keuhmm. ¡°Hmm.¡± -Ah, aht. Th-this is Leonik-ssi''s fault then. At those words, Leonik also flinched. Fiora reproached Leonik, as if pitying the elf. Nocturnium, well, he nodded as if in understanding. Anyway, as Seonghyun pondered what to say to the old elf''s words, the old elf spoke first. ¡°The final trial is to determine victory or defeat against me in swordsmanship. My liberation is at stake, so I intend to use my full strength. Even if you feel somewhat indebted, do not take this lightly. If you defeat me, a great reward will be yours.¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± Not that he had any intention of going easy, but Seonghyun affirmed his understanding and gripped his sword. The old elf looked at Seonghyun and felt a sense of incongruity. ¡°Hoh, I suspected as much seeing that skeleton knight fellow behind you... So you are indeed a necromancer.¡± ¡°Yes, that''s right.¡± ¡°Here, all magic and skills are sealed; one can only fight with pure swordsmanship. Will that be alright with you?¡± ¡°Yes, that''s fine. Please don''t go easy on me out of pity.¡± ¡°Hoho. How amusing.¡± The old elf said so, nodding his head. ¡®To think he''d return my own words right back at me.¡¯ ¡®Quite an interesting challenger.¡¯ Whether he lost or won here, the old elf would be liberated. However, he intended to savor this final moment, even if it meant burning his very soul. Since the visitor he''d hardly dared to expect had appeared. Seonghyun, on the other hand, felt his competitive spirit flare as he watched the old elf. ¡®Will there be another time like this, where I face an enemy relying solely on swordsmanship?¡¯ ¡®Unlikely.¡¯ Seonghyun''s character was, strictly speaking, an Overlord. Helena had given him sword skill in the past, telling him to use them well, but they were merely secondary. Therefore, Seonghyun intended to give his all in a match like this, one that relied purely on the sword. ¡®Let''s see the limits of swordsmanship.¡¯ Thinking so, Seonghyun gripped his sword with all his might. He watched with anticipation, wondering what kind of swordsmanship the old elf would use, and waited for him to approach. Then, ¡°I shall go first.¡± The old elf first slid his front foot forward as if gliding, then instantly pushed off with his back foot, rushing at Seonghyun as if sweeping across the floor. ¡®Excellent footwork.¡¯ He knew that rushing forward while maintaining such a low stance was considerably difficult. However, Seonghyun, unfazed, watched the old elf, stepped back with his rear foot to create distance, and simultaneously prepared for an attack. Sure enough, just as Seonghyun expected, the old elf swung his sword from a low stance, sweeping the ground. The sword, low enough to touch the floor, then flew towards Seonghyun, soaring upwards like a dragon ascending to the heavens. Watching that sword strike, which took the form of a dragon ascending to the heavens, Seonghyun felt it was a truly tricky technique. ¡®If I try to block, its trajectory is too distorted to avoid taking damage, and if I try to dodge, it''s considerably fast.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll use a different method.¡¯ Therefore, Seonghyun swiftly twisted his body, kicked the flat of his sword in mid-air, and used the repulsive force to move away from that spot. Chwaaaaaaa! Leaving two long lines on the ground, Seonghyun slid back, firming his stance as he was pushed away. The old elf watched Seonghyun with considerable interest. ¡°Hoh?! To think you''d dodge that. Impressive indeed.¡± The old elf praised him straightforwardly. However, Seonghyun said to the old elf. ¡°You''ll be even more surprised.¡± [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 125 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 125 After speaking to the old elf, Seonghyun swiftly lunged at him. Whoosh¡ª! Dash¡ª! Kicking off the ground, Seonghyun shot forward with a speed so immense that even someone with identical stats would likely fail to match it. It was a feat made possible by channeling the entirety of his body''s strength into the movement. However, far from being surprised, the old elf met Seonghyun¡¯s advance as if it were only to be expected. ¡°Excellent.¡± He took a defensive stance, as if waiting to see what kind of swordsmanship Seonghyun would demonstrate. As he charged, Seonghyun recalled the old elf¡¯s swordsmanship. The image of a sword moving like a dragon ascending to the heavens. Remembering that sharp and tricky-to-dodge sword style, he identified its nature. ¡®It''s a domineering swordsmanship.¡¯ A different kind of domineering style than Leonik¡¯s. It was an exceedingly sharp and potent swordsmanship, designed to precisely overwhelm and break an opponent. Therefore, Seonghyun advanced on the old elf, his sword weaving with fluid grace. Observing this fluid, or rather, soft swordsmanship, the old elf maintained his defensive posture with an expression of amusement. It was the age-old principle of the soft overcoming the hard. However, the tale changes if the hard is even more steadfast. Just as no amount of softness in a cloth allows it to fully contain a sharp and unyielding blade. The old elf¡¯s sword staunchly aimed to tear through the softer blade. But in that instant, the gentle undulation of the sea, as it were, transformed into a ferocious wave, sweeping over the old elf¡¯s sword. Claaaaang¡ª¡ª¡ª! The sword struck with fierce intensity, like a raging wave carving into rock. The old elf¡¯s domineering sword met the blow as if on the verge of breaking, and he was forced back, gripping his weapon to disperse the shock. A powerful strike. A single misstep could have resulted in his sword shattering or him sustaining an injury. What if the old elf¡¯s strength had been even slightly deficient? ¡®My shoulder would have been cut.¡¯ A rough sword strike, like an enraged tidal wave. Yet, it undeniably held a sea-like gentleness within. It was a swordsmanship that defied comprehension. Fluid and swift, yet intermingled with a savage fierceness. A bizarre sword style, the likes of which he had never witnessed. He could tell it was an extraordinary form of swordsmanship. Perhaps it was a sword art so sublime it seemed its practitioner had wielded a blade for even longer than he himself had. The old elf decided to think no further. No amount of contemplation could grant insight into a swordsmanship he had never encountered. His path was to simply clash, to fight even if it meant being broken. With this resolve, the old elf charged at Seonghyun. The old elf was not the only one taken aback. ¡®To think he blocked that.¡¯ Recalling the other elf knights he knew... Among them, would any have truly been able to block that last blow? No, there were none. Yet, the old elf currently rushing towards him had managed to block it. Not only had he blocked a sword technique that had fused three different styles at once, but he had also skillfully deflected the force. Could there possibly be another opponent like this? ¡®Unlikely.¡¯ With that thought, Seonghyun pressed forward, pouring everything he had into his advance. Their base abilities were roughly similar. Could this be an arrangement by the system? If their stats were systemically equalized... Then he would be the one to win. Seonghyun swung his sword, filled with such confident thoughts, and the old elf, with similarly assured thoughts, also brandished his weapon. Enraged waves clashed with a colossal dragon that sought to cleave right through them. But the waves soon subsided. Then, as if an impending storm, the speed of Seonghyun''s assault gradually increased, and his sword began to absorb the surrounding light as though dark clouds had gathered. Though skills were unusable, the effect of Seonghyun¡¯s swordsmanship¡ªHelena¡¯s incredibly strong swordsmanship¡ªmanifested, dyeing his sword strikes with a dark hue. The sword, like darkness itself, was wielded from Seonghyun''s fingertips, vanishing as if instantly dyeing the empty air. The old elf¡¯s eyes flashed as he witnessed it. A sword strike so swift that the sound of it arrived a fraction of a second late. Like a true lightning bolt, Seonghyun''s sword flew towards the old elf, marginally faster than sound. The elf, as if to momentarily receive the blow, raised his own sword, then deflected the attack even as he was pushed back. KRAKOOM¡ª! Like thunder following a lightning strike. After the sword blow landed, the sound, a sharp, air-tearing shriek, enveloped the old elf. Though the noise was deafening, enough to make one¡¯s earsplitting, the old elf, far from covering his ears, immediately dashed towards Seonghyun, lunging in the form of a dragon. As the dragon''s form, shooting straight forward as if to swallow its enemy, launched at Seonghyun, he met it by once again swinging his lightning-like sword. Slightly faster than sound. Swung darkly and grimly, it was like a swift thunderbolt. As that sinister sword decapitated the dragon¡¯s head¡ª The old elf¡¯s sword was violently knocked aside. SHIIING¡ª! Unable to withstand the force, the old elf''s arm was thrown upwards, his sword rising with it, momentarily lifting him. ¡®Huh.¡¯ To think he¡¯d unleash yet another attribute of swordsmanship. Fast, and stealthy. And on top of that, the formidable power imbued in the sword¡¯s tip. Just how many attributes could he wield? He had tried to stop analyzing, but the thoughts kept coming. The old elf refocused. This time, while his arm was still raised, he gripped his sword with both hands and swung it in a rotating motion. It was the instant before Seonghyun could recover his own sword. Using the upward momentum from the previous blow, the old elf swung his sword towards the opening. The sword strike, whipped swiftly through the air, formed a graceful circle like a coiling dragon, its trajectory aimed, as expected, directly at Seonghyun. ¡®Hoh?¡¯ Seonghyun, watching it, couldn''t help but be genuinely surprised. In terms of raw speed, he himself was faster. However, the elf was attacking by exploiting the brief opening created by their previous exchange. Amazed by the image of the coiling dragon lunging at him, Seonghyun raised his sword and employed yet another sword style. This time, it was like sea fog rising from the ocean. He scattered sword strikes in all directions, as if sowing seeds. The technique spread out, encroaching on the surroundings. Clang! Cla-clang! Cla-cla-clang¡ª! An unorthodox swordsmanship that dominated the entire vicinity. While it occupied a wide space, it was by no means light or lacking in power. To think, another new sword style. This one bore no resemblance to the previous ones. ¡°Hah!¡± At this unfathomably deep swordsmanship, the old elf, despite being in the middle of a duel, couldn''t suppress his admiration. He was clearly a necromancer. To wield swordsmanship to such a degree... Honestly, it was impossible not to be surprised. Seonghyun and the old elf looked at each other and smiled with deep satisfaction. They once again swung their swords at each other. Their forms looked like the vast sea, appearing as nature itself, and a dragon attempting to defy that very nature and ascend to the heavens. The enraged sea and the defiant dragon bared their sharp fangs at one another. 4. Ruuuumble¡ª! A dragon-like sword technique lashed out, attempting to bite and tear at Seonghyun, but the enraged waves ripped the dragon apart. When the dragon reformed and flew circling towards Seonghyun, lightning struck down this time, severing its neck. It was truly an astonishing sight. To manifest such vivid imagery with just a single sword each spoke volumes; it was impossible to definitively judge whose swordsmanship was superior. -Wo-woah! Woah! Wo-woah!!! Fiora, watching from afar, shouted, her voice brimming with excitement. Nocturnium, looking somewhat perplexed as he observed from a distance, turned to Leonik. ¡°Is the Lord being pushed back?¡± He asked because several cuts had appeared on Seonghyun''s body, while not nearly as many were visible on the old elf. However, Leonik firmly shook his head. ¡®Judging by the current state of the fight, it seems the old elf is winning, so why is Leonik claiming the Lord is victorious?¡¯ -It is our Lord¡¯s victory. ¡°...I am not a combatant, so I cannot quite grasp it. Could you explain it in simpler terms?¡± -Hmm, you might understand if you just continue to observe, but if you insist, I shall enlighten you. ¡°Thank you.¡± Nocturnium frowned slightly, perhaps a bit irritated by Leonik¡¯s condescending tone, but he remained silent, his curiosity piqued. Then, Leonik began to explain calmly. -Currently, our Lord does have some minor cuts, it¡¯s true. But if you look closely, you¡¯ll see that fellow also has a few wounds. ¡°Indeed, but the number of them...¡± -It''s not the number, but the location of the wounds that''s important. ¡°The location of the wounds?¡± -Our Lord''s wounds are all minor, sustained while parrying attacks or defending. On the other hand, that fellow''s wounds are all from our Lord''s attacks landing perfectly. At Leonik''s words, Nocturnium let out an exclamation of realization. ¡°Ah!?¡± Come to think of it, all the attacks that had landed on the old elf were wounds inflicted exactly as Seonghyun intended. In contrast, all of the old elf''s attacks had been blocked or had merely grazed him. This alone showed an enormous difference. And Leonik continued. -Our Lord''s swordsmanship has now reached a level significantly higher than even my own. ¡°Hah.¡± Leonik himself was skilled enough to be counted among the top few in Helena''s legions, at least in terms of swordsmanship. So, to say Seonghyun was even more skilled than such a Leonik meant... -It would be no exaggeration to call it a god-given talent. He possesses profound skill in necromancy, and now he shows such mastery in swordsmanship as well. ¡°Hah. That''s unbelievable.¡± While his previous praises for Seonghyun, echoing Leonik, hadn''t been false, now Nocturnium couldn''t help but be genuinely astounded. If Leonik acknowledged it to this extent, then it was a different story entirely. And before long, Leonik spoke again. -It''s over. With those words, the neck of the dragon that sought to cleave the sea was completely severed by the enraged waves. THWACK¡ª!!! The old elf''s sword had broken. -Hyaaah! Th-that was truly amazing!!! As it ended exactly like that, Fiora cried out, and Leonik, despite being a skeleton, showed a slight smile as if he had known all along this would be the outcome. And Nocturnium, as if embodying a mixture of those two, simply stared at Seonghyun in awe. ¡®Perhaps this new Lord could fulfill the earnest wish that Helena herself could not achieve.¡¯ 5. He must have overexerted himself; he was breathless, his lungs burning. He was so short of breath that his vision began to turn white. It reached a point where he could barely distinguish what was right in front of him. But one thing was clear. The flow of his sword, like an enraged sea, had severed the dragon''s life. THWACK¡ª!!! He had cut it. The battle, spanning hundreds, perhaps thousands, of exchanges, had finally come to an end. A piece of the old elf''s sword flew spinning into the air. And in that instant, as the old elf''s sword was cut, his clothing was simultaneously sliced open in a thin line, and crimson blood began to spread from the gap. Slish¡ª! ¡°Kuhk!¡± The old elf''s complete defeat. However, his eyes held no trace of defeat, fear, resentment, or jealousy. Instead, they teemed solely with a profound sense of elation. It was a perfect defeat. And because of that, he had not even a speck of regret. Just to have fought against such a swordsman was an honor in itself. And so, he spoke. ¡°Don''t feel any guilt. From the moment you arrived, I was destined to be liberated and to pass on anyway.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Seonghyun had somewhat anticipated this. Even for an elf, having been trapped here for so many long years, it wouldn''t be strange for his lifespan to have run its course. Therefore, Seonghyun accepted it calmly. Seeing Seonghyun''s composure, the old elf looked satisfied and took something out from the front of his robes, handing it to Seonghyun. ¡°Take this.¡± ¡°This is...?¡± A small, pale dagger. Just as Seonghyun, looking at it and wondering what it was, was about to ask¡ª ¡°It seems our connection ends here. Fare thee well.¡± With those final words, the old elf''s physical body vanished. Having endured for such an incredibly long time, it seemed not even dust remained. ¡®I wanted to ask about the dagger, but he left just like that.¡¯ As Seonghyun stood up, a sense of regret lingering¡ª Something rose up from the spot where the old elf''s body had disappeared. A pale, teal-colored form of the old elf. -Huh? You??? ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡®If this was going to happen did he really need to say goodbye so dramatically?¡¯ [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 126 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 126 Seonghyun stared at the old elf¡¯s ghost with a somewhat sullen expression. The old elf¡¯s ghost let out a dry cough, perhaps not having imagined they would meet again so soon after such a dramatic farewell. -Khmm-hmm. Ahem. Indeed, who would have known? That he would die and become a ghost. And in that state, that he would be able to converse with Seonghyun. This was especially true from the old elf''s perspective. The old elf, who had been trapped in the stone chamber ever since Leonik invaded the Hall of Knights, had essentially had his soul bound to this place. That was how he had been able to survive even now, long after his natural life span should have ended. But now that his purpose, the final trial, had concluded... It was only natural that he would disappear. Both body and soul. Yet, how could he have known that his soul would become a ghost like this? -I did not foresee that I would end up like this. He had thought even his soul would wear away and vanish. It seemed that was not the case. As the old elf realized this fact, a sense of goodwill towards Seonghyun naturally blossomed within him. Perhaps. -It might be that my current state is also by your arrangement. ¡°Pardon? Hmm, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the case.¡± -No, one cannot be sure. In any case, this might be helpful to you. As the old elf spoke, he placed a teal-colored, bead-like object onto his palm. This bead was the old elf¡¯s memory. As Seonghyun simply nodded and took the bead, the old elf¡¯s memories unfolded in his mind like a panorama. He nodded, noticing that some memories were locked. He was reminded anew that the elf had certainly been a powerful being. As Seonghyun absorbed even that domineering, dragon-like swordsmanship... [You have accomplished something impossible at your current level through an ¡®Unknown Power¡¯.] [Strength +5, Agility +5, Stamina +5 have permanently increased.] He could see his stats increase by a whopping 15 points. Just as he thought, the elf was no ordinary individual. Excluding Helena, Fiora, and Leonik, this 15-point increase was the highest. It was on par with Anemor, who had been a raid boss. If the old elf had been turned into a monster and they had fought... ¡®He would have been at least raid-boss level.¡¯ That certainly seemed plausible. Thinking this, Seonghyun looked at the old elf¡ªno, the knight¡ªand spoke. ¡°Seeing as we¡¯ve both read each other¡¯s memories, what do you think?¡± As Seonghyun said this, he first presented the body of a Skeleton Warrior he had roughly retrieved from the Netherworld. The elf was not unaware of the meaning behind this gesture. He smiled faintly. Looking at Seonghyun, he said meaningfully. -As you know, I wished to wander the outside world. Like a free, wandering knight. "I know." -Therefore, to you¡ªno, to Your Lordship, I shall pledge an oath. I, the lacking yet steadfast Silvanor, vow my loyalty to my liege. Please grant me the opportunity to become your sword. It was a slightly cringeworthy pledge ceremony. Being a modern man, Seonghyun found it a bit embarrassing. However, knowing Silvanor''s memories, Seonghyun nodded to the old elf¡ªno, to the knight named Silvanor¡ªand said: ¡°Become my knight.¡± Speaking informally in a natural manner, Seonghyun used his power to bind Silvanor to the Skeleton Warrior¡¯s body. For now, he was confined to this temporary vessel. ¡°I¡¯ll move you to a better body soon enough, so don¡¯t worry.¡± -I do not doubt it in the slightest, my Lord. Watching Silvanor¡¯s dependable response, Seonghyun first sent him back to the Netherworld. Perhaps deeply impressed by the scene, Leonik clapped his hands naturally and exclaimed. -You are truly benevolent, my Lord!!! -Th-that¡¯s right! It was t-touching! ¡°Indeed, I believe you have shown an aspect truly befitting a monarch.¡± With all three of them saying such things, Seonghyun felt his face grow a little hot, but he steadfastly ignored it. After all, that wasn¡¯t what was important right now. ¡°Shall we look at the rewards first, then?¡± He recalled the phrase that had briefly surfaced when he obtained Silvanor¡¯s memories just moments ago. [Having passed the Hidden Trial, you acquire the Hidden Piece, ¡º???¡¯s Dagger¡».] An item name riddled with question marks. ¡º???¡¯s Dagger¡» ¡ú ¡¶Hidden Piece¡· ¡ú It is unknown who used this dagger. ¡ú How to use it, or for what purpose it was made, can never be known. ¡ú If you collect three items from the same owner as this one, you might be able to find out something. A Hidden Piece that called for another hidden element. An item about which something could be learned if three such items were obtained. It was truly an item to look forward to. Although parts of Silvanor¡¯s memories were locked, Seonghyun could discern the identity of this item. ¡®The Knight King¡¯s Dagger.¡¯ He needed to gather two more items like this one. Fortunately, one of them was here in this Hall of Knights. ¡®The last one was in the fifth village, wasn¡¯t it?¡¯ He recalled the memories. What would happen if he obtained all three items, and where he needed to go, remained unknown as those memories were locked. However, he clearly knew the location of the final item. ¡®Alright, that settles this then...¡¯ Now, it was time to examine the rewards. The rewards for clearing this hidden field, the Hall of Knights! As Seonghyun thought of receiving his rewards and stepped outside the spire, the system messages he had put off finally began to appear. [You have cleared the Hidden Field, ¡ºHall of Knights¡»!] [Rewards will be given.] [You have also successfully cleared the hidden trial within the Hidden Field, ¡ºHall of Knights¡».] [Existing rewards will be enhanced.] [You have achieved an accomplishment in the Hidden Field.] [You acquire achievement rewards.] [You will receive additional proficiency gained from training in the Hidden Field, ¡ºHall of Knights¡».] [You are the first in Eternal World''s history to clear the ¡ºHall of Knights¡»!] [Your fame spreads throughout the entire Eternal World.] [As a clear reward, you acquire the title, ¡ºIdol of Knights¡».] [As the first in Eternal World''s history to clear the ¡ºHall of Knights¡», you are bestowed the rank, ¡ºKnight¡».] [From now on, wherever you go, you will receive a warm welcome from good-aligned NPCs.] [You acquire an extremely large amount of accumulated skill proficiency.] [The level of the Legendary rank skill, ¡ºShadow Glide¡», has risen to 5.] [The level of the Legendary rank skill, ¡ºCry of Black Blood¡», has risen to 3.] [The level of the Legendary rank skill, ¡ºTorrent of Swords¡», has risen to 3.] [The level of the Almighty rank skill, ¡ºHelena''s Super Strong Swordsmanship¡», has risen to 2.] [As the level of the Almighty rank skill, ¡ºHelena''s Super Strong Swordsmanship¡», has risen, you have acquired a new swordsmanship skill, ¡ºAbyss¡».] [Having passed the Hidden Trial, you acquire the Hidden Piece, ¡º???¡¯s ?? Map¡».] [The ¡ºSublime Swordsman¡» maintaining the Hidden Field, ¡ºHall of Knights¡», has vanished.] [The Hidden Field, ¡ºHall of Knights¡», can no longer be maintained, and all its functions will disappear.] ¡®Wow, all of this...¡¯ The list of notifications was incredibly long, but what he actually received didn''t feel like all that much in terms of distinct new items. The last Hidden Piece he obtained was the same type of item as the Knight King¡¯s Dagger. There was no real need to examine it closely. After all, the parts obscured by question marks were naturally understood by him. ¡®I¡¯ll look at the Knight King¡¯s Mausoleum Map later.¡¯ It was a Hidden Piece that was meaningless unless he obtained another specific item. It was more beneficial to look at the other rewards. First, the titles. He examined the ¡®Wanderer¡¯ title he had received when he first entered this place, and the ¡®Idol of Knights¡¯ title he had just obtained. ¡ºWanderer¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡ú A title bestowed upon the user who first discovers a Hidden Field. ¡ú Effects applied within Hidden Fields +10% increase. ¡ºIdol of Knights¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary+¡· ¡ú A title bestowed upon the user who is the first in Eternal World''s history to clear the ¡ºHall of Knights¡». ¡ú Slightly upgraded from its original rank due to being the first clear in history. ¡ú Can gain recognition from all knights. ¡ú Knight-type skill power +25% increase. ¡ú Can teach knight-type skills of this title''s rank or lower to NPCs. ¡®Oh?¡¯ The Wanderer title was pretty decent. The Idol of Knights title, however, was substantial. The distinct increase in knight-type skill power was obviously incredible, and being able to gain recognition from all knights, as well as teach knight-type skills to NPCs, were also significant merits. ¡®What if I could teach skills to some of my summons using this?¡¯ It would be quite effective. Now that he had looked at these two, next up was... ¡®What¡¯s this rank?¡¯ As Seonghyun grew curious, a window popped up before his eyes. ¡ºKnight¡» ¡ú¡¶Rank¡· ¡ú It can be considered a rank similar to a Junior Baron, but one''s actual skill grants better treatment than that of a Baron. ¡ú Can learn Knight-type skills. ¡®Ah, so this is what being well-treated means?¡¯ The message that appeared when he obtained the Knight rank above also mentioned receiving a warm welcome from good-aligned NPCs. It seemed he would receive treatment akin to that of a quasi-noble. This wasn''t bad at all. And on top of that, he could now learn Knight-type skills. It was an incredible effect. Seonghyun looked on with considerable satisfaction and then skimmed through the skills whose levels had risen. To what extent had they improved? First, he examined the three Legendary skills, starting with Shadow Glide. ¡ºShadow Glide¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 5][Growth-Type] [Instant Effect][Complex] [Cooldown 5 minutes] [Duration 20 seconds] ¡úAssassin-exclusive skill. ¡úWhen using footwork techniques, this skill assists by making the body leave afterimages like shadows. ¡ú Immediately upon attempting to use Shadow Glide, movement speed increases by 1,250%, and stealth increases by 600%. ¡ºCry of Black Blood¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 3][Growth-Type] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown 8 minutes] ¡úKnight-exclusive skill. ¡úSelect one target upon skill activation. ¡úApplies Black Blood stacks to the selected target equal to the number of times the user has attacked them so far. ¡úHearing the cry of black blood from the weapon tears open wounds, dealing damage equal to 13% per Black Blood stack. ¡ºTorrent of Swords¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 3][Growth-Type] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown 8 minutes] ¡úWarrior-exclusive skill ¡úAllows momentary, relentless attacks by continuously swinging and thrusting the sword. ¡úAttacks for 3 seconds at a rate of 50 hits per second, with each hit dealing 13% damage. ¡úCannot move while the skill is in use. Each skill saw an increase in its cooldown or duration, and the effect percentages had definitely risen. In particular, Shadow Glide, whose level had increased significantly, showed a substantial improvement. ¡®This is incredible.¡¯ He thought that other skills would probably need to be used about this much for their levels to rise as well. He suspected that his other Overlord-exclusive skills might also level up soon, considering he had used them quite a bit. With that thought, Seonghyun opened the description for the highly anticipated final skill: Helena''s Super Strong Swordsmanship. ¡ºHelena''s Super Strong Swordsmanship¡» ¡ú¡¶Almighty¡· ¡ú[Lv 2][Growth Type] [Passive Effect][Compound] Helena''s swordsmanship, created in a short time out of love for her successor, boasts superior performance compared to any other swordsmanship, regardless of depth or profundity. ¡ºWave your sword around with a yap yap!¡» ¡úOverlord exclusive skill. ¡úIn handling a sword, when wielding a sword, inflicts dark damage in addition to slashing and piercing damage. ¡úAllows you to naturally imbue your sword with a dark sword aura. ¡úIncreases basic attack power by 300% when using a sword. ¡úAdditionally, you can unlock a total of ten swordsmanship skills, which can be acquired at each skill level. Lv 1 : Darkness. [Cooldown: 3 minutes] [Duration: 1 minute] ¡úManipulates darkness and imbues it into the sword. ¡úEnemies cut are inflicted with dark damage, slashing or piercing damage, and one of their senses is blocked. ¡úWith each cut, one sense is blocked, and with each cut, the duration of the sense block increases. Lv 2: Abyss [Cooldown: 5 minutes] [Duration: 1 minute] ¡ú Wields the sword to judge sinners and send them to the Abyss. ¡ú Swings the sword to launch a sword strike. ¡ú Sinners cut by the launched sword strike immediately take 2,000% damage and are bound by the chains of the Abyss, making them realize the weight of their sins. ¡ú The enemy becomes heavier by the weight of their sins, and the caster becomes lighter by that amount. Lv 3: (Currently unusable) The base attack power percentage had also increased, but what caught his eye even more was the other new skill. ¡®Abyss?¡¯ An attack skill that applied a debuff and a buff simultaneously. The word ¡®overpowered¡¯ just escaped him. Seonghyun smiled looking at it and thought. ¡®I need to try this out right away, don¡¯t I?¡¯ [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 127 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 127 6. It had been five days since the Demon King of Rapid went silent. Many people voiced their dissatisfaction. There was no reason to hurl insults merely because the supply of quality content had dwindled. However, it was also proof of how much they thirsted for new content. Of course, those searching for the Demon King of Rapid weren''t a significant portion of the overall player base. Understandably so, as Seonghyun, still merely a rookie, had a fanbase that was laughably small to threaten the thick fanbases of the Single Rankers. Unless something like the Fortress of the Past happened again... Would anyone really be hanging on the Demon King of Rapid¡¯s every move again? However. [Title: Honestly, Isn''t the Demon King of Rapid Past His Expiration Date?] [Author: TripleSwordStyleTaster] ¡ºHonestly, the Fortress of the Past? It was amazing, sure. He accomplished something no one had ever cleared before. But that¡¯s only because the game has changed a lot. Yuna, who¡¯s a Single Ranker now, was number one in the Fortress of the Past back then. Was she Almighty rank at that time? ? No, definitely not. The Demon King of Rapid is impressive, that¡¯s true. Hmm, but is he that good? I¡¯m saying this because it¡¯s pretty much confirmed he has an Almighty rank class. Frankly, among the current Single Rankers, only Yuna, a latecomer, cleared the Fortress of the Past because she knew it. Other rankers couldn¡¯t. If other rankers had tried, I think they could have cleared it easily. Therefore, I¡¯m not sure if the Demon King of Rapid can pull off something on the level of the Fortress of the Past again. If you disagree, you¡¯re right lol.¡» [IsHeThatGood: Hmm, seems plausible?] [PoopConnoisseur: But wasn¡¯t he overwhelmingly number one in this recent large-scale event?] ©¸[TripleSwordStyleTaster (Author): He has an Almighty class lol. And it¡¯s a class specialized for large-scale battles, so shouldn¡¯t he at least do that much?] ©¸[PoopConnoisseur: Sounds reasonable, maybe?] No one thought Seonghyun could create an impact on the level of the Fortress of the Past again. Although he had shown incredible prowess in the recent large-scale event. It was still just an event for levels 120 and below. Considering his class traits and rank, they judged it wasn¡¯t something he couldn¡¯t do. If he were to fight one-on-one against another Almighty rank class, could Seonghyun actually win? Such discussions were taking place. [HateMaliciousComments: Still, considering he caught Echo Willow? Isn¡¯t his control good?] ©¸[SafetyGoodGood: This also seems right?] ©¸[NoRebuttalsAccepted: LOL, do you think people just get Almighty classes for free? His control would obviously be much better than basic. In the first place, while many of the Echo Willow mobs are strong, aren¡¯t there a lot of dregs too? Compare things that are comparable.] [1234BubbleBubble: Honestly, doesn¡¯t it seem like a bubble? It¡¯s plausible to think it¡¯s all about the presentation. The Fortress of the Past is advantageous if a class specialized in large-scale [battles] does it ??.] Gradually, talk began to circulate that Seonghyun¡¯s skills were all hype. From the perspective of the people, it was a plausible story. Most of the skills Seonghyun had demonstrated so far were in large-scale battles. There was the Anemor Raid solo play, but... At best, it was a level 60 raid. The prevailing opinion was that it wasn''t a credible record. It was characteristic of communities to latch onto promising rookies or celebrities and tear them down when there was no enjoyable content. There were those who felt a thrill from criticizing others. As some users got swept up by this and started to believe it, public opinion rapidly deteriorated. Moreover, the Rapid Guild wasn''t particularly addressing the situation. Just as they were chattering like fish in water... A single notice appeared within Eternal World. A global announcement visible to all users. [Global Announcement] [East Asia Server - Korean player ¡ºSeonghyun¡» has cleared the Hidden Field, ¡ºHall of Knights¡», and has been awarded the ¡ºKnight¡» rank.] [His renown spreads throughout the entire continent.] An announcement stating he had cleared the Hidden Field, ¡ºHall of Knights¡». And an announcement that, as a result, he had obtained the Knight rank. At first, users thought they had misread it. Hidden Field, ¡ºHall of Knights¡»? It was a place name and a title they were seeing for the first time. Let''s say they didn''t know much about it. But did a global announcement ever ring for no reason? [ThisGameIsMyFirst: If a global announcement went off, doesn¡¯t that mean it¡¯s an incredible achievement?] ©¸[MerryBerry: Yep, yep, yep. It¡¯s gotta be an achievement on the level of the Fortress of the Past, right? Or at least close to it. Even Single Rankers can count the number of times they¡¯ve triggered a global announcement on one hand.] ©¸[FanaticBarbarian: Crazy;;; So, the Demon King of Rapid is almost at that level?] ©¸[MageNotWarrior: To be precise, the Demon King is still low-level, but if he¡¯s triggered two global announcements, honestly, he deserves the praise;;;] It was a feat that even Single Rankers could count on one hand. He had triggered it twice in just ten days. If someone were to ignore this, they were clearly a game-ignoring troll just there to stir up trouble. The achievement Seonghyun had accomplished held that much value. The power of a global announcement created that much of a ripple effect. Naturally, it was an event significant enough to flip the deteriorating public opinion 180 degrees. However, there was information that even they didn''t readily know. [WyvernSoda: But what¡¯s this Knight rank? Anyone know?] [BasicAttackMaster: Right? What¡¯s a Knight rank? Does it mean he¡¯s like a quasi-noble?] [ShieldlessMage: There was a rank system too?] The Hall of Knights, fine. It''s a Hidden Field, so they could accept that. But what on earth was this Knight rank? Since when had this system existed? As most people expressed their confusion about this unknown fact... A few who knew began to release information. Among them, the most popular post explained the accurate information quite well. [Title: I''ll Explain the Knight Rank.] [Author: SwordWieldingMage] ¡ºThose who knew about the rank system must have been startled, right? It¡¯s a system that¡¯s always been there, but it was one of those things kept hush-hush. Should I call it high-tier content, perhaps? It¡¯s one of the pieces of content for level 200 at a minimum. But this thing is seriously tough;; I don¡¯t know much about other ranks, so I can¡¯t elaborate, but I¡¯ll explain a bit about the Knight rank. Knight rank? No one among the Single Rankers has it. Why? Because it¡¯s really difficult; you can¡¯t get it just by being strong. So how do you get it then? There are largely two ways. You can serve as a squire for a year, basically wiping knights¡¯ asses, and then you can be granted the Knight rank. Of course, to become a squire, you have to invest a ton of money ??. And the next method is to be acknowledged by at least six knights. Your control also has to be on a whole other level. Subduing an NPC knight using only martial arts without skills is a basic condition. But what¡¯s more important here is that even if you manage that with skill, you still have to fulfill five other conditions. It seems the Demon King fulfilled those conditions in that field. Since it was a Hidden Field, it might have been even tougher than usual. Anyway, this is what I know.¡» The post with the fastest-rising recommendations and views. Through it, people could understand just how incredible the Knight rank Seonghyun had obtained was. Furthermore, as interest poured in from all over... The Knight rank seemed quite cool, so the number of people attempting to challenge it also increased. Some invested money to become squires. Others sought out NPC knights to find out the conditions. Thus, the Seonghyun syndrome was starting up again. 0. The Dune Wild Trail, an area with a higher chance of encountering villains than any other region. If you went out hunting three times, you¡¯d encounter villains at least twice; in this bizarre area, it was safe to say virtually no one wandered alone. Doing so was no different from openly throwing bait to villains. For that reason, most users didn¡¯t go alone and moved in parties of at least six. Thanks to this, the Oboro Family spat on the ground with annoyed expressions. The Oboro Family was a party consisting of five members. In this vicinity, they were a villain group that was nevertheless quite notorious. However, perhaps because many people had flocked here due to the recent large-scale event? ¡°How can there not be a single decent target to pick off?¡± ¡°Everywhere you look, it¡¯s just strong guys.¡± As the leader, Oboro, and the vice-captain, Cheongyagwi, grumbled... The ones beneath them trembled. At times like this, they¡¯d feel better if they at least went out scouting. But another member had already gone to scout. So, the rest had to remain here. Unsure when Oboro might explode... The subordinates shivered in anxiety, hoping the one who went out on reconnaissance would do a good job. But what was this? ¡°Boss!!! Boss!!! I found a party of only four roaming around section 439!!!¡± ¡°Oh? Four?¡± As the vice-captain, Cheongyagwi, perked up with interest... The leader, Oboro, scowled deeply and asked back. ¡°They¡¯re proper targets, right?¡± ¡°Uh, uh! Ri, right, Boss! Two of them weren¡¯t even wearing any particular gear, almost like they were bare-bodied!? I think they¡¯re merchants!¡± ¡°Oho?¡± ¡°If they¡¯re merchants, they¡¯re worth robbing, right?¡± Everyone muttered such things and nodded. Shall we go for a haul after such a long time then? The goal of villains like them was to make a big score here in the Dune Wild Trail, then, after their karma points dropped a bit later, launder their identity, build up their skills with the items from the haul, and join a decent guild. The Oboro Family was no different. That¡¯s why everyone¡¯s ears perked up at the word ¡°merchants.¡± ¡°Kuhuhu, Boss, if this haul is pretty good, are we going straight to that place we found back then?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. I¡¯ve kept the map safe. Let¡¯s make a big score this time and get out of this godforsaken wilderness.¡± Everyone¡¯s faces brightened at Oboro¡¯s words. Was it an easy job, being a villain in a place like this? That¡¯s why they were all eager to leave, and this was a good opportunity. Even better, they were lucky. A treasure map the Oboro Family had obtained after annihilating a party a few days ago. To be precise, they didn¡¯t know if it was a treasure map. But it was definitely a Hidden Piece. They didn¡¯t know what kind of location it pointed to. That¡¯s why they had planned to hit one more score and then find this place. The timing was perfect. ¡°Oboro Family, let¡¯s go!!!¡± Thus, the villains set out towards the location where the group of four was said to be. The distance wasn¡¯t far, so they were able to move in an instant. Seeing a party whose forms were somewhat indistinct, they tilted their heads. Why do they look so blurry? Do they have some kind of perception-jamming item? That must be pretty expensive, huh? As Oboro thought this and launched an attack... A young man standing at the front grinned and said. ¡°I had something I wanted to test out. This is perfect.¡± With those words, he unleashed a sword energy like ash remaining after burning everything. In a single strike, he cut down the three who were rushing at the front. At the terrifying power, Oboro and Vice-Captain Cheongyagwi¡¯s faces turned deathly pale. Conversely, the one who had unleashed the sword energy also tilted his head. ¡°Huh?¡± It seemed he wanted to see more. As if disappointed they had died too easily. But he soon snapped back to reality and looked at Oboro and Cheongyagwi. In that instant, Oboro quickly made a judgment and shouted. ¡°He¡¯s a swordsman! If we run¡ª!¡± The moment Oboro shouted that. ¡°Me?¡± With the sound of a finger snap, a fierce storm of blood raged. Seeing it, Oboro and Cheongyagwi muttered. ¡°Damn it!!!¡± ¡°Uwaaaaargh!!!¡± The Oboro Family, caught in the storm, lost their lives in an instant. It took less than a minute for all of them to die. Seonghyun, smacking his lips as if disappointed by the overly bland battle, was scratching his cheek when his pupils dilated at a phrase that appeared. [You have acquired experience points!] [You have eliminated an opponent with great notoriety.] [You have acquired the opponent''s item, ¡ºTreasure Map of Treasure Goblin¡».] ¡°Huh?¡± Why is this here? He had obtained a map with somewhat familiar handwriting. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 128 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 128 Treasure Goblin. Hadn''t Seonghyun been considerably indebted to a friend who was also a Treasure Goblin? Could there be another Treasure Goblin? Wondering about that, he checked. Seonghyun could see the map was written in a familiar hand. This looked like our friend. ¡®It¡¯s Kahku¡¯s map.¡¯ He was certain. He had just cross-verified by pulling up Kahku¡¯s memories. He was planning to go there anyway. But to think it would pop up here. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ One might say that Seonghyun, who already had the memories, didn''t particularly need it. But Kahku¡¯s memories weren¡¯t all-powerful either. He roughly knew the location, but the exact entry point was hazy, not coming to mind clearly. Normally, Seonghyun thought it might come to him if he went to the vicinity and wandered around a bit. But if a map like this appeared, it could only be a good thing. He still didn¡¯t have the compass, which was the key, though. Well, that was just a matter of dealing with all the traps or prepared monsters. So, it wasn¡¯t a problem. Come to think of it. ¡®The third storage had a ton of monsters, didn¡¯t it?¡¯ There was no boss monster. But many monsters from this vast Dune Wild Trail had been gathered. A habitat had been created there, making them automatically guard the storage. Thanks to that, like with the Red Minotaur last time, there were quite a few monster habitats. Since the storage was right in the middle of it all... ¡®It might be quite tough.¡¯ He might even have to sweep through the entire habitat to get in. If he had the key, he could have ignored those creatures and entered. But he didn¡¯t. It couldn¡¯t be helped. Still, it was okay. In fact, for Seonghyun, it wasn''t bad. ¡®I needed to level up anyway, right?¡¯ He had gained a significant amount of skill proficiency from the Hall of Knights this time, increasing the power of his skills. But he hadn¡¯t managed to raise his actual level, so it remained the same. He had also sweetly gained stats by absorbing memories. But his level, it seemed, was unchanged. ¡¾Status Window¡¿ ¡ºSeonghyun¡» ¡ºLv 115¡» ¡ºClass¡» ¡ú¡ºOverlord¡» ¡ºTitles¡» ¡ú¡ºMonarch (Legendary)¡»...... and 37 others. ¡ºStats¡» ¡ú¡¶Strength: 236(180+55)¡·¡¶Agility: 221(200+21)¡· ¡¶Stamina: 221(200+21)¡·¡¶Intelligence: 266(241+25)¡· ¡¶Wisdom: 266(241+25)¡·¡¶Spirit: 133(120+13)¡· ¡¶Dexterity: 7(6+1)¡· ¡ºAdditional Stats¡» ¡ú¡¶0¡· [TL/N: Contextually he should have more than 33 titles as he had 33 last time he checked his status window but the raws of the chapter say that he has 33 titles like the last time which is wrong, so I am changing it to the contextually accurate number of titles for consistency sake.] ¡®Hmm.¡¯ Only 5 more levels to go before moving to the next region. But even more than that, his stats caught his eye. They were monstrously high, almost bizarre. Other users would surely be gathering stats from here and there as well. But Seonghyun¡¯s values far surpassed that. If those stats had been concentrated in Intelligence and Wisdom, he would have become a terrifying Overlord. But since that wasn''t the case... It was a little disappointing. Thanks to the stats gained from the Hall of Knights. The combined total of his Strength, Agility, and Stamina had become higher than his Intelligence and Wisdom. He was at a level where he could fight on par with most melee-type classes in a physical brawl. In contrast, his level was definitely low. ¡®I need to get to the next region quickly too.¡¯ His level hadn¡¯t risen since the large-scale event to awaken Leonik. So, it was understandable. Therefore, in a situation where hunting was so crucial... To think he had even obtained Kahku¡¯s map. -My Lord, has our next destination been decided? ¡°We shall attend you, Lord.¡± -I-I¡¯ll do my best tooo. ¡°Very reassuring.¡± Seonghyun also smiled faintly at the words of his three retainers. He was beginning to feel how difficult leveling up was becoming. But since he had his retainers... Seonghyun wasn¡¯t too worried. He had never met another Almighty rank class user. But even among them, he was on the side where acquiring experience points was difficult. ¡®It¡¯s because I have many summons.¡¯ Weren''t there many who shared experience points with Seonghyun? The Death Knight Commanders, of course. Fiora and the demon knights also grew by sharing Seonghyun¡¯s experience. Even though his class was specialized for hunting... It was inevitable that leveling up would become progressively slower. So, didn¡¯t that mean he had to hunt even more diligently? With that thought, Seonghyun immediately summoned Anemor. ¡®Well then, shall we get going?¡¯ 1. A single capsule filled a room like a studio apartment somewhere in Japan. From it, a man emerged as if he had been ejected from the capsule. For someone who had just come out of a game, his expression was incredibly unpleasant and contorted with anger. Sure enough. Crash! Bang¡ª! ¡°Damn it!!!¡± He shouted violently, sweeping aside nearby objects. Still unable to overcome his anger, he ground his teeth, his glaring eyes fixed as his fists trembled. To be taken down like this and die in an instant. This Japanese man¡¯s name was Ookami Kenji. In Eternal World, he was a villain who used the nickname Oboro. The reason he was out here now, unable to contain his anger, was because he had been defeated by Seonghyun. Moreover, checking via his phone app... The item he had dropped was none other than the map, a Hidden Piece. ¡°Hoo, hoo. I have to do something, somehow.¡± It was already too late for him to use it himself. Could he possibly snatch it back? It seemed likely the guy went to use it as soon as he got it. Due to the penalty, it would take at least a day for Kenji to log back in. It was a hopeless situation, but... ¡®If I tell that guy...¡¯ Perhaps there might be a way. Thinking this, Kenji, no, Oboro, made a call from his cellphone. Perhaps the person was already out of their capsule, as the call was answered almost immediately. [What¡¯s a filthy villain bastard like you calling for?] ¡°Ahem, hem, Kyou-kun? Are you perhaps still in the Dune Wild Trail?¡± [No, damn it, so why? Just get to the point.] ¡°Ahem-hem.¡± He¡¯s as fierce as ever. Kenji hesitated for a moment. He still wondered if this was the right thing to do. But since he couldn¡¯t have it anyway... Wouldn¡¯t it be better to entrust it to Kyou? He was a skilled player on a completely different level. He might even be able to do something about that arrogant swordsman. Even if he was savage and rude, Kyou was the most skilled person Kenji knew. Besides, didn¡¯t he have that epithet? The Rookie Slayer. That¡¯s why he had immediately thought of him. [So, what¡¯s your business, you fucking idiot.] The voice on the other end of the receiver spoke like a ferocious growl. Just when Kenji thought that if he dragged this out any longer, the guy might actually show up at his house... Kenji spoke. ¡°Kyou-kun, by any chance, there¡¯s a Hidden Piece. How about it?¡± -What? A Hidden Piece? You¡¯re going to give it to me? You, who has no skill but is greedy as hell? Every word stung. But it couldn¡¯t be helped. Because it was the truth. Kenji calmed himself for a moment and spoke again. ¡°Yes, yes, the thing is...¡± As he explained the situation. A mocking laugh came from beyond the receiver, along with a reply. [Kikikik, are you some kind of fucking moron? You got yourself done in and now you¡¯re asking me to go get it for you?] ¡°......That¡¯s......about right.¡± [Alright, mark the coordinates. Even a fucking moron like you would have noted that down, right?] ¡°O-of course, Kyou, Kyou-kun.¡± [Your voice is fucking annoying too, so shut up. I¡¯ll make sure to get revenge for you, so don¡¯t worry. And if you contact me again, I¡¯ll kill you. Don¡¯t call me if you¡¯re just going to spout useless shit like today.] The call ended abruptly with those harsh words. Kenji felt terrible. But soon, he was able to smile. He had thrown away his pride. But with this, it was certain. ¡°Kukukuku, just you wait until Kyou-kun thrashes you.¡± Laughing at the thought of the other¡¯s misfortune, Kenji suddenly remembered his own situation, and as if a harsh reality check hit him, he looked around. Objects were strewn about in complete disarray. He began to pick them up and tidy the place. It seemed the wave of disillusionment had hit him quite hard, as sighs could be heard from him intermittently. 2. When a prominent figure emerged from the East Asian server, they were usually from one of three countries: Korea, China, or Japan. They typically came from these three nations. Currently, excluding Seonghyun, who was the hottest topic, the names being discussed were Meiran, Junhyuk, and Kurosawa Ren. These three were often mentioned, and after them came the Rapid Guild¡¯s Luna Team. And before them, there was one rookie who had left a powerful impression on people¡¯s memories. A user who had laid waste to his surroundings under the nickname ¡®Kyou.¡¯ Takamiya Kyou was his name. [DungeonParkingKing: Speaking of which, what¡¯s Kyou up to these days?] ©¸[MobHerdingPro: Ah, that Rookie Slayer? Hasn¡¯t he been MIA since he went into hiding after getting a bounty on his head and being chased by guilds?] ©¸[SelfBuffFiend: LOLOL, he was strong, honestly.] ©¸[CostEffectiveDPS: Agreed. Honestly, if he had joined any decent guild, that guild¡¯s standing would¡¯ve been different, right?] ©¸[HealLessScrub: Kyou was incredible. Even if he was on the wanted list of most guilds in the Dune Wild Trail, if he said he wanted to pick one and join, they¡¯d probably take him, right?] ©¸[LikesSummonedFriends: Kyou¡¯s the real deal, gotta admit.] A user who, despite his young age, boasted outstanding control and overwhelming firepower. Until then, he hadn¡¯t been particularly famous. Kyou started becoming famous from none other than his time in the Dune Wild Trail. He went around crushing countless guild rookies as if he were on a dojo-breaking spree. After that, his fame began to skyrocket. No guild rookie could defeat Kyou. He showed particular strength against swordsmen. As he hunted rookies day and night like that... It even led to a situation where several of those called the rising stars of their guilds quit the game. Because of that, he ended up on the wanted lists of most guilds in the Dune Wild Trail. However, Kyou didn¡¯t seem to care much about such things. ¡°I can¡¯t just join a place full of weak-ass morons.¡± In reality, even when he had a bounty on his head, he skillfully evaded the pursuit squads and continued playing the game. Was it because he had never once been defeated? Or was it because he was young and immature? His arrogance pierced the heavens. Among villains, Kyou actually held a status comparable to Seonghyun''s. However, Kyou himself thoroughly despised those villains. Something about them lacking conviction, unlike him? It was a classic case of Chuunibyou. But not many people actually knew that. Yet, Oboro had coincidentally managed to connect with him. Originally, their connection was from the real world. However, their relationship had devolved to one where they only contacted each other through the game. Even then, because Oboro was a villain, Kyou had put up a wall. ¡°To think that fucking moron Kenta would bring something like this to me.¡± But for that Oboro to give Kyou this information. It was truly surprising. Honestly, Oboro himself was pretty skilled. To be taken down without being able to do anything... It seemed like he had encountered quite a big fish. Still, at the end of the day... ¡°He¡¯s no match for me, kikik.¡± Sneering at his opponent with self-importance, Kyou looked at the location he received from Oboro and smirked. To think he sent it immediately. Oboro had certainly used his head. Considering he contacted Kyou right after being defeated... Since it was an item he had lost anyway... His desire for revenge, at least, was admirable. He must have been furious enough to cast aside even his pride. As payment for this information, providing revenge was certainly doable. ¡®So, this is the location, huh?¡¯ Moreover, a swordsman who uses a blood-red storm. Kyou had ears; he hadn¡¯t heard of such a swordsman recently. However, it wasn¡¯t as if he had no idea. ¡®Uses a sword well and a blood-red storm......¡¯ He had a guess. Hadn¡¯t there been a user who showed a similar appearance recently? Kyou searched through various videos and, sure enough, found one. A video uploaded by the Rapid Guild. A skilled swordsman who dealt with Echo Willow elites in an instant. ¡°The Demon King......¡± This will be fun. Kyou chuckled like that, entered the capsule, and logged in. ¡°If I beat the Demon King as well, that would mean I¡¯m the best, no?¡± Muttering such words, as if he had already won. The thought of losing never even crossed his mind. However, Kyou had good reason for such confidence. ¡°This is my first time fighting another Almighty rank class. Kikikik.¡± After all, he was one of the few Almighty rank classes across all servers of Eternal World. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 129 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 129 3. The degree of realism in Eternal World was truly beyond imagination. Everything was so vast and exceptionally well-crafted that it was no different from another world. It wasn''t for nothing that it carried the title of the "Eternal World." The thought processes of NPCs were like those of actual humans. The ecology of monsters also closely resembled reality. One might expect that in cases where the habitats of various monsters overlapped, they would fight to the death, as often imagined in fantasy. However, that wasn''t the case at all. Rather, once habitats were established like that... An ecosystem formed where they did not invade each other''s territories. For the monsters, it was an ecosystem. From the perspective of users or NPCs, it was nothing short of a Demon''s Realm. The place known as the Demon''s Realm of the Dune Wild Trail. Kahku¡¯s third storage was hidden there. ¡°Hmm.¡± Seonghyun scratched his cheek as if slightly troubled. It wasn''t feasible to hunt through the entirety of the so-called Demon''s Realm. However, if he didn''t break through at least one area, entry would certainly become tricky. Kahku¡¯s storage was located in the center. The closer one got to the center, the more habitats there were, and the number of enemies to face would increase exponentially. How should he prepare for this? Other users would have prepared methods like breaking through as stealthily as possible. Or perhaps breaking through as quickly as possible. They would have prepared such tactics. No matter how powerful an Almighty rank class was, there was a limit to what one could do alone against such numbers. However, Seonghyun was different. ¡°Are you ready?¡± At his words, Seonghyun¡¯s legion, positioned behind him, shouted in unison. ¡°¡°We are ready!!!¡±¡± A deafening roar. No, it was a war cry so powerful it felt as if the very atmosphere trembled for a moment. The faintly shimmering haze above the legion and the aura they emanated accompanied a shout so immense it seemed capable of overturning the surrounding land. All of Seonghyun¡¯s retainers and all his legions were ready. Their numbers reached almost 200, a grand army. It was a legion far too numerous to have been raised by a single user. Within their ranks, the ground forces were led by the Death Knight Commanders Barpur and Leonik, while the air forces were commanded by the Death Knight Commander Anemor and Karisha, who had obtained a Transcended Body of Death. And interspersed among them, Seonghyun¡¯s retainers, Fiora and Noktrinium, formed special units. Approximately 150 ground troops. Approximately 50 air troops. And two special units. At Seonghyun¡¯s single command, that grand army invaded the place called the Demon''s Realm. Thud! Thud! Thud! Whoosh¡ª! Swoooosh¡ª! The sound of the ground forces advancing shook the earth. The sound of the air forces sallying forth split the sky. It was truly a scene befitting the words: the Demon King¡¯s invasion. Seonghyun filmed the entire process, feeling rather pleased. There was a time when he had cringed at the moniker "Demon King," wondering what it was all about. But how could he resist after seeing this? The sight of hundreds of his legion, wreathed in an aura of teal and an darkness akin to death itself, assaulting the Demon''s Realm below was enough to evoke an indescribable emotion. It was a spectacle that no man could easily ignore. ¡°Oho.¡± Feeling quite satisfied, Seonghyun thought perhaps it was time for him to move as well. He suddenly remembered one among his retainers who normally would have been the first to rush out and wreak havoc. Demon Knight Balthar. What on earth was that fellow doing, not participating this time either? Seonghyun was quite puzzled but decided to let it be. ¡®It¡¯s not like we¡¯ll fail just because Balthar isn¡¯t here.¡¯ Their forces were already at a level that could be called overkill. Seonghyun didn¡¯t pay it much mind. He¡¯s probably taking good care of Drakhanos. He thought that and moved on. Deciding to focus solely on filming now, Seonghyun stepped forward. Well, even if he didn''t pay attention, he had set the camera to focus on any retainers or soldiers involved in special events. It would capture the angles perfectly. Therefore, Seonghyun walked out as if on a casual stroll, unconcerned. The Death Legion, for the sake of their master, swept away everything in his path, leaving not a single life untouched. A land made silent and desolate by death. Seonghyun¡¯s steps, as he leisurely strolled through it, were like those of an absolute being. 4. Almighty rank classes. They were beings who could overturn the established order in Eternal World, and the presence of even one could change guild rankings. However, the number of people who had clearly revealed themselves as such was surprisingly small. Even Seonghyun hadn''t definitively stated he was an Almighty rank. But the majority inferred it to be so. On the East Asian server, there were roughly ten users presumed to be of Almighty rank. Across all servers, there might be a few more. But even that was mere speculation. Kyou was not included in that count of ten. Although a few had guessed, it wasn¡¯t seen as the established theory. Therefore, he wasn¡¯t considered one of them. Should it be said he had hidden it well? In the first place, he had only earned the epithet "Rookie Slayer" in the Dune Wild Trail. He hadn''t received much significant attention. He had only operated in a "dojo-breaking" style. Because of this, not many knew the true depths of Kyou¡¯s strength. They merely speculated that if he wished, he could join any major guild right now, and that the guild he joined would likely be incredibly successful. ¡°It really is the Demon King, isn¡¯t it?¡± Following the coordinates Oboro had given him, he arrived. The place called the Demon''s Realm was being mercilessly trampled. Would the offensive of a Demon King''s army invading the land look like this? It was exactly that kind of scene. It was certainly enough to pique Kyou¡¯s interest. The strength Kyou witnessed was enough to send a slight shiver through him. ¡°If the legion is like that, the master himself probably isn¡¯t all that strong...¡± That was common sense. No matter how powerful an Almighty rank class was, they were still bound by the rules of the system. Kyou, also being an Almighty rank class user, knew this well. Unlike when he had spoken like an arrogant brat during his conversation with Oboro, he began to analyze the situation thoroughly and coolly. ¡®Was Oboro taken down not by the master, but by one of the retainers?¡¯ If it was an Almighty Necromancer, that was certainly possible. They could have retainers more outstanding than an average Legendary rank. Right, if it''s the Demon King, said to be the strongest among recent rookies, that could be the case. It was someone he planned to go and defeat soon anyway. He had seized the opportunity perfectly. If he won, he could also obtain a Hidden Piece. Killing two birds with one stone. ¡°Well then, shall we get started?¡± Intending to defeat the retainers first, Kyou immediately used a detection skill to check. However, what Kyou¡¯s detection skill picked up were a total of seven strong auras? Wait, could there really be seven? ¡®Isn¡¯t that too many?¡¯ For a moment, Kyou was so taken aback that he became flustered. He checked again, and it was still seven. He wondered if this was correct. It could be. Since he had selected for above-average strength in the vicinity... Couldn''t it be a case of quantity over quality? His detection skill wasn¡¯t sophisticated enough to discern differences in strength levels. So, although he couldn''t get a clear idea of where to go first... He headed towards the nearest one. ¡®I hope this one is the strongest.¡¯ Kyou smirked, wondering what he would do if it ended too anticlimactically. No matter how strong the Demon King¡¯s retainer was... At best, weren''t they just byproducts of an Almighty rank class? They were bound to be inferior to him, an Almighty rank class user himself. With victory already assured in his mind, Kyou moved quickly towards one location. According to his detection skill, the target had also sensed Kyou and was rapidly approaching. Perfect timing. Kyou used one of his skills, Lightning Bird, and sent it as a substitute for a greeting. Crackle¡ªSpurt! Lightning sparked from Kyou¡¯s hand, gradually taking the form of a small bird. Then, it shot out towards one spot like a flash of lightning. The lightning bird, launched towards the approaching retainer, flew, embroidering the empty air with trails of blue electricity. A strike that no ordinary user could easily block. Although sent as a greeting, it was an exceedingly fast and sharp skill. Just as he was about to see how the target would deal with it... Sliiice¡ª An unbelievable sound echoed around. ¡®It was... cut?¡¯ His Lightning Bird? The number of users who had ever reacted and defended against it could be counted on one hand. Moreover, there had never been a case where someone reacted and countered it. But this person reacted and struck it down? Unbelievable. However, it had already happened. Is this the strongest retainer? Kyou thought so and grinned so wide it looked like his mouth would tear. Was the closest one the jackpot? With that thought, he waited for the entity to arrive. Something burst out from between the countless trees and bushes. However. -Hueh? It¡¯s a-a person? ¡°......???¡± Kyou couldn¡¯t help but be flustered. It looked like a slime, with a body that seemed to resemble the cosmos, a fluid, wobbling form, and it had taken the shape of a small girl¡ªa monster-like being emerged. And a very weak-looking one at that. It was Seonghyun¡¯s retainer, Fiora. But Kyou had no way of knowing that. ¡®He has a retainer like that?¡¯ No, more importantly, that thing struck down his Lightning Bird? He couldn¡¯t understand it. He wondered if there had been some mistake. But his detection skill, still active, clearly showed that apart from that creature, there was no one else in the vicinity. Did that mean that thing really did strike down his attack? Just in case, Kyou used another skill. He clenched his hand in the empty air, and a spear of lightning appeared. However, that lightning spear flew towards Fiora with far greater power and speed than the lightning bird. -Hueh!? For a moment, something flashed, and then the spear of lightning appeared before Fiora. Normally, it would be absolutely impossible to dodge. However, in that instant, Fiora changed her legs into those of a feline and lightly evaded it. She hadn''t been able to cut it down as it was far too close. But just the fact that she had dodged it was enough to startle Kyou. ¡®She... dodged this?¡¯ How on earth did she dodge it? It couldn''t be called Kyou¡¯s fastest skill. But in terms of speed alone, it was among the top few. Yet, how could she see that and dodge it immediately? While Kyou was so dumbfounded he couldn¡¯t even speak... Fiora, having dodged the spear of lightning, said. - I-I am the Lo-Lord¡¯s pet. If you a-attack more, I will a-attack too. An extremely cautious, extremely polite warning. Seeing it, a vein throbbed on Kyou¡¯s forehead. It was the first time in his life he¡¯d received such a warning. Especially after she had neutralized two of his skills as if completely dismantling them¡ªthis was truly a first. For the still-young Kyou, nothing could have wounded his pride more. Therefore. ¡°Kikik. Consider yourself dead.¡± Despite that shabby-looking appearance, this creature was the strongest among the Demon King¡¯s retainers. Kyou, convinced of this, used various buff skills. Crackle-crackle-crackle¡ª! A buff that absorbed all the surrounding lightning energy. A buff that maximized the lightning energy within his own body. Even a field that made the surroundings more conducive to lightning. As he deployed everything... Fiora watched him and, still in a timid voice, said. -Hueh? I-If you do this, I-I¡¯ll take it as you w-wanting to fight. In stark contrast to her overly timid voice... Her body began to transform. The small girl¡¯s body changed into that of an adult woman, and her arms gradually altered. One arm became sharp, like a sword. The other arm took on a pointed shape, like a spear. The moment the two faced each other. ¡°Die!!!¡± Kyou activated his skill. In the fierce lightning, the world lost its color and was suffused with white light. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 130 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 130 Although the mighty lightning had turned the surroundings entirely white... Fiora could see the fierce, brilliantly shining lightning shooting towards her. A speed at which not even sound could be heard. It was indeed worthy of being called lightning. However, Fiora took a deep breath, facing that lightning, and powerfully thrust out her left hand, which had transformed into a spear. She imbued it with the strongest energy she possessed and used the skill contained in her left hand. Thunderbird Hunt. As if a divine spear was shot, instantly piercing the Thunderbird, known as the king of the sky, that lightning too was pierced by Fiora¡¯s spear. Pzzzzzzzzzt¡ª!!! KWAAAAAAA¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! The impaled lightning lost control, spread out in all directions, and electrified the surroundings, while Fiora¡¯s spear pulverized and penetrated everything in its path. Kyou was at the end of that path. But the instant the lightning split, he vanished from that spot as if he had teleported, reappearing elsewhere. Afterward, as the divine spear swept past the spot where Kyou had been... A huge, long cylindrical hole was pierced there, as if a giant spear had struck it. ¡®Crazy.¡¯ His head, which had been hot with anger until a moment ago, instantly cooled. If he allowed even one hit, no matter how strong Kyou was, he could die. Seeing that, Kyou by no means let his guard down. He was furious, yes. But it was a cold fury. Immediately, just as Fiora had warned, she moved lightly, her legs still in their feline form. ¡°!!!¡± She appeared right before Kyou¡¯s eyes. Fiora once again drew back her left hand. The moment Kyou saw it... This time, instead of teleporting, he moved like lightning, crackling as he retreated. Fiora¡¯s left arm changed from a spear to a different form. That left hand, transformed by her Shapeshifter ability... It looked like a dragon¡¯s¡ªno, a dragon head. As the dragon¡¯s open maw gathered a vast amount of energy and then exhaled it... A small breath was expelled towards Kyou. ¡°Th-this is!!!¡± A bewildered Kyou immediately used the skill he had been about to deploy while moving. A powerful technique that created and launched a dragon of lightning. The dragon, shooting in a straight line, met the small breath Fiora had created. The moment they collided. KWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! An indescribable shockwave spread through the surroundings, and fragments of energy shot out in all directions. Kyou was caught in that storm and pushed back a considerable distance, suffering quite a bit of damage as a result. It wasn''t on the level of a fatal wound. But it wasn''t a minor injury he could just ignore either. A mere retainer was this strong? Unbelievable. No, he couldn''t understand it. He himself was an Almighty grade class. How could there be such a difference? ¡®C-Could this be real??¡¯ This wasn''t even Seonghyun, the one called the Demon King. To be pushed this far by a mere retainer, just a part of him? It made no sense. As far as Kyou knew, summoned beings like retainers grew stronger in proportion to their master''s own stats and level. If that was the case... ¡®Is the master himself this strong too?¡¯ Surely not, but didn''t it mean the master was strong enough to grant this much power? Kyou hadn''t been defeated yet. But he couldn''t help but be bewildered. He was currently fighting with all his might. And yet, weren''t they fighting almost on equal terms? To put it another way... ¡®If another retainer joins in here...¡¯ It meant he could be defeated. He had to settle this quickly. Perhaps this retainer was a high-risk, high-return type who would disappear upon death? If he killed this one, their combat power would immediately drop. Kyou resolved to kill Fiora, no matter what it took. However. Whooosh¡ª! As Fiora swung her right arm, now a sword, through the black dust cloud raised by the previous attack... Watching Fiora¡¯s form instantly clear the dust, Kyou thought. ¡®Can I... win this?¡¯ It was the first time a doubt about himself had surfaced. But he looked at Fiora again and readied his combat stance. Regardless, Fiora still muttered timidly. -I-It would have been g-good if you d-died from that last attack... W-what a shame. To think she could say such bloodcurdling things so timidly. That too was quite strange. In any case, Kyou, intending to fight Fiora with all his might, recalled the skills he could use. And as he considered the most suitable skills for this situation, he observed Fiora. She had such timid words and appearance. But if you looked closely, she had to be the Demon King¡¯s strongest retainer. There was no doubt about it. If not... ¡®N-No, that can¡¯t be right.¡¯ Kyou firmly believed it to be so and unleashed the most powerful skill he could currently use. Dark clouds cast a shadow over the sky that had been clear until just a moment ago, and a colossal bolt of lightning struck down from the heavens towards Fiora. KWAAAAAAAH¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! The lightning struck so fiercely that the area where Fiora stood seemed to momentarily vanish. It was the ultimate targeting skill that could neither be dodged nor blocked. The damage itself was lower than the previous two skills, but... It wasn''t a skill used merely for its damage. Fiora felt the energy of the lightning she had just been hit with seeping into her body and was about to tilt her head in confusion. But she couldn''t move. Crackle-spark! Sparks flew as Fiora¡¯s body was immobilized. This was the move Kyou had been aiming for. In that state, Kyou immediately used his ultimate skill. ¡°Kikikik! Die!!!¡± Finally smiling broadly, he used his ultimate skill. The Left Arm of the Thunder God, made of lightning, appeared through the dark clouds. It slammed its fist down towards Fiora. As that hand made of lightning descended to the ground... All the surrounding plasma spread out in every direction, devastating the area. It hadn¡¯t even reached Fiora yet. But it melted everything in the vicinity with lightning, utterly pulverizing it. KWARRURURURURUNG¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! When the Thunder God''s wrath touched the ground... The surrounding land was momentarily overturned, and the ground was laid waste. An enormous area of land was upturned and collapsed as if caving in. It was slower than his other lightning skills, but in terms of effect, the Left Arm of the Thunder God was the most powerful skill Kyou could unleash. It was the ultimate attack skill of an Almighty grade. There was no way she could be alive after being hit by this. ¡®She was even paralyzed and couldn¡¯t move!!!¡¯ There was no way she could have dodged it. So Kyou thought. But in the dust cloud remaining after the Left Arm of the Thunder God vanished... Feeling something rapidly emerge, Kyou watched it with a vacant, despairing expression. Kwajik! Fiora¡¯s left hand pierced through his left shoulder. The damage was extreme. But more than that, Kyou, as if unable to comprehend, coughed up blood and asked. ¡°Cough, h-how on earth!?¡± -H-How did I dodge it, you ask? As Fiora asked back. Kyou, his eyes bloodshot with rage, used a skill that discharged electricity all around him. A skill that discharged electricity from himself to his entire surroundings. However, as soon as he used that skill... As if Fiora was answering him... She shed a skin identical to her own form and escaped the spot. It looked just as if she were molting. ¡°......Ah?¡± Seeing that, Kyou made a dumbfounded, blank sound. Shedding her skin? Fiora, while naturally shedding her skin, muttered. -I-If I sh-shed m-my skin, I c-can escape a-all status ailments. At those timidly explained words, Kyou stared at Fiora with a vacant expression. Was she saying that¡¯s how she dodged his ultimate skill? It was supposed to be a fatal blow, guaranteed to hit accurately because of the paralysis. Dodging it like this? This was too broken!!! He wanted to scream that, but he couldn''t. Because it was too mortifying and unfair. Merely. ¡°Are you... are you the Demon King¡¯s strongest retainer?¡± Kyou, realizing that with his remaining skills, he couldn''t even escape from this place, let alone kill Fiora, asked. Fiora, startled, waved her hands dismissively. -Hueh!? N-No! There¡¯s D-Drakhanos-ssi, and Ba-Balthar-ssi, and... Le-Leonik-ssi too, you know?! ¡°......Ha.¡± A breath escaped him as if he were truly dumbfounded. A creature like this wasn''t the strongest retainer? It was absurd. As Kyou sank to the ground in despair... Fiora approached him gently and said. -Y-You worked hard. Saying so, she swung her right arm. Her right arm, transformed into a sword, touched Kyou¡¯s neck. In that moment, Kyou saw his vision spin dizzily. He gently closed his eyes. It was a complete defeat. Far from even reaching the master, he despaired at Fiora¡¯s words implying she was only about fourth among them. He was logged out. He never knew that Fiora was, in fact, arguably the strongest among the retainers Seonghyun possessed. He had completely believed Fiora''s humility. In reality, Fiora was an immense power, even stronger than Baltar. -H-He attacked f-first, so the L-Lord won¡¯t scold me, right? However, even that Fiora muttered as if she feared Seonghyun. In any case, she was Seonghyun¡¯s retainer. After Fiora finished off the guy... -I-I need to get back to work! Worried she might be scolded, she quickly began to move again to finish her remaining tasks. 5. While heading towards the center of the place called the Demon''s Realm... Seonghyun tilted his head at a message that suddenly appeared. It wasn¡¯t a message saying he had discovered Kahku¡¯s third storage. [You have defeated an opponent who launched a preemptive attack.] [You have acquired the opponent''s item, Unique grade ¡ºSkill Book - Lion''s Knighthood¡».] ¡°......?¡± Seonghyun tilted his head at the incomprehensible message. He defeated an opponent who attacked first? When? With a genuinely puzzled expression, he carefully examined the message. And he scanned his surroundings again, but... ¡°......There¡¯s no one?¡± No matter how hard he looked, he couldn¡¯t find any trace of a user or see any user. Then it occurred to him. He wondered if his ¡®guys¡¯ had caught and dealt with them. If his side had attacked first, the message wouldn''t have said "an opponent who launched a preemptive attack." A Unique grade skill book, how fortunate. Seonghyun smiled and nodded. ¡®It seems like a knight-type skill, so I could probably learn it...¡¯ He had obtained the Knight rank, so now he could learn knight-type skills. But still, it felt a bit much. He had learned quite a few knight-type skills recently. Right now, rather than using this as is... It would be better to use the Book of Despair to change it into a Black Magic type skill. After all, Seonghyun was a Black Mage. Although he had been using a sword quite a bit lately, Seonghyun''s foundation was ultimately Black Magic. He had neglected it somewhat too. ¡®Anyway, it¡¯s good to get a new skill.¡¯ Seonghyun thought so and pocketed the skill book. ¡®I don¡¯t know who it was, but thanks.¡¯ For giving such a reward. It seemed they had likely attacked Seonghyun¡¯s legion first, mistaking them for monsters. His soldiers would have probably given a warning not to attack after that. Yet, they still attacked. Shouldn¡¯t they be considered villains then? Because of that, Seonghyun didn¡¯t feel even a shred of guilt. He was just happy to have obtained the skill book. Therefore, Seonghyun didn''t know. That the user Fiora had defeated was a much stronger user than he thought. Well, it couldn''t be helped. [Hidden Piece, Treasure Goblin Kahku¡¯s Third Storage, will now be opened.] With Kahku¡¯s third storage right before his eyes, would he have the leisure to think about other things? [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 131 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 131 6. How on earth did things end up like this? Why? Why on earth was this happening to him? Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong was about to tear his hair out but hastily stopped himself. In an already stressful situation, if he started pulling out his hair... As an unpleasant thought surfaced, he immediately lowered his hands from his head. With eyes from which the dull dark circles had somewhat faded, he stared at the screen. ¡°Haaaah.¡± Still, the past few days had been peaceful. Seonghyun had focused solely on training for a full five days. Thanks to that, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong¡¯s workload had significantly decreased, to the point where he could even leave work exactly on time. But as soon as those five days were over, this whole mess had erupted. What on earth was the problem? The thought naturally welled up. ¡®The Hall of Knights too.¡¯ How did he figure out the hidden trial conditions all at once? He had trained every day. Even if one were to concede that he passed because he reached a point where he thought, "This should be enough by now"... No, how could a person handle a sword that well? He wielded the sword so proficiently, as if he were some kind of phantom. The Hall of Knights was a place that, while focused on training, was impossible to pass unless one¡¯s swordsmanship exceeded a certain level. Honestly, he had thought Seonghyun wouldn''t be able to pass. But what was this? ¡°Man, he was practically flying around in the Hall of Knights, you know?¡± It was just as Associate Oh Jinhyeok had said. The way he flew around wielding that sword. He looked more like a Hero or a Champion, not an Overlord. Truly. Because of that, he felt a curious urge to look up information on user Seonghyun. But he couldn''t. First of all, it was personal information. He couldn¡¯t just look it up. Anyway, Lee Wonsong¡¯s prediction had been wrong this time too. And how was his luck so good again? He caught a single villain and even obtained Kahku¡¯s third storage map from them. No matter how much it was said to be in the Demon''s Realm... There was no way Seonghyun wouldn''t be able to break through that Demon''s Realm, was there? ¡°Isn¡¯t Kahku¡¯s third storage really dangerous, Senior?¡± ¡°Haaaaah. Why do things always go the opposite of my predictions?¡± He didn''t even feel annoyed anymore at Associate Oh Jinhyeok¡¯s tactless words. He was just dissatisfied that his own luck was so bad and Seonghyun¡¯s was so good. As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong laid out his grievances... Associate Oh Jinhyeok thought for a moment and then spoke. ¡°Huh? Senior, in that case, how about you just cheer for user Seonghyun instead?¡± ¡°What?¡± As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong glared sharply at him... Associate Oh Jinhyeok gulped, his pupils wavering. But who was Associate Oh Jinhyeok? An indomitable man who spoke his mind without a care, even when threatened! ¡°W-Well, since things always turn out the opposite of what you predict, Senior... I thought if you cheered for user Seonghyun, it might actually ruin things for him......¡± So. Was he treating him like some kind of curse doll now? As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong glared at his seemingly deranged subordinate as if he could kill him... Even the usually clueless Associate Oh Jinhyeok couldn''t help but flinch. ¡°Hi-Hiik!?¡± However, it wasn''t just Associate Oh Jinhyeok who seemed to have lost his mind. ¡°......Would it really work like that?¡± At Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong¡¯s reply, who sounded genuinely intrigued, Associate Oh Jinhyeok¡¯s eyes sparkled, sensing an opportunity. He was actually listening to his opinion! To think such a joyous day would come! ¡°Yes! Let¡¯s try cheering him on this time!¡± ¡°......Alright, fine.¡± As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, who had half lost his mind due to Seonghyun¡¯s exploits, accepted the suggestion... Associate Oh Jinhyeok dared to do something crazy. ¡°We¡¯re hoping that user Seonghyun gets the absolute best item from Kahku¡¯s third storage this time!¡± ¡°......???¡± For a moment, he wondered if that was right. But Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong¡¯s mind had been worn out for a long time. He didn''t really have the capacity to discern such things right now. ¡°Oh! Yes, let¡¯s hope he gets the very best thing.¡± ¡°Great, Senior!¡± And a short while later. ¡°Uwaaaaargh!¡± ¡°You!!! You!!! Stop right there!!!!¡± ¡°Uwaaaaargh! I-I¡¯m sorry!!!¡± A commotion erupted in the User Management Team. 7. As more than half of the Demon''s Realm was stained with death... Seonghyun¡¯s previously unbudging level also rose. [Level Up!] x3 He had leveled up a whopping three times. When he had wiped out the Red Minotaur tribe, his level hadn¡¯t even budged. But this time, he was able to level up three whole times. It meant there was an enormous number of monsters in the Demon''s Realm, and that Seonghyun¡¯s legion had cleared out that many of them. And Seonghyun leisurely walked down the path where his Death Legion and his retainers had formed a line, knelt on one knee, and bowed their heads low. It was a little overwhelming. But he approached the single door at the end of it with satisfaction. The Guardian that had been protecting the entrance to the storage was long dead. So, when Seonghyun reached its front... [Hidden Piece, Treasure Goblin Kahku¡¯s Third Storage, will now be opened.] The message he had been waiting for appeared. He''d acquired a new skill book and was about to get items from here too. Seonghyun was pleased. But he needed to be cautious. Unlike Kahku¡¯s other storages... ¡®From this place, I could only get one item, right?¡¯ It could have been a system-level restriction. But according to Kahku¡¯s memories, Kahku himself had designed it that way. Even with a key, you could only take one item out upon entering. Should one say he made it so that even if he were robbed, only one item would be taken? Anyway, he had taken such measures. There was the drawback that he himself had to abide by it. But Kahku didn''t care. As a Treasure Goblin, Kahku enjoyed collecting treasures, but he had absolutely no interest in using them. So, he just went in and out of this place like it was an exhibition hall, merely appreciating the items before leaving. That way, he could re-enter. In any case, as Seonghyun entered the treasure storage... Countless items were neatly arranged. ¡®Wow.¡¯ Seeing as each one was emitting a brilliant orange light... He could tell they were all Legendary rank. A chance to obtain a Legendary rank item, no less! There were so many that even Kahku probably hadn''t fully known all the items contained here. Seonghyun was conflicted about what he should choose from among them. Just then. A system message popped up. [Hidden Piece, from Treasure Goblin Kahku¡¯s Third Storage, you can only acquire one item.] [If you check the item information, it will be considered as selected.] ¡®Hmm.¡¯ It was truly a disappointing message. There wasn''t any ghost managing this place either. So there was no way to find out more. Seonghyun thought for a long while. He wandered around. The items in the treasure vault were arranged in rows. Dazzling and brilliant. But he could only obtain one of them. ¡®This is truly cruel.¡¯ It was indeed cruel. As the saying goes, "to see is to want." Even Seonghyun, who usually didn''t have much greed... Couldn''t help it upon entering a storage like this. As he wandered around, pondering for a moment... Seonghyun felt the scabbard at his waist trembling finely. ¡°Hmm?¡± Apprentice Hero Hindel¡¯s Sword is trembling? As he thought that... It wasn''t just the sword that was trembling. The gauntlet, the mask, and even the necklace. All items related to Hindel were trembling finely. ¡®Huh?¡¯ Seonghyun sensed it and immediately looked at a sword placed right in front of him. Could it be? Just in case, he moved to a different spot. The trembling of the items subsided. When he stood before that sword again. Vrrrrrr. All of Hindel¡¯s items trembled. Hindel¡¯s items. And it was a sword, too. The Apprentice Hero Hindel¡¯s Sword that Seonghyun was currently using was Unique rank. But this new sword related to Hindel was Legendary. It was pretty much decided what he would choose. Since it was already as good as decided... What was there to hesitate about? Thinking so, Seonghyun immediately drew the sword and was about to check its item information. Suddenly, a light burst forth from the Apprentice Hero Hindel¡¯s Sword at Seonghyun¡¯s waist. ¡°Huh?¡± [The Unique rank item, ¡ºApprentice Hero Hindel¡¯s Sword¡», and the Legendary rank item, ¡ºSaint¡¯s Sword¡», are reacting to each other.] Saint¡¯s Sword? It might be related to a Hero. But a Saint¡¯s Sword? As Seonghyun looked at it with a puzzled expression... Another message popped up. [The bond between the two items is strengthened.] [The Unique rank item, ¡ºApprentice Hero Hindel¡¯s Sword¡», awakens the energy that had permeated within it due to the Legendary rank item, ¡ºSaint¡¯s Sword¡»!] [Congratulations! The ¡ºApprentice Hero Hindel¡¯s Sword¡» will now have effects superior to its original ones.] [The Unique rank item, ¡ºApprentice Hero Hindel¡¯s Sword¡», has completed its enhancement into the Legendary rank item ¡ºHero Hindel¡¯s Sword¡».] [The Legendary rank item, ¡ºHero Hindel¡¯s Sword¡», is now included in the ¡ºHero Hindel¡¯s Set¡».] [The 4-set effect of the ¡ºHero Hindel¡¯s Set¡» is currently active.] It was a series of messages that could have been bewildering. However, Seonghyun calmly observed them. And then, he looked at the Apprentice Hero Hindel¡¯s Sword, its appearance now changed. A sword with the same appearance as the one Hindel had used in the past. Wondering if it had become that sword, Seonghyun immediately opened the item description. ¡ºHero Hindel¡¯s Sword¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡·(Growth-Type) ¡úThe sword predominantly used by Hero Hindel during his apprentice days. After being used to seal the powerful demonic beast Barpur, it was reborn through sacred power and grew into a true hero¡¯s sword. ¡úHindel¡¯s Sword, having become a true hero¡¯s sword, has a beautiful appearance as if it contains a galaxy, and its power can be faintly felt. ¡úHP Recovery +10%. ¡úSword-type skill power +30%. ¡úBasic sword attack power +100%. ¡úCutting Power +20%. ¡úAbsorbs the demonic energy of beings it cuts. ¡úThe item grows if special conditions are met. ¡úSkills are unlocked upon growth when conditions are met. Truly, an unbelievably good result had appeared. So much so that one might think these were the best possible options for a sword-type weapon. Outstanding options. Moreover, that wasn''t the end of it. ¡®To think skills will unlock if conditions are met.¡¯ It felt like he wouldn''t be able to obtain a sword like this anywhere else. Since it was also included in the existing Hero Hindel¡¯s Set... Perhaps he could just use this as an end-game item indefinitely? Some items in Eternal World had level restrictions. But there were quite a few cases where items like this, without restrictions and with excellent performance, were taken as end-game gear. He wondered if this sword he had just obtained would also become one of them. Seonghyun, thus satisfied, gripped the sword with contentment. [Hidden Piece, you have selected an item from Treasure Goblin Kahku¡¯s Third Storage.] [Hidden Piece, you will now be expelled from Treasure Goblin Kahku¡¯s Third Storage.] With those messages... Seonghyun¡¯s body was teleported, and he was kicked out of the storage. The place he reappeared was the entrance. Rumble-rumble-rumble. The door closed and slowly sank into the floor as if deactivating. The other items still lingered tantalizingly in his mind a bit. But, it didn''t matter. ¡°Well then, shall we go continue leveling up?¡± As Seonghyun said that, he sent his entire Death Legion to the Netherworld, keeping only his retainers out. Suddenly, Balthar came to mind again. ¡®It really is a shame I haven¡¯t seen him much lately.¡¯ Even if he was taking care of Drakhanos, was that a reason to be absent for this long? Just as Seonghyun was pondering this... In the Netherworld. -Mutter-mutter-mutter. -I-I will c-correct myself! I-I will train again!!! -Mutter-mutter. -N-No, sir! M-My life as a knight isn''t over! -Grumble-grumble. -I will do my absolute best!!! He was undergoing harsh training from Drakhanos. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 132 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 132 0. Pshhhhhaaaa. As the sound of hissing steam echoed... Seonghyun stepped out of the capsule. He wasn''t soaked in sweat today like when he was training in the Hall of Knights. But he looked similarly tired. After playing the game for a long time... It was only natural to feel fatigued. ¡°Hoo.¡± Lightly stretching his body, Seonghyun came out. Then, as if he had forgotten something, Seonghyun thought. ¡®I didn¡¯t send the video.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t a raid, so he hadn¡¯t requested a live stream. But wasn¡¯t the video of the Demon¡¯s Realm invasion pretty good too? So, he sent the video file to Rapid, no, to Ahn Yoojin. These days, you could send files directly from the capsule. After conveniently sending the video... Seonghyun lightly sent Ahn Yoojin a text message. He briefly texted that it was a video of the Demon¡¯s Realm invasion and then went out to the living room. Having played the game for so long, he was feeling peckish and went to get something to eat. Just then, his mother, Lee Nakyeong, emerged from the master bedroom, all dressed up. What¡¯s going on? As Seonghyun thought that... His mother, Lee Nakyeong, spoke as if glad to see him out. ¡°Oh, Seonghyun-ah, Mom and Dad have to go out. Want to come with us~?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Is it another one of those married couples'' gatherings? The thought of Kwon''s Restaurant from last time made his mouth water. But the memory of meeting Kim Chegeon, whose real name was Clara, surfaced, and his appetite waned a bit. ¡°Hmm, no. I think I¡¯ll just rest today.¡± ¡°Oh, really? Then let Mina know too.¡± Now that he knew a bit more... It seemed his father¡¯s work was indeed busy. As his mother, Lee Nakyeong, hurried out like that... Seonghyun, wondering if he should order something to eat, checked an app on his phone. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ Delivery. It¡¯s tasty, but... Eating it at home. It didn¡¯t appeal to him. He had been home for so long because of the Hall of Knights. Should he say he wanted a change of scenery? ¡®Should I go out to eat?¡¯ Come to think of it, a friend had contacted him a few days ago saying he had been discharged from the military. Not a university friend, but a friend since middle school. He had been thinking of meeting up with him once. Meeting up with him now seemed like a good idea. With that thought, Seonghyun made the call. The phone was answered after only a few rings. [Oh!? Yoo Seonghyun! What¡¯s up?] ¡°Heard you got discharged. We should grab a meal or something.¡± [Meal? A meeeaaal??? I don¡¯t go out unless it¡¯s for drinks.] This guy never changes. Seonghyun thought so, nodded, and said. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get drinks then.¡± [Oh? What¡¯s the occasion? Okay, okay, then let¡¯s meet at the three-way intersection in 10 minutes.] ¡°Got it.¡± Seonghyun said that and ended the call. Yep, this is how phone calls with friends should be. Thinking that, Seonghyun considered quickly washing up before going out. But then he thought, did he really need to for this guy? So, he just threw on some clothes and headed out. Indeed, when guys meet up, this was the unwritten rule. Even though he didn''t shower just now, he had showered after lunch earlier, so he looked presentable. Moreover, thanks to Seonghyun¡¯s handsome features, even though he dressed casually, he looked quite stylish. As Seonghyun left like that... A little later, his older sister, Yoo Mina, opened her capsule and came out. ¡°Huh? Mom? Dad? Seonghyun-ah?¡± And there she was, scratching her cheek in the empty, hollow house. Why is no one home? 1. Those whose arrogance pierces the sky are not as easily broken as one might think. If one possesses that much self-importance, it¡¯s highly likely that ability forms its foundation. Usually, they only break when they meet someone far superior. But for Takamiya Kyou, the story was a bit different. Overwhelming talent. In Eternal World, it was a talent that allowed no others to follow¡ªunrivaled. If one had to compare, wouldn''t it take someone at the level of the current Single Rankers to even be a match for Kyou? He possessed talent that could make one think that. Talent that justified arrogance piercing the heavens. Simultaneously, he was blessed with a disposition that didn¡¯t neglect effort despite such talent, so Kyou¡¯s arrogance rarely crumbled. On top of that, those around him even revered him. It wasn''t an easy thing to cure. But now. ¡°......¡± Without saying a word. He was outside his capsule, blankly hugging his knees. Why had he lost? Kyou was young and arrogant. But a frightening aspect he possessed was his habit of reviewing even the slightest mistake. It was the same now. ¡°......¡± The battle with the Demon King¡¯s retainer. Fiora¡¯s overwhelming combat ability and talent. He replayed them, repeating the battle countless times in his mind. But why was it? Unlike all other times... Even when he replayed it, he couldn¡¯t see it. ¡®...It doesn¡¯t come to mind.¡¯ A scene where he wins. He hadn''t even faced the Demon King himself, but was defeated by his retainer. He, a Stormlord, an Almighty rank class, had been defeated. It was a splendid achievement built upon overwhelming talent. That talent combined with one of Eternal World¡¯s best classes! And yet, he had lost. Not even to another Almighty rank. But to a retainer wielded by someone of that rank. ¡®What on earth is this?¡¯ At this point, Kyou couldn¡¯t understand. Was he weak? No. Recalling the battle itself, he was confident he could have won against even three decent Legendary rank rookies. He had been in that good of a condition. Yet, to have been defeated despite that meant the Demon King¡¯s retainer was superior to him. If so, there was only one thing Kyou had to do. ¡®Let¡¯s accept it.¡¯ It didn¡¯t matter if the Demon King was the same rank as him. Or even a higher rank. He had lost. And quite miserably at that. Usually, in cases of twisted pride like Kyou¡¯s... One would crumble completely upon defeat. In fact, when Fiora¡¯s sword had been at his neck... Kyou had been floundering in despair, finding it incredibly hard to endure the defeat. However, faced with his current self now... Unlike before, his twisted demeanor vanished without a trace. And only a single purpose remained. Therefore. ¡®I¡¯m going to a guild too.¡¯ To the Rapid Guild. It didn¡¯t matter what price he had to pay. He would go to the guild where the Demon King was. Go to the same guild as him. And someday. ¡®I will defeat the Demon King.¡¯ Of course, before that. ¡®I¡¯ll have to beat that retainer first.¡¯ She said she was the weakest. So, he had to take that one down first. 2. The life of an office worker is exhausting. Even if you try to look for something fun to do after work... Your energy is depleted, you don¡¯t want to do anything, and in the end, it¡¯s a life that just repeats home, work, home, work. However, there was an even more exhausting life. What kind of life, you ask? None other than the life of a Guild Master. Ahn Yoojin, emerging from her capsule as if she had been shot out, collapsed onto her bed with a tired face. ¡°Uwaaaaargh.¡± Office workers at least get to rest on weekends. But she, a Guild Master, had to work even on weekends. She desperately wanted to rest soundly, even if just for the weekend, but that wasn''t possible either. Still, the situation had been good for a few days. Because Seonghyun had been quiet for five days. What about public opinion? She could refute it and pay attention to public opinion if she wanted to. But she deliberately chose not to. ¡®That¡¯s all money too, in the end.¡¯ The Rapid Guild had more than enough power to change public opinion. But wasn''t that all money too? It was good to do it if necessary. But she knew that public opinion regarding him would turn around soon enough anyway. She didn''t want to spend money on unnecessary things. Just as Ahn Yoojin thought she could finally get some rest... And was lying down... A message arrived from Seonghyun, as if from a ghost. ¡°Uwaaaaargh.¡± Just let me rest a bit. She wanted to say it. But he was currently the hottest topic in the Rapid Guild. She couldn''t just ignore it. As Ahn Yoojin checked Seonghyun¡¯s message on her phone... ¡®A video?¡¯ A video file with a significantly large size had arrived. Wondering what it could be, she started watching it. The video began with an aerial shot, set against the backdrop of the Dune Wild Trail¡¯s Demon''s Realm. As Ahn Yoojin watched the rather impressive production... Soon, the Demon King¡¯s legion overran the Demon''s Realm. Monsters were trampled. They lost their lives. The places their forces advanced were filled solely with death. Watching another video of incredible production quality, Ahn Yoojin slowly closed her eyes. ¡°Haaaah.¡± He sends such an amazing video. How could she possibly rest? She had to edit it. Just as Ahn Yoojin got up to go to her computer... The screen transitioned, and some strange fellow appeared. ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t this Kyou?¡± As befitted the Guild Master of the 3rd ranked guild, Ahn Yoojin knew Kyou well. Including the fact that there was a very high possibility he was an Almighty rank. ¡®He met Kyou here?¡¯ As Ahn Yoojin watched with an intrigued expression... She wondered how Seonghyun would actually present himself. [-Hueh?] One of Seonghyun¡¯s cute retainers popped out. It was Fiora. In the video, as she headed towards Kyou... A lightning bird flew in between them, attempting to attack, but Fiora instantly slashed the lightning bird in two. At the utterly unexpected sight, Ahn Yoojin¡¯s eyes widened, and she straightened her posture. No matter how much Kyou had thrown that as a check, a retainer just cut it down that easily? ¡®What is this?¡¯ The video continued with Fiora overwhelmingly defeating Kyou. And at the end, Fiora, as if nothing had happened, attacking the Demon''s Realm again. It was a perfect video. No, she had thought Kyou appearing was already a big hit. But for Seonghyun¡¯s subordinate, not even Seonghyun himself, to capture him like that was incredible. And after it ended, seeing the scene where they cleared a path, knelt, and bowed their heads low towards Seonghyun, creating a path for him, Ahn Yoojin felt a thrill run through her. ¡®This is insane. Insane.¡¯ A composition like this probably wouldn''t come about even if you tried to plan it intentionally. How does he always manage to produce such things without even intending to? Truly a talent like that of a Demon King. The problem was. ¡®But isn¡¯t there anyone good at video editing around here?¡¯ The issue was that there was no talent within the guild capable of handling a video of this caliber. If there wasn''t any, what could she do? She had to do it herself. Just as Ahn Yoojin, after watching Seonghyun¡¯s video, was about to start editing it immediately... She received another unexpected email. [Subject: Guild Master, I think you need to see this.] The sender was none other than the person in charge of HR, Luciel. What could it be that she¡¯d send an email this late at night? As Ahn Yoojin immediately checked it... She felt it was certainly warranted. [Guild Application - Kyou.] That Rookie Slayer, Kyou, had requested to join the guild. What on earth was happening? ¡®No, what the......¡¯ She wanted to say something, but she couldn''t. Because Kyou¡¯s class, as seen from the status window included in his guild application, was indeed Almighty rank. A guild application from Kyou, who was on the wanted list of most guilds in the Dune Wild Trail. Her head throbbed as if it would break. This is getting bigger than expected. No, why is everyone requesting to join the guild after being beaten by Seonghyun? At least with Meilin or Kurosawa Ren earlier, they were individuals who could be handled cleanly, so that was fine. ¡°What on earth should I do with this guy?¡± Kyou was a different story. But he was an Almighty rank. She couldn''t just refuse him. If they accepted him as well... Their number of Almighty rank users would increase to three, just like the 2nd ranked guild. She couldn''t ignore that, so it was a headache. If this happened, wouldn''t she also have to talk with the guilds that had previously put him on their wanted lists? The only silver lining, perhaps, was that Kyou wasn''t asking for any other conditions? Just one thing. ¡°Haaaaah.¡± It was only to allow him to fight Seonghyun again later. Seeing as he said to give him whatever for contract money, conditions, and salary, it seemed he was serious. In that case, it wasn''t a huge loss. No, rather, the financial gain was much greater. The only problem was the increased workload. ¡°What can I do......¡± It has to be done. Ahn Yoojin said so and sent an email to Luciel. Telling her to approve the application and handle the other processing. Luciel seemed quite displeased. [Luciel: As expected...... it has to be done, right? Hoo, I''ll try to manage him well.] [Rapid: Please take care of it.] [Luciel: Not at all. I know you''re going through a lot too, Guild Master.] Luciel even offered words of comfort she didn''t usually say. How hard must she know it would be to say such things? Anyway, even as the weekend night deepened, Ahn Yoojin had no choice but to take on the additional work that had just landed on her. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 133 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 133 3. Clink! The sound of glasses clinking echoed as the alcohol in them sloshed slightly. Seonghyun looked at his glass, downed it in one gulp, and then looked at the friend in front of him. Lee Geondong, a close friend since middle school, also downed the alcohol in his glass in one go, just like Seonghyun. ¡°Keuheuk, that¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s nice drinking after such a long time.¡± As Seonghyun also remarked that it was quite good... Lee Geondong looked at Seonghyun as if finding him quite strange and said. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying. So, come out more often.¡± At Lee Geondong¡¯s words, Seonghyun let out a slight laugh and said. ¡°I do come out when you call.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s true, right? Anyway, thanks for congratulating me on my discharge~¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, my treat.¡± ¡°Oh?! Then can I get the gabeurisal? It¡¯s seriously damn delicious.¡± [TL/N: gabeurisal is pork skirt meat] ¡°Sure, sure.¡± It¡¯s his friend¡¯s discharge celebration. He could afford it. Seonghyun thought so, placed an additional order, and clinked glasses with Lee Geondong again. Various topics came up, but naturally... The hottest topic these days was bound to come up. Isn''t it always the case that when guys gather, game talk is inevitable? It was the same for Lee Geondong and Seonghyun. Seonghyun usually wasn''t good at games. But this time was an exception. ¡°Wow, I had no idea you were that Seonghyun. That¡¯s really amazing. Right, your sister was a national kendo representative, wasn¡¯t she? The one who even went to the world championships?¡± ¡°Yeah, she was.¡± ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t think you had much athletic talent though......¡± Lee Geondong said, reminiscing about their school days. Seonghyun also smiled faintly. Indeed, during his school days, he had virtually no athletic sense. He was basically just a bookworm who only focused a bit on studying. So, for him to show such talent in Eternal World was indeed surprising. Well, still. ¡°Anyway, congratulations! Seriously!¡± Lee Geondong congratulated him sincerely. Just having talent in Eternal World was a significant thing. At his friend¡¯s congratulations, Seonghyun also felt a bit strange and expressed his thanks with a toast. ¡°Kya, I¡¯m jealous. Hasn¡¯t your life totally bloomed?¡± ¡°Hmm, I guess so.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been playing a bit too, but seeing as I haven¡¯t even been able to join a guild yet, I guess I don¡¯t have any talent, right?¡± At the sudden remark, Seonghyun tilted his head. He knew this guy was playing. But it seemed he was playing quite seriously. This made him feel a bit sorry. As Seonghyun looked at Lee Geondong with that apologetic gaze... Lee Geondong smirked and said. ¡°This jerk, don¡¯t give me that pitying look!?¡± ¡°Well, I do feel a bit sorry.¡± ¡°Nah, it¡¯s fine. I tried to get into it early on but dropped it. Now, I¡¯m just in casual play mode.¡± To break the suddenly awkward mood... Lee Geondong took the initiative, clinked glasses, and said. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m planning to look into video editing now.¡± ¡°Editing?¡± Seonghyun tilted his head slightly at Lee Geondong¡¯s words. Wasn¡¯t this guy a business administration major? Video editing, all of a sudden? As Seonghyun showed such a reaction, thinking it rather unexpected... Lee Geondong smirked as if he understood. Well, he had never mentioned it. He said, as if understanding why Seonghyun would react that way. ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t tell you guys, but ahem, I actually streamed E-World a bit.¡± ¡°Oh??? Really???¡± It was the first time he had ever heard this story. As Seonghyun showed considerable interest... Lee Geondong, perhaps feeling a bit sheepish, sipped his drink. ¡°Ahem-hem, well, it just kind of happened. When you do E-World, video revenue is the main thing, isn¡¯t it? Even if I wasn¡¯t at the level of selling live tickets, I uploaded videos to try and make a living before I went to the military.¡± ¡°Wow. I seriously had no idea.¡± For Seonghyun, who usually had a stoic reaction to most things, to react like this... It meant he was quite surprised. Lee Geondong, knowing this, continued, though still a bit sheepish. ¡°But even though the views increased when I uploaded videos, I felt a limit, you know? Should I say that because I lacked a natural flair, the amount I had to edit kept increasing? As I did that, I realized I might actually have a talent for editing. When I touched up other MTube-ers¡¯ videos, their views just exploded.¡± ¡°Ooh.¡± ¡°It seems you do have a talent for it.¡± If that was the case, it certainly seemed like he had talent. Well, Seonghyun didn''t know much about it. Anyway, seizing the opportunity, Seonghyun brought it up. ¡°Then, could you edit my videos later too?¡± ¡°Oh!? I¡¯d be more than happy to!!!¡± ¡°Our guild doesn¡¯t really have any specific contract for that. They said it¡¯s okay to just make the videos and send them. So, if you edit them, I think I can just send them to the guild.¡± ¡°Man, thanks a lot, seriously. This will build up my portfolio too, so it¡¯s actually great, really.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no big deal.¡± At Seonghyun¡¯s words, Lee Geondong seemed genuinely moved and thanked him. Between friends, this much was a given. Why was he being so thankful? Seonghyun felt a bit embarrassed for no reason and just held out his glass. As if to say, since it¡¯s come to this, do a good job. Lee Geondong also smirked at the offered glass and clinked his against Seonghyun¡¯s. Sharing drinks, the long-overdue night deepened. Then, they talked about their school days. Or talked about games, and the two of them chatted for a long time, emptying their glasses. 4. Haven''t you ever woken up in bed and wondered why you still smell of alcohol? That was Seonghyun right now. ¡°Hoo.¡± He let out a sigh. Even that seemed to carry the scent of alcohol. At least he didn''t have a hangover, so it wasn''t too unpleasant. It seemed he had drunk a moderate amount, as his stomach wasn''t particularly upset, and he got up right away. ¡®I should wash up quickly and get out.¡¯ As he went to take a shower... His mother, Lee Nakyeong, smiled faintly and said. ¡°Son~ Are you up?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m up. You¡¯re up early, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Hoho, housewives are meant to wake up early~ Especially if they have a son who drank a lot yesterday~¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Feeling a bit pricked by his mother Lee Nakyeong¡¯s playful teasing, Seonghyun cleared his throat. In any case, as the fragrant smell of soup wafted through the air... Seonghyun sniffed it and then... ¡°Is that by any chance bean sprout soup?¡± ¡°I added dried pollack too, so it¡¯ll be refreshing~¡± ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°Wash up and come eat. It¡¯s not quite ready yet.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± He had drunk alcohol after a long time. And to have dried pollack and bean sprout soup the morning after... Where else would one find such a luxury? Seonghyun took a refreshing shower and came out. He had a satisfying, refreshing hangover cure. In between, his older sister, Yoo Mina, glared at him for a bit. But since he hadn''t done anything wrong... He didn''t pay it much mind. Anyway, after that hearty hangover meal, he went straight back into his capsule. It was the behavior of a typical game addict. But for Seonghyun, this was his job. [Welcome to Eternal World, another world, an eternal world.] [May good fortune be with player ¡ºSeonghyun¡».] As Seonghyun, having logged in, looked around... It was still the desolate Dune Wild Trail. He still hadn''t reached the required level. So, it was only natural. Still, he really didn''t have much further to go now. ¡®Was it 118?¡¯ Just two more stages now. Two stages left. He thought he might level up again if he swept through another place like the Demon''s Realm. But finding another place like that wasn''t easy either. For now, he decided he should wander around and explore the vicinity. Rustle, rustle, rustle. With that thought, Seonghyun immediately opened the gate to the Netherworld and summoned his retainers. For combat, Fiora and Leonik. For transportation, Anemor. And for scouting, Nocturnium. With just these, scouting was no concern. -Chuuuung!!! Have you summoned me!!! -Th-Thank you f-for ca-calling me, Lo-Lord. ¡°I shall always be your strength.¡± -Piaeeeeeee! All four who were summoned expressed their gratitude to Seonghyun. It was now no different from a daily morning greeting he received. In any case, Seonghyun climbed onto Anemor. Behind him, the other retainers also mounted. Anemor was large enough for everyone to ride on its back. Thus, with everyone aboard, they flew swiftly around the area. ¡°Hmmm.¡± Nocturnium did its best to scout the surroundings, while Leonik and Fiora remained vigilant. Anemor, of course, was flying expertly. At a moderate speed, so as not to miss anything during the search. In this situation, Seonghyun leisurely looked down from Anemor''s back and thought. ¡®Herding mobs for hunting is also good, but wouldn¡¯t it be nice if a Hidden Field like the Hall of Knights appeared......¡¯ It was quite a shameless thought. But wasn''t it something anyone might think of? It wasn''t that he was genuinely wishing for it, more like a "wouldn''t it be nice if~" kind of feeling. It would be great if Nocturnium could search for such Hidden Fields or dungeons. Unfortunately, it couldn''t. Nocturnium, being ultimately a spirit of the Dark Castle, found it difficult to detect hidden spaces. Well, just being able to scout where many monsters were in the vicinity was impressive enough. But it was a little disappointing. Just then. Nocturnium tilted its head as if something was strange. ¡°Lord, there is a human nearby.¡± ¡°......A human?¡± An NPC? Why would that be? As Seonghyun looked at Nocturnium with such an expression... ¡°It is traveling alone. It does not have the aura of a stranger, like you, Lord.¡± ¡°Not a stranger?¡± An NPC, not a user, traveling alone? That certainly was a bit strange. It felt like there was a suspicious air about it. Perhaps it was the scent of a quest? He didn''t have much else to do besides hunting anyway. Seonghyun spoke, sounding intrigued. ¡°Then, let¡¯s head over there.¡± He didn''t know who this NPC was. But for them to be traveling alone in this perilous Dune Wild Trail was definitely strange. As Seonghyun spoke, Anemor immediately nodded its head as if in understanding and headed in the direction Nocturnium had indicated. It wasn''t too far away. Thanks to Anemor¡¯s high speed, they arrived straight away. There, a human-shaped figure was indeed traversing this desolate place all alone. ¡°Oh?¡± Seeing the mark above its head. It was genuinely an NPC, not a user. Smelling the thick scent of a quest... Seonghyun smiled and descended to the ground. He sent Anemor to the Netherworld and used Fiora¡¯s ability to make the other three completely invisible. He descended stealthily and subtly approached the vicinity of the NPC so as not to startle it. And then. As soon as it saw Seonghyun, it approached him, openly showing delight. ¡°Oh!? Are you by any chance an outsider traveler?¡± ¡°Pardon? Ah. Yes, I am.¡± ¡°Ooh, what a pleasant surprise!!!¡± Seonghyun felt an unidentifiable suspiciousness at this display. Being this happy to see him was suspicious, but he thought it could be plausible. The truly suspicious point wasn¡¯t that, but the fact that despite Seonghyun appearing suddenly, the NPC wasn''t wary nor did it seem to find Seonghyun suspicious. To see someone who should be the most guarded against in the Dune Wild Trail and still act pleased? Something was strange. For now, harboring such suspicions, Seonghyun observed the NPC. ¡°Haha, my apologies for the late introduction. I am called Ireumi Eops.¡± ¡°Ah, nice to meet you. I am Seonghyun.¡± ¡°Oooh!? Is that so? You seem to overflow with dignity somehow. Are you perhaps a noble?¡± ¡°......Ah?¡± Could it be because of the Knight rank? He was told he would receive good treatment and a warm welcome. Seonghyun¡¯s wariness lessened slightly, thinking it might be due to that effect. Still, he wondered if it was something to be this overjoyed about. But for now, since it could be the rank effect... ¡°I am not a noble, merely a knight.¡± ¡°Oooh!? Aren¡¯t knights also nobles!? Goodness, what a surprise!¡± ¡°Ahaha, not at all.¡± ¡°Goodness, so humble too.¡± ¡°Ahem. Thank you.¡± ¡°If you have the time, would you perhaps be able to visit our village?¡± ¡°Your village?¡± As that topic came up... Seonghyun asked back, sounding slightly puzzled. At that. ¡°Actually, our village is in trouble due to monsters, so we have been searching for outsider travelers or adventurers who could help us.¡± At those words, a system message suddenly popped up before Seonghyun¡¯s eyes. [NPC Ireumi Eops is in trouble.] [He is requesting your assistance.] [Will you accept?] [Yes / No] [Accepting will generate a quest.] A quest window that popped up suddenly. It was a little strange. ¡®Does it usually appear this easily?¡¯ He found it a bit odd that a quest would appear just like that. However, Seonghyun had rarely done normal quests. He expressed a moment of doubt, then quickly shook his head. It could happen. Actually, wouldn''t it be fun even if this was a trap? A trap set by an NPC. That could also be a special event. Seonghyun accepted immediately. ¡°Of course. Isn¡¯t this a world where we help each other live?¡± ¡°Ah! Thank you so much! Sir Seonghyun!!¡± As Ireumi spoke and expressed his gratitude... The quest window appeared. [Quest, ¡ºVillage in Trouble¡», has been generated.] ¡ºVillage in Trouble¡» ¡ú¡¶Hidden-Linked¡· ¡úNPC Ireumi Eops wanders the dangerous Dune Wild Trail alone. He says he is traveling here and there, searching for outsiders or travelers who can save his village. Although he seems suspicious somehow... On the outside, he appeared to be a truly simple person, so you accept his request. However, despite accepting the request, you look at NPC Ireumi suspiciously. For such a simple person to be wandering the harsh Dune Wild Trail alone... It seems something is off, but you can''t quite pinpoint it right now. For now, you decide to go with him to the village where he lives. ¡úRestriction: A user wandering the Dune Wild Trail alone. ¡úReward: Leads to the next quest. The quest window also seemed somewhat suspicious. Seonghyun, smiling as if amused, shook hands with Ireumi and decided to go to that village. ¡®This is interesting.¡¯ He hadn''t done many quests himself. But a quest like this was certainly unique. Wouldn''t it be worth trying at least once? Whatever he¡¯s hiding... ¡®I¡¯ll have to uncover it.¡¯ [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 134 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 134 5. He was on his way to the place NPC Ireumi called a village. Just in case, he had checked. ¡°Lord, if we go in this direction, there¡¯s nothing.¡± It reported that there was nothing there. Coming from Nocturnium, it was almost certain. Yet, for them to be heading this way meant... It was one of two things. ¡®Either it¡¯s a trap, or it¡¯s a Hidden Dungeon or Hidden Field that Nocturnium cannot detect.¡¯ A Hidden Field or Hidden Dungeon. Or a trap. It didn¡¯t matter which one it was. He had to level up anyway. Wasn¡¯t a Hidden-Linked quest like this always welcome? It was said that quests were more efficient for gaining experience. He thought his level would probably rise if he cleared it. As Seonghyun harbored such expectations... -Just give the word, and I shall act, my Liege. -J-Just s-say the word, m-my Lo-Lord. ¡°I, too, am the same.¡± The three, excluding Anemor who had been sent to the Netherworld for being too conspicuous, spoke thus to Seonghyun. Seonghyun nodded at the incredibly reassuring combination. Of course, Seonghyun could handle it sufficiently on his own, but... In any case, they followed Ireumi for quite some time. How far had they gone? After walking for a while... ¡°Haha, we¡¯ve arrived at the village.¡± As if possessed, they had somehow reached the village entrance. However, Seonghyun and all three retainers had noticed it. The fact that while they were walking, the space had suddenly distorted, and they had entered some kind of portal. It wasn''t a hidden space like the Hall of Knights. They had been teleported. It shimmered like a heat haze. The surroundings gradually changed into the scenery of a village. An ominous energy filled the air for a moment, then it began to transform into a village brimming with vitality. It certainly seemed like there was something to this place. Even as Seonghyun looked at the vibrant village, he watched with considerable doubt. ¡®Didn¡¯t he clearly say it was in trouble?¡¯ A village in trouble is this lively? Something was indeed strange. But there was no rule saying it couldn''t be so. Seonghyun decided to let it slide for now. Upon entering the village... One by one, the villagers started to look at Seonghyun. Since the three retainers were still in a state of complete invisibility... All eyes were directed towards Seonghyun. However, every single one of those gazes... -Insolent fools. Even gouging out all their eyeballs, grinding them up, and drinking them wouldn''t be satisfying enough. -Th-They must be killed. ¡°How dare they cast such irreverent gazes upon the Lord.¡± Indeed, all the villagers were looking at Seonghyun as if he were prey. They were gazes that other users might have found difficult to notice, but it wasn''t easy to deceive the perception of Seonghyun, who had absorbed the memories of various masters, or that of his three retainers. Seonghyun, too, observed the village as if amused. And Ireumi, watching Seonghyun, said. ¡°Hahaha, everyone is welcoming Sir Seonghyun. What a relief. I dread to think what would have become of the village if Sir Seonghyun hadn''t come.¡± ¡°Not at all. More importantly, about the monsters you said your village was in trouble with......¡± ¡°Ah! Why are you in such a hurry? You¡¯ve only just arrived. You should relieve your travel fatigue a bit! As it happens, our village was preparing a feast for such a hero.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Wasn''t this an overly strange attitude? As Seonghyun looked at him with open suspicion... Ireumi laughed "haha" and said smoothly. ¡°One needs rest to accomplish great things, wouldn¡¯t you agree? Now, now. Don¡¯t be like that, please come this way.¡± At Ireumi¡¯s words, as Seonghyun was almost pushed along... It truly seemed as if the villagers had been preparing for a festival, with an incredible amount of food and a festive atmosphere thick in the air. Adding even more to it. ¡°Everyone!! Everyone!! The hero who will finally help our village! And he¡¯s even a Knight, sirs!!! Please welcome Sir Seonghyun, everyone!!!¡± As Ireumi¡¯s hyping continued... Seonghyun was dazedly led to the spot. And all the villagers, as one, clapped and cheered looking at Seonghyun. ¡°Wow! A Knight!!!¡± ¡°To think he came to help our village!!! Thank you so much!!!¡± ¡°Oh my!!! For a Knight Sir to help us!!!¡± ¡°Our village is truly blessed!!!¡± ¡°Kehahaha!!! This is our village¡¯s great fortune!¡± Bang! Pop! Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap!!! Wheeeew!! Ta-da-da-da!!! Whistles, the sound of fireworks exploding, fanfare, and applause. As all the villagers rejoiced and expressed their delight so fervently... Seonghyun¡¯s suspicion only deepened. It was a sight that might have made ordinary people giddy with joy. But it didn¡¯t work on Seonghyun. Perhaps sensing that... The villagers retracted their over-the-top gratitude. And quickly changed the subject. ¡°Here, here! Please try some, Sir Knight!! It¡¯s really delicious!!!¡± ¡°Kyaaaah!!! This drink is amazing too!!!¡± ¡°Oh my, my? This is really tasty as well, isn¡¯t it?¡± To be this blatant. It seemed a bit low quality. Would anyone really fall for this? As Seonghyun was thinking such thoughts... [You overcome the illusion with your high mental strength.] [The illusion does not take effect.] ¡®Huh?¡¯ No wonder it felt strange. So they were casting an illusion. Wouldn''t other people have fallen for it at this point? It was so natural that he hadn''t even realized they were casting it. Even Seonghyun hadn''t noticed something was being cast on him until he saw the message. So, what to do about this? ¡®Hmm.¡¯ His three retainers were ready to leap out at his mere word. However, Seonghyun somehow felt that this wasn''t the end of it. [Conditions met.] [Hidden-Linked Quest, ¡ºVillage in Trouble¡», has been cleared.] [Rewards will be given for clearing the quest.] [Hidden-Linked Quest, ¡ºSuspicious False Village¡», has been generated.] ¡ºSuspicious False Village¡» ¡ú¡¶Hidden-Linked¡· ¡úFollowing the suspicious NPC Ireumi Eops, you arrived at a strange village that suddenly appeared. The village welcomes you sincerely. They hold a festival and treat you, who decided to help the village, as a hero, genuinely liking you. Were you, perhaps, also somewhat influenced by the village¡¯s atmosphere? You immersed yourself in the mood but feel a strange, subtle energy. An illusionary aura is being directed at you. This aura is clearly being emitted to charm you. However, you overcame it with your outstanding mental strength. But the villagers are still suspiciously attentive to you. Unsure what to do, you contemplate whether to match the atmosphere here or deal with these suspicious individuals. Choose one of the two. ¡úRestriction: A user who has overcome the illusionary aura in the village. ¡úReward: Leads to the next quest; experience for linked quests is received all at once upon clearing the final quest. ¡®Oho.¡¯ At the new quest, Seonghyun pondered for a moment. Should he choose to strike the villagers here? Or play along? He had to pick one. Seonghyun had a feeling that if he dealt with them here, there would be some kind of big loss. For Seonghyun, who used spiritual abilities, such intuitions were not something to be simply ignored. ¡°Thank you all for the warm welcome.¡± Seonghyun said so and downed a drink a villager handed him. And then. [You overcome the illusionary aura with your high mental strength.] [The illusion does not take effect.] The message popped up again. However, Seonghyun¡¯s appearance was slightly different. His eyes looked a little dazed. Of course, he wasn''t actually affected but pretended to be. At Seonghyun¡¯s appearance, the villagers looked relieved and wore sinister smiles. The look of "He finally fell for it." It seemed the illusionary aura hadn''t worked at first. ¡°It worked after all!¡± Ireumi exclaimed triumphantly. The three retainers were on the verge of moving immediately to kill them all. But Seonghyun spoke to Leonik and Fiora through their soul connection. ¡®I¡¯m fine, so wait.¡¯ -......As you wish. -O-Okay. Those two relayed the message to Nocturnium as well. However, all three were displeased. Even if it was acting, it seemed truly difficult for them to watch Seonghyun pretend to be affected. As Seonghyun continued his act... Ireumi revealed his true colors. ¡°Hahaha, you finally fell for it. Even a knight is helpless before the power of illusion.¡± The fellow who had been flattering him so much until just moments ago had done a complete 180 as he spoke. A woman who had been preparing food nearby approached. ¡°I thought he was resisting at first, you know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. But once he drank the beverage, there was no doubt.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because a powerful illusionary force was cast on it.¡± ¡°Hahaha! We¡¯ve secured an excellent meal to offer to our Master!¡± Ireumi exclaimed those words. Master? As Seonghyun caught that... ¡°How much time is left until the Master¡¯s cave opens?¡± ¡°Because you arrived early, there are still 30 minutes left.¡± ¡°Better than being late, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. It would be great if the Master is pleased.¡± ¡°Hahaha! Of course, the Master will be pleased! We¡¯ve caught such a fine knight. The Master will surely reward us!¡± At the highly suspicious conversation, Seonghyun smiled. This is somehow getting interesting. A Master, he says. It seems it really is a village in trouble after all. And by a very vicious monster at that. As Seonghyun thought that... Another system message popped up. [Conditions met.] [Hidden-Linked Quest, ¡ºSuspicious False Village¡», has been cleared.] [Rewards will be given for clearing the quest.] [Hidden-Linked Quest, ¡ºMaster of Illusions¡», has been generated.] ¡ºMaster of Illusions¡» ¡ú¡¶Hidden-Linked¡· ¡úYou have realized there is a monster ruling the village! The villagers serve a monster, calling it "Master." In this situation, a clue has been left that you have 30 minutes before being offered as a sacrifice. Escape this village within that time, gather comrades to defeat the Master of Illusions, and prepare for a raid! The Master of Illusions is not an easy opponent! ¡úRestriction: A user who chose to feign being affected by the illusion in the village. ¡úReward: Leads to the next quest; experience for linked quests is received all at once upon clearing the final quest. Warning: If you are offered as a sacrifice as is, you will have to conduct the raid alone. Seeing that message, Seonghyun inwardly tilted his head. Comrades? Is that necessary? In other words, if he waited quietly here for 30 minutes, didn¡¯t that mean he¡¯d be allowed to do the raid solo? Where else would he find such an opportunity? He finally had a chance to test his new sword. ¡®Ah, Abyss was also too easily swept through last time, so this will be a good chance to test it.¡¯ After having such expectant thoughts, Seonghyun continued to feign being caught in the illusion and quietly waited for the 30 minutes to pass. And the three retainers, watching Seonghyun from afar, observed him with expressions full of deep concern and spoke amongst themselves. -Heh, how come... the former Lord was like that too... -Th-This Lord too... ¡°......It seems he enjoys putting himself in predicaments.¡± How could his actions be so identical to Helena¡¯s? It was a headache. But why? Somehow feeling a sense of nostalgia... The memory of the Helena of the past surfaced, and each of them wore a peculiar smile. At times like this, they would remember her, the one they missed. As they were thinking such thoughts and waiting for Seonghyun... Though no one else could tell, Seonghyun¡¯s chest shimmered with a teal light, and through it, strands of red hair could be seen. Simultaneously. -Haaahmm, I should sleep just a little longer before going out. An alluring voice was heard along with it. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 135 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 135 ¡®Hmm?¡¯ It felt as if a familiar, alluring voice had just brushed past him. He couldn''t hear it clearly, so he couldn''t say for sure. As Seonghyun was thinking that, it suddenly occurred to him. He expressed his bewilderment at the fact that it was a Hidden Raid, not a Hidden Dungeon. Because it was a solo raid? Could that be it? There was only one thing Seonghyun was concerned about. ¡®Shouldn¡¯t a Hidden Raid like this be live-streamed?¡¯ That thought suddenly struck him. The settlement for his last live broadcast hadn''t even been processed yet. It was a bit funny that it was already time for the next raid. But it also felt a bit strange not to turn on a live broadcast when the opportunity arose. Well, it wasn''t like he could turn it on whenever he pleased. Just in case, Seonghyun contacted Rapid. [Seonghyun: Guild Master Rapid, do you perhaps have time right now?] Because Rapid was thorough in distinguishing between public and private matters. As Seonghyun sent the message... A somewhat annoyed reply came back not long after. [Rapid: I''m busy right now because of someone! Anyway, why?] A reply that didn''t clarify whether she had time or not. Seonghyun pondered her reply for a moment, then quickly sent another message. [Seonghyun: Ah, well, I think I''m about to do a Hidden Raid, so can I turn on the live stream right away?] [Rapid: What? Live? Now? Huh? What? What did you say? Hold on?] Did she not understand for a moment? Just as Seonghyun thought he might need to explain again and was about to send another message... A reply came immediately. [Rapid: Wait, you''re going to do a live broadcast right now?] [Seonghyun: Yes, in about 30 minutes. Ah, time has passed, so maybe in about 25 minutes? I think it''ll be then. If it¡¯s not possible, I guess I can just make it into a video.] [Rapid: Uh...... so, a live broadcast right now is...... diff...... icult. There''s no personnel available right now. Even if we found someone, it would probably take over 50 minutes. Our guild is a bit short on video staff...... We haven''t even finished processing the video you sent yesterday.] ¡®She¡¯s busier than I thought.¡¯ With that thought, Seonghyun was about to let it go when something occurred to him. Short on video staff? And at the same time, he recalled his drinking session with his friend Lee Geondong a while ago, and something clicked. Wasn''t Lee Geondong the one who said he wanted to try video editing? He had already asked him to edit one video. Could this be an opportunity? Although she spoke comfortably with Seonghyun now... It was because he was a friend¡¯s younger brother, and her workload had massively increased recently thanks to Seonghyun; Rapid was someone who strictly separated public and private matters when it came to these kinds of affairs. Seonghyun carefully brought up the topic. [Seonghyun: In that case, my friend said he''s starting video work this time. How about if he records this and sends you the edited version? If it¡¯s good, it might be nice if my friend could take it on as outsourced work.] [Rapid: Hmm, we''re short on personnel because we don''t hire anyone unless they''re skilled. If he sends an edited video, we''d be grateful, but there''s no guarantee it''ll be approved. Is that still okay?] Normally, there would be a formal interview and various verification processes. Because she was in a state where she''d even borrow a cat''s paw for help... Rapid gave her permission, albeit only partially. At the same time, she gave Seonghyun a warning that wasn''t quite a warning. A request for his understanding that they might not accept it, so he shouldn''t be disappointed. This was only natural. Seonghyun paid it no mind and sent a reply. [Seonghyun: Of course. I''ll send the original and the edited video together, so if the edited video isn''t good, you can just consider it a failed interview, right?] [Rapid: Yes, live streams are a bit complicated, so you need to tell me further in advance. Even if you can''t do it, if you see even a slight possibility, let me know beforehand so we can at least prepare.] [Seonghyun: Ah, yes, I understand.] [Rapid: Okay, thanks.] [Seonghyun: Not at all, keep up the good work.] After ending the messenger conversation like that... Seonghyun smiled. So, he could help his friend out like this. But first, to do that... ¡®I¡¯ll have to try and make an absolutely awesome video, right?¡¯ He planned to be quite serious about this raid. He wondered if it would be good to make the video really engaging, perhaps showcasing his retainers while he was at it. ¡®Though we haven¡¯t really practiced coordinating.¡¯ They were all skilled individuals. They should be fine even without that much coordination. Thinking so, Seonghyun was able to happily pass the somewhat tedious waiting time. And so, 30 minutes passed. 6. The Master of Illusions, called the ruler of the village. It looked around its massive body, awaiting the imminent time of the offering. It had been dissatisfied lately because the village hadn''t brought any decent offerings. But sensing a powerful aura near the village, the creature¡¯s antennae twitched as it rejoiced. Then, from behind its back, a light pink energy undulated and filled the entire cave. The offering it had eaten a while ago had also been delicious. It seemed this offering was of a similar kind. Outsiders, was that what they were called? The creature was delighted at the thought, filled only with the anticipation of having a proper meal this time. ¡°Ssssssssss.¡± Letting out a bloodcurdling sound... It drooled profusely, thinking of the prey it would soon devour. If it could eat this one... Its illusionary energy would surely become much denser. Then, it could be called the true Master of Illusions. The Master of Illusions in the cave thought such thoughts and waited for a long time. A special cave whose door only opened at a fixed time each day. Believing that if it trained here, it could someday attain true illusion, it only went out when the cave opened and always returned when it closed. It wanted to roam outside right away. But it had to endure more. Because it was not yet perfect. And so, after a time of perseverance... When the 30 minutes that felt like an eternity finally ended... The sound of the cave opening was heard. Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble¡ª!!! It was finally time to eat its prey. However, she did not know. The fact that she herself could become the hunted. 7. Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble¡ª!!! As if an earthquake were occurring near the village, the sound of stone dragging could be heard. Then, a massive hole could be seen forming on the side of a distant cliff. A hole too massive to be called a cave. From that place, which looked as if the cliff had collapsed, a light pink mist spread, and a gigantic snake-like form revealed itself from the cave. A long, writhing, flexible body like a snake. However, on each segment of its body, thousands, no, tens of thousands of other wiggling things were attached. Where its mouth should have been at the end of its body, long antennae were wriggling and moving. Seeing that form, Seonghyun thought. ¡®Wow. Good thing the live stream isn''t on.¡¯ The sight of it, with tens of thousands of legs covering its body and venomous fangs bared as it drooled profusely, was so grotesque that even Seonghyun, who usually had no particular aversion to such things, almost flinched. The true identity of the Master of Illusions was none other than a giant centipede. And it looked considerably strong too. As the creature revealed its body, boasting a length comparable to the village, a light pink gas was being emitted from holes all over its form. That seemed to be the illusionary aura. [Hidden Raid Boss¡ºMaster of Illusions, Mirajine¡»has appeared.] [The Hidden Raid will begin soon.] !!!Warning!!! You are currently not in a party!!! This is dangerous!!! Crescentra had also been a Hidden Raid Boss. But he hadn''t received such a strong warning then. Seeing such a prominent warning this time, it seemed this one was considerably powerful. The more it was so, the more satisfied Seonghyun¡¯s smile became. Ireumi, not yet noticing Seonghyun preparing for a raid, spread his arms wide and shouted towards the Master of Illusions. ¡°Ah! Oh, Master of Illusions!!! Please accept the offering we have prepared!!!¡± This isn''t even funny. Seonghyun looked at Ireumi and clicked his tongue as if in pity. ¡°To think you¡¯d sell people out like this.¡± ¡°Wh-What!? Y-You definitely d-drank the beverage, didn¡¯t you?!¡± ¡°Well, enough of that. Guys.¡± As Seonghyun called out... The three retainers, who had been concealing their presence, revealed themselves. Ireumi¡¯s eyes widened in that instant. When on earth did they appear!? As he stared in disbelief... The Master of Illusions, Mirajine, also looked at Ireumi with displeasure. How dare he fail to properly cast the illusion on the offering. The Master of Illusions, Mirajine, openly displayed its displeasure and spat something out towards Ireumi. Kwaaaaaah¡ª¡ª! ¡°Uwaaaaargh! Ugh! S-Save......¡± Ireumi melted instantly in the vicious venom. Seonghyun had no intention of saving him anyway. Seeing as he couldn¡¯t even lift a finger, this seemed to be an event scene before the boss fight. It appeared to be a way of showing the boss¡¯s attributes. ¡®It seems poison has no effect on it.¡¯ Any poison-related combos would clearly have a reduced effect. Thinking that, Seonghyun recalled his own skills and his eyes sharpened. Well then, shall we begin the hunt? As Seonghyun thought that and lightly loosened his body... The first skill Seonghyun used was. Snap! The moment he snapped his fingers, the brightly shining sun was obscured, and a black sun rose. The area was engulfed in darkness, and black flames rained down from the black sun, all of them burning the Master of Illusions, Mirajine. ¡°Ssssssssss!!!¡± It wasn¡¯t excruciatingly painful. But the creature shrieked as if displeased, and in that instant, Seonghyun opened the gate to the Netherworld and brought out Anemor and Karisha. He had only intended to summon those two. But from the entrance of the Netherworld, Balthar, with his dark red skin, and Drakhanos, being carried piggyback by Balthar, popped out. Huh? Is it okay for those two to come out? As Seonghyun thought that... -Mutter-mutter, grumble, whisper-whisper. Hearing the still unintelligible, low muttering... Seonghyun turned his head to look at Balthar. -Lord, Master says he will assist just a little. ¡°......???¡± At Balthar¡¯s words, Seonghyun momentarily wondered what he should respond to first. Since when was Drakhanos a ¡®Master¡¯ anyway? Had he always been a Master? And more importantly, he¡¯s going to help? ¡°Uh......¡± Wouldn''t it be more helpful if the frail-looking Drakhanos just rested? Such were Seonghyun¡¯s disrespectful thoughts. But Drakhanos carefully bowed his head to Seonghyun. Then he got down from Balthar¡¯s back. He then briefly gripped his one-edged sword and thrust it forward, still with its scabbard. Simultaneously, the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, was flying towards them as if shot out, aiming for Seonghyun¡¯s direction, along with venom that could melt everything. Could Drakhanos, looking like an old man about to collapse any second, actually do something here? Just in case, Seonghyun prepared to follow up. But Balthar and all the other retainers, far from stopping Drakhanos, were watching him with expressions full of anticipation. What is this? Curious if there really was something to it, he watched. Kagagagagaga¡ª!!! The Master of Illusions, Mirajine, flew forward, leading with its venom and fangs. And just as Drakhanos moved to draw his sword from its scabbard towards the creature... Drakhanos¡¯s form completely vanished. Ssssssssss¡ª!!! With the sound of something rapidly cutting through the air... Drakhanos reappeared atop the Master of Illusions, Mirajine. And then. Jjeo¡ª! Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeok¡ª!!! Kwajiiiiiiiii¡ª!!! ¡°Ssssssssss!!!!!!¡± The shell on the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s back was cleanly cut, and from its back, blood mixed with venom and the light pink illusionary aura gushed out like a hot spring erupting. ¡°What in the world......¡± [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 136 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 136 As blood mixed with venom and the aura of illusion splattered everywhere, causing the entire village to melt... Seonghyun was dazedly watching the spectacle. What on earth was happening? The decrepit Drakhanos. Honestly, he had thought he was a dud. He was called an Ancient Demon Knight. So, it was natural that he was old. He had wondered if perhaps his role was to offer teachings. But he had thought him too old and feeble even for that. From Seonghyun¡¯s perspective, it was only natural. Wasn¡¯t he the old geezer who, from the very first summoning, had said it was too cold and he needed to go back inside? What could he possibly have expected from him? And yet, to think he possessed such power. How could he have ever predicted this? ¡°Heh.¡± Seonghyun, still dazed, watched Drakhanos draw his sword and slice through the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s carapace in a single blow, then clamped his mouth shut. That strike just now wasn''t a simple one. ¡®A fast sword, an overbearing sword, a heavy sword, an absorption sword, a bending sword?¡¯ It was a feat among feats, where a total of five sword styles had been unleashed at once. Even Seonghyun had only managed to combine four sword styles into one. He could mix four for some combinations that worked well together. But mostly, it was three. However, the swordsmanship Drakhanos had just displayed had clearly combined five into one. Moreover, it wasn''t even a particularly compatible combination of styles. How on earth did he do it? Gripped by that thought, Seonghyun stared blankly. His retainers, to protect Seonghyun, deployed a barrier around him. The blood of the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, was overflowing and melting the surroundings. It was only natural for them to protect their master. Seonghyun barely suppressed the urge to run to Drakhanos immediately and ask him to teach him. ¡®Now is not the time for that.¡¯ At that moment, Seonghyun almost forgot he was supposed to give this video to his friend, Lee Geon-dong. Right now, creating good video footage was more important. Hadn''t he wanted to make a video introducing his retainers as well? Yes, he could learn the swordsmanship later. As Seonghyun stood there dazedly... His retainers were all motionless. As they silently awaited his command... The Master of Illusions, Mirajine, thrashed about in fury, extremely displeased with the situation. Kuwarrrrrrrrng¡ª! It even felt as if the entire area was shaking. Drakhanos, who had been on its back, should have been thrown off by the force. But with fluid, graceful movements, Drakhanos dodged all the profusely splattering venom and the blood surging with illusionary energy, and lightly landed from the creature¡¯s back. His footwork was also like gliding, so agile and graceful that one¡¯s gaze was naturally drawn to him, but... Seonghyun endured it and spoke to his retainers. ¡°Let¡¯s go all out.¡± At Seonghyun¡¯s words, everyone¡¯s eyes glinted as they stepped forward. First, Nocturnium raised the surrounding earth to create hands even larger than mountains, forcefully gripping the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s body and slamming it into the ground. Kwaaaaaaaang¡ª!!! ¡°Ssssssssss!!!¡± Bound by the giant hands, the creature writhed in pain, but the giant hands had the upper hand. And immediately, Fiora appeared above the creature¡¯s head, instantly transforming her body. She became a small dragon. A dragon that had not yet reached maturity. However, its dangerous aura, at least, showed dragon-like aspects as it opened its maw wide and unleashed a small breath attack towards the wound on the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s back that Drakhanos had created. Kwaaaaaaaah¡ª¡ª¡ª! That breath, more potent than the one she had shot at Kyou, was enough to tear apart the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s wound, leaving an even deeper gash than the original injury. Venom surged again, and even its internal organs began to melt from the breath. -Pant, pant-pant. Fiora, having exhaled the breath with all her might, panted heavily and returned to her original form. For the time being, it seemed it would be difficult for her to transform into the form of a dragon, no, not just a dragon, but any higher life form. Although Fiora was partially out of commission... Their assault did not end there. ¡°Ssssssssss!!!¡± As the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, writhed in pain... Cracks gradually began to form on the colossal earthen hands. However, the hands grew even larger instead, refusing to let the creature go. As the colossal earthen hands pinned the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, Anemor, whom Drakhanos and Seonghyun had sent down from above, now transformed into lightning and plummeted from the sky like a thunderbolt. Kwarrururururung¡ª! The massive teal-colored lightning created a fiercer lightning storm than the Left Arm of the Thunder God that Kyou had conjured, ravaging the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s wound. Following the thunderbolt, Kalisha, wreathed in black shockwaves, appeared and weaved through the wound, spreading those shockwaves to further tear it open. Kurururung¡ª! Kururung¡ª! And then, Leonik and Balthar appeared, heading for that wound, each unleashing powerful sword energies, one with an ultramarine ferocious aura and the other with a dark red blood-red aura. Kwagagagagagaga¡ª!!! Sliiiiiiiiiice!!! The ultramarine ferocious aura ripped through the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, and the dark red blood-red sword energy attacked with the force to cleave it in two. As the ultramarine sword energy and the dark red sword energy simultaneously drew an X across the creature¡¯s body, leaving a deep gash... Barpur appeared immediately after, using his sharp hands to tear that X-shaped gash even deeper. Once again, a fountain of blood erupted from the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s body. It was venomous blood, gushing down like a fierce waterfall. But it could not stop the retainers¡¯ advance. The decrepit old man, dodging all the poisonous blood, rushed forward. Drakhanos once again closed the distance and swung his sword towards the Master of Illusions, Mirajine. In an instant, Drakhanos¡¯s sword gleamed. The sword was dyed as if burning red, and in that moment, there was an illusion as if a giant sword had materialized, and heat like that of the sun radiated from the sword, leaving a long gash upon the creature¡¯s wound. Chiiiiiiiiiiiii¡ª!!! Not the sound of cutting, but the sound of flesh searing, accompanied it. The Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s eyes flew wide open. Agony so immense it couldn''t even scream. Under Drakhanos¡¯s overwhelming swordsmanship, the creature rolled on the ground. The colossal earthen arms, now even thicker, tried to restrain it. But as the creature thrashed with all its might, the cracks eventually worsened, and both earthen arms collapsed. Kwagagagagaga¡ª!! Due to its immense body... As it rolled... The surrounding terrain was instantly flattened, making the already desolate area even more so. However, even as it rolled, the burning wound only blazed hotter. And the black flames of the Black Sun seeped into that heat, tearing the wound further apart. Fwoosh¡ª! ¡°!!!!!!!¡± The Master of Illusions, Mirajine, seemed unable to endure any longer and gave up thrashing. It appeared to have naturally realized that to end the pain, it had to eliminate everyone before it. The Master of Illusions, Mirajine, first infused its entire body and pincer-like fangs thoroughly with venom, and also injected a viscous poisonous liquid into its tens of thousands of legs. And then, just as it was about to use its fantastic/illusory skill! Behind it, a witch, even larger than itself, was standing there, cackling. As if mocking its miserable state with laughter. At the sudden appearance of the witch, the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, couldn¡¯t help but turn its head as if mesmerized. The moment its eyes met those of the giant witch... She sewed its mouth shut with a horrifically large teal-colored needle. Then, bringing a finger to her own lips, she gestured towards it and said. -Shhhhhh. [You are skill-sealed for 5 seconds by the Monarch''s Silence.] [Hidden Raid Boss, ¡ºMaster of Illusions, Mirajine¡», partially resists.] [Duration reduced to 2 seconds.] As the Monarch''s Silence fell... The venom that was about to overflow from the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s entire body instantly vanished. With its entire skill canceled... The creature thrashed its body again, trying somehow to launch a different attack. However. Kwarrururung! The thunderbird, with lightning-like speed, moved first. -Ppiaeeeeeee!!! The sharp cry of a fierce bird of prey. But by the time that sound was heard, it was already too late. A round hole had appeared in one part of the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s torso. As if pierced by a spear, the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, enraged by that penetrating wound, tried to chase the thunderbird. But the thunderbird had already vanished from that spot. Following more slowly than the thunderbird, black thunder then swept over the Master of Illusions, Mirajine. Kurururung¡ª! Weaker than direct lightning, but due to the power of those shockwaves striking the inside rather than the surface, the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, couldn''t regain its senses. [Internals severely concussed. Hidden Raid Boss¡ºMaster of Illusions, Mirajine¡»is afflicted with the status ailment, Confusion, for 1 second.] As it staggered, unable to regain its senses from the head-ringing blow... Barpur, reappearing, struck the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s jaw hard with his fist, and the creature, unable to recover its senses, lost its balance and collapsed once more. Kuuuuung¡ª!! As the creature, the length of a village, fell... The ground trembled finely for a moment, as if an earthquake had occurred. Then, that tremor soon grew larger, and the colossal earthen hands emerged from beneath the ground once again. This time, the earthen hands, even thicker and more massive than before, once again wrapped around the Master of Illusions, Mirajine. Above it, Leonik, Balthar, and Fiora¡ªwho had regained her energy¡ªappeared, Fiora having turned both her arms into swords, and they all swung their blades and arms. Leonik¡¯s ultramarine aura, Balthar¡¯s dark red aura, and Fiora¡¯s pale blue aura mingled, creating a storm of auras that swept over the Master of Illusions, Mirajine. Kagagagagagagaga¡ª!!! The storm of auras slashed and mangled its countless legs. The creature¡¯s legs, falling off in droves, looked almost like crops being reaped during harvest season. Despite sustaining so many blows... The creature, as if boasting of its massive frame, firmly stood up again. No, it tried to get up. If only the old man hadn¡¯t appeared before the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s eyes once more. ¡°Ssssssssss!!!¡± It was that old man who had started it all. Towards the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, which was about to go berserk in fury as it looked at Drakhanos, the old man swung his sword. The cleanly swung sword moved precisely towards the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s eyes, and then... Chwaaaaaaaah¡ª! ¡°Ssssssssss!!!¡± It left deep, unhealable wounds in both its eyes. Wounds that seemed utterly impossible to recover from. Moreover, seeing the heat rising, it seemed he had cut it with a red-hot sword. Furthermore, upon being cut, it immediately burned with a scald, making recovery absolutely impossible. Drakhanos moved away from the creature. With its eyes gone... The Master of Illusions, Mirajine, thrashed about even more violently, swinging its body around. ¡°Ssssssssss!!!¡± However, all the retainers had withdrawn from its vicinity. They waited for the creature¡¯s strength to wane. Bang! Kwagaaang! Boom!!! Explosive sounds, as if bombs were going off, echoed, and fragments scattered in all directions. But Seonghyun and his retainers suffered no damage. Once the creature¡¯s strength waned and it quieted down a little... The retainers once again stepped forward in sequence and began to assault it. Perfectly synchronized teamwork, as if choreographed. As the retainers committed their full strength to the battle... It couldn''t even block them at all. The Master of Illusions, Mirajine, was being pushed back without even being able to use any noteworthy skills. How much time passed like that? The creature¡¯s torso gradually began to turn red. And a system message popped up before Seonghyun¡¯s eyes. [Hidden Raid Boss¡ºMaster of Illusions, Mirajine¡»is changing.] [Hidden Raid Boss¡ºMaster of Illusions, Mirajine¡»is entering Phase 2.] Warning -When it enters Phase 2, the Raid Boss becomes extremely powerful. -Please be cautious. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ He told them to go all out to introduce the retainers, but... ¡®There¡¯s no spot for me to step in, is there?¡¯ They seem intent on catching it all by themselves. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 137 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 137 Seonghyun had intended to step in himself to some extent. But there seemed to be no need for that at all. He thought a video of the retainers raiding on their own wouldn''t be bad either, so he decided to focus entirely on supporting them. Indeed, while Seonghyun had been in the Hall of Knights, weren''t they the ones who had been most idle? ¡®They fight incredibly well.¡¯ Their coordination was like that of a team that had practiced together for decades. Leonik, Balthar, and Fiora had been active together since Helena¡¯s time. So, their teamwork was understandable. But Anemor, Kalisha, Barpur, and Drakhanos were new additions, weren''t they? Yet, all of them were perfectly in sync. Barely 10 minutes after the raid had begun... A message popped up before Seonghyun¡¯s eyes. [Hidden Raid Boss¡ºMaster of Illusions, Mirajine¡»is changing.] [Hidden Raid Boss¡ºMaster of Illusions, Mirajine¡»is entering Phase 2.] Warning -When it enters Phase 2, the Raid Boss becomes extremely powerful. -Please be cautious. With the message announcing Phase 2, the creature¡¯s light pink carapace gradually turned red. It was an appearance that looked anything but ordinary. However, among the retainers, not a single one seemed wary of it. No, to be precise, they were wary. But not a single one of them was particularly worried or tense. ¡°Ssssssssss!!!¡± Enraged, the creature opened its maw with its massive body. Within it, its illusionary energy and poisonous aura condensed in one spot, and it was about to unleash a breath attack, the signature weapon of a dragon. Sensing no way to block it, each of them began to create distance. And just as all the retainers were about to fall back... Seonghyun, seeing this, prepared to use a skill. ¡°Go.¡± At Seonghyun¡¯s short command, everyone reacted, narrowing the distance they were about to create. Just as the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, seeing them, was about to unleash its breath to wipe them all out at once... Barpur shot upwards, and Kalisha used her black shockwaves to launch Barpur like a cannonball. Using that recoil, Barpur kicked off in mid-air. Poooooww¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! As the atmosphere was torn asunder and a massive sonic boom raged... Barpur, launched at a speed close to that of sound, slammed his fist into the massive head of the Master of Illusions, Mirajine. Tu-kwaaaaaaaang¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! A sound close to an explosion vibrated through the air. The Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s head was forcefully snapped to the side. As the creature¡¯s maw, which should have been aimed at the retainers, was sharply turned towards the cliff face... Seonghyun¡¯s skill activated. Rustle, rustle, rustle. Beneath the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, an abyss of unknown depth was created, and from it, tens of thousands of horrifically dark hands reached out to her. Countless, terrifyingly numerous hands, like those of evil spirits trying to drag it to the netherworld, grabbed hold of the Master of Illusions, Mirajine. She felt herself unable to move even a finger. She couldn''t move at all. [Movement sealed for 3 seconds by the Grasp of the Abyss.] [Hidden Raid Boss, ¡ºMaster of Illusions, Mirajine¡», attempts to resist.] [This skill cannot be resisted.] Messages visible only to Seonghyun appeared. And the other retainers finally rushed in and struck the Master of Illusions, Mirajine. Balthar and Leonik swung their swords, utilizing their auras. Chwaaaaaaaah¡ª! Drakhanos, watching Balthar and Leonik, slowly shook his head, then made his sword glow red-hot and cut down the creature with overwhelming swordsmanship. Sliiice¡ª! Chiiiiiiiiiiiii¡ª!!! Fiora, too, perhaps having recovered her technique, transformed into a small dragon and exhaled a small breath at the Master of Illusions, Mirajine. Kwaaaaaaaah¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! And from the heavens, Anemor, becoming a bolt of judgment, descended to the earth as lightning, momentarily erasing all colors from the world and dyeing it teal in an instant. Kwarrurururururung¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! As the retainers¡¯ attacks were fully unleashed... The Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s breath attack was also fired. However, its direction was merely towards the cliff face. Kwagagagagagagaga¡ª¡ª¡ª!!! All the retainers¡¯ attacks landed on the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, while none of its attacks hit a single retainer. If it tried to attack the retainers fighting in close combat... From afar, Seonghyun would block its movement or reposition them. And if Seonghyun¡¯s skills were on cooldown, Kalisha or Anemor would swiftly move to reposition them. Not even a thread''s breadth of an opening. No, as if there were no openings at all, they thoroughly overran the Master of Illusions, Mirajine. Seonghyun could have tested his new skills as well. But he deliberately chose not to. They could win sufficiently even without him doing so. And he had decided to make the retainers the concept for this video. However, perhaps because the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, was also a Hidden Raid Boss? A considerable amount of time passed. ¡®It¡¯s pretty tough, huh.¡¯ The Master of Illusions, Mirajine, firmly endured the retainers¡¯ immense onslaught. But that too was now coming to an end. ¡°Ssssss......¡± It seemed the creature had finally run out of all its strength. A situation where it was on the verge of losing almost all its energy. Just as the other retainers were about to unleash their attacks on the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, which looked like it would collapse at any moment... Drakhanos moved. Drakhanos, lightly kicking off the ground and leaping up. His movement was like that of any old man going for a walk. But its impact was enormous. Poooooww¡ª!! Shwoooooooosh¡ª!!! The ground Drakhanos kicked off from developed huge cracks. The sound of air exploding echoed. Drakhanos shot forward. As Drakhanos, cutting through the air, gradually closed in on the Master of Illusions, Mirajine... In a posture where he slightly coiled his body, he lifted the sword sheathed at his waist and, holding the sword along with its scabbard, slowly began to draw it. Screeech¡ª. The sword, being drawn with a sharp sound, turned red as if it had entered a blazing furnace... And radiated its heat to the surroundings. As the sword, drawn while he shot forward, eventually turned a burning red and then, emitting a crimson light, was fully drawn... For a brief moment, the sword vanished. No, to be precise, Drakhanos vanished along with it. The vanished sword and Drakhanos then reappeared behind the Master of Illusions, Mirajine. He flourished the sword once, then carefully, gently slid it back into its scabbard. Screeech. With a sharp sound, just like when it was drawn... As the sword fully entered its scabbard... The Master of Illusions, Mirajine, turned its head as if it couldn''t understand. Its head turned slowly. However, it turned at an angle it shouldn''t have. And then, the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s neck had completely twisted, and a thin line engraved on her neck gradually became clearer. Sssssssss. Her head, having turned, slowly slid from her torso, and then, the head fell to the ground without any resistance. Thud¡ª! Pshwaaaaaaaaaah¡ª!!! From the headless torso of the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, a fountain of blood mixed with venom and the aura of illusion gushed out. To decapitate it in a single strike. Seeing a scene that truly looked like something out of a comic book play out in reality, Seonghyun let out a sigh of dumbfoundedness. ¡°Huh.¡± So, such things were possible with swordsmanship. As Seonghyun was marveling at it... His body stiffened. A stiffness so profound it made him feel as if he couldn''t even breathe properly. It was the prelude to an event scene, something he was now somewhat accustomed to. Seonghyun¡¯s avatar moved towards the head of the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, which lay fallen after being decapitated. And then, the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s venomous fangs twitched and moved. It spoke. [Ah! Oh, Master of Illusions!!! Please do not abandon me!!!] As soon as he saw that event scene, Seonghyun couldn''t understand. Wasn''t that centipede the Master of Illusions? Wasn''t its very name ''Master of Illusions, Mirajine''? But what on earth was this? As Seonghyun, filled with questions, focused on the event scene... A light pink energy began to descend from the sky. ¡®That¡¯s?¡¯ It was an energy that felt almost familiar. The energy the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, had been using. ¡®No, come to think of it......¡¯ It hadn''t actually used the power of illusion much in the battle. The only power the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, had used was poison. Its name was "Master of Illusions," yet the battle itself was too different from its name. Shouldn''t it be called the "Master of Poison"? With that thought, he focused more intently. Could it be that the foreshadowing about the illusionary energy was being resolved now? As Seonghyun watched with that thought... [Ah, Oh, Master of Illusions.......] It was the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s desperate cry. But the heavens mercilessly gave no answer. Growing anxious at the silent sky, the Master of Illusions, Mirajine, urgently cried out. [Please take pity on me and bestow upon me the power of illusion!!!] The power of illusion descending from the sky, as if defying the heavens themselves, absorbed even the Master of Illusions, Mirajine¡¯s own illusionary energy and ascended back to the sky. [N-No!!! N-Nooooo!!!] As even the illusionary energy it possessed was taken away... The Master of Illusions, Mirajine, gasped desperately as if in its death throes. However, there was nothing a creature with a severed neck could do. Its illusionary energy confiscated... The Master of Illusions, Mirajine, now withered like a mummy, had only its poison left and began to melt from its own potent venom. [Please...... give me strength again......!] It cried out desperately and earnestly. But there was no response from the heavens. And so, with all its illusionary energy taken away... The creature met its end by its own poison, its very flesh melting away until its form was hardly recognizable. Thus, the event scene ended. ¡°Hmm.¡± It was quite a shocking event scene. So, the conclusion was. ¡°There¡¯s a separate Master of Illusions, then?¡± Indeed, for a Hidden Raid Boss below level 120, its name had been too grandiose. Below level 120 was a level that wasn''t even treated as intermediate. Would they call them rookies for no reason? As Seonghyun thought that far... Welcome messages popped up. [You have defeated the Hidden Raid Boss, ¡ºMaster of Illusions, Mirajine¡».] [You have acquired the keyword: ¡ºMaster of Illusions¡».] [Level Up!] x4 [You have become Level 122.] [Having reached Level 120, a new skill for ¡ºOverlord¡» will be unlocked.] [You have acquired the Legendary rank skill, ¡ºBook of Ruin¡».] [Having reached a level multiple of 10, the Almighty rank item, ¡ºOverlord''s Grimoire¡», has been activated.] [Contribution exists for only one person.] [Judged as a solo raid.] [Defeated solo.] [Rewards will be enhanced.] [This is the first kill.] [Rewards will be enhanced.] [As it was a solo raid, all rewards will be given to user ¡ºSeonghyun¡».] [As a kill reward, you acquire the Legendary rank item, ¡ºMillennium Venom Fang¡».] [As a kill reward, you acquire the Legendary rank skill book, ¡ºSkill Book - Poison Breath¡».] [As a kill reward, you acquire the Legendary rank material item, ¡ºIllusion''s Inner Core¡».] [You are the first to defeat the Hidden Raid Boss, ¡ºMaster of Illusions, Mirajine¡».] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºMirajine Slayer¡».] [As you are the first to clear this Hidden Raid, you can choose to disclose information about it.] [If you disclose information, you can acquire a certain amount of rewards generated from the dungeon every time it is cleared for 3 months.] [Information can be disclosed from a time of your choosing.] [If another raid party clears the raid before you disclose the information, information disclosure will become impossible.] [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 138 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 138 0. In Eternal World, when a user acquired a specific keyword... Or obtained an important episode... A message was set to be sent to the employees of E-World, the company managing Eternal World. [User ¡ºSeonghyun¡» acquires the keyword ¡ºMaster of Illusions¡».] [The ¡ºMaster of Illusions¡» awakens from a long slumber.] Just like now. ¡°Ah.¡± Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong nodded his head at the message that had finally appeared. It could happen. It wasn''t like Seonghyun had just casually stumbled upon some unknown power or a Hidden Piece this time, was it? This time, it was a keyword Seonghyun had acquired legitimately, which was rare. The only problem was that its nature was far from ordinary. As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong looked at the keyword with a serious expression... Associate Oh Jinhyeok tilted his head. Was there something like this? Just in case, he searched everywhere, but there were absolutely no accessible records on it. ¡°Senior......? What is this?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong also scratched his head, looking perplexed. Associate Oh Jinhyeok now understood Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong¡¯s patterns to some extent. Usually, when Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong shouted as if extremely enraged and threw a huge fit? That meant it was something manageable. But if a problem seemed to have occurred, yet he was instead quiet and lost in deep thought? This was a really big deal. What on earth could it be that his senior wasn''t even getting angry and was just calmly observing!? As Associate Oh Jinhyeok, filled with such curiosity, gulped and remained silent... Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong let out a small sigh and spoke. ¡°Hooooly...... This... is one of the Legendary rank Scenarios.¡± ¡°A Le...... Legendary rank Scenario!?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± A very high-rank scenario that Associate Oh Jinhyeok didn''t have clearance to view yet. Games naturally have various stories woven into them, don''t they? Usually, these are presented in the form of quests. And by unfolding some of these stories, the game''s enjoyment is enhanced. Should it be called a type of story quest? In Eternal World, these were called Scenarios. And naturally, these Scenarios also had ranks. It wasn''t displayed to users. But it was a ranking system visible to the developers. Among them, a Legendary rank Scenario was a scenario rank that had only been released twice to date. This ¡ºMaster of Illusions¡» was one of that kind. ¡°B-But he¡¯s only in the level 120s, and a Legendary rank Scenario is appearing?¡± ¡°Haaaah, among the Legendary rank Scenarios, there are some that have been laid out like plot hooks since the very early days...... This Master of Illusions is one of those.¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± ¡°For now, I need to write a report. It¡¯s not a huge immediate crisis, but......¡± In other words, it meant it would become an incredibly big deal later, and Associate Oh Jinhyeok gulped. And Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong scratched his head, looking a bit annoyed. ¡°Hah, and now that he¡¯s over level 120, he¡¯ll be heading to the city, won¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Huh? Ah, ah. Right. From the fifth region onwards, it¡¯s a city. But why is that...... ah?¡± Asking the question himself, Associate Oh Jinhyeok¡¯s eyes began to tremble violently as if he had realized something. The fifth city. It was a region with a labyrinth concept, and also a city that presented users with another critical turning point. None other than... ¡°Th-They get their 2nd class advancement, don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°......Right.¡± ¡°A-And......¡± And from the fifth region onwards... ¡°Magic Towers and other factions begin to appear...... Th-Then......¡± ¡°Right, there¡¯s also a branch of Over Palace.¡± ¡°Ah, aaah!?¡± The next region Seonghyun was about to head to. And the Over Palace branches located there. Recalling that, Associate Oh Jinhyeok slyly took out his phone and sent a text message somewhere. [Oh Jinhyeok: Yeah, Mom, I don¡¯t think I can come home tonight. Don¡¯t wait up, go to bed first~] An all-nighter was confirmed. 1. His experience points had shot up all at once, and he had become level 122. He could finally leave the Dune Wild Trail. It hadn¡¯t been bad. But he had stayed there longer than expected and was getting a bit tired of it, so this was good. In any case, Seonghyun looked at his rewards and was quite pleased. ¡®It¡¯s a bit lacking compared to other raids, though.¡¯ But hadn''t he obtained an important plot hook? The keyword: Master of Illusions. If he dug into this, wouldn''t he get another interesting quest? As Seonghyun thought that and was about to delve into the rewards... -My Liege!! You have worked hard!!! -Y-You w-worked hard! ¡°You have endured much.¡± -Mutter-mutter-mutter. -Master says he worked hard today and used a lot of power, so he will be heading back in! Ah, and you worked hard too! -Piaeeeeeee! -Kaaaeeyaaa! -M-Master, y-you worked hard, yessiree! The retainers approached and each said a word to Seonghyun. But worked hard at what? ¡®Hmm, did I do anything?¡¯ He had provided support. But honestly, even without him, his retainers were already at a level where they could handle it sufficiently on their own. So, even if they praised him like that, he had nothing much to say. ¡°R-Right, you all worked hard too.¡± Seonghyun merely said that and opened the gate to the Netherworld for them. As the gate to the Netherworld opened, Drakhanos and Balthar, who was to assist him, hurriedly entered. Besides them, Anemor, Karisha, and Barpur also went in. Fiora, Nocturnium, and Leonik remained to assist Seonghyun. It would have been fine if they all went in. Seonghyun briefly had that thought but dismissed it. Moving on from that... Let¡¯s look at the rewards first. He first checked the new skill he had obtained from leveling up. ¡ºBook of Ruin¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth-Type] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown 10 minutes] At the fingertips of the Overlord who wields the Book of Ruin, may all the world''s magic unfold. All mages shall serve their monarch. ¡úOverlord exclusive skill. ¡úUpon use, summons the Book of Ruin. ¡úBy summoning the Book of Ruin and opening a specific page, the magic recorded there can be used. ¡úThe magic recorded in the Book of Ruin contains lost black magic or general magic. ¡úWhen using lost magic via the Book of Ruin, its power and destructive force are enhanced beyond their original effects. ¡°Oh?¡± It felt somewhat similar to a skill from an old manga about raising cute monsters, where you could use random skills with a snap of your fingers. However, what was different was... ¡®Lost magic, huh.¡¯ Wasn''t that a rather heart-pounding keyword? To be able to use magic that had vanished in ancient times again. It was a skill that even had a touch of romanticism. Seonghyun, quite satisfied, examined the other rewards. Next up, the reward to look out for was probably the Slayer reward, right? The Slayer rewards for Anemor and Crescentra had been quite lucrative. He opened the title window, harboring the expectation that this time would be similar. ¡ºMirajine Slayer¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úA title bestowed upon the user who is the first to defeat ¡ºMaster of Illusions, Mirajine¡». ¡úCan use "Poison''s Inner Core" twice a day. ¡úCan use "Master of Illusions" once a day. ¡úMax HP +20%. ¡úPoison-related skill damage +50%. ¡®Oho?¡¯ It was worth anticipating. A whopping 50% increase in poison-related skill damage. Since it was likely multiplicative rather than additive, he had briefly wondered if it was a bit lacking. But besides that, his max HP also increased, and there were two usable skills. He checked the skill descriptions as well. The "Poison''s Inner Core" skill, which more than doubled the power of poison skills for a certain period, was quite outstanding. However, the skill called "Master of Illusions" was a bit... ¡®The effect of being able to accumulate illusionary energy in the body is peculiar.¡¯ He had already seen the message about acquiring the "Master of Illusions" keyword. He felt like he would absolutely never use it. In any case. Shall we look at the items then? He decided to set aside the "Poison Breath" skill book for now. He examined the other two items first. ¡ºMillennium Venom Fang¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úAn item occasionally found in monsters that have accumulated poison for a thousand years. ¡úOver time, the poison has become further refined and now holds extreme poison. ¡úOn hit, the target is afflicted with extreme poison. ¡úWhen afflicted with extreme poison, max HP decreases by 1% per second. ¡úCannot be detoxified for 50 seconds. ¡úIf damage is stacked with the Millennium Venom Fang, the extreme poison explodes, inflicting 500% damage. ¡úWhen used against Raid Bosses, the effect of extreme poison is reduced by 90%. ¡ºIllusion''s Inner Core¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úMaterial Item ¡úAn inner core imbued with the power of illusion. ¡úIt is nearly impossible for a monster in a normal state to possess this. ¡úCan grant illusion-related effects when used in alchemy or crafting. ¡®The Millennium Venom Fang looks good......¡¯ The Illusion''s Inner Core was a bit so-so. The whole "Master of Illusions" thing had left a bad taste. His material items were starting to pile up too. He figured he should look into alchemy or crafting later. Those were the items and titles he had checked. The last things remaining were the skill book and the Overlord''s Grimoire. ¡®Should I just use them right now?¡¯ Especially since there was that Unique rank skill he had obtained from defeating some user. He could use the Tome of Despair to change that into a Black Magic skill and then use the Overlord''s Grimoire to pair it with a fitting skill. So, that could be used later. But the "Poison Breath"... ¡®It¡¯s a bit awkward for me to use......¡¯ He knew it was a powerful skill. Especially since Seonghyun already had a poison-related build. It would be good if he used it, but... It felt a bit distasteful. Breath-type skills were all skills used by opening one''s mouth. If Seonghyun learned it and used it directly? ¡®Poison would be spewing from my mouth......¡¯ Imagining that made him a bit uncomfortable. As he hesitated, feeling it was a bit like vomiting... -My Liege, if you are truly reluctant to use that skill book, how about bestowing it upon a retainer of your choosing? ¡°Hmm?¡± Is that possible? As Seonghyun showed his doubt... -In cases like mine, a Death Legion Commander, it is impossible. However, Spirit Nocturnium, Pet Fiora, and Demon Knights Sir Balthar and Sir Drakhanos are certainly capable of it. ¡°Ah.¡± So, there was such a function. He hadn''t known that well. It was in moments like these that his low understanding of the game really showed. A retainer who could make good use of this if he gave it to them....... As Seonghyun thought that, his gaze turned towards one particular retainer. -Hueh!? M-M-M-Me!? Wouldn''t she be the most suitable? Although she could change her form and use the skills of various species, he had heard that if she also possessed existing skills of that type, their effect would be amplified. Especially Fiora; while she could directly spew from her mouth, couldn''t she also change her hand into a dragon''s head to unleash a breath attack? Visually, there was no problem at all. However. -I-I-I haven¡¯t d-done anything g-good, you know!? A-And, a while ago, I even k-killed a person. Fiora¡¯s shocking murder confession. But wasn''t that something Seonghyun already knew? More importantly, he had obtained a Unique rank skill book because of it. If anything, it made Fiora even more deserving. ¡°No, Fiora. I think it¡¯s right for you to receive this.¡± He had already made his decision. As Seonghyun immediately gave the skill book to Fiora... Large, round teardrops fell from the eyes of Fiora, who was in her small girl form, and she accepted the skill book as if it were incredibly precious. -H-Hueeeehhng. Th-Thank youuuu. Finding her appearance cute, Seonghyun patted Fiora¡¯s head. He gave it to her partly as encouragement to continue doing well in the future. But also because Fiora had actually accomplished a great deal. Well then, he had received all the rewards. He had also gained all the necessary levels. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the next region.¡± It was time to head to the next region. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 139 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 139 2. Straight to the next region! ......Is not what he was doing. It happened to be lunchtime. And a moderate amount of rest was necessary. Killing two birds with one stone, so to speak. [What??? Is that for real???] ¡°Yeah, have you only ever been deceived in life?¡± [Uh...... mostly, yeah......] ¡°No, I mean, have I ever deceived you?¡± [That, no.] Seonghyun chuckled slightly as he talked on the phone with Lee Geondong. He had told Geondong that if he edited the video file he sent, he¡¯d send it to Rapid¡¯s side, and this was his reaction. His reactions were always so enthusiastic. He wondered if it was something to be that happy about. But in a way, it could be an incredible opportunity. So, he thought it was understandable. Wasn''t it a good chance for his friend to build his career? [Deadline?] ¡°Nothing specific.¡± [Okay, so the faster the better, right?] ¡°Isn¡¯t quality the priority?¡± [Dude! Quality is a mandatory option!] Well, it¡¯s obvious that the better the quality and the faster it¡¯s done, the better. Anyway, as Seonghyun was talking, he recalled Ahn Yoojin¡¯s warning. ¡°Well, you probably know this, but if the guild doesn¡¯t like the video, it might get rejected, okay?¡± [Man! That¡¯s obvious! Anyway, thanks a lot, seriously. For Rapid Guild, you can¡¯t even easily get an interview.] ¡°It¡¯s no big deal.¡± [What do you mean, no big deal? From your perspective too, that¡¯s something you have to ask a favor for. And you¡¯re usually not one to like doing such things.] That was true. Seonghyun himself wasn''t accustomed to asking anyone for favors. But since it was for a friend... He could make an exception for this much. [Seriously, thanks. If this works out, I¡¯ll buy you soju¡ªno, wait, Western liquor.] ¡°Oho? Western liquor? Nice.¡± [I¡¯ll do it as fast as possible and send it to you!!!] After the call with Lee Geondong ended like that... Seonghyun shook his head as if his friend was incorrigible. To think that cheapskate would offer to buy Western liquor. He must be incredibly grateful. As Seonghyun ended the call and was about to head out... His older sister, Yoo Mina, who seemed to have just come out of her capsule, peeked in from Seonghyun¡¯s doorway and spoke to him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°A friend of mine is going to do some editing. I¡¯m planning to introduce him to Yoojin-noona.¡± ¡°Ahn Yoojin, to her?¡± At Seonghyun¡¯s words, Yoo Mina¡¯s expression hardened considerably. However, Seonghyun¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t much different. Both Yoo Mina and Seonghyun knew Ahn Yoojin¡¯s personality well. She was particularly strict in these kinds of matters. ¡°Seriously, Ahn Yoojin... she¡¯s only being this kind to us because it¡¯s us; if someone lacked skill, she¡¯d show absolutely no mercy...¡± ¡°I know. Still, it¡¯s a good opportunity, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°......That¡¯s true.¡± His older sister, Yoo Mina, acknowledged that. Both Seonghyun and Yoo Mina had gotten in easily because they had connections. But the Rapid Guild was undeniably rank 3 in the Eternal World guild rankings. There were even rumors that it might soon rise to rank 2; it was a world-class guild of that caliber. If you had to compare, it was a workplace with much better treatment than even a large corporation. There was no way one could get into such a workplace without due effort or merit. Ahn Yoojin, the head of the Rapid Guild, was also quite meticulous about its management. In any case. Since Seonghyun said he knew... Yoo Mina didn¡¯t say anything more. ¡°Kids~ If you¡¯re out, come eat~¡± Hearing the two of them talking... Their mother, Lee Nakyeong¡¯s voice came from the kitchen. Since both of them had come out to eat... Without another word, they both quickly washed their hands and sat at the dining table. It seemed like a simple meal, but this time too, it was a sumptuous feast, so neither of them started eating with any complaints. ¡°Mom has a quick errand to run out front, so I¡¯ll be back~¡± ¡°Okay, see you later.¡± ¡°Yeah~ See you~¡± As Seonghyun and Yoo Mina said that, they began to eat, as if vying not to be outdone by the other. In the middle of the meal. Yoo Mina suddenly asked, as if curious. ¡°What do you have to do in the Dune Wild Trail to get the Knight rank? I was going to ask yesterday, but you went out to guzzle alcohol.¡± ¡°Ah? I just went out because a friend got discharged from the military.¡± ¡°Anyway, how did you get the Knight rank? Without knowing a specific Knight NPC, that would be really tough, wouldn''t it?¡± Yoo Mina, who seemed to have tried for it quite a bit herself, asked out of curiosity. Seonghyun answered vaguely. ¡°There¡¯s a Hidden Field called the Hall of Knights. They gave it to me when I cleared a mission there.¡± ¡°Wow, I¡¯m a bit jealous of that. So that¡¯s why you were quiet for five days, huh?¡± ¡°Well, something like that.¡± ¡°Hmph, why don¡¯t I ever get things like that? Was it ghosts again this time?¡± At his sister¡¯s words, delivered with an unnecessary cute act, Seonghyun frowned but then obediently nodded. Because if he didn''t, she might do it even more. At Seonghyun¡¯s answer, Yoo Mina shook her head as if disappointed. ¡°Hah, I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s a totally OP ability.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re jealous, Noona, you go see some ghosts too.¡± ¡°......I really wish I could.¡± After some idle talk. Yoo Mina suddenly asked. ¡°So, is it time for you to go to the next region now?¡± ¡°Yeah, I was just about to head out when I came for food.¡± ¡°Ooh? Where are you headed? There are a ton of cities.¡± At the question of whether he had a place in mind, Seonghyun shook his head. How could he? He was just planning to go to a city that had carriages. Perhaps she would suggest a good place? As Seonghyun showed a slightly expectant expression... ¡°Hehehe, it¡¯s lovely to see our Seonghyun relying on his noona. Hmph hmph hmph!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to tell me, then don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Hey, why are you being like that? It¡¯s been a while since Noona got to act like a proper noona.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°Oh, alright, alright.¡± As Seonghyun glared at her really fiercely... His older sister, Yoo Mina, raised both her hands and spoke. ¡°You know the concept for the fifth region, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, a labyrinth, was it?¡± ¡°Oooh, looks like you¡¯ve done some searching?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s my job.¡± Subtly praising Seonghyun... Yoo Mina continued. ¡°Then this will be quick. Pentagrid. Its labyrinth is an underground one, so it¡¯s relatively more comfortable. And well, it has some peculiar NPCs, so it should be good for doing quests.¡± ¡°Quests?¡± She hadn¡¯t mentioned quests at all until now, so why quests all of a sudden? As Seonghyun asked back with that meaning in his tone... Yoo Mina waved her hand as if a bit annoyed and said. ¡°Yeah, if you don¡¯t do quests, you¡¯ll probably have to stay in the labyrinth city for quite a long time, you know?¡± ¡°Hmm, quests are pretty efficient, that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°That they are. And labyrinth cities all have their own fun in clearing such quests. Should I say the quest occurrence rate is higher there compared to other villages and towns?¡± ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that exactly, but in terms of big data, the frequency and such things definitely have a higher distribution there compared to other places. It¡¯s not a massive difference, but it¡¯s definitely on the higher side.¡± Seonghyun nodded at Yoo Mina¡¯s words. A city where quests are the main focus. Coincidentally, hadn''t he just done an interesting quest a little while ago? He had also obtained the "Master of Illusions" keyword. And some pretty decent items too. As Seonghyun was briefly pondering that... ¡°Oh, right, there was some interesting news from Pentagrid recently too.¡± ¡°Interesting news?¡± ¡°Yeah, apparently there was an NPC murder case recently. It even popped up as a Rare rank linked quest.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Many users were poking around, suspecting it might be some kind of hidden quest, but they all ended up empty-handed, or so I heard?¡± At those words, Seonghyun¡¯s interest was definitely piqued. A murder case. If there was a victim... ¡°Since I can see ghosts, couldn¡¯t I solve it easily?¡± His older sister, Yoo Mina, looked at Seonghyun with eyes that asked if he wasn¡¯t interested. And Seonghyun, too, smirked and nodded his head. This was certainly tempting. If no one else had solved it... Wouldn''t the reward also be worth looking forward to? As Seonghyun showed his approval... ¡°Hehehe, I was helpful, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, you were really helpful this time.¡± ¡°Huhu, this Noona is just that good.¡± Well then, since he had gathered various pieces of information and also eaten... Shall he get going? As Seonghyun started to get up from his seat... ¡°You¡¯re going right away?¡± ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯m going to do the dishes before I go.¡± ¡°Oh? Okay. I¡¯ll be in your debt today then~¡± Yoo Mina said thankfully and placed her dishes in the sink. Seonghyun washed the rest. After putting away the leftover side dishes too, he entered his room and looked at the capsule. ¡®Shall I go and finish what I was doing?¡¯ The next town. No, from the fifth region onwards, they were cities. It was time to head to the next city. ¡®Pentagrid, was it?¡¯ What kind of place would it be this time? With a heart full of anticipation, Seonghyun entered the capsule. 3. The fifth region. The first city. On the caravan cargo wagon heading there, quite a few users were riding like packed luggage. Because it was a cargo wagon that could be called an essential route when heading from the Dune Wild Trail to the next region, the number of users was substantial. It was a similar sight to when he had first left the beginner village for the first village. But the atmosphere was completely different from back then. The feeling of having shed their rookie-ness. Well, it couldn''t be helped. They had suffered harshly at the hands of villains in the Dune Wild Trail. There was no way they¡¯d give off a naive or greenhorn impression. Now that they were over level 120... They couldn''t be called intermediate. But they had definitely shed their rookie status. As proof of that, most were now seated with their respective team members or party members. Users who were alone were extremely rare. To put it another way... To move past being a rookie, it was common to have a team you were with. And in that cargo hold, a suspicious user wearing a black robe sat alone and forlornly. ¡®Hmm, should I have just ridden with them after all?¡¯ It was none other than Seonghyun. He had ridden alone, thinking he''d stand out too much if he rode with his retainers. But riding alone actually made him stand out even more. Clearly dressed as a Black Mage at a glance, and riding alone? It was certainly enough to make him look suspicious. The other users warily glanced up at the space above Seonghyun¡¯s head. They were probably trying to check if the icon indicating a user was red. In the tense atmosphere... Perhaps unable to bear the mood, someone from one of the teams asked a teammate next to them. ¡°Hmm, the place we¡¯re going to is Pentagrid, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Pentagrid.¡± ¡°I¡¯m kind of looking forward to the fifth region having a labyrinth concept.¡± ¡°Be careful. A lot of people die in that labyrinth by accidentally wandering into high-level zones.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine. I heard that as long as you look at the map carefully, there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± The essential item in a labyrinth city. They were talking about the Magic Tower''s map. Seonghyun¡¯s ears perked up, showing his interest. He hadn¡¯t heard about the map from his sister, Yoo Mina. As Seonghyun listened intently... ¡°Ah, the map they give out at the Magic Tower?¡± ¡°Yeah, with that, it shows your current location and even keeps a record of where you¡¯ve been.¡± That certainly seems useful, doesn''t it? With that thought, Seonghyun considered whether he should go to a Magic Tower. ¡°Man, cities really are different, huh? They even have Magic Towers. So, can you just enter any Magic Tower?¡± ¡°Nope, you have to go according to your attribute.¡± ¡°Ah? Really? That¡¯s tricky. And I heard non-mage classes can¡¯t even enter Magic Towers at all.¡± ¡°Right, and even if you are a mage, not everyone can enter. Since NPCs manage them, they test your skills, and users below a certain level can¡¯t get in, apparently.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s too harsh, isn¡¯t it?¡± They spouted useful information, seeming to have researched quite a bit. Anyway, so if you¡¯re not a mage class, you can¡¯t even get a map. And it was even more surprising that you had to pass a test just to enter. It certainly had strong aspects designed with teamwork in mind. Since teamwork was also much more efficient for gaining experience... Unless one was an overwhelmingly strong individual, there was no one who traveled alone. That¡¯s why Seonghyun couldn''t help but seem out of place. Because there was no way an overwhelmingly strong player would be at his current level. Although Seonghyun had recently made a name for himself as the Demon King... There was no way anyone would associate the Seonghyun sitting alone in this cargo hold with the Demon King. Even if an overwhelmingly strong player traveled alone, that was usually only a story for hunting grounds. They typically moved around with a backup team. It was a structure that didn''t allow for such a connection. Anyway, as Seonghyun was taking note of these things and wondering if he should go to the Black Magic Tower... It suddenly occurred to him. ¡®Wait, if it¡¯s the Black Magic Tower......¡¯ At the same time Seonghyun had that thought... ¡°Then, since you¡¯re a Black Mage, are you planning to go to the ¡®Over Palace¡¯ side?¡± Flinch! As Seonghyun flinched at the word ¡®Over Palace¡¯... It seemed the two who were chatting had also noticed. The team member who looked like a Black Mage smirked. And muttered. ¡°As for me, of course it''s Over Palace. Black Mages, regardless of their specialty, go to Over Palace. But do you know this?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I heard Over Palace has stricter standards than other Magic Towers, so more than half get rejected.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s tough.¡± ¡°Well, there are many Black Mages who can¡¯t get in. So even if you get rejected, you shouldn¡¯t be disappointed. As for me, of course I¡¯ll get in. Oops, were we talking too loudly?¡± He said so openly, looking towards where Seonghyun was. As if to say, "I''ll pass, but you''ll fail." Well, it could have been Seonghyun¡¯s misinterpretation. But it clearly seemed that way. Perhaps because it was a bit too blatant, the teammate who had been chatting next to him subtly nudged his side, giving him a look. Just then. Neigh! Snort! Neigh! The sound of considerable commotion came from outside. Seeing the city walls right before their eyes, it seemed they had arrived. But why was it so noisy? As the users looked puzzled by the incomprehensible situation... A loud voice boomed from outside as someone shouted. ¡°This is the Branch Manager of Over Palace Pentagrid. Halt the cargo wagon.¡± A voice full of dignity and power. At those words, the calm atmosphere from just moments ago vanished without a trace. The Over Palace Branch Manager, why was he here??? That was the only thought on everyone¡¯s mind. Could there be a user involved in some crime here? Seonghyun¡¯s eyes, in particular, trembled violently. ¡®No way...... it can¡¯t be, right?¡¯ With that thought, he turned his head. Since there was no ceiling, he could see the Over Palace Black Mages walking majestically from within the city walls. An intimidating aura that would seem extraordinary even to an unknowing user. Everyone trembled finely at the renowned prestige of the name Over Palace. Among general users, Over Palace was strongly perceived as one of the most powerful factions. It couldn''t be helped. Especially since it was renowned enough to be called the holy land of Black Mage NPCs. Various eerie tales were also circulating about it. As everyone on the cargo wagon trembled... ¡°Hey, hey. Y-You, you said you were g-going to join Over Palace, q-quickly do something.¡± One of the teammates who had been chatting earlier continuously poked the side of the teammate who had boasted about joining Over Palace. However. ¡°Wh-What am I s-supposed to d-do, stepping forward!?¡± Seeing his pathetic state, trembling as he spoke... It seemed he couldn''t do anything at all. As the Over Palace Black Mages, marching in two columns, reached the caravan with the cargo wagon... They bowed their heads low to the Black Mage wearing a black robe sitting at the very end and exclaimed. ¡°We are in the presence of the Esteemed One!!! As the Branch Manager of Over Palace Pentagrid, it is an honor to serve the Esteemed One!!! We have prepared a carriage, so please transfer here.¡± ¡°Th-The Esteemed One?!¡± ¡°S-Such a person was riding in our wagon!?¡± ¡°Wh-Who is it!?¡± While everyone who had boarded the cargo wagon was uniformly shocked... Seonghyun let out a deep sigh, realizing his "no way" thought had been correct. ¡°......Haaaaah.¡± As he let out that deep sigh... The gazes of all the users who had been looking around the cargo wagon, wondering who it could be, fixated on Seonghyun. Could it be? That person who was alone? Though he received such stares... Seonghyun received them nonchalantly and thought. ¡®No, but how on earth did they know?¡¯ As he rose from his seat... The Branch Manager of Over Palace Pentagrid bowed his head to Seonghyun and exclaimed once more. ¡°We are truly grateful for your visit to our Pentagrid branch!!! I am called Branch Manager Belmore Arcadius!!! We shall serve you with utmost devotion so as not to tarnish the reputation of Over Palace!!!¡± It was a display of extreme deference, clear for anyone to see. The face of the teammate who had been chatting and boasting until just moments ago turned deathly pale. Similarly, the teammate next to him, his complexion turning ashen, asked. ¡°Y-You, who on earth were you posturing to?¡± ¡°......¡± That teammate, his face ashen, couldn''t say a word. He was merely trembling like an aspen leaf. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 140 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 140 4. Clip-clop! Clip-clop! Clip-clop! Neigh-hehehe! Neigh-hehehe! Neigh-hehehe! Eight horses galloped fiercely over the well-maintained stone paving of the city. Their musculature, their powerful strength... Everything about them indicated they were fine steeds of good lineage. No, in some ways, they looked like famed warhorses, excellent for use in battle. However, these warhorses were harnessed to a carriage, ornate yet decorated in a subtle, ink-black hue, pulling it along. They were performing a task that seemed entirely unsuited to them. But upon seeing the flag emblazoned with a single crest fluttering above the carriage... Everyone couldn''t help but acquiesce. ¡ºOver Palace¡» An eight-horse carriage also signified nobility or royalty. It was something that might displease the city''s ruler if they knew. Yet, rather, the city guards, upon seeing the flag, would subtly move aside or turn their bodies to avoid obstructing its path. That was how much the name Over Palace implied. Those connected to power feared it. And ordinary citizens, lacking power, revered the flag signifying Over Palace with expressions of gratitude and respect. Meanwhile, the one user riding in such a carriage, Seonghyun... ¡°Hmmmm.¡± Was simply feeling perplexed. To think he would enter the city in such a flashy manner. He was wearing a mask, so his face wasn''t visible. But he even felt as if he were stripped bare. He had handled the situation calmly enough. But whenever he was excessively praised or put in the spotlight like this, Seonghyun was one to invariably feel his face grow hot. ¡°I greet the Great Successor once more!!! I am called Belmore Arcadius, Branch Manager of the Over Palace Pentagrid branch.¡± ¡°Understood, Lord Arcadius.¡± ¡°Heoooook!?!?¡± As Seonghyun addressed him with such respect... Belmore immediately made a huge fuss, bowing as if doing a somersault in the carriage and lowering his posture. Then, he spoke to Seonghyun very cautiously. ¡°P-Please, do not speak so formally to someone like myself....... I am not such a great person.¡± ¡°......Hah, understood. Belmore.¡± ¡°Keuheuk, t-to think you¡¯d worry about the well-being of someone as insignificant as myself, th-thank you.¡± No, he asked me not to, so I spoke less formally. And now he¡¯s thanking me for worrying about his well-being. He was even shedding tears. Is this for real? Are these Over Palace people naturally equipped with "overly dramatic" as a basic passive skill? Is it like they can¡¯t join if they¡¯re not dramatic enough? While Seonghyun was having such perplexed thoughts... Belmore, still in a bowing posture before Seonghyun, asked. ¡°Is there anything you require, perhaps?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Hearing him say that, Seonghyun thought for a moment. Just as the first village had a special black mage academy... Here in the city, there were various vocational centers where different classes could learn things. For mages, these were the Magic Towers, and for other classes, vocational centers existed. He knew Over Palace also served such a role. Receiving such lavish treatment was nice, but...... ¡®It¡¯s certainly a bit burdensome.¡¯ As Seonghyun felt that burden... Belmore spoke as if he already knew. ¡°I apologize for making you uncomfortable in front of the other outsiders in the unavoidable situation earlier!!! From now on, we will proceed by carriage directly into the Over Palace branch, so you will not be exposed to the gazes of other outsiders.¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s a relief.¡± As Seonghyun spoke with relief... Belmore nodded, looking quite pleased. Assisting Seonghyun while he was here would be his greatest and most important task since this branch was established! Therefore, he had to serve him with utmost sincerity and devotion. It was only regrettable that due to the "world''s will," he couldn''t provide even more extravagant treatment. However, he intended to do his absolute best up to that permissible limit. Neigh-hehehe! Not long after that small commotion in the carriage... Perhaps because they were using such powerful warhorses? They soon arrived at the Over Palace branch. ¡®......It¡¯s bigger than any Lord¡¯s Castle.¡¯ A massive castle possessing grounds vaster and wider than even a Lord''s castle where a feudal lord would reside. He had wondered how there could be two castles within one city. Was one of them Over Palace¡¯s? Seonghyun shook his head, looking at it as if he truly couldn¡¯t believe it. As expected, the scale is top-notch. Thinking that, he alighted from the carriage. As Seonghyun stepped down, countless Over Palace Black Mages, lined up in two rows, were bowing their heads low around him. ¡®......¡¯ It wasn''t like it was some gangster movie. It felt exactly like, "Greetings, Boss!" It was quite burdensome. But, when else would he experience something like this? As Seonghyun calmly and stoically walked that path... ¡°We behold the Great! And Esteemed!!! True Successor of Over Palace!!!¡± ¡°We behold the True Successor!!!¡± Branch Manager Belmore led the chant. They shouted loud enough to make the castle itself seem to shake. Is this the attitude of people who said they¡¯d keep me out of other users'' sight? It was becoming increasingly burdensome. But Seonghyun shook his head, acknowledged them with a nod, and moved on. It seemed he had to finish his business quickly to be able to leave Over Palace. He intended to take care of his business as fast as possible. ¡°M-May I please be permitted to guide you?!¡± Then Branch Manager Belmore chimed in again. Since the place was quite vast, and it would be better than going alone, Seonghyun accepted. ¡°Lead the way.¡± ¡°Hahaha! Thank you!!!¡± As Branch Manager Belmore, thrilled, prepared to guide him... What was this? A whole throng of Black Mages followed behind him. Their numbers appeared to be well over thirty. Seeing as every single one of them looked powerful... ¡®They must be NPCs holding important positions in this Over Palace branch, right?¡¯ But they were all following along just to provide guidance? As Seonghyun, thinking "no way," walked a little... They really all followed. Even for the usually stoic and calm Seonghyun, this was unbearable. ¡°Um...... Can¡¯t just the Branch Manager follow?¡± As Seonghyun cautiously suggested it... The other elderly Black Mages drooped their heads as if disappointed. They looked truly pitiful, and it even made him think of his parents, but... What''s not right is not right. If they went around like this, it would be like some corporate president strolling through his company in a K-drama. How could they possibly not attract the attention of other users? As Seonghyun made that suggestion... Branch Manager Belmore¡¯s eyes, on the contrary, welled up with tears. ¡°Sniff, th-thank you. For giving me this chance.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± That wasn¡¯t it; he was just uncomfortable with so many people. He realized it could be misinterpreted like that. He let it be, thinking it was best to let him think whatever he pleased. The Branch Manager then cautiously asked. ¡°Ah, then shall we cast perception-jamming magic and conduct the inspection tour?¡± ¡°......Well, let¡¯s do that.¡± He didn''t even have the energy to ask "what inspection tour?" and just agreed. He figured he could just think of it as looking around the inside of Over Palace. And Seonghyun¡¯s thoughts were spot on. As they wandered inside the Over Palace branch... Branch Manager Belmore explained things in detail. From the place that served as an information desk... To training rooms where one could check Black Magic skills and practice, a material shop where various Black Magic ingredients could be bought, a magic crafting workshop where Black Magic items and equipment could be bought, and even a skill academy where advanced skills could be learned. Inside the Over Palace branch, which seemed to have everything one could possibly need, there was everything. The training rooms were particularly notable; not only were private rooms available, but the security was also quite good. The facilities were certainly incredible. ¡®This is amazing.¡¯ While Seonghyun was inwardly marveling, the number of users was extremely small. It was said the test was tricky, and indeed. It seemed the fact that there weren''t that many Black Mages also played a part. As Seonghyun was looking around like that... ¡°This is the library. From records documenting its long and distinguished history to books on magical principles and various other texts are available here.¡± ¡°Oho?¡± It wasn''t a skill book, but a massive library filled with real books. Because an entire spire was filled to make the library. Bookshelves soared high as if to pierce the sky, and mysterious ladder-like things that could move between the bookshelves were flying around them. Because it was a mystical sight one might see in a wizard movie. Seonghyun¡¯s gaze lingered there for a moment. Then, suddenly. ¡°Huh!? What do you mean this book can¡¯t be loaned out!?¡± A small commotion arose. As Seonghyun turned his gaze there... He could see someone arguing with one of the librarians. ¡®A user?¡¯ Judging by the icon above their head, it was a user. But for them to be in a library... It was a bit strange. It didn''t seem like reading books would be of much help. From Seonghyun¡¯s perspective, it was certainly peculiar. A short man wearing glasses. He didn''t look particularly old. At most, he looked to be around Seonghyun''s age, perhaps in his early twenties? Naturally, since it was the East Asian server, he had an East Asian appearance. Wanting to borrow a book. ¡®How unusual.¡¯ He must really like books. Just as Seonghyun thought that and was about to move on... Branch Manager Belmore made to move hastily. ¡°I will go and find out.¡± ¡°Ah. No, it¡¯s fine.¡± Even as Seonghyun said that... ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Babaros-nim, but you have exceeded your maximum loan allowance, so you cannot borrow any more.¡± ¡°Ah, ah. B-But, isn¡¯t there some way? I really want to read this one too......¡± ¡°Babaros-nim, you have also used up all your library time, so it seems we cannot loan you any more books.¡± ¡°Ah, aaah.¡± The user called Babaros drooped his shoulders, said he understood, returned the book, and then trudged away dejectedly. He must really, really love books. To exceed both the loan allowance and the library time? Does he play games just to read books? He was a user who even made one think such thoughts. Thinking ¡®What an eccentric,¡¯ Seonghyun moved on. ¡°The tour of all facilities within Over Palace is now complete. Do you perhaps have any further questions?¡± Just as Seonghyun was about to say "no" to that question and move on... He suddenly remembered his sister¡¯s words. The story about a murder case that had occurred recently. Seonghyun recalled that story and immediately asked. ¡°I heard there was a murder case in this city recently?¡± ¡°Ah, you must be referring to that incident. Hmm, yes, there certainly was. If you are curious about the alley where that murder case occurred, I will mark it for you.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± As Belmore offered to mark the location Seonghyun was so curious about... He felt quite grateful. Although it had been excessive so far, Branch Manager Belmore had still been trying to be helpful to Seonghyun. As Branch Manager Belmore held something and muttered... He handed it to Seonghyun. ¡°This is a map with that location marked. It is the highest quality map, which will also be useful when you are active in the labyrinth from now on.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± [You have acquired the ¡ºHighest Quality Labyrinth Map¡».] [From now on, the Pentagrid city map and the Pentagrid Labyrinth will be displayed on your map.] As Seonghyun acquired the map... A message popped up. And seeing the red dot marked on the city map, he expressed his thanks. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Not at all. Being able to be of assistance at any time is truly our blessing.¡± ¡°Ahem. Then, I¡¯ll be off.¡± In any case, it seemed he would have to visit this Over Palace often. As he said that... ¡°Sniff. For you to say such words, I am simply grateful.¡± Branch Manager Belmore, shedding tears profusely. Still excessive. Seonghyun quickly exited Over Palace. And headed towards the location marked on the map. He certainly did his job well, as Seonghyun was able to enter an alleyway filled with bloodstains. As Seonghyun entered the alleyway like that... The system message he had been waiting for appeared. [Rare-Linked Quest, ¡ºBloodstains in the Alley¡», has been generated.] [You can abandon this quest at any time.] [There is no risk upon abandonment.] And. -Heok!? Y-You can see me? Y-You must be a noble person!? He could discover a lone female ghost, looking forlorn, in that alleyway. He had a hunch this was going to be a more interesting quest than he thought. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 141 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 141 Upon seeing the female ghost, Seonghyun first opened the quest window. He needed to find out what kind of quest it was, after all. ¡ºBloodstains in the Alley¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare-Linked¡· ¡úYou have discovered a bloodstained floor in a secluded alley of the city Pentagrid. Considering the city''s peaceful state of security, this trace implies that something terrible has happened to someone. However, no body was found, and aside from the traces of the crime, clues are scarce. Identify the owner of this trace and uncover the hidden truth. Obtain clues about the murder. ¡úRestriction: One who has discovered the bloodstains in an alley of Pentagrid. ¡úReward: Experience points, next quest. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ From what he¡¯d heard, this quest appeared if you visited this particular alley. A quest that was surprisingly easy to obtain for a Rare-rank one. But most people supposedly gave up because no one could even find a single clue. That certainly seemed plausible. How could anyone find additional traces of a murder just by looking at bloodstains in an alley? Seonghyun also searched, just in case. But there were only signs of the murder itself; no footprints or any such traces left by someone were visible at all. It was understandable why most would give up. However, Seonghyun was different. A female ghost with a haggard appearance. He could see her. At the very least, he possessed an advantage on a completely different level than others. Since all ghosts in the game were NPCs, this female ghost had to be the murdered NPC. Anyway, as Seonghyun looked at the female ghost, her eyes welled up with tears as if she were about to sob. She must have suffered a terrible injustice. But upon seeing Seonghyun, she seemed to gain some composure and spoke calmly. ¡°Sob... Meeting such a noble person like you, it feels as though all my sorrows are being comforted.¡± ¡°May I try to find out what happened to you?¡± Although he phrased it as a question, he was already preparing to absorb her memories if she agreed. It was much faster than listening to her story. Perhaps the female ghost instinctively sensed this, as she shyly nodded her head. The thought of having one¡¯s memories read could be a bit embarrassing, but the ghosts were uniformly well-disposed towards Seonghyun, so not a single one had ever refused. As Seonghyun thus absorbed the memories of the female ghost who had consented: [You have accomplished something impossible at your current level with an ¡®Unknown Power¡¯.] [Intelligence +5, Wisdom +5 will permanently increase.] ¡®Oh?¡¯ Seonghyun was somewhat surprised by the higher-than-expected stat increase. To think she was so easily murdered when she could grant such significant stats. Wasn''t that a bit puzzling? However, as he checked the memories flowing in like a panorama, he understood. ¡®Ah.¡¯ The fact that she was an incredibly skilled alchemist. She had a laboratory in the Labyrinth and was conducting research when she ran out of materials and returned to the city for a moment. That¡¯s when she was murdered. Horribly, at that. It was quite a painful memory. But Seonghyun paid it no mind and delved deeper into that memory. He was wondering if there were any clues. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ -This is what happens when you carry things like this around instead of leaving them in the lab, Melisia. -Keuk, g-give it back... L-Lint. ¡®They knew each other?¡¯ Seonghyun immediately searched the victim, Melisia¡¯s, memories and recalled the man named Lint. And then he understood. ¡°The underworld?¡± -Heh, hehe. D-Despite how I look, I¡¯m an alchemist who operates in the underworld. ¡°Aha, so that¡¯s how it was.¡± An alchemist operating in the underworld. That¡¯s why she had built her research lab in the Labyrinth. The man named Lint was also a member of that underworld, and he had been particularly close to Melisia. That¡¯s why Melisia had trusted him. Yet, such a terrible thing had happened. Because Melisia had focused solely on research, her combat abilities were lacking. She had no choice but to fall helplessly to Lint¡¯s surprise attack. ¡°Hmm.¡± He had found out who the murderer was. The problem was. ¡®The quest ultimately requires obtaining clues, right?¡¯ Going to find Lint immediately was an option, but... ¡®If I go to Lint without clues, meaning without evidence, and say, "You''re the culprit!", it wouldn''t hold any water.¡¯ The quest also said to acquire clues. ¡®It seems that for this quest, I¡¯ll have to find clues first rather than Lint.¡¯ -M-My memories end here, but... I-I know the tavern Lint usually frequents, or the place where he used to destroy evidence after taking on a request and dealing with a target! ¡°That sounds like a promising lead.¡± He nodded at her words. He certainly had memories of that place. It seemed he could go there directly and look for clues. Just as Seonghyun was about to make his move. The ghost Melisia spoke to Seonghyun. -Thank you! If you find my belongings on him, you can have them all! Ah! You can also have everything in my research lab! ¡°Oh.¡± An additional reward outside of the quest. ¡®This is more satisfying than I thought.¡¯ Seonghyun thought so and smiled. ¡®Then, shall I head to the place where this Lint fellow supposedly destroys evidence?¡¯ He shouldn¡¯t stand out. ¡®I¡¯ll just summon Fiora and go.¡¯ -I-I have been summoned. L-Lord. Th-thank you for calling me. Watching Fiora, who had been summoned thus, Seonghyun moved from his spot. 5. Finding destroyed evidence is no easy task. Especially if it¡¯s in a river. How could it be easy to dive in and find a piece of evidence amidst a blurry underwater view? Of course, it wasn¡¯t. Seonghyun too had thought it would be an ordeal. Puhwaaak! -L-Lord, i-is this it? Fiora, who shot out of the river, proudly holding a dagger. She had transformed into a mermaid and gone down to the riverbed to retrieve the dagger. It was definitely the dagger from Seonghyun¡¯s memories. Seeing it, Seonghyun smiled. ¡®Would this be enough of a clue?¡¯ He thought, and checked. [Quest Item, ¡ºBloodstained Dagger¡», has been acquired.] ¡®As expected!¡¯ Fiora was the best. ¡°Fiora, you¡¯re the best!¡± -Hehehe. Fiora, not knowing what to do with herself at Seonghyun¡¯s praise. And then, another system message popped up before Seonghyun¡¯s eyes. [Rare-Linked Quest, ¡ºBloodstains in the Alley¡», has been cleared.] [You have gained experience points as a quest reward.] [You have gained the next quest as a quest reward.] [Rare-Linked Quest, ¡ºTraces of the Bloodstained Dagger¡», has been acquired.] ¡°Oh.¡± The quest cleared immediately! He definitely loved this. Seonghyun read the messages with satisfaction. And immediately opened the quest window. ¡ºTraces of the Bloodstained Dagger¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare-Linked¡· ¡úWhile investigating the bloodstained floor in a secluded alley of Pentagrid, you determined the victim was stabbed to death with a sharp object and set out to find the murder weapon first. In Pentagrid, a city with good public security, places where one might dispose of a murder weapon are not common. In one such place, the quiet bank of a river that runs through Pentagrid, you found a bloodstained dagger. It is not yet certain if this dagger matches the bloodstains in the alley, but with your sharp intuition, you realize they are connected. Find out who possessed this dagger. And if you find out who it is, find that person. ¡úRestriction: Possessor of the ¡ºBloodstained Dagger¡». ¡úReward: Large amount of Experience Points, Random Box (Rare). As expected of a Rare rank, the reward was quite decent. Whether it was decent by Seonghyun¡¯s standards was unknown, though. In any case, it wasn¡¯t bad. Getting a reward like this was something, at least. Besides, he liked the part about a large amount of experience points. This was definitely fitting for an area with many quests. ¡®They said the quest efficiency was good.¡¯ It seemed to be true. Seonghyun, now on the quest to find the culprit, said to Fiora with satisfaction. ¡°Fiora, let''s go find the culprit now.¡± -Hehe. O-Okay, Lord. Fiora emerged from the river and transformed into a firebird. She evaporated the moisture from her body in an instant, flew to Seonghyun''s side, and changed her form again. Fiora''s appearance had grown taller, making her look more like a young woman than a girl. Seonghyun walked on with Fiora, who had changed into a human form similar to other users or NPCs. According to Melisia''s memories, there was a place where Lint stayed to look for clients. He¡¯ll look for that place, and if he¡¯s not there... ¡®I''ll have to visit his house.¡¯ He didn¡¯t know if the guy who killed his long-time friend out of greed would still be there, but... Wasn¡¯t it best to rely on memory for now? There was the quest, too. ¡®He¡¯ll surely be there, though.¡¯ How long had they walked? They were able to reach the street from Melisia''s memories. It was certainly a more menacing place than other alleys or streets. Some burly figures could be seen here and there, and a few vicious-looking NPCs were also visible. ¡®The atmosphere is completely different.¡¯ They called it the underworld, and it really was. ¡®So there are places like this even in a city said to have good public security.¡¯ Well, places like this always existed even in modern times, so... It wasn¡¯t that strange. Anyway, as Seonghyun walked down the street like that, ¡°Haven''t seen a stranger on this street before.¡± ¡°Hmph, probably looking to make a request, I bet?¡± ¡°This will be interesting.¡± The burly figures chattered, each making a comment. However, Seonghyun paid them no mind and walked past them. He wondered if they might try to pick a fight, but... They didn''t particularly do so. Perhaps they knew there was nothing to be gained from messing with a stranger. They left Seonghyun alone. Thanks to that, he was able to safely arrive at the tavern that Lint, according to Melisia''s memories, often frequented when looking for clients. -I-Is this the place!? ¡°Yeah. Let''s go in.¡± -Ye-Yes. Fiora, understanding, firmly cast strong perception-jamming on herself. This was precisely why everyone''s gazes had been solely on Seonghyun as they walked down the street until now. Seonghyun too, if he had set his mind to it, could have raised his stealth or secrecy to pass by unnoticed, but he deliberately hadn''t. ¡®Besides, a new event might have occurred.¡¯ Anyway, as he entered the tavern like that, quite a few gazes focused on him. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°A stranger?¡± ¡°Huh, to find this place, must be skilled?¡± ¡°What brings a stranger all the way here?¡± Not everyone was looking with eyes full of curiosity. Some, as if holding hostility towards strangers, openly showed it and glared at Seonghyun, while some paid no attention to Seonghyun, whether he was a stranger or not. And among those who paid no attention, a familiar face was seen. Seonghyun smirked and lightly stomped his foot. Kwajik! Leaving a deeply dented footprint on the wooden floor, Seonghyun shot out like a cannonball. Everyone was flustered by Seonghyun''s sudden movement, and some, who had been wary, immediately raised their weapons. However, Seonghyun, paying them no heed, kicked off even faster and rushed towards the familiar face among the NPCs. The fellow, flustered by the swift movement, swung a fist at Seonghyun, but Seonghyun lightly dodged him. Then, as soon as his fist missed, the fellow took out a dagger from his bosom and swung it rapidly to slash wildly at Seonghyun. However, Seonghyun grabbed and twisted the fellow¡¯s wrist, snatching the dagger and checking it. ¡°Hmm, it''s exactly the same, as expected.¡± ¡°Kuaaak! Wh-What is this?!! Stranger!!!¡± As the man, unable to make any significant movement due to his twisted wrist, screamed out, the moment other NPCs tried to move to help him. ¡°This dagger is identical to the murder weapon. What do you say? Feel like confessing? Lint Spencer?¡± ¡°H-How do you know that?¡± Seonghyun took out the bloodstained dagger, and upon seeing it, Lint¡¯s eyes shook violently. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 142 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 142 As Seonghyun thrust forward the bloodstained clue as if it were evidence, the other NPCs, chuckling as if to say, "So that''s what it was?" looked at Lint and shouted. ¡°What? Lint, you got caught?¡± ¡°Puhaha!! You damn idiot.¡± ¡°To get caught for this!!! You lousy bastard.¡± ¡°And here I thought it was something serious.¡± ¡°Hey, Mr. Stranger, if that was the case, why didn''t you say so earlier?¡± ¡°Well, considering that moron Lint would have run if you¡¯d said it earlier, this is the right way.¡± ¡°That''s true.¡± The veterans of some standing in the tavern sipped their alcohol again, as if it were nothing unexpected. As if they didn''t care in the slightest whether Lint got caught or not. They weren''t a team in the first place. There was no loyalty to uphold. But perhaps because of the heartless reactions, Lint''s anger flared up. He struggled desperately to the very end. ¡°Damn it! What about me!!! I could have just coincidentally been holding the same thing!!!¡± Lint, even while grimacing in pain as if to say "don''t falsely accuse me," shouted fiercely like a growl. But unfortunately for him, his opponent was Seonghyun. ¡°I was the one who heard Melisia¡¯s last words.¡± ¡°Wh-What did you say...?¡± Lint''s pupils trembled violently. That was the decisive proof. The Lint who had been shouting triumphantly just moments ago was nowhere to be seen. His strength drained, and he collapsed on the spot. Seonghyun watched this, briefly released the wrist he had twisted, and looked at the fellow. ¡®Still, I need to make sure.¡¯ However. ¡°What the hell?! Melisia!?¡± ¡°Lint!!! You son of a bitch!!! You were the one who killed Melisia!?¡± ¡°Fuck! I should have known when that bastard got dumped by Melisia!!! Let''s kill him right now!!!¡± ¡°Aigo! After Melisia died, there was no one selling potions here, and we were all suffering, and it was you!? You¡¯re the one?!¡± Somehow, the atmosphere turned menacing. He was planning to just hand him over to the city guards appropriately... ¡®Maybe handing him over to these guys wouldn¡¯t be so bad?¡¯ It was just that because Seonghyun, who looked skilled, was present, they weren''t acting rashly yet. Just from their fervor, it felt like Lint would be beaten to death by everyone here. Seonghyun, thinking it was to be expected, shrugged and asked Lint. ¡°So, will you come quietly?¡± ¡°...Damn it.¡± As Lint, as if he had no choice, hung his head and stood up, a message popped up before Seonghyun''s eyes. [Rare-Linked Quest, ¡ºBloodstains in the Alley¡», has been cleared.] [You have gained a large amount of experience points as a quest reward.] [Level Up!] [You have reached Level 123!] [You have acquired the Rare-rank item, ¡ºRandom Box¡», as a Rare-Linked Quest reward.] ¡®Oh.¡¯ The experience points were definitely substantial too. Seonghyun, satisfied, took Lint Spencer away. After leaving the tavern, walking down that street, and then entering a quiet street again, suddenly, as if he had almost forgotten, Seonghyun looked at Lint and asked. ¡°So, where''s the item you stole from Melisia?¡± ¡°...You must have been really close to Melisia. To know even that...¡± Lint muttered, as if he had now resigned himself. ¡®Melisia¡¯s ghost told me to take that too.¡¯ That¡¯s why he asked. Of course, Seonghyun also knew the identity of that item well. ¡®Fragment of the Demonic Dragon''s Heart.¡¯ In alchemy, it''s an exceptionally outstanding ingredient. It was also an essential material for crafting various powerful items. It might not be very necessary for him, but... ¡®Still, isn¡¯t it good to get what I can get?¡¯ With that thought, he asked. ¡°...I already sold it.¡± ¡°Hmm, is that so?¡± It was a bit disappointing, but it can¡¯t be helped. Even if he got it, he wouldn¡¯t know where to use it. ¡®Let¡¯s just let it go.¡¯ Seonghyun thought so and decided he would hand Lint over to the guards and then go to the Labyrinth to check out Melisia''s research lab. ¡°My eyes were blinded by the Fragment of the Demonic Dragon''s Heart... Damn it.¡± ¡®Regretting it now won¡¯t change anything.¡¯ He looked pitifully at Lint, who had made a foolish choice and was now regretting it. But then. [You have acquired the keyword ¡ºFragment of the Demonic Dragon''s Heart¡».] [You have discovered a clue to enhance ¡ºGirl Helena''s Staff¡».] [Upon acquiring the ¡ºFragment of the Demonic Dragon''s Heart¡», you may also be able to enhance ¡ºGirl Helena''s Staff¡».] ¡°Where did you sell it?¡± Well, this changes the story. 0. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong watched Seonghyun clear the quest in an utterly unconventional way. How can this be? Finding Lint Spencer? That¡¯s possible. But how on earth could he find it in the river in one go? ¡®What is he, really?¡¯ Moreover, that ''Unknown Power'' was exerted again. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong was staring at the screen as if it were something utterly baffling. Not that staring would reveal anything. ¡°...What is he, really?¡± It was genuinely perplexing now. ¡®How can someone acquire Hidden Pieces as easily as eating meals?¡¯ The Lint Spencer arrest quest is a Rare quest without any Hidden Pieces. ¡®So I can let that slide.¡¯ However, in that process, the item Melisia had, which Lint Spencer acquired, the Fragment of the Demonic Dragon''s Heart, is the problem. Although it''s a powerful material item for other Black Mages too, for Seonghyun, the story is different. ¡°If he has that...¡± ¡°Does the Young Helena''s Staff become Legendary?¡± ¡°...Yes, that''s right.¡± Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong nodded and replied to Associate Oh Jinhyeok¡¯s question. It becomes an enhancement item that can evolve it to Legendary. Since it''s a fragment, there''s a possibility of acquiring it from other places too, but. ¡®If that were to happen right now, it would be troublesome.¡¯ ¡°Hoo, how is that user so lucky?¡± The number of users Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong is currently in charge of is already in the double digits. To be managed by the User Management Team means they are quite outstanding users. Even among those users, Seonghyun is unparalleled. First of all, that Unknown Power. That itself was a mystery from the start. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong clutched his head as if he had a headache, but Associate Oh Jinhyeok, as if he remembered something, asked Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong. ¡°Sunbaenim, but where is that thing right now?¡± ¡°The Fragment of the Demonic Dragon''s Heart?¡± ¡°Yes, we also don¡¯t know who it was handed over to, do we? Shall I look into it?¡± ¡°Yes, look into it.¡± As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong spoke, Associate Oh Jinhyeok immediately investigated. And upon tracing the item, ¡°Huh? This has been moved to the Auction House?¡± ¡°Auction House??? If it''s the Auction House...¡± ¡°From the city level onwards, an auction is held once a week in each city, right? The one NPCs can also participate in?¡± ¡°Yes, that''s right.¡± ¡°If it''s gone there...¡± ¡°He won''t be able to get it easily.¡± The Auction House system is usable from Level 1. Naturally, since it''s a user-to-user trading system. However, auctions that even NPCs could participate in were possible starting from this city. An auction that influential figures in the city also attend. Because it wasn''t a place just any user could enter, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong could feel a little relieved. It wasn''t that users were unconditionally barred, so it was natural to feel anxious, but he wasn''t worried. ¡®Of course, if it¡¯s Seonghyun, he¡¯ll more than likely be able to enter.¡¯ ¡®He has a knightly title, too.¡¯ However. ¡°It''s an auction house where noble NPCs also participate; how is he going to win with money?¡± ¡°Hahaha, that''s true.¡± ¡°This time, he really won''t be able to get it.¡± Associate Oh Jinhyeok, wondering just in case, checked the Gold Seonghyun currently possessed. And looking at that, he too felt relieved. Of course, he could distribute Gold through the Rapid Guild, or obtain it through his own real-life cash. However. ¡°The fact that the auction is tonight is truly a divine move.¡± He can''t bring in more than a noble NPC in a single day. ¡®That¡¯s for sure.¡¯ ¡°This time, I can finally relax a bit.¡± As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong said that, Associate Oh Jinhyeok also felt relieved. Then, Associate Oh Jinhyeok suddenly asked. ¡°Sunbae-nim, but...¡± ¡°You, don''t even say anything unsettling.¡± ¡°Ah, yes sir!¡± Associate Oh Jinhyeok, who shut his mouth at Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong''s words. And so, Associate Oh Jinhyeok swallowed the question he had just thought of. ¡®I was going to ask if it¡¯s not related, seeing as he keeps picking up Hidden Piece-like things ever since the ¡®Unknown Power¡¯ incident...¡¯ Although it was Associate Oh Jinhyeok¡¯s sharp thought in a long while, because he was told not to, he kept it to himself. And eventually, Associate Oh Jinhyeok forgot about it. Anyway, Seonghyun wouldn''t be able to obtain it at the auction, no matter what he tried. ¡°Besides, in that city, there''s a noble NPC who''s absolutely crazy about Black Magic.¡± 1. As Seonghyun asked the fellow, Lint gave Seonghyun a detestable smile and said. ¡°Hehe! As if I''d tell you that!?¡± At those words, Seonghyun scratched his head as if a bit perplexed. What should he do? The quest was already over, after all. It doesn¡¯t really matter what he does with Lint. ¡®But I wish he¡¯d just tell me willingly.¡¯ As Seonghyun was thinking that, the ghost Melisia, who had followed him at some point, looked at Seonghyun and said. -If you kill him anyway, he''ll become a ghost, so let''s absorb his memories then!? ¡°...That''s a bit much.¡± ¡®It might be the most certain and effective method, but...¡¯ ¡®Still, that feels a bit wrong, doesn¡¯t it?¡¯ ¡®Since he¡¯s a game NPC, it wouldn¡¯t matter, I guess.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s even a murderer.¡¯ ¡®Killing him wouldn¡¯t make me a notorious player.¡¯ ¡®Still, it felt a bit morally questionable.¡¯ As Seonghyun was contemplating this, -Wh-What about calling N-Nocturnium? ¡°Nocturnium?¡± -Th-The earth knows everything, it was said. ¡°Nocturnium does?¡± Blink. At Seonghyun''s question, Fiora slowly nodded her head. ¡®Well, when things like this happened, Nocturnium always did a good job with information gathering.¡¯ [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 143 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 143 2. The City Auction House. It wasn''t a place just anyone could enter. Users couldn''t simply walk in. And it wasn''t a place NPCs could just enter either. It was a venue where only users or NPCs possessing a minimum of ten thousand Gold could participate. Of course, there were exceptions. Those with a title could enter regardless of their Gold amount. However, nobles with less than ten thousand Gold were extremely rare. So, this exception usually didn''t apply. But Seonghyun''s case was a bit different. ¡°Sir Seonghyun! Your title has been confirmed! One companion also confirmed. We wish you an enjoyable auction.¡± The NPC inspecting at the entrance said so and handed him a number tag. Seonghyun bowed his head slightly and expressed his gratitude. ¡°Ah, thank you.¡± -Heuk. And beside him stood Fiora, looking thoroughly bewildered. They had let him pass without checking his funds, but... Seonghyun himself was holding a considerable amount of Gold. Over six thousand Gold, no less. However, it was still short of the ten thousand mark. ¡®Good thing I sold all those Unique items.¡¯ Upon selling all the unused Unique items he previously owned, he had obtained roughly 33,000 Gold. In total, that amounted to a whopping 40,000 Gold. An amount equivalent to about 400 million Korean Won. ¡®With this much, shouldn¡¯t I be able to get the Fragment of the Demonic Dragon¡¯s Heart?¡¯ Seonghyun had earned a lot of money up to this point, but... Now that he was about to spend such a large sum, ¡®I can''t help but feel a bit on edge.¡¯ They say spending money wisely is also important. It certainly seemed to be true. Perhaps because he¡¯d never dealt with such a large sum of money changing hands before, he felt a little shaky. If he didn¡¯t have a calm personality, he would surely have been trembling from nerves long ago. In any case. Lint had said he sold it to this very auction house. ¡°I absolutely have to get it here.¡± Just in case, Seonghyun had searched for the Fragment of the Demonic Dragon¡¯s Heart on the user auction house. The last recorded transaction was four months ago. And that was the first and last time it had appeared there. In other words, while it might be possible to obtain it elsewhere, it would be exceedingly difficult. It was best to seize the opportunity now that it had presented itself. Wasn''t that why he had sold all his unused Unique items to scrape together the money somehow? It had been possible because he sold all the items he had obtained from the Crystal Palace last time. The amount it had traded for among users was roughly 30,000 Gold. ¡®This should be enough.¡¯ This was a thought possible only because Seonghyun still didn''t know much about money. If an auction house of this scale, or even nobles, were participating, one would have to consider multiples of that amount. But that was a realm beyond Seonghyun''s current understanding. As Seonghyun, somewhat tense, was about to enter the auction hall, he heard a man, who was also elaborately adorned with various accessories to make himself stand out, laughing and chatting in the lobby with a woman of striking, healthy beauty, also extravagantly dressed. ¡°Haha, Viscountess, what brings you here this time? I thought you usually had no interest in such auctions.¡± ¡°It''s because they say the Fragment of the Demonic Dragon''s Heart is appearing this time.¡± Fragment of the Demonic Dragon''s Heart? And those words came from the woman called the Viscountess. As Seonghyun anxiously eavesdropped on their conversation: ¡°Oho, now that you mention it, I had forgotten that the Viscountess was an accomplished Black Mage.¡± ¡°Hoho, that''s right. Baron, what are you aiming for today?¡± ¡°Me? I''m just here to buy this and that.¡± ¡°I see. Well, as long as it''s not the Fragment of the Demonic Dragon''s Heart that I''m after, it''s fine. Though, it wouldn''t matter even if you were. Because I will absolutely buy it.¡± ¡°Hahaha. I''m sure you will.¡± At their conversation, Seonghyun scratched his cheek, looking troubled. It felt like things were getting seriously complicated. ¡®Should I try to get more money, even now?¡¯ He didn''t know for sure, but couldn''t the money he had now be insufficient? It was a conversation that sparked such thoughts. The vibrant, healthy-looking woman called the Viscountess. Of all things, for her to be a Black Mage and aiming for the same item as him. What bad luck. As bleak thoughts began to surface, Fiora looked at Seonghyun with a worried gaze. -I-Is there a problem? Thanks to Fiora''s words, Seonghyun momentarily shook his head. ¡®Right, if I can¡¯t get it, then I can¡¯t. It¡¯s not like that¡¯s the only one in existence anyway. For now, isn¡¯t it enough to just do my best with the money I have?¡¯ As he adopted that mindset, he felt much more at ease. ¡°No, it''s fine.¡± -R-Really? ¡°Yeah, it''s okay. Shall we go in then?¡± At Seonghyun''s words, Fiora nodded her head with a couple of blinks, indicating she understood. Her appearance was quite cute, and Seonghyun also gave a slight smile before heading inside. Upon doing so, he could see the opulent interior of the auction hall, adorned with antique-style marble pillars and gold decorations. Unusually, it wasn''t a theater-style auction house like one might see in movies or dramas, but rather one styled like a party venue. A shining crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, and noble NPCs were seated on luxurious chairs in their respective spots, observing the auction. At the very front, a large stage was set up. ¡®How glamorous.¡¯ An auction house so dazzling it resembled a ballroom, making it hard to know where to look. He went to the seat indicated by the number tag he received. Was it because it was still early? Few people were in their seats. There was no one at Seonghyun''s table, and no one was on the auction stage yet. ¡®Did they say the auction starts in 30 minutes?¡¯ Feeling bored waiting until then, he looked around. There were far more NPCs than users. And they were all extravagantly dressed noble NPCs. He was almost surprised by how many nobles there were in one city, but then he remembered. ¡®Didn¡¯t they say they gather in the largest city in the vicinity?¡¯ The nobles from the surrounding areas were said to gather here, in the largest city. ¡®According to the lore, doesn¡¯t a city like this, accessible to users, hold the position of the largest in the region?¡¯ That seemed to be the case. Anyway, as Seonghyun looked around the auction hall, most of the noble NPCs were busy socializing, as if they were at a social gala. "Hmm." Everyone was socializing to the extent that he wondered if he should also go and strike up a conversation. Even the few users present were doing their best to mingle with the NPCs. Seonghyun couldn''t help but feel a bit conscious of it. Not that he actually intended to do so. -L-Lord, sh-shall I bring some food? "Food?" -Yes, yeees! As he was looking around, Fiora had said that. Seeing the saliva subtly trickling from the corners of her watering mouth, it was clear she really wanted to eat. ¡®Was I being inconsiderate?¡¯ Seonghyun nodded, having such thoughts. ¡°Yes, Fiora, you can bring some for yourself too.¡± -R-Really!? Th-Thank you, Lord! As soon as permission was granted, Fiora excitedly dashed off. He had dressed her in formal attire to suit the atmosphere, but... for her to go bustling about like that. Well, that was Fiora''s charm. Look at her. Even now, as Fiora hurried off to get food, quite a few eyes were drawn to her. Whether men or women, Fiora was a child overflowing with charm to behold. As Fiora was clattering back with the food, ¡°Are you that young lady''s companion?¡± A middle-aged man who had appeared suddenly spoke to Seonghyun. It was impossible they knew each other. Seonghyun had just arrived in this city today. As for Fiora, it went without saying, considering her active period had been hundreds of years ago. Then why had he struck up a conversation? Judging by his rather archaic manner of speaking and demeanor, he seemed to be a noble, like the other NPCs. However, contrary to his dignified appearance that befitted his age, his sudden approach made Seonghyun inevitably wary. "...Yes, that''s right, but?" The middle-aged man who had spoken was slightly surprised by the wary tone evident in Seonghyun''s voice. Then, realizing his own mistake, he apologized to Seonghyun. "Ah, my apologies. To approach you so suddenly without an introduction. I presumed you would know me and rashly committed a rudeness. I am Lord Paragon ze Gridley of this city." "Ah?" He was the Lord? Seonghyun, also startled, stood up from his seat. And as he was about to introduce himself: "Ah, I''ve already heard about you, Sir. I heard you are the wandering knight who captured the murderer." He asked if this was correct. Seonghyun nodded his head in reply. "Yes, that is so." "Haha, Sir Seonghyun, was it? Thank you for protecting the peace of our city." "Not at all, I merely did what had to be done." "Hmm, hmm, you are commendable, Sir, but your companion also appeared to be quite skilled, which is why I ventured to speak. So please, do not be too wary." "Ah." So that was it. Only then did Seonghyun lower his guard a little. When he first heard he was the Lord, although surprised, he hadn''t entirely relaxed his vigilance. Now that he eased his wariness somewhat, Paragon, who had introduced himself as the Lord, also subtly relaxed his expression and said casually, "This auction is being held on a rather grand scale, and by chance, a new hero has come to our city. I hope you enjoy your time here. Ah, and if you happen to be accepting requests, please do visit the lord''s castle sometime. Well then." As the Lord finished his words and walked away, Seonghyun''s eyes lit up slightly. If he was accepting requests, come to the lord''s castle? What could this possibly mean? ¡®He¡¯ll give me a quest?¡¯ A quest from the Lord. This was truly rare. It might even be a Hidden Quest. Especially a Lord''s quest in this Labyrinth City, where quest efficiency was maximized. If this didn''t pique his interest, he should have quit Eternal World long ago. Seonghyun, likewise, stroked his chin, feeling quite pleased. ¡®I¡¯ve gained an unexpected benefit.¡¯ It would be great if he got the Fragment of the Demonic Dragon''s Heart. But even if he couldn''t, he had gained a new advantage. This wasn''t a loss by any means. Well, it wasn''t like there was an entrance fee to get in. Still, wasn''t there a potential loss of time he could have spent in the Labyrinth? This was far from a loss; it was an enormous gain. To get acquainted with the Lord. Just as Seonghyun was feeling pleased: [You have become acquainted with the Lord of Pentagrid, ¡ºViscount Paragon ze Gridley¡».] [You have gained the authority to enter Pentagrid''s Lord''s Castle.] [A bond has been formed with a noble NPC holding a true title.] [You have acquired the Title, ¡ºReliable Backing!¡».] ¡ºReliable Backing!¡» ¡ú ¡¶Rare¡· ¡ú A title bestowed upon users who have formed a bond with a noble NPC holding a true title. ¡ú Increased attention towards you at social gatherings. You get a title just for getting acquainted? He realized it wasn''t for nothing that the users over there were trying so hard to form connections with noble NPCs. However, the noble NPCs seemed to act aloof, not mixing words with users. Then again, if forming a bond was easy, they wouldn''t give out a Rare-rank title. Seonghyun thought so and let it pass lightly. Just then, Fiora returned, having piled a mountain of food onto a buffet plate. Food stacked so high it made one wonder how she managed it. Seonghyun watched her, chuckled, and tasted the food along with Fiora. It was more delicious than he had expected. If he had to compare: ¡®It¡¯s similar to Kwon Restaurant, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ To think it tasted similar to Kwon Restaurant, which had recently received three stars. Mind you, this wasn''t a place just anyone could enter either. Still, to implement such flavor in a game. He couldn''t help but be surprised. While Seonghyun was savoring the food like that, someone watched Seonghyun with sharp eyes, their face contorting in displeasure. ¡®You think I¡¯ll just stand by idly?¡¯ However, Seonghyun did not notice it. [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 144 [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 144 3. The auction house Seonghyun had entered was also the dream auction house that other users yearned to get into. But because it wasn''t a place one could easily enter, it could indeed be called a dream. Not only was it inaccessible to just anyone, but it also featured many items rarely seen in the user auction houses. Thus, it was an auction house everyone wanted to enter at least once. And Beretta was one such user. ¡®Damn it, what a show-off!!!¡¯ And for her, who had managed to get in here one way or another, it was an incredibly irritating scene to witness. Seonghyun, who, after casually chatting with the Lord of Pentagrid, was now putting on a food show. She couldn''t help but look at him with displeasure. How much effort had Beretta put in just to enter this place? Beretta, who operated as a merchant in the game, had painstakingly scraped together Gold to barely participate in this auction. Gathering 10,000 Gold was no easy feat, whether in real life or in the game. Furthermore, she had tenaciously saved up in-game, and when that wasn''t enough, she had pushed herself to make considerable real-money transactions to gather the Gold for this auction. All to acquire auction items and see a huge profit. But what was with that smug bastard? He¡¯d waltzed in as if it were nothing, and when the Lord deigned to speak to him, he had even been wary at first. It was proof he didn''t even recognize the Lord''s face. From Beretta''s perspective, that point was infuriating. ¡®I went through hell and back, trying every possible way to get acquainted with someone, just to get in here!!!¡¯ She had tried her utmost to form connections with other noble NPCs, but she still hadn''t obtained even the title Seonghyun had so easily acquired. Well, excluding Seonghyun, no user present here, including Beretta, had obtained it. That''s why Beretta couldn''t help but feel her blood boil. Someone doesn''t even know the Lord''s face yet strolls in just fine. Meanwhile, someone else puts in all sorts of effort, investigates all the noble NPCs invited here or attending of their own accord, and desperately tries to form connections. Isn''t the difference too stark? ¡®I don¡¯t know who you are, but.......¡¯ She would make him suffer, one way or another. At the very least, he likely had less capital than her. ¡®Whatever you try to get, I¡¯ll snatch it all away.¡¯ As Beretta glared at Seonghyun with such venomous intent, nursing her malicious thoughts, the appointed time must have arrived, as a person walked up onto the stage. With the clicking sound of dress shoes, an impeccably dressed auctioneer ascended. Everyone''s gaze began to turn towards him. Though it was decorated like a social gathering, this was undeniably an auction house. Thus, with the auctioneer''s appearance, the once noisy hall was enveloped in silence. The hall fell quiet. The auctioneer scanned the assembly, as if taking it all in, then took out a microphone-like item and began to speak. [Ah, ahem. Can you hear me? My name is Edward, and I will be your auctioneer. I thank all our distinguished guests for participating in today''s auction, and I will now briefly explain today''s proceedings.] At his articulate voice and dignified bearing, the entire audience listened intently to the auctioneer. Just what kind of auction would it be? As everyone''s eyes filled with eagerness and desire, the auctioneer, as if enjoying it himself, made eye contact with each of them one by one before slowly and deliberately speaking. [The items prepared for today''s auction are as outstanding as the grand reception you''ve given us. A total of 10 items. You might feel disappointed by the small number, but each one is a remarkable piece, so you need not worry on that account.] At the auctioneer''s words, everyone focused on the stage with a subtle fervor. Once all attention was gathered: [Well then, let the auction begin!] The curtain rose on the auction. And in that instant, the look in Beretta''s eyes changed, and her campaign to secure a profit, one way or another, began. Of course, this included her intention to interfere with Seonghyun. 4. The auction commenced with the auctioneer''s declaration. Since this was his first time witnessing such a spectacle, Seonghyun couldn''t help but find it quite fascinating. Was it a scene rarely found even in movies? More accurately, it wasn''t a scene that commonly appeared in the movies Seonghyun watched. He found it amazing to be present at such an auction. [The third item is the Essence of Elements! First Edition, said to have been used by a great archmage of old! The auction will start at 5,000 Gold, with increments of one hundred Gold! 5,000 Gold, to number 33. Do I hear 5,100 Gold? Ah, number 41.] At the auctioneer''s call, people held up their number tags, joining the bidding. Seonghyun watched the scene intently, learning about auctions. The current item was now a contest between number 33 and number 41. It continued like that for a while. [Ah! Number 33 has withdrawn their bid. 6,000 Gold! Any more? Going once, going twice, three times! 6,000 Gold! Sold to number 41!!!] Seonghyun found himself unwittingly drawn into the auctioneer''s almost cheerful proceedings. He only needed to get the Fragment of the Demonic Dragon''s Heart, yet he felt the urge to buy something more. ¡®There¡¯s a certain thrill to spending money.¡¯ As Seonghyun was thinking this and enjoying the auction, on another side, number 41 ¨C no, Beretta ¨C who had been glaring at Seonghyun, was shooting him sharp glances, ready to act whenever he made a move. Oblivious to this, Seonghyun watched the auctioneer with a perfectly innocent face. In the meantime, the fourth and fifth items were also sold. An hour had already passed, yet Seonghyun watched with undiminished interest. And Fiora... -Heuk? She was eating her fill. Having found the food to her liking, she was continuously swapping plates and eating an enormous amount. Since Seonghyun was also having fun, wasn''t it a good situation for both of them? Just as he was waiting quietly, [The sixth item is, ah, an item that will surely make our Black Mages drool! It is none other than the Heart of the Demonic Dragon, also known as the very life of that vile creature! One of its fragments! The bidding will start at 5,000 Gold, with increments of 100 Gold!] Finally, the item Seonghyun had been waiting for appeared. His eyes lit up as he saw it, and he quietly gripped his number tag. Seeing this, Beretta likewise gripped her number tag. ¡®It''s not the item I planned to buy... but it¡¯s definitely an item I can profit from.¡¯ An item that had sold for a whopping 30,000 Gold on the user auction. Anything below that was worth buying. And even if not, wouldn''t it feel good if Seonghyun bought it for a bit more? With such thoughts, Beretta gripped her number tag. And besides Beretta, another person gripped their number tag. The Viscountess with the vibrant, healthy beauty and extravagant appearance. She too was preparing. The sole reason the Viscountess had come here was for that Fragment of the Demonic Dragon''s Heart. As they coveted it and raised their number tags: [Number 11! Number 41! Number 44! You''ve all bid 5,000 Gold! Then we shall go up. 5,100 Gold!] The Viscountess''s number was 11, Beretta''s was 41, and Seonghyun''s was 44. The auction continued thus. Since all three couldn''t hold up their tags simultaneously for the next price, as the auctioneer called it, Seonghyun was the first to raise his. [Number 44! 5,200 Gold! Do I hear more? Ah, number 41!] As if she couldn''t lose to Seonghyun, Beretta raised hers right after. At this, Seonghyun looked at Beretta with a surprised expression. He understood why the one called the Viscountess wanted to buy it; he had sensed the aura of a Black Mage from her and heard she was one. But looking at the user named Beretta, Seonghyun tilted his head. Judging by her equipped gear and appearance, she was unmistakably a merchant class. So why was she trying to buy that? ¡®Is she planning to resell it?¡¯ Well, that was possible, so Seonghyun didn''t pay it much mind. And again, the auctioneer''s call. [5,200 Gold! Number 11!] This time, it was the Viscountess. [5,300 Gold! Number 44!] [5,400 Gold.......] (The bidding escalated rapidly.) [10,000 Gold! Number 11!] As the situation grew heated, the price shot up to 10,000 Gold in an instant. This was a price range everyone could have anticipated. The auctioneer, thoroughly pleased with the heated auction, shouted: [As it will take considerable time to continue climbing like this, from now on, we would appreciate it if you hold up your number tag and call out your price!] In other words, from now on, to participate, one had to hold up their number tag and state their desired price. From the auction house''s perspective, there was nothing more welcome. As the auctioneer laid out the new rule, Beretta, the Viscountess, and Seonghyun exchanged wary glances and gripped their number tags again. [Then, we will start with number 11 at 10,000 Gold!] At the auctioneer''s progression, Seonghyun immediately gripped his number tag and shouted. ¡°Fifteen thousand.¡± As Seonghyun''s calm voice resonated, the auctioneer shouted with eyes wide in astonishment. [Number 44! 15,000 Gold!!! It jumped by 5,000 Gold in a single bid!!! Anyone else willing to bid higher.......] Before the auctioneer could even finish his words, Beretta lifted her number tag and urgently cried out. ¡°Twenty thousand!!!¡± Beretta shrieked, as if she couldn¡¯t possibly lose. [Tweeeenty Thooouuusaaand!!!!! We have 20,000!!! Number 41!!! Any more bids!?] The auctioneer roared in amazement, simultaneously looking at the other two, as if asking if they would continue. Seonghyun was quite surprised looking at Beretta. Was this item something she desired so desperately? However, the Viscountess looked at the two of them with considerable displeasure. Seonghyun, holding a knight''s title, was somewhat tolerable, but looking at Beretta, a commoner and an outsider, she gave a pointedly disdainful look, then lifted her number tag and declared: ¡°Twenty-five thousand.¡± At the Viscountess¡¯s lofty bid, the auction hall stirred. The highest price for any auction item so far had been 20,000. That price had just been surpassed. While everyone was murmuring, Beretta, without a shred of tact, shouted: ¡°Twenty-seven thousand!¡± At Beretta''s cry, the Viscountess shot her an unmistakably furious glare. [Ah! Immediately after number 11''s bid, number 41 with 27,000!!! This is the highest price of today''s auction!!! Any more bids!?] At the auctioneer''s words, Seonghyun urgently lifted his number tag and shouted. No, he tried to shout. ¡°Thirty thou¡ª¡± But as if to dismiss his cry, number 11¡¯s tag went up, and the Viscountess, looking furious, exclaimed: ¡°Forty thousand.¡± A price more than double the previous record. At that, Seonghyun bit his lip, thinking, ¡®Just as I thought.¡¯ The money he currently had was just shy of 40,000 Gold. He was indeed short on funds. As Seonghyun bit his lip in apparent resignation, Beretta was smiling, thinking, ¡®Serves him right.¡¯ ¡®My interference is done, so now should I just focus on my own profit and bow out?¡¯ Just as Beretta was thinking that and about to withdraw, the Viscountess¡¯s terrifying gaze fixed on her. It seemed she found Beretta more reprehensible than Seonghyun, who at least appeared to be a Black Mage. ¡®Huh, wh-what? Why me... D-Don¡¯t tell me.¡¯ Under that glare, Beretta tried to avoid eye contact anxiously, but it was too late. The Viscountess stared at Beretta for a long moment before turning her gaze away. Although the price had risen, she was about to win the bid. As irritating as it was, securing the item was paramount. [Ah! Forty thousand, more than double the previous auction record!!! Any more bids?] While Beretta was thoroughly intimidated, the auctioneer continued the proceedings. He looked at Seonghyun and Beretta, but both had lowered their hands from their number tags. The auctioneer, seeing them, nodded and continued. [After calling three times, we will decide the winning bid. Forty thousand? Forty thousand!? Forty thou¡ª] Just as the auctioneer¡¯s call was about to end! Suddenly, from the very back of the auction hall, someone lifted a number tag. Another figure, neither Beretta, nor Seonghyun, nor the Viscountess. He lifted his tag and said: ¡°One hundred thousand.¡± [Wha-Whaaaaaat?!?!?] ¡°Wh-What did you say???¡± The auctioneer and the Viscountess, who had been on the verge of winning, spun around. And there stood a middle-aged man with a face familiar to Seonghyun. A middle-aged man wearing the Over Palace mark and the highest-rank robe. An NPC he had met just a few hours ago. ¡°Branch Manager Belmore?¡± Over Palace Branch Manager Belmore was giving a thumbs-up and winking. Why is the Branch Manager here??? [Translator - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks]