《The Game of the Greatest Black Mage》 Chapter 0 Prologue I''ve been able to see ghosts since I was young. It wasn''t particrly harmful. They didn''t do me any harm; in fact, there were many benefits. Like telling me the answers to test questions. Or telling me where a dropped coin was.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Or letting me know there was a cute cat nearby. However, it was a useless ability, so I hid it and lived my life. Should I be an abandoned house broadcaster? But¡­ -You? Can you see me? Why can I see ghosts in the game too? Chapter 1 [Trantor - 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 theunch 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,dy.¡± ¡°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 particrly care. Because it was true. So he didn''t think much of it.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om 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 popr 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?" "Gasp?! How did you know!?" The mystical aura of a prophet also yed a part. Anyway, he grew up well, enough to not worry his parents. He grew up so well that he even served in the military as a first-ss soldier, which was a w if anything. When he was discharged and returned home, the indifferent and always calm Seonghyun looked at his older sister, Yoo Mina, with a somewhat perplexed expression. He had heard stories about his family moving after he enlisted, and about his sister selling his oldputer, but he didn''t recall hearing anything about his sister installing a giant capsule in his room. "What''s that?" "Ohhh! You saw it! Seonghyun!" "If I couldn''t see that, wouldn''t I have been exempt from military service due to poor eyesight?" "Don''t say things like that! Look, behold! This is thetest capsule!" Ignoring Seonghyun''s reaction, his sister was so excited that Seonghyun tilted his head in wonder. "Hmm. A capsule?" Even in the military, he had ears, and it was still a ce where people lived. Seonghyun already knew that virtual reality had been invented and a game had been released based on it while he was in the military. But why was this in his room? That was the important question. At least his room wasn''t small, so it could be installed in the space next to his bed. Still, he couldn''t help but feel like his room had gotten a bit smaller with the capsule in it. As he looked at his sister with a slightly resentful gaze, she said, "Hehehe! No need to thank me!!! My brother is back from the military, I had to get you a present like this!!!" "But I don''t need it?" "Huh? Why not!? Other people are dying to get their hands on one!???" It would be understandable to feel discouraged giving a gift and receiving this kind of reaction, but his sister, Yoo Mina, knew Seonghyun well, so she was fine. Seonghyun also knew his sister, so he couldn''t help but smile. He shouldn''tin about a gift she bought for him with him in mind. It was just that the price was so high, he felt sorry, but she had good intentions. "Well, since it''s a gift, I''ll gratefully ept it. Thank you." "Hehe, and look at this!" "Hmm?" Mina held out her smartphone and showed him a video, one that Seonghyun had already seen. It was an interview video of Park Won, the developer of Eternal World and the century''s genius who created the first virtual reality. And those famous words flowed out. - "...Even superpowers, if you have them." Why was she showing him this? As Seonghyun looked at his sister Mina with that expression, Mina nced at their parents in the living room and whispered to Seonghyun. "...Then, wouldn''t you be able to see ghosts in the game too?" "..." At those words, Seonghyun looked at his sister with a truly pathetic expression and said, "Noona... there are no cyber ghosts." "...I-I know that!!!" Mina, having been tantly ignored after asking a question just in case, screamed as if embarrassed and went back to her room. Seeing his sister''s door close with a bang, Seonghyun shook his head as if nothing had changed. His sister, who used to be bullied instead of him when he was young for seeing ghosts, had now be a ghost and paranormal enthusiast. Honestly, it was surprising, but well, it could happen. He had to respect her tastes, but there really was no such thing as a cyber ghost. ''I already looked into it before when she begged me to, and there weren''t any.'' Whenever she saw ghost stories about cyber phantoms, she always brought them to him, so Seonghyun had been tormented for a while. Even though he had clearly confirmed it back then, she was still like this. Well, if her younger brother said he could see ghosts, she might be really curious and ask. From what Seonghyun had experienced, ghost stories and paranormal stories were all fiction. "Oh my? What''s wrong with Mina?" "Ahem, isn''t she sulking because Seonghyun didn''t respond to her again?" Seonghyun''s mother, Lee Nakyeong, who was sitting in the living room, tilted her head as if she was puzzled. And next to her, Seonghyun''s father, Yoo Gwangjin, said it was no big deal. Seeing his parents still the same, Seonghyun nodded. "Yes, it''s simr." "See? I told you Mina always bothers Seonghyun." "Oh my? It''s all because the kids are close, isn''t it?" "Well, I''ll go wash up then." When Seonghyun said this, changing into his military uniform, his father, Yoo Gwangjin, nodded and said, "Okay, good working all the way here." "No, Father drove, so you must be more tired." "Ahem, why are you saying that over such a small thing?" "Oh my? You too~ Mina and you are the same~" "Ahem, ahem." Seeing his father, who quickly turned his head in embarrassment when thanked, Seonghyun smiled and went into the bathroom. Home is the best after all. 2. After being discharged from the military, he returned home and had a harmonious dinner out. It had been a while since the whole family had gathered for a meal. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, especially with Seonghyun back, and they returned home excitedly. The evening grewte. As soon as Seonghyun returned home, he washed up andy 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 notmon 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 ying 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 connectingte at night. Seonghyun got up from his bed and sat in front of theputer. What should he search first? His sister had already told him a lot. Which beginner vige to choose, what to do first in the beginner vige. Even the hidden pieces that can only be obtained in certain beginner viges. He wasn''t particrly interested in how his older sister knew all that. She had been an amazing older sister since they were young. He just epted it. ''Hindel Vige, was it?'' He searched for the vige first. Various results appeared, making Seonghyun''s eyes dizzy. A wave of information rushed in. As he read through them one by one. ''The vige of the Demon King and the Hero...'' His sister had exined it to him, but seeing the actual background of the vige made it even more usible. A statue of the hero''s party was erected, and many people mourned the hero there. Hero Hindel. The vige where he grew up and eventually killed the Demon King. It was quite interesting. Not just the vige. ''To think a game like this woulde 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 Vige, but it was more lively than any other video. The vividness and realism were iparable to movie CG. It was so realistic that he could believe it waspletely 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 rmended 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 2 [Trantor - 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 yers? 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? Simrly, that wasn''t it either. ''Other NPCs and users have icons or NPC names disyed 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 yers 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, bing even more interested. Looking forward to connecting tomorrow, Seonghyun fell asleepte 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. [Wee to Eternal World.] [No registered ount found.] [Would you like to create an ount?] [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. Feeling truly like he was in another reality, Seonghyun immediately pressed ''Yes''. Then, a full-body mirror appeared. Was this what they called customizing? [Please configure your desired avatar.] [You can also choose your desired race and ethnicity.] [However, please note that creating an avatar of a different gender than the user is restricted.] [You can use voicemands and the cursor.] His appearance and body were fine, but he was bothered by his short hair since he had just been discharged from the military. So, could he just say it like this? "Um, can I make my hair a little longer?" At Seonghyun''s words, a countless number of hairstyles appeared. "There are so many kinds?" As expected of Seonghyun, the epitome ofposure, he was only slightly surprised. Among them, he chose the hairstyle he often had when his hair was long. Seeing his old appearance restored, Seonghyun nodded in satisfaction. "I''ll go with this." [End customization?] [Yes / No] Without hesitation, Seonghyun pressed ''Yes'' and moved on to the next step. The next thing to choose was his starting region, which he had already heard about from his sister and researched himself. The choice was obvious. "Hindel Vige." Several exnations appeared, but since he already knew them from his sister, he boldly pressed skip. It was information he could easily find again on the website. And for the most important part, the character name, he simply used his own name without much thought. It was just a character name after all. [Enter the nickname you wish to use....] "Seonghyun." He answered before the message window could even fully appear, and the window disappeared. And finally, thest message appeared. [Character creationplete.] [There is a character avable to y.] [Log in as character ¡ºSeonghyun¡»?] [Yes / No] What was the point of even asking? Seonghyun immediately nodded, and a new message popped up. [Wee to Eternal World, another world, an eternal world.] [May good fortune be with yer ¡ºSeonghyun¡».] With that, the message disappeared, and Seonghyun found himself in a new space. Outside, the sunlight was shining brilliantly. A gentle breeze blew, and the chirping of birds could be heard. Tweet~ Tweet! The sound of birds, more vivid than reality, along with the gentle breeze. And the scent of flowers and grass carried by the wind, all refreshingly brushed past Seonghyun. It truly was another reality. It was different from watching the videos. ''This is incredible.'' Contrary to his inner surprise, he calmly looked around. There, a fierce-looking man was staring at him. Seonghyun already knew his face. Gruger, the tutorial instructor of Hindel Vige. He was known as a tough and strict instructor, befitting his fierce appearance. As expected, Gruger spoke in a gruff voice, sharp as a knife. "Wee, neer." "Hello." "My name is Gruger. I am the instructor who will train you." "My name is Seonghyun. Nice to meet you." "Hmm, you have basic manners." It seemed like many users didn''t even bother to greet him. He had heard that some people looked down on NPCs. Seonghyun didn''t pay much attention to it and looked at Gruger, who then told him, "In this ce, you can leave once you destroy a scarecrow. Like this." Looking in the direction Gruger was pointing, Seonghyun could see other users each holding a weapon and vigorously striking the scarecrows. The way they swung their iron swords looked quite sharp. Still, seeing the scarecrows not breaking easily, Seonghyun was a bit impressed. "Now that you understand, choose one of the iron swords over there and defeat the scarecrow." At Gruger''s words, a quest window popped up. [Mandatory quest, ¡ºTutorial¡» has been generated.] ¡ºTutorial¡» ¡ú¡¶Basic¡· ¡úChoose one of the various iron swords hanging in the training ground and defeat the scarecrow. ¡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.N?v(el)B\\jnn 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 amon 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 ced. Gruger watched Seonghyun from afar and frowned. ''He seems like a decent neer...'' Judging by his gait and movements, he seemed far from athletic. asionally, there were some neers 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 neer, 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 epted 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 3 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 3 "Oh." Seonghyun let out a calm exmation 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 seemedpletely ordinary in terms of talent. And in reality, he was. Since he was young, Seonghyun had never been particrly 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 simr thoughts. ''I can''t do this.'' He knew his own abilities better than anyone. He wasn''t particrly 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 imed 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. ''Was this how you do it?'' Based on the ''memory'' and ''experience'' of the former instructor ghost, he gripped the sword. Then he felt it be much lighter and more familiar. To think a sword could feel so familiar. Feeling this sensation for the first time, the former instructor ghost eximed excitedly. -Gahahaha! Yes! That''s it! ''Oh.'' It was a truly unfamiliar feeling. He hadn''t known he had this kind of power. He had thought he knew everything about ghosts, but he was mistaken. As Seonghyun grasped the sword with the ''memory'' and ''experience'', Gruger''s pupils vibrated intensely. Seonghyun, who had clearly been utterly ordinary in terms of talent, was nowhere to be seen, and his aura had changed. No, it wasn''t just that. "M-Master?" Gruger''s stern and fierce expression melted away as he looked at Seonghyun. It was the posture of the master he respected and followed so much. How could he, as a disciple, fail to recognize it? Gruger seemed to see the soul of his deceased master in Seonghyun. It was actually there, but of course, Gruger had no way of knowing that. And at Gruger''s reaction, all the users nearby focused their attention on Seonghyun. As if they were possessed by something. -And here! This is the weak point! Strike here! The ghost pointed to the part where the scarecrow''s neck connected to its body. That''s the weak spot, right? If it were the original Seonghyun, he would have just hit somewhere near the spot. But now it was different. He swung the sword as the ''memory'' and ''experience'' dictated. In the same trajectory that he had swung it thousands, tens of thousands of times. Beautifully swung, the steel sword descended diagonally from the upper right to the lower left, drawing a silver trajectory toward the scarecrow. Swish The silver trajectory pierced through the scarecrow, and the steel sword vibrated slightly, spreading a clear sound. And then. Thud Half of the scarecrow fell off on the spot. The scarecrow rolling on the ground, and Seonghyun calmly sheathing his sword, it was truly the demeanor of a master. The other users were stunned as they watched Seonghyun. "Whoa, holy crap, he cut it down in one go?" "What the? How!?" "I-I''m scared." "Oh my god, that person is insane..."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Don''t they say that everyone who cuts down the scarecrow in one hit bes a ranker?" "But he''s just standing there so calmly?" "Wow, if it were me, I''d be jumping for joy." "That''s why you''re not him." "What did you say!?" Seonghyun, cutting down the scarecrow in one blow and just standing there calmly as if it were nothing. But his inner thoughts were different from his outward appearance. ''Oh. It worked.'' Inwardly, he was more surprised than ever. But to others, he was the very image of a master. -Ohhhh! I knew you could do it! As expected, amazing! It was like seeing myself in my prime! Even the ghost said so, making Seonghyun a little embarrassed. So were the other users. Among them, there was one person who was particrly surprised. "This... can''t be." Gruger, in particr, was the most surprised. He had thought Seonghyun wouldn''t be able to do it, more than anyone else. Yet, he had done it. And not just done it, either. ''I-It was like seeing Master...'' It was a coincidence, but Gruger was shocked by the sight of Seonghyun wielding the sword exactly like his master. How was this possible? How could this neer from a distant world imitate his master''s swordsmanship? He couldn''t understand it, but Gruger realized something. A genius was not someone he could dare to judge. Just like his master. Instructor Gruger''s master was not someone with exceptional talent. Although hecked talent, he filled thatck with countless experiences and eventually reached the same level as geniuses. How could he not be called a genius? Perhaps Seonghyun was one such person. "Amazing, no, magnificent!" "Hmm?" "To think I would witness such a genius while working as an instructor here." Instructor Gruger had seen quite a few neers who obtained the steel sword and defeated the scarecrow in one blow. However, this was the first time a neer 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 Rmendation Letter¡».] While the messages were cluttering his vision, Gruger handed something to Seonghyun. "And take this." It seemed to be the money, the trainingpletion certificate, and the rmendation 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 rmendation letter allows you to go directly to the vige chief, so keep that in mind." "Oh." Seonghyun was visibly pleased at those words. To leave this beginner vige, he had to go to the vige chief, and it was said that he had to clear various misceneous quests in the process. They were quests that everyone hated, with no nutritional value and really just close to chores. But a rmendation letter that allowed him to skip those and go directly to the vige 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 hade 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 urrences to E-World, thepany that serviced and created Eternal World. Then, it discovered an iprehensible 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 aplished it. Notmon, 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 iprehensible phenomenon.] Immortal couldn''t understand it at all. There were asional 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 asionally, 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 iprehensible phenomenon. However, there was an exnation 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 ording to this ''unknown power'' it had defined. [Granting reward.] That''s how Seonghyun gained strength and agility. Immortal''s actions were ryed to E-World''s User Management Team, and naturally, chaos ensued. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 4 [Trantor - 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 gamey. Their job was to observe users'' gamey, prevent potential idents, and ensure smooth gamey. In other words, they were the department that managed user data. The majority of the users they managed were those who had achieved significant aplishments. 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 urring 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 vige...?" "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 assimtion 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 toe find me!" -Ehehe! Make good use of it! It was nice meeting you! You cane back anytime! The master and disciple were bidding farewell in simr 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 assimted 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 thempletely, 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 epted it as if it were a matter of course. To think his ability possessed such power. Why hadn''t he tried using it in reality? No, he had received help before, but had he ever been taught by a ghost? ''Never.'' In the game, he could talk to himself, see ghosts, whisper to someone, or even talk on the phone openly, but it wasn''t the same in reality. Because he hid the fact that he could see ghosts, it was more urate to say that he never had the opportunity. Was that the difference? He was fascinated and delighted by this power he was experiencing for the first time. ''This is fun.'' The game itself was genuinely fun, but the joy of bing stronger with his own abilities was also immense. And his game character was getting stronger as well. He realized btedly that he hadn''t checked the titles he received at the end and opened them up. ¡ºOne Strike!¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA title given to users who defeat the scarecrow with a single blow. ¡úDeals 10% additional damage to the first attack only. ¡ºInstructor''s Medal¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare+¡· ¡úA title given to users who acquire the steel sword and defeat the scarecrow with a single blow in the tutorial. ¡úIncreases all stats by +1. "Oh!" Seonghyun was honestly impressed as he looked at them. He had thought the titles obtained from the tutorial wouldn''t be anything special. He had forgotten to check the hidden pieces he could obtain yesterday, but to think they had such effects. ''They''re better than I thought.'' To think he was just casually acknowledging options that would make others drool.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Seonghyun wasn''t normal either. He should have reacted more enthusiastically to the 10% additional damage on the first attack and +1 increase to all stats, but he still expressed his admiration withposure. Should he call it consistency? Or peculiarity? ''Then my stats are...'' ¡ºSeonghyun¡» ¡ºLv 1¡» ¡ºss¡» ¡úX ¡ºTitles¡» ¡ú¡ºInstructor''s Medal (Rare+)¡»... and 2 others. ¡ºStats¡» ¡ú¡¶Strength: 14 (13+1)¡·¡¶Agility: 13 (12+1)¡· ¡¶Stamina: 11 (10+1)¡·¡¶Intelligence: 11 (10+1)¡· ¡¶Wisdom: 11 (10+1)¡·¡¶Spirit: 11 (10+1)¡· ¡ºAdditional Stats¡» ¡ú¡¶0¡· *Currently in the beginner vige. *Cannot gain experience points. ''Oh.'' These were not stats that looked like they belonged to a level 1 character at all. When the level increased, 5 additional stat points were given, but Seonghyun''s were 11 points higher. It was higher than the effect of increasing two levels. ''The ghost was a big help.'' His ability, which Immortal defined as an ''unknown power''. The stat points he gained from it were a whopping 5. ''I''ll be able to gain more in the future, right?'' Seonghyun felt excited at the thought. Seonghyun had no talent other than seeing ghosts. He studied diligently, but he wasn''t exceptionally good at it, nor did he have good athleticism. He was just above average. That was the case until just now. But now it was different. ''I can feel it.'' He had gained the experiences and memories of someone who had trained for decades. Even if it wasn''tplete, he had definitely inherited that talent. If he steadily umted it like this? ''That would be fun.'' He was looking forward to seeing how far he could go. Anyway, what he gained was gained. Seonghyun prepared to move on to the next step. The next ce to go was the butcher shop. ''They said I could get the butchering skill and initial funds here, right?'' It was said that the best approach was to gather as much as possible in the beginner vige before changing sses immediately upon leaving. Although experience points couldn''t be earned in the beginner vige, they bought meat, leather, and other such items at high prices. The reason for this was to encourage yers to umte money before leaving the beginner vige. That''s what the strategy guides he had researched yesterday said. His sister, Yoo Mina, had told him the same thing. 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 ept this! Bring it back!!!" Again, her voice was incredibly loud, as if she had swallowed a train whistle. Seonghyun lightly covered his ears and nonchntly 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 nced 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 neers so clumsy? She asked them to bring meat, and they brought rags and scraps. If it weren''t for the vige 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 neers before. There were even those who timidly asked how to catch a rabbit. Wondering if Seonghyun was one of those, Marlen red 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 neer.'' His timid yet nonchnt demeanor was quite peculiar. Well, it was clear that he would bring mangled pieces of meat like the other neers. Even before these neers 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 neers brought terrible meat. Although the neers'' skills were noticeably worse than the adventurers''. asionally, there were those who brought good meat, but it was truly asional. She didn''t think Seonghyun would be one of them. Anyway, putting aside the slightly peculiar impression of Seonghyun, Marlen shouted. "Next!!!" [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 5 [Trantor - 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 vige was one such ce. This hunting ground, teeming with rabbits, was home to the beast-type monster "rabbit" and an important ce 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." asionally, 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 Vige, was popr, 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 ording 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''reughing 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 peopleughing 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 tond 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. No one had managed to catch one easily today. The users who were mocking Seonghyun knew this best since they had been camping here since morning. So, with the intention of watching how well Seonghyun would do, they giggled from afar. Then, Seonghyun moved. He kicked off the ground lightly and dashed forward, and the rabbit also started running at full speed. With thump thump sounds, it changed directions, trying to confuse Seonghyun. "Hmm." Seonghyun hesitated slightly, as if in thought. The observing users sneered. "Haha! I knew it!" "Exactly!" "There''s no way he could do it in one go!" "We''re stuck here too." "...That''s right." In the gloomy atmosphere, they saw it. The moment Seonghyun paused, the rabbit he was aiming for tried to escape by turning at a right angle. If he left it alone, it would run away, but trying to attack it was the same. It would just change direction again and dodge the sword. Seonghyun also swung his sword, and the rabbit tried to dodge in response. But his strength of 14 and agility of 13 made the sword''s trajectory disappear for a split second. The sword, swung too quickly, cleanly cut off the neck of the rabbit that was trying to change direction. Swish! The sword vibrated slightly as it cut the rabbit''s neck, and the rabbit''s body rolled limply on the ground. "...Holy crap." "Wh-what the...hell?!" "D-Did he just catch it...in one go?" "I-Is that even...possible?" Their jaws dropped as they stared at Seonghyun, but he nonchntly looked at the rabbit''s carcass, pondered for a moment, put it in his inventory, looked around, and headed off to catch another rabbit. The users who had been watching Seonghyun, seeing this, muttered with expressions of despair. "...Those talented bastards." "...I''m envious." "...Me too." "...Let''s just focus on ourselves." Unaware of the users who had been mocking him now feeling dejected and depressed after their reality check, Seonghyun was smiling with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, a subtle smile only noticeable if one looked closely. ''This is fun.'' It was a movement impossible for his original self. But after acquiring some of the ghost''s memories, it became possible. Of course, he felt that he would still stumble if he tried to perform moreplex movements, but for now, there was no problem in catching rabbits. Seonghyun moved around, aiming for the rabbits'' necks and swinging his sword. And messages invisible to other users popped up. [Critical Hit!] [Effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» activated!] Thanks to the Instructor''s Medal, which increased all stats, and the effect of One Strike!, he could deal with the rabbits so easily. He aimed for their necks and cut them down in one go, and the rabbits died with a squeak. Or did they die before they could even squeak? Anyway, he was catching them effortlessly. ''Let''s catch more.'' He wondered if the quest was unexpectedly easy, but that wasn''t the case. It wasn''t a quest that could be cleared just by catching rabbits. ''Even if I catch them like this, I can''t sell them if I don''t butcher them properly.'' What was the point of catching rabbits well? If the meat and hide were ruined, they wouldn''t buy them, and he wouldn''t be able to clear the quest. That''s why they said to practice butchering until he acquired the butchering skill beforepleting the quest, right? The probability of acquiring the butchering skill increased while the butcher shop quest was active, didn''t it? That''s why Seonghyun was going to gather rabbit meat and attempt it all at once, and when he had over twenty rabbits, he thought, ''Is this enough?'' If he butchered this many rabbits, wouldn''t he acquire the butchering skill? If it didn''t work, he could just catch more. Seonghyun sat down in a corner of the forest to butcher the rabbits. Then, suddenly, it urred to him. ''There should be other ghosts besides the former instructor ghost, right?'' For example, a ghost who was good at butchering. It wasn''t like he could see ghosts every time they passed by, but there should be some in a forest like this or near the rabbit hunting ground, but he couldn''t see any.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Were there none? This was a ce where beginners gathered to practice butchering, so should he try to sense them? ''Hmm, I think I can feel something...'' He felt like there was a ghost, but he couldn''t sense it clearly and was about to give up. He could just practice butchering manually, couldn''t he? Since when did he be 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 heartyugh, 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 neers 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 exnation. He exined how to butcher, and how to hunt. And Apic''s ''memories'' and ''experiences'' flowed into him. So this phenomenon urred 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 butugh heartily at his impable butchering skill. -Uhahahaha! That''s right! That''s the butchering method of this great hunter, Apic! While Apic wasughing 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 sessfully 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 sessfully 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 6 [Trantor - 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 asionally 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 meating 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 neer. But seeing hime back so soon, he must be the same as the others, right? Ready to yell as soon as he took out the meat, Marlen red 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 eximed, "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 amotion. 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 neers'' 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.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "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 thestment. 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 Regr¡».] [You have achieved an achievement in the butcher shop.] [You have acquired an achievement reward.] [Butcher shop quest reward has been enhanced.] [You can receive the enhanced quest reward from the butcher shop owner, ''Marlen''.] "Oh." He really got it? Just as thest user had said, he received a title. But that wasn''t all. He even received an enhanced quest reward. Looking at the reactions of the other users, there were various expressions, from admiration to envy. But the underlying emotion in all of them was envy. Envy towards someone who had achieved what they couldn''t. It was a somewhat ticklish feeling. A feeling of being acknowledged, perhaps? "This Marlen cannot just stand by and do nothing. I''ll reward you handsomely." [You have received the butcher shop quest reward.] [Existing rewards have been enhanced.] [You have acquired 4 Gold and ¡ºExcellent Butchering Set¡».] Marlen said so and handed him a heavy money bag and a leather scroll containing various tools. As soon as he received them, they went into Seonghyun''s inventory. It was quite a generous reward. Normally, even when epting meat and hides from other users, she only gave 1 Silver, but he received 4 Gold. 1 Gold was equal to 100 Silver. He received 10 Silver each for the rabbit meat and hide. She had given him ten times the reward. He wondered if it was really that impressive, but since he received it, Seonghyun was pleased. ''This game, the rewards are really generous.'' Seonghyun, who casually thought something that would have others throwing stones at him, bowed deeply to Marlen in gratitude and left. "Ehahahaha! Come by anytime! You''re always wee!!! I''ll buy everything you have at a high price!!!" "Th-thank you." Embarrassed by Marlen''s boisterous farewell, Seonghyun hurriedly left as if running away. There were many users around, and he was a bit shy about receiving such enthusiastic attention. Only after getting a good distance away from the butcher shop did he catch his breath and check the title he had just received. He could somewhat guess its effect just by looking at the name, but still. ¡ºButcher Shop Regr¡» ¡ú¡¶Normal¡· ¡úA title given to users who have been recognized for their butchering skills at the butcher shop. ¡úIncreases the selling price of meat and hides butchered by the user by 10%. ''Not bad.'' Butchering was said to be one of the lifelong skills in Eternal World. Having a title like this would be quite helpful. Now, should he look at the Excellent Butchering Set? Seonghyun took the item out of his inventory. He wondered what the second item he obtained after the steel sword would be like. ¡ºExcellent Butchering Set¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA butchering set containing various butchering tools. ¡úThe quality is much better than ordinary butchering tools. ¡úIncreases butchering speed by 10%. ¡úImproves the quality of butchered goods by 10%. ''Oh!'' Unlike the title, it was a rare item. Even the steel sword was only Normal+, so this was the first rare item he had obtained. To think they were giving away items and titles so freely. ''Is it okay to be this generous?'' Unaware that this was a warmth only he felt in Eternal World, Seonghyun was deeply moved. He could clearly feel himself growing step by step, and the NPCs were friendly and kind. Except for Marlen, who was a bit loud. Above all, ''This feeling is addictive.'' The feeling of sharing the ghosts'' memories and experiences was beyond thrilling; it was overwhelming. Although he couldn''t absorb all the memories and experiences, his talent had definitely increased. When he gained the memories and experiences of the former instructor ghost, he was able to learn the swordsmanship he had practiced, and when he met the hunter ghost Apic, his dexterity and hunting skills definitely improved. To think he could gain talent just by receiving help from ghosts. And the game was fun too. What could be more enjoyable than this? As Seonghyun was rejoicing, He saw the form of a ghost in the distance. So they were wandering around the vige 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, particrly 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 ce. "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 Vige! However, I hear not just any neer 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 asionally 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 ce it was. -Since the neers appeared, the hunters have all left for other viges, and the beasts in the Hunter''s Forest have multiplied so much that it''s be a concern. Many of the vigers 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 nning to do it. Anyone could tell it was a hidden dungeon. A hidden dungeon in a beginner vige where he couldn''t even level up. At first nce, it seemed useless, but it wasn''t at all. Especially since hidden dungeons in beginner viges were said to contain incredible things. It was one of the reasons why Hindel Vige, where the hero was born and raised and defeated the Demon King, was so popr. The hero and the Demon King. It was a vige that seemed likely to have hidden pieces. But he had heard that everyone hade 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 ept, 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 7 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 7 0. The E-World User Management Team was responsible for users even in the beginner vige. 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 vige, 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 iprehensible 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 regted.'' Although Eternal World wasn''t very old, there had never been any instances of unfair y. ording to the analysis of Immortal, the best artificial intelligence, this case was the same. It wasn''t like the gamepany would be in trouble just because one user became stronger, but growth of this magnitude could lead to otherints, 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 ce where you go to get to that...ce?" "Huh? What?" "Well...wasn''t there a hidden dungeon in Hindel Vige? It seems like he''s going there." "What? There was such a thing in Hindel Vige???" "Yes, here..." Officer Oh Jin-hyeok showed him the data on Hindel Vige, and it was indeed written there. Hindel Vige''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 Leeughed and nodded. To think he was actually going there. Was this even possible? Come to think of it, many strategy sites mentioned a ce called the "Mist Forest" in Hindel Vige. Most users who arrived at Hindel Vige 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 Vige. However, most users who met those conditions were focused on quickly leaving the beginner vige in the early stages of the game. It was usible 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. Officer Oh Jin-hyeok was tactful, after all. 1. As he walked along the path the elderly ghost had told him about, the fog grew thicker. No wonder no one had found this ce. Seonghyun had tried searching with the search function within Eternal World, and although some people had reached this foggy area, they said they ended up going in circles for some reason. A ce where you would wander around like in a maze. This was that ce. Among users, this area was known as the Mist Forest, but what did the elderly ghost call it? ''He said there was a barrier, right?'' He said it was possible to break through this barrier with the help of a mage from Hindel Vige, but meeting the mage wasn''t easy. He also said that those who met certain conditions could enter. And that was Seonghyun. To think you had to possess the steel sword and the Excellent Butcher title to enter. He said it was a barrier created to prevent inexperienced adventurers from entering, allowing only hunters to pass? Even Seonghyun thought the conditions weren''t easy. If it weren''t for the ghosts, he wouldn''t have obtained the steel sword or the Excellent Butcher title. As he continued through the fog for a while, letters appeared before his fogged vision. [You have met all the conditions.] [Entering the field-type hidden dungeon, ¡ºHunter''s Forest¡».] [You have discovered the hidden dungeon for the first time!] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºExplorer¡».] [First discovery reward given.] [Butchering sess rate in the field-type hidden dungeon, ¡ºHunter''s Forest¡» increased by 50%.] [Quality of butchered goods in the field-type hidden dungeon, ¡ºHunter''s Forest¡» increased by 50%.] [First discovery rewardsts until the first clear of the dungeon.] Seonghyun slowly examined the numerous messages. "Oh." To think they were giving him this much reward just for discovering a hidden dungeon. He hadn''t even cleared it yet, and the rewards were quite generous. And even a title on top of that? Seonghyun immediately opened the title window. ¡ºExplorer¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡·N?v(el)B\\jnn ¡úA title given to users who discover a hidden dungeon for the first time. ¡úIncreases drop rate in hidden dungeons by 20%. It was a bit underwhelming. He had heard that the Hunter''s Forest only had beast-type monsters that needed to be butchered, and they didn''t drop anything, so it was a useless title for now. Even if that wasn''t the case, how often did one discover hidden dungeons? It was an underwhelming effect that only applied in hidden dungeons. If it weren''t for the first discovery reward, he would have been a bit disappointed. He decided to be grateful for the increase in titles. And who knew? ''Something might drop from the boss.'' Thinking optimistically, Seonghyun entered the dungeon. As he stepped into the field-type hidden dungeon, ¡ºHunter''s Forest¡», the thick fog disappeared as if it were a dream, revealing a mystical forest. The brilliant sunlight streamed through the gaps between the enormous, tall trees, illuminating the forest floor. The light seemed to shatter and scatter, blending with the self-luminous moss, and fireflies flitting around the moss created a mystical atmosphere. "Wow." Even Seonghyun, who always expressed his admiration in a calm andposed manner, couldn''t help himself this time. He let out a breath of admiration and looked around. The lush green forest was dreamlike and mystical. It was a sight that showcased the grandeur of nature. As Seonghyun was marveling at the scenery, he sensed movement in the distance. He turned his head and saw a deer with green fur. "Oh." Snort! It snorted like a horse and pawed the ground with its hooves, preparing to charge. Looking at the deer with its menacing long antlers and green fur, Seonghyun quietly drew the sword from his waist. Swish- The sword was drawn with a soft sound. ''A green deer.'' Seeing the name floating above the deer''s head, Seonghyun adjusted his grip on the sword. The strongest monster found in the beginner hunting ground was a deer. After rabbits came deer, but it was said that no beginner hunted deer unless it was for a quest. But this green deer seemed to be stronger than those deer. It seemed interesting. As Seonghyun thought this, the green deer charged. Snort! The charging speed of the green deer, apanied 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 copsed in the direction it was running. [Critical Hit!] [Effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» activated!] Thud! nk! 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 be 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 bnce despite the increased speed. He could slightly feel that his swordsmanship had be more refined. ''Good.'' The thrill he felt from hunting the green deer was iparable 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''tpletely 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 seeded 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. Simrly, watching the next green deer charge, he lowered his stance and then jumped back up, shing upwards diagonally to cut the green deer''s neck. For thest 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." [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 8 [Trantor - 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 levelpared 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 ck 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 vige. And how massive it was. It was muchrger 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 mmed into the ce 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. He had to be careful not to get hit as much as possible. "Grrrrrrr." The tiger, seeing Seonghyun nimbly dodging its attacks, growled lowly and red at him in displeasure. Its eyes were by no means those of prey being hunted. They were the eyes of a predator on the hunt. Seeing this, Seonghyun recalled the memories of the hunter Apic. How Apic had hunted tigers. And vivid memories and experiences surfaced. Wait calmly for an opportunity. If you try to attack hastily, you''ll be the one caught. So strike at the right moment. When it was time to attack, the memories of the former instructor flowed in. When facing a charging beastrger than yourself, use the opponent''s strength against it. As those two memories and experiences flowed in, Seonghyun''s eyes momentarily shed with a pale turquoise light, like the color of a vengeful spirit. The tiger flinched slightly, as if intimidated by the sudden sh of pale turquoise light. Perhaps its pride was hurt, as it roared. "Roarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!" A powerful roar reverberated. But his body didn''t stiffen anymore. He had experience and memories now. He waited for an opportunity, confidently and calmly. The tiger charged towards Seonghyun. The tiger was overwhelmingly faster. However, based on his reflexes and various experiences, Seonghyun dodged the tiger''s attacks one by one, maintaining his distance. "Roar!" The moment the tiger roared again, spreading its front paws and charging towards Seonghyun, Seonghyun''s eyes shed a pale turquoise, and he shouted inwardly, ''Now!'' Instead of dodging to the side as the tiger charged towards him, he ran forward. An act that would seem suicidal to anyone. But Seonghyun''s eyes gleamed brighter than ever.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Reaching the charging tiger, he slid across the ground, quickly lowering his stance and raising his sword. His own strength wasn''t enough? Then he would use the opponent''s strength. Seonghyun''s sword definitely couldn''t reach the tiger''s heart. Its hide was that thick, and its muscles were like rocks. But if hebined the force of the tiger charging with all its might and his own force charging forward, the result would be different. The unwavering tip of the steel sword was aimed precisely at the tiger''s core, and with dexterity and agility, he thrust the sword swiftly and urately. Pierce! [Critical Hit!] [Effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» activated!] "Gwaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Along with the critical hit message, a sound like air being sucked out echoed, and Seonghyun let go of his sword at that moment. Maintaining his lowered stance as he slid, Seonghyun slipped under the tiger. The charging tiger, pierced through the heart by the steel sword, copsed onto the ground, and the steel sword was driven deeper into its body. The tiger, with its heart precisely pierced, went limp, its body losing strength, but Seonghyun didn''t let his guard down. In the hunter Apic''s memories, there were many beasts that pretended to be dead like this and saved their final attack forst. He would wait a little longer. Thud. When even the tiger''s paws, which had been concealing its ws, fell limp, a message popped up. [You have cleared the field-type hidden dungeon, ¡ºHunter''s Forest¡»!] [The first discovery reward will be maintained until the boss, Tiger, ispletely butchered!] [You have defeated a beast-type monster boss in one strike!] [You have achieved an achievement in the dungeon.] [You have acquired an achievement reward.] [Dungeon reward enhanced!] [You have acquired the items, ¡ºTiger''s Fang¡», ¡ºTiger''s Paw¡», and ¡ºGreen Deer''s Breastte¡».] ''Oh?!'' Wasn''t it over after butchering the tiger? Even if the dungeon reward was enhanced due to the achievement reward, he didn''t expect to receive items like this. It seemed like the butchering and dungeon clear rewards were different. Seonghyun''s eyes sparkled as he postponed butchering the tiger and examined the items. To think he would acquire new items. He wondered what kind of items they were. ¡ºGreen Deer''s Breastte¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA breastte made using the antlers and hide of a green deer. ¡úDue to the tougher hide and harder antlers of the green deerpared to ordinary deer, it is much more durable than ordinary leather armor. ¡úIncreases defense by +8%. ¡ºTiger''s Paw¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare+¡· ¡úBoots resembling the ws of a tiger. ¡úIt''s questionable whether they were actually made from a tiger''s paw, but they are just as fast and durable. ¡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 prating power that seems capable of piercing anything. ¡úIncreases pration 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 arge 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 vige. A statue of Hindel. The hero who defeated the Demon King. It might be a clich¨¦ 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 urred 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. ording 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 bing a ghost. The hero''s spirit might be here. ¡®I''ll have to ask my sister about thister.¡¯ 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 vige, 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 ce 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 ept 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 9 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 9 Although he didn''t show it outwardly, Seonghyun was quite pleased with the reward, and the elderly ghostughed cheerfully. Like a grandfather who had given a gift to his grandson. -Ehehehehe, I''m d 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.N?v(el)B\\jnn 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 pration 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 arge 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. As he thrust at the rabbit, Stab! The rabbit couldn''t even react before its neck was pierced, and its head fell to the ground. The rabbit''s head rolled away, and Seonghyun turned and dashed towards another rabbit. Dash! Stab! Stab! Stab! He urately pierced each rabbit, and he could feel them being prated more easily than before. Was this the effect of increased pration? In an instant, the heads of five rabbits were rolling on the ground, and btedly, five messages popped up, indicating that the critical hit and One Strike! effects had been applied. Seonghyun dismissed the messages and casually sheathed the short sword, ¡ºTiger''s Fang¡». They say you can be so surprised that you be speechless, right? That''s exactly what happened to the other users. ''What did I just see?'' ''I-Is that even possible?'' ''Holy crap...'' ''Well, there has to be some difference for me to even feel envious, but this is just...'' An overwhelming disy of skill that didn''t even evoke envy. They were struggling to catch a single rabbit, desperately chasing after them, while someone else just dashed around and hunted five rabbits at once. They were speechless. Everyone closed their mouths, stopped watching, and started chasing rabbits more diligently. Even if they couldn''t be like Seonghyun, they wouldn''t give up here! With that mindset, they all resumed hunting earnestly. "Uwaaaa!!" "Stop right there!" "Whoa, there!" "I''m going too!!!" Seonghyun, who had inadvertently turned the hunting ground into a frenzy of activity, was oblivious to it all, preupied with checking his options. ''The effect is better than I thought.'' Although it was said to be a 20% increase in movement speed and 10% in attack speed, it felt like more than that. Perhaps it was because the two had synergy. After confirming this, Seonghyun sat down quietly and butchered all five rabbits. His business here was finished. It was time to return to the vige. There were no other quests, so it was time to leave the beginner vige. He had to hurry to the next vige and level up. Though that was his thought, Seonghyun muttered to himself with anticipation, ''Hero Hindel.'' He decided that before leaving the beginner vige, Hindel, he would try to find one more ghost. If there was none, he would leave immediately, but if there was, ''The memories and experiences of a hero.'' With just the memories and experiences of the former instructor and the hunter Apic, he had already surpassed the movements expected of a beginner. He wondered what it would be like to gain the memories and experiences of the hero Hindel. Assuming there was such a ghost. Seonghyun headed towards the vige with high hopes. As Seonghyun arrived at the vige, a notification sound rang from the capsule. [You have received a voice message from outside.] [Seonghyun, make sure to eat.] It was the voice of his mother, Mrs. Lee Nakyeong. Was it already lunchtime? He would eat first and then look for the ghost. 0. [Eternal World, Eternal world awaits you.] As he exited the capsule after seeing the logout message, He lightly stretched his slightly stiff body. He could feel his body stiffening from staying in the capsule for a long time. It felt like he had just woken up from a long dream, and he wasn''t quite refreshed. He realized that stamina was also necessary for gaming. ''That''s why my sister exercises, right?'' Most people who yed games for a living did that. He wondered if he should do the same. As Seonghyun thought about exercising and walked out to the living room, a delicious smell wafted through the air. He sniffed the air and smelled the savory aroma of soybean paste stew. There were also fried eggs and Seonghyun''s favorite sausage side dish. There was also Napa cabbage kimchi and green onion kimchi, typical of a Korean table. It could be considered a simple meal, but Seonghyun''s mouth watered at the sight of the home-cooked food. He had eaten breakfast, but he was quite hungry as if he had exercised, so he immediately sat down at the table. "Oh my? What''s gotten into Seonghyun? Sitting down to eat right away?" "Ah, I got hungry while ying the game." "Oh, Mina does that too, and now Seonghyun is doing the same. I thought it was just an excuse Mina used." "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 Nakyeongughed at his sister Yoo Mina, who yelled again at theirbined 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 rxed and leisurely demeanor, she was quickening her steps, so it seemed she was a bitte. 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 sttered around. Yoo Mina, noticing Seonghyun''s expression,ughed 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 10 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 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''spletely and perfectly separate. It doesn''t evene 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 simr." "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. And at Seonghyun''s words, her eyes widened likenterns, 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 ss to a hero." "Huh?" He had heard something unexpected. To be able to change ss 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 readst night. Ranks were the foundation of Eternal World. From items and skills to titles and even sses. 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 ss 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 ss. 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." Seeing Seonghyun speak after diligently chewing and swallowing his food, she thought he was really eager. Well, everyone was like that in the beginning. Yoo Mina herself was still absorbed in the game. She understood. But to try and search for it so recklessly. He still had a long way to go. "Where are you going to look for it? Are you going to search the entire vige?" "Ah." "If you go to the north of the vige, there''s the Hero Hindel Memorial Hall. Look around there. It''s where the hero Hindel and hispanions are buried." "Ah, thanks." Seonghyun quickly finished his meal, got up, and was about to clear the dishes when, "Just leave it. I''ll clean up." "Huh? Really?" "Yes, you punk, you were treating your sister like a bad person. Is it weird that I''m being nice?" "No, thank you! Then I''ll go check it out!" "Okay~" Yoo Mina smiled contentedly as she watched Seonghyun rush back to his room. She felt a sense of aplishment as the person who bought him the capsule. He had been indifferent at first. It was a good thing she bought it for him. She heard the capsule opening and then closing immediately, so it seemed he went straight in. Recalling how she was the same way, she reminisced for a moment and then quickly finished eating and cleaned up. She threw away the leftover side dishes and did the dishes. Since she decided to do it, she had to do it properly. After finishing cleaning up, Yoo Mina also went into her room and opened the capsule. She logged in as naturally as ever. A g with an emblem on it fluttered in the wind in front of a massive fortress. p! p! The g pped noisily, and below it, a natural fortress unfolded. As Yoo Mina appeared in the grand fortress, "Gasp!?" "Cough." "Huh!?" The people around her, wearing armor with the same emblem as the one on the g, fell silent as they saw Yoo Mina, no, Yuna. Until just now, there had been quite a bit of chatter. Contrary to her friendly demeanor at home with Seonghyun, she passed them with a cold, expressionless face and headed towards thergest door of the fortress. As she arrived there, "Yuna-nim, you''ve arrived." "The Guild Master is currently present." "Open the door." At her single word, the two users guarding the massive door bowed their heads. The giant door opened immediately. The room inside was not extravagant, but it wasn''t humble either. Those with a discerning eye could tell that each item in this room was extraordinary. The door opened briefly, and as Yuna stepped inside, it closed immediately. Among those extraordinary items, a woman with a graceful and elegant appearance was writing something at arge wooden desk, and Yuna waited. Finally, when the woman''s pen stopped, "Guild Master, I have something to tell you." "...Yuna, you do?" "Yes." "I wonder what Yuna-nim, the pride of our guild and a solo ranker, has to say." At the voice filled with genuine curiosity rather than sarcasm, Yuna replied, "There''s a user I want to rmend soon." "Oh? Tell me more." In Eternal World, the fastest growing guild. Amotion was urring in Rapid, ranked 3rd in the guild rankings. Yuna, the strongest force in the Rapid Guild and ranked 9th overall, was making her first user rmendation. 1. He opened his eyes in the beginner vige, Hindel. It was the same ce where he had logged outst time. [Wee to Eternal World, another world, an eternal world.] As he logged in while looking at the starting message, it felt different again. Even though he had just logged out and back in, it felt quite different. Was it because he hadn''t tried it before? He felt much more excited now than before. ''My sister said it was in the north, right?'' Apass-like direction indicator was already disyed in his vision. He decided to head north immediately and started running. With a whooshing sound, he dashed forward, surprising everyone who saw him. "Oh my? How can he be so fast?" "H-he can''t level up, so he must be level 1, but can a level 1 run like that?" "D-did he get a title or something?" "His items looked a bit different..." "Can you even get those kinds of things in the beginner vige?" The users chattered amongst themselves after seeing his speed, but Seonghyun didn''t even pay attention to their fading voices. 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 nning to search the entire vige. But to think there was a ce 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 vige.'' He thought calmly, hoping that it would be there. The hero, at least a Legendary ss. 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 ce, which turned out to be arge 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''spanions. 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 feltpelled to. As Seonghyun bowed his head in silent tribute, A message popped up. [In honor of the hero Hindel and hispanions.] 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 hade 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 simr, 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 mncholic. Who could she be? As Seonghyun wondered, she turned her head. The spirit of the woman, her ck 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 andposed, looked at her nervously, and she red 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 11 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 11 Helena? The Demon King? Seonghyun stared nkly 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 statuememorating 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 usible 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 appearedpletely 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 ck 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 ck 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 ck 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 cheerfulughter, Helena''s expression held a hint of sadness. She seemed to ept the injustice withposure rather thanining 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 feelingspletely. The injustice, the sadness, and the only option left ¨C to ept it all with stoicism and dignity. There was nothing else he could do. This was one of the reasons why Seonghyun had be so calm andposed. -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 tomunicate 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 ck magic? Seonghyun felt his heart pounding. Could it be? He had sought to gain the memories and experiences of the hero Hindel to be a hero himself. But was it possible to be 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 dered, -My memories and experiences! And my power! The sessor 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.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "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 ovee 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 remainedposed until the very end, while Hindel and hispanions 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. So she gave up. She offered her heart to the dying hero''s de, a blow she could have easily avoided. In that moment, even Hindel realized that she was not the Demon King. But it was toote. Having fully inherited Helena''s memories, Seonghyun opened his eyes, which now shone with a deep teal light. ''I''m different.'' He wouldn''t give up. He hadn''t given up. Therefore... "I''ll show you a different side of me." Seonghyun spoke, but Helena couldn''t hear him. As she transferred her final memories and experiences to Seonghyun, her spirit crumbled and vanished. Seonghyun didn''t know whether she had attained Nirvana or simply ceased to exist after sharing her essence. However, one thing became clear. ''I can achieve something even greater than the hero.'' He would inherit the Demon King''s, no, Helena''s ss. Overlord. [An ''unknown power'' grants you strength beyond your stats.] [Intelligence +10, Wisdom +10, Spirit +10 permanently increased.] As his stats permanently increased, Seonghyun realized the two things Helena yearned for. One was coexistence with humans. And the other was... ''The pinnacle of the Overlord.'' The realm Helena failed to reach. Seonghyun intended to ascend to that very peak. He now had a purpose in Eternal World. 2. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong trembled with anxiety as he watched Seonghyun pay his respects at the statue of the hero Hindel. A chilling sensation ran down his spine. Seonghyun had been standing there for a long time. Was there really something there? Observing Lee Wonsong''s anxious gaze and gestures fixated solely on Seonghyun, his junior colleague, Oh Jinhyeok, tilted his head in confusion. ''I understand that he gained a lot and is an irregr, but is he really that significant? Why is he so anxious?'' That was Oh Jinhyeok''s thought. "Senior, is there a need to be so wary?" "About what?" Startled by Lee Wonsong''s sharp voice, Oh Jinhyeok scratched his head. ''Should I just not ask?'' But he had already started the conversation. "Uh, about that user, Seonghyun. He passed the Hunter''s Forest in Hindel Vige and even obtained the treasure... That was really scary. The way he went straight to that spot and dug it up as if he knew something... and then the hidden piece appeared immediately..." "Anyway, so what?" "Oh, no, I mean, he''s an irregr, but I was wondering if you need to be so concerned about him." "You don''t understand why I''m staring at a beginner instead of other single-digit or double-digit rankers?" "... Uh, hmm..." He couldn''t answer, but honestly, that was how Oh Jinhyeok felt. He wondered if there was any reason to pay more attention to this user than to those ranked in the single or double digits. He genuinely didn''t understand. In a way, it was a natural question. However, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong let out a deep sigh and asked, "Hey, Jinhyeok." "Yes?" "Have you ever seen something called an ''unknown power''?" "Uh, no?" "Have you ever seen a single-digit ranker use some strange, unknown power to increase their stats?" "Uh, no?" "Then what about him?" "Ah..." Stats permanently increased. In Eternal World, every single stat point yed a significant role. Oh Jinhyeok knew this all too well. "But it probably won''t happen again, right?" "Why?" "W-well,mon sense dictates that after a total increase of 10, it''s unlikely to increase any further..." "What if it does?" "Uh..." Oh Jinhyeok was speechless at Lee Wonsong''s words. He simply had nothing to say. No one, not even Immortal, knew what this "unknown power" truly was, so he couldn''t offer any exnation. Just then, a notification popped up at the perfect moment. [User ¡ºSeonghyun¡» exhibits strength beyond his stats through an ''unknown power''.] [Intelligence +10, Wisdom +10, Spirit +10 permanently increased.] "Uwaaagh! What the heck is that!!!" "Uwagh!" The stat increase, which had been a measly 10 across two instances, now jumped by a whopping 30. They couldn''t help but be astonished by this insane surge, even greater than before. Other employees red at Lee Wonsong and Oh Jinhyeok for their screams, but they understood. They had reacted simrly when users did something unexpected. However, the current situation was far more serious. Even an increase of 10 was a huge deal. But a sudden jump of 30? This couldn''t be ignored. "S-senior? What should we do?" "... Ha, the team leader is on vacation. If I contact him now, I won''t be able to handle the consequences..." "But wouldn''t we get in more trouble if we don''t report it?" Oh Jinhyeok had a point, so there was no choice. As Lee Wonsong was about to contact his team leader, who was currently on vacation, Seonghyun in the video feed started to move. ''What is he trying to do now?'' The fact that they were already scared meant they had been through a lot. Seonghyun, having discovered something behind the statue of the hero Hindel, looked around and headed north, searching for something. A chill ran down Lee Wonsong''s spine as he recognized that familiar behavior and muttered, "T-that''s...?" "Huh? Is there something else there?" ''Did my senior, who didn''t know about the Hunter''s Forest, know something about the hidden piece in Hindel Vige?'' 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 avable. ''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 essible to assistant managers and above. It''s about a hidden piece in Hindel Vige." "Huh? T-there''s something like that?" The information avable varied depending on one''s position. ''That makes sense.'' There was a reason why E-World didn''t allow all employees to y Eternal World. It was to prevent the possibility of using such information for unfair y. Anyway, when Oh Jinhyeok asked, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong nodded with a gloomy expression. "There''s one of the best sses in Eternal World..." "What?! In the beginner vige?!" "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 vige. 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 creepyugh, 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 hispanions. As an anxious Oh Jinhyeok asked with a trembling voice, Lee Wonsong replied with augh, "Hufufufu, to obtain the ss, 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 ced Helena''s body here, where the hero Hindel and hispanions 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 hispanions. ''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 upied a considerablyrger 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 fairlyrge 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. Harbe 3. Har 4. Amoste Mulliwood 5. Queisa] ... (omitted) These were questions Seonghyun couldn''t possibly get wrong. "Easy." [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 12 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 12 When ites 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 Vige library or various ancient documents to solve these problems. They were meant to be difficult. This ss 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 ce 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 spectacr. 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 assimted with his own, the spirits responded to Seonghyun''s gestures. These spirits, though seemingly simr at first nce, 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 ording 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! -Wee¡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 thend. 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. [Congrattions! You have changed to the highest-ranking Almighty ss, ¡ºOverlord¡»!] [You are the first to sessfully change sses in the beginner vige!] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºSupernova¡».] [Congrattions! You have sessfully changed to an Almighty ss!] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºOmnipotent¡».] [Congrattions! You have sessfully changed to the highest-ranking ck Magic ss!] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºMonarch¡».] [You have changed to ¡ºOverlord¡», granting you ss-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 ces. The omnipotence vanished as soon as he sessfully changed sses. However, he wasn''t too disappointed. The omnipotence he just felt was likely the future direction of this ss. 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 sses, and even a new skill. N?v(el)B\\jnn 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 sessfully change sses in the beginner vige. ¡ú50% bonus experience gain until level 100. ¡ú10% bonus skill proficiency gain after level 100. ¡ºOmnipotent¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úTitle granted to users who sessfully change to an Almighty ss. ¡úIncreases all stats by 10%. ¡úIncreases all attack power by 10%. ¡ºMonarch¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡úTitle granted to users who sessfully change to the highest-ranking ss of each ss category. ¡úIncreases the movement speed of subordinates by 30%. ¡úIncreases the attack speed of subordinates by 20%. ¡úIncreases the attack power of subordinates by 10%. ¡úIncreases morale inrge-scale battles. ''Oh!'' Even Seonghyun, who was moreposed than usual due to the lingering disappointment, couldn''t help but be surprised by these titles. One Unique rank title and two Legendary titles. Each option was remarkable, with no wasted stats. He hadn''t expected much because of the misleading feeling of omnipotence, but now he felt like he had received something incredible. So what about his stats? ''My stats increased significantly from absorbing Helena''s memories and experiences, right?'' Compared to the former instructor, who was called a genius of effort, and Apik, the self-proimed great hunter, who only raised his stats by a total of 5, Helena, who was called the Demon King, increased his stats by a whopping 30. ¡¾Status Window¡¿ ¡ºSeonghyun¡» ¡ºLv 1¡» ¡ºss¡» ¡ú¡ºOverlord¡» ¡ºTitles¡» ¡ú¡ºMonarch (Legendary)¡»... and 10 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: 4 (3+1)¡· ¡ºAdditional Stats¡» ¡ú¡¶0¡· *You are currently in the beginner vige. *You cannot gain experience. ''This is incredible.'' Were these stats possible for a level 1 character? No way. To achieve these stats, he would need to be at least level 12. That''s 11 levels higher than his current level. He was starting from an extraordinary point. Furthermore, he had already reached the Almighty ss, Overlord. ''I like it.'' It would be unconscionable not to like it. Smiling, Seonghyun opened the window to check out his new skills. ¡ºDeath Legion¡» ¡ú¡¶Almighty¡· ¡ú[Lv 1] [Growth Type] [Passive Effect] [Compound] All death originates from the Death Legion. They are immortal and imperishable. ¡úOverlord exclusive skill. ¡úSummons soldiers by consuming mana, depending on the rank of the deceased. ¡úThe dominated Death Legion grows individually. ¡úDestroyed death soldiers are resurrected by consuming mana. ¡úThe Death Legion pledges absolute loyalty to its master. ¡ºDeath Aura¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 1] [Growth Type] [Passive Effect] [Active] [Cooldown: 30 minutes] [Duration: 3 minutes] 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 30m radius. ¡úConsumes them as nourishment. ¡úThe living touched by the aura are wracked with pain. ¡ºWraiths of the Dead¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 1] [Growth Type] [Instant Effect] [Active] [Cooldown: 30 seconds] The wraiths of the dead, filled with resentment, cannot be stopped by anyone. ¡úOverlord exclusive skill. ¡úThrows a spear made of the wraiths of the dead at the enemy, inflicting dark damage. ¡úThe wraiths of the dead do not allow any defense. ¡úThe pierced enemy incurs the wrath of the wraiths and loses their sight. ''Wow.'' The skills were even more impressive than the titles. One Almighty rank and two Legendary ranks. After a quick read, he realized they were a necromancy skill, a drain skill, and an attack skill. He had received a well-rounded set. ''Each one of them is powerful.'' Seonghyun smiled as this thought crossed his mind. ''If I''ve obtained new skills, I should use them right away, right?'' ''Let''s test them out.'' ''The power of the Overlord, who was once called the Demon King.'' As Seonghyun headed straight for the hunting grounds, a tiny ghost was following closely behind him. Or rather, should it be called "following"? Perhaps it was more like being tethered to Seonghyun''s back. The female ghost with flowing red hair and ck eyes smiled brightly. It was a smile that said, "I knew this would happen." 4. Oh Jinhyeok was watching Seonghyun''s video feed with Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong. After Seonghyun changed sses, Oh Jinhyeok waspletely speechless. ''He actually did it!'' ''What do we do now?'' Countless thoughts raced through his mind, but he couldn''t process them. "This can''t be happening..., this can''t be happening..., th-this really can''t be happening..." "..." 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 nk expression, even drooling a little. The situation had be serious. It was already a big deal that Seonghyun had changed sses in the beginner vige and obtained the Supernova title, but now he was an Almighty ss? ''Should I contact the team leader myself?'' Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, who had nned to gleefully report Seonghyun''s failure after he inevitably flunked the test, had lost hisposure. ''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 understoodpletely. 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 ss in the beginner zone." -In the beginner zone? Wait, what?? If it''s the beginner zone, you mean that thing in Hindel Vige?! "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 exin, so if you could see it to-tomorrow... R-right now? During v-vacation... Ah. I-I''m sorry! Ah, no, really, if you coulde 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 ashenplexion. 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 vige square. Let''s hang out there for a bit." "Well, even if it rains, it usually stops quickly in the beginner vige." 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''tpletely 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 vige 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. ording 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 aic 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 ess 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,unched 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 copsed 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.'' [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 13 [Trantor - 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. ording 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 vige. However, thanks to theck 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. Copse. [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 copse as soon as they touched the teal mist, he could tell they all sumbed 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, bing a mix of ck 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 ck 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. In fact, Seonghyun''s Death Legion was exhibiting greater power than Helena''s. ''Then what is it?'' As Seonghyun tilted his head in wonder, he noticed it. The difference between Helena''s legion and his own. ''Ah?'' The souls of the recently deceased rabbits, their ghosts, were all inside his Death Legion. As if their souls had be subordinate. ''Did it have this effect?'' No matter how hard he looked, there was no such exnation in the Death Legion''s description. Even in Helena''s experiences and memories, this had never happened. She had manipted spirits to possess her Death Legion, but she had never directly imnted the souls of the dead into the legion itself when raising them. ''Is that why they feel stronger?'' It was as if their original souls had returned to their bodies. It wasn''t surprising that they were emitting a stronger energy. As he reached this conclusion, a series of messages appeared. [The effect of ¡ºMonarch¡» is activated!] [Movement speed of the ¡ºDeath Legion¡» increased by 30%!] [Attack speed of the ¡ºDeath Legion¡» increased by 20%!] [Attack power of the ¡ºDeath Legion¡» increased by 10%!] [Morale of the ¡ºDeath Legion¡» increased!] ''Oh.'' The effects of the title were evident. ''Now, I should try using the Death Legion, shouldn''t I?'' Fortunately, perhaps because they were rabbit corpses, it didn''t consume much mana. He had over 40% of his mana remaining. Maintaining them wouldn''t be a problem. Necromancer, the flower of ck magic. Thinking of raising corpses and hunting with them, Seonghyun gave the order. "Hmm..." ''Sweep the surroundings?'' ''Kill them all?'' As he pondered what to say, the rabbits all nodded simultaneously. ''I canmand them with my thoughts?'' Come to think of it, the other ghosts also understood Seonghyun''s thoughts. As if in continuation of that, the rabbits, now risen as death soldiers, swept through the beginner hunting ground with overwhelming force. They were much faster than ordinary rabbits, subduing and hunting down their living counterparts. Their power was awe-inspiring. Even Seonghyun watched in admiration. Unlike the other rabbits, which couldn''t cooperate, the death soldiersmunicated with each other, strategizing and overwhelming the living rabbits. Their swift and stealthy movements ensured they remained unnoticed by other users. "Huh? Weren''t there rabbits here just a moment ago?" "Oh? The rabbit I was about to catch has disappeared too?" "Hahaha! What are you talking about? That''s impossible... Huh? There really are no rabbits?" Although there weren''t many users around, most of them were surprised. The rapidly disappearing rabbits were strange. No matter how hard they looked, they couldn''t find any rabbits. Only Seonghyun could see it. ''Wow...'' Even Seonghyun, who usually remained unfazed, couldn''t help but be astonished this time. It was truly instantaneous. The number of rabbits in the beginner hunting ground had been reduced to a third. He knew it was powerful, but he didn''t expect it to be this strong. ''How many did they kill in such a short time?'' As his curiosity grew, a message answered his question. [You have hunted over 100 rabbits in the beginner hunting ground in a short period of time.] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºBeast yer of the Beginner Vige¡».] ''Over 100 rabbits?'' To think they hunted over 100 rabbits in such a short time. It was an unbelievable speed. It wasn''t without its drawbacks. ''My mana has significantly decreased after that hunt.'' He now had less than 10% remaining. ''But is this really a drawback?'' Seonghyun''s mana was high for a level 1 character in the beginner vige, but it wasn''t an exceptionallyrge amount. It was enough to maintain andmand the legion. He had been hunting with a sword until now, but... ''There''s no need to stick to that anymore.'' He clicked his tongue in amazement. ''Now that I''m low on mana, I should dismiss the Death Legion.'' The rabbits gathered in one ce and bowed their heads to Seonghyun as if saluting him. He felt a little regretful about their decaying bodies. The twenty corpses could have been sold for money, but they would disappear once dismissed from the Death Legion. It was a bit of a shame, but on the other hand, he had over 100 rabbit corpses. ''Butchering them all will take a while.'' He sat down, determined to finish quickly. Then, as if he had forgotten, he remembered something. ''I haven''t checked the title effect.'' ''I should check any new ones right away.'' Thinking this, Seonghyun opened the title window. It was quite a catchy name. ¡ºBeast yer of the Beginner Vige¡» ¡ú¡¶Epic¡· ¡úTitle granted to users who hunt over 100 rabbits and other beast-type monsters in the beginner vige 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 vige...'' ''Should I sell all the leather and meat and move on?'' 0. In the beginner vige, you could only leave through the vige chief, no matter where you were. This was to prevent beginners who weren''t ready from leaving before the vige chief deemed them qualified. The qualifications weren''t particrly strict. If you didn''t have a certificate ofpletion 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 ofpletion and the Butchering skill. And the reason you had toplete various tasks as quests before meeting the vige 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 vige was essentially a giant tutorial. The butcher NPC, Marlen, also yed 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 neer with at least some basic skills. If you use too much force when skinning the meat, this is what happens. So, try to rx 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 neers, 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 neers 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 regr butcher shop customer! Wee, wee!!!" 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 andposed, 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 neer in the vige 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 wee 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.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 copsed, 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 copsed!" "She fainted while standing!!!" "I-is she breathing, Marlen?" "Uwaaa! Save Marlen!!!" [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 14 [Trantor - 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 copse before." "Yeah, wasn''t that dangerous?" "Puhaha,e on, who dies from seeing a mountain of meat and hides?" Theyughed 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 themotion subsided, Marlen marveled at the unbelievable mountain of hides and meat. ''A-amazing.'' Many neers hunted a lot of rabbits and sold them before leaving the vige. But a neer 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 vige chief.'' That a great neer had arrived in Hindel Vige. 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 essed after befriending the sole mage of Hindel Vige. 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 seeded. Looking at it again, the mountain of meat and hides was overwhelming. ''I thought something had changed...'' She had thought he was an unusual neer, 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 regr, 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 regr 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 heartyugh. She had already given him a discount as a regr 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 toplete the 50 gold challenge in the beginner vige, 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''tprehend. 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 vige 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 vige 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 vige, where he had maximized his earnings from selling hides and meat. He had achieved the remarkable feat of obtaining a whopping 100 gold. ''How much was 100 gold again?'' ''What was the exchange rate? Was it 10 silver to 1 dor?'' He had looked it upst night, but he couldn''t remember exactly. He vaguely recalled that 1 gold was close to ten thousand won. So, even with a rough calction... ''Is this worth a million won?'' A staggering 100 gold in the beginner vige. Even considering the high prices of meat and hides in the beginner vige, this was a significant amount. Considering that most people only aimed for 10 gold before moving on, this was ten times that amount. Seonghyun couldn''t help but gulp. He hadn''t realized it, but this was a considerable sum of money. ''This is amazing.'' He hadn''t seriously considered that a game could be this profitable. ''Hmm.'' It was fun, and it paid well. There was no reason to refuse. It seemed like his sister was supporting him too. Above all... ''It''s an Almighty ss.'' If it were just that, Seonghyun wouldn''t have taken it too seriously. He would have enjoyed it for a while and then moved on, but not anymore. An Almighty ss, and the memories and experiences of the world''s strongest Demon King. It was a shame that Helena''s soul seemed to have attained Nirvana, but her memories and experiences remained with Seonghyun. It would be foolish not to utilize them. Seonghyun had already made up his mind. To think he would decide to be a professional gamer after just one day of ying. ''Mom and Dad don''t seem to mind too much either.'' They didn''t say much, even though they knew his sister was making a lot of money from gaming. Being absorbed in a game and even making it a career? From an outsider''s perspective, it might seem like a failure as a parent. Although perceptions were slowly changing after Eternal World became a global mega-hit, it was difficult topletely change the minds of older generations. Nevertheless, their eptance of their children deserved respect. ''I should be filial to them.'' And also give his sister a piece of his mind. Lost in thought, Seonghyun arrived at the vige chief''s house in the center of the vige. It seemed like he had arrived quickly while pondering. It was arger house than the others, with guards stationed at the entrance. Because of these guards, he had toplete various chore quests to enter the vige chief''s house, but Seonghyun didn''t need such quests. He had a secret weapon. ¡ºGruger''s Rmendation Letter¡» As Seonghyun approached, the guards became alert. Someone opened the door of the vige chief''s house and stepped out. A somewhat familiar NPC. ''Wait? Who is that?'' He couldn''t recall immediately, but it was an employee from the other butcher shop, not the one where Marlen worked. ''Why is heing out of the vige chief''s house?'' It wasn''t really any of his business, but since Seonghyun was alsoing from the butcher shop, he was momentarily curious. However, he didn''t dwell on it. He didn''t want to get too involved in the affairs of NPCs. "Hans, give me a discount on the meat next time." "Sigh, you know how Marlen is. No chance." "That''s true. Haha! Well then, I''ll head back in." "Take care." "Yes, you guys be careful on duty too." Hans exchanged friendly greetings with the guards and ran towards the butcher shop. Then, noticing Seonghyun in front of the vige chief''s house, he greeted him with a cheerful wave. "Oh! Seonghyun, isn''t it! Huh, to think you''re already here to see the vige chief! As expected, you''re amazing! May your path be forever blessed! See you!" "Ah, yes. Thank you?" Hans dashed off before Seonghyun could even finish his reply. Seeing his speed, Seonghyun understood why he had arrivedter. Anyway, that wasn''t important. After Hans left, the two guards turned their attention back to Seonghyun and said, "We can''t let just any neer in here." "You need to help us with our chores before we can let you in." Looking at the stern guards, Seonghyun presented the ¡ºGruger''s Rmendation Letter¡» he had prepared in advance. "Gasp!?? I-Instructor Gruger''s Rmendation Letter!?!" "So-so you''re that neer!!! We apologize for taking up your time! Please,e in!" "To think you''re the neer recognized by Instructor Gruger! We''re sorry we didn''t recognize you!" "Khaha! To be acknowledged by Instructor Gruger, you must be truly remarkable! Indeed!" "Huh? Ah, yes, thank you..." Flustered by the guards'' continuous praise, Seonghyun epted their enthusiastic greetings and stood before the vige chief''s house. One of the guards knocked on the door and announced, "Vige Chief! The neer with Instructor Gruger''s Rmendation Letter is here." "..." Although there was no audible response from inside, the guard took it as permission and kindly opened the door for him. "Here,e in. Haha. It''s an honor to meet a neer like you!" "You''ll be the pride of our vige!" "Tha...nk you." Seonghyun entered the vige chief''s house, blushing with embarrassment. An elderly man sitting in a rocking chair in the living room looked at Seonghyun and twitched his long eyebrows. Although his eyes were hidden within his wrinkles, Seonghyun felt as if he had made eye contact with him. "Hello, my name is Seonghyun." "... Nice to meet you. I am Pam, the leader of this Hindel Vige." When Seonghyun greeted him, the vige chief responded with a greeting of his own. His voice, unlike his frail appearance, was filled with strength. Seonghyun couldn''t help but feel slightly impressed by his aura. It was the first time he had heard such a robust voice from someone so incredibly aged. Noticing Seonghyun''s surprise, Vige Chief Pam gestured towards the chair with a familiar motion. "Have a seat." "Ah, thank you." At Vige Chief Pam''s invitation, Seonghyun sat down on the chair facing the rocking chair. Once Seonghyun was seated, Pam spoke. "...I heard you cleared the Hunter''s Forest?" "Ah, yes." Seonghyun didn''t bother asking how he knew. He assumed it was just the game system and moved on. ''So, after this conversation with the vige chief, I can move on to the next vige, right?'' As Seonghyun smiled in anticipation, Vige Chief Pam said something unexpected. "It has been a long-standing tradition in our vige to give a gift to adventurers who clear the Hunter''s Forest. Since you are a neer, 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. Vige 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 vige 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 Vige 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 andposed, 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 ept a precious family heirloom like that." "...Hmm." A tactful refusal. He had phrased it politely, so as not to offend the listener. Vige Chief Pam nodded in agreement. "...Since you say so, I understand." "Whew." "Well, it seems you already have something simr." "..." ''So he did recognize them.''N?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°...¡± ''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 vige chief wasn''t pressing the matter. Seonghyun certainly thought so. However, Vige Chief Pam surprised him with an unexpected offer. "Then I''llpensate 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. Vige Chief Pam''s eyebrows twitched again, as if ncing at Seonghyun. After a moment of contemtion, Vige 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.'' Vige Chief Pam walked steadily to the firece 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, Vige 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 Vige Chief Pam of Hindel Vige.] ''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 ck mage. ¡úSlightly increases mana regeneration after using ck magic skills. ¡úSlightly increases the power of ck 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 us. ''But how did he know?'' That this was an item he desperately needed? ''Does he know I''m a ck mage?'' As this thought crossed his mind, Vige Chief Pam changed the subject. "Where are you nning to go?" "Huh?" Lost in thought, Seonghyun didn''t understand the question at first. Then, realizing what he meant, he immediately replied, "I''m nning to go to Perthville." Perthville was one of the viges that followed the beginner vige, Hindel. It had several advantages, but his sister had highly rmended it. Had she mentioned that the instructors there were excellent? Seonghyun had also researched it and found it to be a rmended vige, so his decision was swift. Vige Chief Pam slowly nodded at his answer, with an expression that seemed to say, "As expected." Seonghyun felt a strange dizziness from the vige 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 15 [Trantor - 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 gamey. Even though he''d been ying the game from the beginning, this was the first time it truly felt real. With his heart pounding, Seonghyun looked at Vige Chief Pam, his face slightly flushed with excitement. Vige 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. Vige Chief Pam muttered as he watched Seonghyun depart. "Heh heh, the world has changed, but this is still the Hero''s Vige. Forgive me for not being able to wholeheartedly celebrate your birth as a hero. But others will be different. They will dly ept 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 sh of bright light, the scenery around him whizzed by. The sky was a clear blue, and the surroundingndscape 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 difort into a charming experience. "Whoa¡ª!" "Awesome!" "A carriage ride just by opening the door at the Vige 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 viges, just like him. He was the only one from Hindel Vige. Their faces were filled with the excitement of leaving the beginner vige. 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 simr conversations. "Hey! What ss 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 sses. He was probably the first user to change sses in the beginner vige. His title proved it. This meant that, unlike those people, he didn''t need to immediately clear quests to change sses. He also didn''t need to spend any gold. Changing sses 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 vige. ''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 fairlyrge-sized wooden fence came into view in the distance. It was definitely arger vige than the beginner vige. That was Perthville, the first town you encountered after leaving the tutorial. 0. The center of the vige was like a bustling marketce. 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 marketce. But they weren''t hawking goods. Or rather, maybe it was simr? "Goblin subjugation! Looking for a party!" "Graveyard undead subjugation! Looking for a party!!! Level 7, focused on agility, haven''t changed sses 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 sses!!! 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 vige, you were greeted by the central za. 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 za. He knew the center of the vige 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. Even NPCs were doing business amidst the chaos. Escaping the crazy, chaotic central za, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. ''Whew.'' Though he moved calmly, he couldn''t help but feel his energy draining. Still, he had to persevere and find him. Gravedigger Garrick. N?v(el)B\\jnn The name alone suggested he would be somewhere in the cemetery. \ And for Seonghyun, a cemetery was a potential goldmine. With a strange sense of anticipation, he headed towards the cemetery. ''Come to think of it, they said undead monsters appear in the cemetery, right?'' In the case ofrge viges like this, cemeteries were quite extensive. And because of that, undead would sometimes emerge, wouldn''t they? So it wasmon to receive quests from gravediggers to exterminate undead in the cemetery. He had just heard someone in the central za looking for users to help with undead subjugation. It was a popr hunting ground with high demand. Find Gravedigger Garrick in the vast cemetery. ''It doesn''t seem that difficult.'' Even though it wasrge, he could just ask other gravediggers. He wasn''t worried at all. Seonghyun was actually more excited about what he would find after locating Garrick. Cemeteries were mostly located on the outskirts of viges. Perthville was no exception. It wouldn''t make sense to have a cemetery inside arge vige. From the entrance, he could see the massive cemetery, two guards guarding the entrance, and a few NPCs nearby. ''Oh.'' They appeared to be gravediggers. As he entered the cemetery, the guards didn''t stop him. It seemed their role was to prevent the undead from emerging, not to block the entry of users or NPCs. Seonghyun entered the cemetery without any trouble and approached the NPCs who were chatting while holding shovels and various tools. Who else would be holding shovels and tools in a cemetery if not gravediggers? Seonghyun strode towards them and asked, "Are you the gravediggers?" "Huh? You''re a foreigner?" "Haha, what brings you to the likes of us?" "Ah! Are you here for a request?" They seemed to be asking if he wanted to receive a quest. Unfortunately, none of them were named Garrick. "Ah, may I ask you something?" "Sure, if it''s something we know. We can tell you." "Ahem, what are you so curious about?" Seonghyun was a little relieved by their rather friendly reaction. It might have been more difficult if they were closed off, but thankfully, they weren''t. With this kind of response, it seemed safe to ask about Gravedigger Garrick''s whereabouts. Having made that judgment, Seonghyun asked, "Do you happen to know a gravedigger named Garrick?" "...Ah?" "...Ahem." "Old man Garrick?" The atmosphere changed subtly. It wasn''t that he had asked something sensitive. It wasn''t hostile or negative. The NPCs scratched their cheeks, looking rather troubled. Had something happened? Had he moved somewhere else? If that were the case, it wouldn''t be a problem, as he could just go find him. "That... Old man Garrick is dead." "He passed awayst year." "He was an inspiration to many gravediggers." "Ah?" Dead? Gravedigger Garrick? As Seonghyun stared at the NPCs with a dumbfounded expression, a message appeared, like a death announcement. [Gravedigger Garrick is currently deceased.] [The clue continues.] The clue continues. It meant that his death wasn''t rted to the hidden piece. Gravedigger Garrick was the clue, but his death wasn''t connected to the hidden piece? It was already puzzling. For a moment, everything went dark as he wondered where to even begin searching. ''This is tricky.'' He quickly recalled various memories and experiences to grasp the situation. In this kind of situation, Hunter Apik''s memory proved useful. "By any chance, would you know where Mr. Garrick lived?" "Old man Garrick''s room?" "It''s been a year since he died." "Ah! Wasn''t that room left abandoned?! I think they just left it as it was because there was no new gravedigger." "Ah! That''s right! That''s right!" As he listened to the NPCs, a message appeared. [You have obtained a clue about the room used by Gravedigger Garrick.] As expected. Hunter Apik''s memory was useful even in situations like this. Seonghyun marveled at this and was about to express his gratitude when he overheard one of the NPCs. "By the way, there was another foreigner looking for Old man Garrick." "Indeed~" "Excuse me?" "Ah, there was one other besides you. It was a few days ago..." "About five days, I think?" Could he be toote? 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 andplexion 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 nces, 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 nces. 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 juste 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 y?" "Y-yes! We''ve already confirmed it through Immortal." "...And he obtained a hidden piece without any foreshadowing?" "...Yes." "Moreover, a ss 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 y, it''s unlikely he obtained leaked information from one of our employees." "Ah, yes. Immortal''s calctions take that into ount as well." "Sigh, so what''s that user doing now? It says he received a clue about Gravedigger Garrick from the Vige Chief of Hindel Vige..." "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 disyed 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 ss to a ck 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 ck 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 vige 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 ss 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? [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 16 [Trantor - 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 ces. 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 contemtion, Seonghyun opened his mouth. "The vige chief of Hindel Vige 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 wee. -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 exined. There''s something that Vige Chief Pam of Hindel Vige asked me to give you. "Something?" Vige 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 vige chief said at the end. Seeing Seonghyun''s puzzled expression, Garrick scratched his head in embarrassment. -Oh my... I don''t know why Vige 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 ce. 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 vige and even change his ss to a ck 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 ced 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 nced 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 ining here was something other than hunting. Seonghyun didn''t know it, but they were scouts from various guilds. They were stationed in the first vige to recruit promising newbies. Seonghyun''sposure 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,posure 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 shing! ''Hmm?'' Not sword, but blunt attacks? At that moment, Seonghyun recalled the memories of the former instructor, wondering if there was a way to strike with a sword. Just in time, the experience of the former instructor, who had dealt with the undead, surfaced. A skeleton jumped out in front of Seonghyun. It was in a state of rotten bone without any weapons, an undead that could be called the lowest rank. Seonghyun swung his sword at it. "Ah, he swung the sword right away." "It won''t die in one hit like that." "Did he not even prepare a blunt weapon whening to the cemetery?" "Is it unavoidable because he''s a beginner?" As the scouts clicked their tongues in regret, one scout shouted. "No way!? Look over there!" He did swing the sword. But instead of shing, he precisely struck the skeleton''s head with the t of the wide steel sword Whoosh! Crack! The sound of bone breaking spread as the skeleton''s skull caved in with a single blow. The decayed bone instantly crumbled into dust and scattered on the ground as its head was crushed. A precise and clean strike. "With the t of the sword!?" "Whoa! Striking with the t of the sword is no easy feat!" "Judging by the sh of light just now, it seems like a critical hitnded!" "And look at that sword! That longsword! It''s the steel sword!" "Gasp?! He might have spent money on the game..." "He chose that?" The scouts buzzed with admiration, their voices mingling in unison. The sense and judgment shown in that moment, and the talent to execute it. To say hecked skill after seeing this would be blind. While everyone was singing his praises, messages popped up in response to Seonghyun''s strike. [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Experience points acquired.] [You have shown ability beyondmon sense with ''Unknown Power''.] [Dexterity +3 permanently increased.] At the same time, Garrick''s memories and experiences flooded in. The memories and experiences of the gravedigger contained records of confronting various undead. Thanks to this, he could clearly feel it. How to deal with the undead. And paradoxically, by learning how to deal with the undead, he also learned how a ck Mage should handle them. ''Ah.'' Could this be why Vige Chief Pam told him to seek out the gravedigger? Because he was a ck Mage? No, that was an overinterpretation. It was better not to overthink it. For now, he would simply continue forward, defeating the undead. Even without going to Helena, Garrick''s memories and experiences were inferior to those of the former instructor or the hunter Apik. His talent itself, as well as the fact that he was a gravedigger, contributed to this. But at least when it came to the undead generated in this cemetery, it was different. Rattle, rattle. Skeletons emerged once more, rising from the ground. Five in total. Most users would have retreated at such a number, but not Seonghyun. First, he sheathed his steel sword. He wasn''t trying to run away. Tatatatack! He dashed forward towards a shovel lying a short distance away from the skeletons. He reached the shovel and kicked it up with his foot, catching it in his hand as it flew up. A cool and heavy sensation. Gripping the shovel''s handle, Seonghyun''s eyes gleamed as he ran again. With the light sound of Tatatat! and swift speed, The skeletons followed Seonghyun with empty eyes, but his quick changes in direction made it difficult for them to even keep up. As he closed in, something ck loomed before their eyes, and a sound rang out. Crack¡ª! With a dry cracking sound, the bones of the leading skeleton shattered. The skeleton copsed from a single blow. [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Experience points acquired.] Seeing Seonghyun swing the shovel, the skeleton right behind tried to grab him, but Seonghyun instantly lowered his stance by bending his body. And then, a low kick followed. Tadadack! Seonghyun''s kicknded on the fragile leg bones, and the three skeletons trying to grab him fell backward. Ignoring the fallen ones, he swung the shovel at the one struggling to stand behind them. Crack¡ª! [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [Experience points acquired.] The struggling skeleton was smashed to dust by the wide swing of the shovel''s handle. The remaining three tried to get up, but Seonghyun, who had just swung at the struggling one, relentlessly stomped down, crushing the head of one of the three that had fallen. The skull crumbled effortlessly into dust, and he immediately used his stomping foot as a pivot to deliver a powerful kick with his other leg towards the one in front of him. Thud! Crack! [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 ser kick also shattered and scattered into dust. One of the fallen skeletons managed to rise, but itsrades had already turned to dust. The lone skeleton could have been terrified, but the lifeless creature blindly charged. It vividly disyed 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 disy such movements with amon shovel found lying around. The method itself was the same as the gravedigger NPCs, but... It was on apletely different level from what the gravediggers showed.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The speed of his brain as he predicted movements andbat, the path he took as he grasped the whole situation and moved... Not a single thing wascking; 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 ce 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 prating through the dense trees. But this ce 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 hade. 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 essing 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 17 [Trantor - 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 vige at level 20? Because hecked talent? No. Only one reason. Because of the hidden piece. The story of the cabin in the Labyrinth Forest had been circting 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 vige 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 vige, 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 littlete. 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 ck mage were hidden in that cabin. It was something other users besides Bejiron, a ck 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 anyoneing 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 vige, 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 ss, and since he wasn''t level 10 yet, he came to get Garrick''s hidden piece before that quest. An urate guess. That''s how the scouts knew Seonghyun was a beginner. It was also amon way of distinguishing in the first viges, 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 ce 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 dyed 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. What''s so wrong with that! Seonghyun frowned at the sight of Bejiron throwing a tantrum. Actually, he felt sorry until he saw Bejiron in person. And in Actuality, Bejiron had worked hard to reach the hidden piece, and Seonghyun had it easy as he was helped by a ghost. If either of them had legitimacy, it would naturally be the one who worked hard. If Bejiron had talked instead of attacking, he would have been willing to hand it over. But to attack him directly? Seonghyun couldn''t understand it at all. ''Attacking first just because you''re in a hurry?'' That won''t do. Seonghyun''s eyes sank deeply. It was the look in his eyes when he was angry. But it''s extremely rare for things to be resolved by anger alone. What does Seonghyun need most right now? At a nce, the opponent''s level was significantly higher than Seonghyun''s. He could already tell from the information that appeared when he was attacked. [User ¡ºBejiron-Lv.30¡» is attacking you.] [Entering fullbat mode.] [This user has notoriety.] [Attacking will not umte notoriety.] Level 30. He had caught some skeletons, but only gained experience and didn''t level up. Even though he had the title Supernova, which increased experience gain. It seemed to be true that it''s difficult to level up. In that state, it wasn''t easy to ovee a difference of nearly 30 levels. Seonghyun, with his eyes deeply sunken, assessed the situation. It wasn¡¯t a good situation. ''It''s not easy in many ways.'' Seonghyun didn¡¯t have the stats of a typical level 1. If he had topare, his stats are about level 13. If he adds all the title effects and item effects, it''s roughly level 20. Still, there was a 10 level difference. Wouldn''t he be able to manage somehow if he utilizes the memories and experiences he''s gained so far? He also had the memories and experiences of Helena, who was called the Demon King. At least he won''t be helplessly defeated. Since the opponent also seemed to be a ck mage, he should be able to gain an advantage in memories and experience. "Die!!! Morgue Open!!!" Morgue. One of the skills that a ck mage can learn around level 30. The effect was simple, as the name suggests.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om A subspace-type skill that stores the undead one creates. So Bejiron took out the undead he had stored. Two zombies and five skeletons. It wasn¡¯t a small number at all. He could somehow deal with five skeletons, but... ''Two zombies are a problem.'' The level of an ordinary zombie is only 10 at most. But the level of the zombies Bejiron summoned now is... "Groooan." "Groooaaar." [Lv.23 Zombie] [Lv.23 Zombie] A whopping level 23. The skeletons were also not level 2 or 3 like the ones Seonghyun caught earlier, but each one was level 15. Although they were lower level than Bejiron, it wasn''t easy either. No, maybe those undead are more troublesome. Should he move and fight with a sword? No. If he did, Bejiron, who was behind them, would fire magic spells to keep him in check. There were bone arrows, and there would be other offensive dark magic. "Groooan!" Rattle, rattle! "Groooaaar!" Zombies and skeletons slowly rushed in. Seonghyun bit his lip as he watched them. ''Death Aura? No.'' Death Aura only deals damage over time to living things. ¡®There was an exnation that it devours the soul and body of the dead, but what does that mean?¡¯ ¡®Let''s try to recall Helena''s memories.¡¯ -Shall I help you? The voice of a female ghost he had heard somewhere was heard. There were definitely no ghosts other than Garrick''s ghost here? ''Huh?'' As Seonghyun turned his head in familiarity. There was a very small person there. No, to be precise, a small person ghost? It was a ghost he already knew. A woman in a ck dress and a ck bo worn by medieval women, with her luscious red hair fluttering with ck silk floss, holding a ck parasol, looked at Seonghyun with an alluring smile. Even though he knew she was a ghost, he was momentarily captivated by her alluring appearance, but Seonghyun saw the zombie''s arm swinging towards him and lightly stepped back and dodged. Wheek! "Groooan!" Seonghyun focused on dealing with the zombies rather than thinking about how. Helena also, without any further exnation, revealed the ck floss attached to her bo, and her ck eyes began to turn teal. -Death Aura isn''t only effective on the living. "Ah." He only realised it after seeing Helena''s words and teal eyes. The memory of Death Aura that Seonghyun himself couldn''t fully recall. The hidden effect of Death Aura that he would be able to use in the near future. The moment Seonghyun realized that, his eyes began to glow turquoise. Seeing that, Bejironughed as if he had expected it. 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 urred. 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 ck mage skill, but a beginner who wasn''t even level 10 had changed ss? Strange. One can change ss at level 10, and if they¡¯ve already changed ss, there''s no way they wouldn''t have a bracelet. But that''s definitely a ck mage¡¯s skill. Bejiron being a ck 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 ck 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 iprehensible messages. At the same time, he felt the damage repeatedlying 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 hisposure. ''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 hismands, they opened their mouths wide toward the sky! Then, as if vomiting something, teal smoke, simr 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 waspleted. "Bone Arrow!!!" Bejiron chanted, and the bone arrow created in the air flew vigorously towards Seonghyun. However. Thud! An arm like a ck shadow appeared in the middle and snatched the arrow. The owner of the arm, which was as ck as a shadow but emitted teal smoke from the cracks in between, was a zombie. The one that had been under Bejiron''smand 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.¡¯ [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 18 [Trantor - 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 werepletely 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 ss 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 sses 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 rity. No, it was even more profound than that. It was simr to the overwhelming sense of power he felt when he first became an Overlord. That same feeling of liberation. Apanying 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 ce. 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 hismand, the zombies and skeletons¡ªno, the Death Legion¡ªsprang into action. Their movements were on a different levelpared 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 undeadcked 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''smand. 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, dyed 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. Their shadowy forms flickered as significant damage umted. The skeletons, on the other hand, didn''t suffer as much damage, but the spikes lodged between their bones, immobilizing thempletely. Bejiron smirked, satisfied with the skill that both attacked and restrained his enemies. The teal mist in the air amplified the damage, but that was fine. He just needed to eliminate Seonghyun. ''Now I''ll finish you off!'' The undead that could have aided Seonghyun were all immobilized. Bejiron seemed to have the upper hand, but at that moment, a teal spear flew towards him. "Ugh!" He couldn''t react in time to the swift spear, but his higher level prevented a fatal blow. It struck his shoulder instead. The spear, formed of light, pierced through Bejiron''s shoulder as if it were soft butter. Thud. "Aaagh!" The damage was severe. How could a beginner inflict such damage?! But his surprise was premature. [Dark damage applied.] [All sight and senses will be impaired for 3 seconds.] "W-What is this?" His vision blurred, and he felt as if he had been spun around dozens of times. He could barely see. His vision was a jumbled mess. He couldn''t distinguish up from down, left from right. He would have preferredplete blindness to this disorienting chaos. His senses were haywire. Through his distorted vision, Bejiron saw Seonghyun moving away. Was he running away? "N-No! Don''t run!" Bejiron shouted pathetically. Suddenly, Seonghyun, who had been moving away, seemed to get closer. Just as he wondered what was happening, his vision spun again. Huh? "Why am I...?" ...on the ground? Amidst the dizziness and blurred vision, only the messages were clear. [Critical Hit!] [You are being eroded by an irresistible force.] [Your HP has reached 0. You are being forcibly logged out.] [Death penalty increased due to notoriety.] [You drop one of your highest-rank items due to notoriety.] "N-..." He wanted to scream, but he couldn''t even do that before being forcibly logged out. Unable to utter a final word, he vanished into dust. Bejiron, the highest-level user in Perthville, had been defeated. Seonghyun finally let out a short sigh of relief. "Whew." He had thought his opponent would be overwhelming. He had managed to win thanks to several advantageous conditions. Especially the wraith of the dead; without them, it wouldn''t have been easy, even for Seonghyun. All the help was thanks to Helena. "Thank you." Seonghyun expressed his gratitude to Helena, but through the veil she had once again donned, her fatigue was evident. Was it because she had used her powers? -Yawn. I''m tired, so I''ll go back in. See you next time. "Okay." After hearing Seonghyun''s reply, Helena shed a captivating smile through the ck veil and disappeared into his chest. ''She lives in my body?'' He wondered if it was okay for a ghost to reside within him, but he didn''t dwell on it. If there was something wrong or problematic, he would have known instinctively. He didn''t sense anything like that now. As the tension from the victory dissipated, he felt his strength draining away. A cascade of messages followed. [You have won your first battle against another user!] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºFighter¡».] [You have triumphed over a user with a significantly higher level!] [Achievement unlocked!] [The title, ¡ºFighter¡» has evolved into the title, ¡ºMaster of Combat¡»!] [You have gained experience points!] [Level Up!] ¡Á7 [You have reached Level 8.] [You have defeated an opponent with notoriety.] [You have acquired the title, ¡ºRighteous Adventurer¡».] [You have defeated an opponent who initiated the attack.] [You have acquired the opponent''s item, ¡ºSturdy Beginner ck Mage Robe¡».] "Oh?" He felt his drained strength returning as the tension left his body. So many rewards! He had acquired a title, which then immediately evolved, and he had gained another title that seemed promising. His level had increased by 7, reaching level 8, and he even got an item? It was a treasure trove. Now he could understand why some users hunted other users. Not that he would do it himself, though. ''So that''s why there are people who hunt down notorious yers.'' He had heard of the so-called ''bounty hunters'' who targeted notorious yers for greater rewards than those obtained from monsters. Now he understood why they existed. Anyway, despite the numerous rewards, he didn''t check them right away. Because¡­ -Oh my! Then take what''s in my hut too! Garrick, who was standing next to him, was urging him to quickly im his reward. Seonghyun smiled faintly, as if to say he understood. It was rather amusing to see the usually slow-paced Garrick acting so impatiently. While Seonghyun could have teased him for his amusing reaction, he was kind-hearted and decided to follow Garrick''s suggestion and enter the hut. Sunlight streamed through the dpidated hut''s ceiling. Covered in a thickyer of dust, it was clear that no one had visited in a long time. The tranquil hut contained only a simple bed and a desk, upon which sat a single box. -That''s it! Garrick eximed excitedly, urging him to open it. Without dy, Seonghyun opened the box. Creak. The old hinges groaned as the box opened. Inside, there was a book and an envelope.N?v(el)B\\jnn [You have acquired a Hidden Piece, a ck Mage-exclusive Unique-rank skill book, ¡ºSkill Book - Proliferating Dead¡»!] [You have acquired a Hidden Piece, a Unique-rank item, ¡ºRmendation Letter for the Special ck Mage Academy¡»!] ''A Unique skill book? And on top of that...'' A Rmendation Letter for the Special ck Mage Academy? Seonghyun gulped and scratched his cheek. A Unique-rank skill book was surprising enough, but a Rmendation Letter for the Special ck 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 ¡ºRmendation Letter for the Special ck Mage Academy¡»can be used from Level 10 onwards.] ''So I need to level up two more times.'' Well, that didn''t seem particrly 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 iprehensible 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 exin what they didn''t understand themselves. This was their first time encountering such a thing. Oh Jinhyeok, in particr, couldn''t say a word. He had confidently dered 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 spection, 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. ss rank? Sure, it can make a significant difference when both yers have high levels. If a level 230 yer with a Normal-rank ss fights a level 200 yer with an Almighty-rank ss, the Almighty-rank yer would most likely win. As levels increase, the difference in ss rank bes more pronounced. However, there''s virtually no Almighty-rank ss that allows a level 1 yer to defeat a level 30 yer. Not even the Overlord, considered special even among Almighty sses. 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 levelpared to the rankers when they were level 1." Team Leader Jung Jihye couldn''t help but agree. The fluctuating data was unprecedented, but his gamey 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 weighting 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 exined, "He acquired a Unique-rank skill exclusive to ck 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 sses or acquired Unique skills from the beginning. Team Leader Jung Jihye reacted to Lee Wonsong''s exnation. "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 yer, 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 irregrities, if they arise." "Th-then..." "Report anything you find immediately. Even if it meansing 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 ss 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 ss.'' There might be other peculiarities associated with it. She needed to delve into the history of the Overlord. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 19 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 19 0. Seonghyun was the type to save the best forst. 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 ssified 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 themand 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 numbersid 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 ck Mages.'' Seonghyun felt satisfied with the steady progress he was making as a ck Mage. If Bejiron had heard that, he would have cried foul. ''Next is the item, right?'' The item Bejiron had gifted him. ¡ºSturdy Beginner ck Mage Robe¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA sturdy robe crafted for beginner ck Mages. ¡úDespite being a robe, its exceptional durability offers considerable defense. ¡úIncreases defense by +2%. ¡úSlightly increases the power of ck Magic skills. ''As expected, robes are essential for ck 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 vige 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 ck 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 ck Mage ss. ¡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 exim 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 ck 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. ¡ºRmendation Letter for the Special ck Mage Academy¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡úRestriction: ck Mage ss, Level 10 or above. ¡úA rmendation letter that grants admission to the Special ck Mage Academy. ¡úPerhaps something special will happen if you present this letter? ''Even the dessert is perfect.'' Another Unique Hidden Piece. A rmendation letter for the Special ck Mage Academy. He needed to reach level 10 first, but his next destination was set. As Seonghyun''s destination became clear, Garrick seemed to sense it and said with a grin, -Oh my! That''s wonderful news. I''ll be on my way then! I wish you the best of luck! "Thank you very much." -Oh no, no need for thanks! I was just keeping it safe for Pam. Don''t wander too far now! Seonghyun smiled and sent Garrick on his way, amused by his easygoing nature. No one was as pure as the ghosts who always supported him. Seonghyun wanted to help them in return, but they steadfastly refused. It was a shame. They said they desired nothing more than for him to make good use of the help they offered. Well, he had to honor their wishes, didn''t he? ''Let''s go hunting.'' He was only two steps away from level 10. With the increased experience gain... It might take a while, but... ''I have Death Aura and the Death Legion.'' If he hunted in groups before his mana ran out, things might be different. First, where should he hunt while waiting for the cooldown to end? Leaving the hut, he soon arrived at the cemetery. Still teeming with skeletons. ''Alright, let''s test the effects of the title.'' He had leveled up, but hadn''t allocated any additional stat points. His attack power and damage should remain the same. It would be a simpleparison. "ck, ck." There was no need to look far; a skeleton was nearby. Seonghyun charged forward and swung the shovel he had picked up earlier at the skeleton''s head. Crack! A heavy, chilling sensation in his hand! [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [You have gained experience points.] With a single blow, the skeleton''s skull shattered. Its body crumbled into dust. His attack power had definitely increased. Previously, it would have taken him three or four hits. But now, with the title''s effect, he could defeat it in a single strike. ''Oh.'' Even Seonghyun couldn''t help but be surprised. He had thought it would still take at least two hits, even with the increased attack power. But to defeat it in a single blow... This changed everything. ''Should I try this until Death Aura''s cooldown ends?'' Seonghyun lightly stretched, loosening his muscles. Simultaneously, he called upon the memories of the gravedigger Garrick and the previous instructor. He focused on the memories themselves, just as he had when receiving Helena''s help. "Hoooo..." He exhaled a long, slow breath, his eyes sinking deep in concentration. Two sets of memories flowed through him like a panorama. No, perhaps "histories" was a more fitting word. The lives of Garrick and the previous instructor flowed into him, unfiltered. Within that flow, Seonghyun maintained a clear sense of self. No, he didn''t even have to try; it happened naturally. Just as one doesn''t mistake oneself for the protagonist while watching a movie. Seonghyun observed their histories as if watching two films. He learned that the former instructor, whose name he hadn''t known, was called Eddie, and that Garrick had a wife who had passed away. Deep in concentration, Seonghyun''s eyes took on a teal hue. A faint teal light emanated from him, gently illuminating his surroundings. The sight of him enveloped in this aura was both mystical and captivating. "Huh?! It''s that user from before!" "Let''s go make him an offer now!" "Get out of the way! I saw him first!" The scouts, who had been bickering amongst themselves as they approached Seonghyun, stopped in their tracks, halted by his aura. ''Wh-what''s with this atmosphere?!'' ''It''s, it''s hard to approach him!'' ''Such intense concentration.'' Just as a hush falls over a noisy room when someone is deeply focused, the same happened with the scouts. They couldn''t see the mystical teal aura surrounding Seonghyun, but they could sense the atmosphere. Especially as guild scouts who dealt with people, they all instinctively stopped. Gulp! The surroundings fell silent so quickly that someone''s gulp was clearly audible. In this state, Seonghyun began to move. Tatatatatatata! He dashed across the ground, his feet barely touching the earth as he swung his shovel in a scooping motion. Sparks flew as the shovel scraped the ground with a scraping sound. The sparks lingered in the air, tracing the shovel''s trajectory in red. And at the end of that trajectory was a skeleton''s head. Crack! [Critical Hit!]n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [You have gained experience points.] Without even looking at the messages, Seonghyun adjusted his stance and targeted the next skeleton. He shifted his weight to the opposite leg, as if taking a step forward, adjusted his stance, and swung the shovel in the opposite direction with a twist of his waist. Crack! [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] [You have gained experience points.] The message appeared once again. Ignoring it, he swung the shovel at another skeleton. Cracking and crunching sounds intermingled as the skeletal remains scattered like dust. "What... is that...?!" "A sh-shovel?!" "That was a shovel?! I-I thought it was a sword!!!" "M-me too!!!" 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 asionally 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 shed 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 muchter, right?" "Huh? Then what is this?" "Yeah, what is it?" While the users were perplexed, a sudden change urred. 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 simr 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 ck 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 ck Mage? And a Necromancer at that? But that wasn''t all. As Seonghyun issued amand, all the skeletons moved in unison and began to ughter everything around them. -ck! ck! -Crack! Crack! -Click! ck! "Cl-ck!?" "Cl-ck!?" Although the undead shed against each other, Seonghyun''s Death Legion was in a league of its own. Overwhelming force! The ck 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 ss; it was something higher. To disy such power and prowess... "A-at least Epic?!" Gulp. Everyone held their breath, watching Seonghyun''s disy 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 ess to the ss Academy.] [You can now use the ¡ºRmendation Letter for the Special ck Mage Academy¡».] ''Now I can go.'' It was time to use the Hidden Piece and head to the academy. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 20 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 20 1. Every first town after the tutorial, including Perthville, has a ss Academy. As the name suggests, it''s where users go to change sses 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 wasplete 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 rece 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 reced with a Rare skill. For those without ess 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 amon 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 academytely?" "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 me was your ownck 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''sck 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 wereced 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 epted 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." "How do you know that so well?" "...You don''t need to know."N?v(el)B\\jnn "Anyway, what''s going on?" As the users puzzled over the situation, the guards'' attitudes took aplete 180-degree. They bowed deeply towards the handsome user standing before them. "P-please,e in." "W-we apologize for not recognizing you." "Huh? Oh, no worries." The handsome user brushed off their apologies and entered, while the guards wiped away beads of sweat. It was like witnessing soldiers snapping to attention when a high-ranking officer visited their post. They hadn''t expected him to be treated with such deference. The users who had been mocking and dismissing him watched in disbelief. What was happening? Those guards usually acted arrogant even towards users entering the special academy. And yet, they were treating this bracelet-less, first-time user with such respect? "Wh-who is that guy?" "I-I have no idea." "S-seriously, who is he?" Dumbfounded, the users could only stammer, unable to form coherent sentences. They could only wonder. In the world of Eternal World, where skill was everything, just how incredible must someone be to receive such treatment from those guards? And to top it off, he was handsome too. "...Please, let him be at least three centimeters shorter than me..." "...Let''s not go there. That''s just pathetic." "Sob..." That day, in front of the ss Academy, quite a few male users shed tears of envy. 2. Yeon was an exceptional user, in everyone''s eyes. Yeon herself believed so too. Her talent had been evident from her time in the beginner vige. While others struggled and sweated to hunt rabbits, she had effortlessly taken them down with grace andposure. She was vastly different from those who relied on grouping and cooperation. Soloing a rabbit in one attempt held significant meaning in Eternal World. While taking down a single rabbit didn''t necessarily indicate talent, talented users tended to achieve it. Yeon felt the same way. ''I''m talented!'' Even her friends, who had started the game together, acknowledged it. That belief became a source of pride for Yeon, and despite having yed for only a few days, it had already changed many things about her. ''What if I don''t have any talent?'' She didn''t entertain such worries. She was overwhelmingly superiorpared to those around her. After watching videos of rising stars broadcasted online, that thought solidified into certainty. ''Why did I start sote?'' She regretted starting sote. There was no need to witness firsthand how deeply she was immersed in her own talent. The ss she chose was none other than ck Mage. The reason was simple. They seemed far more elegant than those who soloed or formed parties to hunt. Melee sses, struggling and sweating in closebat, and ranged sses, unable to do anything on their own without the protection of melee sses. Yeon believed neither suited her. She wanted to be a one-person army, leading a legion of undead all by herself. That''s why she chose ck Mage. And she realized that her choice was right. ''It suits me perfectly!'' She could create undead to form her own vanguard while she eliminated enemies from the back with her overwhelming talent and sense. Yeon''s talent shone brightly even in this first town. Unlike the beginner vige, the users here were stronger, having acquired skills, but none could evene close to her. Moreover, after learning basic skills at the intermediate academy, she challenged the special academy and seeded on her second attempt. It was a remarkable achievement, a testament to her blossoming talent. However, the fact that it took her two attempts bruised her pride. Failing to seed on her first try bothered her. ''I have to do better.'' Her pride turned into stubbornness. This motivated Yeon to work even harder. In the end, it turned out to be a positive driving force. Despite her talent, the standards of the special ck Mage academy professor were strict and demanding. Only one ss per day, and only for a single hour. Objectively, she could learn skills faster than anyone else who had entered the special academy. But the professor''s reaction was lukewarm. "Hmm, you haven''t learned it yet?" "Just how much do I have to exin before you understand?" "You don''t understand this part?" His responses weren''t dismissive, but rather genuinely bewildered. It was like a genius trying to teach someone with far less talent. As these instances piled up, Yeon inevitably became sensitive. ''This can''t be happening.'' She couldn''t believe she was being looked down upon, but the NPC professor''s words were true. In Yeon''s eyes, the professor teaching her was a genius. Even though she scoured the inte and confirmed that she was exceeding the average learning speed of those who entered the special academy, it didn''tfort her. She resolved to gain the professor''s acknowledgement in the remaining time. Today, she attended ss determined to master the lesson even faster than yesterday. As she was about to start the lesson, she heard a knock. Who could that be? As Yeon''s mind filled with questions, the professor spoke. "Come in." A momentter, the door opened, and a man entered. Another user besides herself, whom she had thought was the only one in Perthville. 3. Seonghyun, the handsome user who had been the subject of much envy, waspletely unaware of it as he entered the special academy with the letter in hand. The building was built in a medieval style, but it was quiterge and spacious. As big as it was, it had many rooms, each with a ss specialization written above the door. There was only one ce for Seonghyun to go. [¡ºSpecial¡» ck Mage Academy] Looking at the sign with the word "special" particrly emphasized, Seonghyun lightly knocked. It wasmon courtesy to knock before entering any room. Knock, knock. Shortly after knocking, a voice came from inside. "Come in." It was the voice of someone quite old. He could sense a hint of strictness and coldness in the tone. ''Perhaps a strict professor?'' With anticipation, Seonghyun opened the door and stepped inside. The academy''s interior was more pleasant than he expected. About the size of a university lecture hall? It could probably amodate 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, red 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 vignce, astonishment, and otherplex 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 ck 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 ande here?" "Excuse me? Oh, that..." "Judging by yourck 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 re. Ignoring her gaze, Seonghyun replied, "Actually, I brought this with me." "Hmm?" The old professor epted 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 vige head of Hindel. ''Could it be that Pam is actually a powerful figure?'' Just as that thought crossed his mind... "Wel-wee! 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''spliment. 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 ss with him. On the other hand, Yeon, as she was called, nced 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 ssroom.'' 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''sment 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 outpliments so casually. However, after witnessing the professor''s shocked reaction to the paper Seonghyun presented, her annoyance escted 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 academypletion 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? Uneptable. ''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 red 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 ring 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 ck Mage academy." With that, the ss began. At the same time, Yeon looked at Seonghyun with a confident thought. ''I''ll defeat him overwhelmingly.'' She would show him that this ce wasn''t a yground, 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 ce to learn ck 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 nced 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 21 [Trantor - 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 triedmunicating 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 ck 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 ck 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 ck mages since they were in this ssroom. 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 topletely 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 ss."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ss, huh? Unlike the academy where skills were learned from books, this ce offered actual sses. 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 ss 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 yers emphasized the importance of basic skills. The guides Seonghyun had read all agreed: skipping ss out ofziness 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 toplete at least an advanced ck 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 ck 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 ss. 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 arrowse from?" Urden''s sudden question could have been disconcerting, but both Yeon, who was already familiar with it, and Seonghyun remained calm. It was Yeon who raised her hand first to answer the surprise question. "Isn''t it bone reconstructed with the caster''s mana?" "Hmm, unfortunately, that''s incorrect." Urden shook his head regretfully. Yeon frowned in frustration, but it was alright. If she couldn''t answer it, that guy definitely wouldn''t be able to. This wasn''t something you could easily find in strategy guides. At that moment, Urden turned his head towards Seonghyun, seemingly prompting him to answer. As Seonghyun found himself in the spotlight, Helena''s words echoed in his mind. -Easy peasy. "It''s a magic that summons a part of a bone from the underworld using the caster''s mana." "Ohhh! Incredible! That''s correct!" "...???" Urden was visibly surprised, and Yeon stared at Seonghyun in disbelief. ¡®How did he know that?¡¯ ''Was it a coincidence?'' Even if it was, Yeon''s pride was dealt another small blow. To be outdone by that guy from the start... How frustrating. Urden was also quite surprised. In all his time as a professor here, he had never met an outsider who could answer his question. He couldn''t help but admire Seonghyun inwardly. ''As expected of someone rmended by THAT PERSON!'' There was always a reason behind that person''s rmendations. They wouldn''t rmend someone without good cause. Keeping these thoughts to himself, Urden nodded and asked Seonghyun, "How did you know that?" "Ah, I''ve seen someone use it before." It wasn''t a lie. He had seen Helena use it in his memories, and he had also seen Bejiron use it. Of course, Helena''s memories included the principles behind the magic. It couldn''t be easier. Urden nodded in satisfaction at Seonghyun''s answer. "That''s an excellent answer." "Tsk." "...?" ¡®Why does she dislike me so much?¡¯ -Isn''t she jealous that you''re doing well? She seems like the type who''s full of herself, and now that you''ve appeared, she''s probably feeling jealous. ''Is that so?'' Would someone really dislike him this much just because of that? Although Seonghyun didn''t usually let things bother him, he couldn''t help but feel a bit ufortable. Still, he decided to let it slide. "Ahem, to continue the lesson, as Seonghyun said, it''s a magic that summons bones from the underworld, the dimension of the deceased, using the caster''s mana. The key to this magic is to consume only the amount of mana needed to summon the bones for creating the arrow." "Hmm." "..." Unlike Yeon, who was diligently taking notes and focusing on Urden''s words, Seonghyun simply nodded,paring the information with his own memories. Helena was the best at ck magic in this world, so she was already well-versed in this basic magic. Seonghyun was essentially reviewing the material as he listened to the lecture, but Yeon found his rxed attitude to be a thorn in her side. ¡®He''s just casually listening while I''m taking notes so I don''t miss a single thing?¡¯ She gritted her teeth, her expression filled with frustration. She was determined to master Bone Arrow before Seonghyun, no matter what. ''Just you wait.'' He may have answered the question correctly, but Yeon was determined to prove she was superior in skill and talent. Less than five minutes into the ss, as Yeon was frantically taking notes, Seonghyun''s body emitted a bright light. The radiant light enveloped Seonghyun, ascending upwards as if he was about to rise to the heavens. Fwhoooosh!!! ''Whoa.'' Seonghyun looked up at the light in surprise, while Yeon and Urden stared with wide eyes, unable to believe what they were seeing. This phenomenon could only mean one thing. [Due to an ''unknown power,'' you have gainedplete understanding of the rare skill, ¡ºBone Arrow.¡»] [You have acquired the rare skill, ¡ºBone Arrow.¡»] "S-Seonghyun?! H-Have you already mastered Bone Arrow?!?" "N-No way!!!" This was the phenomenon that urred when someone mastered a skill during ss. But for it to happen in less than five minutes? Urden, unable to believe his eyes, asked again for confirmation. Seonghyun confidently nodded and replied, "Yes." -Ahaha, Seonghyun is incredibly talented, isn''t he? Helena said with an elegantugh in response to Seonghyun''s confident answer. Only Seonghyun could hear her, though. The two continued to stare at Seonghyun in disbelief. Yeon''s gaze, in particr, was filled with anxiety. ¡®He understood and mastered the skill in less than five minutes?¡¯ It couldn''t be cheating. The system had acknowledged his mastery, and the effect had appeared. But still, wasn''t it too fast? Even Yeon, who was quite talented, had taken around 30 minutes to master it, and her acquaintances had been amazed by her speed. So what was this guy? ''I-Is it a bug?'' More than anyone, Yeon knew that couldn''t be true. But she wanted to believe it. That he had used some kind of exploit. ''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 nonchnt 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 simr 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 ss 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 red 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 gainedplete 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 particr, 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 gainedplete 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 gainedplete 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 inferiorityplex. 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''tprehend 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 gainedplete 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 awkwardugh, 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 rmendation letter for nothing!!" "Waaaaah." Unlike Urden, Yeon burst into tears. It wasplete 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 22 [Trantor - 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 ying solo, the game was structured in a way that guilds were advantageous. Of course, there were benefits for solo yers, but they were inevitablyckingpared to those ofrge guilds. Therefore, naturally, even users who preferred solo y 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-sizedpanies. 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 sries 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.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Lee Seongyeong was also one of those professional scouts. ''I haven''t seen any promising rookiestely.'' To be precise, there were many who seemed decent, but the urate expression would be that he hadn''t seen any true gems. Lee Seongyeong clicked his tongue as if perplexed. Lee Seongyeong''s high standards yed 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 torge 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 inte.¡¯ If there were many witnesses, there would surely be a few spreading the news online. He searched the Eternal Worldmunity 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 ck 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 thements 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?] ©¸[ckBald: 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 fewments. There were even more witnesses than expected. In the middle, a strange guy named Vegimil left ament that seemed full of resentment, but it wasn¡¯t worth paying attention to. There were other eyewitness ounts. 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 rmendation 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 bemon?] [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 ck 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 ss change. There were asional cases like this. Cases where someone would change to a high rank and then receive a rmendation letter for the Special ck Mage Academy. He naturally learned about this kind of information as a scout for Sick Brothers, a guild boasting 12th ce in the guild rankings. This meant one thing. ¡®It¡¯s at least an Epic rank ss change.¡¯ Since the minimum rank to receive a Special ck Mage Academy rmendation letter was an Epic rank ss change. Lee Seongyeong''s eyes lit up at this fact. Perhaps this... ¡®This is a good opportunity to make some achievements.¡¯ Lee Seongyeong happened to be logged in with his scout-exclusive alternate character. Naturally, his destination was one ce. Perthville. If it hadn¡¯t been long since they entered the Special ck Mage Academy, they would still be in ss. Assuming they were outstanding, they would be in ss for at least 30 minutes. There was still time. ¡®I need to hurry before other guys catch the scent.¡¯ 1. ¡°Uhahahaha! Farewell! You will surely be a great ck Mage!!¡± Urden, quite old, shouted loudly and waved his hand excitedly. How could he be so energetic at that age? Seonghyun was embarrassed, but he still politely greeted him and left. After learning all the skills, he also received essential items, told to take this and that. Now that he had received the certificate ofpletion for the ss Academy, a bracelet... It could be considered a proper escape from being a beginner. Naturally, Yeon did note to greet him. Thest time Seonghyun learned the Create Lesser Undead skill, she trembled and even cried. There was no way she woulde out. Leaving aside Yeon, who he didn¡¯t need to worry about... He finished the ss, which should have taken several days, in less than 30 minutes. The ss itself was embarrassing and a bit burdensome, but he gained five Rare rank skills. No, since Create Lesser Undead was absorbed into Death Legion, was it four? Anyway, it was quite meaningful. ¡®Shall I take a look?¡¯ He already knew clearly what the skills were through Helena¡¯s memories, but it felt different to see them through the system. He opened four skills at once. ¡ºBone Arrow¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown 10 seconds] ¡úck Mage ss exclusive skill. ¡úCreates an arrow of bone and fires it at the enemy. ¡ºCurse of Pain¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Continuous Effect][Active] [Cooldown 1 minute] [Duration 10 seconds] ¡úck Mage ss exclusive skill. ¡úCasts a curse of pain, causing agony. ¡úThe pain does not cause damage, but the sensation of pain is vivid. ¡úHowever, it cannot be used on targets that cannot feel pain. ¡ºBlood Curtain¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Instant Effect][Active] [Cooldown 30 seconds] ¡úck Mage ss exclusive skill. ¡úDeploys a curtain of blood to block attacks and curses. ¡úThe amount of attacks blocked is proportional to the mana consumed. ¡ºPoison: Pain Numbing¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Continuous Effect][Active] [Cooldown 3 minutes] [Duration 1 minute] ¡úck Mage ss exclusive skill. ¡úInjects poison to numb pain, preventing external stimuli from interrupting concentration. Even Seonghyun, who possessed Almighty rank and Legendary rank skills, briefly expressed admiration. Thanks to Helena, he had obtained Almighty rank and Legendary rank skills, but it was significant that he had upgraded all the basic skills that formed the foundation of a ck Mage to Rare rank. For now, it seemed insignificantpared to the Unique skill, Proliferating Undead. But this would gradually grow bigger and bigger. ¡®This is very good.¡¯ -They are all good spells. Haaaam. Even Helena acknowledged it. Seonghyun saw Helena yawningnguidly again. Although he didn¡¯t show it, she looked quite tired. Did she overexert herself? ¡®Are you tired?¡¯ -Uuung, I¡¯m a bit tired. ¡®Get some more rest.¡¯ There was a lot he wanted to ask. What was the end of the Overlord that Helena yearned for? Since he had seen Helena¡¯s memories of meeting Hindel in her childhood... He wanted to ask if she knew about Hindel¡¯s footsteps. And how she was living in Seonghyun¡¯s body, and how she knew his abilities, and so on. But now that she was with Seonghyun... He could ask her anytime, couldn¡¯t he? Perhaps his warm heart reached her? Helena smiled gracefully and nodded. -Thank you. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able toe out for a while. I used a lot of power. ¡®Okay, get some rest.¡¯ After saying goodbye and disappearing back into Seonghyun''s body, Helena... He would have to ask her when he had the chance. For now, it was time to test out the new skills he had acquired. For the other skills, it wouldn''t matter what kind of monster he used them on, but to test Curse of Pain, he had to avoid undead. This was because undead were set up not to feel pain. Fortunately, Perthville had a lot of hunting grounds. To the extent that all he had to do was choose any of them. ¡®Where should I go?¡¯ Which one should he choose? First, Seonghyun recalled his previous battles. The cemetery he went to as soon as he arrived in Perthville. ¡®There were quite a few people there, weren¡¯t there?¡¯ Until now, Seonghyun had received a lot of attention wherever he went. He had never really been noticed in reality. But it was different in the game. It wasn''t that he wasn''t used to it, but more than anything, he was a bit shy. It was good to be praised and admired, but... 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 ce came to mind. ¡®Was it the Perthville ins?¡¯ 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 ce Seonghyun had in mind. Perthville ins. 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 ce for Seonghyun right now. ¡®Let¡¯s go there right away.¡¯ In this ce, 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 ins fluttered in the wind, surging like waves across the ins. 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 in 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 whileing 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¡» ¡ºss¡» ¡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 feelcking 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 Curtainpletely 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. ng. ¡°Kek!?¡± ¡°Keruk!?¡± ¡°Kekek!¡± Three green dwarves were startled when their surprise attack failed. A verymon monster in fantasy games, novels, andics. Goblins. Green skin and ugly green hair were intertwined, creating a greenish glow. At first nce, 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 andunched a counterattack. For a moment, he thought about activating Death Aura, but shook his head. Wasn¡¯t there amon 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 thest 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 23 [Trantor - 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. 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 apuded 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 ovee 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.N?v(el)B\\jnn 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, whichcked 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 hade 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 be too quiet. And as he turned his head, something shed, 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. He could use it every time a corpse appeared. As expected of an Almighty rank skill. Without hesitation, he used Death Legion. A teal heart bloomed in Seonghyun''s grasp, and then... It started beating in his hand as if it were exploding. Thump¡ª¡ª¡ª! Thump, thump¡ª¡ª¡ª! Thump¡ª¡ª! As if giving a new heart to the undead... As the sound of a heartbeat echoed... The teal smoke rising from the three goblin corpses seeped into the corpses. The goblins¡¯ souls, trying to escape from the corpses, were caught by the teal smoke and settled back into their bodies along with the smoke. As their souls settled, the goblins rose from their spots as if they had received new hearts. Unlike when they were alive, their bodies were closer to shadows, no, darkness, emitting a teal energy between their bodies, and their fierce teal eyes shone. ¡®As expected¡­¡­.¡¯ It was different from when he took Bejiron''s undead with Death Aura. And it was different from when he epted the skeletons into his legion. Their eyes were filled with life, and their stance was closer to that of a living creature than a shambling undead. It was like the rabbits in the beginner vige. Was it because he raised them with Death Legion before their souls escaped, as they hadn''t been dead for long? ¡®It''s definitely different.¡¯ He had felt it when he learned Death Aura through Helena''s memories. But seeing it in person like this made him realize it anew. Also, the mana consumption was lower than before he obtained Proliferating Undead. At this rate, it seemed okay to keep using it. Besides, was it because of the high rank? ¡®It seems to be more efficient than other undead creation magic.¡¯ He had gained proficiency while using the skill. Still, Death Legion, which was still at level 1, was superior to Create Lesser Undead at level 10 or higher. There was a saying that rank is almighty for a reason. Now, should he try fighting with the goblins? As Seonghyun thought so... -Keruk keruruk! Kekek! (I have something to report to Master!) One of the goblins under the Death Legion spoke to him. Even so, he couldn''t understand... no, he could. ¡®Why do I understand?¡¯ Why did he understand this? Was it because their souls were mixed? It did sound like a ghost''s voice. Well, he could understand what foreign ghosts were saying in reality. Wasn''t it a big surprise? No, it was still a bit surprising that he could understand a goblin ghost. Seonghyun, who had lived his whole life nonchntly, was surprised a lot after starting to y the game. So what did it want to say? ¡°Tell me.¡± -Keruk! (Thank you!) -Keruk kekek keruk! Kekek kekek! Kehegek! (If you go there! There is a goblin vige!) -Kehek! Kekek! Keruk keheuk! Kekeheuk! (If we sweep the vige and make everyone join the legion!) -Keruheuk! Keheukheuk! Kero! (Master''s prestige will rise!) Goblin vige? Wasn''t that where they lived? It was selling out its own vige as soon as it joined the Death Legion? ¡°Let''s go now.¡± What loyal soldiers these were. -Keruheuk! (For the Death Legion!) -Keruheuk! (For Master!) -Karuk! Keruheuk! (For everyone!) The three goblin soldiers of death, their teal eyes gleaming with death and madness, ran ahead. They swore absolute loyalty to their master. It was real. ¡®But even though I¡¯m the one who killed them, they¡¯re so blindly loyal.¡¯ It was a bit curious, but... Whatever. Seonghyun followed the death soldiers, guiding him to one side of the ins. Now then, where... Should they raid the goblin vige? 2. In the beginner vige, there were many limited functions because it was a tutorial. Most of those were lifted in the first town. One of them was movement between towns. It was possible to move to the second town or to another first town. It was a function often used by scouts. They would rush to another town as soon as someone appeared there. Lee Seongyeong, a scout for Sick Brothers. He, too, arrived in Perthville in a hurry through the movement function, but... ¡®I¡¯mter than I thought¡­¡­.¡¯ He ended up wasting quite a bit of time. 30 minutes had already passed. Roughly 40 minutes? Or maybe even 50 minutes. They might have already left the Special ck Mage Academy. ¡®It would be a shame if I really missed them.¡¯ He didn¡¯t know when they woulde back to attend the ss. There was a time limit on connections, so he couldn¡¯t blindly monitor this ce for 24 hours. He wondered if any other users had seen them. He thought about asking around, but soon gave up on the idea. There might be a user who saw them, and even if they did, they would be a scout. There was no way another scout would tell him. Just in case... Let¡¯s wait a little longer. Blessed are those who wait. Perhaps that saying came true? The door at the entrance of the Special ck 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 ck 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 havee here faster somehow. To miss this... Regret flooded in, but it was okay. ¡®He couldn¡¯t have left Perthville yet, right?¡¯ Coming to the ss 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 youing out of the Special ck Mage Academy, and I think you¡¯re a great talent.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The female user was taken aback and epted 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 exnation wasn¡¯t that long. ¡°As you know, Sick Brothers wees 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 ins?¡± ¡°Strange undead?¡± ¡°Yeah, a while ago? About 10 minutes ago, it was attacking the goblin vige.¡± ¡°Oh. Must be a ck Mage.¡± ¡°So lucky, I should have been a ck 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 ins. Meanwhile, Yeon, the female user who was left with the business card, stared nkly 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 rxed 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 ying. 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 ss?¡± ¡°Ah, uh¡­¡­¡± It was clearly sarcasm. Oh Jinhyeok had nothing to say to that. ¡°Sigh, by the way, he went straight to the ins 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!?¡± [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 24 [Trantor - 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 vige of Perthville, which doesn''t exist in other goblin viges, and it''s already dead." "Oh? Is that so?" If it was dead, it wouldn''t bepletely 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''tpletely 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 andughed. "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 ins, known as thergest 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 ins. 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 ck 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 vige to be annihted? 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. The battle onlysted 10 minutes, but he had less than 10% of his mana left. Since he had killed everyone in the vige, there was no need to maintain it any longer, so... Seonghyun tried to release Death Legion. He had managed to create 20 of them, but he couldn''t help it, even though it was a bit disappointing. Just maintaining them consumed mana. At times like this, he was very envious of the mortuary that Bejiron used. He could store undead there. But even though it was a shame, there was nothing he could do for now. Seeing Seonghyun trying to release the skill, the goblin undead lined up in a single row, reverently looking at Seonghyun and greeting him. -Keruk! Kekek! (It was an honor to serve you!) -Kerukeuk! Keruk! (Oh! Lord! My Lord!) -Keheuk! Keruk! (Infinite glory to Master!!!) -Keruheukheuk! (Infinite victory to Lord!!!) They shouted their loyalty to Seonghyun among themselves and disappeared into dust. ¡®¡­¡­Amazing.¡¯ Even Seonghyun was stunned and smiled awkwardly. Their loyalty was beyond words. It was much better than them not listening to him. It was just a little noisy, that was all. After the undead disappeared, he wondered if the goblin souls remained. They didn''t. They all disappeared as if they had ascended to heaven. ¡®May they go to a good ce.¡¯ He had killed them, but they disappeared satisfied in the end. A good thing was a good thing. As Seonghyun thought so... [You have single-handedly defeated the Goblin Vige.] [You acquire the title, ¡ºGoblin yer¡».] [You have led the undead and defeated arge number of enemies.] [You acquire the title, ¡ºApprentice Necromancer¡».] ¡®Oh.¡¯ Wee messages appeared. He felt like it had been a while since he had seen them. What kind of titles were they this time? Goblin yer was a bit obvious, but... Let''s check it out anyway. ¡ºGoblin yer¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA title given to a user who single-handedly defeats a goblin vige. ¡úIncreases attack power by 2.5% when hunting goblins. ¡ºApprentice Necromancer¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA title given to a ck Mage user who is stillcking but has led the undead and defeated arge number of enemies. ¡úIncreases the health of subordinate undead by 5%. ¡®Good.¡¯ He couldn''t say it was incredibly good, but it was good for minor use. They were good enough titles. Seonghyun was quite satisfied and wondered if he should move to another ce to hunt. His mana was almost at rock bottom, but his health hadn''t decreased, so...N?v(el)B\\jnn There were still things he could catch with his sword. And when his mana recovered, he could hunt with the undead again. As he was about to move... He saw something on one side of the goblin vige. Was there a goblin left? That couldn''t be. He was able to get the title because he had defeated the entire vige, wasn''t he? Above all, there was no way the Death Soldiers would have missed even one. He looked closely at the spot. ¡®Oh?¡¯ There was a translucent goblin that looked a little different from the other goblins. It was translucent, and its legs were unstable, as if the pixels were breaking. A goblin ghost. He wasn''t surprised because he had already seen the ghosts of monsters while raising the corpses. But he thought, so there were monster ghosts that roamed around separately like this. He approached it, a little curious, and... It was also surprised to see Seonghyun. -Hoo!? I wondered who it was that brought down our vige, but you''re a remarkable person! ¡°Oh?¡± Seonghyun was a little more surprised by the goblin ghost''s words. The goblin Death Soldiers that Seonghyun had handled used the goblinnguage, but this goblin clearly spoke humannguage. In Eternal World terms, it was themonnguage. How could a goblin speak themonnguage? Seonghyun wondered and his eyes lit up. If it was such a unique ghost, there was a high probability that it had something. -Tsk tsk! It''s natural to be surprised. You seem to be surprised that a mere goblin can speak themonnguage. ¡°Honestly, I am.¡± -I''ve been trading with humans since I was young, so I naturally learned it. My slightly smarter head than other goblins also yed a part. Indeed, the aura he felt from its eyes even gave him the illusion of seeing a wise person. It was undoubtedly a wise goblin. Its way of speaking also had a very elegant atmosphere. Even though it was a monster ghost, it seemed to have goodwill towards Seonghyun. Even after seeing Seonghyun sweep through the vige, it kindly informed him and even praised him as remarkable. He felt once again that all ghosts were kind to him. -Tsk tsk! Since it''s fate that we met like this, great one, would it be alright if I offered you the treasures I''ve collected? ¡°Treasures?¡± -I''m just a goblin, but I''ve umted quite a bit of wealth. ¡°Oh?!¡± Seonghyun was quite surprised. He had heard that there were goblins in Eternal Worldmonly 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 d 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 ce. ¡°Ah.¡± It seemed to be a ghostmonly called a bound spirit. There were asional 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 exined 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 epted 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 exnation. 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 wasing this way very quickly. From their footsteps, it was clear they were aiming for this ce. ¡®What?¡¯ Was it another user who found the hidden piece first? But ording 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 simr 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 yed 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 vige and bowed at a 90-degree angle. ¡°Hello! My name is Lee Seongyeong, a scout from Sick Brothers! I really want to recruit you, ck Mage, to our guild, so I took the liberty ofing 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 ck Mage who summons unusual undead?¡± ¡°Yes? Ah, that¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ then you were trained at the Special ck Mage Academy¡­¡­¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me too.¡± Then it was him. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 25 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 25 Lee Seongyeong was momentarily dumbfounded and stared nkly 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 ss, 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 ck Mage Academy on his way here, but Seonghyun was the main target. The big fish who learned all the skills in just one day, ording to what he heard from that female user! If Lee Seongyeong''s prediction was correct... ''He''s already at least an Epic rank ss 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 bing 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. -Congrattions!!! 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 ce 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 thatrge guilds were practically on par withrge corporations. The best conditions in such a ce? It would be a lie if he said he wasn''t tempted. ¡®If it¡¯s the best treatment, is it like a yearly sry 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 ins. And at the end of both forests, huge cliffs soared, making it difficult to proceed further. For now, it was ssified as Perthville ins, but since there were forests and cliffs... Some users considered them separate hunting grounds. The goblins¡¯ vige was also in this forest, but they came out to the ins and attacked users. The vige that Seonghyun attacked was also in one of these forests. As he walked along, following the memories... He searched every nook and cranny of the winding path. If he hadn''t known the way, he would have definitely gotten lost. It was a ce where the trees were so dense that even the light was dim. It was terrain where it was difficult to even find the direction. It was fortunate that he had the memories. ¡®No wonder it wasn¡¯t discovered.¡¯ What the user who killed Kahku in his memory couldn''t obtain was thepass that led to this ce. ording to the memory, it seemed like the user had to go through a process of entrusting various magic unsealings to others because it was an item that couldn''t be used by anyone other than its owner. But since Seonghyun could freely ess the memory... Finding the way was a piece of cake. Even Kahku had a hard timeing here without the power of thepass. But Seonghyun could use Kahku''s memory and the hunter Apik''s experience to examine the memory and find his way. Hunters were experts at finding their way. It took a little longer because he had to trace the memories, but he eventually found it. A huge cliff. It was a huge cliff with no caves in sight, but there was a huge rock in front of it. It was a rock that looked impossible to move or break at first nce. This was the ce. ¡®I¡¯ve arrived.¡¯ The ce where Kahku hid his treasure was right behind that rock. One might think they had to move the rock to enter, but that wasn''t the case. Rather, Seonghyun walked confidently towards the rock. Just before he collided with it! Seonghyun passed through the rock and entered. ¡®Who would find it if the entrance was hidden with magic?¡¯ Even if someone somehow got lost in the forest and came all the way here, it was natural that they wouldn''t be able to find it if it was hidden like this. Seonghyun himself would have wondered how to enter if it weren''t for the memories. As he entered, a huge cave stretched out before him. It was a cave that would likely smell musty and damp, but there was no such smell. Rather, there was even a slight fragrance. Kahku was always clean and tidy in his memories, so... It seemed he maintained the cave where he hid his treasure in the same way. ¡®How meticulous.¡¯ It wasn''t dark because the crystal balls embedded in the ceiling illuminated the cave. Walking along the straight cave, he came to a door that appeared to be the entrance to a warehouse. A huge door and two goblin statues wearing armor and holding spears, as if guarding both sides of it. That was the warehouse where the treasure was hidden. He could have approached the door to open it right away, but instead, Seonghyun took out his steel sword and tiger''s fangs and prepared for battle. The special goblins guarding this ce. No, should he call them goblins? Screech. With the sound of scraping stone, the statues were moving. At first, the goblin statues moved stiffly. But soon, as if they had gotten used to moving, they were moving naturally. That was the identity of the special goblins guarding this ce. The goblin statues saw Seonghyun, judged him to be an intruder, and rushed at him. [Lv.20 Goblin Statue] [Lv.21 Goblin Statue] Their levels were 9 to 10 higher than Seonghyun''s. But he wasn''t worried. Seonghyun had already defeated Bejiron, who was level 30. He observed the movements of the charging Goblin Statues and stepped back. Their speed wasn''t particrly fast, but... Their weight was considerable, so the sense of intimidation was no joke. Whoosh! Kuggooooo! The Goblin Statue swung its spear and mmed it down where Seonghyun had been standing. The cave floor was dented. Judging from the power, it would be a fatal blow if he got hit by that. As Seonghyun retreated, he summoned Bone Arrow and shot it at the Goblin Statue that was still charging. The Bone Arrow flew in an instant and hit the Goblin Statue precisely in the forehead. Crack! [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] However, perhaps due to its extraordinary defense, the Bone Arrow, which should have been embedded in its forehead, instead shattered and scattered into dust. It wasn''t even a critical hit. But it seemed to have done some damage, as the forehead was slightly dented. Seonghyun''s eyes lit up as he saw that. The Goblin Statue with the dented forehead stopped. And the Goblin Statue that had attacked the floor charged towards Seonghyun again. There was no point in continuing to dodge. Therefore... Seonghyun charged instead. ¡®Since they¡¯re not living beings, curses and Death Aura won¡¯t work on them.¡¯ There were very few methods Seonghyun could use right now. He couldn''t use Death Aura or Curse of Pain. Pain Numbing was the same. If he got hit by that, he would surely be beyond recovery. As Seonghyun charged, the Goblin Statue swung its spear again at Seonghyun, who had closed the distance. Whoosh! He lightly lowered his body to dodge and dug into the statue''s chest. The Goblin Statue with the dented forehead thrust its spear at Seonghyun. It was difficult to dodge because his center of gravity was low after lowering his stance. But Seonghyun''s eyes emitted a teal light, and he used the memories of his former instructor, Eddie, and the hunter, Apik, to maximize his body''s flexibility. He twisted his body like a snake to avoid the spear with his low center of gravity, and then thrust his steel sword into the Goblin Statue he had dug into, holding the tiger''s fangs in both hands and stabbing at its heart. The tiger''s fangs, with their piercing power, were firmly lodged in the Goblin Statue''s heart.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Thud! [Critical Hit!] [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 dy, threw the spear while twisting his body in mid-air as he retreated. Wheeee! The Wraiths of the Dead, cutting through the wind, urately 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 itsrge 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 umting. He wanted to use Wraiths of the Dead again here, but it was still on cooldown. As his attacksnded 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 toote. 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 alsounched 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 itspanion 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 im his reward. Seonghyun ced his hand on the warehouse door. [Hidden Piece, Treasure Goblin Kahku''s First Warehouse, is now open.] [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 26 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] 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 fairlyrge 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 ced 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 vige, it was 659 gold. Considering the exchange rate of about 1 dor per 1 silver, and 1 gold being 10 silver, it was at least 9 million won. As the calctions 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 vige, 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 particrly 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?N?v(el)B\\jnn 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 rted 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 y more, but... It was almost dinner time. He remembered his motherining that his sister, Yoo Mina, always came homete for dinner. It was certainly understandable. Even Seonghyun was reluctant to log out. With that, Seonghyun headed for the town, Perthville. Of course, he didn''t forget what he had to do before that. ¡®I should contact them when I get back to town, right?¡¯ He pondered, recalling the business card he received earlier. They said to contact them if he was interested. They said they could match the best conditions in the industry. First, he registered the messenger code and... ¡®Let¡¯s contact them after logging out.¡¯ There was an Eternal World app. He could use the messenger on his smartphone even after logging out. He wondered what amazing conditions they would offer him. He was looking forward to it. 1. Treasure Goblin Kahku was undoubtedly a terrifying monster from the developers'' point of view. He was a crazy goblin who amassed enormous wealth from the first town to the second, third, and even the fourth town. And how high was his intelligence? He had incredible business acumen with humans. He was a difficult and challenging guy to catch. As the saying went, it wasn''t easy to catch Kahku, who roamed from the first town to the fourth town, visiting each vige. How many developers cheered when such a Treasure Goblin appeared in the first town and was killed by a novice user? They cheered even louder when Kahku''spass was lost. Now that the First to Fourth Warehouses were all lost... How could they not be happy? Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong was one of them. It seemed like just yesterday that he was rejoicing with both hands raised. But why? ¡°...I-it¡¯s been cleared?¡± His teeth gritted at the words of his subordinate, Associate Oh Jinhyeok, from beside him. But it was okay. No, it really was okay. ¡°...No, it¡¯s trivial.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Associate Oh Jinhyeok looked at him with a genuinely worried expression, wondering if his senior had gone mad. But Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong looked at Oh Jinhyeok and spoke with a hint of disdain. ¡°It¡¯s not like it was the Third or Fourth Warehouse.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°It would have been really troublesome if those were cleared. The first town only has the Ring of Protection and 555 gold.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Phew. I don¡¯t even have to report this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really fortunate.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong said so and was relieved to see Seonghyun returning to town and logging out. That was it for today. He could finally get off work. As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong was relieved and about to get up from his seat... Team Leader Jung Jihye called him. ¡°Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong. Come to my desk.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Her voice was certainly calm. But why did he have a bad feeling? As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong went to Team Leader Jung Jihye¡¯s desk with a bit of anxiety... Team Leader Jung Jihye said with a hardened expression. ¡°Are you aware of Overpce?¡± ¡°Ah, of course. Unlike White Mages, who are divided into groups like the Tower of Fire and the Tower of Ice depending on their specialization, it''s a ce like a magic tower created by all ck Magesing together. It''s the most powerful group in the worldview among mage groups.¡± Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong exined. Team Leader Jung Jihye nodded as if she understood. And Team Leader Jung Jihye continued. ¡°Then what about the fact that Overpce is a group that serves the former Overlord, Helena?¡± ¡°Huh? Yes? Huh? Oh?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Sigh.¡± A deep sigh. The group that serves the former Overlord, Helena, is the most powerful mage group in the worldview. Then how would they react to Seonghyun, who has be the new Overlord? It was as clear as day. ¡°Th-they serve Helena, so there will be a connection¡­¡­¡± ¡°There will be.¡± ¡°R-right.¡± Team Leader Jung Jihye drove the point home as she watched Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong try to deny reality. No matter how she thought about it, there would be a connection in some way. And. ¡°The group that set those ridiculous questions is also Overpce.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± They set those questions because they served Helena. And what about Seonghyun, who answered them all correctly? ¡°He''s the one who rightfully proved his qualifications and became the Overlord.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong responded repeatedly with silly noises. It couldn''t be helped. Just by looking at Seonghyun''s current actions, it seemed like he would gradually be a storm in this game. What if he joined forces with Overpce? He couldn''t even begin to imagine what would happen. As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong stood there nkly... Team Leader Jung Jihye spoke. ¡°We have to dy their meeting as much as possible.¡± ¡°Ah, I understand!¡± ¡°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 Overpce yet. It will be fine.¡± ¡°Even if you have to create a quest and give him additional rewards, keep him away from Overpce.¡± ¡°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 rted 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 vige head of Hindel?'' And he even muttered something. ¡°The sessor of that person has appeared. It is time for the pce 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 ying 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 avable, so... There was no one who yed 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 vige. 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 sry of 100 million won?¡¯ He heard thatrge guilds invested a lot in promising yers. 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 neers, we at Sick Brothers offer a signing bonus of 500 million won and an annual sry of 50 million won, but we''d like to offer you, Seonghyun, a special signing bonus of 1 billion won and an annual sry 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 sry 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 sry of 100 million won? And seeing that, Seonghyun was half convinced. ¡®This is a scam.¡¯ [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 27 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 27 He wasn''tpletely 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 ss, 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 dyed paying the contract fee and tried to treat him like a ve? 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 ced 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, ying 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 sry of 100 million won? Instantly, her eyes lit up as she saw the message and shouted, "These bastards!!" How dare they try toy 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 sry 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 vige? 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?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 apetent 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 ss academy. And another thing. Yoo Mina''s eyes shed as she recalled it. ''Hero!'' Could he have really changed his ss 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 ss to Hero?!?" "Gah! What the! Close the door!! You crazy sister!!" Even Seonghyun, despite his usualposure, 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 sshed 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 chaoticmotion... Seonghyun finished his shower and red 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 exined as he dried his hair with a towel. From the story of his first encounter with Helena to how he ended up changing his ss. And as she listened to the story, Yoo Mina''s expression began to change dramatically. Her expressions shifted so drastically that her guild members and friends would be shocked if they saw her. Seonghyun continued his exnation regardless, and when he finished... Yoo Mina''s expression became extremely serious. Seonghyun tilted his head, looking at his sister''s expression. What was wrong with her? With a curious expression, Yoo Mina asked Seonghyun again, "So, Sick Brothers scouted you? But the amount is too low for that, isn''t it?" "Huh? How did you know...? Ah, did you see my phone?" "Ah, yeah. Sorry." "Haa, well, I was going to ask you about it anyway." "So what happened with Sick Brothers?" Seonghyun would need to know something to tell her, but how could he? He hadn''t even revealed he was an Overlord, yet they offered this much. It must be a scam, but... seeing his sister''s reaction... ''A scam... doesn''t seem like it, does it?'' Then was that really the amount they offered rookies? Just how much money did they have? Scratching his head, Seonghyun said, "I don''t really know either. Thest thing they asked was if I summoned an unusual undead and if I got into a special ss academy, and when I said yes, they made the recruitment offer." "Ah?" Yoo Mina looked at Seonghyun with a dumbfounded expression. He was her brother, but wasn''t he too naive about the world? She thought so, but then she suddenly remembered. "Ah, Seonghyun, this was your first time, right?" "Yeah." "Ah..." This time, she made a dumbfounded sound for a different reason. Even if he was her brother, wasn''t this a bit annoying? Yoo Mina thought so for a moment, then shook her head. "Anyway, this isn''t a scam, is it?" "What? The recruitment? The amount?" "Yeah, a contract fee of 1 billion won with an annual sry of 100 million won is incredibly high." "Ah? Ahhh. It is a high offer. It''s definitely a high amount to give to a rookie. But if Lee Seongyeong offered it, he must have judged that you, Seonghyun, are worth that much." "Ah." At his sister Yoo Mina''s words, Seonghyun''s jaw dropped involuntarily. So this was really the offer they made. The thought of receiving 1 billion won momentarily filled him with ecstasy. 1 billion won... Although his father, Yoo Gwangjin, ran apany and they were a well-off family... For Seonghyun to receive 1 billion won was a different story. How would it feel to be able to have 1 billion won with his own abilities? "Huhuhu, but it''s a good thing you have this big sister." "Huh?" Hearing his sister Yoo Mina''s sudden interruption, Seonghyun looked down at her with cold eyes. An arrogant expression that seemed to say, "What''s it to you, sister?" But Yoo Mina''s expression remained as rxed as ever. What kind of confidence did she have? Sick Brothers were ranked 12th in the overall guild rankings. Could his sister be in a higher-ranked guild? He briefly entertained the thought, but it was impossible. He didn''t think that his ditzy sister could have joined a guild ranked higher than Sick Brothers. As Seonghyun was about to dismiss the thought... "A contract fee of 2 billion won, an annual sry of 500 million won, and 10% of the revenue from the raid viewership tickets you directly participate in." "......?" As Seonghyun blinked in surprise, Yoo Mina said with a smirk, "This body. Ranked 9th overall. 3rd in overall guild rankings." "Ah? Ahhh? Ahhhh!!" "Bow down, little brother." "I don''t recognize you, sister!" "Huhuhu." Whatever it was, money, no, sister was the best. 3. Sick Brothers'' scout, Lee Seongyeong. He managed to recruit one user from the special ss training center, Yeon, but... It wasn''t enough. He hadn''t seen Seonghyun''s undead in person, but just seeing how he swept through the goblin vige alone was enough to know. ''A user barely in their level 10s single-handedly wiped out an entire goblin vige?'' It didn''t make sense. But if he learned all the skills at rare rank in a single day at the special ss academy and had a high ss rank, it wasn''t impossible. He would need talent and various other conditions, but... In other words, Seonghyun at least had an epic ss rank and his talent was outstanding. Even if he recruited Yeon, if he couldn''t bring in Seonghyun... It would be a huge loss. That''s why Lee Seongyeong waited so long for a reply. He became anxious thinking that it might note today. ''Should I have added more conditions?'' The basics of negotiation were to start with a moderate offer and gradually increase it. There was no benefit in showing all your cards from the beginning. That''s why Lee Seongyeong did that, but should he not have? Just as he was briefly regretting it... His smartphone vibrated with a notification that a message had arrived. "It''s here!" He knew it as soon as he saw it. It was Seonghyun''s reply. His eyes gleamed as he looked at Seonghyun''s reply, but... Soon, his pupils dted and the light in his eyes began to fade. [Seonghyun - I''m sorry.] The message started with an apology. What was the problem? 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 ept conditions beyond their discretionary power. But after reading the following sentence, Lee Seongyeongpletely gave up. [Seonghyun - I have established a good rtionship 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''tpete 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 arge guild, but one that transcended the limitations of an elite, small-scale guild and shone at 3rd ce in the overall guild rankings. Some even called Rapid Guild the strongest guild. That said it all. Anyway, the fact that Rapid Guild epted him meant... ''As expected, my eyes were urate.'' At least epic rank? No. ''Rapid Guild only epts unique rank and above...'' At least unique. However, recently, there had been cases of rookies with unique ss ranks being rejected. The reason was simple. Lack of talent. It wasn''t a guild that easily epted people based on rank alone. They looked at both rank and talent. But the fact that they epted 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 be 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 ept 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 ept 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 sry 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 specster, 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 mmed her desk and jumped up from her seat. "This is crazy!!" [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 28 [Trantor - 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¡» ¡ºss¡» ¡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 yer? 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 dumbfoundedugh. Above all, the effect on the word "Overlord" in the ss 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 ss-specific effect embedded in the text? It meant only one thing. ''An Almighty ss?'' And even the Monarch title. An Almighty ss with the Monarch title was top-tier even among Almighty sses. Then came other screenshots. Completion of the Special Grade ck Mage academy. Although not all the titles were shown, the effect of the Monarch title was clearly disyed. 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 sry 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 bnce would have been broken, and perhaps Rapid Guild would have lost their 3rd ce ranking. ''Seonghyun had this kind of talent?'' Unlike his sister Yoo Mina, she only remembered him as a quiet child. ording 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 ss wasn''t something you could get just with luck. Rapid, or rather Ahn Yoojin, adjusted her sses 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 ns. 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 ying the game was 2 billion. And among them, her guild was ranked 3rd, and her personal rank was 9th? His sister was this amazing? He truly couldn''t believe it. But he couldn''t not believe it either. She had shown him directly through the Eternal World app. "Wow..." "How is it? Do you feel your sister''s greatness now?" "Was your ss also Almighty?" "Huhuhu, of course!" "Huh." He wanted to think that the game was easy, but... That couldn''t be true. Starting with the fact that both siblings had Almighty sses... It felt unbelievable. Seonghyun had used a cheat, but his sister had achieved this feat with her own strength. ''Well, my sister was amazing at sports.'' She had even been on the national kendo team. She excelled in other sports as well. She was called an athletic genius, so he could trust her now. In a way, it was the most suitable ss for Yoo Mina. ''Because she could utilize her athleticism in the game.'' Rather, it was unbelievable that Seonghyun had turned out this way. He didn''t have much athletic ability, and he wasn''t particrly good at using his body. It was only because he could obtain the memories and experiences of ghosts... That he was able toe this far. Moreover, to think that the guild master of the 3rd ranked guild was Yoojin noona... "Yoojin noona is your best friend, right?" "Yes, Yoojin." "Wow..." "Huhu, my friend is amazing, right?" "Yeah. It''s amazing that you''re still friends with her." "What? What do you mean by that?" Seonghyun ignored his sister''s words and looked at her Eternal World record again. He had already sent his Eternal World character information. She said the contract would arrive soon. He just had to wait a little bit. Seeing Seonghyun''s reaction, his sister Yoo Mina asked triumphantly, "Huhuhu, anyway, you understand my and Yoojin''s greatness now, right?" "Yeah, a little." "Ahem, ahem. It''s a bit embarrassing that you admit it so easily." "Anyway, it''s amazing that you two established a guild like that." "Well, Yoojin has been ambitious since she was young." Seonghyun nodded at Yoo Mina''s words. He hadn''t seen her much, but he had heard a lot about her from his sister. He had thought she had a very straightforward personality, but... He didn''t know she was running a hugepany-like guild. He had heard that she had people helping her... But he had heard that she was directly involved in all the important parts. And to think that Yoo Mina was responsible for all thebat aspects... It was no wonder they were sessful. However, there was one thing he was a little worried about. ''Wouldn''t it be a bit inconvenient to be in a guild?'' He had already heard a lot about the necessity of guilds. Stories about raids and various benefits. But he had also heard that, conversely, freedom could be restricted. As long as he wore the guild emblem... He had to be prepared for some restrictions on his freedom. Did she read his expression? Just then, Yoo Mina interjected, "Our guild is basicallyissez-faire." "Laissez-faire?" "Yeah, we don''t interfere with anything other than raids. We mainly organize in teams, but you can think of those teams as being formed only for raids." Teams only for raids? Then what about hunting and things like that? "There are times when we form parties with other guilds to hunt, times when we individually find parties, and times when we form parties within our guild to hunt. But I hunt alone." "Ah? Is that allowed?" "Of course." "Couldn''t there be traitors?" Seonghyun''s question was valid. If they could form parties with other guilds, it meant that information within the guild could be leaked. But Yoo Mina''s reaction was indifferent. "Hmm, at first, I thought that could happen, but no one does it?"N?v(el)B\\jnn "...Does that make sense?" "Well, because our guild is like this, we don''t share important information with just anyone. Only those we can truly trust can be team leaders, and when they be team leaders, they can ess information. And usually, those team leaders, aside from being trustworthy, have a strong sense of belonging to our guild." "Ah." Considering Ahn Yoojin''s personality... It seemed likely that she would have prevented such things in advance. Then there was nothing to worry about. They only gathered to fight during raids. Should he say it was typical of Rapid Guild''s characteristics that he found through his search? The fastest guild in Eternal World. 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 ce in the overall guild rankings. ''To think I can be 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 sry are set at 2 billion won and 500 million won respectively, and Rapid Guild shall increase the annual sry 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 sry of 500 million won... But that wasn''t all. The bonus and annual sry 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 ie. 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 popr 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 vige did you decide on for your next destination?" "Next vige? Hmm, I haven''t decided yet." Seonghyun had been thinking of going to the vige with Kahku''s warehouse, but... He could also obtain it through inter-vige travel before graduating from the second vige. It didn''t matter if he went to a different vige. If he had to choose, wouldn''t it be better to go to a vige with many hidden pieces? As he was thinking about that... Yoo Mina smiled mysteriously and said to Seonghyun, "Then, how about Sekan Vige?" "Sekan? I don''t think I''ve heard of it?" It wasn''t the vige with Kahku''s warehouse either. As Seonghyun tilted his head, having truly heard of this vige for the first time, Yoo Mina nodded. "It''s not a famous vige, after all. It''s a rather boring vige." "Then why are you rmending 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 vige 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 29 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 29 0. At the eastern end of the vast Perthville ins. A tranquil forest, filled with the gentle rustling of leaves and the fragrant scent of the woods carried by the breeze, created an infinitely serenendscape. 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 ins. However, in an instant, ck smoke billowed up, and a massive inferno engulfed the area. The gentle breeze fanned the cruel mes, and the fragrant scent of the forest was soon reced by the acrid smell of burning. The raging mes devoured everything, silencing the chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects. Crackle, crackle, crackle. Whoosh! Green fur and skin, and short, stubby bodies.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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, d in ck darkness and emitting a turquoise aura, beheaded the despairing goblins. Amidst the undead that had set the entire goblin vige aze... Someone emerged from the mes. 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 vige 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 vige 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 vige. 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 sses, 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 simr 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... Thest 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 ces 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. ''Huh.'' Even Seonghyun was speechless. For now, Seonghyun looked at the Death Soldiers who were still consuming his mana. If he gained a skill, he had to test it out right away. The number of goblin Death Soldiers was 15. He imagined putting them all into the Netherworld. -Kereuheuk! (Until next time, my Lord!) -Keheukeokeoheuk! (I will surely! Serve and follow only you, my Lord!) -Keheurukeuk! (For our great master!) As if they already knew, all fifteen goblin Death Soldiers, who had been chattering away, were sucked into turquoise holes that appeared behind them. They were sucked infortably, and in an instant, the undead disappeared. [There are currently 15 Death Soldiers stored in the Netherworld.] Seeing the message that kindly provided guidance, Seonghyun briefly marveled. The effect was definitely good. Now he could summon the Death Legion even without corpses. His strength had increased. Since they were beings with souls, it went without saying that they were more powerful than other undead. ''This is really fortunate.'' He hadn''t expected it to appear at level 20. Well, since the Death Legion was the main force of the Overlord... It made sense that it would be given early on. He had leveled up and gained a skill. And... ''I did film a video...'' He had filmed a video. A video of the undead wiping out the goblin vige and Seonghyun watching them. There was no particr reason why he suddenly filmed the video. It was because Rapid, the guild master, had asked him to. He had filmed it, but... ''Can this be used as a video?'' Even from Seonghyun''s perspective, it seemed too cruel and vicious. If Helena hadn''t been asleep, she would have scolded him, asking if he wanted to be called a Demon King again. He was troubled, but he didn''t want to film it again. He would just send it as it was. He attached the video file he had filmed to a friend message and sent it to Rapid. If she didn''t like it, she would ask him to send it again, right? [Seonghyun - [Video]] [Seonghyun - Please let me know if I need to do it again.] [Rapid - Hul...? Thank you, Seonghyun. I think this will be enough...] She said it was okay, but what was with the ellipsis at the end? He wanted to ask, but he held back. He felt like he knew the answer even without asking. Now that he had surpassed level 20... It was time to move on. ''It was Sekan Vige, right?'' On the morning of the second day after starting the game, Seonghyun headed to the second vige. It was an incredible speed. 1. Was it a tradition ofrge guilds? Allrge guilds did one thing when they recruited a rookie. It was uploading a solo video of the rookie. It had the simple effect of promotion, but there were also other benefits. First, it was a show of force. A deration of war topetitors, letting them know they had acquired an outstanding rookie. And boasting about their recruiting power, showing off that they had acquired such a rookie. These were benefits that couldn''t be missed. Rapid Guild also knew this, so it was a tradition they had always followed. However, this time, Rapid was a bit hesitant. ''Should I really upload it?'' Normally, she would have uploaded it without hesitation, but... Seeing Seonghyun''s video, she couldn''t help but hesitate. Goblin undead brutally ravaging goblins. Cooperating with each other, forming strategies, and moving systematically. Their movements, perfectly coordinated like machines, sent shivers down her spine. Since when did undead possess such excellent intelligence? They were usually so stupid that they couldn''t even strategize, let alone move properly, without being given orders one by one. But Seonghyun''s undead were on a different level. They thought and moved on their own, acting as if they were alive without Seonghyun giving them orders. With bodies that surpassed their living forms, they ravaged their own kind. They even set fires and ambushed the goblins who fled in a panic. Rapid couldn''t help but gulp. Was this a horror movie? Or was it like watching a cartoon or movie where the Demon King descended and destroyed the world? ''This is like a deration of war against humanity!'' Rather than a deration of war to rival guilds, it was like a deration of war against all of humanity. Especially the ending, where Seonghyun emerged from the raging mes with a bored expression, and the undead bowed their heads in worship. Overwhelming. There was no other way to describe it. ''Should I really... upload this?'' She was seriously troubled, but there was no helping it. With a deep sigh, Rapid nodded. ''It can''t be helped.'' Tradition was tradition, and it felt wrong to let such an amazing rookie video go to waste. It might seem like a deration of war against humanity, but what did it matter? Rapid Guild was famous for being a loner anyway. 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 shepleted 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 dayter. 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 spectacrly off. 2. The Fastest Rapid Guild. The channel of Rapid Guild, which shone at 3rd ce 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 theck of subscribers. Live tickets. This referred to live streams that required viewers to pay a certain amount to enter. Arge number of viewers meant that the guild''s status was high. Although theygged behind in subscribers, their ticket power was the second highest among all guilds. Rapid Guild, which seeded 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 ept 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 yed. Perthville, the first vige. 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, d in ck 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 vige that looked simr to them. No, this wasn''t just an invasion. "W-what the!?" As if to thoroughly oppress the weak, they burned down the entire vige, brutally ravaging andpletely destroying the goblins. They were filled with malice, solely aiming for the goblins'' deaths. And a man leisurelymanding those undead. Although his face was blurred ck 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 vige and all the goblins fell to the ground... The video ended with the man emerging from the mes 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 ament... 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 anothermunity 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? [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 30 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 30 3. Sekan Vige. It wasn''t a vige with a pleasant atmosphere. Ever since the vige head, the elder of this vige, 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 vige was in a state of mourning. Some NPCs were hostile towards users. They med the users for the vige head''s death, believing that if a certain user had arrived on time, the vige head would still be alive. Because of this resentment, the atmosphere was even worse. Perhaps because of this, fewer users visited the vige afterward. No one yed games to be ostracized, even if they didn''t expect special treatment. The few users who dide to Sekan Vige 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 vige with a rather cheerful gait. ''It''s quite different from Perthville.'' It was Seonghyun, who had just arrived in Sekan Vige. The atmosphere was depressing, and some NPCs looked at him with wary eyes, but he didn''t mind. This vige 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 vige.'' He wasn''t just referring to the NPCs'' attitudes. The atmosphere among the users was quite different. In the first vige, there were many inexperienced yers. But in the second vige, there was a more organized feel. Perhaps it was because they had adapted to the game and be more proficient? It didn''t really matter to Seonghyun, who hadn''t engaged in party y. ''Now, I need to find the ghost of the vige head...'' If he died of illness, he would usually be near his house. If not, he would be near a ce that held significance to him in life. Of course, there were ghosts like the former vige head of Hindel Vige 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 vige. He spoke to a ghost of a middle-aged woman nearby. And immediately, "Do you happen to know where the ghost of the former vige head is?" -Ah! You must be talking about the vige head~ Of course I know~ He''s sitting on a bench in the za in front of the vige 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 vige head''s ghost in Sekan Vige, Seonghyun immediately headed there. And just as the ghost woman had described, in front of the vige square, in front of arge mansion that appeared to be the vige head''s house, he saw an elderly ghost sitting on a bench in the vige square. It was the ghost of the vige head, who looked like a kind grandmother. Her attire was somewhat old-fashioned and elegant, clearly showing that she was the vige head. A benevolent and warm appearance. He could understand why she was called the great elder of this vige. As Seonghyun approached the grandmotherly ghost of the vige 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 vige head''s ghost was about to tell him... Seonghyun naturally epted her memories and experiences. As soon as he saw her memory of discovering the cave while ying 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 vige 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 vige 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 vige. The atmosphere in Sekan Vige 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 vigers 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. ''The demonic beast, Barpur.'' The monster that the hero Hindel had sealed. The name of the demonic beast that was scattering its evil energy throughout this vige. Through Gwen''s memories, he knew the location where it was sealed and its name. He also knew what kind of power it possessed. ording to the stories passed down among vige heads... The demonic beast Barpur sowed evil in people''s hearts and brought misfortune. Just like the current state of the vige. ''It''s fortunate that its power has weakened.'' Originally, it would have been a monster that Seonghyun could never defeat. Before being sealed, the demonic beast Barpur was so powerful that even the hero Hindel barely managed to seal it. Even though it was before the hero Hindel had fully grown, he was stronger than any adventurer. But even such a hero Hindel could only manage to seal it. The power of the demonic beast Barpur was extraordinary. ''But it''s been too long.'' Not long after Gwen had be the vige head... There was a time when Barpur''s seal had loosened once. Like the demonic beast Barpur''s power weakening over time, the seal had also worn down. At that time, a mage passing through the vige had repaired the hero Hindel''s seal, but even that had loosened after a long time. His sister Yoo Mina had told him it was a lost hidden piece, but... It seemed that wasn''t the case. ''This must have been opened as a Sekan Vige event.'' If it had been during Gwen''s lifetime... If the Rapid Guild member had seeded as his sister had said... Perhaps a subjugation team for the demonic beast Barpur would have been formed then. This time as well, just before the sealpletely broke... A subjugation team might have been formed. But that wouldn''t happen this time either. ''It''s still sealed. I can defeat it alone.'' Strictly speaking, he wasn''t alone. [The Death Legion stored in the Netherworld has finished growing to match the Overlord''s level.] Seeing that message, Seonghyun turned his head again. It was a forest no different from any other. But if you looked closely at the center of the lush forest, you could see something whitish. Like a transparent veil. A ce where ck rocks and white rocks stood side by side. It was a barrier that prevented anyone from entering. And Seonghyun already knew how to break through this barrier. ''ck rock three times, white rock four times.'' As Seonghyun recalled Gwen''s memories and tapped the rocks in order... Ripples appeared on the transparent veil. Swoooosh. The veil lifted like a curtain being drawn open. Even though its power had weakened and it had been sealed for a long time, it was still a powerful demonic beast. Even Seonghyun, who was usually calm andposed, felt a bit nervous. The demonic beast Barpur. Even if it had weakened, it was undoubtedly stronger than the vige boss monsters that appeared from the second vige onwards, that is, stronger than Sekan''s boss monster. But he didn''t get overly nervous and recalled the memories of the hunter Apik, the former instructor Eddie, and even Helena. With countless memories and experiences flooding his mind at once, Seonghyun''s eyes faintly glowed with a teal light. He moved forward. Step, step. The ce he entered after the veil lifted was a cave. It didn''t seem like an artificially made cave. Stctites and stgmites were scattered around casually, and the floor was rough and uneven. Walking through the uneven terrain, Seonghyun continued deeper into the cave. A cool, damp breeze blew from its depths. It was an unpleasant wind carrying a ck mist-like energy, which seemed to be what was called demonic energy. [You have been exposed to demonic energy.] As Seonghyun expected, a message appeared. He was about to frown, but then... [Due to the dignity of the ¡ºOverlord¡», demonic energy has no effect.] ''Oh?'' Usually, wouldn''t he be afflicted with a bunch of debuffs here? It seemed the Overlord ss ignored even that. This changed things. ording to the strategy guides and what his sister had told him, the reason why demonic beasts were difficult to deal with was because of this demonic energy. But if the demonic energy didn''t affect him... He could defeat it more easily than he thought. As Seonghyun was thinking this, something flew towards him from within the cave at high speed. Swoosh! Since he had already activated the memories of various ghosts and Helena, he immediately switched to battle mode and drew his Steel Sword and Tiger Fang. At the same time, he opened the Netherworld to prepare for a counterattack! It was a perfect battle stance. And the thing that flew towards him at high speed was a wraith, enveloped in a teal light and emitting an eerie aura. [Lv. 35 Wraith of the Demonic Beast Barpur] -Kyaaaaaaaaaa! As the wraith lunged, Seonghyun immediately jumped back and dodged.N?v(el)B\\jnn He moved in a direction where there were no stctites or stgmites. Thud! A mole-like hand struck the spot where Seonghyun had been standing. But it only hit the cave floor. Boom! A thick cloud of smoke rose as the spot where the wraith struck caved in. Seeing the crater-like impact, a chill ran down Seonghyun''s spine. How could a wraith exert such physical force? It was a shocking attack. 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 disyed above its head, while the other had no such indication. Just like any other ghost. And the ghost of the demonic beast Barpur pped 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 excellentbat sense. However, when it came to sense, Seonghyun, with the experiences of two ghosts, was several steps ahead. He kicked a stctite and spun in the air, narrowly escaping the attack of the Wraith of Barpur. Crash! The Wraith of Barpur mmed into the wall, and at that moment, Seonghyun''s eyes lit up. An instinctive attraction. Recalling Helena''s memories, he red 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, bing enveloped in ck 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 yourmand!] [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.'' [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 31 [Trantor - 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 nced at the clock, just in case, and saw that he wasn''tte. 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 particr user, Seonghyun, was generating even more unforeseen circumstances than those top-tier yers. Observing him had be 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 ss 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 ss 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 Vige, Wonsong was further convinced of the exceptional artificial intelligence at y. 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. 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 vige, strange urrences began to unfold. He stared nkly into the air for a moment, then walked to the center of the vige and sat on a bench. Was he taking a break? That was usible. 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 vige, Sekan. Although not widely known, it''s the ce 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? ¡®Bute 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 ss 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 theherworld 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 vige 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 nkly 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. Reaching the end of the cave, he found a single corpse,rger than an elephant. A sword was embedded around its heart. It was amazing that a single sword could stop such a massive creature. The demonic beast''s flesh, still unrotted and lifelike, looked incredible. But that was only for a brief moment at first. Now, the body was about to disappear before his eyes. ''Wow, it''s going in.'' Even though Death Aura worked, they said he couldn''t put it in because his level was too low. -Ehehehe, it is my flesh, so with my permission, it can be moved anywhere. The Wraith of Barpur solved that. [''Unknown Power'' has aplished something impossible at the current level.] [Strength +5, Stamina +3 permanently increased.] Gaining the memories and experience of the demonic beast Barpur, He was able to learn how to handle the flesh. With Barpur''s help, He could send the beast''s body to the Netherworld. Not only that, but he also gained stats. After putting the body in, the Wraith of Barpur also entered the Netherworld with its own body. As the body entered the Netherworld, Hindel''s sword, which had been stuck in the body, naturally fell to the ground with a clear sound. ng! ng¡ª¡ª! A beautiful appearance despite being embedded in the demonic beast''s body for ages. No doubt about it. ''This is the hidden piece, huh?'' How many birds did he kill with one stone? Previously, there was also the title and level up he got for subjugating the Wraith. He wanted to check the sword first, but Seonghyun, the type to save the best forst, looked at the titles first. ''Should I check them first?'' First, the Elevated Leadership. ¡ºElevated Leadership¡» ¡ú¡¶Epic¡· ¡úA title given to users who have subjugated a summon, subordinate, or undead of a higher level than themselves. ¡úIncreases the loyalty and morale of allies. ¡úWhen giving orders to allies, all allies'' speed +5%. *This title stacks with the effects of Monarch. ''Hmm.''N?v(el)B\\jnn It''s good, but it''s a lower-ranked title than Monarch. Still, it stacks with the effects of Monarch, so It''s even better. It would have been better if it had a unique effect, but This is still something. Then, next is the Enduring One. ¡ºEnduring One¡» ¡ú¡¶Epic¡· ¡úA title given to users who have umted 100 additional stat points without using them. ¡úIncreases Spirit by +100. *Percent increase option effects are applied. *There are no other titles for umting 100 or more additional stat points. ''Oh?!'' Spirit is an important stat for various resistances and maintaining skills. To increase it by 100 just like that! Not only that, but percent increase option effects are applied! Currently, Seonghyun has the title Almighty, which increases all stats by 10%. So, it''s no different than gaining an additional 110 Spirit from Enduring One. ''Crazy.'' Even Seonghyun couldn''t help but be surprised by this. Wait, then what are his stats now? ¡¾Status Window¡¿ ¡ºSeonghyun¡» ¡ºLv 25¡» ¡ºss¡» ¡ú¡ºOverlord¡» ¡ºTitle¡»¡ú¡ºMonarch (Legendary)¡»¡­¡­ and 18 others. ¡ºStats¡» ¡ú¡¶Strength: 20 (18+2)¡·¡¶Agility: 17 (15+2)¡· ¡¶Stamina: 15 (13+2)¡·¡¶Intelligence: 23 (20+3)¡· ¡¶Wisdom: 28 (25+3)¡·¡¶Spirit: 133 (120+13)¡· ¡¶Dexterity: 7 (6+1)¡· ¡ºAdditional Stat Points¡» ¡ú¡¶120¡· ''Wow, this is...'' Even Seonghyun, who until yesterday didn''t know much about Eternal World, was surprised by his status window. It''s not just a level 25 status window. Plus, 120 additional stat points. ''I should start raising them soon.'' He hadn''t felt the need to raise them, so he hadn''t, but Now is the time to raise them. There''s no benefit to saving them anymore. Raising them is a certainty. Then, how should he raise them? ''Hmm.'' Seonghyun''s Overlord ss is clearly a dark wizard. Naturally, increasing intelligence and wisdom is advantageous and makes him stronger. However, considering Seonghyun''s ystyle, it''s not limited to that. He also fights using the memories and experiences of the former instructor Eddie and the hunter Apik. This is even more true considering the memories and experiences of the Wraiths he will obtain in the future. Even looking through Helena''s memories, she also had excellent physical abilities. It seems better to raise them evenly, but He wasn''t sure how to distribute them. He didn''t have a good sense of it yet. ''First, it''s better to invest in Intelligence and Wisdom.'' Intelligence directly affects the power and duration of magic-type skills. And Wisdom is directly rted to mana, such as maximum mana and mana regeneration speed. It''s a shame that it looks so small even though there are 120 additional stat points. But it can''t be helped. He invested 30 points each in his main stats, Intelligence and Wisdom. And he invested 20 points each in the remaining Strength, Agility, and Stamina. ¡¾Status Window¡¿ ¡ºSeonghyun¡» ¡ºLv 25¡» ¡ºss¡» ¡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 doubledpared 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, thest hidden piece left here. A sword emitting a brilliant light. Should he say it''s more simple than shy in appearance? It is beautiful. However, there were no dazzling or fancy decorations, but the curve from the hilt to the de was smoothly connected, and the blue energy dwelling in the de 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 Rmendation Letter for the Special ck Mage Academy. But unlike the rmendation 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 ss restrictions. ''I can make quite a bit of money if I sell itter.'' 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''te out yet.'' He was more used to her absence, but somehow it felt a bit empty without her. She said she couldn''te out for a while because she used up a lot of power, so It can''t be helped. Seonghyun''s purpose in ying 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 ying 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 ite 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 vige 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''smand. How could he not try using it? He had somewhere to go with his older sister, Yoo Mina,ter in the afternoon, so He needs to head to the hunting ground as soon as possible. Wait,e to think of it. ''They said party y is much more efficient from the second vige onwards, right?'' He heard that there are many hunting grounds,monly called dungeons, that require a party of a certain number or more to enter. Seonghyun thought he should form a party. Recalling the central za where he met the vige head, Granny Gwen, a while ago, Seonghyun returned to the vige. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 32 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 32 0. A colossal, ck 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 ck fortress, more formidable than any stronghold, would never allow intruders. A mystical bird, seemingly crafted from ck paper, flew towards it. The ck paper bird effortlessly passed through the gloomy ck 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 wless as a youth''s. His true identity, age, and even gender remained a mystery. The man extended his hand to the side. As ifpelled by an unseen force, the ck paper birdnded 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 ck 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 Vige." A single, simplemand. At his words, the shadows within the pce stirred as if raising a toast, filling the audience chamber with a sudden mor. The shadows chanted, their voices like a chorus, or perhaps a hymn. - Hail! - Worship! - He ising! - The master of the pce! - Let us offer our pce! - We are His servants! - A pce 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 zing with fervor. "The time hase to offer our pce, Over Pce, to our Lord." Over Pce, which had long remained dormant, and its leader, one of the Nine Heroes, ck Star, finally stirred. 1. Returning to Sekan Vige and heading towards the central za, 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 vige head, Granny Gwen, without any inconvenience. Anyway, there were quite a lot of people now. Users upied most of the za. It was a scene reminiscent of a bustling marketce. 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 za. ''Should I just go alone?'' Even in the second vige, where party y is practically mandatory, there must be solo hunting grounds if he looks for them. Should he escape this chaotic ce? 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 be 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. It was a small misunderstanding, but it wasn''t important. Is he trying to find party members? As Seonghyun turned around, The young-looking user asked, "Uh, are you looking for a party by any chance?" "Yes, for now." "For now? Ah! Then, if you don''t mind, would you like to join our party? We''re also missing one member." Looking at the young-looking user, He saw other party members who looked older than him. One woman and two men. The woman appeared to be an archer, one man looked like a mage, and thest one seemed to be a swordsman. Including the young-looking male user who spoke to him, it was a party of four. They happened to be missing one member. This young-looking user is alright. Even though it was a misunderstanding, Seonghyun thought he looked skilled. This worked out well. Just as he was about to ept, -Eek! You murderer bastards!! You''ll be punished! Yah! Yah! The ghost of a young child was using all his might to punch and kick the three behind him. What did he just see? As Seonghyun blinked in confusion, "Oh? Is something the matter? Ah!! Do you perhaps know each other!?" "No, this is the first time I''ve met them." "Ah! Those people over there are our party members." "Oh? Is that so?" The young child ghost called them murderers? As Seonghyun looked puzzled, He made eye contact with the child ghost. And perhaps realizing that Seonghyun recognized him, The child ghost quickly approached Seonghyun and said, -These bastards are all bad guys!! They lure people into caves and kill them!! They deliberately make them fall into traps and don''t even save them!! "Oh?" Seonghyun let out an exmation and smiled. In other words, they''re targeting yers. Now that he heard that, they certainly looked suspicious. First, they didn''t seem to like the idea of recruiting Seonghyun. The female archer had her arms crossed, though her expression was weing. The male mage had a smile on his face, but his eyes were cold as he looked at Seonghyun. Lastly, the other male swordsman was stroking his chin and smiling, but he seemed to be calcting something as he tapped his chin. Even without the memories and experiences of the hunter Apik, he could tell. Something fishy was going on. Hadn''t he already learned this once with Bejiron? ''They''re hunting users.'' He could tell just by the child ghost''s testimony and their behavior. The memories and experiences of the hunter Apik also told him that they were suspicious. He was already familiar with those kinds of looks. The look in their eyes was something he had seen countless times in the memories of the former instructor Eddie, the hunter Apik, and other Ghosts. He knew well the look of greed in their eyes. Their eyes were the same. Then there''s something he needs to confirm. "You said you were missing one member, right? Then, are those people you originally knew?" "Huh? Ah! No! We just formed this party. Those three know each other, and I just met them while looking for a party." "I see." He understood immediately. They were targeting this young-looking user. Realizing this, Seonghyun made up his mind. "Where are you nning to go?" "To Adum''s Cave! It''s a 5-person party dungeon!" "Alright. Let''s go." He found the perfect ce to use the Wraith. As Seonghyun expressed his intention to join, The man who seemed to be doing the final calctions, tapping his chin, smiled with greed in his narrowed eyes. And next to him, -You guys are in big trouble now!! A noble person will punish you!! The child ghost''s scolding echoed. Of course, they couldn''t hear it. 2. The party that Seonghyun decided to join. The party leader of the party heading to Adum''s Cave was none other than the young-looking user. His nickname was Jinwoo. His level was 23, slightly lower than Seonghyun''s. As a bit of TMI, he had just be an adult at 20 years old. Seonghyun also introduced his level and nickname, and the suspicious three users greeted him warmly. "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)¡»n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡ºNuel - Lv.27 - (Elemental Mage)¡» ¡ºManhu - Lv.29 - (Swordsman)¡» Seonghyun not revealing his ss 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 umte infamy. It''s fine at first, but if it keeps umting, you won''t be able to enter viges, 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 umte infamy. Those guys with shy 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 ss. And this is thest 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 nning 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?" [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 33 [Trantor - 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 popted 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 ce 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, isting 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 systematicmands 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 noparison. 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 disy such prowess? At first nce, 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 iprehensible. 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. Purebat power and traps were different matters. Above all, there was no thief in this party, so No one could dismantle the traps. Of course, Nuel could do it, but Would he? Surely Seonghyun, who was leading the way, would fall victim to a trap, right? Some of them had that expectation. "Oh dear, there''s a trap here too. I''ll dismantle it and then we''ll go." "Whoa!! What, Brother Seonghyun is good at dismantling traps too!?!?" "...Indeed." Creak. What kind ofbatant dismantles traps too? Moreover, as if he had the vision of a skilled hunter, he even dismantled all the traps far away. But Seonghyun still said, "The traps are obvious. Still, there might be more dangerous traps, so please be careful, Jinwoo." "Yes! I''ll keep that in mind!!" "...." ¡®Is he mocking us?¡¯ The trap that Seonghyun just dismantled was the most difficult trap in Adum''s Cave. Knowing this fact, the expressions of Manhu and his party hardened rapidly. ''...There''s no more...'' Way. Usually, there were no users alive by this point. They hade this far too easily. How was this possible? Not only was his physical ability ridiculous, but he also had detection abilities? Where did such a cheat charactere from? Manhu red at Seonghyun, grinding his teeth. ''Could it be... he''s a simr kind of guy?'' A hunter who, like them, targets users'' items? No, that can''t be. If that were the case, he would have already made a move. Then what is his identity? As Manhu was lost in thought, Seonghyun, on the contrary, was inwardly questioning Manhu and his party. ''When are they nning to attack?'' Recalling the words of the child ghost, he said they would make him fall into a trap, but Surely they didn''t rely on these insignificant traps or monsters. Although that was true, Seonghyun thought it couldn''t be. Who would die from something like this? He thought that Manhu and his party hadn''t made their move yet. ''Ah! They''re probably nning to attack during the boss fight.'' Indeed, it could be quite fatal if they attacked during the boss fight. He needs to be prepared for that. Unaware of Manhu''s thoughts, As Seonghyun came to that conclusion, Manhu and his party were holding an emergency meeting. [Amir - What do we do now?] [Manhu - Hmm.] [Nuel - If he''s fine even after all those traps, shouldn''t we give up?] [Amir - That''s true, isn''t it?] [Nuel - All that''s left is to attack him ourselves...] [Amir - That''s... a bit much, isn''t it?] Amir showed a negative reaction to Nuel''s words. Indeed, it was true. There was a significant penalty for attacking a user first. It was something you couldn''t do withoutÒ™Îò (resolve). Manhu wouldn''t normally go that far either. But. "..." Manhu nced at Seonghyun, who was looting items while ughtering goblins. More precisely, at the Apprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword, enveloped in a blue aura, that Seonghyun was wearing. Should he just let him go like this? At that moment, a burning desire could be felt in Manhu''s greed-filled eyes. No, he couldn''t do that. It was better to take the risk than to give that up. [Manhu - Attack in the boss room.] Coincidentally, things went exactly as Seonghyun had predicted. 4. Adum''s Cave, one of the dungeons in Sekan Vige. The boss here, unsurprisingly, was a hobgoblin named Adum. His race was Hobgoblin Warrior. Unlike goblins, who were the size of young children, hobgoblins, with a height simr to that of an adult, were tricky monsters for users. They were humanoid monsters and cunning, making them difficult to deal with. They were also skilled with weapons, often counterattacking if one was careless. And so was the hobgoblin Adum, located in the final boss room of this Adum''s Cave. He was tricky enough on his own, but there were also four hobgoblins next to Adum. This was the reason why it was designated as a 5-person dungeon. "Hmm." "Wow, four hobgoblins and the Hobgoblin Warrior Adum!?" As Jinwoo expressed his admiration and tension simultaneously, The boss room came into everyone''s view. A wide, natural cavern, and in it, arger hobgoblin sat as if he were the king of the ce. [Lv.35 Hobgoblin Warrior ''Adum''] Clearly different from the others, the name of the Hobgoblin Warrior Adum was embroidered in red. As he rose, The other hobgoblins around him also took their positions. [Lv.32 Hobgoblin] [Lv.31 Hobgoblin] [Lv.30 Hobgoblin] [Lv.30 Hobgoblin] As Adum stood and the hobgoblins took their ces, Seonghyun naturally looked at Manhu and his party. It seemed they hadn''t made their move yet. In that case, it was only natural to make the first move. Seonghyun''s eyes lit up as he grabbed the hilt of the Apprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword at his left side and charged. He dashed forward in a low stance, almost as if he were about to fall to the ground. Jinwoo, seeing this, quickly followed with his shield and sword. 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?''N?v(el)B\\jnn 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 de 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,pletely 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 itsrade''s fate, was prepared and swung its club at Seonghyun. ng! 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 stabsnded 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 hisposure 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.] [Enteringplete hostile state.] [Party member ¡ºNuel - Lv.27¡» has left the party.] [This user has infamy.] [Attacking will not umte 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, d in ck darkness and overflowing with teal energy, poured out. There were as many as twenty of them. And. -Khehehehe! It''s time for ughter!! For Master!! A Wraith appeared, scattering a ferocious aura everywhere. It exploded with teal energy, d in ck 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 34 [Trantor - 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 be 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 iing 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 ofplete hostility.] [Party member ¡ºAmir - Lv.26¡» has left the party.] [This user has infamy.] [Attacking will not umte infamy.] Two people had already entered a hostile state.N?v(el)B\\jnn 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 ording to the Lord''s will!) - Kehuruk! Kehek! Kek! (I will obey Master''smand!) 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 hisposure 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 be one!) They were dodging the hobgoblins'' attacks with nimble movements, continuouslynding 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 des 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 umte 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 was ahead of him in level. Provoking him in this situation? ''He''s not provoking me for no reason.'' His goal must be to anger and agitate Manhu somehow. If he gets agitated and charges in, he''ll surely lose. But if not, it''s only natural for Manhu to win. Seonghyun shook his head andmanded the Wraith of Barpur to move. Barpur turned towards Nuel and Amir, who were behind. This was his chance. ''I''ll aim for the moment that damn Wraith is distracted!'' The Wraith''s top priority was to protect Seonghyun, but It followed Seonghyun''s will. As the Wraith headed towards Nuel and Amir, Their faces turned pale, and they started trembling like aspen leaves as they began to use their skills. "U-Uwaaaak! E-Energy Arrow!" "F-Fire Wall!" A powerful arrow enveloped in mana shot towards the Wraith of Barpur. A wall of fire rose, trying to block the Wraith. But the Wraith of Barpur, as if it were nothing, simply waved his hand as if chasing away a fly. Thud, Crack. The arrow snapped at Barpur''s gesture. As if it were a toy arrow. And looking at the wall of fire blocking his way, Barpur, with an annoyed look, blew on it as if extinguishing a candle. - Fu. Whoosh, Poof. The zing wall of fire disappeared with just that one breath, and Nuel''s face, who had been preparing a spell while the wall of fire was blocking the way, turned white. Amir, who was next to him, was no different. As they were about to shout to Manhu for help, They saw Manhu running quickly in their vision. His target was Seonghyun! And they realized. If they kill the summoner, The summons will also disappear. They just had to hold on until then. But. ''C-Can we hold on?'' ''...Ah.'' Nuel and Amir had that thought simultaneously and gulped at the approaching Wraith of Barpur. They knew it was just a monster, a piece of data. But why? Their whole bodies stiffened as if they were facing a real ghost. They couldn''t even withstand this. It didn''t take long for them to realize that. Hopefully, with their sacrifice, Manhu would be victorious. With that thought, the two closed their eyes. ''If I just kill the summoner, it''s over.'' Manhu knew that Seonghyun''s main body was also exceptional. But even so, he was a Necromancer. His defense was bound to be abysmal. While he was controlling the undead, Manhu, a swordsman, would gain the upper hand. Believing so, he ran quickly and swung his sword at Seonghyun. [Party member ¡ºManhu - Lv.29¡» is attacking you.] [Entering a state ofplete hostility.] [Party member ¡ºManhu - Lv.29¡» has left the party.] [This user has infamy.] [Attacking will not umte infamy.] A system message popped up in front of Seonghyun simultaneously. But he quickly dismissed it as a nuisance and raised his sword. ng! Manhu used his Swordsman ss skill and swung his sword with all his might. But Seonghyun blocked it by simply raising his sword. No, he blocked it, but not just with strength. He deflected the sword strike by subtly shifting his sword in a way that disrupted Manhu''s sword trajectory and redirected the attack. Perfectly. Then came the follow-up attack of the Swordsman skill. The skill Manhu activated allowed him to swing his sword five times in quick session. It was a skill that allowed him to swing his sword five times in a single move, so it wasn''t easy to block them all without using a defensive skill. Even if he used a defensive skill to block it, the power could still break through! But Seonghyun was blocking it by raising his sword, not with a skill. Seonghyun had no choice but to take this attack. That''s what he thought. ng! ng! ng! ng! ng! ''This crazy...!'' Sparks flew as the swords shed in the air. He deflected the downward strike from the upper right, and with the deflected momentum, he smoothly parried the horizontal swing from the middle right. The deflected sword strike automatically changed its trajectory due to the skill, quickly spinning and aiming for an upward sh from the lower left to the upper right. Seonghyun also spun his wrist while holding the sword. Like a snake, his sword coiled and deflected that attack as well. Finally, the overhead strike. For the overhead strike that went from the top center to the bottom, Seonghyun held his sword in a nted upper right stance to block it. Sparks flew as the two swords shed, and both stopped simultaneously. ''He blocked them all?'' He blocked all five of his strikes without using any skills? Manhu gulped and blinked at the sight. Was this even possible? Could skills be blocked without skills? As that thought crossed his mind, He met Seonghyun''s eyes, which were fixed on him with an intense gaze. Seonghyun''s pupils were dark and ck, And within them, a teal light shone. Manhu stared nkly at those mystical eyes, as if he were possessed. ''W-What is this?'' He felt as if he were bewitched by a ghost. It wasn''t entirely wrong. Seonghyun had drawn upon the memories and experiences of the former instructor Eddie to block all the attacks. But that was it. "Hmm." A single syble. It was just a simple sound, but Manhu could read the emotion contained within. Boredom. Seeing Seonghyun, with that emotion emanating from his eyes and mouth, Manhu felt something boiling within him. Jealousy and inferiority towards what he couldn''t have. All of thatbined, "Uwaaaaaaaaaaa!" He screamed and lunged at Seonghyun. But Seonghyun, who had already grasped Manhu''s level, blocked all of Manhu''s attacks. ng! ng! ng! ng! ng! ng! ng! ng! 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. sh! 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 hisposure, 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 uprehending look, Seonghyun answered gently, "I''m a ck 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, ng! "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 nkly at the teal spear flying towards him. ''He nned 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 ck 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 ck, 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 weing 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 35 [Trantor - 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"ugh. 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? ¡ºSkill Book - Corpse Explosion¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úConsumable ¡úCan only be used by ck Mage ss 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] ¡úck Mage ss 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 ss skills. ¡úSlightly increases the effect of Warrior ss 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 ce. Thinking he should sell it, He turned his attention to the next reward. Next was one item from each of the viinous trio. ¡ºBow of Correction¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA bow that slightly corrects Dexterity. ¡úUsing this bow increases uracy. ¡úuracy increased by 10%. ¡ºNimble Beginner Pyromancer''s Robe¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA robe favored by apprentice pyromancers. ¡úSlightly reduces casting time of fire magic skills. ¡úSlightly increases the power of fire magic skills. ¡ºRing of Speed¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare+¡· ¡úA ring containing a mystical defensive magic that takes effect simply by wearing it. ¡úMovement speed increased by +10%. ¡úOnce a day, it increases the wearer''s movement and attack speed by 10% for 10 seconds. ''Oh.'' One bow, one robe, andstly, one ring. He didn''t need the bow and robe. He could probably sell those two as well. But the Ring of Speed was different. It was a pretty good ring, on par with the Ring of Protection. It even had a good effect that could be used for quite a long time. Seonghyun immediately equipped the ring and put the rest in his inventory. ''Is this thest one?'' The ss-specific skill that appeared after reaching level 30. Its name was Monarch''s Silence. The name of the skill alone raised his expectations, and Seonghyun immediately checked the skill''s effect. ¡ºMonarch''s Silence¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Continuous Effect][Active] [Cooldown 10 minutes] [Duration 5 seconds] I shall mock the living, who will struggle in the swamp of death, slowly sumbing to a curse that cannot be spoken. ¡úOverlord exclusive skill.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡úSilences the enemy, preventing them from making any sound. ¡úThe cursed enemy is afflicted with silence, temporarily sealing their mana. ''Oh!!'' It was a silence-type curse skill. Or should he say a mana seal debuff? A skill that could give him a significant advantage over his enemies. Although the duration was quite short, it was enough to cancel an enemy''s skill if used right before they cast it. 5 seconds was enough. Even if the opponent had high Spirit and resisted, it could seal their skills for at least 2 seconds. ''This is really good.'' Why were all the Overlord skills so good? He recalled Helena''s memories to get a sense of how to use it. He felt confident that he could use it effectively. He had to go out quickly because he had a promise with his sister, but ''There''s enough time to test this.'' With that thought, Seonghyun smiled and headed out of the dungeon. Two newly acquired skills and one usable item. He had to go test them all. The memory of Jinwoo was already fading from Seonghyun''s mind. 5. A user logged out. But instead of immediately exiting the capsule, the user turned on Eternal World again. The character selection screen showed the character named Jinwoo and another character standing side by side. The user chose the other character. A magnificent fortress atop a cliff came into view, a g bearing the symbol of the Wind Spirit fluttering vigorously. The grand fortress on the cliff was a natural stronghold. Anyone who saw it would say this: It was the fortress of the Rapid Guild. Jinwoo, or rather, Kim Jinwoo, appeared at the impregnable fortress, the base of the Rapid Guild, with a yful smile and a slightly weary shake of his head. He looked as if he couldn''t quite believe it. A woman saw Kim Jinwoo''s expression. She appeared to be a powerful mage user, judging by her long robe and various items. She looked at Kim Jinwoo questioningly. He opened his mouth. "Wow, that rookie has really good instincts." "...Good instincts?" "Yes. He got suspicious as soon as I made a little mistake. There were no problems while I was acting all smiles and friendly." "Hmm, that''s your fault, but noticing it right away definitely means he has good instincts. What about his skills?" At the woman''s words, Kim Jinwoo''s yful smile disappeared. With a serious expression, Kim Jinwoo said in a slightly dumbfounded tone, "He''s top-tier." "...That good?" The woman knew well that Kim Jinwoo''s evaluations were quite harsh. But for him to describe someone as top-tier? Just how skilled was this person? Unlike Kim Jinwoo, who ran off to check with his alt ount, the woman had seen the video. The overwhelming presence of the undead army was certainly impressive. The proactive movements that no other undead had shown. But wasn''t it a bit vague to call this skill? It might be different if it was seen as the performance of his ss. But to say his skills were top-tier? That expression came from Kim Jinwoo, who was stingy with praise. "He was so good with the sword that I couldn''t believe he was a ck Mage. The undead acted as if they had their own will, and they were praising the rookie." "Hmm." "Anyway, this is an absolute secret from Sister Yuna." "I know. I don''t want to get scolded either." "Whew, then I''ll go hunting. I have to work hard if I don''t want to get caught by the rising rookie." As Kim Jinwoo said so and set out to hunt with a serious expression, the woman pondered deeply. If the rookie was that good... ''It wouldn''t be a problem to add him to that team.'' HR Manager Luciel of the Rapid Guild muttered with a slightly impressed look. [TL/N: The role designation isn¡¯t final and is subjected to change as I get more context] "Both siblings with such talent. It''s unbelievable." The older sister was a top-ranking yer, one of the single-digit highest-ranked yers in the world, and the younger brother had a ridiculously high-rank ss, and his skills were even recognized by Kim Jinwoo. It felt like the world was unfair, but what could she do? Luciel was also in such a position in the eyes of others. Anyway, the team Seonghyun would join was decided. ''I''ll have to assign him to Lunane''s team.'' The most promising rookie team in the current Rapid Guild. That''s where she nned to ce Seonghyun. Then, to convince the Guild Master, she had to tell her. ''If I go to Yuna...'' She didn''t know what would happen since it was her younger brother''s matter. 6. Although the second vige practically forced party y, 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 vige. Especially from the second vige onwards, various types of skeletons appeared. From Skeleton Mages to Skeleton Warriors, Skeleton Archers, and so on. A ce 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 shing, it wasn''t that they werepletely ineffective. Seonghyun''s sword, drawing a faint blue trajectory, urately 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, itpletely 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 toote. Seonghyun struck the Skeleton Warrior''s head with the t of his sword, not the de. 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 hade. Seonghyun pointed his index finger at the Skeleton Mage, brought it to his mouth, and used the skill. "...tter?" 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 irresistiblemand. 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 creepyugh. "...!!" The Skeleton Mage felt its mana scattering and bing 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 ck 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 36 [Trantor - 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 arge signing bonus and annual sry from the Rapid Guild. It wasmon 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 ced the business registration certificate in an envelope. He also put the business bank ount 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 ount he had just opened. And. [XX Bank Business ount - 2,000,000,000 won deposited.] He already knew, but his jaw dropped at the amount. Even Seonghyun couldn''t maintain hisposure at this moment. His eyes trembled, and his mouth gaped open.N?v(el)B\\jnn 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 sry 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,ughing like a goofball, Seonghyun was able to calm down. This was the world''s 9th-ranked yer? 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 y 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. Ist saw you before you went to the military. You''re discharged!?" "Yeah, well." Unlike Seonghyun, who responded calmly, employee Lee Soojung greeted him enthusiastically. Then, she suddenly noticed Yoo Mina next to Seonghyun. Seeing Yoo Mina, who looked elegant and haughty instead of her usual goofy self, Lee Soojung gulped. Even Seonghyun himself was quite handsome, but seeing his older sister, Yoo Mina, she seemed intimidated and momentarily lost her words. Seonghyun wondered what was wrong when she suddenly stopped talking. "Wh-Who... are you?" Lee Soojung asked cautiously. She seemed to have misunderstood something. But Seonghyun, unlike himself, made a rather distorted expression. He knew it was a situation that could lead to misunderstandings, but his instinctive genes made even Seonghyun, who was always calm and collected, contort his face. "My sister." "Ah! Ah! I-I see. Ah, hello, Unnie, I''m Lee Soojung, I go to the same university as Seonghyun. I-I''lle to take your order soon!!" "Ah, thank you." "Ugh." Seeing his goofy sister speak so calmly, Seonghyun frowned and shook his head. It was like a true certification of their sibling rtionship. As Lee Soojung said, Seonghyun and Yoo Mina went to afortable seat and sat down. "Oh, she''s quite beautiful, isn''t she? This Unnie approves." "What are you talking about?" "Huh? Is there something going on between you two???" "... You haven''t dated before, have you?" At Seonghyun''s words, Yoo Mina''s eyes widened, and she let out a gasp. Her own brother was stabbing her where it hurt. She had let her guard down. "...Why are you rubbing salt in my wounds?" "It''s obvious just by looking." "No, anyone can see that girl is interested in you." "What? No. She''s just a ssmate. Maybe it''s because it''s been a while since we''ve seen each other." "...?" Yoo Mina, with an expression that said even she could tell despite herck of dating experience, looked at Lee Soojung, who was still smiling at Seonghyun and signaling that she would be with them shortly. Even if she were falling from a skyscraper hotel in Jamsil, she could tell that was a sign of affection. But for her foolish brother to say it wasn''t... It was absurd. At Seonghyun''s nonchnt reaction, Yoo Mina shook her head, deciding not to worry about it. Dating was his own business. As they were waiting, they ordered their food. A service dish, almost on par with the main course, came out even though they hadn''t ordered it. "This is a service! Enjoy it, Unnie!!" "Ah, thank you." "...Even after this?" "What?" "Oh, forget it." Seonghyun looked at Yoo Mina curiously at her reaction. Most of his female ssmates in college were like that. There was no way Seonghyun would know it was a sign of affection. They finished their meal leisurely and returned home without any incidents. Well, there was one incident. [S University XX ssmate Lee Soojung - Seonghyun! We decided to get together with everyone this weekend, you''lle too, right? Everyone will be happy if youe!] He received an unexpected text message. 1. Sekan Vige, one of the second viges. It wasn''t a particrly distinctive vige, other than the somber atmosphere following the loss of their elder, former Vige Head Gwen. Like other second viges, it had many dungeons due to the semi-forced nature of party y, but that was the same for other second viges. Even though it wasn''t particrly unique, it was a vige with quite a few NPCs and a considerable number of users gathered. At the entrance of Sekan Vige, The guards momentarily doubted their eyes. Caw! Caw! "Huh, there are a lot of crows today." "You''re telling me. Were there always crows around here?" Unlike other days, countless crows began to gather one by one at the vige entrance, as if they were flocking from all directions. They only thought it was strange. They didn''t think it was anything special. They were just crows, after all. But as their numbers gradually increased, forming a flock of tens, hundreds, thousands, The guards realized something was wrong. Crows gathered, and dark clouds began to form. An eerie aura filled the sky, and an ominous feeling grew stronger. The guards trembled with unease. "S-Should we inform the vige?" "B-Because of crows?" But because it was just crows, they were stuck in a dilemma. Just then, arge crow flew in from afar. The flock of thousands of crows began to swarm towards the singlerge one. 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 ck mirror with fear in their eyes. Suddenly, ripples appeared on the ck mirror. Like a drop of water falling on a calmke, the ripples spread across the mirror. And then, as if it were only natural, three figures stepped out of the mirror. The ck 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 ck crown on a ck robe. There was only one entity in the world who could use that emblem. "O-Over Pce!!" "It''s an envoy from Over Pce!!" ng! Thud! Over Pce, the mage tower of all ck Mages. Their envoy had arrived in Sekan Vige. Seeing the guards'' fearfulmotion, 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 vige." 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 vige 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 wees or celebrations." With those words, the three vanished as if they were a mirage, leaving behind ripples of ck. The two guards, feeling as if they had just woken from a nightmare, gulped and their hands trembled. An envoy from Over Pce had visited their vige. "U-Unbelievable." "I-Indeed. Over Pce came here... There must be something special about this vige." The guards picked up their dropped weapons and returned to their posts, guarding the vige 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 ce. They came here for one reason only. "This is the vige where His presence wasst 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 vige!" "..." At the crow-masked man''s words, the corpse-like manughed 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 vige, 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 vige. 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 nonchntly, the man said, "Found Him." [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 37 [Trantor - 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 themter, Seonghyun returned home, took a shower, and sat in front of hisputer. While they were eating, his sister had told him that the Rapid rookie video had be a hot topic. He couldn''t quite grasp it, but... ''I should watch it.'' Seonghyun entered the Eternal Worldmunity 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 detailedmands??¡» [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 beforeing 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 urrence for him. In anothermunity 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 arge 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. [Wee to Eternal World, another world, an eternal world.] [May good fortune be with you, yer ¡ºSeonghyun¡».] As he logged in, feeling the familiar wee message and sense of floating, Seonghyun looked around in wonder. ''Hmm, something''s strange.'' The ce was familiar. It was where he hadst logged out. But something was strange. A sense of incongruity. It was different from the feeling he usually got in Sekan Vige. He looked up at the sky. ''Hmm.'' The weather was clear. There was nothing that would give him a sense of incongruity. The vige streets were also the same, nothing strange. But he could clearly feel it. Something foreign had enveloped this vige. It wasn''t an instinctual feeling. This sensation, he felt it from Helena''s memories. ''ck Magic?'' He knew for sure. This was ck Magic. More precisely, he could feel the remnants of ck Magic. But the remnants of ck Magic, which he had never felt in Sekan Vige before, suddenly appeared? Had something happened? Or was it... ''An event?'' What Seonghyun had done sinceing to Sekan Vige... There were quite a few things, but mainly capturing the demonic beast Barpur and catching the malicious users in Adum''s Cave. Those were things that could have an impact. ''Is it because of the demonic beast Barpur?'' Seonghyun thought so as he walked down the street. Then, with another strange sense of incongruity, he suddenly looked up. In Seonghyun''s line of sight, there was a crow perched on a roof. An ordinary crow. But it couldn''t fool Seonghyun''s eyes. It wasn''t a real crow. He could feel the dark energy of ck Magic emanating from that crow. He wasn''t sure, but could it be a crow created with ck Magic? "This is no ordinary crow." After muttering those words, Seonghyun prepared to summon the Netherworld and draw the Apprentice Hero Hindel''s Sword. He felt something approaching. As Seonghyun prepared himself, The crow''s beak opened wide, and a human arm popped out from within. Caw The crow let out a pained cry as if vomiting. Its beak opened wider, and soon, a person emerged from the crow''s mouth. A bizarre man wearing a ck robe and a crow mask. But the aura of ck Magic emanating from him was truly overwhelming. For a moment, he even had the illusion that the air had be several times heavier. No, it wasn''t an illusion. With an oppressive presence that seemed to crush everything, space tore open to the left of the man, and a doll popped out. A beautiful doll with pale skin appeared, held by a woman with eyes like a bottomless abyss. The woman was eerie, with eyes like bottomless pits, devoid of focus or light, her long hair cascading down as she clutched the doll preciously. And to the man''s right, a piece of flesh popped out, bubbling and multiplying as it grew, eventually taking the shape of a human. A man who looked like a corpse. Covered in stitches all over his body, he had a human form, yet he felt inhuman, making him incredibly grotesque. As the three appeared, the concentration of ck Magic pressing down on the surroundings intensified, making it difficult to even breathe. The air became so heavy that an ordinary person would have suffocated to death if they were here. In a situation where a fight could break out at any moment, Seonghyun rxed his grip on his sword and released his battle stance. For one reason. ''I don''t sense any hostility.'' An ability he naturally acquired through gaining the memories and experiences of various Wraiths. It became easier to grasp the intentions of others. Especially thanks to Helena''s memories. Above all, he realized that they weren''t using ck Magic simply to intimidate, but rather, it was their natural state, unrestrained. They were formidable opponents. Even among those in Helena''s memories, they would be considered quite skilled. Against such opponents, escaping or fighting was meaningless. As Seonghyun calmly observed them, "Over Pce bows to the rightful sessor." "..." "Uhihihihi! The true master has appeared!!" Thud! The crow-masked man knelt respectfully on one knee and bowed his head, and the doll woman also curtsied with the doll, holding up her dress slightly, and bowed her head. And the corpse man... He mmed his head into the ground. Should that be considered bowing as well? Anyway, as they expressed their loyalty and withdrew the ck Magic they had been using, greeting Seonghyun, He couldn''t help but be dumbfounded. He couldn''t misunderstand being called a sessor or the true master. He had his suspicions when they said Over Pce hade, but... ''Was Over Pce the organization created by Helena''s followers?'' He thought the group that followed Helena would be a secret organization, but They were openly active. And that ce was Over Pce? Even Seonghyun, who was only on his second day in Eternal World, had heard of Over Pce. He looked into it after bing an Overlord and gaining Helena''s memories and experiences. Over Pce, the mage tower and sanctuary of all ck 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 ck Mages gathered. They boasted overwhelming military powerpared to any other organization. The leader of Over Pce, ck Star, was also known as the first among the Nine Heroes. So, who would dare to oppress ck Mages? Thanks to Over Pce, a society where ck Mages were not ostracized was created in Eternal World. Why had such a powerful organizatione to find him? "We havee to find the sessor and deliver this." The crow-masked man said so and pulled out a letter from his bosom. A letter sealed in a luxurious ck envelope. Seonghyun blinked and looked at them as he received the envelope, which looked extraordinary at first nce. The crow-masked man continued, "This is a letter that ck Star, who oversees our Over Pce, asked us to deliver." "Did the three of youe 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 sessor, Our Over Pce is a ce built to be dedicated to the Overlord. Now that the rightful sessor has appeared, It is time to prepare to offer the pce. Although we are eager to offer it to you immediately, there are still things we have yet to obtain for the sessor. There are sacred arrangements bestowed by the previous Overlord and our god, Helena. Thepass 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 ck Star conveys this to the sessor.¡» "...?" Wasn''t this too excessive? The letter implied that he wasn''t the rightful sessor until he collected all of Helena''s remaining arrangements, yet they were so devoted. Seonghyun, feeling bewildered, held thepass that he couldn''t understand how it fit in the envelope. [You have acquired the ss-specific item, ¡ºOverlord''s Compass¡».] [The ¡ºOverlord''s Compass¡» is not yet responding.] [ss-specific quest not generated.] [The first condition for use is level 50 or higher.] ''Hmm.'' So it generates ss-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.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om What''s this? Is there more? ¡ºAs an aside, the Hero''s sessor is said to be a resident of this vige, unlike the sessor. I dare not say that a mere Hero couldpare to the sessor, but I have conveyed this information in case it might be of interest to you.¡» This was quite unexpected information. The new Hero sessor was a resident of this vige. In other words, ''There''s an NPC with the Hero ss here.'' A Hero. An NPC with the very ss 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, "Iment that I can only offer this meager gift, despite my desire to provide much more for the sessor''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 thepass, 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 Pce envoy Karls.] "???" No, this seemed to be beyond enough. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 38 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 38 4. There was never a peaceful day for the E-World User Management Team. In particr, 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 rx 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?". 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 ount 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 epted 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 d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Didn''t he feel rxed when he first came to work? He vaguely remembered waking up refreshed in the morning,ing 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 Vige, just in case. It was an almost instinctive action. And as expected, "Oh, oh!? A-Aren''t those the envoys from Over Pce?" "..." 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 Pce 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 ry everything to him. Since Over Pce 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 hismon sense crumbling. ''What kind of standards are these?'' He thought it was more than enough, but Compared to the name Over Pce, 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 sessor." "..." "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 Pce 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 Pce, 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 asionally 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 sessor''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 vige flocked together and engulfed them. With a flurry of ck feathers, they disappeared. The eerie ck Magic that had pervaded the vige vanished without a trace, and even Seonghyun could hardly find any remnants of it. The envoys of Over Pce, from their appearance to their departure, were consistently extraordinary. ''They''re incredible.'' To think that such an organization was supporting him. He felt a renewed sense of awe towards Helena. It was a whirlwind of events, but The gains were substantial. No, it was beyond substantial. It was amazing. He couldn''t check thepass right away, so There was one thing left. But that one thing alone was incredible. ''A Legendary skill book...'' Even useless Rare rank skill books were said to cost millions of won, right? Decent Rare rank skill books were said to cost tens of millions of won. He had heard it from his sister, so it felt a bit real. Then, what about a Legendary skill book? It was an item worth tens of billions of won if he were to sell it. Even the lowest-valued Legendary skill book was worth tens of billions. That meant an excellent skill could be worth hundreds of billions. And that skill book was currently in Seonghyun''s hands. ''This is unbelievable.'' He never intended to sell it in the first ce. Selling a gift was a trashy option. Besides, wouldn''t they have given him a skill that suited him? With that expectation, Seonghyun immediately used the skill book. [Using the Legendary rank skill book, ¡ºSkill Book - Add More¡»!] [Acquired the Legendary rank skill, ¡ºAdd More¡»!] There was no need to hesitate. Seonghyun immediately checked the skill. ¡ºAdd More¡» ¡ú¡¶Legendary¡· ¡ú[Lv Max][Complete Type] [Continuous Effect][Passive] ¡úSummoning exclusive skill. ¡úWhen summoning, summons are summoned twice. ¡úNo mana is consumed for the additionally generated summons. ¡úThis effect can be turned on or off at any time. ¡úThe same applies to the creation of undead. *When summoning undead from the Netherworld, the 2x effect applies, but it cannot be stacked with other skills with simr effect. "???" His expression became even more dumbfounded than when he first received the skill book. He couldn''tprehend it at first nce. He wondered what it was. But after reading it carefully again and realizing that he had understood it correctly the first time, He blinked and scratched his head. "The summons are duplicated." The 2x effect also applied when summoning undead from the Netherworld. That meant... ''Two Barpurs?'' His strongest undead, the one with that overwhelming presence, was duplicated? Seonghyun scratched his cheek in disbelief. Was this really okay? Did they really shed tears of apology while giving him this? Anyway, since he received it, ''Let''s go use it right away.'' Wasn''t it natural to use a skill as soon as he got it? He headed to the cemetery where he had tested Corpse Explosion and Monarch''s Silence. Perhaps because he was eager to test it, Seonghyun arrived at the cemetery faster than usual. This ce was full of Ghosts and undead. Seonghyun opened the entrance to the Netherworld and summoned his undead. And then, [The effect of ¡ºAdd More¡» is applied.] [Undead identical to those summoned from the Netherworld are generated.] Undead emerged from the blue-green portal. Rustle, rustle. But unlike before, there were twice as many. Moreover, there was no additional mana cost. It was truly a cheat-like effect. - Aaaah! We worship you!! How did you obtain such an incredible ability!! - Kerruk! Kerheuk! (You are amazing!!) - Kuruk! Kek! Kehu! (As expected of our Lord!!) The Ghosts within the undead made a fuss, praising Seonghyun. Amidst the noise, Seonghyun felt something strange. A sense of incongruity? Although the number had increased, It didn''t feel twice as noisy. Seonghyun examined them closely. He realized the cause. "Ah." The undead were duplicated, but The souls within them were not. Just as the skill described, only the bodies of the undead were duplicated. Because of that, although the Wraith of Barpur was also duplicated, it had a much weaker presence than the original. The same went for the goblin undead. It was a bit disappointing. But there was no other way. ''Still, the numbers have increased.'' He had to be satisfied with the increased numbers. Just as Seonghyun was about to feel satisfied, The nearby Ghosts started approaching him, drooling. ''Why are they acting like that?'' Even Seonghyun, who had seen many Ghosts, had never seen this before. No, to be precise, he felt like he had seen it once before. Was it in Persville? When he created soulless undead with Death Aura, the Ghosts had flocked to him. 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, iming 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 disyed 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 vige 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 hadmitted 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 weing 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 ce 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 ce, 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.N?v(el)B\\jnn [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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 39 [Trantor - 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 ss. 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 nonchntly 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 topare 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¡» ¡ºss¡» ¡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-bnced.'' By absorbing the memories of the entire mercenary group, his Strength, Agility, and Stamina had increased considerably. Although his stats were bnced, the Overlord was strictly a magic-based ss. 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 y 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 vige. When he first arrived in Sekan, his second vige, hecked the level and strength, so he nned 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 Vige and found no clues for any more hidden pieces, so Moving on to the next vige didn''t seem like a bad idea. He could decide on a partyter. 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!" "Honestly, our star, Yuna... she''s too stubborn..." "Weck content that features regr videos." "Frankly, our channel isckingpared to otherrge guilds." "That''s right. Our subscriber count is even lower than the 12th ranked Sick Brothers." Everyone chimed in, and the meeting room quickly became noisy. She understood what they were saying. But... "You do know that he''s the younger brother of that stubborn Yuna, right?" "..." "...Ahem." "...Ahem." "Hmm." "Ahem." Only coughing sounds filled the room after Rapid''s words. No one had anything else to say. They knew Yuna''s personality well. She was a stubborn person who didn''t allow any filming except for raids, and she was known as the most formidable person in the Rapid Guild. No one could control her. Not even Guild Master Rapid. However, everyone gathered here also knew that Yuna cherished her younger brother dearly. But they couldn''t just let it go. They couldn''t just sit back and watch when an opportunity presented itself. Rapid knew this well. "Since the opportunity hase, we have to seize it. I''ll explore the methods first, so why don''t you tell me the n?" At Rapid''s words, everyone nodded with bright smiles. As expected of the Guild Master, they had faith in her! With such words, the meeting proceeded. They had already decided on the direction of the character they would create. A Demon King, or something simr, would be perfect. All the users were already weing that kind of image. Image-making itself wouldn''t be difficult. All they had to do was ask Seonghyun for the concept. As they gradually discussed the content and decided on the direction, They moved on to the next issue. It was now HR Manager Luciel''s turn. "There were many considerations in deciding which team the new recruit, user Seonghyun, would join." Everyone nodded at Luciel''s words. Although they were a high-ranking guild, they had a small number of members, and there were only three rookie teams in the current Rapid Guild. The criteria for dividing teams were, of course, the number of people who could participate in raids. The minimum was 6, and the maximum was 20. The Rapid Guild was keeping it to the minimum. In other words, each of the three rookie teams had six members. One of them even had only four. This meant that even if theybined all three rookie teams, they wouldn''t reach 20 members. Despite this, they cleared raids faster than any other rookie teams. As expected of a guild with the nickname "Fastest." And among those Rapid Guild rookie teams, the one Seonghyun would belong to... "I''m nning to assign him to the Luna Team." "Ah." "Ah?" "Huh?" Exmations of surprise and doubt erupted. They weren''t just surprised. The Luna Team was considered the strongest among the rookie teams, and it was also the smallest team with only 4 members. But was it really okay? Everyone had a look of concern. And Rapid was no different. "...The Luna Team." "I thought the Luna Team was the most suitable for now." "I instructed all the rookies to stop leveling up just in case... but the Luna Team." Was it a problematic team? No, it wasn''t. Rather, it was an excellent and outstanding team. However. "Ahem, they are a team full of unique personalities..." "At least the team leader, Luna, is decent..." "B-But will Yuna stay still?" "She mightin about him being sent to the ''troublemaker team''..." Worried opinions poured out, but Guild Master Rapid nodded in agreement and replied, "Alright. I also think the Luna Team would be the best fit for Seonghyun." It was natural for concerns to arise, given the team''s unique personalities. But there was nothing they could do about it. It was also awkward to put Seonghyun, who was showing such potential, in a rookie team that wasn''t the strongest. With that decided, Rapid looked through several files and said, "Once Seonghyun reaches level 50 andpletes his second ss advancement, we should send him to the new level 60 raid with the Luna Team. No one has cleared it yet, right?" "Yes, that''s correct. Even our rookie teams haven''t challenged it yet." "Other guilds are analyzing it, but it doesn''t seem like it will be cleared within at least two months." "It''s a difficult raid to clear at level 60." As everyone said those words, Rapid said with satisfaction, "It''s all settled. Then, let''s gather again after Seonghyun''s second ss 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 andpleting your second ss 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 ordingly, with a rate of 30% of the profits generated from your videos. We will send you an additional contractter. We look forward to your continued sess 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 ept 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 videost time, son/?/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 popr 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 vige, And headed to his next destination, Oren Vige. He could move between viges on the same level, meaning he could travel between second viges. Arriving in Oren Vige from Sekan Vige, 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 vige 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 ck 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 40 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 40 2. The users of Oren Vige couldn''t contain their excitement. It wasn''t often that an event was held in a second vige. Moreover, it was arge-scale event! There was no way they wouldn''t be excited. They could receive the quest just by going to the central za of the vige. The za, 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 surelye to the vige!" "It''s all thanks to the vige head, hahaha." Even the NPCs were happy, thinking about the ie that would be generated by the influx of users. A middle-aged man with a sly look watched the crowded central za from a high-rise residence. At first nce, 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 disyed 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 Vige''s headman, Xyle. Naturally, he was an NPC. Some users treated Eternal World''s NPCs like those in other games, but He was iparable 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 vigers, 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.'' ording to what Xyle had learned, Rox''s tomb was a giantbyrinth. A dangerous ce teeming with perilous traps and monsters. It wasn''t a ce that Xyle, a mere vige head, could easily go alone. Even if he knew the way through thebyrinth. But what if the outsiders rushed in like a pack of dogs? Therees a moment when thebyrinth is empty. Xyle was nning 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 ck hair and ck 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 vige head was said to be so kind and wise. He wasn''t particrly curious about Xyle''s scheme. He already knew it. The quest was his priority. ''Anyway, I received the quest.'' ¡ºRox''s Tomb¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úIt is said that Xyle, the vige head of Oren Vige, has been troubled by somethingtely. It''s none other than Rox''s tomb, which was recently discovered in Oren Vige. Rox was a mage who was active in Oren Vige a long time ago, and despite his outstanding skills, he had an evil heart. The tomb of the wicked mage Rox is causing great anxiety for the long-time vige head, Xyle. You will help Oren Vige and secure Rox''s tomb. Perhaps you will find something valuable in Rox''s tomb. ¡ú Level restriction: 50 or lower, users who have not undergone their second ss advancement. ¡ú Reward: 10 gold + items obtained from Rox''s tomb. ¡ú This quest will be carried out in pairs of 2. Caution! * Seonghyun''s current group number is 99. * If you do not enter with your group member, you will be expelled from Rox''s tomb. * However, you will not be expelled if your group member dies. The quest details were quite thorough. It was even a Rare ranked quest. Moreover, it recognized items obtained from Rox''s tomb. No wonder the users were going crazy. However, to Seonghyun, who knew the truth of this incident, It was nothing more than a shallow trick. ''He wrote it so transparently.'' If he hadn''t heard it from the ghosts, Seonghyun wouldn''t have known either. Furthermore, he had also heard where Rox had hidden his items. This time, Seonghyun''s goal was to obtain Rox''s hidden treasure before Xyle. However, he was concerned about having to move with a group member. Rox''s tomb, like other dungeons, had a party system. Fortunately, it was a 2-person group. It was better than forming a party and entering directly. ''Where should I look?'' Since quite a few users had already departed, There weren''t that many people left in the za. Even so, it was still bustling. While looking around to see if anyone was looking for group 99 among them, Seonghyun spotted a strange person. A user wearing arge straw hat, with long hair like a horse''s tail, a twig in their mouth, andughing "Huhuhu." They were wearing clothes that resembled a Hanbok, with a long sword at their waist, one hand resting on the hilt. They had the appearance of a nameless warrior. If you passed by them briefly, you might mistake them for an NPC. However, judging from the icon above their head that symbolized a user, They were definitely a user. ''Hmm, they seem to be role-ying.'' As Seonghyun thought so and was about to move on, "Huhuhu, I am the Joseon''s Best Swordsman. The one who is in a group with me,e out immediately." "Hmm." He should avoid them. They didn''t seem to be in their right mind. As Seonghyun tried to slip away and find his group member, "Huhuhu. The member of group 99,e out quickly." Flinch. Seonghyun turned his head again with a look of disbelief and looked at the self-proimed Joseon''s Best Swordsman. Noticing Seonghyun flinching, theyughed "Huhuhu" and met his eyes. With a strange exmation of "Oh?", the self-proimed Joseon''s Best Swordsman strode towards him. Seonghyun squeezed his eyes shut. He didn''t want to get involved with this kind of person, except for his sister. Actually, he didn''t want to get involved with his sister either. But they were family. As Seonghyun stood there, resigned, The self-proimed Joseon''s Best Swordsman approached and looked at him. And he saw something quite unexpected. ''A woman?'' He couldn''t tell from afar, but up close, it was clear. This person was a woman. She had disguised her voice to sound deep and masculine, and her appearance was also androgynous, so he hadn''t realized. Gender couldn''t be customized, so she must have cross-dressed. As soon as Seonghyun realized this, he knew. ''This person is serious.'' Not about skills or anything like that, but about being the Joseon''s Best Swordsman. It was true madness. Sensing that, Seonghyun clenched his jaw and looked at the Joseon''s Best Swordsman with a resigned expression. They were in the same group anyway. There was no avoiding it. "Are you in group 99 as well?" "Indeed, you are my partner. Hmmhuhuhu, don''t worry. You''ve been grouped with the Joseon''s Best Swordsman, Kim Chegeon." "..." Kim Chegeon was her nickname? Wasn''t that a real historical figure? He seemed to remember him being known as the Joseon''s Best Swordsman in various works of fiction. To use that person''s name as a nickname and call herself the Joseon''s Best Swordsman... ''Will I be able to film a video?'' Seonghyun briefly considered it, but it didn''t seem so bad. The Rapid Guild had also asked him to film with a concept. If he was with this kind of person, he might even learn something. Perhaps. After a moment of contemtion, Seonghyun asked the Joseon''s Best Swordsman, Kim Chegeon, "I need to film a video for a guild request. Would you mind being in it?" "Ohho!? You''re with Mupa! As expected, your skills seemed extraordinary! Ah! I permit the recording. It''s not like it''s being used for anything bad, so I don''t mind." As Kim Chegeon gave her permission, A message appeared before Seonghyun''s eyes. [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 sses.] ¡ºSeonghyun - Lv.34 - (????)¡» ¡ºJoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon - Lv.36 - (????)¡» Like Seonghyun, Kim Chegeon was also hiding her ss. ''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 elerating 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!?"N?v(el)B\\jnn 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 rxed, 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 disyed. 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 yer. Kim Chegeon was simply overwhelmingly superiorpared 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 ss wasn''t a swordsman type. It was a rude question. Prying into his ss 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 herrge 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 smallmotion 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 41 [Trantor - 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 disyed 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 runningte 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 enterter." "N-no way!?" Thete 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, amotion 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, Kak?" "...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, Kak?" "...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 eximed 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, recing 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. Emzoned 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 therge guilds, but few wished to join it. They were infamous. Most of the guild members had umted notoriety, and they didn''t hesitate to engage in unsavory behavior. It was arge 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 be arge guild despite consisting only of notorious yers 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, Kak?" "...The guild told us to exercise restraint, Wooz." "Ugh spoilsport! Fine." Wooz, the petite woman, pouted at the words of the giant man called Kak 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 simr thought as they moved on. When it was group 78''s turn, the giant man, Kak, 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. He already knew all the paths. But Seonghyun wasn''t alone. ''Hmm, what should I do?'' Kim Chegeon wouldn''t die along the way. Should he stay with her until the end? He had heard that Hidden Pieces weren''t meant to be shared. He already had a rough idea of the Hidden Piece in this ce. Since it was said to be necessary for a ck Mage, Seonghyun figured he would be the one to obtain it. ''Let''s find it first and think about itter.'' As Seonghyun entered the dungeon with Kim Chegeon, several messages appeared, just like in any other dungeon. [You are with your group member.] [Entry is permitted.] [Entering ¡ºEvent Dungeon - Rox''s Tomb¡».] [*Caution: Upon entering, everyone will start at a different location.] Seonghyun ignored the messages and found himself transported inside the dungeon. It was a pitch-ck maze with no visibility. However, as an Overlord, Seonghyun was more ustomed to darkness than light. He could see clearly without any restrictions. Unlike a natural cave, the floor was well-paved with stone, and the walls were smooth. It was more urate to call it abyrinth or a maze than a tomb. As Seonghyun looked around, he saw Kim Chegeon standing calmly beside him with her eyes closed. It might have seemed odd, but Seonghyun knew why she was doing that. ''She''s probably trying to adjust to the darkness.'' When suddenly moving from a bright ce to a dark one, it takes a while for one''s vision to adapt. Closing one''s eyes for a moment helps to speed up the process. Soon, Kim Chegeon opened her eyes and said, "Hmm. It''s done. Thank you for waiting." "You''re wee." Seonghyun, realizing that Kim Chegeon had adjusted to the darkness, acknowledged her thanks and took the lead. Even with her adapted vision, it was better for Seonghyun, who had no visual limitations in the dark, to lead the way in the dimly lit environment. Kim Chegeon seemed to agree, as she followed Seonghyun without any objections. After some time, a sound came from Kim Chegeon''s outstretched foot. Click. Both Kim Chegeon and Seonghyun reacted with lightning speed. Along with the clicking sound from the floor, they heard something moving above them. They swiftly moved away from the spot. Thud! Thud! Thud! Kim Chegeon, true to her reputation, kicked off the ground with explosive speed, her feet barely touching the floor as she dashed away. Having witnessed her agility before, Seonghyun followed suit and evaded the danger. As soon as they moved, the ceiling copsed, crushing the spot where they had been standing. Kaboom! The impact of the copse sent tremors through the ground, giving them a sense of its power. Neither of them would have survived if they had been caught in it. Not only was the force immense, but the speed of the copse was also incredible. Only Seonghyun and Kim Chegeon, with their exceptional reflexes, could have reacted in time. Any ordinary user would have been crushed before they could even register the danger. It was a terrifying trap, but Seonghyun and Kim Chegeon simply stared at it with calm expressions. Kim Chegeon seemed to be assessing the level of the trap, while Seonghyun thought it was manageable. "Let''s go." "Hmm, very well." Seonghyun had pinpointed their exact location within the dungeon thanks to the trap. He now knew where to go. Naturally, their pace quickened considerably. Even Kim Chegeon wondered for a moment if they were going too fast, but she decided it was better than being slow and followed Seonghyun. As they ran, dodging all the traps they encountered, they heardughtering from up ahead. "K giggle! K giggle!" "...?" "Hmm." Seonghyun stopped at the suddenughter, and Kim Chegeon stroked her smooth, beardless chin. An unidentified creature appeared before them. It had ck horns and what seemed to be ck skin, or perhaps it was covered in short, dark fur. In any case, the creature had a dark appearance. It was holding its mouth with both hands, as if trying to stifle itsughter, while its long, sharp, whip-like tailshed against the floor. Crack! Crack! Crack! Judging by the force with which it swung its tail, it seemed to be quite powerful. Finally, they got a clear look at the creature. [Lv.40 Imp, Kaishak] Perhaps it was fitting for the tomb of an evil sorcerer to have a demon as a monster. Kim Chegeon watched Kaishak with interest, and Seonghyun did the same. Could an Imp be undead? ''I''m curious.'' Unable to contain his curiosity, Seonghyun dashed forward first. Following closely behind, Kim Chegeon also ran swiftly. Although Seonghyun was the first to charge, Kim Chegeon overtook him and reached Kaishak first. However, just as Kim Chegeon reached Kaishak, its whip-like tail shot out like a spear with a sharp point. Whoosh! The tail, thrusting forward faster than an arrow, made Kim Chegeon''s eyes widen slightly. It was faster than she expected, but it was still just a tail. Kim Chegeon swung her sword towards the tail aiming for the space between her eyebrows, blocking it in an instant. Despite the tail and sword clearly shing, ng! 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 andshed 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''sughter 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 ck Magic. ''A ck 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.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Ting! Having sessfully 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 ck. [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 copsed without even a whimper. [You gain experience.] A message indicating experience gain appeared. And as always, teal smoke billowed. A wee 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, Kak?" "...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.] [Enteringbat mode.] Above their heads, their names and levels were disyed. ¡ºNotorious User - Lv.45 Kak¡» ¡ºNotorious User - Lv.49 Wooz¡» The imposing Kak and the petite Wooz appeared with an air of arrogance. Seonghyun turned his head, seemingly pleased with the encounter. Then, from Kaishak''s corpse,ughter echoed. -K giggle! K giggle! K giggle! Theughter was audible only to Seonghyun. Hearing it, Seonghyun thought, ''I need to test out the Imp undead.'' Perfect opponents had just presented themselves. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 42 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 42 The sudden appearance of Kak 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 in within this dungeon. It was a ssic 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. Kak and Wooz assessed Seonghyun and Kim Chegeon. It was evident at a nce that these two were different from the weaklings they had encountered at the entrance. Wooz, in particr, 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.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Although he didn''t say anything, Kak felt the same. His eyes, despite his hulking physique, were sharp, like a finely honed de. Perhaps the warrior''s blood was boiling within him. "..." Still silent, Kak 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 ced 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 dy. A teal heart materialized in Seonghyun''s hand, its pulsating sound echoing around them. Kaishak''s corpse twitched, its already dark skin bing 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, Kak, 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 ck 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 Kak and Wooz. The veins on Kak''s forehead throbbed as he red 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 Kak 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 yer-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, Kak''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. Was he struggling to maintain even that one? That was a possible conclusion, but hadn''t he controlled twenty goblin undead? Was there a difference? In Eternal World, the higher the grade of a skill, the moreplex its effects. For example, what if the fewer undead controlled, the stronger they became? ''It''s a usible effect.'' With a heated heart and a cool head, Wooz spoke to Kak. [Wooz - It seems like that guy summoning only one undead maximizes its power.] [Kak - Understood.] With that short chat, Kak understood his orders. He immediately sprang into action, targeting Seonghyun. Ignoring Kim Chegeon, the melee fighter, he swiftly aimed for Seonghyun. A very wise tactic. Kim Chegeon also reacted to Kak''s move. Or rather, she tried to. That is, until she saw the fire arrows flying towards her. Whoosh! The fire arrows, embroidered with mes in the air, flew past Kim Chegeon, forcing her to deflect them with a frown. Unless it was a magic that exerted physical force, she had to use a skill to block them, so Kim Chegeon had no choice but to imbue her sword with a skill. If she was dyed any longer, she would have to watch Kak reach Seonghyun. She didn''t know how long that undead wouldst. ''I need to finish this quickly and go.'' She had to deal with Wooz as fast as possible and move on. However... "Will that be easy?" Wooz, with a seductive smile, floated in the air, her eyes darting around as she prepared to use her skills. Her appearance was so grotesque that Kim Chegeon couldn''t help but frown. If what she showed at the entrance wasn''t all she had... It seemed like this would take a while. With that thought, Kim Chegeon stroked her chin as if stroking a non-existent beard, gripped her sword, and muttered, "Hmph, underestimate JoseonBestSwordsman at your peril." Wooz, genuinely perplexed by Kim Chegeon''s words, muttered, "Joseon? What''s that?" "Unforgivable!!" At Kim Chegeon''s sudden outburst, Wooz prepared herself and quickly cast spells to hinder her charge, taking a defensive approach. Wooz was also a mage. To survive against Kim Chegeon, a melee fighter, she had no choice but to focus on defense. If Kak could just take down that undead and join her in the meantime, everything would be fine. But... Thud! A sound of flesh being pierced rang out not far from where Wooz and Kim Chegeon were fighting, causing both of them to turn their heads. And the sight that greeted them was horrifying. [Critical Hit!] [The effect of ¡ºOne Strike!¡» is activated!] -K giggle! K giggle! K giggle! K giggle! K giggle! "Ugh." The undead Imp Kaishak wasughing uncontrobly, while Kak, his shoulder pierced by Kaishak''s tail, groaned and quickly retreated. Even Kak''s body, tougher than most armor, was no match. Wooz couldn''t help but be bewildered. How did it pierce through in one go? On the other hand, Kim Chegeon was having simr thoughts. ''It''s stronger than before it became undead...!'' Kim Chegeon had already fought Kaishak before. That''s why she could clearly feel that it was now even stronger. Unlike the two who were surprised, Seonghyun watched Kak and Kaishak with an indifferent expression. Seeing Seonghyun''s expression, Kak couldn''t help but grit his teeth. Did he find his current state amusing? Or did he think Kak wasn''t worth his attention? He couldn''t be sure, but he suspected it was something along those lines. However, Kak''s assumptions were far from the truth. ''So the giggling wasn''t just speech, it was actualughter.'' Only Seonghyun could understand the words of the Death Soldier with a soul, and he had been curious about what it was saying. It was justughing. Although a bit anticlimactic, ''It''s certainly strong.'' It was significantly stronger than the other Goblin Death Soldiers or the mercenary skeletons. And it was the same now. Even though Seonghyun hadn''t given it any specificmands, it moved like any other Death Soldier. But its instincts were on a different level. Seeing the Imp thrust its tail for a piercing attack, Kak raised both arms in a cross and used a defensive skill. However, at that moment, the trajectory of the thrusting tail shifted, aiming for the ground right in front of Kak. Thud! Using its tail, firmly embedded in the ground, the Impunched itself forward like a projectile. As time passed, Kak''s defensive skill wore off, and Kaishak''s short legsnded a powerful blow on his exposed arms. Crash! Sizzle! It was a kick propelled by the Imp''s entire body weight and eleration, so the impact sent Kak 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 Kak was pushed back, Kaishak thrust its tail again. Kak 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, Kak 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 tough, stared nkly. Kak, 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 Kak to stumble slightly, but that was all. Not being in contact with the ground, Kaishak was at a clear disadvantagepared to Kak. -Ki, kir? (W-what the...!) Along with Kaishak''s bewildered cry, a red aura flowed through Kak''s uninjured right fist,nding a clean hit on Kaishak''s face. As if that wasn''t enough, he extended his fist, mming 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 Kak, 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 Kak''s heart. Kak''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." Kak spoke at length, which was unusual for him. Seonghyun, looking puzzled, asked, "Hmm, only one?" "...?" Kak, sensing something amiss, couldn''t understand. Seonghyun, looking at Kak, 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. Kak''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 forpetitiveness. Only one thing remained in this ce. Fear. Seonghyun, who had spread that fear, gently opened his mouth as he looked at them. "Come." At Seonghyun''s words, Kak trembled with fear. Wooz''s prediction had been wrong. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 43 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 43 Kak, 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. "...?" Kak 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. Kak 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, Kak 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 Kak''s body, the form above his neck vanished without a trace. [You gain experience!] [Level Up!]¡Á2 [You have reached level 36.] [You have in 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 Kak''s head, carelessly tossed the headless corpse to the ground like trash. It grinned, revealing its ferocious, blood-stained teeth, and red 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 unrted bystander. Seonghyun''s calm andposed demeanor appeared colder and more chilling to Wooz than any other expression could have. "I-I know the secret of this ce!! 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 ck Mage, or the information about the maze''s path, or, oh! About Vige 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 Vige 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 bacsh hit Wooz directly. The so-called mana reflux phenomenon. It was one of the characteristics of magic-based sses, bing vulnerable when attacked while casting magic. As the mana reflux urred 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 ck 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 Kak''s body in an instant. Wooz couldn''t withstand it and was devoured by the Wraith of Barpur, meeting the same end as herrade Kak. Crunch! [You gain experience!] [Level Up!] [You have reached level 37.] [You have in an opponent with high notoriety.] [You acquire the opponent''s item, ¡ºTome of mes¡».] Two items, gleaming brilliantly in gold. From the effects surrounding the items to their names, they were extraordinary. Seonghyun picked up the items and examined them. ¡ºGiant''s Strength Belt¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡úCan only be equipped by Warrior sses. ¡úA mystical belt containing the formidable power of giants. ¡úIt is said that very few know how it was made and why the giants created it. ¡úWearing it allows one to wield the power of giants. ¡úStrength +20% increase. ¡úAttack Power +5% increase. ¡ºTome of mes¡» ¡ú¡¶Unique¡· ¡úCan only be equipped by Mage sses. ¡úA grimoire inscribed with various techniques that aid fire magic. ¡úIt is a very rare artifact even in the Tower of mes, and it is an artifact that any fire mage would covet. ¡úFire magic casting time 20% reduction. ¡úFire magic power +10% increase. "Wow." He couldn''t help but express his admiration. Unique items. Even for notorious users, the probability of dropping the best items wasn''t that high. And yet they dropped these items? Just how many people did they kill? Seonghyun, still in awe, held out the Giant''s Strength Belt towards Kim Chegeon. ''This is the right thing to do.'' In reality, it was as if Seonghyun had defeated both of them alone, but there was a reason he offered the item. Neither item was particrly useful to Seonghyun, and he couldn''t even use them. If he had to sell the items anyway, ''It''s better to give it to her in advance and take all the ck Mage items thate out of this ce.'' That was his calction. This worked out well. He had been nning to offer Kim Chegeon some gold and ask her to give up the Hidden Piece if he found it. Thanks to these two appearing, it was like getting free money. However, Kim Chegeon''s reaction was different from what he expected. "No, I don''t need it." "...?" Was she aiming for the Hidden Piece after all? As Seonghyun closed his mouth with a look of regret, Kim Chegeon, seeing his misunderstanding, waved her hands. What was this? As Seonghyun grew curious, "Ahem, I''m well aware of your skills and reputation, Seonghyun. I only yed a small part in this, so it feels wrong to ept this." "Ah, I see." "And I have no intention of receiving any share of the rewards from this ce." "What?" She was giving up that too? Seonghyun looked at Kim Chegeon, wondering what was going on. As if reacting to their master''s curiosity, all the undead present began to swarm around Kim Chegeon. -Keureuk. Keureuhu. (Protect our Lord.) -Take the life of the greedy one. -Greed? K giggle! K giggle! -How dare you covet Master''s belongings? Goosebumps erupted on Kim Chegeon''s skin as she felt her life being threatened. Was this the pressure one felt when facing Seonghyun as an enemy? It was a wonder she wasn''t paralyzed with fear. As Kim Chegeon barely managed to endure, Seonghyun red at the undead. Immediately, the undead, who had been ready to kill, retreated and bowed their heads to Seonghyun. -Ke, Kek! Keureuhu! (W-we apologize!) -D-do not be angry. -S-sorry. K giggle.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om -We apologize, we were presumptuous towards Master... The undead, who had been about to obliterate Kim Chegeon with their aura alone, became docile as sheep. Overwhelmingbat power and numbers. Those two alone had filled Kim Chegeon with fear, but... With their superior intelligence and absolute obedience added to the mix, Kim Chegeon vowed never to make an enemy of Seonghyun. ''I don''t even want to imagine it.'' As Kim Chegeon shuddered and gulped, Seonghyun looked at her with concern. "Are you alright?" "Ah, I''m fine. Haha, JoseonBestSwordsman shouldn''t be so intimidated by this." "Ah... is that so?" Seonghyun replied indifferently. Kim Chegeon quickly changed the subject. "Ahem, ahem, anyway, I wanted to make you an offer, Seonghyun." "Hmm, I see." Seonghyun watched as if to say, "Let''s hear it," and Kim Chegeon calmly took off her satgat to speak. However, when she removed her satgat, what appeared was an undeniable beauty, despite her male attire. He wasn''t particrly surprised by her beauty, as he already knew she was dressed as a man. Perhaps because he was used to seeing stunning women like his sister, Yoo Mina, he wasn''t greatly impressed. However, ''Wait, she''s not even Korean?'' Despite calling herself JoseonBestSwordsman, she was a beauty with a distinctly Western appearance. Even someone bungee jumping would recognize her as a Westerner. I didn''t expect her to not even be Korean. Seonghyun couldn''t help but be a little dumbfounded. Since each country had its own designated region, He knew that the time difference had been adjusted. In other words, the ce where Seonghyun was currently active was the Northeast Asia server, optimized for Korean time. But toe all the way from the West at this time, be active on Korean time, and create a nickname like JoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon... She was definitely not normal. As Seonghyun was thinking this, Kim Chegeon politely took off her satgat, bowed her head, and said, "I will hand over all byproducts and Hidden Pieces from this ce to you, Seonghyun. In return, could you arrange a meeting with Rapid Guild for me?" "A meeting?" Seonghyun tilted his head at the unexpected request. A meeting with Rapid Guild? It was an iprehensible request. 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 be 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 ss 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 ss." "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 ss was it that made her react like this? Was it perhaps a low-rank ss? "My ss 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 ss, He saw the golden letters that symbolized a Unique rank ss. 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 ss was Samurai? What a bizarrebination. 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 ss. But keep in mind! As befits the reputation of JoseonBestSwordsman, I will switch sses 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 nomittal 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 ept. [You have be friends with the user ¡ºJoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon¡».] He had never felt so embarrassed about a friend request being epted. 5. With the obstacles removed, Nothing could stop Seonghyun and Kim Chegeon. Perhaps Wooz and Kak 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 excellentbat 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''sboratory. Theboratory 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 sks, 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 ck, obsidian-like stone ced on the desk where Rox had copsed. Lastly, there was a handwritten letter ced in front of them. ¡ºI have finally done it. I have refined ck Magic and created the ultimate stone that can transcend the limits of ck Magic items! To create this, how many... (omitted) ...Therefore, I shall name this stone the ck 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, ck Mage exclusive Rare rank skill book,¡ºSkill Book - Corpse Poison¡»!] [You acquire the Hidden Piece, ck Mage exclusive Epic rank skill book,¡ºSkill Book - Exploding Poison¡»!] [You acquire the Hidden Piece, Epic rank item,¡ºck 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 Kak 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, Vige 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 hade 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, copsed 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 44 [Trantor - 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 verymon, 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 dungeonstely. 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 dy and acquired the two skills. ¡ºCorpse Poison¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡ú[Lv 1][Growth Type] [Continuous Effect][Active] [Cooldown 3 minutes] [Poison Duration 30 seconds] ¡úck 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] ¡úck 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 abination skill. Corpse Explosion, Corpse Poison, Exploding Poison. ''I can create abo no matter how I use them.'' After acquiring the skills, Seonghyun envisioned variousbinations in his mind, then... He took out the final reward. The item that could be called Rox''s final masterpiece! ¡ºck Magic Refinement Stone¡» ¡ú¡¶Epic¡· ¡úA crystal created by refining ck Magic to its limits. ¡úCan increase the rank of items rted to ck 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 vige 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 ck mage. ¡úSlightly increases mana regeneration after using ck magic skills. ¡úSlightly increases the power of ck magic skills. Could this be enhanced? With that expectation, as Seonghyun tried to use the ck Magic Refinement Stone, A system message appeared. [This item can be enhanced with the ¡ºck 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 ¡ºck 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 ck 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 ck Magic Refinement Stone, A ck mist-like energy seeped out from the stone, and the Staff of the Forgotten One began to absorb itpletely. Unlike at first, when it simply started absorbing, The staff gradually devoured the energy voraciously. The ck 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. [Congrattions! The Rare+ rank item, ¡ºStaff of the Forgotten One¡», has awakened the energy dwelling within it due to the ¡ºck Magic Refinement Stone¡»!] [It has undergone evolution, surpassing the original effect of the ¡ºck 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. As expected, it was Helena''s staff. Seonghyun quickly checked the item without hesitation. ¡ºApprentice Monarch''s Staff¡» ¡ú¡¶Epic+¡·(Growth Type) ¡úAlthough an incredibly long time has passed, the energy remains intact, indicating that it is the staff of a great Sovereign. ¡úHowever, it is impossible to deduce which Sovereign used this staff, as the owner remains unknown due to the passage of time. ¡úIncreases mana recovery rate by 5%. ¡úIncreases the power of ck Magic skills by 5%. ¡úThe item grows when special conditions are met. ''Growth type item?'' It was a concept he had never heard of before. Did growth mean it would evolve to Unique rank if special conditions were met? He wasn''t sure, but he assumed so. Seonghyun blinked as he looked at the staff. ''Wow.'' He had truly obtained something incredible. Judging from the effects alone, it was somewhatcking for an Epic+ item, but... A growth type item. He had originally nned to log out after checking the rewards, but... How could he resist? New skillbinations and even a new item. Seonghyun stored all his swords, leaving only the staff, which he tucked into his belt. Eager to test it out immediately, he quickened his pace. Like Sekan Vige, this ce was also the second vige. Since party hunting was mandatory in this vige, Seonghyun headed straight for the vige square. He could have gone to the cemetery, but he didn''t. His purpose was to test the power of the staff and the Corpse Poison, Corpse Explosion, and Exploding Poison skills. The cemetery, filled only with undead, wasn''t a very good hunting ground. ''I need to find a party.'' Before meeting Kim Chegeon, he had been hesitant to find party members. Manhu, for example, had tried to backstab him. But that was like being too afraid of maggots to make soybean paste. His experience with Wooz and Kak had also yed a part in making him think it wasn''t a big deal. ''Most of them were weak anyway.'' If Wooz, Kak, or Manhu heard that, they would be furious, but... They were indeed weaker than Seonghyun. He knew it vaguely, but... Seonghyun still often wondered if he was really that strong. He wasn''t originally that knowledgeable about games, and it had only been two days since he started ying. It was only natural for him to have difficulty with self-assessment. When he looked at Kim Chegeon and others, he vaguely felt that he was strong, but... He hadn''t fully grasped it yet. As Seonghyun stepped out into the central za, Perhaps due to the aftermath of the event, there were more users than he expected, despite thete hour. ''Oh.'' He let out a small exmation inwardly and looked around. There were still many people looking for party members. Most of them seemed to be older, mainly in their 30s and 40s. asionally, there were also people who appeared to be in theirte 20s. "Looking for party members to go to the Red Goblin Vige!!" "Looking for users to go to the Sky Roon Den!! We have three members already!!" "Looking for a user to go to the Big Ant Nest, a 2-yer party dungeon! I''m a Thief!! I know the geography and the dungeon well!! Please!!" They seemed to be users who yed the game after work. Seonghyun looked around at some of them. His purpose was to find someone to go to a dungeon with to test out his skills. As he was looking around, One user particrly caught his eye. A user that others seemed to be avoiding. The Thief user who was looking for a 2-yer party, iming to be knowledgeable about geography and the dungeon. ''Thieves are at a disadvantage early on, right?'' He had heard that it was a somewhat ambiguous position. A ss that could do various things like disarm traps, ambush, use daggers, move quickly, and navigate. However, Rangers were much better at disarming traps and navigating. Even in terms of speed, Swordsmen and Warriors focused on speed could be faster. It was said that there was no more disadvantageous position in the early stages. Although it was a ss that thrived after the second job change when they learned stealth... Was it difficult before that? That seemed to be why everyone was avoiding him. It was a ss that was ambiguous in terms of dealing damage and other aspects as well. ''Well, I can make up for what hecks.'' With that thought, Seonghyun approached the Thief user and asked, "Would you be interested in partying up?" "Huh? M-me?" "???" He approached him because he seemed desperate, but... The Thief user was questioning why he would party with him. Should he find someone else to party with? That thought briefly crossed his mind, but Seonghyun simply answered, "Ah, this is my first time in this vige, and you said you know the geography well." "Huh? Ah! Ah! Uh-huh! Of course! This will be my tenth time clearing Big Ant Nest! Let''s party up then!" "Ah, okay." The Thief user, Nanjiro, looked at Seonghyun with a happy expression and smiled contentedly. If it was his first time in Oren, the second vige, shouldn''t he, as a senior yer, guide him well? He seemed to be a user who had just started ying. ''Again, a veteran like me has to guide him, mwahahaha!'' Excitedly, Nanjiro resolved to teach Seonghyun this and that. Unlike Nanjiro, who was happily pleased, Seonghyun looked at him with a bit of suspicion. Was he another viin? The Thief user was beaming. Anyone would find it suspicious. And the dungeon was a 2-yer dungeon, no less. It seemed like the perfect environment for a viin to strike, but Seonghyun wasn''t too concerned. If he attacked, Seonghyun would just have to deal with him. As they formed a party, ¡ºSeonghyun - Lv.37 - (????)¡» ¡ºNanjiro - Lv.35 - (Thief)¡» "???????" Nanjiro''s face was full of question marks. Didn''t he say it was his first time in the second vige? Why was his level higher than his own? As Nanjiro blinked his eyes and looked at Seonghyun with that thought, Seonghyun looked back at him as if asking what was wrong. "Huh? Is there something wrong?" "Uh... Y-You? You said it was your first time in the second vige..." "Ah, I was in another second vige, and it hasn''t been long since I came to Oren Vige." "Ah..." Seonghyun tilted his head in confusion as Nanjiro''s face flushed red with embarrassment and his posture became more respectful. Why was he acting like this? "Ah..., I thought you were a beginner who just arrived in the second vige..."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Ah! That''s understandable." "Yes, yes! T-then let''s go! I''ll guide you!" Nanjiro politely guided Seonghyun while thinking, ''I shouldn''t have jumped in, how embarrassing...'' Still, he nced 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 nce. The type of person who spends money on games first. Usually, such peoplecked skills. Nanjiro judged that Seonghyun was also that type of person. It was trendy to y Mage sses because theycked 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,rge enough for five people to enter. It indicated that the ants inside were alsorge. Then came Nanjiro''s exnation. "Since this is your first time here, let me exin. 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 exnation and looking at the Big Ant Nest, Seonghyun thought it would be a good ce 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 theye 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 yer 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 therge 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 copse 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 copsed, 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 mes 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, shing 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 ck cloud, and as the wind blew, the ck cloud scattered into the air as if it had never been there. Where the ck 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 45 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 45 ¡°Why would I¡­ kill you?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Nanjiro had momentarily lost hisposure 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 yers 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 abo 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 skillbo, ¡®Should I clear this quickly?¡¯ It waste, 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 tobine the skills than he had thought. Seonghyun kept those ideas in mind. Since he hade 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 veryfortable bus. 1. [You have cleared the 2-yer 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-yer 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 wee. Have fun." "You too, Seonghyun!!" Seonghyun chuckled as he watched Nanjiro happily scurry away. Party hunting wasn''t so bad. Anyway, he hade up with variousbo ideas and gained a lot. ''It''s much easier since I can createbos.'' 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 gettingte. 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 ept 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 Kak''s faces were also clearly visible, as their anonymity wasn''t protected. They were in the wrong, so they wouldn''tin 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 offst. 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 stayte. In particr, there was also the impact of the recent Seonghyun incident. "Sigh..."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 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 moreplicated. Some might question how much of a difference a single person could make, but it was quitemon in Eternal World. The recruitment of a single high-ranking solo yer could change the rankings of guilds. In fact, it didn''t even have to be a high-ranking solo yer. Even recruiting a double ranker could change a guild''s ranking in this industry. In thisndscape, the recruitment of a talent who showed the potential to be a future single ranker was enough to raise rm bells for rival guilds. ''Indeed, the surveince has increased.'' Tensions were already high due to Yuna, And now Seonghyun had appeared on top of that. It was a real headache. Especially since the rookie''s video was incredibly well-made. It had only been a day since its release, yet... ''It already has 4 million views?'' Even though Rapid Guild''s channel had 20 million subscribers, this number of views was exceptional. In just one day, no, strictly speaking, it hadn''t even been a day since she uploaded it this morning. But 4 million views was certainly not a figure to be ignored. It wasn''t for nothing that the Rapid Guild executives were suggesting Seonghyun as the face of Rapid. Usually, a guild''s rankers or top forces were put forward as the face, but the skilled members of Rapid Guild all disliked such things. This air of mystery had actually increased their fanbase, but... They hadn''t been able to produce videos, so the channel hadn''t been growing. But with Seonghyun''s video, they had gained 4 million views and 300,000 subscribers in just half a day, so it was understandable that they were making a fuss. ''The next video needs to be just as good...'' That wouldn''t be easy. If the impact they had already made was repeated, the excitement would die down. Rapid knew this, so she was a little worried that Seonghyun might feel pressured. Just then, messages popped up. He had already filmed a video? Rapid was surprised by that, but the following messages were also puzzling. ''Hmm? What''s this?'' A strange swordsman wanted an interview? It was a strange request at first nce, but she could understand. He had sent a video of a party hunt, so he was asking if the party member could have an interview. ''Hmm, I should definitely rify this with Seonghyun.'' Rapid Guild was a guild that didn''t ept members even if they had a high ss rank if their skills werecking. It was better not to rmend someone unless they were exceptionally skilled. She hadn''t mentioned this because she didn''t expect him to make a rmendation just one day after joining. And yet, here he was, making a rmendation. Rapid thought she should give him a warning and, With a slight feeling of regret, she yed the attached video. ''Party hunting is a far cry from the Demon King concept.'' She hadn''t watched it yet, but... It seemed she would have to tell him to re-film the video. As Rapid watched the video, ''Ah! What a shame.'' She couldn''t help but sigh in regret. The event dungeon, Rox''s Tomb. It was an event dungeon she had heard reports about. She hadn''t mentioned it because there was no one to pair with Seonghyun. And yet, he had entered this ce. ''It''s a good ce for video material.'' Event dungeons, where one had topete with countless users, always made for good video material. However, as it was a party hunt, it was difficult to portray the Demon King concept. That''s why it was even more regrettable. If he had found a more suitable partner, they might have created a usable video. ''Oh?! Seonghyun is that good with a sword? Did he take after his sister? No, wait...'' Unlike his sister Yoo Mina, Seonghyun wasn''t very athletic. But he was showing considerable skill with the sword against the Imp, Kaishak. His timing and reflexes in using skills were excellent. To think Seonghyun had this kind of sense... He wasn''t just someone with a good ss. Rapid, impressed, also observed the swordsman, Kim Chegeon, who was wielding her sword alongside Seonghyun. ''That swordsman is also quite something.'' Based on skill alone, she was above the cutoff line. She would need to observe further, but... She was certainly worthy of an interview. She had intended to warn Seonghyun that he shouldn''t rmend just anyone, but... ''I can''t say anything now.'' His eye for talent was impressive. Rapid couldn''t help but admire him. Seonghyun was definitely something special. However, the video was still a bit iffy. ''The swordsmanship is good, and the skills are excellent. But...'' Would the public really want to see this? Unlike the rookie video that showcased the Demon King''s power, this one, while impressive, showed Seonghyun skillfully using his sword and skills to kill the Imp, Kaishak. It wasn''t what the public wanted. It was a shame, but... That was the reality. ''I guess I''ll have to discard this video and tell him to film a new one...'' Just as Rapid was about to turn off the video, A woman''s voice rang out from the video. -Oh my? More users? This is a reward, right, Kak? -...It''s fine inside the dungeon. "Huh? Echo Willow?" Why were they here? As two members of Echo Willow appeared and immediately prepared to fight, Rapid had long forgotten about turning off the video. The following scene, where Seonghyun resurrected Kaishak as an undead and had it fight, was thrilling, but when Kaishak''s head exploded... "Ah..." Rapid, who was watching, let out a sigh. It was a shame. And then, the member of Echo Willow, having won the battle, stood up triumphantly and dered, -...That must have been your strongest undead, and your only one at that. Now, I''ll kill you. He had suffered a critical injury to his heart, but it wasn''t fatal. The damage was at a level that could be healed with a potion. But at that moment, -Hmm, only one? Seonghyun, who seemed to be in a crisis, muttered with an indifferent attitude, And Rapid watched with bated breath. Seonghyun lightly raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Snap! Countless teal portals appeared behind him, and from within those portals, ''they'' emerged. The Death Legion, who only obeyed the Demon King''smands. 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 exmation 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 popr 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 ount, right?'' He was the one who had been reprimanded. She should send him this time. ''If it''s the second vige, it must be that dungeon. It''s a good ce 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 hade 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 ying games until now, Lee Nakyeong weed him with a warm smile. "You''re finally out? Aren''t you hungry?" She could have scolded him for ying 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 ying games. Seonghyun thought for a moment, but he wasn''t particrly 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 bete, 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 toe out. She must have been nning 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 rm 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 urred. 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 wee 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 46 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks]n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Chapter 46 0. "I''m off to work." "Mom, I''ll see youter~" "Okay, have a good day." "Yeah~ See youter~" 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 ofints. Seeing his sister, Seonghyun shook his head as if to say, "Still at it?" Why did she have so manyints? "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 tryining." "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 apany 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 wee message appeared before his eyes. [Wee to Eternal World, another world, an eternal world.] [May good fortune be with you, yer ¡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 vige. 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 wereughing 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 copsed and fell, Seonghyun walked leisurely through them. With Seonghyun''s indifferent expression and the Kaishaks naturally bowing to him afterpleting 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 hismand 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¡».] ''Oh!'' An even more satisfying system message appeared. A new Overlord-exclusive skill. It felt like he had just learned the Monarch''s SIlence And yet, he had already obtained a new skill. Well, it had only been three days since Seonghyun started ying this game. It hadn''t been long for anything. Putting those misceneous thoughts aside, Seonghyun briefly pondered as he looked at the skill name. ''Should I check it out now?'' It would be natural to check it out immediately, but... Seonghyun shook his head. ''Let''s look at everything together.'' He still had things to obtain from Kahku''s second warehouse. It was more convenient to look at everything at once. With that thought, Seonghyun ced his hand on the door of Kahku''s warehouse. A simr message tost time appeared. [Opening the Hidden Piece, Golden Goblin Kahku''s second warehouse.] Along with the message, he heard the sound of a mechanism activating. Creak. Therge, heavy door began to open automatically, and a golden wave poured out from the gap. An incredible amount of gold, not an exaggeration to call it radiance. Unlike the first warehouse, where it was just inside a box, a huge pile of gold filled the room, and even Seonghyun couldn''t help but gulp. He was starting to understand the saying "Seeing is wanting." Anyone would react this way to such a pile of gold. As Seonghyun stared in a daze, Another message appeared. [You have acquired 5,555 gold coins.] [You have acquired the Rare rank item, ¡ºRandom Skill Book¡».] [You have acquired the Epic+ rank item, ¡ºTri-colored Whistle¡».] [You have acquired the Unique rank item, ¡ºTreasure Map of Golden Goblin Kahku¡».] "Wow..." He let out an exmation of admiration without realizing it. From the mountain of gold to the Rare, Epic+, and Unique rank items. There wasn''t a single thing to throw away. The Random Skill Book and the Treasure Map of Golden Goblin Kahku, their effects evident from their names. He didn''t know the effect just by looking at it, but... The Tri-colored Whistle seemed extraordinary. ''If 5,555 gold coins are converted to cash, with 1 gold coin being about 10,000 won...'' That was 55 million won. He already had over 2 billion won in his ount, but... It still wasn''t a small amount. So this was another way to make money. ''Let''s check out the items.'' He had a lot of money anyway, and although he was initially impressed by the amount, The important thing was the items! Seonghyun first looked at the Random Skill Book. ¡ºRandom Skill Book¡» ¡ú¡¶Rare¡· ¡úA skill book that allows you to acquire a random skill rted to your ss or amon skill. ¡úThe skill rank obtainable from this skill book ranges from Rare to Epic. It was the effect he had expected, but... He was still satisfied. It could give not only ss-exclusive skills but alsomon skills. Although it said Epic skills were possible, he didn''t get his hopes up. Rare was enough. Seonghyun put the Random Skill Book back in his inventory and took out the Tri-colored Whistle. It was the item he was most curious about. What would its effect be? ¡ºTri-colored Whistle¡» ¡ú¡¶Epic+¡· ¡úA mysterious whistle created by an unknown person. ¡úIt boasts a beautiful tone and activates a mysterious magic. ¡úWhen blown, the user can choose and apply one of three effects: ¡úRecover 10% HP ¡úRecover 10% Mana ¡úRecover all Spirit *The Tri-colored Whistle can only be used three times a day. "A recovery item?" It could only be used three times a day, But it recovered a percentage of HP, Mana, or Spirit. Judging from its effect alone, it was an end-game item. Especially since it didn''t just recover HP. It could also recover Mana? ''This... I''ll keep this forever.'' Even Seonghyun, who hadn''t yed the game for long, could recognize its incredible effect. If he put it up for auction, it could easily fetch tens of millions of won. The Tri-colored Whistle alone was amazing. So then, what about... That Unique rank item? With anticipation, Seonghyun took out thest item from his inventory. ¡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 ce, 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 yers who havepleted their second job advancement. *This is a map that records a raid monster. [You have acquired information about a new raid monster!] A message appeared along with the item information. Seonghyun''s eyes widened at the message. ''A new raid monster?'' Wasn''t it just a treasure map? He read the message that had appeared first and then btedly read the item description. Only then did he understand. Kahku had given up the treasure because of a raid monster, even though he knew where it was. He was tempted just by looking at the information. However, he focused on the fact that it was a raid monster. ''Raid monsters appear after the second job advancement, in other words, from the third vige onwards, right?'' The item''s usage condition also stated that only yers who hadpleted their second job advancement could use it. He had also been informed that he had toplete the raid after reaching level 50 and participate in his first team activity. So, after finishing the designated raid, he would go for this? ''There''s no reason to object.'' Rapid Guild was originally a raid-focused guild. 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 upter.'' He had truly obtained some incredible things. After checking thest 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 ck Mage exclusive skill or amon 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 ck Mage exclusive skill at first nce. 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 ck 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] ¡úck 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 itter. It was a thought worth pondering. However, Seonghyun dismissed the thought. ''If it''s not going toe out, it''s not going toe 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.] [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 47 [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 47 As he cast the skill, Seonghyun felt his control over his body disappear.N?v(el)B\\jnn 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 yed when he summoned the Demon Knight. ''Oh.'' The scenery that emerged as Kahku''s second warehouse melted away was a vast in. Or perhaps it was a wastnd? Tens of thousands of troops stood on the barren, uncultivatednd. 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, shed, collided, and swung their various weapons in a desperate struggle, regardless of friend or foe. ng! ng! sh! sh! Every time a weapon was swung, the sound of shing metal rang out from all directions, and red blood sttered everywhere. The red blood sttered on the uncultivated wastnd soon turned dark red as if dead. The battlefield was filled with malice, and blood spread everywhere. Could thend 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 annihting their opponents. The gushing blood spread out like ake. The vastke of blood, epassing 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 theke as if it were regurgitating. Churn, churn. It absorbed all the blood in theke as if forming a single shape. Perhaps realizing that something was wrong, the sound of shing metal that had filled the battlefield subsided. The shape that appeared in the center of the battlefield resembled arge human heart. The heart, the size of a human head, had an unpleasant ck hue. As the ck 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 circtory 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 theke 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 theke 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 redke 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-driedke of blood once more. Having ughtered 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 seeded 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 toe 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? No, being negative from the start wouldn''t solve anything. It might be obedient. Its first impression wasn''t bad. Seonghyun looked at Balthar''s appearance. ''Hmm.'' Dark red skin, various scars all over its body visible through the gaps in its armor. And the fiverge horns that were clearly visible despite the helmet were intimidating. Despite itsrge build, it had quite a handsome appearance, but... Its cold eyes and sharp features felt quite oppressive. It was a rather displeasing sight. As if dissatisfied with something, it frowned at Seonghyun. The oppressive presence of the Demon Knight''s already intimidating face weighed down on him. -Ha! A weak human like you is my master? You''re worlds apart from the previous Overlord! Don''t even think about trying to control me! These were the first words of Balthar, the Blood-Red Demon Knight. His tone seemed elegant, but... It wasced with discrimination and contempt. Seonghyun wondered where to even begin with educating him. ''This is awkward.'' He hadn''t had much experience with this kind of situation. Seonghyun had always been favored by ghosts, and as a handsome man, he had always been treated well by people. This was the first time he had been treated this way, so he was at a loss. He didn''t know how to handle this awkward situation. As Seonghyun was struggling, Balthar shouted. -I see you can open the Netherworld. Send me there and never take me out again. This is not a request, but an order. Heed my words. "Hmm." Seeing Seonghyun''s awkwardness, Balthar frowned as if urging him to open the Netherworld, and was about to say something else when... -Taltar! What kind of behavior is that! "Hmm?" He felt a slight chill around his right shoulder and turned his head. There, a small woman with a familiar face was sitting on his shoulder. Her luscious red hair tickled his ear, and her soul, as a ghost, made his shoulder cold. Wearing a bo that a medieval noblewoman might have worn, with a ck veil covering her face, revealing only a glimpse of her features like a see-through fabric, the woman was holding a ck parasol and expressing her anger. ''Helena?'' Why did Helena suddenly appear? And more importantly, Taltar? Did they know each other? However, Helena''s words didn''t reach Taltar, or rather, Balthar. -Oh my! This is frustrating! Only Seonghyun or other ghosts could hear the words of a ghost. It was only natural that Balthar couldn''t hear her. However, ''Was Balthar Helena''s summon before?'' -Of course! I raised him since he was a child! Look how ill-mannered he''s be! I need to discipline him! Seeing Helena, who was unusually agitated, Seonghyun''s awkwardness dissipated, and he couldn''t help but chuckle. A chuckle escaped him. Balthar red at Seonghyun with burning eyes. He warned him in a low voice, like a growling beast. -Send me to the Netherworld while I''m still being nice. [¡ºBlood-Red Demon Knight, Balthar¡» is emanating energy.] It was a clear warning. Even the system message was notifying him. However, Seonghyun had a very reliable weapon. -...Say this. Helena, with a sulky expression as if she couldn''t stand it anymore, told Seonghyun various things. Seonghyun nodded and said, "Hmm, Taltar. How dare you speak to me, the disciple of the former Overlord Helena, in such a manner. Do you not care if your secrets are revealed to the world?" -Ha! How dare you impersonate the Mother of All Demons, her name!! As Balthar shouted in a fury, and the situation escted to the brink of explosion, Seonghyun continued, "Taltar, when you were young, you followed Bedonna around and you..." -Whoa! Ugh! Uwaaaa! Uwa! S-stop there! Balthar was startled as if he had been doused with hot water. However, Seonghyun wasn''t finished. "Ahem, how dare you interrupt your master? Do you not care if it bes known that you wereter dumped by Bedonna and tried to throw away her underwear, but couldn''t bring yourself to do it, and thenter fell for Savilia and even while dating her, you still couldn''t throw it away?" -Ah, ah!! "Hmm." The effect was tremendous. It was a truly vulgar and pathetic story, befitting a demon, but... For the dignified and oppressive Balthar to be like this... ''Perhaps the more dignified they are, the greater their weakness?'' -Of course, of course~ Demons are unexpectedly concerned about their reputation~ If Helena said so, Seonghyun took it for granted. However, would he submit just because of this? As he briefly entertained that thought, [You are the first in Eternal World to subdue a noble demon, ¡ºBlood-Red Demon Knight, Balthar¡».] [You acquire the title, ¡ºMaster of the Demon Knight¡».] A system message appeared before his eyes, and... Balthar knelt on one knee before Seonghyun and dered, -I greet you, the rightful sessor and disciple of the esteemed Mother of All Demons, Helena!! Seonghyun looked at Balthar in disbelief. ''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!! Helenaughed 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,ughed. -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 youter 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 be 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 rm 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 ce that any rookie from a major guild would visit, and... A ce that some would even deliberately enter to join a major guild. A user, wearing arge satgat and dressed in hanbok that seemed to belong in the Joseon era, was waiting for herpanions in this ce. 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 evene to this distant foreignnd 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." "???" [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 48 [Trantor - 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 Seonghyuning too?" "Ah, you must not have heard." Indeed, Kim Chegeon had only been told toe 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 wasing, 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 entric 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 entric 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 themunity 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 theyst 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 ount. 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 exined the schedule. They weren''t here to y around. "Ahem, now that Seonghyun is here, I''ll exin today''s schedule. You''ve probably heard of the Fortress of the Past, but to briefly exin, it''s a 3-yer record-type dungeon. The three of us will enter simultaneously and deal with monsters thate from three different directions in waves." Seonghyun listened silently, as he already knew this information. "Here, since I''m on an alt ount, I''ll dere 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 dy. Both of them nodded in agreement. There was no need to wait. It was convenient and nice. And Seonghyun thought to himself, ''I guess I''ll be able to see Balthar and the Shadow Transference effect in action.'' Helena had said that Balthar, the underwear thief, was strong, after all. Let''s see what he could do. 3. In the deepest part of the Rapid Guild, the safest ce in the guild, the Guild Master Rapid''s office. Even though this was the safest ce in the naturally fortified Rapid Guild base, Today was an unusual day. Because of one person. Rapid sighed as she saw Yuna sitting on the sofa with a sulky expression and her lips pouted. "Sigh..." Yuna red at Rapid in response to her sigh, But she didn''t say anything. She just spoke curtly. "What?" "Aren''t you going to level up?" "...I will." "Then go to a hunting ground." "..." Although she wasn''t throwing a tantrum after being scolded by Seonghyun, To think she was expressing her sulkiness with her whole body... This was a different side of Yuna, who always showed a cold and rational demeanor. However, Rapid, who was not only a guild member but also a friend in real life, knew this side of her well. Whenever it was rted to Seonghyun, Yuna always acted like this. "Sigh. This is troublesome. I have no choice but to tell Seonghyun." ¡°Ugh..¡± Yuna finally got up when Seonghyun was mentioned. It seemed that she was indeed dissatisfied with him being ced in Luna''s 1st rookie team. But what could she do? That was the team thatcked members and had the best skills. It was only natural to assign him to Luna''s team. The team members were all unique. No, actually, it was putting it nicely to call them unique. They were practically a bunch of goofballs. Anyway, as Yuna stood up to leave Rapid''s office, Rapid casually brought up a topic. "Phew, by the way, it''s almost time." "Time for what?" "For Seonghyun to enter the Fortress of the Past." "Ah?" Yuna tilted her head as if she didn''t know. On the contrary, Rapid''s eyes widened as she looked at Yuna. Did she really not know? She wondered if she shouldn''t have brought it up, but... Yuna spoke nonchntly, "Well, it is about time for him to enter." "Right, it''s usual to enter before level 50." Then, Rapid suddenly asked curiously, "So, how many waves do you think Seonghyun will clear?" At Rapid''s question, Yuna couldn''t help but chuckle. As if she had asked something too obvious. Then, Yuna stood up and left Rapid''s office, saying, "Of course, he''ll go further than me." As Yuna walked out, Rapid was slightly dumbfounded. Then, Rapid checked the Fortress of the Past rankings, which were visible to everyone. [1st ce ¡ºYuna¡» - wave 35 (1:37:58)] [2nd ce ¡ºDark¡» - wave 32 (1:29:32)] ....... ....... (Omitted) She chuckled as she saw Yuna''s overwhelming record. "A new 1st ce will be born?" No way. She must have said that out of love for her brother. Rapid tried to brush it off. No matter how outstanding a rookie Seonghyun was, he couldn''t possibly surpass Yuna''s record. If he did, ''It would cause a huge stir.'' But would that really happen? Still, Seonghyun would at least make it into the top 10, right? He was an Almighty ss, after all. ''I''m curious to see how far he''ll climb.'' Still, Rapid didn''t think Seonghyun would surpass Yuna''s record, not even for a moment. 4. As the name Fortress of the Past suggested, it was quite a dpidated fortress. Perhaps because it had been untouched by human hands, ivy clung to the walls, and moss was visible in some ces. The inside of the fortress was a ruin where it seemed impossible for anyone to live. The fortress, which felt devoid of any human presence or warmth, had walls facing three different directions. And each of those walls had a wide-open gate. The objective of this dungeon was to protect the front of those gates. The interesting thing was, It wasn''t a format where you failed if even one of the three defenses was breached. Even if one ce was breached, it didn''t affect the other defenses at all. Also, it only recorded individual records. There was no better ce to check individual skills for those under level 50. There was also the Special ss Academy, but... Since it was for level 10, it was considered a bit lower in rank than the Fortress of the Past. The Fortress of the Past was held in higher regard. This was also the reason why Rapid Guild conducted interviews here. ''If you can''t prove yourself here, you''re nothing special.'' No matter how high your ss rank was, even Unique or above, it didn''t matter if you couldn''t perform. On the contrary, they would even ept 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 epted. ''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 rmended 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 rmendation. 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. Arge 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 nce, 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 rxed? Had he already be arrogant andcent? Or was he trying to conserve mana and summonter? 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 toocent...'' 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 whenplicated 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.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 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. Ssh. 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 soundst? Splish, ssh. Creak. A figure emerged from the teal portal with a dignified gait, its skin a dark red. A knight d 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 thoughtse to a standstill. A Demon Knight. There were no other words to describe it. As Jinwoo''s mind went nk, 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 de that spread wide and shot forward. sh! 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.] [umting arge 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!" [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 49 [Trantor - 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 disy 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. ording to the exnation, 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, Sessor. 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 therge 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 ordingly. Even Seonghyun, with his various memories, couldn''t fathom the depth of his swordsmanship.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om It was truly formidable. [You have perfectly blocked ¡ºWave 2¡».] [Recording.] [umting arge 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 therefortably, anticipating it. Suddenly, it urred to him. At this rate, he wouldn''t be able to use his newly acquired Shadow Transference. ''Hmm.'' He could probably use itter 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 morningmute. Those who do are either workaholics or just strange people. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong belonged to thetter category, but he didn''t enjoy hismute. 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 ce?'' He went to Oren Vige 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''te 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. But when he came to work, He saw that Seonghyun had somehow found Kahku''s second warehouse and taken everything. It was unbelievable. He had also obtained the Demon Knight Summon skill, but he didn''t pay much attention to it. ''Anyway, Demon Knights don''t listen to orders before the second ss advancement.'' That was due to the nature of the Overlord ss. It was a kind of setting. If one could subdue even a Demon Knight before level 100, they would be unrivaled. Therefore, there was even a quest prepared for Overlords to slowly subdue a Demon Knight after their second ss advancement and finally seed near level 100. That was how the Overlord''s second ss advancement worked. So, he wasn''t worried about the Demon Knight. Even when Balthar, one of the highest-ranking Demon Knights, was summoned, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong managed to maintain a calm expression. "Whoa, isn''t that Balthar!?? That''s amazing, seriously!!" If it weren''t for his assistant, Associate Oh Jinhyeok, who was making a fuss beside him, he would have been morefortable. It was a shame. But Seonghyun had even subdued Balthar. "???" "Wow, how did he do that?! Does he know some weakness or something? Balthar is supposed to be a high-ranking demon with a lot of pride, like a noble of the demon world!" Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong really wanted to do something to Associate Oh Jinhyeok, but... He couldn''t do that, so... He just closed his eyes tightly. The team had already been assigned. There was no way to change it now, so he repeatedly drew the character for patience in his mind. A notification popped up on his monitor, indicating that Team Leader Jung Jihye had arrived. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong immediately stood up from his seat. "Huh? Where are you going, senior?" "...To report. Do you want to do it instead?" "Gasp! N-no, sir!" He was quick-witted when it came to this kind of thing. Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong sighed, ring at Associate Oh Jinhyeok, and trudged towards Team Leader Jung Jihye''s desk. He saw Team Leader Jung Jihye, who had just returned from her morning business trip. As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong arrived at her desk, Team Leader Jung Jihye looked at him as if asking what was going on. "...?" "Well..." He couldn''t bring himself to speak. Where should he even begin? He couldn''t just report that Seonghyun had finished contacting Over Pce, obtained the item necessary for his second ss advancement, somehow increased his total stats by 40 with a strange power, and taken all the Hidden Pieces, could he? He carefully chose his words and reported to Team Leader Jung Jihye. Although it was an urgent report without a written report, Team Leader Jung Jihye understood everything and nodded. Then, she also sighed deeply. "Sigh... So it''se to this. Even though the ck Star found him first, I blocked him beforehand, so he can''t intervene much." "Ah, that''s a relief." "Yes, but it''s concerning that he has already subdued Balthar." "...Indeed." The Overlord''s second ss advancement, befitting its Almighty rank, was incredibly difficult. To be precise, it was the most difficult among all the Almighty sses. But that was because of the Demon Knight. If he had subdued the Demon Knight, the difficulty would have plummeted. It couldn''t be helped. It would be unfair to increase the difficulty in other areas now. "I understand. Just keep an eye on him for now." "...Yes, I understand..." As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong replied and was about to turn back, He saw someone rushing towards Team Leader Jung Jihye''s desk. "???" "...?" Both Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong and Team Leader Jung Jihye looked puzzled. It was Associate Oh Jinhyeok. Why was heing in such a hurry? "S-sir, s-something terrible has happened." "...W-what is it?" Why was he making such a fuss? Just as Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong was about to get annoyed, Associate Oh Jinhyeok said, "T-that, S-seonghyun user has entered the Fortress of the Past." "...So?" What was the big deal? Just as Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong was about to get irritated, Associate Oh Jinhyeok said, "He has already cleared Wave 10." "Ah???" "...Already?" It hadn''t even been 10 minutes since Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong reported to Team Leader Jung Jihye. And yet, he had already cleared Wave 10 in that short time? At Oh Jinhyeok''s words, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong and Team Leader Jung Jihye''s eyes met, and their pupils, which had been focused only on the second ss advancement, trembled violently. "Balthar!!" "B-Balthar!!" "Oh, oh? H-how did you know?! He''s sweeping through up to Wave 10 by only summoning Balthar." "Ah, ah." Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong clutched his head with both hands in despair. If Balthar was there... "Assistant Manager Lee, calm down and check it out." "...Alright." 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 oue 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 ounts to act as interviewers, not just in Rapid Guild but in anyrge guild. Jinwoo usually disliked such misceneous tasks, but... He had caused trouble, so he had no choice. But now, he felt that he had made the right decision toe. 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 gamey like a spectator. Due to therge-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 therge 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 rxed 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 ce. Even if he gave up now, second ce was guaranteed. But the battlefield still seemed easy. ''How is this possible?'' He couldn''t evenprehend 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''tst 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 umted so far!] [You acquire the ss-exclusive Legendary skill, ¡ºCreeping Darkness¡», as a clear reward.] [You acquire the ss-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 ss advancement, having surpassed level 50.] [The Overlord exclusive second ss advancement item, ¡ºOverlord''s Compass¡», is reacting.] [Using the ¡ºOverlord''s Compass¡» will transport you to the second ss advancement location.] Since there were no more waves to clear, ''Oh?'' [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] Chapter 50 [Trantor - 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 ss-exclusive skill, not a ss-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¡»n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡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''smand. ¡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 ck Magic, but... It had apletely 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 ck 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 ck Mage skill book. ¡úThe rank of the skill book remains unchanged. ¡úIncreases the power of ck 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 ck 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 arge 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 obtainedst. Seonghyun checked the skill he had obtainedst. ¡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''smand 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. Truly an Almighty rank skill. ''...This is a bit much, even for me.'' A legion-wide buff and a legion-wide additional attack skill. There was nothingcking. It was now impossible to defeat Seonghyun solo at the same level. While he was examining the rewards and marveling at them, The Fortress of the Past was cleared, and Seonghyun, along with Kim Chegeon and Jinwoo, was automatically transported outside. As the scenery melted away and they emerged outside, The surroundings were inevitably quite noisy. A message announcing that Seonghyun had just cleared the Fortress of the Past had been broadcast throughout Eternal World. "W-what was that just now?!?" "There was a clear reward for the Fortress of the Past?!" "L-look at this! The 1st ce ranking has really changed!!" "W-who is Seonghyun?!" The scene was quite chaotic. It wouldn''t be good to get involved in this, so... Jinwoo quickly led Kim Chegeon and Seonghyun away. Thanks to their quick escape, they didn''t attract anyone''s attention. "Phew, that was close. It would have been troublesome if we had been caught there." "Hmm, is that so?" "Haha, it''s a great blessing for an unknown person to be widely known." Seonghyun, who didn''t understand, and Kim Chegeon, who was spouting nonsense. Jinwoo thought he had made the right decision to bring them along. He didn''t know what would have happened if they had stayed there. Anyway, The interview had ended splendidly. Even reaching Wave 10 was enough to be evaluated as having the qualities of a ranker, but... He had seen Kim Chegeon''s record right before they came out. She had endured until Wave 25. Although he hadn''t been able to see her properly because he was captivated by Seonghyun, Her results were excellent. She naturally passed the interview. And Seonghyun... ''What am I supposed to do with this?'' Jinwoo was perplexed and troubled. He had to report this since he was there in person. He couldn''t just brush this off. He had to report to the Guild Master. As expected, [Rapid - What kind of notification is this, Jinwoo?] [Rapid - What''s going on at the interview site?!] Rapid, who thoroughly separated public and private matters, was in a frenzy. She could ask Seonghyun, but... Was there anyone else besides Jinwoo who was at the scene and could objectively assess the situation? Jinwoo made a troubled expression. Seonghyun spoke up first. "Then, I''ll be on my way since I''ve reached the required level." "Ah, yes! Of course, Seonghyun. T-take care." "Ahem, I shall also work harder, following Seonghyun''s example. Please let me know the interview resultster." Kim Chegeon also seemed fired up after seeing Seonghyun and left excitedly. Indeed, even Jinwoo felt a bit enthusiastic after seeing Seonghyun''s record. Well, there was something he had to do before addressing that. [Jinwoo - First of all, I''ll report. JoseonBestSwordsmanKimChegeon has passed the interview. Considering her record reached 25, she''s a guild executive level talent.] [Rapid - ...? Why is her nickname like that? And more importantly, what happened with Seonghyun?] [Jinwoo - I think it would be better to tell you in person. You''ve called an emergency meeting, right? I''ll go with my main ount.] Jinwoo ended the conversation. This was indeed a natural disaster. They had toe up with countermeasures. Even Rapid Guild, the 3rd ranked guild in Eternal World, was being swayed by a single person. ''He''s truly an unbelievable person.'' Jinwoo shook his head and logged out. He was both excited and worried about what would happen when Seonghyun underwent his second ss advancement. He already possessed unbelievable power. And he would be even stronger. ''I need to work harder too.'' Otherwise, he might be caught up before he knew it. As Jinwoo logged out with a renewed sense of urgency, Seonghyun was reading thest message as he walked away. [You can now undergo your second ss advancement, having surpassed level 50.] [The Overlord exclusive second ss advancement item, ¡ºOverlord''s Compass¡», is reacting.] [Using the ¡ºOverlord''s Compass¡» will transport you to the second ss advancement location.] ''Second ss advancement.'' He wanted to test out the new skills he had acquired. This worked out perfectly. Still, the Overlord''s second ss advancement would be quite difficult, right? With a hopeful gaze, Seonghyun used the Overlord''s Compass and disappeared from the spot in the blink of an eye. 0. [Global Announcement] [East Asia Server - Korean yer ¡ºSeonghyun¡» has cleared the record-type dungeon, ¡ºFortress of the Past¡».] [His name is now known throughout all continents.] An announcement that spread throughout Eternal World, regardless of server. Even when someone reimed the 1st ce ranking, a global announcement would be made, but the content was vastly different this time. It wasn''t about reiming 1st ce, but about clearing the dungeon. Since no one knew that the Fortress of the Past could even be cleared, His fame spread like wildfire. Who was Seonghyun? How did he manage to clear it? Amidst various spections, Naturally, the Koreanmunity was in an uproar due to his Korean nickname. [Title - Fortress of the Past Cleared???] ¡ºWas this even possible??? I was surprised that it could even be cleared, but the person who cleared it is Korean. Kyaa! Bartender! Shut it down!!¡» [Blue User: I usually dislike nationalistic pride, but I can''t resist this! Bartender!!] ©¸[ReallyReally: LOL right? How can you resist this??] [LuluLa: Wow, he''s a legend.] [Title - Guilds are in chaos right now.] ¡ºEveryone is trying to find out who Seonghyun is. Did you see all the scouts gathered at the Fortress of the Past??? I didn''t know there were so many scouts. All the guilds from 1st to 10th ce are there??? This must be a really big deal;;;¡» [??: Orders have been given to find out who Seonghyun is.] [PleaseLargeGuild: ???? Really? I should go too.] ©¸[QuestionMarkKiller: ???? Who are you?] From onlinemunities to YouTube videos, everyone was in a frenzy. Amidst various spections, [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 usible guesses. It was the correct guess, but... Unfortunately, [ckMageLover: Nono, Rapid Guild scouts are also at the Fortress of the Past right now.] ©¸[??: Really? I didn''t know that.] ©¸[ckMageLover: Yeah, I didn''t know either, but I saw them. All the guilds from 1st to 10th ce were there. Here''s a link to the confirmation post.] ©¸[Original Poster: Ah, I didn''t know, thanks.] The spection 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 rted!!" "Even a small clue!!" "He''s a once-in-a-generation yer!!" "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 superrge 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 spection could have arisen, but... It wasn''t the case. If it were, Sik Brothers would have been the first to mboyantly reveal it. No one suspected Sik Brothers. Rather, they were pleased that they weren''t causing amotion. It was good to have one lesspetitor. 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 urate." "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 ck Mage sses 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 n to release it?" Rapid paused for a moment at that question. She thought for a while and then continued, "We n 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. [Trantor - Pr?ks] [Proofreader - Pr?ks] The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!