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Ranobes » Updates » I Came Back And Conquered It All » Chapter 71
           
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Chapter 71
I Came Back And Conquered It All
Dungeon Break (3)
"Rip them all up!"
Kwaaa!
In the interior, and out of view from the guilds, where the dungeon break was in progress, giant-like, humanoid, white-skinned monsters appeared. These beasts were in a frenzy but could only come near the gate and could not move out of the border, causing them to be more riled up as they rushed towards the gate.
Three people, and a corpse, blocked their path.
Boom! Boo-boom!
Rumble! Crush!
A mountain-like giant being, covered with black scales, came down from the sky. It hacked, ripped, and made the white giants explode without mercy. Right beside it was a vacuum made by a mixed explosion of lightning, ice, flame, and blast that made the monsters inside that area blow away into dust.
Beyond that, among the white waves, which came in groups like a herd of water buffalo in the dry season, purple storms blew continuously, and energy bullets were carpet-bombed. It met the white waves, red bubbles boiled, and a mountain of flesh was formed every time it met the white waves.
Amid the fierce battle, suddenly, one person shouted, "Oh, there's one running away!"
Right away, the instructions come back.
"It's small! Let those little ones be! The waves are gradually getting stronger, so we can't help but miss a few from now on. They'll take care of those that escaped outside from Earth."
I add a word, "However, we have to stop the big guys from leaving. The screening criteria is this guy I just chopped up. Okay?"
"Alright!"
"Yes!"
*
About 30 minutes had passed since the gate appeared. At this point, there were opinions that hunters should enter the gate and take pre-emptive attacks, but they were rejected by the government, who had the final say.
High-ranking officials expressed reluctance, fearing that they would take responsibility if something went wrong after taking a method that no one had tried before. Among the guidelines they referred to, there was no sending the hunters first to the breaking gate.
A call went out, "Oh, something's coming out!"
"Tsk, it's finally starting."
"Everyone, get ready for battle!"
While everyone was staring at the gate with weapons, a giant creature popped through the door!
"What is…. that?"
"It's new!"
It was a giant. It was about five meters in height—a bare and scrawny thing, naked with pale white skin and visible blue blood vessels. Black body fluid bubbled down in the pitch-black pupils, without the whites' distinction and the black in the eyes. The white cheeks were covered with layers of tar-like tear stains. The giant screamed as soon as it stepped out of the gate. The sound was high and sharp.
"Kyaaaaaaaa!"
When the scream had violated everyone's ears…
Pat! The giant disappeared from the spot.
'We missed it!'
As most hunters felt a sense of failure…Boo-boom!
The defensive barrier behind the first defense line fluctuated with great shock. In front of it was a giant who twisted its limbs in the air in strange directions and stuck itself to a white wall, as if it were miming.
Grand Croix Guild Hunter, close to the Barrier, ran to the giant with a sword.
Swish! He aimed at its neck, but because the giant pulled itself out, long arms, like dry branches, sprang up into the sky instead. The Hunter, who flung his sword close to it, covered himself with the blood of a giant.
Bllrgh!
"Arrrgh! Save… me!"
The Hunter's whole body, covered in blood, began to swell like a balloon. As cancer cells increased, the flesh covered it at a wicked speed. His nose and mouth were so swollen that he couldn't breathe because of the fat on his cheeks and chin.
Kim Kyung-Rok, who caught the idea that this was an abnormality due to magic, quickly ordered, "Potion!"
Tssss!
The Hunter's body went back to its original state when his colleague poured a recovery potion over his body. In the meantime, the giant, who was fleeing in the other direction with one arm blown away, once again collided violently with the Barrier.
Coo-oong!
Other hunters did not miss this opportunity. Instead of rushing in, the close-range types threw sword energies from afar, and wizards actively sent out spells.
After a few seconds, there was no flesh or drop of blood in the place where the giant was located, but only a burnt and scorched mark was left.
Dash!
Seo Moon-Ga-In flew in and landed in front of the giant's cut arm, which remained intact. They were in combat, but she had to hurry to identify it before the next one came.
'Out of all the times, it's a new type during a break!'
She took an [Collection] item out of her arms. An item that identified the property of a living monster that [Analysis] couldn't. When she breathed Mana on it, the book began to float in the air and automatically passed the pages. The inside was all empty pages, but one of the pages separated from the book and floated in front of the severed arm.
Watching the scene, Seo Moon-Ga-In prayed desperately inside.
'Please, I wish the explanation is kind!'
There were many cases where system messages often said only a part of the fact or explained in a sly way that tricked the reader.
Tsssss!
Black smoke came out of the pale arm, and it took a certain form and filled the blank page with black letters.
It was an Archid script.
[Analysis!]
She interpreted it with magic because she couldn't read it as it was. Seo Moon-Ga-In immediately shared the following content with all the hunters.
[Plague Giant]
– At every step they pass by, a plague spreads, and at the place where they fall, there is even more death. Each time the monster breathes, spores cultured in the lungs spread through the air, causing demonic diseases. Be aware that direct contact with the tissues and blood of the monster will trigger a powerful effect that is incomparable to that transmitted through the air.
The power of the plague they bear becomes stronger as the individual ages. The plague giant grows bigger as they age, but on the contrary, it is not difficult to distinguish them since it moves faster and becomes more durable.
Hunters frowned at the explanations. Its identity was a monster that scattered disease through the air just by breathing and doing nothing.
"If it's a demonic plague, we have to stop it with Mana Barrier, right?"
"I figured that ever since it got out of the gate, we've been consuming Mana a little bit faster. Even when still!"
"Mana Barrier blocks the spores that it sprays while breathing. Without us even realizing it."
At that time, the Hunter, who had collapsed while covered in blood, opened his mouth. He had recovered to normal thanks to the potion, "That thing, it's fast, but its body is like tofu. I was ready to be hit back for cutting in a hurry, but it was cut too easily."
"That means it has a terrible defense. Is that why the difficulty level was set to A?"
"Barrier will stop the transmission through its breathing, so we can drive it away, avoiding contact with blood and flesh. It's not that difficult."
Then, a hunter said, "No, but… The respiratory infections may be okay with us, but those non-Awakens are defenseless, right?"
The same thought crossed the mind of the hunters who heard it. If they hadn't evacuated the people here in advance…
"It could have been the worst biohazard in history." It was the kind of threat that level A-rank hunters found hard to accept.
However, everyone noticed that the worst catastrophe could occur if the monster began to spread beyond the dungeon's threshold to the human world.
"The potion doesn't work for the non-Awakened people. They will literally… just die."
The government, which listened to their conversations in real-time, recognized the situation's seriousness and quickly began preparing for additional setbacks.
"No, but…"
There were still unresolved questions.
"Oh, my God. Is it the only one? Why aren't there any monsters coming out from the 150-member dungeon?"
"No, wait a minute, brother. Don't say that."
"Kyaaaaaaaaaa!"
"Another one."
*
Several more giants were, but it was slightly different from the usual break that everyone was aware of. Normally, as the word break suggests, monsters would pour out frantically as soon as the gate opens. But this break… was so weird.
Monsters were coming out in a gap.
"Brother, don't breaks normally happen that they come out all crazed up?"
"Wasn't the scene of them coming out while screaming crazed up enough?"
"Why do the crazed-up ones keep trying to run away instead of running towards us?"
An hour has passed like that.
"So far, were there about a hundred in total?"
It was a ridiculously small number compared to the power gathered in preparation.
"Brother, was I the only one that noticed it earlier? The one a while ago had half of the body crushed the moment it got out."
"It's common for too many creatures to come out in a hurry and end up fighting and bite each other."
Seo Moon-Ga-In thought, seeing the scene. 'This is not good.'
Hunters' tension was getting lower. The idea that they should check what the hell was going on inside stood strong, but the government's permission still stood.
'The scenario where the monsters stormed in at the beginning and gradually decreasing in numbers is preferable. If this continues, we might get ourselves in great danger from lowering our guards.'
Her concerns eventually came true.
"We got another one!"
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
The scream was different from before.
The scream was nothing but an intrusive high frequency and rather a haunting scream, distinguishable from the rest.
"Blrgh!"
One Hunter, who had been relaxed, reduced the Mana Barrier's thickness, knelt, and vomited blood and gastric juice.
"It's big!"
'The new giant was three times the size of those we faced until now.'
Seo Moon-Ga-In recalled the explanation she had seen in the [Collection]: 'as they age, size increases, but on the contrary, movement becomes slower and durability decreases, so it is not difficult to distinguish.'
"It must be the adult!"
Swish!
Just like the little ones, the monster ran away at high speed. Hunters tried to hunt it down according to protocol. They thought, in a little while, it will reappear when it collides with the barrier head-on…
Shatter!
Hunters' faces turned pale.
"The barrier is broken!"
The worst-case scenario came to the mind of Seo Moon-Ga-In, 'That's a problem!'
All the Hunters gathered could not give up the first line of defense and chase after it, and it was uncertain whether they could prevent it from the second line of defense.
'How many humans can a giant infect? What about human-to-human transmission? I have to catch that bastard, whatever it takes!'
"I'm after it!"
Seo Moon-Ga-In decided to be the one to move, having little choice, mainly because she was sure that she was the one who could move the fastest. But just half a second after she made up her mind, she found her judgment was wrong.
Swish!
She heard a sound from the gate.
"Is it another one?!"
Swish!
Most of the first line hunters didn't recognize what it was. This was because the speed of it moving was too fast. All they saw was a stream of black wind spreading out of the gate and swirling behind the giant. The first person to notice the identity of the being was Seo Moon-Ga-In, who invoked her unique skill.
"Dragon?!"
*
Hunters waiting on the second line of defense looked at the scene with a soulless expression.
"Kaaaaaaaaah!"
They knew that the white giant was approaching them through the first line of defense. It was hard even to keep track, and they knew it would reach the second line of defense in a few seconds, and in their nervousness, they tensed their whole body.
But, before it could even reach them, the thing faster than the giant made a surprise attack.
Crack!
Most did not catch the first attack. The black gust blowing scene was followed by the white giant rolling and making a large ditch, being swept away. It was as if an excavator had passed, scooping a large trench on the ground where the giant had been swept away.
Only Seo Moon-Ga-In, from afar, recognized what was happening accurately.
The incident's reality was that a large black monster suddenly appeared at the gate, spreading its wings and flew to the giant. The scene was like a kite descending fast to snatch a chick. In that momentum, it placed its power, drove its head towards the back of the giant's head, and rammed it! And it was only when the large being, who had just finished a cool beating, stopped in the air and turned its neck so that everyone could recognize what it was.
"Dragon!"
"My God, it's a dragon!"
"What! The prophecy is completely wrong! What kind of A-rank dungeon does a dragon come out of!"
The scene that followed caused any murmuring to become dead quiet.
Swoosh!
The Dragon approached the giant and bit its neck violently.
Crush!
"Kyaaaaaaaa!"
The giant, whose neck was crushed, kept screaming without dying. Although it was over 15 meters tall, it looked like a child compared to the Dragon. As it bit the giant's neck, the Dragon briefly turned to the left and opened its mouth while rotating to the right. The giant was lifted into the air. And then it took a turn and hit the giant hard with its tail before it fell!
Bam!
Swoosh!
The wind swirled vigorously around the tail and spread heavily everywhere. Facing the wind in their faces, people saw the giant flying like a baseball into the distance before completely disappearing beyond the horizon.
The Dragon's mouth opened.
'No way!' All the witnesses thought the same thing.
Boosh!
A red flash emitted from the mouth of a dragon and crossed the sky. It hit the white giant flying away. There was a momentary silence.
Soon a devastated voice spoke, "H… H… H… How… Can we beat that!"
"How the hell does a dragon come out of an A-Class break!"
Hunters on the second line of defense did not dare to attack and looked at the Dragon standing there alone. They had yet to guess that the Dragon's condition was slightly off. However, a Hunter recognized the familiar body shape and characteristics of the Dragon.
"Oh, that Dragon… No way… That dungeon!"
The Dragon lifted its head in the direction of the gate. Then, its head tilted slightly as if it was listening to an inaudible sound.
Swish!
The Dragon returned to the gate in such a short time that the distance was meaningless. As the Dragon reached, a strong gust blew around the red door, scattering fallen leaves and dust.
Seo Moon-Ga-In's eyebrows twitched.
"Is it going back in?"
The surface of the red flash swirled, and another giant appeared. It was as big as the one that just came out. It was also an adult.
The eyes of the giant and the Dragon met. The new intruder's bluish lips opened, and a scream leaked out.
"Kyaaaaa-wp!"
Crush!
The giant's scream ends with the last syllable tightly closed. The Dragon lightly slammed the front foot and crushed the giant's skull. The Dragon pretended to hear something again and wrapped its tail around the giant's legs. Then he dragged the giant into the red gate.
Thump! Thump! Every time it took a step, the ground shook heavily.
"Kyaaaaaarghaaaargh!"
The Dragon and the giant disappeared back into the red gate.
Hunters were left speechless.
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Ranobes » Updates » I Came Back And Conquered It All » Chapter 72
           
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Chapter 72
I Came Back And Conquered It All
Deal (1)
While Hunters, who formed the defense line, were outside the gate struggling with the confusion, Nate, Hibiki, and I were inside the dungeon, butchering the monsters.
'It's about the time someone should have noticed and sent someone inside the dungeon to take a look; they're slow. This is what happens when the government takes control of the dungeon operations.'
Due to these shortcomings, I knew Hunters would take control of the break response team in the future.
'This is the most effective way to respond to breaks that the location and the time are known in advance.'
Later, they will create a protocol as well. Logically, it would be much more efficient to catch monsters before they come to Earth than to kill them after they have crossed the gate. The sole reason the bureaucrats hesitated was due to nobody ever going beyond the red gate.
'The entrant limit disappears as soon as it enters the break sequence. The message that indicates how many people are inside disappears as well.'
Therefore, the three of us waited nearby with stealth on and came inside as soon as the gate turned red. And the first thing we did in front of the plague giant, running rabid, was to make a trap. The traps I constantly repaired and created were still faithfully deterring the armies of monsters.
[Artha's Sword Dance!]
Swift! Swish!
I drew the sword numerous times, front of the door that led to the Earth. As a result, the web-like mesh of sword energy was created. The net, which was woven with purple flashes, was still floating as it preserved the energy even after the sword stopped its movement. And when the giants reached there.
"Kyaaaaaaaa!"
Pat!
The accumulated destructive power and kinetic energy burst out in an instant. The giant, which tried to advance through the net, rolled with its whole body diced up. Perhaps because they already had undead properties, they couldn't be made subordinates of Nate, so we didn't have time to kill them neatly. As a result, the corpses became a mess and scattered everywhere.
"Uhh….!"
"Uhhhhh….!"
Zombie orcs scavenged around the body fragments. Nate's order was for them to go around the battlefield and retrieve Mana cores.
Crush!
Boom!
They approached the broken giant's chopped-up body, smashed the ribs, and tore the heart membrane.
Thusk!
They pulled out the Mana core quickly. The cores were piled up in the rear, and I absorbed them with [Mana Drain] while going in and out of the battlefield.
Swish!
'I can't hear my thoughts. It's busy, so busy!'
I was the one who had the widest movement range and was busily moving the most in this dungeon right now. I spread the [Stardust Wing] and flew around nonstop. While I bombarded those rushing from the front with sword energy bullets and reduce their mass, I repaired the sword energy net that acted as a trap, and if it seemed like I was running low on Mana, I returned after absorbing cores.
While I was constantly moving, the other two didn't move outside of the black net. But of course, it was not like they were playing around.
"The trap over there is broken down! Crush them all!
Kuaaaaaaaaa!
Nate had almost complete control of the undead dragon. Unfortunately, it was impossible to pull out 100 percent of his previous life's ability. In particular, he could not reenact magic at all. But instead…
Kuaaaaa!
The Black Dragon, spreading its wings like a predatory bird trying to snatch up prey, descended toward the herd of giants. The giants were storming through an opportunity of a layer of the purple net that has collapsed. The dragon, which was flying low in that direction, extended its front feet down like an aircraft preparing to land. Maintaining close proximity as if it's about to touch the ground, the dragon scratched the giants at the speed of flight!
Po-Po-Po-pow!
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Along the straight line drawn by the dragon, giants bounced from side to side as if to divide the sea. The sound of flesh being crushed quickly buried the scream. In the white waves that spread in pigtails, red streaks bloomed and mixed.
"Okay! That direction next!"
Instead of using magic, the dragon that had turned to an undead had a comparable… no, rather a strong body that reminded me of when it was still alive. It was the same as when humans and Orcs became zombified. Its performance transcended the normal idea of the undead, appearing as a dungeon monster.
'Come to think of it, Nate's Mana wouldn't have been able to handle the undead dragon's magic.'
Since the subordinate's characteristics not having a core, it would have pulled all its needed Mana from the master. It wasn't such a waste even if he couldn't use its magic, as the dragon's symbol remained.
Boosh!
The breath that is poured down towards the giants caused the gloomy sky to turn red instantly. Along the area where the flash crossed, the giants fell without leaving even a pile of ashes.
"Oh, the big guy just ran away! Hurry up and get him!"
Kuaaaaaaa!
While Nate's controlled undead dragon plays a role in defending the rear and catching the running adult simultaneously, destroying those that had crossed the sword energy net.
'If it's about this much….'
As soon as I had a chance, I looked at the number of remaining giants and my colleagues' performance. It'd only been an hour, and I could already see the end. Instead of letting the fast-moving giants disperse, the key was to use their instinct of rushing to the door to destroy them at once. It would have taken several days to track them down and catch every one of them if they had been allowed to roam around the world as in a previous life.
'In the meantime, the number of casualties would have increased ridiculously. Since they sprayed spores just by breathing.'
That was the first reason I came all the way here in such a small number, instead of blocking the break outside, preventing a biohazard, which had killed tens of thousands of non-Awakened victims in the previous life.
And the second reason was about to appear in front of us.
"Huh?!"
After some time has passed.
"It's over!"
Finally, we heard the message we had been waiting for!
– All monsters have been eliminated.
– The dungeon break will end.
– Be cautioned that the gate that connects to this dungeon closes automatically without using a key.
"Hurrah!" Nate joyfully yelled to the top of his lungs.
Hibiki, who was already on the verge of a Potion shock, collapsed on the floor. She, who always remained composed, must have been quite shaken, as she leaked an empty smile, this time, saying, 'Haha… Ha…!"
'They've done well.'
It was a battle close to the two's limit. I had constantly observed and cared for them, but they'd faced a threat to their life several times. This experience must have been a stepping stone to a large growth for both of them.
And then.
– To all users who have contributed to preventing the dungeon break will be rewarded accordingly.
The gate would close by itself, and the boundaries had not been weakened, so the key to the dungeon was not given. All we could get was extra compensation. No matter how powerful the four major guilds may have been, the reason why they volunteer to make up the first line of defense was here.
'Among the Break rewards, Hunter doesn't have to choose from many options.'
The system selects the best option for them to receive within their contribution and gives it to the Hunter.
'In other words, nobody loses!'
There was a reason why the price of the items worldwide fell exponentially after suppressing a dungeon break. Since all of them who participated would be given a definite reward based on their contribution, they become less rare.
– The user contribution ranking is No. 1 (contribution rate: 88%)
– Additional rewards are available according to your contribution. Do you want to accept it?
'This is within my expected range.'
There was only one case in which an individual exceeded 50% of the break contribution rate in a past life. When a break occurred, it was not easy for individuals to make more than half of the contribution rate. As usual, about a thousand Hunters gather to build a defense line. But today, I ended up setting a new record, including all my past and present life.
"I will accept."
I saw that each compensation appeared in front of Nate and Hibiki. But then.
"Huh?"
Nate asked me as he approached me, "What? Didn't Jin-Wook get anything?"
I was not baffled by this situation. The phenomenon experienced by a Hunter, who barely passed 50 percent in his previous life, was just unfolding in front of me.
"I'll take a while."
The system message that only I hear had been changed to something abnormal from just a moment ago.
– (##################)!
It was a distorted and disturbed system message. I'd experienced this phenomenon before. On the day I Awakened as Seo Jin-Wook. The message now penetrating my mind clearly conveyed some meaning, but I couldn't understand it right away. It felt like a part of my mind had become clouded.
– (##################)!
But then.
The phenomenon did not last long.
– [The Successor's Eyes (Rank: EX)] Detects interference with this force.
– Attempt to recover filtered semantic fragments. ···Recovery complete!
The meaning of the system message has now normally flowed into my head a tempo late. The message was actually telling this:
– (A* 150-grade contribution 88% confirmed. Spent time 1 hour, 12 minutes and 45 seconds. ··Error! Error!)
– (According to regulations No. 29-42-19048 'Compensation Evaluation Process According to Dungeon Break Response Contribution Rate' and regulations No. 18-1-00921 'Dimensional Item Supply Criteria for Quest Progress Rate,' a conflict is confirmed.)
– (Decisions to correct this error are beyond the control cognition's autonomy. Requesting to summon the ministry spirit!)
When I checked the message, I sang joyfully to myself.
'All right!'
I think what the Hunter in the past life experienced will follow soon. I told the two of them.
"I think I'm going to disappear for a while and then come back. Just like when we were attacking the dungeon."
The look on the faces of the two people showed they couldn't understand. According to what they studied, a Hunter doesn't have to choose break compensation. So, they wouldn't understand why I was going to be summoned.
"For more information, I'll explain when I…"
Even before I was done talking…
Swish!
I was summoned there.
'There you go!'
I was surrounded by darkness in the blink of an eye. It was a space full of dense darkness.
I'd experienced two similar places like this. One was the Altar of Trials that I visited as soon as I Awakened, and the other was the space to select additional rewards after Clearing a dungeon.
However, there was no silver altar here, and there were no white lights that surrounded me like the stars of the night.
'If I wait like this, I will hear another message again. In a form that anyone can understand.'
However, the message my previous life received here was not general and mechanical telepathy. It was a more 'human' message, as I heard when I first Awakened, by the standards of the Earth's people.
'To hear such a message means that I will see that being again!'
A few seconds of waiting made my prediction a reality.
Swoosh!
The black air opened, and a woman's body, glowing blue, appeared—a body shaped with Mana. At the same time, the system message rang.
– I'm sorry to keep you waiting so long. Something unexpected happened. To explain briefly what the user is currently experiencing…
Floating in the dark were screens of different shapes float wrapped around her. The woman-shaped being looks at one of the screens seriously.
I remembered. She called herself the 'Military Spirit.' Her eyes widened as if she had found something on the screen. The head turned, and our eyes met. The system message followed the movement of her lips and spoke in my head.
– What, it's you again?
*
There was a strange silence between us two. What lingered in my eyes now was a little anticipation. On the other hand, there was an explicit feeling of annoyance in the eyes of the Spirit.
– You're a being of many strange cases in ways. Your name is… Seo Jin-Wook?
This is the first time in history that a system message directly mentioned Hunter's name. They are usually referred to only as Summoner and User.
'Does she mean that it's an exceptional case that she had to check my name? From that Spirit's point of view, that is.'
However, right after making such a short comment, the Spirit turned its annoyed gaze back to the screen. The wall made of blue Mana was filled with Archid characters. I could simply read them and distinguish the shapes with my knowledge, but there were too many words I didn't know. They weren't words that I'd forgotten but were words I never learned in the first place. For now, I made myself store the shapes in my head using [The Successor's Eyes].
– Anyway, I'm busy, so I'll explain it quickly and briefly. The reason why you were summoned and why you met me here is simply because I couldn't give you items that fit your contribution on the break.
I didn't have to reveal that I had heard all the censored messages, so I quietly listened. This meant that it could not give items with the automated message's authority or 'control cognition.'
– Your grades are abnormally high. In the first place, it wasn't the level of difficulty set for a single individual to get this grade. Anyway, you had a contribution rate of 88%, and the time it took was extremely short, so the expected compensation rating went up very high. But the problem is….
I knew. Whether someone clears the A-class dungeon or blocks the A-class break, the limit of compensation is the next higher grade. The compensation rank limit I can receive is SS-Class. However, according to a different standard from that, it concurred my contribution should be higher than the SS-Class.
'Because my performance broke through the difficulty they set.'
Something of theirs called the operational regulations were conflicting with each other. I guessed what the Spirit would say.
'It would say that although it is a grade that is right for me to receive an SSS-Class reward, it is not available by the regulations, right?'
However, the words that returned were not what I expected.
– Items that match your grade cannot be supplied at the dimension where the tutorial is still in progress.
What's that supposed to mean?
'It's different from what the Hunter had heard!'
Although they are of limited amount on Earth, SSS-class items will be released in the past or the present life. Therefore, the item that the Spirit was talking about wasn't SSS-Class, but a class higher item than that.
'If it's after the SSS-Class, it's the EX-Class!'
In the past life, humankind learned about the concept of EX-class by discovering an EX-class skill. EX-class items had never been found on Earth.
'Wait a minute, then, if I everything···.'
It wants me to bug off with receiving an SS-Class item instead of receiving an EX-Class item. Contrary to my expectations, the value of items I have to give up had gone up a notch.
– So, I'd like to give you an SS-Class item at the discretion of the power given to me and at the same time give you an additional reward. By any chance, is there anything you are hoping for?
So far, it was in line with the direction I was aiming for. In the first place, I was going to make a deal with the system by increasing my contribution rate abnormally high for this break. However, if the price to give up was an EX-Class item, I think I should have asked for more than I originally planned.
'No, wait a minute. Before I decide like that!'
Let's test the water one more time, "If you mean an item that can't be released in the tutorial, I think you might be referring to an EX-Class."
– ····You know the concept of it. Yes, that's right. But I can't give you this.
"What if I made extra results? Or would it be possible if I overcome 'the ordeal'?"
The Spirit was determined.
– No, no condition is possible. The principle that one can't release an EX-Class item in a tutorial is an absolute regulation.
I clicked my tongue inside. Damn! Given the existing case, the thing was impossible once the system message said that it was impossible.
'By the looks of it, it looks that it is annoyed to death. I should get what I can scrape up from this as much as possible before I agitate her even more with the EX-Class item.'
Therefore, I threw a deal that was a steep upgraded from the request I had originally prepared.
"Right now, among humankind, SSS-Class items are valued for ten or more SS-Class items. Then, EX-Class could be valued as 10 of SSS-Class items, right?"
– No, wait a minute. Stop there. That's hard. I understand what you're trying to say.
I went on without caring about it, "Then, in the condition that I would receive an SS-Class item instead of the EX-Class item, I'd like to receive 100 of them, by my choice."
Unless the word 'never' was mentioned, I had to give it a go.
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Ranobes » Updates » I Came Back And Conquered It All » Chapter 73
           
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Chapter 73
I Came Back And Conquered It All
Deal (2)
The ministry spirit sighed.
– Sigh…
She shook her head and said,
– You people, the desire of the mortal, is a very hard concept to understand. Why the hell are you so eager for?
For what? To survive, to be prepared. Seeing that it was classifying humans as mortals, did this mean that the spirit's identity was immortal? I wasn't sure, but I was a little upset to hear that.
'Well, whatever I may feel like, I just have to get what I need.'
I asked as if to hurry her up, "What do you think? I think it's a fairly fair and reasonable deal." I was saying it with much boldness wrapped around my face. In fact, the story I just told her was a lie. Well, not a complete lie, but rather my subjective valued judgment? There is no conventional understanding or an international agreement that 10 SS-Class items were equivalent to one SSS-rated item.
I just said it without any basis.
'In the beginning, there is no record of SSS-Class items being traded in this era just yet.'
Even though I knew for certain that what would return is a rejection, there was a good reason to risk it.
'This should be the first and last time someone can make a deal like this in return for stopping a dungeon break below A-Class!'
A Hunter, who had similar experiences in my previous life, said that the system message added him a hint. That wouldn't include any additional benefits for him in the future because of the gap in compensation at a difficulty lower than A-Class. In other words, to try this kind of deal again, he had to show similar performance on the breaks above the S-Class next time, which was next to impossible.
'I had to do everything I could this time!'
The spirit looked at the Mana screen in front of her with a look of great annoyance. A few subsequent gestures follow. The diagram and Archid characters inside were quickly rearranged and create strings of texts like flowing water. Considering the general process, and ignoring the unknown words, was…
'It's kind of a simulation.'
The screen that the spirits see seemed to be connected to the 'system.' Assuming a situation in which 100 SS-class items were given to one Awakened, it checked the result of it.
'It's too lazy to argue with me, so she's doing the math right away.'
The result came out immediately. The Archid word that popped up was very easy, so I understood it right away.
'Impossible.'
The spirit spoke determinedly.
– What you asked for is an excessive reward. 100 SS-Class items are not of the same value as 1 EX-Class item. In the first place, item classes are not calculated by simple mathematics, and the criteria you gave are calculated to be accepted among the natives of that dimension, right? It's impossible to impose a 100:1 value comparison here.
This much of the response was expected. I knew it wouldn't work, so I just did it. I didn't have to bend down from the beginning. Now it's time to listen to the other party's suggestion.
"Then, to what extent is it possible?"
– As suggested in the beginning, one SS-Class item, and if you tell me about the additional requirements, I will review them and accept the available ones.
She was robbing me. I clicked my tongue inside, 'Rather than it only being able to do so… It's just lazy for her to give me this and that!'
With the personality, I have encountered so far and concluding from the data that piled up, later on, the ministry spirit's attitude was like a bureaucrat who was tired of excessive work and tried to resolve as possible.
'That doesn't mean that I have to back off immediately.'
The more I annoyed her, the more likely I'd get what I want. That was how they work every time.
"If 100 is too much. Let's go with 50."
Then the spirit's eyes were filled with explicit emotions. If I had to put it in words, this would be the right description for it. She thought I was a pain in the backside.
– Ah…. Seriously…
She frowned heavily, but she couldn't kick me out right away.
'Only when she is done giving me the reward, by any means, and has to agree on the reward, could she get out of this place too!'
The guess turned to conviction.
– Wait a minute.
She didn't even pretend to think or contemplate. Instead of finding a way, she immediately entered something on the screen and interpreted the result. After a few attempts were repeated several times:
– 10 SS-Class items. I recommend that you be satisfied with this much. How is that?
I had already checked the screen that the spirits saw, so I knew that there was still room for that counteroffer, even if I didn't understand it 100%. I hit it back without delay.
"20 SS-Class items. All of them by my designation. And an additional request apart from the item."
If she reduced 100 from 50 to 20, it was natural that she should pay a corresponding price.
– I'm not accepting the offer yet, but I'd like to hear what the additional requests are before we go further.
"When the tutorial is over, I know it's possible to upgrade your unique skill or change them to a completely different kind."
– How do you know that? That's strange. That information can't have been announced at this dimension yet.
"I have been in contact with an alien race who have been wandering in various dimensions."
– ···So?
"My tutorial is not over yet, but I want to upgrade my unique skill at this point."
Whether it was [Mana Drain] or [The Successor's Eyes], it was a bigger win than acquiring a decent SS-Class item if any of the two's performance could be increased.
But then.
– Impossible.
The spirit refused immediately without looking at the screen. I was calm because it was the reaction I had expected.
'Supplying an EX-Class item is impossible. Upgrading my unique skill is impossible. What they have in common is that it's not a choice until the tutorial is over.'
I asked, "You're saying the end of the tutorial is such an important reference point? If so, even if I don't upgrade it right away, can I know in advance what options exist in the future?"
The spirit sighed lightly.
– I'm not assigned to you in the first place. Compensation that I can give you can only be made within my authority.
I immediately changed my requirements, "Well, what about this?" So far, I've been requesting, well knowing that it would be impossible. But from now on, there was something that I was determined to receive.
"I want all the information about an Awakened with a unique skill called [Mercadius' Seed]."
She made a strange face.
– ···If it has a skill of that name in the first place, the being wouldn't be from your dimension.
It was consistent with the explanation of the immortal.
– In any case, I can't access or intervene with someone's unique skill. I don't have the authority. The person in charge of that case will not be involved in this dimension until the tutorial is finished.
"Then let's change the terms. I want information about an alien species that came to Earth at least before 2023 and had direct or indirect contact with me."
Fifteen years ago, the original Seo Jin-Wook first experienced the symptom of the curse, so there was no need to consider those who had come to Earth since then. If the range was reduced as much as possible, it was focused under this condition.
"I am aware. The information about the Awakened of the dimension where the tutorial is in progress is protected."
She wouldn't answer if someone asks the ministry spirit for my information at the Altar of Trials.
But then.
"The name of the skill [Mercadius' Seed] has a proper noun and means it has already been modified, right? The being I'm looking for must have completed the tutorial quest and should not be subject to information protection, yes?"
The spirit stared at me for a moment without saying a word. And, there was a slight frown between her eyes.
– I can't refute that. You really know a lot of things.
And whispers softly.
– Oh, that's a real hassle.
That doesn't mean it's impossible. There we go!
– But I can't give you all the information you want. It's not my authority in the first place. I can extract a list of the Awakened beings who have already completed the tutorial, and their current location, which visited Earth before 2023. Do you accept?
That alone was a huge step forward. Since I was making a breakthrough with the situation where I had no idea where the curse originated, I wanted to know at least. However, I wanted to sing for the joy of it.
'Before I put an end to it, I should get what I can.'
I didn't mean to be satisfied with only this, "Then, 20 SS-Class items and the information of the Awakened according to the conditions I suggested. Do you agree?"
– No, wait a minute. I think you're mistaken now, but I didn't accept the condition of 20 items in the first place. Wait a minute.
She looked at the simulation again on the screen and said,
– Not 20. 10 for SS-Class. You can't adjust the amount of the item any further.
That wasn't a lie, but it wasn't solely the truth. There is still room for this offer. If I could manipulate the item, I could ask for something else.
"Well, I suggest it again."
Now there was a look on the face of the ministry spirit that seemed to say, 'What a disgusting human being!' A sickening look. I said without hesitation, "10 SS-Class items. Provide the information I requested. Add one more… Give me the authority to receive the 'Selection quest.'"
– ·······Have you heard the concept of the selection quest from the alien being?
I lied, "Yes, I have." The concept of a quest was unfamiliar to humankind now, but in fact, all hunters were still performing the same kind of quest. The quest was named 'Tutorial.'
'Tutorial quests are quests shared by all hunters.'
The content was simple. When a dungeon opened, clear it, block the brakes, and become stronger. Everyone forgets because it didn't provide an exact target, but we are all currently conducting the quest at this moment.
'However, from the latter part of the tutorial quest, only a select few hunters would experience additional challenges.'
The system classified them as 'chosen' when they show outstanding capabilities and performance compared to other hunters. Such an Awakened is entitled to receive and perform quests shared only with individuals or minorities. If one succeeded, the individual gets a reward that others can't get from an ordinary dungeon.
'For example, the dagger that Angelica held in her previous life. Becoming Angelica's attributed item, it was the only item that could break the dimensional bird's egg and as a reward for finishing a personal quest.'
Come to think of it now. Angelica must have completed the quest and taken the dagger to gain control of the egg.
'Since it's a personal item, no one could break it as long as Angelica is determined not to break the egg. She created a situation where someone had to kill Angelica to take the knife away.'
Before that, she killed everyone on the other way around.
'I need to be qualified before others for it to be advantageous.'
The spirit hesitated for a moment.
– That's…
"Is that impossible too? It's going to be in the tutorial anyway. Isn't it a different story from EX-Class items and unique skill modifications?"
-That's true, but I was thinking of starting the screening quest in a few years in this dimension. If I open the quest to only one person in advance…
She would not say that it was against fairness. In the first place, tutorial quests were made up to become stronger and weak ones would be left behind the wall.
The following words were as I expected.
– ········ getting a little annoying.
"It's not impossible, is it?"
The spirit, looking at the screen, suddenly startled and screamed.
– Wait a minute!
It seems that it had noticed something.
– Oh, my God. Have I been here this long?! How long has it been?
I think it's been less than 10 minutes from my point of view. But the spirit was frightened and fed up by it.
– Yes, yes, okay! All right! Let's wrap it up here. 10 SS-Class items, information about an Awakened that meets certain conditions, and sharing a screening quest only to you in advance.
She glared at me as if she would not tolerate me anymore.
– Do you agree?
I didn't think I should play any more tricks, 'I'll have to settle for this.' I nodded my head, "I agree."
The spirits rushed to type something into the screen.
– Then, we will proceed in reverse order of what you requested. I'll give you your last request first.
Swish!
A cluster of light, like the stars, poured out of the sky and fell on the back of my hand. A blue flash illuminated and created a pattern on the back of the hand.
'Mark of the Chosen!'
It was similar to the seal engraved on the body when I Awakened, but it was different. This is a kind of a secondary Awakening. I received the certification to access a kind of a main quest within the tutorial quest. As soon as I looked at it, I heard an automated message. It was not a ministry spirit, but the control cognition.
– A total of 108 quests are currently available for the user.
At this moment, I was the only one who could access this quest list on Earth.
Said the spirit.
– Now, the next… is an alien being that came over to Earth, right?
She kept grumbling.
– Ah…. This is such a hassle.
At that moment. Weing! The landscape around us changed at once.
'This is!' I had a cognitive impairment for a second then… I returned to normal due to the unique skill's effect, 'I see it now!'
The thing that suddenly appeared looked like seeing a part of the vast galaxy or the map of neurons that I saw in a book somewhere. Countless dots were spread out, and each of them was connected by a fine line, creating a net-like dense mesh.
I could see for sure what it was, 'It's a type of a map!'
It was a three-dimensional map that used all the surrounding spaces. I checked the center of the map that the spirits looked at. On the small dot she stared at, a long Archid text string was arranged, most of which were numbers. And the short word next to the number meant, 'Earth.' I felt goosebumps all over my body for a moment.
'Oh, wait a minute. This thing right now?'
While the spirit was working, I was busy keeping this huge three-dimensional map in my eyes. If what I'm guessing was right…!
– Well, let's see. That's a lot more than I thought.
The spirit's task was to observe the past record of interactions between the interconnected points. For example, the point marked Earth and the other point connected by a line has the word 'Krashen' written in Archid characters and the long number next to it. As the spirit gestured, additional text strings appeared above the line, describing the two points' relationship. A physical passage between the two points was temporarily created in 2021, followed by the description that an Awakened being had crossed from 'Krashen' to 'Earth.'
And before the Awakened crossed to Krashen, it was in another dimension connected to it, and the name of the dimension and the number beside it was clearly stated. There were several other similar cases.
'I see!'
I understood the identity of the huge map that the spirit was looking at now.
'This was a map of the coordinates and names of all dimensions… around the Earth!'
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Ranobes » Updates » I Came Back And Conquered It All » Chapter 74
           
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Chapter 74
I Came Back And Conquered It All
Encounter
It seemed the ministry spirit even imagined that I could see this map and could remember it flawlessly. Frankly, right after the 3-dimensional map appeared, it was hard to recognize it since my mind was clouded. Of course, thanks to [The Successor's Eyes], it came back to me in no time.
'So, it is true that the unique skill of an Awakened cannot be opened.'
At that moment, possibilities pass through my mind.
'Wait, if that's so!'
I recalled the SSS-Class item that I received, as an additional reward, after Clearing Siheung 8 Dungeon. [Door of Hope]. The artifact was said to be prepared by the Emperor of the Sebrarian Empire for interdimensional evacuation. I gave up the last time I tried to activate it because I did not have a way to input the exact coordinates. And when I tried to input a random coordinate, the response was that it required an unbelievable amount of Mana.
'But then, what about the case of a nearby dimension?'
The map that the Ministry Spirit was looking at didn't seem to contain every single existing dimension. Still, it was a tremendous amount, even only for dimensions near to Earth.
'What if I input these coordinates in the [Door of Hope]?'
Thanks to the Ministry Spirit, I scored an unexpected victory.
'I can definitely make good use of this!'
In the early stages of the tutorial, the contact with alien races was minimal, but as the quest progressed, the exchange with nearby dimensions became more frequent. The two dimensions that met each other would relationships, whether friendly, neutral, or hostile. The only passage that the Awakens could travel through the two dimensions was dungeons that had collapsed.
'That common idea can completely be invalidated!'
The possibility of traveling even to a dimension not connected to a dungeon…
'If I have to fight with the aliens who were the enemies of Earth. The possibilities of the usage, including spying, ambush, extortion, and assassinations, make it limitless.'
The key was how much core was needed to get to the nearest dimension. Right after memorizing everything, the Ministry Spirit spoke to me.
– Now, the list is as follows.
My eyes were widened by the hologram she opened.
"You're saying there are that many of them?"
– Yes, it was quite peculiar. Somehow, many of the alien races that were through with the tutorial seem to be interested in this dimension.
She suggested that an Awakened, from a dimension where the tutorial had ended, had visited Earth before I got cursed.
"And all the more, you're saying that all of them are still on Earth, right?"
– Yes. Looking at their behavioral patterns, I believe some are assigned there with the mission of spying.
Before I heard the Spirit's words, I was also prepared for the possibility that the perpetrator had gone back to its dimension so there would be no more way to track it down. But their current location, as indicated on the list, was unexpected. Every one of them was still living on the Earth!
'One or more among them may definitely be related to the curse.'
I had to feel even more ridiculous while I looked closer on the list.
'While there are aliens hiding without contact with humans, there are aliens who are boldly disguised as humans!'
Some of them were strangers that I'd never heard of in my entire life.
'What, this guy was an alien?!'
There was also a mix of very famous top-tier hunters. I had never encountered them in my previous life. This was because they went mysteriously missing shortly after Angelica appeared in the world.
'Could the reason they disappeared so suddenly was because they came into contact with Angelica? Then there's a good chance these Hunters aren't the source of the curse. The Awakened that achieved the state to modify a living thing and upgrade the unique skill can't be considered weaker than the immortal.'
I had one unanswered question. Why did the so-called great alien that stayed on the Earth for a long time let Angelica be in my previous life?
Or… was that situation also intended?
'I couldn't find an answer just by thinking alone. I didn't have any leads.'
Based on the list I'd now obtained, I would find a clear answer if I followed where they lead.
– Well, I've given you a list. Next is the item.
"Yes, I'll tell you what I want." I calmly recited the list of artifacts. I did not mention the items that I was sure I knew which dungeon I needed to Clear to get my hands on. The ones that I demanded now either had insufficient quantity released, or I'd seen an alien race that used it but was never supplied, on the Earth, in my previous life.
As it was quickly typing down the list I dictated, the Ministry Spirit paused for a moment.
– ······Hold on. You want me to give you five of [Renace's Ring]?
"The condition was 10 of SS-Class items, not of 10 kinds. You did not mention that it's not allowed for me to request for multiple quantities of the same item."
That was a necessary item. In the past life, the alien race that was hostile to the Earth had it, and the strongest of them was wearing it, so we had a lot of trouble.
– Hmm… I can't do this.
She came out harder than I thought. I tried to protest because it sounded like she was breaking a promise, but I couldn't help but listen to what followed.
– We only have two of these in stock now.
In stock? It was a word containing many facts. Did it mean that even the system cannot just print out the items as many times as it wished?
"If there is a concept of stock, is there a concept of production as well?"
– It's something I can't mention.
She was keeping her mouth shut again, not revealing critical information.
– Once again, a total of 7 items, including the other items and 2 of [Renace's Ring], can be provided right now. What would you like to do with the other three?
If this happened, this was out of my calculations. I thought about it for a while and made a decision. Okay, let's hand over the remaining three to the Spirit and the system.
'Come to think of it, neither [Stardust Wing] nor [Door of Hope] were items that were unknown to have existed. Artifacts that have never been found in my previous life, but they have tremendous performance.'
What they had in common were certain words that appeared in item descriptions.
'I'm sure there are other items like this. The problem is I don't know their names.'
But the system would know. Since it was going in this direction, I decided to give it a try.
"I plan to leave the other three to the system."
– ···Hmm? That's unexpected. Well, okay. Then for me, I could easily…
"No, wait a minute. There's a condition," The Spirit looked at me with a nonchalant expression, "I'll request 3 of SS-Class items which have the keywords of 'Sebrarian Empire' in the item description. When objectively analyzed, it must be of an equal or better performance from [Stardust Wings]."
This was somewhat of a gamble. It left open the interpretation of equal or of better performance to the system.
'Come on, surprise me.'
– ·······Sebrarian Empire. Oh, my. I feel like I'm starting to hate you since you're trying to get the best of me.
Hearing that, I thought I was going in the right direction. The Archid text on the screen waved, and the conditions I was talking about seemed to be entered.
And the result immediately came up.
– Here you go.
There were ten lights in front of me. My choice acquired seven items, and the system selected three items. All of them were SS-Class.
– Sigh. Whenever I meet Mr. Seo Jin-wook, it takes too much of my time. I've got a lot of work to do right now, and I can't believe I'm stranded on this one dimension for such a long time.
That being called the Spirit must have been dealing with a large amount of work; whenever it opened its mouth, it was always of the same story.
She glanced at me and said,
– I hope we won't meet again like this.
I answered with talent, "Next time, I'll see you after I've stopped an S-Class break."
– ·······hmph.
The darkness parted, and her figure disappeared, indicating she had had enough of me. Suddenly…
Whiz!
I came back to the dungeon in a flash.
"Jin-Wook!" Nate's eyes widened.
"What did you pack up so much?"
"Take this first!"
I handed Nate the small items I'd received this time.
"What is this?"
"Hold on to it for now. And Hibiki!"
"Yes!"
What I threw at her was one of the two [Renace's Ring] I'd received.
[Renace's Ring (Rank: SS)]
Item Description: A ring that reduces the user's Mana consumption by 30%.
※ Even if items with the same function are worn together, the effects are not overlapped, and only the item with the most significant effect is applied.
Item effects are similar to the devil's sword, the [Devil Slayer].
Items that reduce Mana consumption.
This artifact was valuable because it was applied, by any method, whether it was the sword energy, magic, psychokinesis, or unique skill.
'In fact, it's the same effect as increasing the Mana capacity.'
If Hunter had finished the Mana activation and couldn't increase the total Mana by training, he or she has no choice but to rely on these items.
'Later on, everyone would go crazy, even about artifacts that have a 10% reduction. To have 30%…'
The larger the basic Mana capacity, the more efficient these items are. I put the other of the two rings on my empty finger.
– Active Mana: 72,800 (+34,700)/38,100
– Potential Mana: 139,700
'There are 70,000 active Mana now… but no matter what skill I use, only 70% of Mana will be consumed, so it's the same as having 90,000.'
On top of that, it is a great synergy considering the amplification effect of the sword energy by the devil's sword.
"Hibiki. What are you doing? Put it on. It's an artifact that reduces your Mana consumption," I urged Hibiki, who hesitated for some reason.
"Ah! I see. Yes."
It was more efficient for her than Nate since she was equipped with a 50,000 Mana capacity after activation. After distributing the items, I fed the rest of the items to the snake. A noticeable change was happening to the red burning gate.
"Now they're crawling in. They're too slow."
The government, which had been watching the situation outside, ordered them to enter only after seeing the break termination message.
*
Two Hunters came through the gate. It was Seo Moon-Ga-In, of the Destructional Blade Guild, and Lee Dong-Hyun of the Gate Keepers. The two were dismayed and stiffened by the scene in front of them.
"W-w-w-What on earth is this!" The stuttering Seo Moon-Ga-In struggled for words.
Lee Dong-Hyun looked around the inside of the dungeon with a keen eye. Looking at them, I thought.
'They should be dumbfounded.'
Soon after the break, the hunters would have confirmed their contributions. No matter what they think about it, they'd notice that the figures were weird.
'Even if they caught a giant who ran out of the gate by groups, the individual Hunter's contribution should be 1%. In reality… Must it be 0.01% at best?'
Unless they are fools, they would have noticed what happened. The truth that there were more monsters than they'd seen, as with other breaks. But they would realize the majority of the monsters were destroyed by someone instead of the four guilds that formed the first defense line.
"Oh, my God!"
Charred and chopped up corpses of plague giants covered the ground. The three of us stood in the middle of the endless sea of death.
Seo Moon-Ga-In and Lee Dong-Hyun noticed us. Our gaze crossed. Seo Moon-Ga-In recognized my face and exclaimed, "···Seo Jin-Wook!" The following words were beyond my comprehension.
"You were in Korea?!"
*
I didn't give them enough time to watch the scene closely. The impressive scene of the giant corpses extending endlessly was enough.
'I'd burned them with the breath, but if they look closely, they'll notice a hole where the core was supposed to be.'
Seo Moon-Ga-In repeated the same thing several times with an incredulous expression, "This break, by three of you… Only three of you killed these mountains of monsters?!"
I answered calmly and brazenly, "Yes, that's right."
At the same time, I thought, 'Yes, you guys are the witnesses. You've clearly witnessed the achievement that is close to a miracle, that only three of us stopped it, with your own eyes.'
The system message rang.
– Soon, the gate will close.
I told both Nate and Hibiki, "Let's go back to Earth before the door closes. We're not sure if the returning stone will work in the collapsed dungeon, are we? Farming is impossible under these circumstances anyway."
By ordering Nate beforehand, we left the Mana cores of a few bodies nearby. Lee Dong-Hyun, who was looking around, murmured in a slightly suspicious tone.
"That's… Right."
Seo Moon-Ga-In sighed.
"It's tough to believe, but seeing it with my eyes like this, I have to admit it. Did you sneak in through the first line of defense? But it would be considered as direct insubordination ignoring the government's instructions. They'll need an explanation."
"Don't worry, the explanation will not be made to the four major guilds, but by the Hunter Management department as they hold the commanding power."
The answer was already ready. Furthermore, as a result, it was the right choice to stop the giants in the dungeon. If so many giants had poured into the Earth, of course, the plague would have raged.
"Come on, let's go back."
*
Among the hunters of the first line of defense, a shock-induced chill flowed into the atmosphere as they saw Hibiki, Nate, and I, suddenly coming out of the gate. The first to recognize me was the Celestial Dragon Guild members.
"What, Seo Jin-Wook?! Why is he coming out of there!"
Lee Dong-Hyun explained to everyone while scratching his head, "Oh, oh, I can't believe it even with my own eyes. I think these three have stopped the rest of the monsters. What we saw inside was."
As they were being explained to, the Hunters' faces were distorted by the facts, and their complexions changed color. At the end of Lee Dong-Hyun's words, Kim Kyung-Rok, the Guild Master of Grand Croix, shouted in an unfriendly tone.
"That's why our contribution is this way!" He pointed at me and shouted, "This is an act of complete disregard for the government's command! Do you believe that in the first place, those three stopped the break? It must have been a prank by the Celestial Dragon. Isn't it that they prepared an SS-Class item that no one knew? By abnormal means to monopolize contribution!"
Then, a man cut through the crowd and came to me at a rapid pace.
"Hey, wait! Seo Gyu-Cheol! Explain this!"
But Seo Gyu-Cheol didn't answer back and didn't even bother to look back. He walked toward me, glaring at me with his eyes, step by step with weight. And as he stood in front of me, he spoke in a whisper, "We finally met." His gaze was that of a man unprepared to give anything away.
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Chapter 75
I Came Back And Conquered It All
Seo Gyu-Cheol
Meanwhile, Seo Gyu-Cheol was approaching the crowd from far away. I whispered to the devil's sword in my hand in a way that would not be heard by anyone around me, "You," It did not answer me immediately, "Are you ignoring me?"
This had been the case ever since it signed an unfair contract in favor of me. Since the hope of brainwashing me or enticing me has wholly disappeared, it didn't waste its energy on me. It was probably planning to wait silently for the day when my life would be over.
'It's okay to wait, but I never allowed you to ignore what I say.'
I said with strength added to my voice, "Did you forget about the contract already? Why don't we go home and light the furnace again today?"
'········Yes, yes. Did you call me? Mister master,' it said in a sarcastic tone.
I quickly ordered a few things in a low voice, "Okay? We start right away when I give you the signal."
It couldn't disobey my instructions no matter what its attitude might be. The moment I finished speaking, Seo Gyu-Cheol stopped.
"We finally meet."
After deliberately arguing and running away from his office, this was the first time we'd faced each other like this. He spoke in a voice that was as repressed as a man who hadn't crapped in days, in contrast to the flames blazing in his eyes, "Let's go somewhere quiet and talk."
The tone had changed slightly from a few months ago, and I felt a strange sense of distance.
I nodded my head, "Let's."
I looked at Nate and Hibiki. It was an expected situation, so they knew how to act and merely nodded.
Seo Gyu-Cheol took a scroll out of his arms. I read the Mana pattern in advance.
'Of all days, he prepared it for today. No, it would be appropriate to assume that he had it in his possession for any moment like this to come.'
He was about to tear it up when Kim Kyung-Rok shouted, "Hey, you bastards! Can't you hear me? I said to explain, what the hell is …."
Seo Gyu-Cheol said in a cold voice, "What you are complaining about, the Management will handle. Shut up before I pull your tongue out."
"W-what, what? We've been letting him be, and that bastard's crossing the line now!"
Kim Kyung-Rok, who was insulted at the gathering of the four major guilds, reddened with anger. Ignoring him, Seo Gyu-Cheol turned to face the Celestial Dragon Guild members.
"I'm going to talk to my son for a while now that the break is over. No.1 Team Leader, I'll leave it to you to finish and aftercare."
"Ah…. Yes!"
Team Leader Yoon Ho-Min nodded with a puzzled expression. Seo Gyu-Cheol tore the scroll without hesitation.
[Wide Range Teleport!]
I relaxed my resistance and left myself to the light that surrounded me.
'Yeah, there's too many eyes here.'
When it came to avoiding the place, our opinions agreed. After a while, we were in the middle of the woods. It was apparent that he had entered the coordinates beforehand. I thought he would talk right away, but unexpectedly, Seo Gyu-Cheol kept his mouth shut and only stared at me.
But then…
'Yes, that was the gaze.'
I could tell by the experience of dealing with my companions, Park Chang-Hee and Han-Seol, that the pupil distorts with a strange glow when intense emotions are shown.
I opened my mouth first and spoke in a deliberate calm tone, "I saw it on TV."
"You looked for me anxiously."
I pointed out his irrational behavior and excessive emotions shown in the process. Would Seo Gyu-Cheol be aware of himself?
"It wasn't like you, father, to turn the media around like you usually do."
Did he know he was involved in a curse-induced madness? The original Seo Jin-Wook objectively recognized his condition, but Han-Seol and Park Chang-Hee were encroached entirely and did not notice it. What about Seo Gyu-Cheol?
"That's funny," He said in a low voice.
"Father?"
"Other guys can fool me, but you can't," his fierce eyes flashed. He says in a scratchy voice, "You, what the hell are you?"
A sharp and cold wind blew in the distance between the two of us. I brood over the meaning of what he said. To be honest, it was a surprise. Did this mean that parents could notice? With the affection and instinct by blood?
'However, looking at Seo Gyu-Cheol's usual attitude, I couldn't find the least amount of fatherly love.'
I denied it for now.
"I don't understand what you mean."
"You want me to say it again? I asked what the hell you are. Where did you come from, and why are you taking over my son's body!"
I clicked my tongue inside. He spoke in a confident tone that suggested he knew I was not the original one.
"The reason why you were in such a hurry to find me was because of that misunderstanding?"
"It cannot be a misunderstanding. What the hell are you, with what right do you have… can you do this to the one I've been raising so dearly for the last few decades…."
I tried to form a bleak smile. Raised him dearly? From the memories of him or as I experienced in person, he had never cared about Seo Jin-Wook that much.
"···Have you just snatched up the precious seed that has been raised so dearly; it was about to bloom!"
What?
*
My face stiffened at an instant, 'About to bloom… Seed!' It was a ubiquitous word. There was nothing strange about those who talk about seeds. However, considering the name and description of the skills that several guild personnel was exposed to, it was an entirely different story.
[Seed of Mercadius (Rank: SSS, Semi-active)]
Skill effect: Interfering with the host's mind amplifies the most intense desires and emotions and induces thoughts. After its growth, the seed that completely encroaches on the host will bloom, and what will become depends on the intentions of the caster and the characteristics of the host.
Restrictions: The stronger the host's mental strength and resistance, the slower the seed's incubation speed, and the risk of the "voice" of the seed being exposed to the host.
'The probability that Seo Gyu-Cheol would choose those two words without knowing the existence of the skill… What is the probability for such a coincidence?!'
The assumption that Seo Gyu-Cheol was related to the curse was one of the scenarios I had in my head. When my seed destroyed the seeds of Han-Seol and Park Chang-Hee, the memories of the lives of the two people that coagulated there flowed into me.
Since then, I have searched through piles of absorbed memories whenever I have time to explore the common triggers for their madness. Including the original Seo Jin-Wook's memory in the control group. I hadn't found the critical scene yet, but I had found some strangeness in an unexpected part.
'Seo Gyu-Cheol, what the hell is this guy?'
As shown in the memories of the three people, his words and actions were always beyond comprehension. First, Seo Gyu-Cheol, from the original Seo Jin-Wook perspective, was considered emotionless, as he often drove Seo Jin-Wook to the extreme. To start with, shouting at him to overcome a mental illness by will, he repeated the same behavior when he knows that his condition was deteriorating.
Suppose he really wanted to raise his son as the next great leader of the guild and wanted to present him as a poster boy for Celestial Dragon's honor. In that case, he could have at least pretended to be an exemplary father, but he acted as if he were trying to be the worst father.
Seo Gyu-Cheol, who Han-Seol saw, was also strange. She indeed joined the guild for the original Seo Jin-Wook in the first place, but Seo Gyu-Cheol acquiesced in knowing that she was spending too much private time with his son. When the power of Han-Seol was firmly established in the guild, he left it clear that his son, who he was pushing to be the next Guild Master, was mentally dependent on Han-Seol instead of him.
Seo Gyu-Cheol, reflected in Park Chang-hee's eyes, was just a stupid man. He kept making Park Chang-Hee and Seo Jin-Wook, who were bitter against each other, together. That's how he constantly let conflict arise between the two.
Calling Seo Jin-Wook to the meeting, which he did not have to participate in, he also allowed them to go together in the first dungeon after Awakening. It was also Seo Gyu-Cheol who told Park Chang-Hee about Seo Jin-Wook's training plans in advance.
And in common, Seo Gyu-Cheol… too frequently invited the three, Seo Jin-Wook, Han-Seol, Park Chang-Hee, to his office. Of course, there was a reason behind it. They were each Seo Gyu-Cheol's son, Assistant Guild Master, and the Exploration Team 2 Leader. Looking back, however, Seo Gyu-Cheol was following the regular interval to gather them. As if…. He was taking time to observe their conditions.
*
I spoke as I glared at him, "[Mercadius' Seed], did you ever know about it?" I held on to the sword handle.
Seo Gyu-Cheol said with a flash glaring from his eyes, "You mean the seed? Of course! I'm a gardener. A faithful gardener who observes and cultivates the seeds he planted himself… Pledged to harvest a selected crop someday when it blooms to make an offering to him!"
The words contained one truth that could not be ignored. I clenched my teeth, feeling a surge of anger. The way I spoke changed drastically, unbeknownst to me, "Him? And a gardener?"
Seo Gyu-Cheol's unique skill was not related to brainwashing. It meant he was not the primary source of the curse, but he was connected to an alien.
"Not only did you let the curse be planted, but you also observed that it was eroding properly? Even if you knew I was going crazy because of a curse?"
"What curses! This is baptism!" His eyes had already been tainted with deep madness, "A holy baptism to prepare the offering to be made perfect!"
For what?
"Is that a humane thing to do? To sacrifice your child for whatever the purpose is?"
"The decision to sacrifice one's children is the noblest sacrifice and the pinnacle of the holy offering! Don't you know it's a sacred act that appears in almost all religious scriptures and myths!"
This wouldn't be solved by talking. I raised my sword.
"You cut in the middle, and everything went wrong. The day your consciousness came back after fainting, I felt a sense of change. That you have finally stopped resisting, given up, and you have begun to accept the will of the seed as your own. Just like Han-Seol and Park Chang-Hee did! But it wasn't like that. The content has changed!"
Who was he talking about? What was he was trying to get in return for sacrificing his guild members, including his son, and what was the way to offer them?
All these questions… It could be answered by reading his memory.
"You… Are out of the seed's control! If the seed had manipulated you, you wouldn't have run away from the gardener on purpose! From now on, I'll fix everything again!"
Seo Gyu-Cheol took out his sword, and I rushed towards him with several layers of energy wrapped around the sword.
Cling! Clang!
A high-speed battle ensued. Seo Gyu-Cheol's sword hadn't lost its sharpness, and he moved instinctively.
But then….
[Artha's Sword Dance!]
The purple sword energy I poured out clashed with his sword, and instead of scattering directly into the air, it seeped into the blade. The sword energy agglomerated and began to resonate in a particular form.
Clang!
"Keup!"
Seo Gyu-Cheol's sword broke into pieces before my eyes. His face, as he lost his weapon, turned dark, realizing the disaster. But soon, it was replaced with a look of determination.
Weing!
There was a storm of red Mana around him. His unique skill had been activated.
[Etherification 3333 (Rank: SS)!]
Seo Gyu-Cheol's whole body, his clothes, and artifacts all seeped into the air, leaving only an instant light shade. This was not just transparency. It was a unique skill that temporarily deviated a limited area around one's body from the material world.
'If he runs away like that, it will be the end!'
I deliberately rolled my eyes, missing his image.
'Even if he deviates from the dimension, it is because of the Mana connected to the material world ···.'
I kept acting. In the ether state, it was possible to pass through objects without being resisted by material, depending on his will. If he seeped into the ground and ran away, I wouldn't be able to keep up with his speed, and even if I use [Penetration], he'd eventually be out of my sight.
But then….
'He's rushing towards me!'
Seo Gyu-Cheol flew to me in the ether state. He didn't give up on capturing me.
'He can run away in that condition, but he can't fight. Since he now lost his weapon, he'll find a replacement!'
I leave him to come to me. Closing in the ether state, he…
Paht! In an instant, part of his hand was returned to this reality, and he aimed for my wrist with his Mana-wrapped hands.
I responded late to the attack. But the angle of the sword narrowly missed the target, and his attack hit my bone.
Swish!
The sword that fell out of my hand flew into the sky. Seo Gyu-Cheol etherized his body again as if he could not miss it and then kicked and flew in the air. Only the hand returned to reality and held the handle of the devil's sword. It was a plan of hitting two birds with one stone to disarm me and rearm himself. But this was also what I was aiming for.
I shouted, "Now!"
At that moment…
"Arghhhhh!" Seo Gyu-Cheol fell to the floor. His veins were protruding on his forehead as his body returned to this realm.
"K…. gaaaaaaaaah!"
He rolled on the ground in agony, yet he still held the sword firmly, refusing to let it go. I knew the meaning of that phenomenon.
[Whisper of the Sword!]
As soon as he reached the devil's sword's handle, the cognition in it triggered the skill of A-Rank brainwashing. Instead of urging them to agree to the contract as before, it would be smashing his mind with violent telepathy and injecting suggestions repeatedly.
'It's similar to Han-Seol's reaction when exposed to the [Dominating Touch]!'
It seemed that if exposed to another brainwashing as one is in a brainwashed state, an extreme rejection took place. Even if it didn't last long, it was enough to create this window of opportunity.
"Snake 3!"
I got my hands on the artifact that the snake vomited. One of the SS-Class items that I requested from Ministry Spirit today!
[Dain-Snu Family Slavemaster's Whip (Rank: SS)]
Item description: The whip of the slave master managed the gladiator slave units owned by the Dain-Snu family. To prevent slaves from striking back with sword energy, an additional function absorbs and consumes the opponent's Mana. Unfortunately, the absorbed Mana disappears and cannot be stored separately.
As soon as the glossy whip swung, it stretched out and wrapped around Seo Gyu-Cheol's body.
"Keupp!" The effect of the whip activated as soon as I squeezed him. Weeeing!
The whip began to suck up Seo Gyu-Cheol's Mana, preventing him from escaping by etherizing himself.
'Things got easier as the deal with the spirit turned out as I expected!'
I could see the Mana from Seo Gyu-Cheol's core permeating to the whip. As from the item description, the absorbed blue light soon faded and scattered since the artifact could only evaporate the Mana and neutralize the opponent.
At that moment, I completely removed Mana from Seo Gyu-Cheol's core.
'… It's my first time to see this happening while someone is alive.'
"Gaaah!"
Seo Gyu-Cheol, whose body was tightly bound, and floored, revealed his teeth. I saw his core. Inside the heart, there was not a single Mana left, but there was familiar red energy.
'It's the seed!'
I couldn't guarantee how the results would turn out from then on.
'Han-Seol and Park Chang-Hee had their seeds destroyed after the host had died.'
But Seo Gyu-Cheol was still alive. What would happen to the host if my seed attacked and killed it? Would it live or die? I decided to experiment with it.
I Came Back And Conquered It All
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Natsu-gildarts
Natsu-gildarts23 Apr 2021, 06:45
+ 0 ⋅ 1 -
Yes, we finally find out about the curse.
Each book is a new life filled with new adventures.
Wuxia, Xianxia, XuanhuanCompleted novels
I Came Back And Conquered It All
100
1
2
3
4
5
BOOKMARK
1
573
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CHAPTERS LIST
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Natsu-gildarts
Natsu-gildarts23 Apr 2021, 06:37
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Fight fight fight fight!
Each book is a new life filled with new adventures.
Wuxia, Xianxia, XuanhuanCompleted novels
I Came Back And Conquered It All
100
1
2
3
4
5
BOOKMARK
1
555
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CHAPTERS LIST
We do not translate / edit.
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Natsu-gildarts
Natsu-gildarts23 Apr 2021, 06:31
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Daylihght roberry/extortion.
He can now use his skill to travel to other dimensions since he has the coordinates. He and party or maybe only he can train even further.
Each book is a new life filled with new adventures.
Wuxia, Xianxia, XuanhuanCompleted novels
I Came Back And Conquered It All
100
1
2
3
4
5
BOOKMARK
1
575
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CHAPTERS LIST
We do not translate / edit.
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Natsu-gildarts
Natsu-gildarts23 Apr 2021, 06:22
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This bstrd wants 100 goddamn SS grade items? And that chosen by him? Greedy.
Each book is a new life filled with new adventures.
Wuxia, Xianxia, XuanhuanCompleted novels
I Came Back And Conquered It All
100
1
2
3
4
5
BOOKMARK
1
550
Report
CHAPTERS LIST
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Natsu-gildarts
Natsu-gildarts23 Apr 2021, 06:11
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Their speechlessness is amazing.
Each book is a new life filled with new adventures.
Wuxia, Xianxia, XuanhuanCompleted novels