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[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 156
The messages that appeared after Carmine was vanquished were quite long, as expected of a Hidden Raid Boss.
[You have vanquished the Hidden Raid Boss, 『The Worst of Pentagrid, Carmine』.]
[You have cleared the Hidden Unique Quest, 『The Worst of Pentagrid』.]
[A portion of the clear rewards will now be given.]
[You have gained a massive amount of experience!]
[Level Up!] x6
[You have reached Level 129.]
[Please receive the additional rewards from Viscount Paragon.]
[Contribution is attributed to a single person.]
[This will be considered a Solo Raid.]
[A solo vanquish has been confirmed.]
[Rewards will be enhanced.]
[This was a First Vanquish.]
[Rewards will be enhanced.]
[As this was a Solo Raid, all rewards will be given to the user 『Seonghyun』.]
[As a vanquish reward, you have obtained the Unique Rank Skill Book, 『Skill Book - Dark Spear』.]
[As a vanquish reward, you have obtained the Unique Rank Item, 『Whistle of the Labyrinth Troupe』.]
[As a vanquish reward, you have obtained the Legendary Rank Item, 『Carmine of the Hungering Blood』.]
[As a vanquish reward, the corpse of 『The Worst of Pentagrid, Carmine』 can be stored in the Netherworld.]
[You are the first to have vanquished the Hidden Raid Boss, 『The Worst of Pentagrid, Carmine』.]
[You have acquired the Title, 『Carmine Slayer』.]
[As the first to clear the Hidden Raid, you can choose to disclose information about it.]
[Upon her death, 『The Worst of Pentagrid, Carmine』 has been replaced by 『Vengeful Spirit of The Worst of Pentagrid, Carmine』.]
[Rewards and difficulty will be 30% lower than the original.]
[If you disclose the information, you will receive a share of the rewards generated by the dungeon for every clear over the next 3 months.]
[The information can be disclosed at a time of your choosing.]
[If another raid party clears the raid before you disclose the information, disclosure will become impossible.]
He had won.
However.
“Hoo… that was brutal.”
The battle had been grueling enough to exhaust even Seonghyun.
‘She wasn't called ‘The Worst’ for nothing.’
If Anemor or Karisha had been here, it would have ended much faster.
Even without them, if the fight had been outdoors, it would have been easier to take her down.
Seonghyun shook his head at the thought.
‘So that's what she meant about remaining as a vengeful spirit.’
It seemed to be a system mechanic designed to allow the Carmine raid to continue in the future.
However, he couldn't see Carmine's actual ghost anywhere.
Perhaps…
‘Is it because she was a villain?’
It seemed she couldn't leave a ghost behind because she was evil.
Though, there could be other reasons.
For some reason, Seonghyun felt that was the case.
Watching him, Helena spoke as if in agreement.
-That’s probably it.
“Hmm. So that’s how it is.”
Seonghyun nodded, as her words affirmed his thoughts.
After all, he had never seen evil spirits or such ghosts until now.
It made sense that there wouldn't be ghosts who had committed sins of that magnitude.
It might have been a different story if they had only committed moderate sins.
In any case, after the two had that conversation, Helena spoke again.
-Still, you got a fine body out of it.
That was true.
Part of the reason he’d fought Carmine was because of Viscount Paragon’s request, but the main goal was to find a material for Helena’s body.
In the end, he had succeeded in both.
Seonghyun first stored Carmine’s corpse in the Netherworld.
It was likely the most valuable reward from this raid.
Now that the most important thing was taken care of, should he check the other rewards?
With that thought, Seonghyun examined all the items he had received as rewards.
『Skill Book - Dark Spear』
→《Unique》
→Consumable
→Can only be used by spear-using classes.
→A skill book containing Dark Spear.
→Upon use, you can learn the Dark Spear skill.
『Whistle of the Labyrinth Troupe』
→《Unique》
→While roaming the labyrinth, one can sometimes encounter merchants.
→This is a whistle that can summon that mysterious troupe from anywhere within the labyrinth.
→Just by possessing it, receive a 30% discount on items purchased from the Labyrinth Troupe.
→You may be able to form a close relationship with the Labyrinth Troupe.
『Carmine of the Hungering Blood』
→《Legendary》
→The spear used by Carmine, the Worst of Pentagrid. What is certain is that even though it was by no means a demon spear, Carmine went mad and took many lives with it. As a result, the spear itself became starved for blood.
→Can only be used by spear-type classes.
→Power of spear-type skills +30%.
→Penetration power +30%.
→Basic spear attack power +100%.
→Successful attacks have a 50% chance to inflict the 『Bleed』 status effect.
→Absorbs the health of enemies pierced by the spear to restore the wielder's health.
Dark Spear seemed to be the skill Carmine used when she first appeared.
Seeing as she didn’t use it again, the cooldown must be quite long.
He could use the skill book through his Knightly Order, but it seemed better to use the Tome of Despair on it, just like with the other skill books he had obtained before.
He decided to set aside the Whistle of the Labyrinth Troupe for now.
A Legendary rank spear…
‘This is completely useless to me….’
He figured it would be better to just sell it.
Conveniently, there was an auction house here.
Now then, should he take a look at the troupe’s whistle?
‘Hmm.’
He could summon the Labyrinth Troupe and get discounts on their items?
And he might even form a close relationship with them.
‘This has the makings of a quest, doesn’t it?’
-Looks good.
Helena agreed.
And finally, he checked the title he had obtained.
『Carmine Slayer』
→《Legendary》
→A title granted to the user who was the first to vanquish 『The Worst of Pentagrid, Carmine』.
→Can use Blood Frenzy twice a day.
→Can use Spear Throw once a day.
→Movement Speed +30%.
→Spear-related skill damage +50%.
→Attack Power +10% when using spearmanship.
‘Tch. It’s a dud.’
He could probably learn spearmanship by absorbing the memories of spear-wielding ghosts, but he didn't see the merit in it.
It said he could use Blood Frenzy and Spear Throw.
The Spear Throw seemed powerful, but he had no intention of using a spear. Still, Blood Frenzy looked quite useful.
‘So maybe it isn't a complete dud after all?’
In any case, if he went to Viscount Paragon now, he could receive three items from the lord’s treasury.
‘Should I go right away?’
The raid was over, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to go and get his rewards immediately.
Just as Seonghyun was about to leave the labyrinth, Helena spoke.
-Why don't you try summoning the Labyrinth Troupe?
“Hm?”
-They might give you some kind of quest, right?
He nodded in agreement with Helena's words.
Then, Leonik also knelt on one knee before Seonghyun and spoke.
-My Lord! I also believe that is a fine idea! This is not simply because it is Lady Helena's opinion, but since we are in the labyrinth, I believe it would be advantageous to first ascertain the quality of their goods before entering the lord's treasury to choose our items. It is with this in mind that I offer my humble counsel.
As Leonik said this, Fiora flinched in surprise and said,
-I-I'm okay with wh-whatever the L-Lord wants to dooo.
Leonik was startled by Fiora's words.
He had offered his opinion as loyal counsel, only for Fiora to say something like that!
Then, everyone else glanced around nervously and chimed in.
-Ahem, I-I also think it's best to do as the Lord wishes.
-Yup, same here.
“I feel the same.”
At everyone's betrayal, the light in Leonik’s eyes trembled.
He was taken aback by the betrayal of the other familiars, but then…
-Ahahaha! I think so too~ We should do whatever our Seonghyun wants~
Even Helena abandoned Leonik.
As she too sided with them, Leonik, though incapable of sweating, felt a cold sweat as he looked at Seonghyun.
Seonghyun smirked and said,
“Well, I also think it’s right to see what kind of items the Labyrinth Troupe sells before we go.”
-O-Of course! I-Is that not so?!!?
Leonik was so flustered that his voice trembled slightly as he rejoiced.
Seonghyun nodded.
Leonik’s words had a point.
If the Labyrinth Troupe was a place that also sold high-rank items, there was no need to waste his hard-earned chances at the treasury.
It seemed better to summon the troupe first.
“Alright then, shall we give it a try?”
As Seonghyun said that, the others, despite pretending not to care, looked on with considerable curiosity at the whistle he held up.
Leonik shot a glare at the other familiars, but none of them paid him any mind.
In any case, as Seonghyun raised the whistle to his lips and blew.
Fweeeeeee——!
Gurgle, gurgle.
Along with a piercing sound, the gurgling of the labyrinth walls could be heard.
The wall continued to ripple for a long while.
Then, a voice came from within it.
“Hieeek! I don’t wanna go to the crazy spear lady, nyaaa!!!”
At that sound, Seonghyun tilted his head in confusion.
‘Nya?’
What was that?
As Seonghyun wondered, something shot out from the gurgling wall.
Thump!
It was a cat, its body trembling and all its fur standing on end.
No, should he say it was a race that looked exactly like a cat?
An NPC that had the appearance of a cat but stood on two legs and was about the size of a child.
Seonghyun stared at the creature with a bewildered expression.
The creature, though trembling, bowed its head deeply in greeting.
“Myaang! Th-Thank you for summoning the Labyrinth Troupe, meow! O-Oh?”
It had bowed its head to greet them.
But upon seeing not one, but many pairs of feet, it lifted its head in confusion.
Only then did its eyes meet Seonghyun’s, and it tilted its head.
With its face being that of a complete cat, it was quite cute.
Seonghyun scratched his cheek and asked,
“You’re… the Labyrinth Troupe, right?”
“Nyaang? B-But the whistle was definitely with that woman who’s crazy for blood… H-How?!”
It was clearly talking about Carmine.
After all, he had obtained the whistle after defeating her.
The reason was obvious, wasn't it?
Seonghyun looked at the cat, which seemed displeased, and asked, feeling a bit awkward himself.
“I… got this after I defeated that woman… By any chance, can it not be transferred?”
It was possible that it couldn't be transferred.
The Labyrinth Troupe might have its own rules, after all.
So he asked.
“Hieeek! N-No, that's not it, meow! Transfers are possible, nya!! New customers are always welcome, meow!”
Seeing the cat prattle on excitedly, it seemed that wasn't the case.
Alright then, what kind of items was it selling?
As Seonghyun looked at the cat with curious eyes, the cat tilted its head as if to ask why he was staring.
“Is there something on my face, meow?”
“……???”
“……???”
Seonghyun and the cat looked at each other and tilted their heads, both confused.
He said he was a merchant. Wasn't he going to show his wares?
“Your goods… are you not selling them?”
“Ah!!!! Ah!!! I-I forgot, meow! I-I'm so sorry, nya! I-I'm a n-newbie....”
“Ah.”
So he was a newbie.
Then again, the previous owner of this whistle was Carmine.
It made sense that the newest recruit would be sent.
She wasn't normal, after all.
Thinking about it, he felt a little sorry for the cat.
To think that even in the Cat Troupe, you get treated like this for being low on experience.
It seems that no matter where people live, it's all the same.
No, should he say it's the same no matter where cats live?
Anyway, as Seonghyun prompted him, the cat merchant began to rummage through his bundle, taking things out one by one.
‘Now, let's see what kind of items he has for sale.’
“Nya, nyaong. I-I thought that woman would be here, so I'm sorry for only having these p-paltry items, meow.”
The items the cat took out as he said this were…
-Seonghyun, this is no joke.
‘R-Right.’
Lined up before them were items shining with a brilliant golden light.
Everywhere he looked, there were items emitting a golden glow.
All of those items were Unique rank.
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[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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