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[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 158
Seeing Seonghyun looking so perfectly fine, Viscount Paragon, his vassals, and the soldiers who were present were all shocked.
And why wouldn't they be?
Who was the one in there?
Carmine.
Wasn't she the woman who could be called the worst existence in this city?
And he came out looking perfectly fine after dealing with such a woman!?
What's more?
He was late because he was busy dealing with all the remaining monsters in the labyrinth?
Viscount Paragon understood all the words, but his mind was in a whirl.
He couldn't help but wonder if he had truly heard correctly.
“H-Haaahhh!!!”
“H-How could such a thing...!?”
“I-Is that even possible!?”
Viscount Paragon’s vassals were just as shocked.
This outsider must be lying or exaggerating.
That’s what they thought.
However, after a few soldiers went inside the labyrinth to check and came back out, they reported.
“Th-There really are no monsters, and no Carmine!”
“D-Did he really vanquish them all!?”
The monsters in the labyrinth, sure, that could be possible.
But to do so after defeating Carmine…
It sounded like a lie, but it was reality.
Viscount Paragon and his vassals had no choice but to admit it.
The man standing before them was more than worthy of being granted a knightly order.
Seonghyun, too, could understand their reaction.
‘It’s understandable.’
Carmine had been a truly formidable foe.
What if Seonghyun had fought her all by himself?
He couldn't be sure of the outcome.
In any case, Seonghyun was the one who had won, so there was no need to think about it further.
Besides…
‘It was nice that there were so many monsters.’
The number of monsters in the central area of the labyrinth was greater than he had expected.
He had been worried that Carmine might have killed most of them, but there was no need for concern; there were far more than he thought.
It was likely because the monsters had been actively avoiding Carmine.
They were even gathered in one place, which allowed him to finish them off faster than expected.
The number of monsters Seonghyun had killed was a whopping 300.
He wanted to kill more, but…
‘The central area was sealed off, so I couldn't kill any more.’
Even if he wanted to, there were no more monsters to kill.
Since the area was sealed off from the other sections, he had no choice but to exit through the Viscount's castle.
It worked out well, though.
Since he was out, he might as well get his rewards and be on his way.
[You can now receive the remaining rewards for the Hidden Unique Quest, 『The Worst of Pentagrid』.]
The moment he thought about receiving them, the message appeared.
Seonghyun smiled as he saw it.
Viscount Paragon, also watching Seonghyun, nodded his head and spoke.
“Indeed, you had every right to speak with such confidence.
To think you possess such astonishing skill.
A knightly order is truly not something just anyone can obtain.”
Having calmed down a little, he acknowledged Seonghyun with the dignity of a nobleman.
Then, he declared.
“In that case, I too must keep my promise. Prepare to open the treasury!!!”
At the Viscount’s shout, his vassals bowed their heads, and the butlers and servants began to move about busily.
Leaving them behind, Viscount Paragon said to Seonghyun,
“It seems we can head to the treasury at a leisurely pace while they prepare.”
“Thank you.”
“Hahaha! I am the one who should be thanking you. I am truly grateful. I feel as if a troublesome tooth has been pulled!”
Viscount Paragon beamed, looking genuinely relieved.
It seemed Carmine had been a major headache for him, so he couldn't help but be pleased.
As Seonghyun conversed with him while walking at a relaxed pace, they soon arrived.
“Now, this is the treasury of our Pentagrid castle.”
“Wow.”
At the Viscount’s introduction, Seonghyun couldn't help but marvel.
The massive door, almost unbelievably large for a castle, and the dazzling light of the items shining from within…
It was a sight that naturally drew admiration.
As Seonghyun stood there in awe, a look of pride appeared on Viscount Paragon’s face as he spoke.
“Now then, you may choose three items from within. Be warned, if you attempt to choose more than that, a powerful spell will ensure you pay a heavy price.”
At the concerned warning, Seonghyun nodded as if it were only natural.
Three items from in there.
There were quite a lot of items gleaming with an orange light.
In other words…
‘Three Legendaries!’
It meant he could get three Legendary rank items.
‘Alright, what should I pick?’
As Seonghyun stepped inside, the treasury door closed automatically behind him.
Kugagagagak.
KUUUNG!
The door closed with a heavy, reverberating sound, but Seonghyun paid it no mind.
[The door will open again once you have chosen all three items.]
He read the expected message and began to wander around to choose his items.
It was similar to Kahku’s third treasury, but there was one difference: he could read the item descriptions.
Wandering around, Seonghyun discovered a bookshelf on one side.
‘Books?’
Could it be?
Seonghyun approached with a hopeful thought.
It was just as he suspected.
A bookshelf filled with skill books.
This was a real gold mine.
With that thought, Seonghyun scanned the bookshelves.
And there, he found a Legendary skill exclusive to Black Mages.
『Skill Book - Fate Manipulation』
It was a Legendary rank skill book exclusive to Black Mages.
He couldn't know the skill's effects until he used the book, but just from the name alone, it was clearly an overpowered skill.
As Seonghyun chose the skill book.
[You have selected the Legendary Rank Skill Book, 『Skill Book - Fate Manipulation』.]
[You have 2 items remaining.]
Reading the message, Seonghyun wandered around here and there, looking at various items to see if there was anything else of interest.
‘None of these swords or staves are better than mine.’
It made sense; growth-type items weren't exactly common.
Although most of them were good items, they had level restrictions or conditions that prevented him from equipping them.
The ones without conditions were all rather mediocre.
Just as he was thinking he should pick another skill book, Helena popped out from Seonghyun's embrace and shouted.
-Seonghyun, over there!
“Hm?”
Helena, who had said she would only come out when called, suddenly appeared.
Wondering if it was that important of an item, he went to where Helena was pointing.
And there, a gem shining like a star caught his eye.
『Brilliant Celestial Starlight』
→《Legendary》
→Material Item.
→An item formed from the crystallization of brilliant starlight that descended from the heavens.
→When used in alchemy or crafting, it can bestow effects related to immense life force.
‘Oh?’
-What about this one? It looks like it would be an amazing material, don't you think?
It really did.
A Legendary rank material item.
It was a rare find.
And so, he chose it.
[You have selected the Legendary Rank Material Item, 『Brilliant Celestial Starlight』.]
[You have 1 item remaining.]
And then.
-Over there too!
Helena shouted urgently.
When Seonghyun headed in that direction, a similar item was placed there.
『Fallen Heart Fragment of the Abyss』
→《Legendary》
→Material Item.
→A fragment of a heart that shattered after a certain being of the Abyss became corrupted.
→When used in alchemy or crafting, it can bestow Abyss-attribute and mana-related effects.
‘Oho. With this, I should be able to gain the Abyss attribute.’
-Yes! It seems like we can use it as a substitute for a heart!
Seonghyun nodded at Helena’s words.
With that…
[You have selected all items.]
[You will now be expelled from the Pentagrid Lord's Castle treasury.]
The moment Seonghyun chose his last item, he found himself outside again.
As he emerged, Viscount Paragon asked with a satisfied expression.
“Did you choose satisfactory items?”
“Yes, thanks to you, I was able to obtain some great things.”
“Hahaha! I am the one who received great help. Thank you, truly.”
Viscount Paragon expressed his gratitude.
After the two spoke, Seonghyun said,
“I will be returning to the labyrinth now.”
“What? Without even resting?”
“Yes, I need to kill more monsters.”
“Ha, haha. Sir Seonghyun, you are truly a model for all knights.”
How could he be so noble?
Seonghyun felt a bit embarrassed looking at Viscount Paragon, who was saying such things.
That wasn't it at all; he just needed to kill monsters like crazy to buy more items.
Still, it was a relief that he was being seen in a good light.
Shrugging it off, Seonghyun said his goodbyes and left the lord’s castle.
Watching Seonghyun walk away, Viscount Paragon muttered.
“He is a hero of our city.”
“Indeed, my lord.”
“We did well to entrust this to Sir Seonghyun.”
The vassals agreed with the Viscount’s words as they watched Seonghyun disappear into the distance.
In any case, as long as Seonghyun was around, it seemed they wouldn't have to worry about the monsters of Pentagrid.
2.
The Eternal World Community.
The community forums were divided by region, and among them, the fifth region’s community had been in an uproar for some time now.
[Title: Is it true that an Over Palace Branch Manager showed up in Pentagrid?]
[Author: SwordWieldingRobber]
『Hasn't Over Palace itself never made a move?
I heard a branch manager is walking around, is this for real?』
[TodaysCooldown: yup yup, it's real. i was on a carriage to pentagrid and they took a user from the carriage saying he was someone important or something?]
└[OneShotComboMaster: woah really? what did that person do to get taken away?]
└[TodaysCooldown: no idea lol.]
It was all because of a rumor that a branch manager from Over Palace was on the move.
At first, no one believed it.
The testimonies from other users were also consistent, and since there was no benefit to be gained from lying, the trend was gradually shifting toward belief.
This was Over Palace, an organization that had never made a move at any other time.
The reaction was immense.
To think that a branch manager-level figure had made a move.
Moreover, for such a figure to personally come and humbly escort a user… It was a fascinating piece of gossip, wasn't it?
And on the same day that this rumor was circulating, another post appeared.
[Title: Why did the Pentagrid Over Palace branch manager show up at the auction house?]
[Author: Mana-lessMage]
『I mean, I finally got into the auction house and was bidding, and he just drops 100k on some item and leaves lol.
It wasn't something I was going to buy anyway, but seeing him talk to another user before leaving, it looks like that "important person" user is really something, huh?
And he also went to catch some user who bailed mid-auction.』
[DodgeTheAoE: woah seriously, isn't he something special?]
└[Mana-lessMage(Author): lol ikr, what's that user's identity?]
It was another story about the Over Palace Pentagrid branch manager talking to a user and disappearing.
The common denominator was a single user.
Everyone wondered what his identity could be.
That identity was bound to be revealed soon enough.
[Title: Crazy;;; The Demon King came to Pentagrid.]
[Author: SubQuestHunter]
『Wtf is he sweeping through the labyrinth like he owns the place???
He's unleashed an undead army and is hunting like a madman;;;
Is this for real?
My party saw that and we were completely demoralized;;;』
[ForcedToMaxLevel: ??? Isn't that super disruptive then?]
└[SubQuestHunter(Author): nn, it's not like he's kill-stealing or taking over the whole map. He only kills mobs that no one else has touched.]
└[ForcedToMaxLevel: so he can control an army that precisely;;; top players are on another level;;;]
[HealerInChaos: ??? Wait a sec? Then isn't the user the Over Palace branch manager talked to and escorted the Demon King?]
└[DungeonHamster: oh? that makes sense??? since he's a Black Mage, woah;; then doesn't that mean the Demon King is the only user Over Palace is friendly with?]
└[HealerInChaos: they have close relationships with other users, but to the point where a branch manager makes a move? idk.]
As such speculations began to circulate, the number of users visiting Pentagrid gradually increased.
Black Mages gathered, wanting to join Over Palace by any means necessary, along with a rare mix of users who had no guild emblem.
They all arrived in Pentagrid.
Looking at the place, they spoke.
“Is this it?”
“Demon King. This time, I absolutely will not let you get away.”
Those who held a grudge against Seonghyun were also gathering.
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[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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