Chapter 192: The First Universe Quest (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 192: The First Universe Quest (2)
"I'm Ariana Brian, a player from the 63rd floor. It’s an honor to meet the famous Perfect Player."
It wasn't empty flattery. It was no exaggeration to say that Kang Jun-hyeok was currently the most famous being in the universe.
Jun-hyeok replied simply, "Kang Jun-hyeok. 42nd floor."
"The 42nd floor... I knew that, but it still feels surreal."
To think a mere 42nd-floor player was ranked among the top 100 in the universe. Shaking her head briefly to clear her thoughts, Ariana bowed.
"First of all, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Well, our Tuvalt picked a fight with you, didn't he?"
"Ah."
Tuvalt had used the Community to nitpick and attack Jun-hyeok’s words. Ariana gave a bitter smile.
"I tried desperately to stop him, but he wouldn't listen. He’s so damn strong that I couldn't even hold him back. Choosing this planet was his decision alone, too. That bastard."
Jun-hyeok chuckled at Ariana’s grumbling.
"Teaming up with such a weak planet... it must have felt like a disaster from your perspective."
Ariana faltered. Jun-hyeok leaned back in his chair, his gaze piercing.
"You seem to have looked around at Earth's players. What are your impressions?"
"...I won't lie. It’s quite disappointing."
Trey Dice, the one who had reached the highest floor on Earth, was only on the 59th floor. There were dozens of people at that level on her home planet. To put it bluntly, she could handle five people of Trey’s caliber by herself.
The only ones who piqued her interest were Kim Ha-young and Yoo Jin-ha. Just those two.
That made her all the more curious. How strong was the Perfect Player standing before her? In a planet this weak, just what kind of power had he accumulated?
I can feel Mana.
She sensed Mana within Kang Jun-hyeok. However, it wasn't particularly impressive. At best, it was on the level of a mage player from the 30th or 40th floor.
And I feel another energy. Is it... Internal Energy? That part is quite substantial.
He possessed more than one type of power. Watching her as she busily processed her thoughts, Jun-hyeok snapped his fingers.
"Let's not just sit here talking. Let's have a drink."
A glass flew through the air and stopped perfectly in front of her. Ariana’s eyes widened.
"Telekinesis?"
Jun-hyeok nodded. Ariana was confused. Wasn't an Esper's power something one had to be born with? Earth didn't seem like a world that dealt with superpowers. Had he obtained it during the process of Perfect Clearing the Tower?
Jun-hyeok laughed silently at her bewildered expression.
"By the way, where is Tuvalt? I thought he’d come looking for me immediately."
"Ah. He’s inside."
Ariana composed herself and shifted her gaze. On the second floor of the pub, numerous Volanta players were standing guard like a royal escort.
"He probably decided he wouldn't move until you came to him. I'm sorry. He’s got too much pride for his own good."
Just as Ariana was grumbling, someone approached Jun-hyeok.
"Hey. You must be Kang Jun-hyeok."
"And if I am?"
"Tuvalt is calling for you. Follow me."
It was a forceful command. Ariana hurriedly stood up. "Avkan? What do you think you're doing?"
"...It’s Tuvalt’s order."
The muscular player called Avkan spoke with a faint sigh. As Ariana’s face crumpled in frustration, Jun-hyeok let out a dry chuckle.
"You guys have it rough, too."
"I'd appreciate it if you understood."
Avkan reached out, grabbing Jun-hyeok’s shoulder to haul him up. However, Jun-hyeok’s body didn't budge an inch. Avkan applied more strength, his muscles bulging, but nothing changed.
"...Ugh, huh?"
Avkan’s face stiffened. In contrast, Jun-hyeok’s expression remained perfectly nonchalant. Ariana’s eyes went wide.
Wait, what?
Avkan was a top-tier player from the 64th floor. In terms of pure Strength stats alone, he was number one among them. Yet, even as he tried to lift Jun-hyeok, the man’s body didn't move a fraction. It was like a child trying to lift a boulder the size of a house.
Jun-hyeok grabbed Avkan’s hand and applied pressure.
"Guh!"
Avkan recoiled, his face contorting in pain. For a moment, an intense pressure had threatened to crush his hand. It was a force that would have cracked bones if he didn't possess the reinforced body of a high-floor player. He stared at Jun-hyeok with a look of pure disbelief.
"Well, fine. Unlike that guy, I’m not particularly heavy. I’ll go pay him a visit."
"...Thanks."
Jun-hyeok rose from his seat. As he walked through the pub, the players fell silent and instinctively moved out of his way. Through the path opened by the crowd, Jun-hyeok ascended to the second floor.
"Move."
With those light words, the Volanta players scrambled aside. And in the center of them all, a man was sitting.
Seated in an arrogant posture like a king, he possessed a dark red horn and snake-like pupils. Jun-hyeok greeted him cheerfully.
"Nice to meet you, Tuvalt Shadowstar."
One of my connections from my past life.
* * *
[Oho.]
[This is quite something.]
Interest colored the voices of the Master of All Weapons and Eldiria. In contrast, a chilling silence hung over the room. Tuvalt’s face twisted at the sight of Jun-hyeok’s dignified appearance.
His goal had been to use Avkan to forcibly bring Jun-hyeok here and show him the difference in power and influence. He hadn't expected Jun-hyeok to act with such confidence.
How annoying.
Tuvalt clicked his tongue. He was a king. It had been the same before the Tower appeared, and it remained the same after. No one could ignore his words. No one could ignore his actions. He was special and powerful. He believed it would be no different even after the Tower opened.
But then there was Kang Jun-hyeok.
This damn Perfect Player had stolen all the attention. Tuvalt had harbored hostility ever since, and seeing Jun-hyeok act so boldly only made him more irritated.
Jun-hyeok could sense that emotion. He struggled to suppress the laughter bubbling up inside him.
He really is like a child.
A brat whose mind had failed to grow because of his extraordinary talent. That was Tuvalt.
Tuvalt slowly opened his mouth. "I am Tuvalt Shadowstar, a player of the 67th floor."
"I know."
"...I can feel Mana from you, but it’s paltry. Are you really the Perfect Player? How disappointing."
"Really? I was thinking the same thing."
"What?"
Jun-hyeok’s eyes held an unmistakable look of disappointment.
"I had some expectations since you're supposedly a 67th-floor player, but to think you're only at this level. Did you slack off while climbing the Tower?"
"...You bastard!"
Tuvalt couldn't withstand the light provocation. Demonic Energy surged violently. As the other players screamed and fled the immediate area, Ariana hurriedly blocked his path.
"You lunatic! What do you think you're doing?!"
"Move, Ariana! That man insulted me!"
You started it! Ariana barely managed to swallow the urge to scream those words.
Tuvalt was like a child—selfish and caring only for himself. Having been with him since childhood, Ariana had become an expert at managing him.
"Tuvalt. Do you remember what you said to him?"
[Tuvalt Shadowstar (67th Floor): Let’s have a match. Whoever achieves higher results in this quest wins. The loser must post a long message expressing respect and honor toward the winner!]
That was what Tuvalt had said to Jun-hyeok in the Community. Tuvalt nodded.
"I remember."
"The quest is about to start. Don't you think it’s more adult and fitting to settle it through the results rather than fighting him right now?"
Ariana didn't think Tuvalt would lose. However, it would be a disaster if someone got injured while fighting, as both were major assets for the quest. At her desperate words, Tuvalt thought for a moment before nodding.
"...Hmph. Not a bad point. Fine. I’ll do that. Consider yourself lucky, Kang Jun-hyeok."
She had barely managed to calm him down. Just as Ariana let out a sigh of relief, Jun-hyeok spoke up.
"Is there really a need to wait until the quest is over?"
"What?"
"W-wait a second!"
Ariana tried to stop him in a panic, but Jun-hyeok continued leisurely.
"Let's settle this right now. What do you say?"
Jun-hyeok’s lips curled into a smirk. At that moment, a system window appeared before them.
[The interaction time has ended!]
[Has everyone interacted enough with the players from the other planet?]
[From now on, the two planets will work together to proceed with the quest! However, there is one representative for each planet. That makes two in total! It is necessary to decide on a true leader to oversee everyone!]
[Therefore, the representatives of each planet must select one leader!]
[The method doesn't matter. You can yield peacefully or flip a coin! Or, you can proceed with a duel in the traditional way!]
[The quest will begin as soon as the leader is decided! So everyone, do your best!]
"Huh?"
Ariana’s eyes widened. Jun-hyeok drew his weapon.
"It seems we've been given a justification. What will you do?"
"I accept!"
Tuvalt bared his teeth and stood up.
* * *
All the players had moved to the second floor, leaving only Kang Jun-hyeok and Tuvalt Shadowstar on the first floor. The players looked down at them with eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and worry.
Tuvalt opened his grimoire and spoke.
"The moment your health reaches zero, you lose. And the loser follows the winner's orders for the duration of the quest. Also! After the quest ends, you will post a long message filled with respect and honor! Do you agree?!"
"You certainly want a lot. Do whatever you want."
[Kang Jun-hyeok and Tuvalt Shadowstar are beginning a duel.]
"Hahaha! Hahahaha!"
Tuvalt burst into a mad laugh. His eyes turned pitch black. Demonic Energy surged out in waves, chilling the air.
"I'll show you the difference in our class! I'll make you regret ever daring to oppose me!"
"Regret?"
Jun-hyeok’s lips twisted.
"I've already had enough regrets regarding you."
Tuvalt Shadowstar. A genius of Black Magic who appeared perhaps once in ten thousand years. The player to whom Jun-hyeok had yielded the Book of Lemegeton in his past life.
And a cowardly runaway.
What if he hadn't yielded the Book of Lemegeton? What if he hadn't trusted someone like Tuvalt? Could he have changed the future?
The depth of that regret was like a swamp. He had no intention of ever feeling such a thing again.
So, I should at least vent some of my anger.
"I'm going to crush you."
With a pleasant smile, Jun-hyeok took a step forward.