Chapter 37: Master of All Weapons (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 37: Master of All Weapons (1)
[Hidden Quest cleared.]
The conditions had finally been met. Kang Jun-hyeok smirked.
“That took long enough. If you were going to acknowledge me anyway, you should’ve just done it sooner.”
[Arrogant brat. If I were still among the living, I would have torn the tongue from anyone who dared speak to me like that. It is a pity I have lost my physical form.]
The Master of All Weapons spoke with a hint of dry amusement.
[But I shall forgive you. Fine. Very well. I have decided.]
The Master of All Weapons’ emotions slowly settled. He asked in a calm, steady voice.
[Do you know what kind of existence I am?]
“Roughly. I don’t know the exact details.”
He had a hunch, but his knowledge wasn't perfect. He had never encountered the Master of All Weapons in his past life.
[Good. Rejoice, then. I shall give you a history lesson.]
The Master of All Weapons began to speak in a composed tone. It was a story of the past, not the present.
[Long ago, there was a Great War in the universe. It was a conflict between those who sought to protect the current universe and those who sought to destroy it to create a new one.]
Kang Jun-hyeok didn't know exactly how long ago that Great War had taken place. He only knew that behind the veil of history, there had been a war that lasted for what seemed like an eternity.
[You likely know what kind of beings sought to protect the universe.]
Kang Jun-hyeok nodded.
Those called gods.
Those called demons, spirits, archmages, and masters of the Realm of Life and Death—such beings had fought to protect the universe.
[I was also one of them,] the Master of All Weapons said softly. [And about ten years ago, the Great War finally came to an end. The result was our defeat—the defeat of those who sought to protect the current universe.]
The ones who won were those who wanted to destroy the universe and remake it.
[Ordinarily, this universe would have ended right then and there. Mortal beings would have simply vanished without ever knowing why. The vast universe would have been shattered into pieces, and a new universe would have taken its place.]
Everyone living in the existing universe was supposed to disappear.
Gods, demons, spirits, archmages, and masters of the Realm of Life and Death alike. Even the ordinary inhabitants of the universe who couldn't participate in the war.
Like flipping a switch on a television, the universe should have been turned off, never to be turned on again.
But the universe did not perish. They were still alive.
[You likely know the reason for that better than anyone else.]
Kang Jun-hyeok knew exactly what the Master of All Weapons was referring to.
[Hello, everyone.]
[After a long, long war, the Master of the Universe has changed.]
[The new Master intends to discard the current universe and create his own.]
[In that process, the current universe will be entirely erased.]
[However, that is far too cruel. Therefore, I intend to give you all a single chance.]
[The Master of the Universe will grant you a Tower. Climb the Tower. Conquer the floors and reach the end. Use the power you gain there to overcome the trials. If you do, the Master of the Universe will not erase your universe.]
[So, to everyone living in the current universe—do your best!]
The system window that had announced the beginning of everything had sounded almost like a prank. Everything had been explained within it.
[The one among the Victors of the Great War who became the new Master of the Universe... for some reason, he did not destroy this universe. I do not know if he felt pity for the younglings who would have perished without knowing why, or if it was a simple whim. Personally, I believe it was the latter.]
The Master of the Universe had given a chance to those who could not participate in the Great War.
To climb the Tower. To reach the end and overcome the trials he set. If they did, he would leave this universe intact.
Those who held that qualification were the Players. The ones who climbed the Tower.
[However, the qualification was only given to those who did not participate in the Great War. Those who fought in the Great War and lost were not granted the status of a Player.]
It was only natural. The Master of the Universe gave the chance to those who hadn't had the opportunity to try. There was no reason to give another chance to those who had already tried and failed.
Beings who were not granted the status of a Player and could not climb the Tower were the Losers.
That was why Alessandro had tried to regain the qualification to challenge the Tower through a contract that involved killing a hundred Players.
The Master of All Weapons spoke calmly.
[The only beings who can change the conclusion. That is you—the Players.]
* * *
The only beings qualified to climb the Tower and change the predetermined end. Players.
He was one of them. He already knew this, but hearing it again from the Master of All Weapons felt strange.
“I feel like I’ve become some kind of hero.”
[Though there are quite a lot of you.]
Every being in the universe who hadn't participated in the Great War held the qualification of a Player. Their numbers were literally beyond counting.
Kang Jun-hyeok looked at the Master of All Weapons. “And you’re one of the Losers.”
[Strictly speaking, it is different. The Losers are those who participated in the Great War of the past. Yet, they are those who cannot accept their defeat and struggle pathetically to save the universe once more.]
They could not climb the Tower. That was why the Losers sought out promising Players to lend them their strength.
[Among them are those with various agendas, like Alessandro... but fundamentally, they are closer to being on the side of the Players. However, I am not.]
The Master of All Weapons was different. He spoke gloomily.
[I am a dead one.]
He was not one of those who refused to accept defeat and resisted until the end. He was one of those who had succumbed, given up, and bowed his head to the Master of the Universe.
That was why the Master of All Weapons had lost even his name and turned into the form of a pair of gloves. Kang Jun-hyeok muttered, “You must have been quite incredible once.”
Alessandro had been extremely polite toward the Master of All Weapons. It meant he was a being of immense stature. Above all, Kang Jun-hyeok, who had seen many Losers in his past life, could sense it instinctively.
The Master of All Weapons was special, even among them.
[I saw everything in the final battle. I poured out all my strength. And I failed. Since even I failed, I do not believe you younglings can succeed.]
That was why he had given up on everything and remained on the 1st Floor. Even after falling into Kang Jun-hyeok’s hands, he had only offered casual advice and hadn't taken an active role.
[Kang Jun-hyeok. What is your goal?]
“Conquering the Tower.” Kang Jun-hyeok spoke without a moment’s hesitation. “And saving the universe.”
[Do you intend to walk the path of a hero?]
“It’s not that grand. Isn’t it only natural for a living being to want to protect its own home?”
[I still do not believe the future can be changed. However, you have defied my predictions several times already. So, perhaps...]
The Master of All Weapons spoke flatly.
[Therefore, I shall grant you the teachings of Eok-geum. Be grateful.]
“In that case...”
Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes gleamed. He was finally about to obtain power worthy of a Unique Item. But it wasn't something he could get immediately.
[Unfortunately, your current self cannot receive my teachings. You lack the qualification.]
He had a hunch about what qualification the Master of All Weapons was talking about.
“Is it Internal Energy?”
[You are quick-witted. First, obtain Internal Energy. My teachings will come after that.]
Internal Energy. One of the many stats. He had to obtain it to draw proper power from the Master of All Weapons.
Kang Jun-hyeok nodded. “Understood.”
On which floor could he obtain Internal Energy? Kang Jun-hyeok racked his brain. The answer came immediately.
‘The 9th Floor.’
He could get it there.
The conversation reached a stopping point. The Master of All Weapons muttered as if struck by a new thought.
[But thinking about it again, it truly is impressive. To win so easily against a Familiar of the Victor. Do you know what kind of beings they are?]
“Roughly.”
The Losers were beings like archmages, Sword Saints, or gods. They were familiar entities that Kang Jun-hyeok knew well. But the Victors were different.
“Things that came from the outside.”
[You know well. I do not know where they came from, but they are things from the 'outside.' Invaders. No, that is wrong. Since we lost, they have become the Rulers.]
“I have something I’m curious about regarding that.” Kang Jun-hyeok asked the Master of All Weapons. “Do you know why the Master of the Universe gave us a chance?”
The universe had lost. The Victors had become the Rulers. They could have erased the universe at their whim. Yet, they were given another chance in the form of the Tower.
To give another chance to challenge them after they had worked so hard to win—it was incomprehensible. Kang Jun-hyeok had harbored many doubts in his past life as well, but he had never found the answer.
The Master of All Weapons replied.
[I do not know. Not just me, but even the Victors likely do not know. It was the arbitrary choice of the being who became the new Master of the Universe.]
The ones who had won the Great War were bewildered by the Master of the Universe’s decision. They had won and should have been able to create their own universe, yet they were being forced to give another chance. There was no reason for it.
But the Master of the Universe had simply ignored them. In the end, the Victors had no choice but to accept it.
[That is why they use every means possible to interfere with the Players. They tempt them and try to kill them.]
The Hunger Growing in the Rift that Kang Jun-hyeok had just faced was one of them.
Kang Jun-hyeok stroked his chin. “What exactly does the Master of the Universe want?”
The Returning Gem. That was in the Tower. And the one who created the Tower was the Master of the Universe.
[I do not know. No one knows. I too have faced many Victors, but that being... is truly bizarre.]
Even the Master of All Weapons couldn't grasp its true nature.
[At the very least, it is not something that can be judged by the concepts of objects. To begin with, only a very few, including myself, have ever faced it. If—and this is a very big if—you ever come face to face with it, you will understand what I mean.]
“I know,” Kang Jun-hyeok muttered. “Because I’ve met him before, too.”
[What?]
The Master of All Weapons froze. He had met the Master of the Universe?
[You. What do you mean by that?]
“Hmm.”
Kang Jun-hyeok pondered for a moment. Could he say it? Or not?
‘Should I give it a try?’
“I am—”
The moment he tried to speak about himself...
Zzzzt.
The world twisted bizarrely.
As if the concepts of time and space had halted, everything stopped. Within that stillness, only Kang Jun-hyeok’s thoughts remained active.
Zzzzzzt.
Everything began to rewind. Time, space. Everything.
[...If you ever come face to face with it, you will understand what I mean.]
And in the rewound time, the Master of All Weapons repeated the words he had just said.
“...Did you feel anything?”
[Feel what?]
The Master of All Weapons was perfectly calm. It was as if nothing had happened at all. He was the only one who remembered the vanished time.
“Nothing.” Kang Jun-hyeok shook his head.
‘I guess I’m not supposed to talk about it.’
Where on earth did he get such a thing? He felt a surge of respect for the high monk Milarepa.
The discussion was over. Kang Jun-hyeok opened the Shop. Using his accumulated Gold, he purchased two Low-Rank Active Skills and spent the rest of his Gold on spears. Pixie watched him, glancing his way.
[...Hmph. You seem fine. Looks like you earned a lot of Gold, too...]
“Ah, right. I have something to show you.”
[Something to show me...?]
“Rift Movement.”
Swish.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s body moved through the Rift.
[...]!
In that instant, Pixie recoiled in shock. Her wings spread wide, and an intense light gathered in her hands.
“That’s quite a reaction. I’d appreciate it if you’d hold back, though. If that explodes, I think this whole area will be blown away.”
Kang Jun-hyeok muttered dryly at the power contained in the light. Pixie, who had frozen in place, let out a groan.
[...You, don't tell me. Against those things... you won?]
Kang Jun-hyeok nodded. Pixie gasped.