Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: For the Ultimate Scroll (3)
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From then on, no one questioned the regeneration scroll's performance.
A scroll that could be used three times.
From then on, they couldn't claim it had weak firepower.
— I admit it. You crazy bastard. We lose.
— It really is the all-time peak class. Wow... you're actually pulling this off.
— Am I the only one getting chills? The ultimate spellcrafter defying DAT. Scary.
The era when archmages mocked Regin, or it was just used as a meme, had passed.
It was right around then that it started being used with genuine awe.
— This guy's a legit lunatic.
— This guy? You calling the Archmage your buddy?
— Archmage? You dare call King God Dignity Emperor DAT's GOAT just "Archmage"?
Of course, there were still some who overhyped him.
But people began to sincerely acknowledge Regin's plays.
— Whatever you do in real life, whatever you look like, none of that matters. I acknowledge you.
...In DAT, no one can match you. Archmage.
It was one of the comments Regin still remembered.
He couldn't help but smile.
Swish—
In his hand was the completed scroll. Regin gazed at it for a long while.
‘This... is a regeneration scroll that can be torn up to three times.’
It was the scroll that sparked his drive to pour in even more time and create ones usable four or five times.
‘Now I can reveal it.’
He felt it was time to share this scroll with the spellcrafter association and the kingdom.
Even if someone tried to copy the recipe now, they'd struggle to source the materials.
* * *
“...You've gone and done something impossible again.”
He had finished preparing to enter the Tower and stopped by Nuada's place on the way out.
Nuada stared at Regin with a dazed expression.
He hadn't completely lost his usual spark, but he looked utterly shocked.
“A three-use scroll... I've never even heard of such a thing. What on earth did you do, Regin?”
According to DAT's official lore, Nuada was eighty years old, a genius among geniuses who had awakened to magic at age three and mastered skills on his own.
Even the sage Nuada couldn't comprehend it.
“I got my hands on a rabbit's foot by chance. It seems to have made the difference.”
“I heard about that from Alice. I know her too, so she told me. But I never imagined you'd incorporate it straight into a scroll...”
Nuada let out a hollow laugh and asked,
“You're not revealing that version, just the two-use scroll?”
“Yes. I'll officially announce and sell it after the next expedition.”
“...The spellcrafter association is about to see an unprecedented tycoon emerge.”
“Haha. The two-use scroll still has its ambiguities.”
“...Good grief. Even two uses draws a new line in the sand, Regin. People will start diving into a field no one researched before.”
“They'll study my scrolls.”
“And you judged the three-use version pointless to reveal because of the materials?”
“Exactly.”
“Why not reveal it anyway? The copycats chasing you would collapse in despair.”
Nuada chuckled as if it amused him.
And why not? His own disciple had pulled off this madness.
It was the achievement of one of the two disciples he'd raised after that certain incident.
Since things had come to this, he wanted Regin to shake up the magic world.
“It's still just a trick for now.”
Regin spoke flatly.
He knew his own level better than anyone.
He wasn't green enough to get delusions of grandeur from his master's praise.
‘It's just rapid-firing low-tier skills. Doesn't make me fundamentally stronger.’
By now, Regin's level had reached second stage.
The regeneration scroll gave him an edge within second stage, sure.
“But I need to awaken to higher-stage magic.”
He was powerless before a third-stage mage.
The classification wasn't even precise yet, since the Tower had only been cleared up to the 15th Floor.
Floors 1–4: first stage.
Floors 5–10: second stage.
Floors 11–15: third stage.
In DAT, you advanced a stage once you had the skills and internal energy to break through each set of floors. But that wasn't the end.
‘From the 15th Floor on, each floor ups the stage.’
It made sense.
From the 16th Floor, difficulty spiked exponentially per floor.
And the gap with those who reached there went without saying.
That old mage from the black market probably wielded a different caliber of power.
‘Even looking at Nuada now proves it. At full power, he's around the 19th Floor... eighth stage.’
No matter how many second- or third-stage skills Regin spammed, he couldn't fight Nuada.
Plus, the kingdom already had more powerhouses on Nuada's level.
‘The western region alone has at least three at sixth stage. Across all territories, probably fifteen.’
Even they had to risk their lives in the Tower.
That's why the kingdom didn't casually deploy them to breach the 16th Floor.
Too valuable to lose.
‘Forget matching them—surviving the Tower is still something I can't get complacent about.’
Nuada looked into Regin's calm eyes.
“You're not just pretending.”
“...”
“You really think you're lacking, not just acting humble. As your master, that's something to be proud of. You have to know your shortcomings to fill them.”
“...”
“But Regin, you haven't had much absolute time. You're only twenty. Unlike me, you didn't start magic at three.”
“...Haha. You were a genius among geniuses, Master.”
“I've researched magic nonstop for seventy-seven years. It wasn't achieved overnight.”
His expression was gentler than ever as he continued.
“Have confidence. You have time ahead of you.”
Regin nodded slowly.
‘I know all too well that prep time isn't abundant.’
But Nuada was right.
He still had time.
‘...I have to raise my stage within that time.’
The regeneration scroll would be his most efficient tool for it.
* * *
A brief moment of free time.
Regin lay on the bed, letting his mind go blank.
‘...’
He needed to sort his thoughts.
There was a lot to handle after returning from this expedition.
‘Renewed the deal with Preton. Decided to use that info broker Jack.’
He'd also extended the rafflesia's lifespan, which had been an issue.
The rabbit's foot let him upgrade the scroll another level.
And he'd wrapped it all up in just five days.
‘This is just the beginning.’
Clench.
Regin balled his fist, steeling himself.
As he'd told Nuada, he was still just a trickster kid.
Clever, sure, but no match for those who'd walked the path for years.
‘Tricks alone can't topple those with real depth.’
From here, he had to build steadily.
Mobilize every resource he had, level up, advance his stage.
The higher the stage of magic he could use, the more the regeneration scroll would shine.
‘Especially Meteor.’
In other games, Meteor rained down like a meteor shower.
In DAT, it was one massive meteor that dropped and done.
But Regin could pull off the shower.
Few monsters survived the barrage.
Higher floors would be different, of course.
‘First, I need to reach that level.’
Even community users had to admit it: spellcrafter was the pinnacle class.
Regin had perfectly buttoned up the starting point.
Knock knock—
“Regin Petrichio.”
On top of that, he planned to patch up areas he'd neglected before, one by one.
“It's time to meet at Greg's forge. Let's go.”
He opened the door to find Seria.
Regin smirked at her in the green dress and nodded.
“Let's go. Final briefing before portal entry.”
Personal growth was a given. He'd raise his teammates perfectly too.
For the utmost preparation.
* * *
The three gathered at Greg's forge.
The meeting kicked off with Regin's plan briefing.
In a world without iron plates or PPTs, he had to explain using maps and photos only.
But for Regin, who knew DAT inside out, it was no challenge.
“...Regin.”
“Yes?”
“You really are a mage. It all slots right into my ears like this.”
“...”
Greg clapped in admiration.
The sincerity made it feel oddly good.
“Not every mage can do that. It's you who's special, Regin.”
“...I've never partied with a mage, so I wouldn't know.”
“Dwarves get cheers everywhere, don't they?”
“I preferred going solo. No reason to follow others' journeys.”
Seria pondered Greg's words, then smiled faintly.
“I get why you suddenly wanted a party.”
“It's Regin. He's the best mage I've seen.”
“...Didn't you say you've barely seen any mages?”
“That's why he's the best!”
...It still felt weird.
He couldn't tell if Greg's praise was genuine or just his deadpan style.
“Anyway, you both get the plan. Regin. Seems Greg does too.”
“I'll review it once more before we go in, just in case.”
“Good. Better safe. But there's an issue.”
“An issue?”
“I mentioned it last time, but seems you've forgotten.”
Seria drew her scabbard from her waist.
It was the sheath from the twin daggers shattered in the previous fight.
“I remember what you said over that meal. The sword broke mid-battle with Kaluan.”
“You told me not to buy new daggers and wait, so I did.”
Seria gazed at Regin with an innocent look.
She'd truly waited, just as he'd said.
“Good call.”
He might've been a bit miffed if she'd doubted him and gotten new ones.
“I've got something for it.”
Swish—
Regin placed an item on the table. He unwrapped the cloth, and a soft purple glow emanated.
“Regin...”
Greg reacted first.
“You hit the black market?”
“I know someone there. Went to say hi and found this.”
“...Damn. Never thought I'd see one of these again.”
Greg's eyes sparkled as he picked it up.
“Dragonite.”
The term differed from other games.
Here, it meant a special ore blending dragon bone, stone, and gems.
‘In Korean terms, it's dragon vein stone, but that's a DAT-exclusive word too.’
Greg examined it closely, marveling.
“Perfect. Dragonite's all about the ratio of its three components... and this is near-ideal.”
“So it's top-grade?”
“Yeah. Low-grade dragonite's weaker than amethyst—trash.”
“I heard top-grade rivals orichalcum.”
“Yep. Comparable to orichalcum in many ways, definitely beats mithril. Overwhelming mana affinity and cutting power.”
“...Didn't get much, but enough for twin daggers.”
Regin turned to Seria and continued.
“How about forging your new daggers from this?”
“...They'd be the ultimate twin blades.”
Greg started hunting for molds, eager to begin.
‘It was pricey. Ate up everything left after the gargoyle tendons.’
But investments demanded certainty.
‘Seria's worth it—future where she topples Kaluan and reaches the final phase.’
No loss here.
The next investment was the real gamble.
“Greg.”
“Hm? I'll start right away. Fire's still going...”
“This time, it's for you.”
“What?”
“The armor you repaired last time. What if we added this?”
Greg's eyes widened again.
“...Black mana stone. Wasn't this for you?”
It'd be useful for Regin too, but he decided to test it.
He nodded to himself.
‘Trust my gut and raise him once.’
He'd never seen Greg's future.
But data from countless experiences spoke volumes.
Greg had real potential.
* * *