Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Let's Go Take a Look
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Whoa.
For that 1% chance to hit on the first try...?!
I trembled with emotion.
[Opening the '???-Grade Gift Box.']
'This is.'
Honestly, I deserved it.
Who in the world would throw away a guaranteed SS-Grade item at 100% odds and gamble on a 1% shot?
It was like someone dropping trillions of won in front of you for free, and me telling them to shove off.
Not "ask and double," but "ask and multiply by a hundred."
"Haa."
It was a mad choice.
And a mad result.
[Item selection begins!]
[Once again, no need to look—it's obvious!]
[......ing.............]
Thud thud thud...
The box amplified its energy, and the world trembled in response.
In sync with that.
[The Essence of Fire (火) slyly opens its eyes.]
[The Essence of Water (水), which had been watching everything, is baffled by your luck. It asks how such a guy could exist.]
[The Essence of Wood (木) warmly smiles at the intriguing situation.]
The other essences reacted too.
Which meant...
[OK!]
[Item decided, item found!]
Another essence had appeared, right?
Soon after.
Boom!
As the trembling stopped, a dazzling golden light began to spread softly.
'As expected.'
Definitely another essence.
Gold (金).
The symbol of beautiful metal, the color of an element that thrilled the heart.
'Hmm.'
There are seven elements in total.
So far, we've had Fire, Water, Wood, and Gold...
That leaves Earth, Sun, and Moon, I suppose?
[Minerals spawn abundantly around you.]
Huh?
I blinked.
'Minerals?'
My eyes lit up.
Minerals mean our Demir, right?
"Aah."
I could smell the mine.
The scent of fire and sweat mixed together.
Memories of swinging the hammer all night with passion washed over me like nostalgia.
For some reason.
Just seeing minerals makes my heart race.
I want to mine them all.
[The Essence of Fire (火) yawns as it watches.]
[The Essence of Water (水) greets you warmly.]
[The Essence of Wood (木) smiles in welcome.]
The rising energy slowly seeped into my weapon.
[The Essence of Gold (金) tilts its head.]
[The Essence of Gold (金) questions the fragment gathering four essences.]
[It harbors doubts about your existence, which created this rare situation.]
Doubts, huh...
'Can't blame it.'
Sometimes, honestly.
I don't even know who I am.
It's scary how everything works out when I follow my heart.
And scary how my heavenly luck suddenly maxes out.
'But.'
You're curious about me?
I'm curious about you too.
What kind of beings are you, the ones even gods fear?
What happens when all seven essence fragments gather?
'Anyway.'
I examined the spear in my hand.
Now, a spear mysteriously blended with four colors.
The essence of Gold (金) was firm yet sharp.
Thanks to that golden energy, the already keen blade felt even more pointed.
[Ding!]
[Divine Slayer (神殺)-Grade item, Sealed Seven Essences' Spirit (3/7) has been updated.]
[Acquired Sealed Seven Essences' Spirit (4/7).]
The item updated.
'Nice.'
Vitality up by 1,000 again.
[Hunter: Joo Dong-hoon]
[Title: Skeleton King]
[Vitality: 4,220/4,220]
Considering an average hunter has 100 vitality, this is overwhelmingly superior.
No more worries about running out.
"Whew."
I exhaled.
I wanted to check the new weapon in detail, but there was no time.
Why?
[The final theme, 'Encounter with Delaila,' begins.]
[Delaila is transforming the dungeon.]
Because the real final stage was here.
Crunch, crunch!
Space crumpled and unfolded like wrinkled paper.
And soon.
My vision went dark, and space stretched out infinitely.
In the torn and stretched space, white spheres scattered like ink splatters.
Dense clusters of light orbs embedded everywhere.
Ah.
I knew this space.
No Earthling with advanced science could miss it.
'This is...'
The universe.
Stars spread like beach sand across the sky, and I floated in the center.
Why show me this?
I didn't know what Delaila was planning.
But purely.
The sight alone was so beautiful, I instinctively called for Sun Spear.
[Using skill, 'Skeleton Lord Summon' (S-Grade).]
[Vitality 10 used.]
['Sun Spear' appears.]
"My lord...?"
Whoosh!
Sun Spear appeared beside me and looked around.
Then.
"Huh?!"
It dropped its jaw as if the hinge broke.
"My lord... what in the world... what is this...?!"
Sizzle.
Knew you'd like it.
Makes my chest swell with pride.
"In our world, we call this the universe."
"Universe..."
Sun Spear, who had only one sun in its heart.
This must be a massive shock.
Awe, emotion, inspiration, overwhelming.
I felt its emotions in detail.
"Amazing. And an enormous energy. Far beyond that puny thing..."
"It's all around us. 360 degrees, endless suns or far larger giants embedded everywhere."
The universe was beautiful yet terrifying.
Overwhelmed by its vast, endless power, I shrank instinctively.
Even the No. 1 ranking I crave.
Isn't it just dust compared to this universe?
At that moment.
"Pretty vast and grand, isn't it?"
A warm voice suddenly rang in my ears.
"..."
I turned to see a woman in a thin robe, face hidden by a hood.
"It has to be. Even if you count every grain of sand in the Sahara Desert, it wouldn't match the stars in one handful of those light clumps you see. The universe has thousands, billions... no, countless beyond numbering. Of course, that's just what we can see."
Ah.
Dizzying numbers just hearing them.
'Huh?'
But.
Is this woman Delaila?
The current world No. 1, who's never shown her face...
The moment I saw her.
Info on who she was flooded my mind.
Alias, Mirage.
Top hunter from the world's strongest hunter nation, America—barely known.
Dungeon Maker, Delaila.
Suddenly, I felt tense.
No matter my record-breaking feats.
They're all in her dungeon, right?
If she wanted, she could make me drift forever in one spot of this universe.
Or toss me to a world of only dragons.
'But.'
Tense, yet full of questions.
Why show this universe?
How does she make dungeons?
Why invite me?
What's the point of making rankers?
"No need to speak. I'll explain everything you're curious about. That's what Theme 6 is for, after all."
As expected.
My guess was right.
The real trials ended at Theme 5; Theme 6 is literally just 'Encounter with Delaila.'
Like a trainee's graduation ceremony?
"My lord, this one is...?"
Sun Spear raised its spear warily.
Snap!
Delaila smiled and flicked her finger.
At the same time.
['Sun Spear' summon is released.]
Sun Spear was neutralized in an instant.
'Crazy.'
I was shocked.
Even in her dungeon.
Canceling my skill with one finger.
I understood why she has an official record of 0 wins, 0 losses, 0 fights.
"Don't think it's rude. Showing you this space takes massive vitality from me too. Meaning, time is short."
"Time is short...?"
"Hehe."
She laughed.
"Seventh time explaining—my throat hurts. This batch had seven passers... Sigh, anyway, I need to show you quick."
"Seventh...? The others already went through?"
"Yes, just through? They're probably outside, waiting impatiently for you."
Ah.
Could be.
I took the longest.
What should take five hours max, I dragged over a day.
"Whew."
I exhaled shortly.
"So, what are you going to show me?"
"Ah. What I'll show now is everything I've seen and felt since gaining my ability. A bit abstract?"
"Everything..."
"Yes, but first, one promise."
"A promise?"
"A secrecy pact. When you leave and recommend someone later, or say anything, don't drop hints that could let them infer what you saw here. The moment you do, a pretty harsh penalty hits. Agree?"
"Harsh penalty..."
"Can't say yet."
"What?"
"Note, even if you refuse, spilling info on my trials means no future 'Dungeon Maker' participation."
So.
Agree, and she shows something.
Refuse, no soup, no solids.
"Hmm. I see."
Penalty...
Suddenly, the Seoul Five Stars who recommended me came to mind.
Berserker Jang Dae-woong.
Black Sword Lee Seon-ah.
Dark Emperor Gi So-yul.
Famed Bow Ki Pa-rang.
White Pig Yu Sang-don.
Grateful folks.
They couldn't give proper info either.
- Yeah, why make that dungeon, why open it secretly. No one knows.
- Best guess now: making it lets her grow with participants. Not certain.
- Dungeon contents? We don't know. Changes every time.
Gi So-yul's words back then.
Mix of truth and lies, surely.
'Honestly.'
Curious.
Her intel, who seems godlike to me.
What she's seen circling worlds, contracting dragons, dealing with shadow folk.
"Any hunter ever refused?"
"Not one."
Delaila answered confidently.
"Not a single one."
Then smirked.
"Most begged to see. Swore never to tell."
"...Makes sense."
That enticing.
Curiosity is humanity's scariest weapon, right?
'Whatever.'
No loss for me.
Not the type to brag till my mouth itches.
More loner than socialite.
"Fine."
I nodded.
Whatever the penalty, let's see.
"Show me. I'll keep the secret."
The truth of Theme 6, which Delaila dedicated a whole theme to.
Show it to me, Delaila.
* * *
December 31, 2022.
World standard time, 08:00 AM.
16 hours to New Year.
Thud thud thud!
A helicopter landed in an empty lot.
The roaring propellers bore the mark of Korea's top item firm, 'White Pig.'
"Yaaawn."
Yu Sang-don, lounging there, yawned long.
"Damn, why so late?"
Today welcomed the old year out, new year in.
Also, all hunters' festival.
But.
Why he brought a chopper.
"Joo Dong-hoon. That punk hasn't come out yet—is he dead or something?"
"Dead? With that gut still bulging? ...Ah, unless his brain's clogged with fat from overeating?"
Whoosh!
A black-haired woman appeared beside him.
Leader of Heavenly Demon God Church's Black Sword Unit ranker.
Lee Seon-ah.
"W-what?! Fat? You mocking my appetite now?!"
"Never mocked. Fat cushions joints, protects organs, insulates from cold! Excess is the issue."
"That's the same thing!"
"Then why spout nonsense? Joo Dong-hoon is different. He'd pass top contributor, not bus like you, Piggy!"
"What?! Now just 'pig'? At least say 'White Pig'!"
Bicker bicker!
Always squabbling when they meet, those two.
Behind them.
Rankers gathered one by one.
"Kahaha, early birds?"
Boom!
Berserker Jang Dae-woong dropped noisily from the sky.
"Kahaha, gotta pick up my bro! No way my bro fails one trial!"
So thrilled.
Grinning wide on arrival.
Joo Dong-hoon's gift, Giant Soldier God Fist, on his hand.
"I've arrived."
Swish!
A figure appeared silently beside him.
Dark Emperor Gi So-yul joined.
And.
Another.
A man in a ball cap walked up.
"Huh? Famed Bow? Ki Pa-rang too?"
Yu Sang-don muttered, surprised.
Other rankers looked shocked too.
He rarely joins events.
"Kahaha! Archer boy's here? When you raged about your bro leaving the guild!"
"..."
Briefly, Famed Bow and Dark Emperor met eyes.
Awkward silence, then Famed Bow spoke.
"...Well, he didn't leave without permission."
Stubbornly opposed.
But couldn't break his bro's will, Ki Pa-rang.
"If he's alive... well, gotta acknowledge him."
Two cases for not emerging by party end.
Dead.
Or cleared to the end.
If cleared?
Birth of a new 20-something domestic ranker.
Then, Ki Pa-rang had to accept.
'Gi So-yul...'
Rated his potential high since E-Grade.
Not bewitched by some vixen.
'Plus.'
Trial grads are different.
Same ranker, they climb faster.
Has to be.
Curriculum crams 50 top prospects, force-grows them in impossible dungeons.
Why he and Jang Dae-woong hit double digits quick.
"Anyway."
Famed Bow muttered.
"Not certain yet, so let's go see."
Boarded the helicopter.
Gi So-yul followed silently.
"Hahaha, let's go! Pick up bro! Woo! Feels good!"
Thud thud!
The chopper lifted off.
All five Seoul Stars.
Heading to Gujarat in western India.