Chapter 283
Chapter 283
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 283
Chapter Title: SS Grade (3)
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In the dark consciousness of the summoning standby state.
Arin was experiencing tremendous pleasure.
‘Me.’
Her entire body trembled with a thrilling sensation.
‘To think that I, a follower of Ancient Magic...!’
Finally.
She had embodied that Ancient Magic within her body.
Even if only briefly, she had felt its full power.
And that wasn’t all?
She had directly controlled SSS Grade magic and plunged it into the dragon’s heart.
Ah.
A shiver surged up from the depths of her consciousness.
The joy of saving the professor mixed with the joy of using Ancient Magic.
The two joys intertwined, making her heart pound.
‘Hurry.’
She wanted to get out quickly!
She wanted to be summoned and brag to the professor!
How much time had passed while she waited in excitement?
Flash!
Suddenly, light flooded the pitch-black world.
[Using skill, ‘Lord & King Summon’ (SS Grade).]
This was the message that appeared when the professor called her!
“Professor!”
Arin cried out.
In her overwhelming joy, she didn’t even cast the polymorph she usually used upon appearing.
Crack, crackle!
Feeling her now-familiar joints, she spotted the professor sitting in the hospital room.
And at that moment.
“Arin.”
Whoosh!
“Huh?”
She had to register that the professor was suddenly pulling her into a hug.
She was the professor’s summon.
She could feel his emotions fully.
Worry, relief, and gratitude.
Even so.
Creak, creak!
Slightly flustered, Arin flailed her arms in the air, making creaking sounds.
Because.
She could feel the Demon King’s gaze from the side, staring with a strange look.
“...So this is what a Skeleton Emperor is like? Impressive. Such unusual affection for bones.”
“...”
Haseola looked at Joo Dong-hoon with eyes full of surprise as well.
Her expression seemed to say, [This guy’s really serious about skeletons?]
It was the typical gaze people had toward the undead.
‘Argh!’
Boom!
Irritated by that gaze for some reason, Arin immediately deployed polymorph.
Her white joints were covered in pale white skin, and red hair grew out.
But at that moment, the professor released the hug.
And then.
“You’re safe, kid.”
Pat, pat.
He stroked her head as if proud.
Afterward, the professor gazed at her with a relieved expression and warm eyes.
‘Tch, that’s it?’
Arin smacked her lips, feeling oddly disappointed.
* * *
‘Phew.’
I let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
I had believed she wouldn’t vanish, but I’d been pretty startled when the summon hadn’t worked at first.
Seeing her appear perfectly fine like this was truly a relief.
They were my summons.
Others might see them as mere skeletons, but to me, they were no different from family.
“Oh, so that skeleton from before was that girl?”
Then, an exclamation came from beside me.
It was the Demon King’s voice.
“She wielded magic with comprehension almost on par with the Tower Master. Amazing. Who would’ve thought a skeleton could have such abilities? The other Demon Kings would be quite shocked.”
Demon King.
Arin perked up her ears at talk of the race that ruled the Demon Realm.
She always got curious first about mysterious stories from other worlds.
“My apologies for the rudeness. You’ve been here since earlier.”
I sat up fully and bowed my head twice.
Once to the Demon King, once to the Heavenly Horse.
“...”
Haseola had been watching me with various expressions since earlier.
Was this how a monkey at the zoo felt?
“No need for apologies. Both Haseola and I owe you a huge debt.”
A debt?
Ah, was he talking about me barging into the dragon and messing around?
“I’ll be heading back to the Demon Realm soon, and the Heavenly Horse has to resume her closed-door training, so we stopped by to say goodbye before leaving.”
Swish.
Demon King Jack Smith extended his hand as he spoke.
“Nice to meet you, Joo Dong-hoon. This is our first official greeting.”
“Ah.”
I wiped my hand a bit and shook his on impulse.
The hand of World Ranking No. 2.
This.
I might not wash it for a month?
“An honor to meet you, Jack.”
I shook hands with the Demon King and exchanged nods with Haseola.
She’d climbed to World Ranking No. 7, it seemed.
New sensations washed over me.
World Rankings No. 2 and 3 coming to my hospital room to pay respects...
The problem was.
“By the way.”
Jack grinned.
At that moment, I instinctively realized.
‘Damn.’
He knows.
The debt was a reason to visit, but not the full one. There was clearly another purpose.
It was about the dragon’s corpse.
“After you went in, the dragon’s corpse fell intact... then vanished. To be honest, we heard about it from Delaila.”
I’d been thinking of playing it off, so it was a bit disappointing.
“They say a dragon’s bones and hide have strength and elasticity beyond any metal.”
Gulp.
I swallowed.
Now that I’d reached SS Grade.
The Demon King and Heavenly Horse had transcended monsters into something beyond.
Thanks to my improved Taecheong Heart Technique, I could sense it.
The sheer monstrous energy they were quietly containing... just feeling it gave me chills.
“Yeah, well... that’s right.”
As I scratched my head to explain.
Whoosh!
Haseola, who had drawn her sword before I knew it, carved letters into the air.
- You’re good at making weapons, right?
Same Korean, straight to informal speech, but I got the gist.
Trauma kept her from speaking, right?
- Delaila said it. Top in the industry.
Her sword strokes were flashy.
Maybe that was the secret to maintaining her high rank? Her language disorder might’ve honed her swordsmanship to extreme precision.
Speaking with a sword would inevitably sharpen and refine one’s technique.
“Yeah, well. I’m pretty good at it.”
I replied in kind with informal speech.
To be precise, it wasn’t me who was good—it was Demir in that field.
Someone might ask.
Why polite to the Demon King but informal to the Heavenly Horse?
‘My country.’
The Demon King felt foreign, so informal translated fine.
But with a fellow Korean, it felt weird.
We Koreans have historically been sensitive to etiquette, called the Gentlemen’s Country.
- Cool. And curious.
But.
Haseola turned out more innocent than expected.
Less tainted by society than her age suggested?
Put nicely. Put poorly, she was a shut-in otaku unfamiliar with people.
A very pretty otaku.
Still, not a hypocrite.
Some types spat informal speech themselves but raged if others did...
“Haha, coming to Earth after five years, a lot’s changed.”
The Demon King spoke up.
“Word’s going around among top rankers these days?”
“What word?”
“If you want the world’s finest custom weapon, get your name on the VIP exhibit at Dr.El Workshop in South Korea.”
“Ah.”
Such rumors?
I was a ranker—why hadn’t I heard?
“Makes sense. You hit Ranking 7 in under two years? With that growth rate and periodic upgrades... heh. Gotta get one.”
Surprisingly, they didn’t seem too interested in the dragon.
Or maybe they were wise.
I’d already claimed it—fighting wouldn’t gain them anything.
“Besides, weapons naturally wear out with use, leading to stronger ones. Unlike weapons, we grow. Upgrades are surprisingly appealing, Joo Dong-hoon.”
I grasped the Demon King’s intent.
The moment I did, Haseola threw a straight ball.
- Take all the dragon rewards. Give us Demir limited editions. For real.
Demir limited editions.
Current registered status...
[No. 1 - ‘Dagger for Assassins’ (S Grade) / Owner: Dark Emperor Gi So-yul]
[No. 2 - ‘Giant Soldier God’s Fist’ (S Grade) / Owner: Berserker Jang Dae-woong]
Still like that.
Nos. 3 and up were reserved, but owners undecided.
‘Was planning to snag some soon.’
A thought struck me.
The Demon King and Heavenly Horse.
What if they reached out first?
Honestly speaking.
Even if Demir made great weapons, did their value match a colossal dragon corpse?
No way.
Plus, if the Demon King and Heavenly Horse registered at Dr.El VIP?
I’d be grateful.
It’d be massive marketing.
A workshop trusted by the world’s strongest!
That alone would vault us past global brands to the emperor’s throne.
“Why show me such favor?”
I stared at Haseola.
She tilted her head.
- Not favor.
?
Not favor?
As I furrowed my brow, the Demon King grinned and stepped in.
“Not favor. Greed.”
Swish.
He offered a sword.
A famed blade with deep dark sheen.
Probably a weapon the Demon King treasured like his life.
“You know it too. Nothing captivates hunters like a good weapon. We’re serious.”
“...”
Serious.
Whatever.
I was good with it.
Grateful, even.
I recalled my creed after so long: [An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth].
Received favor? Repay tenfold, naturally.
“Alright.”
I nodded.
“I stake my name on it. I’ll give you my best.”
* * *
After sending off the Demon King and Heavenly Horse.
First thing: check my status.
[Congratulations!]
[Awakened by an unknown power.]
[Grade grows one step.]
Observing myself to see what changed upon reaching SS Grade.
First.
“Professor! Professor!”
Arin chattered excitedly, eager to brag.
“I used Ancient Magic! Ahh, without life force, using forbidden magic!”
Humming agreement, I opened her status window.
[Name: Eloise Arin]
[Vitality: 1,000/1,000]
[Unique Ability: Skeleton King]
[Class: Magician]
[Grade: SS]
[Strength: 100] [Agility: 102] [Vitality: 107] [Mana: 151] [Technique: 112]
[Possessed Skills]
-‘Fire Magic Mastery’ (Lv.Max)
-‘Rune Interpretation’ (Lv.Max)
-‘Heir to Ancient Magic’ (Lv.1)
-‘Skeleton Summon’ (Lv.Max)
‘Huh.’
First, vitality up from 700 to 1,000. Plus 300.
Arin’s grade also SS.
And.
‘Heir to Ancient Magic?’
The original ‘Follower of Ancient Magic’ skill vanished, replaced by a new one.
Follower evolves to heir?
Casually focusing on the skill.
“Gah!”
I couldn’t help but be shocked.
Even big shocks didn’t make me yelp like that.
This was real shock.
[Skill: Heir to Ancient Magic]
[Grade: SSS]
[Effect 1: Feel the power of ‘Ancient Magic’ (SSS Grade).]
[Effect 2: Greater comprehension of magic than anyone.]
[Effect 3: Apply skills in complex ways based on research results.]
[Effect 4: Use ‘Ancient Magic’ without penalty. Caution: Consumes massive vitality.]
“SSS Grade?”
“Hehehehe.”
“How?”
About an hour.
Nodding along to Arin’s bubbly tale of exploits.
“So, you can use forbidden magic without life force conditions now?”
“Probably. Mana limits how much, but. Let’s experiment together later.”
“...Phew.”
Eloise Arin.
Why did she seem so praiseworthy?
Patting her head again, I summoned the rest.
All had grown massively.
Especially grades—all SS.
My limit rising lifted theirs too, it seemed.
“My lord, I’m nearly regaining my past power.”
Taeyang too.
“Same here. About 80%, Master?”
“Master, thanks. Now I can hammer like possessed.”
Eldrin and Demir too.
Kaden, Dana, Mugak.
All near full strength.
Probably top SS Grade.
SSS was constellation-level spanning worlds, not one-world absolute.
And.
[Hunter: Joo Dong-hoon]
[Title: Skeleton Emperor]
[Vitality: 6,220/6,220]
[Unique Ability: Cursed Necromancer]
[Ranking: 7th]
[Grade: SS]
[Effects]
-You are a Necromancer, handler of dead souls. Subjugate foes with dreadful spirits and deadly poisons. But cursed.
-You can summon only skeletons.
[Possessed Skills]
-‘Lord & King Summon’ (SS Grade)
-‘Memory Recreation’ (S Grade)
-‘Teaching of All Arts’ (SS Grade)
-‘Pain Resistance’ (A Grade)
-‘Taecheong Heart Technique’ (S Grade)
-‘Resurrection of the Dead’ (A Grade)
-‘Roar of the Dead’ (A Grade)
-‘Immunity to All Poisons’ (S Grade)
-‘Bone Dragon Skeleton’ (S Grade)
-‘All Arts’ (S Grade)
-‘Soundless’ (S Grade)
-‘Poison Flash’ (SS Grade)
-‘Martial Advance’ (SS Grade)
Full status in ages.
‘Whoa.’
I marveled inwardly.
Others aside, Ranking 7th. Pure delight.
Anyway.
Big changes: two.
First, SS Grade perk: vitality +2,000.
Second, ‘Lord & King Summon’ from S to SS.
Other energies felt qualitatively different.
Like waking stronger overnight?
Getting stronger always felt great.
“...”
Regaining senses, I checked out immediately.
Arrived at Dr.El Workshop, Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do.
Workshop intact.
Earthquake hit, but Demir built sturdy.
Vmmm!
Masked, quick portal entry.
- Kirurururu!
Destruction Dragon Vinasa greeted, sensing me.
Beautiful cityscape nearly complete.
“Phew.”
Cracking knuckles, stretched.
Hammering in ages.
Just thinking made heart race excitedly.
Breathing metal scent, slamming weapons in forge heat.
Perhaps.
I was born a blacksmith, not hunter?