Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Monster of the Underground Aqueduct
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The next day, after a satisfying rest at the hotel, I got dressed and headed straight to the guard captain's office attached to the village wall.
Knock knock.
When I rapped on the door, Brymun—who had been reviewing reports since the crack of dawn—opened it and greeted me warmly.
"Ah! You've come. Come in, make yourself at home, even if it's humble."
His office was spartan. Even though he was essentially the village leader, responsible for all its defenses, he showed no sign of greed.
He handed me a cup of tea and sat down across from me.
Slurp.
It was warm. Not too bitter, with a nicely distinctive aroma—good tea.
"If you've got a request for me, it's probably Quest No. 478, the one that's open to me. Slaying the monster in the underground aqueduct."
The message had popped up the moment I entered the office. I downed the tea in one gulp and looked at him.
"That's right. Please, get rid of that monster—no, that evil presence."
NO. 478 Quest - Slay the Monster of the Underground Aqueduct
Grade: Advanced
Rank: E+
An unknown entity has infiltrated the underground aqueduct of the Primordial City - Teraium. Guard Captain Brymun wants you to kill it and free the village from danger.
Objective: Slay the monster of the underground aqueduct (0/1)
Success: Achievement: Guardian of the Primordial City [Advanced - C-], Purple Coins ×30,000, Item: ???, Recommendation Letter from Cardinal Bartroy of the Holy Kingdom.
Failure: ???
I closed the window, suppressed a grin, and nodded. Those rewards weren't all that important anyway.
My real reason for taking this quest was something else. A monster? Whatever it was, an Advanced E+ rank wouldn't stand a chance against me.
'That guy glossed over what comes in the starter quests, so I don't know the details...'
Especially compared to yesterday's me—I'd grown another level, and with my new gear, it was even less of a threat.
'The problem isn't that there's only a monster in the aqueduct.'
The real issue starts after that. I opened my status window and eyed my Misfortune stat. That was the troublemaker.
Would it make a move this time? Or was it saving up for later?
After pondering for a while, I shook my head to clear the stray thoughts. Either way, I was moving forward. Backing down wasn't an option.
"I'll do it. Tell me how to get to the underground aqueduct."
Brymun, who had been staring at me in a mix of joy and fear, nodded eagerly and stood up.
"I'll guide you. Follow me."
We left the office and walked a short distance, revealing a firmly sealed passage to the underground aqueduct.
Putting on a calm front despite his trembling hands, he personally undid the seal he'd placed and opened the door.
Whoosh!
A chilling aura burst out from the open entrance, brushing past us.
'What is this?'
So it really wasn't a normal monster. As I fiddled with the Manbyeon on my wrist, Brymun spoke up.
"Shin Juha. The thing down there isn't a normal monster. If it were, I'd have killed it myself. Looks can be deceiving—I've risen to knight candidate in the kingdom."
The kingdom—one of the nations in the next stage, apparently. Even a knight from the smallest one would be at least C- rank, so I figured he was stronger than me.
But even he couldn't take it down? Cursing the future guy for skimping on details, I pressed for more info.
"It's a conglomeration of malice. Just looking at it tries to shatter your mind, and it amplifies negative emotions."
As he said it, recalling the monster perhaps, Brymun's face paled and his body shook. Clear terror etched his features.
But my tension eased a bit. Mental attacks? Sorry, but I could confidently claim to be top-tier in that department.
Not quite on the level of the top rankers specialized in mental prowess, of course. But among anyone below top-rankers—or even same-rank—no one had a stronger mental barrier than me.
With my Authority and Supreme Soul, a little more leveling and I'd be the best among Earthlings.
In short, a mentally attacking monster was never a match for me, and now even less so.
I tapped my temple at Brymun and smiled.
"Don't worry. My mental defenses are better than most rankers. I'll wrap this up quick and join you for dinner tonight."
At my bold confidence, Brymun shook off some fear, smiled back, clapped my shoulder in trust, and handed me the prepared items.
I plunged straight into the underground aqueduct. As my body dropped, I morphed Manbyeon into shoes, stepped the air, and landed in the waterway.
The aqueduct was dark and vast. The glowing magic arrays embedded thickly in the ceiling were there, but more than half were shattered—likely the monster's doing—robbing them of light.
I pulled a glow orb from the items Brymun gave me and infused it with mana. It floated up and began emitting light.
The surroundings lit up instantly, revealing the aqueduct. Abandoned for years at least, yet not a trace of rust, wear, or moss.
Thanks to the magic set by the wizards who built it, no doubt.
I stopped sightseeing and started walking. In this huge aqueduct, finding and killing the monster came first—I needed to hurry.
'Misfortune's staying quiet, luckily.'
Not planning to act this time? Just how big was it gearing up for, holding back like this?
I morphed Manbyeon into a sword.
With boosted stats and growth across the board, my Tower of Gold ownership had surged to 28%. Short of EX-rank, I could project virtually any item now.
The sword I projected gave an advantage against ghosts or yokai. Famous enough that its Advanced rarity price rivaled Rare items.
How long had I walked?
Hiss...
A cold, eerie, goosebump-inducing aura swept over me. I heightened my senses and tensed my body.
I could feel it. The thing was ahead. No wonder a near-knight guard captain had been powerless against it.
That bastard had an Ancient ability as a rune.
Not a normal one after all? The guy who later got the Emperor of Ten Thousand Spirits blabbed about everything else but always glossed over this starter quest. Something shady there, he always skipped it.
Never imagined it'd have a rune.
A being with a rune in Stage-0?
A bit low for a hidden stage, but maybe because you need to meet conditions to enter?
I swallowed hard. Not out of fear. Pure greed.
'A domain-related ability.'
Domain abilities ranked top-tier, pinnacle of powers. Especially runes—blessings usable without cost—priceless.
'Can I snag it?'
I'd never seen that guy use such an ability pre-regression. Two scenarios: He killed it but didn't get the rune, or he failed to kill it but luckily found the hidden stage.
Somehow, I felt it was the latter. No wonder he skimped on details... Couldn't clear it, huh?
I stirred my Pride mana, bolstered the power in my flesh, and gripped the Purifying Four Tiger Sword tight.
Exhale... Judging by the domain, it attacked the mind with negative emotions.
"You've got rotten luck."
Running into me, of all people. The moment I stepped deeper into its domain.
Fwoosh!
From the darkness, a blue ghostly light fixed on me, and I kicked off the ground, charging the spirit.
-Kieeeek!!!
An ear-shattering screech assaulted my eardrums. System windows popped up simultaneously.
Its attack didn't touch me. But mine reached it.
Confident no attack could reach it, and even if one did, its ethereal body was safe—it grew complacent, like everyone before.
That complacency birthed a fatal opening. My Pride-infused ashen Four Tiger Sword sliced off one arm and carved a long gash across its chest.
-Kyaaah!!!
Not over. The sword's power inflicted ceaseless agony on spirits and evil souls through wounds.
Facing unprecedented pain, it thrashed wildly. With my overwhelming matchup advantage, it wasn't much threat. Exaggerating a bit, goblin-level.
No—goblin attacks could at least graze me. Most of this thing's didn't even land.
Steeped in pain and rage, but clever enough, it retreated, fleeing while hurling various skills at me.
.
.
.
.
No chance. A mere Advanced-grade mental attack from it wouldn't work on me.
"Die quietly and cough up that rune."
Then I'll make it less painful. I opened my inventory, grabbed an Acceleration Potion, and poured it down my throat.
"Hide-and-seek's over. Got a dinner date, can't play more."
I reversed my grip on the Four Tiger Sword, kicked off with my accelerated body at max speed, and cleaved the unresisting malice in half.