Chapter 65
Chapter 65
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Hidden Stage - Lair of the Fallen Black Mage
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Slice.
A clean, beautiful cutting sound rang out, followed by a groan that was no different from the death rattle of malice itself. With that, the creature's body completely crumbled.
No, more precisely, the aggregates of malice enveloping it collapsed.
All the negativity came tumbling down in succession.
+ Spare Points +2
Nice! Not only did a rune drop as a reward, but its rank jumped a whopping three levels! It must be because the system recognized my perfect kill.
I quickly picked up the mysterious stone from the ground. Unlike the rune I'd used before, this one glowed blue, and inside it, a massive blizzard swirled furiously.
"Already got two runes..."
And both were top-tier Ancient rank. Considering they were the highest-grade runes available right now, this was basically insane luck. I swallowed hard and activated the rune.
Insane. This is exactly the ability I need. Normally, that last ability would only unlock after reaching a certain level, but it's already open.
That means as my level rises, the special ability's power will grow even faster.
Extremely satisfying effect. It could be a crucial counter against Misfortune.
I shoved the rest of the junk into my inventory and looked up at the empty air. The final reward from killing the malice—and the soul that had fallen and corrupted under it—was gazing down at me.
"First, I must thank you. Thank you for saving me from the deep abyss of malice."
Purified Pure ???? Soul [Common-F-]. No clue what this reward even is. It registered as an item, so it's definitely a reward, but...
A soul that can speak and think as a reward?
"Ah... yeah. It was just something I had to do."
I hadn't expected this. As expected, that guy didn't kill the monster of malice; he just found the hidden stage and started the Mythic quest.
"Even so, I'm grateful. You didn't just sever the malice—you even purified my soul like this."
I glanced down at my Soul Purification Sword. Just severed the malice? I thought I'd killed it completely.
Reading its ability again, sure enough: it could strike souls, but not kill—purify and send them to the afterlife.
'I was just using it because it's the best gear for hitting ethereal bodies...'
Things turned out like this? Well, a reward soul wasn't bad at all. Maybe it'd toss me something?
"Then I'll gladly accept your thanks."
"Thank you. My heart feels at ease now. Enough to ascend in peace."
I sighed inwardly. As expected, a worthless soul? Well, it boosted the rune's rank by three levels—wanting more would be greed.
"Yeah. Well, I'll be going then. Still got things to do."
"Huh? What is it?"
"A little rat snuck in here. Come to think of it, weren't you done in by that rat too?"
The soul fell silent, pondering deeply at my words. I hoped it might spill something quest-related since it was a reward, but!
"Hm... I don't remember at all. Did I? Wait, who am I? Why was I here? Urgh!"
Amnesia, huh. Poor thing. But I don't care.
I dragged the soul—clutching its head and racking its brains—and wandered the sewers, searching for the hidden stage it had mentioned.
The capital's sewer system spanned the entire underground city, so even knowing the exact entrance, pinpointing it wasn't easy.
Finally, after trekking far using the map from Brymoun and markers on the waterways, I found the spot.
"This it?"
The deepest part of the waterway, where a gate connected to the underground water opened. I stared at it, recalling in my mind.
-It was pure luck, really. I found it while moving to rest after clearing a quest—it was a hidden stage! For someone stuck at F+ rank, it was heaven-sent. How'd I find it? Haha! I fled... er, moved all the way to the wall with the pump and door connected to the underground water. There were tiny letters under the door. Those letters were the key to the hidden stage!
I crouched and checked under the pump-connected door. Sure enough, a single tiny character was inscribed there.
Of course, I couldn't read it. It was from another dimension's language.
"!@#$!@#$!. When radiant flight turns to despair, I shall return here."
I jumped at the voice behind me. It was the soul. He looked shocked himself, eyes wide after speaking.
But that was nothing. As he pronounced it perfectly with meaning, the letters began to glow brightly.
Rumble rumble ruuuumble...
The pump, madly sucking in underground water through the door, stopped. The mysterious sealed door slowly creaked open.
And the message before my eyes was enough to fluster me.
"What the...?"
This wasn't the hidden stage I knew?
In the past—no, the future that wouldn't happen—that guy discovered a hidden stage by infusing mana into those letters: [Some Black Mage's Secret Vault].
There, he found clues leading to the Mythic quest, and the system granted the quest for the Mythic class.
But... not a secret vault, a lair?
I gripped my sword tighter. Before I knew it, Manbyeon had projected not the Soul Purification Sword, but another blade.
A variable not in my knowledge. And variables always came with one guy.
Misfortune, lurking and biding its time, reveals itself!
Twisted, vicious, erratic Misfortune blocks your path!
Tch, I couldn't help clicking my tongue. Sensing the guy who dumped all his power into the hidden stage like he'd been waiting, then withdrew his presence into my mind, I scowled.
"Hoo... Well, I expected this anyway."
I knew this adventure wouldn't be smooth. I'd gained much, so a massive trial as backlash was inevitable.
I steeled my resolve. No backing out anyway. The Emperor of Myriad Spirits was a key pillar in my plan.
And with that, there was no reason to fear. I straightened up and turned to the soul.
The translucent soul's barely discernible face was grimacing fiercely at the hidden stage.
"Coming along?"
"If I may. I don't remember, but... insane killing intent boils up. I feel like entering there will recover a piece of my memory."
I nodded. This seemed like the proper route. Not the guy's cheat start, but the real orthodox path.
'Then the class will be even better, right?'
No reason to retreat. I pushed through the door, and like entering an Abyss portal, dizziness hit along with an unknown suction force. Once the soul and I vanished completely...
Bam!
The door slammed shut, and the pump resumed drawing underground water as if nothing happened.
Meanwhile, at that moment, the Primordial City—Teraeum—was in chaos. The info on Quest 478, long hidden, had finally been revealed.
"Whoa, shit! Rewards are nuts!"
"Who got the quest and made it public?"
"Yeah, it goes public if someone meets the conditions and accepts it."
"Insane. Clear it and you can go to the next stage. Gives a recommendation from a Holy Kingdom cardinal, no less."
"Fuck. Become a Holy Kingdom noble? That's the top kingdom in Stage-1."
"Yeah. The first saint cleared a quest there, got the Saint title, and became Earth's saint. Huge deal. As a religion-based kingdom, its influence is massive."
"Heard there are still double-digit Stage folks from the Holy Kingdom."
"Crazy for real. So jealous. Whoever it is, smooth sailing ahead. Ranker in no time?"
Stage-0 was simple—just clear any quest to qualify for the next stage, like a taste. But entering Stage-1 was another story.
Countless kingdoms dotted Stage-1, the last stage fully conquered by interdimensional players. To enter, you had to pick one and get citizenship.
Getting that citizenship wasn't easy. That's why stagnant players couldn't leave Stage-0.
But going with a recommendation? Not common citizenship—a noble one. From one of the Holy Kingdom's mere four cardinals?
In other kingdoms, that'd grant a baron's title outright—massive influence.
That's why everyone envied it. And they all thought the same.
May that unknown person fail the quest. So chance comes to me!
Not easy for veterans, but doable in a group.
Foolishly, they believed they could pull it off with opportunity. Blind courage and recklessness are a hair's breadth apart, unbeknownst to them.
Some acted. Not wasting time envying—they gathered info and seized chances.
Quest cleared? No problem. Find, kill, steal the reward.
For that difficulty, it'd be Stage-0's best reward. They spread out, collecting info, and by morning, learned Shin Juha had headed somewhere with the guard captain.