Chapter 55
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Yggdrasil's Mantle
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Item origins fell into two broad categories.
Those that crossed over from a "secondary dimension" rather than this world.
And treasures with ancient origins, or so-called national treasures, that transformed into named items.
Among them, named items from the latter category usually boasted Unique grade or higher.
The most famous example is the Green Dragon Crescent Blade wielded by one of China's 12 Martial Gods. The spear from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms that Guan Yu used appeared as a Legendary item.
That was why named items held greater rarity than those from secondary dimensions.
They came with special abilities tied to their pre-itemization legends, and often offered subtly superior efficiency compared to dimensional imports.
In that sense, the cloak right in front of me...
It boasted a "legend" incomparable even to Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Yggdrasil. The protagonist of Norse mythology. The World Tree that Odin planted—this cloak is its true form.
While the Romance of the Three Kingdoms was based on real events, this object was pure "myth."
The revelation of this cloak's true value had caused ripples beyond description.
A magical barrier bordering on absolute defense, befitting its true name of World Tree. The ultimate item that could block physical attacks, magic, and all abilities alike.
That was why Yggdrasil's Mantle was hailed as the supreme item.
Yet a priceless treasure like that was lost by future Korea.
...Due to a foolish trade.
From the perspective of that time, it hadn't seemed like a bad deal.
Before it was known that Legendary items could ascend to Mythic grade, America made an offer.
"Let's trade it for ten Unique items of your choice."
Considering the curse on Yggdrasil, it was an unusable item anyway, so swapping it for ten efficient Uniques seemed practical.
But it was a calculated move.
America's Million Summoner.
A deal orchestrated under Raymon Kim's covert influence.
Raymon Kim knew the cloak's true value early on. She knew Legendary items could reach Mythic grade.
The first Mythic grade revelation came from a cursed Legendary item discovered in Europe: the Winged Sandals.
By a stroke of luck, the curse was lifted, transforming them into "Hermes' Sandals," catapulting them to Mythic grade and shaking the world.
But Raymon Kim had recognized this cloak's potential even before that discovery and steered the trade.
It was cleverly framed. "We want a Legendary for research purposes. In exchange, ten Uniques of equivalent value."
In the end, after much deliberation, the Korean government approved the deal—and later became the laughingstock of the world.
But that ridicule paled in comparison to what came later.
She wore this mantle to invade Korea. Upgrading Korea's Legendary item into a Mythic one.
For Kang Hyuk, this mantle was an object of hatred.
The cloak draped over Raymon Kim had been an insurmountable wall back then.
Even my fists struggled to pierce its barrier. That's why I couldn't defeat her... But now.
One of the few things that had ever blocked his fists was right before him.
His heart pounded fiercely.
...An indescribable opportunity. "Luck" doesn't even begin to cover it.
Though the curse remained, leaving it unstable, that was no issue.
I know how to lift this mantle's curse. Right here, right now.
Future Raymon Kim had loudly publicized the method to break it.
Her arrogance had overridden the value of that intel.
That conceited personality... It's proving quite useful to me now.
Kang Hyuk's lips curved into a smile at the thought.
Then, to lift the curse, he slowly opened his mouth.
At that moment.
"Yggdrasil."
The true name echoed softly.
The dormant Yggdrasil's Mantle fluttered in response.
"Tree that upheld the world. Awaken."
[Sudden Quest!]
[You have uttered the name of the slumbering ancient tree! But you still lack the understanding of its hidden meaning!]
[Pass the trial to dismantle the first curse on the Mantle of Myriad Weights!]
[Will you accept the trial? Yes/No]
Kang Hyuk's eyes gleamed.
...She wasn't lying about this part.
Future Raymon Kim had said the mantle bore three curses total.
And three quests were needed to lift them.
She didn't reveal the trials' details... but this message confirms it. Yggdrasil was the passage linking the divine and human realms, and the tree that supported the world.
Thus, the trial before him tied into that myth.
[Mantle of Myriad Weights Quest]
[1st Trial: Yggdrasil] Endure the weight of this mantle, crafted from the tree said to have supported the world and cosmos in ancient times.
⏰ Time Limit: 1 minute
🎁 Reward: 1st Curse Lifted
Bearing the weight of the hovering Yggdrasil would pass the first trial.
If I don't take the trial here, it'll end up with Raymon Kim. I absolutely can't let that happen.
With that thought, Kang Hyuk strode forward without hesitation and draped the mantle over his shoulders.
In that instant.
"...!"
The mantle, made from the world-supporting tree, crushed down on him with immense pressure.
Kukukung!
His shoulders emitted a grotesque creak, and cracks spiderwebbed across the marble floor beneath his feet.
But only the ground shattered.
Kang Hyuk's body didn't bend at the knees or waist.
[Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.]
[Acquire Giant's Thigh.]
[Power of the Last Giant Clan: 10%]
The awakened giant power surpassed the mantle's crushing pressure.
Yet Yggdrasil's Mantle didn't yield the trial-clear message easily.
Kukukung!
As if the myth of the World Tree wasn't mere legend, it poured its full weight unfiltered onto Kang Hyuk.
Kwakwakwang!
The marble floor finally shattered completely, and the "living door" built into the Legendary vault groaned in agony.
[...My insides feel queasy! Did someone punch me?!]
The power struggle continued.
Ku-kung!
In their tense tug-of-war, the mantle suddenly billowed dramatically.
"...!"
As if enraged by Kang Hyuk's unyielding stance, it doubled the pressure.
As his body threatened to sink into the ground, Kang Hyuk played his hidden ace.
[Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.]
[Giantization Synchronization: 2.2%]
[Duration: 25 seconds]
[Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.]
[Acquire Giant's Thigh.]
[Power of the Last Giant Clan: 12%]
His muscles swelled simultaneously.
His legs and shoulders pumped unnaturally, bearing the load.
Kang!
Kang Hyuk's bent waist and knees straightened again, and a message appeared.
[Mantle of Myriad Weights Quest]
[1st Trial: Yggdrasil] Endure the weight of this mantle, crafted from the tree said to have supported the world and cosmos in ancient times.
⏰ Time Limit: 10 seconds
🎁 Reward: 1st Curse Lifted
The time limit had shrunk to 50 seconds before he knew it.
Yggdrasil resisted fiercely once more, but with Partial Giantization active, it posed no threat to Kang Hyuk.
If it's a trial of strength, there's no reason I can't pass.
In a calm tone, he endured the mantle's weight to the end.
A bead of cold sweat trailed down his jawline.
[Congratulations! You have completed the Mantle of Myriad Weights Quest!]
[The 1st curse on the Mantle of Myriad Weights is lifted as reward!]
[With the curse lifted, the mantle's name changes!]
The message appeared.
The sky-like weight on his shoulders vanished.
Kang Hyuk murmured in rapture at the revealed reward.
"Insane."
The jackpot had hit.
Time passed, and when Kang Hyuk emerged from the Lv. 4 vault, Hunter Association President Kang Cheol-woo and Director Lee Hyun-wook, who had been waiting, hurried over.
"Team Leader Kang!"
"What did you bring?"
Kang Hyuk proudly held something out.
The two froze, tilting their heads.
"That's...?"
"After much deliberation among many options, I chose this mantle. Thanks to you both."
Kang Cheol-woo fell silent.
He narrowed his eyes, staring at the golden mantle Kang Hyuk offered.
...No illusion.
He really picked a mantle.
A heavy silence settled.
Exchanging glances, Lee Hyun-wook and Kang Cheol-woo faced reality and shouted.
"Have you lost your mind, Team Leader Kang?!"
"Out of all those items, you picked a cursed one?"
The two, usually exuding steadfast dignity, reacted with uncharacteristic dismay.
Kang Hyuk chuckled softly at the rare sight.
"I did agonize over it, but I saw potential and went with this."
"...Potential?"
"Yes. Lift the curse, and who knows what Legendary item it becomes? That's why I chose it."
Lee Hyun-wook hurriedly asked.
"You passed on solid Legendaries for a cursed item, just on that reasoning?"
Kang Hyuk replied with an ambiguous expression.
"Was it too much of a gamble?"
Kang Cheol-woo and Lee Hyun-wook wore exasperated looks.
They glanced at each other.
...We were wrong this time.
We should've advised him to pick something better.
They pondered how to handle it, but no clear solution emerged.
Kung!
The Everlasting Door storing Legendaries had already closed.
Reopening it required crafting a new key—a month-long process.
And upper management's re-approval... That's a hassle too.
Which means... Team Leader Kang really has to use that mantle.
They sighed deeply.
We messed up! Admit the mistake, Team Leader!
You shouldn't have picked that!
The regret stung, even though it wasn't their choice.
He had squandered a massive growth opportunity on one bad decision.
Kang Hyuk thought.
Too flimsy an excuse to slide by.
He shook his head after gauging their expressions.
No, actually, this works. Showing some recklessness now and then isn't bad. I've been too flawless; time to show a flawed choice.
Of course, it needed plausibility, so he added.
"Hm... It's a secret, but I know an excellent blacksmith."
Kang Cheol-woo snapped to attention.
"Excellent blacksmith?"
"Yes. Park Je-woo, someone I coincidentally connected with. He's highly skilled. That's why I picked this mantle—I judged he might lift the curse."
The two exchanged looks again.
A somewhat believable reason, but...
An unknown blacksmith lifting a Legendary curse? Even top Meister smiths throw up their hands at those.
The pity lingered.
But the subtle suspicion eased.
...Sigh. Can't be helped. Everyone fails once.
Actually, good. Combat mistakes are fatal, but this we can cover. At his age, he's done too well till now.
They reluctantly accepted it.
But not without advice.
"...I get it. But Team Leader, not everything goes your way."
"Learn that now. It's for the best."
Kang Hyuk nodded solemnly outside while smirking inwardly.
Not bad. If they buy it like this, I'm golden.
After returning to the Association from the Lv. 4 vault, Secretary General Lee Ye-jin delivered unexpected news.
"President, a gift from Arena."
"...Arena? Eternal Frost Yoon Han sent me a gift?"
"No. It's for Team Leader Kang."
As puzzled looks spread, Arena guild members carefully brought something forward.
Kang Cheol-woo gasped upon recognizing it.
"Th-this!"
Unique grade.
One of Arena's boasted top ten treasures: Winid's Cloak.
"Sent by mistake? They'd give this away?"
The Arena guild member confirmed when he double-checked in disbelief.
"Yes, truly a gift. The Master greatly appreciated your actions at the Jeju Gate and instructed us to deliver something fitting for Team Leader Kang."
Kang Cheol-woo and Lee Hyun-wook fell silent.
Memories resurfaced.
Come to think of it, Arena's raid leader was Yoon Han's daughter, Team Leader Yoon Hee-na.
...She nearly lost her only heir. This must be compensation.
A misguided interpretation.
But plausible enough in context, so they bought it and admired Kang Hyuk.
Lucky people have it all. Things looked tangled, but it unravels like this!
Winid's Cloak outperforms that cursed Mantle of Myriad Weights by miles. His bad pick hardly matters now.
As they eyed him enviously.
Tch, pointless gesture.
Kang Hyuk stared at Winid's Cloak with indifference, hiding it well.
With Yoon Han's personality, sending this means... Too proud to say "let's mend ties," so "take this and cool off." That's the message.
Despite the fine item, Kang Hyuk wasn't thrilled.
Unique grade, sure, but worthless with Yggdrasil's Mantle. Can't even sell a gift. Just baggage.
He pondered, then muttered.
...Give it to Black? It'd suit him well.
An unexpected idea.
Not bad, though.
Monsters can equip items too.
Decision made, Kang Hyuk took Winid's Cloak.
The Arena guild member spouted pleasantries.
"May this strengthen ties between the Association and Arena. Two pillars of Korea growing closer benefits the nation, right?"
Kang Hyuk smirked and nodded appropriately.
After they left, alone with Yggdrasil's Mantle, he reflected.
...Two curses left, but even now, its value is immeasurable.
Its special ability: Auto Magic Defense, a renowned advanced spell.
Automatically deploys barriers against any magic or physical attack.
Even skilled mages struggled with it.
The spell had no fixed standard; performance varied with the caster's proficiency.
I don't know its current barrier strength... but irrelevant.
In the future, he had experienced its power firsthand.
Even 10% of that would be invaluable to me now. And.
This Yggdrasil's Mantle held even greater worth.
Three days from now.
The great catastrophe.
'Seoul Station Labyrinth Gate.'
The gate and mantle were polar opposites.
An extreme incompatibility.
Kang Hyuk's lips curved upward.
Time passed: July 1st.
Daily foot traffic: 200,000.
A massive portal appeared at ever-crowded Seoul Station.
"Wh-what's that?!"
Labyrinthization.
"It's a gate!!!"
Among Seoul's gate incidents, one rated among the worst disasters had finally emerged.