Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Dungeon (4)
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1.
[Hero]
It's a name that simply can't be omitted from any fantasy story.
That's why Novel Online features a hero too.
And not just any hero, but one summoned from Earth as the savior destined to save this world.
The guy appears as a support NPC who helps the player.
His stats are incredibly high for the early game, to the point where his AI-controlled movements alone let him take down the mid-boss of Chapter 1 by himself.
Of course, after that, bosses start using instant-death skills and control effects, so he can't handle them alone. But he has the trait of following the player, so with good control, he shows tanking prowess on par with top warrior rankers.
However, the community always rags on him...
【 Hero - Kang Siwoo 】 ▶“You okay? Not hurt anywhere? ...Pretty young lady.” And the number one reason for all that hate is undoubtedly this guy's drunken, cheesy lines.
Spouting lines straight out of some bargain-bin romance fantasy novel at female characters—who wouldn't want to puke and curse at that?
Even worse, if the player is using a male character, it changes to crap like, “Weaklings like you shouldn't come to a place like this.” He dishes out colorful abuse regardless of the player's nationality or gender.
His attitude does a complete 180 depending on the character's gender, so it's no wonder.
'Looks like he didn't die after all.'
-Shwooo...
The surroundings were filled with broken trees and clouds of dust.
Weaving through that mess toward the direction the hero had flown, I spotted him passed out in some awkward pose.
He must've taken a direct hit to the head and lost consciousness.
'No injuries at all, as expected.'
Upon closer inspection, he was just knocked out—no wounds.
Well, technically, he'd probably died once from that hit already.
I'd put quite a bit of force into it, enough to one-shot someone under level 200.
It would've been fine if he'd stayed dead from that, but it didn't really matter if he didn't.
No, actually, it was better that he hadn't died. I couldn't kill him even if I wanted to.
⚙ PASSIVE SKILL ⚙ “Death, I will reject you.” [★] Death, I reject thee. ※Attribute: Light / Range: None / Max Targets: 1 ※Special Notes - (Cooldown: 24 hours) ▶The incantation of regression created by the Transcendent of Time. Automatically activates when the user's HP reaches 0. Revives the user with full HP and MP. The reason was that this hero had the exact same resurrection passive as mine—just with a different name.
The hero revives once every 24 hours with full HP and MP, even from instant-death damage.
In the game, he even gets three lives per appearance.
That's why he has such insane tanking ability.
He starts with a passive you only get after defeating the final boss Transcendent.
Even for an NPC, isn't this a bit too overpowered?
The guy attacks demon race players just like some heresy inquisitor.
His level and stats are so high that barely killing him once just leads to him reviving at full health and mana to attack again. It's ridiculous.
'But even if he revives, he probably doesn't retain consciousness.'
Fortunately, he was still out cold on the ground.
-Thud!
So, before he could come to, I yanked off the necklace around his neck.
A necklace embedded with a familiar blue gem.
Just like the one he had in the game.
“Good, this'll make finding the portal a breeze.”
⚔ ITEM ⚔ ▶Accessory 『Guiding Crystal』 ※Prevents the wearer from getting lost. ※A necklace made from a soulstone. I grabbed his cape and dragged him along.
It was a hassle, but I needed him to open the portal.
I couldn't guarantee it'd be exactly like the game, but when players first enter the labyrinth, the entrance is blocked, and this guy comes to open it.
Then he drags the player inside by force.
Taking a level 90-something player into a level 120+ labyrinth. That's one reason he's called the ultimate jerk...
Countless players lost 10% of their exp because of him.
“If only I could take this with me.”
As I pushed through the forest, my eyes kept drifting to the Guiding Crystal.
It's like Novel Online's built-in navigation: hold it and picture where you want to go, and it guides you.
But they don't give it to players outside the tutorial, and even if you steal it from him, you can't keep it.
-Crackle!
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ [Bound item.] 'As expected, it rejects me if I try to use it.'
Unlike other NPCs where you could loot items on death, you couldn't take anything from this hero even if you killed him.
My situation was an exception anyway. Normally, players are way below his level at this point.
No matter how strong a skill they used, they couldn't even dent 5% of his HP before getting insta-killed.
And even the few who managed to kill him couldn't claim his items. With so much broken balance in the game, they were just pie in the sky.
“Tch.”
-Crackle! Crack!
Shaking off the regret, I kept moving until a portal wide enough for several people appeared.
'Found it.'
It resembled the exit out of Twilight Forest. Well, Twilight Forest was a similar stage to the labyrinth, so nothing strange there.
-Thump! Thump!
Tapping the portal with my hand, it bounced back.
Felt like it was sealed by some barrier.
'Blocked, as expected.'
Just like the game, the entrance was sealed.
Back when I played, I'd searched for ways to enter the labyrinth without the hero, but never found any.
And if you're wondering why not just bring this high-level NPC? Another reason he gets hate: he steals all the exp by soloing every monster.
I tried every method to prevent it, but the core issue—that the entrance won't open unless he enters first—couldn't be solved, so I gave up.
Fortunately, it only happened on first entry; after that, you could go without him.
Not that it made the lost exp sting any less...
“Good thing I brought him.”
That's why I'd dragged the hero—the key to the portal—along.
It was a pain, but worth it.
-Clack.
...But if I shove him in by force, will it open?
And what happens to him after?
Hmm. Leaving him in the labyrinth would kill even the hero eventually.
Not that it's my problem.
“Go.”
-Whoosh!
I hurled the hero into the portal with all my strength.
With a crackle, the portal tore open.
He vanished inside, and now I could enter too.
'Jackpot. Soulstones are rare items you can't buy even with money.'
I'd already maxed soulstone enhancements on my holy relic gear, but having an extra wouldn't hurt.
Besides, soulstones have different bonuses depending on type.
If luck was on my side, I might snag one with that 'ability' I'd never gotten even after the final boss.
“Whew. Let's go.”
I took a quick deep breath and stepped into the portal.
In an instant, my vision flashed white.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Boom!
A massive crash echoed as something slammed into the labyrinth wall.
It was so fast it pierced several meters into the steel-tough wall and kept going.
Anyone unaware might think it was the boss monster rampaging.
“W-what was that sound?!”
The adventurers heard it too.
Startled, Rain drew his sword and scanned the surroundings.
But only eerie silence followed—no sounds, no monsters approaching.
Just a chilling vibe.
“That's why I said not to open treasure chests willy-nilly in dungeons. The exit might be blocked now.”
“Don't say stuff like that, Rasi el...! It's scary enough already.”
The adventurers bickered a bit.
“Hah.”
Watching them, Louis let out a deep sigh.
'Pathetic. Lowly creatures, as expected.'
To not notice such a simple 'trap'—if not for Cyan's orders, Louis would've snapped and devoured them all on the spot.
Who could've predicted they'd trigger it while he looked away? From his view, it screamed trap, yet greed led them right into it...
'They're complete idiots.'
Earlier, while exploring the dungeon, they'd found some ruins in the forest.
Thinking it was the center, they searched it—and inevitably triggered the 'trap' there.
[Light bursts from the chest...! What's this magic circle?!] [Everyone, be careful! It's teleportation magic...! Looks like there was a scroll in the chest!] An old chest in the ruins.
Eyes gleaming at the thought of gold coins inside, the adventurers opened it without a second thought—except the elf.
Monsters sometimes stash looted human goods in boxes, and rare treasures or gear could pop up, so they dove in greedily.
'Why is everyone so greedy?'
But instead of treasure, a teleportation spell greeted them.
Teleportation circles appeared under everyone's feet.
Without magic resistance, you can't resist it.
As a dragon, Louis could've escaped, but Cyan ordered him to protect the adventurers and complete the request, so he shielded them.
Once activated, no canceling it—he had to follow.
And this was the result.
Now, lost in an unknown labyrinth, they wandered aimlessly.
Desperate to escape, they searched for an exit, but no luck—not even monsters showed up.
Louis had no clue how to get out.
He couldn't transform into a dragon in front of them either.
And those humans behind? Far from helpful, they were just a hindrance.
Louis's opinion of humans plummeted.