Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: 47. Defense Expert (4)
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“Myth… Codex?”
As Youngwoo’s eyes widened, Chairman Dogo crossed his arms, speaking as if he’d known this was coming all along.
—The true value of the Illegitimate Child lies there.
It was a sort of Dogo-style brag, claiming that Youngwoo, a lowly creature, could unlock the Myth Codex precisely because he’d handed over the Illegitimate Child.
“If it’s the Myth Codex… then it’s a codex that registers only the mythic gear I’ll acquire from now on, right? I wonder if I’ll even get a second myth?”
Youngwoo put on a show of humility as he said this.
Of course, having snagged a mythic weapon just days after his reset, he harbored no illusions that this was his first and last myth.
Youngwoo might have been born a lowly creature, but he was one with ambitions far grander than most of his kind—and utterly reckless to boot.
And above all else.
‘If the Chairman really handed over the Illegitimate Child with the Myth Codex in mind… there must be a reason. Like a way to obtain another myth.’
That was the real reason Youngwoo was playing humble in front of the Chairman.
Myth Codex.
Wasn’t it possible the reason the Chairman bestowed this was because there was room for Dogo’s ad model to earn a second myth—or even a third?
‘Come on, Chairman. Time to give me some answers.’
As Youngwoo gazed at Dogo’s beast-shaped helmet with eyes brimming with anticipation, the Chairman finally responded.
But not in the way Youngwoo had expected.
—Jeong Youngwoo07. You already have your second myth right in front of you.
“……?”
Youngwoo tilted his head at the out-of-left-field reply.
“…What do you mean? Ah, of course, the Chairman is a mythic existence in the arms industry…”
Youngwoo trailed off mid-sentence as a thought flashed through his mind.
And right on cue.
Whoosh.
The Chairman spread his arms wide in an arrogant pose.
—This body is myth incarnate.
‘…Did he eat something funny today?’
Even so, Youngwoo had a pretty good idea what the Chairman was getting at.
—My name, Dogo’s, is already inscribed in that codex.
‘…Figured as much.’
In other words, the Myth Codex wasn’t just for gear—it was a conceptual codex encompassing all things “mythic.”
‘So basically, the Chairman was just bragging. Saying he’s worthy of being in the codex.’
But at the same time.
“Then someone with the Myth Codex must go around hunting mythic beings like you, Chairman. They could fill it by slaying myths too…?”
Youngwoo tossed out what could be seen as an incredibly insolent question, but Dogo—strength incarnate—only puffed out his chest with pride.
—Indeed. Not a few challengers have come my way.
He fiddled with the greatsword at his waist again, murmuring low.
—I too am a master of the Myth Codex. And today, I’ve filled one more slot. Finally, that bastard has a use.
‘…Good lord.’
He had to be talking about the councilor who’d raised a fuss over the Illegitimate Child transfer.
‘With thugs like that crawling everywhere, how the hell does cosmic order even hold together?’
As Youngwoo mulled this over, the status of his Myth Codex appeared in his vision.
〔1〕
Youngwoo had collected a grand total of one “myth” so far.
From here on, acquiring more mythic gear or slaying a mythic being itself would increment that number one by one.
‘So how many myths has the Chairman—the mad Destroyer King—collected?’
Youngwoo found himself staring absently at Dogo’s battered full-body armor before his attention was drawn to the notification text that followed.
Fwaaah!
“Huh?”
It was none other than this.
【Sword blade length scales with user’s height.】
【+25% power against targets larger than user.】
【Ignores 50% physical damage reduction.】
.
.
.
【+15% power when dual-wielding.】
【First attack +20% power. Reactivates on sheathing.】
Special effects granted by the Weapon Codex.
The options from all the weapons he’d amassed so far were now applied in bulk.
And then, finally.
[2 effects remain unapplied.]
|Target: Golden Trajectory, 「Illegitimate Child」|
|Reason: Bound effects|
A notice appeared stating that the auto-combat of the two-handed greatsword “Golden Trajectory” and the Illegitimate Child’s unique effects wouldn’t activate via the codex.
‘Ah… that’s a shame. Not every effect gets applied, huh.’
In short, the Illegitimate Child and Golden Trajectory required direct equipping to access their effects.
‘I was hoping to see a flying Illegitimate Child.’
The silver lining was that Golden Trajectory followed its master on its own, so it wouldn’t take up a belt slot.
Now that “Preemptive Strike” was in the codex, he probably wouldn’t need to sheath and draw constantly anyway.
「Preemptive Strike」 - Mutated One-Handed Sword
【First attack +20% power. Reactivates on sheathing.】
‘At least the black sword’s effect applies through the codex. Dragon hunting just got way easier.’
Just imagine the Illegitimate Child’s blade extending to 6 meters. Youngwoo was confident even dragons would cower.
Plus, the Weapon Codex had to have at least doubled his firepower.
‘All prepped to meet Mom and Uncle now.’
Paaat!
Next came the Weapon Codex status.
[Weapon Codex]
〔13〕
[Collection Effect: 10]
| +1% damage per registered weapon |
‘Oho.’
Worthy of a Weapon Codex indeed.
The stage 1 collection effect was no joke.
‘So at 100 weapons, that’s +100% damage?’
Of course, judging by how the previous codex worked, only gear with special effects could be registered, so filling it quickly wouldn’t be easy.
‘But it’s just a matter of time. With enough cash, I can buy up every piece of gear in sight.’
Money again, in the end.
But conveniently, the defense budget deal was mostly wrapped up, and he still had plenty of ad revenue left from Dogo.
“Chairman… thank you for everything. I’ll survive hard and spread the Dogo name far and wide.”
Youngwoo bowed deeply, and Popu—the one carrying him—tilted its upper body to offer its own greeting to the Chairman.
-Bat!
“However…”
Youngwoo started up again.
—What is it? Speak.
“I believe there’s still one unpaid reward outstanding.”
As Youngwoo rubbed his right thumb, index, and middle fingers together, Dogo somehow recognized the gesture and let out a hollow chuckle from inside his helmet.
—You’re right. Business dealings must be settled cleanly.
He sent another silent signal skyward.
Then.
Kwaaaaah!
This time, instead of a pillar of light, there came a brutal whoosh of physical force slicing through the air.
“Sh-should we step back a bit?”
As Youngwoo glanced at the Chairman amid the ominous sound, the “reward” in question rocketed down from the upper atmosphere, slamming into the space between Youngwoo and Dogo.
Kwaaaang!
“Hk!”
The “reward” was bulkier than expected, and Youngwoo nearly stumbled back before barely holding himself in check.
“What is this, Chairman?”
Youngwoo stared at the jet-black metal lump.
The gear the Chairman had summoned was embedded in the ground in an egg-like oval shape, just like where Neugig had been.
Only this one was much smaller, about a meter in diameter.
‘It’s not another vehicle, is it?’
As Youngwoo cautiously inspected the jet-black metal, Dogo pointed at the gift with a finger.
—After consulting the shareholders, we’ve decided to provide a newly developed product. This is compensation for Kim Jong-un’s elimination.
“…A new product?”
Though to Youngwoo, hearing “Kim Jong-un” come out of the Chairman’s mouth was the real shocker.
—Behold.
Dogo began a slow descent to demonstrate the new product.
Youngwoo watched as the Chairman’s toes drew closer and closer to Earth’s surface.
The man always floated in the air, after all—he’d never actually “landed” on the planet even once.
Swoosh.
Finally stopping a meter above the ground, he slowly drew his sword and lightly scraped the tip against the “new product.”
Chit!
Instantly.
Kwa-gwak!
A savage friction sound rang out as the oval metal body unfurled wide.
“…Huh?”
Youngwoo’s eyes went wide as he finally realized what this reward was.
“A mantle… this is a mantle, right?”
And it was the exact same model as the one the Chairman currently wore.
—Someday, you’ll receive a summons. When that happens, you too must don a 「Mantle of Presence」.
Mantle of Presence.
Dogo had even used the transcendent term for it—a sort of cosmic ID badge.
It signified the wearer’s affiliation, status, and cosmic standing.
Usually crafted as a mantle, but depending on taste, it could take the form of a ceremonial sword, shield, helmet, and so on.
‘Especially for public outings, draping a Mantle of Presence is cosmic etiquette. Pretty much mandatory for visiting public institutions…’
After pondering the complex implications of the 「Mantle of Presence」 for a moment, Youngwoo zeroed in on the Chairman’s most recent line.
“Chairman, but in the cosmos, being ‘summoned’ usually isn’t for anything good, is it?”
Like how the Chairman had been called in by that committee this time.
‘Even for tax evasion, they’d summon you to the relevant agency…’
Dogo didn’t deny it.
—Correct. Which is why you must mind your cosmic etiquette all the more—and prepare for unavoidable choices.
“Unavoidable choices…?”
Youngwoo parroted the Chairman’s words like a myna bird, and Dogo looked to the sky again.
But this time.
Paaaah!
To take flight.
As usual, he was wrapping up business here and leaving without sentiment.
“Ch-Chairman! What was that unavoidable choice you just mentioned? Chairmaaan!”
As Youngwoo shouted after Dogo, who’d already soared to the top of his ship, a deep voice boomed down from the heavens.
—Remember the business philosophy of 「Dogo」. I am born of the battlefield, master of the Hundred Thousand Sword Mountain! The Destroyer King Dogo…!
‘What the hell is he… on about?’
As Youngwoo furrowed his brow, the massive chain linking the Chairman’s tombstone and anchor began reeling up into the sky.
Chrarararung!
Dogo was setting sail for the vast cosmos once more.
“Chairman! Stay healthy…!”
Etiquette demanded a send-off, so Youngwoo waved both arms in the air.
Seoul’s top swordsmen—who’d been blankly listening to the exchange—awkwardly waved back as well.
Especially Gwanak First Sword Jo Sang-ik.
“…Youngwoo’s not living the easy life either, huh.”
He clucked his tongue at “New Humanity” Jeong Youngwoo’s astonishing savvy, watching the colossal tombstone vanish beyond the sky.
Kwaaaaah!
And in the spot where the Chairman had departed.
“…….”
Dogo’s custom mantle—compensation for Kim Jong-un’s elimination—remained behind.
“A mantle that helps prepare for unavoidable choices…?”
Now that the Chairman was gone, wasn’t it time to unwrap the gift?
Youngwoo reached out and touched the jet-black mantle.
Tap.
「Public Decency」 - ◇ Dogo Mantle of Presence
【+20% damage against civil servants.】
【20% ability resistance】
【Dogo】