Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: The Place Where Death Lingered #3
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(Spoiler Warning) Title: But an NPC on the 10th floor? — Anonymous Did we ever meet an NPC this early on originally? Hunter perspectives have so little info released that it's hard to say.
— Anonymous If it's what I know, it should be around the 'Devil Hunter' time. Then... hmm...
— Reply Yeah, that's probably it. — Reply Why the 'hmm'? — Reply Well, see... — Paper Enthusiast Don't spill more than Paper Enthusiast level. — Reply Gasp. — Reply Why? Can't we just favor the newbie? — Reply ↳ Reply If Paper Enthusiast moves too obviously, 'that bastard' shows up. — Reply Ah. — Reply Main dude summon incoming ㄷㄷ 📰 Breaking News Title: What the hell, why do you guys know and not me? — Anonymous (Frog monster raging GIF) Why are you all talking about stuff I'm left out of! Fuck, PTSD incoming. — Reply Lmao so pitiful. — Reply Why is this guy the only one getting all emotional? — Reply If I said it's because you're a loner... would you believe me? — OP Fuck. — OP So what is it really? What's happening to the newbie? — Reply What could happen? It's the eternal 10th floor. — Reply That's true tho. — Anonymous Normally you'd meet it on floors 12 or 13, so the newbie's a bit fast. Does the NPC show up this early normally? Or is there something special going on? — Reply What 'something' lol.. — Reply Is this good or bad? — Reply From what I recall, NPC appearance timing is random. It gets fixed as you approach theme stages. — OP Oh, is that it? — Reply Take it or leave it. — OP ??? — Reply Anyway, assume it's good and move on. The gallery's bait was buzzing with activity.
About the 15th floor, and about the newbie's movements.
What dangers might lurk, and what countermeasures they needed.
For them, handling a living hunter newbie was a first, so everyone was proceeding with tension.
— Short-Eared Goblin I'm curious~ what exploits will newbie-kun show~ — Reply The bracelet is smiling... anyway, it's smiling.. — Reply Bandit looking forward to the newbie fleeing in disappointment from Wine Lord's tower, upvote lmao — Short-Eared Goblin (Cute elf thumbs-up GIF) — Reply Lmaoooooooo — Aged Wine is... Eeeeek...! You must follow the order..! 📰 Breaking News Title: Fact is, the newbie is getting healthier. — Anonymous Thanks to arriving at Wine Lord's tower first, he's gobbled up hidden pieces left and right, His growth pace is insanely fast, right? Plus, meeting the NPC early and rushing the story quest is even better, fact. Whose credit is this? It's thanks to our Wine Lord, that's what. ...This is how you do it, right? "Spot on."
Jinjo, who had been devouring the gallery, left a pleased reply.
— Aged Wine is... Exactly...! Newbie-kun must realize this one's greatness and tackle the tower more aggressively...! — Reply Shamelessness on tower lord level fr. — Reply That's why you're the tower lord? Lmao "Hngh..."
Feeling stuffy, she stretched her arms upward, leaning back deeply into her chair.
The pleasant comfort of sinking into just the right softness.
But that stifling discomfort soon filled her empty heart again.
All because of one being still tormenting her.
"Newbie."
No, now she knew his name.
"Do-yoon."
He wasn't the type to die on some measly 10th floor.
She'd felt his combat prowess firsthand.
Losing to ghouls there was something she couldn't accept.
But the source of her unease lay elsewhere.
NPC.
Those who forcibly replayed her unpleasant memories, granting false life.
"If I had my way, once more."
Her madness-tinged gaze turned back toward where the newbie was.
The newbie, just now reaching the boss room.
And beside him stood one she hated more than anything.
"A pity. If I could tear it apart and kill it once more, that alone would be delightful."
The citizen gazing innocently at Do-yoon, face blank as ever.
But Jinjo knew.
The repulsive instincts hidden in those harmless eyes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ah...."
The NPC let out an inexplicable sigh.
"....?"
Before Do-yoon could react,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ —Shaaah... A halo of light scattering from the citizen's feet.
As if its duty was done, it turned to them with a relieved expression.
"Th-thank you...! Thanks to you, I can return safely to the village...!"
"No. What village is there here..."
"Do-yoon."
Grabbing Do-yoon's shoulder, it gazed at him with quiet eyes.
"...."
"I will repay this kindness...!"
With those words.
The citizen fully dissolved into light and vanished before Do-yoon's eyes.
"Is that the end?"
"That's the NPC's role. Now, just..."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Linked quest cleared. Due to your excellent progress, boss room clear rewards are enhanced. "Right. Can't end here."
"...."
Rakiya Bells finally understood Do-yoon's reaction and stood there dazed.
"What're you doing? Time to go in."
"Ah, yeah."
But at Do-yoon's urging, she snapped out of it and entered the boss room with him.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ —Whoosh. A strange sensation like space shifting.
'Never get used to this.'
Do-yoon grumbled inwardly.
As per the rules, Rakiya Bells who entered with him was sent to another space.
He felt a strange sense of loss.
Up to the 5th floor, he'd cleared in a friendly atmosphere with senior hunters, and he missed that.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Entered boss room. Soon, Do-yoon came to in the boss room.
The village landscape still in ruins.
A place long settled by death, yet Do-yoon pressed forward.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ —Ding! "...Huh?"
Suddenly, an alert popped up in the corner of his vision, making him pause.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Due to quest clear, boss mob stage is transforming. "What."
An unsettling message window.
'Was it like this?'
Even checking the gallery and other info, it would help rather than harm him, no ominous vibes.
Unless some variable, but.
Do-yoon willingly assumed the positive and stepped forward.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ —Shaaah... Soon, ominous mana residue rose from his ankles.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Due to the tower's blessing, boss monster 'Endless Hunger' has been changed to 'Alchemist of Oblivion'. Event begins. Against the additional status windows, Do-yoon headed toward the source of surging mana.
And so.
"....."
He faced a man in a black robe at the center of the magic circle.
Alchemist of Oblivion.
He knew instantly.
Even without subordinates, that man was the stage's master and boss monster.
"Hunter, or adventurer perhaps."
Oddly, he spoke human language from the start.
'Something's off.'
It definitely was.
Per gallery info, they should rampage mindlessly in the boss room.
"Doesn't matter who. For my experiments, I just need as many subjects as possible."
The Alchemist of Oblivion turned to Do-yoon.
Shadows draped his face under the robe, obscuring it.
"You're strong."
He pointed at Do-yoon, marked as sacrifice.
"Far more valuable than those who luckily escaped this place."
"Escaped?"
"Yes. But they were worthless lab rats anyway. They surely died without lasting long in my experiments. But you... you'll hold out longer."
"Who said I'm going down?"
"Brash. But that courage won't last."
Mana around Do-yoon intensified.
The Alchemist of Oblivion was building momentum.
"I saw the light. That is the path to immortality."
"What're you talking about."
"Surely an angel descended to this world. White hair, exceedingly beautiful, noble one."
Do-yoon blanked for a moment.
'This.'
"Hmph, not Eira!"
Of course not.
The alchemist meant a twisted, fully corrupted Jinjo from another dimension after brutal torture.
"Ever met that person?"
"Only sensed a fragment of her mana from afar. But now it's different. I will pursue and serve her properly."
"Heh."
As expected of a boss mob, sharp mind.
"Before that."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ —Shaaaah...! Mana writhed.
"Attacking mid-convo?"
Do-yoon instinctively leaped back.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ —Slash! Where he'd stood, hook-shaped mana whipped through.
The Alchemist of Oblivion's surprise attack.
Feeling deep betrayal, Do-yoon immediately summoned Eira.
Test the waters first.
Twin blood-red chains targeted the foe.
"Ah, no!"
But the alchemist, grasping its nature, hesitated.
"Why. Familiar?"
"Y-you, how do you have that...!"
His shocked reaction was infuriating.
As if he'd seen it before, presuming familiarity.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ —Boom! Firing the chains first, Do-yoon thought.
'If it talks.'
If the system allowed, he'd chat before killing.
More info was always better.
Recalling the barbarian warrior dueling somewhere, he fully engaged.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Jinjo's Memories "Playtime?"
"Yeah."
He ordered Eira, eyeing the foe with keen interest.
No mercy, attack ruthlessly.
"W-wait."
The alchemist realized the overwhelming momentum and regained reason, but.
"Yeah yeah."
Do-yoon, judgment made, unleashed merciless joint assault with Eira.
"...Guhk!"
Moments later.
After a few counterattacks, the Alchemist of Oblivion ended up.
Bound head to toe in chains, dangling midair like bait.
"Let's communicate."
Satisfied with the fresh catch's quality, Do-yoon proposed a one-sided deal to the Alchemist of Oblivion.