Chapter 430
Chapter 430
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 431
Chapter Title: Pico, the Mysterious Chatbot
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At Kim Chang-hyun's words, Choi Il-hyun furrowed his brow.
To think that the blood of twenty-five rare clans flowed through him.
It was hard to believe, even though he had personally witnessed the use of those rare clan abilities.
The magical power of each clan's blood didn't mix just because you tried to mix it.
Choi Il-hyun pondered for a moment before something occurred to him, and he spoke.
"...Did you succeed in that experiment, by any chance?"
"Yes. It succeeded. Though not free from the world's laws, by exploiting a loophole in the world, it was ultimately achieved. The creation of a superhuman with resistance to mysteries..."
Various types of magical power floated up around Kim Chang-hyun's body in several places.
Each one contained the magical power of a different rare clan.
Choi Il-hyun looked at the magical power and asked.
"...What's your goal?"
"To reclaim humanity's freedom, stripped away by the world's laws. And to help that one descend upon this world in complete form."
"Is reviving Jin Cheonwoo your goal?"
Kim Chang-hyun didn't answer.
Seeing that, Choi Il-hyun felt suspicion.
The 'spirit of Jin Cheonwoo' he had seen in Aporia had shown fear at the mere mention of the name Kim Chang-hyun.
If the 'that one' Kim Chang-hyun meant was indeed Jin Cheonwoo, then it shouldn't have reacted that way to the name of a loyal servant and apostle...
Feeling something off, Choi Il-hyun asked again.
"Now that I think about it, it's strange. Why aren't you with Ja-un? If you're Jin Cheonwoo's apostle, those guys would surely help you."
"Well. Because our goals differ from theirs."
"Our goals differ?"
Ja-un's goal was Jin Cheonwoo's revival.
And Kim Chang-hyun had said he wanted Jin Cheonwoo's complete descent.
How were those two different?
Did I miss something?
After thinking it over several times on his own, Choi Il-hyun spoke again with a hunch.
"By any chance, is the 'that one' you're talking about not Jin Cheonwoo?"
At that question, Kim Chang-hyun closed his mouth for a moment before giving a small smile and saying.
"The answers to your questions end here."
...He dodged the answer?
That might mean the 'that one' he spoke of wasn't Jin Cheonwoo.
Then who exactly was that one? Was there someone else behind Jin Cheonwoo?
At that moment, magical power began to seep faintly from Kim Chang-hyun's flesh.
As battle seemed about to resume suddenly, Choi Il-hyun also drew up his magical power.
"...Tch."
Choi Il-hyun bit his lip.
He still had many questions left about 'Kim Seonwoo,' who had caused so much controversy lately.
"No choice, then."
...At this point, he'd have to subdue him and find out!
Shoooo!
Five massive magical spheres manifested above Choi Il-hyun's head. They soon shot toward him rapidly.
Kim Chang-hyun manifested the rare clan's 'Tyrant's Golden Barrier' just like before and easily blocked them.
"Hmph."
Having gathered some information from the previous clash, Choi Il-hyun didn't panic.
And thanks to past experience, he already knew how to break the golden barrier.
Choi Il-hyun concentrated all his magical power into his feet and charged toward him.
At the same time, a sound like a jet tearing through the air exploded loudly.
Bang!
As Choi Il-hyun closed in right before him, Kim Chang-hyun expanded the golden barrier even larger to block the approach.
Just as the manifested golden barrier tried to push his body back, Choi Il-hyun reached out and manifested a magic circle.
Woooong!
The manifested magic circle soon touched the golden barrier.
The two magical powers collided, and the golden barrier began to shake unsteadily.
"..Tch."
Kim Chang-hyun bit his lip.
For a defensive spell second only to Reversal to shake this easily.
And at the same time, he realized the identity of the magic circle Choi Il-hyun had manifested.
Spell Interference Control Technique.
It was a kind of 'universal hacking tool' that rapidly infiltrated and destroyed the spells of all magic circles, the foundation of auxiliary magic.
It was Choi Il-hyun's unique magic, developed while researching ways to counter Kim Jin-cheol's absolute defense magic, Reversal.
And as if to prove it, the golden barrier began to crumble rapidly.
Choi Il-hyun seized the opening. He manifested a new magical sphere on his palm and unleashed it straight into Kim Chang-hyun's abdomen.
Kwaaang!
Kim Chang-hyun's body rolled across the floor.
He spat out the blood pooling in his mouth and slowly rose with his tattered body.
At that instant, countless magic circles floated around him, and chains of magical power bound his arms and legs.
"...Kuh!"
With his entire body restrained, Kim Chang-hyun glared at Choi Il-hyun as he approached.
As expected of one of the world's top three monsters, the gap in power was overwhelming.
And he instantly understood why 'that one' had been so wary of Choi Il-hyun.
He possessed overwhelming strength yet wasn't bound by chains like the association like Kim Jin-cheol, pursuing only Jin Cheonwoo.
Then, one of the magical power chains manifested on the ground shot out and gripped Kim Chang-hyun's neck.
"I'll ask something else."
"What's your connection to my disciple?"
...Disciple?
"...Kuhuhu. Y-You're talking about K-Kim Seonwoo?"
"Yes. You, Kim Seonwoo, and Jin Cheonwoo—what's the connection?"
Kim Chang-hyun gave a small smile.
Because the name Kim Seonwoo alone made his heart race.
"Kim Seonwoo... Hehehe."
Soon, Kim Chang-hyun began laughing as if sobbing. Choi Il-hyun furrowed his brow watching him.
"Fine... I'll give you a hint. The one who will escape the world's laws and fulfill that one's long-cherished wish..."
Kim Chang-hyun said.
"The symbol of freedom, and the vessel."
With those words, Kim Chang-hyun's entire body began to glow.
Soon, his body started to scatter like dust.
Just like a demon's dark transformation, his flesh was slowly vanishing.
"...The Sahwa clan's secret technique, huh."
It was an ability that transformed one's flesh into magical power in specific situations, like a demon's dark transformation.
The faintly felt energy from earlier must have been preparation for this.
Choi Il-hyun stared blankly at the disappearing Kim Chang-hyun, then looked up at the sky.
In trying to unravel suspicions centered on Jin Cheonwoo, he felt only more questions piling up.
"...This isn't good."
Choi Il-hyun put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it with magic.
"......Hoo."
The inhaled smoke spread into the air, and Choi Il-hyun turned on his smartphone.
[Ongoing Terror in Seoul... Kim Seonwoo's whereabouts still unknown.]
Seeing that, Choi Il-hyun let out a big sigh.
"...Jin Cheonwoo that bastard, and why do all the people around me turn into terrorists?"
[You have entered the Special Limited Shop.]
[Bam—!]
[Special limited items for the lonely outsider!]
[*Limited items on sale until January 15, 2034.*]
►[Special] Mysterious Chatbot Pico (???)
►[Special] Mysterious Proficiency Elixir (???)
►[Special] Mysterious Red Elixir (???)
►[Special] Mysterious Black Elixir (???)
►[Special] Mysterious Blue Elixir (???)
►[Special] Point Wealth Concentration (???)
►[Special] Point Assault (???)
"......What is this."
I stared at the special limited items, feeling momentarily bewildered.
Because every single item for sale was a [Special] privilege meant for 'outsiders.'
"...I was hoping for some combat-useful traits. Nothing like that?"
I felt a strange sense of regret but soon composed myself and checked the sales list.
Since they were limited items, I needed to examine each one's abilities one by one.
First, I checked the one at the very top, 'Mysterious Chatbot Pico (???),' which had been nagging at me since earlier.
[Mysterious Chatbot Pico (??? )]
Category: Special
Description: You can now use the 'Mysterious Chatbot Pico' to soothe your loneliness.
*Pico is very smart!
Price: 30,000 points (Discounted item)
Untouched
"What is this?"
A chatbot? That chatbot I know?
"What kind of trait is this?"
I felt ridiculous for a moment.
I'd had high expectations since it was a limited item, but I never imagined they'd sell something like this.
No sane person would buy this for 30,000 points.
Just as I was about to close the window.
One line in the description caught my eye.
'Pico is very smart!'
"...Does it maybe provide information too?"
The thought suddenly struck me. That line didn't seem there for no reason...
If it had the ability to provide information as I suspected, it would be worth spending points on.
After all, the most important thing to survive in this world was 'information.'
"Still, 30,000 points is a bit pricey."
A little more, and I could buy an A-Rank trait.
With Cruas's final battle right around the corner, even 10,000 points felt precious, so I hesitated.
"......Agh."
Stroking my chin, I made a decision.
Yeah, I'll buy it. 30,000 points? I can earn that back in one go with some showboating (?).
Of course, after causing so much trouble, the high I'd been riding had worn off a bit.
But still, I had 530,000 points saved up now.
After scraping that much together, what's 30,000? I can close my eyes and spend it.
'Purchase.'
[You have purchased 'Mysterious Chatbot Pico.']
Soon, a pure white light burst before my eyes and seeped into my body.
I checked my body. Nothing seemed different.
"But how do I use this thing?"
That was when.
['Outsider's Benefit: Smart Device Link (??? )' effect activates. Mysterious Chatbot Pico connects to your smart device.]
"...It's connected?"
Seeing that screen, I immediately turned on my old smartphone (burner phone).
Soon, the background appeared, and a new app icon caught my eye.
An icon with a cute pink-haired girl character.
[Pico!]
"...Super bubbly."
Feeling a strange tension, I tapped the icon.
A chat window popped up.
[Connected to chat window.]
"Hmm."
I blankly scrolled the empty chat window and typed something random.
[Me: rn_ o 己]
[Pico: Nice to meet you!]
"Oh."
As expected of a chatbot, the reply was lightning fast.
I thought for a moment and typed.
[Me: Who are you?]
[Pico: I'm Pico~! Who are you?]
[Me: Kim Seonwoo.]
[Pico: Seonwoo! Nice to meet you~ Let's get along well~ Beep boop beep boop!]
The excessive cheerfulness made me feel a bit dizzy.
I decided to get down to business and ask for information.
[Me: Can I ask you something I'm curious about?]
[Pico: Of course! I know everything~ Hehe.]
[Me: Do you know when Cruas will descend on Seoul?]
Unlike before, no reply came to that question.
And after a moment.
[Pico: Hmm. This is a super rare question, so I can't give it for free~ If you grant my wish, I'll tell you~!]
Seeing the message, I blanked out for a second.
"...A wish? What? Does it really know?"
I typed a message.
[Me: What wish?]
[Pico: 40,000 points or 2 causality points! Or...... any relic!]
"......Oh."
...This could be pretty useful if used right?
The Regressed Extra Became a Genius