Chapter 190: How a Veteran Takes a Dual Class (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 190: How a Veteran Takes a Dual Class (2)
It felt as if not only time, but space itself had been carved out from causality.
A monochrome field of vision.
From within it, Makedros, all traces of amusement gone from his face, stared at Jinhyuk.
"It seems... you are no ordinary human."
"That's why I told you. Listen first, then decide."
Jinhyuk shrugged.
"First, let me ask. How do you know my name?"
"'The Rotting Heart' is the name of the Demon King I serve. That should answer all the questions you're about to ask."
At the mention of that familiar alias, Makedros's brow furrowed.
There was no way he wouldn't know it.
How could he not?
It was one of the only ten Demon Kings in the Demon World.
'To think the offer I got on the fifth floor would come in handy like this.'
Back on the fifth floor, the Demon King had practically threatened him to change his class to his apostle.
At the time, Jinhyuk had been annoyed at receiving a pesky curse, but looking back, it turned out to be incredibly useful.
"...Directly associated with a Demon King..."
"Exactly. I am the 'Black Apostle' who serves him. I only came here to gather more information about the sacred relic."
Jinhyuk nodded toward one of the frozen figures.
It was Melena, a member of the Demonic Human Association.
As a demon, Makedros couldn't possibly miss the distinct demonic energy permeating her body.
Furthermore, the 'Black Apostle'—a special class backed by a Demon King—acted as the Demon King's hands and feet while climbing the Tower. This position allowed them to access various pieces of information about the Demon World faster than anyone else.
"I see..."
Makedros nodded, seemingly convinced.
If the person before him was indeed a Black Apostle, then hearing his true name through the 'Rotting Heart'...
...and knowing the location of the sacred relic that could unseal the sealed Demon King...
...all made perfect sense.
However.
"Why would an apostle of the Rotting Heart reveal the location of the sacred relic to me? There is nothing for your side to gain by unsealing the master I serve."
The interests within the Demon World were intricately tangled, and the Rotting Heart was not in an alliance with the Demon King Makedros served.
Of course, Jinhyuk was well aware of this fact.
"That's exactly why I'm bringing this up."
Jinhyuk feigned a nonchalant expression, adding a sly smirk for good measure.
"As you know, our Demon King has zero interest in things like ranking rivalries. It's so bad that even the demonic humans refuse to work for him."
A Demon King who simply turned a decent-looking player into a Black Apostle just to keep them around for his own amusement.
That was the true nature of the Demon King 'Veliel', also known as the 'Rotting Heart'.
As all the puzzle pieces fell perfectly into place, Makedros finally cast aside his doubts.
This was highly classified insider information that no one could possibly know unless they were truly a Black Apostle.
"Amusing. So, you wish to switch sides?"
"From what I can see, the Demon King you serve is quite proactive. Personally, I prefer an ambitious master. I'll hand over the location of the sacred relic, but in exchange, you must guarantee my future."
"Guarantee your future... Are you saying you want to become a Black Apostle under our master?"
"Yes. It won't be easy because of my current contract, but there is a way."
"I am listening."
"If I can enter the 'Misaligned Rift'... I should be able to sever my contract with my current Demon King. You just need to give me the key to enter it."
[Misaligned Rift].
Yes. This was the core of his plan.
If one were to be trapped in a rift where the very concepts of space and time were completely warped, they would be stuck inside for at least a year.
An apostle who failed to receive a direct replenishment of demonic energy for more than three months would eventually have their connection to their Demon King forcibly severed.
'...By exploiting that rule, I can get my hands on a ticket to enter the Rift.'
Jinhyuk barely managed to calm his racing heart.
A rift, which possessed an overwhelmingly abundant amount of mana compared to other areas, was an incredible opportunity in and of itself.
Not only could he raise his skill proficiency there, but the monsters—which were essentially delicious chunks of experience points—and the extreme survival environment would undoubtedly serve as the perfect foundation for his growth.
'Come on, take the bait.'
It wasn't a bad deal, after all.
One side would obtain the location of the sacred relic they had been desperately searching for.
The other side would receive a reward for providing that information.
And as a bonus, they could avoid a bloody clash here. It was truly killing three birds with one stone.
Of course, "three birds with one stone" only applied to Jinhyuk.
"……."
Makedros pondered for a moment before asking again.
"You want to enter the Rift of your own free will? Even demons are reluctant to go there."
"If I want to swim in deeper waters, I have to endure that level of hardship."
"Bwahahaha! I like your attitude. Then again, I suppose that shameless and wicked nature of yours is exactly why you were chosen as an apostle."
Makedros burst into wild laughter at Jinhyuk's sly response.
He seemed to quite like Jinhyuk's blunt and straightforward tone.
"Thanks for the compliment. I'll take that as an acceptance."
Jinhyuk smiled brightly.
However.
"No."
Makedros shook his head.
It wasn't a rejection.
Rather...
...his face, filled with anticipation and curiosity, showed he wanted something else.
"No matter how much you know, I cannot accept you until I see your skills for myself."
An opportunity to become a direct subordinate of a Demon King.
There was no way such a golden opportunity would be handed over on a silver platter just because of smooth talking.
Naturally, his words carried the firm resolve that nothing could be promised until Jinhyuk proved his martial prowess.
"I've been pushing myself physically, so I'm pretty tired. Can we do this next time?"
"Unfortunately, there is no next time. If you fail to meet my expectations, you will have to pay the price for ruining my plans."
So failing meant death.
Their philosophy is awfully similar to some damn corporate companies back home. Talk about a double standard, but experiencing it firsthand really sends a shiver down my spine.
"Can I ask one thing before we start?"
"Of course."
"First, how secure is this barrier-like thing you've set up?"
"Neither the Administrators nor any other entity can peer inside. Not even a speck of mana will leak out. So you don't have to worry about that."
Makedros shrugged.
"But why do you ask?"
"It's nothing much."
Just that...
"I didn't want my abilities to be seen by some annoying pests."
Normally, he wouldn't have used this ability, keeping the Egyptian deities' watchful eyes in mind.
But now that the perfect stage had been set, the story was different.
"You speak as if you wouldn't have had to act so submissively if not for those constraints."
His face showed he didn't believe a single word.
Well, talk was cheap, so it was only natural he'd react that way.
In that case...
...he just had to give him a little taste.
To show him just how arrogant it was to smugly threaten him with a "test."
In an instant.
Color bled back into the monochrome world.
'What is this...?'
Makedros's pupils shook violently.
It was faint, but unmistakable.
A distinct sense of incongruity rippled through his black-and-white field of vision.
This was impossible.
For an ability to affect a barrier he had under perfect control...
"You... what on earth..."
Makedros couldn't finish his sentence.
[Inherent ability 'Sanctuary of the Sun' has been activated.]
[Inherent ability 'Black Heaven Demonic Emperor Art' has been activated.]
Two abilities manifested.
[‘Black Sanctuary’ is constructed.]
Rumbleeeee!
The mental world transformed.
* * *
The Black Sanctuary.
It referred to a sacred place, untainted by any external force.
And...
...this place, composed of a black sun and a vast desert...
...was more than enough to crush his enemies with a weight as heavy as the deep sea.
"Do you still need me to prove my qualifications?"
Jinhyuk asked.
It was a question delivered with a pressure as heavy as a great mountain.
"……."
Makedros remained silent, his face frozen stiff.
Before the Sanctuary was activated, he felt like he was merely humoring a human's little parlor trick.
But now, he was completely redefining his understanding of Jinhyuk.
'To think such a human could exist...'
One step.
If he took just one more step forward, he might be swallowed by the black-dyed sand, never to return.
This world defied common sense to the point of instilling such a thought.
'It's not that I couldn't kill him if I went all out, but...'
That wouldn't be a test.
It would be a bloody, life-or-death battle.
Above all, the mere fact that he felt he needed to go all out against a human just to stand a chance was utterly absurd to Makedros.
"Your qualifications are more than sufficient. In fact, at this point, it would be more appropriate for me to beg you to join us. I've met a few players who became Black Apostles, but you are by far the most peerless among them."
He meant every word.
That was how much he coveted the human standing before him.
If someone with such immense power became their 'Black Apostle', they could gather the sacred relics in an instant, resurrect the Demon King, and...
Once more. Yes, they could challenge the summit of the Tower once again.
Makedros dispersed the mana he had gathered in an instant.
At the same time, Jinhyuk deactivated his 'Black Sanctuary'.
'So there are other idiots who have class-changed into apostles. Damn. That's going to be a bit troublesome...'
A brief moment of concern crossed his mind.
Wrooooom!
The black-dyed field of vision returned to normal, and frozen time began to flow once more.
With that... the deal was struck.
Makedros reached out toward Jinhyuk.
Before he knew it, a black key had materialized in his hand.
"This is the key you wanted."
[Key of the Rift]
Acquisition Difficulty: Unmeasurable
Description: A key that grants entry into a Rift. Only a select few among the giant factions of the Tower's upper floors possess it. Obtaining the key itself is extremely difficult, and even if one manages to acquire it, locating the Rift is an entirely different matter.
He had finally obtained it.
And all it took was some smooth talking.
The thrill of everything falling into place like perfectly meshing gears was incomparable to anything else.
'I was actually a bit nervous he'd insist on fighting.'
If he hadn't copied an inherent ability on par with a deity's, Makedros would have attacked without hesitation.
After all, in Makedros's eyes, "useful" meant far exceeding the level of an average boss.
Having finished his business, Jinhyuk looked around.
Makedros had already vanished, leaving only the black key behind.
All that was left now was to gather the unconscious, exhausted players of the Lockheed Guild and the others, and get out of here.
It was then.
"M-Master, are you alright? That guy just now was...!"
"Did a human really defeat that monstrous being?"
Wolyeong and Caracal rushed over in a single bound.
Makedros's pressure must have been immense, yet seeing how they hadn't lost consciousness, both of them were definitely the real deal.
'Well, they're employees I handpicked myself, so of course they should be at least this good.'
With a chuckle, Jinhyuk lightly patted Wolyeong and Caracal on the shoulders.
"I'll explain later. For now, take care of the players and head to the entrance of the labyrinth. And make sure you return without drawing any attention."
Stepping outside and basking in the spotlight was important, of course. He had deliberately worn a mask and operated as 'Unknown' to raise his brand value.
But more than that...
...there was one matter he needed to settle right this instant.
A moment later, after confirming everyone had left, Jinhyuk muttered toward the empty air.
"I know you're watching. I believe you have something to say to me?"
Then...
Bzzt!
...as if on cue, sparks crackled in the empty air.