The Cursed Centaur
-This is insane. Dropping a legendary set item this early in the game? And a growing one at that?
It went without saying, but set items were always treated a cut above others of the same grade.
Individual pieces might lag a bit behind standalone items of equal rank, but the synergy from set bonuses more than made up for it.
In short, a legendary set item was equivalent to quasi-epic-grade performance.
-No, wait. We don't even know how many pieces this magic war machine has. If the set effect kicks in at five or more slots... it could edge into mythic territory.
Carpe was floored.
Just how much balance did this Magical Fist Lord class need to shatter before the devs were satisfied?
"Please! Gather the energy for me!"
Was it the thrill of her long-cherished wish finally coming true?
Elise bowed deeply as she pleaded.
"Got it. I'll handle it myself."
"Really?! Thank you!"
You have accepted the quest.
"So, how much exactly?"
"Hmm... something like this should be enough."
Right after she spoke, the quest window updated in front of Carpe.
Ding.
Gather Materials for the Magic War Machine
📍 Resentment-Echoing Energy Fragment x150
📍 Resentment-Echoing Energy Crystal x30
📍 Resentment-Echoing Energy Essence x1
"...That's a lot."
"S-Sorry. The naturally occurring energy around here doesn't yield much..."
"No worries. I can get it. Probably."
There was no beating a grind quest.
Carpe steeled himself for the long haul, no matter how brutal.
But first, one thing needed clarifying.
"That essence... it drops from the boss monster, right?"
"Yes. It's the energy held by the centaur, the strongest being in this labyrinth."
"Perfect."
Second job advancement, Mukhyang's evolution, and now the magic war machine.
All of it boiled down to slaying centaurs.
"The issue is figuring out where the damn thing patrols... Guess I'll have to hunt it down manually."
"Ah! Hold on!"
Elise shot up from her chair and rummaged through a desk drawer.
...Hard to believe she was a ghost from the looks of it.
"Where'd I put it... Ah! Found it."
She pulled out a rolled-up parchment and handed it to Carpe.
"A map of the labyrinth. I've marked the centaur's frequent hotspots."
"...Huh?"
Carpe took the map in a daze.
◈ The labyrinth map will now display on your minimap.
-...When you're OP, everything works out. Rescue an NPC and she hands over a legendary set piece and map hack. Is this even a game? I could report this to the FTC!
"Whoa, I needed this bad. Thanks. I'll definitely bring back what you need."
"Sure. I'll be waiting. I'll prep the basics here meanwhile."
Carpe and his crew left Elise in the lab and headed out.
"Man, things are falling into place."
-Yeah, right. The world's all yours, huh? Do it all solo and chow down. Ptooey. Filthy world where the lucky ones just keep winning.
"Someone's extra salty with envy today."
-Legendary set gear... I only ever equipped one once...
While Cheonma grumbled under his breath, Carpe checked his minimap.
His current position and the twisting labyrinth layout were crystal clear.
"Lemme see. These the boss spawn points?"
Golden skull icons dotted the minimap.
Eight in total.
Probably meant the centaur showed up at one of those eight spots.
Similar to the FB Radar he'd used for field bosses.
"Ugh, wish the radar worked on dungeon bosses too. Wouldn't have to grind like this."
-That'd be way too broken.
"No choice. Sweep the closest ones first."
If luck held, he'd bump into the boss at the very first point!
"One in eight? That's a sure thing."
-Sure. Nailed your daily dose of nonsense again today.
"Once the magic war machine's done... what happens to Elise?"
She'd called herself a grudge ghost.
Once her regrets were fulfilled, what then?
"Ascend to the afterlife?"
"Perhaps. A bit bittersweet."
"Hmm. How about transferring her soul to the third relic?"
She had a strong sense of self—the exact kind Carpe had hunted for.
And her skills were Magic King-approved. Perfect fit...
"Probably impossible."
"...Why?"
"Elise excels in engineering but has zero combat talent. She couldn't handle Lindor’s body."
"Ah..."
The Magic King's third relic was dubbed the "Dark Army" for its berserker general vibes.
Shoving a non-fighter's soul into that brute frame? Yeah, mismatch city.
"Elise as Lindor...? Master, it doesn't fit at all."
"Mirage and I agree, my lord. The resonance wouldn't match enough for proper settling anyway."
"Souls don't just slot in anywhere, huh. Homunculi are tricky."
Carpe glanced at Tina.
The silver-armored knight with a flawless, serene face.
Light's Tistania... and princess of Akram, daughter of the Magic King.
Why had he turned her into a homunculus?
Carpe wondered but held back from asking.
It might dredge up painful scars she preferred buried...
-Speaking of, how'd a princess end up a homunculus anyway?
"...You just had to ask."
-What? Why the bug-eyed glare all of a sudden?
"Just realizing anew how your tact's a million light-years from sensitive."
-???
"It's a long story."
Tina began, her tone measured.
"During the height of the Patron Spirit War, the Magic King was once betrayed by humanity."
War breaks people.
The Magic King endured with iron will, but others crumbled.
Deserters betrayed Akram for the Patron Spirits, flipping the war.
"That's when he resolved: No more frail humans. He needed weapons of absolute obedience."
Thus were born the Magic King's seven homunculi.
Battle machines loyal only to him, annihilating foes with overwhelming power.
His masterpieces, infused with his essence—yet imperfect.
"No ego meant no betrayal risk, but also poor judgment."
Simple orders? Fine. Sudden changes? Vulnerable.
Disappointed but undeterred, he iterated relentlessly... and reached a conclusion.
Implant souls that would never betray.
"Mine was chosen. I was dying of an incurable disease—perfect candidate."
As the soul stone description noted, transfer required consent.
Tina accepted without hesitation. Her soul, etched with absolute obedience magic, entered the new body.
Most of the seven were made this way.
"..."
-...
The heavy tale left the two men exchanging awkward glances.
'Why'd you poke that wound...'
-I had no idea it'd be this story!
'Apologize! Now! Prostration's the only way!'
But their worry was needless in the end.
"It was the most meaningful moment of my life. Faced with the same choice, I'd pick it again without pause."
Her choice. Her pride.
Tina meant every word.
"...I see. Impressive, Tina."
"I apologize if it troubled you, my lord. Ah, we're here."
The group had reached the first skull marker.
And...
-Holy shit. No way, for real?
"Told ya. One in eight is a lock."
Incredibly, the centaur was right there at point one.
Human torso, horse lower body—the classic centaur image.
"I curse you... Akram... Dretsch! I curse you!"
Ding.
Kayronas spotted Carpe and charged with furious rage.
"Dreeeetch! You dare! Die!"
"Man, why does the Magic King have so many enemies?"
Carpe grumbled as he leaped back.
The spear slammed where he'd stood, its blade coated in potent poison—smoke and stench rose on impact.
"I curse you!"
Ding.
Incoming damage increased by 30% for 60 seconds.
Movement speed reduced by 50% for 60 seconds.
As the final trial of the second job quest, the centaur packed a punch.
Elder Snake's status ailments plus White Tiger's physical prowess.
A nightmare mashup of their worst traits.
Anyone else would've raged at the devs for this monstrosity.
But...
Ding.
Unlock triggered.
All status effects removed!
Status ailments meant nothing to Carpe.
"Die!"
"Pass."
Whoosh.
Carpe effortlessly dodged the spear thrusting at his head.
White Tiger-level physicality couldn't faze him either.
"Hoped the 'final' one would be special, but nah. Same old."
And the outcome was no different.
It just took as long as its fat HP bar demanded.
"Such injustice! Dretsch! I curse you!"
Thud.
The massive centaur body crumpled.
You have defeated Kayronas.
Acquired Centaur Tail as proof of subjugation.
All tasks for second job advancement complete.
Acquired Resentment-Echoing Energy Essence!
"Phew. Finally done."
But not quite over.
Still needed the rest for the war machine.
After that, Carpe farmed the labyrinth nonstop.
Kill. Kill. Kill again!
Three days later...
Acquired Resentment-Echoing Energy Crystal!
"Ugh... done!"
Having scraped together every last material, Carpe handed them to Elise.
You have completed the quest.
◈ Vasilas acknowledges you as master. Second job conditions fully met.
Accumulated EXP from job quest applied.
[Level ups...]
[Level ups...]
.
.
.
A barrage of notifications filled Carpe's vision, signaling the journey's end.