102. Audience with the King
"Status window."
- Three Firsts + 16 others (Details)
0-star - Cheonma Jijon (Irregular)
10-star - Unlock Lv. 55
9-star - Drech-style Doll Arts Lv. 10 (M)
9-star - Permafrost Lv. 10
8-star - Magic Engineering Lv. 10 (M)
8-star - Dimension Gate Lv. 5 (M) (New!)
7-star - Elemental Mastery Lv. 10 (M)
6-star - Blue Dragon Step Lv. 5 (M) (New!)
5-star - Castling Lv. 10 (M)
4-star - Wind Cutter Lv. 10 (M) (2 Enhancements)
4-star - Fireball Lv. 10 (M)
4-star - Haste Lv. 10 (M)
3-star - Elemental Arrow Lv. 10 (M)
3-star - Striking Lv. 10 (M)
0-star - Repeat Lv. 55
Bonus Skill Points Available: 51
"……Whoa."
-Huh. Words fail me. This is like other players hitting level 100.
"Yeah. Even I think this is overkill. Whoa, look at that HP."
The first things that caught Carpe's eye when he opened his status window were none other than his HP and MP.
Compared to just before his second job change, they'd nearly tripled.
"I heard second job changes pump up HP and MP, but…… I didn't expect this much."
-Yours is especially extreme. Magic Overlord means MP is whatever, but that HP is insane. Tripling is what extreme tank hidden jobs get on second change.
In other words, Carpe—a straight-up Magical Fist Lord—now had more HP than an extreme tank.
It was a moment that truly proved the broken power of a Myth class.
"Two set effects stacking at once…… Stats are going wild. What kind of weights…… Huh?"
As Carpe scrolled through his status window carefully, he spotted something off.
"Bonus points seem higher than usual?"
-Ah, that's normal. After second change, you get 6 points per level. One more than before.
"Aha."
On top of that, Carpe was benefiting from the Myth class reward title Myth (stat points +1 per level).
Pent-up experience had burst at once, shooting him up 10 levels with 7 bonus points each time.
"Let's see."
Hoards of 100 points were a waste no matter how he sliced it, so he dumped about 50 into stats.
"Agility's already maxed thanks to Wind Set, so leave it."
He spread the rest moderately into Strength, Vitality, and Dexterity.
-Skills too. You got points.
"Huh? Skills? Everything's mastered already? Oh, Unlock and Repeat?"
-No, not those. Look closer. Something's not mastered.
At Cheonma's words, Carpe checked his skill list again. Sure enough, one skill wasn't mastered.
Permafrost.
The (M) next to his mainstay 9-star skill was gone.
"Huh? Why? I mastered it."
-Some skills unlock higher caps on second job change. Permafrost is one.
"Ah……."
Carpe nodded. He'd seen similar in old RPGs he used to play.
"Then master it, obviously."
Already hooked on Permafrost's AoE damage high, Carpe had no hesitation.
He invested 20 skill points to master Permafrost again, then gazed contentedly at his completed status.
"Just looking at it fills me up."
Anyone else seeing this would 100% brand him a bug exploiter.
"My lord."
"Yeah? Tina? What's up?"
"Elis has something to say to you."
Carpe turned to see Elis fidgeting with her fingers, hesitating.
Come to think of it, what about Elis?
Her lifelong dream of completing a magitech weapon fulfilled, would the lingering spirit ascend……?
"Um. Heir! Could I…… follow you too?"
She squeezed her eyes shut and shouted it. No ascension ending, apparently.
"Please, I beg you. Nothing left to research here…… I can't live without it. I'll work like a slave, just let me research."
"Wait…… hold on."
"I'm a ghost, no food, no fatigue, no sleep. I'll work till my bones break, please take me."
She trailed off with "Ghosts don't have bones, but……" and sniffled.
Was this the madness of a mad scientist?
Research worth abandoning human rights?
Overwhelmed by her intense self-pitch, Carpe backed up a step.
But she took it as refusal and dropped to her knees, begging.
"Please…… please. No research and I'll waste away and die. Already dead, but."
"Okay, just stand up."
"Sniff. Y-yes……."
Carpe knew firsthand: Elis was a genius technician.
Magic King-approved, her knowledge and talent were peerless.
An NPC begging to slave away…… Like King Sejong finding Jang Yeong-sil?
Carpe inwardly cheered while feigning cool detachment.
"Then we need a research space."
Basic facilities, quiet, no distractions.
Only one spot Carpe could access fit.
-Hmm. Can we bind a regular NPC there?
'We'll see. If not, find another way.'
Carpe steadied his breath and extended his hand.
"Dimension Gate."
Activating the skill, he felt something whoosh drain from him.
Status check: MP down exactly 1,000.
Dimension Gate activated.
One coordinate recorded.
Gate to 'Room' activated.
A bizarre sizzle accompanied a massive warp portal before his eyes.
"So that's how it works."
Per the description, stepping through would unfold his Room.
He, Cheonma, and retainers could pass fine…… but Elis?
"Try touching it."
"Y-yes."
Elis tentatively reached out, tense—and another alert popped.
NPC Elis Cricket attempts to enter player's 'Room'.
'Room' is accessible only to player and retainers.
"Ah."
-Hm. As expected? Need another way……
But then—
This NPC's class is closely related to the player's.
Conditions met.
Bind NPC Elis Cricket as retainer?
"Huh?"
Carpe nodded reflexively.
NPC Elis Cricket bound as player Carpe's retainer.
"Whoa! It worked! Heir, thank you! I'll work so hard!"
Retainer Elis Cricket's manager skill liberated.
Manager Skill: Magic Engineer's Curiosity
All items crafted in Room workshop receive quality upward adjustment. Slight crafting success rate increase.
"……Thank you."
Thus, Carpe gained a new retainer.
Finishing his underground labyrinth journey, Carpe headed back to the surface.
At the exit atop the stairs, a middle-aged man standing by the door approached in surprise.
"Carpe, sir?"
"Ah, yes. That's me."
"Jace Cassel, Gillian's aide. Guarding per his orders. This way, please."
The man who'd introduced himself as Jace led Carpe straight to Gillian.
"Hah hah! Knew you'd pull it off!"
Gillian boomed a hearty laugh at the safe return.
"Hm. Centaur tail, eh? Got it solid. I'll report to His Majesty at once."
Magic King's Third Relic: Audience Condition Met
Proceeding to next quest.
"Now even His Majesty can't refuse. Wait a sec. I'll go myself."
Gillian took all three proofs Carpe recovered—Elder Snake Fang, White Tiger Hide, Centaur Tail—and headed to King Ramark.
A short time later.
"It's done! His Majesty grants audience!"
Gillian announced triumphantly, like a victory herald.
"He tried more excuses, but……."
Gillian's glare had startled the king into yielding.
"Anyway, let's go."
"Huh? No prep needed?"
"Normally yes, but…… Arkram talk is top secret. Tiny group, no prep."
Just show up, Gillian said.
"Got it. Whew."
"Nervous?"
"Yeah. Never met royalty before."
"Hah! Don't be. Kings or farmers, all human. Worth's in character, not title."
"……General. As said, that's borderline treason. Mind your words."
"Pfft. Just us here. Drek, loosen up."
"If I were as loose as you, His Majesty would've beheaded me."
"Tsk tsk. As if. Ah, here."
The group reached a massive door.
Audience chamber for king and guests.
True to secrecy, no guards.
"Heir. Before entering, have your relic companions revert."
"Yeah, good call."
Crossing 800 years, the first emperor's heir meets the current king.
Historic; robes and dolls looked sloppy. Rude, too.
"Wise words. As your knight, I'll escort perfectly."
"Yeah. Master, don't chicken out. Trust us."
Tina and Mirage reverted, flanking Carpe.
……Felt truly like the Magic King now. Heart pounding.
Yeah. This is why we play RPGs.
Third relic within reach.
"In we go."
Gillian opened the door.
"Welcome. Heir of the first emperor."
A middle-aged man's voice greeted them.