Chapter 185
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: The Junior Shadow Summoner
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The deeper you delved into the Eternal World, the more you couldn't help thinking about effort and talent.
No matter how hard you tried, the consensus among players was that catching up to a character blessed with superior innate talent was next to impossible.
Innate talents occasionally appeared when creating characters.
Innate talents were exactly what they sounded like—unique abilities a character was born with, setting them apart from everyone else.
"Why haven't I ever gotten one?"
"Everyone's in the same boat. This was my first time too."
In the Eternal World, the early game was arguably the most crucial phase.
Any ability that boosted growth at the start snowballed into an insurmountable gap by the late game.
"I-I got it!"
"Snowman! What? What'd you get?"
Those words had set the young Kang Seol's heart ablaze.
Rian Kurus.
"Innate talent... I got one."
"Where... No way...."
"Hey, check this out! Snowman's pulled an absolute monster!"
Kang Seol had already made a name for himself in character training. With a weapon like this in his arsenal, everyone wondered just how far he'd go.
But then, everyone's predictions went spectacularly off the rails.
I... I don't think this suits me. Urgh...
"Again?"
"Yeah...."
Talent plus effort didn't guarantee legend status. Rian Kurus simply had no interest in the adventurer profession itself.
Maybe that's what they called aptitude.
I want to go back to my family... I've earned enough to till a little field near home....
Rian Kurus was born with a top-tier innate talent—one you could count on one hand.
A talent that practically dictated his fate.
To live as an adventurer.
But he suffered through every adventure.
This time Bishang died too... I can't take it anymore... It's torture. I'm going home... Let's farm. What should I grow? Grapes? Nah, pumpkins might be good.
"......"
Watching it all, Kang Seol finally made his choice.
"You're kidding, right?"
"...No."
"Do you have any idea how rare those are? You're just gonna throw it away?"
"But..."
Kang Seol stared at Rian, who had buried his head into the game board and curled up tight.
"He's suffering. He wants to go back to his family."
"...You're seriously basing this on what the character says?"
"I don't know. That's just how I roll."
"Ha... Wild. Do whatever. In that state, he'll probably croak before mid-game anyway."
Kang Seol's decision hit others like a shockwave.
A player letting the character call the shots?
While everyone gawked in stunned silence, Kang Seol finalized it.
The remote countryside of Adelin—Rian's family home. He leased land nearby from the local landowner, just as Rian had always wished.
"Rian."
Do you wish to abandon Rian Kurus's adventure?
1. Yes.
2. No.
"Find happiness with your family."
Adventurer Rian Kurus will now forge his own destiny.
Though the thrilling adventure ends, his life goes on.
"It was fun adventuring together."
That was the end of Rian and Kang Seol's paths crossing.
The Secret of the Basement has been uncovered.
Rewards will be tallied.
Linked adventure continues.
Rewards available only after all adventures conclude.
Next adventure begins.
Adventure 24 begins.
Adventure 24. Secret of the Basement
Adventure 24. 'Secret of the Basement'
Finally, the Gatip family's secret stands revealed.
This basement lays bare every detail of their horrific crimes.
The mastermind behind it all now seeks to silence you.
Resist.
Goal: Slay Merchant Jerry.
This is a sudden adventure.
Time remaining: About 3 days
The sudden adventure had kicked off out of nowhere—and just as abruptly, it plunged into its second act.
Kang Seol scanned the cat beastkin with Mysterious Foresight.
Merchant Jerry peddles anything that turns a profit. Born empty-handed, she now lives large.
Her secret is poison straight from the bottle.
She built her empire selling weapons, slaves, kids—then discovered something even more efficient.
Other people's shadows.
Basic Abilities: [Acrobatics 3], [Dagger Skill 4], [Quick Kill 1], [Chokehold 5], [Coin Toss 2], [Shadow Summon 2], [Emergency Substitute 2]
Special Ability: [Indiscriminate Slicing 1]
Kang Seol's expression darkened.
'Guess even "dangerous adventure" warnings aren't reliable anymore.'
True to expectations, the adventure's boss—Merchant Jerry—wasn't all that formidable.
"Scared now, are we? Spill it then. I'll go easy on the vitals."
"...Pathetic."
"...What?"
He almost felt this seething rage was wasted on her.
If she'd been even a tad stronger, he could've unleashed it all.
Like raging at a child, Kang Seol gave a bitter smile.
"You're... too weak."
Jerry's eyes bulged in fury.
"Cocky bastard! Oh, right—you're a Shadow Summoner too, yeah?"
"......"
"My junior then? As your senior, lemme school you on handling shadows. Release 'em!"
Clank!
One of Jerry's goons chanted. Part of the iron bars swung open.
"Shadows are handled... like this. I'll give you a grand welcome."
Junior.
A word Kang Seol hadn't heard in ages.
Snowman, you know? We've got two paths.
One's the polished road: lord over shadows to draw their full might. The other's rough and untrodden... coexisting with them. Which way you leaning...?
Mirei, who'd guided him to his ultimate technique.
Facing her polar opposite in Jerry, Mirei's words bubbled up unbidden.
Kang Seol scowled, genuinely repulsed. What a day for old faces to haunt him.
But as he moved to drape himself in shadows, Ur reined him in.
Hold.
'...Why?'
You step in, it's over fast. That cat's head rolls sans body, tongue lolling. But haven't you always hogged the front line?
'...Meaning?'
Ur explained calmly.
Trust me once, quietly. I'm teacher to all, sovereign of demon arts.
Ur did have that legendary "teacher" talent. But what did it actually do?
Defy me, your knights hit a growth wall.
Truth be told, Ur wasn't wrong.
Since becoming Night Raven, Kang Seol had treated Karen and Karuna more like comrades than summons.
In doing so, he'd overlooked their individual growth.
'Not trusting him?'
As Night Raven, he outclassed them—that mindset Ur prodded.
Kang Seol halted and unleashed the Twin Knights from his palms.
"Pfft... Just two? Adorable junior."
Ignoring Jerry's taunt, Kang Seol eyed his summoned knights.
Resonance activates continuously on Karen.
Resonance activates continuously on Karuna.
The ability from Kiry, former master of Corpse Merchant Kupa. Pure emotion and intent flooded the twins, who shuddered with rage.
"Protect the party..."
Swish...
Kang Seol's finger pointed at Jerry.
"Make that woman kneel before me."
"Got it!"
"Understood."
Jo Kyung-taek and his crew huddled tight by Kang Seol.
"H-Hyung..."
"Stick by me from now on."
Boom!
A massive shadow burst through the bars—battle was joined.
"Hup!"
Clang!
The Twin Knights split roles in a flash.
Karen shielded the party from the swarming shadows.
Slash!
Splat!
Karuna targeted Jerry, the root of it all.
Thwack!
Karen's kick pulped a shadow's face, eyeballs popping free.
"Kahaha! More! Bring it!"
Crunch!
Splat!
Fwoosh...
Karen shredded the far-inferior shadows with reckless abandon.
"Wh-What the hell?!"
Jerry whipped out an awl-like dagger to fend off Karuna.
Claaaaang!
She barely parried Karuna's casual strike, eyes wide in horror.
"How...?"
A buzzing shockwave.
Karuna's blows packed power she could scarcely block.
Karuna's eyes flashed crimson.
Rage awakened the black knight's ferocity within him.
Rage...
It felt like the black knight bellowing from his heart.
"Quit screwing around!"
Whoosh!
Daggers flew to repel him.
Merchant Jerry uses Dagger Skill.
Damage to same target: +50% per dagger.
A feint wrapped in lethal precision.
Jerry sensed her opening.
'Now! While he's batting daggers, go for the throat...'
But Karuna's response defied her every expectation.
Ting... tingtingtang...
He neither dodged nor deflected.
Not aimed at vitals anyway—he barreled straight through.
The result?
Hope Devourer swallows the impact.
Hungry state.
All impacts digested.
Jerry swung her awl in shock.
"What... the hell?"
Whoosh!
Karuna's blade utterly pulverized it.
Crunch!
She felt her face engulfed by Karuna's massive palm.
"Hrngh..."
Boom!
Karuna slammed her face-first into the wall. It cratered like a shell hit.
"Gaaah!"
The tide had fully turned against Jerry—both fronts.
Fwoosh!
Splat!
Slash! Slash!
More shadows crumpled to Karen than lunged at the party.
"Th-This..."
"A summon...?"
"What in the world is happening...?"
Jo Kyung-taek had met Karen once before. Unlike the others, he'd figured he wouldn't be shocked by her prowess.
But this Karen felt leagues beyond that one.
Watching her butcher the shadows lunging at the party, she seemed the very incarnation of war.
"Kahaha! More! More!"
Kang Seol watched both knights, struck by much.
'Were they always this strong?'
Lately, he'd jumped into fights himself. Viewing them purely as a summoner after so long was refreshing.
Your new power's the catalyst. Normal summoners don't lead the charge. Keep that up, it'd warp their growth. Lucky for you, this is my wheelhouse.
Splat...
The battle shifted.
"Grr... grrrgh..."
Jerry's right arm flew off below the elbow—Karuna sliced it clean like meat.
Jerry adapted on the fly.
"Get over here!"
A shadow zipped to her—and seamlessly replaced the arm.
Merchant Jerry uses Substitute.
Substituted lifeform vanishes.
"You..."
Splat!
Now the left arm was gone.
Karuna carved her up, face impassive.
"Again!"
Swish...
Another shadow dove toward her.
Slash!
"...Huh?"
"Pointless."
"She... cut the shadow?"
Snatching and severing the incoming shadow, Jerry quailed before this logic-defying monstrosity of a knight.
No choice—her final gambit.
"All of you, to me!"
"......"
"Hurry... why..."
Jerry glanced at the shadows' prison.
Fwoosh...
Limbs hacked, some burning, others down.
Karen stared back, having felled every last one.
Jerry's heart skipped.
'Gotta bolt!'
Then—a lifeline voice.
"Lady Jerry! You okay?!"
Her pre-summoned thugs descended the escape route. She shoved past, yelling.
"Block 'em! That freak..."
Rumble...
An ominous aura prickled her back. She whirled in shock mid-climb.
The knight's sword still sheathed. Yet this eerie power?
Whooo...
Time halted. No matter how she thrashed, she inched nowhere.
"My... body..."
"It's sucking us in!"
"L-Lady Jerry!"
Whoooo!
Ur boomed with laughter.
Yes! That's the stuff!
Clank!
Karuna's scabbard sang as the blade leaped free, unleashing a slashing wave.
BOOM!
A horizontal black line bisected everything in its path.
"C-Cough..."
"Buuurgh..."
Her minions collapsed, spilling guts.
Karuna acquires the clue to Black Wave.
Ur sighed at the sight.
Tch, if she'd been stronger...
Clank... clank...
Terror-stricken, Jerry crawled for the stairs, desperate to escape.
Her legs—lopped below the knees by Karuna's strike—dragged uselessly.
"St-Stay back, you monster..."
Swish...
Grab!
Karuna seized her throat and hauled her before Kang Seol.
Thud...
He dumped her prone, then forced her to kneel. An unearthly aura poured from his eyes.
"...Confess your sins to my master. Now."