Chapter 319
Chapter 319
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 319
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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The entrance to northern Hwigeltoong.
“Yawn—!”
“You ate so much, no wonder you’re sleepy!”
“Ishii doesn’t get it! Animals that hibernate stuff their bellies full!”
“…I don’t want to know.”
“You should know! I’m hibernating!”
While Ishii and Yeva chattered away, Kang Seol fell deep into thought.
‘Seven months… Too late to head back early now.’
Even if he turned back now, it was already too late.
The dragon conflict would have restarted, and there was no way for Kang Seol to intervene.
All he could do was hope Seolhong and her allies would muster their strength.
‘But how did it sleep for over half a year?’
In truth, it might not have been sleep at all—perhaps the boundary stone’s explosion had flung him into a time half a year ahead.
- Oh, you’re awake.
‘Ur?’
A welcome voice.
Just like when he first arrived in the East, he’d worried about losing all his summons, but right on cue, Ur spoke up.
- You’ve been asleep at the boundary ever since the explosion.
‘…That’s why I didn’t freeze to death.’
- If you’d landed straight in the snowfields, you’d have woken up right away. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Kang Seol clenched and unclenched his palm, circulating his energy.
Swooo…
“Hm?”
Ishii whipped his head toward Kang Seol.
Pretending nothing was amiss, Kang Seol asked him.
“What?”
“No… it’s nothing.”
Ishii tilted his head.
Kang Seol resumed his unfinished conversation with Ur.
‘…What about Karen?’
When he sent out his energy, Jamad had responded, but nothing came from Karen. As if she no longer existed in the shadow space.
- She returned to the void.
As expected.
‘Why?’
- For growth. It’s the process of consolidating the energy gained from her realm’s ascension.
Hearing that, Kang Seol recalled a past event.
‘Right, Karuna went through the same thing….’
Before reaching the Yoghathun volcano, Karuna had once fallen asleep just like this.
Back then, he could at least roughly gauge the remaining time, but not this time.
It seemed Karen needed that much time to acquire power befitting her higher realm.
‘Well, Jamad alone is reliable enough. More importantly… there are things left to check.’
Kang Seol glanced around furtively.
The items he’d obtained this time radiated unusual energy, so having anyone nearby could spell trouble.
Swoosh…
“I’ll step out for a bit.”
“Huh? Step out?”
“…Are you running away? You don’t like us?”
Ishii and Yeva looked crestfallen.
Kang Seol waved it off.
“Figured we’ll need ingredients for breakfast. I’ll scout the area.”
“Then let’s go together. Yeva, get up….”
“No, I also want some time to sort my thoughts.”
“Hm… Got a smoke?”
“Not smoking, I’m good.”
“That’s new for you, Ishii. What, gonna offer me one with your precious stash?”
“…After eating your fill, it’s only right to give something back.”
“Ah… true.”
“That’s for you to hear, Yeva.”
“There’s no such custom in Russia.”
“You sure?”
“…In our neighborhood.”
Ishii scratched his head.
“What do we do? We’re mooching off him again.”
“No, I got a place to crash thanks to you guys.”
“Alright. Tomorrow, we’ll move together. Once the supply lines reconnect, we’ll repay all these debts.”
Kang Seol shrugged and headed out.
Whoooosh…
The viewers laughed at the sight.
- Is this really the stream back after 7 months?
- Ant plucking was insane.
- What’s he doing now?
- Sneaking off alone to scarf down Choco Pies in the bathroom.
Kang Seol felt the chill wind seep into his lungs as he left the outpost.
He set up a landmark to guide him back, then moved to the middle of the snowfields.
Whoooosh…
‘I can see why the north has such a bad rep. An ordinary person wouldn’t last a day.’
Even Ishii and Yeva, dispatched here, were among the stronger players and mediums. That’s how they survived this blizzard.
Kang Seol stroked his chin, lost in thought.
‘Hwigeltoong… What a coincidence.’
He’d tangled with the Glacier Maw before at the Mansang Library. He thought it was over, but somehow he’d ended up near them again.
Two options surfaced in his mind.
One: head straight to Khan without detours.
The other: stop at key spots along the way for some growth.
‘Since it’s already too late… maybe I can take it easy a bit more….’
A safe path to Khan would get him to Seolhong faster, but he couldn’t recover the growth he’d missed.
‘Plus, it’s been over half a year without progress.’
Other players and mediums might have surged ahead in that time.
‘Have they caught up…?’
If so, nothing to be done.
Kang Seol was quick to cut losses on things beyond his control.
If others had caught up in growth, he’d just lap them at double speed. Simple.
‘First… let’s check the gains.’
Kang Seol pulled out the spoils from the Yaksha he’d obtained last time.
Naturally, the reward was a dazzling platinum box. This was only the second platinum box since the Mansang Library.
[You are extremely wise.]
[High wisdom instantly comprehends the lock’s mechanism.]
[Inject mana to unlock.]
Creeeak…
[Inspecting Yaksha’s Relic.]
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
[Acquired ability points.]
[Acquired ability points.]
[Albuja’s special ability activates.]
[Acquired additional ability points.]
[Acquired additional ability points.]
[Sly Blood Snake activates.]
[Acquired additional ability points.]
[Acquired additional ability points.]
[I Am Him’s special ability activates.]
[Acquired additional ability points.]
[Acquired additional ability points.]
[Acquired additional ability points.]
[Acquired additional ability points.]
[Acquired Inexplicable: Yaksha.]
[Acquired Torn Smiling Gauntlet.]
[Acquired Clear Swamp Whetstone.]
[Acquired Shattered Conscience Belt.]
[Acquired Cloak of Endless Storms.]
[Acquired 52 platinum coins (Khan).]
[Acquired 2 unknown keys.]
[Acquired 3 Frost Sanctuary Potions.]
…
Kang Seol first checked the Yaksha emanating bizarre energy.
[Inexplicable: Yaksha]
Rank: Inexplicable
Appropriate Level: None
Attack: Unknown
Durability: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
An ancient sword that drove many inspectors to the path of blood. Its paired mask was destroyed, so it no longer induces mental corruption, but all inscribed swordsmanship has vanished. Due to the destruction’s backlash, the Yaksha cannot remember itself.
Basic Ability: Unknown
Special Ability: Unknown
“Haa….”
- Unknown again!
- Why always unknown!
- The analysis posts blowing up for half a year were hilarious lololol
- Why’d they even bother? Unknown!
The info was locked.
He wondered if destroying the Yaksha’s mask had been a mistake.
‘No, I wasn’t going to use it anyway.’
No matter how strong the sword called Yaksha was, he’d never once considered wielding it himself. No one should ever pick up the demonic sword that had plunged Yuhyeon into despair.
That said, not using it didn’t mean he’d bury it deep in his inventory.
Gulp…
Bitan stared longingly at the Yaksha, swallowing hard.
She hadn’t appeared while Ishii and Yeva were around, but now she perched on Kang Seol’s shoulder, gazing down at it.
“…Hungry?”
【…Stomach feels a bit empty.】
“Suddenly?”
【Not because of this. …Or maybe not.】
Yet Bitan couldn’t tear her eyes from the sword. It had been ages since her time as a demon spirit craving blood.
That hunger had all converted to fuel for growth, and now, facing something she could grow from, she didn’t hide her desire.
【Maybe it is this? Wonder if it’d be tough to process…?】
“…Can you eat it?”
【Bitan can’t eat garlic or lotus root? A chunk of metal should be fine.】
“Wanna try?”
Bitan took the Yaksha, pondered, then flicked out her tongue.
Lick…
【Oh! Such a mysterious taste….】
“Can’t chew it?”
【That’d give Bitan a tummy ache.】
“Then eat it slowly.”
【Okay!】
- World’s strangest sight: licking a blade.
- They match!
- Holding it like a lollipop lololol
- Yaksha covered in drool: Kill me… please…
Soon, a reaction came.
[Bitan begins digesting Inexplicable: Yaksha.]
…
He waited, but no further changes occurred.
Probably needed to devour the whole thing for effects.
‘No rush….’
Next item.
[Torn Smiling Plate Gauntlet]
Rank: Treasure
Appropriate Level: 40 - 48
Defense: 190
Durability: 170/170
Weight: 1.0kg
Gauntlets grinning with an unsettling smile somewhere. Aside from that, they boast stable defense.
Basic Ability: Strength +30, Agility +24, Vitality +33
Special Ability: Total defense increases by 10% when in heavy armor.
‘Oh….’
Impressively efficient options for mere gauntlets. He resolved to give them to Karuna or Karen upon return.
‘Knights already have overwhelming defense compared to other classes… this is huge.’
Better than the enigmatic Yaksha in performance.
He checked the next item in good spirits.
[Clear Swamp Whetstone]
Rank: Treasure
Appropriate Level: None
Weight: 3kg
Special Ability: Restores weapons in ‘Blood-Soaked’ state to pristine condition. Durability unknown, but seems usable multiple times.
‘Even a whetstone… lucky break?’
The so-called Clear Swamp.
For weapon-wielding classes, adventures inevitably involved much killing. Not all that killing was righteous slaying of villains.
As ‘karma’ built up, weapons or people could enter ‘Blood-Soaked’ state. Prolonged exposure dulled blades and led to corruption.
Probably like the Yaksha.
‘Still got time, but later who knows.’
Adventures had clear foes and trials, but some situations blurred good and evil.
Like clashing with other players and mediums. As a lone wolf, Kang Seol was prone to such karma against groups.
The Clear Swamp eased those worries.
Next: Shattered Conscience Belt and Cloak of Endless Storms.
The cloak had agility options and assassin-like special abilities, tricky to use.
‘Hold off on this.’
Sell or stockpile later.
[Shattered Conscience Belt]
Rank: Treasure
Appropriate Level: 44 – 50
Defense: 120
Durability: 130/130
Weight: 0.1kg
Belt with an ornament mimicking a shady face. The ornament’s expression shifts constantly.
Basic Ability: Intelligence +25, Wisdom +25, Vitality +45
Special Ability: When vitality drops below 30%, it scowls. In scowling state, a shield equal to 100% of lost vitality forms and lasts 20 seconds. If unbroken for 20 seconds, recover 20% of the shield’s vitality.
‘Treasure for real?’
- Is it treasure?
- Isn’t this inexplicable?
- Treasure being inexplicable lolololol
- Options so niche lololol but insanely broken;;
- Did the conscience really shatter?
A belt that shines in crises.
Solid basic stats meant variable-creating options like this would be key for future growth.
[Equipping Shattered Conscience Belt on Great Curse Jamad.]
Of course, to Jamad.
Next, titles.
[First Title: Supreme Realm]
Related Achievement: A Great Step Forward (Adventure: None)
Special Ability: Charm +50, Dignity +50, perfectly consolidate power.
[First Title: Relic Destroyer]
Related Achievement: If I Can’t Have It, No One Can (Adventure: None)
Special Ability: Ignores most restrictive conditions inscribed on relics.
Both fitting first achievements with stellar options. Consolidating power meant concealing one’s presence; ignoring relic restrictions expanded usable items.
‘Can I even wear armor now?’
He tried the new gauntlets, but no—equipment type didn’t match.
‘Still pretty good.’
Higher-grade gear had all sorts of restrictions.
‘Not a bad haul.’
Kang Seol decided to stay positive.
He’d survived, scored great rewards.
Far from Seolhong, but he’d get there eventually.
“It’ll take another half-year, but… you little guy!”
Screeech…!
Screeeeeeech!
A fox caught in Kang Seol’s shadow hand, tongue lolling out. Destined for tomorrow’s breakfast, unfortunately.
“Sorry.”
Crack…
Kang Seol snapped the snowfield fox’s neck, hoisted the limp body, and headed back to the outpost.
- Kang Seol.
Jamad called, so Kang Seol halted.
‘You sense it?’
- Yeah, traces.
Someone had visited the outpost.
No, quite a few.
Swooo…
Kang Seol melted into the surroundings like encroaching mist to observe.
- They’re gone.
Kang Seol rushed to the outpost and checked the traces.
Ishii and Yeva were missing.
“No signs of resistance. Means….”
- Allies, or too many to even resist.
“ Latter.”
Kang Seol’s senses were far beyond human.
The traces painted a rough picture in his mind.
- Who do you think?
To Jamad’s question, Kang Seol grinned.
“Time to find out.”
The first adventure since the Yaksha Great War, with Kang Seol’s return.