Chapter 344
Chapter 344
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 344
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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Kang Seol first checked the messages related to Tankrid's death that had scrolled up in a rush.
[The Mother of the Earth, Tankrid, ends her long life and returns to the embrace of the stars.]
[The Guardian of the Earth becomes vacant.]
[Tankrid has entrusted her sublime duty to someone.]
[Pandea's ancient order crumbles.]
[Alignment: Negative forces stir over a long period.]
[If the Guardian of the Earth remains vacant, all lands will face a great famine once every ten years.]
[The cycle of great famine shortens the longer the Guardian position remains vacant.]
[A bountiful harvest will only manifest if the farming die roll lands on 6, not 5-6.]
[The underground grows a bit darker.]
[The toxicity of poisonous plants intensifies.]
[The efficacy of medicinal herbs decreases.]
[The quality of ore buried in veins slightly declines.]
[Earthquake damage to Tankrid's temples becomes severe.]
[Faction: Sky Dragon Azanik gains the upper hand.]
...
Messages continued to pop up relentlessly, from minor details to major ones.
'Tankrid's influence was this extensive...'
Some transcendents were hard to judge as mere individuals.
They were the world itself—nature and relationships incarnate.
Thus, Tankrid's influence in life had been immense, and her absence would leave an even greater void.
'This is going to cause me a lot of headaches from now on.'
A vacancy must be filled by someone.
The vultures wouldn't leave that throne of glory and hardship alone.
'That's for later... For now...'
Whooooong...
"......"
A green orb floated in a spherical form.
It was an object created upon Tankrid's death.
It showed no reaction, so it wasn't her soul.
"It's the Earth's Essence."
At Tantuinu's words, Jamad and Kang Seol turned to her.
"What Mother entrusted to you is not just duty. Surely... she left the power to fulfill it as well."
"Tankrid's... power..."
Jamad muttered.
"It's dormant now, but it will be of great help to you. Take it."
"You're Tankrid's descendant, Tantuinu."
"I am merely her blood kin; I could not inherit Mother's will."
Jamad placed his hand on the floating green orb.
The green light was sucked into his body.
[Jamad acquires the Earth's Essence.]
[Enlightenment: Changes occur in the Supreme Realm.]
[Enlightenment is accelerated.]
[Under certain conditions, you can immediately manifest supreme power.]
...
In simple terms, it meant Jamad could reach the true Supreme Realm sooner and more easily.
Considering how long Karen had been stuck in emptiness, this was an enormous advantage.
What Tankrid left to Jamad and Kang Seol wasn't just that.
This massive blue egg.
It looked at first glance like a mini Tankrid was inside.
However, considering dragons hatched leisurely, the timing would depend on how long Tankrid had incubated it.
'Wait, can this even hatch in the first place?'
Kang Seol asked Tantuinu.
"Tantuinu, don't dragon descendants need to hatch from a dragon?"
"Indeed. Unlike wyverns, dragons awaken to the world from birth and enlighten it. It's only right that another dragon teaches the world to such a dragon."
"Then this one..."
"But Mother Tankrid foresaw the future. I cannot protect her descendant."
"......"
"Mother entrusted the future to you and that troll. I will follow her will."
- Wait, excuse me... Can it even hatch?
- Edison, you were right...
Kang Seol frowned.
"Uh... Hatching requires incubation, right?"
"Correct."
"We have no way to incubate that egg."
"We'll have to find one."
From the journey here, Tantuinu was truly stubborn. She wasn't annoying in a clingy way, which was good, but her rigidity made her annoying.
Jamad seemed to ponder for a moment.
Kang Seol needed to discuss this with him too.
First, the most convenient option.
Kang Seol and Jamad said it simultaneously.
"Emptiness."
"Let's take it to Emptiness first."
"Great minds."
Kang Seol closed his eyes and envisioned the door to Emptiness.
And the egg in his hand...
The egg...
'Damn it...'
The egg was gone.
This had happened before.
He gave up on moving the egg to Emptiness for now.
He needed another way.
Suddenly, a new idea flashed.
Kang Seol picked up the egg and shoved it somewhere.
"Perfect fit."
"...So it is."
It was the shadow space.
He'd thought recently there was some room left, and luckily, it fit perfectly.
Whether the hatching conditions would be met inside was still a question mark.
"Jamad. Is it warm in there, by any chance?"
"......"
- lololololol
- What a question lmao
- Do they have hot water here?
- How much is it? Wow, cheap...
Anyway.
With the biggest issue resolved, Kang Seol checked the adventure-related messages from earlier.
Adventure 33-(Special) ‘Dragon’s Revenge’
The Mother of the Earth, Tankrid, has breathed her last. She became a star in death, but Azanik still pursues her remnants.
You succeeded in escaping Azanik through quick thinking. If you just keep fleeing, you might shake off the pursuit.
But your shadow, Jamad, disagrees. He seeks vengeance for Tankrid.
A foolish judgment, but perhaps the fastest way for Jamad to reach a higher realm.
And you are another fool who goes along with this idiocy.
Even if it fails, survival is fine.
Jamad has a very high chance of gaining enlightenment during the adventure.
Goal: Inflict damage on Azanik
Warning: This adventure is extremely dangerous.
Warning: This adventure's situation changes moment by moment.
Remaining time 「Unknown」
'Inflict damage... Hmm... At least there's a sort of reward.'
If Jamad fully reached the Supreme Realm, he'd likely become Kang Seol's strongest summon right now.
"But... is that method really possible?"
Tantuinu approached Kang Seol and asked.
She seemed eager to hear the plan he'd cut short earlier.
"Yes."
"...The opponent is Azanik. A monster who has reigned as the tyrant of the skies for eons. Do you know?"
"I do."
"And yet you so casually talk of taking it down..."
Kang Seol corrected her.
"I never said anything about taking it down."
"...What?"
- Come to think of it, yeah?
- Jamad: Unless I pour out this rage... (pinch is fine too)
Kang Seol glanced at Jamad and spoke.
"We give that arrogant dragon a smack and run. That's my plan..."
"Th-that sounds like taking it down?"
"Different things. The latter is impossible right now; the former is fairly easy."
"Easy... like that..."
"Anyway, time's short, so focus for a bit."
Chrarak-!
Kang Seol pulled out paper he'd kept knowing it'd come in handy someday.
He began drawing on it with a chalk-like tool.
Ssk...
Ssk...
It was a rough map of somewhere.
A simple map form, but he detailed the surroundings meticulously.
[Creating a map.]
[The map's completion affects its quality; higher completion allows more information.]
No one here knew what map it was, but Kang Seol drew boldly.
He jotted down precautions in tiny script densely, then handed it over.
[Precise rough map created.]
[Unexpected talent! Awaken Mapmaking 1.]
[Aesthetic sense is added during mapmaking.]
[If the reader knows Elementary or Intermediate Interpretation, they can decipher it more easily.]
...
Jamad and Tantuinu examined the map.
They looked surprised at the intricate detail.
Kang Seol, a bit embarrassed, gave the next instructions.
"We're splitting up from here."
"Hmm..."
"We get one shot at attacking. It'll counter immediately, and we can't block that."
"True. What do I do?"
"Go to the designated spot first and wait, then when the signal comes..."
After hearing Kang Seol's plan, Jamad nodded.
"...Fun."
Tantuinu's reaction differed slightly.
"This method should let us escape, but... Azanik's scales block all harm. Unfortunately, your attacks will be futile. Better to..."
"If it were elsewhere, maybe, but this is the Underground Garden. If it goes as planned, we can do it."
"This is... insane."
"I hear that sometimes too."
Jamad grinned.
"Kang Seol, I trust you. I'll prepare my full power."
"But..."
"Let's go, dragon. It's decided."
"Ugh..."
Tantuinu shook her head in disbelief and vanished with Jamad.
She wasn't wrong.
They hadn't planned to come here originally, so if Kang Seol had set foot via another path instead of coming personally, he'd have chosen flight.
To land a hit on a dragon required preparation. The Underground Garden bore fruit for that prep, but it itself demanded time and effort.
"Now, let's make this a bit easier."
And Kang Seol had a power to cover that substantial time and effort.
Zziiik...
Kang Seol tore an invitation for the first time in ages.
* * *
Whoooosh...
Mist blankets the ground.
The ominous backdrop still didn't sit well.
Kang Seol stood with arms crossed, waiting, when drumming started from somewhere.
Dung dung...
Dududung...
The drums grew closer.
Soon, the mist parted, revealing strange masked figures.
"Waaaah! It's Snowman! Snowman!"
"I'm a fan! Fan! Watching great!"
"What gimmick this time? We saw the end!"
They looked awkward somehow.
They even held a ridiculous banner: "We Love You Snowman."
'...Not merchants?'
They weren't merchants.
Right then.
Chwaaa-!
Chwaaaaa-!
[Someone shows interest in the Madness you've collected.]
Pollen fell from the sky, heralding someone's arrival.
"...Janet. Is it my imagination that your entrances are getting flashier?"
"Hohoho... Afraid not."
Janet appeared in an oni mask and ornate robes, earning applause from the onlookers.
Clap clap clap-!
"...You didn't hire them too, did you?"
"A self-esteem recovery service. What do you think?"
"My self-esteem isn't that low..."
"Oh dear..."
"No sign of that flashy toad today?"
"Disposed of it. Fuel efficiency was an issue."
Janet clapped.
Clap...
"Bring it."
"Yes!"
Items from the cart were swiftly piled onto the stalls.
It felt like she'd brought an entire market.
'...Transactions scaling up too?'
Janet held a folding fan, bowed her head, and asked.
"So... what item are you looking for?"