Chapter 346
Chapter 346
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 346
>Chapter Title: The Old Hollow
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Jamad and Tantuinu had blasted through the checkpoints at breakneck speed while Kang Seol shopped at the Madness Store and fulfilled the Field Keeper's request.
No, "blasted through" wasn't quite right.
Just as Kang Seol had instructed, they did nothing but locate and pass through each checkpoint.
- The Underground Garden yields nothing without effort. But as long as you don't cause harm, nothing will hinder you.
They passed the first, second, and third checkpoints.
They encountered the Field Keeper and the other zone managers, but didn't engage in deep conversations with them.
They merely asked where the path led next.
"...This is it."
"This is... the Old Hollow?"
Traces of an unimaginably massive tree that had snapped remained there.
Now just an empty husk of bark, even the remnants overwhelmed them with their sheer scale.
Did anyone know why this tree had broken or why its interior was hollowed out?
'No, but Kang Seol might...'
Kang Seol was the one closest to the world's secrets, along with Jamad, who had read his memories.
Jamad suspected Kang Seol knew every hidden truth of the Underground Garden.
"It's astonishing... such... such scale..."
Tantuinu lost himself gazing at the wondrous sight the Underground Garden concealed.
It felt like stepping into Pandea's secret garden.
"...Let's go in."
The words every manager they'd met had said.
- But did you make an appointment with Sleepyhead?
- Sleepyhead sleeps so much, he's hard to meet...
- Do you need a seal?
They'd spouted cryptic nonsense.
Jamad ignored it, figuring Kang Seol would handle whatever.
"Come on, this way."
The hollow formed a circular staircase along the walls.
A precarious path where a single misstep could send you plummeting to the dark depths below.
Since it was narrow, Tantuinu followed behind Jamad.
Jamad had been mostly silent on the way here.
"...Do you trust Kang Seol?"
"What?"
"Aren't you worried? Anxious?"
It would be a lie to say he wasn't.
"......"
"We're waiting here for the dragon now. And Kang Seol, who may or may not even make it."
"He'll come."
Tantuinu's eyes wavered.
"Why do you trust that human so much? Haven't trolls and humans been bitter enemies for ages?"
"I don't know. Who cares about dusty old history? Kang Seol is my brother, and he's never wrong."
"That's blind faith."
"Trusting someone worthy isn't blind faith or forced belief. It's trust."
"...Why did Mother entrust the future to you lot?"
"Who knows? It's already started. Thanks to that, we're hunted by the dragon—now we find a way..."
"......"
"The bottom's coming into view."
At Jamad's words, Tantuinu looked down. Sure enough, they were nearly at the hollow's floor.
And this was the spot where Kang Seol waited, readying his best attack.
Only after reaching the bottom did Tantuinu vaguely grasp Kang Seol's intent.
"Kang Seol was right. Here... there's no escape."
"......"
Rustle...
Jamad plopped down on the ground and closed his eyes.
Whoooosh...
Jamad swiftly gathered vast sorcery power. Watching him, Tantuinu asked,
"...Do you think we can land a hit on Azanic?"
"No idea."
"Then why gamble like this...?"
"Kang Seol said it's possible. So shut up. You're the noisiest dragon I've ever met."
Tantuinu fell silent a moment, then approached Jamad and placed both hands on his back.
"...What are you doing?"
"Mother's essence lingers in you, unabsorbed. If you fully claim that mighty power... we might have a shot."
"...Hmph."
Whooooshhh...
Jamad checked the rampaging Tancred essence within him and vowed.
'I'll... shatter the wall here, no matter what.'
In a few hours, the dragon would arrive.
That was the turning point.
He clenched his jaw and gathered his strength.
Tancred's words and traces swirled in his mind.
'Your vengeance, Tancred. Lend me your power.'
The wild earth energy began to solidify.
* * *
"Thanks! That was a great deal! Here's a token of my goodwill."
Sizzle...
A circular seal etched into the back of his hand.
Inside it, a field motif was offset to the left.
[You acquire the Field Keeper's Seal.]
[Sleepyhead might agree to meet you.]
'A seal too... perfect!'
If the venom glands he planned to collect step-by-step were his attack means, the Field Keeper's Seal was key to shaking off Azanic's pursuit.
Kang Seol intended to gather mystical venom herbs and manager seals throughout the Underground Garden.
'With the Flicker Flower and now the seal secured, no reason to linger.'
Time was short.
Recalling Azanic awaited only the ruin gates reopening, Kang Seol bid the Field Keeper farewell.
"Yeah! Head that way, and you'll hit a big cave! It'll lead to the forest!"
"Thanks, take care."
"See you next time!"
"See you next time."
Those words hit Kang Seol differently now.
Among his strongest horses, 'Charlie'—who tackled a legend adventure here—hated that phrase most.
He never wanted to return to this exhausting Underground Garden. Crossing the continent on errands was beyond excessive.
After inventing a few ultimate techniques alongside the legend adventure, he cut off all visits.
He'd thought he'd never, truly never, return.
'Life's unpredictable...'
Kang Seol chuckled wryly, watching the Field Keeper depart.
These experiences would prove invaluable ahead, so no time for sentiment—prepare thoroughly.
Moments later, he reached the massive cave.
Kang Seol pulled up his mental map, tracing the path ahead.
Unlike typical ruins, the Underground Garden was linear.
Straight ahead to the heart. Wouldn't that disadvantage him in a chase?
A valid question.
If Azanic could just follow the path and catch up, he'd be killed.
That's where this checkpoint came in.
Checkpoints 1, 2, 3.
Fields, forest, swamp, and the Old Hollow.
Linking the zones, these cave-like gates had high ceilings for large beasts or monsters.
'The Immortal passed through here once...'
Even the colossal monster dubbed Immortal—somewhat overhyped—fit through, so the gates were vast.
But gates were just gates; they offered no special resistance to something like Azanic.
Unless he got clever.
'Normally, I'd use the managers...'
Managers could tamper with gates, but it took time and effort—too much now.
He pulled out the bulk-purchased steel reed seeds and scattered them.
'This should do.'
Steel reeds were extremely dangerous plants.
Hard as steel swords, they hardened further in fire.
They lost rarity when broken, worthless as materials, but here...?
'Perfect barricade.'
Steel reeds grew incredibly fast. Kang Seol dusted enhanced vitality powder to boost them.
The seeds burrowed into the cave floor and erupted wildly.
Ruuuumble-!
[You cultivate an excellent steel reed field.]
[Unexpected Talent! You awaken Farming 1.]
[Crops you harvest gain fixed effects.]
[You influence plant growth.]
The cave filled with steel reeds in seconds.
'Next...'
He ground the fresh Flicker Flower petals, mixed with bangbang seeds, and sprinkled vitality powder.
Craaaackle-!
The large, gourd-like bangbangs swelled quickly, hiding amid the reeds.
Bangbangs exploded at the slightest impact, scattering spores.
Remarkably adaptable, they absorbed traits from venomous or medicinal powders used as fertilizer.
Thus, when those giant bangbangs burst, Flicker Flower toxin would flood everywhere.
'This'll do for now.'
Sealing the first passage, Kang Seol headed to the next zone.
Exiting the cave revealed a forest.
Birds flitting overhead made Kang Seol frown.
The forest held bitter memories.
"Hello! I'm the Forest Keeper!"
A parrot-like Forest Keeper strode up, greeting him.
"Welcome to the forest, human!"
"Uh, hi."
For reference, the Forest Keeper was the chattiest manager.
"I'll let you in on a secret: be quiet in Sleepyhead's domain. Heh heh heh..."
"......"
"Curious about more secrets? Huh? Are ya?"
[The chatty Forest Keeper asks if you have questions. Do you?]
1. How was this forest made?
2. What power runs the Underground Garden?
3. Where's the exit?
4. Who's Sleepyhead? How do I meet him?
...
"I'd like to meet Sleepyhead. Possible?"
"Oh, easy. Nothing to it. Sleepyhead loves us."
"Us?"
"The managers! We tend his garden while he sleeps! Just get on our good side!"
Before the next options appeared, Kang Seol fired a follow-up.
"How do I get on your good side?"
"Uh... m-me? You wanna impress me?"
"Yeah."
"W-well, then... do me a favor!"
"Sure. Tell me your request, and I'll handle it."
"Really? Then my request is..."
This was it.
Crucial for attacking Azanic.
The Forest Keeper's requests varied wildly. Sometimes hunt massive boars wrecking the ecosystem; other times evict water serpents from shallow lakes.
Fulfill them, get a seal and reward: venom from his headache pest.
That's why Kang Seol was tense.
'No time for two requests.'
The final venom depended on this one.
Worst case, a harmless toxin—then flee.
'Giant bees would be ideal. Giant bees...'
Kang Seol stared piercingly at the parrot beak, awaiting the request.
"Hmm... So many options. Lizards are rampant, mosquito swarms too. And fruit-rotting birds!"
"......Bee."
"Huh? What? Anyway, the forest needs most work. I'm swamped daily, no rest... Gotta ask Sleepyhead to switch when he wakes. Right?"
"...Bee."
"Huh? Bee? Bees?"
"...Nah."
The Forest Keeper tilted his head, eyes widening.
"Right! Bees! Gotta be them!"
"That, I can..."
"Bees! Giant bees! Some human helped once, but they bounced back. Can't approach the hive—nightmare!"
Kang Seol's face lit up.
"Whoa! Big trouble! Gotta exterminate those giant bees quick—they just grow bigger with age! Wingbeats alone terrify!"
"Exactly! Uh... h-how do you know so much?"
The Forest Keeper shrank back. Kang Seol grinned.
"Leave it to me. Giant bees. Prepared properly this time."
"...This time?"
"...Anyway."