Chapter 35
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Liberation Complete
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A massive flower gaped wide its maw lined with jagged teeth, lunging to swallow Kang Seol whole.
The very instant he was about to get sucked into its mouth...
Grrrrrind—!
"Get out of there! Hurry!"
Jamad had grabbed the flower's stem and yanked it back the other way, freeing Kang Seol from danger.
"Jamad!"
"Run! Don't worry about me!"
The Overgrown Lifeform uses Alluring Pollen.
"Not on my watch!"
Whoosh—!
Roooar...
Jamad swung his blazing fist, incinerating the pollen in one go.
A flicker of tension crossed Kang Seol's face.
The monstrously enlarged plant began slowly encircling Jamad.
Meanwhile, the Shredding Fleet was still pushing toward the central control unit. If Jamad fell behind here, things could get dicey.
Jamad switches to Earthquake Stance.
Rumble rumble...
Splatter—!
Jamad's fists tore into the flower stems.
"Don't make me say it twice! I'll catch up soon!"
"...Got it."
Jamad was soon completely engulfed by the massive plant, vanishing from sight.
Kang Seol turned away, prioritizing the more pressing matter over worrying about him.
Arta spoke up.
"This is the central control unit."
"Damn it... Why'd they build it smack in the middle of the research complex? If we get cut off here, we're done for! Hurry and initiate the connection!"
"Understood."
Step... Step...
Thud.
Arta's arms made contact with the central control unit.
Then...
Hummmmm...
Mysterious runes lit up across the surface of the control unit.
A voice emanated from Arta's body.
"Critical error detected. Requesting authorization to dispose of research subjects."
"We need authorization too?"
"Awaiting approval from Director Grizz..."
"Override it! Incoming!"
Vines wrapped tightly around one of the golems.
Whip—!
Karuna slashed diagonally with his flaming sword, freeing the bound golem.
Slice—!
Roar...
"Hurry!"
"Understood. Attempting forced proxy authorization."
Hummmm...
Strange runes glowed across Arta's body as well.
"Lab 81 Director Arta-2: Central control unit access granted. Executing independence protocol."
Whip—!
Splat!
Crunch!
A researcher's head was snared by a vine and crushed like scrap metal. The number of heads they'd painstakingly restored was dwindling.
'Hurry... We're out of time!'
Kang Seol urged Arta on with a sharp glance.
At that moment, Arta's eyes blazed bright blue.
"Commanding all active researchers: Erase research logs."
Mass Fire Suppression System activated.
Whirrrr.
Clank—
Hiss...
Despite the sealed underground space, fresh air poured in as if they stood in the heart of a vast forest.
Clank— Clank—
Cannon ports opened on the arms of the mechanical golems.
"Incineration order."
"Erasing research logs."
The golems aimed their arms at the encroaching vines.
And then...
Boom!
Immense heat erupted from their muzzles.
"Kiiiiieeeek—!"
"Yes!"
Roar...
It was like the Red Sea parting—a massive wall of flames surged forth.
The fire suppression system prevented the entire lab from igniting instantly, but it was more than enough to torch the demonic plants' stems.
Arta approached Kang Seol.
"Calculations indicate insufficient fuel. Please continue liberating the researchers, sir."
"Damn! On it!"
Only about ten of the dozens of researchers were still functional—Arta's concern was spot on.
Kang Seol was singed by the flames but freed golems from their vine bindings in the process.
Activated Igram-31.
Rescued a dormant golem. (18/20)
Activated Juku-12.
Rescued a dormant golem. (19/20)
Clank—
Boom!
Roar...
The green-infested research complex turned black and red.
There was no sense of dread or fear.
It felt only like purifying flames scorching the world clean.
Half the complex was now subdued by fire, the remaining half a huddled mass of bizarre plants fleeing the blaze.
Kang Seol let out a sigh of relief at having weathered the crisis.
'Yeah, that's why it was a solo adventure.'
Barring some freak catastrophe, solo adventures were rarely harder than elite five-man party ones. If it seemed so, you just hadn't found the right strategy yet.
'Maybe it stacked with that unlucky Travel Luck.'
Travel Luck in the Nobira region had been a measly 2 on the die—enough to make even a solo run tense.
"Jamad!"
"...Here."
Jamad had somehow returned to Kang Seol's side.
He'd likely broken free on his own before the flames grew too fierce.
'Impressive as always.'
Surviving that horde of monsters only burnished his reputation brighter.
"Kiiiiieeeek—!"
"Almost done."
This adventure could've been cleared by a fire mage or someone with Mechanical Engineering talent, even without golems.
But this was undoubtedly the smoothest path, and Kang Seol's judgment in spotting it mid-crisis was spot-on.
"...Hm?"
Jamad scowled.
He stared past the flames and clenched his fist tighter.
As the fire died down, the reason for his grimace became clear.
"Kiiiiieeeek—!"
A single unidentified flower screeched, parasitizing the last unliberated golem.
"Looks like that flower's the culprit."
As Kang Seol pondered, chin in hand, the flower charged.
"Watch out!"
Jamad shoved Kang Seol back and met it head-on.
Boom!
"Jamad!"
Whip—!
Vines poured from the golem's body.
But unlike before, when they'd reared back for a strike, these slithered like snakes.
The Overgrown Lifeform attempts swarming.
'No way!'
This monster refused to die even as the complex burned. It kept clawing for a reversal—and now targeted Jamad.
"Nngh!"
Jamad's arms were locked grappling the golem. Encircled by those vines, even he could be at the monster's mercy.
Yet Jamad grinned calmly amid the peril.
"Hey, tin can. Now."
Crunch—!
Jamad dodged the vines and burrowed into the golem's embrace, twisting and snapping its arms clean off.
Monstrous strength—but the vines were closing in.
In that instant, Karuna leaped up behind him.
Whoooosh—!
Moonlight Knight Karuna enters Moonlight Ascension Lv. 3, Full Moon state.
"Hup!"
Karuna spun in midair, unleashing a barrage of radiant sword strikes.
Slash!
Splatter!
"Kiiiiieeeek!"
Amid the monster's shattering body, he spotted something glowing.
Thrust—!
Karuna stabbed straight for it.
Split!
Pop!
The monster burst like a balloon.
Plop plop...
Sizzle...
The surroundings resembled the depths of hell.
Good thing the suppression system condensed it all—otherwise, ash and smoke would've choked Kang Seol's lungs.
"Hoo..."
Overgrown Lifeform defeated.
Acquired Multi-Spirit Box Belt (Incomplete)
Acquired Blueprint: Multi-Spirit Box Belt
Acquired Intact Vitality Powder
Acquired Timid Leather Armor
Acquired 10 Platinum Coins
Acquired 2 Gold Coins
Acquired 677 Silver Coins
Acquired 33 Medium Red Potions
Acquired 18 Medium Blue Potions
...
Messages cascaded like fireworks.
Kang Seol sifted through the flood for what he wanted.
'Multi-Spirit Box! Knew it was here.'
Whether swallowed by the monster or not, defeating it dropped the belt—blueprint included—into his inventory.
‘Got Item’ sponsors 400 Madness!
[We're happy now, right? That belt fights on its own now, yeah?]
How's a belt gonna fight by itself lol
Solo run and the loot is insane
What kinda grind was that shocked
‘Today’s Protagonist’ sponsors 300 Madness!
[That's Jamad. Dude's been bouncing all over the place today shocked]
True that
Was scared when Jamad got left behind;;
Jamad: Yeah, that's when I thought 'oh crap' lol
Stop bullying our Jamad ㅠㅠ
Chieftain vibes, total leadership shocked
‘Plant Lover’ sponsors 100 Madness!
[How could you burn the plants? Can't you hear their cries of agony? I support plants.]
Yeah, plant supporter. Oh ho ho!
Burns nice hehe
Problem solved!
‘Caught You’ sponsors 200 Madness!
[Snowman pattern decoded. Problem arises → summon handles it → nods knowingly.]
Life is like Snowman.
That knowing nod pisses me off lol
Put my cousin there and he'd do fine.
You guys weren't praising his judgment earlier?
That was then, this is now!
Kang Seol checked his loot.
Multi-Spirit Box Belt (Incomplete)
Rank: Unique
Level: 10 - 20
Defense: 20
Durability: 140/140
Weight: 0.2kg
A belt designed by the continent's genius Grizz.
Tremendous potential, but only the framework is complete for some reason.
Base Effect: Stamina +2
Special: Changes with each absorbed spirit.
- Huh? Stamina +2?
- Someone actually grinded that hard for +2 stats? lol
- ... Feels good!
Kang Seol read the description carefully, then moved to the related item.
Blueprint: Multi-Spirit Box Belt
Rank: Common
Level: None
Weight: 0.1kg
Special: Blueprint detailing how to complete the Multi-Spirit Box Belt.
The blueprint was a slim booklet. Kang Seol flipped through it.
Hidden Adventure 'As Far As You Can' activated.
'As Far As You Can' adventure queued.
This is a linked adventure. Cannot select next one.
'Forced link, huh?'
The blueprint in his hands was apparently the trigger.
He pocketed it.
'Next one's nothing special anyway.'
No point strutting around with a +2 Stamina belt. Better complete the chain.
Timid Leather Armor
Rank: Rare
Level: 10 - 20
Defense: 33
Durability: 65/65
Weight: 0.5kg
Leather armor worn under plate.
No frills, but excellent defense booster.
Base Effect: Stamina +7
Special: No wear restrictions. Stacks with armor.
- Leather? Summoners can't wear that?
- Options say they can?
- Still, just Stamina...
- Eyes playing tricks? Can wear with armor separately?
- Whoa;;
Kang Seol dusted off his solid haul.
Finally, the powder.
Intact Vitality Powder
Rank: Treasure
Level: None
Weight: 0.1kg
Special: Powder that invigorates life force. Beware overgrowth.
- What's this?
- Where to use it?
Unlike the skeptical viewers, Kang Seol smiled in satisfaction.
'Big score.'
He knew its use.
With rewards checked, Kang Seol stood and brushed off.
A halted golem loomed before him—the last one, dominated to the end.
He approached its input panel.
To free it.
Golem input query: 'Who was the first person this Grizz truly wanted?'
1. It was me, Grizz himself.
2. No such person exists.
3. Dancer of the Winds, Furia
4. Human merchant Yuran
5. Milan
...
"...What?"
Kang Seol had solved every puzzle flawlessly so far.
Towering golems behind him proved it.
Normally, it'd be Grizz himself again—the ultimate narcissist.
But he hesitated. Grizz's words echoed in his memory.
- If you don't go... is that okay? This Grizz seems to need you. Have I ever yearned for something like this?
Kang Seol selected 5: Milan—his final hunch.
- Whoa! Wrong answer!
- Idiot! Obvious one was Grizz!
- Can't undo? Answer's Grizz!
The viewers reacted with shock.
But Kang Seol chose calmly, unconcerned with failure.
A genius narcissist craving someone else? Unlikely.
His pick was wrong; the golem wouldn't move.
Yet...
Clank—
The golem stirred.
Activated Griam-1.
Rescued a dormant golem. (20/20)
All researchers liberated within time limit.
Bonus reward granted.