Chapter 354
Chapter 354
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 354
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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The Ebony Labyrinth had come under special management by major guilds from the Federation and the North.
Thanks to their efforts to recover the scattered badges nearby, large-scale monsters in the vicinity were falling one after another.
When a labyrinth appears, people inevitably flock to it like insects drawn to light.
Some for a quick fortune, others for deep training, and some to test their limits.
No matter the purpose, the labyrinth was an ideal destination offering satisfying answers.
Any faction would stretch out to seize non-monster prey in such a labyrinth.
The current situation was no different.
The Federation had dispatched troops and allied guilds to seal off the entrance to the Ebony Labyrinth tightly.
"Hey, nothing out of the ordinary, right?"
"What could there be? Look at all these people gathered. They're just here for the shift change, yeah?"
"Yeah, but isn't this show a bit too flashy?"
"Not wrong, but who'd dare interfere with the Federation's operations? Unless they've got multiple lives."
The guard passing on special notes during the shift change spoke up.
"But who the hell are these lunatics trying to enter this pitch-black labyrinth?"
"Moths to a flame. Most are Returners. Gotta figure they're all itching to die."
During the handover, their superior approached the labyrinth's main gate.
"Whoa, he shows up quick just 'cause we got a little loud."
"Tch..."
The superior's purpose differed from their expectations.
"The owner of the badges has just been decided."
"Pardon? Really?"
If true, it meant all badges for the labyrinth had been collected in less than half a month since its appearance.
It was proof of the Federation's power, however slight.
"Who... no, which side got the badges?"
The superior bluntly stated the results.
"One Federation supervisor, one from the Testimony Society, one from the Burst Workshop, two from Neo-Humans, and the spares too."
"Neo-Humans snagged three spots. They really got something special?"
"Well, rumors say they pulled strings, but it's unconfirmed. Anyway, the ones they put forward all exceed expectations. And the others fielded some solid picks too."
"All Returners?"
"Seems so. Only Returners obsessed with getting stronger would crawl into that black pit."
"Couldn't agree more."
Right then, a commotion erupted nearby.
"Hey, how'd they get this far in?"
"Why didn't you stop them?"
"Block them! Don't let them get close!"
The superior peeked out at the noise.
Thud... thud...
Someone in a robe approached the labyrinth entrance they were guarding, somehow unhindered.
"S-Stop!"
"Didn't you hear to halt right there!"
They only shouted, not blocking the path.
As the superior prepared to berate the guards in fury, the robed man's eyes gleamed.
Golden pupils fixed on him, freezing his body.
"Uh..."
A low voice emanated.
"I'll pass through."
Whoooosh...
Dark energy swirled from the man.
An overwhelming pressure.
"N-No badge, and you think you can do anything?!"
"......"
"I don't know what you're after, but let's avoid pointless clashes. You won't gain a thing here..."
At that moment, the man removed his glove and extended one hand.
A ring etched with strange script resonated with the gate.
Whooooosh...
Crackle...
[The Penitent's Seal activates.]
[Entering the Ebony Labyrinth.]
"......"
"H-Huh?"
The man vanished in an instant.
Those clustered at the entrance gawked, eyes darting silently.
Unfortunately, their disaster wasn't over.
A voice came from behind.
"This is bad! Puhi-hit... I'll go catch 'em!"
Puhi-hit...
'Puhi-hit?'
The superior recalled no woman here laughed so frivolously and turned.
"You're... no, you all..."
A blank face on a body like an iron tower.
Beside the white handsome man stood a Latina woman with a greatsword on her back.
The man recognized the woman among them.
She grinned, clasping her hands in mock prayer.
"We were wondering how to get through! You just gave us a perfect start—makes it too easy for us! Looks like there's someone even more ruthless than us!"
They extended their hands.
Whoooosh...
Crackle-crackle!
Black lightning swallowed them both simultaneously.
The situation grew ever more absurd.
Pop-!
Pop-!
Two masked figures suddenly leaped from both sides, extending hands just like the others.
They had seals too.
Crackle-crackle-crackle-!
It all happened in a flash.
Before those with badges could even start exploring, five had entered.
Without a single clash.
"Uh... so, um..."
A guard glanced nervously, trying to appease the highest-ranking man there.
"Phew... at least no conflict broke out."
But the man's reaction was oddly calm.
"Y-You're... okay with this?"
"Of course. For the headaches they are, we took no losses."
"But... isn't this a big problem? Higher-ups said to guard this place ironclad..."
"That's all you needed to hear. They're exceptions."
"Pardon? Why... who are they?"
"Obvious, isn't it? The only ones who can enter a labyrinth without badges..."
The man gazed bitterly at the entrance the vanished ones had passed.
"...are those who've already conquered one. Higher-ups call them Conquerors. Blocking them would've been disastrous. Even the top said to let them pass politely if they showed."
"No way..."
How many words and deals had traded under the table? The superior explained more than usual to ease the guard's doubts.
"You saw the rings on their fingers?"
"Those oddly shaped ones? Each had different designs, right?"
"Those are the labyrinth seals. Marks of Conquerors. Medals for those who've survived death."
The guard tilted his head, mentioning a detail only on one.
"...But the second woman's ring pattern looked like something overlapping..."
"What, you don't know Lucia?"
"Pardon? Lucia? Wait... that Lucia?"
"Yeah, now you get why I said not to block."
Lucia.
Latin features and skin tone.
Plus a quirky personality masked as cheerfulness, earning her many enemies.
The issue was she outpaced them so much they could only suck their thumbs.
"Did Lucia really conquer two labyrinths?"
"Yeah. Mess with her wrong, and our heads roll. She wields that greatsword like a kitchen knife. Federation can't touch her lightly either. Be grateful she passed quietly."
"So she's the most dangerous Conqueror."
"......"
"What is it?"
The superior hesitated.
Until moments ago, he'd thought the same as his subordinate. But encountering them firsthand sparked doubt.
'Is Lucia really the most dangerous?'
Somehow, he couldn't agree.
Because...
"That first guy who appeared was kinda..."
"Pardon? Oh! That..."
"...Never mind. Report first. Damn... the worst happened. Trouble might brew inside the labyrinth."
* * *
Kang Seol entered the labyrinth surprisingly easily. Labyrinths were generally easier with companions, but regrettably, the Ebony Labyrinth didn't apply.
'...Right choice?'
Before heading east to meet Seolhong and retrieve Yuihwa's remains, he'd thrown himself into the labyrinth.
He hoped it was correct.
Amid flowing time and disasters, Kang Seol's strongest action was choice.
'Here... there's potential.'
Ways to grow were many, like the ability tree.
Or insights gained in battle.
Usually, balancing both led to desired strength.
But Kang Seol aimed higher—breaking walls to the next stage.
Clinging to ability trees for efficiency or unpredictable insights wasn't his growth path.
Other methods existed.
'Good thing I stockpiled ability points without spending.'
Kang Seol hadn't used the tree for a while, amassing points.
He had no intent to spend them there.
So where else for ability points?
Sacrificing them for new insights.
Different from the tree.
Reinforcing insight-gained power via points yielded visible growth.
Of course, not easy.
Needed insight-worthy environment, new power linking to his own, and heaps of points.
And now, Kang Seol had plunged into a place meeting all conditions.
He stood at the Ebony Labyrinth's entrance.
'Five doors.'
Five doors total.
Each topped with symbols, oddly accompanied by squares beside them.
'Hidden attributes...'
Kang Seol knew the Ebony Labyrinth well, including its hidden attributes roughly.
Crackle...
As he pondered, two figures appeared behind.
"Puhi-hit... met right away! Hi! Where you from?"
"......"
Kang Seol glanced back briefly, eyebrow twitching.
'Exploration team? No, seals.'
Time had passed since his Penitent Labyrinth conquest; others had likely conquered too.
He couldn't gauge Returners' current levels, but assumed stronger than his past self.
'Maybe not. But... overlapping symbols.'
Kang Seol noted Lucia's seal but understood upon realizing the pattern.
World praised her as absolute for two conquests, but knowing the truth, he viewed her differently.
'Blood Labyrinth and Plague Labyrinth... lucky. Faced the weakest ones?'
Blood and Plague were embarrassingly short and low-difficulty compared to his later Penitent.
Rewards dismal too, save the seals.
Really, nothing worth taking except seals.
Fact only veteran explorer Kang Seol knew. They wouldn't.
"Hm? Quiet type? Team up? I'm Lucia! If an exploration team shows, they might target us? Temporary alliance. We're two, but no bullying. Right?"
Nod...
The iron-tower man stayed expressionless, silent.
Kang Seol eyed them, then shook his head.
"I'll pass."
"Hm... really? Why? Wait... name?"
"...Kang Seol."
"Kang Seol... hm... oh well. No tailing, okay? And... you guys?"
Flinch...
The masked ones, silent since transfer, waved off her question.
"Whatever, fine by me too!"
Lucia spoke freely, arm akimbo, gesturing at doors with the other.
"Now... which door..."
Casual as she seemed, Kang Seol didn't rate it high.
'Crucial choice. Especially in Ebony Labyrinth.'
Picking randomly could spell disaster later.
To ease guilt slightly, he hinted.
"Better not take it lightly here..."
"Worried? Puhi-hit... cute, but this is my third labyrinth already? So..."
The iron-tower man eyed Kang Seol lowly.
"Overstepping."
Kang Seol shrugged, ending talk.
"Then... this one!"
Symbols formed shapes with meanings: blood, light, darkness, storm, dream.
"Hm... no sword symbol, so this best. I'm going here! Don't follow, all."
"......"
"Lucia, charging!"
Kang Seol watched her and the man vanish through blood and storm doors.
Masked ones gestured for him to choose first.
Kang Seol, knowing the square-hidden symbols, picked without hesitation.
Whummm...
Before the darkness door, he closed eyes, deep breath.
Ziiiiiing...
Odd reaction from his belongings.
【The Yaksha cries out.】
"......"
Unabsorbed Yaksha vibrated before darkness door.
Kang Seol nodded slightly, vanishing inside.
Creeeak...
Before door shut, he murmured.
"One thing I didn't mention. Jamad."
- What?
"From here..."
[Entering the Door of Darkness.]
[Vision restricted.]
"...I go alone."
[Link with all Shadow Summons severed.]
[Deep darkness descends.]
Whoooosh...
Cold sensation.
First impression of darkness: that alone.
Kang Seol felt loss.
Summons occupied most of his worth; severing links brought profound emptiness.
Blood-tied, he sensed their existence, but no light meant no shadows.
In total blindness, Kang Seol vowed.
No matter the time, conquer alone with his power.
"Yeah... from here, I walk solo."
To his self-mocking words, a response echoed.
A tiny lifeform clung to his arm.
【There's Lament too....】