Chapter 456
Chapter 456
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 456
>Chapter Title: The Mysterious Konji
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Kang Seol tilted his head upon hearing the name Konji.
“Konji? A Transmigrator?”
It was a name he’d never heard before.
Even scanning through his past memories, there was no connection at all.
If she were one of the Transmigrators…
“How has a Transmigrator reached this level already?”
It was a misunderstanding only Kang Seol could make. He couldn’t perfectly distinguish between ordinary or even strong Transmigrators.
His own benchmark was far higher anyway… He was no different from a wild man who’d trained in the mountains and come down.
The society of Transmigrators was, to Kang Seol, just one of the tools he could use.
“But…”
Seeing the expedition team fussing and praising Konji’s actions, it didn’t seem like something a typical Transmigrator would do.
By the time they were assessing the damage and cleaning up the surroundings, Gian and Sindio arrived on horses borrowed from the Kesshi.
“Gekko herd, huh? Gekko for dinner tonight… Wait, what’s that? The scent’s scattered?”
Kang Seol explained the situation, and only then did Gian and Sindio fully understand.
Sindio exchanged a brief conversation with the expedition leader before finally facing Konji.
“It was a dangerous situation, but it’s a relief you showed up, Miss Konji. Are you… perhaps a Transmigrator?”
“Transmigrator?”
Sindio smoothly asked the question Kang Seol had been wondering about. Konji tilted her head at the query and denied it.
“No, I’m not a Transmigrator. More importantly, is everyone safe?”
“Yes, thanks to you. We’ll have to ask the Kesshi tribe to check the mountain paths.”
Gian rested his hand on his chin and stared intently at Konji.
‘Has he noticed something?’
Kang Seol, who hadn’t figured anything out, was suspecting whether Konji might be a council member deliberately approaching him.
If Gian recognized her, it would fuel that suspicion.
“You’re pretty.”
Of course, the reason Gian was staring at Konji wasn’t because he recognized her.
“I’m pretty? Ahahaha! Thanks!”
“I mean it. I’ve never seen anyone as pretty as you.”
Pinch…
“Ow! Why’d you pinch me!”
Sindio pinched Gian’s side hard.
“I-I mean… that’s rude! Saying that right in front of her like it’s nothing!”
“Oh! Is it?”
Sindio glared at Konji with a dissatisfied expression.
“Hmm…”
“What?”
In her eyes too, Konji was beautiful. This wasn’t a matter of shifting beauty standards across eras.
Konji would have been hailed as a stunning beauty no matter the time period.
Simply put, a pretty human.
Sindio met her gaze.
Flinch!
A sharp pain.
“Ugh…”
“What’s wrong?”
“My heart…”
“No way, Sindio, you too?”
“Sh-shut up!”
Sindio occasionally complained of unexplained heart pains during expeditions. She said it was just a stinging sensation followed by needing to catch her breath briefly, so no one worried excessively.
The group huddled awkwardly.
Kang Seol hesitated, unsure how to treat Konji.
Gian slipped in casually.
“Konji, right? You busy by any chance?”
“Yeah, I am. Why?”
“B-busy?”
Gian’s friendliness was surprising, but Konji’s blunt response right to his face was just as bold.
“You seem highly skilled, so I had some questions. We’re staying in Spuno anyway. Was gonna invite you if you weren’t busy.”
Sindio looked appalled.
Dragging in someone they didn’t even know just because she’d helped them out.
It was typical tough-guy Gian, but the other party wasn’t easy either.
“I’ll pass. Got places to be.”
“Well… can’t be helped then.”
“See ya!”
Konji vanished in an instant.
“What… was that girl.”
As Sindio grumbled, Gian smirked.
“Definitely has that pull. She’s something.”
“What’s something about her?”
“Didn’t you see her eyes? She hated to part but forced herself for her plan.”
“Plan?”
“What else? Seducing this Gian, obviously.”
“…Stop it.”
“You just! You just swore, didn’t you? I heard that, Kang Seol?”
Ignoring Gian with his cheek pulled by Sindio, Kang Seol gazed in the direction Konji had left.
‘Doesn’t seem like she approached with some agenda… Just helped by coincidence?’
She’d left immediately, so it didn’t seem like she’d planned to approach at all.
“Anyway… mysterious woman.”
Kang Seol nodded faintly at Gian’s mutter without thinking.
* * *
During the break, Kang Seol checked the rewards earned through Karen’s efforts. Before doing so, he got her permission.
That, for the time being except in special cases, he couldn’t obtain her equipment.
Karen accepted it readily.
Creak…
[You are extremely wise.]
[High Wisdom instantly comprehends the lock’s mechanism.]
[Injecting mana will unlock it.]
[Checking Rotten Odor Bundle.]
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
[Acquire ability points.]
[Acquire ability points.]
[Albuja’s special ability activates.]
[Acquire additional ability points.]
[Acquire additional ability points.]
[Sly Blood Snake activates.]
[Acquire additional ability points.]
[Acquire additional ability points.]
[I Am Him’s special ability activates.]
[Acquire additional ability points.]
[Acquire additional ability points.]
[Acquire Ring of Rotten Breath.]
[Acquire Ring of the Distant Future.]
[Acquire Ring of Black Flame.]
[Acquire Love-Hate.]
[Acquire 57 platinum coins.]
[Acquire 3 keys of unknown use.]
……
Like a seasoned expert, Kang Seol sorted the equipment in a flash.
“Three rings… Damn it…”
Accessories had weaker base stats than other slots, so unless they were peerless, they always felt lacking.
Three rings dropping at once—this was a first. Kang Seol began checking them with a calm mind.
“Ring of the Distant Future… Whew…”
Not only packed with Intelligence, but it also dealt extra damage proportional to mana. Perfect for Urga, so he set it aside.
Next was the Ring of Rotten Breath.
Ideal for close-combat fighters like Kang Seol or Tancia.
Kang Seol passed the ring to Tancia.
[Ring of Rotten Breath]
Grade: Treasure
Appropriate Level: 65 - 72
Resistance: 185
Durability: 150/150
Weight: 0.1kg
The emblem symbolizing Inggeolbul’s corruption could rot life in an instant. This ring contains that emblem’s breath.
Base Stats: All ability stats +24
Special Ability: When attacking living beings and inflicting wounds, recovery on the wounded area is reduced by 50% and won’t fully heal until combat ends.
And there was one more ring.
[Ring of Black Flame]
Grade: Treasure
Appropriate Level: 63 - 70
Class Restriction: Dragon
Resistance: 178
Durability: 140/140
Weight: 0.1kg
The Deputy God’s black flames even terrified Razin.
Base Stats: All ability stats +23
Special Ability: Breath range increases by 30%, and power density rises slightly.
Blink…
Blink…
Eyes dry, Kang Seol rubbed them and checked the ring again.
‘Class restrictions were bound to appear eventually…’
The era of legend quests and class diversification.
Equipment increasingly favored specialized abilities over general ones.
The first class-restricted item Kang Seol got was for Dragon, no less.
“Breath… So she can breathe it out?’
Breath was the symbol of dragons.
But seeing Tancia’s sparkling eyes, it was still far off.
Still, better than nothing. He unequipped her current item and slipped the ring on her finger.
Watching Tancia revert to human form to wear the ring, Kang Seol thought dragons sure were convenient.
Finally.
The peerless item gleaming brilliantly.
He’d obtained so many by now that he was almost numb to it.
But truly numb? No. The thrill of checking peerless gear info was still overwhelming.
Peerless: Love-Hate
Grade: Peerless
Appropriate Level: 62 - 72
Defense: 290
Durability: 270/270
Weight: 0.1kg
Love and hate at once.
Gloves imbued with profound emotions.
Base Stats: All ability stats +36
Special Ability: True Love (Unique) activates, Unrequited Love (Unique) activates, I Hate You (Unique) activates, Body slightly enlarges upon transformation.
[True Love]
- Upon transformation, max HP increases by 20%.
[Unrequited Love]
- Without transformation, all ability stats +50. Applies to all transformations.
[I Hate You]
- Upon transformation, repels nearby enemies with a strong shockwave.
Snap-!
Kang Seol fitted the gloves on Tancia without even breathing.
“There, done! Let’s go.”
“Okay!”
The reason he was rushing: today was the day they’d agreed to meet Razin.
He’d waited a full fortnight for this.
It felt worlds apart from picking up laundry from the cleaners.
“This is exciting! So exciting, Karen!”
“Kahahahat! Today’s the day this body’s clone is born! Hurrah for us!”
“Waaaaah!”
Tancia flapped her tiny wings.
“Waaaaah! Whooo!”
“…What are you doing?”
“She said to cheer…”
Sindio tugged Gian’s ear.
“You love getting swept up… Are you really the villain?”
“Oh! Right, the villain. Heh heh… A new sword… Looking forward to it…”
“……Sigh.”
- They’re gonna bond.
- Hate turns to love scarier than anything…
Kang Seol suppressed excessive expectations and headed to Spuno Volcano’s crater.
Whooooosh…
“Ha… hot.”
“Never get used to this place.”
The path to Razin was filled with scorching heat as always.
Kang Seol planned to ask Razin everything he’d wondered about, not missing a single thing.
Razin was one of the few who’d survived from Montral’s era to now. Plus, he’d interacted with natives, so he surely held vast knowledge.
- Karen, you’ve come.
“…Yeah, Razin.”
Razin floated, looking down at Karen.
Kang Seol gauged when to ask his questions, but Razin spoke first.
- You have many questions, traveler.
Kang Seol was seen through instantly.
“…Yes.”
- Save them for later. An important moment approaches.
Probably referring to Karen’s sword.
Nod…
- Come all. It may be a moment that never comes again.
What did Razin mean?
Everyone followed with puzzled expressions.
‘Come to think of it…’
No Jinn.
Those who stayed in Razin’s sanctum were nowhere to be seen.
‘No way, in the crater?’
- The Jinn await there. Worry not.
Spot on, as expected.
Razin answered everything.
Whoooosh…
Entering the crater, they saw the Jinn gathered in a circle around the sword’s hilt.
“This is…”
Even at a glance, immense power emanated from the hilt.
- Karen, this sword won’t pale compared to the one forged by the superhuman Orgo in his final years.
Kang Seol’s eyes widened.
‘…Razin knows Orgo?’
A strange feeling.
Being recognized by someone who was himself yet not—it still felt awkward and ticklish.
Recalling the perfection of the weapon Orgo forged in his later years, Kang Seol could no longer hold back his anticipation.
‘If this is true… this sword might…’
Clank…
Clank…
As Karen gripped the hilt, the sword embedded in lava twitched.
Then it began burning her body.
- Jinn, control the flames.
Whoooosh…
The Jinn extended hands, suppressing the flames engulfing Karen.
Whoooosh…
The sword slowly began to be drawn.
“Grrrrraaaah!”
Karen’s face hardened as she focused on the sword.
* * *
Konji resumed her journey, leaving Kang Seol’s group behind.
“Running into that expedition was real luck. Got some food and a horse out of it. Nom…”
The bread was crumbly, but Konji stuffed it in her mouth.
“Delicious! Huh? Already gone…”
She’d received a good amount of rations, yet devoured them in a single day.
She walked without rest, but Spuno Volcano still filled her view.
That’s how massive it was.
And now…
Rumble rumble rumble…
The ground began to shake.
“I see…”
Dozens of red lines traced along Spuno Volcano’s ridges.
Rumble rumble…
The red lines headed toward the crater…
“And another one’s born.”
KABOOOOOM-!
A beam of light burst from the crater.
At that moment, a message appeared to every Transmigrator in Pandea.
[Somewhere in Pandea, an extraordinary power is born.]
[Worship it! The birth of an Era Weapon!]
[Inggeolbul ascends to the ranks of Era Weapons with its great name!]
……