Chapter 139
Chapter 139
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Chapter 44. Crimson Balrog (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1.
Luminous's collection.
The moment he heard that, El Pam's eyes narrowed.
‘It’s more than enough to stand in for Fried’s legacy.’
It was an item valuable enough that even Phantom the thief could lie about it without issue.
‘Or perhaps even greater.’
No, it might actually be something even more extraordinary.
That made sense, because El Pam already possessed one item from Luminous's collection, and he knew just how remarkable it was.
Moreover, Luminous's collection differed somewhat from Fried’s legacy.
‘They’re dangerous items from the start.’
Fried’s legacy consisted of items Fried had used during his lifetime, as the name implied.
They were incredible items, but in a way, they were ones only Fried could wield.
Some were special only in that sense.
Luminous's collection, however, was different.
He wasn’t just any mage.
Born as a Child of the Stars specifically to oppose the Black Mage, his fate was aligned with battling the Black Mage.
To that end, Luminous had gathered everything he needed.
Even items he wouldn’t use himself, if he judged they could pose a threat should they fall into the Black Mage’s hands.
In other words, only items Luminous himself deemed powerful enough made it into his collection.
No matter what they were, their might was beyond description.
“Pick one of the three.”
Of course, Phantom the thief didn’t give El Pam any proper options.
“There’s a ring, gloves, and a bracelet.”
He didn’t say what they were.
Just choose.
It was a choice that couldn’t help but torment.
Normally, in such a situation, people wouldn’t choose right away.
They’d protest instead.
Or negotiate.
To glean even a scrap of information.
To find something more advantageous for themselves.
But El Pam was different.
“I’ll take the ring.”
He selected without the slightest hesitation.
It wasn’t even worth agonizing over.
‘A battle of words with Phantom the thief is pointless.’
Asking questions here, stalling for time—there was no way Phantom would drop any hints.
‘He sees through lies.’
Besides, extracting anything through conversation with Phantom was impossible.
The longer the talk dragged on, the greater the risk of El Pam’s hidden truths being exposed.
So El Pam focused on one thing alone.
‘The ring is convenient.’
Unlike bracelets or gloves, which were hard to layer on, rings could be worn as many as one wanted.
“Quick choice.”
At El Pam’s response, Phantom the thief chuckled.
“Anyway, you’re the one who picked it.”
With those words, Phantom lightly patted his waist.
Following the gesture, El Pam reached for his own waist—and felt something there.
A pocket that hadn’t been before.
Opening it revealed a single ring.
“That ends our deal.”
Phantom knew.
What choice El Pam would make.
“As promised, I’ll take the Onyx Dragon’s gem. Just say the word when you’ve got it. I’ll fetch it myself.”
“Yes.”
Without hesitation, El Pam slipped on the ring.
Everything was already done.
All that remained was one thing: checking the skills of the item now in his possession.
The moment he infused it with mana, El Pam’s eyes narrowed.
‘This is?’
Phantom the thief, seeing El Pam’s expression, grinned deeply.
“Light magic. Think you can handle it?”
Light magic.
A magic usable only by the tiniest handful granted permission in the world.
That handful was so small you could scour Maple World and still name them all from memory.
“Yes.”
El Pam was among that handful.
With the talent of All Master, he possessed the gift to wield magic of every attribute.
“I can use it.”
Of course, being able to use it and using it properly were worlds apart.
Moreover, light magic had difficulty infinitely higher than any other.
Even those with the talent to wield it were exceedingly rare.
And after the massacre at the Aurora Holy Temple, where light magic was studied, effectively no one in Maple World history could properly wield it except Luminous.
El Pam was no exception.
‘I’ve never tried.’
As the Last Adventurer, he’d used countless magics, but never light or darkness magic.
Finding an item imbued with light magic was nearly impossible.
It was just that, before returning to the past, Heinz had seen his talent and said he could wield light magic—that was all.
‘I’ve only heard about it.’
In that process, he’d picked up a few details on light magic.
‘Even those who can use light magic mostly can’t sustain the light.’
Information that wielding it was so grueling it bordered on impossible—hardly encouraging.
But El Pam wasn’t disappointed.
This wasn’t something to be disappointed over.
‘If I can use it, though, it changes the fundamentals of battle.’
On the contrary, it was something he couldn’t have dreamed of before returning to the past—a cause for joy.
Of course, El Pam knew.
“Well, give it a shot.”
From the start, Phantom had intended to give El Pam this ring, this light magic.
With All Master talent, and El Pam wielding it at 120 percent, he might just handle light magic.
And if he did, it would help El Pam immensely.
Not just any help.
“By the way, the skill’s called Twinkle Flash. It’s a spell that shoots arrows of light. Normally, the range depends on proficiency, but my friend could shoot it to places you can’t even see.”
Light-attribute magic couldn’t be blocked by ordinary means.
“Thank you.”
That was why El Pam expressed his sincere gratitude to Phantom the thief.
“No, thank you.”
That was it.
“Oh, and don’t forget—we’re still in the middle of our second deal. Time’s short, so make it good.”
“Yes.”
Now it was time to return to the original negotiation.
“We’ll move out right away.”
El Pam had no intention of dawdling.
He had no spare time for that.
The Cygnus Knights had already formed a party to retrieve Aran’s item, just waiting for El Pam’s party to join.
And they’d waited quite a while.
Meaning they might act independently now, without El Pam’s party.
“Then, until next time.”
With a farewell, El Pam turned to leave.
“You’ve got that snail, right?”
To the departing El Pam, Phantom the thief gave a gift.
“Try giving it Elisha’s Horn. You might see something more fun than you expect.”
2.
Elnas Market.
The only place in the lawless Elnas Mountains where law still held sway.
Of course, that law wasn’t particularly strong or anything.
Commotion was constant.
Bloodshed was frequent, and tales of someone dying in a brawl were commonplace.
A place where you could never let your guard down.
Moreover, ever since Aran’s item appeared, the atmosphere in Elnas Market had grown murderously tense.
“Boss, did everything go smoothly?”
But the companions waiting for El Pam there brimmed with leisure.
“You all good?”
“Of course. What could possibly go wrong?”
It was only natural.
“5th Circle, after all.”
They were all 5th Circle adventurers.
Sure, Elnas Market had its share of 5th Circle adventurers, even some 6th Circle ones, but at 5th Circle, you rarely got dragged into petty squabbles.
No fool would pick a fight, and even if one did, there was no need to get flustered or anxious.
Like a lion wouldn’t flinch at a jackal’s bark.
In any case, El Pam’s companions—now 5th Circle adventurers—waited for him more relaxed than ever.
“But we’re heading out now?”
In other words, that leisure was over.
“Yeah.”
Time to start adventuring again.
And it wouldn’t be easy.
“Supporting the Cygnus Knights—tricky business all around.”
Attacking the Mystic Gate alongside the Cygnus Knights.
To an outsider, it might sound easy.
Who could be more reliable than the Cygnus Knights?
But El Pam’s party all knew.
Being called in meant the stage was that difficult.
“More importantly, that item?”
“You mean the Plastic Surgery Potion? It’s here. We’ve got ten for now.”
On top of that, El Pam’s party had to conceal their identities this time.
Meaning they couldn’t fully unleash their abilities.
Especially El Pam—he’d stick to fire-attribute magic in front of the Cygnus Knights.
Acting like El Pam would defeat the purpose of the fake identities.
Anyway, preparations were complete.
“So, who’s coming?”
All that was left was who from the Cygnus Knights.
“You still haven’t said?”
“Heard yesterday.”
It was the most crucial part, so El Pam had only gotten the report recently.
“Tiger Eye. She’s the leader.”
The leader’s nickname dropped, and everyone’s faces showed shock.
“Tiger Eye? You don’t mean that Tiger Eye? The one I know?”
It was inevitable.
“That damn Thunder Knights Commander Hawk Eye’s fourth disciple?”
3.
“Hello?”
The woman greeting them was a vibrant short-haired beauty.
Above all, her golden eyes were strikingly alluring.
Of course, she was most famous for her nickname.
“I’m Viola. They also call me Tiger Eye.”
Tiger Eye Viola.
Fourth disciple of Thunder Knights Commander Hawk Eye—one of the Cygnus Knights’ knight commanders—and a 5th Circle adventurer.
Her skill ranked among the top five 5th Circle knights in the Cygnus Knights.
What truly made her famous was the origin of her nickname, Tiger Eye.
Eyes of a tiger—that moniker came from her ferocity and aggression rivaling any beast.
“I’ve heard from Knight Commander Oz.”
Yet, unlike her combative style, her personality was bold and sociable.
Just like her master, Thunder Knights Commander Hawk Eye.
A man who could befriend even Hontail—that was Hawk Eye’s nature.
“Your name’s El, right?”
“Yes.”
“And your companions?”
“In order: El, Di, Kay, Al, Em.”
“Easy to remember. Good thing—I’m great with faces but terrible with names.”
Even now.
“Anyway, looking forward to working with you. We’ll follow your lead as much as possible on this raid.”
She didn’t bother with pointless power plays.
That was surprising.
The Cygnus Knights usually took a high-handed stance with adventurers.
Not out of disdain.
They simply couldn’t trust them.
And understandably so—the Cygnus Knights maintained order in Maple World, and nine times out of ten, those disrupting it were adventurers.
Yet here she was, cooperative with adventurer El Pam?
Of course, Oz must have said it.
To trust and follow El Pam.
Having paid a hefty price to hire him, Oz would have emphasized it endlessly.
Even so, Viola was a special case.
‘Still the same.’
Seeing Viola like this, El Pam recalled memories involving her.
But he didn’t dwell on them.
“What’s the exact objective?”
The mission was what mattered now.
“The goal is simple. Enter the Mystic Gate and retrieve a necklace from inside. And we absolutely won’t leave until we have it.”
Viola explained the mission.
“Even if it kills us all.”