Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 133
>Chapter Title: Discovery of the King's Tomb
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What made Do-hyun freeze solid was the three rewards floating right before his eyes.
[You have acquired Shadow Lycanthrope's Fang, Shadow Lycanthrope's Hide, and Shadow Lycanthrope's Claw as rewards.]
“…….”
The so-called junk item trio.
Rewards that were no different from bricks when it came to Demerits—Do-hyun let out a sigh.
“Of course it’d be like this…….”
He must have been seriously deluded all this time.
He’d been scoring pretty decent gear thanks to first-time perks like guaranteed equipment drops and drop rate buffs.
To think he’d started believing his luck had been good lately.
‘Whew, well. At least they’re not total bricks.’
They were Rare-grade junk at minimum, so they’d fetch a fair price as material items.
When you thought about Latte pulling straight bricks and messing around as the Wall Smasher, this was something to be thankful for.
Still, it wasn’t like he’d gotten absolutely nothing.
‘First time using Aura, maybe? Swordsmanship proficiency shot up fast.’
Weapon proficiencies barely budged after hitting LV10.
Considering he’d just reached level 16, this was insane speed. It must’ve gotten a bonus from combining Sword Aura and Darkness Cloak.
And that wasn’t all.
[Player: Kaiser]
[Level: 42]
[HP: 5,860 / 6,200]
[MP: 1,140 / 3,240]
[Stamina: 630 / 910]
[Class: The Last Adventurer [Successor of Kashyar]]
[Titles (11)]
- Max Affinity from the Start?
- First Slayer
……(Expand)
[Stats]
[Strength: 95(+96)] [Agility: 84(+96)]
[Vitality: 5(+100)] [Senses: 42(+84)]
[Mana: 50(+85)]
Remaining Points: 36
‘Nice…… Devouring is sweet.’
Not just the level-up.
The First Slayer’s Devour effect, which he hadn’t enjoyed in ages, made his stats look even more impressive.
His highest stat, Strength’s base was outdone by the bonus, and Vitality’s bonus had hit 100 flat.
‘This is just ridiculous.’
Who else had every stat dominated by bonuses?
It’d be common late-game, but he was certain no one in this bracket had it—not a single one.
Even Do-hyun himself could hardly believe the numbers.
His mood, soured by the junk drops, recovered in a flash as he curled up the corners of his mouth and closed the status window.
He could stare at it all day and never get tired, but now wasn’t the time.
‘Somewhere around here, right?’
Do-hyun’s original purpose in coming here. It was time to find the item Jin had hidden.
It wasn’t hard to locate.
[Eye of Truth activates.]
As he scanned the surroundings, Eye of Truth triggered, revealing red glows here and there.
“Talk about broken.”
Others would struggle even knowing something was hidden here, but he could find it just by looking around.
Do-hyun smirked in satisfaction at the cheat-like perk and approached the red glow.
The first one he spotted was in a crack beside the cave wall.
“……Paper?”
It was a half-torn, weathered sheet of paper—and there were more like it tucked into spots all over the dungeon.
……Why bother stuffing paper into rock cracks?
[Worn Paper]
-Rarity: Rare
-Description: A weathered sheet scribbled with someone’s handwriting. Deciphering the code might reveal something.
But after checking the info, Do-hyun nodded.
‘Guess I need to decode this to find the next item.’
It was probably one of the traces Jin Ruddel had mentioned.
Staring at it, he could see why no one had properly deciphered it.
‘……What’s it say?’
No map, no clear directions or words.
Just bizarre markings like some caveman’s scribbles.
It was probably Jin Ruddel’s best effort, given how hard it was for him to affect the physical world, but calling this a “hint” felt dishonest.
‘Whatever, doesn’t concern me.’
Do-hyun shifted his gaze to the opposite side.
[Eye of Truth activates.]
A vivid red glow on a whole other level from before.
No doubt—that was where Jin’s item was.
Do-hyun tossed the worn paper aside and headed over.
Wouldn’t the people who’d slaved over decoding it foam at the mouth seeing this?
‘Gotta grab it quick and go meet the Castle Lord…… Huh?’
But standing before the glow, Do-hyun had to stop short.
“Huh? It’s not there?”
Nothing visible.
The red light was leaking out, but his eyes saw zilch.
He swept his hand over it thinking some mechanism, but same result.
Well, technically, he did touch one thing.
[Worn Fountain Pen]
-Rarity: Rare
-Description: A fountain pen running out of ink. Looks pretty pricey.
[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]
“Huh?”
Was this the paper and pen those users mentioned?
Unable to hold back his bafflement, Do-hyun checked the quest window.
-Jin Ruddel’s Item (0 / 3)
“……Yeah, no way it’s this.”
It was Jin Ruddel’s, sure, but not the quest item.
“Then what?”
-What’s wrong, Master?
-Is something the matter? Just give this lowly sword your orders. I’ll investigate with my life on the line.
As Do-hyun puzzled over it, the others picked up on his confusion and chimed in.
He gave a rough rundown, and they let out groans. Then Zihard went “Ah!” with a realization.
-Maybe decoding the code triggers a spell or something?
-Hmm? Plausible theory.
-Ri Ja Ri Za!
In short, maybe it was an item you could only find by decoding the map no matter what.
……Hated to admit it, but it fit perfectly. Exactly like his current situation.
‘……Damn, thought it was too easy.’
He’d been all smug about an effortless grab.
His sky-high excitement plummeted. As he agonized over decoding the cryptic code, a sudden thought widened his eyes.
‘Wait. Do I even need to decode it?’
Jin Ruddel wrote the code on that paper.
And Do-hyun was the only user who could see Jin Ruddel.
So why not just ask the author himself!
-Wow, look at this cheater. Isn’t that too freebie?
-Hmm! As the sages say, great men face countless trials and crises, but fortune always follows in equal measure.
-Uncomfortable……
“Kuh, yes! This is life.”
-……Aren’t you way too different from just now, Master?
He let Zihard’s complaint go in one ear and out the other when—
Zihard, who’d been pouting in frustration, suddenly tilted his head at a new thought.
-But Master.
“Yeah, yeah.”
-No, not that—think about it, doesn’t this feel off?
“Hm? What?”
Do-hyun straightened up at Zihard’s questioning tone.
Zihard replied seriously, seeing Do-hyun actually listening for once.
-No. Someone did decode this code, right? Then why didn’t that person find the ghost’s hidden item?
“Huh……?”
-Hm?
What came out was a shockingly sharp question.
The kind that instantly sparked a “Huh? What?” in anyone who heard it.
-No, what good’s decoding if you don’t grab the item? Why go there and come back empty-handed!
Jin Ruddel had definitely said that.
It hadn’t registered back then, but now it felt weird.
If someone decoded Jin Ruddel’s code, this should’ve been found already.
The Castle Lord visitor should’ve shown up ages ago.
‘Not a decoding issue? Then…….’
Do-hyun focused back on the glowing red spot.
A rocky nook in the corner wall.
A tiny gap between them, but nothing visible no matter how he looked.
But the light kept streaming from that wall……
‘……The wall? No way.’
A flash of insight hit, and Do-hyun let out a hollow chuckle.
Logically, no way—but his instincts screamed yes.
-……Master? What’re you doing? Why’d you suddenly draw your sword?
Zihard flinched back as Do-hyun, who’d been brooding alone, suddenly stepped back and gripped Cheonbyeon.
Do-hyun answered with action, not words.
Kwaaaang-! Kwaang!
-Hiiiik!?
-Ri, Ri Ja!?
-My lord……?
He’d swung Cheonbyeon straight at the wall.
The others stared oddly at Do-hyun relentlessly hammering the wall out of nowhere, but his conviction grew.
‘This spot feels different.’
Everywhere else was solid, but here it felt oddly hollow.
Subtle enough a dull sense wouldn’t catch it, but plenty for Do-hyun.
Kwang!
The final blow landed.
Warrur-
The wall crumbled, revealing a new space.
An empty chamber about 5m in radius.
-No way……
-My god.
-Ri, Ri Ja!
The others gaped in awe.
They’d never imagined a secret room behind the wall.
“Hah, it was pointing to behind the wall.”
No wonder users never found it despite searching forever.
Decode it and find a fountain pen—how absurd must that have felt.
They didn’t know the exact quest like he did, so they’d probably bailed right there.
Couldn’t imagine a space behind the wall even if they kept looking.
They’d see the Book of Adventures update and think, “Oh, just for filling that,” and move on.
‘This game’s got tons of pointless items and quests because of the Book of Adventures.’
That’s how weirdos like Barion were born.
Worked out great for Do-hyun.
Even starting 1.5 years late, he’d found it first.
‘This must be it.’
He picked up the backpack slumped in the corner. Nearby lay a letter and a badge-like item.
All three went into his inventory, and a message popped up.
[You have acquired all of Jin Ruddel’s items.]
[Return to the hidden NPC ‘Jin Ruddel’ to complete the quest.]
Do-hyun grinned.
Now just finish the quest and meet the Castle Lord. He turned to leave, steps light.
He planned to charge straight to Jin Ruddel.
[Eye of Truth activates.]
“Huh?”
Right before exiting the secret space.
Until he spotted a red glow from deep in the floor far off.
‘Why’s it red?’
He’d gotten all of Jin Ruddel’s items?
His mind questioned it, but his body moved on instinct.
Standing over the spot, Do-hyun cautiously stroked the floor.
Click.
Something depressed, and the floor began to open.
Kugugugu-
A block-sized section of floor slid open, revealing stairs.
Endless stairs descending below.
Ding-
[You have discovered a hidden secret dungeon.]
[Condition met.]
[You may view the secret dungeon’s information.]
[You have discovered the secret dungeon ‘King’s Tomb.’]
[You are the first to discover the King’s Tomb.]
[First discovery grants first-time benefits.]
[Experience gain +20%.]
[Drop rate +20%.]
“……No way?”
The moment he discovered his second secret dungeon.