Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 193
>Chapter Title: Pratel's Strangest NPC?
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>God Ose Ranking 9,871st.
A true powerhouse who had boldly stepped into the ranks of high rankers.
But more famous than that was his title as the Adventure King—God Ose's greatest oddball player, Barion.
-This is a no-brainer. Obviously Luriel.
In an interview after claiming first place in the Fourth Ordeal ranking.
When asked which NPC had been the strangest and most unusual.
He named the wandering NPC, Luriel, without a moment's hesitation.
-That old hag... no, girl is exceptional in every way.
-In what sense?
-You really don't know? Listen, reporter, what do you think wandering NPCs are?
-Um... well...
Typically, wandering NPCs were either low-combat "beggars,"
Or sources of secret information,
Or most commonly, peddlers selling hidden ingredients.
So wandering NPCs usually fell into one of two categories.
Either vital NPCs who gave out hidden pieces,
Or completely useless ones who only caused trouble for players.
But Luriel was neither.
-Your average child wandering NPC is a beggar or hidden quest giver, but not her. She has knight commander-level strength, yet all she does is beat up players. What's the point?
If it were just that she didn't fit those two molds, that'd be one thing.
The real peculiarity was in how she was treated.
-Everyone knows Luriel exists, but no one knows her identity? Even the local NPCs? Does that make sense?
She had all the hallmarks of something special, yet no player or NPC knew what she really was.
That was why Barion was certain.
-My instincts are screaming. That girl's hiding something big. I just can't figure out what, damn it.
That Pratel's wandering NPC, Luriel, held some secret.
Even the Adventure King Barion couldn't uncover the mystery of this unknown NPC, and word spread far and wide.
That drew countless players to pick fights with Luriel.
Though they all just got their asses handed to them with zero info gained.
Paaat-!
[The will of the slumbering Sorcerer King awakens.]
[The Sorcerer King of ancient humanity, 'Lucir El Reihard,' manifests his will.]
'No way Luriel was an ancient human king.'
And now.
Her true identity was finally being revealed.
Through the key of the main quest, no less.
'Heh, no wonder no one could figure her out...'
The main quest even Adventure King Barion couldn't obtain.
Do-hyun was the only one in all of God Ose pursuing it, so of course no one else could uncover Luriel's secret, no matter what they tried.
Even Do-hyun, who was on it, hadn't imagined the truth—what hope did other players have?
'But is this even possible?'
An ancient human king wandering around as an NPC?
If that was feasible, why weren't the other kings doing the same instead of holing up somewhere with only their wills manifesting?
That question was quickly answered.
[The Sorcerer King of ancient humanity, 'Lucir El Reihard,''s will descends upon his familiar 'Luriel.']
'This is like possession... no, a descent?'
'Sometimes, saints or holy figures with high divine power experience gods descending upon them briefly. Seems similar, my lord.'
'Lizaliza.'
Luriel herself wasn't the ancient human Sorcerer King.
She was merely his familiar.
'As a familiar, it makes sense.'
If she were truly the Sorcerer King, she wouldn't have merely knight commander-level power.
As a familiar, it explained why no one knew her identity.
Her childlike form with knight commander strength, and holding the vital role of prophet—all of it fit.
As he pondered how Pratel's abundance of sorcery items might connect to her.
[Yes. So you're the successor Kashyar chose.]
Luriel... no, Sorcerer King Lucir flashed blue eyes as she regarded Do-hyun.
Just that alone made his breath catch.
Even possessing only a familiar's body, the aura she exuded was overwhelming.
'So this is what Lefias meant.'
They say facing a top-tier mage NPC gives you a bizarre sensation you can't feel in reality.
Not just murderous intent you could sense in real life, but something truly unique to God Ose—a strange, mana-based perception.
-An intangible force squeezed my entire body. I knew I couldn't win.
That was how Lefias, the strongest ice mage, described his first meeting with the Blue Tower Lord.
This was one of God Ose's unique charms—players could feel such things.
It made you feel like you'd truly entered a fantasy world, with perfect immersion.
'This goes beyond squeezing my body.'
In that regard, Lucir was on another level.
It wasn't just squeezing—it was a colossal mana crushing the entire space.
Truly, the pinnacle of those who walked the path of sorcery.
'At least on par with the Dark King... no, maybe more.'
Hard to compare directly to Dark King Har, but the pressure felt greater.
With Har, it was a chill at the nape like sharp blades at his vitals.
With Lucir, it was mana itself.
An immense, ungraspable mana blanketing the whole space.
'L-Liza...'
'Ugh, I can never get used to meeting real kings.'
'Mmm...'
Even Do-hyun was tense.
Jihad and Eliza, sensitive to auras, had already ducked behind him.
Charlie let out a groan too—apparently still unaccustomed despite experience.
In stark contrast to that violent aura, her voice was ice-cold.
[I never saw Kashyar handle anything properly. How could I trust a guy who follows his whims? Well?]
"...You're right."
Faced with her seemingly pissed-off demeanor, Do-hyun could only nod.
The Kashyar he'd briefly met was like a street thug.
[Always pathetic that such a man was humanity's hope. But what can you do? Fate decreed it so.]
"..."
[So, what do you think? Is blindly following his choice right just because it's fate?]
He couldn't bring himself to agree.
Fortunately, it wasn't a question needing an answer—she continued on her own.
[So I tasked Luriel with criteria to assess the successor's qualities. Crucial work for our people.]
"What if they fall short?"
[Eliminate them without mercy, of course. Only the qualified can bear the burden of power—that's my creed.]
A chill ran down his spine at her casual smile while saying something so brutal.
She shrugged regretfully and continued.
[I'd like to, but... unfortunately, once a successor is chosen, it can't be changed.]
"Ah..."
[Don't get comfy. Instead, I won't give you the fragment. If you want it, pass my trial first.]
Ding-
With those words, a message appeared.
[You have cleared the main quest 'Fourth Fragment of Fate.']
[Linked main quest 'Sorcerer King's Trial' has been generated.]
[If you fail to meet the Sorcerer King's standards, you cannot obtain the Fourth Fragment of Fate.]
[To claim the Fragment of Fate, you must strive to meet her criteria.]
Now Do-hyun understood why the Dark King had warned it'd be tricky before leaving.
This was the first ancient king to give a midterm exam.
'A midterm... She can do it like this?'
He felt a bit cheated, but her words rang true, leaving him oddly convinced.
And even if not, what choice did he have?
The reward-giver called the shots—he had to comply.
Better not to rebel and risk losing the main quest.
[Sorcerer King's Trial]
-Grade: Main Quest, Class Quest
-Description: The radiant Sorcerer King of ancient humanity, Lucir El Reihard.
With her cautious and picky nature, she's long disapproved of Kashyar's methods.
They clashed often, and this is one such case.
Pass her trial and earn her recognition.
-Quest Success: Acquire the complete Fourth Fragment of Fate, plus Sorcerer King rewards based on performance.
-Quest Failure: Delayed until you please the Sorcerer King.
-Time Limit: None.
And the quest wasn't entirely unfair.
'A grind quest anyone can clear with enough time.'
Even if he scored low, the quest wouldn't vanish.
Just grind until she was satisfied.
Some relief there, but Do-hyun's current situation wasn't ideal.
'Sigh, Hero Guild's gonna go all out to sabotage me.'
Now fully at odds with Hero Guild.
Sticking around long-term meant unknown interference.
He trusted himself, but dedicated sabotage would be a hassle—better to pass right away.
And he was confident.
Before the Sorcerer King's will descended, Luriel had said he passed.
[Now, let's check your qualities.]
Lucir extended her hand.
Tracing a book's shape in the air with both index fingers, faint light followed the lines, forming a book.
[Sorcerer King 'Lucir El Reihard' assesses your qualities.]
[Measures if you meet standards based on main quest clear process and performance.]
[Rewards scaled to score; failing requires a retake.]
Then, as she turned the page.
Chalruk-
[...What?]
The pages flipped at insane speed.
One page, two, ten, twenty...
[Impossible. So many exceed the baseline? Some even surpass it...!]
The pages flew by too fast to track, until reaching the end.
Paaat-!
[You have passed all of the Sorcerer King's trials with perfect scores.]
[5 categories exceed baseline.]
[Of 12 categories, 7 are perfect, 5 exceed baseline.]
[Overwhelming performance grants maximum rewards.]
[Existing rewards upgraded to the next tier.]
'Huh?'
Something unexpected happened.
[You have cleared the linked main quest, Sorcerer King's Trial.]
[Reward: Acquired two legendary items.]
[Acquired title, 'Two Legends at Once?']
[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]
'...No way, for real?'
Two legendary rewards, no less.