Chapter 159
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Return to the Warrior's Sanctuary
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Jeong Hoon shared a meal with his mother, took a short trip, and fully savored his vacation.
After several days of rest like that, he finished preparing to enter the capsule once more.
Son, rest a bit more. Arent you rushing back in?
His mother seemed to want him to take a little more time off.
He wanted to spend a few more days resting with her, but time was flowing by with ruthless speed.
I want to raise my specs even a little before going in.
Specs? Havent you raised them plenty already?
Yeah. I still have a long way to go.
In the early stages of materialization, he couldnt fend off that crisis unless he reached a certain level.
Of course, he could get help from the rankers, but that would mean missing out on important items.
He had to somehow recover his pre-regression realm and surpass it to overcome the crises heading toward reality.
Take care of your body while you do it. Got it?
Yeah. I will.
After making the promise with his mother, Jeong Hoon logged into New World.
He headed straight for Chriss shop.
The promised time had passed, and hed come to pick up Mukho.
Youre here?
Chris had been pacing in front of the shop, waiting for Jeong Hoon.
Looks like the restorations done?
Yes. It turned out perfectly.
Chris grinned.
I see.
Come inside and check it out.
Jeong Hoon followed him into the forge.
Mukho hung on the wall of the forge.
Was it because it had been restored?
The overall color seemed much more vivid.
Mukho
-Type: Armor
-Rank: Legendary
-Defense: ?(Adjusts to wearers level)
-Evasion: ?(Adjusts to wearers level)
-Physical Damage Reduction: 30
-Magic Damage Reduction: 30
-Remaining Durability: 100(Durability auto-recovers.)
-Special Ability (1): Debuff Resistance 20 when equipped
-Special Ability (2): Low chance to reflect melee attacks (0.3) when equipped
-Special Ability (3): Passive: Cooldown Reduction auto-activates when equipped
-Special Ability (4): Active: Indestructible usable when equipped
The perfectly restored Mukho had awakened cheat-like options.
Jackpot? Low chance to reflect melee attacks?
Jeong Hoon currently had one invincibility skill.
Block.
But that skill only defended against other skills.
Melee attack reflection returned incoming damage to the attacker.
Plus, the newly added passive skill, Cooldown Reduction.
Cooldown Reduction
-Type: Passive
-Rank: Legendary
-All owned skill cooldowns reduced by 2.
A passive skill that reduced the cooldowns of Jeong Hoons skills by 2.
Someone might say it was just 2, but consider that Mukhos enhancement level was 0.
If fully enhanced, it could reach 10.
It was an essential option that let him cycle skills faster.
Whyd you take so damn long?
When he touched Mukho with his hand, a voice full of irritation rang out.
Been a bit busy.
What a joke. You look like youve been lounging around.
Sharp guy.
Jeong Hoon didnt respond and unequipped his Epic-grade armor.
Now it was time to equip Mukho.
Switching from the crude armor to Mukho felt as comfortable as slipping into his own clothes.
Thank you for the restoration.
Jeong Hoon expressed his gratitude to Chris.
No problem. I was thrilled to handle the Lightstone myself.
Chris grinned.
Hed gotten to touch the Lightstone, sure, but the real highlight had been Mukho.
Never thought Id live to handle a Legendary item.
Legendary rank, known to be rarer than Unique.
This was his first time touching one.
It was the familys pride.
Crazy bastard. Before that guy worked on me, he fiddled with me for over an hour!
Mukho, creeped out by Chriss smile, tattled to Jeong Hoon about what had happened.
Really?
Yeah! It was so humiliating... Cant you just smash that guys face in?
No, cant do that.
Jeong Hoon casually dismissed Mukhos request.
Where the hell is he...?
Park Jin-hyeok couldnt hide his sense of futility.
Hed heard Jeong Hoon had talked to Klao, so hed checked all 12 trial grounds where relic crafting was possible.
But no one had seen the Martial Artist.
In the end, hed failed to find Hoon.
Lets go see Klao.
Park Jin-hyeok returned to the Warriors Sanctuary and sought out Klao.
Oh! What brings you here?
Klao recognized Park Jin-hyeok at a glance.
They were acquaintances, and back then, Park Jin-hyeok had stood out among the other warriors.
I came by a few days ago too but couldnt greet you properly. Sorry about that.
Park Jin-hyeok bowed his head apologetically.
Klao waved it off like it was nothing.
No worries. I know its awkward to hold up a busy person.
Thank you for understanding.
So, what brings you? Need a relic?
Oh, no, not that.
Then speak freely.
Klao prepared to listen attentively.
Normally, even casual chat would be tough, but Park Jin-hyeok had swept up all the Unique-grade relics early on, earning a certain level of trust, so he was the exception.
Did a Martial Artist come by a few days ago, by any chance?
Oh, yeah, he did.
What did you talk about...? Mind if I ask?
Whats hard about that? Simplehe left to take the trial for a relic.
...I see.
Thats weird.
Hed spent days circling the 12 trial grounds, but came up empty.
Where the hell did he go for the trial?
Whats up? Need to meet that Martial Artist or something?
...Yeah. I have something to discuss with him.
Perfect timing then. Hes coming over there.
Klao pointed to the sanctuary entrance.
Park Jin-hyeoks head turned that way.
His eyes widened round.
Just as Klao said, Jeong Hoon was returning to the sanctuary.
Jeong Hoon returned to the Warriors Sanctuary.
Hed done the relic crafting, so now it was time to enact the next plan.
But he spotted a familiar face in the sanctuary.
Park Jin-hyeok. Youre still in Warriors City, huh.
Hed figured hed searched for a few days and left by now.
Park Jin-hyeok spotted him and strode over.
Long time no see. Howve you been?
Park Jin-hyeok greeted him politely.
But Jeong Hoon had no intention of accepting it.
No. Not well at all.
Pardon...?
Some assholes came around being rude, so now just seeing Shinwa makes my teeth grind.
Park Jin-hyeoks shoulders twitched.
He wanted to make excuses, but no words came out.
There was no room for excuses on the major wrongdoing.
....
Im busy, so lets go our separate ways.
W-Wait! Its all my fault! Please, just give me a chance to talk!
Park Jin-hyeok dropped to his knees in desperation.
Lord Knight Park Jin-hyeok was on his knees!
Users watching from afar gasped in shock.
What the hells going on...?
No idea...
Film it! Post it on Wallcom!
They zoomed in on Park Jin-hyeok with their smart lenses and recorded.
As the area grew rowdy, Jeong Hoon sighed.
Whoa, that stalker prick! Coming here to cause a scene.
How about we just kill the damn guy while were at it?
Great idea!
Heh, no better plan than that.
Right! Lets smash him here!
Mukho and Anima both suggested beating down Park Jin-hyeok.
But Jeong Hoon wasnt interested in him.
Hed once been a comrade, but strictly speaking, he wasnt a betrayer.
He died in place of the comrades before then.
Pre-regression, Park Jin-hyeok had died before the comrades betrayed Jeong Hoon.
Thats why Lee Hwarang hadnt dragged him into the fightback when he picked a quarrel.
Jeong Hoon went over to Berd, who was watching from a distance.
Quite the commotion. Whats going on?
I need a space for a quiet talk.
Easy request. Come on in.
Berd gave them an empty room next to his quarters.
Jeong Hoon and Park Jin-hyeok entered the room.
Why are you making trouble again?
...Please. I beg for leniency.
Leniency?
Yes... Lee Hwarang was rude, but hes not a bad guy at heart.
Not a bad guy at heart?
Then he shouldnt have betrayed like that at the end.
Jeong Hoon had believed they shared the same convictions.
Jeong Hoon snorted.
Unbelievable. After what that bastard did, you want leniency?
....
So thats why you chased me here and bothered me?
Im sorry....
Park Jin-hyeok hung his head low.
Execute anyone defending trash.
Execute!
Tear his limbs off!
Rip him apart!
You die here!
Die!
You two, shut up.
Jeong Hoon silenced Mukho and Anima.
Pre-regression, thinking of his comrades made his teeth grind.
He felt nothing special for Park Jin-hyeok, but if hed survived to the end, he mightve joined the betrayal.
You never know with people.
What to do.
He couldnt forgive him at all.
Should he just chase Park Jin-hyeok off here?
As Jeong Hoon pondered, a clever idea struck him.
So, you think a single apology lifts the 1-year ban?
Of course not! Anything you want? Just say it!
Then cut all ties with Lee Hwarang and Shinwa. Ill reduce it by 3 months to 9.
A whopping 3-month reduction.
A truly generous offer.
Yes. Ill do that.
Park Jin-hyeok accepted without a seconds hesitation.
...Really?
Jeong Hoon was a bit taken aback.
Hed expected some deliberation, but an instant yes?
This is the last loyalty Ill uphold. Ive already been demoted to the bottom in Shinwa, so I was thinking of leaving anyway.
Park Jin-hyeoks attachment to Shinwa was gone.
Same for Lee Hwarang.
From the moment he felt death threats from Sa Jae-hyeok because of Lee Hwarang and got booted from executive status, he no longer wanted to stay in Shinwa.
Stepping up like this was because he couldnt bear watching Lee Hwarang suffer.
After all, he was the one whod brought him into New World.
So this was the last time hed move for him.
I see? Then prove it.
Prove it...?
Yeah.
Just beat him down....
Bit of a waste.
Mukho and Animas voices dripped with regret.
Because Jeong Hoon had let Park Jin-hyeok go without touching him.
You didnt pick a direct fight. Not enough justification.
If hed attacked, hed have crushed him, but Park Jin-hyeok had stayed deferential.
So hed tested him once.
Leave Shinwa and join Hoyoung.
The reason for that condition was simple.
Cut off Lee Hwarangs arms and legs completely.
To Lee Hwarang, Park Jin-hyeok was his most precious friend.
After Park Jin-hyeok died in place of the comrades, hed sobbed for ages hugging his corpse.
Feel it, Hwarang.
The emotion of being cut off by the one friend he truly trusted.
Not as bad as the betrayal Jeong Hoon felt pre-regression, but the sense of betrayal and loss would be immense.
Guess Ill get back to what I was doing.
Jeong Hoon sought out the NPC Wolf.
Wolf was an NPC in Warriors City who gave out a wide variety of quests.
Oh! What brings the Martial Artist here?
Wolf grinned and welcomed Jeong Hoon.
I want to take a quest.
Good? You qualify. Pick one.
As Wolf finished speaking, a hologram screen appeared before Jeong Hoon.
The screen showed 3 categories.
1. Daily Quests
2. Weekly Quests
3. Monthly Quests
First were the daily quests.
Repeatable quests that reset at midnight.
Second, weekly quests.
Quests doable exactly once a week, refreshing every Monday at 00:00.
Finally, monthly quests.
Quests that refreshed every 1st of the month at 00:00.
And what Jeong Hoon aimed for were the weekly quests.
Here too, Ill change the future.
A dungeon normally discovered long after materialization began.
He planned to reveal it early.