Chapter 295
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 295
Chapter Title: Heading to the Magic Tower
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Player Information
-Nickname: Hoon
-Level: 544
The Absorption Great Law was incredible.
Was it because he had absorbed a Transcendent?
Jeong Hoon's level had grown to 544, and his stats had risen significantly as well.
Detailed Stats
-Strength: 754(75) - 829
-Agility: 751(75) - 826
-Vitality: 724(73) - 797
-Defense: 722(72) - 794
-Wisdom: 701(70) - 771
-Mana: 1,265(126) - 1,391
-Holy Power: 921(92) - 1,013
-Mental Strength: 671(70) - 741
Just before using the Absorption Great Law, his stats had been in the 600s, but in an instant, they had surpassed 700.
His Holy Power had also broken through the 1,000 mark.
"Hoon, your level is 544...?"
Yeo Min-ji jumped in surprise upon checking Jeong Hoon's level.
She remembered it being 519 just before they entered the forest.
"Yes. Thanks to the Absorption Great Law."
"Wow... even so, it rose by 25 all at once?"
Everyone had already witnessed the power of the Absorption Great Law.
But the level hadn't risen this dramatically before.
"The guy lurking inside was level 1,600."
"1,600?!"
She knew it was high-leveled, but she never imagined it was 1,600.
That meant Jeong Hoon had single-handedly subjugated a level 1,600 monster?
Yeo Min-ji couldn't close her gaping mouth.
"If I hadn't used my skills properly, I would've been in danger. It was really an incredible foe."
Jeong Hoon deliberately exaggerated the owner of the Great Forest.
It made more sense to say he'd barely won after a tough fight than to admit he'd taken it down easily at level 519.
Eh, it wasn't that bad, was it?
'The puppet seemed much stronger.'
No. They were about equal. The owner had just gotten a lot stronger.
'I'll acknowledge that part.'
Even though the fight dragged on quite a bit, you had a margin of leisure that the owner didn't!
Mook-ho and Anima were right.
When facing the puppet back then, he hadn't reached the ultimate realm.
That's why it had been such a hard fight.
If Shadow Blade's instant kill hadn't luckily procced...
He might have failed to obtain the ultimate power.
But now, Jeong Hoon had ascended to the ultimate realm, elevating everything from his very foundation to a whole new level.
No matter how fierce the owner of the Great Forest was, it couldn't match him.
"Wow... Hoon, just how strong are you planning to get?"
Jang Ha-jin stuck out his tongue in amazement.
Jeong Hoon smiled brightly.
"Who knows. We'll see how far I can go."
"544 makes you number one in the world, right?"
Han Deok-gu chimed in.
"Yeah! 544 has to be number one worldwide!"
"Wow... so Hyung-nim is officially number one in the world now?"
"Nah. He's been number one from the start. He was the first to break 510, after all."
Number one in the world.
Everyone was making a fuss, but it wasn't a big deal to Jeong Hoon.
'Being number one among players doesn't end the game.'
Jeong Hoon's goal wasn't other playersit was the designers above them.
Grand Duke Delphos was still sitting in his office, awaiting reports.
"Your Excellency!"
How much time had passed?
One of the knights guarding the castle gate came rushing into the office, panting.
At the knight's flushed expression, Grand Duke Delphos unwittingly rose from his seat.
"Did it succeed?"
"Yes! The hero has successfully completed the subjugation and is returning!"
"Let's go right now!"
Grand Duke Delphos hurriedly left the office and headed to the castle gate.
Just as the knight said, the hero was returning safely.
And in perfect condition, no less.
'Gods above, thank you truly.'
Delphos offered his gratitude to the gods as he ran toward the hero.
An exclamation mark blinked above the head of Grand Duke Delphos as he ran eagerly toward them.
'It's over.'
Only then did Jeong Hoon sense that the episode had concluded.
Episode: Delphos Grand Duchy cleared.
Episode Collection system unlocked.
This episode is included in the Episode Collection.
The episode's rating is 'SSS'.
The episode is registered in the collection.
Synergy with Monster Collection activated.
Synergy Stage 3 applied.
All stats 10, Damage 10, All skill damage 10
The synergy had risen to stage 3.
Along with it, all stats, damage, and all skill damage increased by 10.
But there was one problem.
'The hidden episode isn't complete.'
He was sure the hidden episode would complete after subjugating the Demon King-grade Transcendent.
Yet the hidden episode remained unfinished.
Jeong Hoon looked at Grand Duke Delphos.
But there was no reaction above his head.
No more quests would be given.
'I must have missed something.'
Something very important.
"Thank you so much! Thanks to you, we safely overcame a great crisis!"
Grand Duke Delphos grabbed Jeong Hoon's hand and expressed his gratitude.
"I'm glad. There are no more threats now."
"Yes! Without you, the hero... this grand duchy wouldn't have survived. Come, don't stand on ceremonylet's go inside! We'll hold a grand banquet today!"
At the word "banquet," everyone's faces lit up.
Jeong Hoon started to say something but then closed his mouth.
'For now, let's see how things play out.'
He was sure he'd find a clue for the hidden episode.
But no clues emerged even after the banquet ended.
"Hoon, something wrong?"
Back in the room, Jang Ha-jin asked as if he'd been waiting.
"Hm? Why?"
"Your expression doesn't look great."
"Does it not?"
"Is the reward not to your liking or something?"
Jeong Hoon nodded honestly.
"The episode isn't perfectly complete."
"Not perfectly complete?"
"Yeah. The episodes in the collection include the hidden ones together. But the hidden episode isn't done."
"Hmm, maybe it needs some other condition?"
"That's what I'm trying to find."
Not knowing the clue was the problem.
Han Deok-gu, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
"Hyung-nim, what if we completely remove the barrier?"
"Barrier?"
"Yes. The lingering effects of the barrier are probably what's keeping the harsh cold going, right? If we resolve the harsh cold, maybe that'll complete the hidden episode!"
Completely remove the barrier.
Ah, of course!
Jeong Hoon jumped to his feet.
"Bong-gu, you finally used your brain after so long?"
"Hehe, this is nothing."
"If it doesn't work, you're in trouble."
"Y-Yes...?"
"Kidding. You guys rest first."
Jeong Hoon hurried off to find Grand Duke Delphos.
Grand Duke Delphos had finished the banquet and returned to his office.
His face was still flushed with excitement.
'It's done. Our territory is safe now.'
Even in the worst situation, not a single casualty had occurred.
All thanks to the hero.
Without him, this grand duchy would have fallen long ago.
Knock. Knock.
At that moment, someone knocked on the office door.
"Who is it?"
The door opened, and a knight entered.
"The hero has come to visit. What should we do?"
"Hm? The hero? Tell him to come in right away!"
"Yes!"
With his permission, Jeong Hoon entered the office.
Delphos rose from his seat and greeted him warmly.
"You must be tired. What brings you here?"
"I have something to discuss."
"Hm? Yes. Please, have a seat first."
Delphos guided him to a seat.
He then instructed a servant to bring the territory's most precious tea, Horan.
Soon, the tea arrived.
A tea infused with a red glow.
It resembled black tea at a glance, with a sweet aroma subtly risingits charm.
Jeong Hoon took a sip and slowly opened his mouth.
"It's about the barrier."
"Barrier? Yes."
"It seems the barrier hasn't been perfectly broken yet. Am I correct?"
"Yes."
Delphos nodded.
The barrier was still partially maintained, perpetuating the harsh cold.
If the barrier fully vanished, they could bid farewell to this bitter chill.
"Then, is there a way to completely eliminate the barrier?"
"It's not certain, but we'd have to visit the Magic Tower to find out."
The barrier had been set up by the previous Magic Tower Lords gathered from across the empire.
So, clues about the barrier should be there.
The problem was that those guys wouldn't hand over the clues easily.
"The Magic Tower... Then I guess I need to pay them a visit."
Jeong Hoon stood up immediately.
"Th-the Magic Tower?"
"Yes. The harsh cold is still ongoing, isn't it? Leaving it like this will keep the cold persisting."
"No! There's no need for the hero to take on such a bothersome task. I'll handle it."
He had already restored peace to Delphos.
With that alone, he owed an immeasurable debthow could he ask the hero to resolve the cold too?
"Can you manage it?"
"Yes?"
"Asking the Magic Tower if they can remove it."
"That would be..."
It probably wouldn't be easy.
Those Magic Tower bastards wouldn't eliminate the barrierthey'd find a way to restore it.
For one simple reason.
Dungeons could appear again at any time.
"That's why I'll go. As an outsider, I don't need to stand on ceremony with them."
"...How can I ever repay this grace?"
"It's fine. I'm not doing this expecting something from Your Excellency."
Jeong Hoon smiled and left the office.
He had found the clue.
This episode was about restoring peace to the Delphos Grand Duchy.
He had done so by eliminating the dungeon, but the harsh cold remained.
'Because of the barrier.'
Completely removing the barrier would eliminate the cold as well.
That would bring perfect peace to the Delphos Grand Duchy.
'That's the key to completing the hidden episode.'
Back in the room, Jeong Hoon looked down at Jang Ha-jin and Han Deok-gu, who had fallen asleep sprawled out.
'I guess I have to go alone.'
Once this episode ended, he'd have to move busily again.
He didn't want to disturb their rest now.
Jeong Hoon left a note and headed to the empire's Magic Tower.
The next day at dawn.
Han Deok-gu woke up first.
He stretched as he sat up.
Looking around, he didn't see Jeong Hoon.
"Yawn, where'd Hyung-nim go? Up already?"
So diligent.
It was a rare chance to rest properly.
As Han Deok-gu got out of bed to wash up, he spotted a note on the nightstand.
"Hm? What's this?"
Han Deok-gu carefully unfolded the note.
It was a message from Jeong Hoon.
"Uh...?"
It said he was heading to the Magic Tower and to rest well.
'Wh-why the Magic Tower...?'
Han Deok-gu hurriedly shook Jang Ha-jin awake.
"Hyung-nim! Ha-jin Hyung-nim!"
"Ugh... What? Why wake me?"
Jang Ha-jin asked groggily as he opened his eyes.
"Hoon Hyung-nim went to the Magic Tower!"
"What... What are you talking about?!"
At the mention of the Magic Tower, Jang Ha-jin bolted upright.
"I don't know... He left this."
Jang Ha-jin took the note, read it quickly, and let out a deep sigh.
"Ha, this guy disappears the moment you take your eyes off him."
"Is it okay if he goes to the Magic Tower alone?"
"...It's fine. If we needed to go together, he'd have woken us."
Since he left quietly, it must be something he has to handle alone.
In that case, waiting obediently was the way not to bother Jeong Hoon.