Chapter 301
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 301
Chapter Title: Baal's Challenge
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To leave the City of God, Jeong Hoon turned around.
And it was then.
A rift tore open in the empty air, revealing familiar red eyes.
It's been a while.
Baal's eyes curved like crescent moons.
"Yeah. It's been a while."
Jeong Hoon greeted him casually.
Those seeing Baal for the first time were overwhelmed, unable to even think of moving.
"Hoo, Hoon. What is that...?"
His mother asked in a trembling voice.
"Ah, that's the Giving Tree."
"The Giving Tree?"
"Yeah. I've gotten a lot thanks to that tree."
Jeong Hoon smiled brightly, easing everyone's tension.
Baal's curved eyes furrowed in displeasure.
You're comparing me to some mere tree?
"Not wrong, though."
Khm...
He'd lost every bet so far, so it wasn't wrong.
"So, what's the reason for showing up this time?"
Baal hadn't appeared since handing over the three Ultimate Stars.
This was truly the first time in ages he'd shown himself before Jeong Hoon.
Heh, I came to propose a new bet to you.
"A bet?"
Yes. Do you know what lies ahead if you keep going from here?
"No clue."
Jeong Hoon pretended not to know.
Baal added, as if he'd been waiting.
Kukuku, there's a gate leading straight to the Demon Realm.
Demon Realm.
"The Demon Realm?"
Jeong Hoon feigned surprise, and Baal's eyes curved again.
Yes. My domain.
"Hmm, so you came out to tell me that?"
Come to the Demon Realm. If you arrive within the time limit, you win. If not, I win.
"Pass."
...Pass?
"Got things to do. Not the time to leisurely visit the Demon Realm."
Visiting the Demon Realm meant facing the true body of those red eyes.
His tier had risen, but he was still far from ready to face Baal.
'James, what would've happened to us if we'd tried entering the Demon Realm back then?'
Before his regression, James Marcus's party had turned away right before the gate to the Demon Realm.
'Wiped out instantly.'
James Marcus had answered without hesitation.
Even after discovering the City of God for a storm of level-ups and gaining more opportunities afterward, entering the Demon Realm had been unthinkable.
Are you afraid of me?
Baal hid his bewilderment and asked.
Jeong Hoon nodded honestly.
"Yeah. I don't think I'm ready to face you yet."
Have you no pride?
"Can't risk my life over something like pride."
...Didn't you risk your life countless times before?
"Stop being petty and get lost."
Jeong Hoon waved him off.
...I promise. I won't interfere.
Baal's eyes trembled faintly as he spoke.
The Giving Tree for sure.
'Agreed.'
Jeong Hoon burst out laughing at Muk-ho and Anima's exchange.
"Pfft."
...What's so funny?
The red eyes twisted menacingly.
"Why are you so obsessed with bets? If you don't interfere, it's a 100 win for me."
Is it, though?
"Hm?"
To enter the Demon Realm, you must pass a test. It won't be easy.
"Ah, you've got something to rely on. Got it."
Exactly.
The decisive reason James Marcus's party gave up on entering the Demon Realm.
It was the test.
The difficulty was so high they couldn't dream of clearing it, so they quit.
Baal was saying to pass that test and enter now.
"So if I enter the Demon Realm, you won't interfere at all?"
I promise for sure. No matter what you do once you're in the Demon Realm, I won't interfere.
"Hm, what's the reward for the bet?"
Want something?
"Information."
Information?
"Yeah."
What kind?
"You'll find out after the bet ends."
Jeong Hoon smiled brightly.
Baal's red eyes furrowed again.
...I can't accept without specifics.
"Then don't."
Jeong Hoon had no regrets.
Wait! It isn't info I can't disclose, is it?
"Why wouldn't it be?"
...
Information on the Designer.
That was what Jeong Hoon wanted.
"You in?"
I'll tell you everything I can. How's that?
"Too vague."
...If it's info I can't share, I'll tell you about the Seven Deadly Sins instead. That work?
"Bring the box."
Info on the Designer could also be obtained by completing the Seven Deadly Sins.
Good. Deal.
"You're really serious about these bets."
Most would back off by now.
Think of it as me coveting you that much.
"Sure. Time limit?"
120 Hours.
"240 hours."
...Trying to get it for free, huh?
"What? Scared you'll lose in 240?"
No, fine. 240 hours.
"Call."
A new bet with Baal was on.
Only after Baal vanished could everyone finally relax.
His mother's face was stiff as she looked at Jeong Hoon and spoke.
"Hoon, care to explain in detail? What's this bet?"
"Ah, actually..."
Jeong Hoon honestly recounted everything that had happened with Baal.
As the story progressed, shock spread across his mother's face.
In contrast, Ha-jin and Deok-gu remained unfazed.
They'd already heard about the bet with a Transcendent before.
They'd kept quiet at Jeong Hoon's request to keep it secret, but now that he was spilling it, it meant no more hiding.
"Risking your life! Are you out of your mind?!"
His mother finally exploded.
"I'm sorry. But that was the only way to get strong fast."
"Even so..."
"Don't worry too much. No more life-on-the-line bets."
...Can I believe that? You just made another one?
"Yes. Betting something else instead of our lives."
"Something else?"
"A contract."
A contract with a Transcendent.
Min-ji cautiously interjected.
"Sorry to butt in. So if you lose the bet, you have to contract with that thing?"
"Yes."
"What happens then...?"
Transcendents were still approaching everyone.
They were traveling with Jeong Hoon, who'd just broken level 500.
How could they not eye such juicy prey right in front of them?
Of course, they were ignoring them completely.
"You become their avatar. And puppets in their hands."
"...."
"Don't worry. I never start a bet I can lose."
Jeong Hoon smiled confidently to reassure them as much as possible.
"Whew, Hoon. Still, go easy on the bets. No gamble in the world has 100 odds."
His mother still looked worried.
"Yes."
Jeong Hoon had no choice but to nod.
"Alright. Heading straight to the Demon Realm then?"
The Demon Realm Baal had mentioned.
But Jeong Hoon shook his head.
"No. Grabbing one more opportunity first."
He'd asked for 240 hours because there was still a hidden opportunity to find.
He'd upgrade skills there to strengthen Muk-ho and Anima.
"Kyieeeek!"
Jeong Hoon's sharper spear strike cleaved the Grand Master Goblin Shaman.
He'd surged a whopping 139 levels to 683.
His stats rose accordingly, and with buffs multiplying them, even Master Goblin Shamans fell easier.
Plus, with everyone over level 500 now, battles were smoother.
"Bro! There's a city over there too!"
Deok-gu pointed at distant buildings.
Tall structures rising high.
That was the city hiding the second opportunity.
"That's our next stop."
"Oho!"
Jeong Hoon swung his spear freely as he entered the city.
You have explored the 'City of Enhancement.'
The city's energy begins to swirl.
All energy clings to the explorer.
Just like the City of God, entering granted the opportunity.
City of Enhancement.
You can upgrade one desired skill or piece of equipment by one tier.
An insane opportunity rivaling the storm level-up.
"Whoa... one tier upgrade?"
"What should we upgrade?"
Those checking the messages began pondering happily.
Jeong Hoon, of course, chose 'Transcendent Reinforcement: Legendary' without hesitation.
'Transcendent Reinforcement: Legendary' has been upgraded by one tier.
You have acquired 'Transcendent Reinforcement: Celestial.'
The skill's level is preserved.
It wasn't just a simple upgrade.
Even the upgraded skill's level was maintained.
Transcendent Reinforcement: Celestial
-Type: Reinforcement
-Level: 10
-Grade: Celestial
-Allows equipment reinforcement (up to Celestial)
-Each equipment's success rate (Normal 100, Rare 100, Epic 100, Unique 100, Legendary 80, Celestial 50)
-On failure, equipment destruction chance 0
-On failure, equipment reinforcement count is not deducted.
Jeong Hoon's lips curved up.
Zero equipment destruction chance.
Zero reinforcement count deduction.
And a whopping 50 success rate for Celestial reinforcement.
Half the time, it succeeded.
We can go even higher from here?!
'Nice. Finally unleashing my true power?'
Muk-ho and Anima were already drinking the kimchi soup.
"Hm... But only one of you can go first, it seems."
Jeong Hoon doused their hopes.
Muk-ho and Anima, lost in happy fantasies, shut their mouths.
"You never know. Who says 50 will keep failing?"
Jeong Hoon currently had 76 Celestial Reinforcement Stones.
13 from prior mining plus 63 newly extracted.
Just enough to scrape by, quantity-wise.
Me first then!
'Ridiculous! The best defense is offense!'
As expected, they started fighting over who went first.
"Enough."
Jeong Hoon stepped in to mediate as usual.
Master! The spear and dagger can cover plenty anyway! Hold off on that and do me first!
'Ridiculous! Spear and dagger aren't efficient up close. You need me for range!'
Bullshit. Ranged is covered by Master's mom anyway.
'With me added, it'd be way more destructive.'
'Yeah. Fuck off and do me first.'
'You don't even exist.'
What? Hey, that's a personal attack.
Noisy.
"Anima first."
Anima cheered at Jeong Hoon's words, while Muk-ho wailed.
Simple reason.
Last time at Legendary grade, he'd fully reinforced Muk-ho first, so now it was Anima's turn.
"I'll upgrade both, so don't get hasty."
Everyone was pondering skills versus items.
He'd use the gap to reinforce Anima first.