The Game of the Greatest Black Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 31

4.

Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong woke up after a long, restful sleep.

He felt like he had a pleasant dream, though he couldn't quite recall it.

He even felt refreshed the moment he opened his eyes.

He glanced at the clock, just in case, and saw that he wasn't late.

Had all his fatigue melted away?

It was a truly refreshing morning.

With a cheerful smile, he greeted his colleagues and settled into his workstation, ready to tackle the day's tasks.

His work involved reviewing user videos and documenting various situations arising from their actions, all to prepare appropriate responses and solutions.

Naturally, since yesterday, Wonsong's primary task had been to closely monitor a specific user.

It was standard practice for the User Management Team to keep an eye on high-ranking users who often triggered unexpected events within the game.

However, this particular user, Seonghyun, was generating even more unforeseen circumstances than those top-tier players.

Observing him had become Wonsong's top priority.

'Hopefully, things will be quiet today.'

Yesterday had been an anomaly.

It was absurd for someone to acquire so many hidden pieces and attain the Almighty class within a single day of logging in.

Okay, fine, it's possible.

But to do it two days in a row?

That was highly unlikely.

No, impossible.

Lost in these thoughts as he worked, Wonsong immediately started tracking Seonghyun the moment he saw him log in.

Still at level 15, Seonghyun was diligently hunting.

He was undeniably impressive.

'Not only is the Almighty class unique, but his undead have far superior AI than others,'

The undead moved with a lifelike fluidity that even Wonsong, an employee of E-World, had never witnessed before.

Was this normal?

He wasn't sure.

He needed to ask someone, but he hesitated to approach Team Leader Jung Jihye after forcing her to cancel her day off yesterday.

Watching Seonghyun sweep through the Goblin Village, Wonsong was further convinced of the exceptional artificial intelligence at play.

It hadn't been this advanced when Seonghyun seized control of the undead from that user, Bejiron, before.

'Today, he's just hunting normally.'

Yes, just keep hunting peacefully.

Wonsong thought, maintaining a casual expression as he monitored Seonghyun on his screen.

How much time had passed?

As Seonghyun chose Sekan as his second village, strange occurrences began to unfold.

He stared blankly into the air for a moment, then walked to the center of the village and sat on a bench.

Was he taking a break?

That was plausible.

Nothing major.

But then...

[『Seonghyun』 User has permanently increased his stats through ‘Unknown Power’.]

This doesn't bode well.

Wonsong blinked, his eyes glued to Seonghyun's video feed.

And then...

'Why is he going there?'

The second village, Sekan.

Although not widely known, it's the place where the Hero Hindel sealed away a troublesome demonic beast.

It's also a hidden piece that another user almost obtained.

'No, no, not there!?'

Taking advantage of its recent rediscovery, it's where the most important demonic beast, Barpur, resided.

The one intended for the new event, the Barpur Raid.

It hasn't been unsealed yet, so it's not a raid-level monster.

‘But he's going there now?’

No, how did he even know about it?

‘But come to think of it, has he ever gone anywhere that wasn't already well-known?’

Seonghyun?

No way.

Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, who was tense, suddenly recalled the information about the demonic beast Barpur and felt relieved.

'Whew, that's a relief.'

Seonghyun's level is only 20. And the Wraith of Barpur is level 35.

Even with the Almighty class and Seonghyun's control, it would be a tough fight.

Even with the additional stat points...

'He can't catch that.'

The elemental matchup is also unfavorable.

Since it's a Specter.

It summons undead from the netherworld to attack?

That won't work either.

He can't steal it with Death Aura.

The level difference is too great.

In the end, Seonghyun will fail here!

'Heh heh, let's see.'

He watched with that expectation, but what's this?

[『Seonghyun』 User has subdued the Wraith of Barpur with 'Unknown Power'.]

“???”

Why is that even possible???

As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong stared at the monitor with wide eyes,

Associate Oh Jinhyeok, who was quietly doing his work next to him, tilted his head.

What is he looking at like that?

With that thought, he looked at Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong's screen.

“Huh? Senior? Isn't that Barpur? The Barpur we were going to use for the second village joint raid!? What should we do if he does that there?!!”

Looking at his clueless junior, he said with a slight smile.

“We're screwed.”

“Huh?!?”

Since the raid event has disappeared before the announcement.

That's a relief.

He might get chewed out in the report, though.

But that's not the problem right now.

The Wraith of Barpur is fine.

Originally, the demonic beast Barpur is much stronger in body than in spirit.

So, no matter what Death Aura and Unknown Power do...

“He won't be able to take the body. How could he put that in the Netherworld?”

“Huh? Senior? He's putting it in?”

“???”

“Whoa, it's going in?”

Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong stared blankly at Associate Oh Jinhyeok, who was marveling at the situation.

He seriously considered quitting, not because of Seonghyun, but because of Associate Oh Jinhyeok.

5.

Reaching the end of the cave, he found a single corpse, larger than an elephant.

A sword was embedded around its heart.

It was amazing that a single sword could stop such a massive creature.

The demonic beast's flesh, still unrotted and lifelike, looked incredible.

But that was only for a brief moment at first.

Now, the body was about to disappear before his eyes.

'Wow, it's going in.'

Even though Death Aura worked, they said he couldn't put it in because his level was too low.

-Ehehehe, it is my flesh, so with my permission, it can be moved anywhere.

The Wraith of Barpur solved that.

['Unknown Power' has accomplished something impossible at the current level.]

[Strength +5, Stamina +3 permanently increased.]

Gaining the memories and experience of the demonic beast Barpur,

He was able to learn how to handle the flesh.

With Barpur's help,

He could send the beast's body to the Netherworld.

Not only that, but he also gained stats.

After putting the body in, the Wraith of Barpur also entered the Netherworld with its own body.

As the body entered the Netherworld,

Hindel's sword, which had been stuck in the body, naturally fell to the ground with a clear sound.

Clang! Clang——!

A beautiful appearance despite being embedded in the demonic beast's body for ages.

No doubt about it.

'This is the hidden piece, huh?'

How many birds did he kill with one stone?

Previously, there was also the title and level up he got for subjugating the Wraith.

He wanted to check the sword first, but

Seonghyun, the type to save the best for last, looked at the titles first.

'Should I check them first?'

First, the Elevated Leadership.

『Elevated Leadership』

→《Epic》

→A title given to users who have subjugated a summon, subordinate, or undead of a higher level than themselves.

→Increases the loyalty and morale of allies.

→When giving orders to allies, all allies' speed +5%.

*This title stacks with the effects of Monarch.

'Hmm.'

It's good, but it's a lower-ranked title than Monarch.

Still, it stacks with the effects of Monarch, so

It's even better.

It would have been better if it had a unique effect, but

This is still something.

Then, next is the Enduring One.

『Enduring One』

→《Epic》

→A title given to users who have accumulated 100 additional stat points without using them.

→Increases Spirit by +100.

*Percent increase option effects are applied.

*There are no other titles for accumulating 100 or more additional stat points.

'Oh?!'

Spirit is an important stat for various resistances and maintaining skills.

To increase it by 100 just like that!

Not only that, but percent increase option effects are applied!

Currently, Seonghyun has the title Almighty, which increases all stats by 10%.

So, it's no different than gaining an additional 110 Spirit from Enduring One.

'Crazy.'

Even Seonghyun couldn't help but be surprised by this.

Wait, then what are his stats now?

【Status Window】

『Seonghyun』

『Lv 25』

『Class』

→『Overlord』

『Title』→『Monarch (Legendary)』…… and 18 others.

『Stats』

→《Strength: 20 (18+2)》《Agility: 17 (15+2)》

《Stamina: 15 (13+2)》《Intelligence: 23 (20+3)》

《Wisdom: 28 (25+3)》《Spirit: 133 (120+13)》

《Dexterity: 7 (6+1)》

『Additional Stat Points』

→《120》

'Wow, this is...'

Even Seonghyun, who until yesterday didn't know much about Eternal World, was surprised by his status window.

It's not just a level 25 status window.

Plus, 120 additional stat points.

'I should start raising them soon.'

He hadn't felt the need to raise them, so he hadn't, but

Now is the time to raise them.

There's no benefit to saving them anymore.

Raising them is a certainty.

Then, how should he raise them?

'Hmm.'

Seonghyun's Overlord class is clearly a dark wizard.

Naturally, increasing intelligence and wisdom is advantageous and makes him stronger.

However, considering Seonghyun's playstyle, it's not limited to that.

He also fights using the memories and experiences of the former instructor Eddie and the hunter Apik.

This is even more true considering the memories and experiences of the Wraiths he will obtain in the future.

Even looking through Helena's memories, she also had excellent physical abilities.

It seems better to raise them evenly, but

He wasn't sure how to distribute them.

He didn't have a good sense of it yet.

'First, it's better to invest in Intelligence and Wisdom.'

Intelligence directly affects the power and duration of magic-type skills.

And Wisdom is directly related to mana, such as maximum mana and mana regeneration speed.

It's a shame that it looks so small even though there are 120 additional stat points.

But it can't be helped.

He invested 30 points each in his main stats, Intelligence and Wisdom.

And he invested 20 points each in the remaining Strength, Agility, and Stamina.

【Status Window】

『Seonghyun』

『Lv 25』

『Class』

→『Overlord』

『Title』

→『Monarch (Legendary)』…… and 18 others.

『Stats』

→《Strength: 42 (38+4)》《Agility: 39 (35+4)》

《Stamina: 37 (33+4)》《Intelligence: 56 (50+6)》

《Wisdom: 61 (55+6)》《Spirit: 133 (120+13)》

《Dexterity: 7 (6+1)》

『Additional Stat Points』

→《0》

That's the result.

'Oh.'

He could clearly feel the changes in his body after raising his stats.

It felt like he could do a little more.

Especially mana, which more than doubled compared to before.

With this much...

'Even if I release the goblins and the Wraith of Barpur at the same time, it won't run out quickly.'

The Wraith of Barpur, being a high-ranking undead, consumed quite a bit of mana just to maintain.

However, it's different now that it has more than doubled.

Before, it was a burden to just summon the Wraith of Barpur, but now he can summon everyone without worry.

Could it increase even more?

'Let's invest more in Intelligence and Wisdom in the future.'

He'll have to think about raising Strength, Agility, and Stamina through soul acquisition.

Now, the last hidden piece left here.

A sword emitting a brilliant light.

Should he say it's more simple than flashy in appearance?

It is beautiful.

However, there were no dazzling or fancy decorations, but the curve from the hilt to the blade was smoothly connected, and the blue energy dwelling in the blade was still vivid despite the long passage of time.

Even to Seonghyun, who didn't have a deep knowledge of swords, it was an extraordinary sword.

And even recalling the memories of the former instructor Eddie, who knew about swords, it was a rare masterpiece.

Gulp.

'So this is what a masterpiece sword is like.'

The length of the sword was close to a longsword.

He couldn't even remember the Steel Sword, which was in the same position.

Well then.

‘Shall I check it out?’

『Apprentice Hero Hindel's Sword』

→《Unique》

→This was the sword that Hero Hindel mainly used during his apprenticeship, but he ended up using it to seal the powerful demonic beast Barpur.

→Although it has sealed the powerful demonic beast Barpur for ages, its energy and power seem to remain intact.

→However, it also contains ominous energy, having absorbed demonic energy for a long time.

→Cutting power increased by +10%.

→Attack power increased by +5%.

→Absorbs the demonic energy of beings it cuts down.

'Wow. What is this...?'

Unique rank.

The highest rank item Seonghyun has ever obtained.

The same rank as the Recommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy.

But unlike the recommendation letter, this is an item that helps in battle!

Cutting power increased by +10% and attack power increased by +5%.

With options like these, there are no restrictions.

There should be level restrictions or class restrictions.

'I can make quite a bit of money if I sell it later.'

The desire to try it out quickly arose.

Steel Sword?

Yeah, he's going to sell it.

Then, should he move to the next hunting ground?

As Seonghyun thought so and was about to move,

He suddenly remembered someone when he looked at the Apprentice Hero Hindel's Sword.

No, should he say a Wraith?

'Helena hasn't come out yet.'

He was more used to her absence, but somehow it felt a bit empty without her.

She said she couldn't come out for a while because she used up a lot of power, soNôv(el)B\\jnn

It can't be helped.

Seonghyun's purpose in playing Eternal World was to make money, but he also enjoyed the process of meeting various Wraiths and gaining their experiences and memories, unlike in reality.

And among them, he wanted to use Helena's memories and experiences to do what she yearned for and wished for.

It wasn't Helena's intention or anything like that.

It was just like a milestone that he set as a goal while playing this game.

'The peak of Overlord.'

The realm that even Helena ultimately failed to reach.

Reaching that realm someday was Seonghyun's current goal.

And.

'I have to find traces of Hero Hindel.'

Unlike the peak of Overlord,

This was Seonghyun's personal goal, not Helena's wish.

Hero Hindel.

Finding his traces.

Unfortunately, in Barpur's memories, he didn't know where Hindel went.

Only the information that he left leisurely after the sealing.

'Wouldn't it come out if I keep looking?'

Let's not get too caught up in it for now and do what needs to be done.

He'll go to the third village when he reaches level 50, so

He just needs to find it before then.

Then there's only one thing to do now.

'If I got a Wraith, I should try using it, right?'

Remember the fearsome power of the Wraith that attacked him.

That Wraith is now under Seonghyun's command.

How could he not try using it?

He had somewhere to go with his older sister, Yoo Mina, later in the afternoon, so

He needs to head to the hunting ground as soon as possible.

Wait, come to think of it.

'They said party play is much more efficient from the second village onwards, right?'

He heard that there are many hunting grounds, commonly called dungeons, that require a party of a certain number or more to enter.

Seonghyun thought he should form a party.

Recalling the central plaza where he met the village head, Granny Gwen, a while ago,

Seonghyun returned to the village.

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]