Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 119

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (119)

 

As Commanded

 

A sudden question that flew in.

 

Lee Si-hyeok’s eyes widened as he stumbled backward.

 

Despite having an appearance identical to a human, its size was more than three times larger. A massive body that felt like a giant. Even its skin was made of hard stone alloy, creating an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

 

Was this exactly what Heracles from the Greek and Roman mythology he read as a child looked like?

 

It looked ridiculously strong. Just brushing against it would probably make his head explode…

 

“No. You. My master.”

 

“…Master?”

 

Even though he knew it wouldn’t attack, he instinctively became wary. He answered the question first.

 

“I feel it from you. The aura. The power I felt from my previous master.”

 

“If you’re talking about ownership, then that’s probably right. I received it from someone called the Creator.”

 

“Mm. I see.”

 

“…?”

 

“I understand.”

 

Was that it? As Lee Si-hyeok blinked, the golem stepped back.

 

Thoom!

 

Suddenly, it knelt down on the ground. As the massive weight settled, vibrations spread throughout the entire garden. The tremors were strong enough to make his whole body shake slightly.

 

“I am the City Guardian. From now on, I serve you. All commands given by master. I will carry out.”

 

“…”

 

“And I know. The human who fixed me. It was you. I repay the grace bestowed by master. So give me a command.”

 

Lee Si-hyeok, who had been watching this scene, let out a low murmur.

 

‘Honestly, I didn’t expect communication to work like this.’

 

When he had examined the Command Soul Formula during the repair process earlier.

 

He had definitely discovered a circuit responsible for language at that time. But since that language itself was completely unfamiliar, not existing on Earth, he had quickly fixed it and finished.

 

Looking back, it seemed that Lee Si-hyeok’s mana had mixed in during that process, leading to this situation. Originally, communication between awakened individuals on Earth had always been smooth.

 

It was probably due to that influence.

 

Lee Si-hyeok stared blankly at the crown of the kneeling creature’s head.

 

Even with its head bowed, its height was roughly similar to Lee Si-hyeok’s. Maybe slightly taller? He himself was quite tall, but this exceeded even that.

 

Coming to his senses, Lee Si-hyeok asked quietly. His low voice spread through the quiet garden.

 

“…Won’t you get up?”

 

“Give me a command.”

 

“If I don’t give a command, you’ll stay like that forever?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

He raised his finger and tapped the golem’s crown.

 

“Stand up, then. That’s a command.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Thoom!

 

The garden vibrated once again.

 

It was so strong that just sitting and standing caused the pond water to splash in all directions. It was caused by a single gust of wind pressure.

 

‘…At least there doesn’t seem to be anything to worry about for now.’

 

The golem was acting like a programmed robot.

 

Not like the latest AI models being released these days, but just an old-fashioned robot that only moves according to commands. The Original Creator probably designed it this way thinking it would be more convenient, and indeed it wasn’t bad for Lee Si-hyeok either.

 

Now that he understood its characteristics, the thing was entirely on his side.

 

Wouldn’t it step up and perform in situations where 〈Phazesis〉 didn’t work? He had already been worrying about various things because of the Absolute Dream Guild, so this was at least fortunate.

 

Of course, he couldn’t take such a huge thing around with him, so he’d have to find some way to deal with that.

 

Then what he needed to do now was clear.

 

Lee Si-hyeok, having organized his thoughts, immediately spoke up.

 

“Information about this Gate. Do you know anything?”

 

“Information. What are you asking about.”

 

“Well, about the 〈City of Hunters〉 that’s connected to this place, or who that ‘Creator’ person who first made you was. Things like that.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

The golem paused for a moment. Its eyebrows twitched, implemented in detail just like a real human.

 

“I don’t know. I can’t remember.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“It was erased. Scattered somewhere.”

 

“…I see.”

 

No wonder the memory circuits were completely empty earlier, so this is how it connects.

 

“Then you don’t know who erased it either.”

 

“That’s right. But it might not have been erased. Corrosion from time. That possibility also exists.”

 

“True, that could happen. Though the probability is low.”

 

Lee Si-hyeok nodded and continued with various questions.

 

The golem answered most questions with “I don’t know,” but there was exactly one thing it did know.

 

“Master’s companion. Where they went. Are you asking about that.”

 

“Not exactly a companion… but anyway.”

 

“The pond where I was sleeping. Below it. There’s a secret passage that leads to the city.”

 

“Exactly where in the city does it connect to? The center?”

 

“No. The city outskirts.”

 

“The outskirts?”

 

When he asked that, the thing suddenly pounded its chest with thump thump! A deafening sound covered the surroundings.

 

“That’s right, the outskirts! There are the hunters’ trial grounds there!”

 

It had an extremely proud expression.

 

“Everyone who enters through the city’s main gate must pass through there! I remember that clearly! I was a guardian protecting the trial grounds! That’s why I’m the City Guardian!”

 

“…So you’re saying there’s a high probability that person is there?”

 

“If they haven’t passed the trial yet. They’ll still be there. Somewhere in that place.”

 

“Hmm, I wonder if they passed.”

 

Still, they’re an S-rank Hunter in name at least.

 

He thought that, but the golem firmly shook its head.

 

“They didn’t.”

 

“What?”

 

Not ‘couldn’t have’ but ‘didn’t’?

 

“City Person. This was a trial that even Hunters found difficult. There’s no possibility that an ordinary human could have passed.”

 

“No. He wasn’t exactly ordinary though.”

 

“Impossible.”

 

“….”

 

Lee Si-hyeok tilted his head. It seemed to have tremendous pride in that place called the Trial Grounds. Though it moved according to commands, it also possessed circuits that handled emotions, albeit small ones.

 

It would be able to feel such emotions as well.

 

For now, he finished his questioning with that.

 

There wouldn’t be much more it could tell him anyway, and since he had gained ownership, wouldn’t there be opportunities to ask questions again anytime?

 

‘Should I get going soon?’

 

Since he had gained unexpected gains, it had taken more time than expected. Hearing such words also made him suddenly worry about Pasuin.

 

Then he’d have to examine the Golem more later. Having concluded that, Lee Si-hyeok quickly organized the equipment on the table.

 

Instead of using his bag, he shoved everything into his subspace, and while he was at it, he just threw the bag in there too. Hyeon Eul-cheong would organize it well on her own.

 

Then he turned off his skill and approached the Golem again to ask.

 

“You don’t have anything particular to prepare, right?”

 

“Nothing. I am strong.”

 

“Okay. Then let’s go right away.”

 

Eventually, Lee Si-hyeok walked past the Golem to the front of the pond and looked down below.

 

A small but deep pond.

 

Below it, a single stone door lay horizontally.

 

“You go in first. It looks like it would just break if you jump on it a few times from up there.”

 

“As commanded.”

 

The Golem immediately jumped into the pond with a splash.

 

Then it began jumping forcefully in place.

 

Thud! Thud! Thud!

 

Vibrations twice as strong as before spread out.

 

The shaking continued to such a degree that it probably transmitted beyond the cave where this Garden was located, all the way to the Deep Sea outside.

 

It was exactly around the sixth jump when it happened.

 

—Crack.

 

The sound of something splitting in half was heard, and the Golem’s body suddenly disappeared from view. The creature that had been jumping up with only its head visible suddenly vanished as if dragged downward.

 

“…Success?”

 

Lee Si-hyeok immediately walked over and carefully looked down into the pond.

 

Then he saw the completely opened floor and the vast Sandy Area revealed beneath it.

 

In the center, a small dot that could be identified as the Golem.

 

The height seemed to be quite considerable. After checking once more to see if he had dropped any luggage, Lee Si-hyeok activated his Protective Artifact again.

 

Whooom, as blue waves enveloped his body.

 

“…!”

 

He dove straight down.

 

Whoooosh!

 

His body plummeted through the air at tremendous speed. It was incomparably faster than what he had experienced before.

 

Even while doing so, he kept his eyes wide open and observed the trial grounds.

 

Whoooooosh!

 

The terrain was filled with sand overall. A scene like an ‘arena’ typically depicted in movies. However, the difference was that its size was ridiculously enormous.

 

Moreover, monsters were scattered throughout the place. These were monsters that couldn’t be seen from the upper part of the Gate, but their appearance was somehow familiar.

 

‘…Necrosis?’

 

Lee Si-hyeok, who had been keeping his eyes wide open against the wind, opened his mouth. The rapidly passing air rushed into his mouth.

 

Necrosis.

 

Monsters resembling the one he had seen at Chronos Bunker not long ago were scattered everywhere.

 

Grotesque monsters that looked somewhat human, with emaciated bodies and multiple tentacles on their backs…

 

They said the main body was sleeping somewhere in this place, so perhaps this was its influence.

 

It was a more dangerous place than expected. The trial seemed to involve facing those monsters. Even a single Necrosis was an S-rank boss after all.

 

‘Still, with the Golem and 〈Phagethesis〉, there shouldn’t be any danger.’

 

He had already confirmed once that it worked well against Necrosis too.

 

Whoooosh!

 

The ground was getting closer now.

 

He could now see with the naked eye the faces of the Golem and monsters that had fallen first.

 

As he prepared to land and moved his gaze to look for the Pasuin, a message suddenly appeared, blocking his view.

 

[You have entered the Hidden Stage through a shortcut.]

 

[Entry method that deviated from the route.]

 

[According to the ‘Creator’s’ design, you are excluded from the current trial stage 〈Arena Blood Battle 〉. Your existence will be thoroughly concealed, and no monster in the arena will be able to recognize you.]

 

[In addition, precise location information of all monsters will be revealed. (Currently identified number of monsters: 3,418 / Detailed location information: Southern Arena longitude…).]

 

[+ You can know the location of the ‘Guardian of Light’ who is currently taking the trial!]

 

The hand that was about to press the shirt button stopped abruptly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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