I Became a Mythical Hunter After Killing the Golden Goblin - Chapter 64
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 64. The Monster of the Underground Aqueduct
The next morning, after a satisfying rest at the Hotel, I dressed and made my way directly to the office of the Guard Captain, which was attached to the Village Wall.
Knock, knock.
As I rapped on the door, Braymun, who had been reviewing reports since dawn, stepped out and greeted me warmly.
“Ah! You’ve come. Please, enter, though it’s humble.”
His office was sparse. Despite being the de facto representative of the Village, responsible for all its security, he showed no signs of greed or excess.
He handed me a cup of tea and took a seat across from me.
A gentle warmth emanated from it.
The tea was pleasant—not overly bitter, with a subtle and distinctive aroma that was quite agreeable.
“If there’s a request you have for me, it would be Quest 478, which has been made available to me: the elimination of the monster in the Underground Waterway.”
〚NO. 478 Underground Aqueduct Monster Elimination (Advanced-E+) can be received from Guard Captain Braymun.〛
A message that had appeared the moment I entered his office. I drained the tea in one gulp and looked at him.
“Indeed. That monster—or rather, that malice—please, rid us of it.”
〚NO. 478 Quest – Underground Aqueduct Monster Elimination
Rank: Advanced
Grade: E+
Description: An entity of unknown nature has hidden itself in the Underground Aqueduct beneath the Primordial City – Terraium. Guard Captain Braymun wishes to eliminate this entity and free the Village from danger.
Objective: Eliminate the monster in the Underground Waterway (0/1)
Upon Success: Achievement: Protector of the Primordial City [Advanced-C-], Purple Coins ×30,000, Item: ???, Recommendation Letter from Cardinal of the Holy Kingdom Batroy.
Upon Failure: ???〛
I closed the window and suppressed a smile, nodding in acknowledgment. In truth, those rewards held little significance for me.
My true purpose in accepting this Quest lay elsewhere. A monster? Whatever it was, something rated merely Advanced-E+ would be no match for me.
‘That bastard glossed over what appears in the starting Quest, so I don’t know the details, but….’
Especially compared to who I was yesterday, I had grown another level, and with better equipment, that creature would be even less of a threat.
‘The real problem is that the waterway isn’t just home to the monster.’
That’s where things truly begin. I opened my status window and stared at Misfortune. That’s the real issue.
Will it exert its power and move this time? Or will it continue to accumulate strength for the next opportunity?
After deliberating for a long while, I shook my head and cast aside the idle thoughts. Either way, I would move forward. Retreat was not an option.
“I will do it. Please show me the way to the Underground Aqueduct.”
At my answer, Braymun—who had been uncertain what to make of me—nodded with an expression that mingled joy and fear, then rose from his seat.
“I’ll guide you. Follow me.”
As I followed him out of the office and moved a short distance, a firmly sealed Corridor leading to the Underground Aqueduct came into view.
Though he maintained a composed facade, his trembling hands worked to unseal the Corridor he had personally sealed before opening the door.
A chilling wind erupted forth!
A cold, sinister energy swept past us through the open entrance and burst outward.
‘What is this?’
So it truly wasn’t an ordinary monster. As that thought crossed my mind, I fingered the Man-byeon around my wrist, and Braymun spoke.
“Shin Ju-ha. The creature here is no ordinary monster. Had it been merely a common beast, I would have slain it already. Even as you see me now, I once rose to the rank of Knight Candidate in the Kingdom.”
The Kingdom—one of several nations that existed in the next Stage. Knowing that even the weakest Kingdom Knight would be at least C-rank, I could gauge that his strength surpassed my own.
Yet even he could not capture this monster? I cursed that future version of myself for glossing over what the creature actually was, and pressed him for more details.
“It is an amalgamation of malice. Merely witnessing it seeks to shatter one’s mind, amplifying all negative emotions.”
As Braymun spoke those words, his face drained of color at the thought of the creature, his body trembling visibly. Fear was written plainly across his features.
Yet strangely, my own tension eased somewhat. A mental attack? I’m sorry, but I dare say I’m the foremost in that domain.
Of course, not quite to the level of those top-ranked hunters who specialize in mental fortitude. But among those of equal or lower rank than the highest tiers, none possess a mental barrier superior to mine.
With my Authority and Supreme Soul, should my level rise even slightly further, I would become the strongest among all Earthlings.
In other words, a creature employing mental attacks was never truly my match to begin with—and now, even less so.
I tapped my head lightly while looking at Braymun, offering him a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry. When it comes to mental resilience, I surpass most of those called hunters. So let me handle this quickly and we’ll share dinner together this evening.”
My bold and confident words drew Braymun out of his fear somewhat. He smiled at me, gave my shoulder an encouraging pat as if to say he believed in me, and handed over the supplies he had prepared.
I immediately dove into the Underground Waterway. As my body plummeted, I transformed Man-byeon into footwear and stepped upon the empty air, landing gracefully in the waterway.
The waterway was dark and expansive. Though luminescent magic circles were densely installed along the ceiling, more than half were damaged by the creature, their light extinguished.
I retrieved an item called a light orb from the supplies Braymun had given me and infused it with mana. The small sphere floated into the air and began emitting radiant light.
The surroundings brightened instantly, revealing the full expanse of the waterway. Though it had been abandoned for years, there was no decay, rust, or moss anywhere to be seen.
It was all thanks to the magic installed by the sorcerers who had constructed this waterway.
I set aside my admiration and began walking. My priority was to locate and eliminate the creature in this vast waterway, so I quickened my pace.
‘Misfortune remains mercifully dormant for now.’
Does it refuse to act again? Just what is it preparing that requires such restraint?
I transform Man-byeon into a blade.
〚Man-byeon projects the item: Purification Rune Sword [Advanced-SSS+]!〛
With my stats increased and growth across multiple fronts, my ownership of the Golden Tower had risen to 28%. This meant I could now manifest virtually any item except those of EX-tier.
The sword I now projected is a renowned item that grants elemental advantage against spirits and demons. It was famous enough to command prices comparable to rare-grade items despite its advanced classification.
How far had I walked?
Ssssshhhhh…
A cold, piercing, and chilling aura swept across my body. I heightened my senses and tensed my frame.
I feel it. The creature lies ahead. Now I understand why the security captain who nearly became a Driver was utterly helpless and defeated.
〚Unique Ability: Supreme Soul [Mythic] and Rune: Domain Manifestation – Negation’s Bitter Cold [Ancient-SSS-] resists all mental attacks inflicted upon you.〛
That bastard possesses an Ancient-tier ability as a rune.
So it truly wasn’t an ordinary creature? That being who would later obtain the Emperor of Ten Thousand Spirits boasted about everything else, yet never properly explained what happened during this initial Quest. There was something bothering him about it, and he glossed over this part entirely.
Because of that, I never imagined it would be such a creature. An entity that possesses a rune.
For such a being to exist in mere Stage-0.
While it falls short of being called a Hidden Stage, perhaps it’s a place that still requires meeting certain conditions to enter?
I swallowed hard. Not from fear—absolutely not. Rather… I felt desire surge within me.
‘An ability related to domains.’
Among all abilities, those related to domains are classified at the highest tier, occupying the apex. Especially among them, runes—blessings that can be used without any cost—are simply priceless beyond measure.
‘Can I obtain it?’
Before my regression, I never witnessed that bastard using such an ability. This leaves two possible scenarios.
Either he defeated the creature but failed to obtain the rune, or he couldn’t defeat it but fortunately discovered the Hidden Stage instead.
Somehow, the latter feels far more likely. He was vague about this Quest for a reason… perhaps he simply couldn’t clear it?
I summon my prideful mana. I amplify the power dwelling within my flesh and grip the Purification Rune Sword firmly.
Hah… judging by the domain ability, it appears to launch mental attacks through negative emotions.
“You really are unlucky.”
Of all people, you had to run into me. The moment I stepped deeper into this domain.
Whoosh!
Baleful blue eyes pierced through the darkness, and I launched myself toward the spectral form without hesitation.
-Kiiiieeeeee!!!
A bone-chilling shriek slammed against my eardrums. Simultaneously, a system window materialized.
〚Uncommon-Rank E+ LV 22 Spirit of Malice subordinate to ???〛
〚The Spirit of Malice subordinate to ??? uses Skill: Wail of Malice [Common-A+]!〛
〚Status Abnormality: Amplified Negative Emotions applied…〛
〚Unique Ability: Supreme Soul easily blocks this crude mental attack!〛
Its assault never reached me. But mine reached it.
Confident that nothing could ever touch it, arrogant in the belief that even if something did, its spectral form would suffer no harm—it lowered its guard, assuming this encounter would play out like all the others before it.
That carelessness became fatal. My Sin Blade, cloaked in the ashen hue of arrogance, cleaved one of its arms clean off and carved a long gash across its chest.
-Kiiiyaaaaa!!!
It wasn’t over. Through the wound, the Sin Blade’s power delivered endless agony to this spectral, malevolent creature.
Experiencing such overwhelming pain for the first time, it convulsed. The matchup was overwhelmingly in my favor—it posed little threat to me. To exaggerate only slightly, it was barely stronger than a goblin.
No, goblin attacks at least land on me. Most of its strikes don’t even reach me.
Drowning in pain and rage, yet possessing enough wit to think, it withdrew its body and fled while unleashing various skills in my direction.
〚The Spirit of Malice subordinate to ??? uses Skill: Abyss of Negation [Common-B]!〛
〚Status Abnormality: Helpless Fear applied…〛
〚Unique Ability: Supreme Soul easily blocks this crude mental attack!〛
.
.
.
.
But it was futile. Its mental attacks, backed by nothing more than Uncommon-grade power, couldn’t touch me.
“Just die quietly and cough up your runes.”
Then I’ll make it hurt a little less. I opened my inventory, retrieved a potion of acceleration, and downed it in one gulp.
“Tag is over now. I have an evening appointment, so I can’t play anymore.”
I reversed my grip on the Sin Blade, pushed off the ground with my accelerated body, and drove myself to the limit—bisecting the defenseless malice in a single, unstoppable stroke.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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