The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 30

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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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A Mad Swordsman Returns – Chapter 30

A few days later.
After resting, Han Yu-sung decided to return to Seoul.
But there was one place he needed to visit first.

“Welcome. Is there something you’re looking for?”
“I have some items I need to dispose of.”

He was here to dispose of items.
Items that had belonged to members of the Covenant of the Dead. The problem was that using the Dimensional Auction House would make them easy to trace.
That’s why he’d decided to visit the Black Market.

“If you’re looking to dispose of items, you should go to the Dimensional Auction House.”
“If that were possible, I would have done so already.”
“Hmm, items the Dimensional Auction House can’t handle?”

The Black Market had branches throughout Korea—no, throughout the world.
On the surface, it appeared to be an ordinary shop, but using the players who guarded it, one could dispose of stolen goods.
Of course, not just anyone could use such a Black Market.

“….”
“….”

An ordinary general store with nothing special about it.
The clerk who guarded it, equally unremarkable in appearance, stared at Han Yu-sung in silence.
As if demanding he speak.
Han Yu-sung opened his mouth.

“I seek things where light does not reach, objects submerged in shadow.”

The passphrase necessary to use the Black Market.
The clerk’s expression changed upon hearing it.
Without a word, he pressed a button beneath the counter, and the shop’s windows and door shut closed.
As curtains drew across them, the interior darkened in an instant.

“What items have you come to dispose of?”
“Stolen goods.”

Han Yu-sung withdrew the items from his possession.
Wands and staffs tumbled across the table with a clatter.
The clerk’s eyes gleamed with dark interest.

“Necromancer equipment, I see. Such items command quite a price, you know. I’m curious where you acquired these…”
“Isn’t the rule not to ask such questions?”
“Indeed. My apologies.”

The clerk grinned and produced a calculator.
He began appraising the items’ value, then asked casually.

“Is there anything else you require?”
“A spatial backpack. A hood to conceal my face.”
“Fortune smiles upon you. We happen to have exactly what you seek.”

The clerk’s fingers traced patterns through the air.
Space fractured, and two items materialized before us.
A compact backpack suitable for wearing at the waist, and a pitch-black hood.

[Compact Spatial Backpack (Unique)]
· A spatial backpack capable of holding only a limited number of items. Exceeding the permitted capacity will automatically eject items.

[Veil’s Hood (Unique)]
· Slot: Head.
· Defense: 5.
· When equipped, the ‘Veil’ effect activates, obscuring the wearer’s face and making it difficult for others to discern their features.

Naturally, neither item was of particularly high grade.
Spatial backpacks are expensive and difficult to obtain—the larger the capacity, the more so.
In a modest Black Market like this, this was likely the only spatial backpack available.

‘Veil’s Hood should suffice at this level.’

I felt the necessity to conceal my identity, so I decided to purchase it.
With the Veil effect, it would serve its purpose adequately. At minimum, it would fulfill its basic function.

“The spatial backpack and Veil’s Hood together come to 500 million. Does that seem reasonable?”
“Cash.”
“Excellent.”

Not a generous price, but not a slap in the face either.
It was suitable for quick disposal.

“Please visit us often in the future.”
“What’s your name?”
“Me? As for my name… just call me Hank.”

At a name that sounded like an alias no matter who heard it, I nodded and turned away.

‘I should build some connections at the Black Market too.’

At the Black Market, the longer you’ve been around and the more valuable items you dispose of, the higher your ‘grade’ becomes.
The clerks are the ones who determine that grade.
If I build a rapport with Hank, I could access a higher-tier Black Market.
Though that was still a distant prospect.

[Are you done with your business?]
“Yeah. Time to head out…”

I lifted my gaze.
Beyond that point, the Closed Theme Park came into view.

“Shall we visit the Playground of Pleasure?”

I quickened my pace.

* * *

The Playground of Pleasure was located in a theme park in Seoul.
A closed theme park that no one used anymore. Despite being abandoned and devoid of visitors, the park still had its lights on.
The dilapidated rides were operating on their own.
With no one to ride them, spinning alone, hollow and empty.
Endlessly.

“Come, come! Right here! Customers, please come this way!”
“If you’re late, you’ll miss your tickets! Hurry!”

Covenant of the Dead members dressed as theme park employees solicited visitors.
Towering directly behind them stood the Gate of Trials.
Han Yu-sung gazed at it in silence.

[Trial: Playground of Pleasure.]
[A trial opened by the Lord of Pleasure. Various themed games await. Those who challenge this trial must clear the given games and reach the end of the trial.]
[Rule 1: The content of the games may change in real-time depending on the Lord’s mood. Be aware that difficulty may increase.]
[Rule 2: You are free to give up midway. Even if you surrender, should you have satisfied the Lord, you will receive a reward befitting your performance.]
[Entrance Fee: None.]

This trial had multiple mechanics applied to it. Beginning with simple monster hunts, then offense, defense, maze navigation, and countless other challenges.
Only one thing mattered most in this trial.

“Welcome, to the land of fantasy! The Playground of Pleasure!”
“When using the playground, please conduct yourselves properly. And remember this! This place was created for the Lord’s enjoyment. When the Lord is pleased, what happens? Rewards rain down~ Understand?”
“Games that are too dangerous? We’ll even exempt you from death!”
“So please participate enthusiastically!”

The employees laughed and shouted.
Yes. That was the greatest gimmick of this trial.
‘Entertaining the Lord of Pleasure.’
Clearing all the games did not guarantee good rewards.

‘If you fail to entertain the Lord, clearing the trial means nothing.’

The Lord of Pleasure would reject it, claiming it wasn’t fun.
That’s why such a rule was posted.
The saving grace was that there was something like a satisfaction gauge, allowing one to know whether the Lord of Pleasure was currently satisfied or not.

“Well then, let me count how many people wish to participate.”
“Hmm, at this rate… we’re easily looking at over a thousand people?”

The Playground of Pleasure was no easy trial.
Yet quite a number of players had gathered to attempt it.
The reason was simple.

‘That bastard I broke last time walked away with an insane reward. I should…!’
‘A challenge that offers rewards like that, and there’s no entry fee either. This is worth doing.’
‘Plus, you can quit midway through the challenge….’
‘The Lord of Pleasure doesn’t pull tricks. He’s a lord of his word.’

Powerful rewards, free entry, the option to quit midway.
Three keywords that seduced countless players.
It was an odd thing to say about pleasure itself, but the Lord of Pleasure’s trustworthiness among players played a significant role as well.

“This looks perfect! I think the Lord will be delighted! Oh, if anyone’s worried about having too many people, don’t be!”
“The Playground of Pleasure is infinite and boundless!”
“Please entertain our Lord, everyone!”
“Alright then! Shall we depart?”

The tightly sealed door swung wide open.
Brilliant light poured through the gap, engulfing the players who had been watching the entrance.

* * *

My vision steadied after a moment of disorientation.

“I feel like I’ve been coming to places like this a lot lately….”
[I share that sentiment.]

I stood in a spacious Lobby.
Of course, I wasn’t alone. Other players were present, but their numbers were modest.
At most, around a hundred people.

“Huh? Where did everyone else go?”
“They were probably summoned elsewhere. They mentioned several mini-games awaiting us.”
“It seems the players were divided according to the mini-games.”
“Hmm. What kind of games could they be… Have you heard anything?”
“Not really. The Playground of Pleasure is famous for changing every time it opens… I’ve heard some things, but they’re probably meaningless.”

The players conversed with one another, trying to make sense of the situation.
Then, a sound echoed from somewhere.

– Aaaaaaahhhhh!

“…What’s that? I hear a child crying?”
“Is there a kid in the Playground of Pleasure or something? Why is….”

It was a cry laced with irritation.
Judging by the sound alone, I’d estimate the child was around elementary school age.
And right then.

[The Lord of Pleasure is growing bored. Unable to endure such excessive tedium, the Lord is crying like a child.]
[Pleasure Gauge: 0%.]

A message materialized before everyone’s eyes.
The players’ expressions twisted grotesquely at the sight.
The Lord himself was crying? And not for any grand reason—merely whimpering like a child out of sheer boredom?
It was a sight too absurd to believe, even when witnessed directly.

[The Pleasure Gauge is an individual gauge applied to each of you. The higher this gauge, the stronger your final rewards.]
[However, should the gauge continue to decline….]

[Pleasure Gauge: -3%.]

The Pleasure Gauge does not end at 0%.
Below that lies the negative.
And when it turns negative.

[Your body grows heavy. All stats decrease by 3%.]

[Such penalties will be imposed! So by all means, keep the Lord of Pleasure entertained. At the very least, do not bore him!]
[Now then, I shall open the Playground of Pleasure!]

The landscape warped.
The vast empty Lobby twisted as if space itself were folding, transforming into an enormous platform.
Staircases flanked both sides, and at the center stood a colossal crystal.

[Mini Game 1: Guardian Stone Defense.]
[Protect the Guardian Stone from the surging monsters. From sky and ground! Monsters will pour in from all directions—do your best to endure.]
[Should the Guardian Stone be destroyed, the game is deemed a failure.]
[※ Should the Pleasure Gauge rise, something fortunate might occur?]

The moment the explanation concluded, shrieks erupted from all directions.
Countless footsteps thundered alongside the flutter of wings.

– Kiiiieeeeee!
– Gruuuhhhhh….

“Monsters! They’re pouring in from everywhere!”

Crystals materialized in the air and on the ground, tearing open portals.
From beyond those rifts, countless monsters emerged into view.
Harpy-like creatures descended from the sky while trolls and ogres surged across the ground.
Monsters of every conceivable type began flooding in.
Their target was singular and unmistakable.

Booooom!

“The monsters are attacking this location!”
“Damn it…!”

The Guardian Stone hovering upon the platform.
The harpies soared through the air, targeting the Guardian Stone directly, while the ground-based monsters began ascending the stairs.
The players gripped their weapons with tense expressions.

“Form ranks, now!”
“Archers, mages, priests—fall back! Warriors—advance! Everyone else, damn it! Do whatever it takes! Keep those bastards from reaching the top!”
“Fire!”

Monsters converging on the Guardian Stone.
Players desperately trying to hold them back.
Between them, a fierce battle erupted, and the gauge responded accordingly.

[Pleasure Gauge: 5%.]
[Pleasure Gauge: 11%.]

The Pleasure Gauge had begun to rise.
And just as the message had foretold, something ‘good’ was happening.

[The Lord of Pleasure finds himself somewhat intrigued.]
[Due to the Pleasure Gauge’s effect, all stats have increased by 10%!]

“A buff! So this is what that good deed was all about!”
“Excellent, now we can actually do this!”

The players received buffs.
Buffs—enhancements that would aid them in the mini-game.
These were the ‘good deeds’ mentioned in the message.
The higher the gauge climbed, the more potent the buffs became.
At this rate, we can manage this! The players felt hope kindle within them.
But.

[Pleasure Gauge: 12%.]
[Pleasure Gauge: 8%.]

“No, damn it! The gauge is…!”

It was short-lived.
The Pleasure Gauge began plummeting once more.

[Lord of Pleasure finds a mere defensive battle tedious.]
[Buffs are being removed.]

The buffs vanished as naturally as they had appeared.
The players who witnessed this let out hollow laughs, their faces etched with despair.
Just seconds ago he had shown interest, and now that interest had already evaporated? Was he truly this capricious?
What was even more alarming was this.

[Pleasure Gauge: -1%.]
[Caution! Lord of Pleasure is yawning.]
[If boredom intensifies, debuffs may be imposed!]

As the earlier warning had foretold, the gauge could go negative.
The hands of the armed players trembled violently.
Debuffs too? To prevent that, they had to entertain Lord of Pleasure.
How? While defending against monsters, how could they possibly manage it?

‘Easy.’

Only one person held the answer to that question.
Han Yu-sung.
A dark smile crossed his face, hidden beneath the hood.

“All I need to do is make it so the Lord cannot tear his eyes away.”

I simply had to wage a battle the Lord of Pleasure could not help but witness.
And that was precisely my specialty.

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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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