The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 8

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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 8

Items exist in eight grades of rarity.
Common, Rare, Unique, Epic, Legendary, Mythic, Eternity, and World.
The World grade, the highest tier here, was practically nonexistent. Only an infinitesimal fraction of the Lords possessed such items.
In practical terms, Eternity was the supreme grade.
And Mythic was the tier below it.

[“Speak, Scale of Discipline. Are you saying this human’s life is worth more than even a Mythic-grade item can compensate for?”]

Mythic-grade items possessed either formidable power or unique effects that no other item could replicate.
The Quill of Covenant was such an item.
Naturally, they carried immense value—not the kind of worthless trinket that couldn’t offset a single human life.

[That is correct.]
[“Absurd nonsense! This is a human, Scale! Talented perhaps, but ultimately human! You’re claiming such a human possesses value exceeding Mythic grade? Enough to steal from a Lord’s possession!”]
[I repeat: that is correct.]

The Scale spoke with unwavering certainty in its monotone voice.
The Lord of Knowledge felt bewilderment wash over him upon hearing those words.
The Scale of Discipline was the most impartial entity in all matters of valuation.
If it had rendered such a judgment, there had to be grounds for it.
What could possibly justify such a claim?

[“Explain yourself, Scale. Convince me.”]

And so the Lord of Knowledge demanded an answer.

[The victim, Han Yu-sung. This being would have become a Star Lord. Therefore, it is appropriate to assess his value accordingly.]

The Scale delivered its response.
The Lord’s eyes widened to the point of bursting.
He could not fathom the answer he had just received.

[“A Star Lord…? What do you…”]

It is not impossible for a human to become a Star Lord.
After all, among the current Lords, there are those who were once human.
However, the number of humans capable of such a transformation is truly infinitesimal.
So few that across countless stars, perhaps only one would emerge.
And yet.
This human is that one?

“Hmm….”

The Lord of Knowledge gazed at Han Yu-sung with eyes full of disbelief.
Han Yu-sung stroked his chin thoughtfully, his mind occupied by the implications of what the Scale of Discipline had just revealed.
But this was not the time to dwell on such matters.

“Was it necessary to reveal such information? It seems like unnecessary details.”
[That observation is valid. Once this compensation concludes, the Lord of Knowledge will forget the information that Han Yu-sung would have become a Star Lord.]

The Lord of Knowledge let out a hollow laugh.
The absurdity left him barely able to form words.
And whether he spoke or not, the compensation would continue to be exacted.

“First, I want to ensure that the Lord of Knowledge cannot touch me in any way for the next six months. Is that possible?”
[It is possible. The balance of the scale has not yet been achieved.]

The scale’s pan had risen, but it still tilted toward me.
This meant I could demand more compensation.

“Second, let me think. Coins would be nice. How about eighty thousand?”
[It is possible. The balance of the scale has not yet been achieved.]
[“What insane nonsense! Still not enough?!”]

The scale tilted ever so slightly toward me.
This final demand would likely be the last.
I would not be able to make any larger requests.
Fortunately, an appropriate demand came to mind.

“Two Epic-grade items suitable for a martial artist, with no equip level restrictions. And one Epic-grade recovery potion. Let’s end it there.”
[The balance of the scale has been achieved.]

Only then did the Scale of Discipline achieve perfect equilibrium.
The Lord of Knowledge said nothing. Rather, he could not.
Incomprehensible events were unfolding in succession.
There was nothing the Lord of Knowledge could do in the midst of it all.

[Executing compensation.]

Screeeech!

The Scale of Discipline blazed with brilliant light. That radiance consumed the Lord’s vision, and from the shrieking Lord, compensation was forcibly extracted.
Three items materialized, cutting through the empty air.
Boots reinforced with steel, a ring, and a quill pen.

[You have acquired ‘Thunder Shock, Ring of Mighty Strength, Troll Lord’s Blood, and Covenant Quill’ as compensation. Additionally, 80,000 coins will be transferred.]

Along with 80,000 coins at that.
Han Yu-sung gazed at the quill pen hovering directly before him.
Composed of an unknown metal, it radiated iridescent light like an aurora.

[Covenant Quill (Mythic)]
· Slot: None.
· Mana +15, Magic Damage +30%, Magic Casting Speed +50%.
· Designate a target and inscribe a covenant upon their soul.
· A covenant can only be formed when both parties present balanced conditions. Once formed this way, no method can break it. Should the covenant be destroyed in any form, the one who destroyed it will cease to exist.

‘At first glance, one might wonder why a mythic item’s options are like this.’

It was a question anyone would naturally ask.
But the true power of this quill lay not in options like mana or magic skill damage—it lay in the ‘covenant’ itself.

‘A covenant that can be made even with a Lord, one that even a Lord cannot break.’

Han Yu-sung had not made a covenant with the Lord of Knowledge.
He sought to make a covenant with a Lord whose leash he could hold.
Naturally, it was impossible for a player to hold a Lord’s leash.
After all, Lords were not beings weak enough to be bound by human hands.
A miracle achievable only when special circumstances and conditions converged.

‘This is the first piece of that miracle.’

The eighty thousand coins were merely one fragment of that whole.
Han Yu-sung grasped the quill pen in his hand, and it dissolved like melting wax before settling into his body.
Witnessing this, the Lord of Knowledge felt an overwhelming sense of humiliation.

[The Lord of Knowledge trembles with fury and shame.]
[He speaks, vowing never to forget this day.]

“How will you not forget when you won’t be able to interfere with me for six months, and you’ll forget why you even paid me this compensation in the first place?”

Crunch!

The sound of grinding teeth echoed from somewhere.
Six months was ample time for me to handle whatever schemes the Lord of Knowledge might attempt.
He would be powerless to do anything.

[The compensation is complete.]
[Lord of Knowledge, I hope you come to understand through this opportunity why the Star Lords do not break the rules.]
[I shall close this place.]

My vision shifted.
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing in my familiar Studio Apartment.
I laughed, imagining the Lord of Knowledge seething in rage by now.

“Whether in my past life or now, that epithet of ‘Knowledge’ really doesn’t suit him.”

The Lord of Knowledge is one of the more emotionally volatile Lords.
He was famous for it even in my past life. I thought if I exploited that trait well, I might be able to make him break the rules, but I never expected it to be this easy.

‘This is the terror of the rules.’

Even the Lords rarely attempt to break the rules.
The penalties are too severe, and the backlash is difficult to bear.
That’s why the Lords avoid creating rules in the first place.
They try to attract players through other means instead.

“Still, I got some good items out of it.”

I examined the items I had received from the Lord of Knowledge.
Boots, a ring, and a potion.

[Ring of Mighty Strength (Epic)]
· Slot: Ring.
· Strength +3, Attack Power +10%, Critical Strike Chance +5%.
· Enhances the next attack skill used. (Cooldown: 60 minutes.)

[Thunder Shock (Epic)]
· Slot: Feet.
· Defense: 15.
· Agility +2, Speed +5%.
· When using skills that utilize the feet or legs, it generates lightning. The damage of this lightning grows stronger based on the wearer’s magical power stat.

[Troll Lord’s Blood (Epic)]
· A potion imbued with the regenerative power of a Troll Lord.
· It regenerates wounds at an incredible speed, and if the wearer falls into a critical state, it continues to heal wounds until they escape that state.

These were appropriate items for Han Yu-sung at this stage.
Since there was no equip level requirement, the stat increases were modest for an Epic, but they possessed quite useful special effects.
They would serve me well for some time to come.

“Lord of Knowledge. Truly a tree that gives without reservation.”

For a beginning, it had been the greatest challenge.
Han Yu-sung stretched and rose from his seat.
Seeing that the outside had grown dark, night had fallen without my notice.
I leaned against the window and gazed up at the sky.
Countless stars hung above. Seeing them brought back the conversation from moments before.

[Han Yu-sung, this existence would have become a Star Lord.]

It was what the Scale of Discipline had said.
Not an existence that would become a Star Lord, but an existence that would have become one.
A subtle difference, yet that distinction consumed Han Yu-sung in thought.

‘The Lords do not know that I have regressed.’

One could tell simply by observing the Lord of Knowledge’s actions.
Had they known I was a regressor, they would not have treated me so.
But the Scale of Discipline was different.

‘It felt like they knew I had regressed.’

I had killed Lee Su-ho and obtained the ‘Qualification of a Lord’.
If I had used it, I would have become a Star Lord.
But I chose to abandon becoming a Lord and instead opted to regress to the past.
The Scale of Discipline seemed to know that fact.

‘So those higher than the Lords know that I regressed.’

The Star Lords desperately accumulate coins.
They use coins to increase their power, ultimately transcending to become something higher than the Star Lords themselves.
From this fact, it was clear that there were indeed beings with a higher rank than the Star Lords.
The ‘God’ who designated this world as a subject of Trials was one such being.

‘Am I the only one who used the Qualification of a Lord to regress? Or….’

Was there another regressor?
I paused briefly in thought, then shook my head.

‘If that were possible, Lee Su-ho would have regressed first.’

Lee Su-ho was someone qualified to become a Lord.
He was actually on the verge of transcendence when I ambushed and killed him.
If using the Qualification of a Lord to regress were possible for others as well, Lee Su-ho would have chosen to regress just before death.
But he didn’t regress and died right there.

‘I’ve never heard anything about regression from the Lords either.’

If regression through the Qualification of a Lord were possible, those who ascended and became Star Lords would have known about it.
But no one mentioned regression, and no one knew of it.
At least, not in my memories from my past life.

“Am I the only one who has regressed?”

If so, why?
I furrowed my brow.
And at the same time, I realized this question was something I couldn’t solve no matter how much I pondered it now.
A question I could only answer in some distant future.

‘I’ll just have to wait for that moment to come.’

Han Yu-sung decided to set aside his thoughts about regression for now.
Worrying about it now would only give him a headache, with nothing to gain.
What he needed to focus on was growing stronger.

“So I’ve obtained the movement technique. What should I get next….”

Han Yu-sung looked down at his own fists.
Soon, that difficulty would open.

‘It’s about time the 【Lord Hunt】 begins.’

Countless players would gather for the Lord Hunt.
He needed the strength to fight them and win. So what was necessary?
Simple.

“Let me search for one of my martial arts techniques.”

The skill book that had come from the difficulty hidden by the Lord for his sworn ones.
It was time to reclaim the martial arts technique that Han Yu-sung had favored in his previous life.

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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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