The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 96

—————

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

—————

A Mad Swordsman Returns – Chapter 96

Some Lords create special Difficult Realms and hide them away.
The Blood Ghost Tomb that Han Yu-sung had conquered in the past was one such example. Realms of that nature are either concealed or sometimes sealed.

[Key of Trial (Legendary)]
· A key used to open the Difficult Realm, the Hall of Trials. Overcoming that Difficult Realm grants exceptional rewards.
· However, it can only be used from ‘Silver’ grade and above.
· Remaining uses: 1.

The key Jain had given me was an item that unsealed the Difficult Realm.
Judging by the single remaining use, it seemed Jain had used it before.

“This key is….”
“I obtained it as a reward for my performance in the trial. They were kind enough to tell me where the Difficult Realm was located, and even provided the means to open it. Back then, before I became Guild Master, I found it quite useful.”
“Are you saying you’ll give this to me as a reward?”
“It’s an item I cannot use even if I wanted to. The Hall of Trials is designed so that once you enter, you can never enter again.”

I could have accepted payment and transferred the opportunity.
But instead, Jain preferred to reserve such opportunities for those she favored—particularly those with talent.
Besides Han Yu-sung, there were a few others who had used the key.

“It won’t be easy. Especially now, there’s a high probability that only the most difficult trials remain. But the rewards will be proportional….”
“I actually prefer it that way. I’ll use it well.”
“Confident, aren’t you? I’ll tell you the location of the Difficult Realm separately.”

I placed the key Jain had given me into my subspace.
Watching me, Jain gulped down her drink.

“Think of it as a reward for your performance in the National Inter-Country Tournament, along with my personal gratitude. This tournament was extremely important in many ways.”

The aftermath of the national grade downgrade, the backlash that would hit the Alliance, and the accountability that would fall upon Jain as Guild Master.
There was too much to lose if we had failed this National Inter-Country Tournament.
Now that we could finally breathe, laughter was inevitable.

“This transaction was satisfactory for me as well, Han Yu-sung. I’d like to maintain a favorable relationship with you going forward….”
“If you continue to offer rewards like this, I’m more than willing.”
“You’re quite the expensive friend.”

Jain extended her hand.
The transaction satisfied Han Yu-sung as well. Coins, keys. And above all, it served the purpose of checking Lee Su-ho.

‘In my past life, Jain had been stripped of her position as Alliance Leader.’

It was because of Lee Su-ho’s schemes.
He had gradually usurped the Alliance Leader’s authority and acted as the de facto leader, and later he had taken the position of Alliance Leader himself.
The Alliance organization had fallen into his grasp.
Lee Su-ho had exploited that repeatedly.

‘To prevent that, it’s better to maintain a cooperative relationship with Jain.’

Han Yu-sung smiled and clasped Jain’s hand.
It was the moment a strange alliance was formed.

* * *

The celebration banquet ended only as dawn broke.
Han Yu-sung, who had been conversing with Jain and the Alliance members, confirmed that fewer people remained and left the banquet.
Then he returned to the Safe House as discreetly as possible.

“Phew, this place feels like home now.”
[Kufufu, you should be grateful to the lady who provided the Safe House.]

I decided to ignore Kakasha’s remark lightly.
It had been a long day. Han Yu-sung sat on the sofa and closed his eyes.
But I couldn’t rest either.

[Reward settlement has been completed.]
[From now on, rewards will be distributed to participating players!]

“Rewards… Right, I haven’t received the rewards yet.”

Rewards were waiting for Han Yu-sung.
However, unlike the usual trial rewards, the rewards given this time were not rewards given only to Han Yu-sung individually.

[You have seized a portion of Japan’s ‘National Buff’.]
[National Buff: All stats +10%, Experience acquisition +10%.]

It was a reward given to all of Korea.
From National Grade B onwards, a system called ‘National Buff’ becomes available.
It’s a buff applied to all players belonging to that nation.
However, Korea currently possesses no National Buffs whatsoever.
The reason is simple.

[Isn’t it because you kept losing?]

That assessment was accurate.
Korea’s last victory in the National Inter-Country Tournament was ancient history.
Through successive defeats, every National Buff Korea possessed had been stripped away, and as a result, Korean players were denied access to National Buffs.
Now, a portion of those buffs had returned.

‘In my previous life, it took far longer to reclaim the National Buffs.’

That process had inflicted tremendous losses.
This time, it would not unfold that way. Opportunities to obtain National Buffs would arise in the trials to come and on the Star Battlefield.

‘I’ll seize everything I can.’

Not just for the nation, but for my own gain as well.
And there was one more reward—a familiar one.

[A reward Dungeon accessible only to Korean players, the Tomb of the Lord, will open somewhere in Korea one week from now.]
[Ah, a reward Dungeon, then. The Tomb of the Lord? How intriguing.]

In my previous life, this reward Dungeon had appeared in Japan.
If my memory serves, Maezato Oju led the Zanwol Guild in clearing it. According to my recollection, it was a place where one could obtain rewards related to Lords.
After successfully clearing it, Oju had offered the reward to Achiros.
I recall that reward had granted him considerable power.

[Since it’s appeared in Korea this time, safety—hmm, it won’t be safe.]
“Right, because Lee Su-ho is here.”

If a reward Dungeon appeared, Lee Su-ho would surely attempt to clear it.
Should he claim the reward, Achiros would gain power just as he had in my previous life.
That outcome had to be prevented at all costs.

[Power, power… what kind of power shall be granted? Hmm? Which Tomb of the Lord is this? I can hardly contain my anticipation… I can hardly contain it!]
“How greedy.”

Kakasha was making a fuss inside my mind.
I didn’t know exactly what the reward was, but I could tell it was substantial enough to make even Kakasha excited.
I’d find out what it was once I obtained it directly.

[You have successfully defeated all enemies in the first turn of the Battlefield. Your reward has been significantly enhanced.]
[You receive ‘Miracle Hammer (Legendary)’ as a reward.]
[You receive two copies of ‘Tome of Improvement (Legendary)’ as a reward.]
[You receive 200,000 coins based on your contribution.]
[You have performed exceptionally in a difficult trial and receive an additional reward. You may grant ‘Potential’ to one item of your choice.]

Interesting items had appeared.
These were items that could only be obtained from special trials or the Star Battlefield.

[Miracle Hammer (Legendary)]
· A hammer imbued with miraculous power.
· Can upgrade an item’s rank up to Legendary.
· For items already at Legendary rank, can elevate the item’s performance to a level befitting the owner’s level.

[Tome of Improvement (Legendary)]
· A book containing remarkable experience.
· Can upgrade a skill’s rank up to S-rank.
· For skills already at S-rank, enhances the skill’s effects.

In simple terms, it was a kind of ‘enhancement voucher’.
There was no need to use it hastily. I could use it whenever necessary.
And then there was one more thing—Potential.

“Hmm, this would be better used on the staff.”
[Potential has been granted to the item, 【Shadow Bane】.]

Granting an item the potential to be upgraded to Mythic rank.
I decided to grant that potential to 【Shadow Bane】.
It had proven useful during the National Inter-Country Tournament, and it was a staff with considerable versatility in many ways.
‘Abyss Boundary’ in particular.
If it reached Mythic rank, I could use it even more effectively.

[Shadow Bane (Legendary)]
· Slot: Staff.
· Magic Attack Power: 110.
· Mana +6, Shadow-type Magic Damage +20%.
· Once per day, you can activate 【Boundary of the Abyss】. While in this domain, shadow-related skills are enhanced.
· When you become attuned to the abyss, it upgrades to ‘Mythic’ grade.

The description was vague.
What did it mean to become attuned to the abyss?
But I decided not to dwell on it needlessly. It would strengthen on its own as I used it.
After confirming my rewards, I leaned back against the sofa.

“Kakasha, coins.”
[Yahoo!]

I tossed all the coins I’d earned to Kakasha.
As I closed my eyes for a moment, the sound of a television drifted from somewhere.
I didn’t remember turning it on. I must have left it running before I left.

[…These are the highlights from this National Inter-Country Tournament. It seems there are many scenes featuring Han Yu-sung from Team Middle, who performed brilliantly.]
[That’s inevitable. He crushed Maezato Oju, known as Japan’s unicorn, and single-handedly achieved a perfect kill against Japan, didn’t he?]
[It’s amazing to watch again. With Team Middle and Team Heavy both winning, Korea achieved victory 2:1. How long has it been since such a victory?]
[Yes, if we calculate in years….]

News about me was streaming from the television.
Footage of me fighting Oju, people cheering with clenched fists, and crowds roaring in celebration as I claimed victory.
I clicked my tongue.

‘Sometimes I wonder if these things should really be broadcast live.’

Whether it’s the Tower of Blood Demon or the National Inter-Country Tournament.
Especially the Inter-Country Tournament—it’s a trial where lives hang in the balance.
The victor survives, the defeated perish. It’s not merely a contest of victory and defeat, but a duel where lives are at stake.
Yet this duel was broadcast live across Korea and Japan.

“Sigh….”

In a sense, it was proof that the world had changed that much.
The world transformed when God’s Trial and the Lords of the Stars appeared. The value of human life became trivial, and death grew unnecessarily familiar.
With each Trial that opened, countless people perished.

‘When will this Trial finally end?’

I couldn’t know, but I could only hope that day would come sooner than expected.

* * *

“…What did you say?”

Japan, the Zanwol Guild’s Guild House.
Maezato Rinzo, Maezato Oju’s father and the chairman leading one of Japan’s largest conglomerates, had just received unbelievable news.

“Oju is dead, you’re telling me.”
“…Yes, Chairman.”

The shocking news that his son, Oju, had died had just arrived.
Before him, Ran knelt with a tense expression on her face.
Unable to bear the shock, Rinzo staggered and gripped the desk.

“Oju, Oju… that worthless fool…!”

Then he violently swept the objects from his desk.
Rinzo was consumed by shock. But it wasn’t because of his son’s death.
It was because of what that death would mean for him.

“The Lord graciously gave him an opportunity, yet he failed to seize even this chance! Then, then, what will the Lord do to us!”

Rinzo began destroying everything around him.
Ran, still prostrate, trembled at the sound.
A thought naturally crossed her mind.

‘They’re both insane. Whether father or son.’

The reason Rinzo displayed such madness was simple.
He coveted the position of Apostle for Justice.
Yet Rinzo’s talent as a player fell short of what was needed to claim that rank.
That was why Oju mattered—why he needed him.
Oju was the perfect blade to wield in his stead.
But that blade had shattered.

CRASH!

Unable to contain his rage, Rinzo brought his fist down upon the desk, obliterating it in a single blow.
His face twisted into a grotesque mask of fury, a man no longer capable of restraint.

—————

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

—————