The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 116

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

Episode 116
116
Elves.
In the Eternal World with its fantasy setting, they naturally appear as expected.
However, I had never heard of elves existing in the Dune Wild Trail.
Of course, it wasn’t as if actual NPCs had appeared.
Still, it was surprising enough.
The region was known to have never had elves originally.
‘It feels like I’ve awakened history.’
In the distant past, elves had lived in the Dune Wild Trail.
And it was none other than Leonik who had destroyed them.
As Yoo Sung-hyun turned to look at Leonik with that thought in mind.
Leonik, despite being a skeleton, bowed his head with a pleased expression toward Yoo Sung-hyun.
I hadn’t meant to praise him.
Regardless.
‘Elf ghosts, then.’
Perhaps if ghosts existed, actual elf NPCs might also be present.
Leonik had said they were all dead.
But there might be survivors somewhere?
Much time had passed, certainly.
But elves were a long-lived race.
If any had survived, the likelihood of them still being alive was quite high.
Searching while I was here would be its own form of entertainment.
In any case.
‘Not knowing whether my skill window and skill levels have increased isn’t easy.’
A field where I could only train, literally.
I couldn’t even tell how much my skill levels had improved.
It would have been frustrating in its own way.
But I didn’t mind it much.
I’d likely need to stay here for a while anyway.
More than that.
—Hey! Didn’t you lose 83 times to me!?
—What!? Even if my overall record is weaker than yours, I have 30 more disciples!?
—Hah!!! Both of you are worse than me, yet you talk so much!!!—
—How about we decide fairly who teaches first by age order!?
—Are you bragging about being older!? We’re all dead anyway!!!—
The Elf Knight Ghosts’ mouths were quite loose.
I’d need to figure out what to do about these Elf Knight Ghosts first.
Yoo Sung-hyun found himself in an awkward position.
—How dare you!!! Act recklessly before your lord!!! Do you wish to be destroyed by me once more!?—
Leonik’s roar erupted across the chamber.
Since he had already raided this place before.
All of them could recognize Leonik’s appearance.
Yet rather than fear, they merely scoffed.
-Hmph! A skeleton knight of all things—without clinging to a noble, you’re no different from us, are you?
-You think we’d be frightened?
-Even if you possess formidable swordsmanship and strength, we shall not yield!!!
Leonik and Fiora, already spirits themselves, glared at them menacingly.
Nocturnium, who was not a spirit, fell into bewilderment.
I had heard that Yoo Sung-hyun could manipulate spirits and absorb their power.
But experiencing it so directly for the first time was another matter entirely.
There was no choice but to be taken aback.
Dozens of spirits rushed forward, undaunted by Leonik’s roar.
And Leonik and Fiora likewise charged forward without hesitation.
-Ahahaha!!! To challenge this body, the second legion commander and loyal knight of my lord!! You are far too inexperienced!!!
-Huh??? I, I think the same way too… I, I’ll fight alongside you as well….
A sinister aura emanated from Leonik and Fiora.
The spirits flinched slightly.
They could not help but be startled by the two’s ominous momentum.
A situation on the brink of explosion.
Yoo Sung-hyun attempted to calm them down.
“Everyone, please settle down. You all should calm yourselves as well. I shall determine the order.”
-My apologies.
-Huh… S, sorry….
Leonik and Fiora immediately composed themselves and bowed their heads.
-Ahem. If the noble says so….
-Hmm, if the visitor says so, then that must be the case, yes?
-A most fair method indeed.
Though all were somewhat reluctant, they nodded in agreement with Yoo Sung-hyun’s words.
As spirits, they could not defy his command.
It was only natural, after all.
Leonik and Fiora were no exception.
Of course, both showed signs of genuine remorse.
Leonik was anxiously wondering if his boldness had displeased his master,
while Fiora’s expression had grown quite sorrowful.
‘It’s like I’m watching over children.’
Yoo Sung-hyun shook his head with that thought in mind.
He patted Fiora’s head and assured Leonik that all was well.
In any case, the situation had been resolved.
Once everyone complied with his words.
Yoo Sung-hyun began surveying the place where he would need to stay for the time being, leaving them behind.
The overall structure appeared to be several spires clustered together like a fortress.
Some spires had collapsed, and only about five looked intact.
Seeing that, there was no way I couldn’t recognize it after having played Eternal World.
‘That must be some kind of gateway.’
Just to be sure, I approached one of the spires.
[You must pass the previous trials to take the Knight’s third trial.]
And just to be sure, I searched for the first one and approached it.
A similar message appeared.
[You have not yet met the conditions to take the Knight’s first trial.]
‘So it’s not available yet.’
It seemed to be a structure that opened only upon meeting certain conditions.
But there was nothing specifically written about it.
Seeing that there wasn’t even a small clue, I got a rough sense of it.
It must be the kind of condition I’d achieve gradually through training.
I explored several other locations besides the spires.
A massive Training Grounds like those used for drills, and several golems sleeping there.
And various places where one could rest as well.
The environment was more pleasant than I expected.
‘This place is quite excellent.’
Without telling others, it would be quite suitable to use for a guild.
Skill proficiency didn’t increase as easily as one might think.
Especially for me.
Most of my skill levels were either Legendary or Almighty grade.
The only skill I’d leveled up so far was Death’s Aura, which I’d raised with Helena’s help.
This was an excellent opportunity.
Even if I could only raise sword skills.
‘It might become quite a main skill.’
After surveying various locations with such thoughts, I found the Training Grounds where I could indeed train.
Given the time it took to clear the large-scale event, the Calamity Legion, and reach this place, it was getting late.
But I could still manage some training.
Since I’d recently obtained Leonik’s memories, I could train based on those.
But was there really a need to do so?
The old saying “the more, the better” existed for a reason.
When Yoo Sung-hyun entered the Training Grounds, the ghosts appeared excited with anticipation.
There were quite a few, but I gazed upon one ghost who looked the most rigid and imposing.
Unusually for an elf, his muscles were exceptionally developed.
A ghost whose swordsmanship had clearly developed in that direction as well.
What was amusing was that despite all that, he was quite handsome.
—Oho!? You choose my swordsmanship!?
“Yes, that’s my intention.”
I replied.
The Muscular Elf Knight Ghost danced excitedly toward me, his movements exuberant and uninhibited.
As he approached, he pounded his chest boastfully while speaking.
-Ehehehe! Well done! Well done! Those scrawny swordsmen can’t hold a candle to my swordsmanship. We’re on completely different levels.
“Scrawny?”
-That’s right. Hm? Ah, oops.
The Muscular Elf Knight Ghost suddenly looked at my body.
Only then did he realize that I appeared similarly scrawny compared to the other elves.
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Then he cleared his throat and corrected himself.
-Ahem, well, your ears are, your ears are at least well-developed muscles compared to those scrawny types.
He even added formal speech to soften the blow.
But anyway, such details weren’t really important.
What I truly wanted to know was—what kind of swordsmanship did this ghost possess?
My face filled with curiosity, I reached out my hand toward the Muscular Elf Knight Ghost.
Then.
Shuuuuu—!
A teal-colored aura gathered and swirled from the Muscular Elf Knight Ghost’s body.
It flowed into my grasp.
Memories and experiences.
I extracted and absorbed everything.
The memories of the Muscular Elf Knight flooded in like a panorama.
“Ah!”
Countless sword techniques and the Knights’ Hall in its prime.
I came to understand all of it.
Even what the conditions of the trial were.
Having grasped everything, I recalled the Muscular Elf Knight’s swordsmanship based on the memories that had flowed into me.
Then.
[You have accomplished the impossible at your current level through ‘Unknown Power’.]
[Strength +8, Agility +2 permanently increased.]
The same stat increase as the powerful royal knight ghost I had absorbed in the Crystal Palace.
This Muscular Elf Knight was indeed a warrior of that same caliber.
Yet from those memories, I could discern something crucial.
Most of the dozens of knight spirits rushing toward me now were no weaker than this one.
Skill experience points?
Of course, that was an incredible opportunity.
But considering the stat gains I could obtain here—
‘This is insane.’
This place was nothing short of a goldmine.
As Yoo Sung-hyun displayed such remarkable presence,
the Muscular Elf Knight Ghost laughed heartily and asked.
-Ahahaha! How is it? Noble one! You haven’t seen such bold and sweeping swordplay before, have you? Ahahaha!!! I know you’re a mage, but… ahem, well, since you are a mage, you must be seeing such swordplay for the first time, yes? What do you say? Shall we test it?
The Muscular Elf Knight Ghost cried out with overflowing confidence.
His words were not wrong.
Excluding Leonik, he truly possessed the finest swordsmanship.
A burning desire to test it immediately kindled within me.
Drawing my sword naturally, I headed straight toward the section of the Training Grounds filled with golems.
But then.
-Huh? Noble one, I understand you’ve gained competitive spirit from learning such bold swordplay, but wouldn’t it be too much for a mage like yourself to face golems?
“Pardon?”
-Wouldn’t it be better to gradually build your skills against those dummies over there before challenging the golems?
“???”
What was this supposed to mean?
I tilted my head slightly, bewildered.
Because I’m a mage, I should practice on dummies?
Well, the Muscular Elf Knight Ghost didn’t know me well.
It was understandable.
In that case, I’d have to show him directly.
-Hehehehe.
The Muscular Elf Knight Ghost chuckled nervously, looking at me with an awkward expression.
Shouldn’t he stop me right now?
Or rather.
-Hey, Bonehead. Why aren’t you stopping him? The noble one could get hurt or suffer great damage to his pride.
-Hmm. Since you call me Bonehead, haven’t my eyes rotted away as well?
-Still, we can’t stop him either.
Not just the Muscular Elf Knight Ghost, but the other ghosts were also concerned.
To them, Yoo Sung-hyun, being a mage, could only appear inexperienced.
Though I hadn’t shown them anything particularly remarkable.
They could only worry and jump to conclusions.
What if he lost interest in swordplay because of this?
Their hearts were filled with such anxious concern.
At the very moment they were all worried,
Kugugugu—!
The wooden golem, which had been dormant for a long time, rose and rushed toward me as I gripped my sword and took my stance.
Toward the wooden golem, I unleashed the swordplay of the Muscular Elf Knight Ghost.
The rushing wooden golem tried to block by raising both arms against my sword strike that came down from above as I stepped forward with my front foot.
But the wind pressure engulfed my blade, and I immediately swung my sword with tremendous force, moving far faster than my first strike, shattering the wooden golem’s arms and leaving a long gash across its chest.
Kwagagaga——!
Truly, a tyrannical swordplay!
It was bold swordplay, just as the Muscular Elf Knight Ghost had said.
“Hmm, this is certainly impressive, isn’t it?”
Yoo Sung-hyun expressed his satisfaction.
The Elf Knight Ghosts stared at him with their mouths agape.
-What!?!
-He, he gained the memories and mastered it all at once!?!
-Ah, such transcendent talent!?!?
-With such talent, why would he even bother with magic!?
Leonik scoffed as he watched them all marvel.
-Do not presume that creatures like you could ever comprehend the limits of your master.
Leonik felt a refreshing sense of satisfaction wash over him, and his shoulders trembled as he thought to himself.
‘Truly, my master is remarkable.’

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