The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 176

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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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Episode 176
176
0.
“Yaaaaaawn.”
Yoo Sung-hyun rose with a long, languid stretch.
He stood dazed for a moment before loosening up his body.
After a light warm-up, Yoo Sung-hyun changed into fresh clothes and headed outside.
Lately, this sluggish heaviness in my body has become almost unbearable.
That’s the feeling I get.
Whether it’s from absorbing so many knights’ memories, I’m not sure.
I haven’t started going to the Gym yet.
But I’ve taken to jogging every morning after waking up.
Running through the neighborhood around my Home while breathing in the dawn air felt refreshing and invigorating in ways I hadn’t expected.
After spending long hours in the Capsule.
They say exercise is absolutely necessary for long-term sustainability.
Now I understand why they say such things.
“Exhale.”
As white breath escaped my lips and cool air filled my lungs.
My mind felt suddenly awakened.
Even the blood coursing through my body felt refreshed, awakening every corner of my frame.
This is only my first time.
I think I’m going to get addicted to this.
‘I never particularly enjoyed exercise before.’
My personality hasn’t changed.
I can feel that much for certain.
It’s simply.
‘I’ve come to understand the benefits of exercise.’
I’m rapidly discovering the advantages and enjoyment of exercise that I’d never known before.
It’s not a bad feeling at all.
In fact, it’s quite good.
Getting healthier—isn’t that excellent?
Yoo Sung-hyun nodded to himself with that thought.
This morning, I’d run about 5 kilometers and returned.
For someone doing their first run, it was quite impressive.
My pace was around 5 minutes per kilometer, dropping to 4 minutes 50 seconds.
It would have been a grueling pace for anyone without a well-trained body.
But I made it possible easily through the memories and experiences of the Ghosts.
If Yoo Mi-na had seen this, she would’ve been genuinely irritated.
Fortunately, Yoo Mi-na hadn’t witnessed it.
I returned after a light jog, at least by my own standards.
Savory aromas of delicious food welcomed him.
“Oh.”
“My, my~? Sung-hyun’s here~ So diligent this early in the morning~”
His mother, Lee Na-kyung, greeted Yoo Sung-hyun with a pleased smile.
Seeing how he managed his physical fitness even while gaming, she added a word of encouragement.
“Jogging is good for your health~”
“Haha, I feel refreshed after the run. I’ll go shower.”
“Yes, go ahead~”
“What? You went jogging this morning?!?”
Yoo Mi-na woke up at the sound of their conversation and opened her door to ask.
Yoo Sung-hyun nodded casually.
“Yeah, ran a decent distance.”
“Wow? Hehe, impressive.”
Yoo Sung-hyun felt a bit embarrassed by the praise from his mother Lee Na-kyung and his sister Yoo Mi-na, so he quickly headed to the bathroom to shower.
After washing up properly,
breakfast was perfectly ready at just the right moment.
His family was already seated at the table.
Yoo Sung-hyun sat down without drying his wet hair.
“Ahem, you’ve had quite the morning, Sung-hyun.”
His father, Yoo Kwang-jin, spoke with a hint of awkwardness.
Yoo Sung-hyun smiled slightly at those words and nodded.
“Yes? Ah. Thank you.”
“Then let’s eat.”
As they ate their meal peacefully,
various conversations flowed between them.
It was the very picture of an ideal family.
And then,
Yoo Mi-na asked as if she’d just remembered something.
“So did you catch her? Car… Car… what was her name again?”
“Carmine?”
“Oh!? You caught her?”
“Surely not…?”
“Hehe, I almost had her but you completely took care of her! That’s my little brother for you! Hehehehe.”
At those words, Yoo Sung-hyun’s suspicions were confirmed.
So it really was his sister?
He looked at Yoo Mi-na with that expression.
The user wielding a sword was actually Yoo Mi-na.
Wait.
So his sister had let her escape.
That was strange.
I wondered if my sister had actually let the target slip away.
Yoo Sung-hyun asked.
“How did you end up letting them go?”
“Oh, that? The system blocked me. It kept begging me not to kill it.”
“Huh?”
The system makes requests like that?
Then I suddenly recalled similar incidents.
Hadn’t I experienced skills being adjusted twice before?
It was possible.
“Apparently it was originally an unbeatable boss. But when I tried to catch it, it apologized and loaded me up with compensation, so I accepted. It seemed to have some plan, but seeing how you ended up catching it anyway, that worked out well.”
“Hmm.”
I hadn’t known there was such a backstory.
Hearing the history of it all,
it was more interesting than I expected.
Then, perhaps because the conversation turned to games, my sister Yoo Mi-na asked further.
“Isn’t it about time for your third class advancement?”
Third class advancement begins at level 150.
It takes place in the Fifth Region.
Since Yoo Sung-hyun knew that, I shook my head and answered.
“Hmm, not yet. Once I hit the 140s, leveling up has definitely slowed down.”
“That’s the most annoying part. So what level are you now?”
“I think 141?”
“Still, that’s pretty fast. You could start preparing for your third advancement soon.”
At my sister’s words, I nodded in understanding.
Then suddenly,
how do I even start the third class advancement?
I wondered.
With a vague suspicion, I looked at my sister eating beside me.
Yoo Mi-na tilted her head as if asking why.
“What?”
“For the third advancement… do I have to do it in the Fifth City where I first arrived?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Even if you moved to a different region temporarily, you have to go to your job’s jurisdiction in the city you first visited. In your case, Yoo Sung-hyun, it would be Overpalace, right?”
“Ah…”
I’d have to meet the Belmore Branch Manager.
Though he was somewhat bothersome and burdensome,
he was someone who helped a lot.
I scratched my head, accepting the situation.
Either way, I’d have to go back to Pentagrid.
While I deliberately ignored it and continued eating,
“Oh, and usually they say you’ve shed your beginner status, but the third advancement is the turning point where you’re treated as intermediate level.”
“Intermediate tier?”
“Yeah, the job undergoes a massive transformation starting from the third advancement.”
“Oh?”
“It’s rare, but job grades can rise too.”
This was the first I’d heard of it, so even I was taken aback.
Job grades rising—and rarely at that.
Then could some Legendary-grade jobs even ascend to Almighty grade?
As I pondered this.
Yoo Mi-na must have noticed my expression and spoke up.
“Yeah, I reached Almighty grade at my third advancement. Born Almighty-grade jobs like yours aren’t as common as you’d think. The rookie who just joined us is supposedly born Almighty-grade too.”
“So the newcomer has an Almighty-grade job?”
“Yeah, but usually there’s no real difference between naturally born Almighty-grade and jobs that rise to Almighty at the third advancement. To be precise, there’s basically no difference unless something exceptional happens. However, Almighty-grade jobs with a Lord title are higher than regular Almighty-grade—like mine and yours. Does the rookie have a Lord title too?”
“Interesting.”
As I grew curious about this new information.
Yoo Mi-na told me various things.
And.
“Anyway, even naturally born Almighty-grade jobs undergo quite significant changes at the third advancement, or so I’ve heard.”
After all, I’d already obtained the Death Legion Commander at my second advancement.
And it wasn’t just Yoo Mi-na—Helena experienced something similar too.
I could look forward to the third advancement.
‘I need to advance quickly.’
I smiled with anticipation.
In any case, I needed to raise my level quickly right now.
And conveniently, there was a good quest available.
The spy I’d sent to the Basilica should be doing well, right?
With that thought, I finished my meal and stood up.
I couldn’t contain my curiosity.
“Thank you for the meal!”
I called out and quickly tidied up what I’d eaten before hurrying into my room.
My family smiled warmly watching me go.
When had I ever shown such keen interest in something before?
They seemed pleased that I’d brightened up so much, when suddenly Mother Lee Na-kyung asked.
“Oh my~? Aren’t you going to be late~?”
“Ah!?”
Father Yoo Kwang-jin hurriedly rushed out after that.
Who would have thought he’d be late while contentedly listening to Yoo Mi-na and my conversation.
And so the morning of our family continued on.
1.
The Basilica—the hidden power behind the Labyrinth.
A city that sought profit by slaying all manner of Labyrinth adventurers and outsiders.
The three arrived at that place.
The trio standing before the Basilica’s walls removed their deeply drawn hoods one by one.
Their forms were revealed.
A Bat Humanoid and a Spider Humanoid, and a Snake Humanoid with the head of a serpent.
After about a day had passed, Sibren and his companions were able to arrive at the Basilica.
They had certainly returned to their own city.
Yet the atmosphere was frigid.
There was no warmth or welcome in their return.
It had always been that kind of city.
“Krkrkr, this atmosphere is rather comfortable, isn’t it?”
“Right.”
….
Though the Bat and Spider spoke thus, Sibren paid them no mind.
A city that granted trust and faith to no one.
A city where each exploited the other.
Wasn’t it fitting for a city called the hidden mastermind of the Labyrinth?
The moment the three entered the city thus.
They headed toward the Royal Palace.
Though spies and assassins, they held a position equivalent to the knights of Ninyaru.
Upon reaching the Royal Palace.
“Sibren, squad commander. What is your mission?”
The figure clad in dark garments guarding the entrance to the Royal Palace asked.
An assassin by any measure, yet standing as a gatekeeper at the palace entrance seemed incongruous, though it was a familiar sight nonetheless.
As the gatekeeper questioned them thus.
Sibren spoke smoothly.
“It was successful.”
“If Sibren succeeded, then he returned. Would he have returned if he failed?”
“You’re asking a pathetic question.”
The Bat Humanoid and Spider Humanoid beside him chimed in.
The brow of the one guarding the entrance deepened into a furrow.
It was insolent speech.
Yet there was no falsehood in it.
So with irritation lacing his tone, he let them pass.
Sibren entered the Royal Palace with unwavering eyes, and was able to reach all the way to the King’s presence.
Upon seeing the massive pillars and the Jade Throne Hall where the throne was placed, Sibren trembled finely without realizing it.
‘It’s impossible.’
I had attempted assassination on a whim.
It was impossible.
For this king, like Nyao the king of Ninyaru, was an absolute being of this city.
Malevolent crimson eyes.
His eyes were slitted horizontally as he gazed down at Sibren with arrogance.
The Black Snake King, sitting upon the throne in his diminutive form.
An unfiltered aura of power radiated from him, unmistakably revealing his dominion over this realm.
The oppressive weight of the air was difficult for even Sibren to endure with ease.
His head bowed of its own accord.
The King spoke.
“The information?”
“…I have brought it.”
Simultaneously, Sibren released the information he had gathered.
More precisely, the false information without reservation.
Of course, he had cunningly interwoven the genuine intelligence with the fabricated details so as to remain undetectable.
The Black Snake King listened to the entire account first.
Then, after examining whether there were any inconsistencies and realizing there were none, he nodded his head.
He had certainly performed his task well.
As the Black Snake King made this judgment, he smiled and spoke.
“Well done. Your efforts are appreciated.”
“…Thank you.”
“According to that information, I shall need to prepare for war soon.”
The Black Snake King murmured with a sinister smile.
Then he looked at Sibren and said.
“You must prepare as well.”
“…Thank you.”
“The war comes in ten days. Be fully prepared by then.”
“Yes.”
Sibren answered calmly thereafter.
He departed from the Jade Throne Hall.
Fortunately, he had not been discovered.
Had he been, he would have known better than anyone the King’s nature—one who would never spare a traitor.
And as Sibren left that place.
I reflected.
I had finally obtained the information.
And immediately, I would inform my master.
The intelligence was transmitted to Yoo Sung-hyun, who awaited in Ninyaru – Hidden City of the Labyrinth Merchants, far away.
As Yoo Sung-hyun heard all the information, he smiled.
[Hidden Chain Quest, ‘Basilica and Ninyaru’ has been cleared!]
[Partial rewards have been granted.]
[Massive experience points acquired!]
[Level Up!]
[You have reached Level 142.]
[Remaining rewards can be obtained from important NPCs.]
[Hidden Linked Quest, 『War Against the Labyrinth’s Shadow Mastermind』 has been created.]
Several messages materialized before me.
Now that I had obtained the information.
Yoo Sung-hyun gazed upon the Royal Palace of Ninyaru and contemplated.
‘I suppose I should go share this information as well?’

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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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