The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 177

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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 177
177
2.
No one was more delighted by the acquisition of information than Felix.
Yoo Sung-hyun could not have entered the Royal Palace alone.
So naturally, I went to the Black Knight Order and told Felix.
He bounded with joy.
Perhaps it was because they were feline humanoids?
They certainly did love to leap about.
In any case, when I told them that Yoo Sung-hyun had obtained the information.
Felix spoke with evident delight in his eyes.
“Ah! Yoo Sung-hyun! You’ve succeeded!”
Felix had addressed me casually at first.
But now formal speech seemed more natural to him, and he grasped both my hands firmly as he spoke.
And beside Felix, Becky also offered her congratulations with genuine warmth.
“Meow! I knew you could do it, Yoo Sung-hyun!”
“Thank you. And thank you as well, Becky.”
At my words, both Felix and Becky received my gratitude.
Becky in particular seemed deeply moved, her voice wavering slightly as she spoke.
“Paul must be rejoicing in heaven right now.”
“Ah.”
At Becky’s words, I found myself in an awkward position.
Why?
-Hehehehe, I’m right here, actually. Though it’s true I’m delighted.
Because Paul was behind her, following Becky around with a gentle smile.
Still, he was indeed happy, so it wasn’t entirely wrong.
I nodded and offered Becky some comfort.
“I’ll make sure to strike a decisive blow against Basilica.”
“Meow, meow. But please take care of yourself!”
Becky spoke with concern in her gaze.
I nodded in acknowledgment.
There was no more time to delay.
Together with Felix, I departed for the Royal Palace.
Becky, left alone, waved until we were out of sight.
Watching Becky worry over me like that, Felix regarded me with a solemn expression.
Then he spoke as if making a vow.
“I swear by the honor of the Black Knight Order—we must ensure this war brings no harm to the city.”
At that weighty vow.
I nodded in affirmation.
The firm resolve of his pledge and oath was unmistakably evident.
Though Yoo Sung-hyun had accepted the Quest as well.
Becky and the landscape of this city had captured my heart quite thoroughly.
And so.
‘I must ensure no harm comes to pass.’
Had I not witnessed this, such a thought would never have crossed my mind.
Thus Yoo Sung-hyun and Felix steeled their resolve with quiet determination.
We set our course toward the Royal Palace.
Ordinarily, I did not bring my subordinates to such places.
But Helena—I summoned her regardless of the others.
Helena possessed knowledge of most of the details after all.
Yet upon her arrival, Helena’s expression was far from pleasant.
Not so much stern as utterly devoid of emotion—a blank, impassive countenance.
“War, is it? A rather poor judgment to make.”
Helena’s words, delivered with that expression, carried enough weight to give even Yoo Sung-hyun pause.
Helena was clearly quite angry indeed.
As Yoo Sung-hyun followed Helena alongside Felix.
Much as Sibren had done, we entered the Royal Palace and stood before the Great Hall.
The Great Hall and its massive throne.
And seated there, a white tiger beastkin and the ruler of this realm, Nyao, surveyed us all before speaking.
“You have brought information.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Felix responded to the solemn and grave Nyao.
Witnessing this, Helena smiled faintly and whispered to me.
“Quite the act of solemnity, isn’t it?”
“Be quiet.”
I reprimanded Helena softly.
Whether Nyao heard it or not.
He let out an awkward cough.
“Ahem.”
And as Nyao surveyed us all and opened his mouth.
[『Karnyao Hel Belios, the Absolute of Ninyaru』 watches over you.]
Rarely did my eyes widen in such genuine surprise.
‘His name wasn’t Nyao!?’
So he had taken only “Nyao” from Karnyao.
Truly astonished though I was.
My habitually composed demeanor allowed me to conceal it well.
As I lowered my head.
Karnyao—or rather, Nyao—spoke to me.
“Raise your head.”
I thought that if I lifted it now, I might struggle to suppress a smile.
I couldn’t help but look up.
Yoo Sung-hyun raised his head as it was.
Nyao regarded him with a hint of curiosity.
Had something good happened to him?
Yoo Sung-hyun seemed to be smiling faintly.
But because of Helena beside him, there was nothing he could say.
“…Ahem, yes, you have accomplished much this time. So I wish to bestow a reward upon you accordingly.”
Finally, I would receive a reward?
Indeed, the accumulated rewards alone would be staggering.
The Hidden Raid rewards were still pending, were they not?
Unfortunately, the Slayer title had not appeared.
Even after killing Sibren afterward, the raid had already been judged as concluded.
It was regrettable that I couldn’t obtain it.
If he gives it like this, the story is different.
“However, the current situation is akin to wartime, so the reward….”
As Nyao began to speak thus.
Yoo Sung-hyun felt a pang of disappointment.
Well, it wasn’t something I couldn’t understand.
Certainly, the current situation could be called wartime.
Disappointment or not, there was nothing to be done.
Yoo Sung-hyun thought to let it pass.
But there was someone who could not simply let it go.
And she stood right beside Yoo Sung-hyun.
Crackle—.
Helena glared at Nyao with blazing eyes.
Nyao flinched in alarm.
“Your Majesty?”
At this, Felix regarded Nyao with bewilderment.
Nyao cleared his throat and continued.
“…Postponing would normally be correct, but you have accomplished such tremendous deeds! I shall grant it at once. From the collection of baggage placed behind, two….”
The moment he was about to say two.
Helena glared again.
Nyao hastily changed his words.
“…Rather than two, I shall bestow three—far more than that. Choose whatever you desire.”
Was it merely imagination that his voice sounded slightly strained toward the end?
Even Nyao’s eyes, closed as he spoke, seemed to glisten with moisture.
Meanwhile, Helena nodded with satisfaction.
Felix too could not help but marvel at Yoo Sung-hyun’s fortune.
‘For His Majesty to be so generous with his possessions.’
For Nyao had always given only a modest reward, even when accomplishments were made.
From Felix’s perspective, Yoo Sung-hyun was enviable and impressive beyond measure.
Just as Felix was marveling at how remarkable Yoo Sung-hyun truly was.
Yoo Sung-hyun found himself wondering if this was really acceptable.
‘Helena practically coerced me into this….’
Such thoughts crossed my mind, yet I didn’t refuse either.
After all, it was beneficial for me.
I smiled.
[You have received a Hidden Chain Quest reward!]
[It is enhanced along with the Hidden Raid reward.]
[You may select three items from the collection of 『Karnyao Hel Belios, the Absolute of Ninyaru』!]
The message appeared before me.
And upon seeing it, Yoo Sung-hyun could not help but feel quite satisfied.
‘So I’m supposed to choose from there?’
Not a single item shone with anything less than golden radiance.
Orange-hued light was so sparse it barely appeared at all.
Three items from all of this.
They appeared far superior to even the Pentasgrid Castle itself.
As Yoo Sung-hyun stepped forward among the treasures piled high like mountains.
Information about countless items flooded my mind.
Unlike when I visited Kah-hoo-koo’s Third Warehouse, the information was actually visible.
It felt similar to a lord’s treasure vault.
‘What should I choose?’
The thought of immediately swapping out equipment crossed my mind.
Among the equipment I currently wore, the most long-used items were the breastplate, boots, cloak, and ring from the Wind Watcher set.
I’d leave the ring as is since there were many slots for it anyway.
But I did want to change the breastplate, boots, and cloak.
I examined whether I should replace them with items treated as set pieces.
The existing items were also Unique grade.
So choosing from this place, which had only Unique grade and above, was fitting.
And conveniently, there were exactly three items to select.
As Yoo Sung-hyun looked around for a breastplate, boots, and cloak.
One set caught my eye.
‘Oh?’
『Robe of the Dark Lord』
→《Legendary》
→A robe once worn by the great Dark Mage known as the Dark Lord.
→However, the Dark Lord himself conveyed that this robe was a precious item he had received from someone. The identity of that existence remains unknown, but one who even the Dark Lord could not dare oppose must be far superior.
→Exclusive item for Dark Mage class professions.
→Dark Magic skill damage +20% increased.
→Dark Magic skill mana consumption -20% reduced.
→Dark Magic skill cooldown reduction -10%.
『Breastplate of the Specter Lord』
→《Legendary》
→Said to be the breastplate of a great Dark Knight once called the Specter Lord, its origins and true nature remain eternally unknowable.
→It is known to have been possessed by the Specter Lord even before they were called a Lord.
→Exclusive item for Dark Mage class professions.
→Defense +44% increase.
→Upon taking damage, recover mana equal to 10% of the damage taken.
『Roots of Dark Power』
→《Legendary》
→Boots created by some great Dark Mage, though their identity remains unknown.
→What is certain, however, is that these boots are more necessary to a Dark Mage than any other.
→Exclusive item for Dark Mage class professions.
→Wisdom and Intelligence +20% increase.
→When both feet are touching the ground, mana regeneration +20% increase.
[This is the effect you will obtain upon equipping the above items.]
『Remnants of the Great Dark Mage Set (3/8)』
→Dark Magic skill power +20% increase.
→Damage +20% increase.
→Mana regeneration +10% increase.
→[Locked]
→[Locked]
→[Locked]
→[Locked]
→[Locked]
Truly, this was the finest set Yoo Sung-hyun could ask for right now.
Remnants of the Great Dark Mage Set, no less.
As Yoo Sung-hyun reached to select them.
Helena averted her gaze, a faint sheen of perspiration on her brow.
That’s strange.
Normally, Helena would praise my choices if they were good.
Or at the very least, she would offer some critique or suggestion.
Why is she avoiding the subject?
I turned to look at Helena.
Her reaction even carried a hint of embarrassment.
‘Ah.’
Seeing that, I understood for certain.
I selected all three items.
[All items have been selected.]
[You obtain your reward!]
Let me equip all of these items.
The expected system message appeared once more.
[The Legendary-grade item, ‘Helena’s Staff’, is now included in the ‘Remnants of the Great Dark Mage Set’.]
[The 4-piece set effect of ‘Remnants of the Great Dark Mage Set’ is currently active.]
[The 4-piece set effect ‘Dark Magic Skill Cooldown -20% Reduction’ has been deactivated.]
So the Great Dark Mage was Helena after all.
Yoo Sung-hyun looked at Helena with that realization.
She scratched her cheek, looking quite embarrassed as she spoke.
“These are items I made during my foolish youth… I’m so… embarrassed. That he would possess something like this…”
Helena, looking rather flustered.
Nyao smiled, stroking his chin at this rare sight.
But then his eyes met Helena’s, and he quickly turned his head away.
In any case, once I equipped all the items.
I felt considerably stronger.
Moreover, with this arrangement, all my stats now received a +30% boost from the item and title effects.
Already formidable as I was.
Yoo Sung-hyun had become even stronger.
To this strengthened Yoo Sung-hyun, Nyao, the King of Ninyaru, spoke.
“You have earned great merit, and it would be fitting for you to rest sufficiently, yet I shall bestow upon you a new mission.”
“Yes.”
Yoo Sung-hyun bowed his head in response.
Nyao spoke to Yoo Sung-hyun.
“Would you be willing to participate in our war? You may refuse if you wish.”
At those words, a system message appeared before Yoo Sung-hyun’s eyes.
[Upon acceptance, the Hidden Chain Quest ‘War Against the Labyrinth’s Shadow’ will continue.]
[Upon refusal, the Hidden Chain Quest ‘War Against the Labyrinth’s Shadow’ will be completed prematurely.]
[Premature completion will result in reduced rewards and lost opportunities.]
[Do you accept?]
[Yes / No]
The choice was obvious.
Yoo Sung-hyun looked at Nyao and spoke.
“I too shall participate in this war.”
“Excellent.”
[You have accepted.]
[The Hidden Chain Quest ‘War Against the Labyrinth’s Shadow’ will continue.]
I thought this would be the end of the messages.
Yet as Nyao continued speaking, new text appeared.
“Impressed by your strength and wisdom, Knight Yoo Sung-hyun, I hereby appoint you as commander of the Special Unit. Form the Special Unit alongside the White Knight Order and seize control of the Basilica.”
[The Hidden Chain Sub-Quest ‘Ninyaru Special Unit’ has been created.]
A rather intriguing Quest had been generated.
Ninyaru Special Unit.
Yoo Sung-hyun answered while observing it.
“Thank you. I will demonstrate our capabilities.”
The Ninyaru Special Unit had been established.

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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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