The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 186

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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 186
186
2.
After the war with Basilica.
The palace of Ninyaru—Hidden City of the Labyrinth Merchants—was suffused with an almost oppressive silence.
The Golden Knight Order that guarded the palace was absent, the Black Knight Order that protected the city was absent, and the White Knight Order that stood watch around them was absent.
There were servants dwelling within the palace, certainly.
But they rarely ventured to the hall where Nyao resided.
Thus the entire palace seemed wrapped in quietude.
Nyao rather enjoyed such things.
Drifting into slumber atop the treasures in this serene, languid hall—that was the finest of afternoon naps.
Yet today, that peace was being disturbed.
“….”
I regarded the uninvited guest with eyes tinged with resentment.
“…?”
“What’s wrong, Nyao?”
The woman turned the question back on me.
I now knew myself to be quite formidable.
Yet somehow, I found myself lowering my gaze.
The habits carved into my body long ago ran deep.
In any case.
Seeing that the woman—Helena—and Yoo Sung-hyun had returned, I nodded.
“Ahem, Future Overlord. Your contributions….”
“Let’s keep it casual, Nyao.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Yes, it’s just us, after all.”
“I, I suppose that’s true.”
My dignity as a king was truly in shambles.
My eyes glistened with unshed tears.
But there was nothing I could do.
Yoo Sung-hyun felt somewhat sorry for my state.
Yet he made no move to stop it.
He had no intention of interfering in our relationship.
Besides, he was benefiting from it.
So why would he need to intervene?
Yoo Sung-hyun simply remained quiet.
Nyao spoke to Yoo Sung-hyun with ease.
“Ahem, so if there are items you wish to have, you should choose some. Perhaps around four… no, five of them?”
I was about to say four, but catching Helena’s look, I increased it to five.
Yoo Sung-hyun expressed his gratitude upon seeing me do so.
“Thank you.”
[You have received a Hidden Chain Quest reward!]
[It is enhanced along with the Hidden Raid reward.]
[You may select five items from the collection of ‘Karnyao Hel Belios, Absolute Ruler of Ninyaru’!]
As that message appeared before me.
I was able to walk among the collection items.
What should I choose here?
I had roughly decided on something beforehand.
What items do I need right now?
Most of my equipment consists of nearly complete-tier items.
So there’s no need to choose those.
Then what should I obtain?
Precisely.
『Soul of the Noble Knight』
→《Unique》
→Material Item.
『Essence of the Primordial Forest』
→《Legendary》
→Material Item.
『Amber of the World Tree』
→《Legendary》
→Material Item.
『Wooden Sword of the World Tree』
→《Legendary》
→Elf-exclusive Item.
I selected material items to create Silvanor’s body, which I had brought from the Knights’ Hall, and an item that would suit him well.
The other subordinates already possessed their own items, so they weren’t necessary.
As for Helena and Serpina, their mage-type bodies were capable of casting spells with items alone.
So there was no particular need.
But Silvanor is a swordsman, and a swordsman cannot function without a blade.
So I selected one for him.
The other materials didn’t seem like they would produce particularly good effects for Silvanor’s body, so I passed on them.
One choice remained.
‘What should I pick?’
Now that there was truly nothing left to choose, I pondered.
Helena glanced subtly at Nyao.
“Hmm, I think that ring should have been here somewhere?”
At Helena’s words, Nyao startled and leaped from the throne.
What on earth was she so surprised about?
Then Nyao looked at Helena with a pitiful expression and spoke.
“W-well, Helena, didn’t you give me that…?”
Nyao spoke with genuine sorrow, as if questioning where the dignity of a king had gone.
Helena seemed to feel a bit sorry too, her expression turning sympathetic.
“Hmm, so you want to keep it?”
“Y-yes! Where else could you find a treasure of such caliber…?”
Nyao pleaded as if truly reluctant to part with it.
At this point, I was about to stop him out of embarrassment at receiving it.
“Then how about this?”
“Pardon?”
“I can’t do it now, but later I’ll make something similar and give you two in return.”
“T-two of them!?”
Helena had made her counteroffer.
I stayed silent, curious to see where this was going.
Nyao deliberated for quite some time.
Helena simply waited, as if to say take it or leave it.
“Ah, how long would that take?”
Nyao leaned in respectfully.
Helena smiled and nodded.
“How about a hundred years from now?”
“Oh! That’s shorter than I expected. Agreed!”
What did I just hear?
She’d make two similar items a hundred years from now in exchange for giving it up right now?
By any measure, this was a terrible deal for Nyao.
Yet Nyao accepted readily, as if a hundred years was truly a short span of time.
This actually worked?
I found myself bewildered by the turn of events.
Nyao approached me and handed over a ring.
“Here, take it.”
“…Thank you.”
Something felt off about this.
But he had said he’d give it.
As I reached to take the ring Nyao offered, he wasn’t loosening his grip.
“…?”
Wasn’t he giving it to me?
I looked at Nyao with confusion.
“Ah, sorry—I did that unconsciously. Let go.”
Nyao apologized and finally released his hold.
As I took it, he gazed at the ring with a pitiful expression until the very end.
But I deliberately ignored it.
I deliberately ignored it.
A gaze like that of some tragic male protagonist from a melancholic tale.
Just how extraordinary must this item be for such a reaction?
As Yoo Sung-hyun examined the item.
『Heart of Infinity』
→《Almighty》
→A ring whose craftsmanship remains a mystery. Even with all the Grand Mages gathered together in this era, it cannot be replicated.
→Though the creator and purpose remain unknown, any mage who obtains this ring will undoubtedly wield tremendous power.
→Exclusive item for Mage and Dark Mage class mana-based professions.
→Upon equipping: Can use ‘Infinite Mana’ once per day.
→When ‘Infinite Mana’ is activated, all actions requiring mana consumption for 1 minute are triggered without consuming mana.
→Maximum Mana +100%
→Mana Regeneration +50%
“Ah.”
I didn’t want to give it away.
How does an item like this even exist?
Infinite Mana?
A ring containing a skill that allows any ability—whether spell or otherwise—to be used for 1 minute without consuming mana.
And on top of that, it doubles maximum mana.
With a 50% increase to mana regeneration as well.
Even for an Almighty-grade item, the impression of its power was overwhelming.
‘Extraordinary.’
So Nyao’s refusal to give it to Helena wasn’t without reason.
This was definitely something I wouldn’t want to part with.
A ring captivating enough to leave even Yoo Sung-hyun mesmerized.
As I swallowed hard, gazing at it.
I could see Nyao still looking at the ring with that pitiful expression.
Seeing that, I quickly slipped it onto my own finger, and Nyao closed their eyes tightly.
Then.
[All items have been selected.]
[Rewards acquired!]
A message appeared stating that all items had been chosen.
Thinking I’d finally received everything, I left the place where Nyao kept their collection.
Nyao spoke to me and Helena as if exhausted.
“Phew, you’ve truly accomplished great deeds. Thank you.”
Nyao sat buried in their throne, looking as though they’d lost far more than they’d gained.
It was somewhat pitiful, admittedly.
But I had no intention of returning the ring.
“Ahem.”
“Yes… whenever you wish to return, come anytime. Helena, may you remain well in the meantime.”
“Sure~ Take care, Nyao~”
“Farewell.”
As Nyao issued the dismissal, Helena and Yoo Sung-hyun exchanged bows and exited the hall.
Helena turned to Yoo Sung-hyun with evident delight.
“Hmm, that ring is rather nice, isn’t it?”
“It’s beyond merely nice.”
“Aha! I do have an eye for quality.”
“Did you craft this as well?”
“Yes, I made it as a hobby. I’ve created several masterpieces, and this is one of them.”
Several pieces of this caliber existed?
Yet seeing how it didn’t integrate with the Great Dark Mage’s Remnant Set.
I suspected the quantity of items at this level wasn’t particularly abundant.
It would have been ideal if it had been compatible.
That was somewhat disappointing.
“The creation periods differ from those items, I suspect?”
Since Yoo Sung-hyun seemed curious, Helena explained.
Ah, I see.
Despite the disappointment, it was an extraordinary item.
I wasn’t greatly disheartened.
Now there was something I needed to do.
[Locate the relevant NPC in the city you first entered for your third advancement.]
“In the end.”
I would need to seek out the Belmore Branch Manager.
It was an unavoidable system requirement.
There was no choice but to return.
Even if I had gone to another city, had it been the Overpellis Branch, it likely wouldn’t have differed much from the Belmore Branch Manager.
Everyone I’d encountered from Overpellis thus far resembled the Belmore Branch Manager.
‘Regardless, let me return to Pentagrid.’
Once I obtained hints about the third advancement there, I could move elsewhere.
As I attempted to depart from Ninyaru – Hidden City of the Labyrinth Merchants, I encountered Becky.
It was as though she had come to see me off.
“Meow!? Customer Yoo Sung-hyun, you’re leaving!?”
“Becky, it’s good to see you.”
“Hehe, thanks to you, I’m delighted. It’s a shame you’re going, meow.”
“I’ll return if the opportunity arises.”
“Meow!? Then please take this with you!”
Wondering what she was offering, I accepted it.
It was an admission pass to Ninyaru.
She thought of everything.
I gratefully accepted the pass from Becky and waved to her.
“Until next time.”
“If you need anything, just call for me anytime!”
After parting ways with Becky and emerging from the Labyrinth.
I sensed a rough dark magical aura from somewhere.
The moment I stepped out?
I wondered what was happening, but seeing Helena remain calm.
I thought it might not be dangerous.
So I waited.
I heard something rushing rapidly from the depths of the Labyrinth.
“Whoooosh, I greet the true successor!!!”
The Belmore Branch Manager came rushing like a madman and bowed his head.
I had just emerged from the Labyrinth, and he sensed it and came looking for me immediately?
What on earth was this….
I looked at the Belmore Branch Manager with a bewildered expression.
The Belmore Branch Manager rummaged through his pockets.
He pulled out several items.
All of them unique-grade equipment.
What was this?
He was giving me all of this?
I looked at the Belmore Branch Manager with a dumbfounded expression.
“These are the items of those wretches who dared target the successor without knowing their place. It is our duty to present them to their rightful owner. Please accept them.”
I had to understand what he was saying first.
It was hard to comprehend that there were people targeting me.
But what did it mean to seize their items and present them to me?
Since he was giving them, I naturally accepted them.
But I felt somewhat awkward.
‘Who was targeting me?’
Was it Echo Willow again?
I decided to move on with that assumption.
Belmore rummaged through his pockets again and held something out to me.
Unlike the other items he had presented so far, this one seemed very precious.
A dark compass.
My eyes widened at the sight of it.
Could this be…?
“It is an item necessary to advance toward the next stage.”
At those words, I accepted the black compass.
[You have exceeded level 150 and can now undergo your third advancement.]
[You have obtained the Overlord-exclusive third advancement item, 『Overlord’s Compass』.]
‘Oh.’
So it really was a third advancement item.
I tried to thank the Belmore Branch Manager.
Another message flashed before my eyes.
[The ‘Blood Lord, Lazard,’ who had fallen into deep slumber for the third-class Overlord advancement, awakens.]
And then.
[This is a world-wide announcement.]
[A large-scale event is occurring!]
[Beginning from this moment, an event will take place in 『all Labyrinth Regions』 two days from now.]
[All users with levels between 120 and 160 are eligible to participate.]
[Detailed information has not yet been disclosed.]
[We look forward to your participation.]
Along with it, the large-scale event announcement appeared.
Everything was happening at once.

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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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