The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 197

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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 197
197
‘How did they arrive faster than us?’
Embris was far more shocked by the fact that they had been faster than his group
than by Helena’s provocative words.
It was a shock similar to when the Demon King had eliminated the bloodkin faster than they could.
They had clearly remained in the room longer than this group.
No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out how.
But one thing was certain—they were faster than us.
‘They must be quite skilled.’
Embris acknowledged Yoo Sung-hyun’s party in that moment.
Though it was a misunderstanding, they were indeed skilled.
So it wasn’t an incorrect assessment.
Embris’s companions held similar thoughts.
If they had been of the same human race, perhaps it would be different.
‘We’re Vampires, yet they’re faster than us.’
‘It’s rather surprising.’
‘Exactly, so if Menma hadn’t been slacking off!’
‘Are you blaming me again!?’
They were all individuals who had become Vampires through Embris.
Of course, human stats weren’t inferior.
The initial races available early on—Elves and Dwarves among others—possessed characteristics similar to humans.
Though there could be some differences in individuality.
The fundamental racial stats weren’t significantly different.
However, the hidden race Vampire was different.
It displayed superior performance compared to initial races, including humans.
So their surprise was understandable.
Especially since Embris possessed an Almighty-grade class.
There was no choice but to be astonished.
Meanwhile, Yoo Sung-hyun was also somewhat surprised.
‘Are they usually this fast?’
Even without arriving first, Yoo Sung-hyun would have won.
But regardless, Embris’s party’s speed was certainly impressive.
So this must indeed be that second-ranked party.
The emergence of new skilled individuals was always entertaining.
However.
‘This Quest isn’t a competition anyway.’
I briefly entertained the thought of competition before dismissing it.
Unlike that Yoo Sung-hyun.
‘Let’s not lose the next Quest.’
‘Next time, let’s win!’
‘But this isn’t a competitive Quest….’
‘Regardless, let’s win!’
Embris’s party was determined to outdo Yoo Sung-hyun’s group no matter what.
Perhaps they had sensed that competitive spirit?
Helena smiled mysteriously and spoke in a tone only Yoo Sung-hyun and Fiora could hear.
“Looks like they’re planning to beat us.”
-…Huh, huh? U-us?
“…? But this isn’t a competitive Quest? You must be mistaken, Helena.”
Yoo Sung-hyun dismissed Helena’s words outright.
Helena merely shrugged her shoulders as she observed them.
It made no sense to say they weren’t competing when they were burning with such intensity.
He was too soft in these situations.
Helena chuckled to herself at that thought.
Yoo Sung-hyun would win anyway without even going all out.
Helena didn’t give it much thought either.
Since both of them let it pass.
Fiora figured it was the same and simply moved on.
Yoo Sung-hyun’s party and Embris’s party waited quietly inside.
After some more time passed, the next party arrived.
“Just as the merchant said.”
“Phew, looks like we were the last ones.”
“Thank goodness.”
The seven-person party that had come first.
With Yoo Sung-hyun’s party and Embris’s party included, a total of fourteen people had gathered in the room.
Contrary to what I expected—that Zerod would appear the moment everyone assembled.
It took some time.
Perhaps because it took longer than expected, Zerod apologized to everyone the moment he appeared.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting. I was making inferences based on the traces you all brought and the evidence we possessed, so I was a bit delayed.”
Everyone nodded graciously at his polite apology and moved past it.
There were hardly any who would complain to Zerod, who was both the NPC who had issued the request and the owner of the merchant guild.
Everyone simply let it go.
Zerod spoke to them.
“Going forward, I would appreciate it if you would think of these three parties as the main force that will handle our requests.”
Was he saying they should collaborate from now on?
At that thought, everyone looked around at each other’s faces.
The seven-person party had already been somewhat wary upon seeing Embris’s party and Yoo Sung-hyun’s party.
But when talk of collaboration came from Zerod’s mouth, they showed signs of relief.
If this had been another competitive Quest, the party most likely to be excluded next would have been theirs.
Thus the strange tension eased somewhat.
Zerod spoke to them.
“Based on the evidence we’ve gathered, we’ve determined that this is a scheme by the Kan Merchant Guild to sabotage our guild. It’s highly likely that Father was caught up in their machinations. And with high probability, Father is no longer of this world.”
“…Hmm.”
“Sigh.”
A groan escaped from the seven-person party.
Meanwhile, Yoo Sung-hyun and Embris’s party narrowed their eyes as they watched Zerod.
They could vaguely sense what Quest Zerod was about to propose.
And their intuition was correct.
From Zerod’s lips came a heated voice.
“Now that we know the evidence and what methods they employed, we won’t simply sit idle.”
A cold tone that contradicted the heated voice.
Yet paradoxically, it made clear just how furious Zerod truly was.
Everyone in the room could feel it.
And so.
All attention turned to him.
Zerod continued.
“We’ve uncovered evidence that a mage skilled in monster manipulation was stationed in this area and summoned monsters that don’t normally appear in the Forest Maze. Not only Father, but victims from other merchant guilds have emerged as well. Therefore, I intend to issue a request to first secure the mage’s capture.”
As Zerod spoke methodically,
a notification appeared indicating a new Quest had been generated.
A request to capture the mage alive, just as Zerod had stated.
“Ideally, I would like the mage to pay the price as well, but as they say, all matters have their proper order…. So I would greatly appreciate it if you could bring the mage back alive.”
His tone was polite, yet perhaps because of that,
it felt all the more chilling.
One could sense the fury he was suppressing deep within.
“You may divide into your existing parties and search separately, or you may cooperate. To make communication easier, I’ll provide communication crystals as well. All we need is to secure the summoning mage’s capture. I sincerely ask for your cooperation.”
Zerod bowed respectfully once more as he made his request.
After distributing the communication crystals, Zerod returned to his duties.
Only the parties remained in the room.
Someone from the seven-person party spoke.
“Wow, it’s striking—he’s clearly furious.”
Fortunately, no one made comments about how impressive the NPC’s implementation was.
Such remarks were rare among users who had come this far.
In any case, when the seven-person party’s leader gestured,
Embris and Yoo Sung-hyun stepped forward as well.
The three party leaders gathered together.
The seven-person party’s leader spoke first.
“My name is Junu, and as you can see, I’m the leader of this seven-person party.”
After introducing himself and greeting them,
Yoo Sung-hyun was about to say he looked forward to working with them.
Just as Yoo Sung-hyun was about to say he was counting on them too.
“Ah, the nickname doesn’t really matter. If it feels burdensome, you don’t have to mention it.”
The man who introduced himself as Junu spoke first, as if it were no trouble at all.
Watching Yoo Sung-hyun hesitate, he seemed to sense the discomfort.
Though it didn’t really bother me either way.
Yoo Sung-hyun nodded along with the flow.
Embris agreed similarly.
Seeing both their reactions, the user who had introduced himself as Junu stepped forward to speak.
Being the oldest of the three.
This natural progression felt quite fitting.
Should I call him the senior, then?
“What do you think would be best?”
Junu asked for their opinion first.
Yoo Sung-hyun answered immediately.
“Rather than bunching up and hunting together, splitting up seems more efficient.”
“Hmm, that is more efficient. What about you?”
“I think the same way.”
Both Junu and Embris agreed with Yoo Sung-hyun’s assessment.
Since they hadn’t even coordinated their movements yet, it was far more efficient to split up and search individually rather than try to synchronize.
This quest was closer to investigation than actual combat.
With all three in agreement.
They decided to split up by party and gather information separately.
They would have to regroup here anyway.
As the party split up again.
Junu spoke to his party members.
“Whew, that was intense and nerve-wracking.”
“Now that you’ve seen up close, does it seem real? Is it really them?”
At the sudden question of whether it was really them.
Junu nodded and broke out in a cold sweat.
“I’m pretty sure it’s real. They’re definitely the Demon King.”
“Wow, the actual Demon King.”
“Didn’t the Demon King never reveal their face?”
“That’s why I thought they might look ordinary, but they’re incredibly handsome!?”
“Even with 10% customization, the base appearance is what really matters.”
They chattered away like that, swallowing hard.
The reason Junu had made that guess was because of the red-haired woman chattering away beside Yoo Sung-hyun.
One of the recently acquired minions had red hair.
It was just a rough guess.
But seeing how they didn’t immediately reveal their nickname, he was almost certain.
The evidence was thin.
Yet it fit perfectly.
Meanwhile, Embris’s party was.
“We decided to search by tearing it apart, mage.”
“Let’s not lose this time.”
“Really! Let’s win this time.”
“…It’s not really a competition, but. It does feel odd to keep losing.”
“This time, let’s go out later than him and win.”
“Yeah, that’s worth trying.”
Everyone was chattering away with one mind about defeating Yoo Sung-hyun.
Meanwhile, Yoo Sung-hyun was.
“Aha! I said it was a competition, right?”
-We’ll win, Lord!
“I’m telling you it’s not.”
He kept saying it wasn’t a competition.
In any case, after the parties spoke with each other like that.
The first to leave the room was the seven-person party.
“We’ll go ahead first.”
“Yes, fighting spirit.”
“Everyone, do your best.”
When Junu said that, Yoo Sung-hyun and Embris answered accordingly.
When Embris’s party showed no sign of moving.
Yoo Sung-hyun moved first.
But in the midst of that, as he tried to leave first.
Embris’s party seemed to be watching strangely.
It was unsettling, though.
Yoo Sung-hyun thought nothing of it and headed outside.
This Quest was unrelated to Vitor’s memories anyway.
I shouldn’t think about taking shortcuts.
While I was wandering around thinking to start with gathering information first.
I felt a strange yet familiar aura.
Could it be?
Just in case, I quickly headed toward an alley without drawing attention.
As I turned my head with an ominous premonition.
Those dressed in black robes appeared.
As expected.
“We greet the true successor of the great Overpellis.”
“We greet the successor of the great Overpellis!!!”
“Hmm.”
Just as I thought.
Overpellis again.
However, it was still different from when I met the Belmore Branch Manager.
“I apologize for only introducing myself now, fearing I might inadvertently interfere with the Successor’s affairs. I am Penelope, Branch Manager of the Pentamier Division of Overpellis.”
Moreover, she had better sense than the Belmore Branch Manager.
If I told her to withdraw, she would probably do so without hesitation.
After exchanging greetings with Penelope, I was about to mention that I should head out to begin the Quest when—
“It seemed you might be searching for something, so I appeared rather abruptly.”
“Something I’m searching for…?”
3.
After Yoo Sung-hyun slipped away, Embris’s party quickly emerged and began their investigation.
Regardless of other matters, they were the best at this kind of reconnaissance.
Since the Kan Merchant Guild was supposedly involved.
They headed toward the Kan Merchant Guild first.
They would need to conduct a surprise raid or something similar, though there was a risk of being discovered.
Going directly to the Kan Merchant Guild?
For others, it would have been a foolish choice.
But Embris’s party was different.
Their species was Vampire.
They could use charm on NPCs to interrogate them with imperfect memories.
The situation favored them.
This time, they were bound to win.
Just as they were about to move with such conviction—
A familiar voice rang out from the communication crystal.
[I’ve captured the mage.]
“…???”
It was none other than Yoo Sung-hyun’s voice.

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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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