The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 225

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

Episode 225
225
0.
Most of the employees at E-World were united in their love of games.
Those who truly enjoyed watching games come to life in their hands and orchestrating their development.
Otherwise, they could never have accepted the condition of being unable to play the massively successful Eternal World.
Some had taken the job chasing money, certainly.
But far more were those who genuinely loved games.
And among all departments, there was one place where game enthusiasts gathered most intensely.
The NPC Management Team.
Those who immersed themselves in the lives of the game’s inhabitants, wanting to manage their existence smoothly.
Specifically, NPC Management Team 2.
Several members of that team had gathered around a single monitor, their eyes fixed upon its screen.
The footage displayed was none other than Yoo Sung-hyun, a member of the Equinox Knights in Sysvalt.
Despite their official title as an NPC Management Team,
they were watching the screen of a user—Yoo Sung-hyun—and no one objected.
In fact, Lee Jae-kyung, the team leader of NPC Management Team 2, was watching alongside them.
They all understood well what would become of Ragna Ecrion based on this user’s actions.
If they could not obstruct Ragna Ecrion’s path forward,
“the surrounding cities would be reduced to ashes, wouldn’t they?”
“War is inevitable.”
“Please, let the user Yoo Sung-hyun win….”
They all united in a single prayer for Yoo Sung-hyun’s victory.
That Yoo Sung-hyun would obtain a hidden piece as a result?
They didn’t care about that.
From the moment Park Won, the chairman, had decided to manage Yoo Sung-hyun himself, they no longer needed to worry.
But their position differed from the User Management Team, which tried by all means to prevent monopolies between users.
Especially in this case, their desire for Yoo Sung-hyun to stop Ragna Ecrion by any means was overwhelming.
However.
“Ahem.”
With Lee Jae-kyung’s clearing of his throat came the progress display.
[Progress: 80%]
The progress bar had risen to 80% in mere days, and everyone let out sighs of despair.
Already at 80%.
Could they possibly defeat Ragna Ecrion with progress so far advanced?
If Yoo Sung-hyun were to act preemptively with full intention, perhaps there might be a chance.
But realistically,
“there’s no way the user Yoo Sung-hyun can win this.”
At Lee Jae-kyung’s grim words, the team members watching fell into expressions of despair.
None of them were ignorant of Ragna Ecrion’s power.
Above all, Ragna Ecrion was already conscious of Yoo Sung-hyun’s power.
So he would likely intervene thoroughly.
In contrast, Yoo Sung-hyun was concealing his strength.
The moment an opportunity arose, the structure was such that Yoo Sung-hyun would inevitably fall into Ragna Ecrion’s trap.
That’s why Yoo Sung-hyun seemed to have no way to win.
“Sigh.”
Lee Jae-kyung exhaled deeply, his eyes fixed on the screen.
It would be difficult for Yoo Sung-hyun to prevent the incident before it occurred.
But if Yoo Sung-hyun stepped forward with other users after the incident broke out, that would be different.
He could minimize the damage.
In any case.
“The user Yoo Sung-hyun might end up dead.”
Speaking such thoughts, Lee Jae-kyung contacted the User Management Team.
He told them to prepare for the possibility that the user Yoo Sung-hyun might die soon.
After making those calls, Lee Jae-kyung gazed at the screen with a regretful expression.
Finally, Yoo Sung-hyun was performing a mission with Ragna Ecrion and clearing Quests.
Yet that would become Yoo Sung-hyun’s first defeat.
“I’ll just have to watch as Ragna Ecrion takes over.”
1.
In the barracks of the Equinox Knights, the atmosphere had changed dramatically over the past few days.
Where there had once been fierce hostility and murderous intent,
now they gazed at a single person with expressions of exhaustion and resignation.
The Equinox Knights, rumored to be the most ruthless in Sysvalt,
had been worn down by just one man.
“Again? You’ve completed another mission?”
“He’s insane.”
“Isn’t that already twenty in just four days since joining?”
“He’s out of his mind.”
“Huh. Does this foreigner not know how to rest?”
“I heard Kalis gave him a five-person mission to teach him a lesson, and he completed it in one go.”
“Insane, absolutely insane.”
The knights were all clicking their tongues in disbelief.
That person was none other than Yoo Sung-hyun, the newly recruited foreign knight of the Equinox Knights.
And Yoo Sung-hyun was satisfied with how the atmosphere had shifted.
‘It looks like the Quest will clear now.’
With the entire Knights Order in this state,
there was no way the Commander wouldn’t move.
Thinking this, Yoo Sung-hyun checked the level he’d gained over the past three days.
【Status Window】
『Yoo Sung-hyun』
『Level 178』
『Job』
→『Overload』
『Title』
→『Sovereign (Legendary)』… and 40 others.
『Stats』
→《Strength: 283(217+66)》《Agility: 283(217+66)》
《Stamina: 283(217+66)》
《Intelligence: 682(524+158)》《Wisdom: 682(524+158)》
《Mental Fortitude: 133(120+13)》《Dexterity: 8(7+1)》
『Bonus Stats』
→《0》
Level 178 already.
My stats had risen tremendously as well.
Satisfied with the status window before me, I closed it.
The quest experience from these missions had been quite generous.
In the sixth city, I found myself wanting to do nothing but complete these missions.
Though that wasn’t possible, of course.
Once I surpassed level 200, I would need to return to Hexia.
In any case, it seemed I could enjoy this until the Equinox Knights quest ended.
To be honest, I had to keep completing missions until Ragna Ecrion stepped forward.
Part of me hoped he would wait a while longer before making his move.
The experience gains were simply too lucrative.
While I entertained such frivolous thoughts,
Senior Knight Kalis approached me.
‘Ah.’
Seeing him, I gazed at the quest giver with regret.
So this sweet opportunity was ending.
That’s what I thought as I looked.
I considered doing just one more quest before leaving.
But it couldn’t be helped.
Seeing Kalis approach like this, it was surely over now.
As I had this thought,
“Yoo Sung-hyun, the Commander is looking for you.”
Just as expected, Senior Knight Kalis said so.
Though I thought the good times were over, the quest was nearly complete anyway.
With that in mind, I nodded to Senior Knight Kalis.
“Understood.”
As I tried to head to the Commander’s Office,
Seeing me about to leave immediately, Senior Knight Kalis spoke up subtly.
“…Be careful out there.”
“Pardon?”
“…The Division Commander undertakes considerably difficult missions. So while he usually ventures out alone, whenever he goes on a mission with a strong knight like you, he always returns alone, covered in wounds.”
Alone, he had said.
As Yoo Sung-hyun heard those words, his expression grew more serious.
Senior Knight Kalis, observing Yoo Sung-hyun’s change, spoke.
“As a foreigner, you won’t die, but still—be careful.”
“Thank you.”
I hadn’t expected Senior Knight Kalis, who had initially shown territorial hostility, to say such a thing.
Yet because genuine concern was woven into his words, I nodded in acknowledgment.
I couldn’t discern what shift in sentiment had occurred within Senior Knight Kalis.
But it seemed he had concluded that a talent like myself shouldn’t simply vanish.
Having received that counsel, I made my way toward the Commander’s Office.
I entered one of the barracks buildings.
Ascending to the floor where the Commander’s Office was located, I knocked softly.
Knock, knock.
“Recruit Knight Yoo Sung-hyun reporting. You summoned me, so I’ve come.”
With that stiff announcement, I knocked again.
Not long after, a voice came from within.
“Enter.”
Click.
As I stepped into the Commander’s Office at the sound of that voice.
I could see Ragna Ecrion seated before a desk, attending to his duties.
An office that appeared unremarkable at first glance.
Yet as I observed the space, I kept my focus on Ragna Ecrion.
Those serpentine eyes that gazed upon me with undisguised avarice.
From that gaze, I sensed with certainty that something lay beneath the surface.
I waited a moment.
Ragna Ecrion opened his mouth.
“Welcome. I hear you’ve been handling your duties well?”
“I fall short, but I’ve done my utmost.”
“Hmm, if you’re insufficient, then our entire Knights Order could be called incompetent.”
I offered no particular response to Ragna Ecrion’s words.
And since his remark held no deeper meaning anyway.
He simply moved past it.
“I hear you’ve completed twenty missions in four days.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Come, let’s handle a mission together. A rather difficult one has come in.”
At Ragna Ecrion’s words, a notification materialized before me.
[Hidden Chain Quest, 『Division Commander of the Equinox Knights』 cleared.]
[You have received a reward.]
[You have acquired an enormous amount of experience points.]
[Level Up!]
[You have reached Level 179.]
[Hidden Chain Quest, 『Ragna Ecrion』 has been created.]
『Ragna Ecrion』
→Stop Ragna Ecrion.
Seeing my level rise.
Finally, I checked the quest and nodded.
There was no choice but to accept this.
So then.
‘When is the mission? Tomorrow?’
Usually when NPCs suggested doing a mission together, it was often the next day.
As I thought this way.
Ragna Ecrion spoke, observing me.
“What are you doing? Get ready.”
“Are we going now?”
“When else would we go? Missions taste best when executed immediately. I’m not the patient type, you see.”
At Ragna Ecrion’s words, rather than finding it unexpected, I nodded.
This was actually what I preferred.
I nodded and immediately began preparing to depart.
Ragna Ecrion spoke, watching me.
“Prepare horses. We’re going quite far.”
“Understood.”
He certainly knew how to prepare thoroughly.
With that thought, I hurried out and prepared the horses.
And as I was preparing Ragna Ecrion’s horse and an extra one for myself.
The other knights who saw this expressed some concern.
“Huh, the newcomer already with the Commander….”
“Be careful out there.”
“…Be careful.”
“…Seems like you’re heading somewhere dangerous.”
The members of the Equinox Knights, who initially hadn’t accepted me as a newcomer and foreigner.
Now all spoke as if cheering me on.
Seeing them, I responded casually, as if to reassure them.
“I’ll be careful and return safely.”
Speaking only those words without anything else.
Some might have been anxious.
But for some reason, at my words, several nodded as if relieved.
As I prepared the horses.
Before long, Ragna Ecrion mounted the horse I had prepared.
Seeing this, Yoo Sung-hyun quickly mounted his own steed.
Ragna Ecrion spurred his horse forward and called out.
“Keep up with me.”
Clop! Clop!
The horse’s hooves struck the earth with a powerful rhythm.
Yoo Sung-hyun urged his mount to follow Ragna Ecrion.
Since receiving my knighthood, horsemanship had become second nature, so keeping pace presented no difficulty.
How much time had passed?
By the time we had traveled quite far, the city had receded into the distance.
Ragna Ecrion spoke from atop his horse.
“I’m truly grateful you joined our Knights Order.”
“Is that so?”
“Had you joined another order, I would have been forced to orchestrate an attack on you. That would have been troublesome.”
Was he about to strike already?
I immediately moved to open the Underworld and summon my minions.
Ragna Ecrion was faster.
He raised his hand and shouted.
“『Severance』.”
Following Ragna Ecrion’s cry.
The Underworld I was attempting to access.
However.
[You cannot summon minions or servants into this area due to interference from the 『Severance』 skill.]
“…?”
Faced with a message I had never seen before, I faltered.
I couldn’t summon my minions?
Seeing my confusion, Ragna Ecrion smiled coldly and spoke.
“I’m not sure if you have allies, but it matters not. With this, no one will be able to aid you.”
At those words, I tensed and fixed my gaze upon Ragna Ecrion.

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