The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 302

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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 302
302
0.
Yoo Sung-hyun logged into the game for the first time in what felt like forever, having skipped two days due to his mother’s birthday.
Though calling two days an eternity was a bit of an exaggeration.
Still, it was the first time since he’d started playing that Yoo Sung-hyun had gone two full days without logging in.
Following the routine he’d grown completely accustomed to, Yoo Sung-hyun looked around his surroundings.
His memories were intact, but being in Septemarcan felt somewhat unfamiliar.
The landscape of Heptarion had become so familiar to his eyes.
‘I’ve been there quite a while, after all.’
Not that he felt any particular longing for it.
There was enjoyment to be had with the NPCs, certainly.
But what truly mattered was the succession of the Necromancer Lord, wasn’t it?
Had all the preparations been completed?
With such anticipation, Yoo Sung-hyun entered the Serul Tower.
As if perfectly timed, Will greeted him warmly.
“Your timing is truly impeccable.”
“Oh? What do you mean?”
“Yes, the preparations have just been completed.”
I wondered what kind of preparations he was referring to.
In that moment, an ashen aura bloomed from Will’s chest and surged toward Yoo Sung-hyun.
Simultaneously.
[The final conditions for the succession of the Necromancer Lord are now unlocked.]
[Acquire weapons imbued with demonic power. (5 / 5) (Complete)]
[Destroy the heart of a Demon, the source of demonic power. (Complete)]
[Experience all the chronicles of the Necromancer Lord. (Incomplete)]
‘The chronicles of the Necromancer Lord?’
Was I supposed to experience all of them?
My first thought was of a scenario like the journey into the past when I’d met Hindel before.
But it seemed it wasn’t that kind of thing.
Will spoke with a regretful tone.
“This condition is quite challenging, I’m afraid.”
“Is there a portal to the past?”
At my question, Will shook his head as if troubled.
No portal to the past?
Faced with this unexpected answer, I looked at Will.
Helena, who stood behind him, spoke as if there was no other choice.
“Going to the past isn’t actually going to the real past.”
“Then what is it?”
“A living being extracts their own memories and transforms them into a field. Like Nocturnium.”
Then wouldn’t it be possible?
Even though the soul is different, the memories themselves belong to Will.
However.
“If Will possesses the memories but the soul is different, then those aren’t truly his memories.”
“As expected… you understand this remarkably well.”
From Helena’s words, I could grasp the concept.
Memories reside within the soul.
That’s precisely why I can absorb a soul’s memories and experiences through my ability.
But Will possesses the memories while having a different soul.
In other words, since they aren’t truly his own memories, they remain only as information—not as genuine recollection.
Because this was my own ability, I could understand the concept instantly, yet I found myself tilting my head in perplexity.
Then how could I experience the Necromancer Lord’s chronicle?
Just as that thought crossed my mind.
“There it is.”
Helena spoke as though she already knew.
Will nodded in agreement.
What place were they referring to?
I glanced between them both, curious.
Will provided the explanation.
“Among the Seventh City, there exists a place called Septia, according to the outsiders’ terminology.”
“Septia?”
“Yes, it is known as the City of Books, the City of Stories, and the City of Libraries—a most extraordinary place. The books preserved there are not ordinary volumes.”
“Hmm?”
Then what was special about these books?
I regarded him with curiosity.
Will continued his explanation.
“Septia records everything that exists in the world and expresses it through books. When one reads those books, they can directly experience the recorded events.”
“Ah? Then?”
“Yes, I must find the record of the true Will Baghdad—not myself—and experience the Necromancer Lord’s chronicle. Only then can I inherit the Necromancer Lord.”
At those words, I smiled immediately.
The final condition.
It seemed quite challenging.
Yet it appeared far more intriguing than I’d anticipated.
‘So I’d be entering books and experiencing the stories directly.’
I suspected Septia’s dungeon was structured in precisely that manner.
However.
“To obtain reading rights, one must clear books of increasing difficulty to gain access to higher-tier volumes.”
“Hmm. This will likely take considerable time.”
“Yes, I suspect that will be the case.”
Still, it seemed entertaining enough.
Yoo Sung-hyun smiled.
It had been a while since I visited an interesting city.
Then, suddenly.
‘A library, huh.’
I recalled the eccentric user I’d encountered at the library before.
But I quickly erased the thought from my mind.
There were certainly rare users who frequented libraries in the game.
But if they weren’t leveling faster than me, I wouldn’t run into them.
I first encountered that user in the Fifth City, after all.
Running into them in the Seventh City would be quite unusual.
My Backup Team was currently struggling to keep up with my pace.
With that thought, I set my next objective and rose from my seat.
“Good luck on your journey.”
I smiled at those words and responded.
“Thank you. I’ll return as quickly as possible.”
I left the Magic Tower, and as I departed, Will offered a subtle smile and nodded in acknowledgment.
It was a structure that would inevitably take time.
But perhaps it would be different with me, he thought, murmuring softly.
“Please be careful on your way.”
1.
The City of Books, Septia.
It belonged to no nation.
A magnificent city whose origins remained unknown even in historical records.
No other city in the world could possibly contain more books.
By description alone, it seemed like a place one wouldn’t particularly favor.
Yet contrary to its name, it was quite popular.
A dreamlike system where opening a book transformed it into a dungeon.
Few cities possessed such a unique feature.
No wonder it was so popular.
Users who rarely ventured to libraries in reality now lingered here eagerly.
It was an unfamiliar sight, but everyone scrambled to open books.
“There are so many people.”
I looked around and saw nothing but crowds.
Not just users—there were considerable numbers of NPCs as well.
Streets filled with NPCs seeking information and users wanting novel experiences.
Considering how few level 220+ users existed,
the saturation was quite evident.
I too felt somewhat out of place, walking carefully through the surroundings.
Still,
‘How am I supposed to find them here?’
A city with no fewer than seven libraries.
I had no idea where to even begin.
After inquiring, I learned that
‘they’re divided by grade.’
From Normal Grade to Rare, Epic, Unique, Legendary, Almighty, and finally the seventh library classified as ungraded.
No one knew which grade contained the Necromancer Lord’s biography.
‘I hope it’s in the Legendary Grade.’
I found myself hoping it would at least be in the Legendary Grade.
But what were the odds?
All the lord-class skills I possessed were Almighty Grade.
Perhaps the Necromancer Lord was also Almighty Grade?
With a mixture of uncertainty and anticipation, I first visited the Normal Grade Library.
The number of books I needed to read varied by grade.
The Normal Grade required reading a full ten books to receive an access pass to the Rare Grade Library.
‘I’ll do it.’
Though I was already feeling bored.
What choice did I have?
As I stepped directly into the Normal Grade Library’s interior,
I couldn’t help but be astonished by its vastness, so different from its external appearance.
‘Space distortion?’
The collection of books was so immense it seemed almost impossible.
So selecting and reading ten of these would allow me to advance past the Rare Grade?
As I recognized this and moved toward the shelves to choose a book,
I noticed a peculiar sign near the shelves.
“Hm?”
[Reading in the Normal Grade is limited to a maximum of 100 books.]
Honestly, I doubted anyone would actually read a hundred books here.
Still, I made a mental note of it.
There were reading restrictions.
I accepted this and began examining the various books.
Based on the titles written on the spines,
there were more intriguing ones than I’d expected.
[A Rural Youth’s Harrowing Death]
[A Monster Wave in the Countryside?]
[Who Will Stop the Bandits?]
….
….
There were quite a few interesting titles.
Seeing these, I opened “A Rural Youth’s Harrowing Death”—a title whose meaning wasn’t immediately clear.
Why would it be called a harrowing death?
With that thought in mind, I opened the book.
Descriptions of the dungeon flowed out in a steady stream, just like reading a proper novel.
Along with the mission objectives, I could grasp the general story at a glance.
The rural young man’s harrowing death was the tale of a village youth who had become entangled in bizarre circumstances.
For reasons unknown, the young man had felt as though someone was targeting him, and ultimately, he had perished.
The dungeon’s mission was to prevent the young man’s death and apprehend the culprit.
‘This is more entertaining than I expected?’
Since it was a Normal Grade dungeon, I naturally cleared it with ease.
The culprit was the Village Chief.
After the young man’s parents died, upon hearing that he had inherited their estate, the Village Chief killed him with the intention of seizing that inheritance for himself—a truth I uncovered before dispensing justice.
However, while it was easy, it took longer than anticipated.
Still, it was quite satisfying.
It was genuinely entertaining.
Moreover,
[You have acquired substantial experience points!]
Despite being a Normal Grade dungeon, the experience point gain was considerable.
‘Interesting.’
It seems they’re treating each one as a scenario.
I realized the reading limit wasn’t set arbitrarily.
With 100 of these, I could easily gain 10 levels and still have room to spare?
Though Yoo Sung-hyun entertained such tempting thoughts,
I couldn’t let priorities get reversed.
First, I rapidly progressed through the Normal Grade dungeons to find the Necromancer Lord’s biography.
In a single day, I cleared 10 Normal Grade books.
‘Phew. Ten wasn’t easy after all.’
It was entertaining, certainly.
But rushing through them like that was genuinely taxing.
Still, clearing 10 in a single day was an impressive feat, no matter how easy they were.
And,
[You have acquired substantial experience points.]
[You have reached Level 231.]
With a level gain to show for it,
I felt satisfied.
‘I’ll call it a day here.’
Tomorrow, I need to visit the Rare Grade Library.
‘At least it’s been enjoyable.’
Once I inherit the Necromancer Lord, I’ll need to level up here.
The leveling efficiency was quite substantial.
With that, Yoo Sung-hyun logged out.
Moments later, a user in the Normal Grade Library muttered with regret.
A user in their early twenties with short stature, curly brown hair, and glasses perched on their nose.
The user muttered with obvious disappointment.
“Why did they limit it to just a hundred? This is so much fun, but it’s such a shame.”
They smacked their lips, having already gone through all one hundred.
Then.
“And since I could only see fifty Rare Grade ones, not all of them….”
They were already lamenting having exhausted the Rare Grade Library.
And.
“I’ve seen all the Epic Grade ones too… so now I need to move on to Unique Grade. I really wish they’d let me see more of those.”
The user adjusted their glasses upward and muttered as much.
A user I’d encountered before in the Fifth City alongside Yoo Sung-hyun.
Barbaros headed toward the Unique Grade Library with a wistful expression.

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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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