The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 52

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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 52
Episode 52
3.
‘This isn’t just a difficulty drop….’
Lee Won-sang scratched his head nervously as he watched Yoo Sung-hyun’s screen, clearly troubled.
Simultaneously, he was reviewing data on Azraphm and information about the Overlord’s second class advancement.
One of the rewards from the second class advancement was obtaining a skill to command demon knights.
And the second class advancement Quest itself was of that nature.
But since he had already commanded the demon knights…
It wasn’t a difficulty drop—the Quest itself had already been cleared.
How should he handle this?
Of course, there wasn’t much Lee Won-sang could do about it immediately.
Running the program to assign a new Quest was also the role of Azraphm, the class advancement NPC.
For now, he could only watch and wait.
How many options could Azraphm provide?
‘The Overlord operates on a different principle than other classes.’
With other classes, a second advancement typically means becoming a higher-tier class.
A Normal-grade class might become a Rare-grade class, and a Rare-grade class might become an Epic-grade class.
However, Almighty classes work differently—they allow selection of an entirely new lineage.
But the Overlord is unique even among Almighty classes.
Just look at how the second advancement grants a skill to command demon knights.
Performance-wise, it’s already at the peak—there’s no need to select a new lineage.
With just the advancement alone, he’s already become the supreme Dark Mage.
So even Lee Won-sang couldn’t predict what reward would appear instead.
“Sigh…”
“Senior? Then what will it change to?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Huh? Then since he cleared the original Quest, something better should appear, right???”
“What?”
At Oh Jin-hyuk’s sudden interjection, Lee Won-sang stood up from his seat.
That made sense.
That’s the fundamental law of the Eternal World.
Rewards are given strictly according to what’s accomplished.
The most important principle in the Eternal World that Park Won established, saying there’s nothing more enjoyable in a game than this.
In other words, the harder the challenge, the better the reward.
Which meant Yoo Sung-hyun, who had essentially completed the second advancement early, would…?
Lee Won-sang’s face went pale as he checked the options within Azraphm.
Among them, he discovered a newly appeared option.
『Helena’s Garden』
“Ah. Ah…”
This shouldn’t be appearing already.
Helena’s Garden—a place of great significance to the Overlord.
And it’s obtainable at merely the second advancement?
‘Isn’t that supposed to open only after succeeding at a class-exclusive Quest following the second advancement?!’
I need to verify if this is an error.
If there’s even a remote chance it’s a mistake, I must prevent it.
Yet our magnificent artificial intelligence, Immortal, suggested this was no error.
In other words, Yoo Sung-hyun’s entry into Helena’s Garden is legitimate.
He subdued a Demon Knight, after all.
Such a reward is warranted.
Isn’t that the very foundation of the Eternal World?
There’s no way to stop it now.
‘Wait, actually…’
Did I even need to stop it?
Helena’s Garden is, after all, a place that opens only after the second advancement.
If Yoo Sung-hyun enters now?
Can he truly clear it?
With Baltar, the Crimson-Blooded Knight, it might be possible.
But the trial to enter Helena’s Garden must be faced by the candidate alone.
In his current state, can Yoo Sung-hyun truly overcome it by himself?
‘Hmm.’
I have no idea.
I genuinely have no idea.
Lee Won-sang turned the matter over in his mind rapidly.
But no conclusion emerged.
Even if that mysterious power he’d wielded thus far manifested again, I couldn’t say.
Helena’s Garden was simply that formidable.
And so Lee Won-sang found a measure of reassurance in that.
Lee Won-sang composed himself and gazed at the screen.
-I shall guide you to the garden.
Azraphm’s voice finally came through, and Oh Jin-hyuk, who’d been watching alongside him, looked up with sparkling eyes.
His admiration was evident.
“Wow! Senior!!! How did you know!? You’re truly amazing!!!”
Lee Won-sang regarded Oh Jin-hyuk seriously.
‘Should I hit him?’
4.
Yoo Sung-hyun’s gaze turned distinctly cold.
Azraphm’s spine chilled in that instant.
Not that he possessed a spine, technically.
Still, before one who was Helena’s descendant and could be called his master, he couldn’t afford to appear pathetic—though he already had—so he needed to salvage what he could.
After all, I am the Overlord’s servant, his steward—am I not?
I must offer my support!
As Azraphm pondered this, he wondered what else could be done.
Originally, I had been preparing at the Altar to obtain the power to command a Demon Knight, yet who could have foreseen that Baltar would submit so readily?
After much deliberation, I recalled the best course of action available to me at this moment.
-I shall guide you to the garden, if I may.
Having finally decided, Azraphm spoke.
Yoo Sung-hyun tilted his head in confusion.
A garden?
There’s a garden in this place?
Yoo Sung-hyun’s expression betrayed his bewilderment.
Baltar, however, reacted differently.
As if he recognized the place.
-Ho? You mean that place?
-Ah yes, as expected, Lord Baltar, you are familiar with it. Indeed, that is the one. I shall guide you there. To Helena’s Garden.
“Helena’s Garden?”
-Yes, that is correct.
Helena’s Garden, he thought.
The moment I heard that name, my head nodded in understanding.
So now that I’ve subdued the Demon Knight Baltar, the quest has changed to something else.
Yoo Sung-hyun didn’t think much of it.
It was a common occurrence.
But hearing it called Helena’s Garden…
‘How difficult could it be?’
Typically, second-class advancement quests are said to be difficult depending on the rank.
The Overlord is undoubtedly an Almighty-tier class.
It couldn’t possibly be easy.
I might even fail.
Such thoughts crossed my mind.
Hearing Yoo Sung-hyun’s words, Azraphm tilted his head in confusion.
-…?
Not using an honorific when speaking of Lady Helena.
Yet Baltar said nothing in response to it.
Had Baltar’s loyalty waned?
No, that couldn’t be.
Those who served Helena would never do such a thing.
But what was the meaning of this current state of affairs?
‘What on earth is happening….’
Since Baltar remained silent.
Azraphm could not step forward to say anything.
I had no choice but to guide him.
As Azraphm crossed over the Altar and transcended the space.
The surrounding landscape began to transform dramatically.
It gradually shifted into a lush flower garden in full, exuberant bloom.
Blue petals, purple petals, and crimson petals scattered in all directions, painting the garden’s scenery.
Contrary to the soft, dreamy atmosphere, the sky was heavy with dark, brooding clouds.
Purple lightning flickered between the dark clouds, and the gothic ornaments adorning the garden appeared both beautiful and desolate.
Even just looking at the garden’s entrance, surrounded by enormous flowers, one could sense that this place was far from ordinary.
Yoo Sung-hyun immediately moved to enter the garden.
Azraphm cried out in alarm and stopped him.
-Ah! My Lord! Wait, please listen to the explanation first….
“Hmm?”
-This garden… only you may enter and face the trial. The Underworld cannot be used here, and Baltar must wait outside as well. Only you alone….
“Ah, yes. I understand.”
-Wh, what?
Without even hearing the full explanation, Yoo Sung-hyun entered.
In other words, only Yoo Sung-hyun would enter and face the trial.
There was no problem with that.
Once inside, I would understand the nature of the trial anyway.
Azraphm’s explanation alone was sufficient.
With that, Yoo Sung-hyun went in.
Azraphm, a head of flame, blinked both eyes.
He simply entered without hesitation?
For the first successor, this seemed… questionable.
Yet observing Baltar’s reaction.
He seemed entirely unconcerned.
-B, Baltar, are you not worried at all?
-Hmm? What do you mean?
-The, the Lord, I mean the successor… if he were to be injured… or if he were to fail the trial, wouldn’t this be a place he could never enter again?
At the reproachful tone in Azraphm’s voice, Baltar laughed heartily.
-Hahahaha!!! You worry that the Lord who subdued me would fail this trial?
-Ah, well, yes, but….
-Hmm, I suppose you haven’t witnessed the Lord’s combat prowess directly, so that’s understandable.
At Baltar’s confident words, Azraphm swallowed hard.
Did the Lord possess such tremendous potential?
If so, this could only be a blessing for them.
Above all, Baltar had witnessed it himself.
‘Truly remarkable movements.’
While incomparable to himself, the warrior’s technique was exceptionally refined.
Had he not seen that battlefield where the blade moved with such fluidity?
At first, I simply yielded to coercion and submission.
But not anymore.
I came to truly acknowledge Yoo Sung-hyun’s abilities, and now I even admire him.
Unlike with Helena, his direct participation on the battlefield was truly befitting of a lord.
For now, his swordsmanship remained inferior to mine.
Yet the potential he possessed might one day surpass me.
Baltar gazed contentedly at Yoo Sung-hyun as he walked toward the garden, harboring such thoughts.
Azraphm did not doubt Baltar’s eyes.
Yet anxiety compelled him to ask Baltar nonetheless.
-W-what do you think?
-Ahahaha! Watch and you shall come to understand. Our master is no ordinary being. And you too shall awaken to the greatness of the Rod, infused with Helena’s very soul.
-Pardon???
Observing Baltar speak such incomprehensible words, Azraphm’s curiosity only deepened.
Yet that curiosity soon transformed into anticipation as I gazed toward Yoo Sung-hyun’s distant figure heading into the garden.
What could Baltar have meant?
5.
Upon entering the garden.
Things invisible from outside became apparent.
Dark, viscous energies rippled through what had appeared merely beautiful.
There was no particular reaction yet.
But tension stretched taut like a situation on the verge of eruption.
Yoo Sung-hyun felt it too, releasing a low hum.
“Hmm.”
Even so, I harbored no great concern.
Nor did I tense significantly.
For I possessed multiple sources of power.
I casually drew the sword of the apprentice hero Hindel from my waist and resumed my walk through the garden.
No enemy or monster was visible.
As I wandered, thinking surely there must be one or two in such a vast garden.
A wide expanse of grass came into view at the far end of the garden.
And upon it stood something.
As I approached with long strides.
I could perceive a peculiar entity.
“Wha…???”
Should it be called a shadow?
Or perhaps a shadow-formed beast?
Though uncertain, something that appeared both as hazy darkness and as shadow stood there on two legs.
Yet its form was strange, resembling a quadrupedal beast that had risen to its feet.
Wondering if it was an enemy, I adjusted my grip on the sword.
The creature turned its body toward me.
His sword-blue eyes flickered with uncertainty.
He tilted his head in confusion.
“What…?”
As Yoo Sung-hyun voiced his bewilderment.
A system message materialized before him.
[You have encountered a remnant of the past.]
[You have encountered the Elder Shapeshifter—guardian of Helena’s Garden, sovereign of all doppelgangers, and Helena’s beloved pet.]
[The Elder Shapeshifter currently drifts here in a remnant state.]
[It is severely weakened.]
[The Elder Shapeshifter’s remnant perceives you as an intruder.]
[Your second class advancement trial begins.]
[Defeat the Elder Shapeshifter’s remnant.]
As Yoo Sung-hyun read the messages and drew his blade to set his stance, the moment the atmosphere shifted.
The Elder Shapeshifter’s remnant stretched its form like a shadow, elongating grotesquely before transforming into an exact replica of Yoo Sung-hyun.
Witnessing this, Yoo Sung-hyun understood immediately.
The Elder Shapeshifter’s remnant had duplicated all of his stats and every skill he possessed.
Within the suffocating tension that preceded imminent combat.
Something peculiar caught Yoo Sung-hyun’s eye.
A single entity, shyly peering from behind a garden pillar, watching him intently.
A teal-colored specter bearing the Elder Shapeshifter’s likeness.
-Ah, oh my! W-welcome…
At the sight of it hiding away, Yoo Sung-hyun let out a soft chuckle and relaxed his guard.
It seemed there would be quite a lot to gain from this encounter.

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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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