The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 99

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

Episode 99
Episode 99
4.
I had intended to escape this place after hearing the words of Kals, the raven-faced emissary of Overpalace.
Yet Yoo Sung-hyun found myself entranced, repeatedly checking the item’s grade.
Even after looking twice, three times, it remained the same.
Almighty grade.
An item grade that could only be obtained by clearing the Main Quest.
And they were simply giving it away like this?
It was beyond comprehension.
The effects were even more extraordinary.
『Primordial Demon Seal Ring』
→《Almighty》
→A ring bearing the seal of a primordial demon.
→It is said that none know which primordial demon crafted it, nor why such a ring was ever created.
→Upon equipping, increases the power of darkness attribute (jet-black, shadow, darkness, abyss) by +30%.
→Upon equipping, grants complete immunity to darkness attribute (jet-black, shadow, darkness, abyss).
→Upon equipping, delays the transposition of entities that teleport around the wearer five times per day.
Gulp.
Even the composed and unflappable Yoo Sung-hyun couldn’t help but swallow hard at such effects.
A 30% increase to darkness attribute power, and complete immunity on top of that.
This alone was an extraordinary effect.
‘And transposition delay as well?’
They said that at the Almighty grade, items could shake the entire continent.
It was truly so.
As Yoo Sung-hyun stood dazed, staring at the grade,
Kals, the raven-faced man, spoke to me with an apologetic tone.
“To have to send away one who is not yet a true hero, but merely a successor to heroism, feels as though we doubt the successor’s strength, and my heart is torn with sorrow. However, we must make this unavoidable choice to prevent any unforeseen circumstances, and I sincerely apologize.”
It was an action that could appear to cast doubt on my qualifications.
In a sense, Kals’s words held merit.
Yet Yoo Sung-hyun tilted my head in confusion.
“Isn’t it natural to send someone away safely if there’s danger involved?”
“Ah…!!!”
Upon hearing Yoo Sung-hyun’s understanding response,
hot tears streamed down behind Kals’s mask.
How could one be so compassionate and understanding?
It was something I could have been angry about.
I could have protested, asking if I appeared so weak.
Being doubted in ability could wound one’s pride.
Yet Yoo Sung-hyun did not react that way.
Rather than feeling indignant or angry, I accepted it as though it were only natural.
After all, it was natural to feel grateful toward Overpalace for protecting me while I was still weak.
There was something that nagged at me, though.
At least it wasn’t a feeling of resentment.
Yoo Sung-hyun grew somewhat tired watching tears stream down from behind the mask, but he brushed it aside.
He spoke casually, letting it pass.
“More than anything, even if you’re not yet complete as a successor—as a hero, I mean—the fact that you’re stepping forward like this shows you’ve grown far more than I have, doesn’t it?”
“Y-yes, that is so.”
Perhaps it was too painful to admit outright that the hero’s successor was superior.
He spoke while coughing up blood.
Actual blood.
It must have been that agonizing.
In any case.
“Then I can help you escape.”
As Yoo Sung-hyun said this, he thought to himself.
It was something he could fully understand.
Having only just begun, there was no way he could be stronger than the hero’s successor.
No matter how much he insisted he wasn’t yet a true hero.
Once Yoo Sung-hyun understood it that way.
The raven-man Kals closed his eyes gently.
He was moved by such considerate conduct.
He wished to continue the conversation and hear more of the successor’s story.
Unfortunately, that was not possible.
“I would wish to speak further, but it seems time is running short now. I shall escort you to the village. Until the day we meet again, I pray for your good health.”
Snap!
With those words, Kals bowed his head and snapped his fingers.
Countless ravens came flying in like a tempest.
Hundreds, thousands of ravens appeared and swirled around Yoo Sung-hyun, their jet-black feathers fluttering as the surrounding landscape melted away.
As the space shifted, Yoo Sung-hyun closed his eyes, and when he opened them again.
The ravens were gone, and the familiar landscape of Selmas village came into view.
Some NPCs were startled by Yoo Sung-hyun’s sudden appearance.
But users appearing out of nowhere wasn’t exactly a rare occurrence.
Other players paid Yoo Sung-hyun no mind either.
Soon they all returned to their own business.
After the gazes of the crowd had drifted away.
Yoo Sung-hyun reflected quietly.
‘Still, it’s a bit of a shame, though.’
Not indignation, nor anger, nor wounded pride.
Yet it was regrettable.
The fact that I’m still so weak I couldn’t even meet the hero’s successor.
For Yoo Sung-hyun, who pursued Hindel’s footsteps, encountering someone with the qualities of a modern hero held profound significance.
Yet that was precisely what troubled him.
If only he could have met and spoken with them, perhaps he might have uncovered new traces of Hindel’s path.
That regret cut deeper still.
And so Yoo Sung-hyun added another objective to the ambitions burning within his heart.
‘If I grow strong enough that next time such an opportunity comes, I won’t have to retreat—wouldn’t that solve everything?’
Yoo Sung-hyun’s list of goals had grown by one.
To follow in Hindel’s footsteps.
To witness the end of the Overlord that Helena never saw.
And now, to grow stronger quickly so he wouldn’t miss any future opportunities.
All three goals were intertwined, after all.
Regardless.
Yoo Sung-hyun reaffirmed his new objectives.
And prepared to move on.
He had long outgrown the level appropriate for the Third Village.
【Status Window】
『Yoo Sung-hyun』
『Lv 92』
『Class』
→『Overlord』
『Titles』
→『Sovereign (Legendary)』… and 32 others.
『Attributes』
→《Strength: 105(80+25)》《Agility: 105(95+10)》
《Stamina: 105(95+10)》《Intelligence: 199(180+19)》
《Wisdom: 200(181+19)》《Mental Fortitude: 133(120+13)》
《Dexterity: 7(6+1)》
『Unallocated Attributes』
→《0》
‘Quite impressive.’
With the unallocated attributes distributed.
It was flawless.
Yoo Sung-hyun’s current level was a remarkable 92.
The Third Village’s level cap was 80.
He should have departed long ago.
He had been level 79 before undertaking the Main Quest.
This dramatic surge was the result of that endeavor.
‘Then perhaps it’s time to move forward?’
The Dune Wild Trail—also known as the Fourth Village.
A vast field region connected to all the Third Villages.
As a result, it was a place where all users from Level 80 to 120 on the East Asia Server gathered together.
Due to this, it was a peculiar region where there were more users than NPCs.
Of course, this brought about considerable chaos.
The number of malicious users commonly called villains was also far greater.
Because it was such a distinctive place.
Yoo Sung-hyun was quite anticipating this location.
‘What kind of events might unfold here?’
What other ghosts might exist in that place.
What other users might I encounter.
As Yoo Sung-hyun held such expectations.
-I have something to tell you about the next region, if I may.
Nocturnium carefully opened its mouth.
The next region?
In that moment, a clue flashed through my mind.
“Could it be what you mentioned earlier?”
-Yes, it concerns my colleague whom I spoke of at the Castle.
It seemed to be about that colleague who had lost their soul.
The clue to the Main Quest, as it were.
Curiosity stirred within me as I looked at Nocturnium.
Nocturnium read its master’s intent and bowed its head respectfully before speaking.
-In the Dune Wild Trail that lies ahead, I sense his aura rising. It appears that with the Dark Castle now activated, he is sensing that aura and beginning to stir from his slumber.
“Oh? What kind of being is he?”
-Though he has lost much of his power and is far removed from his former glory, he was once a loyal Third Legion Commander under the old Lord, and a commander who ruled countless undead including those called the Calamity, the Doom Knights.
“Oh?”
Countless undead, you say.
How intriguing.
Since he has lost much of his power.
The numbers must have decreased significantly.
But still, he would be a formidable opponent, would he not?
Is the next Main Quest to stop him?
As Yoo Sung-hyun smiled at such thoughts.
Nocturnium responded in kind.
-His legion, having lost its power, has also suffered great losses in numbers, so it seems there are only a few remaining. It appears to be approximately one million, if I may estimate.
“???”
One million?
And you call that a reduction?
If this is a Main Quest, wouldn’t the difficulty spike too much?
Can I really clear this alone?
Just as Yoo Sung-hyun, filled with questions, was about to ask Nocturnium.
[This is a World-wide announcement.]
[A large-scale event is occurring!]
[An event will take place in 28 hours from now at Dune Wild Trail – Western Plains.]
[All users with levels between 80 and 120 are eligible to participate.]
[Detailed information has not yet been released.]
[We appreciate your participation.]
A major event announcement had been posted.
And there was even a personal message visible only to Yoo Sung-hyun.
[A phantom from the past has awakened.]
[Checking conditions.]
[Main Quest ‘Dark Castle’ cleared (Completed)]
[‘Overlord’ Second Class Advancement (Completed)]
[‘Overlord’ Helena’s Garden Possession (Completed)]
[‘Overlord’ Level 90 or Higher (Completed)]
[All conditions have been met.]
[The ‘Overlord’ Main Quest, ‘Invasion of the Doom Knight’, has begun.]
[The ‘Overlord’ Main Quest ‘Invasion of the Doom Knight’ is connected to the large-scale event.]
‘A Main Quest that’s also a large-scale event.’
The situation had grown bigger than I’d anticipated.
But it seemed like it would be quite entertaining.
5.
What is the best news for players in a game?
It varies depending on preference.
But most would agree that anyone would be delighted by a new update.
Not an update that nerfs something, but rather an update like a special event!
For players who had already enjoyed everything available, it was like rain in a drought.
Wouldn’t most gamers agree with this sentiment?
“Ugh, there’s nothing to do.”
Since I was always playing the game, the things to enjoy naturally dwindled.
So could there really be a user who disliked event updates?
Most games become tedious or run out of content after extended playtime.
So it’s only natural to welcome updates.
That’s precisely why Eternal World is considered the greatest game of all time.
Because there was virtually no end to the things to do.
Freedom bordering on the infinite.
The liberation of adventuring across the world.
NPCs existing in numbers equal to the world’s population.
And quests numbering as many as those NPCs.
And now a new large-scale event had appeared?
Naturally, the users’ reactions were bound to be explosive.
[MonsterChef : Whoa, a large-scale event??? In Dune Wild???]
[Dungeon Swimmer Seal: So jealous;;; Can’t participate because I’m level 150… This is so frustrating….]
[Local Outshining NPCs: This is just;;; So jealous;;;]
[Afraid of Orcs: Squeal??? I’m definitely participating!!!]
[Stake Damage Expert: But what kind of event is this? If it’s a large-scale event, it sounds like it’ll be insane???]
Healer for 20 Years: No clue, but I’m still excited. Has E-World ever done a bad event? I’ve been here 20 years, and I’m being real with you lol.
└[Sleeping Wolf: What are you talking about? Eternal World only opened 2 years ago.]
Public opinion was in turmoil.
Some players were already forming teams to prepare for tomorrow’s event.
Others were planning to participate on a guild basis.
Large-scale events always came with enormous rewards.
The speed at which people’s attention converged was staggering.
Traffic numbers skyrocketed.
It took only a few hours before there wasn’t a single user on the East Asia Server who didn’t know about this event.
Moreover.
[Guild Ranking 86th Fine Fire Guild Declares Participation!]
[Guild Ranking 12th Six Brothers Guild Declares Participation!]
[Guild Ranking 8th Tempest Wing Guild Declares Participation!]
[Karma Guild Echo Willow Guild Declares Participation!]
….
….
[Guild Ranking 4th Eclipse Order Guild Declares Participation!]
Prestigious guilds announced their participation, and even the top-ranked guilds that usually kept a low profile declared their entry.
In particular, the notorious guilds known as Karma Guilds also announced their participation one after another.
Echo Willow, which had dealings with Yoo Sung-hyun before, also declared participation.
It became both a grand festival and a brutal battlefield.
People’s attention could only intensify.
Foreign guilds decided to participate using their East Asia Server branches.
Interest was rising at an unprecedented pace.
Despite the event being held in just 28 hours.
People were preparing around the clock.
At the same time, promising members from various guilds were being discussed.
It was inevitable.
Though it was a large-scale event that everyone could enjoy.
The truth was that only a tiny fraction would stand out.
Users chattered excitedly, wondering who would make a name for themselves.
[AOE Damage Enthusiast: Who’s going to make waves this time?]
[Death Today: Probably Meiran from Eclipse Order, right? She’s the most promising player under level 100 these days.]
[24-hour raid user: lol when did Meiran become the enemy lol the trend now is the Demon King.]
Some mentioned Yoo Sung-hyun.
But unfortunately, they were immediately refuted.
└[Swordsmith: Ah, ‘Yoo Sung-hyun’… but the Demon King can’t participate anyway, right?]
└[Legend of the Homebody: ??? Why wouldn’t the Demon King be able to participate?]
└[Swordsmith: Logically speaking, the raid footage released recently showed a level 60s raid boss, so he probably maxed out at level 80. It’ll be tough for him to beat Meiran, who just reached level 100.]
Yoo Sung-hyun hadn’t yet demonstrated a high enough level.
That was understandable.
It wasn’t easy to surpass Meiran’s reputation with her higher level.
No matter how incredible his Achievements were.
In an RPG, you couldn’t ignore levels.
He might not have even reached level 80.
Leveling wasn’t easy in this game, after all.
Most players agreed with that opinion.
So other names naturally came up more than Yoo Sung-hyun’s.
└[Orcs Are Scary: Heh, you’re right. And besides Meiran, Kurosawa Ren is worth looking forward to too.]
[Potion Master: Yeah, the champion will be Meiran anyway.]
[Man Who Doesn’t Use Skills: I wish the Demon King had leveled up too. Still, at least Korea has Jun-hyuk.]
[Five-Man Party Disbanded: If you’re Korean, please support Jun-hyuk.]
[Low-Level Commander: Let’s see Yoo Sung-hyun’s performance next time.]
The consensus was that one of those three would likely stand out the most.
If you were to name the three most famous users on the East Asia Server right now, those three would come up.
Though Yoo Sung-hyun was rising recently.
No one expected him to perform well.
Unaware of where this situation had originated.
And so Yoo Sung-hyun gradually faded from the users’ memories.
The fading subject himself was testing out his newly acquired skills.
Beneath the sun, black flames rippled and blazed.
As the black flames incinerated all enemies, and corpses were slaughtered and scattered among the dark flowers blooming from the shadowy earth.
I scratched my head and gazed at the message that appeared.
[Level Up!]×3
[You have reached Level 95.]
“At this rate, maybe I can push it to 100?”

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