Chapter 28
Chapter 28: Reappearance (1)
“Du-sik, push the paper on the sword with all your strength.”
When doing the item enhancement, there had been four consecutive failures, but the last attempt had been a great success.
Erik trusted Jang Du-sik’s performance.
“But, brother, didn’t you say the first one was 100% success?”
“You never know.”
“……100% means there’s no probability of failure.”
Erik’s trapezius muscles twitched.
“Do you think I don’t know that?”
“I just said it just in case. Brother was the one who taught me arithmetic, so there’s no way I would……”
“Enough, hurry up and do it.”
Jang Du-sik hastily moved his body.
He placed his hand on the paper laid on the sword Creation and nodded.
‘Even while possessing such great divinity, brother had terribly bad luck.’
Come to think of it, if it was that Erik, there was a high probability he’d ignore the 100% chance and fail.
God is indeed fair!
To Jang Du-sik, who had observed Erik, luck was something as distant as heaven and earth.
Jang Du-sik pushed the paper in with all his strength.
Immediately.
Ssssaaaaaaa!
The [Item Enhancement Ticket] soaked into the sword Creation as if disappearing.
Silver ripples undulated across the blade.
A massive light enveloped the sword and the blade of Creation sparkled.
It was like.
“Th-that’s the enhancement effect, isn’t it?”
“Wow, it’s pretty.”
It was similar to when enhancing items in the game.
That light gradually gathered as if condensing into the sword.
The three possessors stared blankly at the spectacle.
‘Why is a +1 enhancement so flashy?’
Nishida Ryo, full of complaints and dissatisfaction.
Even he watched the item enhancement effect with admiration.
It was just a +1 enhancement, but its effect was very splendid.
“That’s why…… I spent so much money on cash purchases.”
How much money had he blown on enhancements?
Though it was from before the possession in the game.
Seeing the enhancement effect that was dazzling even on a monitor appear in reality…….
“My goodness, the effect is fucking incredible.”
It was so bright it wasn’t just dazzling but almost painful to the eyes.
Jang Du-sik, the only native, frowned at the item enhancement effect he was seeing for the first time.
Passss!
The light enveloping the sword gradually scattered, and a bright golden glow rose above the [Sword of Creation].
The effect of the golden light was simple.
“+1 enhancement appeared!”
“Seeing it in reality makes it even prettier!”
“If the effect is already like this at this stage……”
The three possessors offered words of congratulations and admiration as they had in the game.
Though it wasn’t really worth saying for ‘+1 enhancement’……
Since Erik was so happy, they tactfully offered their praise.
“Brother, but what changes when it’s enhanced?”
While everyone was celebrating, only Jang Du-sik couldn’t be happy.
What was what…….
He couldn’t understand it at all.
“Du-sik, enhancement, you see.”
As with most games, there are three stages in item enhancement.
[Item Enhancement Ticket]
What they just used was a Tier 1 enhancement ticket, and once enhancement up to +10 is completed, additional effects are given.
To get that far, they need to obtain high-grade enhancement tickets that can be farmed in the upper layers of the Labyrinth.
[Tier 2 Item Enhancement Ticket]
[Tier 3 Item Enhancement Ticket]
Graduating a weapon in the game means completing Tier 3 enhancement on the strongest weapon.
The explanation continued up to this point.
“With just a scrap of paper…… you’re saying weapons can really be enhanced?”
Jang Du-sik blinked his eyes as if he couldn’t believe it.
To that, Erik smiled and said.
“If we get more, I’ll enhance your club too, Du-sik. You’ll definitely feel it when you use it yourself.”
“The club can be enhanced too?”
“Item Enhancement Tickets can be used on all things in the world.”
Things that only existed in the game had appeared in reality.
[Sacred Relics] that only existed as settings in the game were brazenly released into the world in reality.
‘It feels like the two worlds are merging.’
[Sword of Creation +1]
Perhaps now the Labyrinth would become even more game-like?
The appearance of such elements in reality was certainly welcome news.
It would make conquering that much easier.
Erik thought this while looking at the name tag floating above the sacred relic.
“Well, since matters on the 1st floor are finished.”
Now it was time to go up.
***
Piiiiiiiii!
Labyrinth 2nd floor.
The sound of a whistle echoed through the Goblin Forest.
It was an emergency item provided by the Adventurer’s Guild, something that normally wasn’t used on the lower floors.
Yet the whistle sounded.
“Qu-quickly! Run!”
“Damn it, Roen died……”
The adventurer party ‘Steel’ had encountered danger on the Labyrinth’s 2nd floor.
“Wh-why is there a black mage?”
Under the dreary ceiling of the Labyrinth, the place overgrown with verdant green forest was the 2nd floor Goblin Forest.
Psheeek.
The leaves that had been looking up at the sky lowered their heads to the ground, and the fresh green was stained with damp brown.
Black magic power is the power that harms life.
“Last time some paladin made all the goblins evaporate……”
“I’d rather have the paladin. Why did those fucking black mages appear?”
Piiiiiiiii!
The Adventurer’s Guild’s emergency whistle.
Depending on the length of the whistle, its meaning changes.
“James, your leg?”
“Huff. I can manage.”
A long whistle means assembly.
When an anomaly occurs in the Labyrinth, if there are high-rank adventurers, a long whistle is heard.
A giant shield emblem rose into the sky.
“The assembly point is in this direction. Just run a little more!”
This indicates the location of the assembly point.
It’s a measure by the Guild to protect low-rank adventurers from unexpected dangers.
“Luckily, since it’s the first day, there are high-rank adventurers remaining.”
“Ugh. Right……”
The adventurer party moved their bodies as much as possible toward the assembly point.
However, black magic power is the force that turns life into ashes.
James felt his blackened leg aching. His senses dulled and it became increasingly difficult to move.
Thud!
James stopped.
“James?”
“John, leave me and go. Make sure to inform the Guild…… no, the Empire!”
“Damn it.”
John bit his lower lip.
Blood dripped- from his lips.
James’s leg had been eroded by black magic power and withered into a blackened twist.
Adventurer party Steel.
They had lost their leader and their reliable tank had collapsed.
He was a childhood friend who had dreamed of being an adventurer, a companion climbing the Labyrinth.
“I-if we use holy water, we can restore.”
John had no intention of leaving James behind, and.
Scritch.
“Abandon your attachments.”
James cut off his own leg, erasing John’s attachments.
A damage dealer couldn’t carry a tank and run.
John squeezed his eyes shut and placed his fist on his chest.
The adventurers’ greeting.
“May you see the end of adventure in your dreams-.”
“-May your journey end safely.”
It was a farewell greeting.
John turned his head and ran toward the assembly location.
Tears scattered in the wind.
The assembly point was getting closer.
“Huff- huff.”
Breathing heavily, John reached the assembly location.
‘Everyone gathered here.’
Hope bloomed in despair.
The clearing in the forest of the Labyrinth’s 2nd floor was filled with adventurers.
‘What is everyone looking at?’
They were all looking in one direction, and John looked that way too.
But.
“Urk!”
John’s body began moving on its own.
Like the other adventurers, he walked toward the center of the clearing with jerky- stuttering steps.
“Kehehehe, I don’t know what weaklings think they’re discussing about adventure.”
In the center of the assembly point, a black mage wearing robes was waving his hand, drawing a magic circle.
Writhing black liquid in the air gradually took shape.
It formed the shape of a giant demon.
The black mage said.
“There are so many low-rank adventurers on the 2nd floor. Hmm, the quality is a bit lacking, but you’ll be satisfied with the quantity.”
John panicked at his unmoving body and despaired at the black mage before his eyes.
‘H-how can there be a black mage?’
Black mages within the Empire had been exterminated.
It was an achievement accomplished in childhood by Riferoze Astia and his direct disciple Erik.
‘There haven’t been any black mages appearing in recent years……‘
Suddenly a black mage appeared.
The man covered in black robes reached out toward the adventurers.
His nails were missing and the empty spots were stained pitch black.
The symbol of black mages.
Those who handle black power, their ends stained black.
The large face of a monster with two giant horns.
The magic circle opened its mouth wide.
“Please enter in order.”
The black mage politely extended his hand, pointing to the monster’s maw.
One, two.
The adventurers walked into it as if entranced.
“Hehe, if I just go around a few more areas, there won’t be any people left on the 2nd floor.”
There are many low-rank adventurers.
Until they become skilled in fighting monsters and are recognized by the Adventurer’s Guild, they aren’t given permission to conquer the upper floors.
Still, there are plenty who make enough to live on and give up conquering to engage in livelihoods.
That’s why they’re the most numerous.
‘D-damn it.’
John is one of those many low-rank adventurers.
Before he knew it, John’s turn had come.
The pitch-black liquid took the shape of a demon with a protruding mouth.
Drip-drip.
Black droplets fell onto John’s head.
Droplets falling from the demon’s teeth.
As if drooling, the droplets gradually thickened.
It was then.
Assemble here!!
A heavy voice that resonated thunderously through the world was heard.
At that, the black mage’s body flinched and trembled.
***
“Erik, black mages are things that should die just by existing.”
Riferoze said.
In his childhood, Erik couldn’t handle divine power.
To wield the divine power that endlessly leaked out through his body, he wandered battlefields.
Power grows when used, according to his teacher’s theory.
“Black magic power takes away all life.”
The main enemy at that time was black mages.
“What about the living?”
When Erik asked.
His teacher laughed ‘haha’ deeply and raised his hand high into the sky.
Then he raised great divine power and erected a pillar.
“You create guidance for them.”
He erected a strong pillar of divine power that any survivor could recognize.
“And then you shout.”
Teacher Riferoze brought his mouth to Erik’s ear with a mischievous face.
Erik at that time was very small.
To such a small Erik’s ear, his teacher shouted.
“Assemble here!!!”
Pilgrim Riferoze is here.
I will protect you.
It was a shout containing such meaning.
“It’s full of filthy black magic power.”
Immediately after arriving at the Labyrinth’s 2nd floor, Erik was reminded of memories with his teacher.
The air was that disgusting.
“This dampness is like some kind of steamer.”
“Isn’t it familiar?”
“Ah, right. When I first saw brother, the back alley was…… Huh. Wait, is this black magic power?”
“Yes.”
Erik’s face hardened.
Though it was such a brilliant and handsome face, it was very scary.
‘Brother is really pissed off.’
Jang Du-sik’s hair stood on end.
When Erik is in a bad mood, his face would contort horribly.
But when he’s angry, it’s different.
“Where did these fucking bastards crawl out from?”
His face becomes very expressionless.
His eyes become murderous.
It was a face ready to kill someone.
When Erik gets like that, he charges forward like a bulldozer without caring about anything.
“With the Imperial Army here, are you going to step in?”
Jang Du-sik asked Erik calmly.
“If brother goes on a rampage over the black mage issue, won’t that create more problems?”
The Imperial Army manages the lower floors of the Labyrinth.
Stepping forward while pushing aside that Imperial Army could risk increasing friction between the religious order and the Imperial Army.
However.
“When I need to step in, I must step in. Even if I’m not part of the Imperial Army, aren’t I the Director of the Possessor Management Bureau?”
“B-but with the incident of bursting the prince, the Imperial Army’s gaze……”
Jang Du-sik trailed off.
Erik was already moving.
Kuuuuuung.
Erik extended his hand and filled it with divine power.
He erected a pillar, creating guidance for survivors.
A massive and splendid golden pillar was created in the middle of the Goblin Forest.
Woong, woong, woong.
Beautiful golden ripples surged in all directions.
As if saying there is divine power here.
It seemed to say so.
‘What on earth is he trying to do……’
After erecting a pillar made of divine power, Erik suddenly raised his head high toward the sky.
He brought his two hands to his mouth and took a posture as if about to shout.
Then.
Assemble here!!!
A roar that literally shook the earth erupted.
Was that a sound that came from a human mouth?
Sssaaaaa!
The bushes surrounding all sides shook.
A majestic bass descended upon the forest.
‘That’s a paladin.’
The three possessors hid at a distance and watched Erik.
They didn’t run away.
They distanced themselves from the pillar of divine power.
Even though they had moved away more than a hundred meters, their bodies felt tingly.
Nishida Ryo had been constantly complaining.
But even that had stopped now.
“I-is that really a sound made by a human?”
As Kang Pung-ho said.
Could a shout that shook the earth and world make any sense?
Their ears were tingling.
“Um, what. He’s coming this way?”
Erik suddenly approached the tree where the three possessors were hiding.
Erik, walking with large strides, appeared increasingly larger.
At that, Nishida Ryo and Kang Pung-ho looked at Park Chang-ho.
“W-we weren’t trying to run away-.”
Just as Park Chang-ho was about to make excuses to Erik and Jang Du-sik passing right in front of them.
“Du-sik, hide well with these guys.”
Erik left a single command.
Without even glancing at the possessors, he disappeared into the forest as is.
Kuung.
Kuung.
The forest vibrated following the giant paladin’s footsteps.
What was contained within was anger.
Hatred toward mages who handle black power.
Thud.
“Hiccup!”
Kang Pung-ho’s legs gave out at that majesty.
After Erik disappeared into the forest.
“Possessors, pull yourselves together! From now on, survivors will gather at that pillar!”
Jang Du-sik tried to fulfill his assigned duty.
‘Brother, when did it come to this?’
In the past, when Riferoze erected a pillar, Erik and Jang Du-sik gathered survivors.
‘My goodness, memories are coming back one after another……’
But now, Erik erects the pillar and Jang Du-sik gathers survivors alone.
‘I miss it, but…… I didn’t want to experience it again.’
The reappearance of black mages.
That meaning was too grand to be packaged as mere memories.
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