< Chapter 156: Determined Move (1) >
Time flies swiftly.
A week has passed.
“…Phew. It’s giving me a headache.”
I sat at my desk, submerged in contemplation as I gazed at the towering stack of catalogs in front of me.
“The problem indeed is the number of traits possessed.”
The overload rate of Adam’s Mark changing to green, red, and black was giving me a headache.
‘The more traits I acquire, the fewer ancient relics I can use.’
That’s the issue. When facing the unknown, it’s better to have more ancient relics.
‘But it’s not just about collecting ancient relics.’
After all, ancient relics are items akin to instantaneous ‘doping’.
My physical specs must be enhanced to maximize their effect.
It’s only logical that an S-rank superhuman using an S-rank item is much stronger than an F-rank superhuman using an S-rank item.
‘At the very least, I want to raise all my ability stats to A-rank.’
Although I have the blessing of the Beast King, it is literally the last fortress.
Considering the worst-case scenario, I want to at least secure the ability stats of an A-rank superhuman.
To do so, I have no choice but to learn a certain amount of ‘traits’.
That’s why I’m wrestling with dilemma upon dilemma as I look through the catalog now. To categorize the types of ancient relics to use right now and those to use on the day of the decisive action.
“First of all, I’ve arranged to receive the relic tomorrow, so I have to decide by tomorrow….”
My contemplation continued throughout the night.
* * *
The following day.
With a haggard face, I headed to the meeting place.
“Hello.”
In the warehouse located underground of the Bihon guild headquarters, I greeted Yu Hwa who was busily moving around inside.
“Welcome.”
Yu Hwa approached me.
“You look pale. Did you not sleep well last night?”
“Yes. I ended up pondering a lot, having many thoughts, you know…”
“What could possibly trouble you so much?”
“…This and that?”
Yu Hwa cast a suspicious glance with her twinkling eyes.
“Is it because of the Dragon’s Lair?”
“Exactly.”
Although it was quite different from what Yu Hwa was thinking, it was indeed true that I was worried because of the Dragon’s Lair.
“You have something to worry about? I thought you said you knew information regarding the Dragon’s Lair.”
“That’s exactly why I’m even more worried.”
“True. It was a dungeon where the much-touted superhumans from the U.S. failed three times, wasn’t it?”
Yu Hwa nodded as if convinced.
“So have you decided which relics to borrow? It seemed like you were deeply concerned until yesterday.”
“Yes.”
I handed the catalog to Yu Hwa.
“I want to borrow the relics marked with check signs here.”
Yu Hwa skimmed through the handed-over catalog. With each page she turned, her pupils slightly expanded.
“That’s unexpected. I thought you would primarily choose the higher-ranked ones.”
It seemed my choice was somewhat puzzling.
“Yes. Just because they are high-ranked doesn’t necessarily mean they are all good relics.”
What mattered was the unique effects they possessed, the rank wasn’t that significant. There were many I couldn’t borrow due to the overload rate of Adam’s Mark even if they were high-ranked.
Like the relics of the Angel Race, or the relics of the Angel Race, or the relics of the Angel Race…
“Alright. So, should I prepare them according to this list?”
“Yes, please.”
“Understood. Then…”
“Ah, before that, could I possibly touch the relics a bit?”
Yu Hwa raised an eyebrow.
“Touch them?”
She had a face that seemed to ask if there was really a need to do so. Although I had mentioned acquiring traits from the ancient relics, I had not explained exactly how that process works.
It was natural for her to harbor such doubts.
“There are things you can’t understand through the catalog but can comprehend when you touch them directly. Like, for instance, the relics that are sealed.”
I beat around the bush while maintaining a policy of not lying. In reality, there could be relics that are sealed, like the ‘fang engraved with mana’ from that time.
“…That could be possible.”
Yu Hwa nodded seriously with a grave expression.
“Alright. Then, I will guide you to the warehouse where the relics are stored.”
“You know to turn off the CCTV inside the warehouse, right?”
I couldn’t allow the scenes of me using the ancient relics to be recorded on video.
“Do you take me for an amateur?”
Yu Hwa glared at me, a playful expression on her face.
“Then follow me. I’ll guide you inside.”
“Yes.”
I followed Yu Hwa, moving towards the central part of the warehouse.
And on that day,
“Okay.”
I acquired a total of six additional traits.
* * *
All the preparations were complete.
Today is July 26th.
It’s the day with only three days left until the raid on the Dragon’s Lair, and the day I leave for the United States.
“Then, I’ll be going.”
“Yes.”
Rena waved her hand with a slightly downcast expression.
It’s much better than when I went to Japan.
“Si-yeon will stay here for a month. Have a good time together.”
“Yes.”
Thanks to Si-yeon’s relentless efforts.
Initially, it was quite awkward, but now they’ve opened up to each other to the point where they can smile brightly even when they’re just the two of them. Rena should be fine with Si-yeon.
“Well…”
She hesitated as she approached me, then grabbed my sleeve and pulled it gently with weak force.
“…You have to come back soon.”
I stroked Rena’s head.
“Yes. I’ll come back as soon as possible.”
As I smiled, Rena also smiled sheepishly in return.
“Take care.”
Rena, who took three steps back, lowered her head with a nod.
“Then, I’ll really be going.”
I waved my hand slightly and opened the front door.
* * *
On one runway at Incheon Airport, The One Guild’s private jet was parked.
“Hello!”
The Knight of Ice, Tay, approached me with a bright smile.
“Seo-yul! Long time no see! Haha!”
He grasped both of my hands and shook them vigorously up and down. His eyes were still full of fervor.
“Oh oh…!”
No, it’s hotter than last time.
Much hotter.
“Seo-yul! Your mana gathering has become more beautiful than before! What happened?”
“…You can see that?”
Among the six new attributes I acquired, there is one called “Mana’s True Essence” which is a trait of the Succubus race. The effect is a general enhancement of “Mana quality”, increasing mana capacity and efficiency. Thanks to this, my mana has risen to B-rank.
“Of course. My eyes can see mana in 24 colors.”
Tay brought his face even closer to mine. His pupils were shining with various colors, like some kind of comic lens.
“Isn’t it amazing?”
“Is it a trait?”
“Yes.”
The Knight of Ice, who was said to be nearly invincible against magicians, had such a trait.
“…Tay. What are you planning to do by revealing such confidential information to an outsider?”
A man enveloped in black from head to toe approached from behind—One-Man Army, Luke. He gave Tay a fairly harsh glare.
“What does it matter? He would naturally find out while we are working together on the raid this time anyway.”
Tay laughed heartily. It was a smile that harmonized well with his brilliant golden hair.
… If it weren’t for his strange taste for mana, he would be a really good person.
“That’s right. Luke, you are too stiff.”
This time, the Witch of Flames, Susan, came over with a generous smile.
“Did all three of you come here because of me?”
Such busy people coming all the way here.
“We had some business in China, so we stopped by on our way?”
“Ah, I see.”
So that was it.
“And it’s not just the three of us who came.”
“Huh?”
Susan gave a meaningful smile.
Kwoong-!
At that moment, the air became heavy. It felt as if something was pressing down on the entire space.
“Say hello.”
As if familiar with this phenomenon, Susan spoke calmly.
“Our boss.”
I heard someone walking. The heavy and regular footsteps trampling on the cement floor of the runway.
“Caribma Nerista.”
An expressionless face devoid of any discernible emotion, and the oppressive presence that could be felt just from the way he walked. A monstrous figure that seemed like ‘power’ incarnated into a human came up to me and extended his right hand.
“Nice to meet you.”
Caribma Nerista.
The guild master of The One Guild.
“I look forward to working with you for a while.”
Unknown asked for a handshake.
“…Yes. I look forward to working with you.”
I grasped his hand.
* * *
Immediately after arriving in the US.
As soon as I arrived at the room I was guided to, I felt drained.
“Wow, shit. What pressure.”
The master’s pressure was beyond imagination. Just being near him created a pressure that felt like it was crushing me.
“That’s the mana he naturally exudes…”
There’s no one crazier.
It’s truly absurd.
When I coincidentally met him last time at the superhero officer school, the mana he exuded must have been significantly restrained. I realized that only now.
“It doesn’t seem like it would be impossible to win…”
Considering the ancient relics I possess, the blessing of the Beast King, the Stone of Creation, and the variable known as ‘Maestro’, I wouldn’t be pushed around at least.
But I also can’t assert with certainty that I would win.
‘Unknown’s abilities have not all been revealed in the original work.’
Unknown’s ability is ‘Copy’.
‘In the original work, not all abilities were described. The power he possesses is too vast, and since it is a novel, some descriptions would have been abbreviated.’
What I know of Unknown’s power is just a measly 20.
In the original work, only 20 traits and skills were used.
‘I don’t even know the conditions for copying.’
I don’t know exactly how he copies others’ abilities.
It didn’t come up in the original work, so there’s no way to know.
As long as there is even one ability I don’t know about, I can’t be certain of victory.
All I know is that Unknown possesses over a hundred traits and that he is a being nearly ‘immortal,’ having lived for hundreds of years.
‘…From the start, almost no hints about Unknown were unraveled.’
The reason why he harbored the goal of ‘defining the system.’
The reason he could live for hundreds of years.
Even the background explanation including his past is not clear.
‘The end was quite hollow too.’
Pushed back by the overpowering Kang Seo-yul, who had the cheat trait beyond standards called [S-class Status Window], he met his death. That was the end of Unknown.
I recalled the last moments of Unknown.
「”I resent it. This world, humanity, and everything in the world I took for granted.”
The light in Unknown’s pupils dwindled.
“Kang Seo-yul.”
He, while panting heavily from a distance, looked at Kang Seo-yul.
“Doubt. Be troubled. Ponder.”
Unknown revealed his teeth and smiled.
“And regret.”
With those last words, Unknown dispersed, becoming dust.」
The hint regarding his last words, which I thought would entail some great clue, remained unresolved until the very end.
“…What on earth did that phrase mean?”
* * *
Meanwhile, at that time.
The master left a message saying he was going to take a rest and headed home.
Thud, thud.
Only the master’s footsteps echoed in the silent mansion. There was nobody in the mansion because all the employees had already left after finishing their workday.
“Interesting.”
The master smiled.
His eyes were brimming with desire. If someone who knew the usual master saw this scene, they would have been so shocked that they would fall backward, exclaiming, ‘The master is showing emotion!’
‘Kang Seo-yul.’
Master.
No, the smile of Unknown, who had thrown off the mask of the master, deepened.
‘It seems worth researching.’
He clenched and unclenched the hand that had shaken hands with Kang Seo-yul, recalling Kang Seo-yul’s energy over and over again.
‘I thought there was nothing elseto research about energy.’
Kang Seo-yul’s energy was very unique.
So unique that even Unknown, who had been researching energies for a long time, saw it for the first time.
‘It’s said to be the energy of a person who possesses all attributes.’
Unknown’s quickened footsteps seemed to represent his excited mood.
‘But how did his energy quality change so much in such a short period?’
It was not like this when they accidentally met at the Korean Superhuman Officer School last time.
His strength and energy were ordinary.
He was neither more nor less than a slightly promising officer cadet.
But the Kang Seo-yul he met today was different.
‘At least an A-rank superhuman.’
An unbelievable rapid growth.
The growth rate should be described as evolution, not growth.
‘Is it the blooming of a trait? A change in physique? The awakening of a skill?’
Unknown shook his head with a smile on his face.
‘No. No way. Those three manifestations can’t possibly explain this growth rate.’
Unknown, who had been researching the [system] for a countless amount of time, could be certain.
Kang Seo-yul’s growth rate was out of the ordinary.
Unknown’s brain continued to accelerate.
‘That means….’
Unknown’s steps halted.
A flash of realization flowed in his eyes.
‘Kang Seo-yul is also an irregular not bound by the system….’
Unknown’s pupils shined even brighter.
‘Is it an Unknown?’
Elation, desire, obsession.
They were eyes swirling with such emotions, full of sticky feelings.
< Chapter 156: Determined Move (1) > End
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