79 – Lee Myung (1)
A few hours later.
Elena, who seemed a little gloomy, was briefing Kim Hyun-woo on the strategy for the 4th floor when he realized something he hadn’t thought of before.
“The monsters revived?”
“Yes. Of course, in this case, the trainees fought very well, so it wasn’t a big problem. However, if the monsters continue to revive like this on the next floor-“
“I should definitely be careful when attacking the 5th floor. Thank you for letting me know.”
After Elena’s words, Kim Hyun-woo nodded in response and thought to himself.
“I forgot about this.”
At the moment, Kim Hyun-woo’s Labyrinth was using an experience point package, so even though he didn’t know about the boss monsters, the regular monsters continued to revive no matter how many times he killed them.
In other words, while the package was a necessary element to maintain the Labyrinth City, it was actually a hindrance when attacking the Labyrinth.
“I guess I’ll have to take a day off from the Labyrinth next time I attack it.”
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Taking a day off would result in a significant loss, but he couldn’t afford not to attack the Labyrinth, so Kim Hyun-woo decided to attack the Labyrinth from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor every time the package ended, and continued to listen to Elena’s report.
“…The trainees fought so well?”
“Yes. Honestly, I couldn’t have imagined they would fight so well…”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. There was a clear difference from the trainees I’ve seen in other territories.”
Following Elena’s words, Kim Hyun-woo, with a curious expression, nodded in response.
“And, as you can see, this time too, the Blue Bone helped hunt the boss.”
“As expected.”
Kim Hyun-woo looked at the shining blue bone on his desk.
“And, this time, there was a pattern carved on the Blue Bone.”
“…A pattern?”
“Yes.”
In response to Kim Hyunwoo’s subsequent question, Elena pointed to a small pattern drawn on a corner of the blue bone.
Indeed, Kim Hyunwoo could see the pattern engraved on the blue bone from that spot.
A highly intricate pattern.
“…Do you have any guesses about what it might be?”
As Kim Hyunwoo stared at the pattern, Elena asked, but he soon shook his head.
“To be honest, I don’t really know what that pattern means.”
“Really? Even so?”
“Yes. Still, seeing a pattern this time, unlike before, gives me something to think about.”
After Kim Hyunwoo finished speaking, having heard Elena’s additional report.
“Well, I’ll take my leave now.”
“Yes. Since you’ve tackled the hierarchical challenge today, I hope you rest comfortably.”
Kim Hyunwoo, confirming Elena had left, stopped making the magnifying glass and quietly gazed at the pattern on the blue bone.
“Hmm…”
Staring intently at geometric patterns, squares arranged at various angles, Kim Hyunwoo soon looked at the frontmost pattern.
Observing a pattern that, rather than a pattern, resembled a magic circle with complex hexagrams and small markings difficult to discern with the naked eye, he pondered for a while.
“This looks somewhat similar to the magic circle patterns used by the Command Sorcerer of the Blue Forest…”
With that thought, he continued to scrutinize the pattern, but he could only speculate to that extent, unable to grasp the meaning of other patterns.
‘…Should I hire an archaeologist or something…’
The thought crossed Kim Hyun-woo’s mind.
Especially since there were people with archaeological skills when he played Arteil.
With that in mind, Kim Hyun-woo thought about temporarily hiring a hero with archaeological talents the next time he visited the tavern, and that marked the beginning of him making a magnifying glass again.
####
About a week later,
The magnifying glass made in Larutania, along with being called the worst gambling machine among mercenaries, began to spread once again under the name of “Life-changing Lottery Roulette”.
In the underground of the Kalan Kingdom,
“Master.”
“Yes. Has the task been handled well?”
The Absolute Darkness was receiving a report from Lorelle.
“Yes. As you suggested, I naturally took measures to have the lords who have clear animosity towards you step down from their positions.”
“Are you sure you’ve thoroughly checked?”
Just in case, we also investigated separately to confirm whether those who received your assistance had any animosity, but none of those who received your help harbored any animosity.”
“Hmm…”
Nodding at Lorelle’s report, the Absolute Darkness continued.
“So, how many lords have been replaced?”
“Eight in total.”
“More than I expected.”
“Yes. Through cross-validation, it seems that Lord Raifel had secretly spread information about you among his followers and prepared to push you out.”
“…Rafael?”
“Yes. I am referring to Duke Rafaelio Shin.”
“…Are you talking about the scoundrel who tried to send poison to him with his reckless actions?”
“That’s correct.”
Upon hearing Lorelle’s words, Lynn unconsciously clenched her fists, her expression turning sour.
Crack! The armrest shattered.
Just thinking about that moment made Lynn feel dizzy, and she scowled with irritation.
Honestly, at that time, Lynn wanted nothing more than to kill the Duke on the spot. Unfortunately, she had to settle for a warning because she was in the midst of receiving a crucial item through him.
The important item he was delivering to the Dark Lord was actually a gift Lynn had been gathering to send to Kim Hyunwoo.
“So, what did you do?”
“I also manipulated all the nobles who had a grudge against the master. They will likely face consequences soon.”
Lynn nodded at Lorelle’s report.
Once Lorelle finished everything she was saying, those who were supporting her reputation in the kingdom would no longer be of any use.
However, the sad part was that cracking down within the kingdom was just a small step. It meant that there were still many processes to go through before the Dark Lord could return to power.
“…”
The Dark Lord glanced to the right, where a blue orb was placed, then grasped it in her hand.
Vroom!
As soon as she held the orb, it blazed red. The artifact Lynn held in her hand allowed her to see the reputation of the person holding the orb.
The redder the Goo, the more notorious it was, and if it was blue, it was neutral. The absolute ruler of darkness, who looked at the Goo, which indicated the user’s inclination value when it turned white, let out a sigh.
“…”
After letting go of the red-hot Goo, she sighed.
It was indeed a long process for her to return to Kim Hyun-woo, so she felt herself losing strength without even realizing it.
“I will never give up.”
The absolute ruler of darkness muttered under her breath.
She never had any intention of giving up returning to him.
After all, he was the source of life for Rin.
So, with a deep sigh, as Roriel looked at her regaining her determination, she soon spoke.
“May I speak, Master?”
“Speak.”
“It’s about the territory I mentioned last time.”
“If you’re talking about the territory from last time… Ah, the territory engaged in dirty deeds, is that what you mean?”
“Yes. Based on my investigation, the lord of this territory seems to have a grudge against you, and as it is not managed as an outer territory of the kingdom, they seem to be doing very suspicious things.”
“…Suspicious things?”
“According to Ruin’s investigation, they seem to be enslaving ordinary citizens and bandits, and even engaging in human sacrifice.”
“…What? Human sacrifice?”
Roriel nodded at the grim story of the frowning absolute ruler of darkness.
“Yes, so I thought it would be best for the master to deal with that lord.”
“…Is there a reason why I should handle it?”
“As your esteemed mentor would know, if you personally eliminate the tyrant, his notoriety is likely to significantly diminish.”
Words of Loreiel.
“I am aware of that too. However, did I not say that merely reducing notoriety does not solve the problem?”
The absolute ruler of darkness, with a slightly stern expression, opened her mouth, but instead of making a statement, she seemed to be contemplating as she spoke.
“Mentor, may I express my thoughts?”
“What is it?”
“To be frank, if I were to speak my mind, it’s possible that immediately reducing notoriety, rather than diplomatic relations, might be the key to gaining his favor.”
In response to Loreiel’s words, she widened her eyes for a moment and then spoke.
“Why don’t you go ahead and explain.”
“If you calmly consider the risks he carries by accepting you, it involves numerous hostile territories and interference in territory inflow due to notoriety.”
“That’s true.”
“But, as you know, the power you possess is formidable. If you wish, mentor, you could make the Kalan Kingdom your backer. In other words, if you explain well to him, there would be no risk in terms of hostile territories.”
“…Go on.”
“Of course, some of the major heroes from the last Rapengan territory had strained relations, but among them, at least three can be restored through diplomacy. The Swordmaster is affiliated with the Norba Kingdom, the Archmage is in Matop, and the Snow Wolf is under Jekyll, so there are many ways to mend relations.”
“…Continue.”
“In other words, if you can restore the relationships of most of the concerning major heroes to their original state, you can convincingly persuade him, ultimately resolving the issue of hostile territories. If you establish the Kalan Kingdom as a backer, no one would dare touch the Lartania territory.”
The only ones who could potentially interfere would be the Empire, but since you have no ties with the Empire, murmured Loreiel and continued.
“In the end, all that remains is lowering notoriety. The kingdom you have built under your guidance will prosper as much as it can, even with you present, and there won’t be any issues with inflow. However, Lartania territory is still a developing small territory.”
“So, what you’re saying is, if we first significantly reduce notoriety—”
“I believe that would generate enough logical reasoning to persuade him.”
Lorelle’s words made the absolute ruler of darkness smile involuntarily.
If she followed her disciple’s words, she would have a lot less to do.
“Let’s go and dispose of that lord right away…!”
“I will prepare.”
The absolute ruler of darkness spoke with a pleased expression, and Lorelle immediately bowed her head and continued speaking.
The next day.
“By the way, what is the name of that territory?”
The absolute ruler of darkness, walking towards the outskirts of the Kalan Kingdom, glanced at the distant territory and asked.
“It’s the Trikram Territory.”
“Trikram, huh…”
As he listened to Lorelle’s words, the absolute ruler of darkness involuntarily smiled.
Although that territory was actually a place where a despicable lord had caused a lot of trouble, in the eyes of the absolute ruler of darkness, it was an important place where he could make a notorious name for himself.
So, the absolute ruler of darkness chuckled.
“…?”
“…??”
The moment the absolute ruler of darkness entered the Trikram Territory, he could only wear a blank expression.
After all, the only thing he saw when he entered the Trikram Territory was an empty lot.
As he looked at the words “liberated!” and “freedom!” written all over the dilapidated buildings, the absolute ruler of darkness muttered, “My notoriety potion…?”
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He looked at Lorelle, who also seemed unable to comprehend, with a similarly puzzled expression.
Likewise, she, with a face full of questions, briefly lowered her head to the absolute being of darkness and then vanished.
A moment later.
“…Master, it seems… the territory of Yeongji has been attacked.”
“Attacked?”
“Yes… it seems someone attacked the territory and released the slaves…”
“…”
“But it’s okay! There are still one or two lords nearby who, like this lord, offered themselves to the demons!”
Loreiel hurriedly spoke to the teacher, who frowned.
The absolute being of darkness sighed as if it couldn’t be helped.
Honestly, she wasn’t happy that a lord who could earn a bad reputation was suddenly attacked, but it wasn’t her disciple’s fault.
Above all.
‘Even if one is lost, there are still two left, so it’s fine.’
With such thoughts, the absolute being of darkness nodded weakly.
“I will guide you immediately.”
Loreiel, who answered Lin’s words by lowering her head promptly, led the absolute being of darkness towards the next territory.
“Well, even though we lost one place, killing all those lords in the remaining two places will surely help tarnish our reputation!”
While listening to Loreiel deliberately speaking a bit brightly, they arrived at the next territory, Silver Warden.
“…”
“???”
Loreiel, once again, made a perplexed expression, looking at the territory that had already been attacked.
Clearly, the Silverwand Territory, known for its idol worship just like the Trickram Territory, was in a state of ruin.
“Who on earth?”
Seeing the expression of confusion on Loriel’s face, the Dark Sovereign spoke while looking at the absolute ruler of darkness.
“Master? It seems like…hic…even this place…!”
Without realizing it, I let out a startled whimper at the sight of the Dark Sovereign, whose body began to emanate darkness.
In truth, under normal circumstances, Loriel wouldn’t have paid much attention to a territory being attacked. But the situation was different now.
As the Dark Sovereign, who always yearned for something to return to him, the events unfolding felt like someone intentionally delaying that return.
“Who the hell…!”
So, the Dark Sovereign, spreading its existence, spoke with a vicious tone.
“…Send someone to find out who attacked this place.”
“Understood. And- there is still one more territory left.”
“Let’s go immediately.”
With Loriel’s words, who was carefully watching the situation, the Dark Sovereign headed towards Stonehive, the last territory she mentioned.
And a few hours later.
When the sun had set and twilight had fallen, the Dark Sovereign and Loriel arrived at Stonehive, where it seemed like nothing had happened.
“!! This time, the territory is intact!”
Loriel let out a sigh of relief, as if she had endured ten years of patience, and even smiled slightly.
“Finally…!!”
With a sense of relief, the Dark Sovereign also let out a sigh, and with a smile on his lips, drew his sword from the darkness and prepared to take the great first step towards him.
Just as the Dark Sovereign was about to leap powerfully into action…
Kwaaah!!!
With a tremendous explosion, the castle crumbled.
She could see it—the crimson eyes emerging from the shattered fortress.
And in just that brief moment of seeing the crimson eyes, the absolute ruler of darkness, who instantly grasped the entire situation, roared,
“Hey, you bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
With all dignity cast aside, there was no choice but to face the onslaught.