Chapter 152 – Seed of Tears (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The message sent by Nam Tae-min.

[The core of conquering dungeons is identifying the location of the deep part of the dungeon.

The location of the deep part of the relevant rift, dungeon, is near Chelsea Bridge.

Very high probability that it is the AAU London Branch.]

I see.

It seems the AAU side has also noticed something.

Of course, I was also in a state of roughly guessing the location of the deep part of the dungeon through [Natural Enemy Relationship] but.

“……After the Cataclysm, the symbol of Chelsea Bridge Road changed to the AAU London Branch.”

It is unfamiliar, the geography of London.

If I didn’t have Shureig’s guidance, I might have had to turn on a map app and find my way. Of course, manifesting a portal just because it’s bothersome is also burdensome.

‘Not knowing what is at the relevant coordinates.’

It means a portal could conversely become a shortcut heading to a trap.

Moreover, wasn’t the trap of this dungeon rift related to rain?

I am already completely soaked from head to toe.

I’m saying it’s sufficiently unpleasant even now.

I decline any more forced showers.

“By the way, I still can’t believe it even after seeing it.”

Shureig spoke with a voice overwhelmed with emotion.

……Looking at his expression, it doesn’t seem like empty words.

Wondering what he was looking at to act like that.

I too followed Shureig’s gaze and looked around.

London where the rain had stopped.

Aquariu Oak Trees were lined up on the streets.

Merely ten-odd minutes.

It was a fleeting time far too lacking to grow into a huge tree but.

Indeed, it is the effect of Hiel’s blessing which germinated the seed of the World Tree.

The roots are sturdy and the stems stretch out straight.

Branches abundantly stretching out above that.

Brilliant new sprouts began to bloom at the tip of every branch.

……No matter how I look at it, it’s excessively flamboyant.

[Pentagram of Pure Knowledge].

The Aquariu Oak Tree in my knowledge was definitely not like that.

The reason for it can be guessed.

It must be Hiel’s influence.

Damn it, the aftertaste is bitter.

‘It wasn’t a position where I could say anything.’

This feeling like seeing my 『Magic』 with the [Aesthetics] stat added to it!

Do they say a child is the mirror of their parents?

I am sorry, Hiel.

As I looked at her, Hiel opened her mouth as if she had been waiting.

“It seems that sublimity has influenced me as well.”

Yes, it is entirely my influence.

I am sorry for tainting you with bad water, Hiel.

……By the way, wait a minute, [Sublime]?

It was a word I couldn’t just brush off.

Because [Sublime] was the new title I acquired on the Arcana continent.

I opened the status window and checked the effect of [Sublime] again.

[Sublime: O sublime one, the Arcana continent remembers you.]

It was so.

The exact opposite of the [The Last Adventurer] effect which was long and specific.

Just a single line was everything.

The reason why I still didn’t feel bad regardless?

Because even a one-line effect looked very profound.

‘It says the Arcana continent remembers me.’

Whether it’s influenced by cleanliness and honesty, or whatever it is, I have no way of knowing but.

It meant that the system did not pretend to not know about my desperate struggle where I rushed into millions of demons. Besides, how many benefits did I acquire through that desperate struggle?

Starting from the most important lifting of Marcelo’s curse of numbered days.

The [Demonic Eye’s Telescope].

Even an enormous amount of experience points that ignored the death penalty.

Because of that, the ambiguous effect of the title.

I could generously overlook it but.

Is the joy of winning a prize even greater because I had no expectations.

‘……There really is something to this.’

It’s not just plausible words, but it was certain that [Sublime] had an unstated additional effect. ‘Something’ that even Granfel’s talent in literary and martial arts couldn’t recognize.

“I see. You worked hard, Hiel.”

Words spat out calmly unlike my overwhelmed inner feelings.

Srrr

Hiel raised the corners of her mouth and bowed her head.

“You praise me too much when I am still endlessly lacking.”

Of course, we didn’t have the leeway to continue chatting amicably.

The gradually approaching deep part of the dungeon, the AAU UK Branch.

Suddenly, Shureig shouted urgently.

“……Enemies. Number is roughly five!”

Shureig, level 402.

Right now his level is similar to other top players including Nam Tae-min but.

He was once one of the players counted among the top three fingers along with Skal and Rox.

Clack

His calm demeanor even at the sudden appearance of the enemies must be the proof of that.

I’m also very familiar with Shureig’s class.

Because Shureig was one of the not many players I knew even before I awakened.

The reason I knew him? It’s simple. Because he looked extremely cool.

Swordsman-type class, Fencer.

Indeed, a posture befitting a gentleman of the country of gentlemen.

Shureig took out his weapon and took a combat stance.

His weapon resembling a large needle is a foil.

A thrusting sword specialized for stabbing.

“Zachary, do you hear me? How’s the situation? What about the citizens?”

Even while concentrating on combat, he doesn’t forget the safety of the collapsed citizens either.

Naturally, it’s an appearance that Granfel’s pride couldn’t help but find pleasing.

“The monsters haven’t appeared yet? Okay, that’s a relief. Then it would be best to get into formation and prepare from now on. Because it seems monsters are appearing starting from the deep part of the dungeon.”

Shureig grasping and relaying the situation.

I stood side-by-side next to him.

And looked ahead.

‘Exactly five.’

Should I describe their outward appearance as mannequins completely filled with water.

Five water humans were approaching towards us.

Grasping the situation, check.

Shureig, who ended the call, spoke to me.

“According to the additional patch notes, their names are Wraiths of the Melancholic City. It says their levels are between 600 and 650. Also, this is just my intuition but…….”

Grind

Shureig ground his teeth.

“If they are wraiths, there is a high probability that physical attacks will not work on those bastards.”

I agree to some extent.

Putting the name aside.

Is the old saying ‘cutting water with a sword’ there for nothing?

Just looking at them, they look like physical attacks wouldn’t work.

Tremble tremble

Shureig’s hand firmly gripping his sword was shaking.

It wasn’t fear.

That was anger.

London, his hometown. The bastards who made it into this state appeared before his eyes but.

“Damn it.”

He must be angry that he can’t do anything with his own sword.

I understand that feeling a hundred times over.

But even though I can guess his feelings.

There’s a reason I said I agree ‘to some extent’.

I opened my mouth.

“Can you guarantee that?”

“……Yes?”

“Are you truly certain that physical attacks will not work?”

“Th, that is.”

Shureig looked like he didn’t understand.

If it was the old me too, they would wonder why I’m making pointless remarks.

Or wonder what kind of cringeworthy words I’m trying to babble again.

He might have started lamenting his circumstances inside.

But there is something I realized after dying and coming back to life.

‘In the end, the strength of the players is needed.’

It might be a different story on the Arcana continent.

Because the me in reality couldn’t face millions of demons alone.

Ultimately, it means the cooperation of players is necessary.

On top of that, pride is essential.

The cooperation of players who are also equipped with outstanding skills.

So look closely, Shureig.

I slowly raised my hand.

I took a combat stance.

What I grasped in my hand like that was none other than the black long umbrella.

“……!”

I spoke to the startled Shureig.

“What you have to do from now on is simple. To just watch.”

And then sword qi.

No, I concentrated sword force onto the long umbrella.

Calmly continued my words.

“To be exact, it is to witness the sword qi.”

“……S-sword qi?!”

Sword qi (劍氣).

A realm that demands high qualifications just to witness it, let alone handle it.

However, if one becomes able to handle sword qi, a swordsman’s combat power increases exponentially.

Because I had witnessed strength beyond their levels from sword qi users like Harkon, Jesica, and Enoch.

Naturally.

A sword enveloped with such sword qi.

Even if it’s merely an umbrella, not a sword.

It can inflict damage to wraiths.

“Sword qi? I don’t know what you are suddenly talking about but……! It is dangerous alone. Furthermore, with such an umbrella……!”

However, Shureig couldn’t have known that fact so.

It’s not strange for him to be astonished.

That’s why I told you to stay still and watch.

‘Because seeing it once will be faster to understand.’

The five rushing wraiths.

I aimed the umbrella towards those bastards.

A silver aura wrapping and rising around the umbrella.

Swish!

A resolute strike.

Simultaneously, the collapsing wraiths.

Astonishment lingered on Shureig’s face.

“……What is, this?”

Unlike him, I was not surprised in the slightest.

I did not rejoice or grieve over defeating monsters with an umbrella.

Slaying five level 600 monsters in a single strike.

Is it because of my level approaching level 500, or the [Natural Enemy Relationship] triggered on top of that.

If not that, is it because of the experience of waging a life-and-death struggle amidst millions of demons on the Arcana continent.

Because I couldn’t feel a sense of tension from just those bastards alone.

‘You really grew a lot, Lee Ho-yeol.’

I’m saying I didn’t enter the dungeon rift alone for nothing.

.

.

.

Player, Lee Ho-yeol.

Estimated level, at least level 900.

He had thoroughly guessed his strength.

Shureig, because he possessed common sense of Arcana.

The fact that he rose up to 3rd place in the player rankings in the past.

It meant that Shureig experienced the grievances and emotions that other rankers are feeling right now ahead of them.

So he couldn’t understand it even more.

Lee Ho-yeol, just what on earth is that man?

His main attack method is magic.

However, he wouldn’t have been surprised even if he gripped a sword.

Because he could encounter the sight of him handling a sword through the mass media.

But this crossed the line.

An umbrella of all things.

To strike down five level 600 monsters with an umbrella!

Shureig clenched his fists.

‘……Is this the difference in level.’

Gap.

It wasn’t just feeling the gap with Lee Ho-yeol. Since the only thing he could bring up right now was memories of past glory. He himself knew it better than anyone else.

‘I must have hit my limit a long time ago.’

To be exact, the limit of the class, Fencer.

Reality, even if there is no high or low in occupations.

Arcana’s classes have high and low.

The ones positioned at the very top are the precious classes.

Those who changed classes to them would be Skal or Jesse Heinness.

Their strength and potential were to the point where it would only make one’s mouth hurt to explain it with words.

Below that are popular classes like Barbarians and Healers.

As many players select them, they are classes whose performance is also backed up.

If, by sheer luck, one even carried out a Class Quest.

They would change classes to a class comparable to , no, entirely to a class.

And at the very bottom, there are unpopular classes like his.

Shureig could guarantee it.

That Fencer is a trash class that only looks plausible on the outside.

If he could only turn back time, he wouldn’t have even selected a class like this.

Since it was basically a swordsman handling a sword.

Attack power inevitably had to be based on the [Strength] stat. However, a ridiculously high [Agility] stat was demanded for a Fencer who had to aim for the enemy’s weak points.

To think it’s a class that has to invest in strength and agility simultaneously.

It was natural that efficiency dropped the more the level rose.

‘A destructive power I couldn’t even dream of.’

Damn it.

Shureig stared at his foil.

In the end, what becomes the stumbling block is the destructive power of the attack.

Because an attack method heavily reliant on stabbing had many vulnerabilities.

‘Just what is his class exactly?’

Chief of the Mage Tower.

Endlessly deep darkness.

Evil Dragon Hunter.

It couldn’t be guessed from his titles.

Magic.

Swordsmanship.

……And umbrella fighting.

It couldn’t be guessed even by watching.

However, one thing he could be certain of.

Shureig smiled bitterly.

‘He’s an existence I cannot catch up to.’

In fact, he had finished grasping his place since the Yusra Kingdom.

So he thought there wouldn’t be any disappointment but…….

Shureig was indignant.

“……In the end, are you saying I am of no help at all.”

London.

The hometown where he was born and raised.

The streets he was strolling until just this morning were buried in a rain fog.

Even though his family, colleagues, and citizens of London were in danger.

He resented the fact that he couldn’t do anything with his own hands, with his abilities.

“I’m incompetent, aren’t I.”

It was the moment Shureig dropped his head.

“Are you concentrating, Shureig?”

……Ho-yeol’s voice was heard.

Shureig raised his head.

A consistent posture like his voice.

Ho-yeol, holding the umbrella like a sword, continued speaking.

“You must witness the sword qi.”

Sword qi.

He had no idea what he was talking about since a while ago.

Shureig recalled Ho-yeol’s words that had passed by.

-“What you have to do from now on is simple. To just watch.”

-“To be exact, it is to witness the sword qi.”

He is overestimating.

It was clear that he had a massive misunderstanding about him.

Shureig spoke with a voice mixed with pent-up anger.

“Sword qi? I don’t know if you are aware, but I am different from other swordsman-type class players! Because my class is the damn Fencer which is disgustingly weak and even has clear limits. I don’t even know what sword qi is, but for you to expect such a thing from me……!”

“I know.”

“……Yes?”

What does he know?

Does he know my class, Fencer.

If not that, does he know my limits.

Before his doubts could even fade, Ho-yeol continued to speak.

“However, it does not matter.”

“……?”

“Believe in yourself. Even if you lack the courage to do so.”

With an incomparably serious voice.

“Believe in me who believes in you.”

.

.

.

Didn’t I say I know?

Shureig, you were one of the few players I knew even before I awakened. On top of that, what? Fencers are disgustingly weak, and their limits are clear?

I really feel like giving you a one-day experience as a Demon Hunter.

‘Well, it’s less noticeable now thanks to growing so much.’

Around the time I just awakened, my legs would tremble just from hunting a gnoll that was far lower than my level.

I guarantee it, no matter how ambiguous a Fencer is as a class, they can’t catch up to a Demon Hunter?

Because where else in the world is there a class that invests stat points into [Strength], [Agility], [Magic Power], and [Luck] simultaneously.

So I could boldly speak.

“Believe in me who believes in you.”

I guarantee it.

In Arcana, being 3rd place in the rankings is a position you absolutely cannot reach if you do not have talent.

So raise your head and watch carefully, Shureig.

Because you must witness sword qi and realize its substance.

“If you wish to protect precious things with those hands.”

In order to face the demons that will impendingly approach from now on as well.

The moment I spat it out in Granfel’s way of speaking.

The [Wraiths of the Melancholic City] entered my vision again.

……By the way, the number is quite massive this time?

There are so many of them that the posture I took feels pointless. If I was alone, I would hold my umbrella and deal with them slowly, but there were citizens who had fainted. No matter what, rescuing them takes priority over education.

It was the moment I was about to raise my magic power.

“!”

In a flash, a message popped up.

[O sublime one. Your sublimity has induced a small change.]

……I induced a small change?

What change?

Before that, isn’t the title ‘sublime one’ a bit too much?

While I was thinking.

A voice could be heard.

Shureig’s roughly trembling voice.

“P-Player Lee Ho-yeol-nim. That silver light swaying on that umbrella! Could that haze-like thing perhaps be the sword qi you mentioned? Wait a moment, before that, do you perhaps know what [Sublime] is? Just now, a certain message popped up for me……!”

You witnessed the sword qi, Shureig.

However, thanks to that I also realized it.

So the hidden effect in the title, [Sublime] was something like this?