Chapter 168 – The Second Stroke

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The effects of set items are all different.

Since they are uncommon, their effects aren’t widely known either but.

According to the words of players who possess them…….

-“Just slightly lacking if you don’t have it?”

-“Considering the rarity, it’s worth the price.”

-“Originally, a slight difference makes a masterpiece, right?”

So I didn’t have high expectations.

No, truly.

I have a conscience too, you know?

There’s an effect that increases all physical damage by 10%, but expecting a huge set effect while only gathering a mere two out of six is basically having hair grown on my conscience.

[Pentagram Brooch 2/6]

[Set item effect is applied.]

[Currently applied set effect: 2/6]

[1. All basic stats increase by 2 points.]…….

Wait, what is this.

‘If it’s all basic stats…….’

[Strength], [Agility], [Magic Power], [Luck].

It increases the four stats by 2 points each?

Even calculated simply, it’s an effect equivalent to an 8-level increase!

Moreover, considering the exponentially expanding experience points required for leveling up…….

This is different from what I heard, right?!

I wasn’t feeling it because I was continuously improving my stats through class quests. Average players really risk their lives for every single stat.

‘Though useless stats might increase depending on the class.’

What was my class?

Because it lacked any outstanding aspects.

A demon hunter who has to precisely nurture each and every stat.

There was no effect more welcome than this for me.

Even this alone was beyond expectations.

It wasn’t over yet.

Because the effects activated thanks to wearing two brooches were two.

I immediately checked the second effect.

And then recited.

“Not bad.”

[2. When attacking boss monsters, all damage increases by 10%.]

……It’s not that it’s not bad, it’s a massive effect, this.

What kind of monsters are boss monsters?

Monsters possessing strength far beyond their levels.

General monsters, of course, and sometimes they were monsters up to tens of times stronger than named monsters of the same level. It’s natural for their vitality to be ignorantly huge.

But a 10% increase in all damage?

I could guarantee it.

It’s an effect that makes a mere 8-point stat increase look ridiculous.

Especially for me, there was no effect more welcome.

Is it because I’m a demon hunter who uses all sorts of flesh-dug holes, means, and methods?

Granted that was just mentioned so let’s move on.

Demon Kings and Great Evils.

Moreover, demons like Roxyoros, the conqueror of the Western Demon Realm.

It wasn’t just the immediate Demon King Continental Clash.

The monsters I’ll meet in the holy war from now on will all be boss mobs.

For guys boasting ignorant levels on top of being boss-grade, wouldn’t there be an effect more easily felt than this?

Alright, thoughts ended there.

Kkieeeek!

Like that, the rushing flock of griffins.

Click clack

What I drew were the sword and the crossbow.

There is no time to act leisurely.

Training like real combat.

Real combat like training.

It’s right to engage in combat to improve my relatively lacking close-quarters combat ability rather than the boundlessly familiar magic.

Tail whatever, wings, claws whatever.

Though I arrogantly chattered words, these guys are absolutely not easy either.

[Level: 544]

[Stats]

Strength: 102 / Agility: 112 / Magic Power: 455 / Luck: 12 / Aesthetics: Mid

[Available Points: 0]

Even if all stats increased by 2 points from the set item effect.

There was still much lacking in the strength and agility stats.

At most, it would be around a level 200~250 close-combat player’s level.

Monsters in the level 500 range.

Facing Griffins purely with physical abilities is impossible by common sense.

However, to me, to Granfel.

There was a talent that turned levels into mere numbers.

『His innate magical talent was such that he could mimic average magic just by watching it once. Furthermore, a physical potential that did not fall behind it either.』

Karimzeba and Senios.

After observing the battle of the two demigods, I reached the 『Realm of Magic』.

After witnessing a myriad of visions on the Arcana continent, I rose to the rank of 『Sword Force (劍罡)』.

Granfel’s setting, having all the good settings packed in, meant that he would awaken something from any kind of experience.

It was so.

It means I witnessed it once again.

Something shocking enough to awaken something.

Seuk

At that moment, the body accelerates.

“Kkiek?”

So fast that even the eyesight of an eagle spotting prey from the sky couldn’t track it. At a speed my level 250 physical level couldn’t dare to handle, putting it generously.

‘No, stepping away from that.’

This wasn’t a speed a ‘human’ body could produce.

Yes, what I imitated was the race treated similarly to dragons.

The elves, it was Elsidore’s movements charging at Lockid.

Seogeok!

.

.

.

After Lockid collapsed from his injuries.

The commander of the Shadow Mercenaries, Kichi, came to find me.

Kichi, entering the office of the Golden Palace, spoke to me.

“I hadn’t told you, but in our Shadow Mercenaries, there’s a saying that we have to pay back as much as we suffered. Where is he? That big-eared guy.”

I could understand wanting to pay back.

Elsidore’s lack of manners was really, really enough to make even me hot-headed.

However.

“Can you be confident in victory?”

Elsidore was excessively strong.

To the point where even Kichi couldn’t guarantee victory.

Kichi brushed back his long black hair and smiled meaningfully.

“Even if it’s not victory, I’m confident I won’t lose. Because I hold grudges more severely than I look.”

No, actually it’s because my conscience is pricked.

Because the cause of the elf rushing out of his hometown, Sisley, was me!

To be exact, it was because of the blessing of the [Blessing of the First World Tree] but……. There was no way Granfel’s pride would pass off what happened between the elf and himself to a third party.

I declared to Kichi.

“I understand your feelings. However, keep in mind.”

“……?”

“The one who takes responsibility for you is me.”

Moreover, the Shadow Mercenaries were currently hired by the Yusra Kingdom.

I, having activated the [Authority] function in the Yusra Kingdom.

It means it’s natural for Granfel to take responsibility for the Shadow Mercenaries.

“!”

Kichi hesitated and then smiled.

This time it wasn’t a meaningful smile.

“Just like Wolf said, this is unfamiliar, such treatment.”

Of course, this wouldn’t be an easily overlooked matter for the Shadow Mercenaries too.

Knowing those feelings, I continued.

Like myself, just as it is.

“Also, I will make him spit out something more valuable than his life.”

“……!”

Unless he proved his pride.

There was no freedom for Elsidore.

Did Kichi somewhat understand Granfel’s perspective on pride?

Only then did his eyes return back to normal.

“As expected. Then I will trust you. Commander-in-Chief Lee Ho-yeol!”

……Commander-in-Chief Lee Ho-yeol.

Really, it’s a terrible title, what if someone hears it.

I still can’t adapt to it at all.

.

.

.

The best mercenary group on the Arcana continent.

An existence that smashed Lockid, the lowest seat of the Shadow Mercenaries, and against whom even the commander, Kichi, couldn’t guarantee victory.

Elf, Elsidore.

But that wasn’t because of a gap in tricks or combat power.

‘Like Elsidore said, it was just the gap in innate nature.’

No matter what kind of talent Granfel had, the gap in innate nature cannot be overcome. Then at this moment, how am I abnormally accelerating my body like the elf did?

Seuk!

An accelerating body.

Human muscles and joints shouldn’t have been able to withstand it.

But I was excessively perfectly fine.

[The Blessing of the First World Tree refuses rapture.]

[The Blessing of the First World Tree refuses fracture.]

That was it.

The difference in innate nature that the elves noisily chattered about so much seemed to have considerable influence from the [Blessing of the First World Tree].

Simply put, it meant I could imitate Elsidore’s movements through the power of the buff……!

“Making your wings pointless.”

“Kkiek?!”

“Boundlessly slow.”

Seogeok!

……To be boundlessly shameless despite it being thanks to the buff, Granfel.

“As I have said several times, numbers are meaningless before me.”

……Numbers may not be, but the sense of shame is meaningful, Granfel.

Fallen Griffins.

A silence that arrived in an instant.

Indeed, does it live up to the level 500 restriction price?

The effect of all physical damage increase from the second brooch is also considerable.

With the elf’s movements added on top of that.

It more than amply made up for my shabby strength and agility stats.

‘It’s more highly anticipated because I can feel it.’

How will the set effect, the boss monster damage increase effect, be?

Are they somewhat quick-witted?

The Griffins no longer rushed at me.

Well, let’s gracefully let it pass.

I didn’t enter the rift with hunting as my purpose either.

“Finally equipped with basic etiquette.”

Coerced etiquette injection.

As the surroundings quieted down, I raised my magic power.

In order to assess the situation of the Arcana continent through Hiel and The End.

Soon, Hiel and The End revealed their appearances in midair.

By the way, what are you two doing together?

“Hiel, answering your call.”

“Endlessly deep darkness, my liege.”

Even setting aside Hiel, who always gives a refined greeting.

The End is quite burdensome.

Liege.

You weren’t originally that kind of character, right?

Then, Hiel spoke confidently.

“I discussed basic formalities with The End.”

……Indeed, my clone.

Yes, etiquette training is important.

I feel like I know what kind of conversation went back and forth even without listening, Hiel.

Even so, it is quite overwhelming.

To the point of having the illusion of my cheeks getting hot from heaviness.

Thinking, ‘So this is the weight of summoning two spirits’.

‘……Let’s summon them one by one preferably.’

Especially The End, it would be better to converse with you in a place without watching eyes. Of course, my inner thoughts were not revealed. I recited generously.

“I am aware of your labor.”

“No.”

“It is an undeserved remark, my liege.”

……Please, can both of you just listen quietly?

However, rendering my inner screams pointless.

The End faithfully did not forget its business report.

“Following your liege’s order, the survivors of Dreadsen have taken refuge in the Iron Castle. Though they are survivors, their numbers barely exceed twenty.”

There definitely would be no safer place on the Arcana continent than the Iron Castle at the current point in time.

Considering the size of the Iron Castle, accommodating the residents of Dreadsen wasn’t a difficult task at all.

“Following Chainwalker’s words, the dwarves have accepted the survivors of Dreadsen. Of course, human and dwarf. Since there has been almost no interaction between the two races, it seems it will take time for them to integrate.”

Teaching one, you know ten, Hiel.

That’s exactly what I was curious about.

Only the relationship stat between the dwarves and me, the last survivor of Akshan, was fully maximized from the start. But it wouldn’t be for others. Still, with Chainwalker stepping up, it lessened my worries.

“Also, the demons have begun to move.”

“I’m listening, The End.”

“Scattered forces are gathering.”

It seems the time is slowly coming, the [Demon King Continental Clash].

Let’s see, considering the time flow difference between the Arcana continent and reality…….

At the earliest, details related to the Clash might pop up in the next regular update log?

Of course.

“I warned them. Befitting an inferior species, they cannot comprehend.”

It was an aspect I was preparing for ever since I entered the Arcana continent.

Moreover, I wasn’t just wrapping my head and agonizing over it alone this time.

Yusra, Frost, Muon, the Mage Tower, the Player Alliance…….

It means I put heads together and prepared with prominent reliable allies on the Arcana continent and also in reality.

So I could be confident.

“I will make them grateful for the humiliation they suffered during the Demon King’s crushing defeat.”

An addition to Granfel’s setting of unfailingly realizing his spit-out words.

Of course, cleaning up the aftermath was the share for me, Lee Ho-yeol.

Until then, let’s prepare as much as I can prepare.

I asked Hiel.

“How is the smelting progress of Gwicheol, Hiel.”

The best blacksmith of the dwarves, Worthwhile.

I was told he took on the smelting of Gwicheol, the Ghost Iron.

There surely would be some progress.

But, somehow Hiel’s expression wasn’t good.

“Regarding that, there is something to inform you.”

*

Iron Castle.

Fwoosh!

The ultra-high-temperature furnace heated by ultra-high-purity magicstones.

Gwicheol shouted from a completely melted state.

“It is insufficient. Who do you think my master is!”

Gwicheol witnessed everything.

“He is. Endlessly deep darkness.”

“No, a single ray of light within the endlessly deep darkness.”

“At the same time, the one who hunted the evil dragon.”

Because he witnessed everything.

The trailing words inevitably grew longer.

The Iron Castle was filled with Gwicheol’s roars.

“The savior of another world, and not only saving that world. To save the Arcana continent, an unrelated world. A sublime one who struggles continuously without resting for even a single moment.”

“Therefore, I must be born as a weapon fitting for him.”

“That is the reason for my existence.”

Gwicheol provoked the best dwarf blacksmith, Worthwhile.

“This mere tempering is more lukewarm than the tea water he drinks!”

“……!!!”