Chapter 232 – Karma (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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[You have entered the dungeon, ‘CODE-009’.]

Raymon Sean’s hideout.

The first impression wasn’t unfamiliar.

To the extent that even someone who wasn’t necessarily a player could recognize it.

The concept was clear.

‘Isn’t this just a laboratory?’

Thinking that a rift is a space half-mixed between reality and the Arcana Continent… Does this mean there was such a laboratory underground in the desert? Truly, if you just have a lot of money, there’s nothing impossible in the world.

‘Let’s see.’

First off, it’s full of CCTVs everywhere.

Inside the rift where smartphones also operate properly. The CCTVs would also be properly reflecting my appearance, and Raymon Sean would also be hiding somewhere watching me.

‘Honestly, in my heart…’

I wanted to do something about the CCTVs right away.

Because I proudly declared it, didn’t I?

I didn’t respond to the invitation, but came to dispose of him.

As if that wasn’t enough.

A situation where I satisfied the conditions with a half-threat and entered the rift.

‘It’s just uncomfortable.’

However, Granfel’s pride.

Could not possibly tolerate the petty bourgeois mindset of me, Lee Ho-yeol.

I passed by the CCTVs indifferently.

“Even if I examine them, nothing will change.”

Still, couldn’t things change a little bit, Granfel?

How can you still be stuck in those days, in those emotions!

The pleading was only for a moment, and as expected, a familiar sight welcomed me.

‘No matter how I look at that, it’s an elevator.’

Kindly, floating messages appeared before my eyes.

[B1 – Lobby]

[B2 – Laboratory]

[B3 – Research Room]

[B4 – Deep Laboratory]

[B5 – Deep Research Room]

[B6 – Control Room]…

Laboratory and Research Room.

Certainly fitting for Raymon Sean’s hideout.

Meaning it fits an engineering student.

But simultaneously, a question arises.

‘Just what on earth was he experimenting and researching.’

Fortunately, that curiosity of mine did not last long.

Actions speak louder than words.

Because it was a matter of confirming it directly.

“Is it consideration?”

If an elevator is consideration, then it was consideration.

I should have been amazed by the delicacy for the visitor.

As expected, the problem was the counterpart.

I definitely spat it out, didn’t I.

Raymon Sean, I’ll refuse all your hospitality.

“If so, I will decline it as expected.”

Craaack!

Without hesitation, magic manifestation.

A landscape that reverses in an instant.

Stairs leading underground emerge below my feet.

The effect of the [Pentagram of Pure Knowledge].

The exploration process is omitted with omniscient knowledge regarding minerals.

Since the interference process was also incredibly familiar this time, a swift manifestation was possible.

‘Must have used it a lot, stairs.’

Past memories surfacing fresh.

Why, wasn’t I someone who only looked plausible on the outside.

Because I needed kill contributions to obtain as much experience points as possible.

I did acquire a considerable amount of kill contributions with stairs.

It was quite lucrative thanks to Harkon.

As expected, nothing is wrong in the old sayings.

You should suffer hardships when you’re young.

To think the patheticness of that time would become helpful in this way.

Stairs rising while arbitrarily tampering with the structure of the dungeon.

‘Now I’m used to dizzying sights too.’

The sight seen below my feet was distant but.

It wasn’t comparable to the Mage Tower.

Because even now, when descending from the top floor of the Mage Tower, my knees tingle, you see?

‘By the way, I didn’t expect something like that to exist.’

Just like the message that popped up.

The place I reached was [B1-Lobby].

I thought it would be a desolate landscape just because it’s a hideout.

It was unexpected.

Because I saw an employee guarding the lobby.

“Player Lee Ho-yeol, I was waiting for you.”

Seeing me coming down the stairs, there’s no sign of surprise.

No, makes sense.

Anyway, I conveyed my business right away.

“I wish to meet Raymon Sean.”

Unexpectedly, an answer returned immediately.

“He is already on his way to the lobby.”

Coming out to greet me on his own two feet.

I saved the trouble of trying to find him.

Then shall I run a simulation in my head while waiting.

What is certain is that there is a need to mix words with Raymon Sean.

‘Though they’ll probably be nothing but excuses.’

Because I could obtain information even from those excuses.

‘Perhaps even information that could return me to Arcana.’

Of course, I don’t expect him to obediently spit out the information.

They say you can know ten by seeing one.

You can tell just by looking at his tricks from the rift entrance, right?

Ding-

Soon, the elevator arrived.

I stared at the slowly opening door.

Still, let’s keep a positive mind.

Let’s share a constructive conversation together, Raymon Sean.

Of course, within the bounds of Granfel’s patience.

*

Passing time.

Sung Hyun-joon carefully opened his mouth.

“…By the way, may I ask one more thing?”

The two men, Park Min-jae and Yoon Soo-gyeom, nodded.

“It’s because I’ve never seen him in person… Raymon Sean, does he really look exactly like the photos in person? Like, how should I say it, a bit unexpected considering his image?”

“So you mean he doesn’t match his actions?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Yeah, because compared to his actions, his face is too plain.”

The worst war criminal in human history.

At the same time, the only individual who knows the truth of the Great Cataclysm.

For that, Raymon Sean’s impression was too good.

Park Min-jae leaked a rotten smile.

“People whose inside and outside are different are common in society. Of course, I don’t think that’s wrong. Appropriate coyness and acting are necessary to avoid hurting each other in this harsh society. But.”

Park Min-jae clicked his tongue.

“That bastard is not on that level.”

Park Min-jae, who prided himself on having seen all sorts of human figures while rolling fiercely in society, but even to him, Raymon Sean was an existence that couldn’t be explained with words.

“It’s not that we couldn’t communicate, but more like our words didn’t mix? We were definitely exchanging conversations on the same topic… But it was heterogenous to an unpleasant degree.”

…Wait a minute.

He didn’t know the reason back then.

But thinking about it now, he felt he knew.

Park Min-jae casually slapped his knee!

“Right! That bastard, he didn’t feel like a human!”

*

Roll-

Raymon Sean’s head rolled on the floor.

…No, saying it like that might leave room for misunderstanding.

To kindly add a detailed explanation.

Transformation magic.

The head of a mannequin layered with polymorph rolled on the floor.

It was a possibility I guessed the moment I witnessed the lobby.

Because I realized it looking at the employee who greeted me.

That it was fake.

In seeing through this cheap trick, the Tower Master’s influence was big after all.

‘There’s a day when that cat is helpful.’

Once witnessed, a magic is perfectly understood.

Would Granfel’s genius talent simply appreciate and move past the Tower Master’s transformation magic? Exploration, interference, manifestation. Having perfectly grasped the structure, seeing through it was also not a difficult task.

‘Actually, even if it wasn’t exactly that.’

I could somewhat feel the signs just by looking at the employee’s reaction.

Does it make sense that a human who destroys the ceiling, ignores a perfectly fine elevator, and insists on materializing stairs with magic to descend, wouldn’t be surprised?

Why, it’s identical right now.

The head of the self-proclaimed Raymon Sean rolled on the floor.

There wasn’t a hint of surprise from the employee.

What those words mean is simple.

It meant that employee was also a fake wearing a polymorph like Raymon Sean did.

I murmured.

“However, that does not become a reason for not harboring pride.”

Granfel’s theory of pride is much more complex than it looks.

Even to a green tea teabag, Granfel is one to ponder about the presence or absence of pride. It means he doesn’t simply dismiss it for having no pride because it’s a doll, because it’s fake.

The harsh words that followed calmly.

“You probably just did not learn from him.”

Simply put, it means his family education went wrong, Raymon Sean.

More than that, if you thought you could deceive me with something like this, you miscalculated.

I don’t know where you’re hiding while putting forward a fake.

But as for where you are.

I just have to slowly find you starting now.

Just like clearing a real dungeon.

Craaack-

You ask if it isn’t annoying?

No, rather it’s exactly what I wanted.

Because I was just wanting to confirm with my own eyes.

The Great Cataclysm.

Reality and the Arcana Continent.

After committing an unforgivable act in both worlds.

What on earth he was doing stuck in a place like this.

I felt like my curiosity would be satisfied only if I confirmed it with these two eyes.

Click-

Stairs going down.

Reversing vision.

Messages floating up.

[You have entered B2-Laboratory.]

At the same time, loudly ringing warning alarms.

Yeah, I wonder if the modifier dungeon rift was attached for nothing.

Because monsters appear, it must be a dungeon rift.

[Prototype Model E-89 : Lv.1,000]…

Worthy of the guards of a hideout, their level is flashy. Even if they are regular monsters, level one thousand (1,000) is the highest level among the monsters I’ve faced so far.

Such mannequins numbered easily in the hundreds.

‘In the old days, I would have been scared stiff.’

But experience does not disappear anywhere, but accumulates.

Now that I know levels aren’t everything.

I could objectively grasp the opponent’s combat power.

‘I could handle it with just magic alone.’

To really think of a hideout like your own inner room is a mistake.

Underground.

To me, who can broadly explore minerals.

Underground like this is no different from home ground.

Prototype.

Half-made mechanical dolls befitting their name approach, creaking.

As long as the [Blessing of the First World Tree] exists.

I don’t care about things like magic power efficiency.

Magic power blazing from my physical body.

“Now it’s a group welcome greeting.”

Crack!

Then, mannequins collapsing everywhere.

Whether those things were created in reality.

Or created in the Arcana Continent isn’t important.

Because the core is that it’s minerals anyway.

“However, this as well.”

Click-

I cast magic while walking down the stairs at an unchanged pace.

In the order they lunge at me.

The prototypes crumble away.

“I shall refuse.”

Thud!

They fell to their knees as if worshipping my entry.

Of course, I don’t think this is the end.

In the first place, you who operated Arcana up until now must know well what level I am, right?

With just monsters.

He must have known he couldn’t stop me.

As if answering my question, a message floated up before my eyes.

[Quest: Route Selection]

Intruder.

To move forward.

Choose one of the two diverging paths.

-B401-Deep Laboratory (Select)

-B402-Deep Laboratory (Select)

Is it saying the modifier deep wasn’t attached for nothing.

It seems the further down you go, the more complex the structure becomes.

Anyway, thrusting a quest at me.

‘It’s a fitting method.’

Currently the only operator of Arcana.

Such Raymon Sean’s greatest weapon must be the system.

Perhaps Raymon Sean and players might be a natural enemy relationship of the worst compatibility. Why, like when Arcana was merely a game. Just like players couldn’t move an inch against the operator.

However, ironically, you see.

I’m also one of those players, but.

There was a phrase I lived with in my mouth since back then.

Levels, stats, everything is just a number.

Even if not me, Granfel was no different from a system nonbeliever from the beginning continuously. It means even if you thrust the system at me, Raymon Sean, the answer is always the same.

“Did you think something would change if numbers became letters.”

Of course, the harsh words poured out were also consistent.

“Truly foolish.”

With this, it became certain.

It seems Raymon Sean.

I don’t think I can have an amicable conversation with you. Whatever circumstances you had, it seems I definitely need to feed you a proper blow first before conversing.

Naturally, I don’t pick options.

“A path is something one pioneers themselves.”

More than that, since I checked your hand.

I suppose I should show my hand, my ‘reliable corner’ too, shouldn’t I.

I reached out to my inventory.

What I pulled out was the [Torch of Hell].

Raymon Sean, with what intention he caused the Great Cataclysm, I didn’t know yet. So I had no choice but to dispose of him only with certain charges. Because that was Granfel’s complex and heavy pride.

So I pray you don’t even think of feigning ignorance.

“Isn’t that right?”

As if responding to my question.

The torch of hell burning fiercely.

I continued my words.

“From now on, this is your battlefield.”

──────

Will of Akshan : Summons an Akshan Demon Hunter from the fires of hell.

──────

Raymon Sean.

The one you turned into a spectacle.

An outstanding experienced rookie is heading out.

“Shegwen.”

[Sword Saint, Shegwen responds to your call.]