Chapter 68 – Akshan’s Legacy (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Back when Arcana was a game.

To Players, traps were a familiar existence.

“Finally a treasure……!”

“Hey, wait a minute. Don’t touch that box!!”

“Uwaaaak! Wh-What?! The box is moving?!”

“You idiot!! It’s a Mimic!!”

From the monster disguised as a treasure chest, the Mimic.

To the perilous traps lurking all over dungeons.

Let alone Explorer classes possessing skills to disarm such traps, there were even Netubbers who made trap breakthrough their content.

“Pfft? That’s it? That much is too easy for me~”

Therefore.

When traps popped out in the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.

Trap breakthrough specialized Netubbers turned on their broadcasts competitively.

“If it were up to my feelings I’d want to run there right now. It’s a shame. Really.”

Though they were showing disappointment outwardly.

This was a good opportunity to gather viewers.

Because just the broadcast through relay alone was already breaking even, or even more than that.

However.

Separately from that, the level of traps in the Quernberg Mechanical Tower was not ordinary.

Above all, those patterns.

The complex patterns were on a different dimension from the traps seen so far.

“If I jump here, lightly……?!”

“No, arrows are flying from all directions at this timing?”

“……Hyung-nims. I’m sorry but, even I can’t beat something like that?”

Did the technological capability of the Mechanical Tower melt into the traps as well.

It was so endlessly intricate that it felt wicked.

Thanks to that, Players falling to their knees against the traps appeared one after another.

“Ah, if you hesitate here!”

“That’s right. You immediately end up looking like a hedgehog.”

“The record has gone down the drain.”

“Still, it’s a relief. There doesn’t seem to be major damage.”

If there was indeed a relief.

It was that the traps didn’t seem to have great lethality separately from the attack difficulty.

It was thanks to all the traps being made of silver.

“This makes it certain. That it’s competition content.”

The Quernberg Mechanical Tower wasn’t made to take away Players’ lives.

Just like the quest objective that popped up.

It is definitively competition content that makes Players compete and pays rewards according to that.

“This is like, they’ve laid out the board entirely.”

“It means, try proving your abilities to the Players!”

“Now, let’s watch to see who will record the 1st place!”

The moment that conviction took hold.

The interest regarding the Quernberg Mechanical Tower couldn’t help but grow even bigger.

Right, in the midst of that massive interest.

Finally, Ho-yeol began to move.

And the astonishment that began

“Th-What in the world is this?”

“What is it, what am I watching right now?”

“The, the traps couldn’t be broken, right?”

Didn’t you just say it?

That the Mechanical Tower’s traps are intricate to an extent never seen before.

Although they know it’s not something that would suddenly break down…….

An incomprehensible sight was unfolding before their eyes.

Swoosh!

A trap brushes past.

Swish!

It wasn’t that Ho-yeol dodged it.

Sssrk!

Because Ho-yeol was just walking nonchalantly.

That was right.

The traps were avoiding Ho-yeol!

As if a protective shield had been created around Ho-yeol.

All the traps flying toward Ho-yeol brushed past him.

It was natural that such an amazing sight needed commentary.

The exploding chat window.

But weren’t they trap-specialized Netubbers after all?

Commentary on such an unheard-of sight was impossible.

“I-I’m also seeing this method of breakthrough for the first time!”

“……To think he would breakthrough the traps by just walking.”

“What have I been doing all this time, Hyung-nims?”

“……Suddenly I feel an urge to retire.”

Is that also a skill?

If it’s a skill, where in the world is there a skill like that?

What exactly is the class that uses a skill like that?

In the end, as always, only questions chasing after Ho-yeol continued.

Amidst that astonishment.

Ho-yeol reached in front of the portal on the opposite side.

The time taken was merely, a little over 1 minute.

And that too, a record achieved by walking confidently, not running.

Once again, the chat window exploded.

Just Homen……!

*

Search, Interference, Manifestation.

Among those three stages.

The trickiest stage was definitively exploration.

Exploration is exactly the first button of magic.

If you button it wrong, you can’t even move on to the next stage, and.

Even if you move on, the efficiency of the magic would drop extremely low.

‘It’s only natural.’

Why, the Chief Mage of the Mage Tower.

Because even Marcelo couldn’t filter out unnecessary parts from the exploration process.

However, to me.

No, to Granfel, this isn’t a story that applies.

『His innate magical talent was to the extent that he could mimic most magic just by observing it.』

Who made up this setting.

Really, a talent so great it makes one’s face hot.

Thanks to that, I was able to breakthrough the traps by walking.

‘Of course, it was possible because everything was silver.’

Because I could skip the most important exploration process.

It was a possible feat.

No matter how great Granfel’s talent is, that is.

Because exploring unfamiliar subjects, and simultaneously at that, was overdoing it. If it were traps made of materials other than silver…….

‘I wouldn’t have been able to walk but had to run to breakthrough.’

Letting one slide.

Dodging one like other Players, in that manner.

Well, anyway, the result wasn’t bad.

─Current Ranking

●1st : 1 Minute 01 Seconds

●2nd : 4 Minutes 41 Seconds

●3rd : 4 Minutes 50 Seconds

1st place when I wasn’t expecting it, huh.

The record difference with 2nd place was also considerable.

Probably because the level of the traps was high.

“Wow. These traps are no joke. Ho-yeol-ssi?”

Nam Tae-min arrived, letting out heavy breaths.

Since the record wasn’t updated.

It seems he didn’t make it into the top 3.

Nam Tae-min spoke while wiping off his sweat.

“Hu, I was short by exactly 10 seconds.”

A difficulty that makes even Nam Tae-min click his tongue.

As expected, that technological capability is unusual.

So it’s even more unbelievable.

‘……This is really Akshan’s final battle weapon?’

Even when looking at the quest window again because I can’t believe it, it’s unbelievable.

The Akshan base I know, you see.

Really had nothing to its name except for providing three meals of rye bread, I tell you?

To think such Akshan had built high-level final battle weapons like this all over the continent…….

‘I will find out even if it’s because I can’t believe it. I will.’

In order to find out, I have to progress the quest.

In that sense, I looked at the portal.

The portal manifested through a mechanical device-type item.

This too was an immense technological capability that couldn’t even be witnessed in Akshan.

One step.

When I approached closer, a message popped up before my eyes.

[Quernberg Mechanical Tower – Core]

[Recommended Level : Lv.450]

[Collapse Progression : 0.1%]

What came in first was the Recommended Level.

A whopping 450 level.

However, I didn’t worry ahead of time like before.

‘Because the Recommended Level probably isn’t based on Players.’

Right, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower is untill the end a Demon Hunter’s final battle weapon.

It means it’s a Mechanical Tower made to face demons.

Even just looking at the traps right now proved it.

“A rift you can rest momentarily like this sometimes isn’t bad either.”

It was natural to think like Nam Tae-min.

Because the traps’ damage was feeble.

It meant that even Players who couldn’t dodge the traps didn’t suffer major damage.

So everyone must be considering it a rift for a brief rest, a simple competition quest.

But I know, you know.

That it’s serious.

That I cannot yield……!

‘What idiot would yield their legacy?’

Although I really didn’t expect much.

I also hate having it taken away by others.

Of course, that includes the quest reward.

So I quietly headed to the portal.

“I will go first.”

“Pardon? Ah, I will also go with you!”

Nam Tae-min hurriedly following behind.

As I passed through the portal, a message popped up before my eyes.

[You have fulfilled the conditions.]

[The reward will be paid.]

[Teams will be assigned according to the recorded ranking.]

……Wait, after traps is it a team battle?

The moment I flinched.

Words popping up in succession.

[You have recorded ‘1st place’.]

[You have improved the overwhelming record.]

[Your team members based on the ranking and record are ‘1’ person.]

[Currently searching for an appropriate opponent team…….]

“!”

No, wait a minute.

The moment I checked the message, an unfairness surged.

Alone in a team battle……?!

It is definitely because of setting a record way ahead of others.

No, even so, still.

‘What kind of rule is this?!’

Actually, I was inwardly relieved to hear it was a team battle.

Because Nam Tae-min was beside me.

But the moment I passed through the portal.

It seemed the locations had crossed.

Nam Tae-min couldn’t be seen.

Clank

Soon, the mechanical device that began operating.

The stepping plate shook violently, spewing out vapor.

Separately from my unfairness.

The physical body that dies and cannot live without formality and procedures accepted the situation.

“If that is the procedure, I have no choice but to follow it.”

……Do not accept such an evil law, Granfel.

Well, what can I do.

It’s not like I can turn back the message that popped up.

I checked the quest window.

[Quest : Tournament]

A stepping plate that moves according to victory or defeat.

Achieve 30 Victory Points to reach the upper floor first.

─Current Victory Points (Win : +3p / Loss : -2p)

●1st : None

●2nd : None

●3rd : None

Clank

There was a reason the stepping plate moved making a loud noise.

If this stepping plate wins, it goes up.

If it loses, it must move down.

By the way.

‘I have to earn 30 Victory Points?’

Since it was 3 points for 1 win…….

It meant I have to secure a whopping 10 wins.

If I record a loss in the middle, it even deducts the Victory Points painstakingly accumulated.

Above all, the core is that I am alone in such a team battle.

……This is lonely.

What is heard is only the sound of mechanical devices meshing.

I miss the talkative Nam Tae-min…….

‘If I knew this would happen, quest reward or whatever, I would have just slacked off…….’

……Right!

Quest reward!

Suddenly my thoughts reached the reward.

Perhaps the reward might help in the battles.

I opened my inventory and checked the reward.

‘……This is?’

*

The broadcasting station bastards who pull out viewership ratings amazingly.

In the studio, recording was already in full swing.

“A tournament, you say. I don’t know who designed the Mechanical Tower, but I want to compliment them. Where could we ever see something like this? The sight of Players competing for supremacy with each other!”

“That is right. A sight we could only see in the Colosseum during the days when Arcana was a game, we get to see it thanks to the Quernberg Mechanical Tower rift.”

“As we speak……. Now, it seems the opponent team has revealed their appearance!”

Clank

The mechanical device moving making a loud noise.

The Players riding on it encountered each other.

The host spoke in an excited voice.

“It seems all Players who passed through the portals have moved to one location. Just like you see, Players who entered through different rifts became the same team, right?”

“This is an interesting system again!”

“Now, first of all, both sides’ personnel is 3-on-3. The event is……!”

The mechanical devices ridden by both teams.

A large cogwheel floating right in the center of them.

Anyone with wits could notice it.

“……Are they perhaps fighting over that cogwheel?”

“Occupying that cogwheel before the opponent team. Fitting it into their own mechanical device seems to be the winning condition!”

“Saying the mechanical device goes up to the upper floor only when the cogwheel is fitted. It’s a quite plausible production.”

“As we speak, it seems a war of nerves has already started between both teams?!”

As the cast members predicted.

A strange tension was flowing between the two mechanical devices.

It couldn’t be helped.

“The average levels of the Players seem to be similar.”

Weren’t they two teams who met after searching for an appropriate opponent?

Their average levels were exactly the same.

Therefore it was natural that they couldn’t move hastily.

“……Hey, wait a minute.”

Beep

Sudden mute.

The cast members flapping their mouths.

What kind of deed is this at such an important moment?

“Why are you lowering the TV volume! You crazy bastard!”

“No, listen. It’s really important, I’m telling you?”

“What is it again? This bastard is making a fuss again.”

“No! I’m not making a fuss, it’s Lee Ho-yeol!!”

“Lee Ho-yeol? Why Lee Ho-yeol suddenly?”

The tournament quest.

Both teams meet an opponent of a similar level as themselves.

Then, if we calculate the average level of the opponent Players who meet Lee Ho-yeol……?

“If things go well, we might be able to figure out Lee Ho-yeol’s level!”

……Lee Ho-yeol’s level, you say?

That was a topic that would draw the attention of Players, no, the whole world.

The viewers who gained insight into that fact had no choice but to wait for Ho-yeol’s appearance while swallowing dry saliva.

-Ah lol So when is Lee Ho-yeol coming out lolol

-Fr lol Waiting for when Lee Ho-yeol comes out more than anything else

-Is there no word on who Lee Ho-yeol became a team with???

-I searched all over Netube but there’s nothing but clickbait yep;;

Of course, the Players inside the Mechanical Tower were the same.

Clank

The mechanical device rising upon fitting the cogwheel.

Shining’s Guild Master.

Rox checked the quest window.

─Current Victory Points (Win : +3p / Loss : -2p)

●1st : 15p

●1st : 15p

●3rd : 13p

5 consecutive wins.

The acquired points are 15 points.

The ranking that rose thanks to that is tied for 1st place.

As seen, there was a team that achieved 15 points before himself.

Rox could guess who that was.

‘Lee Ho-yeol.’

It was Ho-yeol who set an overwhelming record even in the trap breakthrough.

It would be natural to also be in the lead in this quest.

However, Rox was confident.

‘This is a team battle, not an individual battle. Lee Ho-yeol.’

And a team battle where a balance system exists at that.

The higher Ho-yeol’s level is.

The lower his team members’ levels are bound to be.

Rox was planning to attack the loophole that is the team members.

‘We are bound to meet.’

The teams that acquired 15 points are only two.

It means a head-on match is unavoidable.

Clank!

The mechanical device slowly stopping its operation.

‘Come.’

The opponent on the mechanical device revealing their appearance.

Soon, Rox’s face was dyed with astonishment.

“……!”

Regrettably.

Rox’s expectation was exactly half right.

5 consecutive wins.

The height of 15 points.

Although Ho-yeol was indeed there.

Because Ho-yeol actually was alone.

Therefore, Rox’s overflowing confidence.

‘……He recorded 5 consecutive wins alone?’

Had no choice but to change into anxiety.

‘It’s impossible! How in the world did he do it alone?!’

Because that was truly an impossible thing!

*

Really, it was ridiculous luck.

Clank

The mechanical device getting closer.

The message that pops up.

[Currently searching for an appropriate opponent team…….]

I thought inwardly.

‘Sucking the honey of a first-round bye ends here.’

My level is merely level 295.

Not stopping at that, I was alone.

There is no way it could find an appropriate opponent suited to my level.

To put that conversely.

It means I am an inappropriate opponent to teams with the same Victory Points.

Thanks to that, I was excluded from the competition with other teams.

I secured 5 consecutive wins only entirely by byes.

[There is ‘1’ opponent team possessing the same Victory Points.]

But I couldn’t avoid it anymore.

The one who acquired 15 points is only one team excluding me.

So from now on, I will.

‘I have to face 3 people, right.’

And with Players whose levels are far higher than mine at that.

But it was worth a try.

That side is in a tired state from continuing to repeat battles.

Moreover, because I had the ‘quest reward’.

But this is merely a battle.

It’s not a duel where lives are at stake.

As well as preparing the formality accordingly.

I lightly exchanged pleasantries.

“I had been waiting for you.”

“……!!!”

……But did I say something I shouldn’t have?

Why are their expressions like that?