Chapter 69 – Akshan’s Legacy (3)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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[Quest : Breakthrough the Traps]
Dodge the intricate traps and reach the portal.
According to that ranking, a reward will follow.
─Current Ranking
●1st : 1 Minute 01 Seconds
●2nd : 4 Minutes 41 Seconds
●3rd : 4 Minutes 50 Seconds
[Breakthrough the Traps] quest.
The reward regarding that ranking.
That was a reward that directly helped with the next quest, the [Tournament] quest.
A small mechanical device that caught my eye upon checking the inventory.
[Quernberg Ascent Lever – 3rd Floor]
[Grade : Unique]
[Restriction : None]
[Effect : Upon using in the Tournament, acquires 9 points.]
[Description : An ascent lever that can be used in the core of the Quernberg Mechanical Tower. When combined with a mechanical device, one can ascend 3 floors at once. It looks simple but considerable technological capability is concentrated in it.]
To think I can obtain free wins, and a whopping 3 wins at that!
Considering the target of the [Tournament] quest is 30 points.
The effect of the item was incredible in its own way.
But I wasn’t deceived.
‘The reward for loneliness is merely this?’
What’s the use of laying down 9 points.
The teams I’ll meet will all be 3 people.
Even if it gave points, it was obvious I’d lose them like this.
So I rolled my head.
……I will struggle until the end.
I won’t use anything wastefully.
I will pull in everything, whether I have it or not.
True to my motto.
It means I didn’t read the message in the description window carelessly either.
‘It looks simple but considerable technological capability is concentrated in it…….’
If it were me, Lee Ho-yeol from liberal arts, I would have just passed by it.
I would have roughly examined the mechanical device.
And moved on thinking it’s more complex than it looks.
However, Granfel wasn’t like that.
If he opens a magic book.
Even if he has to stay up all night, he absolutely sees it through to the end.
If he picks up a sword, he doesn’t stop training until he’s exhausted.
Granfel’s physical body, seeing this description and just moving on?
“Interesting.”
It means it’s an impossible thing.
That was right.
I didn’t use the item [Quernberg Ascent Lever – 3rd Floor] right away.
Standing upright on the mechanical device.
It meant I began to explore in that posture.
“A complex circuit. The intricate technological capability that realizes it.”
Such Granfel’s talent and aesthetic eye were telling me.
“Amazing.”
I don’t know who the creator is, but this is truly an extraordinary object.
If it were a normal subject, the exploration process would have ended quickly.
However, as I said, the lever was incredibly complex and intricate.
Just counting the types of minerals, there are dozens.
The design of each individual part is also so perfect that it gives goosebumps.
“It is a flawless, magnificent magic tool.”
At the end of a long exploration.
I delivered such an evaluation.
My eyes were stiff, showing how much I had concentrated.
‘If it wasn’t for the bye system, I might have been eliminated just like that.’
Distracted by the lever, unable to even make a proper counterattack, that is.
But talent was indeed good.
Anyway, I was in a state of having finished the exploration process.
Thanks to that.
“I had been waiting for you.”
According to formality.
It means I am overflowing with confidence enough to offer greetings to the opponent.
The source of that confidence?
It is simple.
‘I have grasped the basic structure and circuit.’
That means in the manifestation of magic.
I had finished the exploration that takes the most effort.
From now on, I could interfere with the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.
As if interfering with a rock that had finished its exploration process.
It means I can interfere with the mechanical devices visible in my sight.
So.
“It seems you have no intention to greet me.”
I don’t know for what reason they are making such expressions.
That side committed a big mistake.
‘To refuse my polite greeting.’
Granfel’s impression of the breach of etiquette.
My mindset regarding the quest reward.
The moment the two opinions coincided.
There was no hesitation in me.
I raised my magic power.
Ultimately, victory or defeat is decided by occupying the cogwheel floating in the center. I don’t know if it were a fight, but isn’t it a match that ends just by taking the cogwheel.
The probability of me, who came to interfere with the entire Mechanical Tower, losing?
‘Can’t I just erect a mechanical wall and take it?’
Frankly speaking, I am confident there is none.
“……We will admit defeat.”
……But what’s this.
To suddenly surrender?
I flinched.
Well, is there discord within the team or something.
Their expressions were serious starting from the beginning.
It seems like there’s a circumstance, but it wasn’t my business.
“I will respect that decision.”
Lest even that mind changes.
I took the cogwheel.
Even until then, I was half in doubt but.
Clank!
Whiiing!
Watching the opponent team’s mechanical device descending.
It only felt real after checking the quest window.
─Current Victory Points (Win : +3p / Loss : -2p)
●1st : 18p
●2nd : 13p
●2nd : 13p
Achieved the sole lead by acquiring 3 points.
If I calculate the 9 points earned through the [Quernberg Ascent Lever – 3rd Floor]…….
Just 1 win left from now on.
With just one more win, I’ll achieve 30 points.
I could pass the [Tournament] quest in 1st place.
[Currently searching for an appropriate opponent team…….]
[There is ‘0’ opponent team possessing the same Victory Points.]
[Waiting for an opponent team.]
I thought while looking at the messages that popped up.
‘Won’t somebody else surrender?’
However, having taking a win by forfeiture which was even beyond a bye.
If I wished to eat it raw more than this, I would have nothing to say even if I got an upset stomach.
*
The two teams that were in the lead.
15p → 18p
15p → 13p
The moment their points switched.
The onlookers gulped down their saliva.
“First of all, one team was Rox’s team, right?”
Shining’s master, Rox.
Including Rox, their team members didn’t do streaming or personal broadcasts.
The fact that they became tied for the lead was made known the moment the 4-win groups clashed.
“I almost had a heart attack back then!”
Rox’s imposing presence vividly conveyed through the opponent team’s vision!
A staggering 2nd place in the Player rankings.
One of the few Players in the level 400 range.
When such Rox appeared.
The onlookers couldn’t help but be excited.
-Right if Camilla is there Rox is there too lololol
-So jealous of Rox’s team members seriously lolol
-Fr lol Even among buses there’s probably no express bus like that
As if responding to that expectation.
Rox seized the cogwheel while showing an overwhelming performance.
Even if the balance system was applied and the average levels were matched.
It was impossible to stop Rox.
“Pant pant. You’re really proving your experience point’s worth properly. Rox-nim.”
As the absolute level gets higher.
The system of Arcana where the experience points required to level up increase exponentially.
It was natural that there is a difference in skill matching that amount of experience points.
“If you look at the members of the top teams, here! Each team possesses one top-tier ranker. Rox, Camilla, and even our South Korea’s Player Nam Tae-min!”
Right, even if a balance system exists.
Matching the balance perfectly would be an impossible task.
So the anticipation couldn’t help but grow even bigger.
“Then the other team must naturally be Lee Ho-yeol’s side, right?”
The overwhelming martial prowess showcased during the Demon King Decarabia raid.
There were also those who predicted Ho-yeol’s level based on that performance.
However, there had been no opportunity to gauge Ho-yeol’s level as accurately as this time.
Clank!
“……Now, the mechanical device is starting to come down!”
The showdown that unfolded over the sole lead.
Indeed, who would have lost?
Amidst concentrated attention, the one who revealed his appearance was.
“Rox?!”
It was Rox.
Recording a loss, Rox dropping to the 13 points group.
To such Rox, questions from the opponent team poured out.
“Lee Ho-yeol was up there, right!! Right?!”
“No, was it really Lee Ho-yeol? There has to be someone who saw it.”
“……But why are all your expressions like that?”
The numerous experiences accumulated as much as the high level.
That meant knowing more than others.
Because you see as much as you know.
Rox’s shock didn’t easily fade away.
‘He was definitely alone.’
Rox evaluated himself coldly.
Could I face three Players holding my own?
No, something like that was impossible.
Doesn’t a balance system exist?
Rox wanted to ask back.
‘An Recommended Level exists in the rift, I’m telling you.’
[Quernberg Mechanical Tower Rift].
Its Recommended Level was a whopping level 400.
Moreover, here.
The Recommended Level of the core where the Tournament is in progress was even higher at level 450. Most Players wouldn’t have even dared to step foot in it.
‘They should be at least level 300 to…….’
No, even that was a figure estimated way under.
Nevertheless, Rox couldn’t easily shake off the shock.
That’s because.
‘If so, no matter how low I estimate Lee Ho-yeol’s level……?’
Because it meant it’s equivalent to at least level 900.
Right after the Demon King Decarabia raid.
It was Rox who predicted Ho-yeol’s level to be level 700.
Although he thought he absolutely didn’t underestimate him.
‘I was lagging way, way behind.’
Level 900.
It was a figure he couldn’t even dare think of catching up with.
Although he would fall woefully short if compared to Ho-yeol.
Because he himself was also one of the top-tier rankers.
He knew the effort it takes to raise a single level.
Is that why?
Ho-yeol’s actions so far started to make sense.
Above the heavens, below the heavens, only I am supreme.
An attitude that was always overflowing with confidence.
The mental strength that lightly ignored status abnormalities like a demon’s.
The flashy skills whose names weren’t even known.
Finally, just a moment ago.
-I had been waiting for you.
Even the greeting offered nonchalantly.
‘……It wasn’t something to think is weird.’
Considering Ho-yeol’s level, everything was natural.
Realizing that fact, his head rather became refreshed.
‘The bigger the goal, the better it is.’
He finally felt like he had taken off clothes that didn’t fit.
‘Since when did I look down on others.’
Right, he was untill the end, from the bottom.
When crawling up from the bottom.
An underdog whose motivation surges even more.
The gaze in such Rox’s eyes changed.
“Still, it’s too early to give up yet.”
“……Yes?”
“Untill the end, the rule is to acquire 30 points first.”
Although a massive wall named Ho-yeol existed above.
There wasn’t a law saying they absolutely had to tear down that wall.
Why, because they could earn 3 points the same even by defeating other teams.
Did they realize such Rox’s intention?
The team members also returned from their shock.
“……That’s right! Because Lee Ho-yeol has no choice but to wait as well!”
At least one team.
Until an opponent team achieves the same points.
Ho-yeol would have no choice but to stop at that spot and wait as well.
Rox was planning to utilize that system.
Rox smiled brightly to his team members.
“It’s unfair, isn’t it? For only us to feel the fear of Lee Ho-yeol.”
“Right. That…… couldn’t be expressed in words.”
“How could he offer a greeting in that situation……!!”
Right, the deciding moment is when securing at least 27 points.
That is, starting from when 1 win is left.
‘We need a strategy.’
The moment Ho-yeol faces off against a team that acquired 27 points.
They will also face off against another team that acquired 27 points.
Secure a win before Ho-yeol.
Achieve 30 points before Ho-yeol.
‘This is the easiest method. No, this method is the only one.’
Rather than expecting a win in a confrontation with Ho-yeol.
It looked easier to regulate the points of other teams.
Rox raised his sword.
“Ah, no! Rox-ssi. We didn’t intend to fight abruptly……!”
They had merely asked a question, but instead of answering, he drew his sword.
The flustered Players waved their hands but.
Rox didn’t waver in the slightest.
‘It’s the last chance.’
Now that he has guessed Ho-yeol’s level.
Rox was one who knew that competing with Ho-yeol was meaningless.
From now on, whatever rift, whatever raid it becomes.
Showcasing a performance greater than Ho-yeol would be an impossible task.
‘Perhaps the last chance I can pull ahead of Lee Ho-yeol.’
Pat!
He cannot miss that precious chance.
Rox surging toward the cogwheel.
However, Rox did not know.
The existence of the [Quernberg Ascent Lever].
That could acquire 9 points at once.
The fact that what such Ho-yeol needed.
Was merely 3 points.
And at the same time.
“You must have gone through a lot of trouble coming up, but it is regrettable.”
The fact that Ho-yeol had also obtained his final cogwheel!
.
.
.
Just as I was confident, I achieved an easy victory.
Sealing the mobility of the Players with a mechanical wall.
I lightly obtained the cogwheel.
“……Ho-Ho-yeol. Lee Ho-yeol-ssi, don’t tell me you alone?”
“That is right.”
“H-How did you get here alone……?!”
“Formality and procedures should be followed, of course.”
“?!!”
Before, they surrendered.
This time too, the Players didn’t wildly rampage.
It was just that their expressions looking as if they saw something they shouldn’t have were identical.
‘Anyway, the outcome would have been the same, though.’
Well, even if they wildly rampaged, they wouldn’t have been able to tear down the mechanical wall.
Because that was no different from an alloy wall mixed with dozens of minerals.
Because it’s incredibly sturdy, incomparable to a stone wall.
With this, achieved 21 points.
I didn’t hesitate.
[Quernberg Ascent Lever – 3rd Floor].
Combined the lever with the mechanical device.
Clank!
Upon pulling the lever.
Shooooooong!
The mechanical device started to rise at a terrifying speed.
At the same time, the blinking 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 : 30p
●2nd : 16p
●3rd : 15p
[You have fulfilled the conditions.]
……By the way, until when does this get faster?
Is it a Gyro Drop or what?
How high, and how fast is it ascending.
It’s enough to make my ears pop, this?!
Of course, even if I admire it, I didn’t show it.
“It is the essence of brilliant technological capability.”
……Yeah, bluffing is better than dry heaving.
I was thinking that.
Soon, the scenery started to change.
“!”
Like looking outside through a glass window.
I could see the scenery outside the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.
That sight was indeed [『Phenomenon』].
But I knew it.
A phenomenal sight.
Because that is reality and Arcana.
The appearance of the two worlds mixed together.
So I ended up realizing it.
‘……That is the Arcana continent?’
Nam Chul-min, Hakuna, Baek Yi-seol…….
The reason why demons were swarming in reality.
At that moment, the quest window blinked.
A whopping two of them.