Chapter 08
The Master of Thousand Mastery (1)
(Tn: Blue guild Will be changed to parang guild)
Before long, the people started buzzing with excitement.
"Huh? Did I hear it wrong? A porter suddenly want to go in where even Rankers fail?"
"Judging by the training, he seems like a Necromancer. Hm... But it still won't work, will it? If he were a Dark Lord, it might be different."
"Yeah. Wasn't that guy over there just a novice Necromancer who could only summon skeletons?"
"Hey, you. Instead of causing trouble, it'd be better to just stay quiet. No matter how frustrating it is."
"Right, the boss is really sick this time."
Someone shook their head nervously.
Someone else tried to calm and dissuade.
In a situation where the atmosphere was sinking due to Kim soo yul repeated failures.
They must be worried about causing unnecessary discord.
"Hey."
Then, an A-rank hunter from 'Parang' stepped forward.
A man known by the alias 'Swift Sword,' Shin Seonghoon.
"If you're a porter, act like one and carry your luggage. Don't make a fuss."
Using a slightly rough expression.
I understood.
It's frustrating in a situation that's not going well.
And When a novice porter steps forward, it's only natural they got annoyed.
'Well...'
Originally, I might have been dumbfounded.
He exuded an aura much more intense than the orc I saw a few days ago.
"..."
I actually felt like I was suffocating.
Is this feeling of imminent danger from his sword a kind of killing intent?
But.
My gaze was determined.
There was no backing down.
Why? Because you guys fail every time.
Even though you keep failing, you keep trying.
You've tried enough to challenge.
Then, isn't it fair to give me a chance at least once?
"Oh ho, look at this. He's not looking kindly, huh? Just because my lady always treats him with kindly, does he think he's something special...?"
The Swift Sword murmured quietly as he approached.
His hand was already resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
After a moment.
"Enough"
a stern voice cut through the tension-filled cave.
The spectators turned their heads.
The source of the voice was Amje Kim Soo yul
With an inscrutable expression, she stared directly into my eyes.
"Why? Do you not trust me?"
Kim soo yul voice held no fluctuations in tone, no highs or lows.
Is it because she's exhausted?
Or perhaps it's wounded pride.
"That's not it."
A brief silence followed my response.
How long had that breathless moment passed?
Her lips parted slowly.
"Originally, according to the contract, you're a porter. You're not supposed to voice opinions on dungeon exploration."
"I know."
"Then may I ask why you're attempting this challenge?"
She tilted her head slightly as she inquired.
I answered.
"The old man is looking for someone with potential."
"And?"
"For some reason, I thought the old man's 'grief' might lie in raising a disciple. And potential is potential. It doesn't refer to your current skill."
"Oh, so it's not about dealing with the old man. You want to become his disciple?"
"That could be a hidden clear condition."
Hidden pieces.
Occasionally, dungeons had alternative methods of clearing.
And in such cases, the rewards were even greater than usual.
"Hidden pieces..."
Kim soo yul, who had been deep in thought with his hand on his chin, nodded.
"Fine. But what about the disciple? Are you saying your potential surpasses mine?"
Kim soo yul furrowed his brow slightly.
The Swift Sword beside him also gave a fierce look.
Hmm, the atmosphere keeps getting more ominous.
I reached out my hand and shook my head to dispel it for now.
"Of course, that's not very likely..."
"You're not saying it's impossible?"
"Umm..."
Well.
At this rate, I might not even get to attempt the challenge and just be swept aside somewhere.
I quickly came up with another excuse.
"It's not that. Umm, pain... Yes, pain! Everyone's felt pain before. I'm the only one here who hasn't. There's no empathy. But It's like feeling ostracized. Plus, isn't Amje-nim resting right now anyway?"
Tch.
A smirk escaped Kisoyul's lips.
Then he made a face as if he had expected as much.
"That's right, that expression. Now you're showing your true colors."
True colors? Expression?
What's all this suddenly about?
"It's been like this from the beginning."
"Yes? What's that?"
"I told you. I found it suspicious. Waiting in front of the dungeon. Your gaze wasn't one a porter would have, but more like a wolf looking for a prey
."
"..."
"Are you greedy for dungeon rewards? Why, are you hoping to gain some insight during the breakthrough process?"
Good grief.
This person.
Shouldn't she become a prophet instead of a Ranker?
How can someone read minds so easily with just a gaze?
No, can it be naturally assumed?
'Anyway.'
My ulterior motive was caught.
It was quite impolite.
After all, a porter who entered with a promise of a reward twenty times greater was now aiming for the dungeon's reward as well.
But.
"Go ahead. Try it once."
She spat out as if annoyed.
"there's no harm, Anyway. And as you said I wanted a short break. It's all for the best. I don't have much to say from the perspective of someone who's also failed."
"Really?"
"Yes. But you only get one chance. As you can see, the emergency rations are running low, and the rescue team isn't coming. We're in a situation where we need to clear it as soon as possible."
Hmm, suddenly it feels a bit burdensome.
Still, the outcome wasn't bad.
Success would be a jackpot.
Even if it failed, it wouldn't matter much.
Sure, some pride might be hurt.
But since even Rankers couldn't clear the dungeon, wouldn't it all end as a young guy's misadventure?
"I understand. Thank you."
I nodded politely.
I knew how big of a risk it was to pass up the opportunity to clear a high-level dungeon.
It could even lead to losing a substantial reward if mishandled.
But then again, I was already 100% convinced that I couldn't clear it.
'For now.'
Let's consider it as owing her a favor.
Step by step.
I carefully walked towards the 'door.'
[Opening the 'door' allows you to challenge the stage.]
[Would you like to open the 'door'?]
Gulp.
I swallowed my Saliva, and took a deep breath.
'It's okay, it's okay, it's okay.'
'After all, no one here has died, right?'
'At best, it'll hurt a bit.'
I repeated it in my mind dozens of times.
And then.
Clunk!
Boldly, I swung the door open.
---
[Stage: The Griefing White-Haired Elder]
[Cold frost clings to the hair of the elder, showing how grand 'the Grief' is.]
[Defeat the elder.]
Paaaat!
As soon as I entered, light enveloped me.
As time passed, it gradually dimmed.
Gooooah!
Before long, an immense force pressed down on my entire body, and the scenery in the cave transformed.
"Heooeoeok!"
The sound of wind rushing through my lungs echoed under the weight bearing down on my entire body.
Something appeared before my eyes, but it was too heavy to even open them.
What kind of being in the world could exude such a presence?
"What, first it was a pitiful women coming in continually and Now, an even more pitiful guy come?"
Amidst the dreadful atmosphere, the voice of the seemingly unharmed elder reached my ears.
Ah, that's it.
Is that being the 'White-Haired Elder,' who seems to toy with even Rankers?
I knew it was an extraordinary boss, but indeed, the power of the elder exceeded my expectations.
Overwhelming combat prowess!
I instinctively realized that the elder could snatch my life away with just a flick of a finger.
Gulp, I swallowed.
"Ahh, tsk - Another one who doesn't even need to be seen. I should just toss you out quickly."
Bam!
In that moment, the elder's shining gaze was directed towards me.
[You confront the memories of the 'cursed' spirit!]
[You achieve the hidden condition!]
['Unique Ability: Cursed Necromancer' Exclusive Hidden Condition!]
'Huh?'
I blinked my eyes at the familiar golden message.
In the past, it's the same content as when 'The Rule of 10,000 Uses!' was opened, right?
[Condition: Encounter with the memory of the deceased!]
- Necromancers ultimately possess the ability to control the deceased.
- Encounter the 'cursed' souls with strong tenacity.
'Cursed' Necromancer.
'Cursed' soul.
Doesn't it feel like the two curses are from the same caster?
'Anyway.'
That old man is actually a ghost.
He received a curse, right?
I happened to meet him, and that's how my hidden condition was unlocked.
[Congratulations!]
[A hidden skill is being unlocked!]
[You acquire the skill, 'Memory Reproduction' (S-rank)!]
Oh my God?
My widened pupils expanded even further.
Apart from everything else, I could only see one thing in my field of vision.
'S-rank.'
What kind of existence is an S-rank skill?
Isn't it a legendary skill that you can only obtain by obtaining and repeating 'Skill' within 'Skill'?
'Is this for real?'
I Obtained right away.
I couldn't gather my wits due to the unexpected turn of event.
At that moment, the message appeared again.
[Using the skill, 'Memory Reproduction' (S-rank).]
Using the skill?
Oh, now that I think about it.
There was no motion from the old man who said he'd throw me away.
As if time had stopped.
In the moment of a strange unfamiliarity, I furrowed my brows.
[Reproducing the memory of the 'Cursed' ghost 'Master of Thousand Mastery'.]
[Moving in a moment.]
Master of Thousand Mastery?
Who is that?
Is 'The Old Man' the 'Master of Thousand Mastery'?
What is memory reproduction?
How does it work?
In the moment of not understanding the message's content.
Paaaat!
A light of tremendous brightness engulfed my whole body.
***
Whoa!
I opened my eyes.
The scenery before me was a snow-covered mountain.
Standing there was an old man with white hair, looking somewhat forlorn as he let out a sigh.
"Haa, this is quite something. How can there be such a lacking successor? Tsk. But leaving it behind would be too regrettable."
The old man exhaled a sigh that seemed full of regret.
'Hmm?'
I furrowed my brow.
No, it would be more accurate to say I attempted to furrow my brow.
I was only consciousness and had no form.
Is this what it feels like to become a ghost?
It felt like I was in a dream.
I observed the situation from a third-person perspective.
"Life is indeed without charge. How much effort did I put in to reach this point, only to be told to abandon it?"
A breath escaped the old man's lips.
I could instinctively read the old man's emotions.
'First of all.'
The place where the old man lived wasn't Earth.
It was a new world unfamiliar to me.
'A different world...?'
Yes.
The old man was a transcendent being from this world.
He was the absolute authority in a place overflowing with orcs and various other monsters that I had encountered.
'There really was another world?'
It was shocking.
Well, considering a world teeming with dungeons and monsters, why not?
"...It's been a long time."
Along with the old man's dialogue, his memories flooded into my mind.
"Hehe, it was quite an interesting life."
In a world where only the strong survive,
the old man studied countless types of martial arts and professions.
Swordsman, spear fighter, assassin, archer, wizard, buffer, healer, and so on...
"If you know how to handle your 'ki' smoothly, all martial arts will converge into one."
The old man who transcended everything lived for a very long time.
To the point where even death seemed to be transcended.
Sword Master, War God, Arch Mage, Sage...
The names that called the old man changed with the eras.
Even such an old man.
Was there no limit before time?
He continued to age.
Even with the 'ki' he confidently possessed, he couldn't stop aging.
It was frustrating.
"Even cool water was like a poison for me, and even the once light air now presses on the body as if it wants to suffocate me."
"It's painful, so tormenting. I'm thirsty."
"But I can't die like this. I can't because it's unjust."
The old man had one attachment.
It was the culmination of techniques he had researched for hundreds of years.
Handing down the essence of those martial arts to future generations was something he wanted.
For him, losing those techniques was as fearful as losing 'himself.'
But.
There was no one in this world who could absorb that tremendous skill in a short amount of time.
"Why are talents so lacking like this? I don't want to spread it to many people. I just want to find one capable person and teach them."
The old man traveled all over the empire.
He scoured even the rural villages of remote kingdoms.
But, the person who matched the old man's ambitions did not appear.
"Ah, how lamentable! In the end, wanting a one-on-one successor was just greed!"
In the end, the old man couldn't find a successor.
No one could follow in the footsteps of the great genius old man who might appear once in thousands of years.
"Aaah, please."
The old man instinctively realized.
That he didn't have much time left.
Breathing became difficult.
His skin puckered.
Moisture drained from the tongue, leaving the throat and tongue dry.
"I don't want to go like this."
Lack of moisture gathered in the pupils.
Tears that hadn't fallen when my parents died or when there was a hole in my chest flowed.
Drip!
I closed the eyes of the snowy mountain.
Aging, which had been forcibly halted through 'ki,' progressed rapidly.
The skin became wrinkled, and the bones became fragile.
"Even if I have to sell my soul... I want to leave behind the complete 'me.'"
Frost formed on his hair, and icicles formed on his beard.
The end of life.
The old man's 'grief' was as cold as frost.
[Ending the skill, 'Memory Reproduction' (S-rank).]
Comments
Post a Comment