Chapter 159
‘Umm.’
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a new space.
A hazy environment, just like when I used Memory Reenactment.
In that place, two spirits were looking at me with warm eyes.
Thud!
First, Bone Four—still in his younger form—slammed his shield into the ground.
“So it was you who resolved my lifelong resentment.”
He wasn’t the callow youth I had seen before.
Despite his current youthful appearance, he exuded an aura similar to the elderly Kayden I had seen in his memories.
“Yes. You erased the blood that flowed like a river because of me, the corpses that piled up like mountains… that terrible memory… Ah, thanks to your bone army, we were able to find peace that satisfied everyone with minimal sacrifice.”
He spoke earnestly.
Then, as if he had made up his mind—
“I, Kayden…”
Slowly, he knelt.
Thud.
The moment his knees touched the ground, he lowered his head.
Defense Master.
A formidable being rumored to be able to block even a dragon’s Breath.
The knees of the hero who dared to build a force and spread his ideology before the mighty Thousand-Year Empire were heavy indeed.
“To the benefactor who untied the knot in my heart before I died, I pledge my lifelong loyalty.”
Thud!
He raised his shield and slammed it down once more.
Hoo.
I’d always wondered why Bone Four did that.
So it was Kayden’s habit.
“My shield will forever protect the benefactor… and even if my body turns to dust, my desire to protect you will never change.”
[Defense Master ‘Kayden’ acknowledges you as his true master.]
[All stats increase by 10.]
A resolute declaration.
After muttering those words, he stayed frozen in that posture.
‘Ooh. Bone Four is cool, isn’t he?’
Beside him—
“I feel the same way.”
The young Saintess stepped forward.
“Although I was a priest who served the god of light… it was you, not God, who truly saved me…”
Even when she was called the Great Saintess, Dana had lived a hellish life with memories she couldn’t escape.
“Your soldiers fought for righteousness. They weren’t consumed by violence, and they didn’t get excited. They tried to protect the weak, didn’t enjoy unnecessary slaughter, and tried to heal the sick.”
Bone Four’s shield that protected the weak.
Bone Seven’s hand that healed the sick.
She seemed to be recalling the war with the empire.
After a long pause—
“I, Dana, also…”
At last, she respectfully lowered herself beside Kayden.
“I sincerely respect you for taking me out of those hellish memories…”
Dana lowered her gaze, just like Kayden.
“From now on, I declare that I will serve you, not God. I will engrave your words in my heart as the gospel, and I swear to my soul that I will become your disciple and honor only you.”
[Great Saintess ‘Dana’ acknowledges you as her true master.]
[All stats increase by 10.]
‘Ha.’
I admired it inwardly.
It was a strange feeling.
Was this how a noble felt when receiving loyalty from an old knight?
‘Everyone makes such impressive oaths of allegiance.’
Bone Four and Bone Seven.
No—Kayden and Dana now.
Maybe because they were the past lives of my summons, my heart felt heavy too.
I could feel their emotions.
‘The Elder says they’re just stupid guys trapped in the past, but…’
Wasn’t it precisely because of such resentment that they came to my side?
At the very least, I had to understand them.
Because I was their master.
[‘Bone 4’ has inherited ‘Kayden’s’ memories and will.]
[‘Bone 4’s’ name changes to ‘Kayden.’]
[‘Bone Seven’ has inherited ‘Dana’s’ memories and will.]
[‘Bone Seven’s’ name changes to ‘Dana.’]
Swish!
Kayden and Dana crumbled transparently into the air.
They had fully merged with my summons.
In other words, the number of skeletons that had achieved true awakening had increased to five.
And that meant I had completely cleared the Special Dungeon.
How did I know?
Because, just like before, a new special item had arrived.
[Reward has arrived!]
[Congratulations!]
[Acquired item, ‘Diary of a Magical Dropout’ (Rank S).] (T/N: Oohhh, it’s Bone Five’s turn next!)
[Ding!]
[This item is a job-related item.]
‘Magical Dropout?’
This time, the item was a notebook.
A thick one, like a proper magic book.
‘If it’s magic… is it Bone Five?’
I stroked the cover.
[Item: Diary of a Magical Dropout]
[Rank: S]
[Type: Medium]
[Description: The root that can uncover the secrets of a hidden ruin.]
[Effect 1: Can open the Dungeon, ‘Magical Dropout.’]
[Effect 2: Item is bound to Hunter ‘Joo Donghoon.’]
[Effect 3: This item can only be activated from Hunter Rank S or higher.]
[Effect 4: To activate this item, you need ‘Fragment of Ancient Magic’ (Rank SS).]
‘What?’
I frowned.
Setting aside the fact that it only activated from Rank S or higher—
It required a Rank SS item?
An item I didn’t even know how to obtain?
‘And if it’s Ancient Magic…’
Wasn’t that like the genie in the magic lamp from [Wish-Granting Scroll]?
That was a Rank SSS existence.
So a fragment of that would be Rank SS?
“Hoo.”
I had a bad feeling.
For some reason, it felt like things were going to get complicated—and the difficulty was going to spike.
‘Okay. That’s enough about that.’
I set the item aside and immediately opened the status windows of the ones who had awakened.
‘First, Kayden.’
[Name: Kayden]
[Energy: 650/650]
[Unique Ability: Skeleton Lord]
[Class: Shielder]
[Rank: S]
[Strength: 64] [Agility: 61] [Stamina: 64] [Magic: 63] [Technique: 60]
[Skills]
-‘Advanced Blocking’ (Lv.5)
-‘Advanced Taunt’ (Lv.5)
-‘Unyielding Shield’ (Lv.3)
-‘Must Block’ (Lv.3)
-‘Skeleton Summon’ (Lv.Max)
‘Ha.’
First of all, his stats had jumped significantly.
Not as much as Sunny or Eldrin, but if I trained him properly, he’d catch up quickly.
‘And he got new skills.’
On top of the existing ones, he had gained Unyielding Shield and Must Block.
‘A wide-area defense that blankets an area with a mountain-sized transparent shield.’
– Unyielding Shield.
‘A buff that increases the defense of allies within a certain range.’
– Must Block.
‘Good.’
I nodded in satisfaction.
Bone Four—now Kayden—had been reborn as a complete tanker.
‘Next, Dana…’
[Name: Dana]
[Energy: 600/600]
[Unique Ability: Skeleton Lord]
[Class: Healer]
[Rank: S]
[Strength: 49] [Agility: 50] [Stamina: 48] [Magic: 57] [Technique: 50]
[Skills]
-‘Advanced Healing’ (Lv.3)
-‘Advanced Status Condition Recovery’ (Lv.3)
-‘Salvation’ (Lv.3)
-‘Radiance’ (Lv.3)
-‘Recovery’ (Lv.Max)
-‘Skeleton Summon’ (Lv.Max)
“Wow!”
I blurted out as I checked each one.
The stats were great, but—
The new skills were insane.
Setting aside Advanced Status Condition Recovery—
“Salvation and Radiance are crazy.”
Salvation (Lv.3) was top-tier healing that applied Advanced Healing to all allies within a certain range.
Radiance (Lv.3) made a target invincible for about three seconds.
Both had a once-a-day limit, but—
Even so, the utility was enormous.
‘Especially invincibility…’
Used well, it felt like a truly overpowered skill.
As I continued examining the windows and skill descriptions—
[Congratulations!]
[Completely cleared the stage!]
It was time to return to Theme 5.
[Progress Time – 26:30:50]
Already far beyond five hours.
—
Flash!
As the light faded, I opened my eyes again.
[You have endured for 5 hours.]
[You have passed Stage 5.]
[The five senses return.]
[Error occurred.]
[There is no target.]
……
[You have endured for 5 hours.]
[You have passed Stage 5.]
[The five senses return.]
[Error occurred.]
[There is no target.]
……
Messages filled my vision.
At the same time, I saw the lava zone and the traps ahead.
The lava had hardened into stone, and the machines that fired arrows no longer worked.
And the six companions besides me were nowhere to be seen.
Whatever the outcome, they must have already moved on to Theme 6.
Because a lot of time had passed.
‘Hmm.’
So what happens now?
“Hoo.”
I stretched and looked around.
[Checking for target!]
[Beep!]
[Error occurred.]
[The target has endured for 26 hours, 30 minutes, and 50 seconds.]
[Rechecking Probability.]
“Hoo?”
A new message appeared.
[Please wait.]
[Before moving on to ‘Theme 6,’ rewards are being calculated.]
Could it be—
Was it acknowledging the time I exceeded?
Looking at the status window, it seemed the senses returned the moment I passed Stage 5.
‘Please.’
Acknowledge it.
Earning things through effort is good, but sometimes getting something for free is refreshing too.
‘Please, System.’
I clasped my hands and prayed to the unknown status window.
After some time—
[Ding!]
[The reward for passing Stage 5 is ‘Rank SS.’]
[The appropriate reward for you is ‘Rank SS Gift Box.’]
[The Gift Box will present you with the most needed item according to the rank.]
Huh.
So it wasn’t giving it to me?
Really?
As disappointment crept in, another message appeared.
[The system only partially acknowledges your Probability.]
[You did not endure the full ‘five hours.’]
[Of course, that part is acknowledged. One of the rules of the Dungeon is to use any means necessary.]
[However, the other parts cannot be acknowledged.]
Wow, this system.
It had stricter standards than I expected.
Back during the Shadow Shepherd, it had firmly declared I was qualified.
This time, it said it didn’t add up.
‘Well, even I can see it would be a scam if it counted this too.’
That was why I hadn’t taken it for granted—and why I’d prayed.
‘Still…’
I liked this neatness.
Wasn’t this what I’d wanted since I was an E-Rank Hunter?
A fair world.
Equal opportunities.
A world where you got as much as you worked for.
“Okay. I’ll accept it this time.”
I nodded.
Honestly, Theme 5 had been tough even for me.
If I didn’t have Ancient Magic, I might not have passed even Stage 1, let alone Stage 5.
I should be satisfied with clearing it without getting torn apart.
[If you choose the appropriate reward, the probability of acquiring it is 100%.]
[However, you can consume Probability to acquire a reward up to 2 ranks higher.]
[Please consider carefully before choosing.]
[Acquire with 100% Probability – Rank SS Gift Box]
[Acquire with 30% Probability – Rank SSS Gift Box]
[Acquire with 1% Probability – ??? Rank Gift Box]
[If you fail to acquire a higher-rank reward, you will not be able to obtain any reward.]
Again.
The moment of choice had come.
“Hoo.”
What should I do?
Of course, the Rank SS at 100% was the rational pick.
But something about it bothered me.
I’d been getting only ??? Rank so far, and suddenly settling for Rank SS felt unpleasant.
‘Should I just go all in?’
Hard to believe, but I’m normally risk-averse.
I don’t like gambling, I don’t smoke, and I only invest in safe things.
‘At least, except when it comes to Dungeons or training…’
But why?
Today, I felt rebellious.
Rank SS didn’t feel like enough.
“Eesh, whatever.”
It was impulsive.
A choice I never would’ve made normally.
A choice the Elder would scold, saying his disciple relied only on heavenly luck and had an empty brain.
[Acquire with 1% Probability – ??? Rank Gift Box]
I chose the 1% option.
‘Kayden and Dana awakened anyway. I’ll treat it as a souvenir.’
‘Hahaha.’
I decided to enjoy whatever came out.
About three seconds passed.
Faaaaa!
A mysterious light swallowed my entire vision.
[Selecting reward.]
[Congratulations!]
[★☆Jackpot☆★]
[Acquired ‘??? Rank Gift Box.’]
“Huh? Uh?”
I blinked.
What.
‘Fuck.’
Is this real?
I stood there, gaping.
Oh my god.
For the first time in my life, a true ★☆Jackpot☆★ had exploded.