Chapter 153: Secret Area, Ruins of the Forgotten God (1)
Taesan checked the rewards he received after conquering the battlefield of the gods.
What he got was a small gem.
[Gem Containing the Blackest Light]
[A gem that devours a dull light. No one knows what lies within.]
“Is this a material item?”
It was an unexpected reward. Given that it was a quest related to most of the gods in the labyrinth, he had expected a high-grade skill or equipment, not a material.
Taesan looked at the gem with a puzzled expression.
Inside the gem, something black was swirling.
“Do you know what this is?”
[Aside from the fact that it’s of high grade, I have no idea. I’m an adventurer, not an appraiser. But it seems quite valuable.]
Taesan could feel the same. Even though it was trapped within the gem, a subtle power was emanating from it.
“Perfect timing.”
It was a material received as a reward for a special quest. It would likely be valuable as a material for the dragon’s claw.
Taesan packed the gem and left the room.
Bargan greeted him with a beaming smile.
“You’ve returned!”
“…Were you waiting?”
“Of course! Haha! My judgment was right!”
He grabbed Taesan’s shoulders with burning eyes.
“You truly have the power! Thank you so much! I am incredibly grateful!”
“That hurts.”
Taesan grimaced and shook him off. Bargan awkwardly raised his hands.
“Ah, my apologies. I got too excited.”
Bargan’s face was filled with nothing but joy.
It seemed he was genuinely happy that Taesan had conquered the battlefield.
“You deserve this. Take it.”
He handed Taesan platinum earrings. The design was similar to the ring he had received before, but more luxurious.
[Platinum Earrings]
[Health +30]
[Mana +70]
[Strength +4]
[Agility +40]
[Intellect +40]
[Attack Power +4]
[Defense +4]
[Platinum earrings whose value cannot be expressed in words.]
“Oh.”
Taesan smiled. Bargan watched him with satisfaction.
“Judging by your expression, you seem pleased.”
“Quite so.”
For a single earring to provide these stats was impressive. As the ghost had mentioned when they saw the ring, it was not an item one would typically find on the second floor.
“I’m glad you’re satisfied. I must return now.”
Bargan packed his equipment with a grunt.
As he left, he spoke to Taesan.
“I hope to meet you again someday! Young adventurer!”
And with that, Bargan departed.
Taesan had a feeling they would meet again sooner rather than later.
Taesan began to move as well.
Before heading down to the 34th floor, he needed to visit the blacksmith. He planned to show him what he had obtained and commission the creation of equipment.
“You’re here?”
The beardless dwarf greeted him as always.
“What brings you this time?”
“I got a material. I was wondering if you could use it to refine the dragon’s claw.”
Taesan handed over the gem he had received as a reward.
Hafran’s face, which initially held no expectations, twisted.
“…What is this?”
He stared at the gem.
“Who are you?”
He drilled holes with his gaze and then turned back to Taesan.
His face was filled with confusion.
“Where did you get this?”
“Quest clear reward.”
“A reward, you say? Not even gods can easily obtain this.”
“So, it wasn’t worthless.”
If the battlefield clear reward had been insignificant, it would have been disappointing. Hafran, unusually for him, stuttered.
“This… this… how is this possible…”
“What material is it?”
Hafran remained silent. He looked at the gem with a complex expression and spoke.
“The light of origin is sealed within this gem.”
“Origin?”
“A light known to exist since the creation of the world. It transcends time, racing to the end of the world, reaching the conclusion of everything first. Its value… I can’t even estimate it. Is there anyone who could?”
Hafran fondled the gem with dreamy eyes.
“It’s a fantastical substance, faster than time and impossible to grasp. Can gods control such things…”
“That’s what it means.”
Taesan smiled. Judging by Hafran’s reaction, the reward was more than adequate.
Taesan got to the point.
“Can you refine the dragon’s claw with this?”
Hafran remained silent.
It was a rare sight, as he usually answered straightforwardly.
“I don’t know.”
In the end, Hafran gave an ambiguous answer.
“This is my first time handling such material. The dragon’s claw, all the materials you gave me, and this are all of high grade. Integrating them all… I can’t guarantee it.”
“Then, is there anyone here who can do it besides you?”
“There isn’t.”
Hafran answered firmly.
“There isn’t a blacksmith here better than me. I can guarantee that.”
Even as he spoke, Hafran’s gaze never left the gem.
Taesan nodded.
“Then you do it.”
Hafran’s eyes shook at Taesan’s response.
“Are you really okay with this? This is… not something ordinary.”
Of course, he personally wanted to handle the gem.
To work with the light of origin, control the power of the spirit king, and refine the dragon’s claw into a perfect piece that no one could criticize.
It was the innate desire of the dwarf, and it was Hafran’s wish.
But he was also afraid.
Afraid that such precious materials would turn into worthless trash under his hands.
Taesan spoke calmly.
“I have no use for it anyway.”
He was like a ghost. An adventurer conquering the labyrinth, not a blacksmith.
“So go ahead. I won’t care about the result. Besides, don’t you really want to do it?”
Hafran’s gaze and gestures towards the gem showed how much he wanted to handle it.
“…Really?”
“Of course, if it turns out unusable, you’ll have to work for free to compensate for its value.”
“I’ll have to try my best then. I might end up working for free for life.”
Hafran chuckled.
Taesan didn’t know, but he was the first to tell Hafran to do as he wished.
“I won’t disappoint you.”
Hafran grabbed the gem.
“I must mention, there are two options.”
Hafran’s eyes gleamed.
Until now, he had seemed somewhat powerless and indifferent to everything. He had goals, but acted as if he had given up.
But now, he was different.
His voice was filled with strength, and his actions were confident.
“The first option is to use the materials you gave me separately. Each is exceptional, so you’d get decent equipment.”
“The downside?”
“It will be useful for a while. You won’t find better equipment anytime soon. But you’ll have to replace it when you reach the deeper layers.”
“The deep layers are that much harder?”
“They are on a completely different level. No matter how precious something obtained here is, it’s just junk compared to what’s down there.”
It was a laughable but understandable statement.
Those who reached the deep layers could easily defeat a dragon.
Comparing the golden dragon of Vekezeta to the spirit king, the spirit king was superior.
“And to make equipment, you need at least four or five materials. If a material like the light of origin is too high-grade, other materials can become a hindrance. If they don’t meet the minimum standard, the value of the equipment will drop significantly.”
Taesan pondered for a moment and spoke.
“Then what if all these materials are used to make one piece of equipment?”
“Then you’d never have to replace it.”
With a confident face, Hafran spoke as if it was undeniable.
“If successful, it will be hard to find better equipment even in the deep layers.”
“Then let’s go with that.”
It was obvious that equipment that wouldn’t need replacing was more advantageous.
Hafran, seemingly anticipating this, remained composed.
“But there’s one problem.”
“Problem?”
“The materials have too strong individual characteristics.”
With a troubled face, Hafran fiddled with the gem.
“Dragon’s claw. Spirit king’s ember. Light of origin… Each is unique. The combination of materials is crucial for equipment. It will be excellent, but compared to the value of the materials, it might be lacking.”
Hafran stroked his chin and pondered for a while.
It was only when the flame in the furnace weakened that he spoke.
“There is one way. But… I’m not sure how it will turn out.”
“Let’s hear it.”
Having come this far, he didn’t intend to settle for anything less than perfect. Hafran began to explain.
“I know of a hidden ruin.”
“A ruin?”
Taesan’s eyes lit up.
“I don’t know whose ruin it is. I happened to get a key to the passage.”
Hafran took out a key. It had a dark, tarnished glow, indicating it was very old.
“This is the passage key.”
Taesan stared at the key.
The key exuded a subtle aura, as if saying this was what he had been looking for.
‘Blessing of the Gods.’
The blessing of resurrection from a forgotten goddess.
When he received it, it was explained that he would know the location of the goddess.
“I don’t know what’s in there, but…
[The relic of a god should be enough to combine all the materials.]
“Yes, it’s risky but possible.”
“What’s the difficulty?”
“Based on external detection, it’s quite high. You’d need to reach at least the late 40s to pass.”
At Taesan’s current state, it would be a close call.
Taesan nodded.
“Alright.”
[Sub Quest Started]
[Blacksmith Hafran wants you to gather materials for perfect equipment.]
[Reward: One Perfect Piece of Equipment]
“If it gets too dangerous, you can come back. This place doesn’t affect the floor reward system as it’s a secret area. You can challenge it later when you’re stronger.”
Taesan nodded and took the key.
The key disappeared into his body as if it had been waiting.
At the same time, Taesan learned how to open the secret passage.
He grabbed the air with his hand, and a passage opened, revealing another space.
Hafran looked surprised.
“It didn’t have that effect when I had it.”
“I have another connection.”
Taesan stepped into the space immediately.
Hafran saw him off.
“Take care.”
Taesan stepped into the space.
What he first saw was a world turned entirely grey.
It was similar to the labyrinth, but everything was faded. When Taesan touched the wall, the surface crumbled and fell apart.
[The labyrinth walls have weathered over time. Just how old is this place?]
“Since it’s a forgotten goddess in the labyrinth, it must have existed before.”
[The labyrinth’s genesis… truly ancient.]
Taesan examined the structure closely.
The passage and structure were similar to those of the labyrinth. The width was also similar. There was enough room to maneuver, but not spacious.
Taesan moved forward.
Hafran had said that one would need to be at the level of the late 40s to break through this place.
Given that, there was a high probability of something hidden, and it didn’t take long to welcome Taesan.
A sharp sound echoed as an arrow flew toward him. Taesan immediately activated his mental acceleration.
“Slower than I thought.”
If he intended to catch it, he could easily do so.
Thinking it was not too difficult at the entrance, Taesan reached out to catch the arrow, but its speed changed.
It aimed for Taesan’s chest at several times the speed.
Taesan quickly turned his body.
The arrow barely grazed his arm.
The arrow, which had grazed Taesan, spun in the air and flew back.
Taesan concentrated and read its trajectory. He tracked the arrow with his eyes and moved his body. Taesan’s sword sliced the arrow in half.
It was not an ordinary trap.
The impact transmitted to the sword was considerable, so an ordinary adventurer of the 30th floor wouldn’t have been able to block it.
[Even after all this time, the trap remains intact.]
“It doesn’t seem to welcome me.”
Despite receiving a quest from the goddess, the ruins did not seem keen on letting an intruder in.