Chapter 504
A blinking status window.
[Incoming call from Intermediate Administrator ‘Rick Hennessy’.]
It had been a while since he last heard from him.
Rick was reaching out.
Normally, Jinhyuk would have welcomed him—but…
The timing was just too perfect.
One of the Senior Administrators had just stepped down, and Rick contacted him as if he’d been waiting for it.
Still—
‘Interesting.’
No doubt, it was a tantalizing bait.
[Call accepted.]
With the status message, a dashing middle-aged gentleman appeared.
“Fufu. Player Kang Jinhyuk, it’s been a while.”
Rick tipped his fedora slightly.
“Wow, what brings you to call like this…?”
“I wanted to check in and share some news I thought you’d find quite interesting.”
“Now I’m intrigued. What is it?”
Jinhyuk composed his expression.
“Tomorrow night, all of the administrators in the Tower will be gathering. Alongside the residents they personally support.”
A gathering of some of the highest-ranking figures in the Tower.
And since he said ‘all the administrators,’ even the Senior Administrators Jinhyuk had yet to meet would be present.
Indeed…
Rick wasn’t exaggerating when he said it was interesting.
“If you’re saying this in front of me, then that means players are allowed to attend too.”
“Sharp as always. That’s correct. I was planning to personally invite and escort you, Player Kang Jinhyuk.”
“Well, I appreciate it. Though I can’t shake the feeling that someone like you wouldn’t offer something like this for free.”
“Fufufu. Nothing too hard—just a small favor.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“One of the Senior Administrators will be replaced during this meeting. One of the long-standing veteran admins is finally retiring.”
Replacing a retiree, huh…
So Rick still didn’t know that Hastings had fallen.
Or he knew—and was pretending not to.
“So what I’d like to ask is this: help me become the new Senior Administrator.”
“It’s flattering that you think so highly of me, but I think that’s giving me too much credit.”
“I have a knack for judging the true value of people and things. And I always pay accordingly.”
Wuuuuung!
A violet-glowing box appeared in Rick’s palm.
Engraved on it was a scorpion clutching an hourglass with pincers.
[‘Scorpion Box of the Endentm Desert’ – Violet]
Acquisition Difficulty: Unmeasurable
Description: A top-tier restoration item specialized in repairing broken or damaged items. The success rate depends on the condition and grade of the item.
Then, in his other hand, a magnificent hammer shimmered in gold and navy hues.
[‘Pilgrimage’ – Navy]
Acquisition Difficulty: SSS
Description: A legendary item once wielded by Enduin for over 100 years. Greatly enhances a blacksmith’s skill. Comes with an unbreakable judgment attribute and boosts Sacred Relic crafting success rate by 13% when used with fire-type skills.
A violet-grade restoration item and Pilgrimage, the hammer once used by the legendary blacksmith Enduin.
“Khak…!?”
Jinhyuk nearly choked on his own breath.
The items Rick presented were outright broken in power.
If he handed these to Orun, the chances of repairing [Napoleon’s Coronation] would skyrocket.
‘If you fail even with these, you’ve got no right calling yourself a blacksmith.’
And if he had no right to be a blacksmith, he had no reason to remain in the Veteran Corporation either.
No reason to keep wasting precious Tower oxygen.
“Judging by your reaction, I take it they’re to your liking.”
“Ahem. Cough. Well, I mean… I’m slightly interested. About as much as a flea’s kneecap.”
Like hell. If Rick handed these over, Jinhyuk could gladly take the head of a Senior Administrator himself.
“Actually, I’ve been curious about these administrator gatherings. And I’d like to see which residents show up too.”
“I’m relieved to hear you say that. Then, let’s discuss the details in person. Ah, I’ve prepared four invitations—feel free to bring whoever you wish.”
[Video Call has ended.]
[4 Invitation Tickets have been stored in your Subspace Inventory.]
Rick left with those final words.
The appointed time: tomorrow at midnight.
Until then, he was free.
Before that…
Having wrapped up all other business, Jinhyuk casually approached Rear Queen.
“Oho. Yes, human. I’m so glad I trusted you and followed—hm?”
Rear Queen, who had spread her arms in welcome, froze in place.
“Kiehh?”
“Kruoo?”
The Black Kaisers and Black Retanas watching nearby were the same.
And no wonder.
Jinhyuk, wearing a warm smile, had placed a dagger at the queen’s neck.
“Sorry, but I need you to help me find the seed hidden somewhere in this cave.”
To restore Yggdrasil for the Norse deities—
And to copy Rear Queen’s ‘Acidic Antenna’ ability—
A little hostage play was absolutely necessary.
⁕ ⁕ ⁕
It was 12 hours later when they exited the Tower of Trials.
A special training room provided by the Korean Awakeners’ Association.
“God…damn…”
Chun Yoosung ran a hand through his wet hair after finishing his shower.
That ridiculous hostage game and Auschwitz-level forced labor they endured under Jinhyuk’s command—
Thanks to that, they were worked to the bone for 12 hours straight.
Not just the centipede species, but everyone from the Veteran Corporation and even the elemental spirits.
Rear Queen, in particular, had been pushed so hard she nearly developed a slipped disc.
She had begged to be killed instead.
There was no need to even describe what those past 12 hours were like.
“Ahem. Is our Sword Saint still mad?”
Jinhyuk cautiously offered a banana milk, testing the waters.
“Are you seriously asking that? We’re not your damn servants… and I still feel grimy from the sweat.”
Eyes full of murderous intent.
It wouldn’t be strange if a blade was drawn at any moment.
“I know everyone had it rough. That’s why I brought these invitations, see?”
Rick had given him four invitations.
One of them was meant for Chun Yoosung.
Now that they’d learned of an opportunity to climb even higher, there was no way he’d give up on attending the upcoming administrator meeting.
“Hoo…”
Chun Yoosung reluctantly cooled his rising anger.
“Yeah, yeah. They say good things come to those who wait. Dolsoe.”
“Stop calling me that!”
“A bet’s a bet. I won, remember? Anyway, let’s get started.”
Chak.
Jinhyuk pulled a dagger from subspace.
“I’d rather settle things with a fight than some training session…”
“Heh. Why do you always treat everything like a life-or-death duel?”
This time, the focus was on combining swordsmanship with skills to elevate their synergy.
Not a life-and-death bloodbath between lunatics.
“Tch. Fine.”
Chun Yoosung reluctantly unsheathed Ryuha.
Green aura shimmered along the blade.
Jinhyuk also summoned [Memory of the World].
‘Rear Queen’s antenna isn’t the best option, but it’ll do as a backup.’
Among the poison-type abilities in the Tower of Trials, he had one top-tier Unique Holy Spear and three unique abilities.
He could fuse at least one of them.
From Rear Queen, Jinhyuk had copied [Acidic Antenna], and now he selected [Heaven-Purging Myriad Venoms] and [Domain of Wind].
Wuuuuung!
A dazzling light burst forth as the three powers merged into one.
[Fusion successful!]
Unique Ability: Poison Lord
Acquisition Difficulty: SSS
Effect: Increases understanding of all poisons by 700%. Enables manipulation of categorized poisons and allows poisoning of various weapons. Knowledge of antidotes is also greatly enhanced.
A new ability acquired.
But he wasn’t done yet.
Poisons could be situational depending on the target.
‘Gotta grab a more universal offensive skill too.’
With the number of copied abilities increasing, the available combinations had expanded drastically.
Jinhyuk accessed [Memory of the World] and called forth another set of abilities.
He chose [Primordial Flame], Unique Holy Spear [Phase 2], [Heat Retention] and [Burnt Ashes] from the skillbook stolen from Guntafer.
“Fuuu…”
Jinhyuk focused all his senses.
Fusions using perfect components weren’t that difficult.
It was mostly about following the combination formula and distributing mana correctly.
However, fusions using second-best materials like this significantly raised the difficulty.
Beads of sweat quickly gathered on his forehead.
He had to carefully connect each skill’s mana circuits to one another, relying entirely on instinct and experience—akin to delicate surgery.
And finally—
[Fusion successful!]
Unique Ability: Cascadia Slav
Acquisition Difficulty: Unmeasurable
Effect: Magma that incinerates flame. Allows manipulation of the magma beneath tectonic plates. Increases all owned attack skill effects by 10%. Increases resistance to flame-based attacks by 1,000%.
[Fused ability has been stored in ‘Memory of the World’.]
Two new abilities—one SSS-rank and one unmeasurable—secured.
Now then…
Shall we test it?
Fortunately, a perfect sparring partner stood right in front of him.
A crooked grin spread across Jinhyuk’s lips.
At the same time, immense mana surged outward in all directions.
Kukukukuku!
Darkened sword aura poured forth.
Now it was Chun Yoosung’s turn to flinch.
“Didn’t you say this was just training…?”
“I did. But you know what they say—train like it’s the real thing.”
Fwoooosh!
Dense poisonous mist arose on the left from Barnard.
Kukukukuku!
Red magma welled up on the right from Crimson Lotus.
“Yoosung. I’m counting on you.”
⁕ ⁕ ⁕
Kwakwakwaang!
Kuuuu…tukwaaaang!
The inner walls were obliterated, black smoke rising high.
The interior had long since turned into scorched earth from the magma and toxic fumes.
And within the choking smoke—
“Yoosung~ where are you? Let’s plaaaay~”
The most horrific voice in the world rang out.
“Get lost, you devil bastard!”
No matter how much of a madman Chun Yoosung was, even he was being run ragged in this nightmarish game of tag.
“As expected, the Contractor is strong.”
Alice chugged a yellow tropical fruit drink.
As the refreshing fruitiness spread through her mouth, sparks flared in her eyes.
“Oooh! It’s like summer has arrived in My Majesty’s mouth!”
It must have been right up her alley.
To top it off, the melon-loaded milk bingsu was absolutely divine.
“Mr. Yoosung’s doing his best, but it’s still not quite enough yet.”
Teresa sipped her premium black tea.
While those two fought like beasts, the ones in the viewing area were too busy enjoying the finest modern refreshments.
There were still over ten hours left before the meeting, so they planned to make full use of their time.
But then—
“…Huh?”
“This mana…?”
Alice and Teresa, who had been enjoying their desserts, abruptly stood.
[A Gate is activating.]
A gate opened in the center of the training field.
Familiar mana.
Andrea, with nine tails trailing behind her, stumbled through it.
