Chapter 579
[You have obtained ‘Hermit’s Village Map’.]
An old map engraved with strange sigils.
It was undoubtedly one of the clues to finding the Necronomicon.
But why would Zeus have this?
True to his pride as a divinity, Zeus had a colossal desire to conquer the 50th floor.
He must have poured plenty of time and resources into it.
Even so, it wasn’t as if Olympus could possess one of the Necronomicon’s clues…
No way.
Jinhyuk gently pinched the edge of the map.
‘Did Nyarlathotep pull a prank?’
He had deliberately entrusted this to Zeus, then let it fall into Jinhyuk’s hands.
Thinking of it that way, everything lined up.
The place marked on this map was extremely dangerous and unknown.
Digging a trap for me, huh…
‘Amusing.’
Jinhyuk’s lips curled upward.
He’d give them credit for wracking their brains for a perfect hunt, but still.
Who would be smiling at the end was already decided.
Jinhyuk stored the map carefully in a corner of his subspace inventory.
His gaze shifted to the side.
[You have obtained ‘Bullets of the Slayer (x12)’.]
Acquisition Difficulty: Unmeasurable
Details: These bullets, inscribed with ancient runes, bear a spell that can kill ‘what cannot be killed’. If paired with the proper user and firearm, they can serve as the strongest of weapons.
A consumable special item that appeared only at abysmal odds.
In the world’s lore, the Slayer is an ancient Tower ranker—the progenitor of Rangers. Long ago, he climbed into the 40th floors, but the Primordial Beings, displeased by the threat of his ascent, eradicated him.
As always.
And yet the bullets of the Ranger, whose traces had been erased by them, had dropped.
Was this a coincidence?
Or a special reward for the first ascent?
What was certain was that a trump card had fallen into his hands.
‘I should search for the relics he left behind, too.’
It would be like finding a needle in the desert. But he had to try.
Jinhyuk stretched long.
With the Olympus matter wrapped up, it was time to focus on tracking the book using the clues he’d gathered so far.
Next up…
Ding!
His personal status window activated.
——————————————————
Name: Kang Jinhyuk
Gender: Male
Level: 303
Strength 119 Agility 131 Stamina 148 Mana 682 Gap 100 Luck 10 Adaptive 78 Essence 307.29
Stat Points Owned: 66
Coins Owned: 36,259,454
Class: Ruler of Runes
Unique Holy Spears: Wheel of Defiance, Phase 2, Eight Swamps, ‘White Night’ ‘Final Genesis’, ‘Downfall’, ‘Flare Eclipse’, ‘Last Meister’, ‘Iron Lotus’, ‘Plague’, ‘Whispers of the Moons’, ‘Lingering Moonlight’, ‘Nemesis’, ‘Thunder God (雷神)’.
Unique Abilities: ‘Fusion (融合)’, ‘Grave of Swords’, ‘Blessing of the Stars’, ‘Judgment of Anubis’, ‘Blood Demon Qi (血魔氣)’, ‘Mandala (曼茶羅)’, ‘One-Second Invincibility’, ‘Thousand Poisons (千毒)’, ‘White Beast’, ‘Omens Shared (萬祥共有)’, ‘Sanctuary of the Sun’, ‘Dark Heaven Demon Emperor Arts (黑天魔皇功)’, ‘Triple Magic’, ‘Colossus Strike’, ‘Fire Dragon’s Breath’, ‘High-Speed Sword (高速劍)’, ‘Right Arm of Tombgrave’, ‘Berserker’, ‘Domain of Wind’, ‘Shadow Instant Kill (陰影亟殺)’, ‘Primordial Flame’, ‘Bloodburst (血爆)’ ‘Black Tears’, ‘Leg of Tombgrave’, ‘Daemonic Might in Defiance of Heaven and Earth (怪力亂神)’, ‘Core of the Legion’, ‘Ancient Barrier’, ‘Heavenly Demon Divine Arts (天魔神功)’, ‘Mantra Taming’, ‘Nihilism’, ‘Heaven-Annihilating Myriad Poisons (滅天萬毒)’ ‘Red Hare Mount (赤兎乘馬)’ ‘Machine Lord’ ‘Kyokushin Taekwondo’, ‘Succubus’s Oath’, ‘Will of the Sea’, ‘Apostate’s Golden Apple’ ‘Predatory Growth (攝食成長)’, ‘Grasp of Subjugation’, ‘Earthquake’, ‘Acid Tentacles’. ‘Poison Road’. ‘Casca Diaslav, ‘System Manipulation (Limited)’, The Twelve Labors.
Skills: The skill list is too long and will be switched to ‘Fold’ state.
The price of dealing with Zeus and inheriting all of Olympus’s authority exceeded expectations.
His level had jumped by a whopping 22.
In stats, that meant 66 points.
Considering the nightmarish exp requirements in the 300s, it was unbelievable.
Well, he had taken down one of the highest Major Gods—this much was only right.
The Essence stat, which rose with every battle, going up by about 70 was just as sweet.
‘Thunder God and Nemesis scale with both Mana and Stamina, so this time I should invest mainly in Stamina.’
[Stamina increases from 148 → 198.]
[Mana increases from 682 → 698.]
Vrrrm!
As the stats were distributed, a faint light settled over his body.
With so many stats raised, he could feel the growth through his whole frame.
Now, for the last bit…
Jinhyuk activated the newly gained authority of Olympus.
[By the authority of the Interim Ruler, a ‘Council of Major Gods’ is convened.]
It was time to meet his new slaves.
—
Gulp…
“Ahem.”
“……”
Awkward coughs and silence crisscrossed the chamber.
They had held countless councils of Major Gods until now.
But this was the first time the one at the head seat had changed.
“Come on now. Everyone, sit comfortably. Help yourselves to food and drink. I’m not the type to tighten discipline or chew you out just because I’ve temporarily taken office in Lord Chronos’s stead.”
Sitting in Zeus’s seat, Jinhyuk offered refreshments to the other gods.
Of course, he didn’t forget the arrogance of resting both feet on the table and crooking a finger.
“Grrk…!”
“Just eat, will you. Eat.”
“Damn it, does sitting in that seat make everyone act like that…?”
“The hardship ahead is plain to see.”
“At least be grateful Chronos isn’t here.”
Startled, the Major Gods picked up their utensils.
As a fresh yet sweet taste spread through their mouths, their expressions became quite a sight.
‘It must be that delicious.’
Jinhyuk smiled in satisfaction.
As expected, mint chocolate was best when shared by all.
‘What kind of abomination is this food…’
‘I should’ve chosen an honorable death.’
‘Sigh, I miss nectar and ambrosia.’
‘There truly is a hell outside the Tower. To eat this and call it tasty…’
‘No wonder a monster of a player like that appears.’
Like swallowing poison, the Major Gods screamed inwardly.
Only Artemis, the sole exception, didn’t hide her joy as she shoveled mint chocolate.
As promised, Jinhyuk had gathered various items, including Uranus’ Clock, and succeeded in resurrecting Apollo.
His mental state was still infantile, but with time, he could return to how he once was.
For Artemis, it was ample reward for swearing fealty to Jinhyuk.
On another side, Alice von Ataraxia and her bloodline had taken their seats.
“Once again, a flawless victory. Congratulations on your win, my Lord.”
Belus raised a glass of wine.
“…It was thanks to everyone’s efforts.”
Alice let the words pass calmly.
A subtle dissonance flowed between them.
The current ran crooked.
Not long ago she had learned from the Sleeper Owl about Belus’s true identity.
Even so, she didn’t sever this uncomfortable tie, because she knew to keep enemies closer than allies.
‘They’ll try another unforeseen stratagem. To them, I’m the blade meant to strike my contractor.’
She had to uncover what scheme they held.
Until then, she couldn’t give them room to sense it and vanish.
Alice forced down the boiling betrayal and anger.
But—
‘…So you’re pretending not to know me.’
Belus—no, the other Operator—had already seen through everything.
From the start, they were the ones who had revealed Belus’s identity; there was no reason they wouldn’t see through Alice’s act.
‘This has become a headache.’
Not only had one of the Operators, “25 Years,” failed to use Alice, he had lost his life to Jinhyuk.
Using the broken Unique Abilities ‘Fusion’ and ‘Copy’, Jinhyuk had even taken System Manipulation; he would only grow stronger.
Still, it was a small blessing that Jinhyuk had picked up the ‘Hermit’s Village Map’.
Even Jinhyuk didn’t know that village perfectly.
There would be far more chances to catch him off guard.
Especially since a top-tier ranker from the past once climbed the Tower there.
‘Nyarlathotep truly is useful.’
With the Crown of Swiftness transferred, intervention from the 50th floor became possible.
Everything was turning in their favor.
It was time to start a proper hunt.
—
Exactly two weeks had passed since they returned to the modern world.
Olympus’s fall had triggered sweeping changes across the Tower.
All administrators had entered emergency mode, working around the clock. The remaining factions gathered their strength and considered their next moves.
A time like the calm before the storm.
The defeat of a massive power that ruled the upper floors sent shockwaves far and wide.
“Hm.”
But the very eye of the storm, Jinhyuk, was enjoying a leisurely vacation.
He needed time before his next move anyway.
And watching the remaining divinities flounder was simply too entertaining.
“Contractor. It is thy turn.”
Alice slapped the table.
Texas Hold’em for the No. 2 seat of Veteran Corporation.
They’d wanted to spice it up with stakes, since playing it straight was boring…
Somehow, everyone who joined had their eyes blazing.
Feeling the murderous intent prickling from all directions, Jinhyuk shivered.
‘What’s so special about that title, anyway?’
Was the authority to command everyone but the Guild Master really that big?
Or was it the public recognition of being known as the Vice Guild Master?
There was also the right to become the next Master if the current one had an accident or became unable to act.
Laid out like that, it did seem a little attractive.
‘Well, our guild has grown a lot.’
A few days ago, Kim Heewoong had said they’d gotten over seven thousand applicants wanting to join the guild.
And that was with a minimum requirement of B-rank Awakened or higher.
Right then—
“Contractor!”
Alice shouted again.
Having lost every hand so far, Alice was fired up.
“Okay, okay.”
Jinhyuk poured magic stones onto the table in a clatter.
Anything could be staked at the table.
Something expensive, or intangible assets, or information.
Anything at all.
And the one who judged the value was the dealer, Rick Hennessy.
“Ahem. Ahem. Player Kang Jinhyuk, I did ask to be invited to a gathering everyone could attend, but calling me just to deal is a bit…”
“Oh, right! Mr. Rick, you’ve never had modern coffee, have you? I just got some great beans…”
“Player Kang Jinhyuk has bet twenty high-grade magic stones.”
Rick’s demeanor flipped 180 degrees.
With the skill of a consummate pro, he raked in the stones.
“I call. I’ll stake a secret manual containing a new form for the Soul-Chasing Sword.”
Chun Yoosung tossed a stiff book.
Was he insane?
He’d risked his life to develop it with Soul-Chasing Shadow—and he was throwing it in for this?
“A ticket to Eden’s banquet on Christmas Day. You can spend the whole day with me.”
Teresa smiled sweetly as she set down a holy-looking parchment.
The Saint seemed a bit out of her mind too…
Her eyes were a little unfocused—maybe her other personality had popped out.
“A fur coat made from a nine-tailed fox’s tail and… ugh. I’ll add spirits. And Ward 3 of the psychiatric hospital, too.”
Hey— You’re the master of the 5th floor. How can you stake a psychiatric ward?
This was giving him a growing headache.
“I’ll put up a full blacksmith set and my workshop!”
Master Orun! Didn’t you pour your whole life into that?
“I have thirteen losing combos. One hundred thirty-three winning combos. Yup.”
Frey also tossed two short spears onto the table.
“Kiieee!”
Goguma spat out the magic stones in his mouth en masse.
“The great Captain Goguma says he’ll go all-in on behalf of the remaining divine beasts and spirit kings. He will surely become Vice Guild Master, then send the wicked master into a coma and swallow everything—uh, no. Hehe.”
Undine added with a chirp.
No one here was in their right mind.
Whoever took first place, the rest were going to get a firsthand tour of hell.