Episode 323
“…!!”
Taehyun couldn’t hide his surprised expression at Rosaria’s words.
All of the archdukes Taehyun met were monsters outside the standard.
Still, even if they didn’t use their original power.
If I had to pick the best, I thought it would be Hazad.
The versatility of the power called Haki and the strong body unique to the Balaur tribe.
The magical power constantly emanating from the Dragon Heart.
Above all, it is convenient.
The energy of the Demon Dragon King that overwhelms his power.
Such power was manifested even through Asisat Ebi’s body.
What if Hazard used its power properly with its main body?
‘I wouldn’t have been here by now.’
There was no way Rosaria, who had received Taehyun’s memories, would not know that fact.
[He looks quite surprised.]
“Hazard seemed to be using the power of the Upper World King.”
[Demon Dragon King Baal. It is a fact that all the Grand Dukes know that she uses some of that power.]
Rosaria said it as if it was no big deal.
Taehyun was once again surprised.
[And yet Lucifer is the strongest?]
Rosaria chuckled, as if she had expected Taehyun’s reaction.
[Didn’t I tell you? If you regain your ‘original power’.]
“….”
[Recovering lost power is not an easy task. There is no need to say anything more if it is a ‘boy from the upper world.’]
Rosaria spoke with particular emphasis on the word ‘upper world.’
This wasn’t as surprising as it was.
I had expected that Lucifer was originally an Elyos from the Upper World.
[The main woman thinks, if Typhon regains his original strength. It will be similar to the current Lucifer.]
“I see.”
The same level as the Giant King who regained his original strength.
That alone is quite a burden.
It was much lighter than the title of being the strongest among the Great Dukes.
“I thought all the archdukes thought they were the best. “I guess he’s surprisingly humble.”
[I can’t deny it. [Sometimes, there are things that cannot be solved by just striking.]
Is she also evaluated as the lowest in terms of objective power among the Grand Dukes?
If I have to confront other archdukes, I will not back down.
That would be the weight of someone carrying a species.
“Then we should use it in reverse.”
Taehyun said, reorganizing the puzzles that came to mind.
[Hmm~ How long has it been since I met Hazard? Are you planning to do it again?]
By now, rumors were spreading throughout the underworld that Hazard had made a pact to summon Taehyeon.
Anyway, how about it?
“The arrogance and conceit of the princes. “That is the only loophole that I, as a human being, can dig into.”
Rosaria laughed at Taehyun’s confidence.
[Huh~ What kind of guy is next?]
You won’t be surprised to hear any answer.
I thought so and asked.
To Taehyun’s answer.
[Now… are you saying this in your right mind?!!]
This time, she couldn’t help but scream.
* * *
Right after talking with Rosaria.
Taehyun returned to Earth ahead of his future plans.
This is because I used all the potions and scrolls that I brought with me in my infinite backpack.
There is a skill called ‘Energy Drain’.
Sufficient potions and ample skill cooldown were essential for players preparing for the next exploration.
A designated gate from Rosaria’s castle to somewhere in Seoul, New Korea.
Taehyun crossed that unstable passage.
Quad deuk. Quad deuk.
As soon as he stepped on the ground, the parts of his body that had exploded began to regenerate at high speed.
It was the result of the law of the Abyss operating while crossing the gate.
‘Even if you lower the magic level to the lowest, it’s like this. I guess I’ll have to come up with another plan soon.’
At the current rate of growth, Taehyeon will inevitably face restrictions in his actions like the princes.
Jormungand’s power, ‘Runaway’.
‘I need to get that power quickly.’
While thinking about this and that, the first place I went to was Alchemist.
As always.
Alchemist felt busy right from the entrance.
This is when Taehyun revealed his identity and was quietly guided to the VVIP room.
“Taehyun!!”
A man with a haggard appearance.
Guild leader Seo Sang-ik hurriedly entered the room.
A look of joy and pride was visible on his face.
“how are you?”
“Thanks to you, I was very busy. “That means you’re doing well.”
“Is there a reason you welcome me so warmly?”
Apart from human relationships.
Seo Sang-ik was particularly excited today.
“Ah, I made a simple bet.”
“A bet…?”
“It’s nothing much… It was about who Taehyun Kim would go to first when he came back.”
“….”
Seo Sang-ik looked embarrassed at Tae-hyeon’s reaction.
It occurred to me that he was not his age.
“It’s not a bad thing to have at least one wholesome entertainment like this in this harsh world…”
After listening to the explanation, the list of potential bettors was impressive.
As well as the four guild leaders, Seo Sang-ik, Kwak Si-yang, Kwon Kang-hyeok, and Yoo Ah-young.
It seemed that Ji Jin-hee, Ko Tae-wook, Park Seong-jin, and Lim A-young from the association were also present.
In particular, Yoo Ah-young was confident.
“Of course, I bet on guild leader Yoo Ah-young, but…”
He muttered with a regretful expression.
No one bet on guild leader Seo Sang-ik, so there was no winner.
‘Now that I think about it, it seems like there were some strange rumors going around.’
Taehyun naturally recalled the details that Secretary Yoon Miso had reported.
‘I heard you have already crossed the river with Nightwalker’s guild leader Yoo Ah-young.’
‘I heard that my half-sister, Lim Ah-young, got angry and challenged me to a duel.’
‘I heard that a Japanese saint had her eyes set on Kim Tae-hyun.’
These were all unfounded rumors, but the most shocking thing was.
‘They say Kim Tae-hyun likes men so women don’t catch his eye.’
Of course, the public opinion is not important to Taehyun, who has already become the best player in name and reality.
Therefore, no action was taken despite the overheating rumors.
Someone was enjoying such rumors.
“What’s going on with gray disease?”
When Taehyun returned to the main topic, Seo Sangik also became his original face.
“Currently, we are establishing Alchemist Bunta in countries around the world and supplying treatments. One month ahead. “At that level, gray diseases will disappear from the world.”
The quest status window has already reached 99%.
What Seo Sang-ik said would not be wrong.
“Thank goodness.”
“It’s all thanks to player Taehyun Kim.”
Seo Sang-ik bowed his head politely.
“Then I guess I have to ask you one more favor.”
“It’s a VVIP’s request, so of course I have to grant it. “Just say the word.”
Taehyun took out Infinite’s backpack from his belt.
Then he put his hand inside and pulled out a scale.
Although it was damaged, it was still shiny and belonged to the Gold clan.
Seo Sang-ik’s eyes widened as he looked at the scales coming out of Tae-hyeon’s hand.
“I would like to ask you to make an item using this.”
Seo Sang-ik’s face stiffened for a moment as he opened his mouth.
“Uh, what kind of item…?!!”
Taehyun mentioned the infinite backpack armor belt weapon of the design he had in mind.
Things that can be fully utilized through skills or magical power.
This is because I realized the importance of equipment while traveling to the deepest level.
It was better to reduce the use of magical power as much as possible.
Seo Sang-ik, who wrote down all of Tae-hyeon’s requirements, grasped Tae-hyeon’s hands tightly.
And suddenly he bowed his head deeply.
“Thank you for visiting our Alchemist!!”
It was like looking at a salesperson rather than a renowned experimenter and competent guild leader.
“I would like to produce ten sets, but is that possible?”
Seo Sang-ik’s expression, which had been smiling at Taehyun’s question, darkened.
“You can do at least two sets… but it will be difficult to get to ten sets. If damaged scales are used, the quality of the product may deteriorate…”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about the amount of scales.”
“…?”
Taehyun once again put his hand into Infinite’s backpack and took out the scales one by one.
Following the scales of the Gold Clan.
The scales of the silver, black, white and green clan taken out of Infinite’s backpack filled the VVIP room.
Seo Sang-ik’s astonishment reached its peak every time the scales of the five dragons were taken out one by one.
By the time the last scale was taken out, it looked like it was about to faint.
* * *
“Taehyun!! Let’s take a look and go in!!”
Not befitting the head of a guild that represents New Korea and is renowned throughout the world.
Seo Sang-ik bowed deeply once again and said hello.
Taehyun laughed at that excessive courtesy.
This was no joke, because tears were flowing from Seo Sang-ik’s eyes.
It’s not just the guild leader who runs the production guild.
It was because of the joy of obtaining the best materials as a researcher.
‘Is this the first time Guild Leader Seo Sang-ik has dealt with the Red Eyes of a pure-blooded dragon?’
When Taehyun handed over the red eye and asked for an item that could be processed along with emotions, Seo Sangik ended up screaming.
Of course.
In Bordeaux’s red eyes, unlike the previous scales, the enormous power was still vividly felt.
at that time.
The murmur around me grew louder.
I heard that Taehyun, who is a newbie, visited the Alchemist.
Attention was drawn to the guild leader, Seo Sang-ik, appearing in such a low-key manner.
‘You can believe it.’
All along, Seo Sang-ik did not disappoint Tae-hyeon.
It can be expected that he will produce decent results.
I had no doubts that I would fail.
‘I’ve already reserved a lot of potions and scrolls.’
Taehyun used stealth.
Ssssssut.
Now that Alchemist was done, it was time to look at the status window.
* * *
“On earth… where have you been and what have you been doing all this time…?”
Kim Jong-ho, who was looking at Taehyun’s status window, asked in a trembling voice.
How long has it been since I fixed the status window?
There was a significant change in physical abilities, number of skills, and magic power.
Taehyun smiled happily, as if he was enjoying that reaction.
‘It’s surprising.’
I met Jormungand, I met Typhon, I met Hazzard.
Taehyeon also had to grow if he wanted to survive, having met three archdukes in a short period of time.
“Hmm… “Just give it some time.”
Kim Jong-ho had his disciples prepare something.
Then, he recovered his fatigue and mana with a potion.
This is because just looking at Taehyun’s status window consumed a lot of mental energy.
In the meantime, we briefly talked about what was going on in the world.
It seemed like the number of SS-rank awakened people had increased recently.
“But you are the first to have an awakening level of SSS.”
“Is that so.”
“Plus, judging by the parentheses, it seems like even the system is still having trouble figuring out how to measure it.”
“I came here to ask that.”
“You trust this old man too blindly.”
“If not you, who else would you ask this for?”
Kim Jong-ho burst out laughing.
It seemed like he didn’t like Taehyun’s flattery.
“Recently, a lot of non-awakened people are awakening to SS.”
“It’s good that the ranks of the monsters that appear are also increasing.”
“Do you know anything about this place?”
Kim Jong-ho secretly asked Taehyun’s opinion.
A player with a selected status window who explores the deepest level.
I think Taehyun might know something.
“An update on humanity under American control. “It seems to be the effect of the seal being released.”
“Hmm. “I guess that’s true too.”
This was something that Kim Jong-ho was also thinking about to some extent.
Of course, here is the reason why Shin disappeared after meeting the returned Taehyun.
The fundamental question remains, as there is no reason to delay humanity’s updates.
Even if they were mutually supportive, there was no need to say that.
“Anyway, they all look to you as a role model.”
“People are obsessed with titles.”
No. 1 player in the world.
Just like his past self did to Cody Cruz.
Even now, countless awakened and non-awakened people were interested in Taehyeon’s every move.
Taehyun was still bearing the weight without difficulty.
“Every time I see you, I feel like you are not your age.”
“This is something I hear often.”
Just because your body is younger doesn’t mean your mind is younger.
Of course, it’s hard to say that I haven’t become younger in my thinking after forming a new relationship.
“As I get older, recovery is slow even with potions.”
Kim Jong-ho slurped down the remaining tea.
“There is no need to overdo it. “There is plenty of time.”
“Then that’s a relief. What do you think of the changed status window?”
Kim Jong-ho asked as he poured a new cup of tea.
“It’s definitely easier to understand than before. “He is indeed a famous elder.”
“You can leave the obvious praise aside.”
What Kim Jong-ho wants to know is the newly added function.
It was about the quest system.
Taehyun didn’t know what it meant.
“Quest system. I discovered a few rules about it.”
