Chapter 259: Chapter 259

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 259

A month? Hardly.

The soul had never dropped even once until now.

To acquire such a soul, the chances of it not dropping even after a year—let alone a month—were very high.

‘The fact that it even dropped is a miracle.’

Before the regression, the Soul of Darkness was first obtained when Jeong-hoon reached Level 500.

At that time, the whole world was abuzz, questioning whether the Soul of Darkness was even a real item.

It had been nothing short of a gamble, but in the end, Jeong-hoon emerged victorious.

“Just lucky, I guess.”

“So, shall we move on to the rewards now?”

Jeong-hoon smiled faintly.

At that, Baal's crimson eyes narrowed.

“If that’s what you want, you can always propose another wager next time.”

As Baal finished speaking, a message appeared before Jeong-hoon.

[You have obtained 10% of Ultimate Energy.]

[You have reached 60% of Ultimate Power. Achievement Score: 300,000 points awarded.]

[You can now proceed with the quest ‘Path of the Ultimate (2).’]

Reaching 60% of the Ultimate Energy allowed Jeong-hoon to unlock the next stage, Path of the Ultimate (2).

‘The second step of the Path of the Ultimate… I wonder what lies ahead.’

During the first stage, he had significantly evolved many of his abilities. The second stage would likely grant rewards of a similar magnitude.

“And what about the experience points?”

Jeong-hoon had yet to receive the other reward Baal promised—a staggering 1 trillion experience points.

The moment Baal spoke, an additional message appeared.

[You have obtained 1,000,000,000,000 experience points.]

A full trillion experience points had been awarded.

[Your level has increased.]

[All stats increased by +1.]

[Bonus stats: +1 granted.]

Jeong-hoon’s level skyrocketed, surging upward like a storm, until it finally stopped.

‘517.’

With 1 trillion experience points, his level had soared to 517 in an instant.

‘Unbelievable…’

He hadn’t expected to exceed Level 500 before even moving on to Darvis.

Overwhelmed, Jeong-hoon stared at his level with awe.

[Detailed Stats]

- Strength: 634 (+63) → 697

- Agility: 622 (+63) → 685

- Stamina: 584 (+59) → 643

- Defense: 605 (+60) → 665

- Wisdom: 565 (+56) → 621

- Mana: 824 (+82) → 906

- Divine Power: 824 (+82) → 906

- Willpower: 560 (+59) → 619

Jeong-hoon’s level rose to 517, and he carefully allocated the bonus stats, pushing both Divine Power and Magic Power beyond 900.

‘Perfect. With proper buffs, I’ll easily surpass 2,000 in no time.’

A sly grin spread across his face.

At this level, there wouldn’t be many monsters in Darvis capable of challenging Jeong-hoon.

“How about it? Are you going to leave now?” Jeong-hoon asked, glancing at Baal.

“That’s just the worst.”

“Suit yourself.”

Baal’s gaze fell on the Soul of Darkness in Jeong-hoon’s hand.

However, Jeong-hoon had no intention of giving it up.

“And why exactly should I hand it over?”

“Our bet was about whether I’d acquire the Soul of Darkness, not about giving it to you. That’s how I remember it, at least.”

Baal, as if struck, let out a hollow laugh.

“Well, if you want it so badly, we could always wager for it.”

With those parting words, Baal disappeared.

Left alone, Jeong-hoon immediately summoned Michael.

“Michael.”

“Yes, Master.”

Michael’s face was drawn with exhaustion.

“Not going well, I take it?”

“No… It’s too stubborn to listen to me.”

The soul Jeong-hoon had won in his bet against Baal—he had tasked Michael with taming it.

But so far, Michael hadn’t succeeded.

“How long do you think it’ll take?”

“I’m not sure… It’s incredibly prideful and refuses to yield.”

Michael couldn’t hide his frustration.

Though ordered by Jeong-hoon to tame it, this wretched soul stubbornly resisted all attempts.

In his entire career as a necromancer, Michael had never encountered a soul this difficult to handle.

“Really? Then why don’t you summon it for me?”

“Summon it?”

“Yeah.”

“Just a moment.”

Michael began chanting a spell, forcibly summoning the soul.

Since Jeong-hoon had forcefully bound the soul to Michael upon acquiring it, it could be summoned even if it hadn’t been fully tamed.

“……”

The soul appeared, but it remained unresponsive.

“Hey! How dare you show such disrespect to the master?!”

Michael, incensed, tried to force the soul to bow, but it didn’t budge an inch.

[So it really was him.]

Mukho, who had been wavering in doubt, suddenly spoke up.

“Who?”

[Siegfried.]

“Siegfried?”

Jeong-hoon tilted his head, puzzled.

When he first encountered the soul, it had felt oddly familiar. Yet the aura it exuded was distinctly different from the Siegfried he knew.

But Mukho seemed certain this soul was indeed Siegfried.

[Trust me, I’m sure of it.]

Mukho had fought alongside Siegfried. If he recognized something within this soul, there was no reason to doubt him.

“Siegfried,” Jeong-hoon called out.

At that moment, the unresponsive soul flinched, its shoulders trembling slightly.

‘Mukho was right.’

Who would have thought the soul he wrested from Baal was Siegfried?

Reflecting on it, it made sense. Mukho knew Baal because Siegfried had died at Baal’s hands.

Baal, ever fond of wagers, must have claimed Siegfried’s soul after defeating him in a bet.

[Ha, this is what happens when you lose. And now look at you—your new master’s just toying with you.]

Mukho clicked his tongue in disdain, evidently unimpressed with Siegfried’s current state.

“Anyway, Siegfried, I’d appreciate it if you could lend me your strength. I want to put an end to this cursed game.”

Jeong-hoon’s words caused Siegfried’s shoulders to tremble again.

Even though his face was obscured in shadow and his voice remained unheard, his emotions were palpable.

Finally, Siegfried nodded.

“Master! He’s responding!” Michael exclaimed.

At that moment, Siegfried’s body was enveloped in black light, then swiftly absorbed into Michael’s hands.

He had become one of Michael’s subordinates.

“Good. Summon him again,” Jeong-hoon ordered.

“Yes!”

Michael chanted, summoning Siegfried anew.

This time, his form was clear and distinct, no longer a hazy silhouette.

True to Mukho’s words, it was undoubtedly the Siegfried Jeong-hoon had once encountered.

“…Finally, you can speak,” Jeong-hoon said as Siegfried opened his mouth.

“It has been a long time,” Siegfried replied.

“Do you know me?”

But Siegfried’s gaze revealed he didn’t recognize Jeong-hoon.

‘How long has he been trapped?’

It must have been so long that Siegfried had lost all sense of time.

After being imprisoned for what seemed like an eternity, he was finally released.

But even in freedom, he wasn’t truly free.

Instead of liberation, he found himself bound again, this time to a stranger.

And to make matters worse, some nobody had tried to tame him.

If he had his way, he would’ve cut the insolent one down on the spot—but his body wouldn’t obey him.

As if he had become nothing more than a puppet.

‘My body only moved when my name was called.’

Even then, he could barely manage a slight shrug of his shoulders.

Had Jeong-hoon not called for his help, he would never have ended up as that lackey’s subordinate.

“Yes. We’ve already spoken a few times,” Siegfried said.

“Is that so? Strange... I don’t recall anything like that,” Jeong-hoon replied.

“That’s only natural.”

NPC.

It was a term used by Transcendents. They referred to individuals reanimated as mere puppets.

It wasn’t surprising that Siegfried, in his current soul state, didn’t recognize Jeong-hoon.

“Anyway, you’ve asked for my strength to put an end to this game, haven’t you?”

Jeong-hoon nodded.

“Do you remember anything at all?”

“Not a thing.”

Siegfried shook his head. He couldn’t remember where he was born, how he had lived, or why he ended up imprisoned.

And yet, he had decided to heed Jeong-hoon’s request. The reason was simple:

It just felt like the right thing to do.

A profoundly straightforward reason.

“If I tell you the whole story, it’s going to take some time. Are you okay with that?”

“…Go ahead,” Siegfried replied.

Jeong-hoon began recounting the long, arduous tale.

The start of this cursed game.

The destruction of dimensions.

The wager with Baal and Siegfried’s ultimate defeat, leading to his soul being claimed by Baal.

When the story was over, Siegfried nodded calmly.

“You don’t seem too surprised,” Jeong-hoon observed.

“Well, I figured there had to be a reason I was imprisoned,” Siegfried replied matter-of-factly.

“That makes sense. So, does this mean you’ll lend us your strength?”

“Obviously. I wouldn’t have become a subordinate otherwise—to that weakling, no less.”

“Weakling?” Michael, clearly offended, shot back.

“What? Did I say something inaccurate?” Siegfried retorted.

“Wow… Master! Isn’t this insubordination?” Michael sent an SOS signal to Jeong-hoon.

But Jeong-hoon simply ignored him.

“He’s not exactly wrong, is he?”

“…Master,” Michael muttered, betrayed.

“But,” Jeong-hoon added, “I also think it’s not good to disregard your master like that.”

The proverbial stick followed by the carrot.

At Jeong-hoon’s reproach, Siegfried scratched his head.

“You’ve got a point.”

“Master! I knew you’d stand up for me!” Michael exclaimed.

Siegfried reluctantly bowed his head toward Michael.

“I don’t like it, but... I’ll be counting on you from now on, Master.”

“Is that better?”

“Yes! You insolent fool! Since you dared to defy me, I’ll make sure you’re properly disciplined!”

Michael grinned maliciously.

“Now, go back.”

Jeong-hoon sent Michael away, and naturally, Siegfried also disappeared.

[...Siegfried, huh. I'm a bit disappointed.]

Mukho couldn’t hide his disappointment.

It made sense—Siegfried, who had once been his companion, seemed to have completely forgotten him.

“You have to understand. How can he remember anything if he has no memory?”

Jeong-hoon turned and left the dungeon.

* * *

Two days had passed.

“It’s done!”

Jang Dae-hwi stretched out his stiff shoulders and let out a relieved sigh after finishing the editing.

On the monitor, there were two 30-minute videos.

He had edited the footage Jeong-hoon sent him, splitting it into two parts.

Both videos were packed with the essentials, so the view count was sure to rise.

“Is it good to go?”

Behind him stood Jeong-hoon, Ha-jin, and Bong-goo. They were there to confirm the videos before uploading them to YouTube, before they set off for Darvis.

“Yeah. Let’s check it out.”

Confidently, Jang Dae-hwi hit play.

The two 30-minute videos.

Jeong-hoon watched them for a full hour, nodding with satisfaction.

“Looks good. We can upload it just like this.”

“Wow... How many times did you actually take him down?”

“Hyung, you’re amazing!”

Ha-jin and Bong-goo had seen Jeong-hoon take down the Death Knight once, and it had been over too quickly.

But in the video, the Death Knight used a variety of abilities, each of which was swiftly cut down by Jeong-hoon’s hand.

“Don’t exaggerate. It’s an easy boss if you know the strategy.”

“Easy? It’s level 1,100.”

Bong-goo awkwardly chuckled.

Even if the strategy was simple, the boss was level 1,100.

Just facing him made their legs tremble. How could it possibly be easy to defeat?

Still, if the strategy spread through the video, even a level 1,100 boss could surely be defeated.

“Then I’ll upload the first one. The second one can go up in a few days, right?”

“Yeah.”

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]