Chapter 266: Chapter 266

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 266

[You have obtained ‘Transcendence: Hyper Regeneration.’]

The second item Jeong-hoon plundered was a skill book.

Who would’ve thought it possible to plunder a skill book?

[Transcendence: Hyper Regeneration]

- Type: Skill Book

- Grade: Celestial

- Effect: Upon use, you acquire the skill Hyper Regeneration (Celestial).

It was none other than the Celestial-grade Hyper Regeneration.

Without hesitation, Jeong-hoon used the skill book.

[You have acquired the Transcendence skill, ‘Hyper Regeneration.’]

[The martial artist-exclusive skill, ‘Steadfast Will,’ has been activated.]

[‘Steadfast Will’ has fused ‘Superior Healing’ and ‘Hyper Regeneration.’]

[You have acquired the skill ‘Divine Healing (Celestial).’]

This was incredible.

A fusion of the Legendary-grade Superior Healing with Hyper Regeneration.

Who would’ve expected Steadfast Will to react like this?

‘Divine Healing, huh…’

Healing elevated to a Celestial level.

[Divine Healing]

- Type: Active

- Level: 1

- Grade: Celestial

- Effect: Consumes 100 mana to fully restore health to 100%.

- Ignores non-healable conditions with a certain probability. (Cannot be used on others.)

The options were ridiculous.

Healing that worked even under a non-healable condition?

This meant Jeong-hoon could now bypass Mist’s power, which previously nullified healing abilities.

A grin stretched across Jeong-hoon’s face, wide enough to reach his ears.

Mist ground his teeth in frustration.

“I only played by the rules. Got a problem with that?”

Jeong-hoon chuckled.

“Just accept your penalties quietly.”

The plundering wasn’t the end. Now came the penalties imposed on Mist.

Given the extent of his interference, it wouldn’t have been surprising if he were demoted to a Demon King-level entity.

A total of 7,250 hours of disqualification.

Mist wasn’t demoted to Apostle level, but for the duration of his penalty, he could no longer pose as a ruler-class Transcendent.

Additionally, since he could no longer intervene on Earth, it was impossible for him to obstruct Jeong-hoon.

Baal looked at Mist’s downfall with amusement in his eyes.

Mist hurled curses at Jeong-hoon before disappearing.

“That won’t happen.”

Jeong-hoon intended to grow so strong that even ruler-class Transcendents wouldn’t dare to provoke him.

Baal was now looking at Jeong-hoon with a smile.

“Why? Are you happy because an annoying nuisance got taken care of?”

Baal hadn’t acted solely for Jeong-hoon’s benefit.

The moment Mist tried to interfere with Jeong-hoon, Baal had silently observed, stepping in at the perfect time to impose penalties on Mist.

Jeong-hoon had seen through Baal’s ploy and turned it into a wager.

“I don’t mind. You put on a good show for me, so I should reward you, shouldn’t I?”

“This.”

Jeong-hoon pulled out a broken pocket watch—something Mist had attempted to reclaim.

When he displayed the watch, Baal’s crimson eyes narrowed.

“Is that possible?”

“Why not?”

“Then let me rephrase the question. What’s the method to restore it?”

Even with the ultimate restoration elixir, the watch couldn’t be repaired due to missing materials.

And yet, no one had been willing to reveal how to restore it.

Jeong-hoon frowned.

“You don’t know, do you?”

The Temple of Fate.

A familiar place.

It was a dungeon Jeong-hoon had personally cleared in his previous life.

‘Ah, I see. So that’s what’s needed.’

An item obtained from the Temple of Fate.

If that item were combined with the ultimate restoration elixir, the restoration might be possible.

However, there was a problem.

‘I can’t enter the temple right now.’

The Temple of Fate hadn’t opened yet.

It would be several years before it became accessible.

Of course, there was another way.

“Can you open a door to that temple for me?”

“Of course. It’s something that guy went after even while risking penalties to manifest himself. How could I just let it go?”

“Sounds like you’re saying you can open it.”

Jeong-hoon grinned.

Baal was a ruler-class Transcendent.

That meant he had the power to summon and activate dungeons that were already prepared in advance.

After all, if he could create and open a dungeon specifically to impose penalties, surely opening this one wasn’t beyond him.

“Alright. Let’s go with that.”

There were other ways to gather ultimate energy outside of wagers.

Though disappointing, opening the Temple of Fate was enough for now.

“How long will it take?”

“Understood. I’ll see you in six hours then.”

***

Karvan was pacing anxiously in the garden in front of the annex, waiting for Jeong-hoon.

‘The crown prince feels suspicious.’

Suspicious behavior.

Upon hearing that, they had tracked Laos, discovering that he was preparing a summoning ritual.

Jeong-hoon had gone to confront Laos.

Yet despite the passage of considerable time, Jeong-hoon still hadn’t returned.

“Your Highness, perhaps you should go inside?”

Originally, the annex was supposed to be occupied only by Karvan and four attendants.

But now, it was bustling with servants and knights.

This change had occurred only after Jeong-hoon started staying by Karvan’s side.

‘If I were alone, things would still be the same as before.’

With the crown prince firmly asserting his presence, no one would have supported a ten-year-old like Karvan.

Even the emperor, who neglected his children to the extreme, showed no interest in what happened to them.

As a result, Karvan had been left completely isolated, aside from a handful of attendants.

But Jeong-hoon had saved Karvan’s life, returned to the empire, and provided him with both material and emotional support. This had drawn many people to Karvan’s side.

To Karvan, Jeong-hoon had become more than just a benefactor—he was someone irreplaceable.

“I’m fine. It’s warm and pleasant out here.”

“Is that so? Then shall I bring out some refreshments?”

“Yes, please do.”

Shortly after the attendant left, Jeong-hoon appeared in the distance, walking toward them.

‘He’s back!’

Karvan hurriedly ran toward Jeong-hoon.

***

‘It’s done.’

When Jeong-hoon returned to the annex, an exclamation mark was flashing above Karvan’s head.

[Quest Completed]

[The progress of the Episto Dungeon has reached 100%.]

[Episode: You have completed all of Hicksmeon.]

[The Episode Collection system has been unlocked.]

[This episode is now included in your Episode Collection.]

[The episode's rating was 'SS'.]

[The episode has been added to your collection.]

[Hicksmeon: You have completed a Hidden Episode.]

[The Hidden Episode has been added to your collection.]

[Your Episode Completion percentage increases by 10%.]

This meant that Jeong-hoon had finished all the episodes related to the Hicksmeon Empire.

‘This makes three Hidden Episodes, huh.’

With a satisfied smile, Jeong-hoon closed the hologram window.

“Your Highness, I have something I’d like to ask.”

“Yes. Feel free to ask, I’ll tell you whatever I know.”

The trust between Karvan and Jeong-hoon was maxed out.

Karvan’s gaze was filled with unwavering trust in Jeong-hoon.

Jeong-hoon placed the pocket watch he had taken out on the table before Karvan.

“It’s about this watch.”

“Ah……”

Upon seeing the pocket watch, Karvan’s face darkened almost immediately.

After all, Jeong-hoon had helped him in every way possible, and all he had given in return was a broken pocket watch. It was understandable that Karvan might be dissatisfied.

“Please don’t misunderstand. I do cherish this watch a lot.”

“Then why…?”

“I want to know where it came from.”

“Where it came from?”

“Yes. Who gave you this watch?”

“Oh, well……”

Had it been a sharp question?

Karvan fidgeted, unable to answer immediately.

“Did you steal it?”

“Absolutely not! It was given to me by my mother!”

“Your mother?”

Karvan’s mother.

She had been weak by nature, and after giving birth to Karvan, she had fallen ill and passed away when Karvan was seven.

Jeong-hoon hadn’t expected this pocket watch to be a keepsake from her.

“I’m so sorry! I thought you wouldn’t accept it if I told you it was a keepsake……”

“I see.”

Jeong-hoon nodded.

For Karvan, this pocket watch was probably the only valuable item he had.

Having saved his life, Jeong-hoon now realized that Karvan had wanted to repay him, but had hidden the truth about the watch, pretending it wasn’t a keepsake.

‘Sorry, but I can’t return it to Karvan.’

The pocket watch was just a means to figure out its true nature.

“Don’t worry! I won’t ask you to return it.”

If Jeong-hoon had planned to ask for it back, he wouldn’t have handed it over in the first place.

“Yes. So, do you know what this watch is used for?”

“I’m not entirely sure myself... My mother just said it was precious and that I should give it to someone who truly needs it.”

“I see.”

So, it seems that Karvan didn’t know what it was for, at least not until it’s restored.

“I’m sorry I can’t give you a clear answer...”

“It’s fine. In any case, I’ll be leaving now.”

“You’re leaving?!”

Karvan jumped up in surprise, nearly knocking over the teacup in front of him.

“Yes. I had no choice but to end things with the Crown Prince. If I hadn’t acted, the Empire would have been doomed.”

Jeong-hoon had obtained evidence that Laos was preparing for the summoning ritual.

During the process, there had been a battle, and the room had turned into chaos.

Since it was during a quest, no one had intruded, but now that the quest was complete, the situation would soon surface.

So, Jeong-hoon decided to leave before the Empire became too noisy.

“…You really have to go, don’t you?”

Karvan didn’t want Jeong-hoon to leave.

Everything he had now, his life, was thanks to Jeong-hoon.

If not for him, he would still be living alone in the annex, isolated and lonely.

Karvan had hoped Jeong-hoon could stay a bit longer, to rest and be at ease.

“Yes. I’m sorry, but my role here is over.”

“I understand...”

If Karvan kept him here, it would only cause trouble.

Even as a child, he understood that much.

“If I get the chance, I’ll come again.”

Jeong-hoon gathered the pocket watch and stood up.

“Yes. Thank you for everything. I will never forget this kindness.”

Karvan bowed deeply to Jeong-hoon.

It was an unusual sight to see the Crown Prince of Hixmion bowing to a mere foreigner.

If anyone else saw this, they would be shocked. But to Karvan, Jeong-hoon was like a second parent.

After his mother passed away, Karvan had always been alone, and Jeong-hoon was the first person he could truly rely on.

It was only natural for him to show respect.

***

Jeong-hoon left the Hixmion Empire and headed straight to the northern field.

Before finding his next opportunity, he planned to visit the Temple of Fate that Baal would open for him.

While hunting in the field, a gap appeared, and the red eyes emerged.

“It took longer than I expected. I thought I was going to die from boredom.”

As Baal spoke, a portal appeared in front of Jeong-hoon.

It was the portal to the Temple of Fate.

“Alright. Time to go.”

Jeong-hoon was about to step into the temple when Baal called out to him.

“What is it?”

“Why do you think that?”

“Not really.”

Jeong-hoon grinned.

No matter what Baal said, if his memory was correct, the pocket watch would indeed be restored.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]