Chapter 79: Tinnitus (1)

Chapter 79: Tinnitus (1)

Several hours later.

Kim Hyunwoo, who was listening to the strategy report for the fourth tier from Elena, who seemed a bit somber, realized something he hadn’t thought of.

“Monsters revived?”

“Yes. Of course, in this case, the apprentice soldiers fought very well, so it wasn’t a big problem. However, if monsters continue to revive in the next tier like this-”

“We’ll definitely need to be careful when conquering the fifth tier. Thank you for letting me know.”

After Elena’s words, Kim Hyunwoo nodded and then thought to himself.

‘I forgot about this.’

Kim Hyunwoo’s Labyrinth, currently using the Experience Package, means that while the tier Bosses may not, normal monsters continue to revive even after being killed.

In other words, while the Package is a very necessary element for maintaining the Labyrinth city, it becomes a hindrance when conquering the Labyrinth.

‘It seems like we’ll have to give the Labyrinth a day’s rest before proceeding with the conquest next time.’

Taking a day off entails a significant loss, but since they couldn’t just not conquer the Labyrinth, Kim Hyunwoo, who decided to conquer one or two tiers each time the Package ended, continued to listen to Elena’s report.

“...The apprentice soldiers fought that well?”

“Yes. To be honest, I couldn’t imagine they would fight so well...”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. There was a clear difference compared to the apprentice soldiers I’ve seen in other territories.”

After Elena’s continued words, Kim Hyunwoo nodded with a face full of curiosity.

“And, as you can see, the blue bone helped with hunting the Boss again this time.”

“As expected.”

Kim Hyunwoo looked at the shining blue bone in front of his office desk.

“And, this time, there were patterns engraved on the blue bone.”

“...Patterns?”

“Yes.”

Following Kim Hyunwoo’s question, Elena pointed to a small pattern drawn on a corner of the blue bone as she answered.

Indeed, Kim Hyunwoo could see the pattern engraved on the blue bone.

A very intricate pattern.

“...Do you have any idea what it might be?”

Elena asked as Kim Hyunwoo intently looked at the pattern, but he soon shook his head.

“To be honest, I’m not sure what that pattern means.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. But seeing there are patterns unlike before, honestly, it does give something to ponder.”

After Kim Hyunwoo said that, he listened to Elena’s additional report.

“Then, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Yes. You’ve been conquering tiers today, so please rest easy.”

After confirming Elena had left, Kim Hyunwoo stopped even making the Magnifying Glass and quietly looked at the pattern on the blue bone.

“Hmm...”

Kim Hyunwoo, intently observing the geometric patterns made up of squares at various angles, said,

“Hmm?”

He then looked at the pattern at the very front.

He observed the thing that was more akin to a magic circle than a pattern, drawn with a complex pentagram within a square and small markings difficult to discern with the naked eye, and thought,

‘This, somehow it looks similar to the magic circle patterns used by the Necromancer of the Blue Forest...’Fôll0w current novÊls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

He stared intently at the pattern with that thought, but could only speculate to that extent, unable to discern the other patterns.

‘...Do I need to hire an archaeologist or something...’

The thought in Kim Hyunwoo’s mind.

Considering there were characters with archaeology-related skills when he played Arteil.

Remembering that, Kim Hyunwoo considered hiring a hero with talents related to archaeology from a tavern next time, before starting to make the Magnifying Glass again.

About a week later.

The Magnifying Glasses made in Lartania began to spread once more among the mercenaries, this time branded as the worst gambling machine in history and nicknamed ‘life-changing lottery roulette’.

In the underground of the Calan Kingdom.

“Master.”

“Yes. Has the task been handled well?”

The Absolute Ruler of Darkness was receiving a report from Loriel.

“Yes. As you instructed, we have taken measures to naturally remove the lords who have definite resentment towards you from their positions.”

“Are you sure you’ve confirmed it properly?”

“Just to be sure, we also separately investigated those who have received your help to check if they harbor any resentment, but as of now, none of those who received your help have any resentment towards you.”

“Hmm...”

The Absolute Ruler of Darkness, nodding at Loriel’s report, continued.

“So, how many lords have been replaced?”

“A total of eight places.”

“That’s more than I expected.”

“Yes. Upon cross-verification, it seems that Lord Raipellaoshin was secretly spreading information about you to his followers, preparing to push you out.”

“...Raipellaoshin?”

“Yes, I’m referring to Duke Raipellaoshin.”

“...Is that the fool who acted on his own and tried to send poison to him?”

As the Absolute Ruler of Darkness spoke with an excited expression, Loriel immediately responded with a bowed head.

A day later.

“By the way, what is the name of that territory?”

The Absolute Ruler of Darkness, walking towards the outskirts of the Calan Kingdom, asked as she glimpsed the territory in the distance.

“It’s the Trikram territory.”

“Trikram...”

Hearing Loriel’s continuation, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness nodded and unknowingly smiled.

That territory was actually where a despicable lord who engaged in human sacrifices resided, but to the Absolute Ruler of Darkness, it was an important place to reduce her infamy.

Thus, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness, wearing a deep smile,

“...?”

“...??”

Upon entering the Trikram territory, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness couldn’t help but wear a dazed expression.

For good reason, as all the Absolute Ruler of Darkness saw upon entering the Trikram territory was an empty lot.

Besides, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness saw phrases like ‘Liberated!’ and ‘Freedom!’ written all over the ruined buildings.

“...Eh? My Infamy Potion...?”

She murmured sincerely, looking at Loriel, who wore an equally puzzled expression.

Likewise filled with questions, she briefly bowed to the Absolute Ruler of Darkness and then disappeared.

A moment later.

“...Master, it seems... the territory has been attacked.”

“It was attacked?”

“Yes... It seems someone attacked the territory and released the slaves...”

“......”

“Ah, but it’s okay! There are still two more lords in this vicinity who have offered human sacrifices to demons, just like that lord...!”

Loriel hastily spoke to her master, who slightly frowned.

At that, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness sighed as if she had no other choice.

Honestly, she wasn’t pleased that a lord who could have helped clear her infamy was suddenly attacked, but it wasn’t her disciple’s fault.

Above all.

‘Even if one is gone, there are still two left, so it’s alright.’

The Absolute Ruler of Darkness, with such thoughts, nodded her head weakly.

“I will guide you immediately.”

Loriel, with such thoughts, immediately bowed her head in response to Rin’s words and promptly led the Absolute Ruler of Darkness to the next territory.

“Even though we’ve lost one place, there are about two more, so killing all those lords will surely help spread our favorability!”

While listening to Loriel’s deliberately brighter words, they soon arrived at the next territory, Silverwarden.

“......”

“...???”

Loriel once again looked at the already raided territory with a blank expression.

Silverwarden, known for human sacrifices like Trikram, was similarly devastated just like Trikram territory.

“Who in the world?”

Therefore, Loriel wore an expression of incomprehension, but soon spoke while looking at the Absolute Ruler of Darkness.

“Master? It seems like this place too... eek...!”

She involuntarily let out a startled moan at the sight of the Absolute Ruler of Darkness starting to emanate a murderous aura.

In fact, under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have cared about a single territory being attacked, but now the situation was different.

As the Absolute Ruler of Darkness, who always looked forward to returning, the current events felt as if someone was deliberately delaying her return.

‘Who the hell...!’

Therefore, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness, scattering a murderous intent, soon spoke through clenched teeth.

“...Send someone to find out who attacked this place.”

“Understood. And- there’s still one more territory left.”

“Let’s go immediately.”

With Loriel’s cautious words, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness immediately headed towards Stonehive, the last territory she mentioned.

And then, a few hours later.

When the sun was setting, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness and Loriel, having arrived at Stonehive, could see that the territory seemed untouched by any incident.

“...!! This time, the territory is intact!”

Loriel, letting out a sigh of relief and smiling slightly as if she had aged ten years, said,

“Finally...!!”

With that, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness, sighing with relief and smiling, drew her sword from the darkness, ready to take a great first step towards Him.

The moment the Absolute Ruler of Darkness was about to leap powerfully.

Boom!!!

With a massive explosion, the lord’s castle burst open.

She could see it. The red eyes bursting from the devastated castle.

And then, just from seeing the red eyes for a brief moment, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness instantly understood all the causes.

“You bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

She had no choice but to throw away her dignity and show off her face.