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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Black Box
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Lee Hyuk-soo looked around.
A hospital room thick with the smell of disinfectant.
By the window, the very spot where he had first gazed up at the moon.
'Morning already.'
Lee Hyuk-soo, peering out the window, squinted slightly at the bright sunlight.
Before he knew it, the sun hung high in the sky.
Not that grotesque moon that had moved its eyes.
…It felt like he'd dreamed a long dream throughout the night.
But it wasn't a dream.
Lee Hyuk-soo lowered his gaze.
'The Lion King's regalia.'
Armor, greatsword, gauntlets, belt, boots, and even the helmet.
Exactly as he'd obtained and equipped them from the first night's Abyss.
"…!"
Only upon realizing it was real did Lee Hyuk-soo hurriedly rummage through his pockets.
And there it was—a vial about the size of a baby's fist, shaped like a gourd.
"It's here…"
A brilliantly blue liquid shimmered inside the vial.
An Elixir.
The miraculous potion he'd bought for 3,000 points.
The Prophet had said that with this, he could awaken his mother.
Crackle.
Before he knew it, Lee Hyuk-soo was on the move.
He rushed to the bedside and looked down at the woman lying there.
Her frame was so gaunt her bones were visible.
Even her hair lacked any vitality.
It was Lee Hyuk-soo's mother, Kim Ji-yeon, who hadn't awakened in nearly ten years.
'God…'
A name he'd called out thousands, tens of thousands of times before.
But God had never once answered him.
Even so, Lee Hyuk-soo murmured to God one last time.
Pop!
With trembling hands, he uncorked the vial and carefully poured it into Kim Ji-yeon's mouth.
Drop by drop, slowly.
It took nearly ten minutes to empty the Elixir.
'Why isn't there any reaction?'
But there was no change.
Had the Prophet lied?
Or maybe Elixirs had no effect on someone in a vegetative state.
As all sorts of thoughts filled his mind…
"Mm…"
"Ah…!"
Lee Hyuk-soo's eyes began to quiver faintly.
His mother, who hadn't shown any response in a decade, had weakly opened her eyes.
"A-are you awake?"
"Who…?"
"It's me, Mom. Hyuk-soo. Ah."
Lee Hyuk-soo removed his helmet.
Seeing him soaked in sweat like a drowned rat, Kim Ji-yeon gave a faint smile.
"My Hyuk-soo… you've grown so much. I wouldn't have recognized you."
"M-Mom…"
"But I'm still a bit sleepy. Just a little more…"
The reunion was brief.
Kim Ji-yeon had drifted off again, limp.
At the same time, Lee Hyuk-soo's expression hardened.
What if she wouldn't wake up again?
All sorts of ominous thoughts invaded his mind.
"Mm…"
"…!!!"
Shiver!
Lee Hyuk-soo's whole body trembled.
…She was sleep-talking.
Clearly different from before, when she showed almost no response.
In that instant, Lee Hyuk-soo's vision blurred.
Emotions that had been numb now welled up uncontrollably.
Biting his lip to swallow the bursting feelings, Lee Hyuk-soo rummaged through his pockets again and pulled out a 'Coin'.
—Saving your mother with the Elixir isn't the end, he'd said.
The Prophet had spoken.
This world would soon become hell.
To protect his mother in that hell, he'd need this very 'Coin'.
But even more important was…
—If you truly want to protect her, become a savior, Lee Hyuk-soo.
Just before charging at the Dragon God General, right after the spell was cast.
The Prophet seemed to already know how others would treat him after he slew the Dragon God General.
Of course, Lee Hyuk-soo had no intention of becoming some embarrassing 'savior'.
Just…
'I need to get stronger.'
He understood the point of being told to become a savior.
To become stronger than anyone else.
So strong that mere demons wouldn't dare target him.
So strong they wouldn't even think of touching his family, his possessions!
…To acquire overwhelming martial might.
—Starting tomorrow, the world we know will change. A cataclysm beyond imagination will strike. Don't be surprised, don't fear, charge forward like a rhino's horn.
Charge forward. Keep pushing ahead, and protection would come naturally.
Lee Hyuk-soo approached the window again.
Earlier, the glaring sunlight had obscured the scene on the ground.
"Emergency patient!"
"W-we're short on rooms!"
"Aaaah! It hurts! It hurts!"
"You bastards! Can't you see the patient here?!"
…This world was already Avici Hell.
Patients dragging wounded bodies trying to enter the hospital.
And the woefully inadequate medical staff blocking them.
Everything was collapsing.
But…
'The contrast… for the first time, everything looks clear.'
Not to Lee Hyuk-soo.
It was the first time since his brain surgery.
His vision's clarity, the world he saw—it was sharply defined.
It felt like things had finally come into focus.
Lee Hyuk-soo turned away and gently placed the 'Coin' in his mother's hand.
And then…
'I'll follow your words, Prophet.'
Without hesitation, he left the hospital.
God hadn't answered despite thousands, tens of thousands of calls.
But the Prophet had responded with just one meeting.
So…
From today…
'You are my god.'
Lee Hyuk-soo's god became the Prophet.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After the 'First Night's Abyss' ended and he returned home, Park Chan-woo stared at the black box for over 30 minutes without moving.
"Black Box…"
What was this?
A color of box he'd never seen before.
Of course, there had always been talk that box colors weren't limited to what humanity knew.
Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond.
Rumors abounded of 'Pink Boxes' or 'White Boxes' too.
But none had ever been verified as true.
Some rumors were even spread by 'Avatars' to lure people into their contracted Creators' Abysses.
In such a situation, most rumors couldn't be trusted.
Park Chan-woo had been convinced there were no other colors.
But…
"So other colored boxes really exist…"
Now, that common knowledge was shattered.
It had broken every 'Creator's' expectations.
Not a single Creator thought humanity could succeed in the 'Twelve Divine Generals hunt'.
Park Chan-woo had made it possible.
Using 'Reflection Magic', learned right after acquiring the original Mage class.
'My attack power has limits.'
Mind-numbing negative levels.
Even leveling up didn't raise base stats.
Not only that.
Weapons he obtained had equally pathetic attack power.
Could he really deal proper damage with attack magic?
That's when he thought of 'Reflection Magic'.
'If my attack power is low, use someone else's.'
The great magic empowered as 'Reflection' had indeed reflected even the Dragon God General's attacks.
'Before opening the box… I should check the rest first.'
An ominous black box.
Who knew what might burst out.
The unwritten rule for longevity: don't touch the unknown.
But he couldn't just leave it unopened.
He just needed a moment to steel himself.
First, sort things out.
Confirm and organize what he'd gained from the night's Abyss.
Park Chan-woo uttered "Status Window".
He then gazed at the center of the status window that appeared in his mind.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ✨ Class: Mage (Lv 2) ✨ Usable Magic: Reflection (Great Magic, Rare) 🍀 Remaining Class Level Points: 2
"…!"
Park Chan-woo's eyes trembled faintly.
Clearing the First Night's Abyss had raised his level by 2.
Base stats unchanged, of course.
'But I can acquire Class Level Points!'
Something even more important.
'Class Level Points' he could never give up, even if it meant forgoing base stats!
In the past, he'd only managed to raise his Mage class to level 9.
'…Remembering that brings tears to my eyes.'
Dual class.
The only fool in all humanity to grow Knight to 90, then switch to Mage.
'The reason I could only learn basic magic was this class level.'
In this world, levels were everything—almost literally.
Low class level meant very limited abilities.
Sword classes unlocked sword aura, blade energy, or specialized skills at higher levels.
Same for Mages.
Higher Mage class level allowed higher-grade magic.
A level 9 Mage could only learn Normal-grade magic.
'To upgrade basic magic grades… I sacrificed all my Knight gear as offerings.'
The Fireball that reached Dragon God Sepiro's heart.
Upgrading Normal-grade 'Fireball' to Eternal cost nearly all his assets.
And what he'd mistaken for control magic was actually 'Telekinesis', another basic spell.
Upgraded to Eternal as well.
Only later did the 'Control' hierarchy get added.
'Without Mage talent, no amount of offerings raises grades.'
Park Chan-woo discovered his Mage talent thanks to the God of Offerings.
—God of Offerings. What is my talent? Do I even have any? —Contractor Park Chan-woo. Your magical aptitude reaches the ultimate pinnacle.
Park Chan-woo had offered substantial tribute to ask about his talent.
Right after losing to Sword King Lee Hyuk-soo.
The God of Offerings replied that his talent lay in magic.
Talent enough to reach the ultimate—he immediately discarded his sword and took up magic late in life.
But… from now on, it would be different.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'Used 2 Class Level Points.' 'Mage class level has increased by 2.'
Level 4 in just one day.
If he could properly level up even past negative levels…
His practical max class level was '198'.
'Nearly 20th realm. Insane.'
Almost impossible, but not 0%.
Park Chan-woo took a deep breath and placed the 'Mage's Stone' and 'Void' on the floor.
The Mage's Stone was just that—a stone. A slightly murky blue one.
📜 ITEM INFO 📜
Name: Mage's Stone
Grade: Legendary Description: A stone discovered in the ruins of the 'Magic Tower'. A legendary Mage poured everything into it. Equip Slot: None, Possession Effect Unique Option:
From possession, gain +1 Magic Power per level up.
Current added Magic Power from 'Mage's Stone': 2
Growth-type item that boosts Magic Power, tied to a Mage's attack and stature.
Acquiring it early snowballs benefits.
That was why Park Chan-woo desperately sought the Mage's Stone.
'Void.'
But more important than the Mage's Stone was 'Void'.
A gem the size of a fingernail. It emanated a gray light that seemed to suck you in.
Shifting gaze brought up its details.
📜 ITEM INFO 📜
Name: Void
Grade: Eternal Description: Nothingness where nothing exists. 'Void' found there. Equip Slot: None, Possession Effect Unique Option:
Allows possession of mutually opposing attributes.
Terribly brief sentences.
Hardly a description.
Yet that single 'Unique Option' crushed everything.
Pure cheat.
It only said it 'allows mutually opposing attributes', but that equated to enabling 'all attributes'.
Eliminated all attribute penalties.
"This is… excellent."
A lot gained on the first day.
Treasures rarer than what past Park Chan-woo could've obtained in years.
One thing left.
"…Open."
Park Chan-woo cautiously opened the Black Box.
Then…
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'Opened Black Box.' 'A powerful curse enveloping the box's contents leaks out.' 'Easter Egg (001) activates.' 'Luck (1) arrives, evading the curse.' 'Another Luck (2) arrives, gloriously enhancing the box's contents.'