The 31st Piece Turns the Tables

Chapter 147

Seol prayed desperately for the chest not to emit a brilliant light, a stark contrast to his usual wishes.

Was it thanks to his frantic prayers?

Surprisingly, the chest emitted a calmer light than usual.

[You open the Black Knight's Memento.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have received skill points.]

[You have received skill points.]

[Affluent’s Bonus Effect activates.]

[You have received additional skill points.]

[You have received additional skill points.]

[Sly Blood-Hue Snake activates.]

[You have received additional skill points.]

[You have received additional skill points.]

[You have acquired Helm of Late Regret.]

[You have acquired Twilight Leggings.]

[You have acquired Hope Devourer.]

[You have acquired 21 platinum coins.]

[You have acquired 12 gold coins.]

[You have acquired 16 silver coins.]

[You have acquired 7 large red potions.]

[You have acquired 1 large blue potion.]

‘It’s here…’

Seol fixated on a single message as if he were trying to sear holes through it with his eyes.

[You have acquired Hope Devourer.]

‘It's here!’

Using Agony immediately was quite difficult, as it had been reduced to a mere piece of its original self. However, Hope Devourer was different.

‘My new skill works properly too.’

‘Sly Blood-Hue Snake’ activated properly, giving Seol additional skill points. Seol recognized the importance of this, acknowledging the future gains he would reap from his initial investment.

‘Fuu…’

Like a child saving his favorite portions of the meal for last, he checked the other equipment first.

[[Helm of Late Regret]

Quality: Treasure

Recommended Level: 28-37

Defense: 160

Durability: 92/150

Weight: 5kg

A helmet previously worn by the Black Knight, a knight notorious near a large city in Nevenia. It appears that the powers within this helmet have been considerably corrupted.

Basic Effect: +22 Strength, +11 Dexterity, +26 Constitution

Bonus Effect: Increased field of view. If the wearer’s mind becomes corrupted, this item could transform into an Abomination.]

‘These stats and an increased field of view… a great item.’

These were effects that knights and tank-type classes preferred.

Most helmets with high defense restricted your field of view as they covered your face, but with the 'increased field of view' effect, it was as if you weren’t wearing anything at all.

- Woah…

- Woah x2…

- That's nice…

[[Twilight Leggings]

Quality: Treasure

Recommended Level: 26-35

Defense: 175

Durability: 136/170

Weight: 6kg

Leggings previously worn by the Black Knight, a knight notorious near a large city in Nevenia. It appears that the powers within these leggings have been considerably corrupted.

Basic Effect: +20 Strength, +18 Dexterity, +20 Constitution

Bonus Effect: Elemental resistance is increased by 5%. ‘Twilight Healing’ automatically activates when the wearer’s current health drops below 50%. If the wearer’s mind becomes corrupted, this item could transform into an Abomination.]

- Woah x3…

- How much would you even pay for this?

- Twilight Healing was worse than I thought, LOL. It only slightly increased your Constitution and your health regeneration.

- Yeah, it’s kinda shit, LOL. Might as well give Snowman better items~

- I mean… I wouldn’t go that far…

- It’s alright, LOL. It’s not like we had a conscience when it came to begging for things.

Lastly, the item Seol had to acquire no matter what during this Adventure.

‘This item was such a pain in the ass too…’

Seol silently gazed at the armor emitting a black light. This iron fortress was why the Black Knight could maintain the advantage against Seol and his party's relentless attacks.

Even though it had been frustrating during the adventure, Seol had silently hoped that he could obtain this item once it was all over.

Seol then checked the item’s description.

[[Hope Devourer]

Quality: Abomination

Recommended Level: 40-50

Defense: 200

Durability: 200/200

Weight: 10kg

There was an individual who dreamed of crafting an armor capable of defending against all attacks. He devoted his entire life to this singular goal. However, upon realizing the impossibility of creating such armor with conventional metals, he disappeared one day, foolishly taking only a blade with him.

This ominous, black armor was discovered at the very location of his disappearance.

Basic Effect: +20 Strength, +27 Constitution, +5 Dexterity

Bonus Effect: Hunger (Unique). Defensive equipment connected to Hope Devourer are also affected by Hunger. Durability recovers automatically as long as the equipment is not completely destroyed. Mentally corrupts the wearer.]

“......Alright.”

- OH SHIIIIIIIIIT!

- GOD ARMOR! GOD ARMOR!

- I’m going insane!!! Equip it already!!!

- 🤤🤤🤤

- Snowman: Mom’s not hungry. I enjoy watching you guys eat~

- Watching him get this makes me so happy. Let me express this with an interpretive dance.

- 🕺🕺🕺

- 💃💃💃

- Where’s the fortnite dancing emote?

- Someone stop him, please.

- I’m going to call 911.

- You guys look like you’re having fun… it’s nice to see :)

- 😏 You enjoyed it?

- Do you think there’s ever been an Abomination as welcomed as this?

- They’re all stupidly expensive despite the fact that barely anyone uses them, so… NO!

Seol didn’t hesitate. He promptly equipped them all onto Karuna.

[You have equipped Karuna, the Moonlight Knight, with Helm of Late Regret.]

[You have equipped Karuna, the Moonlight Knight, with Twilight Leggings.]

[You have equipped Karuna, the Moonlight Knight, with Hope Devourer.]

[Wonder: Flagellant's Seal (Reaper-Demonic Beast)’s Bonus Effect activates.]

[You have currently equipped 1 Abomination.]

[All of your stats additionally increase by 10.]

Surge…

As Karuna equipped the Hope Devourer, black vein-like strings extended from it, connecting it to the rest of Karuna’s armor.

‘I’ve already confirmed previously that Wonder applies to summons as well, so… Still, I can’t believe it increased all of my stats by 10 for equipping one Abomination. It makes me wonder what the other effects will be.’

Seol stopped himself from delving deeper. There was still much to do before he could start imagining other potential effects.

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

First, Seol needed to check all the messages he couldn’t read earlier because of having to respond to Earl Brispin.

[Twin Knights: Karuna has recovered a fragment.]

[Passing on the skills.]

[Karuna’s shadow has successfully copied Montra Swordsmanship.]

[Karuna’s shadow has successfully copied Mind Control Resistance.]

[Gallotta’s Tongue’s Bonus Effect activates.]

[You supplement it with your high wisdom stat.]

[Soaring Moonlight’s next stage has been unlocked.]

[Gallotta’s Tongue’s Bonus Effect activates.]

[You supplement it with your high wisdom stat.]

[Moonlight Sword now takes on different forms based on the stage of Soaring Moonlight Karuna is in.]

[A portion of the fragment’s stats have been passed on.]

[All stats have increased by 28.1%.]

The blue light enveloping Karuna’s body had grown stronger.

This too was a change.

However, another change came along with it.

‘There’s a black pattern on the sword.’

A new and mysterious pattern had been inscribed on Breath, the sword crafted from Karuna’s Moonlight Sword.

As always, some messages came with it as well.

[Moonlight Sword has recovered its lost energy.]

[Moonlight Sword achieves its 1st Unlocked State.]

[Moonlight Sword acquires Embracing Moon (Unique).]

[Moonlight Sword achieves its 2nd Unlocked State.]

[Moonlight Sword acquires New Moon (Unique).]

It seemed as if Moonlight Sword had also changed quite a bit.

Seol quickly checked the item’s description to see what had changed.

[[Peerless: Breath]

Quality: Peerless

Recommended Level: 15-30

Damage: 89-100 (+50)

Durability: 200/200

Weight: 1.8kg

A sword birthed through the meeting of the sword that Karuna, the Moonlight Knight, used and the miracle of Hamun, Orgo’s Successor. It has been enhanced through melting down Orgo’s first work, Storm. New energy has infused with the sword, awakening a portion of the dormant powers within.

Basic Effect: +35 Strength, +27 Dexterity, +36 Constitution, +15 to All Stats

Bonus Effect: First Strike (Unique), Danger is Opportunity (Unique), Embracing Moon (Unique), New Moon (Unique). There is a fixed 25% chance of landing a critical strike on a wounded target. The range and power of your attack skills is increased by 10%.]

Seol noticed that the stats and descriptions had changed, but what truly caught his attention were the two new unique effects.

[[Passive: Embracing Moon (Unique)]

- Even if Moonlight Sword changes its shape or appearance, it deals additional moon-attribute damage equal to 50% of the maximum damage roll.

[Passive: New Moon (Unique)]

- The likelihood of Moonlight Sword being Peerless-quality or higher when forged into a new shape is increased.]

[‘MyInternKaruna’ has donated 600 Madness!]

[I thought you were just an intern, but… I heard some surprising news today… You’re the… CEO’s son?]

- No wonder you were so cool….

- Damn it! You should’ve told me earlier! I would’ve been nicer to you!

- What the hell is going on…

- I only insulted the company because I was drunk, you know…? Yeah…? Please…

[‘What the hell is even that?’ has donated 800 Madness!]

[Why did he get more unique effects? WTFFFFF]

- What’s so weird about an intern driving a ferrari to work? If you have any complaints…

- I didn’t say it was weird. I just thought it was rare, haha… I’m also worried about the car slipping when you’re driving back home…

- It’s not even physical damage, it’s fucking moon-attribute LMFAOOOO

- Doesn't this mean the damage increases even more when he boosts his maximum damage? That’s brokeeeeen

- The other effect is more broken LMFAO! Increased likelihood of Peerless or higher? Might as well just reroll that shit all the time…

- Say it with me, guys, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer…

- We should tax the rich even more!

- Who needs other weapons when you have Moonlight Sword…

‘These… are definitely a huge help.’

Since the elemental damage was tied to the weapon’s damage, there were countless skills that could multiply it in folds.

Moreover, when the time came to improve Karuna’s weapon, the second unique effect allowed Seol to worry less about the quality dropping.

‘I probably won’t ever have to worry about Karuna’s weapon again.’

Now, there was one final change to look at.

The black energy thrashing in Karuna’s eyes.

Seol began reading through the messages related to it.

‘This is…’

[Great Match! Karuna unlocks a new element.]

[Karuna unlocks the ‘night’ element.]

[Night-attribute skills can now be unlocked.]

‘Night…? There was an element I didn’t know about? Then is this… does Karuna…’

Seol’s eyes grew wide with shock.

‘have multiple attributes?’

[Karuna has earned the special achievement ‘Multiple Attributes’.]

[Karuna has earned the special title ‘Night Keeper’.]

[[Special Title: Night Keeper]

Related Achievement: Multiple Attributes (Adventure: City Blockade)

Bonus Effect: The likelihood of unlocking night-attribute skills is significantly increased.]

Seol knew about the benefits of having multiple attributes.

Even so, he lacked knowledge on the unique qualities and advantages of each combination. As such, he was filled with mixed feelings upon seeing it, neither ecstatic nor disappointed.

As Seol collected the rest of the things in the chest, someone came up the clock tower’s spiral staircase.

“Snowman?”

It was Chameli.

“Ah, I’ll come down now.”

“It’s just… I think we’ll need to be a little careful.”

“...What? Why?”

Seol was confused for a second but quickly realized why after Filia’s explanation.

“There’s a bunch of people below… who all came to see you.”

“What are you…”

“Earl Brispin’s holding people back, though, so we should rendezvous with him.”

Only then did Seol realize the incidents in the western district were loud enough to worry everyone else in Illia.

‘Now that I think about it, the bells have been ringing since a while ago…’

He heard the sound of bells continuing to ring in all the other districts.

It was the brightest night Illia had ever experienced.

* * *

Twitch…

Four crystal chairs.

They were arranged in pairs, facing each other to the left and right.

By their side, stood a large throne made of skulls.

“What’s wrong?”

“...It’s nothing.”

“I don’t know… It doesn’t seem like nothing.”

“......”

The silent man closed his eyes, shutting down any further conversation.

“Tch…”

Though it initially seemed as if they were on equal standings, the truth was far from that.

An old man, who seemed to be the oldest there, asked a question.

"Oh, knight... is there a problem?"

“...Why would there be?”

“Hoho… could it be because of your past?”

“......”

The man scowled.

As he released a bit of energy, the braziers around them blazed even more ferociously.

Flaaare!

“Haha… for what reason are you getting angry?”

“Why are you bringing up memories I have long since abandoned?”

"A flower doesn't bloom simply because a seed is planted. Is there truly a reason to deny it as well?”

“...I am not a flower.”

A woman who had been observing by the side spoke up.

“Leave him alone, old man. Let’s just focus on our objective.”

“Of course. Regardless, I believe our meeting is supposed to conclude here today. I look forward to our next encounter.”

"Are you really going to claim that, old man, when you forgot our meeting day?"

"Haha… Memory worsens with age. It'll be the same for you."

“I don’t plan to grow old though. Not at all.”

Stand…

Stand…

The four leaders stood up before leaving the meeting room.

Creak…

Light seeped through the crack in the door, revealing the knight's face.

It was Karuna. The face belonged to another Karuna.

However, unlike the Black Knight, his eyes were different. They were resolute.

It was the eyes of someone confident in the path they were taking.

As he turned around, he saw countless devotees wherever he looked.

They bowed down, touching the ground with their foreheads the moment they laid their eyes on him.

“Eternity, immortality… Eternity, immortality…” they murmured.

The other Karuna ignored them, simply walking to his room. Wherever he went, he saw devotees. They were the church’s eyes, and he was their target.

“......’

His room was the one place where their surveillance didn't reach, the only sanctuary where he was able to act freely.

The other Karuna slowly raised his head and gazed into the blank space. Though the walls obstructed his view, it was not as if he was looking at the walls.

It was an oddity, perhaps a dream.

Or a distant memory.

He opened his mouth and quietly spoke to himself.

“It’s almost time… Jin. We’re almost there.”

The devotees outside grew louder as they gradually reached the finale of the prayer.

“Only one life shall endure for eternity!”