The Game of the Greatest Black Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 142

As Seonghyun thrust forward the bloodstained clue as if it were evidence, the other NPCs, chuckling as if to say, "So that's what it was?" looked at Lint and shouted.

“What? Lint, you got caught?”

“Puhaha!! You damn idiot.”

“To get caught for this!!! You lousy bastard.”

“And here I thought it was something serious.”

“Hey, Mr. Stranger, if that was the case, why didn't you say so earlier?”

“Well, considering that moron Lint would have run if you’d said it earlier, this is the right way.”

“That's true.”

The veterans of some standing in the tavern sipped their alcohol again, as if it were nothing unexpected.

As if they didn't care in the slightest whether Lint got caught or not.

They weren't a team in the first place.

There was no loyalty to uphold.

But perhaps because of the heartless reactions, Lint's anger flared up.

He struggled desperately to the very end.

“Damn it! What about me!!! I could have just coincidentally been holding the same thing!!!”

Lint, even while grimacing in pain as if to say "don't falsely accuse me," shouted fiercely like a growl.

But unfortunately for him, his opponent was Seonghyun.

“I was the one who heard Melisia’s last words.”

“Wh-What did you say…?”

Lint's pupils trembled violently.

That was the decisive proof.

The Lint who had been shouting triumphantly just moments ago was nowhere to be seen.

His strength drained, and he collapsed on the spot.

Seonghyun watched this, briefly released the wrist he had twisted, and looked at the fellow.

‘Still, I need to make sure.’

However.

“What the hell?! Melisia!?”

“Lint!!! You son of a bitch!!! You were the one who killed Melisia!?”

“Fuck! I should have known when that bastard got dumped by Melisia!!! Let's kill him right now!!!”

“Aigo! After Melisia died, there was no one selling potions here, and we were all suffering, and it was you!? You’re the one?!”

Somehow, the atmosphere turned menacing.

He was planning to just hand him over to the city guards appropriately…

‘Maybe handing him over to these guys wouldn’t be so bad?’

It was just that because Seonghyun, who looked skilled, was present, they weren't acting rashly yet.

Just from their fervor, it felt like Lint would be beaten to death by everyone here.

Seonghyun, thinking it was to be expected, shrugged and asked Lint.

“So, will you come quietly?”

“…Damn it.”

As Lint, as if he had no choice, hung his head and stood up, a message popped up before Seonghyun's eyes.

[Rare-Linked Quest, 『Bloodstains in the Alley』, has been cleared.]

[You have gained a large amount of experience points as a quest reward.]

[Level Up!]

[You have reached Level 123!]

[You have acquired the Rare-rank item, 『Random Box』, as a Rare-Linked Quest reward.]

‘Oh.’

The experience points were definitely substantial too.

Seonghyun, satisfied, took Lint Spencer away.

After leaving the tavern, walking down that street, and then entering a quiet street again, suddenly, as if he had almost forgotten, Seonghyun looked at Lint and asked.

“So, where's the item you stole from Melisia?”

“…You must have been really close to Melisia. To know even that…”

Lint muttered, as if he had now resigned himself.

‘Melisia’s ghost told me to take that too.’

That’s why he asked.

Of course, Seonghyun also knew the identity of that item well.

‘Fragment of the Demonic Dragon's Heart.’

In alchemy, it's an exceptionally outstanding ingredient.

It was also an essential material for crafting various powerful items.

It might not be very necessary for him, but…

‘Still, isn’t it good to get what I can get?’

With that thought, he asked.

“…I already sold it.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

It was a bit disappointing, but it can’t be helped.

Even if he got it, he wouldn’t know where to use it.

‘Let’s just let it go.’

Seonghyun thought so and decided he would hand Lint over to the guards and then go to the Labyrinth to check out Melisia's research lab.

“My eyes were blinded by the Fragment of the Demonic Dragon's Heart… Damn it.”

‘Regretting it now won’t change anything.’

He looked pitifully at Lint, who had made a foolish choice and was now regretting it.

But then.

[You have acquired the keyword 『Fragment of the Demonic Dragon's Heart』.]

[You have discovered a clue to enhance 『Girl Helena's Staff』.]

[Upon acquiring the 『Fragment of the Demonic Dragon's Heart』, you may also be able to enhance 『Girl Helena's Staff』.]

“Where did you sell it?”

Well, this changes the story.

0.

Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong watched Seonghyun clear the quest in an utterly unconventional way.

How can this be?

Finding Lint Spencer?

That’s possible.

But how on earth could he find it in the river in one go?

‘What is he, really?’

Moreover, that 'Unknown Power' was exerted again.

Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong was staring at the screen as if it were something utterly baffling.

Not that staring would reveal anything.

“…What is he, really?”

It was genuinely perplexing now.

‘How can someone acquire Hidden Pieces as easily as eating meals?’

The Lint Spencer arrest quest is a Rare quest without any Hidden Pieces.

‘So I can let that slide.’

However, in that process, the item Melisia had, which Lint Spencer acquired, the Fragment of the Demonic Dragon's Heart, is the problem.

Although it's a powerful material item for other Black Mages too, for Seonghyun, the story is different.

“If he has that…”

“Does the Young Helena's Staff become Legendary?”

“…Yes, that's right.”

Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong nodded and replied to Associate Oh Jinhyeok’s question.

It becomes an enhancement item that can evolve it to Legendary.

Since it's a fragment, there's a possibility of acquiring it from other places too, but.

‘If that were to happen right now, it would be troublesome.’

“Hoo, how is that user so lucky?”

The number of users Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong is currently in charge of is already in the double digits.

To be managed by the User Management Team means they are quite outstanding users.

Even among those users, Seonghyun is unparalleled.

First of all, that Unknown Power.

That itself was a mystery from the start.

Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong clutched his head as if he had a headache, but

Associate Oh Jinhyeok, as if he remembered something, asked Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong.

“Sunbaenim, but where is that thing right now?”

“The Fragment of the Demonic Dragon's Heart?”

“Yes, we also don’t know who it was handed over to, do we? Shall I look into it?”

“Yes, look into it.”

As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong spoke,

Associate Oh Jinhyeok immediately investigated.

And upon tracing the item,

“Huh? This has been moved to the Auction House?”

“Auction House??? If it's the Auction House…”

“From the city level onwards, an auction is held once a week in each city, right? The one NPCs can also participate in?”

“Yes, that's right.”

“If it's gone there…”

“He won't be able to get it easily.”

The Auction House system is usable from Level 1.

Naturally, since it's a user-to-user trading system.

However, auctions that even NPCs could participate in were possible starting from this city.

An auction that influential figures in the city also attend.

Because it wasn't a place just any user could enter,

Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong could feel a little relieved.

It wasn't that users were unconditionally barred, so it was natural to feel anxious, but he wasn't worried.

‘Of course, if it’s Seonghyun, he’ll more than likely be able to enter.’

‘He has a knightly title, too.’

However.

“It's an auction house where noble NPCs also participate; how is he going to win with money?”

“Hahaha, that's true.”

“This time, he really won't be able to get it.”

Associate Oh Jinhyeok, wondering just in case, checked the Gold Seonghyun currently possessed.

And looking at that, he too felt relieved.

Of course, he could distribute Gold through the Rapid Guild, or obtain it through his own real-life cash.

However.

“The fact that the auction is tonight is truly a divine move.”

He can't bring in more than a noble NPC in a single day.

‘That’s for sure.’

“This time, I can finally relax a bit.”

As Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong said that,

Associate Oh Jinhyeok also felt relieved.

Then, Associate Oh Jinhyeok suddenly asked.

“Sunbae-nim, but…”

“You, don't even say anything unsettling.”

“Ah, yes sir!”

Associate Oh Jinhyeok, who shut his mouth at Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong's words.

And so, Associate Oh Jinhyeok swallowed the question he had just thought of.

‘I was going to ask if it’s not related, seeing as he keeps picking up Hidden Piece-like things ever since the ‘Unknown Power’ incident…’

Although it was Associate Oh Jinhyeok’s sharp thought in a long while, because he was told not to, he kept it to himself.

And eventually, Associate Oh Jinhyeok forgot about it.

Anyway, Seonghyun wouldn't be able to obtain it at the auction, no matter what he tried.

“Besides, in that city, there's a noble NPC who's absolutely crazy about Black Magic.”

1.

As Seonghyun asked the fellow,

Lint gave Seonghyun a detestable smile and said.

“Hehe! As if I'd tell you that!?”

At those words, Seonghyun scratched his head as if a bit perplexed.

What should he do?

The quest was already over, after all.

It doesn’t really matter what he does with Lint.

‘But I wish he’d just tell me willingly.’

As Seonghyun was thinking that, the ghost Melisia, who had followed him at some point, looked at Seonghyun and said.

-If you kill him anyway, he'll become a ghost, so let's absorb his memories then!?

“…That's a bit much.”

‘It might be the most certain and effective method, but…’

‘Still, that feels a bit wrong, doesn’t it?’

‘Since he’s a game NPC, it wouldn’t matter, I guess.’

‘He’s even a murderer.’

‘Killing him wouldn’t make me a notorious player.’

‘Still, it felt a bit morally questionable.’

As Seonghyun was contemplating this,

-Wh-What about calling N-Nocturnium?

“Nocturnium?”

-Th-The earth knows everything, it was said.

“Nocturnium does?”

Blink.

At Seonghyun's question, Fiora slowly nodded her head.

‘Well, when things like this happened, Nocturnium always did a good job with information gathering.’

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]