Chapter 182

Meanwhile, Michael sought out Litton.

"Oh? Is it over already?"

Litton asked with wide eyes.

He hadn't imagined it would end so quickly.

Although the speed at which the 20 bows were crafted was astonishing, the subsequent city repairs and cleaning were quests that required physical labor.

Moreover, the workload must have been considerable.

Nevertheless, Michael had completed them perfectly.

"Yes. Please give me the next quest."

He had completed all three quests.

However, Michael's face didn't brighten.

This wasn't the end of the quests.

'Clear all three of them. Then I'll acknowledge you and give you a new quest. Just complete that one too.'

But Litton wasn't giving him a quest, instead, he was lost in thought.

'What's going on? Why isn't he giving it to me?'

Michael was a little nervous at the sight.

He was currently disguised as a Ranger, but in truth, he was a Necromancer.

He was secretly anxious, wondering if he had been caught.

But it seemed he hadn't been discovered, as Litton suddenly laughed heartily and patted Michael on the shoulder.

"You've worked hard. Normally, I'd give you more quests, but I can't keep making a benefactor work on such an auspicious day."

"Benefactor...?"

"Oh? You don't know about the war?"

Litton tilted his head in confusion.

"I've heard about it."

How could he not know that his master had summoned foreigners and quickly captured the Rogue' City?

But he had to stay behind and continue with the quests.

"So, I won't give you any more quests and will give you the final reward."

"Is that true?!"

Michael's face lit up.

Did that mean he didn't have to do any more quests?

"Of course."

Litton hadn't liked the foreigner.

That's why he deliberately gave him only difficult quests, but his opinion changed after seeing him help the City of Archer this time.

'It was thanks to the foreigner that the leader survived, the spy was caught, and the war was won without casualties.'

Litton presented the final reward.

"What's this?"

"It's something I only give to those who complete all the quests I offer."

It was a material called the Archer's Seal.

The seal was a small, stamp-shaped item.

"A seal? Are you sure about this?"

"That seal is proof of a true archer."

"...I see."

It was definitely the item his master wanted.

He would surely be pleased, right?

'Master! I got the Archer's Seal!'

'Oh, that was fast? How did you do it?'

'Well, they said it was an auspicious day and gave it to me!'

'I see. Good job.'

With those words of encouragement, all the fatigue in his body seemed to melt away.

But there was still one important thing left.

'Um... when will I get the Death Coffin?'

'Oh, that? You'll have to wait a bit longer for that.'

It was like a bolt from the blue.

'What...? I came all this way just for the Death Coffin.'

'I'll definitely give it to you, so wait. Have you ever seen me lie?'

'No, but...'

'Then go back.'

'Yes...'

Just you wait, if you don't give it to me...

* * *

With the Archer's Seal that Michael brought, Jeong-hoon could now obtain the 'Completed Archer's Mark.'

[You can upgrade the Archer's Mark.]

[Would you like to upgrade?]

'Yes.'

As he attempted the upgrade, the Archer's Mark in his hand was enveloped in light.

When the light faded, a different mark was in its place.

[Completed Archer's Mark]

- Type: Material

- Grade: Unique

- A complete Archer's Mark.

It was done.

He had successfully restored the Archer's Mark.

Jeong-hoon took out the Highest Grade Experience Elixir he had stored in his inventory.

[Highest Grade Experience Elixir]

- Type: Elixir

- Grade: Legendary

- Grants a large amount of experience when consumed.

A Legendary grade elixir, no less.

Jeong-hoon gulped down the elixir.

[Level up!]

[All stats increased by +1.]

[Bonus stat +1 granted.]

The messages started popping up continuously.

Jeong-hoon's lips curled up at the endless stream of messages.

'I gained 17 levels from just this one elixir.'

Jeong-hoon's level, which was 209, jumped to 226 in an instant.

With the increase to level 226, his stats also rose overall.

Jeong-hoon focused on allocating points to mana and divine power, and invested the rest in strength and agility.

[Detailed Stats]

- Strength: 312(+31) -> 343

- Agility: 300(+31) -> 331

- Health: 293(+30) -> 323

- Defense: 284(+28) -> 312

- Wisdom: 274(+27) -> 301

- Mana: 433(+43) -> 476

- Divine Power: 433(+43) -> 476

- Willpower: 269(+29) -> 298

With these stats, he could be considered on par with a level 350 user in terms of pure stats alone.

"Now then."

Next was the Head Ornament Infused with the Spirit of a Divine Beast.

If no leader other than the first had been able to wear it because it was difficult to handle, it was highly likely to be an Ego item, like Mukho or Anima.

Jeong-hoon put on the head ornament.

Immediately, a pain like a lightning bolt struck his head.

"Ugh..."

Jeong-hoon quickly took off the head ornament.

The pain disappeared instantly.

[Master? Are you okay?]

'What the hell is going on?'

"I felt intense pain when I wore this."

Was this why no one but the first leader could use it?

[Then should we just throw it away?]

"No way."

It made him even more determined.

He would tame it no matter what.

Jeong-hoon put the head ornament back on.

Again, his head throbbed as if it would split open.

It was so painful that he could barely stand, and Jeong-hoon knelt on one knee.

[Uh oh? Are you okay?!]

'Master!'

He heard Mukho and Anima's urgent voices, but at that moment, Jeong-hoon couldn't hear anything.

Even Jeong-hoon, who was usually indifferent to pain, found the agony overwhelming.

It felt like his mind would fly away if he didn't hold on tight.

Then it happened.

'Growl.'

Fenrir, who had been resting, suddenly bared its fangs.

And then, a surprising change occurred.

The excruciating headache vanished completely.

"Huh...?"

'Master, are you alright?'

Fenrir asked politely.

"What? How did you do that?"

'I just suppressed the noisy remnants.'

"Is that even possible?"

'Of course, I'm stronger.'

Fenrir could suppress it because it was also a divine beast?

That made sense.

Fenrir was the divine beast that accompanied Serion, the first leader of the Warrior City.

On the other hand, the Head Ornament Infused with the Spirit of a Divine Beast was an item worn by Uris, the first leader who was active in the same era.

Even though it had lost its power.

It meant that Uris also commanded a divine beast.

'Fenrir and this head ornament... they'll be incredible once restored.'

"But this head ornament doesn't talk, does it?"

He had naturally assumed it was an Ego item.

'I think it's because it has lost most of its power.'

"Really? That's good."

He already had enough with Mukho and Anima's chatter constantly ringing in his ears.

Anyway, thanks to Fenrir's suppression, he no longer felt any headaches even when wearing the head ornament.

It meant he had succeeded in taming it, to some extent.

* * *

Whoosh-

The capsule opened, and Jeong-hoon stepped out.

It was already evening after finishing the reward settlement.

"Son, are you done with your business?"

His mother, who had logged out earlier to prepare dinner, had made all of his favorite dishes.

"Wow... Mom, why did you make so much?"

"I received a lot from you, so I put in some extra effort today."

"You didn't have to..."

"Come on, sit down quickly. The food will get cold."

"Okay..."

From bulgogi to various seasoned vegetables and his mother's signature soybean paste stew.

There was everything.

"By the way, can I drink that elixir now?"

"Yes. I already drank mine."

"Really?"

"Yeah. My level went up by 17."

"Oh my... Legendary grade is something else."

"Mom, you should try it too when you log in. I think your level will go up by 17 or 18."

"I'll do that."

His mother's cooking was delicious.

After finishing his meal quickly, Jeong-hoon explained his future plans.

"Mom, I'm planning to participate in the siege war next."

"Siege war?"

His mother tilted her head in confusion.

"Yes."

Guilds always participated in the siege wars held at regular intervals.

The results of the siege wars affected guild rankings by granting guild points.

Additionally, siege war points were awarded, which could be used to purchase exclusive items.

Of course, Jeong-hoon wasn't participating in the siege war because he coveted those things.

'I need siege war points to prepare for the 3rd Cataclysm.'

Siege war points.

These points were given to individuals who participated, not to the guild itself.

That was why guild members were eager to participate in siege wars.

'And famous guilds give out a ton of siege war points.'

The system was inherently designed to favor famous guilds.

Also, since the 3rd Cataclysm required participation as a guild, he needed to contribute to the guild to some extent.

"Hmm? But you've never participated in a siege war before, have you?"

His mother tilted her head.

She must have found it strange that her son, who had never participated in siege wars before, suddenly wanted to join.

Jeong-hoon smiled.

"I just want to try it once."

"I see. Are you going with Ha-jin and that... your brother?"

"Yes. We're all planning to participate."

* * *

Ho-Yeong Guild.

Yeo Min-ji returned to the training ground.

"Oh! Your level went up by 2?"

The guild member managing the training ground was surprised.

Raising levels after reaching 300 was extremely difficult.

The world's number one player had barely surpassed level 500, so that spoke for itself.

"I've been diligently clearing dungeons lately."

She had been tirelessly running dungeons since she had achieved some results in her training.

She took short breaks when there were important matters like Jeong-hoon's summons, but other than that, she dedicated all her time to dungeons.

As a result, she was able to raise her level by 2.

"Wow... at this rate, you'll reach 400 in no time."

"We'll see."

Monsters even stronger than her were leveling up more efficiently and faster.

This was why, even with the same 24 hours, the gap widened drastically depending on how one leveled up.

[Whisper/Hoon -> Minzi: Are you busy right now?]

At that moment, a whisper came from Jeong-hoon.

'Hmm? What's going on?'

Yeo Min-ji tilted her head and sent a reply.

[Whisper/Minzi -> hoon: No, I'm fine.]

[Whisper/hoon -> Minzi: That's good. I was wondering if we could participate in the siege war, including the two new members.]

[Whisper/Minzi -> hoon: The siege war?!]

[Whisper/hoon -> Minzi: Yes. I heard there's a siege war in two weeks... Is it possible?]

Jeong-hoon had never participated in a siege war before.

In fact, although it was mandatory for guild members to participate in siege wars, she had deliberately not recommended it to him.

She was grateful enough that he had joined the guild.

So, she had no intention of recommending it until he expressed his willingness to participate.

[Whisper/Minzi -> hoon: Of course! We'd love to have you!]

Yeo Min-ji replied with excitement.

Not only Jeong-hoon but also the Genesis Sniper, his mother, and the Dark Lord Ha-jin.

Three hidden classes would be participating at once.

There was no reason not to welcome them.