Chapter 5
Episode 5: The National Museum of Korea (2)
Thud! Thud!
"Devour them."
Jinhoek tapped Horang's back twice.
Then...
"Rooar!"
The huge beast stamped the ground with immense force.
In an instant, the distance was closed.
Wham! Wham! Wham!
The bodies of the jackals were torn apart like sheets of paper.
An overwhelming display of power.
"Eek-eek!"
"Peeak!"
Like ants daring to challenge a dinosaur, the five Egyptian guardians were slain without even a chance for resistance, their breaths cut short.
***
Shake! Shake! Shake!
Yuri's whole body trembled uncontrollably.
"This can't be happening. My summoned creatures so easily..."
It was unthinkable.
She was certain they were unbeatable.
Obtaining the Daedongyeojido map from the museum was supposed to be a non-issue...
But why this outcome?
She didn't understand.
The only certainty was that the man in front of her was unimaginably strong.
"How high have you climbed the Tower?"
"Hmm, how far up have I gone?"
"You can't possibly have cleared the 20th floor, right?"
Jinhoek remained silent.
"The 21st floor? 22nd floor... Or maybe even 23rd? The 23rd floor?"
Yuri continued to ask.
She was so naive, thinking climbing into the 20s floors was a monumental task.
What would her reaction be if I told her I've reached the 50th floor?
'Would she foam at the mouth and faint?'
He was curious, but that would have to wait for another time.
"This isn't the time to be asking about which floor I've climbed to, is it?"
Jinhoek approached Yuri, who flinched in response.
"Are you going to kill me?"
"I have no interest in killing a frightened newbie."
Laughing at the expense of new players was a pastime he graduated from long ago.
"Who are you calling a newbie? I've also gone so far..."
"Alright, alright. Understood. Just hand over the 'Mask of Tutankhamun' you got from the Egyptian exhibit."
At Jinhoek's remark, Yuri's eyes widened.
"Why do you need that? It's useless in Korea."
"That's for me to worry about. Unless you want to camp inside a tiger's belly tonight, just hand it over."
Jinhoek glanced at Horang by his side.
"Purrrr..."
Horang had blood smeared around its mouth from devouring the jackals.
A frightening visage indeed.
"If you demand it, fine, I'll give it to you!"
Reluctantly, Yuri pulled the mask out of her bag.
The golden mask of the Pharaoh.
[You have acquired the Relic (Replica) 'Mask of Tutankhamun'.]
'Perfect.'
After obtaining the first relic on the first floor, now he had secured a second relic.
"Are you after the Daedongyeojido map as well?"
"The map?"
Yes, that too was part of the museum's treasures.
He had simply forgotten about it due to a lack of interest.
"Sure, let's go with that."
Jinhoek lightly chuckled and stroked Horang's back one last time.
"Stay here and guard this place. Don't let anyone follow."
"Roaaar!"
Horang positioned itself at the entrance to the stairs leading to the next floor.
Then...
'Let's go.'
Jinhoek headed up the stairs to the next floor.
***
"This is truly... unexpected."
As he ascended, Minjungwoo was waiting for him, a look of surprise on his face.
It seemed he had not anticipated Yuri to be defeated.
However, Jinhoek was equally surprised.
"Why haven't you gone inside yet?"
His objective was the Daedongyeojido map after all. It made no sense for him to be hesitating here.
"Somebody has erected a barrier in front."
Minjungwoo extended his hand toward thin air.
Twang!
His hand was repelled.
"Neither physical attacks nor magic work. I've never seen this kind of barrier before."
Of course.
"It's a First Level barrier."
"Hooh. You know about this?"
"Sort of..."
Unlike the barriers set up around the museum, this one was a 'real' barrier, created through a skill.
Jinhoek's eyes narrowed.
'Like I thought, he's here.'
He knew a player who often used this ability, one he had encountered in the game countless times.
After a moment of thought, Jinhoek spoke up.
"I know how to dispel it, but..."
"But what?"
"You'll need to keep using flame magic. It will weaken the barrier."
"How long do I need to do this?"
"Until I've collected all the relics I need and returned."
"Heh. So, while you're inside, I should just stand here casting magic?"
Indeed. The deduction was swift.
'I should give you a gold star for that.'
"I understand it's hard to trust, but this is the only way. The dawn is near, and we can't leave empty-handed, can we?"
It would be the worst scenario to have struggled for nothing.
"Of course, I'll leave you the map. I have a greater need for something else."
Minjungwoo pressed his lips tightly shut, weighing the options.
What choice would benefit him most?
What must he choose?
The calculations began in his head.
But the inevitable conclusion was to trust.
From Minjungwoo's perspective, it was an uneasy gamble, but what other choice was there?
"Will you for sure hand over the map?"
"Certainly. I have no desire to remain hostile toward a rare magic ability user."
"Alright... I'll trust you."
Finally, Minjungwoo made his decision.
"Please keep it up without stopping. Otherwise, I'll be trapped in there."
"I'll do my best."
Jinhoek moved to the barrier and located its weakest point.
Where the flow of magic went awry.
'Right here.'
...carpo.
The Latin inscription illuminated at his touch.
"Now!"
Whooosh!
With Jinhoek's signal, the flames from Minjungwoo's magic heated the surface of the barrier rapidly.
In that moment, a crack appeared, growing wider.
'It's done.'
Jinhoek quickly slipped through the barrier.
"Hurry, stage!"
Minjungwoo was sweating buckets.
"Understood."
He intended to do his best.
'Well, in my own way.'
***
This floor's exhibit looked untouched, unlike the one below.
Actually, one thing had changed.
'Someone's already been here and gone.'
Jinhoek gazed at an now empty display case.
Gunjeongcheon (乾隆) sword that once laid there had been swiped from its place while others were distracted elsewhere.
It was clear someone wanted only one item, leaving before being ensnared in conflict.
'Still the same, avoiding even the smallest risk.'
They dipped in, took the choicest morsels, and departed.
But they didn't realize they took only a secondary prize, leaving behind a far superior artifact.
'If memory serves, it should be around here...'
Jinhoek meandered between displays, halting at a specific location.
A weathered metal circle—Sangpyeong Tongbo, a currency from the Joseon period under King Injo, now more than just money.
'Finally found it.'
His lips curled upwards in a quiet triumph.
An ability specifically for himself.
The last puzzle piece he needed was finally in his grasp.
That's when...
"What are you doing there!?"
Minjungwoo shouted from beyond the barrier, panic in his voice.
"What am I doing?..."
"Instead of securing the Daedongyeojido map first, why are you fixated on something else?"
"Impatient, aren't you? The map's not going anywhere. Let me take care of my things first, then I'll wrap it up prettily for you."
What an interruption at a crucial moment.
Jinhoek settled down and laid out the relics he had acquired in the museum.
'Mask of Tutankhamun (B).'
He needed the 'right eye' from this piece.
Crack!
He carved out the eye portion with a knife, placing it into the 'Persian Ritual Mould (E).'
[Two relics react with one another.]
A brief message appeared.
It only displayed when the correct relics met.
It also implied another message—if you wish to proceed, you must pay the price.
Clink, clink, clink!
Jinhoek poured 15 Sangpyeong Tongbo (D) coins into the mould.
Immediately...
Whoosh!
A power indescribable began emanating from the mould.
[Three relics react together!]
[The fusion is successful!]
[You have acquired the Relic 'Eye of Truth (SS)'!]
[Eye of Truth]
Difficulty to Acquire: SS
Effect: Allows the user to view another person's status and discern the 'truth/falsehood' of their words (thrice per day).
'Success!'
His heart raced with excitement.
One of the five 'eyes' in the world, the Eye of Truth was deemed the best because it could discern the truth in another's words, an unquestionably overpowered ability.
But the exhilaration wasn't due solely to acquiring the Eye of Truth.
He knew an even greater reward awaited shortly.
[Against staggering odds, you have succeeded in fusion.]
[You have accomplished a feat.]
[You have acquired the Unique Ability 'Fusion (Overrank)'.]
Fusing three replica relics of grade B or lower to create an item of grade S or higher was the condition.
And among countless items and relics, only this combination was possible.
[Unique Ability 'Fusion']
Difficulty to Acquire: Incalculable (Overrank)
Effect: Allows the user to store others' unique abilities and skills in the 'World's Memory' and fuse them into higher-dimensional powers.
However, if the requirements become significantly harder, they may be adjusted.
To copy many extraordinary abilities into the 'World's Memory' and fuse them into even more potent skills was why he had come to the museum that night.
"Sigh."
Jinhoek released a breath he had been holding. Everything had gone smoother than expected after all the evening's preparations.
Then...
"Hurry up! I know not what you are up to, but if you're done, quickly... This is quite taxing!"
Minjungwoo, his voice laden with strain, shouted out, his face now pale from the draining of his magical energy.
'Let's see... How to copy that old man's power?'
[Copying Condition: Minjungwoo always hides his emotions behind a mask. Make him reveal his true self.]
'In other words, tick him off, that's the condition?'
Easy enough to accomplish, especially under circumstances like these.
Jinhoek brought out the Daedongyeojido map and approached Minjungwoo's direction.
"You can stop using that skill now."
"What? What do you mean?"
"It was unnecessary from the start."
Claiming an attack spell was needed to weaken the barrier? Such nonsense never existed.
The mere use of a dispelling spell in Latin where the magic flow was disrupted was more than adequate, especially considering the caster behind the barrier was still only Level 1.
"Then why did you have me keep using the skill...?"
The truth was simple.
"So that you would be completely drained of magic."
Watching him desperately casting magic while sweating buckets was quite a sight.
He probably wouldn't have the energy to lift a finger now.
Even if someone, say, burned the map right before his eyes.
Fwoosh!
Using a lighter, Jinhoek set the Daedongyeojido map ablaze.
The flames quickly consumed the paper.
"What are you doing?! Why are you burning it? Why...?"
"As I said before, I have no need for it."
Jinhoek already knew everything about the Tower; the map was meaningless to him.
'But, giving it to someone else is just too wasteful.'
Having the map might allow others to gain information on the Tower's first ten floors, which could nullify his advantage.
Therefore, the surest method was to eliminate that possibility.
Just like now.
"You, you bastard! I will kill you! Grind you to dust, you damn cur!"
Minjungwoo lost all semblance of control.
'Huh. I didn't expect such colorful language when he's angry.'
You can't judge a person just by appearances.
Just then...
[Condition met.]
[Skill 'Elemental Fire (B)' successfully copied!]
[The copied skill is stored in 'World's Memory'.]
[Elemental Fire]
Difficulty to Acquire: B
Effect: Grants the ability to control flames and increases affinity with fire.
The notice for meeting the copying condition appeared.
'Elemental Fire...'
For his first copy, it was not a bad start at all.