Episode 201
201. The Fifth Trial
[There is a hidden sub-quest!]
<Sub Quest>
└Defeat 3 or more trials alone
└If successful ▶ Rune bundle provided
[You have completed the sub-quest!]
[The rune bundle has been delivered to your inventory.]
Ryumin smiled in satisfaction after seeing the reward.
‘You came out. Subquest reward.’
There was no other reason why I had set out to tackle the ordeal alone.
Because I had to get the sub quest reward.
‘I guess the first trial wasn’t counted because I didn’t do it myself.’
From the second to the fourth, I was the only one involved.
That’s why I was able to claim the reward, but there is actually one more sub-quest this round.
‘That’s also why I brought the necromancer.’
I plan to use the necromancer in the final and fifth trials to receive the second sub-quest reward.
‘Not just me, but all of the party members.’
Of course, necromancers are excluded from party members.
‘Then shall we try the lottery?’
Ryumin immediately manipulated the system and used the rune package.
[You used a rune package.]
[congratulations! ‘Rune of Reputation’ has arrived!]
[The acquired runes are automatically imprinted on the player’s body!]
[Rune of Reputation]
-Effect: Reputation received in the other world increases by one level. There is no neutrality, and you can receive friendly treatment wherever you go.
Even Ryumin doesn’t know what runes will come out of the rune package.
I don’t know if the outcome is determined at the time of obtaining the item, but a new rune was released every time.
‘So I didn’t have much expectations… … .’
Some pretty good runes came out.
‘My reputation in this world has gone up one level.’
This means that neutral can be upgraded to friendly, and friendly can be upgraded to very friendly.
Sure enough, after getting the rune, my reputation changed.
[Human reputation for the last time retrograde has increased from ‘Cheolcheon Supporter’ to ‘Hostile’.]
[The devil’s reputation for the Black Scythe has increased from ‘Friendly’ to ‘Very Friendly’.]
[Human reputation for the Black Scythe has increased from ‘Friendly’ to ‘Very Friendly’.]
[The elves’ reputation for the Black Scythe has increased from ‘very friendly’ to ‘eternal ally’.]
[Dwarves’ reputation for those who lead the way has increased from ‘Friendly’ to ‘Very Friendly’.]
… … … … … …
… … … …
… … … …
All reputations have increased by one level.
Not only the black scythe, but also all the titles he has.
‘This will allow us to receive friendly treatment from all races except for the last time retrograde.’
All neutral reputations have changed to friendly, and those that were originally good have become even better than before.
This was especially true for the reputations of demons, dwarves, and elves.
The corners of Ryumin’s mouth naturally went up because he had something to gain from them.
‘This will shorten the time considerably.’
It’s easier to get what you want because you don’t have to work hard on your reputation.
‘It’s as if I just conquered the 13th round.’
When round 13 comes, I originally planned to only visit the elves, but I will also stop by the dwarves.
Ryu Min, who finished his errands, looked at his colleagues waiting for him and nodded.
“Let’s go.”
The party members, who had successfully conquered the battle thanks to Ryumin, soon arrived at the final trial location.
“Are we here?”
In front of me was a road where nothing could be seen, like an abyss.
I couldn’t keep walking because I couldn’t tell what was beyond the road, but just then a message appeared.
<The Fifth Trial>
└All party members must pass the trap and reach the end of the passage within 1 hour.
└In case of success ▶ Register as a survival team, calculate grades, and receive experience points.
└In case of failure ▶ Power disappears
‘Power loss in case of failure?’
An explanatory message appears, leaving a confused John behind.
[Before your eyes, there is a dark passageway of the bottomless pit that cannot be illuminated by any light.]
[There are traps everywhere in the darkness, and the target disappears as soon as it touches the trap.]
[However, when the target disappears, the trap is removed at the same time and does not regenerate.]
[The ordeal will end when all party members avoid the trap and reach the end of the passage safely within the time limit.]
[Conversely, if you do not reach the end of the passage by the end of the time limit, it is considered a failure.]
[Please note that all skills except summoning are prohibited here.]
[As visibility is limited, rely on each other’s backs and attack calmly.]
Perhaps because it is the last trial, if you fail, everyone is wiped out without a single moment.
Moreover, as soon as it touches something called a trap, it disappears immediately.
It was a nerve-wracking ordeal just listening to it, but for some reason, the corners of John’s mouth were twitching.
It was because I had already figured out the strategy.
‘So you’re saying that in order to pass through that blind passage, you have to remove the trap? ‘By using my summons?’
John’s expression changed subtly as he realized that this was a necessary trial.
The corner of his mouth twitched and a dirty smile spread.
“Looking at this, it seems like an ordeal that I will never be able to overcome without a summon?”
“I think so. “What should I do?”
“I know you guys are lucky.”
“yes? What is that… … .”
John raised his chin arrogantly at Minjoo-ri’s words.
“It just so happens that my job involves summoning beasts.”
His tone of voice and expression suddenly changed.
It was worth it.
Because now, from this moment on, I can say that I am the best.
Maybe that’s why I was able to muster up the courage to speak out to the black scythe.
“Hey, Black Scythe.”
Since I was a party member and didn’t take any damage, there was nothing to be afraid of.
“Maybe this is good? “If I don’t cooperate, I’m facing an ordeal that I can never overcome?”
“So what do you want to say?”
John’s lips twitched upward.
“Are there still points left? Just hand me 10 million points. Then get down on your knees and beg for your life. Then do you know? “I will have mercy.”
“Look, John Delgado! What are you doing now… … .”
“f*ck you, buffer bitch shut up! “I’m talking to Black Scythe right now!”
John, who was angry at Min Joo-ri for being rude, looked at the black scythe again.
“why? Can’t you do it? If you can’t do that, you’ll have to stay here.”
“Does that mean you’re going to die too?”
“huh. I would like to take the lead and attack alone, but then you guys will follow me like chicks, right? “If that’s the case, we’ll just all hang out together.”
“You’re going to throw away your life because of that grudge?”
“That grudge?”
John’s eyebrows twitched.
“You cut off someone else’s limbs and then you want that? Does this f*cking guy still have no sense of crisis? Does he really have to be destroyed to come to his senses? huh?”
John, who shouted as if venting all his anger, spoke with determination.
“10 million points and a sincere apology. I know you won’t cooperate if you don’t do these two things right away. Then, not only you but all party members will be destroyed. me? I don’t mind searching. “If only I could kill you.”
That’s what he said, but in reality, it was just a threat without any intention.
Who in the world would risk their own life to kill another person?
The desire for revenge was strong, but John wasn’t that strong either.
‘But you’ll only accept the deal if I wear a hookah like this, right?’
If you want to bring the black scythe to its knees, you have no choice but to go out strong.
There’s no need to be scared, since his life depends on you anyway.
‘If I get 10 million points, I’ll buy an experience pack and hit max level in no time. Then it will be able to compare to the current black scythe.’
We also prepared measures for later when the strategy is over and the party is disbanded.
I didn’t mindlessly set 10 million points as a condition.
‘You have no choice but to accept. Why? Because your life and the lives of other party members depend on it. Hehehe.’
Since he is also human, there is no way he doesn’t feel guilty.
In order to save the party members, he would have no choice but to bend to himself and come in.
That’s what I thought.
“go away.”
“I get it. Accept the deal… … what?”
The unexpected answer stunned John for a while.
“What did you say just now?”
“I told you to f*ck off. “We’ll get through it on our own.”
“Ha, this bastard is out of his mind. Didn’t you hear the explanation? If she hits the trap, she will disappear immediately. There is no way to light up the darkness. In a situation like that, do you think you can avoid the trap and move forward? No matter how good you are, you have no choice but to rely on my summons, right?”
“We’ll just have to wait and see.”
“what?”
John, dumbfounded by his groundless confidence, sneered as much as he could.
“f*ck, yeah, give it a try. “I think you’re trying to rely on persimmons like an asshole, but if you get hooked, I won’t know?”
Black Scythe ignored Jon’s advice and stood in front of the passage.
No matter where you look, up, down, left, or right, you can only see darkness in the abyss of the abyss.
Although it might be scary to even step into that space, Black Scythe took the first step without hesitation.
‘huh? ‘Are you okay?’
The black scythe, as if standing in the dark, looked back at his comrades.
“What are you doing? “Everyone is not following me.”
“Ah yes!”
“Just line up and follow me. Do not stay more than 3 steps away from the person in front of you. “If you are picky and take the wrong path, you will disappear on the spot.”
The black scythe that said so walked ahead.
Walking in the dark wasn’t difficult for him.
* * *
‘You’re panicking.’
Ryumin looked back at the necromancer standing alone and laughed.
‘I guess he is too. ‘I’m walking through this bottomless pit of hell without any summons.’
According to the original strategy, it was a trial that required summons.
If you walk with a summoned animal in front of you and fall into a trap and disappear, you can take a different path with the summoned animal leading you.
Finding your way in that way was the key strategy for this ordeal.
However, as a returner, Ryumin does not need summons.
‘Because I have the route memorized.’
You know where to go safely and where the traps are even if you can’t see them.
Because I learned it all through experience and memorized it.
‘If you walk five steps forward, you will find a trap.’
Ryumin walked two steps sideways to avoid the trap.
Then, like a train game, the party members follow along.
‘If we do this, there is no risk of extinction. There is no need for a summoner.’
In fact, the Cave of Trials could be conquered by Ryu Min alone.
The party members had no choice but to gather together to proceed with the trial.
In fact, no matter who became a party member, the ordeal was a given.
‘Some people might ask this. If you can attack it alone, why did you bother adding a necromancer to your party?’
The reason was simple.
Because I had to activate the second subquest.
‘The condition for the second sub-quest is [overcome the ordeal on your own without the help of a summoner].’
In other words, if you let the summoner pass last and the remaining people step on the end of the passage first, the second sub-quest will be completed.
‘And everyone except the summoner will receive the subquest reward.’
So what happens to the summoner who arrives last?
Not only will you not receive any compensation, but you will also receive a permanent debuff.
That was the reason why John Delgado was included in the party.
To complete the second subquest and give the guy a permanent debuff.
‘If you tried to assassinate me, you will have to pay.’
Ryumin smiled and stepped on the ground for the last time.
widely-
As Ryu Min, Min-ri Min, Jeffrey, and Joo Seong-tak safely reached the end of the passage, a message appeared.
[You have completed the sub-quest!]
