Yeon-hee, who was requested by the healers, asked me if I could give her the arm I had cut off, but I wasn’t about to hand it over.
Yeon-hee ran to the healers, showing a troubled expression as she mentioned that it was a summoned creature she couldn’t control. Such good acting!
– What do you mean you can’t control your own summoned creature?
– Well… once it gets stubborn, no one can do anything about it.
– Now that you mention it, I remember seeing on YouTube that the skeleton soldier doesn’t listen to its master and acts on its own.
– Ahh… if we heal this severed end just like this, this guy will live his life unable to control his bodily functions!
– But… it’s really stubborn…
– Ugh, I guess we have no choice. Let’s heal him!
Despite becoming a stubborn summoned creature in an instant, I was satisfied that I had cut the seed of Han Eul-min, the darkness.
As the healers began to heal him, I could see the cut ends of Han Eul-min’s severed arm and leg shriveling up like cabbage leaves.
– Uh… Han Eul-min’s body is…?
– W-wait! Get a barrier mage!
But just as Han Eul-min’s bleeding and shock were barely stopping, strange movements started from his torso.
Crackle – bulge –
His body bubbled up as if blisters were forming, and then something like a tree trunk began to grow from the severed ends of his legs.
‘That’s… the root of an Ent… I see. It was those guys.’
The first time I encountered a mutant that had taken the ‘Evolved Creature’ was when I saw its Ent-like form and nature.
The side effects of the inferior potion made by Inessa’s organization showed a much more significant impact than the normal ones.
Did Han Eul-min perhaps buy the evolving potion through that organization?
– Is it really okay to heal this? Without arms or legs, how can he live like this?
– For now, let’s restrain him with a barrier.
Han Eul-min, who had great pride in saving lives, was in such a miserable state that one would think it better to just let him die.
‘He definitely can’t recover. This will be the last connection I have with that guy.’
Thinking that I wouldn’t have to see that idiot again was refreshing, yet my anger towards the forces that had turned the man into a villain surged.
‘Ah— I need to beat those bastards down.’
In an automatic response, I gritted my teeth.
Something like a lightning bolt flashed through my mind.
At the same time, brief information about the great evil one floated up.
‘…… Okay. The next great evil has been decided.’
A desperate opponent appeared.
If I use [Shapeshift] tonight, I should be able to confirm their information more clearly.
– Over here!
– What, what is this horrible- Ugh-
The barrier mage delayed using his power because he was gagging at the sight of Han Eul-min transforming.
After barely regaining his composure, he shifted Han Eul-min to another space.
Han Eul-min’s body was crammed tightly into a translucent box that looked just like my [Sanctuary of Boundaries].
Despite the medical team’s best efforts, the bizarre scene of Han Eul-min’s transformation was being transmitted in its entirety on dozens of drones.
– Is that the drug that’s trending in the underground these days?
– You’re talking about the evolving potion.
– This is insane. Do even large guilds like the Guardian Guild use such drugs?
– Hurry and transport the patient. Report to the higher-ups. His condition isn’t good.
The hunters gathered around seemed to have an inkling that Han Eul-min had taken a drug he shouldn’t have.
‘Good. The evolving potion should be made public.’
What I expect isn’t just stopping the spread of the evolving potion; that’s not all.
‘Killbard… The recipe made by Ilseom isn’t something that requires human sacrifice.’
If we look only at the effects aside from the side effects, this could turn into an opportunity for us.
‘This drug could be a good means to signal a counterattack.’
As I quietly nodded, a message popped up regarding my trace.
– ‘Small Skeleton’ has easily defeated ‘Blood Mosquito’!
– ‘Small Skeleton’ leveled up!
– The durability of ‘Small Skeleton’s basic weapon is nearing its limit.
– ‘Small Skeleton’ is getting anxious as it hasn’t managed to obtain any bone materials for its weapon.
– ‘Small Skeleton’ heads toward the center of the dungeon to find bones.
– ‘Blood Mosquito’s Blood Gem’ 262/500(+1)
‘Oh dear. The durability of the basic weapon, the dagger, has run out. But all the main monsters in that dungeon are insect-type, so there won’t be any bones…’
The message has been popping up for several days.
‘Small Skeleton’ has leveled up several times, and thanks to that, its hunting speed was steeply increasing.
I couldn’t confirm if it was following the same system as mine, but seeing it use the skills I use whenever needed confirms our connection.
With such growth, would it someday use [Meteor]?
‘Maybe that’s too far-fetched?’
In any case, I could clear a small quest without even lifting a finger. If things go well, it should be able to acquire the racial traits of ‘Blood Mosquito’ within a week.
‘But even if it gets the abilities of Blood Mosquito… it can’t suck anything out.’
If it doesn’t work in its skeleton state, it can always transform into a human to use its abilities, but there’s always a lingering regret when it comes to anything related to eating.
‘By the way, this tournament should proceed smoothly, right? Having surpassed Vision and Guardian. Now, just the Dwarf Guild remains, I think?’
In fact, our power had already surpassed B-grade, so it felt almost like cheating.
The only opponent that could provide us with a bit of tension would be that impressive guy who had just made his entrance.
‘Hwang Bo-jin-hwan…’
I could see a man with a bushy beard entering the arena, decked out in equipment.
The protagonist of the third match of the quarterfinals.
He was someone from my past life.
If he’s someone from my memories, it means we either had a connection or he was famous enough for me to hear of him, and he was the latter.
‘The prodigy of the Dwarf Guild. He really has made it here.’
He’s highly regarded as a talented blacksmith, having received the favor of the head of the Dwarf Guild known as ‘The Heavenly Hammer’ since his low-rank hunter days, and he’s also praised for his innate combat sense.
“Wow – that guy looks super sturdy. He reminds me of Eom Sang-wook.”
“Clap, Clap, Clap.”
Without entering the waiting room, we went up to the stands to find Noh Ha-yoon greeting us with a sulky expression.
“He ran away… ran away…”
“No, I never said I wouldn’t go to the sky…”
Noh Ha-yoon was still upset that I had fled to heaven with the Sword Dragon.
‘She must have wanted to show a hidden card but lost the opportunity—still so young, Ha-yoon.’
While Yeon-hee was momentarily bickering with Ha-yoon.
Rumble—
The match had already started, and thunder-like sounds began to resonate strongly through the arena.
‘Look at that weapon. Wow—’
Hwang Bo-jin-hwan obtained a ‘growing weapon’ during the dungeon exploration.
– Hehehehe!!
Right now, that laughter doesn’t belong to Hwang Bo-jin-hwan.
A massive axe, larger than his own torso, was taunting the opponent with its tongue.
‘An axe with a personality. [Ego Crusher]. Is this the second time I’m seeing it in action?’
I vividly remembered Hwang Bo-jin-hwan’s back as he showcased incredible strength during a long battle with the Orc Legion Commander.
– Cut it out, Crusher. You need to show respect to your opponent.
– Hehehehe!! Uh-huh-huh!!
– When will you ever listen to me…?
After swinging the axe down a few times, Hwang Bo-jin-hwan bowed his head to apologize to his opponent, but his weapon showed no signs of remorse whatsoever.
‘That tongue is the problem.’
The absurdly frivolous tongue extending from the axe.
It, in itself, carried the sharpness of a legendary sword, making it feel like a 2-on-1 battle for the opponent—that would certainly be a near-death experience.
Moreover, this bizarre axe even had the ability to chant lightning spells on its own, making it a coveted weapon everyone would envy.
Yet, for one minute after the match started, Hwang Bo-jin-hwan didn’t seem to use his axe at all.
He was simply moving forward stoically, swinging his fists.
Boom! Bam! Kaboom!!
“Urgh!!”
With just that, his opponent was unable to respond properly.
“……!!”
His opponent fortified their body with various buffs and held on, but eventually collapsed to the floor, completely battered by Hwang Bo-jin-hwan’s relentless bombardment.
[Dwarf Guild, Hwang Bo-jin-hwan wins!]
– Hmm! Good!!
– Hehehehe!!
Exhibiting his impressive trapezius muscles, Hwang Bo-jin-hwan showcased himself to the spectators.
I thought he’d have a stern style, but he actually has a bit of showmanship to him.
Ego Crusher seemed to have deemed it unnecessary to intervene directly, only cracking jokes, but honestly, that itself would have been quite irritating for the opponent.
“We’ll be facing him in the finals.”
As Ah-rin remarked, pointing at Hwang Bo-jin-hwan.
“Isn’t he a bit older to be calling him ‘him’?”
In response to Yeon-hee’s question, Ah-rin widened her eyes as if wondering what she was talking about.
“Isn’t he a junior from my school? He looks younger than he is.”
“… Huh? That person is Ah-rin’s junior?”
“Yeah. He’s been sporting a beard since high school.”
Hearing that, Yeon-hee seemed flustered, wrapping her head in disbelief.
“We’re not that far apart in age, then.”
She looked like she found it hard to believe.
But somehow, Hwang Bo-jin-hwan seemed to have noticed we were watching him, waving at us.
– Ah-rin noona!! It’s been a while!! Hahaha!
– Hehehehe!!
Ah-rin’s face lighted up as she responded in kind, and considering Ah-rin’s nature of being selective with people, he didn’t seem like a bad person at all.
‘Looking forward to tomorrow.’
After the first day of the tournament ended, we casually went back home after a light meal together.
Before the meal, we were delayed a bit due to numerous interview requests, but thanks to the response team from the White Knight Guild, we managed to get through it more smoothly than expected.
However, it seemed Yeon-hee was drained even from the few interviews we managed to narrow down.
She said she felt sleepy early today, and after sharing a little love, she dozed off in my arms.
Swish—shh—
I took a moment to enjoy the happiness of her head nestled comfortably in my arms.
Her chubby cheeks still seemed to hold the scent of baby formula, and her flowing hair cascaded down to her collarbone.
Smack—
“Hmm…”
I couldn’t resist giving her plump bottom a playful smack.
For some reason, as time goes on, it seems like her bottom keeps getting bigger.
‘Now… shall I check on those guys?’
I still had one more chance to shapeshift.
The information regarding the villains associated with the evolving potion clearly emerged during the day. Now, I was waiting to confirm it.
– Checking information on [King of the Back Alleys, Hwang Tae-wook].
‘Talking about a king, he must be joking. Azraelon would laugh at this.’
I smirked as I read through the information that had popped up earlier in the day.
– Hwang Tae-wook, who had been growing in scale as a drug dealer in the back alleys, one day, coincidentally acquired the ‘Evolving Stone Production Book’, which completely changed the direction of his life.
He already possessed the brutality and inhumanity required to produce the ‘Evolving Stone’ and completed it in just two years.
In an effort to improve the inefficiency of the ‘Evolving Stone’, he even succeeded in liquidizing it, and as of now, he had risen to become the second-largest supplier of ‘Evolving Water’ in Korea.
‘The first one must be Inessa’s organization, right?’
Given that I was currently allied with Inessa, practically speaking, she was the largest evolving water organization I could deal with.
– Unless you take actions to stop him, this great evil’s malicious deeds will go unchecked until this world faces its dark transformation.
‘Dark transformation… what does that even mean?’
The great evil Bin Chi-seung and Haseirin were referred to as hidden great evils.
I had previously explained that if I didn’t intervene, no one would realize their existence until the day this world ended.
This time, however, ‘dark transformation’ meant there was indeed a breakpoint.
‘If my understanding of dark transformation is correct, it would refer to the invasion of the Orc Legion.’
Whether it happens anytime soon or not, I should deal with it as soon as I can.
– Currently, he has caused the deaths of 4,764 people.
– Currently, he has inflicted pain on 16,687 people.
– Reward: [Temptation of Discord], removal of drug-related side effects.
Seeing the last piece of information that hadn’t come up during the day made my breath catch in my throat.
‘What the hell… that’s a staggering number.’
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