The Game of the Greatest Black Mage-Chapter 124

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Chapter 124

2.

Five days had passed since Seonghyun entered.

In a dark stone chamber where not even a single ray of light penetrated, a being who had been solely brandishing a sword came to a brief halt.

The visitor who had arrived a few days ago.

He had taken a second look, seeing him as more diligent than any other visitor, but now he sensed movement from that visitor, the one he had predicted would ultimately fail to reach this place.

With white hair and a long, unkempt beard, he closed his eyes, sensing that presence.

“One must not hold onto hope.”

Even if one meets the conditions and undertakes the trial.

“They will not reach this place.”

For if there is no expectation, there will be no disappointment.

It had been a long time since he had abandoned all hope and expectation.

That was what he had come to feel from residing here for so long.

There was a time when he, too, had held hope and expectations.

But think back to when he was betrayed by them.

Even when a visitor came here long ago, they could not free him.

Because he had been trapped here ever since that hateful skeleton knight had invaded.

This was all the more true for him.

He no longer wanted to rely on hope.

For the more he hoped, the more he himself was hurt.

Therefore.

“They will not reach this place…”

He merely muttered words he didn't even wish for.

However, that too was brief.

The visitor who had entered the trial proceeded to the next test at a rapid pace.

“…?”

At first, thinking it must be a fluke, just as he was about to swing his sword again, the visitor passed another test and moved on to the next.

‘The third test already?’

‘Didn't he just enter a moment ago?’

Unable to comprehend, the being tilted his head with a bewildered expression.

‘Had his senses grown dull after so many long years?’

‘No, that couldn't be.’

‘It couldn't be, and yet…’

‘Why has the visitor already entered the fourth test?’

“??????”

Faced with this incomprehensible phenomenon, the being could no longer swing his sword.

‘What on earth is happening?’

3.

A sword drawing a trajectory in the air like a flash of lightning.

However, it wasn't merely fast.

The sword held in two hands was heavier than anything, yet swift and sharp.

That sword, parting the air, sliced through the void with keen precision.

And where the trajectory finally ended was the body of a golem covered in mithril.

Ssk———!

With barely a sound of cutting, the mithril golem was instantly sliced apart without much resistance.

Against such profound swordsmanship—a technique that honed sword energy to its absolute limit using what looked like a mere steel sword—the mithril golem collapsed without a fight.

Kwoong——! Koogoong———!!!

Its frame was so massive that even as it was cut and fell, it caused violent tremors.

Enough to make one wonder if the spire itself was collapsing.

He had bisected the mithril in a single blow.

Of course, it was only a carapace that lightly covered the surface, but even so, cutting through mithril actively powered by mana was an incredible feat.

He had definitely gotten stronger.

Noticeably so, even to Seonghyun himself.

‘At this level, I probably could have faced the Echo Willow elites with just my sword back when they attacked, couldn't I?’

Back then, I had the feeling I barely won by mixing in magic skills here and there.

But now, his abilities had improved to the point where he could win completely with swordsmanship alone.

Having absorbed all the memories of the elf ghosts, it would have been strange if he hadn't. freewebnoveℓ.com

Anyway, as Seonghyun too felt pleased, the retainers waiting behind Seonghyun all began to clap.

-As expected of our Lord!!! To slice mithril in a single blow!!!

“That's incredible.”

-A-amazing!!!

“...Thanks.”

They weren't originally like this.

Things changed a bit after Leonik arrived.

Was praising their lord also part of a retainer's duty, or something?

Saying it was absolutely right, Nocturnium and Fiora had joined in too.

Just when he thought he was getting used to it, the retainers praising him like that made him feel awkward again.

Anyway, Seonghyun casually brushed it off and,

examined the messages that appeared.

[You have perfectly passed the Knight's Fifth Trial!]

[You have passed all trials in the Hidden Field, 『Hall of Knights』!]

[You have passed in the shortest recorded time!]

[You are the first among all users!]

Messages stating he had passed the Hall of Knights' fifth trial.

Besides those, phrases about the shortest record and being the first user also appeared, but Seonghyun didn't pay them the slightest attention.

Because he had a different goal.

‘The memories of the elf knight ghosts told me.’

‘That there was a hidden trial apart from these spire tests.’

A Hidden Mission.

Normally, it would have been a mission impossible to find, but Seonghyun, having obtained the memories, could find it with utter ease.

First, he headed towards the bisected mithril golem.

If one looked closely at its core, there was a place shaped like a socket.

When he lightly pressed it,

Click.

Like opening a fuel cap, an entrance opened, and safely stored inside was a mithril key.

‘Oh.’

He had just tried it based on the memories, but it was a bit fascinating that it actually worked.

Anyway, with the key in hand, Seonghyun headed to a corner of the fifth spire's first floor.

A door that would never have been seen unless one looked closely and had come this far.

When he inserted the key into the keyhole on the doorknob,

Dalkkak—.

A sound of it fitting perfectly was heard, and a dark stone staircase leading downwards could be seen.

And as Seonghyun opened the door,

Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

Torches hanging on the walls of the stone staircase lit up one by one, illuminating the surroundings.

As the dark stone staircase instantly brightened,

Seonghyun let out a short exclamation of admiration.

“Oho.”

To think it was such an elaborate place.

This was more exciting than he thought.

Since starting Eternal World, Seonghyun had only seen presentations of this caliber during his Overlord second job advancement or main quests.

It was natural to have high expectations.

-There is quite a strong aura below, My Lord.

“Seeing that it's holding a sword, it appears to be a swordsman.”

-Hueh? But the golems so far weren't holding swords?!

-Hmm, to my knowledge, there have been no golems wielding swords, My Lord.

“Judging by the presence of a pulse, it is presumed to be a living... being, however, I am still uncertain.”

As the three retainers each offered their opinions,

Seonghyun nodded as if he understood.

Analyzing the enemy's strength is important, of course, but Seonghyun wondered if he really needed to know beforehand.

Any other user would have had to enter without knowing anything.

So, Seonghyun didn't pay it much mind and headed down.

Step, step.

As he slowly descended, torches placed along the sides lit up in time with Seonghyun's steps.

The flickering flames cast shadows, giving an eerie impression that the entire surroundings were swaying.

However, Seonghyun wasn't one to be scared by each little thing like that; he had been seeing ghosts since childhood for far too long.

As Seonghyun calmly descended, at the end of the stone staircase was a dark stone chamber.

When Seonghyun reached this stone chamber, the surrounding torches all lit up, brightly illuminating the chamber.

Then, a being standing in the middle of the stone chamber also became visible.

“Hmm?”

With long white hair and a similarly long white beard, the figure truly resembled that of an old sage, like a Taoist immortal.

However, judging by the pointed ears and gleaming eyes, one could tell it was definitely an elf.

Seonghyun's anticipation based on that appearance was brief.

For the elf was showing the tip of his sword trembling and both his pupils shaking.

‘Why is he acting like that?’

For a moment, unable to understand, Seonghyun looked at the old man.

The old man's lips parted cautiously.

“...How did you arrive so quickly?”

“Pardon? Uh...”

The old elf asked out of genuine curiosity.

‘Had anyone ever passed the trials this quickly before?’

‘No, there wasn't.’

‘Then what on earth was this visitor?’

‘Moreover, judging by the retainers behind him, he is clearly a necromancer.’

‘And yet he could clear them this fast?’

‘Speed aside, I never even imagined an outsider could overcome this trial.’

It was a moment when his assessment of Seonghyun rose considerably.

Seonghyun, on the other hand.

‘What should I say?’

‘Leaving aside the fact that I knew all the trials,’

‘I was just strong, so I came quickly.’

‘Should I be honest?’

After pondering, Seonghyun spoke.

“I came by the sword.”

“...Hoh.”

‘Was that not the right answer?’

As Seonghyun thought this and scratched his head,

-My Lord, it seems that person is not in his right mind.

“Even from my perspective, it appears his mind has broken down over many long years.”

-P-poor thing.

Seonghyun tried his best to ignore the chattering of his three retainers and asked.

“Have you been here all this time?”

“...”

At Seonghyun's words, the old elf remained silent for a while.

Then, he slowly closed his eyes, lifted his head, and spoke.

“Indeed. I've been trapped here ever since that damned skeleton knight attacked this place.”

“Ah...”

-Keuhmm.

“Hmm.”

-Ah, aht. Th-this is Leonik-ssi's fault then.

At those words, Leonik also flinched.

Fiora reproached Leonik, as if pitying the elf.

Nocturnium, well, he nodded as if in understanding.

Anyway, as Seonghyun pondered what to say to the old elf's words,

the old elf spoke first.

“The final trial is to determine victory or defeat against me in swordsmanship. My liberation is at stake, so I intend to use my full strength. Even if you feel somewhat indebted, do not take this lightly. If you defeat me, a great reward will be yours.”

“...Understood.”

Not that he had any intention of going easy, but Seonghyun affirmed his understanding and gripped his sword.

The old elf looked at Seonghyun and felt a sense of incongruity.

“Hoh, I suspected as much seeing that skeleton knight fellow behind you... So you are indeed a necromancer.”

“Yes, that's right.”

“Here, all magic and skills are sealed; one can only fight with pure swordsmanship. Will that be alright with you?”

“Yes, that's fine. Please don't go easy on me out of pity.”

“Hoho. How amusing.”

The old elf said so, nodding his head.

‘To think he'd return my own words right back at me.’

‘Quite an interesting challenger.’

Whether he lost or won here, the old elf would be liberated.

However, he intended to savor this final moment, even if it meant burning his very soul.

Since the visitor he'd hardly dared to expect had appeared.

Seonghyun, on the other hand, felt his competitive spirit flare as he watched the old elf.

‘Will there be another time like this, where I face an enemy relying solely on swordsmanship?’

‘Unlikely.’

Seonghyun's character was, strictly speaking, an Overlord.

Helena had given him sword skill in the past, telling him to use them well, but they were merely secondary.

Therefore, Seonghyun intended to give his all in a match like this, one that relied purely on the sword.

‘Let's see the limits of swordsmanship.’

Thinking so, Seonghyun gripped his sword with all his might.

He watched with anticipation, wondering what kind of swordsmanship the old elf would use, and waited for him to approach.

Then,

“I shall go first.”

The old elf first slid his front foot forward as if gliding, then instantly pushed off with his back foot, rushing at Seonghyun as if sweeping across the floor.

‘Excellent footwork.’

He knew that rushing forward while maintaining such a low stance was considerably difficult.

However, Seonghyun, unfazed, watched the old elf, stepped back with his rear foot to create distance, and simultaneously prepared for an attack.

Sure enough, just as Seonghyun expected, the old elf swung his sword from a low stance, sweeping the ground.

The sword, low enough to touch the floor, then flew towards Seonghyun, soaring upwards like a dragon ascending to the heavens.

Watching that sword strike, which took the form of a dragon ascending to the heavens, Seonghyun felt it was a truly tricky technique.

‘If I try to block, its trajectory is too distorted to avoid taking damage, and if I try to dodge, it's considerably fast.’

‘I’ll use a different method.’

Therefore, Seonghyun swiftly twisted his body, kicked the flat of his sword in mid-air, and used the repulsive force to move away from that spot.

Chwaaaaaaa!

Leaving two long lines on the ground,

Seonghyun slid back, firming his stance as he was pushed away.

The old elf watched Seonghyun with considerable interest.

“Hoh?! To think you'd dodge that. Impressive indeed.”

The old elf praised him straightforwardly.

However, Seonghyun said to the old elf.

“You'll be even more surprised.”

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