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Chapter 162: Star, Level 50 (1)

‘Where are we…!’

The sudden storm made Cansio and the Ring Finger assassins look around their surroundings in confusion, but they couldn’t even open their eyes properly, and it was very difficult for them to stand still. The assassins with insufficient mana had already been blown away to a place where Cansio couldn’t even detect their presence anymore.

All they remembered was getting caught up in the storm that Chang-Sun created when they all pounced on him to kill him, so they couldn’t understand how they suddenly ended up in an Instance Dungeon. Although Dual Dungeons—a Dungeon inside a Dungeon—were occasionally found, they were rare since they were mostly created for a Hidden Quest. Hence, Cansio couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.

‘… Did he unlock the Child of the Prophecy’s secret?’ Cansio naturally reached one conclusion: Chang-Sun pulled a trick. ‘Even the Clan leader can’t do that yet, so how can Lee Chang-Sun?’

It hadn’t been long since Cansio and the other Crna Ruka assassins found out about the [Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan]—no, they didn’t even know why it was called that. They were simply following their Guardian’s prophecy, which was about a child carrying a special object that they had to retrieve. That was why the Crna Ruka members called Mireille Alinao the ‘Child of Prophecy.’ After a long pursuit, they discovered that she always carried something with her since she became a popular summoner two years ago.

The Clan members also knew that a certain Korean Clan had started to pursue the Child of Prophecy. Cansio was aware that Mireille’s secret was the iron ring, but he didn’t go after it to decrypt its secret. From what he had heard, even Mireille couldn’t use the ring’s power to the fullest and yet could control a very exceptional summon. Hence, the Crna Ruka members required her knowledge to learn as much of the ring’s secret as they could.

However, it looked like Cansio was wrong—no, he had actually already been wondering why the White Tiger Clan suddenly made a fuss and wanted to visit France. Considering one of their members immediately came to rescue Mireille, the White Tiger Clan had probably always wanted her and knew how to decrypt the ring. If so, then it was Cansio and his people’s fault for letting the ring end up in Chang-Sun’s hands. Or maybe…

‘The White Tiger Clan created Lee Chang-Sun as their secret weapon using those cryptical books or something…!’?Cansio thought.

Although Chang-Sun didn’t intentionally mislead Cansio, it was only natural for him to reach that conclusion since nobody could have expected that Chang-Sun planned all this. Regardless of their current circumstances, if Chang-Sun had truly decrypted the cryptical book, Cansio had to report this to their Clan leader.

However, he didn’t know how to get out of this Dungeon. The Dungeon Quest’s description normally popped up as soon as an Instance Dungeon opened up… but they received no message.

Woo―! Woooo―! Wooooo―!

The only things Cansio could hear were loud winds and horrible ghosts wailing from every direction. The endlessly blowing gusts of wind prevented him from seeing anything, much less guessing Lee Chang-Sun’s location. Did he lock them up here and run off somewhere?

Woosh!

Soon after, yellow stars jeweled the ceiling of the space one after another. Although the sight was beautiful, it was also suffocating for some reason.

[You have found the ‘Forgotten Starlight’!]

[The Celestial ‘Big Sick Bug’ marvels as he watches the old ‘Starlight,’ which disappeared, through his subordinate’s eyes.]

[The Celestial ‘Big Sick Bug’ smacks his lips, thinking he can shine as brightly as the Twenty-Eight Mansions if he swallows all that ‘Starlight.’]

[The Celestial ‘Big Sick Bug’ reveals his desire regarding the Instance Dungeon’s…]

The ‘Big Sick Bug’ continued to send messages about how beautiful the <Starlight> was, but Cansio and the Ring Finger assassins had all gone pale.

Celestials spoke to mortals by sending them messages or oracles instead of personally showing up before them. After all, they could kill the mortals just by standing next to them. Due to the difference in their Classes, Celestials subconsciously pressured and intimidated the mortals. In fact, in the presence of Celestials, even ‘Dukes’ and ‘Overlords’ would swiftly perish like the flames of a candle in the middle of a storm. Cansio and his people could feel one of those divine beings closing in on them.

[The Dungeon owner opens her eyes.]

[The Eon Wind is coming!]

Boom, boom, boom―!

Unable to withstand the pressure, the assassins eventually exploded one by one like fireworks. Although some of them could be considered rankers in the outside world, none of them were exemptions.

“N—!” Cansio managed to hold on a little longer, but he also got pulverized before he could finish what he was about to say.

[The Celestial ‘Big Sick Bug’ discontentedly clicks his tongue, wondering why all his subordinates are weak.]

As soon as Xue Yong frowned…

[The Boss Monster ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ has appeared!]

A long line was drawn in the sky, connecting the stars until it took the shape of a woman in the middle of a tornado.

* * *

[Commencing the Dungeon Quest!]

[Quest theme: Survival and Hunt.]

[You are currently under the Hohwan Mama’s powerful curse. The curse will activate every 72 hours, inviting you to the hidden plane ‘Wind Hell.’ ]

[‘Wind Hell’ was created right after the Big Bang, but all that remains in this plane is the <Forgotten Starlight> that was created over time. Run away as far as possible from her for a set amount of time every day and survive.]

[The Dungeon owner has to be taken out to completely undo the Hohwan Mama’s curse. Several weapons are hidden all over this Dungeon. Find and utilize them as you hunt down the Dungeon owner.]

[You will have access to your <Inventory>, <Status Window>, <Skill Window>, <Time Limit>, and <Performance Achievement>. Be sure to check them regularly.]

[Good luck to all participants.]

[Day 1 of the Dungeon Quest has begun.]

[Survive for twelve hours.]

[12:00:00]

[11:59:59:99]

[11:59:59:98]

…

The [Fifth Cryptical Book of Hsan] was not so different from the [Fourth Cryptical Book of Hsan] in that Chang-Sun had to clear the Dungeon Quests given by the cryptical books and collect the <Forgotten Starlight>. They also both activated at regular intervals and trapped Chang-Sun in an Instance Dungeon whenever they did. The one difference was that the [Fifth Cryptical Book of Hsan]’s curse had longer intervals in between activation, but it still couldn’t be called an advantage.

‘I can’t believe the Dungeon Quest wants me to kill a divine being.’?Chang-Sun shrugged.

Woosh!

[Your ‘Inferno Sights’ have lit up!]

By lighting up his Inferno Sights using [Stigma], Chang-Sun tried to somehow withstand the pressure that he was feeling from the being named ‘Wind-Hating Daughter,’ but even though he had met many Celestials, his current body still had limits.

While Minerva and Mephistopheles tried to be as considerate as possible when they met up with Chang-Sun, the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ seemed to have no intention of doing the same. Instead, she unsparingly revealed her power to intimidate Chang-Sun in an attempt to prove how great she was.

‘This is crazy. She’s using Eon Wind.’?Chang-Sun narrowed his eyes.

The divine being controlled the wind that was created whenever a plane or a universe met <Extinction>, so she was most likely a great being when she was still alive. Considering her shadow was already this strong, her true form had to be a lot stronger. Chang-Sun also had Eon Fire, which was similar to Eon Wind, but her wind was incredibly stronger than his fire due to the difference between their Classes.

‘I have to survive from that? I would have definitely died if I came here first instead of the Changgwi Cave.’?

The Changgwi Cave consisted of floors, so Chang-Sun could conquer them one by one. Meanwhile, ‘Wind Hell’ forced him to deal with a boss monster as soon as he entered it. What could he have done

『You’re quite skilled for a human. Even though I’m just a shadow, it would have still been impossible to survive my attacks. Hmm, I’m smelling the scent of the Pale Star, so maybe that’s it.』

The ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ still stood in the center of a tornado. Chang-Sun noticed her upper body was that of a beautiful woman yet her lower body was similar to a bird, resembling the mythical Harpy. After the being slowly glided down from the constellation, she arrogantly looked down on Chang-Sun.

Still, Chang-Sun couldn’t think of her as a Harpy because she was dozens of meters tall and had a strong Eon Wind that she could easily use to kill Chang-Sun. Regardless, Chang-Sun didn’t pay much attention to her appearance and instead focused on how hostile she was to him.

Even though this was the first time the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ had seen Chang-Sun, she was full of murderous intent toward him. She didn’t try to attack him right away, however, perhaps because of the ‘Pale Star’, whom the \'Wind-Hating Daughter\' had mentioned. That was the name that Minerva had used to refer to Mephistopheles.

It seemed she knew Mephistopheles very well and had detected the scent of <Darkness> when she saw Chang-Sun’s Inferno Sights.

[The Skill “Kalokagathia’ has been activated, forming a mental barrier!]

[The Skill ‘Kalokagathia’ has compared your selected enemy’s stat points to yours. The stat points where you’re inferior to them have been temporarily increased.]

[Your Strength has temporarily increased by ??.]

[Your Agility has temporarily increased by ??.]

…

When Chang-Sun felt like he had reached a level where he had a chance against her, he made his Inferno Sights bigger and more brilliant. “Do you know him?”

『Of course, I do. He’s the absolute resolve of our ‘Nyx,’ so it would be more strange if I didn’t know him.』

‘Nyx…?’?Chang-Sun narrowed his eyes, unable to understand what she meant.

Now that he had thought about it, the messages he had received during the fight between the ‘Gemini’ and Minerva mentioned Eros and Nyx.

『He’s a fragile being who has done nothing but wait, search, and chase for eons.』

Chang-Sun couldn’t understand what she meant, but he could tell that the one Mephistopheles was waiting, searching for, and chasing was the same person that Minerva knew. He also sensed that the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ feared—no, was terrified of Mephistopheles, an absolute being she was powerless against.

『If I didn’t smell the Pale Star from you, I would have killed you already.』

As her eyes gleamed with hostility, the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ spread her wings wide.

『It does not look like he’s protecting you, however. You are borrowing his power, but he is not your Guardian.』

As soon as she finished speaking, her gleaming eyes burned with madness.

『If so, then there should be no problem if I kill you!』

Chang-Sun wasn’t sure why the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ was antagonistic toward him, so he just assumed that she was innately hostile to the ‘Starlight Possessed’—like the Changgwis from the Changgwi Cave—since she was trapped in Wind Hell.

[The Title ‘Jigwi Incarnation’ has been applied!]

[A firestorm rages!]

Rumble!

Spreading the Jigwi’s wings, Chang-Sun covered the place with Eon Fire as he barely managed to push off the Eon Wind, which the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ used like a whip. At the same time, he summoned Jin Prezia and his subordinates one by one.

‘Jin!’

Pzzz―!

「 I seriously can’t believe what you always get entangled into! We have to fight a star’s shadow this time, huh? Hahaha!」

Jin grumbled in disbelief as he revealed himself. His eyes underneath his helmet sharpened despite what he said, becoming greedy when he noticed the energy of the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ wasn’t really any different from the Changgwis.’ His Class would instantly increase significantly if he could eat that.

Having the same thoughts, the other subordinates’ eyes also became sharp as they calmed their frightened Ghost Devil Horses. The Elfin Root, in particular, was already prepared to pounce at the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ at any moment.

『You arrogant bastards… Die!』

The ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ frowned in disbelief when she saw Chang-Sun and his subordinates preparing to kill her instead of running away. Gathering as much Eon Wind as possible, she transformed it into a whip and fiercely lashed it out. Although her current [Eon Wind Whip] wasn’t as strong as the one she used during the prime of her life, it was still the power that turned her into the <Apocalyptic Beast>.

Swish!

Using her whip, the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ tore the firestorm apart in one strike. She then dropped on top of Chang-Sun and the ghost army. Just as Chang-Sun and the soldiers simultaneously spread out and tried to get into the formation that they had talked about in advance…

Kiyooo?

Chang-Sun’s coat pocket suddenly shook, and Cadmus adorably stuck its head out.

“Cadmus? When did you…?” Chang-Sun dumbfoundedly mumbled. He thought Cadmus was in the outside world since he hadn’t seen it since he entered, but it seemed to have come with him. Telling Cadmus that it was dangerous now, Chang-Sun tried to push it back into his pocket.

Kiyoo!

[Your Subordinate ‘Cadmus’ drools, thinking it found tasty food!]

Cadmus’ eyes suddenly sparkled. It cutely opened its mouth, then shut it back down.

Swoosh!

When it did, the [Eon Wind Whip] that was flying toward Chang-Sun and his subordinates completely disappeared. The only thing they felt was a gentle breeze.

“…?”

「Huh?」

「What?」

Chang-Sun, Jin, and the Elfin Root’s eyes all widened. Even the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ couldn’t understand what just happened.

『What…?!』

Kiyoo―!

However, one thing was certain. Cadmus, who was happily howling and smacking its lips, had swallowed the [Eon Wind Whip].

[The ‘Inauspicious Heart’ decomposed the Eon Wind and absorbed a significant amount of mana, dramatically developing itself!]

[Current progress: 21.6%]

Only Chang-Sun vaguely knew what was going on.

Badump, badump, badump!

His heart raced like a crazy horse, and he could feel his blood quickly circulating.

[Your Subordinate ‘Cadmus’ opens its mouth again, saying it will give the Boss Monster ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ a present for the tasty food!]

.

[Your Subordinate ‘Cadmus’ has activated the Skill ‘Dragon Breath’!]

Woosh!

Cadmus playfully tilted its head backward and spat a small navy-blue fire. The fire swiftly became bigger, like a snowball rolling down a snow mountain, as it flew and hit the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter.’

Boom!

『Arggh!』

Half of the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ was blown away when Cadmus’ [Dragon Breath] hit her.

[Your Subordinate ‘Cadmus’ looks at the Boss Monster ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ and drools, thinking it has found a treat!]

Translator’s Thoughts

Ca…Cadmus…?