The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

At the northern entrance of Hwigeltong.

"Yawn~!"

"You're sleepy because you ate too much!"

"Ishi, you don't get it! Animals that hibernate need to fill their stomachs with food!"

"I don't want to know something like that…"

"You should! I do hibernate."

While Ishi and Yeva were chattering, Seol was lost in thought.

'Seven months… It looks like going back early is out of the question.'

Even if he wanted to return now, it would be already too late.

The Dragon War would have probably been resumed, and Seol had no means of intervening in it.

He could only hope Seol Hong and her companions did their best.

'But how did I end up asleep for over half a year?'

He wondered if, instead of simply falling asleep, the Barrier Stone’s explosion somehow sent him flying forward in time.

- Oh, you're awake.

'Ur?'

A welcome voice greeted Seol.

He was worried he might have lost all his summons, just like the first time he arrived in the East when Ur spoke to him.

- After the explosion, you'd been asleep at the boundary.

'So that's why I didn't freeze to death…'

- If you'd fallen on the snowy field directly, you might have woken up sooner. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

Seol tested his energy flow by clenching and unclenching his palm.

Swoosh…

"Hmm?"

Ishi quickly turned his head toward Seol.

While feigning ignorance, Seol asked him, "Is there anything wrong?"

"No… It's nothing."

Puzzled, Ishi tilted his head.

Seol continued talking with Ur.

"What about Karen…?"

When he sent out his energy, he sensed a response from Jamad but not from Karen. It was as if she didn't exist in the Shadow Space.

- She returned to the Void.

As expected.

'Why?'

- For growth. She's going through the process of organizing the newly obtained energy from her rank increase.

Upon hearing that, Seol recalled what had happened before.

'That's right. Karuna also went through this once.'

Karuna had also fallen asleep like this before they reached Yognatun Volcano.

Back then, he could roughly guess how long it would take, but not this time. It seemed Karen would need a lot of time to get the strength suitable for a Supreme rank.

'Well, I should be safe as long as Jamad's around. But… there's something I must check.'

Seol looked around.

The items he obtained this time radiated a strange energy, which could cause problems if someone were around.

Swoosh…

"I'm going out for a bit."

"Huh? You're going out?"

"Are you running away…? You don't like us, right?"

Ishi and Yeva looked sad.

Seol waved his hand and said, "I'm picking up some ingredients for breakfast. I'll take a look around nearby."

"Then, let's go together. Yeva, get up…"

"No. I also thought I'd take the chance to clear my head."

"Hmm… Do you have a cigarette?"

"I don't smoke. It's okay."

"Ishi, what a surprise. To offer him a treasure like a cigarette?"

"We've eaten a lot, so it's only fair to give something back, isn't it?"

"Ah… You're right."

"I'm saying this so you hear it, Yeva."

"That's not a thing in Russia."

"Are you sure?"

"In my neighborhood, at least…"

Ishi scratched his head.

"You're helping us again. What should I do?"

"It's okay. I've found a place to rest, thanks to you."

"Yes. Tomorrow, we're going to join you. Once the supply lines resume, we're going to repay our recent debts, too."

Seol shrugged his shoulders and stepped outside.

Whoosh…

The viewers laughed while watching him.

- Is this the stream that has been restored after 7 months?

- Yes.

- But what is he doing now?

- He's sneaking off to the restroom to eat a choco pie secretly.

While feeling the cold air flow through his lungs, Seol stepped out.

After making a small marker to use as a reference, he moved to the center of the snowy field.

Whoosh…

'I can understand why the North has such a bad reputation. An ordinary person wouldn't last a day here.'

Ishi and Yeva, who were dispatched here, were most likely among the strongest of the transferees, which was why they managed to endure and survive this cold.

Seol rested his chin on his hand and fell into thought.

'Hwigeltong… What a coincidence.'

He encountered the Frostmaw Tribe at the Library of All Knowledge. He thought he was done with them, yet he somehow found himself close to them again.

Two options popped into his mind: one was to head straight toward Khan, and the other was to stop by certain places along the way to gain strength.

'I'm already late… so it might be fine to take my time…'

If he decided to go to Khan through a safe route, he should be able to get to Seol Hong sooner. But then, he wouldn't be able to recover the growth that had been postponed.

'I haven't made any progress in over half a year.'

The other transferees might have gotten much stronger in the meantime.

'Maybe they caught up…'

If so, it couldn't be helped. Seol was the type of person who quickly moved on from matters he couldn't solve.

If the other transferees had gotten close to him, then he would just have to plan things to make sure he surpassed them even faster.

'First, let's check what I got…'

Seol opened the loot he got by defeating Yaksha.

As expected, this reward was a brilliantly shining Platinum Box. This was the second time he got a Platinum Box after the Library of All Knowledge.

[You are very wise.]

[Your high wisdom instantly comprehends the mechanism of the lock.]

[Infusing mana into the lock will release it.]

Creak…

[Checking Yaksha's memento.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have received a skill point.]

[You have received a skill point.]

[Affluent’s Bonus Effect activates.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[Sly Blood-Hue Snake activates.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[Someone Better’s Bonus Effect has activates.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have obtained Wonder: Yaksha.]

[You have obtained Broken Smile's Gauntlets.]

[You have obtained Whetstone of the Clear Swamp..]

[You have obtained Broken Conscience's Belt.]

[You have obtained Windbreaking Cloak.]

[You have obtained 52 Platinum Coins (Khan).]

[You have obtained 2 Unknown Keys.]

[You have obtained 3 Frost Resting Place's potion.]

…

Seol first inspected Yaksha, which was emanating a mysterious energy.

[[Yaksha]

Quality: Wonder

Recommended Level: None

Damage: Unknown

Durability: Unknown

Weight: Unknown

An ancient sword that has led many swordsmen down a bloody path. Its paired mask has been destroyed, so it can no longer cause mental contamination. However, the engraved swordsmanship skills were lost. Due to a side-effect of the mask's destruction, Yaksha cannot remember itself.

Basic Effect: Unknown

Bonus Effect: Unknown]

"Sigh…"

- Here we go, another unknown!

- Why does this keep happening? It's unknown!

- I can't help but laugh at the analysis posts that have been posted over the past six months lol.

- It's unknown why I wasted time on that nonsense!

The information was locked.

He wondered if he shouldn't have destroyed Yaksha's mask.

'No. I wasn't planning to use it anyway.'

No matter how strong Yaksha's sword was, he had no intention of holding and wielding it himself. The sword that pushed Yoo Hyun into the depths of despair should never be wielded by anyone anymore.

Of course, this didn't mean he would keep it buried inside his inventory.

Gulp…

Agony was looking at Yaksha while drooling.

He hadn't appeared while Ishi and Yeva were around. But now, it was looking down at Yaksha from Seol's shoulder.

"Are you hungry…?"

[My stomach feels a bit empty…]

"All of a sudden?"

[It isn't because of this. Hmm… Or I don't think so.]

Despite Agony saying that, it couldn't take his eyes off the sword. It had been a while since Agony, who used to be a Demonic Spirit, craved for blood.

It seemed that hunger had since transformed into the drive for growth, and now he couldn't hide his desire whenever he encountered something that could help him grow.

[Maybe it's because of this…? I think it might be hard to digest…]

"Can you even eat it…?"

[The only things Agony can't eat are eggplants and lotus roots. I could probably even eat a piece of metal.]

"Then, do you want to try it?"

Agony hesitated for a moment before licking it.

[Oh…! It has a curious flavor…]

"Can't you chew it?"

[I think I might get a stomach ache if I did.]

"Then eat it slowly."

[Okay!]

- To think we would be here, watching someone lick a blade…

- It fits!

- It looks like he's holding a lollipop and licking it, hahaha.

- Yaksha, covered in saliva: Just… kill me… please…

A response came immediately.

[Agony starts consuming Wonder: Yaksha.]

…

He waited a bit, but there was no further change.

Perhaps Agony needed to consume Yaksha for any effect to manifest fully.

'There's no need to rush, so…'

Next was another item.

[[Broken Smile's Gauntlets]

Quality: Treasure

Recommended Level: 40 ~ 48

Defense: 190

Durability: 170/170

Weight: 1.0kg

A gauntlet with a disturbing smile etched on it. Despite its odd appearance, it boasts a stable defense.

Basic Effect: Strength +30, Agility +24, Constitution +33

Bonus Effect: Your defense increases by 10% while wearing full armor.]

'Oh…'

It had good options, considering it was a pair of gauntlets. Seol decided he would give these to either Karuna or Karen once they returned.

'A Knight's defense is overwhelming compared to other classes… so these are excellent.'

He felt more satisfied with the gauntlets than with Yaksha, which he didn't know how good it was.

While feeling good, he moved on to the next item.

[[Whetstone of the Clear Swamp.]

Quality: Treasure

Recommended Level: None

Weight: 3kg

Bonus Effect: Restore a blood-stained weapon's blade to its original state. Although the durability is unknown, it seems it can be used multiple times.]

'Even a whetstone… This is great.'

The Whetstone of the Clear Swamp.

Those with jobs that wield weapons are often forced to kill while on an Adventure. Not everyone they kill is truly an evil individual.

Eventually, whether it's an object or a person, they end up in a Soaked Blood state. If this state persisted over a long period of time, not only would the state of their weapon worsen, but it could also end up in one's fall.

This was most likely what happened to Yaksha.

'For now, I have some leeway, but you never know.'

Adventures made you face clear enemies and go through trials. But there were situations where good and evil weren't that obvious, like when he needed to clash with other transferees.

Whetstone of the Clear Swamp would help reduce these kinds of worries for him.

Next was Broken Conscience's Belt and Windbreaking Cloak.

The cloak had options related to Agility and a Bonus Effect that seemed well-suited for an assassin, making it tricky to use.

'I'll put this aside.'

He would either store it or sell it later on.

[[Broken Conscience's Belt]

Quality: Treasure

Recommended Level: 44 - 50

Defense: 120

Durability: 130/130

Weight: 0.1kg

A belt engraved with a suspicious face whose expression changes constantly.

Basic Skill: Intelligence +25, Wisdom +25, Constitution +45

Bonus Effect: The belt displays a pained expression when your Constitution drops below 30%. In that state, gain a defensive shield equal to 100% of your Constitution that lasts for 20 seconds. If the shield isn't destroyed within that time, you recover 20% of the shield's Constitution.]

'Is it really a Treasure?'

- Is this really a Treasure?

- Shouldn't it be Wonder?

- It's a wonder why this is considered a Treasure, hahaha.

- The options are limited, hahaha. Although it's too overpowered;

- They have no shame.

The belt looked like it would be useful in critical situations.

Since he'd secured the basic options across the board, collecting options like this that could create variables would be crucial for Kang Seol's future growth path.

[Jamad, the Great Shaman, equips Broken Conscience’s Belt.]

He gave it to Jamad, of course.

Next, he checked the titles.

[[Inaugural Title: Supreme Stage]

Related Achievement: A Great Step Forward (Adventure: None)

Bonus Effect: Charm +50, Dignity +50. You can perfectly conceal your power.]

[[Inaugural Title: Artifact Destroyer]

Related Achievement: If I Can't Have It, I'm Going to Destroy It (Adventure: None)

Bonus Effect: Ignore most of the stringent restrictions engraved on relics.]

Both had excellent options befitting inaugural achievements. The ability to conceal power meant he could avoid revealing himself, and ignoring a relic's restrictions meant that he now had access to a wider range of items.

'Does this also apply to armor?'

He attempted to equip the newly obtained gauntlets, but it seemed that his hope was in vain. This type of gear wasn't applicable.

'But still, it's pretty good.'

The higher an equipment's rank, the more restrictions they tended to have.

'This isn't a bad haul at all.'

Seol decided to think positively.

After all, he managed to survive and gained excellent rewards.

Although he was still far from Seol Hong, he would eventually reach her if he kept walking.

"Although it will take another half a year, but… You little!"

Creak…

Creak!

A fox had been grabbed by Seol's shadow hand. Unfortunately for the fox, it was now destined to become tomorrow's breakfast.

"I'm sorry."

Crack…

After giving the snow fox a quick death, Seol headed back to the outpost.

- Seol.

As Jamad talked to him, Seol stopped.

'You can feel it too, right?'

- Yes, there are traces.

Someone had come to the outpost—no, it was more than one.

Swoosh…

Seol melted into the surroundings like a creeping fog to observe the situation.

- They're gone.

Seol returned to the outpost to confirm the traces.

Ishi and Yeva were gone.

"There are no signs of resistance. Which means…"

- They were either allies or their number was so overwhelming that they couldn't think of resisting.

"It's probably the latter."

Seol's senses were far beyond a human's. By observing the remaining traces, he could roughly piece together what had happened here.

- Who do you think it was?

Seol grinned at Jamad's question.

"That's something we're going to find out soon."

This was Seol's first adventure since the great battle against Yaksha.