The 31st Piece Turns the Tables

Chapter 49

Seol was currently in Nobira’s Class Training Center.

It was a place that Seol would probably have to visit every time he took a Rest until his skills hit max level.

The Black Magic Training Center treated him quite poorly but Seol didn’t mind. He didn’t plan on staying in Nobira for a long time anyway.

“This way.”

“Okay.”

The woman led Seol into a pitch-black, windowless room.

Fortunately for Seol, they seemed to have been taking good care of the room as it didn’t smell at all.

Creak…

Click.

When the door closed, a glowing tree grew out in the dark space.

The first thing that caught Seol’s eyes was Shadow Summon which had hit level 3.

As expected from his core skill, countless branches were stemming from it.

Seol didn’t even give a glance to his other skills. He only focused on the branches stemming from Shadow Summon.

‘Since I only have 2 skill points… I could either learn a new skill or enhance a skill other than Shadow Summon…’

Even though Seol could learn a new skill right now, he was comfortable with the skills he already had.

Since Seol couldn’t learn any skills that would create a massive impact with just 2 skill points, he decided to push back learning a new skill for later.

[You enhance Passive: Enhance Summons.]

[You use 2 skill points.]

[Your summons’ stats increase by 10%.]

Since the previous level increased his summons’ stats by 5%, it was likely that this skill increased his summons’ stats by 5% with each increase.

For a skill that only took 2 skill points to enhance, it was quite a significant difference.

However, this also meant that his summons’ stats accounted for a large portion of Seol’s strength. Luckily for Seol, he had another way to supplement it as well.

[[Gallotta’s Tongue]

Quality: Treasure

Required Class: Shadow Summoner

Recommended Level: 14-23

Damage: 42

Durability: 68/68

Weight: 0.2kg

A treasure completed with the tongue of Gallotta, the pitch-black snake. The powers of the snake that emits shadows are imbued into this item. However, because Gallotta’s shadow venom has seeped into this item, there is a danger of the weapon poisoning its user.

Basic Effect: +22 Wisdom

Bonus Effect: Your Shadow Summons’ stats are increased by 15%. The chance Shadow Summon passes on a skill when used is increased by 20%. Every 6 hours, there is a certain chance the user becomes poisoned by shadow venom.]

A treasure that would increase his summons’ stats by an entire 15%.

The shadow venom was a problem, yes, but that was soon about to be an issue of the past.

Seol finished enhancing his skills and returned to the outbuilding.

Creak…

When Seol opened the door, what greeted him was the disgusting smell of the food he hadn’t finished cleaning yet.

He quickly cleaned up the scraps and picked up the large pot that had been on the fire. He then placed the pot on the table.

Inside the pot was the shadow venom’s antidote, or more accurately, a liquid that was pretty much the poisonous herb’s poison.

Seol placed Gallotta’s Tongue into it.

Fssss…

A black fog rose up from the pot.

Since even breathing in that fog could poison you, Seol opened up all of the windows and doors before stepping outside. He sat down in the garden right outside the outbuilding.

And after a few hours…

When Seol noticed that no smell was coming from his outbuilding anymore, he went inside to check the pot he placed on the table.

He washed off the poison in flowing water and dried Gallotta’s Tongue in the harsh sunlight.

- Excuse me, is this a housewife’s daily routine stream?

- Do you guys not know about combat resting?! You can’t just do nothing because it’s a holiday! Go and dry your blankets off, immediately!

Why does time always go slowly when you’re waiting for something?

Seol waited a few hours for Gallotta’s Tongue to completely dry.

And finally, the reaction he was waiting for came.

Gloooow…

The whip glowed in a black hue.

There had been a change.

Seol then lifted the whip.

[[Gallotta’s Tongue]

Quality: Treasure

Required Class: Shadow Summoner

Recommended Level: 14-23

Damage: 42

Durability: 68/68

Weight: 0.2kg

A treasure completed with the tongue of Gallotta, the pitch-black snake. The powers of the snake that emits shadows are imbued into this item. Gallotta’s venom, which once threatened the user, has now become a weapon for the user instead.

Basic Effect: +22 Wisdom

Bonus Effect: Your Shadow Summons’ stats are increased by 15%. The chance Shadow Summon passes on a skill when used is increased by 20%. A link can be created between the summoner and summon. When the linked summon lands a successful attack, there is a certain chance of poisoning the target with shadow venom.]

- Ahhh… this feels familiar…

- As expected from Gallotta’s Tongue…

- What the fuck LOL It can be used like that?

- Shadow venom is a poison that enters the nervous system in a short period of time, causing paralysis. It is rare to die from the poison itself, but… What the fuck is this poison?!!

- That sounds fucking broken LOL

- Why doesn’t he have to hit enemies with his whip to poison them??? Why does his summon get the effect?

- This item’s fucking disgusting…

- Full Moon Staff, good work. You don’t have to come out tomorrow though.

- ???: Huh? Sir? Why…

- Stop humanizing the weapons you’re making me feel bad haha

Seol wrapped Gallotta’s Tongue around his hand.

‘It’s definitely less eye-catching than the staff and more comfortable to carry around.’

Not only was the weapon lighter, but it was also much better than the staff at protecting himself in emergencies. Obviously, Seol’s individual damage was meaningless though.

As Seol held Gallota’s Tongue, the black energy grew thicker.

‘How much stronger did I get?’

For the first time in a long time, he examined himself.

‘I’ll start with myself first.’

[[Snowman]

Title: Peerless Item Owner and 9 others.

Race: Human

Level: 9

HP: 690/690

MP: 1320/1320

Unallocated Stats: 0

Strength 10(+17) Dexterity 10(+21) Constitution 18(+51)

Intelligence 18(+19) Wisdom 60(+80) Spirit 18(+24)

Talents: Cooking 1, Insight 1, Horseback Riding 1

Skills: Shadow Summon 3, Shadow Hand, Passive: Enhance Summons 2, Passive: Expand Shadow Space 1

Shadow Space: 800/1771]

Seol’s skills didn’t change too much from when he first created his character.

However, the change in stats was a world of difference.

Seol of course invested all of the unallocated stats he received into Wisdom and because of that, his character was right on track.

‘Space is definitely a huge help too.’

Thanks to Space increasing all of his stats by 15, even the stats he was supposed to ignore were still somewhat high.

‘My Constitution and Wisdom stats are monstrous though.’

Seol’s Wisdom was stupidly high, and his Constitution was high even for warrior-type class standards.

Seol checked through his stats one by one then confirmed his Shadow Space.

Even though Seol had both Jamad and Karuna right now, there was still as much space as the two combined left.

‘I think it really is time to acquire a new summon.’

Seol also took this time to check Karuna and Jamad’s stats.

[[Karuna, the Moonlight Knight]

Title: The One Who Cut the Mountain

Rank: Heroic

Race: Shadow

Level: 9

HP: 1130/1130

MP: 540/540

Unallocated Stats: 0

Strength 71(+35) Dexterity 66(+23) Constitution 76(+37)

Intelligence 42(+15) Wisdom 40(+14) Spirit 51(+18)

Talents: Dignity 1, Guard 1]

[[Jamad the Tyrant]

Title: Great Warrior of Yzmokan

Rank: Heroic

Race: Shadow

Level: 9

HP: 1310/1310

MP: 740/740

Unallocated Stats: 0

Strength 81(+35) Dexterity 48(+22) Constitution 91(+40)

Intelligence 61(+32) Wisdom 50(+24) Spirit 40(+19)

Talents: Troll Language, Shamanic Absorption]

Karuna had leveled up 8 times and Jamad had leveled up 6 times.

They had only leveled up a few times compared to the amount of stats they gained but this just meant that they were growing at a rapid pace.

- Is this really the same Shadow Summoner that we saw in the beginning… I’m almost tearing up…

- They can literally just stat-check anyone…

- Increasing your summon’s stats really is overpowered, huh…

- Percent Damage, Increased Damage, Percent Increase to Stats… this is broken!

- It’s hard to go on Adventures with stats like this too? What is wrong with the game’s balance LMFAO

- A world where you die if you’re weak! Only the strong will survive!

Most transferees would be in shock if they knew what Seol and his summons’ stats were.

Even if they were the same levels, because of the difference in equipment and titles, the gap between them would be immeasurable.

It was also the reason why Great White Shark was so one-sidedly ripped in half by Jamad.

“Fuuu…”

It took a lot of hard work to reach this point. He practically sprinted to this point without ever taking a break.

There were many moments where he was close to death and tons of situations where others would’ve given up if they were in his position.

But in the end, Seol was able to survive and did everything to his plan. Right now, in this moment, Seol was the victor.

‘Madness was also more important than I thought. I need to catch their attention to be stronger, is that right?’

Seol looked at the wolf head ring on his finger.

With his last purchase at the Madness Shop, Seol was able to acquire this ring, purify Gallotta’s Tongue, buy the Black Ghost’s Shroud, and make the Jelly From a Cloudy Day.

‘I guess I should try thinking like… I won’t be able to be ahead of the others if I only choose the normal methods?’

Luckily for Seol, he could definitely be more special than anyone else.

He was sure that Kodon, the god who sent him, also had the same expectations of him.

‘I should try to be louder from here on.’

Seol smiled, seeing the visible achievement right in front of him. He then left the outbuilding, knowing what he had to do next.

And when Seol left his outbuilding, a few people were secretly trailing after him.

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

It was dark out. People were gathered in a secret location.

Their leaders, Kibo and Shur, managed them.

“Is everyone here?”

“Yes! And no one trailed us either!”

“There’s a lot of you.”

Kibo thought it was a blessing that Shur even showed up.

Kibo worried about what would happen if Shur decided to side with Heka and Doju but thanks to his swift actions, Shur stayed resolute.

“Today’s the day,” said Shur.

“...Today is the day.”

“Yeah, we can’t continue this uncomfortable coexistence forever.”

“I-Is it really going to be alright when Heka and Doju’s factions have more people?”

“We’re stronger individually. There’s also no one on Heka’s side who knows how to use their head.”

After that, the two parties talked about their plans.

“No, we’ll lose if we do that. We have to hit Doju first.”

“You must be out of your mind! Do you think Heka would just sit still? Heka’s faction is much stronger!”

“Doju’s faction has quite a number of dangerous people, though. We’re at a bigger disadvantage if they’re the ones who we hit second.”

Mira let out a big sigh.

The ruin hunter factions in Nobira were about to face each other in an all-out battle tonight.

If someone asked Mira why they couldn’t just coexist, she would think they were fools.

‘We’ll die if we get pushed back from here.’

Whichever faction ended up being the stronger, smarter faction would rule all of the ruin hunters in Nobira.

“Fuuu…”

She couldn’t calm down.

It felt like someone was walking on a tightrope right on top of her heart.

She could feel better if she relaxed and eased her tension, but she could do something like that before the battle was over.

She also knew that Kibo only made this decision because many other transferees, excluding her, also agreed to participate. The transferees were trying to stop Heka’s wicked acts.

Mira was thankful for the transferees though.

The force that they gathered today was probably the best they could do.

‘The ruler of Noibra will be decided tonight. Concentrate, Mira. You have to protect Kibo,’ thought Mira.

But then…

BAM!

“Gasp… Gasp… Kibo, Shur…”

The heated atmosphere instantly cooled down the moment one of the faction members bursted through the door.

“What is going on?!” shouted Kibo.

When Kibo shouted, the person took a deep breath before continuing,

“Gasp… Heka’s faction made a move. Th-there’s a fight in the bar on 3rd Street! Well, to be more precise, it hasn’t happened yet, but…”

“A fight? With who? Everyone’s here though?”

“W-Well… I didn’t get a good look but it was a man with golden eyes who had a dangerous aura about him…”

Kibo understood what that meant right away and let out a howl.

He didn’t need to think long to realize that the person who was fighting Heka was Snowman, the person he traded with.

The mysterious man who helped him… he was aiming for this.

“We’re immediately going to send the main force to hit Doju! Mira!”

“Yes!”

“I want you to go to 3rd Street with Jirmo and a handful of other members! If it’s him, I’m sure he’s still hanging in there!”