Episode 30: Twilight Colosseum (2)
At the door, Son Tae-yeon and I stood awkwardly for a moment.
How do you even respond to this?
After an uncomfortable silence, she spoke first.
“Uh, is CEO Son Tae-ha here?”
“He’s out for a bit…”
“Oh! I see. Sorry to bother you.”
As she turned to leave, my body moved before my brain caught up.
“Don’t you have an appointment with CEO Son?”
“Oh, yes, that’s right.”
“He’ll be back soon. He stepped out for a contract. Wait inside if you’d like.”
“…Then I’ll take you up on that.”
Normally, I wouldn’t have stopped her.
But Son Tae-yeon is an adventurer from Radiance Guild, under the same parent company as Ascend.
She’s skilled, holding a high position in her guild.
Maybe I could snag some high-grade summons through her.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Oh Hyun-woo.”
“Oh! I’m Son Tae-yeon. Pretty busy these days, huh?”
“Not as busy as I expected.”
“Haha.”
Why is this so awkward?
Maybe if she hadn’t burst in with that bizarre tone…
Whatever, no need to dwell. Let’s talk business.
“Does Radiance deal in Legendary-grade summons?”
“Of course! We sell them on the premium market.”
“Could you check some listings for me? Here’s the list.”
“Sure, one sec… Is this the right list?”
Son Tae-yeon looked puzzled, and understandably so.
‘Black Priestess Meryl, Verdant Shadow Iris, Scholar of Balance Dorian, Flame Healer Ryuk’—all off-meta summons with mismatched attributes and roles.
She must be wondering what I’d use them for.
But how could a sparrow fathom the phoenix’s intent?
“Yes, that’s correct.”
With a skeptical nod, she checked the listings.
“There are some available. Want to buy?”
“Yes, and if possible, I’d like their gear and artifacts too.”
“Which artifacts?”
“Here’s the list.”
A detailed list of artifacts and top-tier gear for the strategy.
Son Tae-yeon read it, incredulous.
“I get the rest, but… 500 ‘Broken Holy Grails’?”
“Yes, 500.”
“What are you using them for…?”
“Enhancements.”
“…I can get them, but you know the cost won’t be cheap, right?”
“Put it on the company tab.”
‘Put it on the tab.’ What a glorious phrase!
Money, capitalism! I’m savoring economic freedom!
“…Kid, you’re gonna bankrupt your company,” Son Tae-yeon muttered.
I pretended not to hear.
What’s a little spending? I’ll make it back.
Bidding farewell to her uneasy expression, I stepped out of the office, clenching my fist.
‘Second team assembled!’
Without Radiance, this would’ve been tough.
Other major guilds wouldn’t sell to me, the guy eating into their profits.
‘Money and connections. Didn’t realize their value when I had none, but now? Unbeatable.’
Recalling my broke days brought a tear to my eye.
Once the summons arrive, I’ll start leveling them.
But first, a quick stop home.
I’m craving some home-cooked food.
***
It’s my first time home since summoning Caligo.
I wondered how my parents would react, knowing they’ve seen the news…
“Mom, your son’s home!”
“Oh, Hyun-woo! You’re here?”
Thankfully, they were just happy to see me.
“Perfect timing. We were about to have dinner.”
“Nice, home cooking! Let’s eat!”
“Wash up first. Hyun-ah! Your brother’s here!”
“Yeah, I heard,” my sister called from her room.
Hyun-ah, shouting without even coming out to greet me.
I considered cutting her allowance but held back.
She’s got a few free passes—she gave up school to support our sick family, the breadwinning little sister.
I’ll let her rudeness slide.
After washing up, the four of us had a cozy family dinner, a rare treat.
Back in middle school, I didn’t value these moments, but now they’re precious.
“Dad, how’s your health?”
“Much better. I even go for walks.”
“Good to hear. Don’t skip the hospital. I’ve sent money to Mom’s account.”
“Money? The last batch was enough!”
Enough? Hardly.
My sister’s back in school, appliances are breaking, hospital bills, living expenses—money’s always needed.
“Buy what the house needs. Replace the washing machine. Get a dryer too.”
“No way, that’s too much. Those are expensive.”
“That’s why I earn money.”
“Really okay?”
“Start shopping for models.”
“Thanks, son!”
Laughter filled the table.
Moments like this make me want to come home more.
“But, oppa, don’t you have something to say?”
Hyun-ah’s sharp question caught me off guard.
She pulled up a news article on her phone.
My parents looked curious too.
Finding out about their son through the news must’ve been a shock.
“You’re the unknown adventurer? Is this really you, oppa?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Wow, all that gaming as a kid finally paid off! I used to wonder what you’d become. Always yapping about the ‘Ebony Blade’ whenever you saw me—”
That little brat Hyun-ah, digging up my dark past!
I cut her off immediately.
“I joined a management company! Ascend, backed by Taepyeong Group.”
“Oh! So our son’s at a big corporation?”
“Not exactly a corporation, just well-funded.”
“That’s great! Wonderful news!”
I didn’t mention that the management company is basically mine.
No need to spill every detail to family.
Anyway, they celebrated me.
Seeing them so happy made me want to move them to a bigger house soon.
With Dad’s leg issues and no elevator, it weighs on me.
But even if it’s my company, using company funds for family feels legally and morally iffy…
‘Clear more, earn more! Company funds for growth, personal funds for filial piety!’
Buying summons or gear aligns with the company’s purpose—supporting its adventurer for society’s sake.
No one can argue with that.
With that self-justification, dinner wrapped up, and night fell.
As we gathered in the living room eating apples I’d brought, Hyun-ah threw out a random question.
“Hey, oppa-nim.”
Oppa-nim? What’s with the honorifics?
She’s up to something…
“What now?”
“If I awakened as an adventurer—”
“Dream on.”
“Let me finish!”
“I know what you’re gonna say. No way.”
“How do you know I wouldn’t be good at it?!”
What’s gotten into her to ask this?
Did she awaken or something?
Even if she did, my answer’s set.
“You? An adventurer? No chance.”
“Why not? I could be good. You could teach me.”
“Have you ever played a game?”
“Games? Minesweeper? Monopoly? Oh, I’ve played Jenga!”
This kid as an adventurer? Please.
“You’d need to be reborn.”
“Am I that bad? I’m smart, you know.”
“Not gaming smart. Do you even know what a turn, deck, efficiency, or percent damage is?”
“Stop with the alien lingo!”
Calling game terms alien language? Test over.
“Why ask? Did you awaken or something?”
“I was thinking about it, but some cruel sibling shut me down with facts!”
Grumbling, Hyun-ah stomped to her room.
…She didn’t actually awaken, right?
***
The next morning, Son Tae-ha called.
The summons and gear I’d requested had arrived.
I rushed to the office and received them, along with the skill-unlock resources.
First, I fully unlocked Black Priestess Meryl’s unique skills.
《Unlocked Black Priestess Meryl’s unique skill ‘Touch of Corruption’.》
《Unlocked Black Priestess Meryl’s unique skill ‘Sacrifice of Sin’.》
[Unique Skills]
Skill 1: Fervent Prayer
Description: When an enemy dies, restores 20% of all allies’ health.
A Legendary summon with a loose screw.
Healing’s only useful if timed right, but it triggers only on enemy kills!
That’s why I got her for half the price of other Legendaries.
Her second skill isn’t much better.
But her true value lies in her ultimate, Skill 3.
Skill 3: Sacrifice of Sin
Description: Reduces own health to 1 and enters Immortal state for a set time. Casts Focused Taunt on the enemy with the highest health, forcing them to attack only Meryl.
This is Meryl’s core skill!
The duration’s short, but pair it with the custom-ordered Broken Holy Grails?
【Broken Holy Grail】
Description: 5% chance on hit to reduce skill cooldown by 3%.
Activation Condition: Must possess a Legendary-grade *Holy Grail* artifact.
Low-grade artifacts like this have strict conditions, which is why they’re unpopular.
But I have the Legendary ‘Blood-Drinking Holy Grail’ I gave to Caligo.
And that’s not all!
《Using ‘Broken Holy Grail’ to enhance ‘Broken Holy Grail’.》
⁝
《Broken Holy Grail reached max level 20.》
【Broken Holy Grail LV 20】
Description: 50% chance on hit to reduce skill cooldown by 30%.
…Horrible enhancement odds!
I burned through nearly 500 grails, but 5% became 50%, and 3% became 30%.
This is more than enough!
‘No time to waste! Straight to leveling!’
Before the event starts, I need to get these new summons to a usable level!
***
Time passed since that resolve.
I climbed the Tower of Strife to Floor 70, and the Twilight Colosseum’s opening approached.
A message arrived from the Tower of Records for all adventurers.
「The Tower of Records announces: ‘Athenica, Wreathed in Ashes’ will appear as the boss of this ‘Twilight Colosseum’. Please check the app for details.」
‘…I haven’t finished leveling yet.’