Episode 34: The Young King
It was pure coincidence running into the strategy team at the Tower of Strife.
Just another day—finishing a clear, checking rewards, monitoring market prices, and inspecting gear from the management company.
Then, I bumped into the major guild alliance team at the Tower’s entrance.
‘Ugh, I should’ve kept my temper in check.’
Normally, I wouldn’t have bragged about my progress or plans for tomorrow.
I prefer letting results speak, not showing off.
Getting into pointless fights just makes things messy.
But seeing the pathetic performance of the so-called “major guild alliance” made my blood boil.
‘Still stuck at Floor 96? What a joke.’
I didn’t even ask about their clear time—it was obviously abysmal.
Their incompetence, combined with their history of information control, pissed me off.
So, I let it slip.
[Unknown Adventurer Declares Floor 90 Clear?]
[Major Guild Alliance’s Struggles: Are the People to Blame?]
The rumors are already spreading.
Talk of a major guild meeting, their backs against the wall.
They’re probably obsessed with the “Korea’s first Tower clear” title.
More interested in the glory than preventing a dungeon break.
Clinging to meaningless fame—what a pity.
Lost in these thoughts, Hertia’s shout snapped me back.
《Verdant Shadow Iris’s attack misses.》
“Pathetic.”
“E-excuse me?!”
“Blessed by our Master, yet still fumbling with a bow? Do you wish to die?”
“N-no, that’s not it!”
“The first to stand atop this Tower must be our Master, Lucifer! Absolutely!”
…I’m not exactly obsessed with being first, but Hertia seems to feel differently.
Lucifer never tolerated second place, so I guess she expects the same.
Even when I rest at home, Hertia and Caligo occasionally manifest to ask about plans.
They can only sense threats to me when not summoned.
I share rough plans and show them public reactions—like my feats with Balg or the Twilight Colosseum.
- At last, this dimension’s fools recognize our Master’s greatness!
That’s their take.
They rambled about me monopolizing worship, making everyone else irrelevant.
‘…Wait.’
Isn’t the first-clear title kind of a big deal?
I forgot!
Right now, I’m with the Seven Sins, Lucifer’s devotees.
If I fail to claim the first Floor 100 clear…
‘Damn it, I’ll get killed by these two if I don’t hurry!’
There’s only one solution: climb to Floor 100 fast.
Thanks to Hertia and Caligo’s enthusiasm, I cleared Floor 90.
《Cleared Floor 90 of the Tower of Strife: Engineering of Despair.》
《Unbelievable record!》
《Time taken: 1 hour, 48 minutes, 21 seconds.》
《New record for clear time ranking: 1st place.》
《Clear grade: SSS》
《New record for clear grade.》
But as the clear time shows, blazing through like before is getting tough.
Variables like Karmar’s interference have spiked the difficulty.
To break through, it’s time to recruit the next Seven Sins member.
‘The problem is avoiding prying eyes.’
That’s the issue.
I’ve gotten a bit too famous.
The management company and government are shielding my info and restricting access, but…
‘I can’t rely on that and act recklessly.’
Last night’s message might be the key.
「Adventurer Management Association Notice: A massive mana surge has been detected near the birch forest in Inje County. This area is suspected to be the site of the upcoming episode update. Please refrain from visiting.」
Yeah, that place should be deserted.
I packed my gear and headed to Inje County.
***
Episode 8: Return of the Elf Legion.
Inje County, pegged as the update’s location, has been neglected since the Cataclysm, with crumbling infrastructure and poor security.
Even leaving early morning, I didn’t reach the forest until after 2 p.m.
‘Definitely signs of a mana surge.’
The forest looked nothing like Korea’s usual scenery.
Not the lush, fantasy-like “elf forest” you’d expect.
The towering trees were withered, rotting, devoid of life.
I’ve seen this before—Hertia turned an elf forest into this.
So, the Elf Legion likely isn’t the typical elves we imagine.
Especially if it involves the World Tree—they’re always like this.
I scanned for people nearby.
Better safe than sorry.
Someday, I’ll reveal I’m handling “villains,” but not yet.
‘I need to show more results first.’
Until people trust my achievements and potential over the power I wield, I can’t expose the Seven Sins.
Something’s been bugging me since the Twilight Colosseum.
I’ve felt odd stares now and then.
It sounds like something out of a comic, but…
‘Ever since the ‘Dawn Star’s Remnant’ reached Stage 1, something’s been happening to my body.’
I’d better prepare for it.
Late at night, I slipped into the birch forest to avoid prying eyes.
The howls of wild animals echoed, but I wasn’t scared.
If anything, I was more nervous about what might show up this time.
First, I checked the status of the ‘Apocalypse Summoning Book’.
[Current Inherited Legacy]
▶ 2/7
[Points Needed for Next Legacy]
▶ 0/2,000 pt
Offer lower-grade summon tickets as sacrifices to earn points.
I needed 2,000 points for the next villain summon.
Luckily, I had enough tickets to cover it.
But an unexpected twist hit.
After sacrificing 100 high-grade tickets—
《High-grade summon tickets will no longer be converted into points.》
“What?”
There was a quota by grade?
I had to burn through rare and hero-grade tickets to meet the requirement.
‘That’s about 170 million won at market price. I thought high-grade tickets would keep it under 100 million.’
Sure, I’m past the point of sweating over money.
It’s worth it for a Seven Sins member.
But the cost for the fourth one is starting to scare me.
《Apocalypse Summoning Ticket granted.》
The familiar message appeared, listing the remaining legacies.
[Legacy List]
Siren of the White Valley, Ruinbringer (Dark)
Priestess of Defiance, Marena (Light)
Lord of the Skies, Ariel (Light)
Black Prince Theo (Dark)
Immaculate Lion, Lucevar (Light)
Any of them would be a powerhouse.
But since Hertia and Caligo are both Dark attributes, a Light attribute would balance things out.
I’d prefer Ruinbringer or Theo don’t show up.
With a deep breath, I tore the ticket.
Rip.
《You inherit one of the legacies left by the Rebel of the Dawn Star.》
The torn ticket burned in the air, and pitch-black darkness spread around me, blotting out even the moonlight.
Jingle!
A chilling bell rang from the void.
‘Oh, crap.’
My brow furrowed instinctively.
Jingle!
With another bell, the new summon appeared.
A boy wearing a dazzling golden crown and holding a black scepter adorned with ornate bells and tassels.
Despite his slight frame and black cotton robes, he carried the dignity of a king.
His sharp eyes slowly met mine, piercing through me.
“You summoned me?”
“Yes.”
He tilted his head and gave a mocking chuckle.
“Your head’s held high. Pay for that insolence with your life.”
Yup, familiar.
This is the third time I’ve dealt with this nonsense.
《Black Prince Theo breaks the summoning contract and attacks the summoner!》
At that moment—
《Witch of the Apocalypse Hertia manifests of her own will!》
《Liberator of Death Caligo manifests of his own will!》
“Master!”
“Sage, are you alright?!”
They must’ve sensed Theo’s killing intent.
But this wasn’t good—especially since it’s Black Prince Theo.
“Return at once, Hertia! Theo!”
I urgently ordered them back, but—
“Hertia. Caligo. You’ve betrayed him!”
Theo, enraged, thrust his scepter at me.
Hertia stepped in front, likely trying to use Hertia’s Law, but…
“Stop, Theo! This is—”
“Hertia, your sorcery can’t stop me.”
Jingle!
《Theo’s Skill 1, Absolute Sovereignty, activates.》
《Theo is immune to Slow.》
Hertia’s skill failed, and as Theo’s scepter surged toward me, Caligo blocked it.
“Haha! Leave it to me—wait…”
Caligo’s words trailed off as he bowed his head.
《Absolute Sovereignty’s second effect, King’s Command, activates!》
《Liberator of Death Caligo obeys Black Prince Theo’s orders.》
Theo stole Caligo.
‘Damn it. This just got messy.’