Chapter 85

"It's the Baal Helmet."

"Helmet...? Isn't it more like a black goat mask?"

"It looks that way on the surface."

Though named a helmet, it is closer to a mask.

However, the wearing experience is surprisingly good.

It is so light that you don't even notice you're wearing it, and the ventilation is excellent.

One of the two Mythic-grade artifacts I chose from the survival rewards is this Baal Helmet.

【Baal Helmet (Ultimate Mythic)】

- A helmet worn by 'Baal,' one of the 'Four Fiends' who once struck fear into the world.

- 'Curse Enhancement': Enhances curse-type skills.

- 'Ultimate Curse': Maximally enhances one curse-type skill.

- 'Inheritor of Curses': Increases MP by 10 when using curse-type skills (non-stackable).

- 'Reverse Side of Curses': Increases all skill proficiencies by 50%.

- Permanent effect when equipped.

- Bound.

- Equipment Restriction (1): Must have the title 'Completer of Mythic'.

- Equipment Restriction (2): All stats must be 90 or higher.

- Set Equipment (1/3).

- Performance is enhanced when used with Baal Armor.

- Performance is enhanced when used with Baal Talisman.

Could anyone resist choosing this after reading the description?

Each line is a realm of beauty. There's not a single option that can be discarded.

The biggest reason I chose the Baal Helmet is 'Reverse Side of Curses'.

50% increase in proficiency!

"It's not addition, but multiplication. It has synergy with Dexterity."

The hidden characteristic 'Dexterity' doubles the proficiency increase rate.

When combined with the 50% increase from the helmet, it results in a threefold efficiency.

It's hard not to exclaim in amazement.

It's a crazy helmet that creates a fantastic synergy with Dexterity.

Considering that Shatiros' Curse was stackable but had no other significant functions, this is a completely different level of equipment.

It was essential for achieving an overwhelming performance in the next main quest.

Moreover, it looks like a 'goat'.

"The Silver Fox Mask said to wear the Golden Goat Mask, but this should be fine."

Whether it's a golden goat or a black goat, they're all goats, aren't they?

This is perfect for heading to the empire where the Cult of Death is located.

The other performances were also excellent.

For a curse-type class, this set is something you'd risk your life to obtain.

It even increases MP by 10, which is a remarkable value for a single piece of equipment.

Furthermore, for a curse-type class, skill proficiency is crucial, and there is no other equipment that increases proficiency by 50% except for unique-grade items.

If you level up the piece, this performance will be enhanced even further.

It remains active even when transformed into the King of Crows due to the permanent effect.

And the King of Crows uses curse-type skills.

Most importantly,

"Baal Armor, Baal Talisman. I have a good idea where both are. The Mountain of Practitioners and the Empire!"

One is in the 'Mountain of Practitioners'.

Why does the Baal Helmet increase proficiency? It subtly hints at a connection to the Mountain of Practitioners.

I have a good idea where the Baal Talisman, which is likely sleeping in the Mountain of Practitioners, is located.

And the Baal Armor is definitely in the Empire.

Coincidentally, both places are where I need to go anyway.

"Collecting all three pieces of the Baal set will result in performance exceeding the unique-grade."

I honestly struggled a lot with the Pureblood Design.

However, even if I had the design, I couldn't immediately create it, and the time to gather materials would be too long.

There's no guarantee that I'll have such good luck again, and I might not be able to obtain it at all.

In such a gamble, a piece of equipment that can immediately make me stronger is much better.

"Simply being named after Baal is a cheat."

Of course, the Baal Helmet itself is excellent enough to offset any concerns.

The performance of the remaining Baal pieces will be enhanced as soon as they are obtained.

Considering the extreme leveling, this set is a ray of light for me.

Moreover, collecting all three pieces will result in performance exceeding the unique-grade. Reading the records of Baal, one of the Four Fiends, gives an idea of the status when completed.

The Four Fiends were the biggest headache for the old empire.

The old empire's downfall is said to be a collaboration between the Four Fiends and the destruction, indicating their absolute status.

"The old Four Fiends are like the current Hundred Kings."

The White King of the North and the Black King of the South.

The Four Fiends were notorious, or even more so, than these two.

I smiled slightly and reread the MP option of the Baal Helmet.

"Conditional MP increase. 10 can surpass the 100 MP threshold."

I didn't choose it just for the proficiency option.

A single piece of equipment that increases MP by 10.

Even with the condition, a 10 MP increase can surpass the 100 MP threshold!

"I have no regrets about choosing the Baal Helmet and the Uroboros Mark."

I am very satisfied.

I can give up the unique-grade design, but I can't give up the named star.

Especially a named star that has never appeared before.

Uroboros.

Isn't it a name that stimulates a man's sense of adventure?

Rushing water!

"Ah! Heir?!"

Isaac was shocked again.

It couldn't be helped.

I was suddenly pouring the holy water of the Holy Grail over the head of the Holy Maiden.

"Ugh."

Soon, the Holy Maiden Seoah groaned and opened her eyes.

Even after pouring the holy water, her eyes were still red.

However, the minor lingering effects of the curse must have completely disappeared.

The Holy Maiden Seoah said,

"Who are you?"

It's natural that she doesn't recognize me.

"Randolph. The Heir of the Knight King."

But what about Wilhelm?

If she is the real Holy Maiden Seoah, she can't help but react.

"The Heir of the Knight King... What is that?"

...Huh?

The reaction is far from what I expected.

She doesn't just not know; she asks what it is.

It's not a fake reaction.

Could the memories related to Wilhelm be completely erased?

I asked, feeling something was off.

"Do you remember who you are?"

"Me?"

The Holy Maiden Seoah blinked.

Then, pointing at herself with her finger,

"I am... who? Ah...! Why is my neck and head so painful?"

She doesn't remember who she is.

But... her neck and head hurt?

I looked at Isabella.

"!!!"

At the same time, Isabella's eyes began to shake as if an earthquake had struck.

*

After a while of chaos.

I summarized the current situation positively.

Although she has lost her memory, I have obtained a Holy Maiden with her abilities intact.

"Rather than worrying about brainwashing, it's better to have amnesia."

I removed the mysteries and curses hidden by the Demon King, but the last thing is brainwashing.

I can't remove brainwashing with the mysteries and the Holy Grail I have.

I shouldn't think that the Demon King simply left behind remnants of hostility and curses and sent the Holy Maiden to the labyrinth.

There's a high possibility that he brainwashed her to perform specific actions under certain conditions.

For example, if she meets the Goddess Cult or Holy Knights, she might join them and attack people.

"If I were the Demon King, I would definitely plant seeds related to the Goddess Cult."

The Demon King must have thought what I thought.

"Can we... go through here?"

The Holy Maiden Seoah looked at the red warp in front of her and said.

"Yes."

"The warp is used to move between cities on the continent... Huh! The explanation is floating in my mind."

"It's knowledge you already knew."

"Oh, I see. But... it feels ominous. This warp seems different from what I knew."

We are in front of the warp.

To be precise, we are looking at the warp created by 'The Abyss Itself' for the purpose of corruption.

Although the corruption has stopped, the warp that Hell stopped remains.

It's the warp connecting to Earth.

A warp that emits a strong aura, enough for the Holy Maiden to say it feels ominous.

'A warp created solely for corruption.'

It's clearly different from other warps.

It feels similar to the dimensional warp that Ahram set up for the first invasion.

'The probability is fifty-fifty.'

We can either go through or not.

If we can go through, the Holy Maiden can heal Oliver's heart.

Both Hudson in Pangea and Oliver on Earth are important talents.

'I can't run the labyrinth city alone.'

Isabella and Isaac are not suitable for city management.

If I want to run the labyrinth city in the future, I need his help.

The only person I can trust to manage the city in my absence.

Hudson is a man who built a casino with his name in the Golden City solely through his business acumen. He could have easily become a city councilor if his level was just 10.

At least his ability to manage money and grow it is certain. His skills in running the largest casino are also not to be underestimated.

If we can't go through the warp, we need to find another way.

'Can we go through?'

And what I'm more curious about is whether this body, Randolph, can go to Earth.

As far as I know, no player character has ever directly gone to Earth.

But is it possible with this special warp?

'The warp left by The Abyss Itself. It's worth challenging.'

A warp that triggers 'forced corruption' only once when The Abyss Itself is completed.

Hell stopped it intentionally before it disappeared.

It's worth challenging.

Cack?

"Hell. Activate the warp normally."

Cackcackcack!

Hell circled the warp.

Swish!

The warp started to activate again with a blue light.

However, the warp was shrinking moment by moment.

Since The Abyss Itself has disappeared, it's normal for the warp he created to disappear.

The maintenance time is at most 30 minutes.

If it weren't for Hell, it would have disappeared instantly.

"Go."

I crossed the Abyss's warp with the Holy Maiden.

Author's Note

++04:48 The curse option of the helmet has been removed, and detailed descriptions have been added.

+++ 05:05 The text has been thoroughly revised.

Summoning the White King

In the heart of Scotland, Edinburgh.

In front of the warp at the outskirts of Edinburgh.

A place that should be controlled by soldiers only had two people appear.

"Master. It's dangerous."

Melson looked at Oliver with a worried expression.

However, Oliver shook his head stubbornly.

"We agreed to wait."

"Who and when did you agree to wait? Could it be that person again?"

That person.

The man in the castle, Park Hyun-myeong.

Melson still couldn't understand.

At first, he thought he was just a game friend.

But now, he was certain that he was not just a game friend.

That's because, once in the life support device, he never woke up for days.

If that were all, it would be one thing, but the problem was the 'data' displayed.

'He has surpassed the realm of humans. All the data displayed.'

Overwhelming vitality and regeneration ability.

His muscles are constantly being consumed and made stronger.

All other values far exceeded the norm.

Data that could not be seen in any living being.

'Like a Dimensional Warrior.'

The only way that could be possible is if he were a Dimensional Warrior who had descended and transformed.

The data of a Dimensional Warrior he had seen was very similar to Park Hyun-myeong.

He thought he had descended, but according to Melson, the time a Dimensional Warrior could descend was extremely limited.

It was almost impossible to maintain for more than five days.

So, is he using the abilities of a Dimensional Warrior even without descending?

He wanted to examine him in detail, but Park Hyun-myeong was Master Oliver's guest.

'Master Oliver is also a Dimensional Warrior.'

Melson knew no secrets.

He knew everything that happened in the castle and in Britain.

He just chose not to acknowledge it out of respect for his master.

The reason for coming to this warp is also in the same vein.

He's just curious.

He couldn't even guess what would appear here.

Crack!

At the same time.

The warp shimmered, and someone appeared.

"Ah...!"

Oliver, who saw it, trembled all over.

As if witnessing something impossible.

Trembling at the miracle before his eyes.

*

【You have been logged out.】

When I opened my eyes, I was in the castle.

I got up from the life support device and looked around.

Then I clicked my tongue.

'I expected this.'

I challenged it thinking that if I could enter Earth as Randolph, I could save the broken pieces of the Golden Rule.

But I couldn't cross.

I was forcibly logged out, and a severing phenomenon occurred.

'What about the Holy Maiden? Did Seoah Holy Maiden not cross either?'

Seeing that Oliver and Melson were not around, it seemed they had moved to the location of the warp as instructed.

At that moment,

【'Corruption' is progressing at the specified coordinates.】

【If '???' is not removed within 30 minutes, 'forced corruption' will occur.】

Suddenly, a map unfolded in front of me with the message.

'That location is...!'

A familiar terrain.

...The location of the warp I was trying to cross.

The warp created by The Abyss Itself.

It seems to recognize the Holy Maiden who crossed through the warp as 'corruption'.