Chapter 156

Chapter 156
‘Giantization. It was a rather compelling spectacle.’

The way the Master utilized Giantization had been truly gripping.

If he could manage to grasp the secret of Giantization through this concoction or perhaps track down the specific creator of the potion, the investment would be more than worth it.

‘The Wish Pearl is a necessity for anyone looking to climb the ranks.’

Beyond that, the Wish Pearl was a fundamental piece of equipment that every high-level player needed to possess at least once.

Particularly this specific pearl referred to as the ‘Dragon God.’

It was currently in a faded state, but if he managed to restore its energy, its versatility would be boundless.

‘The essence of the Mad Claw Marks. An orb that triggers a unique evolution for Hydragon.’

It was finally time to enhance his personal mount, Hydragon.

Just as his own power scaled upward, Hydragon required its own strengthening if it was going to survive the journey through high-tier monster territories.

‘Eldritch’s Cursed Black Grimoire. This is something Andasar, Andrew’s child, will eventually require.’

This was the core motivation behind Andrew’s ascent of the tower.

Without his presence, there was no doubt that defeating Lord Solbaren would have been an impossible feat.

He had interpreted the sacred revelation, and that specific knowledge was what secured their victory in the raid.

However, I was convinced that the true reason he felt compelled to scale the tower was for this ‘Eldritch’s Cursed Black Grimoire.’

Andrew’s daughter, Andasar, who had been transformed into a Dullahan by the Four Kings, was currently in a highly volatile condition.

To bring her back to a state of stability, this dark tome was an absolute requirement.

‘Things will go differently this time. She won’t be swallowed by the darkness of the book again.’

As long as I had access to the infinitely reproducible pardons and my own Star Blessing, she wouldn’t descend into a state of mindless carnage as she had in the past.

Regardless.

‘My business with the Golden Rule Shop is concluded. Now I just need to address my SP distribution and the Achievement Shop.’

He had accumulated approximately 70,000 SP following the successful completion of the 1st floor.

Allocating the entire sum into his abilities would allow him to completely max out one of his recently unlocked talents.

The 3,000 achievement points could then be directed toward objectives like reinforcing the ‘Guardian Wall.’

‘…Thinking back, I still have items listed in the hidden auction house.’

Ah.

The frantic pace of recent events had pushed it from his mind.

He recalled the ‘Immortal Warpstone’ he had posted for sale in the hidden auction house prior to his tower ascent.

His goal had been to secure immediate capital to stabilize the city’s treasury.

《Accessing the Secret Auction House.》

《A sale has been completed.》

《‘Immortal Warpstone’ purchased by ‘????’ for 500,000,000G.》

“…?”

Hold on. 500 million gold?

The figure was so far beyond his calculations that he couldn’t help but tilt his head in confusion.

He had estimated a return of 100 million gold at the absolute maximum.

‘Even considering its rarity, it’s a structural item limited to one per city.’

The secret auction house provided comprehensive details and mechanical options for every item listed.

Any prospective buyer would realize it didn’t hold a market value of 500 million gold.

Who on earth would spend that much?

Then, a subsequent notification materialized.

《A correspondence has been left by the ‘purchaser.’》

《I am interested in acquiring three additional ‘Immortal Warpstones’ for the sum of 2 billion gold. However, I request a personal meeting to finalize the transaction. If you are willing to negotiate, seek out ‘Aslan’ of the ‘Aslan Merchant Group.’》

…The Aslan Merchant Group.

Recognized as one of the three titan merchant guilds across the lands.

A colossal commercial empire that dictated the continent’s financial flow, possessing influence that rivaled established monarchies—a truly untouchable entity.

The individual named Aslan mentioned there would undoubtedly be the patriarch of the organization.

‘Offering 2 billion gold for three units. Requesting a meeting in person.’

That averaged out to over 500 million gold per stone.

A sum of 2 billion gold was enough to buy out a prosperous metropolitan area.

It eclipsed everything he had spent at the grand imperial auction.

Yet, the motive behind it felt questionable.

The insistence on a face-to-face encounter was the sticking point.

…Aslan. A significant NPC.

He was certainly not a player.

He was a human being who had persisted for centuries within the world of Pangeniar.

The rumors suggested he played a hand in the very inception of the Archon Empire.

‘…Aslan is known to collaborate with players.’

While Aslan wasn’t a player himself, the secret auction house was a platform exclusive to them.

This meant Aslan understood how to manipulate player mechanics to his advantage.

He operated in the shadows, dealing with the high-profile outlaws known as sinners.

It was highly probable he had exploited every possible player-specific benefit available.

After a brief window of reflection, he clicked his tongue and dismissed the thought with a shake of his head.

‘It’s too early for this.’

The three major merchant guilds were still far too perilous to engage with directly.

This was especially true given that the Aslan Merchant Group was often whispered about as the ‘City Hunter.’

When you factored in their expertise in handling players, the danger level became astronomical.

Perhaps once the labyrinth city reached a higher level of prosperity. For now, making contact could be hazardous for several reasons.

That being said… Aslan.

Depending on his future maneuvers, this contact could turn into a powerful asset later on.

He moved on to methodically finish his remaining errands.

《Talent ‘Truth Inquiry’ has reached level 3.》

《Your proximity to ‘Truth’ has increased.》

《Hidden Trait ‘Great Sage’ unlocks a new capability.》

《Talent ‘Dimensional Comprehension’ has reached level 3.》

《Access is now granted to previously barred locations.》

《Pet ‘Hell’ has leveled up by 1.》

Hell Lord Isera.

He was currently immersed in coordinating a second campaign alongside the demonic legions.

The gateway to the external realm was now fully operational.

Determined not to repeat the clumsy blunders of fools like Ahram, he had verified the mechanics a thousand times over.

“…What a peculiar human. To think a man of your stature would prostrate before me.”

In that moment, a human figure had come to grant him an audience.

A man of immense power. A master whose strength even Isera found noteworthy.

But did such a human truly exist?

He felt he should have recognized the name of an individual this formidable.

Moreover, this wasn’t just any mortal—this man had walked the earth for centuries.

And yet, here was a ghost of history, someone he had never encountered or heard of, suddenly swearing his fealty.

“Allow me to journey to the ‘otherworld’ by your side. That ‘Invasion Warp’ should facilitate my passage.”

“Cross the threshold? And what is your objective there?”

“Retribution.”

“Retribution?”

“I intend to systematicially eliminate the sinners.”

Isera let out a sharp, predatory laugh.

“And what do you propose to give me in exchange for this?”

“Everything I possess!”

“Does that include your very soul?”

“My soul and whatever lies beyond it.”

“Then you would do well to adjust your manner of speaking.”

The man dropped to his knees.

“The premier court wizard of the Archon Empire, the one titled the ‘Golden Rule Mage,’ Union, pledges everything to Hell Lord Isera. I beg of you, grant me the means to claim my revenge.”

“Dad?”

“…I cannot take this.”

Andrew was visibly shaken, his hands moving in a panicked blur.

He had identified the object I placed in his hands the second he saw it.

Eldritch’s Black Grimoire.

The very cursed object that had historically transformed his daughter, Andasar, into an Eldritch.

‘I was the one who performed the cleansing back then using the Wilhelm persona.’

In his past life as a gamer, when he viewed Pangeniar through the lens of a simulation.

Andrew had been an NPC who provided high-tier ‘honor-based side quests.’

By grinding those quests to reach maximum rapport, one could unlock the secret ‘Eldritch Purification’ mission—and the Eldritch in question was none other than his daughter, Andasar.

The child of a respected priest of the Goddess Church, turned into a lich.

It was a massive scandal that would result in his immediate excommunication if it ever came to light.

Because of this, Andrew sought out an honorable individual to safeguard his secret.

A person of true integrity.

A task that could only be reached by those who had mastered every honor-related objective.

‘But even after the cleansing, Andasar didn’t stay with Andrew.’

The purified version of Andasar had migrated to Cramdel.

Despite being cleansed, her nature remained undead.

Eventually, she was seized by the Four Kings and turned into a Dullahan.

As time moved forward, and following my imprisonment of the Lich King Ahram within Gingoa, I had managed to bring the Dullahan Andasar back to Andrew’s side.

“Andrew. I am well aware that Andasar’s current state is incredibly precarious. This is the very reason you braved the tower, isn’t it?”

“…”

The core issue was Andasar’s stability.

Was her decline linked to the fate of the Four Kings?

Her life force was evaporating at an alarming rate.

If things stayed on this path, she would lose what remained of her consciousness and devolve into a mindless undead thrall.

There was only one path left to take.

Andrew spoke with a heavy, somber tone.

“Is this… truly the correct path, Successor?”

“She has experienced this transformation once before, which means she should possess a degree of immunity. The book won’t be able to overwhelm her so easily this time.”

“Even if we succeed… won’t she simply revert to being an Eldritch?”

“Andrew… being an Eldritch is far preferable to being a Dullahan.”

My counsel was genuine.

A Dullahan is a hollow creature.

With the head and body disconnected, her cognitive functions were severely diminished.

As an Eldritch, her superior intellect would allow her to reclaim her scattered memories.

Even if she didn’t, she would regain the ability to hold a conversation.

Provided she wasn’t consumed by the tome’s corruption again.

“Most importantly, you and I are here to watch over her. We can step in if anything goes wrong.”

“I… I am uncertain. I don’t know if this is actually what’s best for my daughter.”

“…This isn’t actually for her benefit. This is entirely for you, Andrew.”

There were truths that needed to be stated plainly.

I met Andrew’s wavering gaze once more and continued.

“Your daughter has become an undead. Her life ended; she is deceased. Refusing to accept that reality and dragging this out is your own choice. It is born of your own longing and your own pride.”

The human version of Andasar was long gone.

Keeping her tethered to this world because he couldn’t let go was Andrew’s personal obsession.

So I felt compelled to ask.

“Andrew. Why is it that you cannot say goodbye?”

“…Th-that is…”

Andrew appeared momentarily staggered.

It was likely that no one had ever confronted him with that question.

He had spent years in desperation, hiding his undead child.

Even within the confines of the ‘Knight’s Garden.’

Only a select few were aware of Andasar’s existence, myself included.

While grieving a child is natural, I was fascinated by the specific reason he refused to let her spirit rest.

After a long pause, Andrew bit his lip until it nearly bled.

“There is a message I have to give her… regarding her mother. I couldn’t bear to let her depart without her knowing, especially while she lacks the mind to even understand.”

Ah.

So there was a deeper motivation.

Currently, however, Andasar was devoid of her past.

Sharing the news would be pointless, so he had kept her in this state in hopes her memory would return.

As I moved closer, Andrew began to recount his history.

“Andasar’s biological mother was not of the human race… She was an elf.”

“Are you not her biological father?”

“I am.”

“So… she is a half-elf?”

She bore no elven traits and looked entirely human.

I was genuinely surprised by the revelation.

The elves who resided within the Primordial Forest were known for their ways.

They lived in total seclusion from the rest of the world.

The mixing of elven blood with other lineages was a strict taboo—how had he managed to meet her and father a child?

‘A man of the cloth who has shattered every sacred law.’

…Andrew.

A high-ranking priest of the Goddess Church, no less.

For a man who had climbed to a rank reserved only for the most devout and pure, he had committed a staggering number of transgressions.

And now he was using his power to duplicate pardons without limit.

The high authorities of the church would lose their minds if they discovered the truth.

Andrew exhaled a weary breath.

“The girl grew up believing her mother had passed away. Even though she was still in this world, I chose to lie.”

“Is that a choice you regret?”

“I do. Andasar… she never stopped asking about her mother. But I lacked the courage to tell her. She had returned to the Primordial Forest.”

He couldn’t bring himself to speak the truth.

Claiming she was dead was the only path he saw.

After all, how could he possibly arrange a meeting with an elf who had retreated back to the forest?

The elves would never open their doors to a half-breed carrying human blood.

“I intended to tell her everything once her mind cleared. But then the world changed…”

“…The master who bound Andasar as a Dullahan is currently in a state of ruin. Without a constant flow of dark energy, she is falling apart.”

“One of the Four Kings of Cramdel?”

I had explained the situation to him when I first recovered her.

I gave a slow nod.

“He is either deceased or effectively erased.”

“A member of the Four Kings…”

“Which leaves the Eldritch Black Grimoire as the only viable method to stabilize her. There are no other paths.”

“…Even knowing that, how can I bring myself to accept it?”

“Andrew. Without your help, we never would have conquered the tower. Furthermore.”

A thin smile touched my lips.

Andrew. Having him indebted to me was a major advantage.

And it wasn’t just about him.

“Andasar will serve as an excellent protector for our labyrinth city.”

“…I beg your pardon?”

“Do you honestly believe you can keep an Eldritch hidden here indefinitely without being caught?”

“No…”

“The city is already integrated into the warp network, so you can go there whenever you wish. From my perspective, this is the most logical solution.”

“That is… what?”

The groundwork was finished.

The only thing left was to stand by in case the process went sideways.

《‘Eldritch’s Black Grimoire’ initiates the corruption of ‘Andasar.’》

Aaaaaaah!

As soon as the dark book was placed with the fading Andasar, the process of corruption began just as it had in the past.

The tome flew open, and an endless stream of dark symbols began to flood into her form.

Under normal circumstances, she would offer no defense and be entirely consumed.

However.

《‘Pardon’ is cleansing ‘Andasar’s’ transgressions!》

《‘Pardon’ is cleansing ‘Andasar’s’ transgressions!》

《‘Pardon’ is cleansing ‘Andasar’s’ transgressions!》

《‘Pardon’ is cleansing ‘Andasar’s’ transgressions!》

The pardons functioned to wipe away the taint of evil.

The Eldritch Black Grimoire worked by magnifying the victim’s sins through a forced transformation, plunging them into a state of ‘chaos’ to override their consciousness.

But even that dark power couldn’t hold out against the infinite supply of pardons from a priest like Andrew.

Yet, simply erasing the corruption wasn’t the final step.

《‘Andasar’s’ ‘Limit Curse’ is being dismantled by ‘Star Blessing.’》

Star Blessing!