MDPS 30

Chapter 30

My Dark History Is Too Strong 

The Twilight Arena (2)

At the doorway, Son Taeyeon and I stood frozen for a moment, both caught off guard.

How are you even supposed to react in a situation like this?

After an awkward silence, she spoke first.

“Ah… um, is Representative Son Taeha not here?”

“He just stepped out for a moment…”

“Oh! I see. Sorry for the disturbance then.”

She was about to close the door and leave when, before I even realized it, my body moved on its own.

“Don’t you have an appointment with Representative Son Taeha?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“If you wait inside, he’ll be back soon. He only stepped out for a bit regarding a contract matter.”

“Ah… then excuse me for intruding.”

Normally, I wouldn’t have bothered to stop her.

But Son Taeyeon was an adventurer from the Radiance Guild, a subsidiary under the same parent company as Ascend.

She was talented too—someone with real standing within her guild.

And maybe… just maybe, I could get the high-rank summons I wanted through her.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Oh Hyunwoo.”

“Ah! I’m Son Taeyeon. You must be busy these days, right?”

“Not as busy as I expected.”

“Haha…”

Why is this so awkward?

Maybe if she hadn’t walked in with such a stiff manner, it wouldn’t feel this weird.

…Whatever. No need to overthink it. Let’s just get to business.

“By any chance, does Radiance deal in legendary-grade summons too?”

“Of course! They’re sold through the Premium Market.”

“Could you check if these are available for sale? Here’s a list.”

“Yes, just a moment. …Um, this list—is it correct?”

Son Taeyeon looked puzzled.

Understandable.

Black Priestess Meril, Shadow of Verdure Iris, Scholar of Balance Dorian, Flame Healer Ryuk.

All summons with mismatched attributes and roles, and not exactly mainstream choices either. She must be wondering what on earth I plan to do with them.

But how could a sparrow ever fathom the will of a phoenix?

“Yes, that’s the correct list.”

With a doubtful look, she nodded and checked the market listings.

“Oh, they’re available. Do you want to purchase them?”

“Yes. If possible, I’d also like to buy their equipment and artifacts.”

“Which artifacts are you looking for?”

“Here—this list as well.”

The list contained artifacts for my strategy and some top-tier gear.

As she read through it, Son Taeyeon looked downright speechless.

“…Leaving aside everything else—500 Broken Chalices?”

“Yes, 500.”

“…What are you even going to do with all those?”

“Enhancement.”

“…I can get them for you, but you know it’ll cost a fortune, right?”

“Just bill it to the company.”

Ah, what glorious words!

Money, capitalism—I am truly basking in economic freedom!

“…Kid, you’re going to bankrupt your own company at this rate.”

I pretended not to hear her mutter.

So what if I spend? I’ll pay it all back with profit anyway.

After thanking her and leaving the office, I clenched my fist in triumph.

‘Team Two, complete!’

If it weren’t for Radiance, this would’ve been difficult to acquire.

Any other major guild, seeing me gnawing away at their livelihood in real time, would never have sold to me.

‘Money and connections… I never realized their worth until I had them.’

Thinking back to my shabby past almost brought tears to my eyes.

Once the summons I ordered arrive, I’ll need to start leveling them.

But first… maybe I should stop by home.

It’s been a while since I’ve had a home-cooked meal.

Coming home was my first time since summoning Kaligo.

Since my parents must have seen the news, I was a little nervous about what kind of expressions they’d greet me with…

“Mom! Your son’s home!”

“Oh my, Hyunwoo! You’re here?”

Thankfully, they were only happy to see me.

“Perfect timing. We were just about to eat dinner.”

“Oh, I’d love some home cooking! Let’s eat together.”

“Sure. Go wash up first. Hyuna! Your brother’s here!”

“Yeah, I heard.”

Tch. Oh Hyuna doesn’t even come out to greet me, just yells from her room.

I considered cutting off her allowance—but restrained myself.

After all, she has immunity.

She gave up her studies and jumped into the workforce to save our sick family. That makes her the family’s breadwinner. This kind of rudeness can be forgiven.

After washing up, the four of us sat down for a rare family meal together.

When I was in middle school, I never knew how precious these moments were. But now… family time feels priceless.

“Dad, how’s your health these days?”

“Much better. I even go for walks now.”

“Ah, that’s a relief. Please don’t skip hospital visits. And don’t worry about money. Oh, I transferred more to Mom’s account.”

“What? More money? What for? What you gave last time was plenty!”

As if that could ever be enough.

With Hyuna back in school, broken appliances, hospital bills, and daily living expenses—money disappears fast.

“If the house needs anything, buy it. Replace the washing machine, maybe even get a dryer.”

“Aigoo, no need for that. Those are expensive.”

“That’s exactly what money’s for.”

“Really… are you sure?”

“Start looking at models right away.”

“Thank you, son!”

Laughter bloomed around the table.

Moments like these make me want to visit home more often.

But then, Hyuna suddenly cut in with a sharp question.

“Hey, don’t you have something to say?”

“…Hm?”

She pulled up a news article on her phone. My parents looked like they’d been wanting to ask too.

Well, I guess it’s only natural. Their son was on the news, after all.

“They’re calling you the mysterious adventurer? That’s really you?”

“Yeah. That’s me.”

“Wow. All those years of gaming finally paid off! Honestly, I used to wonder what you’d even become. You’d go on and on about your ‘Blade of Eternal Darkness’—”

That brat! Daring to bring up my dark history again!

I cut her off immediately.

“I signed with a management company! Ascend—the one under Taepyeong Group.”

“Oh! So our son’s working at a big corporation now?”

“Not quite a conglomerate. Just financially solid.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful! Truly!”

Of course, I didn’t mention that the management company was now mine.

No need to spill every detail to my family.

Either way, they celebrated with me.

Seeing them so happy makes me want to buy us a bigger house soon.

With Dad’s bad leg and no elevator in this building, I feel like a heavy stone is pressing on my chest.

But no matter how much it’s technically “my” company, using company funds for family expenses would be both illegal and immoral…

‘So, I’ll raid more, earn more! Company funds for growth, my own money for family!’

Buying summons and gear—that’s all part of the company’s mission, isn’t it? Supporting adventurers for the sake of society.

After that bit of self-justification, we finished dinner.

Later, as we gathered in the living room eating apples I had brought, Hyuna asked something out of nowhere.

“Hey, bro.”

What’s with the ‘bro-sir’? Definitely up to something.

“What now.”

“If I awakened as an adventurer, what do you think—”

“Forget it.”

“I didn’t even finish!”

“I already know what you’re going to say, and the answer’s no.”

“You don’t know! Maybe I’d do well!”

What’s gotten into her? Did she really awaken?

Even if she did, my answer wouldn’t change.

“You? An adventurer? Not happening.”

“Why not? I might do great. Besides, you could teach me.”

“Have you even played games before?”

“Games? Minesweeper? Monopoly? Oh, I’ve played Jenga too!”

…And she thinks she could be an adventurer?

“You’d have to be reborn. That’s how impossible it is.”

“Am I really that bad? I’m smart at least.”

“Smart’s not enough. Do you even know what a turn is? Or a deck? Or what eff-res, eff-acc, or percentage damage mean?”

“Ugh. Stop spouting alien gibberish.”

The moment she called game terms ‘alien language,’ her test was over.

“Seriously though, why ask? Did you awaken? Planning to become an adventurer?”

“I was going to if I awakened, but some cruel sibling of mine beat me down with facts, so forget it!”

Grumbling, she stormed off to her room.

…No way. Right?

The next morning, Representative Son Taeha contacted me.

The summons and gear I requested had arrived.

I rushed to the office and received them, along with the artifacts.

Using the skill-release items I ordered, I immediately unlocked all the unique skills of Black Priestess Meril.

《Unlocked unique skill “Touch of Corruption” of Black Priestess Meril.》
《Unlocked unique skill “Sacrifice of Sin” of Black Priestess Meril.》

[Unique Skills]

Skill 1 – Earnest Prayer
Description: When an enemy dies, restores 20% HP to all allies.

Hah. Hard to believe this is a legendary summon, right?

Healing should be used strategically, but this only activates if an enemy dies? Ridiculous.

Well, that’s why I got her for a fraction of the price of other legendary summons.

The second skill isn’t much better.

But the true power lies in her ultimate—Skill 3.

Skill 3 – Sacrifice of Sin
Description: Reduces own HP to 10,000 and enters “Immortal” state for a short duration. Casts “Focused Taunt” on the enemy with the highest HP, forcing them to attack Meril only.

Now this is her main skill!

The duration is short, but if I combine it with the Broken Chalice I specially ordered…

[Broken Chalice]
Description: When hit, has a 5% chance to reduce skill cooldowns by 3%.
Activation Condition: Must possess a chalice-type artifact of legendary grade or higher.

Since it’s a lower-tier artifact, it comes with annoying requirements.

That’s why these kinds of items aren’t popular.

But I already have Kaligo’s legendary artifact, the Blood-Drinking Chalice.

And that’s not all—

《Used “Broken Chalice” to enhance “Broken Chalice.”》
⁝
《Artifact “Broken Chalice” has reached maximum level 20.》

[Broken Chalice Lv. 20]
Description: When hit, 50% chance to reduce skill cooldowns by 30%.

…Damn enhancement rates!

Nearly all 500 were consumed. But 5% became 50%, and 3% became 30%.

Plenty good enough!

‘No time to waste! Straight into leveling!’

I have to get these new summons to usable levels before the event begins!

Time passed since that resolution.

I had climbed to the 70th floor of the Tower of Fierce Battle, and the opening of the Twilight Arena was drawing near.

Then, an announcement reached all adventurers from the Tower of Records.

「Notice from the Tower of Records: The boss for this Twilight Arena will be Athenica, Wreathed in Ashes. Please check the app for details about this boss.」

“…Damn. I haven’t finished leveling yet.”