Chapter 345 – Instigated Confusion (1)

Chapter 345 – Instigated Confusion (1)

"I'll go up first."

"Be careful, Master."

"Kyu!"

Han-Yeol ascended the steps cautiously while Mavros and Tia cheered him on. He ensured that his Demon Eyes were activated, anticipating potential traps or lurking dangers.

Seuk... Seuk...

He even went the extra mile by tapping each step ahead before proceeding, wary of any physical traps devoid of mana that his Demon Eyes might miss. His scouting ability proved useful, albeit limited to things infused with mana.

Fortunately, it appeared there were no traps lying in wait for him.

"Hmm?" Han-Yeol noticed an obelisk behind the altar, with a treasure chest at its foot.

'Oh! I was disappointed the King Slime didn't drop anything valuable, but is this the reward?'

Han-Yeol's heart raced with anticipation. The treasures hidden in such rooms were expected to be exceptionally valuable. He cautiously opened the treasure chest, wary of any potential traps.

Clack...!

There was a red ruby in it.

‘Huh? Is that it? Just a big ruby?’

Ziiing!

‘Ack!’

A blinding red light shot out from the ruby just as he was about to feel disappointed. He instinctively knew he had to close his eyes to avoid potential damage, but the light dissipated before he could react.

‘W-What was that?’ He sensed it wasn't an ordinary light and resolved to inspect the ruby more closely this time.

‘Analyze!’ Emerging from n0v@lbin☆, this material harbors clandestine details.

Wooong!

He channeled his mana into his eyes and thoroughly examined the red ruby.

Two minutes later...

Ding!

[Jewel of Holy Light – Ruby (Fire)]

Rating: Myth

Type: Catalyst

Description: This ruby symbolizes one of the seven elements (fire, water, earth, wind, light, darkness, lightning). It harnesses potent flames capable of burning anything it touches, concurrently granting its owner resistance against fire. Collecting all seven jewels will unveil the location of a special treasure.

*+5% Attack power to all fire attribute skills

*+10% Resistance against fire

‘Hmm... This looks like a very unique jewel...’

There were a few intriguing notes, but he had to leave it at that.

‘Tsk... I can’t afford to go treasure hunting.’

If he had already cleared the entire Bastro Dimension of hyenas, it would be a different story. However, with the dimension on the brink of being overrun by them, he couldn’t leisurely search for treasure. Han-Yeol wasn’t about to act so irresponsibly unless he was insane.

‘But how can something like this be rated Myth?’

Increasing his attribute attack power and resistance was good, but it seemed lackluster to label it as a Myth item.

‘Ah, is it because the treasure it will reveal once all seven are gathered is that amazing?’

Thud... Thud...

“Huff!”

Camelot meticulously searched every nook and cranny before determining there was no hidden danger nearby. He then ascended the stairs to the altar, emitting a snort from his nostrils.

If Camelot had been a mere companion he encountered on his journey, Han-Yeol might have hastily concealed the map. However, there was no need for that as Camelot was bound to Han-Yeol by his skill.

His skills had become his creed. Despite being a twenty-something individual dismissed as a societal loser, he had risen to become the most powerful person on Earth solely because of his skills. If he couldn't trust his skills, where else could he place his trust?

Seuk...

Han-Yeol unfolded the map and inspected it.

***

“Huh?”

Surprisingly, the map wasn't the ordinary type Han-Yeol had expected. It was still too early to discern its exact nature, but it was unmistakably far from ordinary. Pictures would appear and fade, replaced by words, and then switch back and forth, a phenomenon Han-Yeol had never witnessed before.

Attempting to analyze the map with his skills only returned question marks in response.

[???]

“Is there a prerequisite to it? Tsk...” He clicked his tongue in frustration.

He had anticipated the map revealing the precise locations of the jewels, simplifying his search. However, it appeared that he needed to fulfill some condition before utilizing the map.

Despite repeated attempts, his skills yielded the same question marks when used on the map.

[???]

Ultimately, he had no choice but to securely stow the map and the ‘Jewel of Holy Light (Fire)’ in his pocket for the time being.

While he could place it in his dimensional storage, he needed to keep the jewel on his person to benefit from its bonus effects. Moreover, he was uncertain whether the jewel or the map would react to the other jewels. There was a risk of missing potential interactions if he stashed it in his dimensional storage.

“Let’s get out of here.”

He no longer had any business in the Slime Dungeon.

***

After successfully raiding the Slime Dungeon on his first day, Han-Yeol dedicated the remaining nine days to raiding four more dungeons. Considering each dungeon's distinct challenges, this accomplishment was truly remarkable.

His strategy involved summoning both the Void Executor and Blue Balrog in the subsequent dungeons. Thankfully, the passages in these dungeons were sufficiently wide to accommodate the summoning of these larger demons.

“Ah...”

Thud!

Han-Yeol collapsed to the ground without concern, utterly drained. His mana was depleted, and his entire body was caked in dirt, blood, and grime, rendering it irrelevant where he lay.

Exhausted from conquering a dungeon inhabited by reptilian creatures resembling dinosaurs, Han-Yeol faced a boss unlike any other—a Three-Headed Tyrannosaurus.

‘That thing was Rex!’

The Tyrannosaurus Rex, a tyrant of the Jurassic Age, reigned as the era's mightiest carnivore. The fact that such a creature existed as a monster with three heads attested to its formidable power.

While the King Slime relied on peculiar skills and numerous slimes in battle, the Three-Headed Tyrannosaurus Rex depended solely on its physical prowess and the ability to nullify most elemental attacks.

Han-Yeol would have surely perished if he hadn't defeated the boss monster before depleting his mana. The intense battle pushed him to the brink several times, even with the assistance of his two high-ranking demons.

Ultimately, Han-Yeol emerged victorious, but the fight was far from easy.

“Kyu!”

Slurp!”

Mavros flew over to Han-Yeol and affectionately licked his cheek—a gesture signifying his approval and praise for Han-Yeol's accomplishments that day.

1. It simply said analyze and not Analytic Eyes or Item Appraisal.

2. An equivalent English idiom might be "figuring out the whole picture before the paint dries."