CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: JOB CHANGE QUEST (8)

’However... wasn’t this the end of the quest?’

I collected my breath for a long time before painfully raising my body up.

I expected the Job quest to end once I killed this guy, but not one message popped up in my view. I looked around, but I failed to spot anything different in the boss room.

No, there was one thing that was different from before.

Several strands of light began flickering on Paimon’s body. Meaning, my loot was now ready.

’For the time being, let’s grab those.’

After all, I couldn’t tell what else might happen here.

Grabbing things that I could grab when there was a chance was the smartest move one could make, wasn’t it?

I reached out towards those lights.

[You found the Item: Paimon’s Helm]

[Take it?]

[You found Rune Stone: King’s Call.]

[Take it?]

[You found Item: Leather Pouch.]

[Take it?]

[You found Item: Immediate Return Stone.]

[Take it?]

Why were there so many?

I felt rather puzzled, but still, I couldn’t hide my elation, either.

’Acquire them all.’

The first thing to enter my Inventory was the Leather Pouch.

[Item: Leather Pouch has been opened.]

[1,500,000 Gold is inside.]

[1,500,000 Gold has been acquired.]

My eyes went extra wide.

’The level of reward is on another scale altogether!’

It definitely was worth it, defeating it after going through so much crap.

I wasn’t expecting all that much, to begin with, yet the leather pouch spat out an unbelievable amount of 1,500,000 Gold.

With this amount, I’d definitely be able to buy something useful from the Store now.

However, my attention was directed elsewhere at the moment.

If the leather pouch I didn’t even hold high hopes for managed to produce such wealth, then just how high was the value of the helm or the Rune Stone?

I tried very hard to calm my heart and brought up the information on the helm.

Tti-ring!

[Item: Paimon’s Helm]

— Rarity: S

—Type: Armour

— Reduction in physical damage: +20%

— Stamina +50, Strength +50

"It’s an S!!"

I cried out in elation.

For the first time ever, an item with a rarity ranking of ’S’ showed up.

Just the effect of a 20% reduction in physical damage alone would’ve made it a top-tier item, yet it even possessed two more remarkable additional attributes of raising the Stamina and Strength Stats by a whole 50 points each.

Just seeing those options alone made my heart palpitate so much faster.

’The rarity of an A item can’t even compare to it!’

I had acquired only one A-ranked item up until now.

That is the Archmage’s Pendant after I defeated the powerful Archmage in this very dungeon.

But Paimon’s Helm possessed the kind of buffing effect that is one of a kind. And without any penalty, to boot.

’No need to mention it. It’s the best.’

I was fully aware of the fact that I was standing in the middle of the dungeon’s boss room, yet the smile on my face didn’t want to go away.

And if I were to add in one more unnecessary point here, he even liked the helm’s design.

’It’s a bit of a pity to hide this thing, though.’

The midnight helm that immediately reminded all onlookers of the dark abyss, and the mane connected to the helm itself, made me feel like I was holding an artistic masterpiece.

It was only for a brief moment, but I even felt compelled to put on the full set of this armour if it existed somewhere.

However...

’What a waste....’

Paimon’s other armour pieces weren’t considered to be loot, as there were no lights coming off from them. Only the helm could be taken away.

I forced back a rueful smile and cautiously put on the helm.

Poof~

Just as always, the helm disappeared from the view immediately.

Although I couldn’t show off my new look, my Stats had gained a huge boost thanks to my new headwear.

• Name: Dominic Nocturne von Morningstar

• Race: Demon (Incomplete Primordial Fragment) / ???

• Level: 45— 47

• Job: None

• Rank: G— F

• Title: [Dances With Wolves, The Forsaken Lucifer(Locked)], [He Who Shouldn’t Be Awake(Locked), [God-Eater],]

• HP: 1050/2040— 1570/2560

• MP: 0/1240— 0/1260

[Stats]

• Strength: 288 — 340 (+50)

• Agility: 234— 236

• Stamina: 204 — 256 (+50)

• Intelligence: 124— 126

• Sense: 194— 196

—Available Stats Points: 110)

Reduction in physical damage: 40% (+20%)

The numbers appearing in brackets were the increases in my Stats from the helm itself. Not only the Strength and Stamina Stats, but the hard-to-increase damage reduction Stat all enjoyed massive boosts.

I was completely and utterly satisfied now.

Having confirmed the increase with my own two eyes, my heart began beating even faster.

’No, no, no.’

I quickly shook my head.

’The quest isn’t over yet, so let’s calm down.’

Besides, I still had other items to sort out, too.

With the trace of excitement still lingering in my mind, I shifted my gaze to the other two items.

[Rune Stone: King’s Call.]

[Item: Immediate Return Stone.]

Two pieces of stone.

Out of the two walnut-sized stones, the first one to grab his curious gaze was the Immediate Return Stone.

Just what could this Immediate Return Stone do?

His curiosity got resolved pretty quickly, however. The information on the Immediate Return Stone floated up right away.

Tti-ring!

[Item: Immediate Return Stone]

—Rarity: ??

—Type: Consumable

— An item exclusive to this Class Change Quest. When destroyed, you’ll be transported outside the dungeon immediately. However, once the Class Change Quest has been concluded, it will automatically be destroyed.

— Can’t be stored in the Inventory.

’Hang on a sec. The Job Change Quest isn’t over yet?!’

If that were the case, then this particular item should’ve been destroyed already.

Since it hadn’t, that could only mean...

For some reason, I felt a creeping chill slowly caress my spine.

What an odd sensation that was.

I had received one of the best items out there that could help me make my escape from this dungeon, yet why was I getting this incredibly bad premonition right now?

’If I so choose....’

....I’d be able to escape at any time.

However, the ominous feeling taking root in the corner of my mind didn’t want to go away, no matter what.

And, sure enough!

The warning beep from the System went off in my head as if it was waiting for this moment.

Tti-ring!

[’Host’ has acquired the Immediate Return Stone.]

[The ’Job Change Quest’ will now commence.]

Son of a b*tch!

So, this was the item to start the quest for real!

I nearly fainted on the spot. I felt like I had stepped on something I shouldn’t have in the first place.

’If I knew this might happen, I’d have taken a short break first!’

What would regret do for me now?

No matter how much one relied on one’s experience and knowledge to predict the future, one would never be able to correctly guess the tricks of fate.

A strand of cold sweat dripped down from my forehead.

I summoned the Status Window inwardly and confirmed the remaining HP and my fatigue level.

[HP: 1570/2560]

[Tiredness: 60]

’The Tiredness Stat is a bit on the high side, but I can still do this.’

The helm’s added effects enhanced his Stamina Stat by a lot, which meant that my overall endurance had increased greatly as well, and my remaining HP had risen up as an added bonus, too.

What a relief that was.

As if to encourage myself, I continued to tell myself that...

’I can still do this. It’s not impossible.’

Of course, my life should not be in any imminent danger. Because, I held the Immediate Return Stone, after all.

However, no matter how hard I thought about it, this Immediate Return Stone sounded awfully like an item that signified my giving up on the quest.

If that was not the case, then it shouldn’t have been the quest-starting item, to begin with.

’If I give up on this quest....’

Wouldn’t it be the same as me giving up on this chance to get my Job?

The cold sweat on my forehead rolled past my temple and down to my chin before dripping down.

Gulp.

Just as I swallowed a bit of dry spit and my Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, the System’s new message popped up in my view.

Tti-ring!

[In ten seconds, dimensional doorways will be randomly generated.]

’Dimensional doorways?’

Even before my question could be cleared up, huge numbers appeared up in the middle of the air.

[00:00:10]

I could easily tell what that was.

It most likely was signifying the countdown.

Meanwhile, the messages continued on.

[’Host’ has a choice.]

[You can escape from the dungeon by using the Immediate Return Stone, or....]

.....8, 7, 6.

The timer continued to tick down to 0.

[Or, endure as long as you can and earn as many advancement points as possible in order to access the higher-ranked classes.]

"Endure?! Endure what exactly?"

I ended up shouting out loudly as my frustration mounted. However, I was already holding the Muramasa Blade summoned from my Inventory.

I stored the Rune Stone inside the Inventory, while the Immediate Return Stone was placed inside the back of my pocket since it couldn’t be stored there.

Even though my heart beat fast and hard enough to nearly explode, I didn’t forget to get ready for the battle that was about to come.

[The Job Change Quest will soon commence.]

....4, 3, 2.

I anxiously glared at the time and quickly scanned my surroundings.

My head and eyes darted around quickly, over here and over there.

Something ominous was clearly getting ready to begin; the space around me was separating and twisting visibly to my eyes.

[00:00:01]

[I wish you the best of luck.]

What?

For the first time ever, the System expressed ’emotion’.

Too bad, I had no time to stew inside my shock. The moment the timer hit 0, several Gates began forming all around me.

Buzzz...

Wuuooong....

Not just one or two, either.

I first spotted six around me. The number continued to climb up even higher, however.

And at the same time, the timer began ticking upwards.

[00:00:02]

The ’countdown’ began again.

The time would become my so-called advancement points. I hadn’t understood everything the System said, but still, I did figure out some parts of it.

’The longer I endure, the stronger I will get.’

No, more specifically, I’d instead get a powerful class.

There was no way I’d throw away a golden opportunity like this. I also had some wiggle room left with his HP.

’Let’s endure as long as I can.’

[00:00:03]

When the timer hit exactly three seconds, weaponless knights poured out from the nearest Gate.

Thud, thud, thud, thud....

When the knights decked out in full armour formed silver-coloured waves, the ground couldn’t help but tremor from the weight.

The momentum these things displayed would have been enough to overwhelm most people, but there was a smile floating up onto my lips, instead.

’If it’s these guys, I can definitely fight them. Let’s see how long the System can keep up with me!’

***

A hint: It’s Demiurgic!

Stone me, I can take it!

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