Chapter 187

A large-scale event in the labyrinth regions.

As it was a level range where leveling up was no longer easy, the players had no choice but to welcome it.

Even hunting in the labyrinth all day, their level showed no signs of changing, and doing quests was endlessly boring.

This was why it was commonly called falling into "E-slump" in the labyrinth regions.

Eternal World burnout.

Not only did levels not rise well, but the structure of the labyrinth regions was also prone to becoming tedious.

It was a boring stretch if there was not a notable event.

And an event opened up right at that time.

How could it not be welcome news?

To the users in the labyrinth regions, it was like rain in a drought.

[ChallengeMaxLevel: Wow, how long has it been since the last labyrinth event?]

└[OrcPredator: I know, right? ;;; E-World is finally working ;;)

[GimmeSomeHP: A labyrinth event, I wonder what kind it'll be? Curious.]

└[UselessTank: Won't a new kind of monster appear? Unlike the Dune Wild Trail, it's not an integrated area, so I think a new common monster will appear?]

└[PoisonMage: Yeah yeah, that seems likely?]

└[BossHunter: Anyway, it's a relief it's not just mindless grinding or questing. Seems like it'll be fun yeah yeah.]

The users' reactions were all positive.

It was not like events were common.

And users were the type to be happy even with a simple event.

It was not that there were no complaints.

But the dominant opinion was that it was good they were even having an event at all.

This was the level range where one was starting to be treated as an intermediate player.

So having anything was bound to be a good thing.

In the midst of that.

Posts like this started appearing in some communities.

[Title-Isn't this related to the Demon King?]

[Author-MasterOfStealth]

『I let it slide during the Dune Wild Trail.

But right after the Demon King comes to the labyrinth, another large-scale event?

Isn't it too convenient to be a coincidence?

Back then, there were many who said the Demon King wouldn't have come to the Dune Wild Trail because he hadn't met the level requirement yet.

But that turned out not to be true.

Isn't this something that happened in connection with the Demon King?

Almighty-rank classes are that kind of class, you know.』

[Heal-lessPleb: Hmm? Another Demon King stan?]

└[MasterOfStealth(Author): I am a stan, but doesn't it really seem like there's a connection?]

[PartyDeserter: Hmm, there are too many sketchy parts for that to be true lol.]

└[MasterOfStealth(Author): That's true, but I think the Demon King recently went to another hidden field.]

└[PartyDeserter: Oh fr? Didn't know about that. Was thinking of watching the live stream since the ticket was cheap, was that what it was about?]

└[MasterOfStealth(Author): Yeah yeah, so I wrote this post just in case.]

Opinions that this event might have been caused by Seonghyun began to appear.

Since a convenient coincidence had overlapped twice.

It was reasonable to think so.

But it was not the mainstream opinion.

Since the majority of the posts were just people writing their own thoughts without any evidence.

The speculation was leaning towards the level of a conspiracy theory.

In any case, since a new event was welcome.

While everyone was guessing what kind of event it would be, a strange post appeared.

[Title-I'm the Demon King's older sister, and this is for real.]

[Author-SwordBest]

『My younger brother is the Demon King.

This is fr.

He says the next event is something about blood.

Keep that in mind.』

A very short post.

A post that made it difficult to even guess what kind of event it would be.

A post that made one wonder what "something about blood" could be.

Since it was clearly a troll post, no one even fed the troll.

Although the number of views went up a bit.

[EnhancementArtisan: Don't feed the troll.]

└[SwordBest(Author): lol you'll see.]

└[EnhancementArtisan: Never seen anything scary come from someone who says 'you'll see' lol.]

[GoldExplorer: Ugh, can't believe there are still people pulling this kind of low-class aggro.]

└[SwordBest(Author): lol I'm telling you, you'll see.]

Because she came off as so confident, a few wondered if it was real.

But they let it go.

It would not be too late to tear her down after the event was revealed.

So everyone moved on and just waited for the next event.

Since they said it would be in two days.

Seonghyun looked at Yoo Mina, who was eating while scribbling on her phone, and asked.

“Noona, what are you doing?”

“Ah, I was just writing something. I'm done now.”

“You didn't post what I told you, did you?”

“……Ayy, no way.”

Something about the way she spoke was suspicious.

But still, she probably did not write anything important.

Seonghyun thought so and let it pass.

No matter how much his sister played pranks, she did not do so when it came to important things.

As he let it go and ate his meal.

Yoo Mina looked at Seonghyun and asked.

“By the way, is that 'Lord of Blood' thing for real?”

“Yeah, I think so?”

“Hmmm, just from hearing it, it sounds related to an Almighty-rank class. I wonder if it will be released later?”

At Yoo Mina's words, Seonghyun also thought for a moment and then nodded his head.

His sister knew more about the game.

Wouldn't she be more accurate than him?

Indeed, she had said that the Lord-type classes had not been released as much as expected.

Did she say the new recruit who joined the Rapid Guild was a Lord-type Almighty-rank?

He just thought that someone amazing had joined and moved on.

Never imagining that was the person his familiars had defeated.

In any case.

“So, what's your 3rd Class Advancement trial?”

“For me, it seems like the trial starts with going to the castle where the Lord of Blood was sleeping.”

“Will you have to fight?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

As they talked back and forth, they made their guesses and then let it be.

Speculating could only do so much, and things might change.

And crucially, wouldn't he only know for sure by seeing it himself?

After having that conversation, the two finished their dinner.

After finishing his meal and entering his room, Seonghyun thought for a moment.

The Lord of Blood, Lajeare.

Judging by the name alone, he was presumed to be a vampire.

‘Will I be fighting a creature like that?’

Or will he be friendly towards Helena, like Nyao?

Since it said he had been asleep until now.

He thought that perhaps he might even be one of Helena's familiars.

‘Whatever it is, it'll be fun.’

A being who could become a new familiar.

Or perhaps a being who hated Helena.

At the thought that he might be fighting a Lord-rank being already.

Seonghyun was filled with anticipation.

Unlike the large-scale event, Seonghyun could start his 3rd Class Advancement as early as tomorrow.

Although Branch Manager Belmore had made a huge fuss about something.

It was not something he needed to worry about too much.

He had asked him to stop by the Pentagrid branch after finishing the 3rd Class Advancement.

He just had to grant that request.

He did not have to think about it for now.

After the 3rd Class Advancement, he would briefly stop by the Pentagrid branch.

And after that, now that his level was high enough.

It seemed he could go to Kahku's final warehouse, hidden in the labyrinth regions.

To that place where the decisive item that allowed Kahku to gather his treasures was stored.

After thinking up his next plans.

Seonghyun, with eyes full of anticipation.

‘Anyway, tomorrow is the 3rd Class Advancement.’

What kind of skills would he be able to get in the 3rd Class Advancement?

He went to sleep amidst such anticipation.

In the Crevice of the Labyrinth, quite far from Basilica and Ninyaru.

A single castle suddenly began to rise up in that place.

Kururururu—!

A castle with an ancient atmosphere.

It was not a very large castle.

Should one call it the castle of a small territory?

However, the thick scent of blood contained within it spread out in all directions, consuming the surroundings.

The scent of blood was so thick and deep.

It even created the illusion that the surroundings were being dyed red.

Around that castle.

Kurururung—!!!

Kwazzzzzzt—!!!

An eerie lightning bolt struck.

And soon, dark storm clouds that covered the sky gathered.

Deep in the dungeon of that castle, which gave off an ominous atmosphere.

A large sarcophagus was placed on a place that looked like an altar.

An altar was placed beneath the large sarcophagus.

And every time a lightning bolt struck, a red energy overflowed in the surroundings, as if it were absorbing the energy of the lightning.

That red, blood-like energy slowly began to flow like a liquid.

And began to draw a pattern.

At a glance, it looked like a crest symbolizing a family.

Looked at another way, it also seemed like a magic circle.

Ssssssss.

As the blood-colored, liquid-like energy finally drew the entire pattern.

It began to glow like a single magic circle.

And the large sarcophagus placed in its center moved.

Geu-geu-geu-geu-geu—

No, to be precise, the lid of the heavy coffin slowly moved, and someone who had been sleeping there awoke.

Pale, grayish-white silver hair and crimson eyes, as if bloodshot.

His appearance as he rose, with the strong facial features characteristic of a Westerner, was perfect to show the air of a nobleman.

The contrast between the black and ancient red cloth made the clothes he wore look even more luxurious.

As he rose naturally and stepped out of the sarcophagus.

The sarcophagus vanished as if it had never been there in the first place.

And the energy that had dyed the altar like blood also vanished, turning it back to how it was, as if nothing had ever been there.

He, who had awoken in that place, with his pale skin and face, and his grayish-white silver hair fluttering, muttered.

“A new Overlord has been born.”

Saying so, he recalled his memories from long ago and gave a pale smile.

“Hateful Overlord. I couldn't do it in the past, but.”

He paused for a moment, and as the lightning struck, he opened his mouth.

“This time, I will surely make you mine.”

Saying so, he smiled as he sat on the throne of the castle where he rightfully belonged.

And then, he waited for the final guest who would soon arrive to adorn his banquet.

Those called Monarchs or Lords are all powerful beings.

It is a title that is attached to monsters, and also to the classes of users.

However, if there is one thing in common.

It is that the title appears starting from the Legendary rank.

Player classes with this title of "Monarch" were treated much better.

Because it was a title that was exceptionally stronger than others of the same rank.

The same was true for monsters, commonly called Lord-rank.

Even among Hidden Raid Bosses, the one with the title of "Monarch" was much stronger.

There were even cases where a normal raid boss with the title of "Monarch" was stronger than a Hidden Raid Boss.

That was how much the prestige of the title "Monarch" was known.

Even Seonghyun, who did not know much about the game, was well aware of that.

So he made all possible preparations.

[Welcome to another world, the eternal world, Eternal World.]

[May player 『Seonghyun』 be blessed with luck in battle.]

As soon as he logged in, Seonghyun first checked his own status.

【Status Window】

『Seonghyun』

『Lv 150』

『Class』

→『Overlord』

『Titles』

→『Monarch (Legendary)』…… and 42 others.

『Stats』

→《Strength: 242(186+56)》《Agility: 267(205+62)》

《Stamina: 267(205+62)》《Intelligence: 449(345+104)》

《Wisdom: 449(345+104)》《Spirit: 133(120+13)》

《Dexterity: 8(7+1)》

『Additional Stats』

→《0》

‘Hmmm.’

Beyond just being formidable, his stats were absurd.

Stats that other users of the same level could not even dare to imagine.

Even for an Almighty-rank, the difference would surely be clear.

But would this be enough to work on a Monarch-rank monster?

It might not be a monster, but.

In any case, it was important to prepare for a fight.

Only after checking his items and skills as well did Seonghyun take out the compass.

[The Overlord-exclusive 3rd Class Advancement item, 『Overlord's Compass』, is reacting.]

[Upon using 『Overlord's Compass』, you will be moved to the 3rd Class Advancement location.]

[Would you like to use it?]

[Yes / No]

As he held up the compass.

A message appeared before Seonghyun's eyes, and as he answered without hesitation.

Seonghyun felt himself being moved somewhere, and at the same time, felt that his body could not move.

‘What is this?’

[The 『Overlord』 3rd Class Advancement will begin.]

[An event scene will now play.]

An event scene video began to play.