Chapter 195

As Seonghyun held it, 『Destiny』 transformed in his grasp into a 20-sided die.

This was Kahku's treasure of treasures.

An item that could alter any probability.

No matter how low the chance, he could roll 『Destiny』 to maximize the probability.

Up to 20%.

‘A ridiculous effect.’

It could only be used three times a day, but that wasn't a drawback.

Especially the last effect.

‘This is the real deal.’

Kahku's treasure map had also been obtained through this last effect.

That's why Seonghyun, filled with high expectations, placed 『Destiny』 into his inventory.

There was no immediate use for it.

But it seemed perfect to roll it while opening the Legendary-rank Random Boxes after he hit Level 160.

Conveniently, there were three Random Boxes, weren't there?

As Seonghyun emerged after obtaining Kahku's first and final treasure, the last warehouse vanished completely, as if its duty was done.

It seemed it was designed to collapse once 『Destiny』 was removed.

Anyway, now that Seonghyun had obtained 『Destiny』, he had a thought.

‘Should I test out Vampirism?’

He had only focused on checking 『Blood Monarch』 during the large-scale event.

He hadn't tested 『Vampirism』, so he was curious.

The Health and Mana absorption was one thing, but he was particularly curious about the part where his physical form could change.

Just as Seonghyun was thinking that, Helena and Fiora spoke up.

“Seonghyun, there's a monster coming.”

-Th-That's right.

Just when he wanted to test 『Vampirism』, this was perfect.

With that thought, Seonghyun headed toward the monster.

A monster appeared right away.

But.

“Creaaak, creak.”

“…Hmm.”

Seonghyun let out a groan as he looked at the monster, looking perplexed.

A look that said, ‘Is this right?’

He couldn't help it.

The monster that appeared before Seonghyun was none other than a tree-type monster.

A Corrupted Tree Monster of the labyrinth.

It was a tree-type monster that looked roughly like a treant.

Would it even have any blood to drain?

He didn't think so.

As Seonghyun was pondering this…

The creature extended a branch, trying to pierce Seonghyun.

Swish!

Swoosh.

Seonghyun easily moved his body and dodged.

‘Can I really use Vampirism on this? I don't think so, but…’

“Seonghyun~ Try it~”

Hearing Helena's encouragement, he made up his mind.

‘Well, if it doesn't work, I can just figure it out then.’

With that thought, Seonghyun used 『Vampirism』.

[Target has no blood.]

The message he expected appeared.

‘So it really doesn't work?’

But then.

[Absorbing the target's essence instead of blood.]

“…?”

‘It'll absorb its essence since it has no blood?’

He saw the strange message, and at the same time, the branch the creature had extended withered.

A crimson energy bubbled up and was absorbed into Seonghyun.

[Absorbing the essence of the Corrupted Tree Monster of the labyrinth.]

[Due to the effect of 『Vampirism』, you can partially transform into the target's body for 1 minute.]

[Health will increase by +30 for 1 minute.]

“…?”

‘The effect is ridiculous, isn't it?’

He had only used it as a test, but he wondered how his body would change.

In that moment, various methods came to mind, and as he followed them…

Creeak!

Fwoosh!

Seonghyun's left hand turned into a tree branch, and he could shoot out branches just like the creature had.

“Bieeeeeek!”

The tree monster writhed in pain after being stabbed by a branch just like its own.

Watching this, Helena and Fiora finished it off.

The tree monster, its body cut down in an instant, disappeared, but Seonghyun's arm remained transformed.

As he tried to control it freely, the extended branch retracted, and Seonghyun's hand returned to normal.

‘Ooh.’

It had returned to normal, but he could feel that there was still time left on the effect and that he could change it back into a branch.

‘So this was the effect of Vampirism. It absorbs essence from targets without blood.’

He now understood that vampires were indeed related to black magic.

It was a drain-type skill.

However.

‘The Health and Mana absorption is pretty minimal, though.’

To be precise, it wasn't that it was minimal, but rather that it was less than 『Monarch of Abyssal Fear』.

That part was a bit disappointing, but the other utility it offered was outstanding.

This was more than enough.

It was a satisfying skill.

As he was thinking this to himself, Helena approached and spoke.

“It’s more useful than I thought, isn’t it?”

Seonghyun nodded in agreement and replied.

“Yeah, it’s a more interesting skill than I expected.”

It seemed like it would be fun to use when fighting unique or other races later on.

If not, it would be good for utility to save the blood of a unique race and use it with 『Vampirism』.

He committed the various uses to memory.

But now, what should he do?

“Where are you going now?”

“Hmm.”

At Helena's question, Seonghyun couldn't answer rashly.

He didn't really have anything to do.

He was done with his testing.

He had obtained Kahku's treasure.

Now was the time he really needed to level up.

But he didn't have any suitable quests.

‘Since I’m in Pentamir, should I try to get a new quest?’

Just as Seonghyun was thinking that, a ghost wandering the labyrinth made eye contact with his party.

-Gasp!? Y-You are a benefactor!!! C-Could you please help me?

Seeing the very wealthy-looking ghost, Seonghyun glanced at Helena and Fiora, then looked back at the ghost.

To think there could be such a convenient coincidence.

“Very well.”

He didn't have anything else to do, so this was perfect.

0.

After the large-scale event ended, people were feeling a little disappointed.

Because the large-scale event was over?

No, that wasn't the reason.

-Why didn't the Demon King stream this time? T_T

-Honestly, these days I only watch single rankers' streams or the Demon King's, but he rarely goes live T_T

-It's 'cause he's got that 'world-class' attitude now.

-Isn't the Demon King at a level where he's allowed to have a 'world-class' attitude?

-T_T I miss when he was just starting out.

-lolol what are you talking about, the Demon King only started a few days ago lolol This is him just starting out.

There were quite a lot of people who were disappointed because Seonghyun hadn't streamed.

It was to the point that they were coming to the Rapid Guild channel to whine in the chat.

It was because he hadn't streamed this time, when he had during the last large-scale event.

Having it and then not having it—it was only natural that they'd be upset.

The reaction in the community was the same.

The prevailing opinion was, why didn't he stream when he had taken 1st place so overwhelmingly?

There were even occasional opinions suggesting that he might have gotten 1st place through some shady means.

As soon as the large-scale event ended, such talk began to circulate, and the atmosphere could only heat up.

[Title: Demon King video is up!!!]

[Author: ILikeCoolDeals]

『Wow, he was hunting a Hidden Raid Boss that looked like a centipede;;

A few more videos were uploaded besides that, but I haven't seen the rest yet.

I haven’t watched it yet since it looks like he's hunting some kind of ghost.

How is it?』

[DitchedTheParty : Honestly;;; it's insane;;; If he had streamed it live, he would have raked in the cash. Why didn't he stream? I don't get it.]

└[ILikeCoolDeals (Author) : From the perspective of some subscribers, his mindset seems good since he's not trying to squeeze them for ticket money, but honestly, I'd be happy if he took all my money and just streamed more often.]

└[LegendaryItemGacha : This is so true lolol please take my money, you idiot Demon King!!!]

└[Lvl100Orc : I completely agree lolol just make some money already!!!]

On other MeTube channels, there were people complaining that streamers held live broadcasts too often to sell tickets, whereas for the Demon King, people were complaining about why he didn't stream more often.

That's how many people were waiting for Seonghyun's live streams.

Of course, watching the edited videos was also good.

They were certainly clean and cool videos.

But instead of cleanliness, Seonghyun's live streams had an incredible wild and dark feeling to them.

The contrast between darkness and teal light.

And the feeling that humanity was truly being invaded sent shivers down their spines.

That's why everyone couldn't help but be captivated by Seonghyun.

[Title: But what's the Demon King doing now?]

[Author: DroppedMySummon]

『The large-scale event is over.

Is there any content left right now besides the labyrinths?

Even a raid live stream would feel stale.

What's coming next?

I think that's why he's not just turning on his stream.

He's probably not showing the stale stuff live and just uploading it as a video?』

[EvenPoisoned : I don't care if it's stale, just upload it please T_T]

└[HealMePls : I swear I'd watch the hell out of it T_T_T]

└[TankPretendingToBeDPS : But that's a loss in the long run.]

└[ShieldMageIsRight : Yep, this is it. To have a long run, he needs to do it this way, popping up once in a while when it feels like it's been a long time.]

└[RiggedRNG : Holding my breath until the next live stream, hup!]

Despite the heated reaction on the internet, Seonghyun's live stream remained inactive.

It only left behind curiosity and wonder about what would come next.

Also, for a while, such stories circulated in the online communities.

Things like, if the Demon King moved cities, wouldn't the Over Palace Branch Manager make a move?

And if you want to know where the Demon King is, you just have to see where the Over Palace is moving.

Such stories were slowly making the rounds, but no precise information about Seonghyun was circulating.

They could only hope that Seonghyun would turn on his live stream as soon as possible.

1.

While many people were wondering about Seonghyun's whereabouts and what he was doing, Seonghyun was talking with the ghost he had met in the Pentamir Forest Labyrinth.

Seonghyun extracted the memories from the ghost who was about to introduce himself and learned the reason why he was wandering in this labyrinth.

And he got stats as a bonus.

[Through an ‘Unknown Power’, you have displayed an ability that surpasses your current stats.]

[Wisdom +3 and Intelligence +3 will permanently increase.]

“Hmm.”

As he absorbed the memories, the ghost—no, the ghost of Vitor Moore—shed thick tears and spoke.

-Sob, I'm more worried about my son who must be looking for me. As you've seen, they prey on us merchants.

“So it seems.”

-My son will probably spend a fortune trying to find me, so I'm incredibly worried. He always took good care of me… So please, could you help my son?

At his words, Seonghyun nodded.

It wasn't a request he couldn't fulfill. He didn't have anything else to do, and there was no reason to refuse a request that reeked this strongly of a quest.

As Seonghyun thought this and accepted, Vitor's mouth quivered as if it were melting.

With tears in his eyes, he spoke to Seonghyun.

-Thank you so much. Thank you. As you already know from my memories, you may have all the belongings I've lost.

“Thank you.”

‘Then shall I go and grant Vitor's request?’

The former head of the Moore Merchant Guild, the largest in Pentamir, was Vitor.

And the current head was none other than Vitor's son, Jarod Moore.

He thought it wouldn't be easy to meet the guild head, but that part was already taken care of.

He wandered the Forest Labyrinth for a bit.

-H-Here it is!

“I found it, Seonghyun!”

He had found Vitor's lost identification pass using his memories.

Was there any reason to hesitate?

Seonghyun immediately headed to Pentamir and went to the Moore Merchant Guild, but he couldn't meet the guild head, Jarod, right away.

However, one of the merchants running the guild welcomed him.

“Perfect timing. We were just looking for foreign mercenaries. Go join them. The request will be given once all the mercenaries have gathered.”

“Oh, I see.”

It seemed to be a group quest, not a solo one.

When Seonghyun went to the location the merchant guided him to, quite a few users were gathered there.

There was one 6-person party, one 4-person party, and one 7-person party.

A total of 17 people were gathered.

With Seonghyun, Helena, and Fiora added, the group became exactly 20.

Although Helena and Fiora were vassals, he had cast a perception-altering spell on them, so it was slightly confusing whether they were vassals or users.

‘Most would probably think of them as companion NPCs traveling with me.’

As Seonghyun thought this and was about to sit at an empty table, the person who appeared to be the leader of the 4-person party approached and asked.

“Have we met somewhere before?”

A user who suddenly asked him that.

She seemed to have an androgynous appearance, but she was a female user with a very pretty face.

However, he had never seen her before.

But she was asking if they had met.

It was strange.

‘Could it be?’

Seonghyun tilted his head and asked back.

“Are you hitting on me?”

“No!!!”

“Huh? Embris, was that what this was!?”

“Embris is hitting on someone!?”

“W-Well, it's understandable.”

“I said no!!!”