Chapter 285

1.

The area in front of the Serul Magic Tower was bustling with people.

There weren't that many people over level 220, yet there was a considerable crowd.

The reason they were gathered was very simple.

To see the winner, Seonghyun!

That final match was more than enough to become an inspiration to many.

Having seen such a match, filled with emotion and narrative.

It was only natural for people to gather.

To catch a glimpse of him in person, no matter what.

“Hey, get out of the way!!!”

“Oh?! Someone's going in over there???”

“No, that's just a mage?”

“Ah!!! I need to get into that magic tower!!!”

Since so many people had gathered.

There were some minor and major nuisances.

But even the people who were inconvenienced had no choice but to understand.

“They must want to see him so bad to flock here like this.”

“Honestly, I want to see him too.”

“Let's go wait at the magic tower.”

“Ah, he was really cool.”

“Keuheueueu, I got chills when the two suns collided, you know?”

It was absolute chaos.

That's why the gathered crowd would frantically watch anyone who entered the magic tower.

Naturally, none of them looked like Seonghyun.

There wasn't even anyone entering in a black robe, so everyone was disappointed.

Could it be that he wasn't coming to get his reward today, but another day?

As a few people were getting tired, thinking that might be the case.

Seonghyun was barely managing to enter the magic tower using Fiora's perception-impairing skill.

‘The number of people is no joke…….’

Seonghyun knew well that being popular wasn't always a good thing.

But this time, there were an unusual number of people.

It seemed the final match had received that good of a reaction.

Then again, where else had Seonghyun ever shown himself fighting so desperately with all his might on a live broadcast?

The vividness and liveliness of it had been transmitted to everyone who watched.

Seonghyun could understand, to some extent.

Well, the inconvenience was unavoidable.

And so, Seonghyun secretly entered the magic tower.

When he went straight to the tower master.

He could see Will Baghdad, who greeted them with a rather serious face.

“Congratulations on your victory.”

For a face congratulating a victory.

It was a very serious expression.

Then again, it couldn't be helped.

“I never thought the Sword Saint would send his own will……”

“It's the same for me.”

“Unfortunately, he didn't openly use magic energy, so there is no justification. Even Over Palace will find it difficult to make a move.”

“I see.”

He hadn't expected it from Over Palace in the first place.

He just let it go.

In any case, with Seonghyun's arrival.

Will guided him to a seat and offered him to sit.

As they both sat down.

He began to talk about the victory in earnest.

“This is the prize for your victory.”

“Ooh.”

As Seonghyun gathered all the magic-infused weapons.

A system message appeared.

[You have satisfied one of the succession conditions for the Necromancer Lord!]

[The next condition is now unlocked!]

[Acquire Magic-infused Weapons. (5 / 5) (Complete)]

[Destroy the Demon's Heart, the source of magic. (Incomplete)]

“The Demon's Heart?”

Upon seeing it, Seonghyun tilted his head, unable to understand.

It was the same with the magic-infused weapons.

Destroy the Demon's Heart?

It didn't seem to have much to do with the Necromancer Lord, the lord of spirits.

While Seonghyun was puzzled.

Helena, who was standing behind him, nodded as if it made sense and kindly explained.

“Handling wraiths, that is, spirits, is quite difficult. In the past, there was no one, and the only beings who could were always the demons.”

“Ah?”

The only beings who could handle spirits were the demons?

It made some sense.

And since it was spirits, not souls, it was a little more understandable.

A task that only the demons, who could be called evil, could perform.

Seonghyun listened silently.

Will also chimed in.

“That is correct. It is known that not even the gods can handle souls. It is known that one can only strengthen their own soul. And the ones who have the most expertise with souls are the demons.”

“Not even the gods can handle them?”

“Yes. Not even the will of the world, which surpasses the gods, can handle them.”

Seeing Will's firm reply.

But I can?

He almost said it.

If it weren't for Helena's mental message.

-The truth is, no one can handle souls. You can think of it as no one being able to handle them like you do, Seonghyun. Even seeing souls was something not even the demons, let alone anyone else, could do. It wasn't for nothing that I said you had a natural talent, you know?

Not even the will of the world, which surpasses the gods, can handle them?

Then what in the world was he?

He had that thought.

But since Seonghyun had already categorized it as a superpower.

He could just let it go.

As Seonghyun, who had lost his focus for a moment, concentrated again.

Helena explained again.

“The demons handle the power that comes from corrupting souls, that is, what is known as magic energy. It is known that they use that power to handle spirits, which are materialized souls.”

“Ah. Then?”

“Yes, most spirits and wraiths have a power similar to that magic energy. Originally, spirits and wraiths could only be handled with magic energy.”

Hearing Helena’s words.

So, if you didn't have magic energy, you couldn't handle spirits.

Does that mean it's different now?

As Seonghyun looked at the two with that expression.

Helena avoided his gaze, looking slightly embarrassed.

Will spoke with a faint smile.

“It was Lady Helena who established that spirits and wraiths, which could originally only be handled with magic energy, could also be handled with black magic power.”

“Ahh.”

So if something that was impossible in the past became possible, was it safe to assume Helena was the reason?

It seemed that way.

In any case, in the past, spirits could only be handled with magic energy.

He wondered if that was why he had to clear these magic-related conditions now.

As Seonghyun was thinking that.

Will nodded as if to say he was correct.

“Yes, that is why a process of understanding magic energy, which can be called the origin of spirit arts, is necessary. After that, if you draw out the power of the Necromancer Lord inherent in the Overlord and succeed my Necromancer Lord, you will be able to draw out the true power of the Necromancer Lord.”

At those words, Seonghyun nodded as if he finally understood.

The reason for gathering five magic-infused weapons and the need to destroy the Demon's Heart.

As Seonghyun stood there.

Will's explanation continued.

“First, the task of gathering the prerequisite magic-infused weapons. If you combine the five magic weapons, a detector that can find demons will be created.”

“Oh?! Then can I just find and kill them like that?”

At Seonghyun's words, Will shook his head.

“Once you find the demon, you must not kill it rashly.”

“Is there some kind of condition?”

“A demon's heart is not housed in its body like a normal living creature's.”

“Huh? Then……”

“They tend to keep it separate, much like a lich's phylactery. So even if you kill them, their body will just be resurrected from the heart, so attacking rashly will lead to big trouble. You can only pursue the demon's physical body with the magic weapons, so you must set a trap to find the heart.”

Seonghyun focused on Will's story.

Since this was now his task.

“Demons disguise themselves, so at a glance, they will look like humans or ordinary creatures. But there is a case where they will definitely lead you to where their heart is.”

As Will spoke meaningfully.

Helena took over the explanation, looking amused.

“It's when they try to corrupt a soul!”

“That is correct.”

As Will agreed with Helena's words.

Seonghyun nodded and asked.

“If a soul is corrupted……”

“You can't control a soul, but you can control a corrupted soul.”

“You can also kill the owner of a corrupted soul and turn them into a spirit. Since the Overlord is an outsider, you probably won't be able to turn a soul into a spirit, so you'll enjoy controlling them.”

“Demons can't stand it when they see a talented individual and want to make them their subordinate. Seonghyun, if you just loiter around, they'll try to lead you to where their heart is on their own.”

“I think so too. It’s likely the demons might fight amongst themselves.”

With that story, Seonghyun gathered all the information about the demons.

He would have to be as careful as possible.

As he thought that, he pondered for a moment.

A thought suddenly occurred to him.

If they can't handle souls, how do they corrupt them?

He was curious, so he asked Helena.

-So Helena, if they can't interfere with souls, how do they corrupt them?

-Actually, they don't corrupt the soul itself, but the aura or energy that the soul emits. In the end, they can't do anything to the soul. That's why I create a similar wavelength with black magic power to handle spirits. When I found out later, it turned out that handling them with black magic power was even more efficient than with magic energy. The demons were so jealous when they saw it, they threw a fit.

At Helena's words, Seonghyun chuckled.

Alright then, now that he had found out about the next condition.

He took out all the magic-infused weapons.

He was very tired today.

But even if he went tomorrow, it would be good to know where he had to go.

As Seonghyun said that and took out the magic weapons.

Will spread out a map as if he had been waiting.

And as the magic weapons were combined into one.

The magic energy intertwined and transformed into the shape of an orb.

And so, the magic energy of the transformed orb rose and pointed to one side of the map.

The location of the nearest demon.

It was none other than the seventh city, Heptarion.

And even there, it was pointing to the magic tower.

“Oh.”

As Seonghyun let out a sound of admiration.

Will's expression, on the contrary, crumpled.

Why was he acting like that?

As Seonghyun looked at Will with a puzzled expression.

Will looked at Seonghyun and explained.

“Hmm, it seems to be in a rather difficult location. I expected it, but.”

“What kind of place is Heptarion?”

Seonghyun, who was still not familiar with the geography.

When he asked back.

Will answered, looking quite troubled.

“It is a city of the Rieskan Kingdom and the location of the Caliber Magic Tower, one of the few magic towers in the Rieskan Kingdom.”

“Ah……”

The Rieskan Kingdom again, you?

That thought naturally came to mind, but he didn't think much of it.

Why was he so serious?

As Seonghyun blinked with that thought.

Will explained again.

“The Sword Saint has just been defeated and returned, so he is probably preparing for retaliation.”

“……Retaliation?”

With Over Palace around, he thought it wouldn't be possible unless he had a death wish.

“It seems there are no Over Palace branches within the Rieskan Kingdom. It is highly likely that he has judged that he can handle it within his own territory and has given the order.”

“……So…… then?”

“It seems it will not be easy to infiltrate. It's not that there is no way, but…… you will have to be thoroughly disguised.”

“Hmm, I guess I'll have to get a job disguised as a knight.”

“I will help you with that part. I will have to write a letter of recommendation.”

“Oho.”

And so, Seonghyun's undercover employment was decided.

It was another first, to go to a magic tower disguised as a knight.