Chapter 629

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Chapter 629: Toward the Unknown (1)

“Group score settlement? So we finally get to go home.”

As Yeongwoo stared into the empty air, blinking, Sezail asked cautiously.

— You… when you leave this place, do you return to your planetary ship?

He had already confirmed through the Authority System that his opponent was a planetary shipmaster, and genuine curiosity drove the question.

“Huh? Of course I go back to my planetary ship.”

— Then is that… a planet? I’ve heard planetary ships are planetary systems unto themselves.

Sezail blinked his three eyes in succession.

Even if one were a royal prince candidate from a famous royal family, how often would they ever get the chance to meet a planetary shipmaster?

Naturally, he wanted to ask everything he’d always been curious about while he had the chance.

“It’s not quite accurate to call it a planetary system itself, but celestial bodies do orbit around the planetary ship. That includes a star.”

— A star revolves around the planetary ship…?

“We use that star as a power source. You really don’t know anything about planetary ships.”

— Not just me. The other candidates are the same.

This time, Yeongwoo asked something he’d been curious about.

“So… do prince candidates fight each other?”

— If they encounter one another, of course. There’s no better method than directly eliminating rival candidates.

“That’s brutal. Then if you ever need fire support, contact me. Of course, you’ll have to pay the mobilization fee. Let’s say… about five billion to fire some cannons for you?”

As Yeongwoo handed over the Earth Ship’s communication code while saying that, Sezail looked utterly baffled.

— If I pay you five billion… you’ll bring your planetary ship to wherever I ask?

“I’ll fire on the people you want dead. What, doesn’t that tempt you?”

Sezail replied blankly.

— Aren’t planetary ships wonders of the universe…? Why would you do something like that?

“Even wonders of the universe need money to survive. Other planetary ships probably don’t live all that nobly either.”

The fact that every planetary ship except one bore at least two collision scars made that much obvious.

Most previous planetary shipmasters had been insane battle maniacs, with ideas as crude as the depths of space itself.

“Anyway, if you ever urgently need fire support, consider it.”

— But I wouldn’t know when or where I might need it.

“No matter where in the universe, we can arrive within a sufficiently short time.”

That statement practically denied all known laws of space.

Naturally, Sezail had to ask again.

— …How?

“That’s a trade secret. Anyway, as long as it’s not something that needs to be shot immediately, we can go anywhere. If you think you’ll need it, prepare the money in advance.”

Just as Yeongwoo finished speaking, a massive holographic message appeared in the air.

「Settlement complete.」

“Ah, finally.”

Holding his breath as he waited for the next message, Yeongwoo heard Gehika ask excitedly.

— A-are we really first place?

“Obviously. One competitor was eliminated, and the other one’s sitting right there.”

— First place in a Unique Dungeon… the reward should be substantial.

Gehika couldn’t help but feel hopeful.

After all, he was the head of a struggling family.

The money earned here would have to sustain his clan for quite some time—of course he cared about the first-place reward.

Yeongwoo, on the other hand, felt a twinge of regret.

‘So we didn’t get the hidden reward after all. I wonder if it was a catalog… or something else.’

As Yeongwoo let out a small sigh, the group settlement results were finally revealed.

「1st Place – 2 members, Blood Battle.」

— Two people? That really means us?

The moment Gehika gaped in shock, four golden laser beams shot down from the air.

Piaaaaat!

Two lines stood before Yeongwoo, and two before Gehika.

“Rewards are paid out immediately here. That’s unusual.”

Unlike normal dungeons, the Slaughterground had no individual evaluations or score differences among party members.

As long as you were in the same group, rewards were identical regardless of individual contribution.

‘Wait… if I’d been alone in the group, would I have gotten everything?’

As Yeongwoo entertained that rather terrifying thought, Gehika—who had checked his reward first—let out a scream bordering on a shriek.

— W-what? W-what is this?!

“What is it?”

Yeongwoo quickly reached out to the two golden beams in front of him.

Tap.

That was when the reason for Gehika’s shock became clear.

「Great Presence」 – Epic Tool

【Allows the holder to receive invitations to Epic Dungeons.】

“…What?”

Yeongwoo’s eyes widened as he read the first reward.

‘So that’s it. You had to place first in a Unique Dungeon just to even glimpse a Epic Dungeon.’

The appearance condition for Epic Dungeons was victory in a Unique Dungeon.

The Epic Tool “Great Presence” was a small, diamond-shaped metal object.

“It doesn’t look like a one-time item. More like a token.”

As Yeongwoo asked while holding it, Gehika nodded.

— Now I see why Epic Dungeons are so rare. The entry conditions themselves are absurd.

“But for you, it’s just a pie in the sky. You can’t challenge a Epic Dungeon anyway, right?”

— I have no intention of digging my own grave. I’ll either save it until I’m strong enough, or sell it to some clueless young noble.

Selling it to scions of great families who wished to enter a Epic Dungeon would fetch a hefty price.

Naturally, Yeongwoo had no intention of selling such an opportunity.

‘So as long as I have this, a Epic Dungeon might appear the next time a dungeon spawns?’

Then what about the second reward?

As Yeongwoo turned his gaze to the next beam of light, three sword-shaped symbols appeared, as if they’d been waiting.

Immediately after, thirty billion was dumped into his balance.

[Translator - Night]

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Shwaaaah!

“What? The second reward is just money.”

Yeongwoo looked slightly disappointed—he’d been hoping for some rare equipment—but Gehika was already over the moon.

— Thirty billion… paid all at once?

For him, thirty billion was an enormous sum.

After all, he hadn’t even been able to offer more than ten billion for his own life.

— Thank goodness. I’ll pay you the promised ten billion immediately.

As Gehika tried to fulfill the contract, Yeongwoo almost pulled out Bastard to squeeze out the remaining twenty billion—then stopped himself.

“Honestly, I should take it all, but there’s no need to be that ruthless with a struggling clan head.”

And besides, it wasn’t like he lacked cash right now.

Once he received ten billion from Gehika, Yeongwoo’s balance would reach a whopping 140 billion.

— That’s good to hear. Thank you.

Gehika thanked him while being extorted.

Soon, as Gehika transferred ten billion karma, a system message appeared before Yeongwoo.

「Hypocrisy detected!」

‘…Hypocrisy?’

Blinking at the unexpected alert, Yeongwoo saw a follow-up message.

[Saving Gehika Liga]

| Grade Evaluation: D

_You spared Gehika, head of the Liga family, and refrained from extorting additional money despite being able to.

_It is never easy for a villain to abandon their role as a villain. Gehika will not forget this.

‘Ah.’

The Hypocrite Catalog had reacted because Yeongwoo spared Gehika without ulterior motives.

In truth, it was closer to him simply having forgotten about the catalog altogether.

「‘Gehika Liga’ has been added to the Hypocrite Catalog.」

「You now take 5% less damage from all ‘Liga’.」

‘Not like taking less damage from a struggling clan matters much, but still—another slot filled.’

[Hypocrite Catalog]

〔6〕

[Collection Effect: 5]

| Damage dealt to evil actors +20%.

Yeongwoo’s Hypocrite Catalog count was now at six.

The next collection effect would likely unlock at ten.

‘But then why didn’t my goodwill toward Sezail count? Too transactional?’

As Yeongwoo scratched his forehead, a golden beam descended in front of Sezail as well.

— So I’m second place.

Sezail’s reward was twenty billion in cash.

That money would likely be used to purchase tokens to locate the next Unique Dungeon.

“Hey, don’t forget my offer. If you want the Earth Ship to join a battle, send the money along with the coordinates.”

Sezail scowled and snapped back.

— You think I’d pay money to ask for your help? I don’t need that kind of assistance—

“If you’re really that outstanding, do you think the other princes will leave you alone? No matter how strong you are, what can you do against a royal fleet?”

— Are you saying that, for money, you’d even fire on a royal fleet?

“Of course. On my ship, there’s nothing money can’t buy.”

— You’re completely insane.

Sezail let out a hollow laugh, utterly incredulous.

“I’m not joking. When you feel like you’re about to die, contact me. I’ll solve the problem.”

Yeongwoo tilted his head slightly, then shifted his gaze toward the portal that appeared ahead.

“Looks like they’re telling us to leave. Try not to die pointless deaths, all of you.”

Gehika performed the formal farewell of his clan.

— I do owe you my life. If the Typesetter wills it, perhaps we’ll meet again someday.

[PR/N: 629 chaps and I still dont understand what or who this typesetter is 😭does he maintain the records? Is it sentient?]

“If you want to see me again, send money.”

As if he’d just remembered, Yeongwoo shoved the Earth Ship’s communication code into Gehika’s hand as well.

“Alright then, see you next time!”

As Yeongwoo stepped into the portal, the scenery changed instantly.

He found himself back in the vacant lot of Gwangjin District, where he’d been before entering the dungeon.

Chwiaaaaat!

Toxic rain still lashed down from the sky, and in the distance, Negwig and the golden goblin sheltering beneath it could be seen waiting.

‘I’ll never get used to portals, no matter how many times I use them.’

Yeongwoo waved a hand to summon Negwig, then spoke to Earth through his consciousness.

‘I just got back. Where are we right now?’

Earth responded, its presence stirring.

○ You arrived just in time. I was already in conversation with the black hole.

‘What? I told you not to make contact until I returned.’

○ It initiated communication the moment we entered its domain. We didn’t have the right to refuse.

‘The black hole contacted us first?’

○ Yes. You should come quickly.

There was a hint of fear in Earth’s voice, and Yeongwoo tilted his head.

‘Why? Is there a problem?’

○ This black hole… is angry.

‘What, angry?’

○ It seems your senior caused a bit of an incident before leaving.

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