Translator: rainbowturtle
Editor: LD & Jyazen
After the third awakening, Tang-Eâs appearance changed quite a lot. His fur had turned black. The first thing Hyeonu saw was Tang-Eâs ears. The fur covering those round ears had been dyed black. In addition, there were small black circles on both of Tang-Eâs cheeks.
âTang-E... You...â Hyeonu stared at Tang-E with a serious expression, looking like someone who had noticed a big problem.
Of course, Tang-E reacted with a trembling voice while his two eyes were busy looking all around him: âWhatâs going on, Master dude... What is the problem? Is something there?â
He quickly approached Hyeonu, grabbed his hand, and shook him.
âItâs so fun even if it is the third time...â Hyeonu held back the laugh that wanted to burst out. Tang-Eâs appearance didnât look strange. If there was a problem, it was that he was too cute.
âYes, there is a problem. What should I do?â Hyeonu didnât stop joking though. No, he couldnât do so. It was very fun to see Tang-Eâs constantly changing expression. This was better than watching any of the interesting videos available in the world.
âWhat problem? Huh? Master...â Tang-E grabbed both of his ears with his paws and started banging them. He turned around with his back to Hyeonu. It was then that Hyeonu saw that Tang-Eâs tail, which was the size of a fist, was also black now.
âPfft!â Hyeonu laughed. It was up to here; he could no longer endure it. He fell for Tang-Eâs new charming point.
âThe problem is that youâre so cute, Tang-E. How can you be so cute?âHyeonu tucked his hands under Tang-Eâs armpits and lifted him up. Then he rubbed his face against Tang-Eâs face.
âLet me go, damn Master dude. Is it good to make such a joke?â Tang-E worked hard to escape from Hyeonuâs arms. However, Hyeonu used the giant buffs to ignore Tang-Eâs struggle. Tang-E pouted, but Hyeonu was inwardly sighing with relief.
âThere is nothing wrong,â Hyeonu thought. If there were a problem with the third awakening, it would be hard for Hyeonu to face Tang-Eâs parents.
Thinking what could have happened, Tang-E felt even angrier toward Hyeonu. Yet Hyeonu didnât know Tang-Eâs heart and played such a joke on him.
âDamn Master dude!â Tang-E sincerely struck Hyeonuâs chest with his paw.
***
Hyeonu and Tang-E rolled around, play-fighting, for a long time. There was even a slight change in the surrounding terrain, but they were obviously joking around. When Hyeonu finally released Tang-E, the latter returned to Bung Bung Island slightly angry. Of course, before he left, Hyeonu promised to call him within a short period of time.
âI need to check the skills and stats.âHyeonu finally remembered the message windows that had appeared after Tang-Eâs third awakening.âShould I start with the skill first?â
Honestly, Hyeonu was much more curious about the new skill than the status window. Stats could increase by leveling up, so they rose a lot more frequently than skills were created.
âTang-Eâs skill window.âHyeonu opened Tang-Eâs skill window and found a skill with a strange name. The new skill was kindly at the top of the list.
[Dancing with a Bear]
[The Marionette clan has been with their partners from generation to generation. A partnership is a sincere relationship, regardless of whether they are a master or friend.
Type: Continuous
Rating: Epic
Skill Proficiency: F
Effect: All stats will rise by 30% when the user and caster confirm each otherâs locations. The partner will get the same effect.]
The skill that Tang-E gained through the third awakening had a different ratingâepic. The epic-rated skill also had a very good effect. If Hyeonu and Tang-E were in the same space, all of their stats would increase by a huge 30%. The condition of use was very simple. He really wanted to grab onto Tang-E and dance like the skill name suggested.
âI just have to summon him, and I will get a 30% stats increase.â
The third awakening had a direct effect not only on Tang-E but also on Hyeonu. Hyeonu closed Tang-Eâs skill window with a bright smile. Then he summoned the status window straight away.
âTang-Eâs status window.â
[Status Window]
[Name: Tang-E
Level: 300
Species: Marionette Bear (Third awakening)
Title: Bung Bung Islandâs Heir
Stats: Strength: 2,559 Agility: 2,583 Physique: 2,997 Magic Power: 5,743 (+861) Wisdom: 1,785
The heir of Bung Bung Island. Bear-like physical abilities and high magic power are racial characteristics. He is very affectionate, unlike his prideful tone. After the third awakening in the demon world, there is the dark attribute.
Intimacy: 100n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Skills Possessed: Bearâs Momentum, Forestâs Blessing, Magic Power Affinity, Lightning, Giant Transformation, Roar, Ice, Fire, Subspace, Burning Magic Power, Breath of the Wind, Wish Bead Transmutation, Dancing with a Bear
Retained Attributes: Dark]
The stats had also changed significantly. Except for the newly earned wisdom stat, all the stats were over 2,000. In particular, the magic power stat was over 6,000.
âIâm envious, envious...â
Hyeonu wondered if he could even achieve these stats before Arenaâs service ended. There were no big changes apart from that. The corruption attribute had disappeared, and the dark attribute took its place.
âI wish the corruption attribute had been left as well, but... that is just being greedy.â
Hyeonu had been anticipating that the corruption attribute wouldnât disappear but instead combine like in Hyeonuâs situation. However, those expectations were broken. All that remained now was the dark attribute. Still, he wasnât disappointed. Expectations were nothing more than expectations. Hyeonu hadnât thought it would go as he expected anyway. He had been merely keeping the possibilities open.
âNow, it is my time to grow...â
Tang-Eâs advancement period was over, so Hyeonu turned to thinking about his own growth. The goal was 8 stars for the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art. It was a step toward the bigger goal that was just around the corner.
***
Hyeonu completely forgot about Garcia. Due to Tang-Eâs third awakening and his concentration on reaching 8 stars in the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art, he didnât consider Garcia at all. This was immediately reflected in Hyeonuâs movements. He left Penn and headed to another city. This time, he didnât move blindly. Hyeonu had a set destination.
âViscount Ergal.â
He was heading to Viscount Ergalâs home. Last time, he had to run away due to an unexpected accident, but this time would be different. He had many reasons for targeting Viscount Ergal. Vengeance was just one of them, but the biggest reason was something else.
âThere is a magic power stone in Ergalâs castle.â
Hyeonu wanted the magic power stone. To be exact, it was to absorb magic power using the magic power stoneâthis was the goal. Of course, the fact that Ergalâs territory was a good hunting ground only played a large part in it. Hyeonu had personally experienced that there were many demons and demonic creatures there.
âTang-Eâs presence is above that of a demon baron.â
In addition, Tang-E would show off a greater presence in group battles. The more opponents there were, the better as he could use three types of magic.
âIt is a good combination with my debuffs.â
Hyeonu didnât expect his debuffs to have a huge role in the demon world. After all, they couldnât cause any abnormal statuses because most demons had the fighting energy and killing intent stats. There was only the level difference, which led to a slight stats reduction effect. He didnât know about how it would have been before, but it was enough now.
Tang-E, who was now stronger, would take care of everything.
âTang-E, do you want to go and get revenge?â Hyeonu asked Tang-E, who was enjoying a meat skewer in Hyeonuâs arms.
âRevenge? Who are you going to get revenge on, Master dude?â
Tang-E didnât care much about the previous escape. Otherwise, he wouldnât be so forgetful.
âDonât you remember the guy who asked me to hand you over?âHyeonu pulled out the topic that Tang-E hated the most. There were many ways to describe Viscount Ergal, but this explanation was the best one to induce a dramatic reaction from Tang-E.
âThatâs right. That strange fellow! He treated me as a thing! He tried to separate me from Master dude!â Tang-E responded like Hyeonu intended. Tang-E was furious. He placed the rest of the meat in his mouth in an instant and threw the wooden skewer on the ground, embedding it deeply in the ground like it had been there in the first place.
âThen what should I do?âHyeonu wondered in a quiet voice.
âWhat else, Master dude? Only a violent beating can relieve my anger.â
The smile on Hyeonuâs face deepened at Tang-Eâs decisive answer.
***
Hyeonu stood at the checkpoint at the entrance of Viscount Ergalâs territory. He was confident even if he couldnât use the identity of Argon. In fact, he didnât even wear a mask. He just stood there with his face revealed.
âThank you very much for visiting the territory of Viscount Ergal under the command of Damanos, the demon king of iron blood. However, there is still a set process. You have to tell me the purpose of your visit.â The guard trembled as he finished what he was saying.
The reason why he was shaking was simple. Hyeonu was emitting a lot of pressure, and it wasnât even spread out. He focused it only on the guard.
âAre you asking about my identity now? A mere guard?â Hyeonu growled in a low voice like a beast. Hyeonuâs momentum became tangible and turned into a black-red mist.
âI-Iâm sorry. I was impolite. Please show mercy just once...â The guard knelt down and asked Hyeonu for forgiveness.
âBah, Iâll let it go today, but next time, Iâll pull that useless eye straight out, you know?â Hyeonu left a strong threat and leisurely walked into the city.
There was a faint smile on Hyeonuâs face.
âIndeed... I thought it would work.â
Hyeonu devised the strategy he used at the checkpoint. Through his experience with the demon world, he had become well aware of the behavior of the nobles in the demon world. Viscount Garcia wasnât like that, but the ordinary nobles, including Viscount Ergal, were very arrogant. They treated the ordinary demons and demonic creatures like they were cattle. Only the demons who exceeded their standards were given the right treatment.
âI got the idea from there.â
Hyeonuâs first visit to Ergalâs city had been a great help in anticipating the success rate of this strategy. At that time, he had seen the guards. They clearly had a posture that was filled with fear. Hyeonu had been confident that this strategy would work unconditionally. As he expected, it resulted in his current success.
Then Hyeonu used the Mysterious Sky Steps to move through the streets. His movements were like a ghost, and the demons and demonic creatures couldnât see him. They couldnât recognize him at all, let alone attack. Hyeonu soon reached his destination and came to a stop. There was a huge building in front of himâthe Colosseum.
âThe probability of him being here is the highest.â
Hyeonu chose to cut him from the head.