Chapter 159: Chapter 159

Jeong-hoon enjoyed his vacation, having meals with his mother and taking short trips.

After a few days of rest, he prepared to enter the capsule again.

“Son, why don’t you rest a bit more? Aren’t you rushing back in?”

His mother seemed to want to rest a little longer.

He wanted to relax with his mother for a few more days, but time was ticking by relentlessly.

“I want to raise my stats a bit more.”

“Your stats? Haven’t you already raised them a lot?”

“Yes, but I’m still far from where I need to be.”

In the early stages of the integration with reality, if he didn’t reach a certain level, he wouldn’t be able to overcome ‘that’ crisis.

Of course, he could get help from the rankers, but then he would miss out on important items.

He had to somehow recover his previous life’s strength and surpass it to overcome the crises that would befall reality.

“Take care of yourself while you’re at it, okay?”

“Yes, I will.”

Jeong-hoon promised his mother and logged into New World.

He went straight to Chris’s shop.

The promised time had passed, and he was here to receive Mukho.

“You’ve arrived?”

Chris was waiting for Jeong-hoon, pacing in front of his shop.

“I assume the restoration is complete?”

“Yes, it went very well.”

Chris grinned.

“I see.”

“Come in and check it out.”

Jeong-hoon followed him to the smithy.

Mukho was hanging on the wall of the smithy.

Was it because of the restoration?

The overall color seemed more vivid.

===

[Mukho]

– Type: Armor

– Grade: Legendary

– Defense: ? (Adjusted according to the wearer’s level)

– Evasion: ? (Adjusted according to the wearer’s level)

– Physical Damage Reduction: 30%

– Magic Damage Reduction: 30%

– Remaining Durability: 100% (Durability recovers automatically)

– Special Ability (1): When equipped, increases Debuff Resistance by 20%

– Special Ability (2): When equipped, low chance to reflect melee attacks (0.3%)

– Special Ability (3): When equipped, [Passive: Cooldown Reduction] activates automatically

– Special Ability (4): [Active: Invulnerability] can be used

===

The perfectly restored Mukho had blossomed with incredible options.

‘This is amazing. A low chance to reflect melee attacks?’

Jeong-hoon currently had one invincibility skill.

Block.

However, that skill only blocked other skills.

Melee attack reflection was an option that allowed incoming damage to be returned to the attacker.

Also, the newly added passive skill, Cooldown Reduction.

[Cooldown Reduction]

– Type: Passive

– Grade: Legendary

– Reduces the cooldown of all possessed skills by 2%.

A passive skill that reduced the cooldown of all of Jeong-hoon’s skills by 2%.

One might say it was only 2%, but it was important to remember that Mukho’s enhancement level was currently 0.

If it was fully enhanced, it could reach up to 10%.

It was an indispensable option that allowed for faster skill rotation.

[Why are you so late?]

As Jeong-hoon touched Mukho, he heard a grumpy voice.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“I was a bit busy.”

[Funny. You look like you were just resting.]

He was a perceptive fellow.

Jeong-hoon didn’t answer and took off his Epic grade armor.

It was time to equip Mukho.

Changing from the clunky armor to Mukho felt as comfortable as finding his own clothes.

“Thank you for restoring it.”

Jeong-hoon expressed his gratitude to Chris.

“You’re welcome. I was also happy to handle the Luminous Stone.”

Chris grinned.

Handling the Luminous Stone was one thing, but the real highlight was Mukho.

‘I never thought I’d live to see the day I’d touch a Legendary grade item.’

Legendary grade, known to be rarer than Unique.

This was the first time he had ever touched a Legendary grade item.

It was the glory of his family.

[Crazy, what a load of crap. That bastard fondled me for over an hour before he started working!]

Mukho, seemingly creeped out by Chris’s smile, tattled on him to Jeong-hoon.

‘He did?’

[He did! It was so humiliating… Can’t you just smash his face in?]

‘No, I can’t do that.’

Jeong-hoon lightly dismissed Mukho’s request.

* * *

“Where the hell is he…?”

Park Jin-Hyeok couldn’t hide his frustration.

He had been told that Hoon had spoken to Klao, so he had visited all 12 training grounds where artifact enhancement was possible.

But no one had seen a martial artist.

In the end, he failed to find Hoon.

‘Let’s go see Klao.’

Park Jin-Hyeok returned to the Warrior’s Sanctuary and sought out Klao.

“Oh! What brings you here?”

Klao recognized Park Jin-Hyeok at a glance.

They were acquainted, and Park Jin-Hyeok had stood out among the other warriors back then.

“I came by a few days ago, but I apologize for not greeting you then.”

Park Jin-Hyeok bowed his head apologetically.

Klao waved his hand as if to say it was no big deal.

“It’s alright. I also feel uncomfortable holding back someone who’s busy.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“So, what brings you here? Do you need an artifact?”

“Ah, no, not that.”

“Then tell me quickly.”

Klao was ready to listen.

Normally, it would be difficult to even have a casual conversation, but Park Jin-Hyeok was an exception, having gained some of his trust by sweeping all the Unique grade artifacts early on.

“Did a martial artist visit a few days ago?”

“Ah, yes, he did.”

“May I ask what kind of conversation you had…?”

“That’s not a difficult question. He went to take the trial to obtain an artifact.”

“…Is that so?”

Strange.

He had spent days searching the 12 training grounds, but it was all for naught.

Where the hell did he go to take the trial?

“Why? Do you need to meet that martial artist?”

“…Yes. I have something to discuss with him.”

“Then you’re in luck. He’s coming right now.”

Klao pointed towards the entrance of the sanctuary.

Park Jin-Hyeok’s head turned in that direction.

And his eyes widened.

As Klao said, Jeong-hoon was returning to the sanctuary.

* * *

Jeong-hoon returned to the Warrior’s Sanctuary.

He had finished enhancing his artifacts, so it was time to move on to the next plan.

But there was a familiar face in the sanctuary.

‘Park Jin-Hyeok, you were still in the City of Warriors.’

He thought he would have left after searching for a few days.

Park Jin-Hyeok spotted him and walked over with quick strides.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

Park Jin-Hyeok greeted him politely.

But Jeong-hoon had no intention of accepting the greeting.

“No, I haven’t been well.”

“Excuse me…?”

“Someone came and acted so rudely that I get chills whenever I see a myth.”

Park Jin-Hyeok’s shoulders flinched.

He wanted to make some excuse but couldn’t bring himself to speak.

He had made a grave mistake, and there was no room for any excuse.

“…”

“I’m busy, so let’s go our separate ways.”

“W-Wait a minute! I was wrong! Please give me a chance to talk!”

Park Jin-Hyeok knelt with a desperate expression.

Lord Knight Park Jin-Hyeok was kneeling!

The users watching from a distance were shocked.

“What’s going on…?”

“I don’t know either…”

“Film it! Film it and upload it to World Com!”

They zoomed in on Park Jin-Hyeok with their smart lenses and started recording.

As the scene became chaotic, Jeong-hoon let out a sigh.

“Wow, that stalker scum! He followed me all the way here and is making a scene.”

‘Maybe I should just kill that bastard too while I’m at it?’

“That’s a great idea!”

‘Heh, there couldn’t be a better suggestion than that.’

“Yeah! Let’s just finish him off right here!”

Mukho and Anima proposed taking out Park Jin-Hyeok.

However, Jeong-Hoon had no interest in Park Jin-Hyeok.

Although they were once comrades, strictly speaking, he wasn’t a traitor.

‘He died before the others could betray me.’

Before the regression, Park Jin-Hyeok had died before their comrades betrayed Jeong-Hoon.

This was why he hadn’t gone after Park Jin-Hyeok when Hwarang picked a fight with him.

Jeong-Hoon approached Jordan, who was standing at a distance, observing the situation.

“It’s quite noisy. What on earth is going on?”

“I need a space where we can talk for a moment.”

“That’s not a difficult request. Come inside.”

Jordan offered a vacant room next to his quarters.

Jeong-Hoon and Park Jin-Hyeok entered the room.

“Why do you keep putting people in difficult situations?”

“…Please. I’m asking for your mercy.”

“Mercy?”

“Yes… That Hwa-rang bastard may have been rude, but he isn’t inherently a bad person.”

He isn’t inherently a bad person?

Then he shouldn’t have betrayed me in the end.

I was so sure we were on the same page.

Jeong-Hoon let out a scoff.

“This is ridiculous. After everything he did, you’re asking for mercy?”

“…”

“And you followed me all the way here just to bother me with this?”

“I’m sorry…”

Park Jin-Hyeok lowered his head deeply.

“Anyone who defends trash should be executed.”

‘Executed!’

“Rip his limbs apart!”

‘Tear him to pieces!’

“You die here!”

‘Dead!’

‘Both of you, shut up.’

Jeong-Hoon silenced Mukho and Anima.

Just thinking about his former comrades before the regression made his blood boil.

While he had no particular feelings toward Park Jin-Hyeok, if the latter had survived to the end, he might have joined in the betrayal.

You never know with people.

‘What should I do?’

He really didn’t want to forgive him.

Should he just chase Park Jin-Hyeok out of here?

As Jeong-Hoon was pondering, a clever idea came to mind.

“So you want me to lift the one-year suspension with just an apology?”

“Of course not! Is there anything you desire? Just say the word!”

“Then sever all ties with Lee Hwa-rang and the Myth Guild. If you do, I’ll reduce your sentence by three months, to nine.”

A whopping three-month reduction.

It was truly an exceptional offer.

“Yes, I’ll do it.”

Park Jin-Hyeok accepted without a second’s hesitation.

“…Really?”

Jeong-hoon was slightly taken aback.

He thought Park Jin-Hyeok would at least hesitate a bit, but an immediate answer?

“This is the last bit of loyalty I’m upholding. I’ve been relegated to the bottom ranks in Myth anyway, so I was already considering leaving the guild.”

Park Jin-Hyeok had completely lost his attachment to Myth.

Of course, the same went for Lee Hwa-rang.

From the moment he felt the threat of death from Sa Jae-Hyeok because of Lee Hwa-rang and was demoted from his executive position, he no longer wanted to stay in Myth.

The only reason he was stepping up like this was because he couldn’t bear to see Lee Hwa-rang suffering.

After all, he was the one who brought him into New World in the first place.

So this was the last time he would act for his sake.

“Is that so? Then prove it.”

“Prove it…?”

“Yes.”

* * *

[Why not just crush him…?]

‘It’s a bit of a waste.’

Regret filled the voices of Mukho and Anima.

It was because Jeong-hoon had let Park Jin-Hyeok go without harming him.

“He didn’t directly provoke us. We lack justification.”

If Park Jin-Hyeok had attacked, Jeong-hoon would have crushed him, but he had taken a submissive stance.

So Jeong-hoon decided to test him.

‘Leave Myth and join Ho-Yeong.’

The reason for setting such a condition was simple.

‘To completely sever Lee Hwa-rang’s limbs.’

To Lee Hwa-rang, Park Jin-Hyeok was his most precious friend.

After Park Jin-Hyeok sacrificed himself for his comrades, Lee Hwa-rang had held his corpse and wept for a long time.

‘Hwa-rang, let’s see how you feel.’

The feeling of being abandoned by the only friend you trusted.

Even if it wasn’t to the same extent as the betrayal Jeong-hoon had experienced before his regression, the sense of betrayal and loss would be immense.

“Well then, shall I continue with what I was doing?”

Jeong-hoon went to find the NPC Wolf.

Wolf was an NPC in the City of Warriors who offered a wide variety of quests.

“Oh! What brings a martial artist here?”

Wolf greeted Jeong-hoon with a grin.

“I’d like to undertake a quest.”

“Is that so? You’re certainly qualified. Take your pick.”

As Wolf finished speaking, a holographic screen appeared in front of Jeong-hoon.

There were three categories on the screen.

1. Daily Quests

2. Weekly Quests

3. Monthly Quests

First up, the Daily Quests.

These are repeatable quests that reset every day at midnight.

The second category is Weekly Quests.

These quests can only be undertaken once a week and are refreshed every Monday at midnight.

The last category is Monthly Quests.

You could say these quests are refreshed on the 1st of every month at midnight.

And what Jeong-hoon wanted to do was a Weekly Quest.

‘I’ll change the future here too.’

Originally, this dungeon wouldn’t be discovered until much later, after the realization of reality had taken place.

He intended to reveal this dungeon early.

———-