Chapter 52 : The new transcendent

The summoning slots increased, but unlike with Vanesha, transcendents did not appear quickly.

Instead, a sleek black luxury vehicle quietly stopped near the antique store.

Even passersby paused in their steps and stared at the incredibly expensive model.

A vehicle with an R&R mark.

RollX Roy.

It was even a limited edition Phantom Bespoke.

“Wow, I wonder how much that costs.”

The person inside must be incredibly rich.

As I was quietly observing the vehicle, the driver’s side door opened, and a familiar person got out.

“Huh?”

I blinked in surprise at the familiar figure.

Dressed in a perfectly neat suit, as if to reflect their upright personality. Eyes as blue as a lake.

The person who got out was Rachel.

While I was watching, Rachel opened the antique store door and entered.

“Mr. Seo-jun, I’m here to pick you up.”

“Rachel, you’re early.”

“I thought it would be better to leave early for the gate. If you have any business, I’ll wait.”

“No, I was just waiting for you, Rachel.”

I was supposed to meet Rachel today, regarding the Napoleon relics.

At that moment, Jeanne, who had heard the door open, came out.

“Rachel, welcome.”

“Jeanne, long time no see.”

The two greeted each other warmly, as they had already become acquainted at Toulon Gate. They then greeted Vanesha as well.

“This is Vanesha Walker.”

“I’m Rachel Bonaparte.”

“I heard you helped with the Silver Prince.”

“Silver Prince…?”

Rachel looked puzzled until Vanesha’s gaze turned to me, and she quickly shook her head.

“It wasn’t a big deal.”

“I see.”

Vanesha, who had trailed off, smiled brightly.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“I also look forward to it.”

Had Vanesha always greeted people like that?

It was an unexpected response, especially from Vanesha, who was typically indifferent to everyone except me and Jeanne.

I wasn’t sure whether it was a good response.

“Shall we go, the three of us? I will escort you to the gate.”

“Thank you. But…”

I glanced at Rachel’s black jacket pocket and tilted my head.

Vrrr~

Her phone had been ringing continuously since earlier.

“Do you mind if I don’t answer it?”

“It’s not important, so it’s fine.”

Rachel took out her phone and pressed the reject button. Just as we were about to exit the store and get into the vehicle…

“Rachel Bonaparte. I received your call.”

─Master! How many times have I told you not to drive abroad yourself! And last night, you wore that outfit again—

BEEP.

Rachel, having hung up the call, turned to me and said nonchalantly.

“It’s nothing. Let’s get in.”

“Ah, yes.”

Given her natural reaction, this didn’t seem like the first time this had happened.

I couldn’t understand the content, but I had a feeling it was just some scolding.

“It’s just nagging.”

Jeanne quietly whispered in my ear.

So it was just nagging after all.

It seems even the head of the Bonaparte family gets scolded.

There was something oddly human about Rachel, who was usually so upright.

By the way…

‘This is no joke.’

As soon as we got in the vehicle, the world that had been daylight turned into night.

A sparkling galaxy spread across the ceiling, and a small refrigerator was placed between the seats.

“We’re leaving now.”

Rachel, now seated in the driver’s seat, smoothly drove the vehicle. It felt like I was being escorted.

‘Maybe I should buy a car too…’

Though I have a learner’s permit.

“Rachel.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“I heard that the purpose of today’s gate is to recover Napoleon’s relics.”

“That’s correct. We’ve determined that Napoleon’s bicorne is at the Goblin King’s Palace.”

I already knew the general reason for the visit from Rachel before we set off.

The goal was to recover Napoleon’s relics.

Of course, not all relics of great figures were valuable.

The value of a relic depends on how much significance the historical figure attached to it.

Just like how you wouldn’t consider a daily-use item the same as something someone had used their whole life.

Generally speaking, that’s how it is.

‘But Napoleon’s relics are different.’

Napoleon was famous for attaching great meaning to his belongings.

Even the smallest object he owned could be considered “rare,” as he valued everything he used or awarded.

Maybe that’s why Napoleon’s relics were scattered so widely, they were innumerable.

Almost everything from the Bonaparte family could be considered a relic of Napoleon.

However, Napoleon also had a strong attachment to himself.

It’s said that the relics he left behind could only be truly handled by him.

The problem was, if one of those relics fell into the wrong hands, it could become tainted and unleash some kind of power.

If it were a relic to which Napoleon attached great value, it could be a disaster.

That was why Rachel was collecting Napoleon’s relics.

For me, I was fine with taking the relics if we found them.

‘If it’s useful, then great.’

If it’s usable, I can use it, and if not, I can absorb its magical energy into an artifact stone.

I was the only one in the world who could truly awaken Napoleon’s relics.

‘The bicorne is in this gate, right?’

A curiosity popped into my mind, and I asked Rachel.

“I know there are quite a few bicornes of Napoleon, but how many are there exactly?”

“According to estimates from the family, there are 326 bicornes of Napoleon.”

“Estimates?”

“Yes, there could be more if we search further.”

Is this person a hat king?

I now recalled my previous encounter with Napoleon.

Back then, Napoleon was always changing his hats.

Every time he entered the antique store, he wore a different bicorne.

According to one story, Napoleon would throw his bicorne to his subordinates during battles to encourage them.

With so many relics, it seemed like he placed great value even on a rifle he gave me, enough to add legendary status to it. Was it something to boast about?

It was a strange feeling.

“We’ve arrived.”

As I was thinking, we had already reached Inwang Mountain, where the gate was located.

We climbed the old stone stairs, and a dense, dark forest spread before us.

==

[Entering the Goblin King’s Palace.]

==

A dark forest filled with eerie energy.

Pale goblin fires danced sporadically within the woods.

‘This is a higher-tier gate. The atmosphere is completely different.’

The Goblin King’s Palace was an A-2 gate.

It would definitely be a different level from the gates I had experienced before.

The air itself felt heavier, maybe it was just my imagination.

Boom, boom.

The forest rumbled as a goblin holding a spiked club appeared. It looked like an ogre, but with two heads.

‘A twin-headed ogre?’

Since it was Korean, maybe it should be called a goblin instead.

Now that I looked, it also had three arms.

“Grhrhr…”

The bloodshot eyes of the creature glared at us.

And then.

Swish—

A goblin’s head fell to the ground.

Before it could even react, its limbs and remaining heads were severed in succession.

“Let’s go.”

Rachel, who had swung her sword before I even noticed, was shaking the blood off her blade.

As if she had just taken down some minor mob.

“Ah, okay.”

I followed Rachel as she walked ahead.

But first, I should recover some mana.

The Snowflower Stone absorbs mana.

As we entered the forest, goblins with grotesque numbers of limbs and heads appeared one after another.

However, there was no sense of tension.

Fwoosh!

“Graaah!”

A goblin struck by Jeanne’s light clutched its eyes and rolled on the ground.

Swish— Slash, slash.

Rachel and Vanessa cut them down like weeds.

“Um, what should I do?”

“Eungong, please take care of any goblins we miss from behind.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

…But, there aren’t any that you’re missing…

• The Snowflower Stone absorbs mana.

The Snowflower Stone, floating in midair, eagerly absorbed the mana from the dead goblins.

727…….

“Ancestor—! You can take this one!”

Rachel sent a goblin my way to help with my training.

“Grr… Grrr—”

‘Uh, this one looks too pitiful to kill…’

The goblin Rachel sent my way already had only one arm left.

Even its stance looked slightly hunched.

‘Well, either way, it’s still a strong one.’

I stayed vigilant and used Shadow Step to approach the goblin.

“Grooar!”

I dodged its attack as it swung its last remaining arm.

Stab!

I finished it off by piercing its chest with Twin Dragon Blades.

Dodge, stab. It felt surprisingly satisfying.

After that, Rachel kept sending me crippled goblins one by one.

‘Is this… power leveling?’

It felt like she was just letting me get the finishing blows.

I briefly wondered if this was okay, but quickly brushed the thought aside.

Who cares.

A good deal is a good deal.

Since it was a high-level gate, the training was unexpectedly effective. Plus, I was earning a decent amount of mana.

The Snowflower Stone absorbs mana.

In the distance, a goblin wearing a bicorne hat like Napoleon’s charged toward us in rage.

“Ancestor, you’ve worked hard.”

“Eungong, great job.”

“Seo-jun, well done.”

“I barely did anything. You three did all the work.”

It felt awkward to receive praise when I hadn’t really done much.

“No, Ancestor. Your movements have improved compared to before.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Eungong, you’ve definitely gotten better.”

“Your Shadow Step has improved too. Keep training like this, and you’ll progress even further.”

…Really?

All I did was clear one gate.

I was unsure, but since all three of them were saying the same thing, it seemed true. I must have improved at least a little.

Though, it almost felt like they were praising me just to keep me in the backline…

Pushing that unsettling thought aside, I picked up the bicorne we had obtained from the gate.

Napoleon’s Rifle recognizes Napoleon’s 168th bicorne.

===

[Napoleon’s Bicorne (168)]
[Grade: Rare]

A bicorne gifted by Napoleon, who was satisfied with his hairstyle, to his personal barber, Constantin.
Wearing it somehow makes fear on the battlefield disappear.

===

‘This is a total troll item.’

Now I understood why the goblin wearing the bicorne hadn’t tried to run away, even when its limbs were severed.

But.

“Are you sure I can have this?”

“If you want it, you may take it. As long as it doesn’t fall into the hands of the Aberrants.”

With Rachel’s permission, I immediately had the Snowflower Stone absorb the bicorne’s mana.

Woooong—

The Snowflower Stone, now infused with the bicorne’s mana, vibrated.

‘Its color seems to have darkened.’

Just a little more mana, and I’d be able to set it in my relic slot.

Though, I’d have to expand my slots first.

“Thank you, Rachel.”

“I’m glad it was useful.”

Rachel smiled faintly.

“So, where should we go for the next gate?”

“…There’s another one?”

“Yes, 38 of Napoleon’s relics have been confirmed in Korea.”

Is she some kind of relic collector?

I was speechless, but it worked out well for me.

All I needed was more mana.

After clearing the gate, we hitched a ride in Rachel’s car and returned to the General Store.

“See you next time.”

“Good work.”

Rachel gave a polite nod before getting into the driver’s seat. Moments later, the car drove away.

Vroom—

I watched the departing vehicle for a moment before opening the door to the General Store.

But.

“Hm?”

Inside, where I was sure I had locked everything up, stood an unfamiliar man.

‘A thief?’

He was a burly man with tanned, muscular skin.

“Eungong, step back.”

Vanessa stepped in front of me, her cold gaze fixed on the man.

“Ah, my apologies. I was just browsing since the owner wasn’t here.”

The man lifted his head.

His intense amber eyes, like those of a wild beast, met mine.

At the same time, a message appeared in my mind.

• You have encountered a Transcendent from a failed timeline.

The man I had mistaken for a thief was actually a Transcendent who had come to my General Store.