episode_0152

152. The End of the Murim.

Gulp-

Johann devoured the last remaining morsels without leaving any behind. His magic power increased by another level.

The Ten Thousand Year Snow Tea was an elixir of extreme yin. On the other hand, Baekhwan was an elixir of extreme yang.

The two elixirs created a subtle harmony. Johann clenched his fist without realizing it.

‘Now I can use ice or water-related spells as much as fire spells.’

The advantage of magic lies in its versatility. Johann’s combat power has increased by at least a few levels.

Clang!

At that moment, Sarah and Samahan exchanged blows once again. Their figures slid back, widening the distance between them.

The two men and women looked at each other for a moment, then nodded simultaneously.

Samahan smiled and said.

“I really regret this. I should have taken Sword Commander as my disciple.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“I like your personality, it’s very different from some people.”

Johann chuckled. Then, a bright red fireball was created on Johann’s palm.

“Shall I show the hot taste to someone with a bad personality?”

“······This rude bastard, you’re threatening your teacher just because you’ve gotten a little stronger?”

“My teacher is not you, old man. It’s the former leader of the Black Forest Clan.”

Samahan nodded.

“Indeed, taking you as a disciple was the biggest mistake of my life.”

“I’m not your disciple.”

It was the moment when Johann and Samahan were pouring out meaningless small talk. Footsteps were getting closer and closer. Johann and Samahan turned their heads at the same time.

Samahan’s eyes lit up slightly at Johann’s movement.

‘Look at this? His ability to sense presence has become extraordinary.’

Tap tap tap-

The identity of the footsteps was Gwang-ui. Gwang-ui quickly approached and stood in front of Johann and Samahan.

Gwang-ui bowed his head.

“You’ve worked hard. Master. Sir Hosen.”

“What’s going on?”

“Ah, the Lord is looking for you. He says he has something to give you.”

“Something to give······? Ah, I think I know what it is. Let’s go.”

Johann turned around and gestured to Sarah.

“Ms. Sarah. It seems the item is ready.”

“Yes.”

Sarah came up to Johann’s side with hurried steps.

Immediately afterwards, the three men and women, including Gwang-ui, set off for the Lord’s office.

***

Squeak- Johann opened the door with a blank expression.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

“Oh. You’ve come. Sit down.”

There were a total of three men sitting in the office. Black Wolf, wrapped in bandages all over his body, and Chief Manager Shim. The other one was, of course, the Black King.

There were two small wooden boxes in front of the Black King, and Johann quickly realized what those items meant.

Johann sat down with a thud and asked.

“Did you finally get the elixir?”

The Black King nodded slightly.

“It was hard to get. Good elixirs are something that martial artists are willing to protect even at the cost of their lives.”

“Was the sacrifice quite large?”

“No, not really. In the end, everyone becomes generous when they’re on the verge of death.”

“Oh······.”

Indeed, that was true.

“Please explain.”

“I will explain.”

“Yes.”

Chief Manager Shim cleared his throat slightly and said.

“First, one is the Great Revitalizing Pill.”

“Great Revitalizing Pill? Didn’t they say that the Sword Saint consumed that?”

“Another one has been created. Or, to be more precise, it was made.”

“······Is that something that can just be created out of nowhere?”

At those words, Chief Manager Shim chuckled.

“Lord. Do you happen to know how the Great Revitalizing Pill is made?”

“I don’t know.”

“Here’s a hint, it usually takes 40 years to make the Great Revitalizing Pill. And the abbot of the Shaolin Temple is usually replaced every 40 years.”

In an instant, a terrible thought flashed through Johann’s mind.

“Is it what I’m thinking it is?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Johann felt a slight throbbing in his head for a moment.

“······But, the remains of the Divine Monk should be near the Yellow River, so how did you make the Great Revitalizing Pill?”

“I took it and asked for it. Or was it forced?”

“Oh······.”

Indeed, that was true.

Suddenly, Johann’s past memories overlapped. The memory of receiving a magic toe as a reward from the tower and eating it.

‘Are all good elixirs like this? The Ten Thousand Year Snow Tea seemed normal······.’

Anyway, Chief Manager Shim’s explanation continued.

Chief Manager Shim’s finger pointed to the side of the Great Revitalizing Pill wooden box.

“This is the Thousand Blood Pill. I prepared it because I thought it would suit Sword Commander Sarah.”

“······What is the Thousand Blood Pill made of?”

When Johann asked, feeling a slight sense of unease, Chief Manager Shim smiled mysteriously.

“Literally, it’s a Thousand Blood Pill.”

“Oh······.’

Indeed, that was true.

Johann glanced at Sarah, rolling his eyes slightly. It was because he was curious about her reaction.

‘She doesn’t care.’

Literally, she was looking at the wooden box without any emotion. Whether it was made by clumping blood together or not, she didn’t seem to care much.

At that time, Sarah reached out and touched the wooden box containing the Thousand Blood Pill. Immediately afterwards, the wooden box disappeared from sight.

“Do you like it? Ms. Sarah?”

“Yes. It’s okay.”

“Oh, thank you for saying that.”

After Chief Manager Shim answered that way, he slid the remaining wooden box over.

Similarly, Johann also reached out to the wooden box. The wooden box containing the Great Revitalizing Pill was moved to the inventory.

Clap- clap-

The Black King clapped his hands lightly and smiled.

“I’m glad to see you like it. I’m relieved.”

He seemed to have something to say. Johann sat still. Then the Black King opened his mouth.

“Now the war is almost over. It took a long time. But in the end, the winner has been decided. Soon, the Central Plains will exist under the rule of the Black King Fortress.”

“Congratulations.”

Johann responded without any soul. The Black King nodded slightly.

“So, I was wondering, would you like to lend a hand in mopping up the remaining remnants of the White Path? I’m not forcing you.”

“I have no intention of doing so.”

When Johann said curtly, the expression of Black Wolf next to him hardened for a moment. Johann didn’t care.

On the other hand, the Black King’s reaction was a little different. He nodded as if he had expected it.

“I see. I was just asking just in case. Now I’ve said everything I wanted to say. You can go.”

“Yes. Then.”

Johann got up from his seat without blinking an eye. And immediately went out of the office.

Squeak- Clunk.

***

After the meeting with the Black King, time flew by.

Johann was spending his time practicing magic as usual. In the meantime, a blue window appeared in front of him.

‘It’s been a while.’

[The trial on the 5th floor has ended.]

[Trial objective: Unification of the Central Plains (Completed).]

[Moving to the reward room.]

Johann turned his head and looked at Sarah. Surely a similar message must have appeared to her.

Indeed, her gaze was fixed on one place. Sarah bowed her head to Samahan and muttered something.

I guess it’s just a farewell. In response, Samahan raised his clasped hands. It was the first time in a while that I saw Samahan’s serious appearance.

Flash-

Immediately afterwards, a white light enveloped Johann.

***

Johann slowly opened his eyes. It was a white cuboid room that he faced after a long time.

Without further ado, a new message appeared.

[Calculating rewards.]

[Estimating the player’s contribution to achieving the trial objective······.]

.

.

[1st place]

[Paying rewards.]

[Characteristic: Myriad Transformations blooms.]

[Item: Magic Thighs acquired. (2)]

[9643 karma acquired.]

[2.54 million gold acquired.]

Johann let out a hollow laugh.

“Magic Thighs······.”

Johann took out the item called Magic Thighs that was automatically paid into the inventory.

A set of blue thighs was created on Johann’s hand.

“Are you telling me to eat this?”

Johann muttered to himself without realizing it. But Johann was the only one in this room. Of course, no answer was heard.

Johann hesitated for a moment, then widened his eyes and brought the blue thighs to his mouth.

Crunch- Crunch-

Is this the texture you get when you buy jerky from a convenience store and tear it apart? The magic thighs had no taste. It was just chewy.

Gulp, the magic thighs went down smoothly through the esophagus. At the same time, abundant magic began to seethe in his stomach.

Is it the difference between thighs and toes? The amount of increase was more unusual than before.

“Good.”

Johann hurriedly ate the two thighs. Surprisingly, he didn’t feel full.

‘Characteristic, Myriad Transformations······.’

I can’t tell just by looking at the message. Johann opened the status window and clicked on the characteristic named Myriad Transformations.

[Myriad Transformations]

[Transforms into countless forms.]

‘As expected, it’s a rude explanation.’

Johann sighed without realizing it. Who on earth makes that explanation window?

Johann slowly turned his right palm upwards. Then he slowly raised his magic power.

Creak······.

A pure white ice flower bloomed on his palm.

Would this be the case if a knitting craftsman sculpted an edelweiss using thread stitch by stitch?

The ice flower, which was more elaborate than before, represented Johann’s improved magic skills.

Immediately afterwards, Johann’s eyebrows narrowed.

Then.

Whoosh-!

In an instant, the texture of the ice flower transformed into flame. The change was not the end of it.

Flame, ice, water, rock, sand······ etc.

Literally, Myriad Transformations. Johann admired inwardly. The change in magic power became several levels more flexible.

Thanks to this, he will be able to come up with much more ingenious methods when fighting in the future.

It was that moment.

[Moving to the last floor.]

‘······What?’

The moment Johann had a small question, the pure white light was already surrounding him.