The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage
Chapter 176

0.

"Haaaaam."

Seong stretched with a big yawn as he woke up.

He stood there for a moment, blankly staring, before loosening his body up.

After stretching lightly, Seong changed clothes and went outside.

Recently, his body had felt a bit sluggish, and it was bming slightly difficult to endure.

Ituld be because he absorbed so many memories of the knights.

Although he hadn’t started going to the gym yet, he had taken up jogging in the mornings after waking up.

He found that jogging around his neighborhood while breathing in the morning air was surprisingly refreshing and uplifting.

Having spent long hours in the capsule, he now understood the importance of exercise for long-term endurance.

"Whoo."

As he exhaled a puff of white breath and inhaled theol air deep into his lungs, he felt his mind fully wake up.

Even the blood circulating through his body seemed tool, and he felt his entire bodyme to life.

It was only the first time, but Seong already thought he might get addicted to it.

‘I never really liked exercise before.’

His personality hadn’t changed, and that was something heuld feel clearly.

It was just that now...

‘I’ve learned to appreciate the benefits of exercise.’

He quickly became aware of the advantages and enjoyable aspects of working out, which he had never known before.

It didn’t feel too bad—actually, it felt quite good.

Getting healthier was a great thing.

Seong thought this to himself, nodding as he jogged back after running around 5 kilometers from the start of the day.

For a first-time runner, it was a pretty decent distance.

His rrd was about 5 minutes per kilometer, or just under 4 minutes and 50 snds per kilometer.

If his body hadn’t been fairly trained, it would have been a tough rrd.

But Seong had easily managed it with the memories and experiences of the ghosts.

If Mina had seen it, she would probably have been extremely annoyed.

Fortunately, Mina wasn’t around to witness it.

Having finished his light jog, Seong was greeted by the delicious smells of food.

“Oh.”

“Oh my~? Seong, you’re up early and so diligent~”

His mother, Lee Na-gyeong, smiled warmly as she greeted Seong.

Seeing Seong manage his health while playing the game made her proud, and shemmented kindly.

“Jogging is good for your health~”

“Haha, it feels refreshing after I’ve been out for a bit. I’ll shower andme out.”

“Okay~.”

“What?! You went jogging this morning?!?”

At the sound of thenversation, Mina seemed to have woken up and opened the door to ask.

Seong casually nodded, not making a big deal out of it.

“Yeah, just a light run.”

“Oh? Hehe, impressive.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed by thempliments from his mother, Lee Na-gyeong, and sister, Mina, Seong quickly entered the bathroom to take a shower.

After a quick shower, he emerged, just in time to find breakfast fully prepared.

The family had already gathered around the table, so Seong sat down without drying his damp hair.

“Ahem, Seong really worked hard this morning.”

Seong’s father, Yoo Gwang-jin, spoke with a somewhat awkward tone.

Seong chuckled lightly and nodded in acknowledgment.

“Yeah? Ah, thank you.”

“Well then, let’s eat.”

As they ate, thenversation flowed naturally.

It felt like the ideal family moment.

During this time, Mina suddenly seemed to remember something and asked.

“Did you catch him? Ka... Ka... What was his name again?”

“Carmen?”

“Oh!? You caught him?”

“No way...?”

“Hehe, I almost caught him myself, but you handled itmpletely! As expected of our younger brother, hehe.”

Seong didn’t expect this at all.

Was this really his sister?

He looked at Mina with a bit of disbelief.

Mina, the one with a single sword, had been the one to miss him?

For a moment, Seong thought, wasn’t it strange that his sister, who should have been able to catch him, had missed him?

Curious, Seong asked.

“How did you miss him?”

“Ah, that? The system blocked him. He begged me not to kill him.”

“Ah?”

The system did something like that?

Seong suddenly recalled similar occurrences.

Hadn’t he himself experienced skill adjustments auple of times?

It was possible.

“So, was he a boss that normallyuldn’t be defeated? But when I tried to catch him, he apologized and gave me plenty of rewards to accept it. It seemed like he had a plan, but seeing him get caught by you... it’s a relief.”

“Hmm.”

So that’s how it was.

Hearing the backstory was surprisingly interesting.

Thenversation shifted back to the game, and Mina asked again.

“Are you about to start your third job advancement?”

The third job advancement begins at level 150 and takes place in the fifth region.

Seong knew this, so he shook his head and answered.

“Hmm, not yet. It definitely slows down once you hit the 140s.”

“That’s the most annoying part. So, what’s your current level?”

“Maybe level 141?”

“Still fast, huh? You’ll be ready for the third job advancement soon.”

At Mina’s words, Seong nodded thoughtfully.

Then he suddenly wondered.

How does the third job advancement actually begin?

With a slight doubt, Seong turned to his sister, who was eating beside him.

Mina tilted her head, as if asking why.

“What’s wrong?”

“The third job advancement... Do I have to do it in the fifth city where I first arrived?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Even if you move to another region, you still need to go to the city where you first arrived to meet your job-class administrator. For you, it would be Overpalace, right?”

“Ah...”

It seemed he’d have to meet Belmor, the branch chief.

It was a bit troublesome and burdensome, but Seong knew he would be a helpful person.

It would have to be done, so Seong scratched his head.

He’d have to head back to Pentagrid anyway.

While Seong tried to ignore this thought andntinued eating, Mina added.

“Oh, and they say once you hit the third job advancement, you’rensidered a ‘mid-tier’ player.”

“Mid-tier?”

“Yeah, from the third job advancement, your class undergoes a major transformation.”

“Oh?”

“Though it’s rare, sometimes your class rank can increase.”

This was something new for Seong.

That the class rankuld actually go up.

So,uld a few legendary-ranked jobs even bme Almighty-ranked jobs?

As Seong thought about this, his expression must have shown his curiosity, as Minantinued.

“Yeah, I hit Almighty rank at my third job advancement. It’s actually rare for someone to be born with the Almighty rank like you. The rookie who joined recently is also Almighty-ranked.”

“A rookie came in with Almighty rank?”

“Yeah, but usually, there’s not much difference between someone born with Almighty rank and someone who achieves it at the third job advancement. There’s basically no difference. But if it’s an Almighty rank with a lord title, it’s even higher than a regular Almighty rank. Like you or me. Did the rookie say they’re a lord?”

“Oh.”

Seong found this new information intriguing, and Minantinued sharing more.

“Anyway, even if you’re born with Almighty rank, there’s a big change at the third job advancement.”

After all, she had gotten the Death Legion Commander at her snd job advancement.

And wasn’t Helena the same?

She had mentioned the excitement for the third job advancement.

‘Looks like I really need to get that third job advancement soon.’

With an eager expression, Seong smiled.

At any rate, he needed to level up quickly.

And there was a good quest available, wasn’t there?

The agent he sent to Basilica must be doing well.

With these thoughts, Seong finished his meal and got up quickly.

Heuldn’t wait to find out.

“Thanks for the meal!”

After saying that, he hurriedly cleaned up his dishes and ran to his room.

The family watched him with warm smiles.

When had Seong ever been so excited about something?

It was a pleasant thought, and they smiled at how bright Seong had bme. Just then, his mother, Lee Na-gyeong, asked.

“Oh my~? Aren’t you running late?”

“Huh?!”

Yoo Gwang-jin, his father, quickly rushed out.

He hadn’t expected to be late after enjoying hisnversation with Mina and Seong so much.

And so, the family’s morningntinued.

1.

Basilica, the dark force of the labyrinth.

A city that profits by killing adventurers and outsiders who wander into its labyrinth.

There were three individuals who arrived there.

The three stood in front of Basilica’s walls and one by one, removed their deep hoods.

Their appearances were revealed.

A bat beastkin, a spider beastkin, and a snake beastkin with the head of a serpent.

After a day or so, Shivren and his group had arrived at Basilica.

Though they had returned to their own city, the atmosphere wasld.

There was no weming or rejoicing at their return.

That’s how the city always was.

“Heh, this atmosphere is actually quitemfortable.”

“Yeah.”

“......”

The bat and spider beastkin said this, but Shivren didn’t even pay attention to them.

It was a city where no oneuld ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) trust or believe anyone.

A city where everyone used each other.

A city that lived up to the name of the dark force of the labyrinth.

As soon as the three entered the city, they headed straight for the castle.

Though they were spies and assassins, their position was the same as that of the knights of Ninyaru.

Once they reached the castle.

“Shivren squad. Mission?”

Someone wearing assassin’s garb, standing guard at the castle gate, asked.

Though they clearly appeared to be an assassin, the fact that they were guarding the palace entrance seemed out of place, yet it was also familiar.

As the gatekeeper asked, Shivren replied calmly.

“It’s beenmpleted.”

“Since Shivren succeeded, we returned. If we had failed, we wouldn’t have returned.”

“Such a foolish question.”

The bat and spider beastkin added.

The gatekeeper frowned deeply, irritated by their insolent words, but didn’t refute them.

It wasn’t wrong.

So, with a mixture of annoyance, he let them through.

Shivren entered the castle, his gaze unwavering, and reached the king’s safety.

Standing before the great pillars and the throne room, Shivrenuldn’t help but shudder slightly.

‘This is impossible.’

He’d thought about assassination, but it was impossible.

This king was just like Nyao of Ninyaru—the absolute ruler of this city.

The evil red eyes.

Glaring down at Shivren arrogantly, they were stretched horizontally.

The small figure of the black snake beastkin sitting on the throne.

He was clearly the king of this place, and his overwhelming power radiated without reservation.

The heavy atmosphere was something even Shivrenuld barely endure.

Automatically, his head lowered.

The king spoke.

“Information?”

“...I brought it.”

At the same time, Shivren revealed the information he had brought.

More precisely, he cleverly mixed fake and real information to make it seem seamless.

The black snake beastkin listened to all of it.

Then, after checking for any insistencies, he realized there were none and nodded in agreement.

It seemed that Shivren had indeedmpleted the mission well.

The black snake beastkin smiled and said.

“Well done.”

“...Thank you.”

“Arding to this information, we will have to prepare for war soon.”

With a twisted smile, the black snake beastkin murmured.

Then, looking at Shivren, he said.

“You should prepare as well.”

“...Thank you.”

“The war will be in ten days. Prepare fully by then.”

“Yes.”

Shivren answered calmly and left the throne room.

Fortunately, he hadn’t been caught.

Had he been, he knew all too well that the king, who never tolerated traitors, would have dealt with him swiftly.

And as Shivren left, he thought.

Finally, he had gathered the information.

And immediately, he would inform his master.

Seong, who was far away in the upper city of the labyrinth, Ninyaru, received the information.

After receiving all the information, Seong smiled.

[Hidden Linked Quest, “Basilica and Ninyaru” cleared!]

[Some rewards granted.]

[Massive experience gained!]

[Level Up!]

[You are now level 142.]

[Remaining rewards can be claimed from important NPCs.]

[Hidden Linked Quest, “War with the Dark Force of the Labyrinth” created.]

Various messages appeared.

Having obtained the information, Seong looked at the royal palace of Ninyaru and thought.

‘I guess I’ll need to go deliver the information too?’