NOVEL NEXT chapter 115
115 – Compensation Settlement (1)
After the audience with the martial god.
I returned to the top of the castle walls of the main building.
Of course, I could have taken a break.
Most of the first-year students, except for the main and supporting roles and some from Class A, were waiting in the safe zone.
And since everyone knew about my efforts and struggles, there was no one to say anything, so I could just hide away and enjoy a pleasant settlement time.
Yet, the reason I returned to the castle walls without resting was.
Crackle.
– Bang, bang! This is H2! Kieeeek! Currently engaged in battle with a large number of monsters! Bang, bang! Requesting support!
Crackle.
– This is P3! “F*ck, die!!” Engaged with a group of corruptors… clang, clang! Requesting assistance!
Crackle.
– This is P4! Monsters and corruptors are…
Crackle.
– This is…
Corruptors and monsters were still lingering in the academy; the situation had not yet been resolved.
Crackle.
“T1 return complete. I will resume the mission from this moment.”
&
Two days later.
The situation has been resolved.
All the corruptors and monsters that had been hiding in the academy were eradicated.
As a result, not only the main building but also the castle walls surrounding the academy were lifted.
“Finally going home!”
“Thank you so much, instructors!”
“Thank you, students!”
The citizens who had been in the safe zone returned to their homes.
And Gray and the extermination team members, who had been assisting the instructors in dealing with the corruptors and monsters…
“Yujin, if you miss me, feel free to contact me anytime, okay?”
“Lee Yujin, I heard you’ve been on fire support for two days without sleep? Let’s keep the welcome short; hurry back inside and get some rest.”
“Hey, Yujin. If anything happens or you need help, make sure to contact the unit or come find me. Even if it means giving up the pursuit of the Fallen, I’ll be there to help.”
With those words of reassurance, I returned to the forward base of the 9th Extermination Unit.
And just like that, the outsiders departed.
As the danger lingering in the academy faded away.
Ding.
[Alert Level ‘Emergency’ → ‘Caution’]
I was finally able to return to the dormitory.
‘At last.’
I could enjoy a delightful moment of reckoning.
I could claim the rewards for the quest!
‘The rewards must be incredible, right?’
I didn’t have high expectations for the main quest.
But I was very much looking forward to the achievement quest.
All I had to do was hold out until Baek Yuhwa defeated the Apostle.
Having taken down a named Fallen, especially one that had transformed into a dragon, the rewards could be similar to or even greater than what I received at the forward base.
‘There’s bound to be an S-rank item selection option this time, right?’
Of course, it could also be a random option instead of a selection.
But that was absolutely not going to happen.
‘Because I have Terra on my side.’
As long as I had a great supporter who could maximize the quest rewards.
And considering I had performed admirably, in my own opinion.
The chances of getting a random option were practically nonexistent. So all I had to do was think about what I would choose with the selection option.
Lost in those thoughts as I headed toward the dormitory, I suddenly sighed at the sight of the sky.
‘…I wonder when that will be restored.’
The sky, shattered when the dimensional rift opened.
That sky was being restored by the Great Saint, the Grand Sorcerer, the Sword Master, and the three Transcendents.
Perhaps due to the vast area, the restoration seemed to be progressing slower than I had anticipated.
So, I can’t meet Gloria.
‘There’s still some time left until Aska’s Dragon Blood awakens…’
Still, I want to lift the curse as soon as possible.
It makes sense, as the stronger the talent holder becomes, the sooner the Dragon Blood awakens.
Therefore, the Great Saint must cast the curse while she is still at the academy.
Of course, since I obtained the dragon’s heart by defeating Grid, I could feed it to her…
Unfortunately, that method is not an option.
[Dragon Heart Corrupted by Magic (S-)][9999+]
Because of this, neither Aska nor I can consume it.
‘But purifying it with holy water would take too long.’
It’s just sitting in my inventory.
In the crumbling world behind the scenes, when I disassembled the dragon’s corpse to loot it and pulled out the heart…
Instead of mana, magic erupted explosively, as if to announce the transformation of the corrupted.
And it was to such an extent that even Arthur, who had high resistance to magic due to Excalibur, was taken aback.
For me, it was fine thanks to my Demon Slayer (S) talent, which made me immune to magic.
In any case, to purify that level of magic, it would need to be soaked in holy water for about a year. Or it would need to be showered with the Great Saint’s divine power.
So ultimately, I must meet the Great Saint.
To not only help Aska but also to purify the dragon’s heart.
‘Surely, she won’t return to the temple right after restoring the heavens.’
No, that can’t be.
Even though it was a verbal promise, it came from a transcendent, so it must be kept.
‘Right, even though the Great Saint almost killed me due to a misunderstanding…’
She made a promise because of that misunderstanding, so she will uphold it.
I nodded.
Steeling my faith in her, I walked steadily toward the dormitory.
&
Finally, I returned to the dormitory.
Though it had only been three days, the intense battles made it feel like a long time, and I was incredibly glad to be back.
But that feeling didn’t last even a few seconds.
“Settlement, settlement, settlement….”
The anticipation and excitement of settling the quest rewards faded away.
With that thought, I hurriedly consumed the Spirit Elixir to launch myself onto my designated spot for reward settlement, my bed.
As I felt my body cleanse, I quickly changed into my casual clothes and dove onto the bed as if leaping into water.
Thud.
The bed welcomed my body, gently swaying beneath me.
It enveloped me in its unique softness and comfort.
Unfortunately, the Infinite Energy was activated, preventing any drowsiness from creeping in.
Of course, even without the Infinite Energy, I wouldn’t allow myself to succumb to sleep at such a crucial moment.
Thinking this, I crawled over to the headboard, leaning my body against it, and rubbed my hands together.
Listening to the rhythmic thumping of my heart filled with anticipation and excitement, I glanced at the corner of my vision where the quest window sparkled, waiting for my attention.
Ding!
────────────────────
Main Quest Chapter. 3
【Duel Season!】
The ‘Duel Season’ has arrived to determine the rankings.
Your rank, established during the entrance exam, is ‘Valedictorian.’
Once again, give your all to achieve an outstanding result! (Complete)
※ Outstanding Result: 1st to 5th place.
– Rewards: 150,000 points (additional rewards based on performance), 1 random A-grade talent ticket, 1 random A-grade item ticket, 2 B-grade equipment selection tickets, 1 equipment grade upgrade ticket (B-grade or lower), 2 random cheat usage tickets, unlock shop lottery feature.
– Failure: Mild disappointment from supporting characters.
────────────────────
Main Quest Complete!
And something even more important.
────────────────────
Great Achievement Quest
【Endure.】
Endure by any means necessary until the god, Baek Yu-hwa, defeats the Fourth Apostle. (Complete)
※ Greed, Grid is targeting you! Beware!
– Rewards: 300,000 points (additional rewards based on performance), ???
– Failure: Do not think of failure.
────────────────────
Achievement Quest Completed!
A smile escaped me at the sight of the two quests marked ‘Completed.’
But not yet.
It’s too early to celebrate.
“First… let’s settle the rewards for the main quest.”
Normally, one would divide the main and side quests, but this time, with two quests at hand, I decided to treat the comparatively meager main quest as a side quest.
Thus, the main quest was approached without much tension.
Tap.
I touched it lightly.
────────────────────
Main Quest Chapter 3: Quest Clear
────────────────────
The golden quest title, a sight I hadn’t seen in a while.
────────────────────
「You will receive ‘150,000 points’ as a reward.」
「You will receive ‘1 A-rank Talent Random Ticket’ as a reward.」
「You will receive ‘1 A-rank Item Random Ticket’ as a reward.」
「You will receive ‘2 B-rank Equipment Selection Tickets’ as a reward.」
「You will receive ‘1 Equipment Grade Upgrade Ticket (B-rank or below)’ as a reward.」
「You will receive ‘2 Random Cheat Usage Tickets’ as a reward.」
「You will unlock the ‘Shop Lottery Feature’ as a reward.」
────────────────────
Bam-bam-ba-bam!
[☆★Activity Bonus!☆★]
Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve seen this.
A rainbow-colored message appeared alongside the fanfare.
And then, a cascade of additional rewards lined up behind it.
────────────────────
「First Match, Time Attack ‘Achieved 1st Place’」
「As an additional reward, ‘200,000 Points’ will be granted.」
「Second Match, Grand Brawl ‘Achieved 1st Place’」
「As an additional reward, ‘1 A-Rank Talent Selection Ticket’ will be granted.」
「Third Match, Tower of Trials ‘Achieved 1st Place’」
「As an additional reward, ‘1 A-Rank Item Selection Ticket’ will be granted.」
「Fourth Match, Point Capture Battle ‘Achieved 1st Place’」
「As an additional reward, ‘1 A-Rank Equipment Random Ticket’ will be granted.」
「Duel Season ‘Top Record’」
「As an additional reward, ‘1 S-Rank Equipment Random Ticket’ will be granted.」
────────────────────
The rewards for the main quest came into view.
And because I had become so strong so quickly, the rewards had become rather meager.
But that’s alright.
Soon, the rewards will become plentiful.
Just as I thought that, ominously.
[Starting reward adjustment.]
Terra began to weave her magic.
[First, adjusting the basic rewards.]
────────────────────
「 ‘150,000 Points’」
→ 「’200,000 Points’」
「’1 A-Rank Talent Random Ticket’」
→ 「’2 A-Rank Talent Random Tickets’」
「’1 A-Rank Item Random Ticket’」
→ 「’2 A-Rank Item Random Tickets’」
「’2 B-Rank Equipment Selection Tickets’」
→ 「’1 A-Rank Equipment Random Ticket’」
“‘Equipment Grade Upgrade Ticket (B Grade or Below) 1 Piece'”
→ “‘Equipment Grade Upgrade Ticket (B Grade or Below) 2 Pieces'”
────────────────────
[Next, we will adjust the achievement rewards.]
────────────────────
“First Match, Time Attack ‘Achieved 1st Place'”
“‘200,000 Points'”
→ “‘250,000 Points'”
“Second Match, Grand Brawl ‘Achieved 1st Place'”
“‘A Grade Talent Selection Ticket 1 Piece'”
→ “‘A+ Grade Talent Random Ticket 1 Piece'”
“Third Match, Tower of Trials ‘Achieved 1st Place'”
“‘A Grade Item Selection Ticket 1 Piece'”
→ “‘A+ Grade Item Random Ticket 1 Piece'”
“Fourth Match, Point Capture Battle ‘Achieved 1st Place'”
“‘A Grade Equipment Random Ticket 1 Piece'”
→ “‘A Grade Equipment Selection Ticket 2 Pieces'”
“Duel Season ‘Top Performer’ Record”
“‘S- Grade Equipment Random Ticket 1 Piece'”
→ “‘S- Grade Equipment Selection Ticket 1 Piece'”
────────────────────
As expected of Terra.
The reward adjustments are solid.
I nodded with a satisfied smile at the pleasantly changed rewards.
But that smile was short-lived.
“Ah…, I guess it’s time to check the main quest.”
As the moment to settle the rewards for the achievement quest arrived, the anticipation and excitement I had calmed down began to surge once more.
I could hear my heart thumping, beating rapidly, as I rubbed my hands together.
Then, I reached out my finger toward the achievement quest.
And pressed down firmly.
He pressed down hard.