The Veteran Player Already Knows

Chapter 146 - The End

[ The final phase will now end. ]

[ The Ordeal will now end. ]

[ We express our respect to all surviving Conquerors. ]

That was the message updated on the sky’s electronic display after I had been pounding on the Titan for about 30 minutes.

Huh, has it been that long already?

I guess it died while I was having too much fun moving this thing around to pay attention.

“He’s a Floor Master and a final boss, a final boss! Please show some respect-!”

“...”

I could hear Seo Ah-in, who looked like a speck from this distance, screaming her head off.

Seriously, how do you even make a retort like that?

I’m not joking, are you really using telepathy?

[ You have completed ‘Awakening Quest: One Who Breaks the Mold.’ ]

[ You have met the conditions for Awakening. Your level-up will be frozen until completion. ]

And following that, another message appeared before my eyes.

Right, just as I expected.

The Titan was treated almost like a natural disaster in the world of Climbers. The title of EX-rank Demonic Beast already explained that.

Wouldn’t anyone be surprised to see someone suddenly pull out a giant robot and casually beat up a creature like that?

‘That’s that, but...’

The final phase didn’t move on to the ‘settlement’ to see which side had conquered more land; the Ordeal ended right away, which meant Seo Jin-seong’s side must have achieved good results too.

See? I knew they could do it.

“Heave-ho.”

I stepped out of the cockpit and into the hallway.

Just then, I ran into Evangeline and Chang Meirin-ssi, who were trudging out of the engine room.

“...”

“...”

In fact, it wasn’t just a simple encounter.

“Ah, woah! Evangeline-ssi, you’re too fast!”

“S-sorry. Alright. Match my steps. One, two. One, two.”

“Ugh, ugh... It’s slippery because of the sweat...”

I ran into the two of them, moving in step like they were Siamese twins, clinging to each other tightly.

“...”

“...”

In the suffocatingly tense standoff, I decided to muster up my courage and open my mouth.

“...E-excuse me, but may I ask what the situation is-”

“I’ll kill you. Shut up.”

“...”

I shut my mouth at Evangeline’s fierce retort.

To be honest, I could roughly understand.

The more Chang Meirin-ssi’s ‘Synchronization’ grew, the more... what should I call it?

The side effects became more severe.

It wasn't life-threatening or had any side effects, but sometimes, after synchronizing with a target, it would take a long time for it to ‘break,’ just like now.

“P-please don’t stare...”

Chang Meirin-ssi replied, her body being dragged along, her face on the verge of tears.

Well, if I were in that situation, I’d be embarrassed if someone were watching me too.

As I was thinking that and turning my head, Evangeline suddenly spoke up as if she’d realized something.

“By the way, you.”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to synchronize this one with yourself later?”

“I will if it’s necessary, right?”

Why else would I have picked up and brought Chang Meirin-ssi here in the first place?

A situation where I need that ability will definitely arise later, one way or another. I might need her help several times in the future.

“...”

“...”

But as soon as I gave that answer, the hallway filled with awkwardness.

The chill in Evangeline’s gaze grew a little deeper, and Chang Meirin-ssi’s face, no longer just on the verge of tears, turned beet red as she looked away.

What is it?

Why are they acting like this?

“...You know.”

Evangeline let out a deep sigh and said.

“Doesn’t your tone imply that you already knew this could happen when she synchronizes with someone?”

“...Right?”

“Then how do you think it sounds when you say you’ll synchronize with her?”

“...”

Hey.

No.

I get that there was room for misunderstanding.

But I wouldn't say I'd synchronize in that way.

“It’s too late, you idiot.”

“...”

Unbelievable.

***

“...Huh? Evangeline-ssi and Meirin-ssi, what on earth is that state...?”

“Shut up. Don’t ask. I’ll kill you.”

“...”

Leaving Evangeline, who was scattering killing intent all around as soon as she got out of the robot, I approached the remains of the Titan lying on the ground.

Well, the things I needed to tear off from here were already decided.

Grunting, I climbed all over its body, then approached the chest where the heart would be located.

Just then, purple energy swirled up from within, soon beginning to form distinct shapes that were visible around me.

Yes, this is it.

To Conqueror users, the Titan was treated as a sort of sperm whale.

It was ridiculously hard to catch, but once it died, it spewed out an endless supply of resources with nothing to waste.

[ Ancient Soul / Grade: Unique ] x5

[ The soul of a warrior who has accumulated karma on the battlefield for a long time. It seems it can be used as a material for various things, such as weapons or armor. ]

[ When used as a material to craft equipment, it raises the user's all mastery levels. ]

[ Using this item greatly increases the chance of a great success in crafting. ]

‘This is a jackpot.’

Hmm, for starters, the Ancient Soul, a material to be passed on to Ironclad-ssi, popped out in a batch of five.

It would be good to use it to upgrade the Cheonryongpo, or to create other additional items.

And the things the Titan spat out didn't just end there.

If I dismantled the weapon it was holding.

[ Soul Reaver ] [ Grade: Unique ]

[ A weapon that can crush an opponent in a single blow with the mass from its overwhelming size. It has gained special properties from being wielded in the hands of a skilled warrior for a long time. ]

[ Warrior's Spirit: Temporarily and greatly increases the melee-related stats of a vanguard-class user. ]

Well, given its size, I couldn’t wield it directly, but.

With such overwhelming mass, it would be more than enough to ‘break it down’ and use it in other ways.

‘...This is a crazy honey pot, for real.’

Considering that the Cheonryongpo I was currently wearing was a Unique-grade item despite having almost end-game level performance, the fact that every single item pouring out like crazy right now was also Unique was quite telling.

Conqueror was a game where power inflation went crazy in the later stages, but there was still a very strict line it maintained.

It never freely gave out Unique items until the player reached a ‘certain level.’ If I hadn't completed the Awakening Quest at the same time, these would have probably all appeared as Rare when I scanned them.

So, what did it mean to acquire all these Unique-grade items?

‘...It means it’s time to get myself some end-game gear.’

The Cheonryongpo was, of course, a cheat-level piece of equipment that was good enough to use until the very end, but it felt a bit lacking on its own.

They say a master doesn't blame his tools, but that doesn't mean a master's abilities are diminished when you give them good equipment.

On the contrary, it could become a stepping stone for them to casually pull off things others couldn't even imagine.

“...Wow. That rotten look on your face again.”

“Shut up.”

I chided Seo Ah-in, who had approached me at some point and was muttering such words, and collected all the items.

And just in time, my wristwatch started beeping, letting out an alarm.

Ah, right. It’s about time.

With a wide smile, I gazed at the portal opening before my eyes.

It was the same situation as when I cleared the Second Ordeal.

The Knight of the Southern Yellow and the Guardian appeared, looking like they were on the verge of death.

The only difference was that, unlike the Second Ordeal, it wasn't just the two of them; all the Knights of the Round Table standing in formation nearby came out as well.

-Oh my. Is it the Conqueror Kim Gyu-sik again? We see each other often, don’t we?

Why is this one suddenly using such creepily formal language again? It gives me the creeps.

As I thought that and looked at the Guardian with narrowed eyes, the creature winked at me as if telling me to play along.

Well, I guess it means it's being cautious in front of the others.

Sighing, I replied.

“Yes, well. It turned out that way.”

-As promised, I will grant you the authority to command the members of the Round Table here once. I sincerely congratulate you on successfully passing the Ordeal...

“Wait, hold on a second.”

I cut off the Guardian, who was continuing to say something or other.

“There’s that, isn’t there? It’s something I was promised in advance, but. Before that, don’t you have something to apologize to me for?”

-…

The Guardian’s face twisted subtly.

No, I mean.

I know you have to put on a show in front of the Round Table right now.

But there’s something we need to clear up before that.

I continued speaking, looking at the Knight of the Southern Yellow, who seemed to have been teetering on the brink of life and death since he appeared.

“I mean, logically speaking, throwing in an EX-rank Demonic Beast as a Floor Master is a bit much, isn’t it? Honestly, how is anyone supposed to catch that?”

You caught it, though.

A look that seemed to say just that appeared on everyone’s face nearby, but I continued, unfazed.

“Honestly, didn’t you put it in there to kill all the other people who were legitimately participating in the Ordeal? It’s a good thing I caught it thanks to a stroke of luck, but it’s still the same that even if all the original participants had joined forces, they would have been no match for it, right?”

“...”

-…

A silence mixed with near-disgust filled the air at the mutterings of the one who had dispatched a giant robot as if he had been waiting for the Titan to appear, talking about a ‘stroke of luck.’

Still, I continued with a broad smile.

“You have something to apologize for, don’t you?”

-…

The Guardian was looking at me with a ‘are you really going to do this?’ expression, but I didn’t back down and met its gaze.

I mean, in the first place.

You also have a tendency not to interfere with the Round Table guys chewing me up, tearing me apart, and enjoying me, simply because you find it ‘fun’ to watch me evade all the tricks thrown my way through various methods.

This means I have the right to demand this much.

-Certainly, the knight who presided over this Ordeal has committed several errors.

Right?

Then it could naturally lead to this.

“Then they should pay a fitting price for it, shouldn’t they?”

The Guardian pressed its temples and sighed.

-What do you want? Are you going to take him with you like you did with the Knight of Red and Green?

“No, I don’t need that one.”

-…

Isn't that right?

Evangeline, despite her unstable mentality, at least has a sane side to her, but that guy is just a Guardian fanboy to the core. There's no use for him.

Well, there’s a slightly better way to use him.

“...Wait a minute. Gyu-sik-ssi. Is it true you're being so harsh just because the other person is a man?”

“If that knight were a woman, he might have relentlessly dropped hints...”

To those in the peanut gallery.

Please.

Stop the baseless slander.