The Return of the Legendary All-Master

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 301

He turned his body to leave the City of God.

And that was when it happened.

A rift split open in the air, revealing a familiar pair of crimson eyes.

<It has been a while.>

Baal's eyes curved like a crescent moon.

"Yeah. It's been a while."

Jeong-hoon casually returned the greeting.

Those seeing Baal for the first time were too overwhelmed to even think of moving.

"H-Hoon, what… what is that…?"

His mother asked in a trembling voice.

"Ah, that's what you call the Giving Tree."

"The Giving Tree?"

"Yes. Thanks to that tree, I've gained a lot."

Jeong-hoon smiled, easing everyone's tension.

Baal’s curved eyes furrowed as if displeased.

<Are you comparing me to something as insignificant as a tree?>

"It's not wrong, is it?"

<Khhm…>

Considering he had lost every bet so far, it wasn’t exactly false.

"So, what’s your reason for showing up this time?"

Baal had not appeared since handing over three Ultimate Stars.

That meant this was the first time in a long while that he had come before Jeong-hoon.

<Hmph, I came to propose a new bet.>

"A bet?"

<Yes. Do you know what lies ahead if you keep going?>

"I wouldn’t know that."

Jeong-hoon deliberately feigned ignorance.

As if waiting for that response, Baal continued speaking.

<Kukuku, there is a gate leading to the Demon Realm.>

The Demon Realm.

"The Demon Realm?"

Jeong-hoon pretended to be surprised, and Baal’s eyes curved once more.

<Yes. The place where I reside.>

"Hmm, so you came just to tell me that?"

<Come to the Demon Realm. If you arrive within the time limit, you win. If you fail, I win.>

"I refuse."

<...Refuse?>

"I have things to do. I don’t have time to leisurely visit the Demon Realm."

Going to the Demon Realm meant facing the true form of those crimson eyes.

Even though his level had risen, he still wasn’t ready to take on Baal.

‘James, what would have happened if we had tried to enter the Demon Realm back then?’

Before the regression, James Marcus’s party had turned away just before reaching the gate to the Demon Realm.

‘We would have been wiped out instantly.’

James Marcus answered without hesitation.

Even after discovering the City of God, experiencing a storm of level-ups, and obtaining additional opportunities, stepping into the Demon Realm was still out of the question.

<Are you afraid of me?>

Baal concealed his surprise and asked.

Jeong-hoon nodded without resistance.

"Yeah. I don’t think I’m at the level to face you yet."

<Do you have no pride?>

"I’m not about to risk my life over something as trivial as pride."

<...Haven’t you risked your life countless times already?>

"Stop being so clingy and just leave."

Jeong-hoon waved his hand dismissively.

<...I promise. I will not interfere.>

Baal’s crimson eyes trembled slightly as he spoke.

[He really is the Giving Tree.]

‘I agree.’

Hearing Mukho and Anima’s conversation, Jeong-hoon couldn’t hold back his laughter.

"Pfft."

<...What’s so funny?>

The red eyes twisted in a menacing glare.

"Why are you so obsessed with these bets? If you don’t interfere, my victory is guaranteed."

<Are you so sure?>

"Hmm?"

<To enter the Demon Realm, you must pass a test. And that test will not be easy.>

"Oh, so you’re relying on that. I see now."

<Exactly.>

The decisive reason James Marcus’s party gave up on entering the Demon Realm.

It was because of the test.

The difficulty was so absurdly high that clearing it seemed impossible.

And now, Baal was telling him to pass that test and enter the Demon Realm.

"So, if I do enter, you won’t interfere at all?"

<I swear it. No matter what you do in the Demon Realm, I will not interfere.>

"Hmm. What’s the reward for the bet?"

<Do you have something in mind?>

"Information."

<Information?>

"Yeah."

<What kind of information?>

"You’ll find out once the bet is over."

Jeong-hoon smirked.

Baal’s crimson eyes furrowed again.

<...If you don’t specify, I can’t accept.>

"Then don’t."

Jeong-hoon had nothing to lose.

<Wait! You’re not asking for information that I can’t reveal, are you?>

“Why wouldn’t I?”

<……>

Information about the Architect.

That was what Jeong-hoon wanted.

"Are you going to do it?"

<I’ll tell you everything I can. How about that?>

"That’s too vague."

<...If it’s something I absolutely can’t reveal, I’ll give you information about the Seven Deadly Sins instead. Will that do?>

"Bring it. One box."

Information about the Architect could also be obtained by completing the Seven Deadly Sins.

<Alright. We’ll do it that way.>

"You’re really serious about this bet."

Normally, someone would back out at this point.

<Take it as proof of how much I want you.>

"Fine. What’s the time limit?"

<Let’s say 120 hours.>

"240 hours."

<...You’re trying to take it too easy.>

"Why? Afraid you’ll lose if it’s 240 hours?"

<No. Fine, 240 hours it is.>

"Deal."

A new bet with Baal was sealed.

* * *

Only after Baal left could everyone finally relax.

Jeong-hoon’s mother, her face stiff, looked at him and spoke.

"Hoon, can you explain everything in detail? What’s this bet about now?"

"Oh, actually…"

Jeong-hoon honestly recounted everything that had happened with Baal.

As the story progressed, his mother’s expression turned to shock.

In contrast, Ha-Jin and Bong-Goo remained indifferent.

They had already heard about his previous bets with a Transcendent.

Since Jeong-hoon had asked them to keep it secret until now, they had stayed silent. But since he was bringing it up himself, it meant he no longer intended to hide it.

"Risking your life?! Do you even hear yourself?!"

In the end, his mother couldn’t hold back and exploded.

"I’m sorry. But without this method, I wouldn’t have been able to grow stronger quickly."

"Even so…!"

"Don’t worry too much. I won’t be risking my life anymore."

"…Can I really believe that? You just made another bet!"

"Yes. But this time, I’m betting something else instead of my life."

"Something else?"

"A contract."

A contract with a Transcendent.

Yeo Min-Ji cautiously spoke up.

"Sorry for interrupting. So, if you lose the bet, you’ll have to make a contract with that thing, right?"

"Yes."

"What happens if you sign the contract…?"

The Transcendents were still approaching everyone.

Jeong-hoon was moving with them, and he had just broken past Level 500.

With such a tempting prey right before them, how could they not approach?

Of course, he was ignoring them entirely.

"You’d become an Incarnation. And end up as their plaything."

"……."

"Don’t worry. I never start a bet I’m going to lose."

Jeong-hoon flashed a confident smile, trying to reassure everyone.

"Hoo… Hoon, even so, please be careful with these bets. There’s no such thing as a 100% winning gamble in this world."

His mother’s face was still filled with concern.

"Yes."

Jeong-hoon had no choice but to nod.

"Alright. So, are you heading straight to the Demon Realm?"

The Demon Realm that Baal had mentioned.

But Jeong-hoon shook his head.

"No. Before that, I need to find another fortuitous encounter."

The reason he had pushed for 240 hours was that there was still a hidden opportunity to uncover.

Through it, he planned to upgrade his skills and strengthen Mukho and Anima.

* * *

"Kiieeek!"

With a sharper thrust, Jeong-hoon’s spear cut down the Grandmaster Goblin Shaman.

His level had skyrocketed by 139, bringing him to Level 683.

With that, his stats had increased, and with buffs applied, they had practically doubled.

Naturally, defeating something like a Goblin Master or a Goblin Shaman had become even easier.

Moreover, now that everyone had surpassed Level 500, battles were proceeding much more smoothly.

"Hyung-nim! There’s a city over there!"

Bong-Goo pointed at a structure in the distance.

A towering building.

That was the city where the second fortuitous encounter was hidden.

"That’s our next destination."

"Oh-ho!"

Jeong-hoon swung his spear without hesitation and advanced toward the city.

[You have explored the ‘City of Enhancement.’]

[The city’s energy begins to surge.]

[All of its energy gathers within the explorer.]

Just like in the City of God, merely entering granted them a fortuitous encounter.

The City of Enhancement.

[You may upgrade one chosen skill or piece of equipment by one stage.]

An overpowered encounter, comparable to a storm of level-ups.

"Wow… A one-stage upgrade?"

“What should I upgrade?”

Those who checked the message began contemplating with delighted expressions.

Of course, Jeong-hoon didn’t even need to think—he chose "Transcendent Enhancement: Legendary."

[‘Transcendent Enhancement: Legendary’ has been upgraded by one tier.]

[You have acquired ‘Transcendent Enhancement: Celestial.’]

[Skill level remains unchanged.]

It wasn’t just an upgrade.

The skill's level remained the same even after advancing.

===

[Transcendent Enhancement: Celestial]

- Type: Enhancement

- Level: 10

- Grade: Celestial

- You can enhance equipment (Up to Celestial grade).

- Success rate for each grade (Normal 100%, Rare 100%, Epic 100%, Unique 100%, Legendary 80%, Celestial 50%).

- Failure will not destroy the equipment.

- Failure does not consume enhancement attempts.

===

Jeong-hoon’s lips curled into a smile.

Zero chance of equipment destruction.

Zero reduction in enhancement attempts.

And a 50% success rate for Celestial enhancements.

That meant he had a one in two chance of success.

[I can go even higher from here?!]

‘Good. Is my true power finally being unlocked?’

Mukho and Anima were already getting ahead of themselves.

“Hm… But it looks like only one of you can be upgraded first.”

And with that, Jeong-hoon poured cold water on their excitement.

Mukho and Anima, who had been indulging in happy thoughts, instantly fell silent.

“You never know. The 50% chance could keep failing.”

Currently, Jeong-hoon possessed 76 Celestial Enhancement Stones.

That total came from the 13 stones he had previously mined and the 63 stones extracted this time.

Looking at the number of enhancement stones, it was just barely enough.

[Then I should go first!]

‘Nonsense! The best defense is a strong offense!’

Sure enough.

The two immediately started arguing over who should go first.

“Alright, that’s enough.”

Jeong-hoon intervened, already used to handling this situation.

[Master! You already have your spear and dagger covering everything! Put that on hold and upgrade me first!]

‘Nonsense! The spear and dagger are only efficient in close combat. For long-range, you have to use me!’

[Bullshit. Your mother can handle long-range combat just fine.]

‘And if I join in, the destruction will be even greater.’

[Yeah, yeah. Screw that. I’m going first.]

‘You don’t even exist right now.’

[Huh? Hey. That was a personal attack.]

So noisy.

“Anima goes first.”

At Jeong-hoon’s words, Anima cheered, while Mukho screamed in despair.

The reason was simple.

Back when they were still at the Legendary grade, Jeong-hoon had fully enhanced Mukho first.

This time, it was Anima’s turn.

“I’m upgrading both of you, so don’t get too impatient.”

Everyone else was still debating whether to enhance a skill or an item.

So in the meantime, Jeong-hoon began enhancing Anima first.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]