My Self-Made Skillbook - Episode 59
Episode 59
"The Paewang Guild's guildmaster is coming?"
Wondering if I had misheard something, I asked.
The guildmaster nodded.
"He said he wanted to meet and talk in person. For now, I've told him we would give our answer to the request for dialogue shortly."
"Dialogue at this point? What's his angle?"
Uncle Gangil muttered.
"What do you think, Guildmaster?"
When I asked, the guildmaster looked my way and opened his mouth.
"Thinking about it normally… the five we captured are the Paewang Guild's main force, so I believe they're trying to get them back somehow."
"Meaning that with their current forces, further combat is impossible, so they had no choice but to choose dialogue as a means."
The Paewang Five were all currently held at Evergreen in a comatose state.
"But how did they know we captured, rather than killed, them?"
"There was likely a spy for the Paewang side hidden among the hunters gathered here today."
The vice-guildmaster spoke as though he had noticed my confusion.
"We're in the advantageous position."
Hyeri said.
"It's all thanks to Hwajin."
To the vice-guildmaster's words, I replied that it was thanks to everyone doing their best, as a matter of courtesy, but inwardly I was nodding in agreement.
When I arrived, O Seyeon was being pushed back by four attackers, and the others had been taken down by Gwon Inwon.
If I hadn't been there, total annihilation would have been unavoidable.
"Jigwang said there would be no negotiations, that we should take this opportunity to crush the Paewang Guild. I agree."
The guildmaster spoke. I was a bit surprised by such an aggressive attitude coming from the guildmaster.
"Even if compensation is offered, the dead won't return. If they destroyed another guild, they should be prepared to be destroyed themselves."
"There's no guarantee they won't do the same thing again after taking those five back. We need to uproot Paewang at this opportunity."
The two guildmasters spoke in turn.
"Then you're saying we will attack the Paewang side?"
O Seyeon asked. I figured this was welcome news to O Seyeon, who wanted to kill the Paewang Guild's guildmaster.
"We'll need to discuss methods, mobilization of forces, and so on with the other guilds, but ultimately, that's how it will be."
The guildmaster approached me.
"Hwajin. I'm ashamed to keep relying on you, but could you lend us your strength one more time?"
"Of course. I'm a guild member of Atlas. I've probably received more favors from you, Guildmaster. However…..."
A puzzled light flickered in the guildmaster's eyes.
"It's nothing. Let's talk later."
"Understood. Then for now, please wait at Evergreen, everyone."
"Vice-Guildmaster. Please escort our guests to rooms where they can rest comfortably."
"Yes, Guildmaster."
It was just as Yu Chohui was approaching us.
The Evergreen Guildmaster pulled a phone from his pocket.
"It's me. What's going on? ……What!? Understood. I'm coming down now. Relay to the S-rank to defend the basement where those five are at all costs!"
The Evergreen Guildmaster's face went pale. He hung up and looked at us.
"The Paewang Guild's guildmaster has arrived."
Everyone showed signs of surprise.
O Seyeon in particular immediately drew his sword. He looked ready to rush out at any moment.
"Wait a moment!"
I grabbed O Seyeon.
"Let go! I'll kill him with my own hands……!"
"You can't kill him alone."
Speaking deliberately coldly, O Seyeon flinched.
"You fought those five, so you know. The Paewang Guild's guildmaster is even stronger than them, isn't he?"
"……."
O Seyeon bit his lip without answering.
*Be that as it may, this is quite the predicament.*
I took out my book and checked it.
My MP had recovered by about 30.
Hesto's Bracelet was completely empty, having used up all its charged mana.
*I can't keep up with the MP consumption of 9-Word Skills.*
In the battle against the Paewang Five, I had used four 9-Word Skills.
*[Flame-Lightning Divine Spear], combining [Thunderbolt Spear] and [Flame Spear].*
*[Extreme Light Single Flash], a strengthened version of [Single Flash].*
*A speed buff skill born from strengthening [Charge], [Divine Speed].*
*The strengthened version of [Invisibility], [Mua (Egoless)].*
The MP consumption of such 9-Word Skills reached between 300 and 450.
They possessed absolute power and effects, but the mana consumption was enormous.
I had raised my mana stat to bring my MP to 490, but without Hesto's Bracelet, I wouldn't have been able to use the skills properly.
The problem didn't end there.
I turned the page and checked the newly created 9-Word Skill.
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Created Skill: [Flame-Lightning Divine Spear] (Legendary)
Tool: Spear
Mana Consumption: 350pt
Cooldown: 39m (1h)
……
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Cooldown.
It was a restriction placed on 9-Word Skills.
*I have to do something about this.*
I picked up my pen and fell into thought.
I could feel O Seyeon's gaze on me intermittently, but I had no time to care.
*Wait? I'm sure I had that.*
I checked my inventory.
*As expected, it's there.*
The moment the red gem touched my hand, I felt like I had found a way out.
I hurriedly moved my pen.
***
Shortly after, we took the elevator down.
The elevator stopped at the first floor.
As the doors opened, the hall came into view.
In the center of the hall stood a man in a suit with both hands in his pockets.
The moment the man looked this way, a shiver ran through my body.
*Is that really human?*
I couldn't move.
His massive frame, the muscles visible through his form-fitting suit, and his red curly hair that looked like stylized flames were all unusual, but they still fell within the boundaries of humanity.
But the pressure felt through my skin was definitely not human.
The man felt more like a monster than any monster I had ever encountered.
Without even trying to imagine it, scenes of being killed by that man replayed endlessly in my head.
"Ah. I was going to come up, but I've caused you trouble. My apologies."
The man approached with a smile.
I barely held back the urge to flee and stood my ground.
Cold sweat was dripping down Uncle Gangil's face, and Hyeri had collapsed onto the floor entirely.
The others' expressions were also deathly pale.
Only O Seyeon glared at the man.
"Well, if it isn't a familiar face. How have you been, O Seyeon?"
"Shut your mouth!"
O Seyeon raised his longsword.
*Damn it!*
I tried to stop him, but O Seyeon with his longsword was so fast that I couldn't catch up without using a skill.
O Seyeon's longsword fell toward the man's head.
Clack.
*Crazy.*
The sight before my eyes was unbelievable.
The man had caught the longsword O Seyeon swung with just two fingers.
"Heh heh. I understand you're glad to see me, but calm down."
O Seyeon tried to pull the sword free from the man's grip, but it didn't budge an inch.
"Have you been well? Guildmaster of Evergreen, and Guildmaster of Atlas."
The man turned his eyes away from O Seyeon and looked our way, speaking in a composed tone.
"We've been doing very well, thanks to you."
The Evergreen Guildmaster spoke as if growling.
"Paewang. We told you to wait for our answer to your dialogue request."
The guildmaster spoke in a calm voice.
But a tension unlike usual could be felt in his voice.
"My apologies. I have little patience, so I simply couldn't wait. Hahaha."
On the other hand, the Paewang Guild's guildmaster laughed heartily.
He was still holding O Seyeon's sword.
"Well then, time is precious, so let's get straight to the point."
"Ugh!"
The Paewang Guild's guildmaster flicked his fingers, sending both O Seyeon and his sword flying at the same time.
At that action, everyone drew their weapons or took combat stances without exception.
"Oh dear. I've merely come to have a conversation."
"With the man who took my subordinates down single-handedly, that is."
His eyes met mine.
"Everyone, please stay still."
I held my spear in one hand and stepped forward.
"Hwajin!"
I heard Uncle's shout.
"He caught O Seyeon's blade with his bare hand. It's dangerous."
I spoke while keeping my gaze fixed on the Paewang Guild's guildmaster.
When I approached and stood before him, the Paewang Guild's guildmaster extended a thick hand. Every finger had a ring on it.
"You likely already know, but I wanted to formally introduce myself to you. I am Jin Paewang, the guildmaster of the Paewang Guild."
*This is my chance.*
His initiating contact from his side was a stroke of luck.
Right now, I could place a bookmark without raising any suspicion.
I tried to take his outstretched hand and place a bookmark.
"Let's not provoke each other needlessly."
The moment I heard Paewang's voice, I felt like I'd been struck in the head.
Goosebumps covered my entire body.
"I came today to speak with you."
Paewang wore a smile at the corners of his mouth.
*Could he have noticed?*
No one had ever noticed the bookmark until now.
But this opponent had All Stats 49. Meaning he was a being whose sensory stat had also reached the limit.
*This is dangerous.*
I erased the bookmark. Then Paewang naturally released the hand he had been shaking.
"…What the hell do you want to talk about? I don't think you and I are in a position to have a conversation."
"I Hwajin. Have you no intention of joining hands with me?"
From behind, I heard Hyeri gulp.
"I refuse."
It was a proposal that needed no consideration.
"Isn't what you want to devour me?"
At that, Paewang let out a hearty laugh.
"Did you hear that from O Seyeon?"
"Aren't you being too greedy? Your soul capacity already seems to be overflowing."
I said, looking at Paewang's hand full of rings.
They were clearly all bound items.
"No, I'm still far from enough."
"Because this is a world where hunters like you suddenly appear."
Paewang put on a serious expression.
"If you join hands with me, I promise not to eat you."
"What about O Seyeon? Were you planning to eat him?"
At that, Paewang made a puzzled expression for a moment.
"Well, if you wish, I won't lay a hand on O Seyeon either."
"Can you refrain from eating even if another Listener appears?"
"I Hwajin. Are you perhaps the guardian of the Listeners?"
His expression gradually hardened.
"I'm giving you a chance, I Hwajin."
"You already know well yourself. That your power cannot match mine."
"Then why do you want to join hands with someone weaker than you?"
"I thought it would be a waste to simply use a hunter like you as prey."
"Take my hand."
"And walk the path of hegemony by my side."
"The path of hegemony?"
"Yes. The strong rule the weak."
"Power itself becomes the law."
"That's how this world was originally meant to be."
"It's simply become more visible with the emergence of beings called hunters."
"I will stand at the pinnacle of this world."
"And you have the qualifications to be by my side."
"Jin Paewang."
"What is it?"
"I was once killed by a hunter in the past."
I put my hand in my pocket.
"I gripped something cold and hard."
"That hunter had the ability to control monsters, and used me as food to grow his monsters."
"A D-rank hunter with no strength, no money, nothing, who survived by selling cheap monster materials obtained from repeatedly going back and forth to the first floor of dungeons—to that human, I wasn't a human, but food for his monsters."
What I pulled from my pocket was a red gem.
"I truly hate humans like that."
"Humans who don't see other humans as humans."
I put strength into the hand gripping the gem.
A gray window explaining the item popped up.
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[Mana Heart]
The core of a golem created by the Machine King Hesto. A powerful swirl of mana energy churns within.
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"That's why I won't join hands with you."
The gem cracked with a grinding sound, and a storm of mana erupted.
"Ugh!"
"Kyak!"
Screams were heard from behind.
"How unfortunate."
Jin Paewang muttered.