Chapter 100

-He’s really going to do it. To get a Legendary set item this early in the game? And it’s a growth-type item, too?

It was a completely reasonable statement, but set items were generally considered a notch above items of the same grade.

While the individual abilities might be slightly lower compared to items of the same grade, the synergy from the set effects more than made up for the deficiencies.

In short, a Legendary set item was equivalent to having a near-Epic level effect.

-But no. We don’t even know how many pieces of the magic weapon set there are. If there’s a set effect for five or more pieces… it could be close to Mythic grade.

It was unbelievable.

Just how much did the balance need to be broken for this job, Magic Overlord, to be satisfying?

“I beg of you! Please get me the energy!”

Perhaps it was the hope that his long-cherished wish could really come true that made him so expectant.

Ellis bowed deeply as she said this.

“I understand. I will take responsibility and get it for you.”

“Really?! Thank you!”

[You have accepted the quest.]

“But how much exactly?”

“Hmm… I think this much should be enough.”

As soon as she said this, the quest window in Carpé’s view refreshed.

Ding.

[Obtain materials to craft the magic weapon.]

[150 pieces of energy fragments filled with resentment]

[30 pieces of energy crystals filled with resentment]

[1 piece of energy essence filled with resentment]

“…That’s quite a lot.”

“I’m sorry. There’s not much naturally occurring energy to gather nearby…”

“No, I think I can manage to get it. Probably.”

There’s no business without hard work.

Carpé resolved to complete the quest, even if it meant a long-term battle.

But there was one thing he had to ask first.

“Is that essence… dropped by boss monsters?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s the energy possessed by the most powerful being in this labyrinth, the Centaur.”

“Perfect.”

Second job advancement, Mokhyang’s evolution, and the crafting of the magic weapon.

All of it could be completed by defeating the Centaur.

“The problem is where it’s roaming… There’s no choice but to search for it.”

“Ah! Wait a moment!”

Ellis jumped up from her chair and rushed to the research desk, rummaging through the drawers.

…Just looking at her, it was hard to believe she was a ghost.

“It should be here somewhere… Ah! I found it.”

She pulled out a rolled-up piece of parchment from the drawer and handed it to Carpé.

“It’s a map of this labyrinth. I’ve marked the areas where the Centaur frequently appears.”

“…What?”

Carpé took the map with a bewildered expression.

[You have obtained Ellis’s handmade map.]

[The map of this labyrinth will now be displayed on your mini-map.]

-…It’s true, when you’re on a roll, everything goes your way. Helping an NPC and getting a Legendary set item and a map… Is this even a game? I could report it to the Fair Trade Commission!

“Wow. This is really helpful. Thank you. I’ll definitely get it for you.”

“Yes. I’ll be waiting for you. I’ll be preparing the necessary groundwork for the crafting here.”

Carpé and his party left Ellis in the laboratory and headed outside.

“Wow, things are going so smoothly.”

-Yeah, sure. You’re living in your own world. Go ahead and hog everything. Pfft. It’s a dirty world where only the lucky ones keep getting lucky.

“You’re especially jealous today.”

-Legendary set item… I only got to wear one once…

While the centaur grumbled, Carpé checked the mini-map.

He could see his current location and the winding structure of the labyrinth at a glance.

“Let’s see. Is this the area where the boss monster appears?”

The mini-map had golden skull marks scattered in various places.

A total of eight locations.

It likely meant that the Centaur would appear in one of these eight places.

Carpé had used a similar system with the FB radar when searching for field bosses.

“Ah. It’s a shame the radar only works for field bosses. It would be much easier if it could find dungeon bosses too.”

-That would be too overpowered.

“There’s no choice. We’ll have to sweep through the closest areas first.”

With a bit of luck, they might encounter the boss at the first point!

“With an 8% chance, it’s a sure thing.”

-Yeah. Another day, another successful boast.

“But after completing the magic weapon… What will happen to Ellis?”

She had called herself a ghost.

What would happen to her once the lingering attachment that bound her was resolved?

“She might achieve enlightenment.”

“It’s possible. It’s a bit of a sad thought.”

“Hmm. How about this? Moving Ellis’s soul to the third relic.”

She was a soul with a clear sense of self, which Carpé had been searching for.

And her skills were recognized by the Magic Overlord, making her a perfect candidate…

“It would probably be too much to ask.”

“…Why?”

“While Ellis excels in engineering knowledge, she has no talent for combat. She wouldn’t be able to handle Lindor’s body properly.”

“Ah…”

The Magic Overlord’s third relic, ‘Dark Army,’ was a general known for his reckless bravery.

Putting a soul with no combat talent into such a tough body… It would definitely be a problem.

“Ellis and Lindor…? Master, it just doesn’t fit.”

“I agree with Mirage. My Lord. If the resonance isn’t strong enough, the soul might not settle properly.”

“Having a soul doesn’t mean everything works. Homunculi are complex.”

Carpé said this while looking at Tina.

The silver-armored knight with a flawless beautiful face.

A homunculus named ‘Radiance’ and… the princess of Arkham, the Magic Overlord’s daughter.

Why did the Magic Overlord make her a homunculus?

Carpé was curious about the reason but didn’t ask.

It might be a question that would dig up painful memories…

-By the way, how did you end up as a princess and a homunculus?

“…This is it.”

-What? Why are you looking at me like you’re seeing a bug all of a sudden?

“Just that… I suddenly realized how far apart you and I are.”

-???

“It’s a long story.”

Tina began her tale.

“During the height of the War of Prestige, the Magic Overlord was betrayed by humans once.”

War has a way of breaking people.

While the Magic Overlord, with his indomitable spirit, could endure it, others couldn’t.

A human who couldn’t bear it betrayed Arkham and joined the enemy, causing the tide of the war to turn sharply.

“At that time, the Magic Overlord decided. He needed to create a weapon that would absolutely follow his commands, not a human with a weak spirit.”

Thus, the seven homunculi of the Magic Overlord were born.

Absolute obedience to the Magic Overlord’s commands, and overwhelming power to crush the enemy.

They were his greatest masterpieces, but unfortunately, they weren’t perfect.

“While they couldn’t betray him due to their lack of self, they also lacked the ability to judge situations due to their lack of self.”

They could carry out simple commands without issue, but were extremely vulnerable to sudden variables.

The Magic Overlord was greatly disappointed with the results but didn’t give up.

He continued his research, seeking ways to improve the shortcomings, and eventually reached a conclusion.

He needed to put a soul that would never betray into the homunculus.

“The soul chosen for this was mine. At the time, I was suffering from an incurable disease and had little time left. It was a perfect match.”

As explained in the soul stone Carpé possessed, soul transplantation required the consent of the individual.

Tina accepted the Magic Overlord’s offer without hesitation, and her soul was transferred to a new body, bound by the Absolute Obedience spell.

Most of the Magic Overlord’s seven homunculi were created in this manner.

“…”

-…

The two men exchanged glances, the story heavier than they expected.

‘Why did I even ask…’

-No, I didn’t expect such a story either!

‘Apologize. Quickly! Prostrate yourself is the only answer!’

But ultimately, their worries were meaningless.

“It was the most meaningful moment of my life. If I were given the same choice again, I would choose the same path without hesitation.”

It was her own choice and her pride.

Tina truly believed this.

“…Is that so? You’re amazing, Tina.”

“I apologize, My Lord. Ah, we’ve arrived.”

The party had reached the first location marked with a skull.

And.

-Crazy. No, is this real?

“I told you. With an 8% chance, it’s a sure thing.”

Surprisingly, they encountered the Centaur at the first point.

A creature with a human upper body and a horse’s lower body, just as one would imagine when thinking of a ‘Centaur.’

“Hate… Arkham… Dretsch! I curse you!”

Ding.

[You have encountered the event boss ‘Cursed Spirit – Kyronas’!]

The Centaur, recognizing Carpé, charged forward with intense anger.

“Dretsch! How dare you! Die!”

“Why does this guy have so many enemies?”

Carpé muttered as he quickly retreated.

Kyronas’s spear pierced the spot where Carpé had just