-99 Level Archmage

Chapter 22. Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng

The reason why Park Chan-woo was sipping coffee on the Gwanghwamun street early in the morning was for several reasons. First, “Experiment on Nonexistence.” He wanted to see how the abnormal status “Nonexistence” applied in reality. He walked the streets, entered several stores, and checked whether people could recognize him.

‘There is a difference between inside and outside the Abyss.’

The result was somewhat unexpected. For now, Park Chan-woo’s presence in reality was no different from before. People could see him and quickly notice where he was. When he walked down the street, people avoided bumping into him, and even from a distance, they looked at him. When he ordered coffee and sat down, no one else sat in the same seat as him. This was proof that people recognized the existence of Park Chan-woo.

‘Outside the Abyss, people can perceive me.’

Then, what about “those who are not human”? For example, the creators. He already had a guess.

‘When Kim Byung-han was targeted by the Abyss sniping, Gremory, the Demon God inside the Abyss, did not perceive me until I revealed myself’

When Kim Byung-han was chased by his colleagues at work, Park Chan-woo enlarged “Brilliant Anubis” to help Kim Byung-han escape. Yet, even after that, the creators did not interfere or even attempt to stop him from freely roaming the Abyss. They should have known that he killed the game master Andariel. In other words—

‘Nonexistence is effective inside the Abyss.’

At least, the status effect “Nonexistence” was working properly within the Abyss. And its power was beyond his imagination.

‘If even the Demon God Gremory couldn’t perceive my presence… then no other creator in the Abyss can sense me first.’

After all, he was up against a Demon God. Even one of the true rulers of the Abyss couldn’t detect Park Chan-woo. There was no way a lesser monster or demon inside the Abyss would notice him first. However, he couldn’t be 100% certain.

‘People inside the Abyss couldn’t perceive me. But Kim Byung-han was different. Even in the lake park, even inside the company… The ones who already knew me could recognize me inside the Abyss.’

There was an exception to Nonexistence. Kim Byung-han knew Park Chan-woo and even recognized him first. But outside the “God Vibe Nightclub,” that was not the case.

‘It’s not the person himself, but rather the image they know that allows recognition…’

At that time, Park Chan-woo was wearing the “Demonic Set,” looking almost like a demon. So, the reason Kim Byung-han could recognize him was simply that he knew Park Chan-woo’s true appearance. His face was the basis of recognition. On the other hand, when Park Chan-woo covered his face and body, he wasn’t recognized.

‘The same should apply to the creators.’

A creator who had encountered Park Chan-woo once would have a higher chance of recognizing him. Moreover, creators might have an even more refined way of perception. For humans, eyes are the most crucial organ for recognizing someone. However, for the creators, the Abyssal Lords, they perceive existence itself. They detect magic, aura, scent, and every possible detail. Because demons frequently change their appearance, the visible form itself held no significance to them.

‘If I fail to eliminate them in one strike, the risk of exposure increases significantly.’

Park Chan-woo considered himself a “Joker Card.” Strong enough to kill an unknown opponent in one blow, but if exposed, he would be the easiest opponent to deal with. If the creators discovered his abilities, they would prepare accordingly. Nonexistence, Minus Level, and all of the other stuff. If they welcomed him with full preparation, it would be the worst-case scenario imaginable. Fortunately, he had gained favor with Demon God Gremory. Since Gremory openly said, “I will help you,” she was at least a demon god who could be reasoned with. And Park Chan-woo was confident that even Demon God Gremory didn’t have a  full grasp on him. After all, who could predict a state beyond the minimum adjustment values?

‘The key question is whether the creators can perceive me here on Earth, outside the Abyss.’

That was the most important point. If even on Earth, the creators couldn’t recognize Park Chan-woo, then there was no risk of being targeted first by sniping or incarnations. And so far, there were no signs of it. Even after bankrupting several creators, there was no noticeable reaction. At the very least, some should have attempted to make a contract with him.

Even outside the Abyss, contracts with apostles and incarnations were constantly being made. The creators inherently had the “Authority” to monitor the entire Earth in real-time.

‘Since there have been no offers, the answer is obvious. They cannot perceive me.’

Thus, the latter was more likely. The creators were currently completely unaware of Park Chan-woo’s existence.

‘…Only the host who created the Abyss can track the challengers. As long as I bankrupt the host who designed the Abyss, I will remain undetected.’

That was the conclusion. Once he entered the Abyss, he would destroy it unconditionally. That applied to this “Water God Dungeon” as well. Each dungeon had been created by different creators. He didn’t know who was behind the Water God Dungeon, but he certainly knew how to bankrupt them.

‘I’ll use Nonexistence to kill the creator of Water God in one blow.’

Until now, he had been relying on Reflective Magic. However, using Reflective Magic meant either exposing himself or needing someone like Sword King Lee Hyuk-soo to take the hit for him. If he found someone to take the hit, he would risk being exposed. And nothing was more vulnerable than an exposed Joker Card. His plan was to eliminate the Water God alone, using the “Heaven’s Punishment” effect from the “Stolen Helmet.” Lightning magic had good synergy with water, so it wasn’t impossible. As he pondered his Nonexistence experiment and how to clear the Water God Dungeon, he continued sipping coffee in the café. Of course, there was another reason why he was here.

“Everyone! This is an opportunity! A golden opportunity to grow stronger and unite!”

“Join the ‘Dawn Fellowship’!”

“We will protect you!”

…He was observing the people gathering here today. Since the Water God Dungeon had the highest-ranking score, there was an overwhelming chance that powerful beings and incarnations would be drawn to it. And they were one of them.

‘The Dawn Fellowship.’

A name that would later become the “Dawn Cult.” They were fully armed and shouting. Among them, one particular voice was strikingly familiar.

‘Dawn Cult Leader, Yoo Hanseop.’

He never expected to meet Yoo Han-seop here. A formidable figure who, even in the early stages, elevated Dawn Fellowship into one of the most influential organizations in South Korea. One of the rare individuals who wasn’t afraid of the Abyss. Moreover, Yoo Han-seop never shied away from dirty work. He went wherever he was needed. Using his positive influence, he moved people with inspiration. Young, handsome, charismatic, and highly capable. His followers inevitably grew exponentially. However—

“He’s an Incarnation.”

Yoo Hanseop was an Incarnation.

On the very first day, he had already completed an Incarnation Contract with a creator. While his talent was real, the real reason he stood out so quickly was that his contracted creator provided him with overwhelming support. They must have recognized his ability to attract people.

“Did he come to clear the Water God Abyss? Or to interfere?”

That was the real question. The crucial factor was which side his contracted creator had bet on. If one had bet on South Korea achieving ‘5,000 points,’ he would aim to clear it. Conversely, if his creator had bet on South Korea failing to reach it, he would actively interfere. Or, they could be the creator who designed the dungeon. Observing how he acted would reveal his intentions. It was quite curious why Yoo Hanseop was challenging the highest-difficulty dungeon from the start.

“Isn’t that Yoo Hanseop?”

“Oh… I saw him on the news. The one who wrote the ‘Abyss Column’?”

“That’s right. They said he saved over 500 people inside the Abyss.”

“Then he must be incredibly strong, right?”

The surroundings grew noisy. Yoo Hanseop was already a celebrity. On the first day in the Abyss, he had made a great impact, and his column in the newspaper, titled ‘Abyss Column,’ had even made the news. The column contained survival tips for the Abyss. In just one day, it surpassed 3 million views.

“I-I want to join as well!”

“What should I do?”

As soon as it was revealed that he was Yoo Hanseop, people flocked to him. They judged that forming a connection with him wouldn’t be a bad idea as they ventured deeper into the Abyss. In an instant, more than fifty people gathered. Then Yoo Hanseop spoke.

“From now on, you will enter the ‘Water God Abyss’ with me. And there, you will encounter incredible abilities.”

“What kind of abilities?”

“Courage!”

“Courage…?”

“Yes. You will gain the courage to no longer fear the Abyss. You will gain strength and become astonishingly powerful. And to make that happen, I and the ‘Dawn Fellowship’ will actively assist you.”

The members of the Dawn Fellowship numbered around ten. All of them were fully armed, making them quite reassuring. If they were offering their help, the promise of gaining strength was no lie. For the past two days, people had experienced the Abyss firsthand, learning in a harsh way about the unfairness and despair that came with being powerless.

The offer to gain strength, how sweet a temptation this was. It was impossible not to take the hand Yoo Hanseop extended. Before long, Yoo Hanseop, the Dawn Fellowship, and the gathered people assembled in front of the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

“Then, let’s depart.”

Yoo Hanseop confidently stepped into the Water God Abyss. As the members of the Dawn Fellowship followed without hesitation, the others hesitated for a moment before entering as well.

‘It’s all just showmanship.’

There were a few ways to enter a dungeon in the Abyss. One method was to step directly into the ‘gate,’ like Yoo Hanseop did. But even just staring at it for long enough would bring up an entry message. Just like now.

『Would you like to enter ‘Water God Abyss (1,000 points)’?』

『This is the highest-scoring dungeon currently in South Korea.』

『Difficulty: Extreme』

『Once you enter, you cannot leave until you discover a ‘Waypoint.’』

There was no estimated survival rate because it wasn’t a betting category. For this game, the creators had only bet on whether ‘South Korea would surpass 5,000 points or not,’ or whether ‘the dungeon would be cleared or not.’

‘At least I won’t stand out.’

He wanted to avoid being the first to enter. Even if the concept of ‘non-existence’ was real, one couldn’t be 100% sure he wouldn’t be perceived. It’s always best to check before crossing a stone bridge. Especially when entering for the first time, people tend to pay more attention. Fortunately, thanks to Yoo Hanseop and the large group entering ahead, he could avoid any unnecessary attention. Park Chanwoo nodded.

『Entering ‘God Water Abyss (1,000 points).’』

* * *

Upon entering the God Water Abyss, Yoo Hanseop smiled inwardly.

‘These people are merely stepping stones for my growth.’

There was a reason he had entered the highest-scoring dungeon from the start with a group.

‘The creator I made a contract with told me. Treasures and elixirs are scattered throughout the God Water Abyss.’

Yoo Hanseop was an Avatar and had made a contract with a creator.

And the creator had given him a heads-up. About the God Water Abyss.

【My Avatar. I will give you a map, so enter the ‘God Water Abyss’ first with people who can die for you. Then search the locations marked on the map. All kinds of elixirs and treasures that will make you stronger are hidden there.】

It had even handed him a map. The creator he had made a contract with was like a giving tree. His creator was dedicated to making Yoo Hanseop stronger. Thanks to that, even on the first day, and even in the ‘First Night Abyss,’ Yoo Hanseop had achieved quite significant results. And this time, it would be no different.

Yoo Hanseop smiled.

‘Here it is.’

Before he knew it, he had arrived at the ‘lakeside’ marked on the map.

Though some time had been spent organizing the group, no one could have arrived before him since he was moving with a clear purpose. Besides, the ‘God Water Abyss’ was the most dangerous dungeon in South Korea. Few dared to challenge it, so it was unlikely anyone else would be at this lakeside. All he had to do was calmly achieve his goal. Just then—

“A, a monster!”

“Mermaids with a spear appeared from the lake!”

Five mermaids emerged. Yoo Hanseop immediately drew his sword and shouted.

“Do not be afraid! Let us slay these monsters together!”

He was the first to charge forward. As the members of the Dawn Fellowship followed, the five mermaids were swiftly slaughtered.

‘He’s really strong.’

‘No wonder he wrote that column!’

‘He’s not human!’

People were in awe. Meanwhile, Yoo Hanseop quickly approached the lakeside.

Rumble!

The lake and the ground trembled. And then—

Rumble—!

A massive hippo emerged from the water. It was easily three times the size of a normal hippo, and its tusks were frighteningly sharp. The moment it appeared, the giant hippo charged toward the people.

‘Just as the creator said.’

Yoo Hanseop had hidden himself in the bushes just before the giant hippo appeared.

‘The Creator said the ‘Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng’ would be guarded by a giant hippo, a mystical beast.’

He had already known a monster would show up.

“R-run!”

“Kyaaaah!”

As the giant hippo charged at them, people screamed and scattered in panic. Seeing that they had all dispersed, Yoo Hanseop finally began moving in earnest. To claim the ‘Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng’ hidden here.

‘If the map is correct, it should be right here.’

Carefully comparing the map, Yoo Hanseop searched the area. Then, he frowned.

“…What the hell? Why is there nothing here?”

* * *

‘It’s a little bit bitter.’

Chomp, chomp!

Near the lakeside, Park Chanwoo smacked his lips as he chewed on the ‘Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng.’