CH 152

“What I obtained after a hundred days of training, they did within a day. Though I’m probably overestimating myself… I could calculate my training as 100 times less effective than theirs, assuming I train at full power. So, 100 to one.”

With this, Lancelot continued his train of thought. He would never overcome Arthur and the others if he trained as much as they did. This would be akin to a tortoise stating that it could beat a cheetah- no, an eagle, in a race.

The only answer was time.

Obviously, Lancelot was slow. However, what if he trained 100 days for every day they trained? What would happen if he trained for ten years while they only experienced a month? One hundred years? A thousand years? And if that wasn’t enough….

“Even if it takes 10,000 years….”

Lancelot was an orphan. He didn’t know who his parents were. His earliest memories were from when he was in the orphanage. It was a moderately-sized building, and it had various nuns running it.

At the orphanage, he was one of the few who received praise. Lancelot was naturally honest and sincere, dutifully following any orders given. He was always prepared and possessed a mindset that was different from other children, as Lancelot never complained, cried, or begged.

Perhaps this was why an affluent local couple decided to adopt him when he was six years old.

Lancelot- no, Dongsoo, was happy then. His adoptive parents were thoughtful and kind. Moreover, they lived a comfortable, rich life that lacked nothing.

However, if there was something special about them, it was their enthusiasm for education. They started numerous academic programs each week after bringing Dongsoo home. From sports to basic studies, music, and writing, Dongsoo was taught all types of classes. Furthermore, all his teachers were excellent private tutors.

Dongsoo studied hard under their instructions. With his ever-present sincerity, Dongsoo never wavered, not even for a moment. He always did his best to learn and try.

Yet, even after one year in that environment, he wasn’t particularly great at his studies.

He didn’t have a problem. The pace at which he learned things wasn’t particularly fast, nor was it slow. He wasn’t gifted or talented, but he wasn’t stupid either.

He was just… he was just an ordinary kid.

And that was the problem.

“We’re sorry. We thought he was gifted, but we must have been mistaken.”

After returning to the orphanage, Dongsoo cried and rebelled for the first time. His adoptive parents didn’t shower him with affection and love, but he liked them. He dutifully learned this and that for the past year; however, he didn’t meet their expectations.

He didn’t possess an iota of talent.

That was all.

“Ha, I haven’t thought about that time in a while… such a crappy memory.”

Dongsoo put his all into everything he did, and this didn’t change when he returned to the orphanage. He persevered through the jeers and finger-pointing and chugged on. After he received his high school diploma through a GED program, he worked hard in his part-time job to save up some money and even took the university entrance exam.

His entrance exam score was okay. Actually, it was a bit above average. Even a normal student could get into a prestigious university if they studied like mad. However, the issue was that there was always a ceiling. He could score as high as ‘not bad’ but could never get a ‘really high’ score; he could enter a prestigious university, but he didn’t qualify for any scholarships. An orphan like him couldn’t afford the tuition, and while he could take out loans, he’d simply accrue debt.

“I need time.”

Dongsoo worked harder. That was always the answer. However, like grabbing a handful of sand, everything he gained slipped through his fingers.

Dongsoo wasn’t special. He didn’t have any eye-catching talent or skill. However, he always remained optimistic and desired what he couldn’t obtain. He wasn’t willing to live a normal life.

“If a hundred years isn’t enough, then a thousand years… if that’s not enough, then ten thousand years….”

Lancelot lifted his spear. Aura power radiated from his body.

“I will never stop.”

Lancelot started training.

***

A man in a red robe stepped out from an opening in space- it was Merlin. However, there was something different from before. Now, he carried a long, black staff that had a green gem fixed at its tip, and there was a strange spiritual qi emanating from it.

“You’re late, Merlin! What took you so long?”

“Ah, I’m sorry, Ilyia. I was just doing this and that.”

Merlin bowed his head to Ilyia, who he had grown close to. However, Ilyia narrowed her eyes.

“Eh, what’s up? Your general aura has changed, no?”

“That’s probably because I started wearing glasses, and I also began carrying this staff to look more like a mage.”

“Is that so?”

Ilyia tilted her head as she tried to pinpoint Merlin’s change. However, they hadn’t known each other for long, so she decided to drop the subject. Merlin was always active and outgoing, and the glasses gave him a more intellectual look. His calm expression also contributed to this overall feeling.

“What happened to that Lancelot guy? I guess he’s not coming?”

“He mentioned that he had some other matters to take care of, but that puts us in a difficult position… we need to fill one spot….”

They were gathered in the Stage 6 waiting room. This room was reserved for users who defeated a Level 12 monster, so there was bound to be a limited number of people present. Unlike the level tests, this room allowed players to use various items and advanced gear, but even so, DIO didn’t have many Level 10 users.

“Should we try with our current numbers? Honestly, it’s not like we’re losing much without him.”

Cruze tried to accept the final mission. Even though Lancelot was formidable, in truth, 80 percent of the party’s total damage was from Arthur and Cruze. They could survive without Lancelot.

/You do not meet the required number of participants. The mission cannot start./

Obviously, the system wouldn’t let them begin. The mission required five participants, so they were missing one. Actually, they could drop one person and conduct the mission with three people, but then someone would have to become the odd one out. How would that person feel?

“What should we do?”

“I’m not sure. Dang, do we need to go down to Stage 5?”

“Even Stage 6 isn’t too difficult….”

Cruze and Arthur had qualified for Stage 7 and Stage 8, respectively, so for them, the Stage 6 mission wasn’t challenging. They wouldn’t face any trouble in finding users if they went down to Stage 5, but then they’d lose the bonus rewards given when completing tougher missions. However, at that moment, there was an opening in the space, which signified that someone was entering the waiting room.

Step.

The new user wore a black leather bodysuit that seemed to suck the surrounding light. It was someone that Merlin had come across before.

“Ah, Arc.”

“… It’s been a while.”

“Oh hey, Arc! Did you reach the master level?”

“I was lucky. I’ve become an advanced mage.”

Arc was a battle mage of the Blackyak Sect of magic and a practitioner of the ‘No Thoughts Gold Strong’ Technique. He utilized a powerful Self Defense Technique in order to chant and cast spells during battle. Moreover, due to the unique characteristic of his magic sect, Arc’s spells could be more powerful than the ones cast by others if given enough time. This allowed Arc to become a substantial addition to any force, as well as someone to be reckoned with when fighting alone.

“Oh, it’s been a while, you animal.”

“What the hell? Bird brain? I didn’t think you’d appear for a while. Seems like you found a master.”

“What did you just call me?”

Quiet Heaven had been sitting atop Merlin’s head when it and Arc’s pet, Ellie, growled at each other. It didn’t seem like this was their first meeting.

“Oh, what a unique pet. Did you purchase it recently?”

Ilyia looked at Quiet Heaven with interest. Merlin responded, “No. I’ve had it for a while. You don’t have a pet, Ilyia?”

“I’m a stealth specialist, so it’s cumbersome for me to have one. A pet will only cause a nuisance by being sensed by others.”

“What about you, Cruze?”

Cruze did not respond, and instead, a deep voice answered Merlin’s question.

“Hmm, is someone asking about me?”

From inside one of Cruze’s chest pockets, a small monkey popped out and lightly stood on Cruze’s shoulder. Rather than a living being, the monkey looked more like a cute SD (super deformation) character.

“Oh, that’s cute. It can also transform.”

“Transform? It has another form?”

After hearing Ilyia’s comment, Merlin focused his attention on Cruze’s pet. He tried using Enhanced Eyesight on the monkey, but the attempt failed. Currently, Merlin was wearing the upper-tier magic item, Close.

Slip.

Merlin was about to take off his glasses, but at that moment, the monkey, Wukong, started to grow. Moments ago, Wukong was small enough to fit snuggly in Cruze’s chest pocket, but now, he was twice the size of her. Furthermore, with his rippling muscles and firm skeletal structure, Wukong gave off a formidable aura.

“Nice to meet you. I’m called Wukong. I’m a stone monkey monster.”

“Wukong? The Great Sage Heaven’s Equal’s Sun Wukong?”

Sun Wukong was popularly known as the main character in Journey to the West, a monkey born in Mount Huaguo. Wukong was a legendary giant monster who accompanied Xuanzang to deliver Buddhist sutras to India. Of course, like Quiet Heaven, it was Cruze who gave her pet its name, but it was strange that her pet even looked like a stone monkey.

“Hahaha! Thank you for looking highly upon me, but I cannot be compared to the Great Sage Heaven’s Equal.”

Yet, even as Wukong said this, a smile formed on his face, reaching up to his ears. It seemed Wukong felt so good that he was about to die, so Merlin had no choice but to inquire further.

“Wait, does Great Sage Heaven’s Equal really exist?”

“Sure! He is respected by all monkey monsters- no, by every monster in existence!”

After hearing Wukong’s prideful response, Ilyia asked, “What level is that sage at?”

It was a natural question that a user would ask, but Wukong became furious.

“What! You’re asking about the Great Sage Heaven’s Equal’s level?! The Great Sage Heaven’s Equal is a god of battle! He can’t be compared with anyone!”

Seeing Wukong’s frantic reaction, Quiet Heaven stared at the monkey in amazement as it sat atop Merlin’s head.

‘Why is he getting all worked up? Doesn’t he have any restrictions?'

The lower and mid-level monsters under DIO’s control were called ‘slaves,’ and ‘single objective’ type pets like Wukong usually came with many restrictions. Of course, there were some restrictions that would gradually loosen once the pet owner’s level increased and once the owner’s relationship with other dimensions became more active. However, it was still early for any of those things to happen, yet Wukong didn’t seem to have or care about such restrictions.

‘Is it because of his unusual owner?’