'Yes!'
No matter what, the important thing was completing the quest.
And just now, the quest had been completed by receiving Umbra’s recognition. Once the most important problem was solved, Su-ho finally felt he had the breathing room to really listen.
“Alright. Now that I’ve seen the quest completion mark, let’s talk for real—comfortably. But I can speak out loud now, right? You’re both right here, so there’s no need to use mental communion.”
- Do as you please.
- Whatever you like.
When the two of them nodded, Su-ho smiled.
Su-ho asked,
“Before we get into all the other stuff, let’s clear up the traffic first. You first.”
With a glance, Su-ho indicated Umbra.
“I got your recognition, so the quest is complete. But a quest is a quest, and we still have something left to exchange between us, right?”
- Yes. I will pass the power of shadow I possess on to you. But before that, we should make a promise.
“You mean the promise that if I win the Independence Game, you’ll ensure full independence for my world—and the spirit realm too?”
- Correct.
“How do I do it?”
- By forming a covenant.
As Umbra continued, he snapped his fingers.
System notices rose in front of Su-ho’s eyes.
[ The Constellation Umbra wishes to place a bet on your victory in the Independence Game. ]
[ Will you accept Umbra’s bet? ]
[ The moment you accept this bet, the survival of Umbra and the spirit realm will be decided according to your final result in the Independence Game. ]
[ You may refuse the bet. ]
Notices he’d never seen before.
So this was how deals were made.
Before accepting, Su-ho asked one last question.
“Just in case—this bet. Can I only take one from a single Constellation?”
- No. You can take bets from multiple Constellations. To begin with, aren’t you inheriting the wills of multiple superiors?
“That’s true.”
If he could only take a bet from one Constellation, he’d been planning to reconsider the deal.
Either way, this was a transaction backed by power—and there might be a Constellation who could give him a stronger power than Umbra.
“If you’re lying, it’s not going to be fun.”
- I don’t do cheap tricks like that.
Su-ho nodded and accepted the offer.
[ You have accepted Umbra’s bet. ]
[ You have succeeded in receiving a Constellation’s bet for the first time in human history. ]
[ You have achieved a truly tremendous feat that no other Player has ever managed. ]
[ The system acknowledges your supreme achievements and gifts you 30 bonus stats. ]
Wow.
All he did was accept a single bet, and he got thirty more bonus stats.
'It’s a one-time perk anyway.'
But the system notices didn’t end there.
[ Due to the fulfillment of a special condition, some qualifications are unlocked. ]
[ Status Window information is updated. ]
[ Permissions for accessing certain information have been strengthened. ]
[ Limited potential restrictions on certain powers have been released. ]
[ ■■ congratulates your growth. ]
[ ■■ congratulates your growth. ]
[ ■■■■ congratulates your growth. ]
[ ■■ congratulates your growth. ]
[ ■■■ finds your course of action extremely interesting. ]
[ ■■ is watching you. ]
[ ■■■ finds your course of action extremely interesting. ]
Notices poured down in a stream.
Notices saying qualifications had been unlocked and permissions strengthened.
But the one that drew his eyes most was the Status Window update.
Su-ho immediately checked his Status Window first.
[ An Su-ho ]
The newly added item in the Status Window was Betting.
It seemed to record the list of Constellations who had bet on him.
After confirming, Su-ho said to Umbra,
“Now we’re good, right?”
- Yes. With this, the transaction is established.
As Umbra finished speaking, his avatar spread one hand.
Black smoke condensed between his open fingers, and a single black orb was summoned. When Umbra’s avatar held it out, Su-ho carefully took the black orb and asked,
“I can look, right?”
- As much as you want.
With permission given, Su-ho immediately checked the orb’s information.
[ Umbra’s Rune ]
# A rune containing the power of the Constellation Umbra, guardian deity of the spirit realm and known as the Shadow Lord.
# Upon using Umbra’s Rune, you may inherit and wield Umbra’s power.
# To use Umbra’s Rune, you must have Umbra’s recognition as well as meet the minimum rank condition.
Su-ho’s eyes widened as he looked at it.
'S++ grade?'
He’d seen countless grades up to now.
Not just S, but S+, even SS.
But this was the first time he’d ever seen S++.
Su-ho asked,
“This is my first time seeing S++. What is this?”
- It is originally SS, but things that possess SS are designed so that only those with the proper qualifications can see them. You do not yet possess that level of standing, so it appears to you as the lower grade—a special grade—S++.
“Wow... that’s a new setting.”
It really was the first time he’d seen it.
Until he learned the realm of the Formless Sword, the highest grade he’d seen was S+.
As Su-ho rolled Umbra’s Rune between his fingers, he asked,
“Then if my standing rises and I’m able to see SS, will this rune’s grade show as SS too—and will its options rise accordingly?”
- Yes. So in my personal opinion, I recommend using it when your standing has risen enough that you can see SS.
“How am I supposed to know when I’ll ever reach SS?”
- That is...
When Umbra couldn’t continue, Su-ho let out a short laugh.
“Right? In theory, like you said, it would be more efficient to use it when my standing rises and I can see SS. But I’m not the type to save the good side dish for last. How am I supposed to put it off until then when I don’t even know when I’ll reach SS?”
- Then will you use it now?
“No, not that either. There’s no need to rush and use it right now. I’ll keep it for when something happens that I can’t solve with my own power. For now, keep.”
With power already lacking, there was no reason to absorb it at the low point for no reason.
Of course, like he’d just said, in a situation where he didn’t know when his Player rank would rise, mindlessly postponing it forever wasn’t a great choice either.
'They say if you hoard it, it turns into crap.'
So he decided he’d use it when a situation came where he needed power, and keep it for now.
Su-ho tucked Umbra’s Rune into his chest and continued with his questions.
“Is this all the power you’re giving me?”
- Yes.
“Then I got what you’re giving, and we signed what we had to sign—so are we done?”
- With me, yes.
“Then I’ll see you ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) next time.”
- That’ll be difficult.
“What?”
The one who suddenly cut into the conversation was the Shadow Giant, who had been silent until now.
- Earlier, I heard you talking about keeping it and all that—how about you use the rune right away whenever you can?
“Out of nowhere? Why?”
- Since Umbra has bet on you now, he won’t be able to give you any advice anymore for the sake of fairness. No—he won’t even be able to show himself to you at all. That’s what fairness requires. But I’m different.
The Shadow Giant smiled faintly.
- I’m the collection and crystallization of this guy’s power, but before that, I’m also a colleague he trusts more than anyone to watch his back. Still, no matter what our relationship is, if we’re being exact, I’m closer to his summon and underling. Which means I can give you advice as much as I want. That’s why I’m telling you to absorb it now. Umbra won’t be able to see you, but I can keep seeing you.
At the Shadow Giant’s words, Umbra also nodded.
- He’s right. Since I have bet on you, I want to give you a lot of advice going forward, but for the sake of the game’s fairness, I can no longer appear before you.
“Then is this our last meeting?”
- You could say that. From now on, I will be confined to the spirit realm, functioning only as a non-Player and helper to other worlds.
- Sounds grand, but you can basically think of it as being sealed.
The Shadow Giant said it casually.
At the unexpected information, Su-ho fell silent for a moment.
Then, looking at the Shadow Giant, he asked slowly,
“What’s your name?”
- Took you long enough. My name is Jack. Full name, Hollow Jack. The greatest divine beast Umbra ever created, king of all shadow divine beasts—and you could also call me the essence of shadow magic itself. Which means even if you don’t know much about shadow magic, as long as you’ve got me, you’ll be able to handle shadow magic in a very useful way.
“But you can only use me if you use Umbra’s Rune.”
- Correct. So I’m recommending you stop talking about waiting until your standing rises, or keeping it, and start mastering it right away.
Jack was brimming with momentum.
But listening to him, it was all annoyingly reasonable, so Su-ho couldn’t really argue.
- Well, the choice is yours.
On top of that, he was irritating.
Su-ho shook his head.
“I’ll decide that soon. Then... are we done here?”
- Yes.
Umbra’s eyes flickered.
Then he created an exit portal leading outside.
Before stepping through, Su-ho asked one last question.
“I learned a lot thanks to you. But... are you planning to keep the secret of the Independence Game from the people here until the end?”
- Yes. Sometimes, not knowing is better.
“I see. But something just occurred to me—setting the secrecy aside, why are you stopping time? And why are you taking people’s shadows so they don’t age?”
At that question, Umbra fell silent.
Jack, who had been watching, spoke.
- I’ll tell you that reason later. So if you’re curious, as soon as you get out, use the rune.
It didn’t seem like he was going to get an answer from Umbra.
Su-ho let it go and stepped toward the exit portal.
“Then see you again. No—I'll definitely see you again. I’ll make sure that happens.”
- Yes. I’ll trust you.
After exchanging farewells, Su-ho stepped into the exit portal.
Fwaak!
Light flashed, and his vision flickered.
When he opened his eyes again, what he saw was the Subspace House he’d been in just before.
Not far away, he could feel Pi Seong-yeol’s presence as he worked hard at turning the Mega Crusher, and as Su-ho sensed Pi Seong-yeol’s presence, he let out a small snort.
'You should be grateful you’re really blessed.'
Some people live their entire lives trapped in false misery while time is frozen.
Thinking that, before leaving the Subspace House, Su-ho took out Umbra’s Rune once more.
“......”
A lot went through his mind.
Up until Jack’s advice, he’d planned to use it later, for the future—but after hearing Jack’s provocation that wasn’t quite a provocation, he didn’t think he could wait that long.
'Yeah. I’ll use it right now.'
Having made up his mind, Su-ho used Umbra’s Rune.
