“Does ‘former owner’ mean the owner has changed?”
“That’s right.”
“That being so, they must be great.”
According to Rose, the Legendary Guardian is a being no one can meet casually.
A being who has lived since time immemorial.
The fact that the owner of the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons had changed means an entity stronger than those two had appeared.
What’s more, the one they called ‘that being’ had personally chosen me.
“What does it mean that the new owner chose me?”
“That cannot be revealed yet.”
“Come back properly when you’re ready.”
Jormungandr and Basilisk lowered their bodies and pushed their faces close to mine.
Their long tongues flicked out, creating an atmosphere of terror.
Opening their mouths felt like they could swallow me whole in a single bite.
“You don’t have much time left. Choose one of the two options.”
“Will you appoint a new Guardian, or will you nurture the Guardians you already have?”
“By nurture, do you mean you’ll raise the Guardian I have with me?”
They both nodded.
“Yes.”
“That’s right.”
The only poison-related Guardians I had were Goblins.
To become a Sacred Dragon level.
To confront Intermediate Apostles.
I needed many strong Guardians, so recruiting additional ones was the best option.
“Is there any difference between the two?”
“That cannot be told.”
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be fun, heh heh heh.”
This was definitely different from the two previous usage rights.
I thought carefully.
Since they were Lords’ Guardians, they wouldn’t submit to me, who was still lacking in ability.
Then, they must be others.
Until now, the only beings I’d met here were Skeleton Knights and Skeleton Soldiers.
‘Maybe stronger ones exist elsewhere…’
They clearly said the owner of the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons had changed.
During the process of the owner’s change, the Guardians they nurtured might have died.
Above all.
I couldn’t appoint Guardians just because I wanted to. The other party had to want me too for the appointment to be possible.
“I’ll go with nurturing.”
When I made my choice, Jormungandr and Basilisk sighed and flicked their tongues.
“You’re a boring one.”
“What a shame. Too bad. I could’ve made you suffer.”
Seeing those two reveal their true feelings now that the decision was made, I raised my head.
“How do I proceed with nurturing the Guardians?”
“A dispatch mission and a Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons mission will appear. Assign the Guardians you want to nurture there.”
“A promise is a promise. I’ll do my best to raise them well.”
“Even if their talent is a bit lacking, is that okay?”
Then the two laughed.
“It doesn’t matter. Nothing’s impossible in the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons.”
“We’ll create talent where there was none, so don’t worry.”
The two enormous snakes moved away from my face and slithered down the cliff to hide.
Then, a blue portal appeared before me.
[The allocated time in the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons has expired. Please return to the Dimensional Tavern.]
Rose had said this would be simple.
‘It really is simple.’
The business was over within a few hours.
“In that case, I should dump all the nurturing resources into the Orc.”
The Goblins would be nurtured in the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons.
I stepped forward and entered the portal heading to the Dimensional Tavern.
Dimensional Tavern.
Rose, the tavern owner, looked at the seat Yongje had been sitting in.
An empty glass.
She picked it up and wiped the remaining moisture in the cup with a towel.
“Bell.”
At Rose’s call, the dragon figurine on the bar moved. From its mouth came a deep male voice.
“Yes?”
“Can you find out what happened in the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons?”
“I’ll check immediately.”
With Bell’s response, Rose took a deep breath and shot a sharp glance.
The Legendary Guardian.
Because they were Guardians who had served the Dragon Lord, their standards were high and their expectations extremely strict.
Beings no one could meet unless they were Sacred Dragon level.
The Legendary Guardians hadn’t explicitly said so, but until now, there had never been a case like this.
The tacit rules, preserved for a long time, had been broken.
“What exactly did they see?”
The standards by which Legendary Guardians judge successors vary.
The most important is the Guardians they possess.
How many talented Guardians the successor had selected while moving through various dimensions via the Dimensional Tavern was crucial.
Therefore, only successors who had used the Dimensional Tavern at least ten times among Sacred Dragon levels made the list.
Cheon Yongje was only on his third time.
Although growing at an incredible pace, growth alone was not enough for the Legendary Guardians to call upon.
Especially, the two snakes who owned the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons were notoriously picky Guardians.
The only beings who hadn’t summoned a Lord’s successor for centuries.
“…Something is definitely off.”
But I couldn’t pinpoint what.
Rose tidied up the glasses and cards she had, but Bell hadn’t appeared yet.
Shuuaaaak!
At that moment, with a flash of white light, Yongje appeared.
I never imagined Yongje would arrive before Bell, who had been sent for intel.
Rose looked slightly flustered as she looked at Yongje.
“You’re already here?”
“Yes. It really was simple.”
“Did you meet the Legendary Guardians?”
“Yes. There were two snakes.”
Jormungandr and Basilisk.
They were indeed the Legendary Guardians who served the Lord.
‘They really summoned Cheon Yongje?’
I wanted to ask why, but Yongje stood and bowed his head.
“I’ll be going now. I have a lot to do.”
“Yes. We’ll see each other again soon. We’ll talk then.”
Yongje left the Dimensional Tavern.
Jingle!
A bell sounded once, then silence fell.
Rose’s gaze went to the dragon figurine, now motionless.
“Bell? Not yet?”
“…Apologies. I need a little more time.”
“What is it?”
Rose looked curious.
Bell gave no further answer.
When Bell answered like this, it meant he was truly busy.
Either something urgent had occurred.
Or something shocking.
He must be focusing all his energy on verifying reliable information.
“Unnerving.”
Rose licked her dry lips, feeling an odd sense of anxiety as she walked out from behind the bar and paced inside the tavern.
Some time passed.
Suddenly, the doll’s eyes glowed blue and Bell’s heavy voice spoke.
“Apologies for the delay. The information was too shocking, so I took time to verify the facts.”
“What is it? What happened?”
“It is certain that Cheon Yongje was summoned to the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons.”
“I already met him and confirmed that. He said he met Jormungandr and Basilisk.”
“It wasn’t those two who summoned him.”
At Bell’s words, Rose narrowed her eyes.
The Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons was a sanctuary no one could enter without the owner’s permission.
If Jormungandr and Basilisk did not summon him.
There was no way Cheon Yongje could enter the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons.
Not unless the owner changed.
One, that was impossible.
Legendary Guardians are transcendent beings who wield the power of the Lord to its fullest.
They were talented enough to be personally chosen by the Dragon Lord.
‘Inside the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons, they are like gods.’
Even if someone talented appeared anew.
To defeat both Jormungandr and Basilisk at the same time, they’d have to be that strong.
It was virtually impossible for those raised by the two to defeat them.
Rose fell silent as Bell continued.
“The owner of the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons has changed.”
“What? That can’t be.”
“I couldn’t believe it either, so I went to the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons myself. I confirmed it directly with Jormungandr and Basilisk. One week ago, the owner changed.”
“Who is the new owner?”
“The successor to Cheon Yongje. The Guardian he raised during his qualification process.”
“But S-rank is the limit, right?”
“I don’t know the details, but according to Jormungandr and Basilisk, that person’s talent is on a completely different level.”
“Did you get a name?”
“Yes. His name is Dang Munhyeok. His nickname is ‘King of All Poisons.’ He is the new owner of the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons.”
“Where is he now?”
Bell swallowed.
“It’s unknown. They said he left the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons in their care.”
“Then Cheon Yongje entering the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons might also be on King of All Poisons’ orders?”
“Yes.”
Rose raised her hand and pressed it against her forehead.
An entirely unexpected event had occurred.
The owner of the Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons had changed.
That meant the owners of other places could change too.
I had no idea if the current changes would be advantageous or not.
“Investigate the whereabouts of other Guardians related to Cheon Yongje.”
“Yes, understood. And I have additional information to report.”
“What is it?”
“The Supreme Apostles of the Seven Dragon Gods have begun to move.”
Returning to the Dragon Lair, but since the dispatched Guardians hadn’t returned, I headed to the Labyrinth.
[You have discovered a Hidden Piece.]
[Hidden Piece discovery achievement rewards granted.]
[Dungeon conquest rewards for the nation the discoverer belongs to have increased.]
[Trial success rewards for the nation the discoverer belongs to have increased.]
[Hidden Piece achievements have reached 28.]
[The chance to obtain Level Stones in the Red Dungeon has increased by 3%.]
[The chance for Red Dungeon occurrence has increased.]
The United States of America had reached the required achievement count.
‘Rewards improve every 5 units, right?’
I wondered what changes would occur at 30.
Looking forward to the day after tomorrow, I defeated the boss monster in front of me.
“Stone Strike.”
Sharp stones erupted from the ground and pierced the boss monster’s heart.
The Labyrinth conquest was now more of an outing.
Using the portal outside, I returned to the Dragon Lair.
[Trial on the 27th floor of the Labyrinth completed.]
[Trial rewards: 50 Magic Stones (C).]
[Trial rewards: 20 Lightning Crystals (D).]
[A Hidden Piece was obtained on this floor.]
[Stage Challenge Ticket obtained.]
[Using the Challenge Ticket allows you to challenge the owner of the stage.]
As soon as Magic Stones piled up in the warehouse, the Goblins moved.
Tat-tak.
Tat-tak.
With both hands full of Magic Stones, they placed them into the incubation device.
I glanced at the dragon eggs being rapidly digested and stepped outside.
Crossing the portal, I moved to the Witch’s House where Anne was.
Swish!
Swish!
On the plank beside a giant jar, witches moved their ladles.
The bubbling sound and smoke from the liquid.
They were diligently brewing potions.
【Hello!】
【Welcome!】
Seeing the witches greet me without shyness, I lightly raised my hand.
“Where’s Anne?”
【She’s in the laboratory.】
“Thanks.”
Entering the Witch’s House, I headed to the basement laboratory.
Knock, knock!
When I knocked, Anne’s voice came from inside.
【You may come in.】
Opening the door and entering, I saw a cluttered desk.
Various liquids in all sorts of containers.
Along with numerous ingredient items scattered about.
Next to them, parchments filled with notes.
“What are you working on?”
【I was making a mana hole restoration remedy for Ropenheim.】
“Why not just make an Elixir?”
【I’d like to, but it seems to take longer, so I’ve been researching this instead. Making a remedy that only fixes the mana hole is much simpler than making an Elixir.】
“Is that so? How long do you think it’ll take?”
【I’ll continue a bit more and let you know when I’m sure.】
If Ropenheim’s mana hole is restored, it would be a powerful asset — good news for me.
【By the way, what brings you here?】
“I’m planning to take over this forest once the other Guardians return.”
But I had almost no information.
What races lived in the other forests.
What abilities they had.
Whether I could dominate under current conditions.
And so on.
“So, just tell me what you know.”