What is the new story?
The new story is the exclusive domain of those who accomplish what others cannot and lead the story splendidly. They can obtain greater rewards, but they must overcome more difficult trials. Hyun-soo has triumphed over numerous new stories and recently cleared a story designed for him. That story was a level higher than the new story, but it was also more difficult. Then, a notification arrived:
[Another story begins.]
[This story will offer much greater rewards than the new one.]
And you could sense this new story through Arte’s actions. Like crossing mountains, it was a series of linked quests that spanned multiple peaks. Arte’s story began:
“I have been in the Sage’s Tower within the Beres Mountain Range for 300 years,” everyone knew this fact. “But there’s one secret others don’t know: I am trapped here.”
“Trapped?”
“By the demon of blood, Graut.”
Arte’s world is vast, with demons living in the demon realm. “He trapped me here.”
A sorrowful look appeared in Arte’s eyes. “Three hundred years ago, I was magnificent. Emperors, saints, popes, and legends all wanted to meet me. One day, a man came to see me.”
“That was Graut.”
Arte nodded. “He came in the guise of an ordinary human and challenged me to a contest of knowledge.”
Arte gave a bitter smile. “He was extraordinary, knowing things beyond the world. But he was no match for me, and then he revealed his true form.”
Recalling that moment made him shiver. “I knew demons sometimes come down in human form. He told me, ‘You, who surpasses my knowledge, must be punished.'”
Hyun-soo looked at Arte with a sorrowful gaze. The stories of demons toying with humans for amusement included Arte. “He is known as the demon of knowledge. He was jealous of me. Whether I won or lost, he would have trapped me. Thus, I was confined to this Beres Mountain Range.”
Hyun-soo asked the pressing question, “What happens if you leave?”
“Beres Mountain Range is home to many monsters. The moment I step out, they will all attack me.”
Hyun-soo realized it was not an easy task. ‘All the monsters here will attack Arte…’
And he shuddered. Three hundred years. ‘He has been trapped here for all that time, unable to go out…?’ It was horrifying just to imagine. And he felt disgusted by the demons who toyed with humans for their amusement.
“Do you know about the beautiful bird?”
Arte’s voice trembled. “People loved the beautiful bird. One day, they wanted to see it up close, so they captured it and put it in a cage.”
“…..”
“Unaware that it was suffering greatly from being unable to fly, they said, ‘What a beautiful bird,’ ‘It makes me happy to see it.'”
Yes, Arte was like that bird in the cage. “And I, too, had family, though it was only my mother, and I know she has passed away.”
Hyun-soo suddenly thought of his father. He empathized with the sadness of wanting to meet but being unable to. “Will you help me escape from this cage?”
[Linked Quest: The Cage]
Grade: S
Restriction: Must have received Arte’s proposal
Reward: Skill creation for you
Failure Penalty: Arte’s death
Description: Arte has been trapped in the Sage’s Tower for 300 years. If you help him gain his freedom, you will be rewarded according to his abilities.
The quest was rated S. The prospect of skill creation just for Hyun-soo was extremely enticing. ‘A skill just for me…’
“I will do my best.”
“Thank you. Now, let’s find a way to leave this tower together…”
At that moment, a window opened by itself, and a black arrow shot through, hitting Arte. The arrow didn’t pierce or stick into him but instead seeped directly into his body.
[Arrow of Agony]
[No physical damage is inflicted.]
[However, intense pain persists.]
Arte screamed in agony. “Aargh! Ughhh! Aaaah!”
Hyun-soo was shocked and couldn’t hide his confusion. “Aaaah! Ughhh!”
Then, a voice, not human, was heard.
***
The demon of blood, Graut. He is also known as the demon of knowledge. Long ago, Graut appeared in the world in human form and heard stories about a man who knew everything. The fact that such a title was given to a mere human infuriated Graut. He immediately sought out that human and challenged him to a contest. The result was a complete defeat for Graut.
Jealous and envious, Graut trapped Arte, a human with knowledge surpassing his own, and decided to toy with him for eternity. The reason? Pure amusement. It was the price for a mere human, like a worm, being superior to him. Graut would keep him in a cage and torment him for life.
Graut was a cruel demon. He knew Arte would hold onto hope—the hope of eventually leaving the cage. In reality, Graut’s confinement of Arte was not perfect. The demon’s descent to the human world came with significant penalties and loss of power. Arte, with his sage’s mind, figured this out. He realized that once he escaped the Beres Mountain Range, Graut would no longer be able to keep him imprisoned.
But that didn’t matter to Graut. The hope Arte clung to—that was what he enjoyed crushing. Whenever Arte tried to leave, Graut would reach into the cage and torment him. Each time, the bird flailed, and Graut laughed.
“Blasphemy. Arte, I thought of you and made you the most noble and beautiful being in the world.”
It was Grout who built the Tower of the Sage.
“Think in your pain, that nobility isn’t as bad as you thought…”
Then.
“…Take this arrow.”
Grout heard a voice coming from within the tower.
‘Oh?’
Watching them, Grout realized that Arte had recruited just a blacksmith to escape. He also understood why Arte chose him. Even if he asked the legends, feeling the threat to their lives, they wouldn’t dare to fight the demon. But this foreign man could revive even if he died, so he was the only hope Arte could rely on.
Grout became intrigued.
Two horns.
A handsome man with dark skin that was infinitely beautiful. His eyes were sharply upturned and slanted. His sharp nose and smooth jawline were awe-inspiring.
The demon was strong. Because of that, he possessed a unique leisureliness.
Grout crossed his arms and laughed.
“An arrow shot by a blacksmith? How ridiculous. Is this human bravado?”
Humans were amusing. Driven by emotions, they couldn’t see even an inch ahead properly.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Grout laughed.
***
[The appearance of Grout, the Blood Demon!]
[Grout, the Blood Demon Lv. 401]
[A demon cannot descend to the earth in its complete form.]
[Grout, the Blood Demon, is weakened by more than 50% and is in a fragmented state.]
[In his fragmented state, Grout only possesses half of his usual total HP.]
Arte couldn’t collect his thoughts due to the excruciating pain. At that moment, Hyun-soo picked him up and walked towards the wall. Even in that pain, Arte felt deeply ashamed of his appearance.
“There have been… khh, times like this. That guy always punished me when I tried to escape.”
Hyun-soo said nothing. He slowly set Arte down against the wall to lean on it. Then, with dry lips, he spoke for the first time.
“…It’s happened many times, then.”
“Yes, so don’t worry too much. I knew Grout was watching me, but I didn’t expect it to be this severe.”
Sweating and gradually getting used to the pain, Arte smiled.
“What is the way to stop the pain?”
“…Descending to the earth also burdens him. He descended through the fragments he scattered. If you destroy those fragments, you can stop it.”
Arte knew. Even if they were just fragments, even if he was weakened, Grout was still immensely strong.
“You should go back. Don’t get caught in the demon’s eyes.”
At this moment, Arte worried about Hyun-soo.
“Let’s pretend our conversation never happened.”
[Linked Quest: Arte’s Cage will end by Arte’s decision.]
[If Arte gives up, no penalties will occur.]
“Ha, don’t worry about me. I’ve gotten used to it over 300 years.”
Arte tried to smile as brightly as possible. The time he spent with him was short.
“When you get stronger, come back then.”
He patted Hyun-soo on the shoulder.
“I’m perfectly fine.”
At that moment, Arte met Hyun-soo’s eyes.
Those dark eyes that seemed to pull him in.
A bitter smile drawn on his lips.
“Are you really okay?”
“…….”
Arte could no longer hold back his emotions.
He let out the feelings that had been welling up inside him.
“Khrr, how could I be okay…!”
It had been a staggering 300 years. During that time, Arte had been trapped in this tower.
He had longed for the outside world, looking out the window dozens of times a day.
“…I believe in you, Arte. You will create the best skill for me.”
Hyun-soo gave a small smile.
With his back to Arte, Hyun-soo walked towards the window. In a calm, settled voice, he said,
“…Take this arrow.”
Anti-activation triggered around Hyun-soo. The probability of crafting two artifacts became possible.
“What, what do you mean… are you planning to take down that demon now…?”
Arte could see it.
Minerals and tree trunks surged up.
Hyun-soo grasped a bow formed from one of the tree trunks.
[Chumong’s Composite Bow]
Hyun-soo raised his right arm and donned the completed gauntlet.
Click-
[Gauntlet of Strength]
A Divine emergency creation.
The surging tree trunks and the leftover supreme-grade orichalcum.
They combined to form a single arrow.
This arrow was inspired by the Supreme Sword.
Depending on the sword’s rampant probability, the damage for 15 seconds was determined.
It increased attack power by a minimum of 200% and a maximum of 600%.
A short arrow crafted with that inspiration.
[Effect application rate is 86%.]
[It is of Epic grade.]
[You were more immersed than anyone while crafting this arrow.]
[You empathized with Arte’s sorrow and anger, with everything.]
[The spirit of the blacksmith is triggered.]
[It is upgraded to Unique grade.]
[The rampaging short arrow takes a step further.]
Arte could not fathom the power he felt from Hyun-soo.
He placed the short arrow on the bowstring.
[Ultimate Arrow is applied.]
[The damage of one arrow is increased by 360%. It can be stacked.]
The mystery of Chumong’s Composite Bow.
[Strength increases by 121.]
[As strength increases, penetration power by 32%, physical attack power by 15%, and skill damage by 22% increase.]
The mystery of the Gauntlet of Strength.
[Rampaging Arrow]
[The sword’s basic attack power increases by 401% with a 2% probability.]
[It lasts for 15 seconds.]
The seventh legend’s mystery.
Arte gazed at him in a daze.
Hyun-soo, in his brown coat, drew the bowstring with all his might after setting the short arrow.
Arte heard a sound.
Creeeak-
It was the sound of someone opening the door of the closed cage.
The one who opened the cage spoke in a soft voice.
“Let’s go.”
The moment he released the bowstring,
[It is the most perfect Trinity.]
[An additional 10% attack power is imbued.]
[It will be the strongest single arrow in history.]
[The title of the creator of the strongest single arrow is generated.]
Finally, the single arrow was shot.
Cliche Novel 