The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage-Chapter 225

0.

Most employees at E-World were, at their core, passionate gamers.

They took pride in creating and fine-tuning a world that players could immerse themselves in.

After all, if they didn’t love games, they wouldn’t have agreed to the company’s policy—mandatory participation in Eternal World.

Sure, some people had joined just for the paycheck.

But the majority genuinely loved the craft.

Among them, the NPC Management Team was especially dedicated.

They saw themselves as caretakers of the game’s inhabitants, ensuring the world’s immersion remained intact.

Particularly, the NPC Management Team 2 had a reputation for being the most devoted.

And at this very moment—

Several members of NPC Management Team 2 were gathered around a monitor.

On the screen?

Equinox Knights in Sisvald.

Specifically—Seong.

It was ironic.

They were supposed to manage NPCs, yet they were closely watching a player.

But no one questioned it.

Even Deputy Manager Lee Jae-kyung, the head of NPC Management Team 2, was fixated on the screen.

Because they all knew what was coming.

They knew what would happen if Seong failed to stop Ragna Eckrion.

If no one intervened—

“The surrounding cities will be reduced to ash.”

“A war is inevitable.”

“Please... I just hope Seong wins...”

Every single person in the room was rooting for Seong’s victory.

Whether or not he got a Hidden Piece in the process didn’t matter.

Since Chairman Park Won had personally taken charge of monitoring Seong, they didn’t need to worry about that.

Unlike the User Management Team, which worked to prevent monopolization of resources, the NPC Management Team had a different priority:

They just wanted Ragna Eckrion to be stopped.

However—

"Ahem."

Lee Jae-kyung cleared his throat.

A progress bar popped up on the screen.

[Progress: 80%]

The room fell silent.

Then—

A collective sigh.

"80% already...?"

It had only been a few days, yet Ragna’s progress was nearly complete.

Could Seong really stop him at this point?

Maybe, if he attacked first and caught him off guard.

But otherwise—

"There’s no way he’s winning this fight."

Lee Jae-kyung’s grim assessment made the others pale.

They all knew how powerful Ragna was.

And now that Ragna had taken notice of Seong—

He was bound to make his move.

Seong, on the other hand, was still keeping his power hidden.

The moment an opportunity arose, Ragna’s plan would ensnare Seong.

It felt inevitable.

"Hah..."

Lee Jae-kyung sighed, staring at the screen.

Stopping this before it escalated was unlikely.

But if Seong joined forces with other players after the fact, maybe they could minimize the damage.

For now—

"Seong might actually die."

With that grim conclusion, Lee Jae-kyung contacted the User Management Team.

A player death was imminent.

They needed to prepare.

After sending the message, Lee Jae-kyung sighed once more, turning back to the monitor.

Seong had just received a mission—one that would force him to work alongside Ragna Eckrion.

His first real loss was on the horizon.

"We’ll just have to watch as Ragna takes over."

1.

For the past few days, the atmosphere in the Equinox Knights’ barracks had shifted.

Once, it had been filled with killing intent and hostility.

Now?

It was filled with exhaustion.

And all of it was directed toward one man.

Despite being Sisvald’s most brutal and relentless order, even the Equinox Knights were reaching their limit.

All because of one newcomer.

"Again? He just finished another mission?"

"This is insane."

"Isn’t that... 20 missions in three days?"

"That guy isn’t normal."

"For real. Doesn’t this outsider know how to rest?"

"At first, Kalis gave him a five-knight mission as a joke, but he completed it solo."

"Fucking crazy. Absolutely crazy."

The knights shook their heads in disbelief.

At the center of all this commotion—

Seong.

And he was completely satisfied with the shift in atmosphere.

"Looks like I’ll be clearing my quest soon."

With the entire knighthood buzzing about him, there was no way the commander wouldn’t take notice.

Seong smirked and checked his status window.

【Status Window】

『Seong』

『Lv 178』

『Class』 → 『Overlord』

『Titles』 → 『Sovereign (Legendary)』 + 40 others

『Stats』

→ Strength: 283 (217 + 66)

→ Agility: 283 (217 + 66)

→ Endurance: 283 (217 + 66)

→ Intelligence: 682 (524 + 158)

→ Wisdom: 682 (524 + 158)

→ Mental Power: 133 (120 + 13)

→ Dexterity: 8 (7 + 1)

『Bonus Points』 → 0

178.

His stats had skyrocketed.

The experience from missions was incredible.

Honestly, if he could, he’d stay in this city just grinding missions.

But that wasn’t an option.

Once he hit Level 200, he needed to return to Hexia.

For now—he’d just enjoy this while it lasted.

If possible, he hoped Ragna Eckrion would take his time stepping in.

The experience was too good to pass up.

As Seong entertained these thoughts—

Someone approached.

Kalis.

‘Ah.’

Seong glanced toward the mission board with regret.

This was it.

His free grinding session was coming to an end.

He considered grabbing one more mission, but—

No point.

If Kalis had come personally, that meant the end had arrived.

And sure enough—

"Seong, the commander wants to see you."

Just as he expected.

Seong sighed internally.

It was fun while it lasted.

At least he was close to clearing his quest.

"Understood."

Seong turned to head toward the commander’s office.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

And as he did—

Kalis muttered under his breath.

"...Be careful."

"Huh?"

"The commander always takes on difficult missions."

Kalis's voice was unusually solemn.

"He usually goes alone, but on the rare occasion he takes a strong knight with him... He always returns alone. Covered in wounds."

Alone.

Seong’s expression turned serious at those words.

Seeing his reaction, Kalis added—

"You won’t die, being an outsider. But still... be careful."

"Thank you."

Seong hadn’t expected Kalis, who had once been hostile toward him, to give him a warning like this.

But there was genuine sincerity in his voice.

Seong didn’t know what had changed in Kalis’s mind.

Perhaps he simply believed that someone like Seong shouldn’t disappear so easily.

Taking the advice to heart, Seong headed toward the commander’s office.

After entering one of the barracks’ buildings, Seong ascended to the floor where the commander’s office was located.

Knock. Knock.

"New recruit, Seong. Reporting as requested."

His words were formal and stiff, like a proper knight.

Shortly after—

"Enter."

With that command, Seong opened the door and stepped inside.

There, seated at his desk, was Ragna Eckrion, engrossed in paperwork.

At first glance, the office seemed ordinary.

But Seong felt it immediately—

Those snake-like eyes, filled with hunger and greed.

Ragna’s gaze made it clear.

There was something wrong here.

Seong waited.

Then, Ragna finally spoke.

"You've done well. I hear you’ve been handling missions efficiently."

"I am still lacking, but I have done my best."

"Hmm. If you are lacking, then that would make the rest of my knights utterly incompetent."

Seong did not respond.

He sensed the words were meant to be brushed aside.

Sure enough, Ragna swiftly changed the subject.

"I hear you’ve completed 20 missions in three days."

"That is correct."

"Then come with me on a mission. It’s a rather difficult one."

The moment Ragna spoke—

A system notification appeared.

[Hidden Chain Quest: 『Commander of the Equinox Knights』 Completed.]

[Rewards granted.]

[You have gained an enormous amount of experience.]

[Level Up!]

[You have reached Level 179.]

[New Hidden Chain Quest: 『Ragna Eckrion』 has been generated.]

『Ragna Eckrion』

→ Stop Ragna Eckrion.

Seong’s gaze flickered.

He had no choice but to accept.

Fine.

‘When’s the mission? Tomorrow?’

Usually, when NPCs proposed a mission, it was scheduled for the following day.

Seong assumed this would be the same.

But then—

"What are you waiting for? Get ready."

Seong frowned slightly.

"...We’re leaving now?"

"When else? Missions should be completed immediately. I’m not the patient type."

Ragna’s words weren’t surprising.

In fact—

Seong preferred it this way.

Rather than drag it out, he’d rather confront the situation head-on.

Without hesitation, he nodded and moved to prepare.

Ragna watched him and added—

"Prepare the horses. We’ll be traveling quite a distance."

"Understood."

Seong wasted no time.

As he prepared the horses, he noticed the other knights watching him.

Their expressions were filled with unease.

"Damn... the newbie’s already going on a mission with the commander?"

"Be careful out there."

"...Stay safe."

"It must be a dangerous one."

Once, these knights had rejected him, seeing him as an outsider.

Now, they seemed to wish him well.

Seong responded with a calm smile.

"I’ll return safely."

There was no grand speech.

Just those simple words.

Some knights looked concerned, but others nodded in relief.

Then—

Ragna Eckrion emerged.

Without hesitation, he mounted his horse.

Seong did the same.

Ragna smirked.

"Keep up."

Dagdak! Dagdak!

The sound of galloping hooves echoed as they set off.

Seong easily kept pace.

After becoming a knight, horseback riding was second nature to him.

They rode for quite some time—

Until the city was nothing but a speck in the distance.

Then, Ragna spoke.

"I truly appreciate having you in my order, Seong."

"Oh?"

"If you had joined another knight order, I would have had to go through the trouble of attacking them."

Seong’s eyes sharpened.

So soon?

He instantly reached for his summoning ability.

But—

Ragna was faster.

With a raised hand, he commanded—

"Severance."

[『Severance』 skill has disrupted the area.]

[Summons and minions cannot be summoned within this zone.]

Seong’s eyes widened for the first time.

...What?

He couldn’t summon his minions?

Ragna smirked.

"I don’t know if you have allies hidden away somewhere, but it doesn’t matter."

"No one can help you now."

Seong’s body tensed.

This fight would be one-on-one.