The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

[You are very wise.]

[Your high Wisdom instantly comprehends the mechanism of the lock.]

[Infusing mana into the lock will release it.]

[You inspect Distorted Natural Sediments.]

[There are special materials.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have received a skill point.]

[You have received a skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[Sly Blood-Hue Snake activates.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[Someone Better’s Bonus Effect has activates.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have received an additional skill point.]

[You have obtained Clever Miner's Pickaxe.]

[You have obtained Confident Boots.]

[You have obtained Breezy Garment of Cold Wind.]

[You have obtained Shackles of Fearlessness.]

[You have obtained Ring of Severed Despair.]

…

Treasures poured out like a torrent. Most were items that were a bit troublesome to wear, but a few seemed good enough to replace his current gear.

'The treasures aren't that important…'

Although he obtained a lot of treasures, Seol didn't seem that interested.

Unless the rewards were Unique, Wonder, or even Abomination, he no longer felt much excitement.

In other words, he already had a lot of things. Given the caliber of his Adventures, it was natural for him to feel this way.

'They're shiny…'

[You have obtained Ice Star.]

[You have obtained Prosperity.]

[You have obtained Glacier's Fragment.]

[You have obtained 72 raw gems.]

[You have obtained 3 Unknown Purpose Keys.]

[You have obtained 2 Nauseating Entrail's Potion.]

…

He felt it—these three were all Peerless items.

However, Seol frowned upon seeing them.

'Two are materials…?'

Typically, materials of the same rank as equipment received as a reward from an Adventure were of a higher tier. Depending on how one refined or synthesized them, they could transform into items that often yielded superior performance.

'First, let's check them.'

[You have acquired Peerless: Ice Star.]

[You have acquired an item that didn’t exist in the world previously.]

[[Peerless: Ice Star]

Rank: Peerless

Recommended Level: None

Weight: 0.1kg

A gem infused with the essence of the fallen Old God’s fragment, Irizard. The power contained within it is immeasurable but aggressive, making it potentially dangerous.

Bonus Effect: Unknown.]

'Yes, I thought as much.'

Placing high expectations on materials often leads to disappointment. One needed to endure the uneasiness until it was reborn into something else.

[You have acquired Peerless: Prosperity.]

[You have acquired an item that didn’t exist in the world previously.]

The next item, however, clearly appeared to be a decorative strap. It was most likely equipment meant to be worn on the head.

[[Peerless: Prosperity]

Rank: Peerless

Recommended Level: 50 ~ 62

Defense: 220

Durability: 170/170

Weight: 0.1kg

Basic Effect: +45 Constitution, Intelligence +55

Although originally imbued with the power of cold, it has obtained the opposite power after being purified. It now holds the force of prosperity that enriches living beings.

Bonus Effect: Intelligence: Prosper! (Unique), Step by Step (Unique), when the wearer's Health is above 80%, create a shield equivalent to 20% of their max Health.]

[[Prosper!]

- Health regeneration is boosted until current Health reaches 80% of the maximum Health.]

[[Step by Step]

- While Prosper! is active, 30% of incoming damage is distributed over 10 seconds.]

'Not bad.'

Because it was a leather strap, it was almost certain that Jamad would be the one to use it. However, the options were so well-balanced that anyone could wear them.

- That, combined with Blood of Origin, means he's practically going to be unkillable, LOL.

- Oh my God, just die!

- I can't believe he's even taken an insurance…

After handing over Prosperity to Jamad, Seol checked the next item.

[[Peerles: Glacier's Fragment]

Rank: Peerless

Recommended Level: None

Weight: 0.1kg

A relic imbued with the pure power of Irizard.

It's more effective when consumed than used as equipment. However, survival isn't guaranteed.

Bonus Effect: Unknown.]

'This is also a material. Hmm…'

Since it was described as more beneficial to consume than to use it as equipment, following that instruction seemed like the wisest choice.

Someone immediately came to Seol’s mind.

- Thank you.

"…"

Glacier's Fragment naturally went to the avatar.

[One body, Multiple Avatars has consumed Glacier's Fragment.]

Crack…

The One Body, Multiple Avatars who had already frozen once due to having consumed the Crystal of Dawn, was now encased in a huge block of ice like a huge frozen tuna.

[The transformation is proceeding slowly.]

Seol thought the transformation was good, but he wasn't entirely sure. He had invested a lot in Ur, but it had been a while since he last saw his face.

'Ur, how long do you plan to stay in the Void? Maybe it's time you returned…'

- Hehehe… You can look forward to it. When I, Ur, return, I will gift you and the entire world a terror that will leave you all speechless.

'But I don't need terror.'

- Anyway, for the moment, I'll be occupied with studying the avatar, so I won't be able to talk. You two will have to handle any troubles that arise.

After saying that, Ur vanished into the Void.

"…"

- For some reason, I teared up.

- He seems lonely.

He briefly wondered if this was how fathers who lived far from their families felt but ultimately brushed it off, thinking Ur must have his reasons.

- Snowman: Kids, it's your dad. Are you doing well?

- ???: Huh… Dad? Ah… yes… I-I'm busy at the moment…! I'll talk to you later!

- It's weirdly relatable. Are you perhaps a long-distance father?

- …

Next, it was time to check the new title he obtained.

[[Inaugural Title: Ice Breaker]

Related Achievement: Ice Melt (Adventure: None)

Bonus Effect: Increases the range and destructive power of large-scale terrain alteration skills by 20%.]

'Oof, at least this one is decent.'

Combat-related titles were rare, as evidenced by the countless titles Seol already possessed.

Though the title had an amazing effect, the conditions it required were unreasonable.

Classes that had large-scale terrain alteration skills were extremely rare. Even among those who had them, they couldn't be used frequently, let alone casually—except for someone like Jamad, who was a Mountain attribute Shaman.

Since most of his skills involved altering the terrain, he would probably benefit greatly from this.

'That aside… has Yaksha not been digested yet?'

Agony had been steadily absorbing the sword, but Yaksha resisted being easily consumed.

For Agony, who devoured all sorts of weapons with ease, this slow progress was unusual. It probably meant that the power contained within Yaksha was immense.

'Still, Agony has regained much of his energy… I think there should be news soon.'

With that, the inspection was complete.

Besides the Frostmaw's issue, nothing had been solved yet. But it was still fine.

After all, it was only a matter of time before he obtained those powers.

* * *

"Are you leaving?"

"Ah! Yes."

"Thanks for everything, Seol."

As he returned to the fortress, Yeva and Ishi were fully packed, loading their cart with goods and preparing for departure.

They were all farewell gifts from the Frostmaw.

"We aren't leaving for good. I'll occasionally visit. Lately, I've been making progress in learning the Troll language. I've been able to speak."

"Really…? But where do you plan to go once you leave?"

"Back to the Federation, I guess? Although I'm not sure if they will take me back."

Ishi suddenly hugged Seol.

"Seol, thank you. Can I add you as a friend?"

"Ah!"

He received a friend request. It had been so long since he interacted with Transferees that Seol had nearly forgotten that feature existed.

"Of course."

"If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have survived… But it was a great experience. I've gone through a lot of hardships after becoming a Transferee. But I think these memories are going to stay with me."

"Seol! We'll meet again, right? Come visit the Federation someday!"

Seol chuckled.

Perhaps, once the matter with Khan was solved, he might head to the Federation.

"Sure."

"We'll be waiting!"

"See you!"

Yeva and Ishi left.

As Hwigeltong was no longer a dangerous environment, their journey back would most likely be a comfortable one.

"Hey, Seol!"

As they left and he stepped back into the fortress, Skola came running toward him. It seemed urgent.

"What's wrong?"

"This way. It's urgent. Follow me."

"Alright…"

Although Seol hadn't spent much time building rapport with Skola, he already seemed to think of him as a close companion.

As Seol followed Skola into a prepared room within the fortress, he saw Bron carrying something in his arms.

"A child…?"

Bron grinned.

"Yes. The first offspring born after the war ended."

- Cute!

- This feels strange!

- I've awakened to the charm of trolls!

Seol tilted his head and asked.

"Your child?"

"No way. I only recently came back to life."

"Aah."

"It's a child of the Waterfall."

"What…?"

Bron grinned again, gently holding the child's hand.

"It's been a long time since we last welcomed a child of the Waterfall."

"I see…"

"Indeed. Perhaps we're finally returning to our roots."

Seol left the room feeling a peculiar sensation—No, he could no longer remain here.

He had already spent a considerable amount of time here, and if something happened to Seol Hong in the meantime, finding Yu Hwa's unfulfilled desire would have become hard.

The day Seol decided to leave, many residents of the fortress gathered to see him off.

- Farewell, small human! Big Troll! See you again!

"I'm tall for a human…"

- Anyway!

Madria waved her hand with a smile, her figure much smaller than before. However, she was still just as mischievous as ever.

"Then…"

Creak…

Seol and Jamad paused for a moment.

As the fortress' gates opened, the Frostmaw stood in formation on either side, gazing intently at them.

"Hmm…?"

Confused, they turned back to look at Bron, and he said.

"Jamad, Seol. You've helped us recover a lot of things. So I guess a lengthy speech won’t be necessary."

Bron paused briefly. He seemed disheartened about parting.

"One day… when you need us the most… we will lend you our strength."

"…"

"After all, I'm your right hand."

Jamad scoffed.

"I already have a right hand. Although it's long dead."

"Is that so? Then, how about the left?"

"It's still vacant."

"Then, let's go with that."

Step…

Step…

The snowy mountains would no longer be called the snowy mountains. The sound of snow crunching beneath their feet had turned into one of solid earth.

"Forever, honored guests, your steps will always be welcome!"

"Forever, honored guests! Khahaha!"

"Forever, honored guests! Hehehe…"

Their loud shouts made them halt their steps once more.

"What a spectacle."

"You could call it tradition. Although it's one we've never actually done since coming to Hwigeltong. Anyway…"

As Seol and Jamad finally made their way through the long procession, Bron muttered quietly from afar.

"Forever, honored guests. Farewell."