Max Talent Player

Chapter 165

That haze held the very existence of Ahn Seohye, mixed so thoroughly with the energy of the Red Eyes that the two could no longer be differentiated. It was like the Red Eyes were Seohye, and Seohye was the Red Eyes.

If I were to look in the way that a Fire Giant sees the world

Fire Giants had their unique method of perceiving the world, as did I. Through Observers Eye, Seohyes presence and the energy of the Red Eyes she had absorbed felt almost like one and the same, like they had always been one entity.

[The Guardian Tower has concluded preparations to assimilate the powerful Guardian Will.]

It seemed the Guardian Will mentioned here was that thing that could not be precisely defined, the amalgam of Seohye and the Red Eyes energy.

[With the Guardian Tower Masters consent, the process to assimilate the Guardian Will shall begin.]

This was the process to reform an incomplete Guardian Tower into a complete one. But it wasnt a procedure I was very happy to see.

[The success rate for assimilating the Guardian Will is less than 30%.]

Seohye was no longer visible. But to my eyes, it was like she was standing next to the Guardian Tower. To be more exact, it looked like she was surrounding the Guardian Tower in mist-ified form.

[(Courageous) Hunters March is in effect.]

[The success rate for assimilating the Guardian Will has increased by 40%.]

I took it all inthe Guardian Tower preparing to take in something new, and the red energy enveloping the tower.

Ill accept it.

I could instinctively feel that this was the utmost I could do right now.

I have to focus.

This was similar to enhancement. When enhancing an item, you needed Enhancement Crystals and Element Affinity Powder. Depending on the item, there were times when you needed other materials as well.

This and enhancement are the same in essence.

Could this really be called enhancement? I couldnt say. But there was no doubt that the process of assimilation was in the same vein as enhancement. At least, that was what I felt.

Enhancement is affected by a complex mix of countless factors, including the Players talent, timing, and the fields attribute.

It was the same now.

When the flow of the Guardian Tower and the flow of the Red Eyes align

I had to nail the timing, the most suitable and efficient moment for the Guardian Tower to accept the Guardian Will.

It was like time stopped, like I was in a Pause. Every sound faded away. The only two things in the world were the Guardian Tower, me, and Seohyes afterimage.

Now!

[By the order of the Guardian Tower Master, the Guardian Tower begins to assimilate the Guardian Will.]

The seemingly paused world began to move again.

Flash!

A red light burst out.

Whooosh!

Red threads covered the sky. It was the Nemesis Doom Barrier that had been set up here in advance, the barrier that had swallowed the Fire Giants alive. It filled every inch of this space, the red threads so numerous they couldnt possibly be counted. Not long after, the swarming mass stretched out towards the Guardian Tower.

The red threads have covered the Guardian Tower.

It was almost like they were trying to hunt the Guardian Tower. But I didnt feel the same bloodthirst I had felt earlier.

Seohye.

I didnt know how things would unfold from here on out, either. But I could tell.

Seohye isnt dead.

She was alive. It would be pretentious to call this conviction Precognitive Eye, but it was a similar feeling.

[Guardian Will is beginning to imbue the Guardian Tower.]

My heart thudded as I looked at the red threads covering the Guardian Tower. The energies of the Guardian Tower and Red Eyes gathered in one place, alternating between tangling and detangling, almost like they were trying to consume each other. It felt like two savage beasts were snarling at each other.

Its not enough.

The effect of the Red Eyes was greatly boosted by Courageous Hunters March, but it still wasnt enough. Something more was necessary.

I spoke into the sky. I want to nurture my Guardian Tower into the best Guardian Tower.

I didnt mention anyones name.

I am well aware that you have been watching over me ever since the Shot Table Dungeon.

Back then, I clearly heard a notice.

[The Barrier of Blue Light has begun to pay attention to you.]

When I was enhancing the Wind Shoes, the Barrier of Blue Light helped me by putting a temporary safe zone around me. Later, I even won a good chunk of the Barrier of Blue Lights goodwill.

I know that you have helped me a lot, great Guardian.

The Barrier of Blue Light themself put it like this:

[The Barrier of Blue Light wants to help you.]

[The Barrier of Blue Light states their strong will to sponsor you.]

And not only that, but

[The Barrier of Blue Light promises a big sponsorship.]

That promise was what I was referring to now.

Barrier of Blue Light, you who have so generously supported me, you once promised me a big sponsorship.

I wanted to avoid direct deals with Guardians if at all possible, but desperate times called for desperate measures. In all things, there were times when you had to step forward and times when you had to step back. This was a time for the former.

I promise to show what the Barrier of Blue Light wants to see.

I had the confidence to back those words. I was confident I could fully amuse not just the Barrier of Blue Light, but most Guardians.

This time, I had to take the straight path. I spoke frankly.

Please help me just this once.

Owing a Guardian a debt was absolutely nothing to be happy about. But Seohye put her life on the line. Owing a debt was nothing.

I want to protect, I said honestly.

In response to the sincerity I expressed in a statement made by thoroughly calculating the Barrier of Blue Lights disposition, I heard the same notice I heard in the past.

[The Barrier of Blue Light keenly understands your feelings.]

I added one last thing.

I want your protection.

A message the Barrier of Blue Light often sent came once again. The words were the same, but the sincerity within them was different.

[The Barrier of Blue Light wants to protect you.]

* * *

* * *

It was hard to say how this situation came about. Was it because the Shepherd Boy directly interfered? Because he used a fabricated power? Or was it because the Barrier of Blue Light truly wanted to protect me?

[The Blessing of Blue Light has begun to descend on the Guardian Tower.]

As the Guardian Tower Master, I could feel that Blessing of Blue Light had extremely good compatibility with the Guardian Tower Tintin.

The energies of the Guardian Tower and Red Eyes clashing within the dome made of red thread began to mesh. It looked as though the Blessing of Blue Light was acting as an intermediary.

Water and oil did not mix. But they could be made to mix if an emulsifier was addedthat was the role the Blessing of Blue Light was playing.

[Countless factors taking effect and assisting the process.]

[The Guardian Tower has successfully assimilated the Guardian Will.]

That moment, the red threads started to get sucked into the Guardian Tower. A red eye appeared above the Guardian Tower Tintin, and the towers name changed.

[Guardian Tower - Tintin]

The Guardian Tower guarding the Guardian Field.

• Growth-type Guardian Tower

• Guardian Tower Master: Kim Hyukjin

• LVL: 1

• Special notes:

1. Has absorbed the Red Eyes.

2. Barrier Magicians ego.

More precisely, the name [Guardian Tower - Tintin] changed from black to blue, almost like a blue item from an enhancement.

I heard a voice.

(Thank you.)

It was Seohye.

Huh?

I pinpointed where the voice was coming from.

The Guardian Tower?

It was coming from the tower.

(I am told I need a new vessel.)

This had to be what the Barrier Magicians ego in the special notes was referring to. 

(Dont worry too much. In due time, when the Guardian Tower grows, I think I will be able to materialize a body with my power.)

The current Ahn Seohye was kind of like a consciousness imbued in the Guardian Tower. But later, when the Guardian Tower grew, she would be able to have her own body.

(Im alive.)

I was stumpednothing like this had happened in the past. For the time being, I concealed my shock and expressed my thanks to the Barrier of Blue Light.

Thank you. Because the Barrier of Blue Light protected me, I was able to achieve what I wanted. I will not forget this kindness.

A follow-up of this level was necessary. Actually, a little elaboration from Senia would make a far better follow-up, but that was still too much to exphm? The ultimate stone face, Senia, was smiling brightly. Her wings were swaying gently as she streamed with words I couldnt understand.

She still looked incredibly awkward in my eyes, but she seemed to believe that she was giving the best follow-up.

[The Barrier of Blue Light is very satisfied.]

For now, the Barrier of Blue Light didnt demand anything in particular. They were a Guardian who liked to protect something. It was possible that they felt extreme joy from the act of responding to my request for protection.

(Darn, I want to eat hamburgers, but I cant.) Seohye continued to talk to me. (Please hurry and help me grow. I want to eat hamburgers.)

I couldnt see her, but I thought I could see Seohye smile.

(In the meantime, I will protect this Guardian Field perfectly. I should be able to channel far more strength than the original Guardian Tower.)

She went on to say that although she couldnt move, her new hardware was much more suitable for a Barrier Magician than her previous body.

(And Im really sorry, but) After quibbling for a bit, she finally continued. (About the way I address you)

Seohye had a history of calling me sir. I understood, and never even thought to force a different address.

(You might dislike it a little, but this is the set name.)

I heard a System notice.

[The quest Guardian Towers Vow is in progress.]

It wasnt a very difficult quest. Clearly reaffirming the Guardian Tower - Guardian Tower Master relationship was enough.

(Um, so) Seohye hesitated for a long time. (I have to call you Master in order to officially complete the process.)

Ah.

Master.

The heck was this strange, outdated form of address?

(In the future, when I address Master, I have no choice but to call you Master.)

This was October 2018. How could anyone in Korea get used to being called Master?

(Even if I try putting it in other ways or saying other words, it will be interpreted as Master to you.)

It was hard at first, but she seemed to have gotten the hang of it. The title came popping out of her metaphorical mouth with ease, even though it was painful to my ears.

Still shes become more cheerful.

After becoming a Guardian Tower, Ahn Seohye brightened up, and she seemed to have opened her heart a little more to me. She was conversing with me with much greater ease than before.

(Will you become my Master?)

When I inwardly assented, the System notices continued.

[The Servant-Master Relationship of the Guardian Tower - Tintin has been fully established.]

[The quest Guardian Towers Vow has been cleared.]

[The Guardian Tower begins to faithfully fulfill its role of a Guardian Tower.]

Well, alright. Whatever. She was alive. What she called me was hardly of any importance, and I could feel from her voice that she was a lot more sunny than the original Ahn Seohye.

(Please tell Yeonseo unnie and Sunhwa that Im okay, too. I cant talk to other people yet.)

Yes, I definitely had to tell them that later, Seohye would once again be able to have a body with which she could walk around on her own two feet. Yeonseo and Sunhwa would be really happy to hear it.

(And please tell Mister Yoohyun to stop crying. I dont like getting snot on my body.)

I hadnt had the presence of mind to pay any heed to the others, but Yoohyun was crouched in front of the Guardian Tower, wailing. Tears the size of chicken eggs were streaming out of eyes as swollen as his muscles, and snot was dangling from his nose. It was like watching a rhinoceros crying its heart out.

In any case, we successfully hunted the Fire Giants.

Seohye said it again.

(Thank you.)

Was it because we were now in a servant-master relationship? I could feel Seohyes feelings more keenly than usual. She really meant her thanks. She continued, more talkative than usual.

(Im happy that I have people to protect.)

She seemed sincerely happy about that.

(I think the world right now has become a lot brighter than when I had no one I wanted to protect. Minus the fact that I cant eat hamburgers.)

The red eye shining at the top of the Guardian Tower no longer felt wicked. I could no longer say that was the aura of the Red Demon. From that energy came the will to protect.

(Thank you so much.)

I told the party everything about Seohyes current condition, including the part about how we would likely be able to meet her in the flesh in the future.

Sunhwa rubbed her cheeks on the Guardian Tower, clinging to it. Lets go and eat hamburgers together for sure, Unnie! Ill earn a lot of money and buy you a hundred burgers!

But just then, someone crashed our joyful celebration.

You. Do you know that youre in for it now?

I was aware that the Blood and Iron Queen, Song Junghye, had been here for a while. I looked in her direction as she walked up to me.

Starting now, I will objectively inform you of the situation you are in.