I Became a Genius Mage in the Cthulhu Game
Chapter 63: Madman’s Dexterity

The problem was that I, who possessed this money, was a mage trapped in the crazy world known as [Cthulhu World]. To survive in this world, a vast amount of money was necessary. And when I considered the funds needed for upcoming expenses and various plans, it was clear that this was by no means a large sum.

Moreover, the ludicrous amounts of money could only be reached by handling everything as ideally and safely as possible.

It was only because these were magic stones that I could dispose of them without any fuss.

For most other items, getting their true value was out of the question, and disposal was often impossible.

Cursed golden scales harvested from the body of the golden dancers. These should have been shared with Jang Hyeon-duk, but he just waved his hands and refused. It was understandable, given the nature of the items.

Where and how could one possibly dispose of such a cursed object?

As could be seen from Jeong Eun-taek’s reaction, ordinary people could face a disaster from possessing even a single scale, let alone disposing of it.

While there might be other methods in different regions, in Paju, there was only one place where such items could be disposed of.

The Thousand Gold Temple

Unlike Jeong Eun-taek’s Geumchon pawnshop, which was clumsily operating as a secret store that wasn’t so secret, the Thousand Gold Temple was a true secret shop. It operated on a membership basis, and access was impossible without an existing member’s recommendation.

I didn’t expect to gain immediate entry. After all, there was a certain level requirement to receive a recommendation from the Thousand Gold Temple’s members. I brought up the Thousand Gold Temple to Jeong Eun-taek today merely to understand how this abstract concept of level restriction worked in practice.

Well, I can’t say I wasn’t impatient…

Though I was told to wait, it ultimately amounted to a refusal.

Returning 2-3 weeks later would likely result in another excuse and a request to wait.

I guess I’ll have to talk to him again after I eventually reach level 30, which is the entry requirement.

Currently at level 25, I wasn’t far off.

I had hoped to rid myself of these cursed items sooner rather than later…. but it seemed it would take a bit more time judging by the situation.

After a rare outing, I headed straight to the fridge to stow away the groceries I had picked up on my way back.

Having stayed indoors for a week or more, the brief venture out had been enough for me, and I had no desire to go outside again for some time.

Using my magic, I levitated the items in my backpack into the air.

“Let’s see…”

First, the folder Tudor had handed me.

While I intended to read it at some point, there were other things I wanted to do first. So, with a light gesture towards the folder, it fluttered like wings and settled on a shelf in the corner of the room with a rustle.

As for the other items I had bought from the pawnshop… Various odds and ends floated in mid-air. A water bottle, fragments of a date tree struck by lightning, a stone with strange markings, a few synthetic rubies, a skein of silk thread, a bundle of talismans of uncertain origin, a ritual knife that seemed like it could belong to a shaman, and even a mirror said to ward off possession.

I was about to start the process of transforming these random items into something more valuable.

“Then I guess I’ll have to clear my desk.”

The desk was already overrun with an assortment of items. Things I had brought from the Helistic laboratory, crumpled pieces of paper with magic circle sketches, metal shards, stone fragments, fragments of masks from Tanhyeon, and pieces of the golden dancer’s body.

“I left it untouched while lying around and it has turned into a complete mess.”

Well, moving on to the next task. I summoned my magical power to sweep up the clutter piled on my desk…

Hmm…

“Where should I put this away?”

Indeed, a home must have ample storage space. In the end, I sighed and stacked it in the corner with the other random items.

Crash.

“……”

Scratch that about stacking. The pile I added to toppled over, including the previously piled clutter. The room quickly became a mess. It now looked like the pawnshop after a mishap caused by Jeong Ye-eun.

“I’ll clean it up later…”

Ignoring the hellish scene that seemed as if it were conjured by a demon with OCD, I placed an item on the desk.

Clack.

[Myeongdu (B-rank accessory): A tool used by shamans or sorcerers for divination or rituals.

Premonition Eye: Increases the effect of the unique trait ‘Divine Energy’ by 30%.

Pasa Wall Head: Blocks the effect of ‘Possession’ with a 60% chance.

Usage Restriction: For those without the unique trait ‘Divine Energy’ it is merely an old antique.

For those without ‘Divine Energy’ special measures are required to use it.

※ Upgradeable]

Shall we get started?

I focused my mind and unleashed the power contained within [Carcosa’s Mask].

Whirr…

[The unique effect of the L-rank accessory ‘Carcosa’s Mask’, ‘Madman’s Dexterity’, has been activated.

// Madman’s Dexterity: You can unlock the hidden abilities of an artifact or attempt modifications to bestow other powers. You get a +100% success rate in invention, repair, research, and development.

However, each use of this ability requires a sanity check. Failure in the check will result in a random mental illness afflicting your mind.]

A sticky, yellowish energy flowed out of the mask. Although it’s out of my line of sight, my ability to sense magical power allowed me to infer its shape and movement.

My head was likely now enveloped in wriggling, undulating yellow tentacles.

Right now, I was in a state where even if someone called me a monster I would have had no words to retort with. Had someone been by my side, they would have surely experienced a terrible horror and dismay at my appearance.

From the mask, translucent yellow tentacles began to caress the Myeongdu placed on the desk.

And then there was another.

[Guardian Amulet of the Ancient God (B-rank Magical Tool): a protective amulet with the power to drive away malevolent forces and weaken beings from the abyss. Blessed with the protection of an ancient deity.]

It was an item I had taken from the abandoned hospital on Gamaksan Mountain. Despite its grandiose description, it was a weak item that was incapable of shielding me from the voices and nightmares that sought to invade my mind.

However, I added a few more items to it. Pieces of wood, high-purity magic stones, golden dancer scales, and even purified water…

Whirrrrrr….

The ominous yellow light that emanated from the mask began to engulf the entire room. The items I had prepared started to orbit around the Myeongdu which seemed to be pinned in mid-air.

Each item had an ordinary appearance that could be found in a market or an antique store, but now that they received golden magic and began to shine brilliantly, none of the items could be called ordinary.

I summoned more magical power, and Carcosa’s Mask exerted its surreal influence over each object floating above the desk according to my will.

Bang!!

An explosion-like flash obscured my vision, and the physical structures composing the items I had prepared began to disassemble and decompose. Then, they became entangled as one and started to transform into a new object with a new shape and capabilities.

Fragments of profound wisdom and the laws that constitute the universe began to form in my mind. How insignificant and trivial is the wisdom and knowledge that humanity has accumulated over the years? The great golden master, the indescribable one, the king in yellow who exists on the other side of a distant galaxy bestows upon me deep and deep and deep wisdom. I heard the sound of a golden horn made from curses and poisonous flames trapped underground…

[System: The unique trait ‘Madness of the Abyss’ has been activated. The effects of madness have been nullified.]

“Ah, that was close…”

I thought I had lost my mind for a moment there. It seems the penalty effect associated with the Madman’s Dexterity trait was triggered and it nearly plunged me into a state of madness. This is typical of advanced traits in [Cthulhu World]; rarely are there simply useful traits. The more strong the effect, the more it consumes the user’s mind and destroys the soul.

“So, the Madness of the Abyss trait is actually quite useful, after all.”

The Madness of the Abyss trait forcibly inhabits my mind, resolving all mental issues except for two specific forms of madness. This means that the great beings from the abyss can’t exert their influence over me beyond sending occasional nightmares and minor annoyances from afar.

And now, even those nightmares have come to an end.

[Ancient God’s Mirror (A-rank Accessory): An item imbued with the influence of an ancient god and crafted for communication with divine beings. It possesses the power to suppress malevolent forces and avert disasters.

Heavenly Lightning: Blocks possession effects and diminishes the influence of outer gods.

Heavenly Perspective: Provides the ability to see in darkness with enhanced vision and increases sight by 100%.

Heavenly Divine Qi: Automatically casts the ‘Healing Meditation’ spell on a chosen target and increases the effect of rest by 100%.

Heavenly Malevolent Miasma: Automatically casts a ‘Powerful Hallucination’ spell on a chosen target and enhances sensitivity to magic and divine power.

※ Creator: Kim Shin-hwa

※ Further enhancement possible]

“Great. The ultimate item for a good night’s sleep is complete.”

I only needed the Heavenly Lightning and Heavenly Divine Q effects, but unexpectedly, two more effects appeared due to a critical success in the enhancement process.

“Setting aside the hallucination thing, what use do I have for the enhanced vision?”

If anything were to emerge from this process, I had hoped for an effect that would boost my stats.

But it doesn’t really matter. I checked the magical power and resources consumed in the enhancement of the artifact.

It didn’t strain my mind too much, but it did consume a significant amount of magical power.

There was also some unexpected physical exhaustion involved…

“Hmm… It seems it’s not something I can use twice a day.”

While I could force it up to three or four times, it wouldn’t be a healthy choice.

Using it just once a day would be sufficient anyway.

“Alright.”

I had become capable of altering, fusing, and enhancing artifacts. If I start to use this ability properly, I could reach a point where mundane financial concerns are irrelevant. The limitation of only being able to use it once a day isn’t really a constraint.

I could transform materials worth a few tens of millions into artifacts worth hundreds of millions, or even billions.

The item I’ve created now is excessively luxurious for just helping me sleep.

I currently possessed abilities that any mage would not find disappointing, yet I couldn’t escape the inherent constraints that came with being a mage. However, I realized that if I started to actively use my artifact enhancement ability, I could transcend those limitations.

Of course, this wasn’t something that could be achieved without any cost. To manifest the desired enhancements, it was necessary to have certain materials on hand in advance. The challenge was that some of these materials couldn’t easily be acquired with money alone.

“Well, Tudor will handle that somehow.”

It seemed that engaging in any other activity for the rest of the day would be difficult. I reached out toward the folder that had been shoved onto a shelf. Just as Tudor often did, the file folder levitated and flew into my hand. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ NʘvᴇlFirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

“Should I at least give it a read out of courtesy?”

I spent my time perusing the list of quests I could undertake and organizing a list of new artifacts to attempt enhancing the following day. And before I knew it, I saw the sun rising through the window.

It was time to go to sleep.

I lay down in bed, filled with anticipation about how much the newly created artifact would shield me from the relentless nightmares that had been tormenting me.

[The unique effect of the A-rank accessory ‘Ancient God’s Mirror’, ‘Heavenly Lighting’ and ‘Heavenly Divine Qi’, have been activated.

// Heavenly Lightning: Blocks possession effects and diminishes the influence of outer gods.

Heavenly Divine Qi: Automatically casts the ‘Healing Meditation’ spell on a chosen target and increases the effect of rest by 100%.]

In that cramped room filled with magical tools, cursed objects, materials of human experiments, and fragments of monsters created by beings from the abyss, I closed my eyes.

Whether it was due to the effects of the artifact or the accumulated fatigue, I felt as though I was plummeting into a deep abyss and slowly drifted off to sleep.

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