Chapter 279
Chapter 279
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.62 – What Cause Does a Knight Have to Fight? (1)
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Splash!
A trout leaped out of the river.
As the fog lifted and rare sunlight shone through, it was as if the trout were rejoicing too.
However, the trout—no, to be precise…
Splash! Splaaash!
The trout began leaping into the air because he was slowly wading into the water.
Was it the survival instinct of living creatures?
They were thrashing about in their own way to stay alive, and he simply tilted his head.
"What's wrong with these things?"
With no intention whatsoever of threatening the trout, he couldn't understand why this was happening.
He just frowned slightly, wondering if they'd all eaten some kind of drug as a group.
But soon.
Rumble!
"Ah, so that's why."
He figured the trout were going wild because of the battle raging far in the distance.
Even from this spot, quite a ways from the fierce battlefield, the reaction was this intense, so it must be one hell of a fight.
However, even knowing such a battle was underway…
"Should I catch one and have it as sashimi?"
He remained utterly relaxed.
It wasn't because he didn't grasp the gravity of the battle.
He simply trusted them.
They had clashed swords and shields in earnest, and he had trained them himself.
No need to worry.
They were strong.
Strong as individuals, and dozens of times stronger when acting as a unit…!
He rarely held his opponents in such high regard, so his trust was absolute, leaving no room for worry or anxiety.
If anything, he regretted not having dealt with that damn pervert himself.
But regrets had to be discarded quickly.
I'll do my part.
Splashhhh!
At some point, the water had deepened so much there was no footing left, so now swimming, he arrived before the waterfall.
It was a magnificent sight from afar, but up close, its power was overwhelming.
Compared to massive waterfalls cascading hundreds of tons, this one seemed cute, but let one's guard down and get caught in it, and swallowing a single person would be a piece of cake.
"Eh, not bad, I guess."
But for someone who bench-pressed 1,000kg daily and shrugged off far greater pressures, it wasn't all that impressive.
If there was a problem…
Free diving isn't my specialty.
With a wry smile, Lee Han took a deep breath and dove under the waterfall without any gear.
The world, which had seemed endlessly bright thanks to the sunlight, instantly went dark.
Darkness that even light couldn't pierce rushed in, the kind that would make any human tremble with primal fear of the ink-black void—but Lee Han dove silently.
There may have been no light, but his eyes gleamed like they held the stars.
And so, he…!
"Puha!!"
Cough, hack!!
…learned the hard way that diving wasn't for just anyone.
Drip, drip…
"Four... fourth try, and success…"
Lee Han had succeeded in diving.
About 350 meters?
Considering the world record was around 130 meters, one might question if this was even humanly possible—but it was solely thanks to his absurd lung capacity, skin and bones tougher and denser than metal.
Even so, the fact that it took him four attempts was probably because he was a diving newbie.
But success was success, regardless of being a beginner, and Lee Han shook off the water as he slowly stood.
But it really exists, huh?
The bomb fanatic had been confident, but Lee Han hadn't imagined a secret lair in such an easy spot.
No, wasn't this hiding spot too sloppy…?
Ah, no, it's not sloppy at all.
Even knowing Mordred's Lair was under the waterfall, diving 350 meters was no easy feat for most.
To reiterate, Lee Han's physical abilities weren't just tough skin and bones—his organs, including his five viscera and six bowels, were equally resilient and sturdy, making bare-handed submersion to this depth possible. Without that, even with cutting-edge gear, reaching this far would be near impossible.
Especially while enduring the fierce pressure and currents of the waterfall…
It was an act only Lee Han could accomplish—and only he could discover it.
However.
"…How the hell did they even make this?"
Even he found it astonishing now that he'd arrived.
The existence of this vast space filled with oxygen in such a place.
"I don't know the structure, but it's pretty amazing…"
There seemed to be a breeze, and Lee Han was certain there was an entrance from the surface to this underground space.
…Which made him wonder if he'd been a fool for taking the shortcut out of bravado.
"Hm…"
As self-reproach began to creep in, fortunately, some entities appeared to end Lee Han's dilemma.
[Grrr!]
[Grrr…!]
"…Do great nobles raise these in their lairs?"
What appeared first were 'wild dogs.'
Not real wild dogs—these were clearly demonic beasts, infused with demonic nature.
They resembled Dobermans but were twice the size of an average one, all cuteness or handsomeness stripped away, replaced with pure ferocity.
"Hellhounds?"
Or alternatively.
Snap!
[Kyahaaak!]
Known as Hellhounds.
The pack of about thirty Hellhounds charged at Lee Han the moment they spotted him.
With saw-like fangs bared, they lunged to tear into him, but…
Clang!
[Kiiing…!?]
…Their teeth shattered.
All of the charging ones.
"What a waste of your size, you mutts."
Lee Han clicked his tongue, not even bothering to dodge.
They looked the part, but could rocks even chew through this?
They still clung to his body, trying to bite, but unable to inflict a single scratch, their eyes met Lee Han's as they dangled helplessly.
Despite their savage appearance, their eyes were still moist like a dog's.
As if pleading to be spared—but Lee Han…
"-Spare me the pitiful act when you're radiating killing intent."
Crack!
He separated their heads from their bodies.
Mysteriously, an ecosystem had formed inside the lair.
No trees or grass, but countless glowing mosses and mushrooms were visible, along with demonic beasts like the Hellhounds whose heads and bodies Lee Han had just detached en masse.
His guess was that they were summoned by the evil energy permeating the lair.
Not an unusual phenomenon.
Just as undead sometimes spawned from evil qi or corpses, demonic beasts proliferated even from animal carcasses that happened to drift in from outside.
…Isn't that basically germs or mold?
Correct.
To be precise, it's mold.
The worse part than mere mold was that as these proliferators multiplied, they used them as sacrifices to birth even stronger demonic beasts.
Such as.
[Grrrrr!]
[Kyahaaak!]
A two-headed dog howled.
A demonic beast overwhelmingly stronger-looking than the Hellhounds growled, and something came to Lee Han's mind as he eyed it.
"Orthrus, was it?"
As an instructor, he delegated most tasks to assistants, but there were still books he had to read or know.
He seemed to recall it from Demonic Beast Encyclopedia.
A high-tier canine demonic beast, ranked alongside the three-headed dog.
…But why was it high-tier again?
Should've read it properly.
Lee Han scolded his past self for just skimming it.
But regret is always too late, they say?
[Kraaang!]
Orthrus let out a massive howl.
Boom!
Its roar was so powerful the entire lair shook.
The bloodlust-infused roar wielded force on its own, and Lee Han half-closed his eyes.
[Grrrng!]
[Sssss.]
Orthrus seemed to smirk mockingly.
As if mistaking Lee Han's reaction for fear of its roar. Its two heads and snake tail gleamed like a predator eyeing prey.
The 'hunger' in its crimson eyes marked Lee Han as food.
And Lee Han, sensing the beast's thoughts through those red eyes…
"Wow, I never thought I'd see something this ridiculous."
Was utterly baffled.
Was it seriously cocky over that?
A roar?
Ridiculous. Calling that a roar? He couldn't fathom how it thought it could instill fear in prey.
If it was a roar, then…
"-Hey, you mongrel bastard. Watch closely. This is how you roar."
[Gr?]
"Hah—!"
Lee Han inhaled deeply, thinking.
Come to think of it, it's been a while.
Since he unleashed…
Lion's Roar
A deafening roar shatters even superior demonic beasts' howls, crumbling rocks with its mighty spirit!
[[AAAAAAAARGH!!]]
Rumble rumble rumble—!!
Rumble!
The earthquake's aftershocks weren't confined to one spot.
It affected the entire ecosystem in the lair, and this…
"…What was that sound?"
…reached even the warriors who had been surviving in this cave for a long time.
"It seems a new superior demonic beast has been born, my lord."
"Sigh, Orthrus alone was headache enough."
"But if they fight and injure each other, isn't that good for us?"
"…However, if one survives and devours the other, it'll become a disaster."
"……."
His insight was correct.
As he said, superior demonic beasts were pesky things that grew stronger by devouring equals or superiors.
Especially if Orthrus evolved into an even higher being—the countermeasures would only get more annoying.
Thus.
"Felix."
"Yes, Family Head."
"You'll have to take on some hardship. No matter which wins, seize the chance and finish off the wounded beast."
An dishonorable order in truth.
Not upright or fair—cowardly taking a life.
Others might invoke their right to refuse such a command, but…
Thud!
"Yes, sir! Felix de Mordred obeys the Family Head's command!"
Not for the man called Felix.
"Hm, do you really understand?"
"Yes, sir!!!"
"…You can speak quietly."
"Understood—!!!"
"Hm…"
The Family Head's face showed distrust toward his loyal knight.
He trusted the skill, but not the mind behind those innocent eyes.