Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: The Cruel Guild
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Hartmann was dreaming.
Is it because it's my time to die?
A past flashing before my eyes like a panorama.
Born into a fallen baronial family, admitted to the Imperial Capital Knight Academy, recognized for my talent, joined the army after graduation, distinguished myself in war, and caught the eye of Marquis Lexington, the commander of the Imperial Army, eventually becoming his son-in-law.
I was happy, in my own way.
After that, it was hell, but that's another story.
I lost my precious son, Lian Hartmann.
I don't even know if he died or lived.
If he had died, perhaps it wouldn't have been this painful.
Circumstantially, it was kidnapping or abduction.
When my son disappeared, the nurse and the stable-hand who were with him also vanished.
I searched for those two everywhere.
But in the end, they were found as cold corpses in the slums of the imperial capital.
The investigation ended there.
This was definitely a conspiracy.
Someone had deliberately orchestrated this.
The most suspicious party?
Naturally, Duke Roland's faction, the leader of the Aristocratic Faction.
The rival of Marquis Lexington's faction, which supported the Emperor.
But a gut feeling wasn't enough.
Because of that, my wife also left for a distant place.
The words she left as she was dying.
To find our son Lian without fail.
I swore I would, of course.
But the tragedy didn't end.
Even my father-in-law, Duke Lexington, died from the shock of losing his daughter and grandson.
Nevertheless, Hartmann did not give up.
Grow stronger.
Expand my influence.
Use that as a foundation to find my son.
Then, one day.
A tragedy occurred.
I killed my son with my own hands.
The son I had seen and cherished in my dreams countless times.
Hartmann went mad.
Consumed by a demon in his heart, he became a sword demon.
I don't know why I made that decision at the time, but I single-handedly stormed into Duke Roland's estate.
"You bastards of the Roland family, it was you, wasn't it?"
"You raised my son as an assassin and sent him to me, didn't you?"
I killed everyone I came across.
Killed the vassals, killed the knights, even the collateral relatives of the Roland family, all of them.
And then I was subdued.
Because I was growing weaker, body and mind, as I fell deeper into the heart demon.
Hartmann was bound in restraints and exiled to Alto Island.
To a prison from which there was absolutely no escape.
Just as that panorama was about to end...
A voice was heard, as if in an illusion.
"Dad?"
Hartmann raised his head and looked straight ahead.
Ten people standing before him.
Who are these people?
But one among them caught his eye and stuck there.
"My son?"
My beloved Lian Hartmann?
Without a doubt.
How could I ever forget that face?
The son I killed.
Anyway, why is my son here?
Ah! It's an illusion.
If not that, then...
"Is... is this heaven? No, it must be hell."
"It is neither heaven nor hell."
Then?
"This is the Tower. Yes, sir, you are in the Tower."
What nonsense... Still, the afterlife seems certain.
"Lian, do you recognize me?"
"...Honestly, I'm not quite sure."
"I see. S-shameless as it is, I... I just want to hug you once..."
Right at that moment!
Swoosh!
A pitch-black crescent-shaped energy rose from an old man's palm and...
Chwit!
Spinning terrifyingly, it flew over and cleanly severed all the chains and restraints binding Hartmann.
As the shackles imprisoning him vanished...
Wobble! Hartmann began to collapse to the floor.
Snap!
Kosak quickly caught and supported him.
"Be careful, sir."
Aaah!
He could feel his son's warmth.
It was warm.
It was as if all the wounds in his heart were being healed.
Even if this wasn't the living world, he fulfilled his wish in the afterlife.
Hartmann now had no regrets.
Joo-hyuk's tears streamed down.
They flowed like a waterfall.
Well, was he the only one crying?
Everyone was crying.
"Ahem, is the wind blowing? Why is there dust in my eyes..."
The Strongest Villain of the Martial World, the Mad Demon of the Blood Sea on Mount Shi.
"Kheum."
"Kkeh, kkeh."
"Hic hic hic hic."
Gobang, Bardin, and Veronica too.
"Huehue."
"Kkeeing..."
Razix and Hyeolrang as well.
Even the vampire Jepetto, who hadn't been summoned for long and had no deep affection yet, was secretly wiping away tears.
"Haa!"
Gyeon Dal-rae also.
"My past sorrows are nothing, Your Highness. No matter how relative the scale of grief is, compared to Lord Kosak's suffering, mine is but a drop in the ocean."
What must Kosak be feeling right now?
I dare not even imagine.
Kosak and Hartmann.
The two exchanged no words.
It's understandable.
What words could there be in this situation?
"Mr. Hartmann, you don't seem to be in good condition. Isn't there a way? Healing, or maybe a healing potion?"
The Mad Demon shook his head from side to side.
"His life force, his core vitality is damaged. He won't last long. And he's been under the influence of the heart demon for too long. Unless we have a miracle elixir, it's a wonder he's even alive like this."
"Then?"
"You must prepare your heart."
"......"
Time passed.
What about completing the mission?
But no one brought up the subject of the conquest.
An S+++ grade conquest record?
What does that even matter.
"By the way, Mr. Hartmann doesn't seem to know this is the Tower."
"Probably not, I suppose? It might be different for each person."
Meanwhile, Haeryeong, Gyeon Dal-rae's master, was aware of the Tower.
Perhaps that's only natural.
She was one who had grasped the edge of ascension.
"Is there no way to liberate his soul from the Tower?"
"Huh, I'm ashamed to admit I don't know either."
There must be a way.
Because there is precedent.
Gyeon Dal-rae's master, the Millennium Fox Haeryeong.
Although she achieved it through her own ascension, she was liberated nonetheless.
There must be a way.
I will definitely find it.
The thought that there are 146 copies of Hartmann's soul in the 146 Towers on Earth is truly a sad thing.
It might be okay for now, but what if he gets conquered by a Player later?
That is absolutely unacceptable.
Eventually.
Hartmann's eyes slowly began to close.
His hand, which had been stroking Kosak's face, finally dropped limply.
And then.
Ding!
However.
The S+++ grade conquest didn't chime.
Because there was no actual confrontation.
It doesn't matter.
What, should they have made father and son fight each other?
Bastards.
Giving out missions like this.
Spot!
Joo-hyuk and the summoned beings returned to the penthouse.
Although the conquest was over, no one opened their mouth.
They didn't even know what to say.
There was one person who hadn't shed tears on the 77th floor.
The person in question, Kosak.
He probably hadn't even sorted out his feelings yet.
"Hey, Summoner Bong."
"Yes?"
"I have a request."
"Ah, yes. Anything, I'll listen to whatever you say."
"Could we go into Floor 77 again later? I didn't get to have a proper conversation with that gentleman..."
That's right.
If we enter Floor 77, we can see him again.
But in a reset state.
With no memory of having met Kosak.
But still, being able to see him is something, isn't it?
If we keep meeting him, we might be able to resolve his lingering resentment.
"Of course. Let's go tomorrow. Let's go three times."
"Could we not go after catching Diarmait first?"
"Something like Diarmait isn't important at all. Your feelings are much more important, Mr. Kosak."
"Yes. I need some time to think as well."
"Ah!"
Well, he couldn't help it then.
As if there was more to say, Kosak spoke with a determined expression.
"And I want to go to the beach too."
"Of course! We must go."
Was there any reason not to?
He needed a change of mood too.
"Also, we must buy Ms. Bae's swimsuit as a bikini."
"...Huh?"
"It's a crucial matter."
"Hmm, will there be one that fits?"
"Wouldn't it be better if it's too small?"
"Well, that's true but..."
That sounded tempting.
If it's small, it's good.
Then Gyeon Dal-rae spoke up in a deliberately angry voice.
"Lord Kosak!"
Oh my!
She's scolding him.
"I am truly disappointed. Why are you leaving me out?"
"Huh?"
"I am an adult now as well. Is it that Ms. Bae can wear a bikini, but I cannot?"
No, Your Highness?
"Do you not know how magnificent a fairy's figure is? There is even the story of the fairy and the woodcutter. On a moonlit night, if a fairy sheds her clothes and bathes in a pond, the woodcutter hides and..."
Ahem.
It's not that he didn't understand why Gyeon Dal-rae was acting like this, but...
"W-wait a moment!"
I cut her off and changed the topic.
"Let's talk about something else."
"What shall we talk about?"
"F-for example, about the missions on Floors 78 and 79 tomorrow."
Instantly!
Kosak's eyes flashed.
In a chilling voice.
"I think I know what kind of missions they are."
"Really?"
"My old workplace will appear."
"Ah!"
Kosak's guess was accurate.
The next day.
Joo-hyuk ascended to Floor 78 early in the morning.
The environment of Floor 78.
It was like a large farm.
There was a grassland, and ahead, large and small houses were clustered together.
"I knew it. From here on, just follow me."
Kosak moved his steps toward the cluster of houses.
Joo-hyuk and the summoned beings followed.
And then.
Ding!
📍 Main Mission: Eliminate 26 Low-Rank Assassins of the Cruel Guild.
📍 Additional Mission: Eliminate 7 High-Rank Assassins of the Cruel Guild.
📍 Hard Mission: Eliminate Crook, Special-Rank Assassin of the Cruel Guild.
📍 Extreme Mission: Eliminate Jericho, Guild Master of the Cruel Guild.
The missions appeared.
Kosak's old workplace.
What seemed like a farm was actually the headquarters of the Cruel Assassins Guild.
It was as expected.
When you think about it, it's simple.
It's impossible that Kosak alone decided on assassination targets and carried out missions.
Who is the entity that gives missions to assassins?
The Guild Master.
At that time, Kosak was SR rank.
Equivalent to about a 5th Circle mage class.
And they gave an order to assassinate a Swordmaster?
"When I got there, it was a Swordmaster... How could I have imagined it was my father?"
Probably not.
But they must have known when they sent him.
They probably even knew the relationship between Kosak and Hartmann in advance.
A cleverly crafted script.
A tragedy of intended fratricide, making a father kill his son.
"I'll handle it all. Those immoral bastards. I'll show them the taste of Juche revolution."
Suddenly possessed by a North Korean propaganda drama?
"Our great Supreme Leader, please stay seated."
Why am I the Supreme Leader?
"Same goes for you, comrades. Just watch a folk play and eat rice cakes."
"......"
Spot! Spapapat!
Kosak dashed forward using Shadow Step.
The Mad Demon chuckled and spoke.
"Is everyone just going to stand still?"
In response.
"Of course not. We can't let him have all the fun alone."
Click!
Ms. Bae released the safety on her magic gun.
"A comrade's enemy is my enemy."
"I'll tear the limbs off those assassin bastards... except the assassin."
"Light!"
"Power of darkness!"
"Hoe!"
"Please leave the guild master Jericho to me."
Zzzzzzing!
Pajujujujuk!
Ms. Bae struck first.
Kaboom!
A large shell completely blew away one of the farmhouses.
The kill count instantly rose.
Jericho, who looked like a kind person, appeared outwardly as an ordinary farm owner.
People around called him Elder Jericho.
Almost no one knew he was the head of the Cruel Assassins Guild.
Jericho had been in the assassination business for about 60 years.
The most important thing to sustain this business for a long time is securing talent.
You need to secure many good assassins.
That's the hardest part.
Due to the nature of the business, hiring new recruits is more common than experienced ones.
Usually, they are bought from outside.
Children under 10 years old.
Buying children isn't difficult.
If you just go to a shantytown or slum, there are plenty of parents selling their children.
Buying isn't the end.
It takes an enormous amount of time and money to raise young children into usable assassins.
And even then, do they all succeed?
Most fail and die on their first mission.
Even if they pass, they hit the talent ceiling.
Most never advance beyond low-rank.
Those who grow to high-rank are a tiny minority, and special-rank are almost non-existent.
The assassination business is that tough.
'Come to think of it, I keep remembering that guy.'
That guy who joined the guild at age 3, grew into a high-rank assassin by his late teens, and was certain to become special-rank.
High-rank assassin Kosak.
'Blood will tell.'
If his use hadn't been predetermined, he might have become my successor.
In fact, Kosak wasn't an assassin but a target of a request.
A tool to be used to bring down the Empire's strongest swordsman.
And thus, he fulfilled his role as a tool and died.
It's such a shame.
He was a guy worth raising.
Where can I find another one like him?
Just as he was consoling his regret!
Kaboom! Crash! Bang!
"Huh!"
A terrifying explosive sound shook the farm.
"Wh-what is this?"
He hurried to the window and looked outside.
"Kyaaak!"
"Kkeuk."
"Keoek!"
Unidentified people.
The guild members, the assassins, were being slaughtered by them.
"Who dares...?"
It was extraordinary.
A giant tearing people apart and killing them, a knight with a flail, a vampire-like creature biting necks, a ghostly woman floating in the air, a woman firing a crossbow-like ranged weapon, a beastman riding a dog and swinging a pickaxe.
The guild members were busy fleeing.
Low-rank assassins, even high-rank assassins, were dying.
Even Crook, the guild's only special-rank assassin, had his stealth seen through, a yellow paper stuck to his forehead, and was subdued helplessly.
Where did these freaks come from?
What should I do?
Escape, or confront them.
He needed to decide quickly, but this was the first time the headquarters itself had been attacked.
Jericho couldn't help but panic.
"First, get outside..."
Instantly!
Halt!
Jericho couldn't move.
Someone was sitting in the room.
On the bed over there.
When he turned his head.
"Who are you...?"
White hair and white beard.
An old man wearing unfamiliar attire.
"Stay quiet here. Don't even think about running."
"...What?"
He was inwardly surprised, but his expression remained calm.
Jericho grasped the hidden dagger's handle inside his sleeve.
He activated the poison needle installed in the tip of his shoe and prepared a smoke bomb.
However.
Sssss!
Killing intent filled the room.
He couldn't move an inch, like a mosquito caught in a spider's web.
"Make a fuss and you'll shit blood. Don't believe me? Try it."
Gulp.
Jericho swallowed dryly.
The most important virtue for an assassin.
Assess the opponent before you.
Determine if they are someone you can handle, or someone you must avoid.
But the old man before him didn't even allow for such judgment.
Nothing came to mind.
Right at that moment!
Slurp!
Another person appeared in the room.
"Huh? Old man, when did you get here?"
"This old master is faster than you in everything, wouldn't you say?"
"No, I told you repeatedly. This bastard is mine."
Jericho was dumbfounded.
Because someone he never expected appeared before his eyes.
"Y-you?"
"Nice to meet you! You son of a bitch!"
Kosak?
The real Kosak?
How?
'He definitely died.'
Was it a fake?
No.
Not just the face, but even that unique way of speaking.
There's no way I wouldn't know.
He raised him myself.
"Ko...kosak? Y-you're alive?"
"Shut up! You bastard!"
"Wh-what?"
Kosak licked his blue dagger with his tongue and spoke.
"I'll cut your head off right now. Our Summoner Bong suffered a badge loss on Floor 77 because of me. I need to compensate him with badges."
The Mad Demon shook his head side to side and spoke.
"We have plenty of time. Let's take it slow. We need to know who the true mastermind behind this situation is."
Kosak chuckled.
"That's not necessary. When we go up to Floor 79, the mission will appear on its own."
Well.
It's procedure for the conclusion to come on the final floor.
"But it's a linked mission. This bastard needs to confess for the proper mission to continue, doesn't he?"
"...Is that so?"
"Leave it to me. I'll give him a level of suffering he's never experienced in his life, to the point he'll beg to be killed."
Kosak agreed.
The Mad Demon's abilities were trustworthy enough.
"I leave it to you."
"Good. You can look forward to it."
A short while later.
"Kyaaaaaaaaah!!!"
Jericho, the Guild Master of the Cruel Guild, howled like a beast.
For a long time.
Kosak was also more than satisfied.