Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: The Fall of Cluesti
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[39th floor administrator 'Four Heavenly King Cluesti' has died.]
A brief message floated high above the 39th floor.
One arrived for Ju Gonghyeok as well.
[Special buff 'Cluesti's Incarnation' is being dismantled.]
[Cluesti's items are automatically being reclaimed.]
[As per the pact with Archangel Azazel and Four Heavenly King Heidrich, you have assassinated Cluesti.]
[Astonishing feat! 'Defeating Four Heavenly King Cluesti!' accomplished. Achievement completion rate: 100%.]
[Reward for the achievement: 100 crimson coins.]
[You are the first among the three races to defeat a Four Heavenly King.]
[Additional reward: 100 crimson coins.]
Clink—
Crimson coins, red as blood, rose from Cluesti's corpse.
He lightly picked up the highest-grade coins, the crimson ones.
It was the second time he'd seen them since receiving one after upgrading Ra-Djehuty to SSS rank.
This time, it wasn't just one—there were 200.
The items that auto-returned to his inventory numbered three.
The 'Thunderlight Homburg (SSS),' 'Tuxedo of Eternal Pursuit (SSS),' and 'Scythe of Swiftness (U.SSS)' that Cluesti had been wearing.
'Three SSS items. The tuxedo's design is so garish it'll be tough to wear.'
The important one was the Four Heavenly King's supreme treasure, the 'Scythe of Swiftness (U.SSS).'
Unlike the half-broken treasure he'd gotten from Guard Sand before, this was the complete version.
The reason the Circlet of Transcendent Eye and Scythe of Swiftness were called the four treasures was simple.
They were the keys to opening the path to the 88th floor, where the Demon King awaited.
They also allowed borrowing a Four Heavenly King's power once.
'Though it loses its power as a key in exchange.'
At least two treasures were needed to open the door to the 88th floor.
Only one race could fight the Demon King there.
Even if the others killed him, they'd face reinvasion by Babel under another Demon King.
Of course, the angels would help them as much as possible.
But all that would remain for them was a scorched homeland and endless war.
Clang!
The battlefield walls Azazel had erected vanished.
She'd probably seen the death message for Cluesti floating in the sky.
Her face was etched with worry.
"Human, your body is completely..."
Of course it wasn't fine.
His right shin was gone below the knee, and having any fingers or toes left was a blessing.
His face and skin everywhere were ragged and torn, one lung crushed during the fight.
Fractures were too numerous to count.
If Cluesti had only lost limbs and his head, he'd be in better shape than Ju Gonghyeok.
"Oppa!"
As the battlefield shrank, Ha Yeonsi had come close too.
It had been ages since he'd pulled out the avatar 'Princess Bari (SS)' to heal Ju Gonghyeok, but it did nothing.
"It's fine. It's Cluesti's curse."
Any healing skill was nullified by Cluesti's curse on the Demon King's 'Scythe of Swiftness.'
Only natural recovery worked, so even with his endurance, it'd take days of suffering.
Azazel stared at the legendary great demon, now horribly shattered.
"You really killed him."
"I said I'd end it in 10 seconds."
Azazel silently looked down at the corpse.
There was the trace of the 'Stake of Evil Annihilation (SSS-)' he'd given him before, right in the chest.
Its soul was utterly obliterated—no chance of resurrection.
'I really killed Four Heavenly King Cluesti.'
Despite the nerfs, buffs, and all the handicaps, dead was dead.
No excuse about letting his guard down changed that once he was gone.
'If he can do it this way, it means he could kill me or the other Seven Archangels too.'
Of course, the situation was different.
With Cluesti dead, no one would let their guard down or walk into a trap.
They just wouldn't give him the angle or would flee if things looked bad.
"..."
Really?
Azazel asked herself.
'Will it really be okay?'
Head-on, none of the Seven Archangels would lose to Ju Gonghyeok.
But he was a hunter, a gamer.
When at a disadvantage, he'd use the system to pull back, then strategically seize high ground step by step, cornering his prey.
Cluesti hadn't thought he'd die either.
By the time the prey realized it was in the trap, it was too late.
'A human truly worthy of the hunter name.'
Azazel turned to Ju Gonghyeok with newfound wariness.
After the fierce battle with Cluesti, he raised his broken sword.
Crunch—
He shoved the hilt into the stump of his severed leg.
Using it like a prosthetic, he stood straight on both legs.
The hilt creaked unstably inside his knee, blood seeping out.
"What are you doing?!"
"I have something to do before I go."
Ha Yeonsi suddenly realized.
Ju Gonghyeok had the coins.
The ones that let him leave this Babel completely.
Ding—
"Take it. Your share."
"Da. (Yes.)"
He handed one of Cluesti's coins to Imir.
Imir was a member he'd already planned to take outside with him.
He opened the way to the next member.
"Gate open."
He crushed the rosary Marcus had passed him, and a door spanning space appeared.
A one-person gate prepared for this, leading to Marcus.
Stepping through, he saw people.
Deus executives, including Christina and Ben-Hur.
"Gonghyeok, what happened?"
Christina approached the battered Ju Gonghyeok.
"How could you be this injured? Ben-Hur! Heal this child, please."
"...Yes."
Ben-Hur's expression wasn't great.
It was because of Ju Gonghyeok, designated as Deus's next leader.
He'd hoped it wasn't true, but Ben-Hur spoke heavily.
"Brother, are these wounds from fighting a Four Heavenly King?"
"Yes."
Ju Gonghyeok nodded.
"I killed Four Heavenly King Cluesti."
'It's over.'
Ben-Hur closed his eyes in resignation.
An astonishing result right after joining the front lines.
Overwhelming force, charisma leading three cities.
Now, the title of humanity's savior belonged to Ju Gonghyeok.
Deus's unique city dissolution was now inevitable too.
As he began the healing with a stiff face, Ben-Hur suddenly asked.
"By the way, why come to us? For treatment?"
"Even SS-grade healing specialist avatar Princess Bari couldn't fix it. Your avatars don't stand a chance."
"What?"
Ben-Hur was flustered by the blunt rudeness.
He'd spoken with Ju Gonghyeok a few times going between companies, but this was a first.
"Out of the way."
Pushing Ben-Hur aside, his eyes met Marcus's.
Marcus's pupils sparkled with anticipation.
The reason Ju Gonghyeok came here was to keep his promise.
'Hurry, Ju Gonghyeok. The promised moment!'
'Don't nag. You damn bastard.'
Exchanging looks, Ju Gonghyeok took a deep breath and stepped forward.
Christina approached with a worried face.
"Gonghyeok, what's wrong? If healing won't work, I'll find some way..."
"Professor Christina."
He casually executed the prepared procedure.
Christina, defenseless upon seeing her most cherished student.
He drove a sharp stake straight into her heart.
Squelch—
No one could react.
It was too sudden.
The hero who'd defeated a Four Heavenly King.
A member of Deus Rosary.
The rising savior.
Nothing matched Ju Gonghyeok's actions now.
"It'll be quick. You'll feel better soon."
"Gonghyeok, what are you..."
The penetrating stake overlapped with Christina's stunned face.
Before it fully sank in, Christina's necklace blazed with holy light.
[Accessory 'Guardian of Heavenly Might (U.SSS)' has detected serious danger to the wearer.]
[Per the contract, you receive an Archangel's protection once.]
[Random generation: 'Archangel of the Sun, Michael.']
[Stats reduced – 39th floor.]
A blazing sword of fire inserted itself between them.
Ju Gonghyeok pulled back before turning to charcoal under the Archangel's power.
'Michael this time, huh.'
The treasure passed to Deus's master, 'Guardian of Heavenly Might.'
A unique bound item that summoned an Archangel when the user faced death.
= Hey, little bro. This looks kinda dangerous, doesn't it?
The Great Sage Equaling Heaven, back in his formless avatar state after summoning Ra-Djehuty, chimed in.
Christina staggered, bleeding, while Archangel Michael glared coldly down at him.
The surrounding top Deus hunters had long paled.
"I have a plan."
- A plan? Even seeing this mess...
He ignored Nathaniel's whining.
Ju Gonghyeok shouted to the sky.
"Summoner by just dice, Ju Gonghyeok commands! Appear here! Azazel!"
Boom!
The red-haired angel crashed down, splitting the earth.
She glared at Gonghyeok with displeasure.
"I was watching from above. Human, what are you doing? No—what do you plan to do?"
"Doing what's necessary."
Ju Gonghyeok pointed at the Archangel holding the flaming sword.
"Fight Michael. Azazel."
"...You're serious. Human."
"Fight."
"You're serious?"
"You have 14 minutes left on your summon. Battlefield Archangel Azazel. As your rightful summoner, I command you."
His eyes held no hesitation, his order unwavering.
"Fight. Azazel."
"You're insane."
She grimaced and turned.
Her spear's tip aimed at her fellow angel, Michael.
"Ju Gonghyeok!"
As Azazel turned, the Deus executives rushed in unison.
Two shadows emerged from Ju Gonghyeok's thorny ring.
[Vampire Contractor Summon.]
- Vampire Count Guard Sand is summoned at 100% power.
The Heavenly Knight-grade vampire blocked the Deus executives.
Ju Gonghyeok handled Heavenly Knights so easily that it faded their terror, but to normal hunters, they were grim reapers.
Even front-line executives couldn't break through.
"Why attack your mother?!"
"Madam Christina gave you everything!"
Ignoring their wails, he advanced on his uncomfortable leg.
Christina, left alone, was pale.
The 'Stake of Evil Annihilation (SSS-)' made to kill a Four Heavenly King.
No matter her durability, a direct hit was fatal.
"How long have you planned this?"
She asked bitterly.
"Gonghyeok, Sigmund and Liang Xian were your doing too, weren't they?"
"Slightly different, but close enough."
He gripped her shoulder with one hand, pushing the stake's head with the other.
The black stake slowly, slowly burrowed toward her heart.
"They'll all die by my hand anyway."
"You're scary. What happened?"
She raised a hand to stroke his cheek.
Her trembling touch felt vivid.
"A lot happened."
"I see?"
This wasn't the first time killing her.
He was tired of crying over loved ones dying.
No.
Now, by his own will, his own choice, he was killing her.
So, no need to grieve, right?
"Please resent me, Professor. I'm not killing you out of necessity anymore. No one can force me to abandon you. I won't sacrifice others unwillingly now."
He grinned at her.
"By my choice, because I want to, I'm killing you."
Not out of necessity.
Not forced.
His choice.
So, it didn't hurt.
That was how Ju Gonghyeok lived in this world.
"Why would you do this, my sweet Gonghyeok."
Her hand brushed past his head.
Like an orphanage director pitying a poor child.
She hadn't changed.
"I can't... leave you... behind..."
"Mother—! Now's the time!"
Marcus stood by, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"I prepared this whole stage for you! Show your great authority now! As God's daughter! As the true savior! Cast out the world's evils!"
He turned to the sweating, fervent shouter.
"Marcus."
"Ju Gonghyeok, it's over between us! I'm a sinner, but it was all for Mother Messiah! If she awakens her superhuman power as God's daughter..."
"No such thing."
Ju Gonghyeok coldly shoved her.
The body of Christina C. Mahadeva, the Anglo-Indian, slumped limply to the floor.
"Huh?"
He grabbed Christina's head, staring at the stunned Marcus.
Crunch—
Mushy brains spilled out, erasing her refined, beautiful face.
"No such thing, Marcus."
"No... what? Any moment now...?"
Marcus couldn't continue, faced with Christina's gruesome, hyper-realistic end.
Her dead-fish eyes, devoid of hope, stared at him.
"She's dead."
Those short words explained everything.