Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Thompson's Resolve
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Chirp, chirp-.
The only sounds in the dead of night were the cries of birds and insects.
A man who had been sleeping inside a cave slowly rose to his feet.
‘Everyone else is out cold.’
His other companions had long since fallen into deep slumber.
He was the only one who hadn’t drifted off yet.
‘...My head’s a mess. I need to clear it out.’
With that resolve, Thompson stepped out of the cave.
Rustle, rustle.
The chilling air unique to the Demon World tickled the tip of his nose.
“Hoo.”
Thompson took a deep breath, savoring the air fully.
Right now, his mind was more tangled than ever.
And the reason?
-You’d be better off spending that time figuring out how to hit the enemy effectively from range.
It was because the words of the man he admired most kept circling in his head.
Thompson let out a heavy sigh, his face grave.
“Is that path really the right one...?”
Thompson respected Yoo Han.
Though younger than him, Yoo Han always displayed strong responsibility and outstanding leadership.
He could see the makings of a hero in him.
That was why he took Yoo Han’s words as gospel.
Even if they seemed unreasonable, he believed the judgment of the man destined to be a hero would be wiser than his own.
But for some reason...
“...It just doesn’t sit right with me.”
This time, he didn’t want to heed Yoo Han’s advice.
He wanted to follow the path he believed was right.
He had no idea what the outcome would be, though.
‘No matter Baal’s demonic energy, if I push myself...’
Clench!
As Thompson gripped his fist tightly amid his deliberations—
Rustle.
He sensed a presence from somewhere.
‘An attack?’
Given the location, Thompson had his senses sharpened. He whipped around immediately.
Fortunately, it wasn’t an attack.
“Oh, you pitch-black bastard.”
“Call me Lord Erebos, you big lug.”
“Man, nitpicking every little thing.”
“Hmph, as expected from a brute who can’t grasp the obvious.”
Rustle, rustle.
Erebos grumbled as he slowly approached Thompson.
Erebos was the authority over all darkness, having lived for centuries.
For him, reading the emotions of the human before him was child’s play.
“Looks like it’s your turn this time.”
“What?”
“The one with the complicated head.”
“...You’re reading too much into it.”
“Reading too much? I’ve got plenty of evidence. Your expression, your eyes, your irregular breathing, wasting stamina all day and still not sleeping. Should I go on?”
“You’re something else.”
Thompson said that, but inwardly, he was impressed.
‘Definitely not your average guy.’
He’d only been observed for about a minute.
To discern all that in one minute? Astonishing.
And that wasn’t all.
From what he’d heard...
‘He has that [Lie Detection] ability too.’
This black creature could discern truth from lies in others’ words.
Cute on the outside, but no ordinary scary fellow in reality.
‘Good thing he’s on our side.’
With that thought, Thompson decided to unburden his worries.
For all his rough appearance, this was a being who’d lived centuries.
He might just provide the key to his dilemma.
“Truth is, I’ve been wondering if my fighting style is really the problem.”
“Fighting style? Oh, you mean that reckless charge-in strategy whenever you sense a unique ability?”
“...Yeah, that strategy.”
“Hmm, still not getting why you’re fretting. What’s the issue?”
“Our number one said it’s dangerous. But I think it suits me best. And it’s the role we need most right now.”
Nod, nod.
Erebos nodded as if conceding the point.
“Not wrong. You lot are especially strong at range. Like you said, with someone tanking up front, your strengths would shine even more.”
“You think so too?”
“Of course. I’ve experienced it firsthand. The most perfect army.”
“...The most perfect army?”
At Thompson’s question, Erebos nodded once more and began recounting his past.
“It was when I was making a name for myself in the human world. Humans terrified of my power sent an army to kill me.”
“What kind of army?”
“The royal guard and their subordinates.”
Royal guard.
Thompson jolted in surprise at the words.
“They sent the royal guard...?”
“Yeah, to capture me.”
“Huh.”
The royal guard’s primary duty was protecting their king.
Thus, they were composed entirely of exceptional talents.
In simple terms, their skills were extraordinarily elite.
Especially...
‘I hear they were even stronger back then.’
The old royal guard needed no further explanation.
In that era of frequent wars, their might was legendary.
And they dispatched such a force?
That alone let Thompson gauge how immensely fearsome this black creature had been regarded.
‘Of course, whether that’s true is another story...’
Thompson swallowed the afterthought and waited.
Soon, Erebos spoke.
“As I said earlier, they were the most perfect human army I’d ever seen. Offense, defense—nothing lacking.”
“I know how strong the royal guard is...”
“Yeah, they gave me quite the trouble. And those were just humans.”
“...”
“It was the moment I first pondered how strong humans could become when united.”
“So you’re saying my direction is right?”
“No, the story’s not over yet.”
Whoosh!
With that, Erebos suddenly thrust his face close.
His deep, dark eyes sparkled brightly.
“But do you know why those guys lost?”
“...Why did they?”
Gulp.
Thompson swallowed dryly, and Erebos’s answer followed right away.
“Because the front line broke!”
Thud!
Roooar-!
As he stomped the ground, darkness rippled.
Shiiiik!
“...!!”
The writhing darkness sharpened into blades, threatening Thompson in an instant. Erebos opened his mouth with a solemn expression.
“I unleashed all my power on the guys up front.”
“All your power...?”
“Yeah, no mere human could withstand it. Not even those tough-looking bastards.”
Rustle...
Erebos withdrew the darkness and continued.
His voice had already returned to calm.
“Your contractor fears that exact scenario. That you’ll face power no human can endure.”
“Huh.”
“Get it now?”
Nod.
Thompson nodded in response.
He fully understood Erebos’s words.
Thanks to that, he could even guess Yoo Han’s feelings.
But for some reason...
The stuffy feeling lodged in his chest didn’t budge an inch.
And he knew why.
“Then let’s head back. In the Demon World, you always need to stay in top condition...”
“But.”
In the end, Thompson decided to vent his pent-up heart.
If he wanted to say something, he’d say it. If he wanted to do something, he’d do it.
It was a principle he’d lived by since childhood, one he couldn’t break.
“But that’s exactly why you felt they were a perfect army.”
“What?”
“Because there were people holding the front against a powerhouse like you. That’s why it felt burdensome.”
“...”
“If those knights had focused on ranged attacks like our number one suggested, do you think the outcome would’ve been different? If they’d learned magic instead of swords and shields, would you not be here now?”
Erebos clamped his mouth shut, staring at Thompson.
Thompson continued indifferently, as if it didn’t matter.
“Mark my words: if so, you wouldn’t have seen them as a perfect army at all.”
“...”
An awkward silence stretched on.
The reason was simple: he couldn’t refute Thompson’s words.
‘He’s right.’
Erebos knew it too.
The stronger the front, the better the rear could perform.
That this group needed a man like Thompson most of all.
But.
‘...That path is too dangerous.’
It wasn’t one just anyone could walk.
No matter how resolute this man was, it could crumble at any moment.
From what he’d observed so far, if this man fell, the contractor would too.
And that damage would rebound straight to him.
‘Ugh... This is tricky.’
How much time passed?
After much deliberation while gazing at the resolute-eyed man, Erebos finally spoke.
“...Fine.”
“What?”
“I said fine. If that’s the path you want, go ahead and walk it.”
“You mean it?”
“I don’t lie.”
It was an answer born of deep thought.
Erebos wouldn’t take it back.
Besides, this was what he truly wanted.
‘It benefits me in every way.’
If this burly man took on blocking attacks up front, the whole contractor’s group would grow stronger.
And they needed to grow stronger to defeat Baal.
He had to make the right call, the more effective one—not just the safe one.
That was Erebos’s conclusion.
“Yeah, I mean it. I’m curious how far you can go.”
“Heh, is that so.”
Thompson grinned satisfactorily at Erebos’s permission, then suddenly shook his head.
“But honestly, your opinion doesn’t matter much.”
“...What?”
Erebos scowled, displeased.
But the follow-up made sense.
“What matters is how our number one takes it.”
“...True enough.”
Somehow, things had veered into getting Erebos’s approval, but the real key was Yoo Han.
Without Yoo Han’s official okay to tank, all this talk was for naught.
“Ugh.”
Thompson rubbed his temple and asked.
“Got any bright ideas? Something to sway our number one.”
“...Something to tempt the contractor.”
Perhaps because the two put their heads together.
“Oh, that’s a method.”
A pretty solid way to convince Yoo Han came to mind.
Erebos and Thompson met eyes and nodded in unison.
“Alright, we’ll go with that.”
“Okay.”
Now, they just had to get past Yoo Han, and everything would be solved.