Chapter 26
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 026
Chapter Title: How to Become Rich
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After entering the Demonic Realm.
Maybe it was because the rest period had dragged on for so long. Either way, Woojin found himself gripped by the urge to go hunting just to shake off the rust. With that in mind, he deliberately chose a secluded path where few people passed.
Even so, no beasts caught his eye. Ahead of the expedition, the Holy Knights had cleared out quite a few of the monsters around in preparation for live combat training. As a result, the beasts were avoiding the area near the barrier.
‘...Luck isn’t on my side.’
Woojin had no choice but to continue on with a safe journey. After walking like that for about five days, a massive city came into view in the distance.
The 1st Pioneer City.
The first pioneer city established in the Demonic Realm, and the largest one by far. But Woojin gazed at it with indifferent eyes.
‘It’s certainly big, but... not all that impressive.’
He’d once toured cities far larger and more splendid, so even this massive pioneer city didn’t strike him as particularly amazing.
“Rex. Wait here for a bit.”
As always, he released Rex into the forest. Then Woojin headed into the pioneer city alone.
His purpose here was simple.
‘Time to make some money.’
Woojin had foisted most of his gold coins onto Claire. After buying camping supplies with what little remained, he was practically broke, with barely any cash left to spend.
He planned to take on a big commission here, rake in the cash, then head to the 3rd Pioneer City to look up Bow.
‘Which commission should I pick...’
Woojin’s eyes scanned the notices posted on the board. One in particular caught his attention. It read something like this:
[Hunt Leech Rats and bring back their tails as proof. You’ll receive three silver coins per tail.]
Leech Rat.
A beast not mentioned even in the Demonic Realm Chronicles. That meant it was most likely a newly discovered species.
That alone piqued his interest, but what really drew his eye was the note at the bottom.
[This commission has led to many disappearances. Proceed with caution.]
Most of those who’d accepted the commission had vanished, and the cause remained unknown.
Reading that, Woojin felt a spark of curiosity.
The other commissions didn’t carry such warnings, which suggested this was the most dangerous one posted on the board. And it was just rat hunting, no less.
‘Is it that dangerous of a beast?’
Even so, it was still just a rodent in the end... The fact that multiple victims had fallen made it all the more peculiar.
The Church Alliance seemed to think the same, adding that the reason for the disappearances was still unclear. Which implied there might be other threats besides the rats themselves.
What on earth was really going on? That question gnawed at him, blotting out all the other notices.
‘...Let’s give it a shot, for fun.’
In the end, Woojin chose that commission.
Heading to an unfamiliar place brought its own thrill, but let your guard down and you’d lose your way in no time. In the Demonic Realm, that risk was even greater.
‘Should’ve splurged on a better map...’
Woojin scratched the back of his neck as he pored over the map. Being an old one, there were quite a few discrepancies between the marked details and the actual landscape.
The Demonic Realm’s environment shifted rapidly. Paths vanishing or new ones appearing was par for the course. Woojin had to scour the rugged mountainside like a detective, piecing together clues from the surroundings.
After wandering for about an hour like that... a small cave mouth came into view halfway up the mountain.
‘Finally found it.’
Woojin rolled up the map and stowed it in his pack. Then he turned to Rex.
“Want to head inside with me?”
Rex shook his head side to side in clear refusal.
The sharp wolf’s reluctance meant there was likely some serious danger lurking in that cave.
Woojin peered back inside.
Cut off from sunlight, the cave’s shadows ran deep. An impenetrable darkness where you couldn’t see a foot ahead. The passage stretching into the depths looked like the throat of some massive predator.
Whoosh—
A small flame sparked to life in Woojin’s palm. He transferred it to the torch in his left hand, then stepped inside without hesitation.
After walking a short way, he suddenly heard something skittering away in haste. Reflexively, Woojin drew the dagger from his belt and hurled it.
Kieeeek!
A low shriek followed right away. Direct hit. He approached the source of the noise. A rat with glowing red eyes writhed on the ground.
At a glance, it didn’t look much different from an ordinary rat. But up close, some alien features stood out.
‘Weird mouth on this thing.’
A beak shaped like an octopus sucker, packed with needle-sharp teeth. The Leech Rat used it to latch onto people and drain their blood.
Stab.
Woojin slit its throat with his dagger and severed the tail as proof. Three silver coins for one little rat—decent money.
Shh-shh-shk—
Sounds of more rats scurrying ahead. Woojin hurried after them. Every dagger toss netted him another kill without fail.
It was practically like picking money off the ground. They didn’t seem all that dangerous, so why had all those previous hunters vanished?
As he pondered that... another skittering came from straight ahead.
‘...Why aren’t they running away sooner?’
Woojin felt a twinge of suspicion.
He was holding a torch, and he’d made plenty of noise hunting the others.
Sensitive creatures like rats should’ve fled far away by now. Yet these ones waited until he was almost upon them before bolting—like they were luring him in.
What was their game?
He didn’t dwell on it long.
He’d figure it out once he pushed deeper into the cave. Woojin kept advancing, picking off every rat he spotted.
After walking quite a ways like that...
‘...Something feels off.’
A sense of unease crept in. Woojin glanced around, then suddenly looked up.
Their eyes met.
Countless eyes glared down at him. The ceiling crawled with Leech Rats, blanketing it entirely. They’d been lying in wait for their prey to venture deep inside.
“...A trap, huh?”
As Woojin muttered that, the rats’ eyes lit up red in response. A wave of crimson glow rippled across the ceiling. The scarlet lights poured down on him like hail.
Enemies on all sides. Woojin swung his torch like a broom, sweeping the area.
Thwack, thwack-thwack!
Every swing sent a handful of rats flying. The wildly flaring torchlight revealed more of the horde lurking in the dark with each pass.
...There were just too damn many.
Smashing them one by one would take forever. Woojin glanced back at his approach route.
‘As expected, retreat’s cut off.’
The rat swarm had already blocked the path to the outside. A tactical hunt. No wonder so many hunters had vanished mid-commission.
To make matters worse, swinging the torch nonstop was putting out the flame. Seeing that, the rats grew bolder, charging more fiercely... but
In truth, he could see just fine without it. Woojin’s night vision was owl-sharp.
He’d brought the torch deliberately, to experience fighting them from a normal person’s perspective. Only then could he properly gauge the Leech Rats’ traits.
‘Got a good read on them now.’
Woojin tossed the torch aside without regret and clapped his hands together with all his might.
Claaaap!!
The thunderous clap exploded through the cave like a shockwave. Even to human ears it was deafening; to tiny rats, unimaginable. The ones nearby convulsed and collapsed.
Seizing the opening, Woojin bolted. He tore through the encirclement in an instant.
...But in the opposite direction of the exit.
Woojin charged straight deeper into the cave. The rats, belatedly realizing what was happening, pursued him from behind. Their movements seemed oddly frantic.
Seeing that reaction confirmed his hunch. He ramped up his speed. Soon, he reached the cave’s deepest chamber.
A massive rat awaited there.
‘Found you.’
The leader commanding the pack.
Nearly the size of a wild boar. Even now, it birthed litter after litter without pause, like an ant queen laying eggs.
Woojin charged straight for the queen. Hulking Leech Rats—clearly her elite guards—blocked his path.
Of course, they were still just rats.
He didn’t slow down, barreling right through.
The rats in his way died to casual swipes of his arm or went flying like bowling pins from his kicks.
The queen panicked at the sight.
“Kee-yeek!!”
She whipped around to flee, but Woojin was already there. The machete in his hand gleamed coldly.
Slash!
One swing severed her head. Her body crumpled. Woojin grabbed the severed head and hoisted it high for the others to see.
That should end it.
Once the leader died, the bond with her minions would snap instantly. The remaining Leech Rats would scatter to survive on their own.
...That’s how it should’ve gone.
Kyaaak!!
For some reason, the rats’ eyes rolled back in rage. They charged with unbridled fury. The unexpected response left Woojin briefly taken aback.
‘What’s gotten into them?’
As he frantically chopped down the attackers, he mulled over the situation... and it hit him. Maybe the queen and her brood weren’t bound by simple hierarchy, but by blood—parent and offspring.
Which meant he’d have to slog through this messy fight until every last one was dead.
“...Ah, damn it.”
A curse slipped out like a sigh.
Rex yawned contentedly. The wolf sat in a sunny spot, scratching his head with a hind paw.
Squelch, squelch.
Suddenly, a wet, sticky sound came from deep in the cave.
Rex twitched his nostrils. The stench of blood—nauseating. Soon, the source emerged from the cave.
Kim Woojin stepped out. No visible injuries, but he was absolutely drenched head to toe in rat blood and guts. He looked utterly bedraggled.
His clothes, hair, and pack were soaked through, dripping crimson with every step, splattering the dirt below.
Like a drowned rat.
Rex’s mouth corners quirked up. Anyone could see it was a smirk.
Woojin started to snap at that infuriating expression but just sighed instead. This mess was his own damn fault—he had no room to complain. He’d gone for some fun and gotten wrecked instead.
‘...Still, made a killing on cash.’
Unintentionally rich again. He took solace in that fact.