Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Dragon King
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“...Hmm.”
Letting out a sigh, I fiddled with the PDA-like device.
This thing was basically like a newspaper. Adapted to the Tribal Alliance’s tech level, it had been replaced with an ‘electronic gadget’ instead of paper.
There was an article about the Tribal Alliance’s Great Chieftain, Allan Ba-Tor, personally coming to inspect the Crucible of Conflict.
The fact that it was plastered everywhere without exception meant it was definitely big news.
‘He’s getting antsy.’
On the surface, it just sounded like some big shot was visiting the academy. But we always had to remember that Tatiana was the one pulling this guy’s strings.
It wasn’t my intention, but after Elnor turned things upside down big time once, they seemed to be on high alert now.
Moving Allan was like taking out ‘insurance.’ After getting burned badly by Elnor before, they must’ve called him in thinking they needed to make sure I ended up dead for real.
Even if Elnor went all out to kill her for real, this guy could at least buy some ‘time.’
“...”
To be precise, that’s what they thought.
The vessel of the rampaging Gray Devil was this game’s final boss. No way something like that could actually stop her.
Of course, from my position, whether I liked it or not, I had to avoid using Elnor’s power. So it was a moot point.
It wasn’t just because I couldn’t get married. The fusion rate increasing itself was the precondition for awakening a new fragment.
The third fragment... was one of the main events in the scenario with the biggest ripple effects. It wasn’t placed at the end for nothing.
Anyway.
[Quest Info]
[ Main Quest ] 〖 Chapter 3 – Apostle of the Inverted Tidal Wave 〗
[ 5 days until the ‘Grand Duel’ event! ]
[ The boss battle follows immediately after this event! ]
The upside for me was that since Tatiana was playing it safe like this, she wouldn’t pull any overt stunts like sending assassins or summoning something from the sea depths—at least not during this period.
She’d already gone all out once and gotten spooked by Elnor’s power, so she wouldn’t try to kill me seriously until she had countermeasures ready.
“...”
And that breathing room was prime time for me to boost my specs.
With that in mind, I turned to Liru, who was performing a traditional Tribal Alliance ritual.
On the barren coastal cliff lined only with dead grass, she had lit a fire and was burning necklaces.
“Open the path, oh sky.”
Murmuring that with her eyes closed, Liru quietly tossed another necklace into the flames.
“So the warriors may return home.”
These were items she’d carefully kept in her nearly collapsed home from before.
To Tribal Alliance warriors, they served as identification, like dog tags.
In a place inside the massive dome-shaped Crucible of Conflict where a patch of open sky was visible, the smoke from the fire billowed up thickly and scattered into the air.
“...”
Liru slowly lifted her gaze and watched the smoke disperse.
She stared in that direction silently for a long time. It almost looked like she was holding back tears.
Thinking about her backstory.
These must’ve been belongings of the clan members who died in her place to save her and Kasa on the night Allan Ba-Tor challenged the previous Great Chieftain Kasa to a ‘Grand Duel’ for command.
The reason she’d gritted her teeth to return to the Tribal Alliance no matter what was to properly honor these warriors who couldn’t even be buried in their homeland.
There was a widespread belief that warriors who couldn’t have proper funeral rites in their tribe’s allocated lands couldn’t return to the ‘warriors’ homeland’ in the sky.
“...”
And while the smoke spread.
I was staring intently at the base of the coastal cliff below.
[What’re you doing?]
“I’m memorizing.”
[Memorizing? What?]
“The entrance.”
[...Entrance? What entrance? It’s just the ocean?]
“There’s always something like that.”
I could sense Kaliban’s confusion from here. To the naked eye, it was just waves crashing against the sea. Even what I saw was endlessly observing the currents.
But there really was something there.
I didn’t demand this from Tatiana first for nothing.
The way to raise my durability stat and the key hint to cracking the chapter boss’s skull—they were both right here.
Inside those madly churning waves.
That’s why I came here on purpose to observe it. There’s something only visible from this angle.
“...Thanks.”
Then.
After sitting by the bonfire until all the necklaces had turned to ash, Liru suddenly spoke up.
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even have had this chance to resolve the grudge in such a short time.”
“...”
Yeah, that’s true.
In the original story, Liru couldn’t even come to this place without receiving Luca’s necklace.
If I hadn’t intervened midway, it probably wouldn’t have happened.
At least I’d lifted a big weight off her mind, so that was a relief.
“What do you plan to do from here?”
At my question, Liru fell silent again.
She thought for a long while, stayed quiet, then finally spoke with resolute determination.
“...Get revenge.”
“On whom?”
“Everyone involved in my clan’s deaths.”
Liru continued in a voice like icicles.
“I’ll kill them all with my own hands. It’s my right to honor the unjustly slain one last time.”
I had no intention of denying that.
They were probably good people with no real faults. Especially since they were Liru’s family.
It’s a truth that if you’re going to kill someone, you dig two graves. The killer has to pay the appropriate price too.
‘...Wait, hold on.’
Breaking into a cold sweat, I eyed the blue aura settling around her. Demonic energy.
The downside was that whenever she got even a little angry, it leaked out like this.
“Well, I’ll help with that.”
Saying that, I grabbed Liru’s hand firmly.
“Let’s do our best. I’ve got a promise with Kasa too.”
“...”
Liru’s eyes widened as she alternated glances between me and our clasped hands.
“W-Why’d you suddenly grab my hand like that?”
Her face flushing bright red, Liru shook off my hand.
I inwardly sighed in relief as the blue demonic energy scattered around.
This woman seemed to have zero resistance to physical contact with men the more I observed her.
Whenever she was about to get mad with me stuck by her side, I deliberately calmed her like this.
“...”
Sometimes I felt pathetic about my situation.
But what could I do?
If I wanted to live, I had to endure.
[Ah. Ah. This is Central Command broadcasting.]
As I mulled over my misery, a voice boomed like it was from a loudspeaker, reaching us from afar.
[A storm is coming. The shamans say it’s the biggest one in recent times.]
Sure enough.
Looking up, the sky was oppressively overcast. A massive thunderstorm and gale seemed imminent.
Any sane place would tell us to hole up inside and not cause trouble.
But this was the Crucible of Conflict. A place that threw students into extreme situations at every chance.
[All students, assemble at the coastal plaza immediately. That is all.]
Of course.
I stood with a wry smile.
The event that officially kicked off Chapter 3.
It was the announcement signaling the start of the ‘Night of the Hunters.’
“...”
The real issue was this.
I glanced at Liru.
I didn’t say for nothing that taming her wild side was key to clearing Chapter 3.
Considering how the Tribal Alliance currently treated Liru and her personality.
During this chapter, the chance she’d lose her temper and clash everywhere was practically guaranteed.
In the original, it just caused minor progress hiccups, but now with the blue devil that exploded at the slightest anger mixed in, it was the worst.
To keep the demon from rampaging and turning her into another Elnor, I’d have to stick close and babysit her the whole chapter if possible.
In other words.
Things to do over the next 5 days, sorted.
1. Constantly mental care so Liru doesn’t get excessively angry.
2. Avoid getting my head split by Elnor or Yuria.
3. Learn martial arts from Kasa.
...Something like that.
A list that made me sigh on reflex.
‘Hope it goes well.’
As always.
It was bound to be a breathless week.
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The coastal shore battered by storm-like rain and wind.
In the outdoor facilities extending beyond the Crucible of Conflict platform, burly humans stood exposed in the foul weather.
Men and women alike, all tanned copper-skinned with healthy physiques.
“...”
Their bodies are insane.
No matter how much I trained, I couldn’t reach that level.
“Assemble!”
Hatan U-Zul.
As the dean of the ‘Hall of Hunters,’ the faculty handling beast hunts, it was natural for him to show up for this kind of event.
“Normally around now, the new semester would start, so we’d do quick self-intros and move on... but this is the Crucible of Conflict. You don’t need that crap, right?”
Hatan grinned ferociously and continued.
“We’re starting the semester short and brutal. It’s been years since the last Night of the Hunters, you brats. Time for the most honorable warriors to shine!”
His words unleashed thunderous cheers and roars around us.
In the festive atmosphere like a long-awaited party had arrived, the imperial students just looked around in bewilderment.
No, it was a storm where even light bodies could get swept away. Why were these lunatics so hyped?
“Everyone here knows what Night of the Hunters is, but since we have guests from the Empire, I’ll explain briefly.”
With that, Hatan tossed a metal orb into the air.
A hologram drone. It projected a video overview of the entire schedule from here on out.
“The Tribal Alliance has the most beast outbreaks of any nation on the continent, so excellent warriors are synonymous with excellent hunters. Our entire academy focuses especially on beast hunting education.”
The hologram video shifted.
A blazing volcanic zone. A snowy blizzard plain. A jungle-like rainforest. And the stormy seashore we were on now.
Each was infamous as habitats for the harshest, most notorious beasts.
“The Crucible of Conflict itself was built with artificial beast ecosystems inside the academy to fight those things. To give as real-combat experience as possible.”
The explanation continued.
“And Night of the Hunters is when all beasts around the academy become the hardest to hunt. They gain special abilities, their raw combat power surges, and some won’t die no matter how many times you kill them.”
The hologram kept changing, showing various beasts.
Beasts that turned transparent. Ones with claws and hides several times tougher than usual. Ones that regenerated severed necks.
“This multi-day event rewards the top hunter in each environment with the academy’s greatest honor. It’s not an exaggeration to call it one of the most important periods. Got it?”
The imperial students exchanged glances.
It was harder not to understand.
Simply put, the academy was dozens of times more dangerous than usual.
“...Then why drag us out here? Shouldn’t we stay safe inside the academy-”
“What’re you talking about?”
Hatan smirked.
A smile brimming with raw masculinity.
“That’s exactly why we gotta hunt those bastards more aggressively.”
“...Isn’t the death risk way higher? The basic beast strategy is to hit them when they’re weakened to minimize casualties-”
“What’re you talking about? The riskier it is, the bigger the reward.”
“...”
The imperial student arguing fervently shut his mouth.
He’d finally realized their mindset was totally different.
This place bred mad fighting cocks that charged harder the stronger the foe. Only they survived.
That’s why imperial students attempting rational approaches got utterly dismissed here.
Even Liru, called a mad dog at Elpante, wasn’t that wild by this place’s standards.
“Well, we’ll provide minimal safety nets. If you think you’re gonna die, call me. I’ll save you.”
Hatan swept a cold gaze around.
“Of course, if you lack the guts or skill for that... I don’t see the point in keeping you at this academy. Brace for the lowest scores.”
“W-Wait. The Crucible’s grading affects our records too.”
“So?”
“...”
“Just hunt some yourselves. What’s the problem?”
As the imperial students paled at his nonchalant reply, Hatan pressed on undeterred.
“And for Night of the Hunters, the first is ‘Sea Hunt.’ The one who catches the strongest first gets the greatest honor!”
He pointed to boats moored here and there near the shore.
Boats equipped with harpoons, nets, and full hunting gear.
“Boats are ready. Depart now!”
With that and the cheers, Crucible students split into groups, howling as they boarded the boats.
The imperial students stood dumbfounded.
“...Is that it?”
Talion beside me muttered in disbelief.
“They didn’t teach us how to handle the boats, how to find the beasts, how to catch them—nothing?”
“Why would they?”
Liru, with us, shot back even more incredulous.
“Hunting’s something you master fastest by clashing head-on yourself. You learn best after failing and begging to be taught.”
“That’s what they say.”
I chuckled and patted Talion’s shoulder, who wore a what-kind-of-bullshit-is-this face.
He was the only one teaming up with me here.
Elnor, Eliya, even Yuria and the Saintess had all skipped with some ‘urgent business.’
“...”
No idea what kept them so busy after coming all this way.
In the end, only Liru and Talion were available to go with me.
“Sea hunt lasts a full day on the boat. It’s gonna be a blast.”
Liru grinned as we trudged to the boat.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Noticing my gaze, she tilted her head.
“Why stare like that?”
“No. You just suit the Tribal Alliance better.”
“Huh?”
“You look happy. You always seemed pissed off in the Empire.”
“...Trying to take credit for dragging me here?”
Grumbling, Liru scratched her head and went quiet.
Her face seemed a bit flushed—maybe my imagination.
“...? Why.”
Turning to Talion tapping my arm, he was beaming, fist clenched.
“As expected of big bro.”
“...”
“I sensed you had your eye on her before, but you’ve already added another conquest-”
“...You handle the boat.”
For his nonsense, I dumped the hardest job on him.
“...Me solo boat duty all day? Possible, but even so-”
“I don’t plan to drag it out that long either. Let’s snag a big one quick and head back.”
“Sounds good. Let’s bag the biggest and bounce. What’ll it be? Kraken? Giant ironclad shark? Or-”
“We’re not just going out there to hunt, Liru.”
“...What?”
I smirked at Liru’s baffled tone.
The Apostle of the Inverted Tidal Wave in Chapter 3 was tied to an ‘ancient being’ beneath the sea, as I’d hinted before.
As the name suggested, ridiculously powerful.
And to clear it without demonic help.
I needed contact with a certain ‘off-spec’ existence myself. Something only possible during this Night of the Hunters when beasts powered up.
“We’re going to meet the king of this sea.”
First up.
Starting in its home turf, the ocean.
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