Chapter 155: Kim Donghyun
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 155: Kim Donghyun
[The bait has been cast.]
[Now we just wait for them to bite?]
[He's impatient, so it won't take long for him to take the bait. There was just a report that he left the castle. He's undoubtedly heading for that woman.]
From my position, I had no way of knowing what was happening in the city, but hearing her speak with such confidence, it seemed the bastard had well and truly taken the bait.
I could sense a strange satisfaction in Jang Ye Ri's voice, which meant she must have landed a solid blow. Since they were the ones deciding the timing, we were in a reactive position, but since their destination was obvious, the plan I had devised would not fall apart.
The problem, however, was that Jang Ye Ri still didn't know the details of my plan. Hakajin and Lee Wanyong had put their heads together and come up with a decent method, so we had only just finished fleshing out the operation. As I remained silent for a moment, Jang Ye Ri spoke to me again.
[Once things kick off, you can come up immediately through the prepared passage.]
[We can't do that.]
[.........................]
Silence was the only reply. I thought she might be disappointed, but that didn't mean I wasn't going to help.
[We will not reveal ourselves. The only ones the humans there will see are you and your brother.]
I figured she would understand what I meant if I put it that way. It seemed Jang Ye Ri was about to speak again, so I quickly continued.
[We Green Skins will not officially intervene in this battle. You will not be remembered as a witch condemned by the people, but as the hero who reformed the East.]
[What a pointless gesture...]
[It's not pointless, Jang Ye Ri. I am a pragmatic and greedy demon. I will need you even after this is over. The potential you've shown is a reflection of what I dream of, of my own long-held ambition.]
It might have been a bit of an overstatement, but it wasn't a lie. Jang Ye Ri's voice didn't come through. Thinking it was the right time to drive the point home, I sent another message.
[I want you.]
[Y-You truly are greedy.]
It was the first time I had ever heard Jang Ye Ri stutter.
[Let's discuss the rest after this is over. It's late.]
The communication with Jang Ye Ri cut off abruptly. If she didn't like it, there was nothing I could do, but she would be a great help in the future. The North and the West were already set to clash. If the East could also apply pressure on the Saint Knights Order, I was certain we could restrict their movements.
After ending the communication, I looked around. Everyone was ready for battle at a moment's notice, waiting for the situation to unfold. We were in Hubert, a small city located beneath the metropolis of Hadum.
The plan was for Jang Ye Ri's clan, including Park Han Cheol and the Greenbelt Clan, to be inside the castle, while we waited underground. Everyone seemed excited, their breathing coming in ragged bursts.
Goff, in particular, was radiating a red aura, while Black Spear seemed to be waiting calmly. I looked at them and spoke. Now that Jang Ye Ri had cast the bait, we couldn't let our guard down.
“It's time to wait in your positions.”
“Krrrrk. Understood, Blood Dagger.”
“Let's move out and get into position.”
They didn't ask any questions, just offered me a smile. To be honest, I wasn't certain that Goff and Black Spear could win this fight, but I had no choice but to trust them. Our preparations were perfect. And I never fight a battle I will lose.
As they turned their backs to head to their respective positions, I spoke again.
“Don't die.”
“I won't lose.”
“The same to you...”
The first was Goff, the second, Black Spear. As expected, I felt no fear from their retreating figures. It wasn't tension or terror I sensed. It was anticipation. My brothers were clearly looking forward to the battle to come.
I, too, began to lead my clan members to our designated location. The pregnant Mev and the children couldn't come, but I had brought the minimum force required for defense. We moved to the northern gate of Hadum. We finished our preparations to fight at the location Hakajin had designated in advance.
I had four weapons in total: Ancient Flame, the World Tree's Rotten Wood Long Spear, the Greatsword Too Large to be a Sword, and finally, Dainsleif. I compensated for my lack of defense with the Ring of Aegis.
We had a good chance of winning. I was different from the Kim Taesung of the past, and different from the Blood Dagger who was so absurdly defeated by Park Hyeri of the Spider Clan.
I closed my eyes.
When it began, they would probably give a signal. I kept painting a picture in my mind. From the battles in the Tutorial to the most recent raid on the eastern magical beasts. I even recalled my experiences as a human.
Even Hakajin, Orbo, Gark, Hark, and the ever-boisterous Goblin Three Sisters held their breath.
Two days passed like that, and then, the long-awaited signal came.
*
Kim Donghyun was a man of power who controlled the southern gate of Hadum. He was one of the individuals who had received immense benefits after Hadum's Fallen King took power, and one of the strongest warriors representing the city. The long period of peace had made his body a little heavy, but he still believed himself to be strong.
In truth, his body growing heavy was inevitable. Going on hunts, fighting monsters like magical beasts or demi-humans—it was all incredibly tedious now.
He had grown soft from the peace. To be more precise, he had become steeped in the power and possessions he now had. There was no need to go hungry as he had when he first came to this world. If he wanted a woman, he could have anyone. Human, demi-human, even another man's woman—it didn't matter. There was no need to hide his twisted desires.
If he wanted to watch people kill each other, he just had to bring in some suitable subjects. If he wanted to see a woman get raped by a monster, he could make it happen. The flesh of children, money—anything could be obtained here.
It was the same now.
Kim Donghyun was watching two naked women face each other with daggers. The room, stained with red blood, seemed to testify to how many similar events had taken place here.
“I... I'm sorry, Unni.”
“I... I'm sorry, too...”
Beside the women, a magical beast was chained up, drooling continuously. It couldn't understand human speech, which only made its presence all the more stimulating. Watching that monster chew humans to the bone was his most recent amusement, but today's match was a bit of a letdown.
The slaves must have been quite close, because the attacks they aimed at each other were somewhat half-hearted.
“Tsk... This isn't very entertaining today.”
As soon as he uttered the words, his subordinates standing beside him naturally nodded in agreement. The guard at the very front unfastened the chains holding the monster, and it immediately lunged at the two women.
“Aaaaaaaargh!”
“U-Unni! Aaaaaargh! S-Save me! Master, please save me! Master!”
“Please forgive me, Master! Aaaaaargh, just one more chance!”
In an instant, blood and entrails flew as screams erupted. It was enjoyable, but it was too familiar a sight to be particularly thrilling. Kim Donghyun raised his hand again and spoke.
“Next.”
“Yes, sir.”
He prayed that the next ones would be a little more interesting. Perhaps having witnessed the final moments of the previous two, the women who entered this time had quite determined expressions. Their faces were pale, but the way they gripped their daggers with both hands, as if determined to survive at all costs, was impressive.
“Now these are some decent bitches.”
Kim Donghyun liked that look. The will to survive. The expression that said they would never die. The look of someone willing to kill another to climb higher. He was just about to raise his hand to signal the start of this depraved match when it happened.
“It's a rebellion.”
“Hmm...”
“News has come that Jang Ye Ri has started a rebellion.”
“Tsk. I had a feeling that bitch would pull something eventually. A shame, it was just getting interesting. Get your armor. We have to go protect our Fallen King, the one who provided us with this wonderful place.”
“Boss. If that bitch Jang Ye Ri is captured alive, wouldn't that be an opportunity for us?”
Kim Donghyun slowly thought about Jang Ye Ri. She always wore her hood pulled down low or wore a hat, so he had never seen her face clearly, but she undoubtedly had a beauty that anyone would recognize.
How could he not look forward to seeing what the Fallen King's princess would look like inside a monster's cage? Tossing her in among monsters in heat wouldn't be a bad idea.
Kim Donghyun patted the head of the subordinate who had come up with such a wonderful idea and quickened his pace.
“We move quickly. If we're the first to arrive and suppress the rebellion in its early stages, the Fallen King might just grant us that bitch...”
“Yes, sir. We'll prepare at once.”
It had been a long time since he had worn his armor and shield. As he touched his heavy mace, he was reminded of his prime, and without thinking, he swung it through the air.
“Kuh... You've still got it, sir.”
It was only natural for him to feel a surge of pride. Unlike in the old days, he only trained occasionally now, but his magic, his muscles, and his memories of battle remained.
Kim Donghyun continued on, leaving his fortress. The slaver city of Somorah had completely collapsed, so the quantity and quality of the slaves being supplied had dropped recently. He himself had no complaints, but it seemed his subordinates were having a tough time.
The others surely felt the same way. When he stepped outside, he could see the men guarding the other gates also rushing toward the castle. He was thinking they were all twisted in one way or another when it happened.
“KRA-KOOOOM!”
A deafening explosion roared from somewhere. The ground he stood on trembled from the impact of the simultaneous blasts. The sounds erupted from near Hadum's city gates. He thought it might be a trap, but there was no visible damage from the explosions.
‘No.’
It wasn't an explosion meant to inflict direct damage. The blast was clearly coming from beneath his feet.
“Everyone! Protect yourselves!”
“Yes, Boss!”
In an instant, the road collapsed. But there would be no real damage. None of his men would be injured by a fall from such a small height. If they protected their bodies with magic as they fell, they would end up with nothing more than a few bruises.
“KRA-KOOOOOM!”
The sound was tremendous, but he thought there would be no significant damage. That was when he heard it.
“DOOM!”
“DOOM!”
A drumbeat began to sound from somewhere. With a puzzled expression, Kim Donghyun looked forward, and what he saw before him was an Ogre with incredibly large tusks.
“What... is this...”
Naturally, no answer came. Instead, what he heard was the distinctive war cry of an Ogre. Without realizing it, Kim Donghyun swallowed hard.
“GRRRROOOOOOOOAR!”