Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Wild Dog Den Conquest
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Even in Ardania, I’d seen plenty of announcements about acquiring rare-grade items, but spotting a familiar name among them felt entirely different.
“And a Barrier Wand, no less.”
It was an item even I, who had zero interest in mage gear, knew about. The thing commonly called a “true rare”!
[Barrier Wand (Rare)]
Weapon Damage +13
Accuracy +6
Intelligence +15
Energy Barrier 1%.
An Energy Barrier generates a shield for the caster equal to the damage dealt to enemies. At 1%, dealing 100 damage creates a 1-point shield.
‘Of course... it’s insanely useful. And in reality, wouldn’t this be an even more broken option? Blasting AoE magic would generate a massive shield, right?’
Even in the game, people said they’d take a +9 Barrier Wand over most hero-grade gear. It was that good.
I hadn’t paid the Hop Goblin any mind, but to think it dropped something this valuable.
“You little bastards have been grinding dungeons hard.”
I grinned in satisfaction when a murmur rose from the troops below.
Peering over the edge, I saw soldiers staring up at me and pointing.
“Found. Well, no surprise—with this size, even flying high, they’d spot me.”
But whether they noticed me or not didn’t matter, so I ignored them and headed for the dungeon.
Unlike the castle’s circular gate dungeon, neutral dungeons took the form of a pillar of light.
No need to land; I could enter directly.
Flash!
I entered the dungeon.
[Wild Dog Den]
“Grrr... Woof woof!”
“Woof!”
“Woof woof woof!”
I’d clearly been flying, but suddenly I was standing on the ground. No, not just ground—this was a pitch-black underground space.
“So this is the Wild Dog Den.”
“Grrr... Woof!”
One Tosa dog charged, drooling.
Obviously, it wasn’t my match.
‘Too annoying to kill them one by one.’
I ignored the thousands of wild dogs and ran. They shattered and scattered like deer hit by a dump truck from my murderous shoulder checks and knee strikes.
Bang!
I went straight to the deepest part of the Wild Dog Den. It took less than 20 minutes to smash the Hell difficulty boss, Black Dog Nito (Rare).
[Wild Dog Den (Normal~Rare) Hell difficulty cleared!]
[The guild that completes the conditions first may declare a siege!]
When a dungeon is cleared, everything standing on the leyline gets pushed out beyond its boundary. The space itself shifts, an irresistible phenomenon.
And in the secured space...
[A Shabby Earth Castle (Normal) appears!]
“What? What just happened?”
“Siege? Shabby Earth Castle?”
“What pushed us out just now!?”
Suddenly, I was amid the bewildered knights. Clearing the dungeon had ejected me outside.
I gazed at the distant earth castle.
“Woof woof!”
“Woof woof woof!”
Dogs roamed the walls. They looked fierce enough, but... dogs instead of goblins? No way they could properly defend.
‘A perfect fit for a [Siege Tutorial].’
I recalled that in Revenge’s early days, outer dungeons like this were called that.
Even without a superhuman like me, any decent army could siege it with ease.
‘The issue is... after I take this castle and leave, someone else declaring siege.’
But was that possible?
Sieging itself was easy. Smash the flimsy gate, climb the low dirt walls, touch the throne in the lord’s castle.
However... only players could claim ownership via the throne. And among them, only the master of the guild that declared the siege.
‘No human could clear those conditions right now.’
How would non-subordinate soldiers even get classes?
Where would they get gold to form a guild?
Even if they somehow did, sieges must be declared 5 days in advance—so I could come defend.
Shing.
Then, a rapier aimed at my throat. A razor-sharp aura emanated from the blade thinner than a finger.
“What are you? You’re that guy riding that weird bird earlier, right?”
The one aiming the rapier was a woman. A rare female knight in male-dominated Ardania.
And one I knew.
“Hayes Starlight.”
“...Han? Is that you, Han?”
She froze at my voice, her face shocked. She embodied the word “heroine”—a true woman of valor.
‘Still a big one.’
Everything about her was big. At 185 cm, she towered over most men; her broad shoulders evoked a swimmer. Add solid muscles filling that frame, rough large hands.
Sound intimidating? But her refreshingly smooth features and massive chest ensured no one mistook her for a man.
Now in her mid-40s, in her youth, she’d kept every knight in Chrome Kingdom sleepless—a flower atop a cliff. Over 30 idiots challenged me to duels just because I was close to her. Need I say more?
“Ten years.”
I manipulated my inventory to remove my helmet. My face revealed, nearby knights gasped in shock.
“Wolf Knight!”
“Black Lion!”
“You filthy bandit scum, do you know where you are...!”
The surrounding knights growled, but Hayes raised a hand, silencing them. One might wonder how a female knight commanded such authority in medieval land, but it was natural.
She was the wielder of the holy sword Stella, champion of the knight tournament.
Chrome Kingdom’s strongest knight.
A Duel Knight.
“You... wow.”
Even she gaped at me.
“How are you not aged? You still look 20s! Are you insane?”
“What, you’re the same.”
“Same? Flattery from you? Wrinkles all over my eyes!”
I chuckled at her swinging fists. Cute for someone over 40.
“Anyway, chit-chat later... You here is unexpected. Did Zmail fall?”
“Yeah. Couldn’t beat the monsters labeled ‘Ice Elemental’ overhead. And more than that.”
“Enough! Hayes! How much are you gonna spill!”
A knight stepped forward with a shout. A mid-20s guy in finely crafted full plate pointed at me.
“You... what are you? How’d you erase that monster-spawning light pillar? What was that giant bird? And...”
I turned from him to Hayes.
“So the king fled here too.”
“What!? You bastard! Insolent!”
The newbie swung his sword. Not a threat—pure killing intent!
Chin.
I caught it between thumb and index. No combat foresight needed.
“What!?”
“What is this...”
Nearby knights stirred in shock.
But none could be as shocked as the one whose sword I grabbed.
“Wh-what! Ugh...!”
He strained with both hands, but the sword didn’t budge, like stuck in rock.
My full-set strength matched an ogre’s; even aura body enhancement couldn’t compete.
“You little...!”
Whumm!
Aura flowed into the sword I held. Trying inner energy injection to turn the tide, huh.
‘Idiot.’
Inner energy boosted durability and sharpness, sure—but that’s it. Better drop it or focus on body enhancement, not injection.
“Clueless guy.”
I yanked my fingers holding the blade, pulling him in. Before others reacted, I raised my right hand.
“Then take a hit.”
Pow!
Slapped his cheek. His plate flashed with protective magic, but medieval land spells couldn’t block my monstrous strength.
“You! How dare you! Do you know who I...”
Pow!
“Hayes! Why are you just...”
Pow!
“St-stop! You bast...”
Pow!
Hit. Hit again. Surrounding knights didn’t dare intervene. They knew a bit more force would kill him.
Pow! Clang!
He dropped the sword, rolling. I peered into the fallen man’s face.
Terror filled his eyes at me.
“Sp-spare me... I... I was wrong...”
I recognized the face. Chrome Kingdom’s 3rd Prince, Onyx Chrome.
Famous for sword talent and filthy personality.
“Wanna trade info?”
“You’ve gotten strong. Or... were you hiding it? Kinda felt that way.”
“Hiding? Please.”
As I smirked, Hayes nodded subtly across from me. Knights glanced, then quietly dragged Onyx away.
Whatever. I explained briefly.
“You know monsters poured from every leyline on the continent, right? Stronger inland, beyond human limits.”
I gave Hayes a quick rundown of the game settings.
Monster types and locations, dungeon clear methods.
And post-clear: castles, new human powers, classes.
‘No point hiding now. Monsters are the real threat over humans.’
Not that I’d help—just info.
Supporting my troops was back-breaking enough.
“How do you know all this?”
At Hayes’ question, I recalled our past.
17 years ago. Realized banditry alone couldn’t sustain the lair, so formed a mercenary band for quests.
Around then, a tomboy noble miss fled for world adventure before her political marriage. Met a rookie merc captain, roamed continent 2 years.
“Remember what I said back then? Calling barbarians, you...”
“These uncivilized bastards calling who barbarians... that?”
I grinned at her reply. Among nobles I met in medieval land, she alone saw me without prejudice. Strongest, freest, yet never fled duty.
We parted at fate’s crossroads, but she knew me best here.
“Yeah. That.”
“That...”
She looked blank, uncomprehending. I glanced skyward. Sky glided at good height.
“Built a castle where Red X Barony fell. Taking people, training army. Trouble or need escape? Head there.”
“...Leaving?”
“Have to. Think I’d stick around to see that bearded idiot’s face?”
Knights bristled at my chuckle.
“Tr-traitor! Even a barbarian dares insult His Majesty...!”
“Where do you think you’re going after this mess!”
“Surround him! No matter how strong, we’ve got knights here...!”
Shing shing!
Over a dozen swords aimed at me. Murderous intent sharp as blades, but laughable.
Orc warriors barely worth killing, aiming at me?
[Sword Aura Manifest]
Sword of Conviction (Advanced) +9 gained sword aura. I swung like a beam of light.
Kagang!
Dozens of blade tips flew skyward, then fell. Knights scattered in panic from dropping blades.
Clang! Thud!
“......”
“What...”
“Aura Blade... Sword Master?”
“Nonsense! That’s legend!”
Ignoring shocked knights, I turned to Hayes.
“See you soon.”
“W-wait. Han. Hold...”
Boom!
Kicked ground, soared skyward. One step leaped dozens of meters; flying Sky caught me.
I rode Sky straight to assault the castle.
[Congratulations! Han’s guild has occupied Wild Dog Den!]
[New lord: Han Jaeyeon.]
Siege done in seconds, I flew off again.
‘Five more castles today!’
And it was still just lunchtime.
