Chapter 192
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Imperial Guard
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The GGW raid team that arrived in Hanoi looked so downcast that even a stranger would worry about them.
Without Minguk, who was both the raid leader and the team's central pillar, the current atmosphere was, in a way, only natural.
Kim So-jeong, the oldest member in the raid team, had temporarily taken over as representative, but honestly, with the raid leader absent, there was virtually nothing the team could do.
"That doesn't mean we can just head back to Korea."
So-jeong said to those gathered around.
With the emergence of Garai—a monster beyond all standards—Vietnam's expansion phenomenon had taken a bizarre turn. Most of the raid team had retreated from Hoa Binh to Hanoi, and some had even flown back to their home countries.
The Vietnamese government was in an uproar over reports suggesting a dungeon break similar to China's.
But there wasn't much they could do. All they managed was deploying their limited military forces to prepare for the incoming monsters. Tanks and self-propelled guns were being positioned in Hoa Binh in real time.
That said, the chances of stopping the monsters were slim, but they had no choice. If they didn't, all of Vietnam would surely turn into a den of darkness monsters. Just like Africa.
"How are the Titina and Vudsen sisters?"
"They're just like usual."
Jeong Ye-rin shrugged at So-jeong's question.
"Titina's one thing, but Giselle's surprisingly calm. I figured she'd throw a fit about heading back right away..."
At least it was a relief that no team members were causing trouble despite the raid leader's absence.
In any case, Team GGW couldn't return home like the other raid teams. Unless a second dungeon break occurred, Minguk—the raid leader—was still locked in fierce combat with the darkness monsters to prevent it until the very end.
"What are the clan folks saying?"
This time, So-jeong's words were directed at Hyun-ah.
"They just say to return if possible, but they don't seem to expect us to. And I have no intention of going back to Korea either."
"...Same here."
"It's just that sitting safe in Hanoi while everyone's out there bothers me."
Seeing Hyun-ah bow her head, So-jeong nodded in agreement once more. And frustration welled up inside her.
If only our skills were a bit better...
It should have been them tackling Garai alongside Raid Leader Minguk, not the Imperial Guard. Minguk was Team GGW's raid leader, not theirs.
In their current state, having the raid leader fight alongside another team essentially meant their level fell short compared to Minguk.
Considering the history and prestige of the two raid teams, it was something they could brush off as natural, but pride was a factor.
"To resolve this crisis, Minguk will probably need to reach 7-star, right?"
"Yeah, only then could we even attempt a trial. And that's why the Imperial Guard headed to Thailand."
"If we go back to Korea, they'll definitely push us into clearing an [A - 5] difficulty dungeon. We can't lag behind at 6-star when our raid leader's already at 7."
Kim So-jeong ground her teeth as she spoke.
Her resolve wasn't solely because she wanted to be with Minguk. Lately, the developments in the war against the darkness monsters had been far from ordinary.
Dungeon breaks had already happened three times, and the servants of the once-dormant Twelve Calamities were emerging, pulling every 9-star hero worldwide into combat.
In other words, no one knew when the full-scale war against the monsters would erupt. So-jeong missed her daughter terribly, but she wanted her to grow up in a peaceful, safe world. And for that, she—as a hero—had to make sacrifices.
"Should we ask unnie to get us on a bus through the first-string players?"
Hyun-ah said in a low, heavy voice.
The fact that Minguk was tackling Garai's subjugation alone with the Imperial Guard seemed to have shocked her deeply. Since he left, Hyun-ah had been ready to sell her soul to the devil if it meant gaining power.
"Hmm... No, better not."
"Why?"
Ye-rin looked puzzled at So-jeong's rejection of Hyun-ah's intriguing proposal.
Wasn't Minguk himself riding the Imperial Guard's bus to boost his hero rank?
And the Rose Shield clan's first string could clear [A - 3] or [A - 4] difficulty dungeons. With their help, they could reach 7-star hero faster.
But So-jeong had her reasons.
"I don't want to hear that our proficiency dropped because of busing."
"Ah...!"
"Besides, our raid leader makes some pretty demanding requests every trial, doesn't he?"
Ye-rin and Hyun-ah nodded, understanding exactly what So-jeong meant.
From attack timing and retreat movements after striking, to efficient positioning for dodging enemy attacks, and even skill usage timing.
While fighting darkness monsters, Minguk demanded and directed a ton from the players. By following him, Team GGW had achieved more success than others.
It wasn't just about raising hero ranks and gear scores. They were naturally picking up advanced techniques for efficiently handling darkness monsters—skills only gained through countless battles.
Honestly, having Han Minguk as raid leader was like cheating.
Follow his genius instructions perfectly, and they could take down any monster. But executing those instructions wasn't easy.
"Right now, we can keep up with his directions without issue, but if we bus our way to higher hero rank and flop on mission execution in an upper-level raid, making fools of ourselves... I'd want to die."
"Ah... Yeah, that checks out."
Ye-rin, who had initially looked puzzled, nodded in agreement.
Most who bused their hero rank ended up embarrassing themselves due to lack of combat experience. Buses were typically used only for urgent raid power needs or revival raids solely for revival stones.
Even then, running a revival raid with bus-raised players required significant prep time because of their severe experience gap.
Anyway, the reason these three had gathered was to decide Team GGW's schedule in Minguk's absence.
For now, everyone was holed up in the hotel—that was all they could do. It wasn't a problem time-wise. It just felt awful.
"But is there anything we can do?"
No sooner had Ye-rin spoken than a reply came from beside her.
"What can heroes do? Smash darkness monsters, obviously."
"...A raid?"
Ye-rin stared at Hyun-ah in stunned disbelief.
Who didn't know that? But they had no way to run a trial without a raid leader to guide the team. But Hyun-ah wasn't done.
"What about [B - 2]? Or even [B - 1]? We should be able to find dungeons of that difficulty easily in Hanoi."
"...Uh, isn't that difficulty a bit too low?"
Ye-rin said hesitantly.
Honestly, at that level, they'd gain nothing. But Hyun-ah thought differently.
"We're not diving in for gear or mana crystals. It's to build combat experience."
"...Experience?"
"Yeah. To become raid members worthy of a raid leader like Han Minguk, even if it's just a little more experience."
"Aha."
Ye-rin nodded.
She was starting to understand Hyun-ah's intent. They had nothing else to do in Hanoi anyway, and clearing a [B - 1] dungeon might help keep the citizens safe.
"But who'll lead?"
At So-jeong's question, Hyun-ah shot her hand up high.
"I'll give it a shot. No confidence I'll do great, but..."
She didn't want to stay powerless like this. At least, she wanted to gain this experience to help Minguk.
"...Alright. I'll talk to the team. Not sure if it'll help, but."
So-jeong and Ye-rin couldn't dampen Hyun-ah's fierce determination. It was probably better than wasting time in the hotel.
Plus, seeing them put in effort might convince Minguk to stick with Team GGW.
As the war with darkness monsters intensified, hero power was more crucial than ever. Naturally, nations would court raid leaders aggressively. Someone with Minguk's talent would be the top target for foreign temptations.
To prevent that, the raid members had to prove directly to their leader that they were indispensable.
The Imperial Guard, home to Chloe Castel, was France's proud sword and shield.
Naturally, every hero in the Imperial Guard was a genius, and their egos were correspondingly massive. France's haughty flowers that never wilted under any threat—that was the Imperial Guard's image. However...
"Hahk?!"
Chloe Castel, France's hero and the Imperial Guard's dealer leader, was bent over the bed, sobbing as a man ravaged her. What was shocking was Brigitte from the Imperial Guard lying beside them, convulsing.
And that wasn't all.
Joanna, Dian, Christina.
The female heroes revered by the French people lay sprawled across the bed. With their disheveled hair and sweat-slicked bodies, it wasn't hard to guess what had happened.
"Hngh!"
"Heuk! Haah!"
As Han Minguk's ragged breaths filled the air, Chloe—now his woman, accepting his member—recalled how things had spiraled to this point.
It definitely started with...
Using Minguk's role as temporary raid leader for the Imperial Guard as an excuse, they'd held a gathering to build camaraderie. But in hindsight, it all felt planned. No, it was planned.
"Wh-when did you... Ahng!"
Chloe shuddered briefly as the man filled her completely.
A male hero, especially one at the vanguard against darkness monsters—she'd expected him to differ from ordinary men.
But Minguk's manhood exceeded her expectations; it was a terrifying weapon. Each thrust piercing her weak spots made it hard to stay sane.
"Brigitte on the first day, Joanna on the second. Dian and Christina together yesterday."
"...And me today? Hngh!"
Minguk pistoned his hips instead of answering, but it was easy to guess what he meant. After all, Brigitte had been the first to suggest the gathering.
It was surprising how easily France's sword and shield had fallen, but it also made sense.
With a tool like this...
A woman who tasted satisfaction in bed once would cling to the man forever. Once she knew this flavor, even an arrogant situation felt natural.
That's why Chloe didn't mind Minguk claiming her. It was refreshing, even. Who else would dare embrace the Imperial Guard's dealer leader?
"Fine by me, but... Nngh! Still, things might get awkward with Kang Chae-young."
It wasn't certain. But she had that vibe, subtly eyeing Minguk. Female instinct.
But Chloe's worry was unfounded.
"Kang Chae-young? Already did her."
"...What?"
As Minguk gripped her ass cheeks, spreading them side to side to prepare for another thrust, Chloe stared in disbelief.
"How many have you even slept with?"
His face was so handsome it seemed unconquerable, yet his actions were straight out of a host bar.
No—even hosts backed off if women pushed too hard. Minguk's behavior was so shocking it bordered on brain damage.
"Twenty? Nah, probably less."
"Huh? Not as many as I thought."
Chloe tilted her head. For that looks, twenty women was practically none.
"Didn't start with girls until after getting my hero license. Never cared before."
"...Ah."
Chloe let out a low groan at Minguk's follow-up.
Apparently, awakening as a hero and battling darkness monsters had ignited his libido amid life-threatening adrenaline surges.
Thanks to that, she could enjoy this, but conversely, it made Minguk's situation pitiful. His life had changed because of the war with darkness monsters, after all.