Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: 071
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Slash!
The Kentauros, a monstrous fusion of bull and horse, was cleaved in two by Choi Ji-o's swinging sword.
It was one of the more formidable beasts among the magical creatures.
[Kentauros]
[Level 249]
The level was measured by the new item issued by the Association.
They said it was a miniaturized version of the massive equipment that established the ranking system—a perk allowing early access to an item soon to be commercialized.
Grip.
Strength surged into his sword arm.
That surging power coursed through his entire body.
"Haa."
It granted an indescribable sense of omnipotence.
'It was called a cursed gear, right?'
He'd never even heard of it before, let alone touched one.
"I get why it's so alluring."
If a cursed gear provided power like this—no, even more than this—there was no way a player could resist it.
But to be clear.
[Master Craftsman's Longsword]
[Unique]
These blessed items were absolutely not cursed gear.
Appraised by Renel, who had evaluated cursed gear before, and guaranteed by Goldian.
Grip.
So, he could use them without worry, couldn't he?
Slash!
It felt like his level had jumped by dozens.
Nothing could withstand it.
Fwoosh!
Just swinging it unleashed mana flames and sword aura like a skill, ravaging the Kentauros.
"Haa!"
Even those monstrous things—no, monsters themselves—couldn't stand against him.
And someone with that kind of power.
"Guild Master!"
Had brought exactly fifty along.
The Geo Guild members followed Choi Ji-o, tearing the Kentauros apart.
Moreover, these so-called blessed items resisted the curses and demonic energy of the Black Gate.
[The Curse of the Kantara Mountains descends.]
[All stats are reduced.]
[Skill power is diminished.]
Not entirely, but they minimized the drop and allowed use of sealed skills at reduced power.
That alone.
"Exterminate the Kentauros!"
"Yes, sir!"
Gave them the strength to face this massive threat.
And that wasn't all.
[The Spirit Peronil's blessing descends.]
[All stats slightly increase.]
[Skill power is slightly enhanced.]
Turning his head, he saw the beautiful Kim Do-ha winking.
[Special Skill: Peronil's Blade can be temporarily used.]
Spirits.
He'd heard about them from Veren.
Whoosh—!
Their power was beyond imagination.
'Spirits, huh.'
It was clearly a far cry from ordinary supporters.
Boosting all stats, all skills—it felt like it empowered the player themselves.
Moreover, the special skill it enabled.
"Kieeeek!"
Seemed to elevate the blessed item's power by another level.
All of it felt perfectly matched, like pieces of a set.
"......"
That was why.
"Bro, what's wrong?"
"......"
"Bro?"
Something felt off.
"Are you thinking about that arrogant punk Go Yohan again?"
Go Yohan's warning, and the change in attitude.
Was it just his insufferably arrogant nature showing?
Or.
Grip.
Was this power really the 'something' Go Yohan had warned about?
"Bro."
"No."
Choi Ji-o snapped out of it.
There was a sliver of unease, an inexplicable foreboding.
But it had been appraised—it definitely wasn't cursed gear, right?
"Bro, don't mind that little shit. Why are you even stressing over him?"
By now, most of the Kentauros in the sector Geo had been assigned were cleared.
"It's just... a what-if thought."
"Bro."
Choi Ji-un twisted his face as he spoke.
"What if this is cursed gear or whatever?"
"What?"
"So what?"
Choi Ji-un said.
"Look what we're doing with this power right now. We're hunting demons, aren't we? For people's safety, for the world."
Smirk.
"They call us heroes."
"You... "
Choi Ji-o's unease and foreboding grew.
"That's what matters."
"What do you know?"
It was Choi Ji-un who had brought the blessed items and arranged the meeting with those people.
That inkling of dread, the inexplicable inferiority complex and craving for power his brother had always had.
"Nah, I'm just saying, what if? What would you do?"
"......"
It was then.
"We're done here too. Those things look tempting, huh?"
Kim Do-ha and the Veren Guild approached.
They were far more than mere supporters; their individual combat prowess was considerable.
He'd heard that when a spirit possessed them, it controlled the body, unlocking unknown martial arts and skills at will.
And the closer the bond with the spirit, the greater the stat boosts, even nullifying curses.
"Can we hear about those?"
The blessed items were still Geo Guild's exclusive property.
"......For now, let's assess the situation."
Choi Ji-o deflected and said.
"Go Yohan. Where is he?"
Geo and Veren had split to tackle the Kentauros horde.
Since Go Yohan was alone, they'd let him move as he wished, as discussed beforehand.
"He headed that way."
"Alone? He's insane."
"Guess he's confident."
At Choi Ji-o's words, Kim Do-ha shrugged.
The place she pointed to was where the Kentauros herd had been.
"Why not? They say he soloed a Black Gate."
"I've heard the rumors, but like I said, rumors, right? From some punk kid."
Choi Ji-un chimed in.
"That's why I'm curious. Let's go check. He might've barely survived and run off."
Or maybe.
"He really has the skills and power they claim."
Kim Do-ha seemed to have deliberately let Go Yohan head into the enemy lines alone.
He didn't like that.
"Let's hurry. If the young master of the Holy Faction dies here, we might make unnecessary enemies."
As Choi Ji-o spoke, Choi Ji-un and Kim Do-ha's eyes flickered.
But Choi Ji-o didn't notice, hurrying onward.
He was curious too.
'Go Yohan.'
Just how much of the rumors about him were true, and how much false.
As usual, most rumors were exaggeration and lies.
'I'm curious.'
Why even an organization like the Association was wary of a single individual.
Of course, probably because of his Holy Faction background.
"This... "
It was then.
"What... is this?"
Kim Do-ha, who had scouted ahead with the spirit's power, let out a cry of shock.
*
*
*
"Fuck...."
Choi Ji-un spat a curse.
"This is..."
The hill below was where the Kentauros herd had been spotted, where Go Yohan had headed.
"What the hell... did he do?"
The common feeling shared by Geo and Veren as they looked down.
Gulp.
Terror.
Nearly a hundred Kentauros.
Geo and Veren had split and hunted some, leaving about a hundred here.
Yet.
"...This isn't a dream... right?"
Like Kim Do-ha's voice, it all felt like a dream.
Nearly a hundred Kentauros, all torn to shreds as if mauled by some unknown beast, piled into mountains of corpses.
"What... "
It was a sight too staggering for words.
Especially since they had fought Kentauros themselves.
They'd thought them manageable prey, but a single horn goring could cause near-fatal wounds, and the speed of attacks from others in between rivaled a hypercar at full throttle.
Even so.
"No footage... left behind."
"How the hell did he do it?"
Solo a hundred Kentauros.
In about the same time Geo and Veren had taken?
"Hah."
He truly realized.
"...A monster."
That was the real monster.
Go Yohan was clearly visible amid the mountain of Kentauros corpses.
Silver-white hair, sky-blue eyes.
A beauty that seemed otherworldly, utterly incongruous.
Swoosh.
When he turned his head to look at them.
Thud.
Everyone there felt their hearts sink.
And soon.
Smirk.
As Go Yohan's lips curled up.
"That... fucking... bastard...!"
Choi Ji-un couldn't overcome his terror and tried to charge, spewing curses.
Tap.
Go Yohan lightly kicked off the ground.
Kwaaa—!
A storm-like boom echoed.
By the time they blinked.
"I've been waiting."
Go Yohan appeared before them, looking at Choi Ji-o.
"......?"
Choi Ji-o looked at Go Yohan, sensing something different.
'His speech.'
The contemptuous tone, as if looking at filth, had shifted to polite speech.
And.
"Kentauros are tough magical beasts."
It felt like he was looking only at him, Choi Ji-o.
"You've worked hard."
With that, he turned his back.
"......Having doubts is fine. But the outcome depends on you."
Incomprehensible words.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Choi Ji-o felt his heart pounding fiercely.
'When? No... how?'
Chills ran down his spine at the tone and words that seemed to know his unease and foreboding.
"Impressive."
Kim Do-ha's voice rang out.
"All the players chanting Go Yohan, Go Yohan—it wasn't nonsense."
He'd thought there was exaggeration, but no amount of searching could find any.
If anything.
'It feels understated.'
No, it couldn't be put into words.
No one would believe it even if described.
"This Black Gate seems wider than expected. Unlike the ones we've cleared so far, it feels 'real.'"
Kim Do-ha said.
"How about we scout and rest somewhere suitable before moving?"
"Sure."
Choi Ji-un replied.
"As you wish."
Go Yohan also replied.
"Decided then. We'll handle scouting. Geo, set up camp?"
"Will do."
Even now.
Thump! Thump!
Choi Ji-o's heart raced wildly.