Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: How the Rank 1 Hero Protects the World
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- The waiting time is about to end.
- 00:05:00
Lee Woo-yeon glanced at the message.
Time was running out.
Lee Seon seemed to be thinking the same thing and began speaking in a rapid tone.
“Then let me summarize. Basically, it’s divided into morning, daytime, and night phases. Morning and daytime each last 6 hours. Only the night phase lasts 12 hours. But after 6 hours of night, a dawn notification appears.”
Lee Woo-yeon and Lee Seon had secured a total of 12 people.
All of them were souls who had possessed people within this castle, and by Lee Seon ‘recognizing’ them, they had all escaped the field-of-vision restriction.
Since Lee Seon had personally explored the map, everyone’s experience was limited, but they were all excellent hunters nonetheless.
In terms of government hunter rankings, they were A- to B-rank.
They hadn’t done much up to day 6 due to lack of experience, but they had all organized their own information based on the system messages.
That was a relief, at least. They had entered this dungeon late, so information was critically lacking.
Once Lee Seon summarized, a hunter named Jang Hye-won nodded.
“Yes, that’s right. And no siege warfare happens during waiting time or dawn.”
“Why is that? Is it a rest period guaranteed by the system or something?”
“Combat stops during waiting time, so probably. But according to the system, dawn is when spies are active. We haven’t seen any spies yet, though.”
“It must mean hunters who chose the siege position. They’re supposed to use dawn time to fulfill the hidden clear condition.”
Lee Woo-yeon nodded without much emotion. The only thought that came to mind upon hearing that was how ruthlessly fair it was.
The biggest problem right now, though, was that they had no idea where the remaining five hunters were.
Lee Seon had scoured the castle, but there were limits to searching every space in just one hour of waiting time. If they were hiding to avoid recognition, even Lee Seon couldn’t detect them.
“They probably chose siege position and aren’t coming out.”
There was no hunter in Korea who didn’t know Lee Woo-yeon, so the ones who hadn’t shown up yet couldn’t have failed to notice Lee Woo-yeon spreading his wings blatantly.
Yet they still hadn’t appeared, which meant they had no intention of changing positions now.
It was more comfortable that way if they wanted to survive. If clearing the dungeon was impossible anyway, survival was the top priority.
It might even be an excellent personal choice.
“…We’ll have to expel those people from the government affiliation.”
Lee Seon looked devastated, but Lee Woo-yeon found it more surprising that 12 people were still holding the defense position.
Betrayals and backstabs among hunters in a dungeon weren’t anything shocking.
Besides, anyone could see that siege position was far more efficient in this dungeon.
Sure, that choice would raise the saturation level and cause a dungeon break outside, but if they could save their own skins, what did it matter?
That was exactly what the first hunter to escape the dungeon had chosen.
When it came to survival, things like reputation or a sense of duty were usually treated as light as a feather—cheap and worthless. In a world where surviving by any means necessary was seen as the truth and the rational choice.
Lee Woo-yeon shrugged.
“As long as they notice us and don’t interfere, that’s a relief.”
“True. We might get attacked. Everyone, stay cautious just in case.”
“Yes, understood!”
The hunters responded energetically.
As they reviewed the relayed strategy, one hunter cautiously approached Lee Woo-yeon.
“Um, sorry about this.”
Was it Choi Su-hyun? No, Kang Soo-hyun? Anyway, since he was hemming and hawing without speaking up, Lee Woo-yeon turned and asked.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
“Uh, um… Was it you, Hunter Lee Woo-yeon, who sent that all-announcement a few hours ago?”
“All-announcement?”
What was he talking about? But Lee Woo-yeon quickly realized. It must be the one Kang Ye-na had shouted using an item.
He had heard from Lee Seon just before the meeting. Someone had reassured the newbie hunters.
‘Well, it had to be Kang Ye-na.’
His usually tangled, opaque mind seemed to clear the moment her name came to mind, just like always.
Lee Seon must not have revealed the truth since Kang Ye-na didn’t want her identity known.
From the newbie hunters’ perspective, the only new entrants were Lee Seon and Lee Woo-yeon. It couldn’t be Lee Seon, so they naturally concluded it was Lee Woo-yeon.
Lee Woo-yeon hesitated for a moment before flashing a grin.
“I’m not that nice.”
“Huh?”
“If it were me, I would’ve ordered everyone to assemble right away. Gotta make use of them somehow.”
The hunter’s expression turned awkward at the response.
He was probably thinking, “So the rumors about Lee Woo-yeon’s personality weren’t joking, he really is weird.”
“Then who in the world…”
“Got time for chit-chat? Get to your positions!”
“Ah, yes!”
When Lee Seon barked the order, the newbie hunter jumped like he’d been struck by lightning and scurried back.
Lee Woo-yeon shared a quick glance with Lee Seon before chuckling to himself.
“Then I’ll leave the hunters in your care.”
Lee Woo-yeon and Lee Seon had divided their roles.
Lee Seon would maintain the shield protecting the walls with the other hunters, while Lee Woo-yeon would meet the minimum conditions for taking down the boss monster.
Lee Seon didn’t seem thrilled about the division, but he reluctantly accepted since he had the responsibility to protect the hunters.
“I’ll head out once I see how you’re handling it.”
Of course, 30,000 troops weren’t a number to take lightly.
Mana had limits, so he couldn’t spam wide-area spells forever, and focusing on offense would naturally leave defense vulnerable.
There would come a time when they’d have to fill in with bodies.
Having Lee Seon join him on the battlefield would definitely help.
“No, it’s fine.”
But entrusting shield maintenance entirely to the newbie hunters was too much of a burden. They’d spotted massive catapults among the enemy forces, and the early entrants were already mentally worn out after six days.
If both Lee Seon and Lee Woo-yeon went out to fight and their main base got raided in the meantime, the entire ‘defense battle’ would fail, which would be a disaster.
One person needed to stay behind to manage, monitor, and supervise the newbie hunters.
That person had to be Lee Seon.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything~. That’s how government hunters are, right?”
Personally, they got along fine, but Lee Woo-yeon and government-affiliated hunters could never see eye-to-eye positionally.
The government wanted clear responsibilities and limits, while Lee Woo-yeon only cared about quick dungeon clears.
“Woo-yeon-ah.”
Lee Woo-yeon was 25, Lee Seon 35—exactly ten years apart. Maybe that’s why Lee Seon occasionally called him by name in private.
Lee Woo-yeon tilted his head.
“Yes, what is it?”
“Can I punch you just once?”
“If you pick mage-swordsman class, I’ll think about it.”
- The sixth night phase begins. 12:00:00
The waiting time ended completely, and the message appeared.
At the same time, the sun that had been high in the sky until moments ago changed. Beyond the enemy forces filling the fields, a blood-red sunset was visible sinking.
The enemy began beating drums—thoom, thoom—and the ear-splitting blare of horns rang out.
Unlike the hunters stirring at the sudden shift in scenery, the expressions of the knights and soldiers atop the walls remained unchanged.
That only made it feel less real.
The hunters possessing people in this dungeon and the world they saw were different.
Yes, this was a world toyed with by the system.
Even gods couldn’t change what had already passed, so how could mere theater like this avenge their grudge?
Lee Woo-yeon exchanged brief goodbyes with Lee Seon and finally approached Elisa May.
Until just now, he’d been separated, using the excuse of gathering the mages secretly trained by the castle lord for a strategy meeting.
It couldn’t be helped with the condition that their conversation not be overheard.
Atop the wall right above the castle gate, the highest point, Elisa May placed one hand over her chest the moment she saw Lee Woo-yeon.
“My lord, order the battle to commence.”
“Do so. And as I said earlier, I entrust all commands during battle to you, Vice Captain.”
He had already explained to the vice captain how he would move.
No, it wasn’t even much of a plan.
The orders to the vice captain were simply to ensure the hunters, including Lee Seon, could act freely and to protect the mages as much as possible since their role was crucial.
He’d worried she might protest him, as the castle lord, going out personally or find it strange.
“Are you really planning to go alone? Even if your magic has returned, it’s too dangerous.”
Lee Woo-yeon felt a spark of interest at Elisa’s unexpected words.
Magic has returned?
So the original castle lord was a mage too but had been unable to use magic.
He wondered why that had happened.
“Don’t worry. I’m not that fragile.”
But Lee Woo-yeon didn’t pry. Side stories irrelevant to clearing the dungeon weren’t important.
“And there’s no other way anyway, is there?”
It was true even if Elisa tried to stop him. Even if the real castle lord were here, he’d do the same.
The enemy forces filling the fields were a number no normal method could handle. And their leader was a powerful mage.
No matter how fiercely they fought, the numerical disadvantage was overwhelming. No matter how long they held, they’d eventually burn and breach the castle.
Even borrowing power from another world wouldn’t change the hopeless battle.
At Lee Woo-yeon’s words, Elisa fell silent for a moment before speaking.
“My lord, I swore to follow the Captain no matter what.”
It seemed like a statement that didn’t need a reply, so Lee Woo-yeon didn’t respond.
Elisa continued on her own.
“So during the time he’s lost his mind, please don’t create something for me to grieve over.”
Instead of looking at her liege, the castle lord, Elisa May gazed at the enemy forces filling the fields. Her eyes burned with resolute will.
Eyes aflame not for survival, but to protect something else.
“I wish you good fortune. Please return safely.”
“I will.”
Lee Woo-yeon turned away after replying. He didn’t look back.
This was just theater anyway.
This dungeon was merely a place for the already dead to vent their grudges.
No matter what he did, nothing would change.
No one could be helped, no one saved.
Yet Lee Woo-yeon stood here because it was necessary. Protecting Kang Ye-na, striving to conquer this dungeon—all of it.
With the sunset at his back, Lee Woo-yeon stood at the highest point atop the wall.
In his view were soldiers lined along the long walls, people guarding the front of the castle gate, and those carrying pouches of stones without proper armament.
They were all ragged in appearance, gaunt-faced. Their eyes brimmed with fear. They were all looking at Lee Woo-yeon—no, at the castle lord.
“Survive.”
That was the only thing he could say to them. With those words, Lee Woo-yeon leaped from the wall.
A high wall.
But before falling, wings sprouted from his back.
- Skill, Psyche's Wish activates.
What a skill name that never failed to baffle him. Not that it mattered as long as it was useful.
Ignoring the cheers erupting behind him, Lee Woo-yeon raised his sword.
“There is no inevitability that you must continue this life.”
As the incantation began, mana gathered at the tip of his demon sword, Levatein. The easy mana control suggested the boss monster wasn’t nearby.
That made things simple.
Blue electric mana converged on the sword, blanketing the sky. The mana-infused blade felt heavy enough to numb his hand.
A mage’s incantation was the language engraved in their soul. The most desperate wish drawing forth the soul’s power.
Lee Woo-yeon manifested as incantation the first thing he had ever wished for the moment the system was born.
“Yet I seize the chance to defy the fate that demands I live on.”
As the words ended, massive mana drained from his body. Like someone artificially halting his heart, brain, every vital function—the unpleasant sensation.
And with it.
Blue mana burst from Levatein’s tip, formless streams blocking out the sun.
It was such a beautiful sight it couldn’t seem man-made, and all lifted their heads like gazing at the sun.
Most never realizing what they witnessed before turning to ash the next instant.
Kwaaaaang!
A roar swept over the enemy ranks like a wave, blue lightning crashing down and flames erupting across the earth.
Seeing that sight, Lee Woo-yeon shouted.
“Battle commence!”