Chapter 315
Chapter 315
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 315
Chapter Title: Delaila’s Invitation (2)
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“Hmm.”
“Umm.”
The expressions of the listening rankers all looked as stiff as plaster statues.
They could sense from Delaila’s tone that the situation was far from ordinary.
‘It can’t be helped.’
First, the existence of the question marks.
Just looking at Haseara made it clear they were at least constellation-level.
‘SSS Grade and constellation-level…….’
The same rank as the Earth Dragon I’d faced relatively recently.
And there were seven such monstrous beings in that world.
The funny thing was.
There were even unknown entities that could interfere with that world.
And there was no way to know how many of them there were, what form they took, or how they interfered.
“Honestly, the existences in the Myoin world aren’t that surprising.”
The Demon King clenched his fist.
A large hand covered in calluses.
That hand alone hinted at how grueling a world he had endured.
“I come from the demon realm, which is even worse than that. Though they don’t have something like a world ranking board…… Even upper-rank demon kings are SSS Grade. The supreme demon kings, of which there are only five in total…… They’re beyond that. They’re powerhouses so overwhelming that ‘terrifying’ doesn’t even begin to describe them.”
It was a chilling statement.
The more you heard, the more it made you shrink before the vastness of the universe.
Hadn’t Delaila said as much?
On the scale of the entire universe, they hadn’t even investigated a single speck of dust that was Earth.
Then what about beyond that?
How many more powerhouses were swarming out there?
‘Whew.’
In that instant, a worrying existence came to mind.
The Destruction Dragon, Vinasa.
I’d lectured him not to rampage freely when I released him……
But was he getting beaten up somewhere instead?
Perhaps.
The thought that even Vinasa might be a mere insect before the greater universe made things feel even more hopeless.
- I agree.
Swoosh!
Haseara, who had been silent, drew her sword in the air to form letters.
- The realm of Entering the Demonic is just the gateway to true demonic mastery. I’m still far from it. I need to grow more.
Grr.
Look at those eyes.
Eyes that excluded the five desires and seven emotions, filled only with pure longing for growth.
Even deception looked genuine when Haseara did it.
She truly seemed to want to become stronger, purely.
Just like me.
“Ahem, first of all.”
Aria Yuel opened her mouth.
“I think there’s credibility to Lady Delaila’s speculation.”
“Speculation?”
The rankers’ gazes all shifted to her.
“Yes. She said the strongest world we’ve seen so far was the Myoin world. And shortly after, access was blocked, right? And not just that one—multiple worlds had access blocked.”
“Yes.”
As Delaila nodded, Aria continued.
“Then it’s entirely plausible! Suppose there really are incredibly powerful alien existences? They’d be living beings too, capable of fear, so wouldn’t they try to nip it in the bud? If they judge humanity itself as a threat to them.”
“Hmm, conversely, they might protect us.”
Ronnie Williams chimed in.
“Humans designate endangered animals as natural monuments to protect and study them, after all.”
“That’s exactly it!”
Aria looked at Ronnie as if exasperated.
But that expression was like.
‘Is this guy’s brain made of muscle too?’
“Being managed and protected by someone means we lose the freedom we’ve enjoyed. Plus, protecting humanity? If that’s the case, why not protect us now instead of waiting until we’re stronger?”
“Because we’re weak enough to not catch their eye?”
“That makes sense too. But when preparing for the unknown, I think we should assume the worst-case scenario. Look at human history. What did the majority do when encountering unknown civilizations?”
“…….”
I agreed with that part.
Human history was barbaric and greedy.
When civilizations met, the strong always subjugated and dominated the weak.
They waged wars, colonized, and justified it however they pleased.
The funniest among them.
- Providing their superior technology.
If only it stopped at providing, but the processes were how brutal and insidious?
There was no guarantee other alien civilizations would be different.
“But nothing’s confirmed yet.”
“That’s why we assume the worst!”
“Well, the universe’s time flows slowly, so it might not be a problem for our generation.”
“Ha! Frustrating! What about the Myoin tribe then? Is our time slow and theirs fast?”
Once the topic was raised, the rankers began exchanging opinions.
As opinions clashed, it quickly turned chaotic like a marketplace.
The only ones keeping silent were me and Haseara.
After about 10 minutes of everyone voicing their thoughts, the rankers looked at us.
“Why are you two quiet?”
“Yeah? Say something.”
Hmm.
Me?
I didn’t have any particular thoughts.
It was a problem with no answer anyway, right?
No matter how much we racked our brains, we couldn’t know right now.
Even Arin didn’t know.
- Just.
Swoosh!
Haseara drew her sword in the air again.
- Survival of the fittest.
She glanced around at the rankers.
- It’s always been a world where the weak die, hasn’t it? Why overthink it.
“…….”
It was simple, but it pierced to the essence.
I nodded too.
“I agree. Whether to inform people about alien existences or not…… Honestly, I don’t know. But one thing’s certain…… When the time comes, if we’re weak, we have no choices.”
I said it while especially looking at Delaila.
“Lady Delaila, isn’t that why you created trials and raised rankers?”
“But…….”
Delaila trailed off.
I knew why.
The Myoin tribe’s case was frightening her.
She was scared that getting stronger here might lead to everyone dying.
“We can’t stop progress anyway. Suppose we announce this info and say, ‘If we get stronger, aliens might notice us, so let’s stop now!’ Who would listen?”
The world had already changed.
Medieval power came from class, modern power from capital.
Now?
It came from hunter rank.
Even becoming a ranker meant enjoying every luxury.
In such a world, who would heed ‘Let’s not grow stronger!’?
“Joo Dong-hoon’s right.”
The Tower Master stepped forward with a grin.
“No need to be so scared, Delaila. Stick to your original intent. We’re not that weak.”
“So because we’re not weak, we ignore the approaching danger?”
“No.”
The Tower Master shook his head.
“Not ignoring it. There’s just no other way. Except getting stronger.”
“…….”
“As Haseara said, that’s how the world works, right?”
“Well said.”
Demon King Jack Smith nodded too.
“I agree on that point.”
The opinions of rankings 2 through 5 had unified.
When the world’s four strongest—the Big 4 leaders—united, what choice did the others have?
“Exactly.”
“Yeah, no need to worry about something that might not even exist.”
“Trials? Bring ‘em on. We thrive on trials anyway!”
Opinions began converging.
[Just ignore it all and focus on getting stronger like always.]
“Hmm.”
Delaila let out a groan.
Her face was like, ‘Is this really right?’
They were the world’s most influential figures, but ultimately rankers who pursued power.
Ones moved more than anyone by the ‘logic of strength.’
Could the world’s fate really be decided by their opinions alone?
Just as that doubt arose.
“By the way, mind if I make a proposal?”
The grinning Demon King stepped forward then.
“The Myoin tribe? Seven constellation rankers from that cat-like race? What bothers me more is that.”
“…….”
“How about we cover the next world ranker announcement with ??? too? As proud humans of Earth, we should at least beat those feline knockoffs.”
Watching the Demon King go even further, Delaila clutched her temple.
Oh dear.
These people.
Did they really listen to me at all……?
That was her expression.
But.
“Grrraaah, as expected of the Demon King! I’m for it! Kahahat! No way humans lose to some meow-meows!”
Ronnie laughed.
“Call.”
I smiled back as if it were obvious.
My goal was ranking 1, so of course I needed those ???.
Delaila’s face looked like her soul was departing, but what did it matter?
‘Bring any trials.’
Nietzsche said it.
What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.
A bit cringy, but it was the truth.
The truth that made me who I am now.
* * *
Delaila’s meeting ended like that.
They decided not to release the info outside.
Judging it would yield no countermeasures and only cause chaos.
[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[‘Secret’ heard. Restriction applied.]
[Divulging this ‘Secret’ to the ‘outside’ will erase all rewards and plausibility from the trial.]
[‘Outside’ refers to those who haven’t heard the secret.]
The contents of Delaila’s meeting remained as the pre-set ‘secret.’
After the past trial ended.
The cosmic tales I heard, saw, and felt from Delaila.
What made this a cheat skill was.
Others might not know, but I absolutely couldn’t divulge it.
Speaking it would make my God-Slaying Spear vanish.
‘Well, no reason to divulge anyway.’
Because of that.
“Guild master, guild master! Where’d you suddenly go?”
I couldn’t say a word to Kim Jin-ah, who asked with bright, sparkling eyes.
“Just out for some air. Oh, and I’m done with info gathering now.”
“Eh, suddenly?”
“Yeah, time to prepare. We’ve rested plenty.”
“Ah.”
She instantly understood what I meant.
“You’re leaving again……?”
“Yes.”
I’d kept my promise to the old man, and the world ranker announcement was over.
Plus, my promise with the Demon King.
To reach constellation-level within a year.
So?
‘Time to get stronger.’
Right now, I had one thing to do.
Awakening Bonegu.
Clearing the SS-grade catalyst dungeon and claiming its reward.
‘Whew.’
My flesh was already crawling.
During Bonepal, I fought like mad against the ‘Fighting God’ (SSS Grade) constellation. What horrific thing awaited in Bonegu?
Given the catalyst dungeons’ increasing difficulty……
It wouldn’t be a walkover.
“No idea how long this’ll take, huh?”
Kim Jin-ah asked with an awkward smile.
“Yeah.”
I nodded.
This time, I really didn’t know.
It wasn’t about time—it might be a one-way trip.
“Eyyy, my fate.”
Kim Jin-ah muttered [Gonna spin my wheels all day without the guild master again~], forcing a bright face, but I felt it all.
That worrying heart.
“I’m leaving all the subordinates behind this time.”
This catalyst dungeon was special.
[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[Alert!]
[‘Spirit King’s Will’ activation is irreversible.]
[This is a solo special dungeon.]
[All skills will be sealed upon entry.]
[Proceed?]
A full ‘skill seal.’
Inside, I couldn’t use any skills.
So my subordinates would stay in Muryeong Dowon to focus on training.
“If you need help, tell Arin. She seems stronger than me now.”
“Got it, guild master. More than that…….”
She stared at me intently, then dropped her complicated expression and spoke.
“Please just come back safe. You know Biltchungeon is done without you, no matter how much I’ve built it up?”
“I know.”
“Then take care of yourself. That body isn’t just yours.”
“…….”
No, it is mine.
Whose else would it be?
When I didn’t answer immediately, Kim Jin-ah glared venomously.
“Guild master? Got it or not?”
“Ah, got it.”
Yeah, yeah.
When has the vice guild master ever been wrong?
Vice guild master is always right.
* * *
Muryeong Dowon’s training ground clearing.
After lightly tidying up, I placed the catalyst orb on my palm.
Woooong!
A small orb wrapped in mystical light.
This tiny item.
Was the ultimate opportunity and trial all rankers desperately sought—the catalyst.
[Item: ‘Spirit King’s Will’ (SS Grade)]
[Grade: SS]
[Type: Catalyst]
[Description: Orb that unveils the secrets of hidden ruins.]
[Effect 1: Opens dungeon, ‘Spirit Realm.’]
[Effect 2: Bound to hunter ‘Joo Dong-hoon.’]
[Effect 3: Activates at hunter grade SS or higher.]
I hadn’t told the Biltchungeon members.
The vice guild master would explain later.
“Whew.”
I exhaled shortly.
Previous catalysts.
‘Magic Dropout’ and ‘Fist Supremacy’ were S-grade; this was the first SS-grade.
Meaning difficulty on another level.
‘Let’s do it! I can do it!’
Of course I was worried, but excited too.
The harder, the sweeter the conquest.
[Proceed?]
Seeing the entry message again.
‘Yeah.’
Step.
I took a step.
Fwaaah!
Feeling the pure white light enveloping my vision grow stronger.
Flash!
The world blinked.