Chapter 341
Chapter 341
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 341
Chapter Title: Apophis (3)
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Oxford Magic Tower.
On the top floor, in the Tower Lord's chamber.
Delaila and Sophia were sitting and sipping tea.
The two, who had been close friends for a long time, occasionally made time to share their thoughts and enjoy idle chatter.
"Hmm?"
As they conversed animatedly for quite a while, the Tower Lord raised her head.
Wooong!
A magic messenger bird arrived directly for her—a transparent pigeon fluttering its wings in front of her.
"...This is."
Sophia stood up from her seat.
It was sent from their allied organization, Biyeolcheonji, and personally cast by Eloise Arin.
They used it for delivering news that required utmost secrecy.
"What is it?"
"Just a moment."
With a rustle!
As she placed her hand on the pigeon, it unfolded like paper and transformed into a sheet of magical parchment.
The content written there was...
"Huh."
Sophia, reading quickly, suddenly felt her heart sink.
- Within the next year.
- High likelihood of the crisis Delaila mentioned arriving.
- Humanity's end is a concern.
- Biyeolcheonji, Demon King Army, Heavenly Demon Divine Church, Magic Tower, and World Association—the five organizations must devote all their power to building strength in preparation for any potential catastrophe.
- Will also contact Delaila separately.
- Skeleton Emperor, Joo Dong-hoon, dispatched.
'In the end.'
Was what Delaila sensed correct?
She might have anticipated it, and even prepared herself inwardly, but it was still shocking.
Unable to hide her trembling, Sophia looked at Delaila.
Crunch!
Just then, a magic messenger bird arrived in front of her as well.
"Huh?"
Sure enough.
A deflated, raspy sound escaped Delaila's lips too.
"End of the world all of a sudden... Did Dong-hoon see something?"
"Well, it doesn't go into details."
"He's not the type to spout nonsense, though..."
"Hmm."
Sophia let out a groan.
Delaila was right.
Joo Dong-hoon was someone they could trust.
Moreover, by his side was Eloise Arin, known as a repository of knowledge.
There must be good reason for sending such a message.
Delaila let out a soft sigh.
"First things first, we need to prepare. I should meet with the Demon King, the Heavenly Demon, and the Nether Moon Goddess too."
"You're going to tell the World Association Chairman as well?"
Delaila's secret was known only to those in the top 10 Hyper Rankers at present.
In contrast, the Nether Moon Goddess Aria was world ranking 18th.
She didn't yet know about the universe, the demonkin, and such.
"Dong-hoon wouldn't have included her without reason. And with only a year left... It's about time we informed humanity anyway."
"Huh."
What in the world was happening.
The shock from about ten years ago, when the world turned upside down.
Did humanity have to face it once more?
"It's actually a relief."
Delaila smiled gently.
"I've felt like I was carrying a bomb that could explode any moment, every single day... Isn't it better to at least know when it'll blow?"
"Hehe, so positive?"
Sophia laughed.
In truth, she was anxious.
About what impact this impending change would have on humanity.
Whether many would suffer and shed tears, like during the last great chaos.
"Change always comes with anxiety and fear. But humanity has always overcome those changes and grown. Up until now. This time will be no different. So let's not worry too much."
Sophia nodded at Delaila's words.
Indeed.
Humanity had survived and reached this point by overcoming countless trials and upheavals.
And this time.
'It has to.'
The Magic Tower would be at the core of that survival.
"......"
"......"
The warm atmosphere of their conversation.
Silently shifted into an inexplicable tension and unease.
* * *
"What do we do?"
Kim Jin-ah let out an involuntary groan.
It was because Kwon Seon-ji's prophecy had been that shocking.
"She says to grow the organization, so should we take in more Rankers?"
"No."
I shook my head.
"Don't take in any more from now on."
"Yes?"
Kim Jin-ah's eyes widened.
"Even if you take in a hundred Rankers, it won't strengthen the organization's power."
Well, it might in terms of numbers.
But quality?
That's questionable.
Take me, for example.
Would ten of my past selves be stronger?
Or one current me?
I can say with certainty.
The current me is stronger.
In other words, the key is how to raise the members we already have.
Not increasing new members—that's my take.
'First off.'
Kwon Seon-ji gave off the nuance of an Earth-endangering crisis approaching, so get stronger.
That means.
'I need to awaken Bone-1 and Bone-12 quickly.'
If I can.
It's best to get them as strong as possible.
However, Kwon Seon-ji clearly emphasized growing the 'organization.'
Meaning, not just me, but look after the other members too.
"We need to grow the members we have even more."
"So, don't take any at all?"
"Of course there are exceptions."
"Yes?"
"Genius."
"...?"
"Real genius, the kind where you think, 'This kid's a genius!' Take those."
"...Genius?"
Kim Jin-ah looked confused.
"How much of a genius?"
Hmm, to what degree.
At that moment, I chuckled.
Now, I don't even know.
What the benchmark for genius is anymore.
But one thing I'm sure of is that I've now entered that genius tier myself.
Even Elder Lord's Supreme Azure Craft All-Things Great Law seems to have surpassed that benchmark now.
"At least... on my level?"
Of course.
That's worth taking in.
But Kim Jin-ah didn't seem to think so.
She was looking at me with an exasperated expression.
"Jeez... Whatever, I just said don't take any more, right?"
"Hey, you don't know how the world works?"
"Sigh."
She sighed.
Well, she must be worried.
In a situation where we need to grow the organization.
Telling the personnel-managing vice-guildmaster not to take more members.
But she soon shook her head.
The guildmaster's orders are absolute.
Finding solutions within those orders is the vice-guildmaster's job, isn't it?
"Still, it's reassuring. Our members are all doing great. The Berserker and Thunderclap are growing while constantly sparring, the Dragon Knight safely tamed a young dragon, and Do Ha-rang and Emily have become direct disciples of Lady Arin, solidly building their foundations."
"Really?"
Everyone's doing well.
But she doesn't know.
What I'm picturing in my head.
"Actually, I have a brilliant idea."
"...A brilliant idea?"
"Yes, one that can skyrocket our members' rankings at an astonishing pace."
All Rankers crave trials.
Blindly delving into dungeons is to obtain 'fortuitous encounters.'
Striving to witness battles with the strong is all to get stronger.
'Then?'
Just give them those trials.
Fortunately, I have a skill that can summon an enormous trial.
Summon Apophis.
"R-Raise rankings? At an astonishing pace? There's a way?"
Of course there is.
You bet.
Though the process will be insanely grueling.
"Catch the snake."
"...Snake out of nowhere? That long reptile, a snake?"
Kim Jin-ah tilted her head.
I grinned.
"For now, gather everyone."
* * *
Whoosh!
The training ground, with its ever-cool breeze as always.
"Hup!"
"Haaap!"
It was filled with all sorts of spirited shouts.
Biyeolcheonji members training relentlessly from dawn until the sun was high in the sky, without proper rest.
"Krahaha!"
The Berserker, Jang Dae-woong, wiped the sweat from his forehead and laughed heartily.
On the opposite side was Phloa, crackling with electricity.
"You've improved a lot! Now you're finally fun to spar with!"
"Damn it, didn't we agree on 70% power?"
"I only used 60%. Krahaha!"
"Oh yeah? You annoying laughing maniac."
World ranking 41st, Thunderclap Phloa, made a fed-up face.
Dealing with that brute's ignorant fists every day was giving him constant headaches.
Phloa let out a light breath and looked around.
"But where's Mugak today?"
"Mugak? Beats me."
Jang Dae-woong tilted his head slightly.
"Last night? He said his little bro called and left."
"Little bro... That boss guy?"
One person came to Phloa's mind.
At first, he called himself a slave out of a bet, but now he truly thought of them as family.
Having watched his efforts up close, you couldn't help but respect him.
Just one regrettable thing.
"But that boss guy."
"Yeah?"
Jang Dae-woong tilted his head.
"Honestly, isn't it a bit much?"
At Phloa's words, Jang Dae-woong narrowed his eyes.
"Out of the blue? Wanna gossip?"
"No, no, hear me out. Honestly, he's always just getting stronger by himself. Progressing. It's hard for us to keep up, you know?"
"...That's true."
Not just Jang Dae-woong and Phloa.
It was a fact all members felt.
No matter how much they trained, the gap only widened.
"Especially, you saw that last time, right?"
"What he's been forging until yesterday? Krahaha! Truly... 'magnificent' just slips out."
Just a day ago.
All the members had watched.
Joo Dong-hoon's absurd display.
Shaking the earth, igniting fires, pouring out all sorts of magic and skills—it was like...
If there were gods, it'd feel like that level of power.
The shouts in the training ground ringing especially loud today were probably due to that shock.
"Honestly, in my case, I even gave up my homeland to live here full-time, you know? Shouldn't he cut me some slack? He keeps vanishing somewhere, comes back suddenly stronger. Treats us like we're not even there."
"Krahaha! The little bro's busy, sure. But don't take it too hard. We've got Mugak on our side, right?"
As the two paused training to chat.
Other Rankers glanced over, then stopped and began gathering.
Starting with Gi So-yul, Do Ha-rang and Emily.
Iron Fist and Two Ho.
Spring Apostle, Twin Blade, Combat Warrior, Absolute Matchless, Shadow Secret, and more.
In truth, they were all growing by leaps and bounds daily through training in this paradise-like place.
But humans are like that, aren't they?
Like a fire blazing higher when meeting wind.
With the conditions for growth met, their greed intensified.
'I want to be like the Guildmaster too.'
'I want to raise my ranking fast.'
'I want to create that insane spectacle from yesterday with my own hands.'
For Rankers, nothing beats the joy of growing stronger.
No matter how hellish the trials, no matter how battered the body.
With the single-minded thought of [getting stronger], they can endure anything. Persist.
That's what makes them Rankers.
Thus, a kind of bridle began to form in their minds.
'Thunderclap's right, no flaws in what he said.'
'As the leading Ranker out front, he can help a bit, right?'
'I'm curious about a real Ranker's perspective, not just the skeletons.'
Their pure desire for strength.
Ignited their ambitions.
"Not feeling motivated today, huh?"
"Yeah. No skeletons to train us. Did he vanish off somewhere again?"
"I agree with Lord Phloa. We respect the Guildmaster, but feeling left out is feeling left out!"
As the murmuring grew louder.
Sss!
Someone appeared before them.
All heads turned.
"G-Guildmaster?"
Shadow Secret Ninomae Noah hiccuped in surprise.
Speak of the tiger and he appears.
How does he show up at such a perfectly timed moment!
It wasn't just him.
Sss, sss!
Joo Dong-hoon's subordinates appearing behind him.
'No way he overheard?'
'Damn, we've been fine until now, just this one complaint?'
'Actually, I'm not dissatisfied. Compared to other Rankers, Biyeolcheonji is honey. Great benefits, high pay.'
Seeing the subject of their gossip.
They all snapped to attention.
The bridle in their minds vanished, the greedy fire in their eyes extinguished.
They were Rankers who thought rationally.
They knew reality.
They knew gratitude.
"Ahem."
As red-faced Phloa awkwardly cleared his throat.
"Everyone."
The Guildmaster spoke.
"......"
"I have some news to share."
"News?"
Phloa tilted his head.
"Krahaha! What news, little bro?"
Jang Dae-woong showed interest too, looking curious.
"Before that, I've been totally neglecting you all lately, right? Sorry. I've been busy with personal matters and slacked off."
"No, no."
"Neglect? What neglect? We're fine."
"Hahaha, what a joke. As if the Guildmaster could neglect us."
Biyeolcheonji members shouted one after another.
But their true feelings were already sour.
'Damn, he heard.'
'Shit.'
'What now?'
'I heard from Lady Arin that the Guildmaster holds grudges...'
This was a different kind of fear.
From someone they truly felt grateful to and respected.
Fear of misunderstanding over a momentary slip of words.
"I'm heartbroken that you all feel that way about me, but honestly, you're right. I have been really busy lately."
"No, we said it's not! Hey, hey, boss! Why you acting like a whiny brat! My bad!"
"Haha, misunderstanding, little bro, misunderstanding!"
"Guildmaster! Really a misunderstanding!"
The mood turned awkward.
'We're screwed.'
As Phloa inwardly regretted and sweated coldly.
The Guildmaster declared.
"So, this Guildmaster plans to throw one trial your way."
With a very resolute expression.
"Participation is voluntary. However, if you can't join for personal reasons... Just leave Biyeolcheonji, haha."
Seeing his bright smile.
Eloise Arin's disciples, Do Ha-rang and Emily, thought.
'Lady Arin was right.'
'King of grudges...!'