Chapter 352
Chapter 352
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 352
Chapter Title: Joint Training (1)
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A pure white room.
"Hoo."
A faint breath escaped from a woman's lips.
"...Finally."
The woman wore an expression of utter satisfaction bordering on pride.
She was none other than the current world rank 6.
Dungeon Maker Delaila.
"Lady Delaila, have you finally completed it?"
She wasn't alone in the room.
A sturdy man with red eyes, dressed neatly in black suit pants and a white dress shirt.
World rank 19.
Magic Swordsman Luca attended to her.
"Hahaha, yes. It's done. Whew, it was such a hassle."
A pleased smile spread across Delaila's face.
'I thought it'd take even longer.'
Joo Dong-hoon.
Because that man had shattered the previous trials.
She'd had to reconstruct all five trials from scratch.
In the process,
She'd lured and contracted a dragon of a type similar to the Greed Dragon Aranbalon.
And acquired a monster akin to Poison Fog.
The universe was vast—that was terrifying—but it also made it easy to obtain what she wanted.
Races with compelling backstories, like the Shadow Shepherd tribe, overflowed in this immense universe.
The difficult part, though,
Was constructing the trials with the safest and most effective candidates.
"Wow, you must have worked hard. So, we can start preparing right away?"
"We have to. Now the World Association can achieve some balance."
Delaila was worried.
Star Fields, Demon King Army, Heavenly Demon God Church, Magic Tower.
She feared only these select groups and a handful of rankers would grow stronger.
What she'd always wanted from the past was the growth of Earth as a whole—not a cartel dominated by a few groups.
If she'd wanted one group to grow?
She wouldn't have created trials for members of an organization exclusively.
'Anyway.'
Organizations tended to be insular, so she needed to bolster the World Association.
'It’s good for groups to gain power, but balance is key.'
And that balance
Could be achieved through these trials she'd created.
'If they pass this trial...'
Anyone could become a ranker.
She was 99.99% certain, based on the data she'd accumulated so far.
Step.
Delaila walked over casually and placed a hand on Luca's shoulder.
Always.
Her reliable right-hand man, who had steadfastly followed her.
"You worked hard too, Luca."
"I'm truly grateful for your words."
"No, no, I should be the one thanking you. You get nothing out of helping me."
Delaila patted Luca's shoulder once more.
"But I promise. If I find something good while wandering the universe, I'll give it to you first, no question."
"Haha, your words alone are thanks enough."
"I'm serious... Oh, and."
Delaila lifted her head as if something had just occurred to her.
"This time, I'm removing the limit of inviting only five rankers."
"Is that so?"
Luca nodded as if he'd expected it.
With the apocalypse drawing near,
What need was there for secrecy?
"I'm also scrapping all the nondisclosure oaths."
"A wise choice. Everyone in the world will know soon enough anyway. So, how should we handle recruitment?"
"Hmm."
Delaila pretended to ponder with a smile before speaking.
"Release all information about the 'Trials' to the World Association."
"Pardon?"
Luca's eyes widened slightly.
'All information.'
That carried more weight than it seemed.
Releasing info that passing guarantees 100% ranker entry?
On top of that.
Mud Skippers, Divine Archer, Thunderclap, Grim Reaper, Dark Lord, Berserker, and more.
If they revealed the list of high rankers who came from her trials?
'And moreover.'
The most crucial part.
The hottest name right now.
World rank 4, Skeleton Emperor, revealed as the top graduate of her trials?
Wow.
'It'll draw a massive crowd.'
Honestly, it'd be foolish not to come.
Hunters staked their lives on opportunities like this.
Who would pass up the world's greatest one?
"Won't it be too many? Almost every hunter in the world might show up."
This was his concern as senior examiner.
The more people, the harder to control.
Plus, among hunters, there were murderers, criminals, and worse.
How many were too much to handle?
And with no restrictions this time, rankers might apply too.
S-rank hunters could be managed, but a gathering of rankers... that would be tricky.
"I have a way to handle that."
Delaila smiled.
"A way?"
"Yes. So, gather all hunters who want to apply, no discrimination."
"...May I ask what that method is?"
Luca was curious.
Trial examiners had always been rankers.
And currently,
Most high rankers in the top 100 belonged to those four groups mentioned earlier.
And those four groups were currently
Undergoing absurd training volumes, or so it was said.
Meaning, no one available to pull as examiners.
"Hehe."
Delaila chuckled softly.
"We'll invite a separate examiner. Someone incredibly strong, capable of controlling that many people."
"...Pardon?"
Someone strong?
Who could that be?
Not many stronger than me.
"There's someone who shattered my trials. If he has any conscience... he won't refuse to help, right? He's gained plenty thanks to me."
"Ah."
Luca's mouth fell open.
Joo Dong-hoon.
Inviting that man as examiner?
Then what about me?
Would I lose my senior title?
The thought flashed briefly, but he soon smiled deeply.
Because memories
Of Joo Dong-hoon's exploits in the trials resurfaced.
'Indeed.'
That man
Should have no issues.
* * *
A vast cave.
Joo Dong-hoon's seven subordinates spread out to take positions.
Smooth and natural movements.
Hase-ra watched in admiration.
'Amazing.'
How much practice had they done?
- Spread out, prepare for training.
Just one command, and they moved like that!
"Better this way."
Joo Dong-hoon muttered while watching his subordinates.
"This chance, let's all reach Constellation-grade."
His eyes gleamed with greed.
"Taeyang?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Eldrin?"
"You called, Master?"
Joo Dong-hoon turned his head, calling his subordinates one by one.
Everyone except the Constellation-grade Yuisa.
"Don't you all have pride as seniors, getting pushed by juniors? What do you think?"
"It's complicated."
Flutter!
Taeyang shuddered his black wings as he replied.
"...Yuisa, I can accept."
Swoosh.
He stared at Baek Mu-hyeon, seated cross-legged in the center.
"Even Bone One is that formidable—it's eating at me, my lord."
Taeyang had known Bone One the longest.
The first being he met after becoming a skeleton.
And sword versus spear, no less.
A competitive spark had quietly ignited.
'But a Martial God...?'
Honestly.
He was the first to awaken among peers.
But after Arin, then Mugak, Yuisa.
Watching juniors grow day by day had him feeling stifled.
And now Bone One was an absurd Martial God...
Somehow.
He felt increasingly useless.
"My lord. You gave me eyes."
To him, blind his whole life, sight was a gift.
Early on, helping his lord brought joy.
He was happy.
But now?
'Can I even beat my lord?'
He'd simulated it countless times, but the conclusion was impossible.
His lord caught up at breakneck speed, ultimately surpassing him vastly—Taeyang felt suffocated.
What is my purpose?
Am I even useful to my lord?
"I..."
"Master, let me be frank."
Eldrin stepped forward, cutting off Taeyang.
She sensed his rising emotions.
"Honestly, we're all worried. Anxious."
She lowered her bow and spoke carefully.
"Your growth is too fast—we fear becoming useless."
The repository of knowledge, Arin.
Mugak, nearing Constellation, Fighting God (SSS Grade).
Constellation-grade spirit user, Yuisa.
Constellation-grade blacksmith, Demir.
Destruction Dragon.
And so on, following their lord.
Compared to them, they kept falling behind.
"You're right."
Boom!
Kaden slammed his shield into the ground.
"Truth is, Master's enemies grow stronger daily—it worried us."
Kaden too.
"Yes, Master. I somewhat agree."
Dana as well.
They all felt an inexplicable sense of crisis.
Of course.
Lord and subordinates shared emotions to some degree.
So, their lord knew.
Their complex feelings.
"Kids."
Joo Dong-hoon spoke.
"Yes."
"Yessir!"
They lowered their weapons and responded.
The other subordinates' gazes turned to their lord.
Hase-ra, watching, clicked her tongue inwardly.
'Those are real skeletons...?'
Did that make sense?
Her definition of skeletons was
Basic bones summoned by necromancers.
White bones shredded by orcs or ogres.
Sure.
Joo Dong-hoon's skeletons were special, obviously.
Everyone in the world knew that.
Even polymorph-using skeletons could be excused—plenty of unique lifeforms out there.
'But.'
What shocked her was their emotions.
No matter the master-servant bond, they weren't mere order-followers.
Genuinely.
Loyal retainers serving their lord with all their hearts.
'...Amazing and enviable.'
Beings with emotions, thoughts, martial arts.
Yes.
They had souls.
Each with tragic backstories, desiring growth for their lord.
'This...'
Was the Skeleton Emperor's true power?
His master Mansul too.
Hase-ra envied Joo Dong-hoon's fortune in people.
"Stop those thoughts."
Joo Dong-hoon, smiling bitterly, continued.
"Arin said it, right? Constellations vary. Look at me. I'm not one yet."
"...My lord."
Taeyang lowered his head slightly.
Joo Dong-hoon grinned.
"No need to rush. Late-blooming flowers are more elegant—like late growth yields greater stars. Me, you all. You feel my emotions, right? Do I seem to think you're useless?"
"Not that, but..."
"...I'm ashamed, my lord."
Taeyang, Eldrin, Kaden, and Dana bowed their heads deeply.
Mugak yawned.
Arin and Yuisa maintained solemn silence.
"With that in mind."
Joo Dong-hoon nodded.
"This chance, all of you become Constellations. Intensive training until you do. Got it?"
"...Constellation."
"Is it possible?"
To his subordinates' questions.
"Over there."
Joo Dong-hoon pointed at Hase-ra.
'Me?'
Hase-ra's pupils dilated.
'Why me?'
"We have a sparring Constellation, right?"
Eh?
Flustered, Hase-ra stepped back.
In her view.
Skeletons burned with fervor.
"How about it?"
Joo Dong-hoon asked.
"Joint training together."
Joint training...?
Hase-ra recalled their figures in the Peach Blossom Paradise.
Pouring mad attacks to forge weapons.
'And.'
Hadn't she always been curious?
What training they did.
What they holed up in Peach Blossom Paradise for.
Shing.
Hase-ra nodded and drew her sword.
- Sure.
Win-win anyway.
- What first?
They'd gain from her.
She'd gain much from them too.
Thus.
Masters with masters.
Disciples with disciples.
Joint training began.