Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: A Grand Welcome
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“Mm.”
Seo Woojin halted his steps.
“Can you feel it?”
Briani stopped alongside him, scanning their surroundings warily as she asked.
“There’s quite a few, huh? But why aren’t they attacking?”
It was strange.
Hundreds of monsters and demonic beasts swarmed the area around them right now.
Yet not a single one was launching an assault.
Just moments ago, they’d been charging relentlessly.
“Looks like they’ve caught on.”
Briani said.
“What do you mean?”
“It means someone’s controlling these things.”
Otherwise, there was no way the monsters would suddenly swarm like this.
“Who could it be?”
When Seo Woojin asked, Briani shrugged.
“Dark Elves, probably.”
The masters of Demon Realm Heldein were Dark Elves.
No, more accurately, they were the caretakers.
“They hide in the deepest parts of this damned forest, just biding their time for the descent.”
Using monsters and demonic beasts to ensure no one ever invaded the place.
“But I heard even the Dark Elves fear wandering this forest.”
Seo Woojin tilted his head.
That’s what Ludein had said when they’d first come for the subjugation.
But Dark Elves as caretakers?
It didn’t add up.
“Monsters are inherently savage, brimming with bloodlust. Demonic beasts go without saying.”
Briani began to clear up his confusion.
“Some of them are even too much for Dark Elves to handle. Like that Darnin we ran into earlier.”
At that level, yeah, not many could stand against it.
“There are Dark Elves granted authority by the Demon King. They’re called Elders.”
“Elders?”
“Yeah. Most have powers related to demonic energy, but rarely, some can control monsters.”
Thanks to them, they could direct the monsters’ actions and protect the forest.
“But like I said earlier, monsters are basically ferocious. Sometimes, even the Elders’ control slips.”
“So that’s why the Dark Elves are scared of them?”
“Pretty much.”
It wasn’t as grand a reason as he’d thought.
Seo Woojin’s expression soured slightly with disappointment as he started walking again.
Briani snickered.
“What, thought there was some big secret hidden here?”
“Not that big, but I figured there’d be some twist I hadn’t seen coming.”
“That’s life for you.”
Briani laughed brightly as she followed behind him.
“But don’t be too disappointed. Things should get pretty interesting once we reach the Dark Elf village.”
She gestured around them.
“With them clearing the path like this and waiting, looks like they’ve prepared a real grand welcome party.”
“Seems like it.”
The killing intent prickling his skin was intense.
Beyond the guardians protecting the sacred tree, plenty of other enemies lurked.
Enemies not to be taken lightly.
But Seo Woojin smiled.
‘Even better.’
The stronger the foes, the more numerous they were.
The more experience points he’d rack up exponentially.
“Let’s hurry. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Alright, alright. No one’s blocking the way anyway, so we can pick up the pace.”
The heart of Heldein was only a few kilometers away.
The two quickened their steps.
* * *
“We’re almost there, Elder Kraka.”
Tairon reported.
The kindly-faced Kraka nodded.
“I’ve already seen through my children’s eyes. They’ll arrive soon.”
He was an Elder with the authority to control monsters.
His power was especially potent—not just directing actions, but sharing vision like this.
“How go the other preparations?”
“The combat unit and magic unit are fully ready. We can start the hunt anytime.”
“Good. And the guardian unit?”
“…I’m not sure about them. Sorry.”
Tairon bowed his head in reply, and Kraka chuckled softly.
“No need to apologize. My fault for asking.”
The guardian unit was different from the rest.
Their sole mission on earth was protecting the sacred tree.
Even Tairon, the chieftain, couldn’t command them.
“We’ve passed the word, so they’re probably preparing.”
“That’s fine, then.”
Kraka nodded.
The entire tribe united against the enemy.
Even if these two were guardians, he was confident they could hold them off.
Not to mention the monstrous familiar Behiarmos by the sacred tree.
There was no way they could lose.
“Time we step up ourselves.”
Kraka rose from his seat.
The intruders he’d seen through the monsters’ eyes had reached the village outskirts.
“I’ll escort you.”
Tairon stood quickly, and Kraka smiled.
“I may be an Elder, but you’re the chieftain. No need for excessive courtesy—it makes me uncomfortable.”
With his benevolent expression, Tairon bowed.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Kraka clicked his tongue at the sight.
This rigid chieftain overdid it with respect for Elders.
He wanted to lecture him on the chieftain’s position, but stopping the intruders came first.
“Let’s go.”
Kraka and Tairon exited the hut.
Outside, the scene unfolded.
A hundred in the combat unit, fifty in the magic unit.
Every one an elite boasting upper knight or mage level.
Add the unseen guardian unit, and they could face an imperial subjugation force head-on without fear.
Kraka stepped aside, and Tairon stepped forward.
“You’ve heard the news.”
The deference he’d shown the Elders was gone.
In its place: the chieftain’s dignity and overwhelming demonic energy.
The Dark Elves, prepped for battle, stared at Tairon without even breathing.
“Go. And hold the line. Ensure their filthy boots don’t touch the sacred Treeview’s domain.”
No long speeches.
The Dark Elves gave no reply.
They simply moved silently toward the intruders at Tairon’s command.
“I’ll go ahead, Elder Kraka.”
Tairon said, and Kraka nodded.
“I’ll follow once my children are ready. The other Elders too.”
“We’ll be waiting.”
Tairon bowed respectfully and vanished toward the village entrance.
Kraka stared after him, then stretched.
“Guess I should get moving too.”
He took a step.
But stopped short.
Chills!
A sudden shiver ran down his spine.
He whipped around toward where Tairon and the tribesmen had gone.
“What… is that…?”
An unknown, unprecedented aura washed over him.
“N-No!”
The force was so immense it inspired terror, drawing a scream-like cry from Kraka.
And then,
Slash—!
Something was cleaved.
* * *
“…They’ve built quite the nice place here.”
The Dark Elf village was cleaner than expected.
Not quite imperial city level, but the roads and houses showed advanced development.
“And they’ve got walls like this.”
To defend against intruders like them?
A sturdy wooden palisade encircled the village, tough enough that ordinary force wouldn’t breach it.
Of course, it meant little to Seo Woojin and Briani.
“Lots gathered.”
Briani read the auras beyond the palisade and smiled.
“About 150, I’d say. Mostly high level. A few are pretty strong.”
If Seo Woojin deemed them strong, that meant top-tier knight skill at minimum.
“What’s the plan?”
Briani glanced at him.
“I’ll start.”
The path opening unexpectedly made getting here easier than thought.
With power to spare, better to seize the initiative before real combat began.
“Go ahead.”
Briani nodded readily.
Swish—
‘Karaniel’ was drawn silently, cleanly.
Its black blade rippled with purple chaos energy.
‘Slash.’
Not just the palisade.
The 150-odd Dark Elves beyond it.
‘Slash them all at once.’
Seo Woojin closed his eyes, drawing up chaos energy.
He recalled the sensation of parting the demonic energy curtain in the Forest of Death.
Circulating it along the path Ban Slaine had guided.
2 times, 5 times, 10 times.
The hyper-compressed chaos energy poured into ‘Karaniel’ like a waterfall.
‘Rune Dea’ wouldn’t have lasted a second against this power.
Vrrr—
‘Karaniel’s blade trembled.
As if saying it could take more, it devoured the chaos endlessly, igniting an aura.
‘A bit more.’
The slash with Ban Slaine wasn’t just this level.
Seo Woojin focused his mind, continuing to channel chaos energy.
How much time passed?
Seo Woojin opened his eyes.
His deeply sunken gaze ‘saw’ the wall and everything beyond.
Swish—
His arm moved very slowly, ‘Karaniel’ slicing empty air.
Briani, watching beside him, went wide-eyed.
He felt her shocked gaze flicking between him and the sword.
But Seo Woojin poured all focus into the ‘slash,’ arm moving.
One swing.
Slow enough a passing child could dodge.
But the result was anything but simple.
Thud—!
Dust rose as an invisible hairline crack etched the palisade.
Crack—
It split in half and collapsed.
Beyond it, the scene appeared.
150 Dark Elves arrayed in battle formation.
They’d spotted Seo Woojin and Briani, yet didn’t move.
Couldn’t move.
Bodies severed from torso to legs couldn’t.
Crash—!
The bisected Dark Elves toppled like felled logs.
Blood flowed.
A red river formed in seconds.
Only one Dark Elf stood on two legs.
Soul drained from his face, he trembled at Seo Woojin.
“Y-You…?”
Looking like he’d met the Grim Reaper, he barely asked.
Seo Woojin sheathed ‘Karaniel’ and spoke.
“Surely you’re not all there is?”
Despair etched the lone Dark Elf’s face.