Chapter 251
Chapter 251
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 251
Chapter Title: Smooth Hunting
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The hunt was progressing smoothly.
There were monsters swarming everywhere, but this level was manageable.
Grrrrraaaah—!
Drakeas let out a pitiful scream as it collapsed.
Kwaaaang—!
As the over-10-meter colossal body hit the ground, the piled-up snow and ice shattered, scattering in all directions.
“Tch, all size and no substance.”
Goo Dong-hwan smacked his lips while looking at Drakeas’s corpse.
“It’s supposed to be a Ruler-grade monster, but I was expecting more. The experience points aren’t even that great.”
Drakeas had boasted its overwhelming presence, only to die in less than 10 seconds.
It let out one roar before being felled by Lee Ji-ah and Goo Dong-hwan’s attacks.
“…You guys are just too strong.”
Ailin, who had been watching from behind, let out a hollow laugh.
“It’s a monster that would take an upper-grade knight to handle…”
An upper-grade knight’s skill level translated to roughly level 10 for a hero.
It was laughably inferior compared to the party, where everyone had surpassed level 70 and were nearing 80.
‘At this level, they could handle ice worms easily.’
Seo Woojin nodded as he objectively assessed his comrades’ abilities.
The massive demonic beast, the ice worm, which even Ban Slayin couldn’t deal with before reaching the Super Transcendent realm.
He had quite a history with them.
‘They haven’t hit 100 yet, but with numbers on our side…’
They could hunt one or two ice worms without issue.
“Good work.”
Seo Woojin stepped forward.
“Good work? It wasn’t even tough.”
Kang Byung-gyu shook his head with a laugh.
Fighting the ice troll pack had been harder.
They were numerous and annoying, but Drakeas died before he could even do much.
“Still, don’t get complacent. Like Ailin said, the North is crawling with monsters beyond common sense.”
It wasn’t just Kratoss that was dangerous.
The North teemed with unknown monsters and demonic beasts, some undoubtedly threatening even to heroes.
“Mr. Woojin is right. Even the lord stays on high alert in the North.”
With Ailin’s warning, everyone nodded.
“Alright, enough serious talk. Let’s move spots. We’ve cleared most monsters around here.”
Drakeas was the last one.
Now, only a few dozen monsters remained in the area.
Hunting them down one by one would be inefficient; better to relocate.
“We’ll rest at the new spot. Sun’s still up.”
Seo Woojin started moving with the group.
‘Day 3 of hunting. Dahye gained 2 levels, others 1 each.’
Not bad.
Faster would be nice, but heading further north would fix that.
‘The higher we go, the better the quality and quantity of prey.’
Through his Divine Dragon Eye, the North looked like a goldmine.
Monsters he’d never seen littered the paths, including some shockingly powerful ones.
‘Plenty from Jayronin’s book too.’
Monsters he’d hunted using the summon stone from Martes at the academy.
Some that would challenge the current heroes appeared sporadically.
‘If we catch them all…’
A smile crept onto Seo Woojin’s lips.
His comrades’ levels would skyrocket beyond imagination.
‘Can’t wait.’
To see how strong they’d get.
Seo Woojin walked on, anticipating the day they all broke level 100.
* * *
“…This isn’t good.”
The Lion stopped and furrowed his brow.
“Are there others here besides us?”
Baek Siwoo asked after surveying the scene before them.
“Seems like it.”
Endless ice troll corpses stretched out ahead.
“Not long ago. Maybe three days at most.”
“I heard Massive Guardian does annual subjugations here. Could be them.”
“No, not the subjugation team.”
The Lion shook his head at Baek Siwoo’s words.
Too few traces left for a subjugation team.
At most a dozen.
‘Maybe even fewer.’
The Lion examined the nearest ice troll corpse.
“Hmm.”
His face twisted further.
The marks on the corpse exceeded his expectations.
“It’s a hero.”
“…What?”
Baek Siwoo’s eyes widened.
“No hero skill could make wounds like this otherwise.”
The Lion pointed to the ice troll’s chest.
The massive hole was impossible with sword or magic.
“This was made by a fist. And only heroes wield that kind of power.”
To be precise, one of the Empire’s guardians, the Fist Duke, could too.
But heroes made more sense than the Fist Duke being in the North.
“The other corpses are the same. Killed by attacks no ordinary soldier or knight could do.”
Burned, holed, heads torn off, smashed beyond recognition.
Only one explanation fit the variety.
“Then it’s heroes.”
Baek Siwoo let out a hollow laugh.
“Why the hell are they here?”
This was a remote wasteland thousands of kilometers from the Empire’s academy.
“They training here this time?”
The North was a demon realm.
The only reason heroes would come was to grow.
“Not good.”
The Lion sighed.
They’d come to hunt Kratoss in secret, but heroes might be in the way.
‘If even Seo Woojin’s here…’
The plan would derail badly.
“We detour.”
The Lion spoke first, before Baek Siwoo could think of Seo Woojin.
“Why? Isn’t this the fastest route?”
Baek Siwoo asked puzzled, but the Lion shook his head.
“Bumping into them would delay us more. Detour’s faster.”
“Hmm.”
Baek Siwoo stared at the Lion, then shrugged.
“Fine, your call.”
The Lion inwardly sighed in relief.
But Baek Siwoo’s next words hardened his expression.
“I’ll let it slide this time. Like you said, killing him comes after Kratoss.”
“…Tch.”
Baek Siwoo had thought of Seo Woojin.
He’d let it pass knowingly.
Good that he didn’t lose reason again, but…
‘He’s climbing over me bit by bit.’
Troubling.
His plan to stand above the king he’d created was crumbling.
‘Time for a leash.’
After Kratoss, he’d need to rein him in.
“Where to then?”
“East.”
The Lion pointed east after checking the tracks.
Opposite the heroes’ direction.
“It’ll take longer, but we’ll arrive within a week.”
“A week…”
Baek Siwoo nodded.
“I can wait that long.”
The Lion sensed the killing intent and madness deep in his eyes.
‘Gotta hurry.’
Reach Kratoss before he snapped again.
He didn’t want to sacrifice the pawn he’d nurtured to Seo Woojin.
* * *
“Hm?”
Seo Woojin turned to look behind.
“What? Something back there, Uncle?”
Lee Ji-ah asked.
“No, nothing.”
Seo Woojin shook his head with a smile.
But inwardly, it was different.
‘Getting farther?’
The uneasy premonition nagging him for days was fading.
‘Turning back?’
He’d pegged the source as one of the Apostles.
He’d stayed vigilant every second to confront it upon detection.
Yet surprisingly, the malice was receding.
‘Thought it was tailing me.’
If an Apostle appeared in the North, it had to be for him.
But he’d been wrong.
‘Kinda disappointing we can’t thin their numbers.’
At least no needless fights with comrades around. Satisfactory.
‘Just leave and stay out of sight.’
Killing could wait.
Anywhere but here.
Seo Woojin sincerely hoped it wouldn’t appear nearby.
“Uncle, what’re you thinking about? You’ve been weird.”
Lee Ji-ah asked worriedly, sensing his odd vibe.
“Some massive monster tailing us? Right? Tell me I’m right!”
Seo Woojin chuckled at her excitedly clenching fists.
“Nah, not that.”
“Then what?!”
“Just scouting for monster hotspots.”
He didn’t answer fully.
No need to worry them.
“Eh, doesn’t seem like it…”
Of course, Lee Ji-ah didn’t buy it.
Then.
“If it’s monsters, head that way.”
Ailin’s voice rescued Seo Woojin.
“That way?”
Seizing the moment, he passed Lee Ji-ah and approached Ailin.
“Considering your strength, it’s the best choice.”
Kang Byung-gyu used Scout at her words.
“Barely any monsters there?”
He tilted his head.
Only about a hundred in that direction.
Seo Woojin confirmed with Divine Dragon Eye.
Yet he looked unfazed.
“Let’s go like Ailin says.”
“But I just said—hardly any monsters?”
Kang Byung-gyu gaped, but Seo Woojin smiled.
“Few in number, but huge experience.”
“…You know them?”
Kang Byung-gyu asked.
“Enemies I can call blood foes.”
“Blood foes? What kind?”
Everyone looked shocked at Seo Woojin’s words.
Ailin answered.
“Ice worms. Habitat of top predators even in the North.”
“Might be dangerous. But the experience will be massive.”
Seo Woojin gazed toward the habitat with a cold smile.
“So, let’s head there.”
“Eh, if you say so.”
No one asked about ‘blood foes.’
His chilling expression deterred them.
And so, Seo Woojin and the group turned east toward the ice worm habitat.