Chapter 253
Chapter 253
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 253
Chapter Title: Conclusion of the Hunt
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“Everyone, get ready.”
At Woojin’s words, they all began channeling their mana.
It had already been ten days since they started hunting in the ice worm habitat.
Over a hundred ice worms had lost their lives at their hands during that time.
Thanks to that, their hunting method had become not just familiar, but perfected.
“Let’s start with Dahye like always.”
Woojin’s gaze turned to Kim Dahye.
She nodded and opened her sketchbook.
“Summon.”
With a flash of light, a missile about 5.8 meters long materialized in midair.
It plunged straight toward the ground.
Screeeeech—Boom!
The missile, Bunker Buster, bored straight through the earth and into the depths.
A moment later.
KABOOOM!
A massive explosion erupted, sending chunks of the ground surface flying.
Grooooar!
The ice worms’ roars echoed from underground.
“Attack!”
At Kang Byung-gyu’s shout, the nine heroes launched their assault.
Powerful skills visible to the naked eye slammed into the ice worms emerging from the ground.
And that was the end of it.
The ice worms didn’t even manage to fully poke their heads out before they croaked.
“Whew, it’s over!”
“These damn things.”
Goo Dong-hwan and Kang Byung-gyu collapsed onto the icy ground.
“It took longer than expected.”
They’d thought it would take a week, but it dragged on by three extra days.
Even with Kim Dahye’s Bunker Buster speeding things up, the reason it took so long was simple.
“There were so many of them.”
The 132 detected by Kang Byung-gyu’s ‘Search’ weren’t the end of it.
As Lee Ji-ah had said, there were even more beyond the range of ‘Search’.
That was why it had taken far longer than anticipated.
“But we got a lot out of it, right?”
“Yeah, we did.”
Goo Dong-hwan and Kang Byung-gyu chuckled.
As Woojin had predicted, the entire party had reached the 90s level range.
Even Kim Woo-ram, who had progressed the slowest, was no exception.
He’d barely leveled up that morning to hit 90.
Now everyone was between levels 90 and 92.
“Uncle Byung-gyu! There aren’t any more left, right?”
Lee Ji-ah asked.
“Nope, none. At least nothing my ‘Search’ picks up.”
The party let out a collective sigh of relief at Kang Byung-gyu’s answer.
They were thoroughly sick of ice worms by now.
“I’d rather fight a thousand ice trolls at once.”
It might’ve been dicey before, but now it was doable.
“How about we rest today? Woojin! Just one day off, come on, one day.”
Kang Byung-gyu yelled at Woojin.
“You’re already full? We’ve still got a long way to go, and you want to slack off?”
Woojin laughed back, and Kang Byung-gyu flopped onto his back.
“Ugh, I’m stuffed! Don’t care. You can beat me to death, but I’m not moving. Do whatever!”
Woojin smirked and nodded at Kang Byung-gyu’s whining.
“Fine, fine. Let’s take today off. You’ve all earned it.”
Woojin hadn’t planned to push too hard today anyway.
‘Our supplies are running low too. Guess it’s time to swing by Massive Guardian.’
Rest here today, head back to Massive Guardian tomorrow, and give everyone a few days’ vacation.
There wasn’t much to do for fun, but at least they could relax in peace.
‘Rest is essential for growth too.’
With Woojin’s approval, the party headed into the house Kim Dahye had ‘Summoned’ to rest.
Woojin sat on the living room sofa.
“Don’t you need to hunt, Woojin?”
Just then, Ailin sat beside him and asked.
“Hm? Me?”
“You haven’t caught a single monster so far.”
Ailin was right.
Woojin had only watched, never stepping in once.
“I’m good. Hunting these monsters here wouldn’t level me up much anyway.”
Every little bit adds up, sure, but right now, he needed to funnel even those scraps to his comrades.
No need for him to steal their experience.
“I know you’re strong, Woojin, but to prepare for the Great War...”
They needed to get even stronger to face the Demon King.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got my own plans.”
Woojin wasn’t just slacking off aimlessly.
He was constantly pondering how to grow from here.
‘Ordinary monsters and demonic beasts won’t cut it.’
For Woojin to grow, he needed prey worthy of his stature.
‘And I know a few like that.’
The Apostles.
Hunting those who had reached the transcendent realm would net him massive experience.
“Good to hear.”
Ailin nodded slightly.
She knew better than anyone that Woojin didn’t spout empty words.
If he spoke with such conviction, he really had a plan.
“Anyway, I’ve got a question for you.”
“Sure, what is it?”
Now Woojin turned to Ailin.
“Do you know why there’s not a single monster around here?”
It wasn’t just Kang Byung-gyu’s ‘Search’ that detected nothing.
Woojin’s ‘Divine Dragon Eyes’ hadn’t spotted a single one either.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s just because this is the ice worm habitat.”
“Not even one?”
“Nope. Not even any stragglers.”
Once the last ice worm died, they were the only living things moving on this frozen wasteland.
The north was barren with scant life even normally, but this was extreme.
“What about wild animals?”
“Yeah, nothing.”
Ailin’s expression grew serious as Woojin nodded.
“Hold on.”
She hurriedly pulled a map from her belongings.
“So this is...”
Her finger, tracing their path, froze.
“What? Something wrong?”
Woojin asked, but Ailin shook her head.
“Phew, we’re still okay.”
She sighed in relief.
But Woojin’s face grew more grave.
“Still? What does that mean?”
“Look here.”
Ailin pointed to the map.
It was a spot not far from their current location.
But something was off.
“There’s nothing here?”
The spot Ailin indicated was just blank space.
“This area hasn’t been explored or cleared yet.”
“Why? Because it’s past the ice worm habitat?”
He figured it was too risky to survey through over a hundred ice worms.
But Ailin shook her head.
“If that was the only reason, they would’ve gone around. Surveying the north is crucial for Sion too.”
It wasn’t just about expanding territory.
Mapping monster types in the north and marking habitats was key.
If it was merely the ice worms’ danger, they would’ve detoured as Ailin said.
The fact they hadn’t meant something else.
“Beyond this is Kratoss’s territory. Or at least, presumed to be.”
“The Demon King’s familiar?”
Ailin nodded.
“Yes. The strongest demonic beast on earth.”
“So that’s why it’s blank.”
If this really was Kratoss’s domain, there was no need to risk surveying it.
“Good thing we haven’t crossed into it. We should pull back and head elsewhere.”
Ailin spoke with a self-reproachful look.
She’d boasted about handling the north’s geography and info, yet missed something this big.
Busy hunting more ice worms than expected and pushing forward, she hadn’t noticed.
It was clearly her mistake.
“It’s fine. Don’t sweat it. Nothing happened.”
Woojin had no intention of blaming her.
They hadn’t set foot in Kratoss’s territory yet, and even if they had, it wouldn’t be a huge issue.
‘I can step in if needed.’
It might scare even Banslain, but Woojin was different.
If he went all out, he could handle the earth’s strongest demonic beast or whatever.
‘I’m the one who burst Yeoryong’s head with a single kick.’
No matter how strong Kratoss was, it couldn’t top Yeoryong, called the prelude to the apocalypse.
‘Come to think of it, Yeoryong was a familiar of the Demon King too.’
Precisely, the fourth Demon King’s.
So the two were probably equals.
‘No need to worry then.’
He was actually glad.
A being like that would give plenty of experience to his current self.
‘I’ll have to make time to hunt it later.’
Not feasible now with the party, but soon.
“Sorry. I should’ve been more careful.”
“I said it’s okay.”
Woojin shook his head at Ailin’s apology.
She was great in every way, but too hard on herself.
Most knights in this world were like that, but Ailin especially so.
“So, no monsters around because of this Kratoss or whatever?”
“Yes. The ice worms could settle nearby since they’re that strong.”
Anything weaker wouldn’t dare approach.
“We’re heading back to Massive Guardian tomorrow anyway, so we won’t step into its turf. Don’t worry.”
Woojin smiled and patted her shoulder.
“You rest too, Ailin. You’ve been pushing hard traveling with us.”
“You too, Woojin.”
Ailin tucked away the map and stood.
As Woojin said, she’d overdone it.
Unlike the heroes who fully recovered on level up, she couldn’t, so she was exhausted.
Though she’d gained tremendous skill in the process.
Ailin returned to her room with a weary smile, leaving Woojin alone in the living room.
“Hmm.”
He replayed his conversation with Ailin.
‘Kratoss, huh...’
Could he hunt it without ‘Demon King Transformation’?
‘Might be too much for now.’
He’d know for sure once he faced it.
Worst case, use ‘Demon King Transformation’—no real danger.
‘I really should visit soon.’
Woojin sank into the sofa with a faint look of anticipation.
But he didn’t know.
That at this very moment,
Beings were approaching Kratoss.