Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Gerald the Dark Elf
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#36.
Where on the continent knows the most about monsters?
Some would say the Empire's Magic Tower, others the Grothas Kingdom in the east.
Not wrong answers.
They had researched monsters for ages.
But if asked for the place that knows monsters the *most*, everyone would name one spot.
The Kingdom of Zion.
They had waged nonstop war against monsters for centuries, amassing knowledge far superior to any other nation on the continent.
New recruits in the Massive Guardians were handed monster manuals first thing.
Zion also knew plenty about other races.
Monsters and other races tainted by demonic energy were inseparably linked.
They were rare these days, but just over a decade ago, the Demon King's followers had once plunged the Massive Guardians into peril.
So no one here understood the situation better than Ailin, the Zion knight.
“What do you mean?”
Immense damage?
The goblins outnumbered expectations, but their current forces could wage war against a minor nation.
“It seems an entire Dark Elf tribe is involved. Otherwise, they couldn’t command that many goblins.”
A Dark Elf tribe usually numbered 100 to 200.
Each Dark Elf warrior was said to match an upper knight in strength.
If Ailin was right and the whole tribe was here?
*Big trouble.*
They had the elite friends and himself, so they could win a fight.
But the knights?
Could knights mostly made of lower-to-mid ranks withstand a Dark Elf assault?
While defending against a barrage of poison needles from 1,500 goblins?
“Tough.”
Seo Woojin realized Ailin hadn’t spoken lightly.
It wasn’t about winning or losing—it was survival.
“But why are those guys acting like that?”
“They plan to press the attack.”
“Are they insane?”
Seo Woojin stared at the knights in disbelief.
“Shouldn’t you talk to them? If they charge now, you’re all dead.”
“They’ve already closed their ears.”
They had no intention of listening to Ailin.
“Even if retreating, they want some achievement first.”
That was a knight’s pride.
To Ailin, who risked her life on subjugations yearly, it was incomprehensible.
“Then shouldn’t we retreat at least?”
Those knights weren’t comrades who’d fought alongside in the Massive Guardians.
Seo Woojin had no reason to worry about their lives.
Just protect Lee Ji-ah and Kim Da-hye...
“Damn, too late.”
Swooooosh—.
Wind blew in.
Not chilling like the north, nor warm like the Empire.
Just thick with killing intent that raised goosebumps.
“Dodge!”
Seo Woojin warned sharply, grabbed Ailin, and leaped away.
KABOOM—!
A massive explosion erupted.
* * *
“Director!”
Vedas, a senior Crusiel agent, burst through the director’s office door.
Rude as hell, but Agna didn’t scold—instead, she held out her hand.
“Red alert!”
Proving his words, the paper Vedas handed was red.
“Hmm...”
Agna scanned the contents in seconds.
“Headache.”
The intel was too late.
*Those damn bastards!*
With the Demon King’s descent nearing, they were rampaging too.
“Reliability?”
“99% certain.”
“So at least 150 Dark Elves at the subjugation site?”
Far beyond estimates.
“The knights there should hold them off...”
BAM—!
“Director!”
The door shattered open again.
Agna extended her hand for another red paper.
“Shit.”
Her face twisted.
She hadn’t looked this grim even at the Dark Elf intel.
“Raise alert to black. Contact fiefdoms near the subjugation site. Dispatch knights and soldiers immediately. And relay to ‘Him’ too.”
“Got it!”
The latecomer agent bolted out without catching breath.
“W-what’s happening?”
150 Dark Elves seemed dire enough to him.
But something worse had cropped up.
“Gerald appeared at the subjugation site.”
* * *
“Damn, what the hell?”
Seo Woojin spat curses at the greater-than-expected shockwave.
*What? Magic?*
Enough to blast him and nearby knights alike.
Had to be magic.
But raising his head, Seo Woojin doubted his eyes.
“...An axe?”
At the explosion’s epicenter stuck a massive axe.
*No way the impact from an axe embedding caused that shockwave?*
Possible?
As Seo Woojin eyed the axe skeptically, Ailin gripped his arm tight.
“We need to run.”
Her hand trembled.
*Run? Ailin said *run*?*
Sure, he’d planned retreat too.
But *run* and *retreat* carried different weights.
From prideful knight Ailin, no less.
“What the hell is that axe?”
Seo Woojin asked, pulling Ailin up.
“You know my name already? You look young for that. Ah, a Zion knight.”
A voice came from behind.
Voice?
More like nails on metal, laced with blood stench.
Seo Woojin instinctively drew his black sword and swung back.
Slash—!
A clean strike slicing air.
But...
“Hoh, you the hero summoned this time? Quite capable.”
The blade missed.
But it let Seo Woojin see him.
Black skin, glowing yellow eyes.
Pointed ears.
“...Dark Elf?”
Perfectly matching his name in appearance.
Androgynous beauty, slender build.
“Gerald.”
Ailin gritted through clenched teeth.
His name, apparently.
“For a filthy Demon King footwipe to show his face.”
Harsh words from Ailin.
*Named one!*
Seo Woojin gauged the foe: top-tier Dark Elf powerhouse.
“Ugh...”
“What the...”
Flung knights regained senses.
Spotted the axe and Gerald.
“Crazy, Gera—!”
The first to recognize him floated headless in air.
Gerald had sliced his head with a hand chop.
“I prefer quiet. So shut up.”
With grating voice, silence fell.
They’d realized who stood before them.
Pleased?
Gerald smiled faintly.
“Only one hero here?”
He tilted his head oddly.
“Well. Doesn’t matter.”
Gerald walked to his axe.
Twice his size, yet pulled free effortlessly.
“Everyone dies anyway.”
Viscous energy oozed from the axe.
*Mana? No, demonic energy!*
Seo Woojin knew of demonic energy.
Dank, repulsive, mind-corroding.
But...
*Cozy?*
Like the black space at level-up.
Mother’s embrace warm.
Others disagreed.
“Ugh!”
Ailin grimaced.
She raised mana against it, but mid-rank knight strength fell short.
Same for other knights.
Only Seo Woojin stood unaffected.
*What to do?*
He faked agony to blend.
No drawing suspicion.
But pondered.
*Attack?*
No.
Gerald seemed half-Slayer tier monster.
All mana and skills wouldn’t dent meaningfully.
Scratches at best.
Attacking was suicide.
*But can’t just sit!*
As Seo Woojin clutched his head,
Shiiiing—!
A sword flew.
Sword-shaped *aura*, precisely.
“Hm?”
Gerald, reveling over writhing foes, raised his axe.
Thud—!
Aura met axe and vanished easily.
But not pointless.
Gerald staggered back steps, shock unabsorbed.
“Well now. Another hero, huh.”
“Stop!”
Elite friends appeared.
Faint light cloaked them.
Shielding from demonic energy.
“...Saintess?”
Gerald’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Heard this summoning was a huge success, but a saintess too?”
His gaze locked on Seong Yu-ra.
“Good I came myself. Nearly botched the plan.”
He swung the axe.
Child’s play motion, horrific result.
KABOOM—!
Earth flipped, black surge charged.
Ferocious, potent beyond Seo Woojin’s aura.
“Not on my watch!”
Baek Si-woo stepped up, thrusting sword.
Opposite Gerald’s: pure white, radiant aura.
BOOM—!
Irresistible black aura vanished traceless.
“Heh, these heroes are something. Blocking my strike before proper growth.”
Gerald eyed Baek Si-woo more shocked than at Seong Yu-ra.
“Then block this too.”
Gerald’s axe cleaved air again.
And then,
Seo Woojin moved.