EP7. North Korean Gate
Kurada shuddered at the appearance of the Death Knight.
It was a terror of death unlike anything he'd felt since awakening.
"...Who among you is the strongest?"
The Death Knight repeated the exact words he'd said to Kurada earlier, scanning the hunters.
But.
Contrary to Kurada's expectations, its gaze didn't turn to him.
'A Korean hunter?'
The Death Knight was addressing Jae-jun.
A wave of relief washed over Kurada's body, mingled with a mad surge of jealousy.
He knew exactly what that gaze meant.
'You think I'm weaker than that punk?'
His eyes blazed with fury, forgetting the pain and humiliation from moments ago.
Grind.
'No one can be stronger than me!'
Kurada glared at Jang Gil-san.
'I'll kill them all.'
His hand gripped the handle of the dagger hidden inside his coat.
—
Jae-jun sharply sized up the Death Knight, gauging its level.
In terms of mana, it was comparable to the Paris demon tribe.
But the aura it exuded was chilling.
Far more destructive and eerie.
"Hmm."
"President Jang Gil-san, how long is the cooldown on this barrier?"
"Three hours."
Three hours was too long.
It looked like Jae-jun would have to step out and fight himself.
As Jae-jun walked to the edge of the barrier, Jang Gil-san and a few hunters followed.
"We'll fight alongside you."
"We can't let you fight alone."
Jae-jun shook his head, feeling a swell of pride at their words.
"I won't be fighting alone."
When Jae-jun extended his hand, fifty familiar stone golems poured forth.
And when he extended it again, new summons he'd never seen before flooded out.
Five familiars.
—
TV Goeryo's announcer was more excited than she'd ever been in her life.
When the Japanese hunters suddenly vanished, she'd nearly cursed out loud in her agitation.
And when Jae-jun stepped up right after, pushing back the monsters with the Korean hunters and securing the gate, she'd jumped to her feet cheering.
On any normal broadcast, she'd have been disciplined and fired on the spot. But right now, the entire nation felt the same.
Everyone glued to their TVs, gripping their seats as they watched the Korean hunters' heroics.
The broadcast stretched live across the world, not just Korea.
Japan was instantly branded traitors and scum globally, drowning in backlash.
Japan's own citizens echoed the outrage, condemning their Hunter Association and demanding Nakamura Shibashiki's resignation.
"Damn it!"
Shibashiki dialed Kurada, desperate to call him back, but Kurada didn't pick up.
To make matters worse, the screens clearly showed Kurada begging the victorious Korean hunters for his life.
He was the polar opposite of his usual suave demeanor.
"Why the hell isn't that bastard answering?!"
He needed to at least warn him this was being broadcast.
There was no way to reach him.
All he could do was pray Kurada stayed put and did nothing.
But.
That expression.
And the hand slipping into his coat—Shibashiki clutched his face.
If he killed Jang Gil-san in front of the whole world...
That would truly be the end of Japan.
TV Goeryo's announcer shouted as the Death Knight appeared on screen.
"What is that thing?"
"Reporter Park Dae-gi?"
Park Dae-gi hadn't responded since his earpiece apparently malfunctioned.
Instead, a panelist answered—a professor who specialized in monster research.
"Ahem."
"From what I can see, given its appearance and ability to speak, it's probably a Death Knight."
"Death... Knight?"
"It looks strong even at a glance."
"Yes."
"Of course. It's no exaggeration to say it's the reason no one's cleared this dungeon yet."
"It's occasionally appeared as a boss in A-rank or S-rank dungeons, but this is the first time one's shown up in the field like this."
"...The Korean hunters can handle it, right?"
"Just one, so sure."
"Two might be tough... maybe..."
Before the professor could finish, multiple Death Knights appeared around the barrier on screen.
Easily more than five.
"...Professor?"
The professor clamped his mouth shut.
Then Jae-jun reappeared on screen.
Shouts of "Hero!" erupted everywhere.
"D-Did the Hero just say he's fighting alone?"
"..."
Park Dae-gi's response was inaudible.
Jae-jun exchanged a few words with Jang Gil-san and stepped out of the barrier.
Summons poured out right beside him.
—
"I've gotten stronger!!!"
Arthur, the skeleton knight, approached Jae-jun and bowed.
Flames sparked each time Igrito's blazing mane cloak fluttered.
Arthur drew his Life-Stealing Sword and stepped forward, pointing at the Death Knight.
Then, one by one, the half-troll The Big and half-ogre Weger took positions beside him.
"We serve our lord!"
"...We serve our lord!"
The half-lich Merlin and giant centipede Centipede stood directly behind Jae-jun.
Centipede was one thing, but since when was the lich this cowardly?
As Jae-jun stared at Merlin, the mage sheepishly turned away.
'Sigh.'
"Merlin, support Arthur, The Big, and Weger during the fight. Centipede, jump in only if things look dangerous, got it?"
"I've gotten stronger!!!"
"Understood!"
"...Understood!"
"...Yes!"
Could they really fight well?
Still, most were C- or B-rank, linked to Jae-jun's mana, so they'd hold their own normally.
Jae-jun pointed at the Death Knights.
"The Big, Weger—grab any armor or weapons you find on those things and equip them right away."
Aside from the skeleton knight Arthur, the others were unequipped.
"We'll do our best!"
"...We'll do our best!"
At some point, the two had started parroting each other.
Seemed like the ogre Weger was just mimicking.
Whatever.
Let's wrap this up quick and head into the gate!
Jae-jun charged the nearest Death Knight.
Raphael's Sword was already in his hand from his inventory.
'Acceleration!'
Acceleration!
Jae-jun's body was burning with anticipation.
The rewards for the class quest and Lucifer's soul fragment were right in front of him.
'Just take these guys down!'
He kicked off the ground and shot forward.
'Heavenly Steel!'
Heavenly Steel!
The Death Knight raised its greatsword to block, but the first strike bounced it away as the second sliced its wrist.
Slash.
Black energy billowed from the severed wrist.
Jae-jun pressed the attack without pause.
Once more.
'Heavenly Steel!'
Heavenly Steel!
It blocked with the greatsword again, but staggered.
The second strike pierced its skull.
Thud!
Jae-jun didn't even glance at the falling Death Knight as he rushed the next one.
Were the familiars holding up?
As expected, they couldn't handle a Death Knight one-on-one and were teaming up.
The Big and Weger tanked while Merlin buffed and hurled ice spells from behind to control them.
"Frost Barrier!"
"Ice Bolt!"
Arthur charged like a berserker, carving wounds into the Death Knights.
Black energy similar to the Death Knights' wafted from his Plunderer's Sword.
"I've gotten stronger!!!"
'Same undead, so similar energy.'
Weger and The Big hammered away eagerly.
"Graaaah!"
"Mine first!"
Even slashed or severed by greatswords, the familiars regenerated instantly using Jae-jun's mana. They never tired or fell.
Finally, one of the Death Knights they faced collapsed, drained of power.
Thud.
Realizing fighting the familiars was pointless, the Death Knights swarmed Jae-jun.
They understood the summons would keep regenerating until the summoner died.
"Human."
"You're the strongest."
"At least stronger than you lot."
Three Death Knights stood before Jae-jun.
The one in the rear gleamed from within its helm and spoke.
"I am the Death Knight of the great Satan, seated upon the Throne of Wrath."
"Offer your body to Satan!"
Jae-jun couldn't help but chuckle.
"Why do so many want my body?"
"Lucifer, the demon tribe... Did I rub honey on it or something?"
As he spoke, he placed a hand on another Death Knight's head.
Its black energy was sucked out and funneled into one knight.
Grind!
Grrrind!
The Death Knight's body swelled to three times its size.
Thud!
The ground cratered just from stepping forward.
"Offer your body to Satan!"
"Reservations are full!"
The Death Knight lunged with surprising speed for its bulk.
Jae-jun met it head-on.
Michael's sword clashed with the greatsword, sending shockwaves that whipped up wind.
'Orc Champion level?'
Tough, but not unbeatable.
Grrrind!
Jae-jun poured more strength into his grip on Michael's sword, shoving the greatsword back and seizing momentum.
That was when it happened.
Something opened its eyes inside the Death Knight's helm, which had been filled only with black smoke.
'Huh?'
Crack.
A sinister, blood-red eyeball.
And a voice utterly unlike before emanated from the Death Knight.
—Author's Note—
Thank you.