Chapter 85
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: The First Quest is Rewarding!
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Gangcheolsan slammed into the wall, and the instant he did, I closed the distance to right in front of him.
"Number 12."
I swapped out my large shield and mace for a greatsword and slung it over my shoulder.
"Come on, let's keep going. You want to kill me, don't you?"
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Gangcheolsan, embedded in the wall, let out a roar and swung his greatsword.
Claaang!
I casually deflected his attack with one hand on my greatsword.
"What's wrong? Why are you using attacks even a rookie like me can block? If you really want to kill me, put some real effort into it."
I kept taunting Gangcheolsan relentlessly.
He ground his teeth with a crunching sound, veins bulging thick on his forearms as he poured every ounce of strength into his next swing.
"Dieeeee!"
A barrage of slashes came at me—far faster than anyone wielding a greatsword should manage.
But that level of speed was nothing I couldn't handle.
Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!
I blocked Gangcheolsan's flurry of strikes by angling my greatsword's flat side with short, precise adjustments.
And midway through, I deliberately left an opening at my side.
"...! Destroy Edge!"
Spotting the gap I'd created, Gangcheolsan grinned and unleashed a horizontal slash skill aimed at my flank.
It packed enough power to critically wound an ordinary Hunter.
But.
Thwack!
Before turning twenty, I'd maxed out my stats to mid-to-late-game levels. To me, this was something I could block barehanded.
It required a hefty infusion of mana, but with enough mana, it wasn't hard at all.
"Wha... what!?"
And the result far exceeded the mana I'd invested.
Gangcheolsan refused to acknowledge the skill gap out of sheer pride.
He probably rationalized his failed super moves by telling himself I'd used mine too—it was unavoidable.
But having his skill-blocked by my bare hand? That had to hit him like a thunderbolt.
"You... what the hell are you!? What are you, you monster bastard?!"
"Who's the monster? I'm Rubelt Eldra."
I slammed the flat of my greatsword into the side of Gangcheolsan's head.
Thwack!
"Gahk!"
"Do you really think the man who's going to lead the Eldra family would lose to a scrub like you?"
'Getting taken down by a chapter one boss would be a total disaster.'
"No... no way. You expect me to believe a punk like you is just barely turning twenty? Don't make me laugh!"
Gangcheolsan couldn't accept the blatant gap in talent and skill—he was deep in denial.
"Uwaaaah!"
Gangcheolsan tried to swing the greatsword I had gripped in my hand to create some distance.
But my iron grip didn't budge, and before he could flail any more, I drove the blade deep into his shoulder.
Squelch!
"Gaaaaah!"
Gangcheolsan's scream echoed through the cave.
"Gangcheolsan. As a Stranger, you've injured countless civilians and taken lives. It's time you paid for your crimes."
In the game, it was just a throwaway text line, but in reality, the news often reported on Stranger Gangcheolsan—incidents where police, civilians, and even a few Hunters had been hurt or killed.
Honestly, it never sat right with me seeing those reports.
News of someone dying was never good, period.
Thanks to the Stranger's unique mobility, there was no real way to track Gangcheolsan unless you followed the original story.
But now, because of my actions, I'd dealt with him far ahead of schedule.
Was this the payoff for all my hard work so far?
When I first encountered Gangcheolsan here, I'd hesitated for a moment.
Was it okay to take him down right now?
Won't this deviate too much from the original?
But on second thought, pulling Hubunkun—who was fated to become a Stranger—to my side had already created massive divergences.
Taking out Gangcheolsan now would actually give me more breathing room.
In the original story, Gangcheolsan didn't show up until much later, in a D-rank dungeon.
To counter the protagonist—who'd unleashed ominous power during the last event—the Strangers would take out the boss monster ahead of the protagonists' party and lie in wait for a showdown.
That duel event with Gangcheolsan was at least three weeks away.
I'd worried what ripples killing him now might cause, but after mulling it over, there was no real need.
Gangcheolsan was just a chapter one boss at best, and his antics were mostly petty nuisances.
His skill level was low enough that even within the Stranger organization, he probably didn't hold a high rank.
Instead.
Yeah, instead, taking him out here would free up time to focus on enjoying moments with my girls.
In other words, killing Gangcheolsan now caused no issues and nipped a future headache in the bud. Nothing but upsides.
So.
"I don't expect a criminal like you to repent. So... just die quietly."
I'd decided to finish Gangcheolsan off.
"Uwaaaaaah!!!"
Did he sense my resolve?
Gangcheolsan panicked and spewed mana wildly.
"Me!? Die!? Here!?"
Boom!
"Ugh...!"
In an instant, Gangcheolsan erupted with ominous mana in a massive blast.
The shockwave sent my body flying back momentarily.
"Guh! Uwaaaaaah!"
Gangcheolsan dropped the greatsword he held and forcibly yanked mine from his shoulder.
Blood poured from the ragged wound, but he ignored it completely.
He bolted toward where Yume and Yesl were.
"Ah!"
"Kyaa!"
Yume and Yesl gasped in horror at Gangcheolsan charging desperately, blood streaming from one shoulder.
His plan to take them hostage and buy time to escape was obvious.
Anyone else might have frozen in panic, too slow to react.
But I knew exactly what kind of guy Gangcheolsan was.
So before he could reach them, I kicked off faster and positioned myself in front of the girls, blocking him.
"Where do you think you're going? We're not done yet."
"Grr...!"
"Thinking you can take Yume and Yesl hostage? You thought I'd just stand by and watch?"
"Ru... Rubelt..."
I clearly heard Yume's voice, full of emotion as she called my name.
Just this moment alone made coming here for the affection event worth it.
Who knew Gangcheolsan would hand-deliver such a favor?
As thanks, I could afford to end him swiftly and painlessly.
"Get out of my way! Uwaaaaaah!"
The cocky Gangcheolsan from when we'd first met was gone.
All that remained was a pathetic villain, crushed by the spec gap, wallowing in despair and lashing out.
Gangcheolsan raised my greatsword high, aiming to bring it crashing down.
But first.
"Number 3."
I drew my katana and activated the skill.
Heavenly Thunder Style: Quick Thunder
Lightning mana enveloped my body.
The speed-renowned skill triggered the moment the katana cleared its sheath.
The blade, wrapped in blue electricity, slashed upward—severing the arm holding the greatsword high, along with Gangcheolsan's neck.
The head of the infamous Stranger Gangcheolsan—who'd caused countless civilian deaths and taken the lives of police and Hunters trying to stop him—tumbled to the ground with a roll.
But that body wouldn't last.
I flicked the katana to shake off the blood and sheathed it. Gangcheolsan's form began crumbling to dust.
Strangers were beings altered by the final boss's power.
Their very existence warped, they dissolved into monster-like dust upon death.
The blood and flesh they left behind all turned to powder and vanished.
"Ru... Rubelt."
"Yume, you okay? What about you, Yesl?"
I turned back with a smile and checked on them.
Important to call Yume's name first—subtly showing I had her on my mind.
"I'm fine."
"Me too... y-yeah, I'm fine."
Kim Yesl stared blankly at the spot where Gangcheolsan had dissolved into dust, still dazed.
It was her first time seeing a Stranger fall apart like that—natural to be fascinated.
A human-like form turning to dust.
But Kim Yesl snapped out of it and turned to me.
"Rubelt! Hurry and help Isihoon and Rize!"
The threat of Gangcheolsan was gone.
Right in front of her was me, having crushed him effortlessly, while Isihoon and Rize were still facing the Great Fire Boar.
Kim Yesl probably wanted the strong me to help her favorite Isihoon.
"Don't worry. They'll be fine."
I glanced back at Isihoon and Rize.
"Isihoon! Now!"
"Thanks! Field deployment!"
Rize had just created an opening in the Great Fire Boar, and Isihoon seized the moment to unleash his super move.
"Secret art... Blaze Impact!"
Roooaaar!
Isihoon swung his flame-wreathed sword—specially effective against monsters and Strangers—at the Great Fire Boar.
Boooom!
-Kweeeeeek!
A deafening explosion rocked the cave, followed by the Great Fire Boar's final death cry.
Struck dead-center by Isihoon's secret art, the Great Fire Boar glowed before crumbling to dust, leaving only materials behind.
"Isihoon... so cool..."
I heard Kim Yesl's voice, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Isihoon.
Isihoon! You've nailed the affection event too!
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