Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Unmasking the Second Impostor
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Crash!
Klibram tumbled across the ground.
Even so, as befitting a 15-Ascension Hero-grade Pioneer, he managed to roll properly.
But the force of the blow was too overwhelming, sending him skidding much farther than expected.
Klibram staggered to his feet.
His face was etched with sheer bewilderment.
That single strike he'd just taken.
It was undoubtedly on par with Hero-grade power.
'W-what the...'
Could a top-tier Pioneer really unleash that kind of force?
No wonder Pioneers kept dropping like flies.
Klibram found himself understanding without thinking.
And realizing that meant...
'...No hidden tricks—he's the real deal?'
Pure physical strength from a top-tier Pioneer's body packing this much punch.
He simply couldn't believe it.
This was practically cheating.
"See? Wakes you right up, doesn't it?"
Leyzon's voice rang in Klibram's stunned ears.
When he looked up, Leyzon was grinning ear to ear.
"Believe it now?"
"This..."
But Klibram couldn't protest the unfairness.
He'd felt it with his own body.
That power was genuinely Hanok's.
"Black Goat, quit harassing our innocent guildmate and get back to your seat."
The Water Buffalo snorted through his nostrils, berating Klibram.
Klibram looked like he had plenty to say.
But he couldn't utter a word.
He'd essentially proven Hanok's innocence with his own body.
"D-damn it."
In the end, Klibram slumped his shoulders and trudged away dejectedly.
"Hanok, put your armor back on."
"Y-yes, sir."
Hanok hurriedly donned his armor again.
Leyzon watched him with a smile playing on his lips.
'Working better than expected.'
Hanok's appearance just moments ago.
It was like thinly layering haron over Iden's straw frame.
Haron was living armor.
With its ability to shift into any form,
it could perfectly mimic human skin as well.
Coating Iden's intricate straw muscles with haron resulted
in skin that looked utterly convincing.
Klibram hadn't noticed a thing.
He might suspect some trick in his mind,
but without proof, his claims were meaningless.
Now, all the suspicious glances at Hanok had vanished.
Thankfully, Klibram had personally vouched for his innocence.
Nothing could be more grateful.
"Water Buffalo."
Leyzon called, and the Water Buffalo immediately perked up his lips.
"Don't worry. I'll gouge him good this time."
"You bastard, you're not as dumb as you look?"
"Huh? I've always been smart."
He ignored the last part.
Now, all that remained was to thoroughly dominate the tournament and claim the prizes.
"Hanok, good work."
"Ugh, yes."
Things had come to this anyway.
Hanok had given up and accepted reality.
At that moment.
"Syria?"
Leyzon echoed back at the sudden call.
Another one hiding their identity besides Hanok.
Back at his seat, Leyzon sank into quiet thought.
This sudden hidden-identity participant.
According to Syria, it was another 15-Ascension Hero-grade.
'Why are all these flies buzzing around a dukedom tournament?'
Leyzon leaned back in his seat, irritation plain on his face.
Clearly, the prizes had drawn them in.
'...Hero-grades aren't exactly common.'
Hero-grades didn't lead major guilds for nothing.
Yet here they kept popping up.
Leyzon could only swallow a dry laugh.
Top-tier Pioneers would weep at this rate.
Leyzon crossed his arms.
"Syria."
"Can Iden beat a Hero-grade Pioneer with just straw puppets?"
To Iden and Syria, Hero-grade Pioneers were ant-level.
But that was only when unleashing their full power.
Iden was currently restricted in curses and darkness.
All he could use were straw puppet techniques.
And even those were held back to avoid revealing his undead nature.
He let the last part slide.
'Even Iden has to put in some effort against a Hero-grade Pioneer.'
Leyzon pondered for a moment.
"Syria, any Necromancers here?"
Mages were sensitive to mana.
Any hint of undead aura would give it away.
'What a mess.'
Leyzon mulled over his options briefly.
"Something wrong?"
Oberizel, who had been watching quietly from the side, asked.
"One of the participants is a Hero-grade Pioneer hiding their strength."
"What? A cheater with no shame."
"Right? Total scumbag."
Far off, Hanok sneezed for some reason.
Leyzon, of course, was unfazed.
"Just figuring out how to have Hanok crush the guy."
Oberizel stroked his chin slowly at Leyzon's words.
"Do we really need to fight in the arena?"
Leyzon slowly looked up at what came next.
Oberizel spoke as if it were no big deal.
"If they're cheating anyway, no need to even let them on stage."
"Damn, what a villain."
Leyzon eyed Oberizel with a weary look.
"Let's do it now."
You should've said that sooner.
Leyzon felt no need for further deliberation.
The opponent had played dirty already.
No reason to hold back.
'Just.'
Take them out before the arena.
Hell, beat them down and expose their true power in front of everyone.
Pioneer IDs don't lie.
They must be using a forged one, so uncover the real deal and broadcast it.
"I feel this burning sense of duty to keep the tournament pure."
"...Pure?"
Oberizel murmured unwittingly, but Leyzon didn't respond.
"Be right back."
Justice was on their side.
"Syria."
But as he moved to prove it,
his eyes gleamed coldly.
"Guide me."
Time to catch the fraud scamming on someone else's turf.
A secluded corner of the rest area.
A woman with deeply tanned skin leaned against the wall.
Her top was light and revealing, exposing plenty of skin.
But her bottom was a long skirt brushing the floor.
A brooch gleamed amid her reddish-brown hair.
Her name was Soaz.
A tournament participant.
"What's so special about an SS-grade Skill Generator anyway?"
Soaz muttered quietly to herself.
She was currently concealing her presence with special gear.
Her true skill rivaled Hero-grade.
'SS-grade skills can be hunted directly from dungeons.'
She'd come here on a single request.
The one she served needed the SS-grade Skill Generator.
'They could've sent someone else.'
Soaz thought that, then shook her head.
'Nah, won't work.'
Recalling the guys she lived with, she couldn't in good conscience send another.
'Too trusted for my own good.'
As Soaz puffed up a bit,
thud, thud—
a set of footsteps reached her ears.
Soaz's gaze naturally followed the sound.
With her sharp hearing, she knew exactly where they were headed.
A man entered her view.
Nothing special, aside from his fierce-faced Half Dark Elf features.
His aura suggested around 10 Ascensions.
Then the man stopped right in front of her.
And casually leaned against the wall beside her.
Soaz felt an odd sense of dissonance from him.
Clearly just a run-of-the-mill 10-Ascension Pioneer.
Yet something kept nagging at her.
"Hey."
The man spoke.
Soaz's delicate brows furrowed slightly at his voice.
She'd been through this a few times since arriving.
"No thanks if it's about hunting."
Soaz was a tall, stunning beauty.
And this place teemed with arrogant top-tier Pioneers.
Naturally, men had approached her repeatedly.
She was thoroughly sick of pickup attempts.
"It's fine. Syria, behave."
The man muttered to himself for some reason.
He was staring down at his shadow.
'Crazy?'
Not the type she wanted to associate with.
Then the man looked up again.
"Let's talk."
He flashed a refreshingly warm smile.
Persistent.
But his eyes held no predatory glint.
"...Do you need something from me?"
Still, he felt like bad news.
As Soaz responded curtly, the man stared at her intently.
Then he lowered his stance slightly, as if broaching a delicate topic.
An inexplicable pressure emanated from him.
"Your Hero-grade Pioneer status is exposed. No need to make this messy—let's chat out back."
Soaz's brows twitched.
Her eyes changed in an instant.
Whoosh—
Her hand moved faster than anyone could react.
A needle flicked from her grip straight for the man's throat.
Thuk!
A thin needle embedded in Leyzon's neck.
Coated with a sedative that could fell a 1-ton beast.
She had no intent to kill.
But the unease from Leyzon demanded quick handling.
Better to neutralize a shady guy like this fast.
That was her judgment.
And soon.
Soaz's face froze solid.
Scratch—
The man scratched his neck itchily.
Then casually plucked out the needle.
"Nice poison you've got there."
Soaz stared at him blankly.
Ample time for the sedative to spread.
Yet he stood nonchalantly.
As if it hadn't affected him at all.
"Great gift."
He smiled like he'd received premium ginseng for the holidays.
Grateful, even.
"Guess I should return the favor?"
Chills erupted across Soaz's body at that smile.
Now she got it.
First thing she should've done: bolt from here.
But realization came too late.
Her waist yanked back in an instant.
Something slammed her nape hard.
Her consciousness snuffed out.
Moments later, the rest area stood empty.
Only the brooch Soaz had worn
lay abandoned on the floor.