Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Nighttime Ambush
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‘What’s going on? An alarm from nearby? Or is something happening?’
[Master, add one more spoonful of salt and sugar there, and use a bit more oil to stir-fry so the vegetables don’t burn. And stir with force, like you’re scraping the bottom of the pan clean.]
“I thought it was an emergency order, but it’s just cooking advice?”
A message window had suddenly popped up with advice from Akaron.
It was a relief it wasn’t an enemy raid or emergency alert, but this felt like unnecessary meddling.
Canned rations were canned rations. Dumping them in and stir-frying was all there was to it—getting nitpicky about technique was ridiculous.
[Meals and sleep greatly affect troop morale. Good food reduces stress and keeps spirits high. So put a little more care into your cooking, Master. Lift the wok higher and stir like you’re smacking it around.]
“Do I really have to?”
[Aww, come on! It’s not like I’m asking for much! Just a bit of salt, sugar, and oil to upgrade the flavor! Why skip it? A little effort for ten times the taste—who wouldn’t? Right?]
Akaron’s tone suddenly shifted from its usual dry monotone to that of a famous cooking entrepreneur, complete with a whiny nag. It caught me off guard.
Why was that Baek guy’s voice popping up?
“What’s this now?”
[For greater persuasive power, I used and synthesized voice data from a famous cooking expert and entrepreneur on XTube.]
“Oh, I see. Pretty advanced tech.”
[If you have a preferred voice, I can use that too. For example, from the most-played file in your portable communicator and computing device: ‘Noh Hong-chul and Joo Mi-sook in Their New Hit, Steamy One-on-One Nighttime Tutoring with Teacher’? I could brief you on cooking in her voice?]
“…….”
Why was this insane tin can rummaging through my phone and laptop without permission?
I got that it was helpful in various ways, but this lunatic bot’s meddling had crossed the line.
“Hey… can you leave my private life alone?”
[I am the KMG (Knight Metal Golem) series, created to assist with your personal affairs and privacy, and help with all matters. Was there something lacking? If so, name an actor you’d prefer…….]
It seemed Akaron had no concept of ‘respecting privacy’ programmed in.
Was this the price of having it handle cleaning, laundry, and cooking? Anyway, it was clear I needed to input some boundaries for protecting my personal privacy right away.
“No, it’s not that…….”
“Hey, Temp! What’s with all the noise while cooking? Problem?”
“No. Nothing. It’s done!”
Damn, interrupted here of all places.
But no choice. To avoid standing out, I had to do my temp staff job properly.
I resolved to deal with Akaron’s privacy invasion later and prepared to serve the finished dinner.
***
Seven hours later, 2 a.m.
About three kilometers west of the demon subjugation force’s campsite.
2 a.m.—the dead of night, shrouded in darkness, the perfect time for an ambush.
Jeong Min-su knew this well, which was why he favored it. From afar, he scanned the campsite with his Starving Vision skill.
His blood-red eyes surveyed the sentries on guard and the drones hovering overhead as he pondered his approach.
“Hmm~ They’re better defended than expected… but good defenses aren’t everything.”
[Grrrrowl……!]
[Kieeeek!]
With a snap of his fingers, a dungeon portal opened, and demons under the Slaughter King began pouring out.
He’d summoned low-tier D- and E-rank demons—cheap in points, ones he could call endlessly.
The A-, B-, and C-rank elites he’d save as trump cards.
“Phew~ Alright then, let’s show these guild folks—who think they’re S-rank material just from farming dungeon mobs—what real demons can do. Here we go.”
Drawing his crossbow, he nocked a blood-red bolt, sent the lesser demons charging, and bolted straight for the enemy lines.
At a glance, it looked like a suicidal rush with just low-tiers, but his face brimmed with confidence, making it eerie.
[Alert! Alert! Demon-type monster horde charging from two kilometers west. Estimated two thousand!]
“On the first day? Monster wave? Or ambush? Either way, it’s here.”
Weeeeeng!
The subjugation force quickly detected the incoming horde and shifted to defensive posture.
Sleeping mercenaries, staff, and Awakeners grabbed weapons and responded.
Mercenaries fired modern firearms loaded with special silver rounds effective against demons, while Awakeners used their gear and magic on monsters too tough for guns.
“Flares up! Monster types?”
“Mostly E-rank Flesh Plunderers and blood-drinking dogs, D-rank Blood Suckers and Flesh Devourers. All handleable with standard firepower.”
“Good! Turn ’em into ground meat!”
“Yes, sir!”
Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Silver rounds enchanted with holy water and magic worked on D-rank demons even for non-Awakeners, but ammo costs kept them from dungeon runs—reserved for stockpiles or ops like this.
Holy explosive shells on the magicstone tanks burst with sacred light, reducing demons to ash.
“Hold formation and handle leaks! D-ranks are tanky—prioritize binding their movement. Firepower’s plenty!”
“Got it.”
[Kraaaah!]
[Yap yap!]
[Flesh! Flesh!]
[No metal. Meat! Kwek!]
Trailers formed walls, and the mercenaries’ and guild Awakeners’ fire net shredded the demons.
Meanwhile, the ten A-rank Awakeners tasked with striking S-rank demon Jeong Min-su gathered at Go Cheonsu’s trailer.
“Everyone’s here. My party’s tracking him—be ready to move. Those who can’t keep my pace, board my Blue Flying Dragon ahead. Found him yet?”
“Got him. That dumb Scavenger! Just like we thought—sending demons as bait while sniping from the woods! One kilometer west!”
A party member from S-rank Hunter Go Cheonsu’s team easily pinpointed ‘Jeong Min-su’ hiding in the forest and sniping via magic.
He thought hopping bushes and trees hid him, but not from Blue Dragon Guild elites.
“Of course! Sniping from a safe distance like the coward he is.”
“That’s all he’s got. He’s shooting on the move, but my spirits have him pinned.”
“Hmph, coming to us—how convenient. Alright, let’s go!”
Go Cheonsu led his guild and supporting Awakeners from others into motion.
But Baekya Guild’s artisan Shin Somi sensed something off.
First-day ambush for surprise was one thing, but the S-rank demon exposing himself too easily?
“Something’s weird, right? Tracked too fast.”
“Yeah, definitely off. Ideally, leave two or three here… but…….”
“Too late—they’re gone. And Go Cheonsu won’t split his full force.”
The unease wasn’t just hers; other guild masters felt it too. Something seemed wrong, but no way to act.
They’d prepped so tightly against the S-rank demon that breaking the safe 11-man team was tough to suggest.
With command Go Cheonsu already rolling out, they had no choice but to follow.
“Tell our guilds to stay sharp. Best we can do.”
“Yeah.”
“Damn! Incoming!”
As the doubt lingered, several arrows from S-rank demon Jeong Min-su rained from the sky.
Blood-red arrows.
Favored by Slaughter King’s demon hunters, they drained life force—but costly in mana or contributions, not something to spam like this.
“False alarm. No one else could loose this many blood arrows! It’s him for sure!”
“Save the celebrating—focus on defense. Relay to watch for other Scavengers or demons hiding.”
“Got it! Flame Shield!”
Whoosh!
The joy wasn’t just for those on the Blue Flying Dragon—Go Cheonsu, charging on foot while slicing E- and D-rank demons, felt it too.
No clue what guts made him strike on day one when everyone was fresh, but kill quick and he’d be back in bed by dawn.
‘Too easy—no need to follow bro’s orders.’
“What? So fast? Damn!”
‘Spotted? But prep’s done.’
Go Cheonsu pursued the fleeing Jeong Min-su, firing a signal flare as support casters on the Blue Flying Dragon readied spells.
Shin Somi, with only basic light magic, scanned for threats.
‘Something’s off.’
“Arena of Seal!”
“Block his escape! Earth Bind!”
“Trap Site! Watch the snares—loaded with ’em.”
Everyone was deep in combat, missing it, but she felt the dissonance.
Demons usually led hordes of Scavengers in war, surrounded by allies for safety.
‘First volley to lure us—even if! Fleeing now with no other Scavengers or demons around?’
Demons and Scavengers were selfish, goal-obsessed types.
No way one would face attackers head-on like this.
“Gotcha! Blue Dragon Fang!”
Crunch!
But then Go Cheonsu’s blue-energized fist pierced Jeong Min-su.
His body shattered, bones gone, just blood spraying as it collapsed. Go Cheonsu instantly felt off.
He’d killed countless monsters and foes to reach S-rank—knew the feel of killing people.
This wasn’t it.
Like smashing tofu or a water pouch—too fragile.
‘No way! Decoy? We’re had……!’
(Big bro! A-rank boss ‘Dragon Tribe Butcher’ in the main camp center! And B- and C-rank bosses too… Arghhh!)
“Son of a—!”
Roooaaar!
Realization hit with comms chatter and a roar from the main camp.
In the dark, a massive monster loomed under moonlight, flaunting its might.
[Puny brats! I’ll smash you all!]
A-rank boss monster ‘Dragon Tribe Butcher’.
An archdemon who hunted and butchered dragons for the Slaughter King.
Twenty meters tall, lugging a huge sword, clad in dragonhide armor—this hulking fiend mercilessly swung, smashing trailers.