Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Mad Party's Hunting Contest
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By the time this mad party entertaining the demons had ripened to a certain degree.
Pastor Lee climbed onto the party stage, grabbed the microphone, and drew the attention of the demons who had been gorging themselves for a while.
“Aaah~! While expressing our gratitude to the apostles who have graced us with your presence at the opening celebration for ‘Human Ranch No. 2,’ dedicated to our great star, the Slaughter King, I’d like to make a proposal to everyone. As you can see, the ranch facilities are fully complete. However, a ranch truly needs livestock to breed and frolic about… Naturally, using the breeding stock from No. 1 and transferring them here would mean we couldn’t hold banquets for a while.”
[Oink oink! No way! Oink!]
[Mooo! That’s right! No!]
[Woof woof! You bastard, Pastor Lee!]
The demons began to protest, each letting out their distinctive cries.
Seeing this, Pastor Lee thought things were proceeding as he had planned and pulled out the prepared story to soothe these appetite-crazed grand demons.
“But to expand the business and easily obtain more meat, we must increase the population. Even mobilizing our team’s full resources in magic, alchemy, and medicine to minimize the breeding period, it still takes seven years. That’s already miraculous in itself, but to reduce the effort, the correct answer is to ‘hunt’ them down.”
[Cluck cluck! So you need our help after all? How arrogant.]
“Heh heh heh, all of you are the true apostles guarding the grand hall of our great Slaughter King! How dare I presume to command or ask for your help? Think of it as us preparing some entertainment for you. It’s a hunting contest. A privilege of the rulers. And for entertainment, there must be prizes to get the excitement going.”
[Oink oink, prizes?]
[Woof?]
At the word “prizes,” even the other Archdemon Beasts who had been ignoring it to focus on eating turned their heads toward Pastor Lee.
What he brought out was a human trapped inside a massive box.
The problem was that it was a human so enormously obese it sagged the bed, with hoses attached to its mouth and both arms continuously supplying water and food.
“The prize for this hunting contest is a B-rank Awakener whom we’ve fattened to 500 kilograms using ultra-high-calorie foods and alchemical drugs. He’s another experimental subject prepared at our ranch. Moreover, since he’s a B-rank Awakener, his body is far sturdier than a regular human’s, so we expect we can fatten him even more. Probably up to a ton, easily. Heh heh heh.”
[Cluck cluck cluck! A ton!]
[Mooo, impressive!]
[Oink oink, how much could you eat from just that one?]
[Super human? Baaah!]
“We’ll award this experimental subject to the one who brings back the most live prey. Since he’s a B-rank Awakener, eating him as is will fill your soul with satisfaction—a win either way. And offering him to the Slaughter King would yield great merit, so no loss there.”
[Cluck cluck cluck! Th-that’s mine!]
[Baaaaah! Shut up! It’s mine!]
[Neigh! Guess I’ll have to put in some effort for once.]
[Woof woof! Woof woof! Catch lots of humans alive, right? Got it! Woof woof!]
Rumble rumble rumble!
As the ‘Archdemon Beasts’ grew excited, the hotel began to shake, and the mana trembled.
The musicians serving and performing at the party venue writhed in agony, vomiting and bleeding from their noses from the aftermath. Some of the more impatient Archdemon Beasts were already leaping off the hotel rooftop to rush out.
[Woof woof! That meat’s mine!]
“Heh heh, I haven’t even set the deadline yet, and you’re already rushing off~ The period is exactly one week. We’ll give it to whoever catches the most within that week. Tell those who left first. Anyway, feel free to keep enjoying the party if you wish, so those who want to stay, please do.”
But the moment Pastor Lee finished speaking, the other Archdemon Beasts all left the hotel to join the hunt.
Now, only Pastor Lee and a few people remained on the hotel rooftop.
He summoned the Scavengers and immediately issued the next orders.
“The party seems to be over, so clean this place up. And tell the facilities team to prepare to receive the ‘livestock’ the Archdemon Beast sirs will bring back and to count them properly.”
“Y-yes! B-but, is this really okay?”
“What do you mean by that worry? Each of those Archdemon Beast sirs is a grand demon who could boss an S-rank dungeon.”
“Th-that’s just it! If they completely destroy Korea, it’ll cut off the fun and the supply of ready-made goods.”
Naturally, no one expected industrial or agricultural capacity from Scavenger or Demon (Ma-in) cities.
So, regular food and ready-made goods were plundered from Hunters entering dungeons for mana stones or purchased from Scavengers or merchants hiding in the cities.
In other words, total destruction would force even the Scavengers into a primitive life, so it wasn’t something they welcomed.
Just as parasites can’t survive without a host.
“Ah~ No need to worry about that. If it were going to collapse like that, it would have already. Besides, I have plans in place, so don’t fret too much. In fact, if it happens, it’ll make things even easier. It’s simply expanding the human ranch, focused only on productivity, into a full humanity ranch plan.”
‘This crazy bastard, what the hell are you planning?’
Humanity ranch. His subordinate, unable to even imagine what could be madder than what they were already doing, broke out in cold sweat.
Anyway, Pastor Lee smiled enjoyably and began personally clearing the remaining dishes.
***
The next day, at the Academia entrance.
Shin Ayoung gathered the remaining Earth Class and Human Class students at Academia via contact.
To complete their vacation assignment, they boarded Baekya Guild’s trailer and headed for a D-rank dungeon.
“The setup will be me clearing everything while you all watch the surroundings, detect monsters or traps for ranged attacks. Any objections?”
“Well, we have to follow Heaven Class’s lead. Nothing major.”
“Double-check your gear, and our guild members will handle security.”
Now, the innocent demeanor she showed in front of Yoo Seongwon was gone. She wore a responsible expression as Academia’s elite Heaven Class student and party leader.
Equipped with her enchanted martial uniform and combat gauntlets, she gazed at the outside world slowly leaving Seoul and turning into dungeon forest territory, starting to tense up.
‘Hmm… Is it because it’s been a while since I’ve gone into a dungeon? I’m nervous.’
The last time she’d entered a dungeon was three months ago for practical training as an Academia assignment.
Academia’s curriculum, finals, and studies kept her from freely raiding dungeons like Yoo Seongwon.
‘That uncle said he awakened not long ago and trained in dungeons at will, and now he’s ridiculously strong… I even see scary shadows behind him sometimes. Unfair. If I could just focus on being a Hunter, my skills would grow that fast too… But they won’t let me because of my age!’
That uncle, who always seemed annoyed by everything, had become a monster smashing D-rank dungeons in just two months after awakening.
Matching her near-B-rank potential and stats… He could move freely as an adult after awakening, while she couldn’t as a kid—it felt a bit unfair.
Of course, Yoo Seongwon would grimace and freak out if he heard that.
‘Though honestly, that uncle’s progress is abnormal…’
“We’re arriving at the dungeon soon, miss.”
“We’ll guard here, so please come back safely from the dungeon. Haha!”
They were guild members waiting to protect from Scavengers and Demons (Ma-in), but she felt annoyed, like they saw her as a child.
Still, her mother had assigned them, and they were needed to keep the Earth and Human Class kids from feeling anxious.
‘I just want to graduate soon and raid dungeons alone comfortably like that uncle.’
Lost in such thoughts, she entered the dungeon with her party members, and shortly after, the dungeon portal door closed.
The remaining Baekya Guild members stood armed, casually watching the news while keeping watch.
“Man, even the Guild Master can’t help worrying about her daughter. Think of the revenue we’re missing by not raiding dungeons…”
“Sucking honey’s nice, what are you complaining about? We need these breaks sometimes.”
In an area where Scavengers and Demons (Ma-in) appeared, relaxing like this might seem reckless at first glance, but as seasoned Awakeners and Hunters of years, they understood Scavenger psychology well.
Those bastards only targeted easy prey. Few would foolishly charge a Hunter-exclusive trailer equipped with anti-magic, anti-explosion features, full armament, and vigilant occupants.
“Anyway, with Jeong Min-su dead, the Scavengers must be scrambling to restore discipline.”
“Rumor has it ‘Pastor Lee’ took over the territory, and the other Scavengers scattered… Who knows what’ll happen.”
“Eek, that psycho took the territory? Oh man~ Chaos incoming. That bastard’s the one making ranches out of captured people. Should’ve subjugated him instead of Jeong Min-su. Tsk!”
“Subjugating Jeong Min-su was unavoidable after Blue Dragon Guild’s young master got done in. Normally, we don’t touch them.”
To deal with Scavenger leaders like Jeong Min-su or Pastor Lee required a guild of certain scale, but subjugation was far less profitable than clearing dungeons.
Plus, like with Jeong Min-su, even if eliminated, another Scavenger might take over, absorb forces, and grow bigger—headache-inducing. Chasing out the fox only let a real tiger appear.
“So in the end, we’re pinning hopes on that golden knight who might not even exist?”
“Honestly, smells like Blue Dragon Guild propaganda. They got rewards but hate paying taxes, so they made it up.”
“But our Guild Master went on that subjugation too?”
“They probably paid her well. Can’t you tell? Right after that Changwoon hyung died, they recruited a new C-rank Awakener. Clearly dodging taxes since it pays better.”
“Ooh, that’s plausible? Hmm?”
Weeeeng!
As they chatted away the time, the alarm from the trailer’s radar blared in their ears.
It alerted to monsters wandering out of dungeons or to watch for Awakener Scavengers and Demons (Ma-in). The latest models even indicated mana capacity and estimated rank.
“Alarm! Something’s coming! But this mana level, size, and bulk… Connect to the drone for visuals… Wh-what is this? No way, an S-rank monster?”
“What? S-rank?”
“Yes! Definitely S-rank! The data and appearance records are old, but it matches the records of the Slaughter King’s direct subordinate, S-rank monster—Archdemon Beast! We need to run now!”
“Engine’s on! Good thing I kept the trailer turned around. Hurry and call for backup!”
Vroom!
Realizing an S-rank monster was approaching, they immediately started the engine and sped off in the trailer.
All licensed Hunters but D-rank, they knew their limits well.
Guild manuals also mandated retreating from unwinnable monsters, so they swiftly withdrew while contacting the guild and association.
“This is Baekya Guild! An S-rank monster has appeared here and is heading south! Urgently notify other Hunters heading to nearby dungeons and declare an emergency. Over!”
“Guild Master! Yes, it’s me. Big trouble. After the miss entered the dungeon, an S-rank monster appeared! We’re on escort duty but retreating immediately… What? S-rank monsters aren’t just here?”
Retreating per protocol and urgently notifying the association and guild of the S-rank monster for response directives, they finally realized the situation was far larger than expected.
Reports flooded in: Multiple Archdemon Beasts, direct subordinates of the constellation Slaughter King, had simultaneously appeared around Seoul, hunting Awakeners.