Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Dungeon: Goblin Empire
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Dungeon: Goblin Empire.
[Dungeon Objectives]
Destroy 0/3 Goblin Empire Capital Defense Spires
Defeat 0/10 Goblin Empire Capital Bosses
Destroy 0/1 Goblin Imperial Castle Core
Defeat 0/1 Goblin Empire Emperor Big-Wald XIII
“…Now that I see it, the scale is no joke, and there’s a ton to do.”
As soon as Yoo Seongwon entered the dungeon and checked the objectives on his status window, he gazed at the Goblin Empire far in the distance.
People usually thought of goblins as trash mobs living in caves in tribes or small groups… This was his first time seeing them build a civilization so ridiculously advanced it made that notion laughable.
[Krroooar! Come at me, all of you!]
“To think the enemy main force is already waiting right at the entrance!”
“The goblins outside must’ve spotted us and alerted the ones inside!”
[Ooh! What a lot of them!]
[Heh hah! Their blood calls to me!]
But this wasn’t the time to stand around idly. By the time Yoo Seongwon entered the dungeon, the war had already begun.
For some reason, as soon as they stepped through the entrance, the goblin army was already arrayed in formation, unleashing volleys and focused fire. His knights were gleefully fighting back.
The battle was proceeding almost one-sidedly. His knights shattered the goblins’ defensive lines, dodging magic and gunfire alike or using other goblins as shields as they pressed forward.
Still, they couldn’t keep fighting like this forever.
“Your Majesty, this is no time to stand around.”
“They’re annoyingly numerous, that’s for sure. But this is what makes it feel like a proper B-rank dungeon.”
Individually, the goblins were weak, but they were fully armed and their numbers were overwhelming.
Not just numerous—the fighting knights looked like they were battling a green wave.
The goblins threw themselves forward without a thought for defense, swinging and stabbing recklessly, making them even more terrifying.
‘Honestly, their numbers were intimidating at first, but still…’
Crunch!
[Lv.45 11.33%]
[Lv.45 11.41%]
After testing by taking down one goblin, Yoo Seongwon smiled at the experience points rolling in.
Even if they were goblins, this was a B-rank dungeon, so they gave solid EXP. He could keep gaining it all the way to the B-rank cap of Lv.75.
“People’s perceptions are scary things…”
[Keeek!]
[Keeaaak! Kiik! Shoo!]
[Kiaaaak!]
Any fear of the goblins surging toward him like a wave, screeching all the while, had long vanished from Yoo Seongwon now that he’d confirmed this.
Thinking of them as the EXP he’d put off farming for so long only made him excited.
With that, he grabbed his Titan stake and joined his knights’ ranks, charging straight to the front lines.
***
One month later, Iron Fortress.
Yoo Seongwon and his knights’ dungeon raid had dragged on long enough that it’d been two weeks since they’d returned.
In the end, only Baek Gayeon and her daughter Shin Somi remained at Iron Fortress, repeating their daily routines of handling their respective duties.
“Hmm… It’s taking quite a while. I’m getting worried. Seven S-rank or higher went in, and for it to take this long—something must be wrong, right?”
“The Goblin Empire is a massive-scale dungeon, so it’s bound to take time. B-rank and above dungeons usually far exceed what we call ‘normal’ anyway. It’s routine. Didn’t you raid an A-rank yourself?”
“Yes, but mine was just catching one colossal monster.”
“Large-scale dungeon raids can take months. Don’t worry too much. What we should really be concerned about is this.”
Baek Gayeon sighed as she looked at the massive pile of mail that had arrived addressed to Yoo Seongwon.
With Seoul Guild pulling strings behind the scenes, using the New Gangnam incident as pretext, several lawsuits and complaints had been filed against him. Some charges had already been fast-tracked to judgment because he hadn’t shown up or responded.
“Don’t dungeons buy hunters time for trials like this? It’s official public duty…”
“Most guilds and organizations have legal reps or contracted law firms, so there’s no need for special rules. Besides, B-rank-plus hunters don’t usually get tangled in petty lawsuits like this. It’s just that he’s so prickly, it led to this unusual case.”
On top of being uncooperative with the government and Association, there was irrefutable evidence from the first New Gangnam incident.
And with the opponents having connections to pressure high judiciary officials, it was an extraordinarily irregular situation.
“Whatever the outcome, it won’t really hurt him, but it still feels off. At worst, they’ll freeze his accounts or something, but he won’t even feel it.”
“What do you think they’re after?”
“No idea. I tried investigating Seoul Guild over the past month, but even their insiders have no clue what’s going on—it’s total chaos.”
Since the New Gangnam incident, Seoul Guild had become a pit of disorder, with members coming and going chaotically and baseless rumors everywhere.
The one sure thing was that the current Seoul Guild master, Oh Kyung-hoon, was plotting something.
“What on earth is he scheming? No idea. He’s definitely up to no good, but we can’t figure it out.”
“Anyway, we should prepare for whatever might happen.”
“Yeah, we should…”
Bzzzzt!
As they discussed preparations for what was to come, Baek Gayeon’s phone vibrated.
She picked it up casually, assuming it was the Association whining about Yoo Seongwon again, but the message that appeared was anything but ordinary.
[Association Emergency Alert. Urgent Situation Code Double Red. All hunters who see this message, assemble at the Association immediately.]
“…Code Double Red? What the hell?”
Baek Gayeon jumped to her feet in shock.
Code Double Red.
It meant the worst crisis threatening the fate of the nation.
For reference, it had been Code Red last time when that pastor brought down the Ark Demon Beasts.
Stunned by this even higher level of emergency, she sprang into action.
“Somi, I have to head to the Association right away. You and your daughter hold down the fort here until he gets back, then evacuate to the underground bunker. It’s a Double Red situation. Iron Fortress’s defenses against monster hordes are solid, so you’ll be fine.”
“Double Red? That’s no joke.”
“I don’t know the details yet either. But something serious has happened, no doubt. Tell that Yoo Seongwon guy to contact me the second he exits the dungeon.”
“Yes!”
The emergence of a crisis even graver than the Code Red pastor attack.
She had no idea why, but it was definitely no ordinary matter.
Baek Gayeon left Iron Fortress and headed straight for the Association.
Shin Somi, left behind, immediately pulled out her phone to check the news for reports on the situation.
“What the hell happened?”
『Breaking news. ‘SS-rank Demon Breeder Pastor Lee’ is leading monsters south from north of Seoul once more. Not only that, but ‘hardliner Scavenger groups’ nationwide, along with monsters from evil constellations like Mountain Hermit and Black Cloud, are breaking from their territories and marching on cities simultaneously.』
“They’re coordinating?”
『Experts speculate they’ve formed a tight alliance for this offensive. This is rare even in global hunter history. Evil constellations usually clash over conflicting interests and virtues, so this is exceptional…』
An unprecedented united front of rare evil constellations and Scavengers.
Scavengers did sometimes swarm like hyenas when powerful evil constellations rampaged, scavenging scraps, but nothing on this scale had ever happened.
They all had strong egos, and as the news said, their goals often conflicted, making infighting more likely.
『The President will brief details soon. Leaders from the Ministry of Defense, Association, and hunter guilds will convene. Citizens, please head to shelters and bunkers in an orderly manner as per local instructions.』
“This… is really bad.”
A nationwide, simultaneous monster and Scavenger assault. A massive crisis that could decide Korea’s fate.
Even Shin Somi, with her long guild master experience, paled at this first-ever scenario.
Still, she thought of Yoo Seongwon, likely still in the dungeon.
She didn’t know the Goblin Empire’s status, but in this overwhelming crisis, his power was desperately needed.
Shin Somi prayed he’d clear it and return soon.
***
New Gangnam, Seoul Guild.
“The time has finally come. Heh heh heh.”
Oh Kyung-hoon of Seoul Guild smirked at the summons order that had arrived for him too.
With Pastor Lee’s army and, as promised, Scavengers and evil constellation forces rising from all directions to engulf the world—this was the situation.
Heroes emerge in times of crisis, after all.
Especially in a massive crisis like this, his value as the only S-rank supporter and buffer would skyrocket.
Unlike other S-ranks strong only in personal combat, as a More Lord who amplified group strength, lower guilds wouldn’t be able to ignore him anymore.
‘Thanks to the non-aggression pact with that pastor bastard, even if Seoul burns, New Gangnam is guaranteed safe. Heh heh heh. Plus, that damn Golden Demon Knight is gone, so the only defenses left are Blue Dragon and Olympus. The two S-ranks in the provinces will be too busy with their own areas to come.’
That left just six S-rank hunters deployable: Blue Dragon’s three (excluding himself), Olympus’s one, the Association head, and old lady Baek Gayeon.
This time, Pastor Lee had mobilized all eleven S-rank monsters, Ark Demon Beasts again. And from the Mountain Hermit constellation forces right below Seoul, the S-rank monster Bohaku was threatening the city.
‘Per the deal, he hands us the small fry, pretends to ally with the pastor, then bypasses New Gangnam to hit from behind.’
Thus, New Gangnam would face only weak monsters and stay even safer, while the rest of Seoul burned with massive casualties. People would naturally flock here, making it Korea’s sole cradle.
His buffed surviving hunters would handle incoming foes, restoring his and Seoul Guild’s former glory.
‘A perfect plan. Heh heh heh. And without that cursed Golden Demon Knight, no variables or obstacles.’
Even though he was utterly betraying Korea, he felt no guilt whatsoever.
This country, the Association, and the guilds had betrayed him first.
When the strong hunter, the valuable hunter, became justice in that moment, he would be justice.
With that, Oh Kyung-hoon watched monitors of monsters charging Blue Dragon Guild’s artificial island and Olympus Guild’s sky island, then moved out to respond to New Gangnam’s emergency.
To become Korea’s hero once more.