Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 062
Chapter Title: The Outsiders
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Monster.
The mere image the word evoked made it easy to picture mindless beasts, but in reality, quite a few monsters emerging from dungeons possessed intelligence on par with humans.
The term "monster" itself was a sloppy translation of the English word, slapped onto it as the official name. It was odd that they used English terms like "dungeon," "gate," and "hunter" but translated only "monster" into Korean, yet people just accepted it. After all, the government's pointless obsession with localizing foreign words wasn't a new thing.
Anyway.
Among monsters, there were definitely some with human-level intelligence—or even superior. The pure white knight standing before Kang Ha-neul, Frost Knight Wilhelm, was one such case.
No, he couldn't even be dismissed simply as an "intelligent monster."
Because he was...
"Um, excuse me. Could you possibly spare a moment to talk with me...?"
At that moment, a stranger appeared out of nowhere, and at Kang Ha-neul's words, he let out a groan.
Talk. When was the last time he'd had a proper conversation? It had been years—such thoughts were meaningless after guarding this mausoleum alone for so long. He spent most of his time in slumber, awakening only occasionally for visitors. But how many visitors would come to a forgotten tomb in a remote forest? He couldn't pinpoint the exact time, but Wilhelm guessed his awakening was likely after centuries.
Was it mere coincidence that the first visitors he met upon waking from that endless sleep were "mixed ones"?
The moment that thought crossed his mind, he felt a strange sense of incongruity.
He expanded his senses. Forcing dormant nerves awake. Like morning frost melting away, his mind, senses, and memories gradually sharpened.
Then, something suspicious caught his senses.
A presence charging straight toward them from afar. He rose from the stairs where he'd been sitting.
"Huh?"
At the snap of dry twigs breaking, Kang Ha-neul whipped her head around.
"Kang Ha-neul!!"
"S-Su-ho oppa?"
Seeing Ahn Su-ho running toward her with arms outstretched, Kang Ha-neul instinctively opened her arms in response. As if expecting a hug. But Ahn Su-ho roughly grabbed her arms and pulled her behind him, shielding her like he was protecting her from someone.
Ahn Su-ho looked at Kang Ha-neul. He had so much he wanted to say. Reprimands for her reckless plunge into the gate, relief that she was still alive.
But he didn't open his mouth. He couldn't. Lips pressed tight, he stared ahead with tense eyes. At the pure white knight standing motionless before the altar, gazing at them.
'This is insane...'
His senses screamed in alarm.
Barren winter forest. Weathered white altar. Gravestone embedded in its center. And the pure white knight guarding it.
Ahn Su-ho knew that scene. He'd never seen it himself, but he'd read about it countless times.
'No way... Wilhelm?'
Frost Knight Wilhelm.
The graveyard keeper and sentinel endlessly guarding his dead master's tomb in a forsaken forest no one visited.
The boss monster of an S-Rank dungeon that appeared only in the original story's late game. A supreme foe whom even late-game Ryu Tae-hyun barely defeated in a mutual near-destruction after staking his life.
Ahn Su-ho couldn't twitch a finger at the sight of the white knight, who shouldn't appear for another five years.
'Turn your back, and you're dead.'
Not instinct—certainty. Having crossed paths with that knight, they couldn't leave without his permission.
Invading the master's tomb without leave was bad enough; fleeing dishonorably would earn no mercy from the white knight's frostblade.
'At least he's one monster who can be reasoned with, unlike others.'
Wilhelm embodied classic chivalry. He valued honor, loyalty, and fidelity. Depending on the conversation, he might let intruders like them go.
'Lucky or unlucky...?'
If anything, both. Kang Ha-neul was alive because the dungeon boss was Wilhelm, but if it came to a fight, no tactic would let him win.
So, what now?
Ahn Su-ho racked his brain for words to say to Wilhelm.
'Begging for mercy outright won't work. No bluster either. Pretend I have ties to his master via Wilhelm's backstory? Yeah. If I act like I know him first, he won't kill us without question...'
—...A stench.
Then, the long-silent Wilhelm rasped in a voice like grinding metal.
—You reek. A foul odor wafts from you! How could I forget this stench? The arrogant scent of that pretender god who dares call itself transcendent...!
Unlike the dry tone toward Kang Ha-neul, subtle fury laced his voice.
Startled by the change, Kang Ha-neul clutched Ahn Su-ho's collar tightly.
'...What?'
Meanwhile, Ahn Su-ho was stunned by Wilhelm's words. They burned into his mind.
Arrogant pretender god who dares call itself transcendent.
Those words instinctively evoked one being.
Blissful Heavenly Demon. The one who possessed him into this world. Likely a godlike entity here, yet a petty, un-divine god who only pulled childish stunts.
'No way Wilhelm...'
Knows this world's truth?
The sudden doubt paled Ahn Su-ho's face. Regardless, Wilhelm stared at the sky, spewing boiling metallic rage.
—Yes. Two "mixed ones" appearing can't be coincidence. It's fate! Destined arrangement! But why! Why! WHY!
Wilhelm roared like a tidal wave. Gazing at the bleached winter sky, he bellowed his fury.
—Vile pretender playing god in wretched form! Foolish angels blindly following such a being! What is your intent? Why drag me into this world unbidden? Why bring that stinking outsider before me? Why wake my slumber? What scheme dares disturb my lord's rest!!!
Wilhelm had long forgotten the two before him. He simply vented his rage at the unseen transcendent above.
The raw emotion in his cry made their bodies tremble. A wail from a specter who'd lived centuries, perhaps millennia. The soul-shaking roar brought tears to Kang Ha-neul's eyes.
Yet Ahn Su-ho desperately kept thinking amid the strain.
He recalled: Wilhelm wasn't this character.
The Wilhelm he knew was a medieval knight stereotype. Unwavering loyalty to his dead lord, yet prizing fair combat and honor. Thus, he dueled Ryu Tae-hyun honorably and died satisfied. Impressive, but not unique.
—Do you mean to make me kill these outsiders? Pit me against them as their trial? Is that why you dragged me here? Truly your intent?! Waking me for such paltry reason!!!
Yet this Wilhelm raged at the heavens, decrying god and foolish angels.
—How loathsome! How arrogant! How hateful! Treating me! These outsiders! This vast world as mere playthings—that hubris is utterly hateful! Lamentable! Even the whore who called herself goddess of mercy wasn't this arrogant!
Wilhelm knew of Blissful Heavenly Demon and his angels, at least. How? Ahn Su-ho had no idea. Nor if he grasped the world as a novel.
One certainty: Rage-consumed Wilhelm wasn't open to talk.
Ahn Su-ho gripped his gun unconsciously. A recoilless Gauss rifle firing anti-kaiju AP rounds. Potent against C-Rank or below, but useless as a BB gun against Wilhelm.
He lowered it, hand drifting to the dagger hilt at his waist—Altare's Claw.
A toothpick against Wilhelm's might, but an A-Rank monster's claw. Better than nothing. Still, it wouldn't scratch him. Even exhausting all Morning Star's Breath stacks, Ahn Su-ho's specs couldn't match Wilhelm's toe.
Yet he gripped it instinctively. Sensing the malice from Wilhelm's fury creeping toward them.
—...Yes, so it is.
Wilhelm's gaze shifted from sky to them. Hidden by his visor slits, but Ahn Su-ho felt the emotions clearly.
Fury, regret, sorrow, resignation.
No trace of noble white knight. His aura had utterly changed, appearance unchanged.
—Very well. If you desire me to bar these as their trial, so be it. Blessed warriors of the transcendent, come—test yourselves. No need for doubt. Whatever your identities or this meeting's design, you're intruders. Eliminating all who disturb my lord's rest—that is this old bones' duty as tomb keeper, final command. Thus, I shall.
Wilhelm eyed them. Rare "mixed ones" reeking of transcendent meddling. Yet third-rate skill. Weaklings unworthy foes even politely.
Chivalry might spare them, but he felt no such urge. Why spare lackeys of the vile transcendent who dragged him here?
Battle resolved, sparkling snowflakes bloomed around him.
—Karakararak!
They gathered in his right hand, forming a blade. Plain, unadorned. Sufficient for him. His cherished sword, snapped by his own hands the day his lord died—vowed never to wield again.
—Clank.
Gripping the three-meter greatsword one-handed, he stood diagonally blocking the altar, addressing them.
—Leonhardt's Last Blade. Frost Knight Order Captain Wilhelm von Bernstein.
Declaring name while aiming sword. Even modern Ahn Su-ho knew its meaning.
He bit his lip. Wilhelm's loaded words sparked needless thoughts, missing the talk window.
'No choice. Run.'
—Kiiiiing!
Right hand's talisman and left's Morning Star's Breath blazed. Red and blue lights entwined around him. One hand on dagger hilt, the other pulling Kang Ha-neul close. Her trembling transmitted clearly.
Ahn Su-ho looked down at her. If she hadn't rushed in rashly, no Wilhelm encounter. The thought flickered, but no blame. How was it her fault? All this world's absurdities were that vile Blissful Heavenly Demon's doing, as Wilhelm said.
—What are you doing? Draw it already.
Quiet death sentence.
Next instant, as Ahn Su-ho drew, black explosion erupted.
—Thudquaaaaaaaang!!!
Black Smoke triggered on draw. Talisman mana maxed, unleashing a fierce storm. Clear winter sky blackened to night.
"Hold on tight!"
Not confirming results, Ahn Su-ho scooped Kang Ha-neul. Bang! Ground-kick propelled him ~300km/h. All Morning Star's Breath stacks burned for 8x acceleration—like a bullet train.
His mightiest strike, swiftest speed.
Yet urgency filled Ahn Su-ho's face. He'd read the Wilhelm arc countless times. His strongest spear was a toothpick to Wilhelm; fastest flight, a toddling baby's waddle.
'Gate to here took under a minute at my speed. At this rate, 6 seconds suffices!'
In blurring scenery, he thought. 6 seconds to gate. Outside, erosion dungeon boss Wilhelm couldn't pursue.
—Where!
But before half that half—less than 1.5 seconds—Wilhelm burst through smoke, swinging.
—Kwaang!
Dull impact smashed his left shoulder. Flat-of-blade strike, barely parried with dagger. Yet power dwarfed any prior attack.
—Kwadudududuk!
Ahn Su-ho tumbled violently across ground. Kang Ha-neul flung off earlier. Unavoidable—left arm grotesquely twisted, broken. Agony raced shoulder to spine.
"Kuhuuuuuuk!!!"
Swallowing scream. Fights aplenty since arriving, but pain never dulled. Merely endured. Amid endurance, sudden doubt arose.
Even parried with dagger, Wilhelm's strike. Foe who taxed late Ryu Tae-hyun. Flat blade or not, his meager stats should've burst him on impact.
Why alive? Eerie incongruity flooded his mind.
"Kyaaaaak!"
Shrill scream echoed.
"Kang Ha-neul!!"
Ahn Su-ho checked her. Far off, legs frozen solid. Wilhelm's frostblade power.
Again. Could've killed easily, yet didn't. Then Ahn Su-ho realized: Wilhelm was holding back.
'Holding back? No—testing.'
Like original. Entering battle, Wilhelm tested Ryu Tae-hyun from above. Ultimately swayed by strength and character to fight fully and die nobly. Impossible for Ahn Su-ho.
Clutching throbbing shoulder, he barely stood. Knees buckled from pain.
—Ha.
Wilhelm snorted derisively.
—Pitifully weak, outsider! What disgrace from a so-called divine champion! Utterly pathetic! Even our order's squires are twice your strength!
—Crunch.
Ahn Su-ho ground his molars.
"...Divine champion? Bullshit. Who fights for that crap...?"
No worse misunderstanding. Steadying stance, he drew deep breath. Locked eyes resolute on Wilhelm.
"...I fight just to survive. That damned god you mention won't leave me be."
—No champion, just a toy. Thus your weakness. Warriors without cause lack strength.
Wilhelm raised sword, aiming.
—Yes. Fine idea. I'll kill you, the girl too—hang your heads before the altar pillar. Shatter your toy visibly; your transcendent backer will feel it. Ah, pity I can't see that twisted face.
"What?"
Ahn Su-ho gnashed teeth at un-knightly words. Clear rage lit his face.
"You think I'll let that happen?"
—Mouth lives despite feeble skill. Squirm desperately then.
—Kardudududeng!
Next instant, massive icicles surged along sword arc.
Ahn Su-ho leaped aside. Transparent spikes pursued.
Dodging focused, he eyed chance carefully. Not to fell—for escape. Failed once, but ploy remained.
'Hoo.'
Wilhelm noted the intent but showed nothing. Go ahead, try.
'Wilhelm underestimates me. Gauges, tests from above. At least once more—a chance remains.'
Seize that instant, make opening, flee via gate. Same plan.
'Alright—go!'
—Pang!
Circling perimeter evading spikes, Ahn Su-ho charged Wilhelm.
—Thudwaaak!
Black smoke billowed from hand, blinding Wilhelm. Diving through, he swung dagger.
—Fool!
Insufficient to hinder. Master's senses transcended sight. Cleaving smoke, he parried incoming dagger flauntingly.
—Kang!
Ahn Su-ho's dagger flew limply skyward from clash.
Yes. Limp.
As if deliberately released.
—Hm?
Dagger was bait. Wilhelm never dreamed he'd discard his sole weapon. Not lack of imagination—Ahn Su-ho's low skill bred complacency.
In Wilhelm's fluster, Ahn Su-ho clung like shadow, grabbing helmet-base gap with right hand.
'Close combat. Jujutsu?'
Daring technique on him? Wrong. Ahn Su-ho had no such intent.
—Kiiiiing!
Talisman blazed. Mana vortex centering ring alerted Wilhelm instants before.
—Thudquaaaaaaaang!!!
Black blast from jammed fingers; Wilhelm's helm rocketed upward.
'Got it!'
Leaping off, Ahn Su-ho bolted gateward.
Tomb keeper Wilhelm became wraith to endure millennia. Armor hollow—like living armor.
Ahn Su-ho shoved hand in void, detonating. Same principle as versus Heo Sung-chan.
One difference: Wilhelm's armor withstood max blast. Minimal damage even internally.
But smoke didn't vanish. Internal mass exploded, flooding every crevice outward.
Like helm-body join.
Irrespective of damage, mere-perched helm couldn't resist blast, flying free. Ahn Su-ho's aim.
Even he would panic at sudden internal blast decapitating him.
Plan worked perfectly.
Unexpected strike bought ~3 seconds.
Short, but full sprint could barely escape.
If solo.
En route, glance flicked to slumped Kang Ha-neul opposite.
Mind raced limitlessly. Save her, miss timing. Swift judgment. Shallow trick won't repeat. Miss now, no more openings.
To live, abandon Kang Ha-neul.
Abandon, yet.
Seeing eyes meeting hers—fear of foe, pain of agony eclipsed by guilt for dragging him in again.
'...Damn it.'
Already, body veered not to gate—but her.
"Grab on!"
Ahn Su-ho snatched her arm, ran. ~1 second elapsed.
Then max ground-kick toward gate. Right arm clamping her side, left spamming ability rearward for thrust. Talisman maxed, recoil ignored—pure desperation escape.
Scenery blurred; verdant gate neared. Wilhelm unseen. Daren't look back. Glancing waste was luxury now.
—Shweeeeeek!
Miscalculation.
Had he glanced then, evasion possible.
—Kwajik!
"Guh?!"
Dull impact tumbled Ahn Su-ho. Knees skidded dozens meters. Gate merely 30m away.
"Kuh, kehuk! Cooluk!"
Yet unclosable. Not even a step. Beyond agony—searing enveloped waist warmly.
Wilhelm's flung frostblade impaled abdomen. Gushing blood flash-froze. Innards-burning pain. Ironically apt simile despite freezing.
—That strike. You saw through my living armor. Good judgment. Indeed—even mere toy bears divine blessing.
Wilhelm approached leisurely. Gate near, yet relaxed. Knew neither could flee. Her legs frozen, his waist nigh-bisected.
—But saving the girl? Misstep. Alone, you'd have escaped.
At taunt, Ahn Su-ho eyed Kang Ha-neul. Trembling in terror. Yet apologetic helplessness.
Tears welled in her eyes. Hopeless bind, she wept endlessly.
"S-Sorry..."
Sobbing raggedly, desperately apologizing.
"Because of me. I-I mistook the gate like an idiot... Hng! If I'd moved faster...! N-Not trapped...! Hic! Not trapped at all...!"
Sorry for dying because of her.
Kang Ha-neul kept apologizing to Ahn Su-ho. As if nothing else possible. Tears from eyes gazing down at fallen him soaked his cheek.
Warm.
"...Listen, what I say."
Ahn Su-ho, roused by warmth, whispered softly.
"...I'll smoke to blind him. Then run—to gate... Legs freeze—deactivate avatar, should recover..."
"Y-Yes?"
She blinked uncomprehending.
"I-I carry oppa and run...?"
"...No, you alone."
"Why...?"
Why not flee together? At her face, Ahn Su-ho shook head faintly.
Smoke or not, Wilhelm's senses would track. Even her solo escape taxing. Lugging him? Plunge already slim odds lower.
'Besides, I'm already...'
Vision blurred endlessly, ears deafened. Senses distant—agony numbed. Frostblade strike surely snuffed his life. Instinct knew: nearer death than ever.
Wanted explain, but no time or strength. Just weakly pointed gate.
Intent grasped, Kang Ha-neul bit lip painedly, head drooping.
When she lifted, he smiled brightly at her. Warm smile from everyday normalcy, unfit here.
"...Hey."
Ominous from that smile, Ahn Su-ho sensed.
—Pang!
Her avatar deactivated. Short blue hair reverted to long black. Escape needed sync, but she didn't. Never planned flee.
Deactivation thawed legs. Rising slowly, she faced Wilhelm.
~5m gap. Wilhelm closable instantly.
—Karakararak!
Dozens snowflakes bloomed; new frostblade in hand. Transcendent venting done. Charge her—slash. Flee—slash. Ahn Su-ho suspicious—slash. End foes, conclude battle.
Yet Kang Ha-neul neither fled nor charged. Walked slowly, blocking Ahn Su-ho. Shielding from Wilhelm.
—Hah.
Tears streaming chicken-shit-like, hiccuping moans, shoulders quaking, knees near-collapse—yet daring block him.
Wilhelm purely admired.
'Pitiable.'
Admiration turned pity. Man risked life for woman; she forsook escape for him. Wilhelm ignorant of details, but guessed.
Yet blade unwavering. Lord's blade. Judges not. Merely swings per command. Command: Eliminate all tomb intruders surely.
—...No grudge against you. This blade vents my petty revenge on that transcendent disturber. Blame me, not it.
Couldn't sully lord, so phrased thus. Half-true. Vengeance lingered, merely veiled by pity now.
Wilhelm raised blade; Kang Ha-neul squeezed eyes shut. Trembling fearfully, yet unyielding step to guard Ahn Su-ho.
Mercy minimal: sever head painlessly swift.
So thinking, as he swung—
—Paaaaaat!!!!
From cowering Kang Ha-neul's chest, one cherry blossom bloomed full.