Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Liu Bei and Cao Cao (4)
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For the subjugation of the Demon King, the races who had been at each other's throats temporarily coming together in harmony was an age-old cliché.
Usually, calling something clichéd means it's been tasted so many times it's commonplace.
Put another way.
It's like a seasoning that, because it's so popularly known and reliable, delivers a deeply satisfying flavor even if it doesn't reach gourmet heights.
But simply recycling clichés won't lead to success.
To confront such a crisis.
Writer Ulysses made an incredibly bold choice.
In situations like this, the standard was, of course, for the protagonist to dramatically overcome the crisis through his exploits.
- Don't get too angry, my lord. The traitors have no idea that Lord Guan Yu is a master archer anyway. Why not give them a chance?
This subtly elevated the discernment of the protagonist from the neighboring spin-off work.
And it granted narrative weight to the protagonist's sworn brother.
And that, even amid the alliance's renowned fierce generals stepping up one by one only to be utterly slaughtered.
Guan Yu mounted his horse and soared like a tiger, kicking Hua Xiong square in the chest, slapping him across the face, and cleanly severing his neck with a single stroke.
That day, not only Esthea but people everywhere realized you could get drunk without touching a drop of alcohol.
They learned to worship the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, and those intoxicated by Guan Yu fever went wild with enthusiasm.
Of course.
"Hmm..."
"No matter how benevolent and skilled in taming men he's supposed to be, doesn't this bury Liu Bei too much?"
"Setting aside that he's a high elf, hmm... it might even be more convincing to see Guan Yu as the protagonist."
A subtle sense of regret lingered in the hearts of readers well-versed in serialized novel tropes.
But.
When the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings falls, the next one taking the stage was basic implantation.
"Today is the perfect chance to cut off the traitorous Dong Zhuo's lifeline! The entire army, full assault!"
At the resounding command of Yuan Shao, the alliance's marshal.
Tens of thousands of roars and drumbeats erupted, shaking the earth.
With even their fierce general Hua Xiong already dead, nothing seemed left to block their path.
The soldiers' massive wave surged forward, poised to swallow the pathetically sparse walls of the Hulao Gate in one gulp.
But.
Right then.
All noise ceased as if by magic.
The thunderous drums.
The mountain-shattering cheers.
Even the ragged breaths of the rough soldiers.
The gates of Hulao creaked open with a heavy groan, agonizingly slowly.
And then.
From that dark, yawning abyss.
Not a horde of troops emerged, but a single man.
Two long pheasant feathers fluttered in his helmet against the wind.
At the sight of the man astride a massive steed blanketed in flames like blazing fur.
Everyone instinctively knew.
This was Dong Zhuo's strongest warrior, the one he trusted above all.
"Lu Bu Fengxian stands here. You ragtag rabble— is there any among you who dares face my Sky Piercer?"
The man closest to a war god under heaven.
He raised his Sky Piercer, aiming it at the alliance's banners.
That simple motion silenced the world.
They could only think of one thing.
Among men, Lu Bu.
Among horses, Red Hare.
The vague legend of terror had taken flesh and blood, manifesting before Hulao Gate at last.
"Lu Bu! I'll strip you of your false fame!"
Amid it all, one brave soul stepped forth: Fang Yue, subordinate of Wang Kuang.
But.
"Gah—!"
In the instant their horses crossed.
Fang Yue was impaled on the Sky Piercer, denied even last words.
And after him.
Mu Shun, subordinate of Zhang Yang, fell.
Wu Anguo, subordinate of Gongsun Zan, barely escaped alive with one arm severed.
"Damn it, I'll handle this myself!"
Unwilling to watch the alliance shatter before a single man, the White Horse General Gongsun Zan charged in.
"The terror of the barbarians? All empty talk."
"Urgh...!"
Even Gongsun Zan couldn't match Lu Bu.
If this continued, one of the Eighteen Warlords would meet their end at Lu Bu's hands—a dire situation.
"Hey! You three-dad bastard!"
"...Which bastard's that?"
One hero came charging fiercely on his horse: Zhang Fei.
Who inwardly regretted failing to claim military merit.
(To be continued in the next chapter.)
Even before, Lu Bu's name had been mentioned indirectly countless times—through descriptions or character dialogues.
Dong Zhuo's dominance was all thanks to Lu Bu; no one could stand against Lu Bu; Lu Bu hasn't appeared yet, so stay vigilant.
But in a novel, no matter how many sentences you devote, truly conveying that presence isn't easy.
Thus.
Kim Yul once again deployed his cheat key.
A Red Hare so otherworldly you couldn't tell if it was a horse, tiger, or legendary beast.
And atop it, an illustration of Lu Bu sporting proud antennae-like whiskers, his face alone screaming "could easily slaughter three dads."
Readers were instantly convinced.
Even in the modern world, one illustration outdid pages of heroine descriptions in efficiency—and this otherworld yielded similar results.
Followed by Zhang Fei's provocative shout.
And the jaw-dropping cliffhanger cut.
"Arrrgh! Cutting it off here?!"
"Ulysses, he's a demon!"
"This violates basic decency!"
The enraged masses' fury pierced the heavens.
.
.
.
A day later.
"Hurry up, hand it over quick!"
Dragon roars erupted at newspaper stands as people scrambled to buy the Truth Newspaper.
Cao Cao skipped Hulao talk again, droning on about some profoundly complex political intrigue, so they skimmed it lightly.
Then they saw it.
Screwed Lü's dad, screwed Ding's dad, now mooching off Dong Zhuo! You give him your ass too, you bastard?!
You bastard! Hand over your neck!
Pathetic bastard thinks he's strong!
Shut up! Soon it'll be four dads, you bastard!
The dwarf Zhang Fei's furnace-like blaze of trash talk lit up the pages.
The heavy mood lightened a bit, but even so, Zhang Fei's eighteen-foot serpent spear couldn't best Lu Bu's Sky Piercer.
They recalled the standard hero tale formula.
In growth phases, protagonists typically undergo an awakening event.
Even Earth's stories had examples.
A bald friend beaten while yelling "Kri—!" to trigger a critical hit from a heartless Saiyan.
A cold-blooded cutter of promising sprouts in selection trials, dreaming of an explosive finale with the final boss as head of a corrupt house.
A mustached plumber sacrificing his loyal steed like a rag for that extra leap boost.
This cliché was widespread even in the otherworld.
Was "three dads" foreshadowing?
Like the two dads' deaths, would Liu Bei awaken at Zhang Fei's demise?
Thump thump!
Flip flip!
Perfectly timed, the paragraph ended just as Zhang Fei fell into dire straits, so they gulped down their tension and turned the page.
And.
"Urgh...!"
"That's brotherhood!"
"Damn it, I knew it!"
"Lord Guan Yu! I've got your cup warmed again!"
Though crashing a 1v1 duel wasn't the prettiest picture.
When you cherish your brother, this is how it should be!
Guan Yu's intervention stacked another layer of Guan Yu fever.
Now even a girlish scream from Guan Yu could be overlooked with a squint.
And it didn't end there.
- Brothers! I'm joining too!
At last.
The novel's protagonist.
The high elf with dual swords entered the fray, and soon Lu Bu, overwhelmed in momentum, began to retreat.
Everyone dropped their papers, clapping like seals at the "protagonist hiding his power" meta unfold.
The invincible, ghostly might routed by the little-known Peach Brothers.
Underdog cheers mixed with refreshing catharsis overflowed their hearts.
"......"
Kim Yul was having a spectacularly eventful day.
He'd met Esthea that morning, sporting a crude fake mustache, wielding a gaudy knockoff Green Dragon Crescent Blade dripping with expensive gems.
He'd endured Roselin's roundabout heresy probe, her misinterpreting their "sharing a bed" brotherhood as something marined.
Two Heroes: How Do Their Martial Rankings Stack Up?
The 'Two Heroes' series serializing successfully in our paper features countless warriors. Extrapolating from content so far, this reporter interviewed an Imperial Swordmaster...
...Judging by recent installments, wielding dual swords flawlessly from horseback is challenging even for a well-trained Sword Expert, so Liu Bei's true prowess must rival a Sword Master...
"Hmm..."
Kim Yul barely stifled a headache from the budding "Liu Bei Overlord Theory."
That was manageable.
"So, in my view, the current plot feels a bit ambiguous. We need to emphasize the high elf's greatness more. Also, reviewing your past works meticulously, there's too much death. It clashes with pacifism—"
Chloe von Wisperaud.
The Truth Newspaper's de facto owner, eldest daughter and heir of the Wisperaud Ducal House.
She presented Kim Yul with a 30-page reader response and future plot proposals.
Faced with living power's first real meddling attempt.
Kim Yul's head spun dizzily.