Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Sowing Discord
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Players use mana, while demons use demonic energy.
Of course, if you trace it back to the source, mana and demonic energy are essentially the same type of power, differing only slightly in nature.
The atmosphere of the demon world overflows with mana.
And the beings infused with that mana are monsters and demons.
The only difference is this:
Monsters use pure mana as is.
Demons, however, convert the mana absorbed into their bodies into more powerful demonic energy the moment it passes through their hearts.
Demonic energy also absorbs negative emotions like despair and fear, as well as the blood and flesh of the living, turning them into its own power.
In simple terms, it had tremendous versatility.
However, demonic energy had a drawback of sorts.
The more demonic energy one used, the more its inherently destructive aura revealed itself outwardly.
Of course, if one used only a small amount?
It was indistinguishable from mana.
That was why doppelgangers, who were mostly mid-to-low-tier demons, could easily hide their identities and operate.
But.
Upper-tier or top-tier ones faced restrictions on using their power.
Naturally, demon world nobles faced even greater constraints.
Especially high-ranking demons at the rank of count or above.
'I heard that even just standing still causes demonic energy to leak out, making it impossible to hide their identity.'
Fortunately, Baron Taliman, the lowest-ranking among demon world nobles, could hide his identity and use his power.
The problem was that the power he could use that way was only a tenth of his true strength.
'That won't be much help.'
But if he used demonic energy?
'His identity would be exposed.'
That would be like broadcasting far and wide that Yongho Guild was under the Demon King's minions.
It would be utter madness.
'Of course, adding his power without revealing demonic energy would still help a lot.'
But even that much wouldn't be enough to take on Dark Knight, Balhae Guild, and Goryeo Guild.
"Have you forgotten what race I am?"
"You're a doppelganger, aren't you?"
"That's right. We doppelganger kin specialize in mimicking others—not just their appearances, but their auras as well. If it were any other demon world noble, even using a tenth of their true demonic energy would reveal it. But I'm different. I can use up to half without exposing myself."
"Ah!"
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong's expression brightened.
Half.
Just half.
Normally, that wouldn't be much help.
But.
'It's half the power of a demon world noble.'
Even that would be enough to cut down dozens of named players or rankers with ease.
"We have a solid chance of victory. No, we'll win for sure."
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong was convinced of victory.
"Then prepare for war. I'll disguise myself as one of your subordinates and join you. And I'll handle the justification too."
"How will you create the justification?"
"I'll deploy doppelgangers disguised as Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild players to kill some Yongho Guild players. You can afford that level of loss, right?"
It was just a few mid-to-low-level players dying.
"Yes, of course, Baron Taliman. That's hardly a loss."
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong, who had been cursing Baron Taliman inwardly moments ago, flipped his attitude 180 degrees in an instant.
The doubts that had sprouted in his heart vanished.
'Right, there's no way a demon would attack us at Yongho Guild. It must've been Dark Knight's doing.'
"Then I'll take my leave."
"See you off safely."
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong bowed deeply and saw Baron Taliman out.
He then immediately summoned Yongho Guild's executives.
* * *
'Trouble.'
Kang Hyun-soo frowned after overhearing the entire conversation between doppelganger leader Baron Taliman and Yongho Guild Master Dragon King Lee Ji-yong through Doppelganger No. 1.
'But there's an opening.'
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong had backed down at the end because he needed Baron Taliman's power.
'They clearly didn't trust each other at first.'
To Baron Taliman, humans contracted with demons were...
'Nothing more than demon slaves.'
It was inevitable that he'd take offense at such lowly beings trying to equate themselves with a demon world noble like him.
Conversely, Dragon King Lee Ji-yong acknowledged Baron Taliman as a demon world noble but...
'Didn't see him as a superior.'
He seemed to view him as an equal.
'Well, that makes sense.'
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong wielded power in the Atlantis dimension rivaling a king's.
And given the suspected contract with a high-ranking demon world noble...
'He probably thinks both Baron Taliman and himself are just underlings following orders from higher nobles.'
Baron Taliman treated Dragon King Lee Ji-yong like a slave.
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong saw Baron Taliman as his equal.
'This is exploitable.'
They'd patched it up because they needed each other.
'But I need to make them realize that an unreliable ally is more dangerous than an enemy.'
Kang Hyun-soo headed back to the great city of Vespercil, where Yongho Guild was based.
* * *
Arriving in Vespercil via spatial transfer gate, Kang Hyun-soo made for a nearby high-level hunting ground.
'They should be here.'
It was certain, based on Doppelganger No. 1—disguised as executive Park Ji-hoon—'s report.
Kang Hyun-soo diligently searched for Yongho Guild's high-level players.
A moment later.
'Found them.'
He soon spotted a party of Yongho Guild high-level players.
'Just as reported.'
As Doppelganger No. 1 had said, the Yongho Guild high-level player party consisted entirely of executives.
Being a Yongho Guild executive meant...
Being a Demon King's minion contracted with demons.
'They want sacrificial lambs to build justification for war? I'll make some for them.'
But the ones to be sacrificed wouldn't be the powerless, clueless mid-to-low-level Yongho Guild players.
'You traitors to humanity will be.'
Kang Hyun-soo summoned his summons.
All of them bore Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild insignias.
-Kill them.
As Kang Hyun-soo commanded his summons, he drew his sword and charged at the Yongho Guild high-level players.
Following behind him.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
The summons erupted with explosive auras and attacked the Yongho Guild high-level players.
"Ambush!"
"Block them!"
"Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild bastards!"
Yongho Guild's high-level players reacted swiftly.
Even under surprise attack, they showed no tension, casually preparing for battle.
Because.
They thought this ambush was just a show for bystanders, not real.
The reason? Doppelganger No. 1, disguised as executive Park Ji-hoon, had planted the bait just right.
-Doppelgangers disguised as Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild players will attack and kill mid-to-low-level players to build justification.
-To avoid suspicion, they might target high-level players too.
-It's just for show to build justification, so pretend to fight lightly.
-It won't hit hard, so use flashy skills to fake an intense battle.
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong had approved the bait from Doppelganger No. 1 disguised as Park Ji-hoon.
And he'd relayed it to the executives sharing the secret.
'No reason for them to be tense.'
They'd even predicted the ambush in advance.
And they saw it as just a performance for onlookers.
Yongho Guild's high-level players prepared to fake a fierce battle with flashy but harmless skills.
But.
Kwaaaang!
This was no show—it was real.
"Keuk!"
"What?"
"Jin-su's dead!"
Two high-level players lost their lives to Kang Hyun-soo's swinging sword.
The summons behind him unleashed their full power in a frenzy.
"Block!"
"Kill!"
The Yongho Guild high-level players finally realized it wasn't a show and counterattacked.
But.
"Keueok!"
"Aaak!"
They couldn't withstand the combined assault of Kang Hyun-soo and the summons.
In moments, the Yongho Guild high-level player party was wiped out.
"What? Those are Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild marks."
"Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild members just teamed up to kill Yongho Guild players."
Mid-to-small guild high-level players, drawn by the clash, stared at Kang Hyun-soo's summons in fear.
And among them.
Were Yongho Guild high-level players.
'I was going to hunt them down, but they came to me.'
Kang Hyun-soo smiled and charged at the Yongho Guild high-level players, swinging his sword.
Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild-disguised summons followed, attacking the high-level players.
"These crazy bastards!"
"What the hell is going on?!"
Yongho Guild's high-level players panicked hard.
But to survive, they had to fight.
However.
Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang!
Each swing of Kang Hyun-soo's blood-red aura-clad sword scattered auras and shattered defenses.
Ultimately, the second wave of Yongho Guild high-level players was annihilated in seconds.
"Are you thinking of siding with Yongho Guild too?"
At Kang Hyun-soo's question.
"N-No."
"We'll be going now."
The surrounding mid-to-small guild high-level players vanished in an instant.
'Some decent ones here. Regiment material.'
Kang Hyun-soo turned the dead Yongho Guild high-level players into summons.
-Let's go.
He headed to the next target.
* * *
Doppelgangers under Baron Taliman, disguised as Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild players, headed to a mid-to-low-level hunting ground near Vespercil.
Their goal: wipe out one Yongho Guild mid-to-low-level player party.
'There they are.'
The doppelgangers disguised as Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild players spotted the Yongho Guild mid-to-low-level player party.
"What the hell?"
"Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild guys?"
The Yongho Guild mid-to-low-level player party looked at the disguised doppelgangers in confusion.
'No audience. Shame.'
If there were onlookers?
Just kill them too.
But without?
'Need to drag it out and make noise.'
Had to draw a crowd.
"Kill them!"
-Make noise and stall.
The leader doppelganger issued fake and real orders at once to his subordinates.
The Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild-disguised doppelgangers attacked the Yongho Guild mid-to-low-level player party.
"Block!"
"Call for backup!"
Piiiuuung!
The Yongho Guild mid-to-low-level player party fired a signal flare and held out as best they could.
The disguised doppelgangers leisurely pressured them, buying time.
"What? A fight?"
"Those are Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild marks."
"Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild players are attacking Yongho Guild players."
As the commotion spread, mid-to-small guild player parties gathered.
'Audience is here.'
The leader doppelganger smiled.
No need to stall anymore.
-Kill them now.
At the leader's command.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
The disguised doppelgangers unleashed their full might.
Kwaaaang! Kwaaaang!
Powerful blasts rang out, crumbling the Yongho Guild mid-to-low-level player party's defenses in seconds.
'It's over.'
As the leader doppelganger swung his sword to finish a Yongho Guild mid-to-low-level player.
Seokeok!
A streak of blood-red aura flew from the left, severing the leader doppelganger's arm.
"Kuuk!"
The startled leader doppelganger turned.
What he saw.
Was Kang Hyun-soo, clad head to toe in jet-black armor, and his summons.