Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Pure Macho Guild Recruitment Operation
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But.
'The conditions to lift the curse are pretty damn strict.'
Even for Kang Hyun-soo right now, fulfilling them was impossible.
So the War God Armor set had.
'Ended up as dead weight for quite a while.'
At least.
'We dressed mage players in it and had strong warriors or tank players carry them around like that?'
That was the best use, but.
Mage players sent into battle wearing the War God Armor ended up with dishonorable nicknames like "battlefield koala pup" or "warzone monkey baby."
Because they looked just like baby animals clinging to their mother's back while being carried on a warrior or tank player's back.
So.
'It got shunned by competent mage players.'
Too good to throw away, too awkward to use properly.
'A chicken rib among chicken ribs.'
However.
It might not matter for others, but.
For Kang Hyun-soo, who couldn't fully utilize his strength stats due to lacking stamina anyway?
'This isn't a penalty at all.'
And once the curse was lifted?
'I'll prove exactly why "god" is in the armor's name.'
Kang Hyun-soo was currently wearing the Demon Dragon Armor.
But the Demon Dragon Armor was tank-set gear.
Whereas the War God Armor?
'Is dealer-set gear.'
For Kang Hyun-soo, depending on the situation.
'He could just swap it out.'
And for armor he wasn't wearing?
'Just put it on a summon.'
The downside was that all his battalion commander-level summons were warrior or magic swordsman types.
'If I can get a mage-type summon, I could maximize the War God Armor's utility when I'm not using it.'
Players might refuse it because of the humiliating nickname, but summons didn't care.
"You chose that one?"
Sword Saint Duke Rojas asked with a puzzled expression.
There were other EX-Rank items, so why pick the one with a penalty?
"Yeah, nothing else caught my eye."
"Understood."
Sword Saint Duke Rojas obediently shut his mouth.
'Compared to taking the other five EX-Rank items, grabbing the cursed War God Armor set with its penalty probably looks like a bigger win for the Roctus Imperial Family.'
From the perspective of Sword Saint Duke Rojas, a loyal servant of the Roctus Empire's imperial family.
There was no need for him to butt in and recommend something else.
"Thank you for your consideration."
Instead, Sword Saint Duke Rojas thanked Kang Hyun-soo once more.
He must have thought Kang Hyun-soo took the cursed War God Armor set—with its slightly lacking options—out of guilt for taking the Venom Dragon Essence.
'That's a huge misunderstanding.'
If Sword Saint Duke Rojas knew the options on the curse-lifted War God Armor set?
'He'd be cursing me out instead of thanking me.'
The curse-lifted War God Armor set.
'Was a total cheat item.'
It was the very armor Kang Hyun-soo had envisioned as his final defensive gear after regression.
"Then I'll be on my way."
Kang Hyun-soo left the Roctus Imperial Family's report hall without any lingering attachment.
He soon exited the imperial palace.
And, as expected.
'They put a tail on me.'
It seemed like a hopeful last-ditch effort, knowing it would fail.
'Then I should just show them right in front of their eyes.'
To prevent pointless manpower waste going forward.
Kang Hyun-soo activated his Shadow of the Moon skill.
Shh!
His figure melted into the air and vanished.
* * *
"Venom Dragon Essence and the Cursed War God Armor set."
Rodius I smirked faintly as he checked the list of items Kang Hyun-soo had taken.
"That's about right."
The Venom Dragon Essence was a bit regrettable, but.
'A guy who's about to live a life completely excluded from power probably won't need it much.'
He could afford that much.
"The tail?"
"Failed. They say he vanished like smoke right in front of them."
"Ha ha, I don't know if it's stealth or teleportation, but impressive."
"Presumed to be an EX-Rank skill."
"Of course. The problem is that two people have that kind of skill."
The Dark Knight leader, Blood Demon Slayer God, and the Dark Knight handling info exchange with the imperial family.
Both had demonstrated the same skill.
The issue was.
'There might be more.'
Rodius I had raised his assessment of the organization called Dark Knight dramatically after hearing the subjugation team's report on their return about the Dark Knight leader, Blood Demon Slayer God.
"Don't worry too much. The Dark Knights don't seem inclined to antagonize the Roctus Imperial Family."
"True enough."
But even allies required some vigilance.
What nagged at him was.
'Cecilia must know about it too.'
Cecilia, designated as heir, had received help from the Dark Knights.
They'd nullified the soul contract, but.
'She must still hold great favor toward the organization called Dark Knights.'
That needed to be thoroughly cleansed first.
An emperor managing a vast empire.
'Had to always suspect and guard against everything.'
There was more than one or two things to teach Cecilia.
'My time is short.'
Even making her royalty and crown princess felt burdensome.
'And the ministers' opposition won't be easy.'
Skipping his son to pass the throne directly to his granddaughter—an unprecedented act.
Even among emperor faction nobles, there would be opposition.
Especially.
'Duke Oh will oppose it fiercely.'
Overcoming that wouldn't be simple.
But.
'Cecilia is the neutral faction leader.'
If the emperor faction followed his will and the neutrals lent their strength too?
It would be enough to make Cecilia crown princess.
"We'll be busy from now on. Duke Rojas, support that child."
"I will serve Crown Princess Cecilia with my life."
"Thank you. I trust only you."
In a situation where opposition was expected even from the emperor faction allies.
The support of Sword Saint Duke Rojas, a pillar of the faction, would be a huge boost.
* * *
'While I'm here, might as well drop by.'
Kang Hyun-soo, having left the palace, decided to visit the metropolis Krenizer, home of the Red Bear Guild.
To meet Red Bear Guild Master Crimson Flame Lord Dorchov.
'It'll surprise him showing up out of the blue.'
But he'd mentioned visiting beforehand, so no cold shoulder.
Kang Hyun-soo teleported to the metropolis Krenizer via gate.
'Having noble status sure makes things convenient.'
Thanks to the Roctus Empire noble title Dark King Cecilia had granted him, he skipped tedious procedures and used the teleport gate.
'Here it is.'
Kang Hyun-soo arrived in front of the Red Bear Guild House.
'Let's head in.'
If he was there, meet right away.
If not?
'Wait till he shows up.'
As Kang Hyun-soo moved to enter the Red Bear Guild House.
"Who are you?"
A player guarding the guild house door blocked him.
"I'm the Dark Knight leader. Here to see Crimson Flame Lord."
At Kang Hyun-soo's words.
"Don't you dare casually use our guild master's title!"
The player guarding the guild house door snarled, his face twisting viciously.
"And you think our guild master meets just anyone who shows up?"
'What the?'
Kang Hyun-soo's expression turned odd.
Not because the door guard was angry.
'I recognize that face from somewhere.'
The guy's face looked familiar.
'And the voice too.'
As Kang Hyun-soo racked his memory.
"You ignoring me?!"
The door guard flew into a rage and swung his fist.
Whoosh!
Thwack!
Kang Hyun-soo lightly caught the guild house door guard's fist.
"Huh?"
The door guard panicked and tried to pull his fist free, but.
Of course, it didn't budge.
"You bastard! Let go! Argh!"
As the door guard poured strength into yanking his fist free.
Thwack!
Kang Hyun-soo released his hand.
Then.
Thud!
The door guard fell flat on his ass.
"You're dead now, you dog bastard!"
The door guard raged and wildly swung fists at Kang Hyun-soo.
Kang Hyun-soo blocked the attacks effortlessly with one hand.
In the midst of it.
"Ah!"
It finally clicked in Kang Hyun-soo's mind who the door guard was.
'Mad Blood Lord Igor.'
Red Bear Guild's assault captain.
'His title's assault captain, but.'
His strength?
'Is on par with guild master Crimson Flame Lord Dorchov—a monster.'
He didn't have the title for nothing.
'He had anger management issues even back then.'
No wonder he was called Mad Blood Lord.
And most people called him.
'Mad Dog Lord or Mad Stone Lord more often.'
Why?
'He'd done countless insane things.'
Plus.
'His head's made of rock too.'
His usual behavior was just like a rabid dog.
A dumb rabid dog at that.
'Like right now.'
"Die! Die already!"
Mad Blood Lord Igor unleashed a frenzy of attacks.
Even after his first attack was blocked, realizing Kang Hyun-soo was stronger, he showed no hesitation.
Instead of drawing his sword.
Kang Hyun-soo gripped the scabbard.
'For a rabid dog.'
A good beating with a stick is the cure.
Whoosh!
Bam!
The scabbard smashed into Mad Blood Lord Igor's head.
"Urk!"
True to his stone head, he didn't go down easy.
Instead.
"Raaah!"
Mad Blood Lord Igor charged with a roar.
Bam bam bam!
Kang Hyun-soo swung the scabbard repeatedly.
Mad Blood Lord Igor could only get brutally pummeled by the swings.
A moment later.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
In front of the Red Bear Guild House echoed the sounds of Kang Hyun-soo thrashing him and.
"Ow! Oww! It hurts! It hurts so much!"
Mad Blood Lord Igor's pitiful screams.
"What's going on?"
Players poured out of the Red Bear Guild House at the screams.
"Why's that idiot getting beat again?"
"He must've done something crazy."
"But who left guild house guard duty to that lunatic?"
"Oh, I just asked him to cover while I hit the bathroom! And he causes trouble in that short time!"
"Stop it first."
Red Bear Guild executives approached Kang Hyun-soo.
"That guy's messed up again, it seems. That's enough, right?"
Kang Hyun-soo stopped the scabbard at the man's words.
That instant.
Thwack!
Mad Blood Lord Igor, who had been screaming he'd kill him moments ago, lunged at Kang Hyun-soo with a fist.
Bam bam!
Kang Hyun-soo resumed swinging the scabbard, thrashing Mad Blood Lord Igor.
"As you can see, even if I stop, he won't, so."
The Red Bear Guild executive clutched his hair at Kang Hyun-soo's response.
"We'll hold him so he doesn't charge again once you stop..."
Splat!
Then came the sound of something bursting, followed by.
Thud!
Mad Blood Lord Igor foaming at the mouth and collapsing limply.
"Huh?"
Kang Hyun-soo had thought he was moderating his strength while beating him.
'Oops, used too much force by accident. Can't have him dying.'
Mad Blood Lord Igor was a stone-headed lunatic, but.
'His skills are the real deal.'
That's why.
'He'll be a huge help in the war against the demon army.'
Plus.
'He's loyal to a fault—lives and dies by it.'
Once he trusted someone?
He stuck with them to the end.
'Probably the same now.'
The reason he'd blindly charged at Kang Hyun-soo?
'Because I mentioned Crimson Flame Lord Dorchov.'
A moderate thrashing would do?
He'd make an excellent assault captain in the demon army battles.
"His head's busted!"
"Get a healer now!"
Red Bear Guild players panicked.
Whoosh!
Then Kang Hyun-soo used Immortal Sacred Flame on Mad Blood Lord Igor.
"Urgh!"
With his wounds healed, Mad Blood Lord Igor.
"You bastard!"
Charged at Kang Hyun-soo again.
Splat!
So he got smacked again.
"Gah!"
He passed out.
Whoosh!
But the dot-heal effect of Immortal Sacred Flame revived his consciousness quickly.
"Die!"
He charged again.
Splat!
Passed out.
After this repeated about 30 times.
"Urgh."
Even the mighty Mad Blood Lord Igor.
Could only gaze at Kang Hyun-soo with terror-filled eyes.
No more charging.
'As expected, a stick-beating is the remedy for rabid dogs.'
He'd force-fed learning ability into a guy with none.
"Hey."
Then one Red Bear Guild player.
"But who the hell are you to dare thrash one of our Red Bear Guild members in front of our guild house?"
Asked, glaring at Kang Hyun-soo with eyes full of hostility.