Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: Invasion of the Orc Legion
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Thanks to Kang Hyun-soo, the Demon King's minions lurking in the Rokto Empire and its vassal states were swept away in an instant.
It didn't matter if there was no evidence.
He could just fabricate it using the doppelgangers.
But Kang Hyun-soo wasn't satisfied with that much.
He launched a massive crackdown on human traffickers like human hunters and slave traders.
On top of that, the national control over high-level hunting grounds was lifted.
The control over spatial movement gates in each country was also gone.
As a result.
[You have achieved a remarkable feat.]
[The title 'Atlantis's Human Trafficking Eradicator SSS-Rank' has evolved into 'Atlantis's Human Trafficking Eradicator EX-Rank.']
[You have achieved a remarkable feat.]
[The title 'Atlantis's Savior of Slaves SS-Rank' has evolved into 'Atlantis's Savior of Slaves SSS-Rank.']
His existing titles were upgraded.
Additionally.
[You have achieved a remarkable feat.]
[The title 'Atlantis's Reformer S-Rank' is granted.]
He also acquired a new achievement.
Unfortunately, though.
'Eliminating the Demon King's minions doesn't give achievements.'
It seemed like the Gaia System's initial setup didn't account for the existence of the Demon King's minions.
'Well, I guess I have to be satisfied with this for now.'
Cecilia became the emperor of the Rokto Empire.
And thanks to her swiftly crushing the rebellion and seizing power.
Problems that he thought would take a long time were resolved quickly.
'Primary preparations against the next invasion are complete.'
Now he just needed to steadily build up his strength.
And block the Demon King's army's next invasion.
* * *
Time flew by quickly.
Kang Hyun-soo didn't rest for even a moment.
He steadily leveled up through consistent hunting and used skill enhancements.
Repeated the process of resetting to accumulate stats.
He also steadily upgraded the quality of his summons.
His subordinate commanders, including Song Ha-na and the Fist Emperor, grew rapidly as well.
It was only natural, since he had planted promising seedlings in fertile soil and lavished them with fertilizer.
'About half a month left now?'
The invasion by the Dragon Karas and dragonkin monsters.
The invasion by the doppelganger legion.
The third large-scale invasion following those was the Orc Legion's invasion.
'The numbers were overwhelmingly massive.'
It was a war that even Kang Hyun-soo had actively participated in.
An absurdly huge number of orcs poured in through a massive dimensional gate, using swarm tactics.
The location where the dimensional gate opened this time was also one of the Rokto Empire's vassal states, the Ramphazil Kingdom.
'The Ramphazil Kingdom, and even the Miteor Kingdom, were pushed to the brink of destruction.'
However, they didn't fall.
'It was thanks to the Kabbal Guild's tremendous performance.'
After the Orc Legion's invasion, the Kabbal Guild gained immense fame.
It grew into a super-massive guild capable of essentially fulfilling a nation's role.
'In truth, it was all rigged.'
Since the Kabbal Guild were the Demon King's minions.
'This time, it won't be easy.'
During the previous timeline's Orc Legion invasion.
The Mulan Kingdom was still reeling from the damage inflicted by Dragon Karas and the dragonkin monster legion.
The Terra Kingdom had been completely destroyed by the doppelganger legion invasion.
Even the suzerain Rokto Empire was in chaos under Emperor Rodius II.
'In particular, the conflicts between native players and other-dimensional players were fierce.'
That was the situation when the invasion occurred.
'The damage was enormous.'
But things were different now.
The Mulan Kingdom had long since recovered from the damage of Dragon Karas and the dragonkin monster legion invasion.
The Terra Kingdom hadn't just avoided destruction; it repelled the doppelganger legion with minimal damage.
'And the Rokto Empire's national power is growing stronger by the day.'
Under Kang Hyun-soo's orders, Cecilia abolished hunting ground controls.
She invested massively in other-dimensional players and the guilds they formed.
There was significant opposition.
But Cecilia, following Kang Hyun-soo's directives, pushed through with unwavering resolve.
'The biggest reason the monarchs and nobles of each country were wary of other-dimensional players gaining power was ultimately their fear of losing their vested interests.'
But protecting those vested interests called "rice bowls."
'It only matters if humanity doesn't go extinct.'
The Demon King's army invasions were existential crises for humanity.
There was no luxury to fight over vested interests just because the current situation felt manageable.
'In the previous timeline, few people knew that fact.'
But now, Kang Hyun-soo had forcibly reshaped their perceptions.
Of course, some control was necessary.
If other-dimensional players got delusions of grandeur and pursued vain ambitions, it would be trouble.
So Kang Hyun-soo made the Red Bear Guild the focal point for other-dimensional players.
When the Balhae Guild, Goryeo Guild, and Zhonghua Guild joined, forming the Earth Player Alliance.
Naturally, massive guilds from vassal states like the Mulan Kingdom and Ramphazil Kingdom joined as well.
'In the previous timeline, it never formed.'
It was due to interference and pressure from the Rokto Empire and other countries.
But now, the Earth Player Alliance was formed with the Rokto Empire's full support.
When the Earth Player Alliance performed a loyalty oath to Emperor Cecilia of the Rokto Empire.
'Her imperial authority became even more solid.'
Both Emperor Cecilia of the Rokto Empire and Scarlet Flame Lord Dorchov, leader of the Earth Player Alliance, were Kang Hyun-soo's subordinate commanders.
'And both of them know that fact.'
There was no need for mutual suspicion and anxiety.
Both sides could naturally grow their strength rapidly.
'Come at me if you dare.'
He had established massive defensive lines along the Orc Legion's invasion route.
All preparations were complete, including sequential deployment of each country's elite troops and guild elite players.
-The Orc Legion's invasion has begun.
A report came in from Emperor Cecilia.
'A bit earlier than in the previous timeline.'
It wasn't a huge discrepancy.
The defenses were already fully prepared anyway.
-But the dimensional gate didn't open in the Ramphazil Kingdom.
A slight problem arose.
'No need to worry too much.'
He had anticipated the possibility that the invasion route might deviate slightly from the previous timeline.
However.
-Where?
-The Frank Kingdom.
The moment he heard Emperor Cecilia's response, Kang Hyun-soo's face twisted.
-The Frank Kingdom is a vassal state of the Saclant Empire, right?
-Yes, that's correct.
-Is its location perhaps...?
-The farthest southwestern tip of the continent.
'Damn it!'
Kang Hyun-soo's face naturally contorted.
'This is beyond just a deviation.'
The Ramphazil Kingdom was at the farthest southeastern tip of the continent.
The Frank Kingdom was at the farthest southwestern tip.
The invasion location had flipped to the complete opposite extreme.
-What's the situation in the Frank Kingdom?
-We only know that combat has just begun. We're cooperating with Saemaal of the Goldroad Merchant Group to gather as much information as possible, but grasping the exact battlefield situation is difficult.
After becoming emperor of the Rokto Empire, Cecilia steadily invested in Shadow Dark, the intelligence organization based on the Shadow Guard.
But no matter how much money he poured in.
'You can't buy time.'
Shadow Dark's intelligence network didn't yet reach the Frank Kingdom at the continent's edge.
-Rokto Empire intervention is impossible, right?
Kang Hyun-soo asked with a sliver of hope.
-Yes. We expressed willingness to send elite troops to the Saclant Empire, but they flatly refused.
As expected.
'Of course. The Saclant Empire wouldn't accept Rokto Empire aid unless they went mad.'
The Saclant Empire and Rokto Empire had long competed for continental hegemony.
Before the Demon King's army invasions?
'They fought endlessly over continental dominance.'
Not just localized skirmishes.
But full-scale wars staking the fate of nations.
'The invasions halted the war.'
But their bad relations didn't improve.
Currently, relations between the Rokto and Saclant Empires?
Worse than the US and USSR during the Cold War.
If they moved troops to aid the Orc Legion invasion?
'It could spark a war between the Rokto and Saclant Empires.'
The Saclant Empire wouldn't accept Rokto aid even if the Frank Kingdom fell.
-Nothing we can do then.
-Are you planning to head to the Saclant Empire?
-Yeah.
-Please be careful. Don't forget that you are a duke of the Rokto Empire.
-I know.
Being a duke of the Rokto Empire?
In the Rokto Empire and its vassals, it was a spear that pierced anything and a shield that blocked anything.
But in the Saclant Empire, it was nothing but a liability.
* * *
Kang Hyun-soo crossed into the Saclant Empire with Song Ha-na and the Fist Emperor.
'Good thing Saemaal is there.'
The Golden Lord Saemaal was a prominent merchant in the Rokto Empire and its vassals.
But he was even more prominent in the Saclant Empire and its vassals.
It was only natural, since the Goldroad Merchant Group, run by Golden Lord Saemaal, primarily operated in the Saclant Empire.
The problem was.
'Countries under Saclant Empire influence don't open spatial movement gates to each other.'
As a result.
Kang Hyun-soo's group had to cross each country's borders on foot.
"Things have gotten really messed up."
The Fist Emperor muttered, grimacing.
"Yeah."
Song Ha-na agreed with him.
"But futures can change like this?"
The Fist Emperor asked Kang Hyun-soo curiously.
"Of course. If the future I saw played out exactly, the Terra Kingdom would already be destroyed, and Cecilia wouldn't be emperor."
"Well, yeah, it makes sense it'd change if you intervene."
The Fist Emperor nodded in agreement at Kang Hyun-soo's answer.
However, this situation struck Kang Hyun-soo as quite a headache.
'I considered that the information I know might change.'
But this was excessive.
'Fortunately, the invasion order hasn't changed.'
Just the location.
The fact that the Orc Legion followed the doppelganger legion remained the same.
'The issue is there's no guarantee it'll stay that way going forward.'
He'd have to bear that risk.
The Demon King's army changing invasion routes was annoying.
'But it also means my actions since regression are bearing fruit.'
From the Demon King's army perspective?
Two invasions, into which they'd poured massive resources and manpower, had both failed.
On top of that, their hard-earned minion slaves were massacred.
So?
'They'd scrap plans to target the Rokto Empire and its vassals first.'
This time too.
They targeted the Frank Kingdom, where Rokto Empire intervention was impossible.
'Not bad for me.'
Kang Hyun-soo had secured the Rokto Empire.
Wiped out the Demon King's minions.
Successfully carried out massive reforms.
Despite that, the reason he hadn't left for elsewhere?
'Because I had to block the Demon King's army invasions.'
But if the Demon King's army changed routes?
'I can change my stage too.'
The Saclant Empire and its vassals also hid Demon King's minions.
There were talents who died pointlessly in the previous timeline's war between the Demon King's army and humanity.
Since he was already heading to the Saclant Empire.
'I'll eliminate those who need eliminating and recruit the talents worth recruiting.'
Kang Hyun-soo steeled his resolve as he crossed the border region.
After nearly half a day of tedious border crossings without spatial gates.
Kang Hyun-soo's group finally reached the Frank Kingdom's border region.
And as they crossed the border on foot into the Frank Kingdom, what appeared before them was.
Kuuuwaaak!
The Orc Legion rampaging with furious roars, committing a massacre.
And the walls of a major border city in the Frank Kingdom, ablaze.
Taak!
Kang Hyun-soo leaped onto the walls.
Whoosh!
He swung his sword.
Kwaaaang!
A storm of blood-red aura swept away a horde of orcs.
'What a mess.'
Inside the city, hellish chaos unfolded.
"Summon legion."
At Kang Hyun-soo's words.
Shaaa!
Jet-black mana erupted from spots along the blazing walls.
"Kill."
At Kang Hyun-soo's command.
"Loyal!"
15,000 humanoid summons roared in unison.
Slash! Rip!
They began sweeping away the Orc Legion that had seized the city interior.