Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: Trolling
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"Trolling"
"Guide us right away."
"Yes, my lord."
At Kang Hyun-soo's command, they began moving under the guidance of Orc Lord Kashku.
While on the move, groups of orcs kept appearing endlessly, blocking their path.
"Monsters just keep coming without end. I could stay here forever if I had my way."
"I feel the same."
"This is a total power-leveling hunting ground!"
"Power-leveling! Power-leveling!"
Thanks to Red Flame Lord Dorchov, Benevolent Army King Shin Chang-hu, Sword King Jang Seok-won, Demon-Exterminating Spear King Jin Gu-pyeong, Song Hana, Battle Emperor, and Dark King Cecilia.
They were swept away in an instant.
"Sweep them all out!"
Kuoaaaaa!
On top of that, Mad Blood Witch Yuka, who had succeeded in creating a powerful rag golem based on Orc Lord Kashku's corpse.
She took the lead with the rag golem and unleashed a fierce performance with a large-scale golem unit.
With Kang Hyun-soo's summons led by Orc Lord Kashku, Dragon Orc Karas, and Doppelganger King Taliman also rampaging spectacularly.
The orcs had no choice but to die the moment they appeared.
Even so.
The closer they got to the destination, the more orcs crawled out like cockroaches in ever greater numbers, attacking Kang Hyun-soo's group.
From Kang Hyun-soo's perspective?
'Nice.'
It was extremely nice.
It was only natural, with experience points and item drops flooding in.
However, disappointingly.
"He's not here?"
At the place they arrived at following Orc Lord Kashku's guidance, the Orc Great Chieftain was absent.
"I'm sorry, my lord."
Orc Lord Kashku bowed his head to the ground in apology.
"No, it's fine."
It would be a lie to say he wasn't disappointed.
'We can just find him.'
Even if the Orc Great Chieftain grew into an Orc Lord.
'It wouldn't be that threatening.'
From Kang Hyun-soo's standpoint, in fact.
It could be a golden opportunity to gain a powerful summon.
'But we can't just leave it alone forever.'
One or two Orc Lords wouldn't be a big burden.
'Three or more, and it becomes a headache.'
However.
'Frank Kingdom has already fallen.'
The survivors would have all escaped by now.
'Even the Orb of Demonic Energy can't strengthen demonic energy without a base.'
The current battle was in a lull.
The only fighting was Kang Hyun-soo's group beating down orcs.
'If they can only grow stronger through the negative emotions, blood, and flesh emitted as the orcs die?'
Their growth had clear limits.
And while the orcs numbered many.
'It's not infinite.'
Eventually, their numbers would dwindle.
And that?
'Would just be them eating into their own flesh.'
From Kang Hyun-soo's perspective, there was no downside at all.
Even if the Orc Great Chieftain grew into an Orc Lord?
'It would just mean more useful summons for me.'
At that moment.
-My lord, the Saklant Imperial Army has entered Frank Kingdom and begun battling the orc legions.
A report came in from Goldroad Merchant Group Leader Saemaal.
'Damn it.'
Kang Hyun-soo's face twisted.
If things continued like this, they could whittle down the orcs' forces while their allies grew stronger.
But the Saklant Empire had gone and ruined it with their trolling.
'Only one way.'
They had to find and eliminate the Orc Overlord as quickly as possible.
"Let's go."
Kang Hyun-soo led his subordinate commanders and summons.
And launched a large-scale search operation.
* * *
"Wipe out every last orc group!"
"Waaaaah!"
At the shout of Iron Blood Lord Bragul the Archduke, who commanded the Saklant Imperial Army, the players let out resounding cheers as they massacred the orc groups.
Elite soldiers conscripted from the Saklant Empire and its vassal states.
Plus players from large, medium, and small guilds.
The total force of the Saklant Imperial Army numbered a whopping 500,000.
And they weren't just any rabble.
They had selected only capable troops over level 500.
On top of that, players were continuously being conscripted from the rear and thrown into the front lines.
"It's nothing special."
Iron Blood Lord Bragul the Archduke, total commander of the Saklant Imperial Army, muttered in an indifferent tone.
"Frank Kingdom fell to trash like that?"
"Indeed."
"Frank Kingdom's forces must have been pathetic."
The knights near Iron Blood Lord Bragul the Archduke burst into mocking laughter.
"Advance at full speed. Our goal is to annihilate the orc groups in the shortest time possible and reclaim Frank Kingdom's territory."
At Iron Blood Lord Bragul the Archduke's words.
"The number of orcs exceeds imagination. A rapid advance will increase player fatigue, naturally leading to greater friendly casualties. Moreover, Orc Great Warriors and Orc Chieftains possess named player-level strength, so we must not let our guard down."
"Orc Chieftain? You mean that one?"
"Kuwaaaaa!"
A 3-meter orc chieftain was demonstrating matchless prowess against players swarming from all sides.
"Who will handle it?"
"I'll do it."
One of the knights stepped forward.
"Good. I'll leave this to you."
"Thank you."
Tatak!
With Iron Blood Lord Bragul the Archduke's permission, the knight charged forward at full speed.
Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang!
In just three clashes.
Zuwaaaak!
He cleaved the orc chieftain's body from crown to groin, splitting it in two.
"Don't let your guard down?"
Iron Blood Lord Bragul the Archduke glared at the knight who had raised the objection.
"Yes, that's what I think."
"You're from a merchant family, so you're overly timid. What's there to fear from weaklings like that?"
"It's not the orcs I'm afraid of. I'm saying we need to minimize our own casualties."
"Those dying at the forefront are guild players from other dimensions anyway. Even if there are losses, the Saklant Imperial Army's numbers won't decrease."
"They are part of the Saklant Imperial Army too."
"Guys who cause problems every day and can't even be controlled properly—how are they Saklant Imperial Army?"
"But..."
"Say no more."
The knight who had voiced opposition grimaced at Iron Blood Lord Bragul the Archduke's words.
"We have received an imperial decree to reclaim Frank Kingdom's territory in the shortest time and rescue the surviving citizens. Can an army that received the emperor's command fear sacrifice? Advance! Advance!"
Having invoked the imperial decree, Iron Blood Lord Bragul the Archduke ordered the army to march.
In truth, Iron Blood Lord Bragul the Archduke knew the opposing knight was right.
However.
'Saklant Imperial Family's prestige comes before player sacrifices.'
And as a bonus.
'Reduce the number of stiff-necked other-dimensional players a bit.'
Under Iron Blood Lord Bragul the Archduke's command, the Saklant Imperial Army rapidly reclaimed Frank Kingdom's territory occupied by the orcs.
* * *
Kang Hyun-soo's group hunted orcs while cutting back even on time for eating and sleeping.
Thanks to that.
His subordinate commanders were able to power-level quickly.
Dark King Cecilia and Red Flame Lord Dorchov had already returned.
"Hahaha, I've never leveled up this fast before, my lord."
"Same here. It's almost a shame to leave."
"But you have to go now."
It was time for Demon-Exterminating Spear King Jin Gu-pyeong, Sword King Jang Seok-won, and Benevolent Army King Shin Chang-hu to return as well.
"Go on."
At Kang Hyun-soo's words.
"Yes, my lord. If something like this happens again, call us anytime!"
"Please do call me."
"I'll take my leave, my lord."
After the farewells, Kang Hyun-soo used his summon swap skill to send the three back to their original positions.
"Now it's just the two of us."
Mad Blood Witch Yuka said with a bright smile.
"Four of us!"
Song Hana corrected her in an irritated tone.
"Oh, right."
But Mad Blood Witch Yuka didn't seem to care much.
'She's treating me like I'm not even here.'
Song Hana glared at Mad Blood Witch Yuka with narrowed eyes.
At first, she had pitied her and been nice, but now she was being treated like a ghost.
She thought it was just her personality.
'It's not.'
Starting with Red Flame Lord Dorchov, Sword King Jang Seok-won and Benevolent Army King Shin Chang-hu had openly been wary too.
The reason was simple.
'She's strong.'
Song Hana's skills had grown quickly too.
But she couldn't match Sword King Jang Seok-won and Benevolent Army King Shin Chang-hu, who had surpassed king-level titles.
'She's ignoring me because I'm weak.'
It made her extremely upset.
On top of that, her ambition to be the one who helped Kang Hyun-soo the most.
'It bothers her.'
Song Hana had always been heavily dependent on Kang Hyun-soo too.
It was just a matter of degree, but Slaughter Emperor Song Hana harbored the same desire as Mad Blood Witch Yuka to monopolize Kang Hyun-soo's attention and affection.
'I'll show her what I'm made of.'
Song Hana's fighting spirit blazed fiercely.
Seeing the two of them like that, Kang Hyun-soo thought.
'Well, it's not a bad thing.'
Having a stronger drive to grow stronger was actually good.
On the other hand, the Battle Emperor.
'What the hell is her problem?'
She couldn't understand at all why Slaughter Emperor Song Hana was burning with fighting spirit toward Mad Blood Witch Yuka.
Even after Demon-Exterminating Spear King Jin Gu-pyeong, Sword King Jang Seok-won, and Benevolent Army King Shin Chang-hu left, Kang Hyun-soo's group continued reducing the orcs' numbers while searching for the Orc Great Chieftain or Orc Lords.
'Where the hell are these bastards hiding?'
Whether they'd flown to the sky or sunk into the earth, they couldn't find any trace of them.
* * *
The Saklant Imperial Army under Iron Blood Lord Bragul the Archduke's command rapidly reclaimed Frank Kingdom's territory.
However, the rapid advance led to increasing casualties.
Nearly 80,000 players had died.
However.
'This isn't even worth calling a loss.'
Iron Blood Lord Bragul the Archduke didn't care in the slightest.
Because the casualties among the main force—conscripted from Saklant Empire and its vassal states—were only a few thousand.
'Idiots.'
Guild-affiliated other-dimensional players didn't pay much attention to their fellow players' deaths either.
Most of the dead were from small and medium guilds.
Casualties among large guild players were so minimal, only a few hundred.
Even players from the same small and medium guilds were indifferent to deaths from other guilds.
Instead.
'That guy's death means I can snag more loot.'
They eyed the loot piled up by dead allies.
'Or a pretty good skillbook dropped.'
They coveted the skillbooks formed from residual mana when allies died.
'This kind of battle is always welcome.'
'I can level up a ton and fill my pockets.'
In fact, the guild-affiliated other-dimensional players had quite a few pent-up complaints.
It was forced conscription with no promised rewards.
However.
The orcs were weaker than expected, their numbers provided good experience, and loot was plentiful.
Plus, claiming the shares of dead players fattened their pockets nicely.
It was a battle everyone was satisfied with.
The conscripted forces from Saklant Empire and vassal states were happy with minimal losses.
The guild players were happy with good experience and ample loot.
However.
"Kuwaaaaa!"
With a roar infused with immense mana, around 100,000 orcs appeared.
Shattering all the satisfaction they had felt until then.
"Keuk!"
"Ugh!"
Players at the forefront took significant mental damage from the spirit attack in the mana-infused roar and couldn't regain their senses.
"Kill them all!"
"Fight for the lord!"
The around 100,000 orcs descended on players whose conditions weren't intact and carried out indiscriminate slaughter.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
Some high-level players snapped out of it and resisted.
Kwajik!
But their heads exploded instantly from hand axes thrown by Orc Great Warriors and Orc Chieftains.
The number of guild-affiliated other-dimensional players at the forefront began dwindling rapidly.