Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Nice to See You Again, High-Level Player
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For a moment, I was taken aback.
I never imagined the bastard knew my true identity.
“Nice to see you again, High-Level Player.”
“……High-Level Player?”
“No need to play dumb. I can tell. That armor you’re wearing. The Death Knight Set is proof enough.”
I put on a nonchalant expression and feigned ignorance.
“Does wearing this make me a High-Level Player?”
“No. Only a High-Level Player can equip that armor. You’re the only one who knows how to obtain it.”
“……Think whatever you want. If you’re comparing me to someone that impressive, I’m flattered.”
In his mind, I was already confirmed as the owner of the character nicknamed ‘High-Level Player.’
‘Well… he’s not wrong.’
I’d figured some other player would eventually figure it out, but I never thought it’d be this guy first.
I grinned and replied.
“But if I am the High-Level Player, what changes?”
“Nothing changes. You still have to deal with the monsters that’ll pour out soon.”
“If I take them all down, will you let me live?”
“No. You’ll die to the monsters or to me. One or the other.”
“So I die either way?”
Yi Ryanghun smiled.
“That’s right. Only the timing changes.”
Psychotic bastard.
To a third party, it might look like I was in a dire situation.
But no.
From the moment I heard I had to come here, I’d already considered every possible scenario that could unfold in Gyeongseong.
I’d even calculated my moves.
With four top rankers at my back, running was impossible. The best option was to buy time by fighting the monsters.
Until Jo Younggi finished his task.
‘Worst case, I’ve got Park Gyuhwan and Gawain….’
Kuuweeeek!
Monsters began emerging from the labyrinth gate, one by one.
Slimes, goblins, kobolds—the low-level trash came out in order.
Tiny things smaller than a fist charged at me with gusto.
“Come on.”
-Kuwek!
A kobold came rushing at my legs like a football player.
I grabbed its hands like I was playing with a kid, spun it around, and hurled it back toward the gate.
It collided with another monster emerging from the gate.
Thud!
‘Oops!’
I was supposed to drag this out, but that was a mistake.
Hanjo, who’d been watching my fight with arms crossed, sighed.
“Hoo… Kim Cheonjae. Stop messing around and finish them quick.”
“……I’m in the middle of playing, so don’t interrupt?”
“What?”
“I’ve got nothing but time. Since I’m gonna die anyway, I figured I’d have some fun with these guys first.”
“……You little shit.”
As Hanjo started toward me, Yi Ryanghun raised a hand to stop him.
“Don’t go. Your attacks won’t reach him here anyway.”
“Damn it….”
“Besides, a necromancer’s area skills work inside here. Just wait until he runs out of mana.”
“……”
“Stick to the plan. A necromancer’s just a scarecrow without mana. Watch until then.”
He was right.
Fail to manage your mana as a necromancer, and you can’t use curses, let alone your main summoning skills.
Not that I would.
Yi Ryanghun smirked at me, his face full of mockery.
“Kim Cheonjae, struggling alone? Why not summon a few skeletons?”
I glanced at my health bar above my head.
It was down about 5 percent.
“I like fighting up close.”
“A necromancer? Haha… Do whatever. It’s your funeral anyway.”
“Thanks for giving me options on how to die.”
“Repaying last time’s debt, that’s all.”
Annoying prick.
Once kobold time ended, the monsters coming from the gate leveled up.
Orcs, trolls, ogres.
They started chipping away at my health bar faster and faster.
Orcs and trolls were manageable, but ogres were tough without spells.
“Groooar!”
It swung a wooden club as it chased me.
“Get lost!”
Whack!
I kicked the ogre in the nuts. It groaned and dropped to its knees.
I went to finish it with Dragon Fang, but another ogre jumped into the fray.
“Groar!”
Boom!
The club slammed the ground, cracking the floor with its force.
“Ha… seriously.”
Big movements made one-on-one easy, but as they piled up, it got harder to handle.
‘Jo Younggi, you slow turtle bastard….’
Yi Ryanghun’s crew burst into loud laughter watching my fight. The one in the robe was so amused he was clapping.
-Puhahaha!
A voice I’d heard somewhere before.
‘……Who?’
Whoosh—
The ogre’s club grazed over my head. I nearly lost a big chunk of health.
My bar was already half gone. Time for Plan B?
I muttered to myself.
“……Combat ready.”
* * * *
Hanjo perked up his ears, then whispered to Yi Ryanghun.
“That guy’s gearing up to fight.”
“What?”
“He said it so quiet you couldn’t hear. ‘Combat ready.’”
“……You heard that?”
“Lip reading. I read his lips. Did he scout Kim Cheonjae’s summons?”
“No. I saw them when he entered the village, but they vanished at some point.”
“……Find them quick. My unit got wiped by his ambush once.”
Yi Ryanghun rolled his eyes thoughtfully, then replied to Hanjo.
“Got it. Just in case, I’ll call all my kids here.”
“Yeah. Station troops at the front of the government office too.”
Yi Ryanghun leaned against his bone wall and muttered to himself.
I dodged the ogre’s attacks while slowly closing the distance to Yi Ryanghun’s group.
Pretending to dodge, really.
Whoosh—whoosh—
“Try to hit me!”
The ogre sped up in frustration, letting me move even faster.
Once I got close enough, Yi Ryanghun yelled.
“Hanjo! Block him from getting near!”
Hanjo drew his sword and swung at me.
Slash—
Deliberately slow, like he wanted me to dodge.
“Whoa! Trying to kill me?”
“Player attacks don’t work inside here. I can only push you back.”
Wrapped up like a mummy in bandages, but talks a big game.
Hoo—.
I needed to curse them somehow. Problem was, no opening to make them drop their guard.
Wheeeeeeng.
Hm?
A drill noise suddenly roared nearby. Not a household drill—this was industrial, hydraulic-grade.
Keeegrrrrind—
Getting closer.
Yi Ryanghun and his crew turned toward the sound.
They knew something bad was coming.
‘……He’s here.’
Boom!
A crack appeared in Yi Ryanghun’s bone wall.
Rumble!
It split wide, dirt pouring in.
Rumble—whoooosh.
Kaboom!
A massive dirt wave crashed in with the roar.
Riding the ground wave, Jo Younggi flew in with a bright smile.
“Am I late?”
“You’re super late, you bald bastard!”
“What? I got here before you died, so I kept my promise.”
“Ha…. Where’s Jeongwoo?”
“I rescued Ma Jeongwoo. Took him somewhere safe.”
“……Okay.”
The defenseless ogres got buried head-on by the dirt wave.
Yi Ryanghun shouted in confusion.
“W-what the hell!”
Hanjo answered.
“Damn it, that’s Kim Cheonjae’s ally!”
“Kim Cheonjae’s ally? Didn’t we lock up everyone close to him?”
“……My mistake. Should’ve left troops at the Conqueror’s Tomb….”
Tatatatatata—!
My summons charged in through the hole Jo Younggi made.
Combat-ready Gawain and Park Gyuhwan. The skeleton captains lunged at the enemies together.
I pointed at Yi Ryanghun and Hanjo.
“Throat Lockdown, activate!”
The two skeleton captains each took one, split off, and used the skill.
[Throat Lockdown Activated]
▶Throat Lockdown (Mana Cost: 0)
-Forces interrogation on a target designated by the summoner. (Targets under forced interrogation have their movements sealed.)
The skeleton captains’ arms morphed into prison shapes, trapping Hanjo and Yi Ryanghun.
Clang!
A skill that never works if they’re on guard.
The precondition is ‘the enemy doesn’t attack me while casting.’
[ Skeleton Captain initiates forced interrogation on enemy.]
Hanjo and Yi Ryanghun thrashed inside the prisons. The barriers blocked all movement—they couldn’t do a thing.
Forced interrogation ignores internal and external interference.
Meaning, once trapped, they’re helpless. Can’t attack, can’t be attacked.
I clutched my stomach laughing at them.
“Puhaha! Nice view!”
Hanjo grabbed the bars and yelled.
“What the hell! Player combat was impossible inside the building!”
“Right, until just now.”
“Until just now?”
I pointed at the hole Jo Younggi had drilled.
“See that hole?”
“……”
“My friend made that hole connecting above and below ground.”
“Ah……”
“So now this place is affected by the outside.”
Shing—
A blade slipped from its sheath. I reflexively ducked to evade.
Slash.
Who?
Clang!
My helmet tip clashed with the blade.
Someone with even faster swordplay than my preemptive dodge?
I spun to reset my stance.
A white-haired old man glared at me.
“Youngster. Should’ve taken your head last time. I was too slow.”
“……Watch your own neck.”
Park Gyuhwan charged the old man. Blade clashes rang out in rapid succession.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Suddenly, the ceiling collapsed.
Boom!
Amid the falling bricks, a giant in black armor appeared.
Sword Master Cheok Jun-kyung.
He’d returned fast from guarding the government office entrance.
Assessing the situation, Cheok Jun-kyung emanated an aura.
“You again.”
Worthy of being called Goryeo’s greatest warrior.
Even on second look, Cheok Jun-kyung’s physique and aura were flawless.
Pure, unblemished aura. Sharp killing intent palpable despite his non-aggressive stance.
His blazing eyes toward an enemy were exquisite.
“……Cheok Jun-kyung. No thought of joining me?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. My contractor is Yi Ryanghun.”
“……Contractor?”
Hold up.
Do summons call their masters ‘contractors’?
I glanced at Yi Ryanghun.
He was smiling.
“……”
I smiled back.
He’s smiling like he trusts Cheok Jun-kyung.
But I’ve got this guy.
Thud thud thud—
“My lord!”
Gawain’s shout created a shockwave that split the air.
For a split second, Cheok Jun-kyung halted.
The strong recognize the strong.
The moment they locked eyes, swords were drawn. No orders given, yet they knew each other as foes—combat began instantly.
Boom!
The clash wasn’t just swords colliding—it was an explosion.
By the time I blinked, they were locked in a test of strength, blades grinding.
Legend versus legend.
“……Shall we end this?”
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