Chapter 78
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Second B-Rank Gate (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[Of course not.]
Verdact, who had been patrolling the outskirts of the Necromancer Society only to be rarely summoned by the Pluto King and rush to Necro Castle at full speed, let out a baffled voice after hearing the full story.
[What on earth are you thinking, wanting to hunt a B-rank gate all by yourself? Sa-hu, I didn't think you were the reckless type.]
Verdact sounded a little disappointed, but Kang Sa-hu didn't waver.
"I'm not saying this lightly or on a whim. That gate has to be cleared eventually anyway, doesn't it? If a B-rank gate breaks, it's going to cause serious problems."
[...That's true.]
Verdact, having already experienced a B-rank gate break and subjugating the monsters that poured out from it, couldn't argue and simply nodded.
In fact, when the B-rank gate break had occurred, the Necromancer Society had been thrown into chaos.
Dullahan, the Pluto King's familiar and equivalent to an advanced Necromancer summon.
And Death Knights, empowered by the Pluto King's might far beyond those of other Necromancers and on par with top-tier summons, had faced the monsters that spilled out from the break.
But born as humans and optimized for combat against fellow humans rather than otherworldly beasts, the battle had unfolded in a completely unexpected way.
Swords that would cleave a human body in two barely sliced off a third of a massive monster's arm.
And even that was exacerbated by the phenomenon where otherworldly monsters were less affected by modern weaponry, forcing them to expend several times the usual strength per attack.
Moreover, while subjugating the monsters was a goal, they had an even more critical priority.
Minimizing damage to Necromancers and the Necromancer Society.
In other words, they had to swing weapons that barely worked, fight with physical disadvantages, and protect people and the city all at once.
Kang Sa-hu, who had more Hunter experience than even Verdact—who had lived through it—knew this better than anyone.
Countries that hadn't believed the Prophet had once favored setting up defenses outside rather than venturing into the unknown gate interior for unfavorable fights, planning to crush the monsters with modern firepower the moment they broke out.
And the nations that tried it never did so again.
They unleashed countless bullets, mortars, even missiles, melting the entire area.
But from that molten ground, monsters that survived every attack seized the chance to leap out and massacre soldiers.
The proponents of that strategy got flak for distrusting the Prophet and causing needless deaths.
It only deepened trust in the mysterious Prophet.
"There's no need to repeat a problem you've already faced. Let me hunt the B-rank gate and uproot it completely."
[No, Sa-hu. Why are you so set on entering a B-rank gate? What good does it do you? You'll just risk your life.]
Verdact asked, frustrated and unable to comprehend his actions.
"No, it helps me too. Hunting inside gates strengthens my summons, and I earn points to buy what I need later. And above all..."
Kang Sa-hu paused to catch his breath, his expression grave as he continued.
"With the Necromancer Society safe, the Pluto King's burdens lighten too. I can do this."
Kang Sa-hu's eyes gleamed upward like horns.
Far more intense than his own, which burned like small red orbs following his contractor, the Pluto King—flaring upward like a surge.
But sending off a 25-year-old—just turning 26, full of youthful vigor—was hard for Verdact, over 400 years old, to accept.
[Fine, I understand your resolve. Then you'll need to prove it.]
Verdact glanced cautiously at the Pluto King, who hesitated at the look but soon waved her hand, having approved his summons to rein in Kang Sa-hu in the first place.
Clack-clack-clack.
Bones gathered neatly around her gesture, forming a thick layer over the floor.
Once a sturdy barrier protected the magic circle enough not to shatter easily, Verdact stepped far from Sa-hu and drew the sword at his waist.
[I, Enet Baron Verdact, shall test thee. Necromancer Kang Sa-hu. Prove thy worth before me.]
His solemn voice echoed through the cavern like a rumble.
True to a Death Knight, it carried immense power and deep shades of death.
At Verdact's words, Kang Sa-hu looked to the Pluto King as if seeking permission, and she nodded reluctantly.
"Fine, show me. Sa-hu, why you're so confident."
"Understood."
Kang Sa-hu bowed to the Pluto King, then backed away to create distance, just as Verdact had, and pulled out his soul core pouch.
Soon, one soul core flew to his hand.
And his summon appeared between him and Verdact.
Grrrrrrrowl!
Over 4 meters tall, with fur blacker than night.
From its forehead, along its back to the tail tip, sulfurous crimson flames erupted like a volcano as the Hell Hound emerged.
Grr, grr, grrr!
Fire like that on its back burst intermittently from its nose and mouth with every breath.
Having received Kang Sa-hu's will through his intent to fight with all its might.
No trace of the dog wagging its tail and acting cute before its master.
Only the Hell Hound that hunted demons in hell, tearing flesh and swallowing bones whole, glared at Verdact with eyes as red as the Pluto King's—but wreathed in flame.
[......]
Verdact eyed the Hell Hound, then his drawn sword.
In front of the 4-meter-plus beast, his trusted longsword looked like a fruit knife.
And even worse.
Without a single proper attack, the blade couldn't withstand the heat, glowing cherry-red and starting to melt bit by bit.
This from afar—if he closed in to swing?
[...Hmm.]
Verdact nodded after assessing, sheathing his sword.
[Pass.]
"...Hey!!"
A sharp yell from his master rang out, but Verdact didn't draw again.
Though her own Death Knight—and commander of 99 others—Verdact had approved, the Pluto King still couldn't easily let Kang Sa-hu enter a B-rank gate.
But testing him herself now would be ridiculous.
It would imply she didn't trust Enet Baron Verdact, head of her Death Knights.
Instead, she devised a compromise.
"Then hunt two C-rank gates."
The Pluto King thought it a brilliant idea.
Kang Sa-hu truly wanted to hunt gates, and if it helped him, she'd support rather than stop him.
The issue was him going alone—and to a B-rank gate that even top nations struggled with.
Even without ever stepping foot in the underworld or beyond the magic circle, she'd heard the infamous tales of C-rank gates.
Hunters dying left and right inside; some nations failing to clear despite tries, leading to breaks and mass casualties.
That alone made her unwilling to send him to a C-rank.
But he'd hunted one before, albeit weakly shown, and her Death Knight Verdact had acknowledged his summon.
She'd snapped earlier in shock at Verdact passing before the test began, but she wasn't blind.
True to its name Hell Hound, muscles rippled beneath long fur, and the searing heat from its back and maw turned Verdact's distant blade red-hot.
A presence unlike any monster hunted in the Necromancer Society before.
'Probably because of Sa-hu.'
If Hell Hounds had poured from that Society gate break?
They could've blocked somehow, but devastation close to annihilation would've been unavoidable.
Or even if barely stopped, rebuilding would've been impossible from the damage.
So while reining him in, she lacked full conviction she was right.
'If he returns from this, I'll have to acknowledge him.'
The Pluto King watched the C-rank gate Kang Sa-hu entered for her test, her face complex.
'If he comes back injured, even slightly, or too late—no way he's entering the B-rank.'
His gate hunts so far hadn't taken long.
F-rank under 30 minutes; latest D-rank under an hour.
So if not back in 5 hours, she'd veto the B-rank outright.
Sorting her tangled thoughts, she checked the clock.
An hour and a half since he'd entered.
D-rank would've been cleared long ago.
But C-rank was tougher, so more time made sense.
Not wasting it, she rose from her chair.
'I need to find ways to help Sa-hu my way.'
She'd fiercely opposed B-rank for its lethality, but no one wanted him stronger more than her.
Unlike before, from alien beasts and bizarre environs, the world was blood-soaked like 400 years ago.
Monsters bursting from unknown gate passages; weak ones die.
Not that weakness meant certain death, or strength let you dominate easily.
Still, in this world, power was paramount.
The proof? Herself and the Necromancers here.
"...Please come back unharmed. Gain the strength to see your will through, Sa-hu."
The Pluto King murmured inwardly, eyes closed.
"Yes. Thank you, Pluto King."
A reply came from behind.
"......"
A chill ran through her as she slowly turned.
There stood Kang Sa-hu, fresh from clearing the C-rank gate like his first F-rank from Necro Castle—no scratches, perfectly fine.