Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Zealot Hunt #5
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Belnar Negrim was a promising high priest in the order.
From the start, the mere fact that he had far surpassed the limits expected of a priest at his age was proof enough of his potential.
And so, he had lived his life believing he was destined to change the world.
'I must become the beacon of this world.'
Something as trivial as kidnapping a noble lady and subjecting her to horrific experiments was merely a necessary sacrifice for the revelations yet to come.
But.
"What...!"
Behind his irritated mutter, a cacophony erupted.
The chorus was composed of the priests' terrified and agonized screams.
"S-Spare me...!"
-Splash...!
Blood-red chains surged up through the dust-choked battlefield, seeking their prey.
The priests' frail mana couldn't withstand the power of the progenitor laced with malice.
"This can't go on! It can't!"
Belnar Negrim's eyes bulged with bloodshot fury.
He and his order were the emissaries of the gods, upholding the righteous will of the world.
"To fall here, in a place like this...!"
"High Priest! We can't hold the line...! The progenitor's power is too much...!"
"Fall back and you're dead! Lay down your lives!"
"Kuaaack!"
And rolling toward them came the severed head of a priest, tumbling to a stop at their feet.
-Thud.
The head's eyes were still twisted in horror.
"..."
"You're doing great. Just keep it up."
Thanks to the high priest's intimidation, they weren't fleeing.
The hunters were having an absolute feast of easy experience points.
And amid it all, the most important thing was Eira's delightful game of tag.
It lifted the object's spirits, cleared the trial.
What a wonderful relationship.
"You bastard...!"
Do-yoon, with Eira on his back, locked eyes with the high priest.
'Their leader. I need to take him down.'
Belnar Negrim made his judgment.
-Crackle.
A bolt of red lightning crackled to life, shooting straight toward Do-yoon.
"Finally, the main event."
He had broken through waves of priests and finally reached the high priest.
Dozens had already fallen to his curved sword.
-Splatter!
He shook off the dripping blood from his blade and charged into the massive wave of mana surging toward him.
-Whoosh...!
Just before the high priest's attack struck Do-yoon—
Do-yoon leaped back, calmly assessing the situation.
His physical condition first.
'Perfect.'
Thanks to Eira's help, pushing through to this point hadn't taken much effort.
"Fight me fairly!"
"Didn't you send your priests first from the back?"
"You rat!"
"Don't copy that."
Correcting Eira as she parroted the high priest's curse, Do-yoon looked ahead.
-Grip!
He tensed his legs and charged forward.
'Gotta keep moving.'
The moment he stopped, another spell would come flying.
True to his position as the pinnacle of priests, the magic's power was dangerously potent.
"Oppa."
"Yeah."
Nodding to Eira, who called out to him with something in mind, Do-yoon adjusted his movement accordingly.
-Boom!
A spell grazed past his chest by a hair's breadth. His eyes flicked to it as he swung his curved sword.
More precisely, at the peak of its swing, he hurled it forward with all his strength.
"...What?!"
Throwing his weapon out of nowhere.
It was a mad act, one only someone suicidal would attempt.
However.
-Clang!
The blade, linked to the chains Eira had fired, abruptly changed trajectory toward the high priest.
The chain coiled around the hilt wriggled like a living serpent hunting its prey.
"A pathetic trick!"
"Heehee."
If he couldn't create distance, counter with the same range.
"Tch...!"
The high priest barely dodged the whipping curved sword.
For someone specialized in long-range interceptions, his physical abilities weren't bad.
'Annoyingly quick.'
Feeling a twinge of regret, Do-yoon yanked back Eira's chain.
-Slash!
The hilt settled satisfyingly into his grip, and Do-yoon found himself admiring Eira's ability.
"Nice."
"You like it?"
It was the first time he'd used it properly, but since it was formed from mana infused with her will...
As expected, it perfectly tracked the target.
"Good job."
A strange thrill from mastering a new attack method washed over him, and Do-yoon patted Eira's head.
Confirming her beaming smile, he turned back to the unfinished battle.
"How dare you, how dare you...!"
There was Belnar Negrim, breathing raggedly.
Do-yoon sensed it instinctively.
Mana wasn't infinite.
Even this brazen high priest had limits.
"Hah, huff...!"
"Tired?"
"Shut up!"
"Just say the word if you're struggling. I'll go easy."
-Grind!
Enraged by Do-yoon's words, the high priest unleashed his mana even more wildly.
"Whoops, sorry."
Do-yoon quipped playfully as a disaster-like surge poured toward him, immediately widening the gap.
'Tin can level.'
Like the Wine Lord swinging wildly to erase her dark history.
The cornered high priest spewed mana indiscriminately.
As he watched the mana storm, a presence approached from the side.
"Do-yoon."
"All done?"
He turned to the skinny hunter.
Glancing around, it seemed she'd mopped up the remaining priests without issue.
"Three hunters died."
"How?"
"Pushed too far for glory, got surrounded. The rest followed."
Hunters blinded by rewards and experience had walked into the jaws of death on their own.
He could've saved them by taking risks, but they were from different worlds.
"Ah, okay."
Thinking of the three who had crossed the river of no return, Do-yoon refocused on the fight.
Pity stirred, but dwelling on it too much would only poison him.
These weren't the hunters he needed to protect.
Korea.
His homeland, where his comrades awaited, their expectations carrying him here.
💬 Boss Mob Gallery — Anonymous Just in case, don't get attached to hunters from other worlds for real ㅇㅇ; — Anonymous Those guys will stab you in the back even in the boss room if the cost-benefit adds up. The gallery had emphasized it time and again.
'Aim for the clear.'
Thus, Do-yoon resolved to do his absolute best.
-Crackle!
"Where are youuuu!!!"
Hearing the berserk high priest's roar, Do-yoon grabbed Eira.
"Going again."
"Yeah!"
With her spirited reply, he charged to finish it.
"You shall not pass...!"
A few lingering priests lunged, but a black shadow struck faster.
-Boom!!
The figure dispatched them instantly with a massive axe, then turned its silver gaze to Do-yoon.
Rakia Bells.
Gone was her constant gloom; she radiated a warrior's aura as she supported him.
"Go."
"Thanks."
Grateful for her aid, Do-yoon targeted the high priest's throat once more.
But.
Spotting Do-yoon, the high priest glared.
Two.
His eyes widened as he deployed mana; Do-yoon gathered his strength, accelerating his body.
Three.
The high priest's mana clashed violently with Do-yoon's body.
'End it here.'
In his flickering vision, thoughts of the dead flashed by.
The priests had met a fitting end.
No room for guilt toward them.
The other hunters?
Those who came from their worlds to give their all had become cold corpses, their wills unfulfilled.
If he'd been a bit more serious, more diligent, could he have saved them?
'Fucking idiot.'
He despised the creeping guilt.
How complacent could he be to entertain such thoughts?
That naive kindness wouldn't let him survive here.
This was a place that crushed the weak.
The theme stage—a mad realm that turned innocent children into horrific monsters.
'Don't think about anything else.'
He knew the answer.
-Crackle!
"Grrrgh...!"
Ignoring the burning pain engulfing his body, Do-yoon gritted his teeth and pressed forward.
Dangerous.
Even more than Eira on his back, he—the mere novice hunter—was in peril.
He barely twisted away from the impact point.
Three steps away.
Startled by the sudden mana burst, the high priest tried to retreat.
"Not going anywhere."
What ensnared his ankle was the blood-red chain they themselves had implanted in Eira.
"Th-This...!"
With that final panicked glare, Do-yoon surged forward with his last strength.
-Crunch!
Gripping the hilt like it might shatter, he swung into the high priest's exposed gap.
-Slash.
"Gaaack!!"
The arm flew into the air, landing pathetically on the ground.
He delivered more blows to the writhing high priest.
Flank, thigh, collarbone.
Circling to the armpit, Do-yoon twisted the hilt—
And plunged the curved sword straight into his chest.
-Stab!!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Acidic Digestive Fluid Horrific melting pain ignites the high priest's mind once more.
The blade, twisted deep, unleashed agonizing corrosion from within.
"Grrglrrk!!"
He collapsed without time to scream, thrashing helplessly.
"...Hah."
Propping up his near-exhausted body, Do-yoon watched the high priest's end.
-Thud.
"..."
Eira slid down from his back, gazing at the froth-mouthed, dying man.
"Hey."
She spoke to him, knowing no answer would come.
A reversed perspective.
Once, from the altar's center, Eira had looked up at him with pleading eyes for mercy.
All she got was pain that begged for death.
"Does it hurt?"
"Grrk! Grrrk!"
No reply to her innocent question.
That alone filled Eira with deep satisfaction.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
I hope it hurts you a lot.
-Drip. Drip.
"...Hee."
No laughter came, and tears traced her pale cheeks.
But Eira forced a mocking smile at her predator.