Chapter 231: A Holiday at the Citadel (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 231: A Holiday at the Citadel (3)
The inner chamber of the fortress.
Tables laden with an array of dishes stretched out in long rows.
"Stop rattling your joints and move faster. Clack. Master said to hurry."
"Clack!"
"C-clack..."
T-Bone and the ancient soldiers, wearing bow ties, bustled about as they served the guests.
"Is the food to your liking?"
Jinhyuk smiled brightly at the high-ranking figures seated on either side of him.
"...Tch!"
Flinching, Namgung Cheon reached for the sword at his waist. It was clear that merely sharing a room with Jinhyuk displeased him.
Baek Seol-rin quickly intervened.
"It's even more delicious than I expected. Thank you for the hospitality."
"Well, I'm glad you think so. But it seems the gentleman over there, who completely ruined his own guild, begs to differ, Lady Baek Seol-rin. Haha."
"W-what did you say?! The only reason the Chunghwa Guild ended up in that state is because of you...!"
"That's enough. We didn't come here to fight."
"Of course, of course. I didn't have the slightest intention of fighting, but my, what a hot temper. Honestly, a goblin wandering around the tutorial field would have more patience."
"Aaargh!"
Namgung Cheon practically foamed at the mouth. However, thanks to Baek Seol-rin and the other Murim members desperately holding him back, the worst was avoided.
"Cut the provocations. Why did you invite us here? Surely you didn't call us just to have a meal."
Demanding to get straight to business before the main course was even served? Honestly, these people had absolutely no table manners.
"It's a bit early, but since none of you seem interested in the food anyway, I'll get straight to the point. As you both know, both of your factions want free access to this castle. Its strategic location is simply too vital."
Everyone already knew this. That was why they had accepted an invitation that felt more like a summons.
"I plan to give both sides an equal opportunity. Whichever side offers the higher toll will win the transit rights to this fortress."
"A... a bidding war? Did you just say a bidding war?"
Count Hobier sprang to his feet. He was so dumbfounded that his thick double chin trembled.
"Is there a problem?"
"Of course there is! Didn't you side with the Empire during the Faction Selection Battle? Then you should naturally yield the castle to us! Demanding a price? What kind of preposterous nonsense is this?!"
Veins bulged on Hobier's neck as he spat his words. At that exact moment, the smile vanished from Jinhyuk's face.
"First of all, if you spit over the food one more time, I will make sure you never flap that snout of yours again."
"S-snout? No, what did you just say to me?"
"This is my castle..."
Sssss.
A chilling, murderous intent filled the air.
"...so show some proper respect."
"Gasp!"
Hobier had never touched a sword that wasn't purely ceremonial. Naturally, he had never experienced such a suffocating aura before.
Shiver!
Hobier shook like a leaf. His previous bravado had long since vanished, leaving only a terrified white pig in his seat.
"Haha. Player Kang Jinhyuk. It seems our Count has made a slip of the tongue. Please calm down, and if you tell us what you want, we will humbly accept it."
An elderly knight quickly stepped in to defuse the situation. It was Albert McKeim, the Commander of the Iron Cross Knights, who also served as an advisor to the Commander-in-Chief, Hobier.
Kang Jinhyuk...
Albert had also initially planned to use the Empire's name to suppress Jinhyuk's spirit. No matter how strong a player was, he was ultimately just a single individual. He could never compare to a massive faction.
But...
I thought he was just a wolf pup at best, but I was completely mistaken.
He was a young man, not even thirty yet. So what on earth was this overwhelming pressure? It felt like facing an absolute monarch who had grown cold and hardened after crossing countless lines of death. The stinging aura pressing against Albert's skin made it difficult to even breathe.
If a man like this truly lost his temper and drew his sword...
We stand no chance.
Although there were over thirty knights here to guard the Count... if they recklessly attacked, they would be the ones buried here.
"C-Commander Albert. This man just..."
"I know, Your Grace. For now, let us hear Player Kang Jinhyuk's proposal."
Once the tension eased, Jinhyuk placed two sheets of white paper on the table.
"You have one chance. Write down the best offer you can make and submit it to me."
"You mean we shouldn't test the waters with half-hearted offers?"
"Yes, exactly."
He had said all he needed to say.
"Now, please enjoy the rest of your meal. T-Bone and the others will show you to your quarters. Oh, and... you, come with me for a second."
"I-I haven't finished eating yet."
Cheon Yu-seong, the one singled out, flinched and leaned back. His movement radiated a desperate desire to get even a single centimeter further away.
"Let's have a cozy meal on the rooftop. There's an outdoor terrace with a spectacular view of the moon. Up there, no one would ever know if someone happened to get pushed over the edge."
"I... refuse."
Cheon Yu-seong shook his head, his face pale with terror.
"Sorry, but you don't have a choice. Lending you to me for the day was the condition I set for the Murim."
"T-that can't be! Is that really true?"
"I'm sorry. He threatened to block our access entirely if we refused..."
Baek Seol-rin's voice trailed off.
Perfect. Now that he had Baek Seol-rin's consent, the long-awaited hour of vengeance had finally arrived. Just thinking about how thoroughly he was going to torment him made Jinhyuk's fingertips tingle with excitement.
I'll force him into a maid outfit and put it on ViewTube. If it hits a hundred million views, I'll let him off. If it falls short, I'll hit him once for every view he's missing.
That seemed like it would finally alleviate some of the resentment he had harbored.
Just as Jinhyuk made up his mind and prepared to stand up—
Shiver!
That same sensation he had felt before pierced through his heart once again. A chilling, bizarre sense of foreboding.
Could this be...?
Jinhyuk raised his head. At almost that exact instant—
[You damn Castle Lord! It's an enemy! Teleportation coordinates have been set inside the fortress!]
Tangrasil, the White Tree, roared via telepathy.
As expected, the residual mana was a phenomenon caused by long-range teleportation. An ambush. And an incredibly powerful foe was on the way.
If they wanted to catch me off guard, they chose the absolute worst time.
Due to the previous battle, Tangrasil's barriers were currently down. Consequently, they couldn't block this high-tier magic.
The others in the inner chamber sensed the anomaly as well.
"What on earth is...!"
"Who has the guts to pick a fight with a crowd like this?"
Baek Seol-rin and Namgung Cheon drew their swords.
"Your Grace! Get behind us!"
"Y-yes! Make sure they don't lay a single finger on me!"
The Empire's knights summoned their Titans to protect Hobier.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
Boom!
A deafening explosion reverberated throughout the entire castle.
* * *
[A Gate is activating!]
Along with a red status window, the ground split open. Soon after, a skeleton covered in fire and lava emerged from the deep abyss.
Whoosh!
Blaze!
The beautiful garden instantly began to transform into a sea of fire.
"Grrr..."
Dark red calamity fire spilled from the flame skeleton's mouth.
Jinhyuk frowned.
Damn it. Of all things, it had to be this guy.
He had expected something unusual, but he hadn't anticipated an out-of-bounds monster like this.
Did the Demonic Human Association use a shortcut?
Those bastards, who had yet to obtain several sacred relics—including the 'Filth-Devouring Jar' stolen from the psychiatric ward—must have resorted to a backup plan. They likely intended to buy time like this to secure the hidden piece needed to clear the 15th floor, where the Wailing Witch resided.
Since they can tie down me, the Empire, and the Murim all at once... this is the most efficient move they could have made.
Jinhyuk pulled his longbow, 'Molar', from his subspace inventory. He couldn't face this opponent with his current setup.
"Alice!"
Jinhyuk called out.
"Yes! I'm here."
[The mana injected into 'Braham's Ring' is eased!]
Jinhyuk released another layer of Alice's seal.
Clank!
As the restriction was lifted, Alice grew about five centimeters taller.
"I'm going to give you a task. Listen carefully."
"Well, if we don't do something, this place will turn into a sea of fire. So, what do you need me to do?"
"There must be someone who opened the Gate and is anchoring the flame skeleton to this realm. Find them and take them out."
To deal a fatal blow to the flame skeleton, they first had to eliminate the necromancer who had summoned it to this floor. The summoner was undoubtedly hiding nearby, supplying it with mana. Only by taking out that damn demonic human would they stand a chance.
And...
Alice was the only one among them who could track faint demonic energy. Now that her seal had been partially released, her mana detection abilities would be incomparably sharper than before.
"Can you hold out without me?"
"I'll buy as much time as I can. Just try not to take longer than thirty minutes."
Otherwise, the entire base he had worked so hard to acquire might be reduced to ashes.
Just then, Cheon Yu-seong clicked his tongue beside him.
"To think such a thing would happen at your inauguration feast... How typical of you. Perhaps poetic justice really does exist."
"You look rather pleased."
"Nonsense. I am merely expressing my deep regret that such a joyous occasion has been ruined."
Look at the corners of his mouth twitching upward.
You are so dead. Just wait until this is over.
Gritting his teeth, Jinhyuk bolted forward. Alice flew out of the fortress, while Wolyeong and Andrea followed Jinhyuk, bracing themselves for the imminent battle.
Bam! Crash!
Tangrasil's roots temporarily halted the flame skeleton's movements. But it was only for a fleeting moment. As volcanic bombs rained down, the vegetation caught fire and began to burn away.
"Groooar!"
It was as if a demon from hell had emerged to reenact a scene straight out of the Book of Revelation.
Taking his position by the window, Jinhyuk nocked an arrow on 'Molar'.
Crackle!
A crimson arrow forged of pure mana blazed fiercely.
Whew...
He calmed his breathing and waited for the perfect moment. The mana that had been raging wildly through his veins suddenly settled.
...Now!
[Lv8 'Crimson Magic Bullet' has been activated!]
A red flash flickered.
[Lv11 'Glacial Shaping' has been activated!]
Hundreds of shattered ice blades wrapped around the flash of light.
[Lv9 'Daylight' has been activated!]
Finally, a blinding radiance enveloped everything.
A sniper shot combining three different skills. A massive surge of mana hurtled toward the flame skeleton.