Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 016
Chapter Title: Shadow Worm, Cha-Ratevil (8)
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10.
Subordinates' soulstones are transcendental materials.
To convert the souls engraved on those stones into power, one had to go to the grand cathedral and meet the Star Messenger in person.
“Awake?”
As I climbed up the underground stairs, Hong Byeong-gyu and his group were gathered in the guardroom, a campfire crackling before them. Hong Byeong-gyu chuckled.
“With this, we'll replenish our energy and head to the grand cathedral.”
My mouth watered involuntarily.
Sausages skewered on spits were roasting over the campfire, filling the air with a savory aroma.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“What's that? We could tell you'd had a rough night. Youth sure is something.”
“Pardon?”
While I was flustered, Jeong Ha-kyeong just nodded slightly.
“You fucking old perv. Uncle, did you just say some perverted shit again?”
“Hey, it's a joke, a joke! You don't know American jokes?”
The other hunters laughed at Hong Byeong-gyu's frantic excuse.
It was somehow heartwarming, and I couldn't help but smirk.
It wasn't the sharp banter typical of Nightmare Hunters—it felt more like teasing among drinking buddies.
“Let's dig in.”
I plopped down by the campfire.
Jeong Ha-kyeong handed me one of the sausages.
“This one's a bit burnt. So eat it yourself, old man.”
It wasn't burnt at all.
But my stomach was too empty to argue.
“Then, thanks. I'll have it…….”
It was delicious. As I ate, emotion welled up.
Wasn't the feeling of fullness a sensation of life, not death? I truly felt alive again.
“Hey, Lead Hunter bro.”
As I mindlessly devoured the third one, Hong Byeong-gyu spoke up.
“Tell us about the boss fight. How the hell did you take it down solo?”
Hong Byeong-gyu hyped up the mood, and the other hunters chimed in. Even Jeong Ha-kyeong shot me an interested glance.
I could only give a rueful smile.
“Well…… I don't really know myself.”
It was thanks to the skyrocketing 'Humanity' stat in Holy Flame Succession. How was I supposed to explain that?
Holy Flame Succession was shrouded in secrets. The 'battle memory' was peculiar enough…… but 'Humanity' was especially bizarre.
I had no idea what conditions raised it. I'd tried blindly doing good deeds, but it hadn't budged then.
“I fought with the resolve to save everyone…… and somehow, I won.”
The hunters exchanged glances and tilted their heads.
Awkward.
Did they think I was hiding my unique skill? After a long pause, Jeong Ha-kyeong shrugged.
“Who cares how you won? You won—that's what matters.”
“No…… I wasn't prying or anything. Just curious.”
Thanks to Jeong Ha-kyeong, I didn't have to explain. Now it was my turn to ask what I'd been wondering about.
“Where's Shin Tae-yeop? The other survivors?”
What?
Why did the mood turn heavy the moment I mentioned Shin Tae-yeop? This reaction…… no way.
“No, he's not dead. But.”
Hong Byeong-gyu answered immediately, seeing my expression crumble. But he couldn't continue. Jeong Ha-kyeong sighed instead.
“That guy's ability to keep hunting is in question now.”
“……What do you mean?”
“Out of 21, 11 died. Including 3 from GodSpring.”
Hearing the exact numbers hit like a punch to the gut.
Five more died while I was catching the subordinate? Wait, wasn't Hong Byeong-gyu's group five people too?
“He proposed the expedition, so he's blaming himself for their deaths.”
“He was half a wreck when he first woke up.”
Kim Gye-sang, one of Hong Byeong-gyu's group, said with a sigh.
“We don't even know where he is now. He vanished completely.”
That hero had broken mentally. And now his whereabouts were unknown?
Shouldn't he be revered as a hero more than anyone?
“He didn't do anything wrong. Who could've predicted the boss would ambush us?”
Everyone stared blankly at the floor with gloomy expressions.
“Even as he was dying, he fought for us—”
“—I know. Who said otherwise?”
Jeong Ha-kyeong stood up, clearly uncomfortable with the topic.
“He kept saying that. But the kid thinks otherwise. Sigh…… whatever, let's go.”
The other hunters rose one by one, and Hong Byeong-gyu doused the campfire with water.
I stayed seated.
My body felt heavy. My temple throbbed with a migraine, and I massaged it.
If even I felt this stifled, how much worse was it for that young one…….
Meanwhile, the hunters hauled leather sacks from underground and loaded them onto the carriage parked outside the door.
Rain was pouring outside. Cold, thick raindrops.
Because the world—the world itself—was insane.
Even the hero of the first victory had become a wreck.
A mad world where even simple cause and effect were twisted. I was still trapped in that nightmarish reality.
11.
The Star Messenger greeted us from the pulpit in the chapel.
When Hong Byeong-gyu's group set down the sack of soulstones, the Star Messenger pulled out a subordinate's soulstone and smiled with her eyes.
“As expected of the one who achieved the Lead Hunter's feat…… Just as I hoped. You know what can be done with a subordinate's soulstone, right?”
I knew well.
There were two uses.
One was crafting equipment imbued with the subordinate's power.
The other was absorbing the subordinate's soul. Simply put, converting it into level-up points.
With Holy Flame Succession, the choice was obviously the former.
“Hmm…… Unfortunately, that option seems impossible.”
“Why is that?”
“You're short 31 soulstones. You didn't know that auxiliary soulstones are needed for transcendental equipment?”
It was absurd.
Short, with this many?
We could've thrown a feast just by selling them for food.
“Then forget it. We won't make it.”
“One. Since you honored my name with the first hunt, I'll cover it specially as thanks.”
Your name?
I didn't even have time to ask what she meant.
The moment the Star Messenger clasped her hands, the soulstones floated into the air all at once.
Whooo…… The soulstones gathered with a strange hum and began fusing.
At the center, Cha-Ratevil's soulstone blazed with black light.
Fwaaaah!
At the climax, a dark flash swept through the chapel.
It happened so fast that by the time I blinked, the flash was gone.
The soulstones had vanished with it.
In their place, the Star Messenger held 'something' in her hands.
“This is no mere garment—it's Cha-Ratevil's transcendence manifested as clothing. Take it.”
It was a jet-black longcoat.
High collar, hem reaching below the knees—aside from that, only grotesque features.
Heavy like spherical body armor.
Fabric rough like Cha-Ratevil's chitin. A faint, sinister presence of Cha-Ratevil.
[Legendary equipment equipped: Shadow Exoskeleton Battle Robe]
……In short, clothes made from insect shell?
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[Shadow Exoskeleton Battle Robe]
[Description Summary]
- 1: Jet-black battle robe.
- 2: Essence of a subordinate who served a nameless demigod.
[Equipment Grade and Type]
- Legendary / Leather
[Dedicated Skill: 《Shadow Lurk》]
- By lurking in shadows, gain immunity to all damage except light and flame attributes.
- Duration: (1.5) sec / Charges: (2)
It's said the nameless demigod commanded 118 lords under him.
Cha-Ratevil was one, and truly admired him.
So when he plotted reckless rebellion, was it why he obeyed more fervently than anyone?
=====
The description mentions the demigod again.
Admired him? That laugh sounded feminine…… and it really was?
Ding, a sound rang in my ears then.
[Dedicated skill, 《Shadow Lurk》 activated.]
Not bad.
The very skill that turned the Cha-Ratevil raid into a nightmare.
It nearly wiped the raid party and almost killed me by surprise. And now I could use it like my own unique skill.
There were no Heteromorphs using light or flame attributes.
In essence, two uses of an invincible dodge.
Compared to this infinite potential, burning through 60% of Muak-dong soulstones in one go wasn't a loss—it was a huge gain.
“Wow. Must be your build, but it suits you well.”
Hong Byeong-gyu's praise had the other hunters nodding. I gave a wistful smile.
“I like it overall, but…… the [Leather] part bothers me.”
“Hmm. True, leather armor has piss-poor defense.”
Nightmare Hunters, focused on performance, shunned [Leather]. Top mobility, but bottom defense.
According to the description, [Leather] users had to fight stylishly with evasion focus.
That's why it wasn't used.
Who in the Nightmare Zone could fight without taking a single hit?
“As Lead Hunter, can't you rock some style?”
“You think this coat looks cool?”
“Nah. The only Nightmare Hunter in [Leather]! Make it your trademark. What do you think, Ha-kyeong?”
“What do I think?”
Jeong Ha-kyeong scanned me up and down expressionlessly.
“You can see for yourself.”
Suddenly, she aimed her pistol at me and fired. Super Acceleration linked with marksmanship. No time to think.
——Ting ting ting ting.
What?
As I belatedly pieced it together, a bizarre sight unfolded.
Bullets rolling on the floor with metallic clinks.
Glancing down, flattened bullets scattered across the ground.
“Not bad.”
Jeong Ha-kyeong lowered her gun.
“Design sucks, so minus 30—70 points.”
This coat blocked bullets?
No impact, just a slight brush? Hong Byeong-gyu muttered.
“……Defense on par with light plate?”
At this level…… 100 points in my book.
As I fondled the coat in a daze, Jeong Ha-kyeong shot the Star Messenger an annoyed glance.
“How long we staying? Eat or whatever, let's get out.”
Finally, I asked the Star Messenger if she could find Shin Tae-yeop.
“Ah, that one.”
The Star Messenger smiled creepily.
“I'll ask the stars. If there's a response, I'll send word.”
“Then please do.”
“Yes. Looking forward to your next hunt.”
We left the chapel.
As we descended the stairs, Jeong Ha-kyeong grumbled while reloading her magazine.
“Fucking hell, so composed. Gives me the creeps every time.”
“Those eyes scare me.”
Kim Gye-sang from Hong Byeong-gyu's group said.
“Like they pierce right into your soul.”
I saw it differently.
The Star Messenger had the eyes of a spectator reveling in the apocalypse's madness. That's what made her horrifying.
“What now?”
Jeong Ha-kyeong asked as we reached the grand cathedral's main gate.
“Romance said two days, so…… I'll wander the Nightmare fringes.”
[Shadow Exoskeleton Battle Robe].
《First Liberation: Dawnlight Yeomyeong Sword》.
Needed to test the gear.
Couldn't join a raid half-assed.
The Dawnlight Yeomyeong Sword's master's overwhelming battle—not combat, but sword dance in ecstasy.
At minimum…… aim to match 30% of that. Jeong Ha-kyeong raised an eyebrow.
“In Romance? For real?”
“You know them?”
“Not really, just met once.”
Intriguing.
I'd never even heard the name. I gave her a curious look, and she shrugged.
“Third day of the apocalypse? Right when I entered the Nightmare Zone, they helped me.”
“No strings attached?”
Key evaluation for me.
“Don't think so? They even shared food.”
“Hmm.”
“But technically not a raid party. Just a trio roaming together. But fuck, they're strong. All three are monsters.”
“If Ha-kyeong calls them monsters…….”
“You know my eyes don't lie? Thought they were the best before you.”
I pictured them briefly.
Choi Uk's steadfast gaze. Im Yong-gon's heavy killing intent.
- Hatred.
Overly vicious, but not thugs.
I'd have a proper talk with them in two days. Jeong Ha-kyeong snapped her fingers.
“Oh. Speaking of Romance, remembered a comic line.”
“What?”
“The strong are drawn to the strong.”
Sudden lame impression?
I laughed in the rain. Jeong Ha-kyeong's lips twitched, but her eyes suddenly widened.
“Fuck, what?”
“……Pardon?”
“Why's your level so high? Didn't you use all the soulstones?”
I looked up.
Levels—others' or one's own—only showed with intent. As I focused, the info window sharpened.
[Lv : 38]
……38?
I'd expected a rise.
Holy Flame Succession's progress had surged.
Kept secret, but I couldn't level with soulstones.
Instead, level rose proportional to Holy Flame Succession progress.
But after three days off, 38?
Higher than Im Yong-gon, Romance's muscle monster last night.
“This…….”
“You don't know? Or can't say?”
I hesitated.
Telling just Jeong Ha-kyeong might make it easier for future questions.
But this absolutely couldn't leak, and what if the contract Holy Apostles overheard?
“Having a heated whisper-fest in the rain? You'll catch a cold. Let's grab food.”
Hong Byeong-gyu, who'd joined us, asked.
Jeong Ha-kyeong explained the anomaly, but he snorted dismissively.
“Probably leveled with the gear crafting, duh.”
“That's normal?”
“Never played games? Good gear has level reqs. Had to match the gear level. Otherwise, why take all those soulstones at once?”
Convenient interpretation…… but something felt off now. Why hadn't the Star Messenger pointed out this freakishness?
“Wait.”
Hong Byeong-gyu's urgent whisper snapped me out of it.
“One's coming.”