Chapter 113
-----------------------------------------------------------------Translator: 8uhlChapter: 113Chapter Title: Level 60-----------------------------------------------------------------Around the time the players began pointing their blades at each other, just as expected.*‘It’s about time I made my move.’*Ryu Min slipped away as if he’d been waiting for this moment.He then used Invisibility and changed his appearance without anyone noticing.Into the form of Lost Ark.*‘If I help the dwarves as the Black Scythe, they’ll find out I betrayed the betrayers.’*While invisible, Ryu Min watched the situation unfold.He was waiting.For the moment the betrayers would attack the dwarves.*‘Once the process of rooting out the traitors begins, they’ll get anxious. Then, fearing their identities will be exposed, the betrayers will try to kill the dwarves first.’*Unlike the other caravans, the dwarf caravan had few members, making it very easy to weed out traitors.Having relived the past, Ryu Min knew this would happen.*‘They usually start weeding them out around the 4th to 6th wave, but it’s a bit later this time.’*Such a minor variable was acceptable, so it didn’t matter. All Ryu Min had to do was wait, hidden by his invisibility.For the prey to take the bait.*‘They’re finally making a move.’*Ryu Min’s eyes caught the betrayers’ movements.Since he already knew their faces and could read their thoughts, he easily saw through their intentions.*‘They’re targeting the dwarves’ leader, Heimer.’*Four betrayers were aiming for Heimer.Ryu Min drew the Hwandudaedo he had prepared in advance.Of course, he didn’t take out his scythe, as it would risk revealing his identity.Since it wasn’t his primary weapon, his skill wouldn’t be as good as usual.*‘But four guys who aren’t even level 30 are barely a post-meal workout.’*There would be no problem stopping the betrayers’ attack.*Taptaptap-*The men moved.Ryu Min, who had been waiting invisibly by Heimer’s side, did not reveal himself.*‘Not yet. I have to step in at the most dramatic moment. That’s how I can maximize Heimer’s favor.’*The betrayers rushed Heimer simultaneously.“Warriors from another world! What is the meaning of this all of a sudden?”Heimer was chattering away, oblivious to the fact that he was the target.By the time he noticed the blades aimed at him, it was already too late.Or rather, just when he thought it was too late.*Clang-!*As Ryu Min parried the sword, his invisibility wore off.“Are you alright?”“Uh, uhh. You are…”“Stay behind me. These men are targeting you, Lord Heimer.”After delivering the appropriate line to Heimer, he glanced back and forth.Two in front, two behind.The four betrayers surrounded Ryu Min and Heimer.They exuded a rather convincing killing intent.“Who the hell is this guy? Where did he come from?”“Get out of the way if you don’t want to die.”These pups, who would have tucked their tails and run had they seen the Black Scythe’s face, were now growling at Ryu Min.“No, we don’t have time. You can just die too.”“You brought this on yourself for trying to save the dwarf, so don’t blame us.”In an instant, the four of them charged simultaneously as if by prearranged signal.It was an angle impossible to block without four swords.However.*Clang-clang-clang-clang-*Having somehow deflected every single blade, Ryu Min stabbed one of the betrayers in the chest.*Thrust-*“Keoheok!”“You see,”Pulling out the Hwandudaedo, he immediately parried the sword of the man behind him and slashed his shoulder.*Slice-*“Kuaargh!”“I have no mercy for those who genuinely point their blades at me.”With two of them taken down in an instant, the remaining betrayers were flustered.But what was even more bewildering was the sight of their own bodies.Their headless bodies, staggering before collapsing.*Thud- Thud-*Only after the two heads hit the ground did Ryu Min finish his sentence.“You brought this on yourselves, so don’t blame me.”No answer came from the dead.The surrounding players who witnessed Ryu Min’s skill were amazed.“Whoa, who is that guy?”“His skills are no joke.”Because he had Lost Ark’s face, no one suspected he was the Black Scythe.He was even using a sword and wearing different armor.“Amazing. He saved the dwarf.”“How come we’ve never noticed someone that skilled before?”“Huh? Now that you mention it, you’re right.”It didn’t take long for their doubt to turn into acceptance.With over 200 people, it wasn’t strange to see someone for the first time.Meanwhile, looking down, Ryu Min saw the dwarf Heimer still trying to calm his startled heart.It seemed he never imagined he would be attacked by his own escort, not a monster.“Wh-what is all this?”“There are betrayers among our team.”“B-Betrayers?”“The scene just now, with everyone attacking each other, was to root out those betrayers.”Finally seeming to understand, Heimer nodded and stroked his beard.“To think there were betrayers among the warriors from another world. This could have been a disaster.”“Lord Heimer! We must protest to the temple at once!”“That’s right! For our supposed escorts to turn into enemies!”“At this rate, reaching our destination will be…”“ENOUGH!!!”At Heimer’s roar, the protesting dwarves fell silent at once.His voice was so loud that even the players who had been stabbing at each other stopped and turned to look.“Is this the time to argue about such things? The ones most confused right now must be the warriors from another world, who know a betrayer is hiding among them, no?”“…”“…”Heimer looked up at Ryu Min.“Thanks to you, this humble body of mine was saved. Please, tell me the name of my benefactor.”With eyes that sparkled in a way that didn’t quite match his appearance, Heimer waited for an answer.Ryu Min, who had to hide his identity, couldn’t just say he was the Black Scythe.Especially not with everyone watching him so intently.*‘But if I give a fake nickname, it’ll be hard to receive any benefits from the dwarves.’*A difficult situation.*‘But it’s not like there’s no way around it.’*Others might not know it yet, but there was a system for times like this.Titles.Ryu Min selected one of the many titles he had acquired and pressed ‘Unhide’.[The Forerunner]A title appeared above his head instead of a nickname.You could hide your nickname, but not your title.At the sight, the players’ eyes widened.“What’s that?”“Why is he the only one with a nickname showing?”“We don’t have one.”The players, unfamiliar with titles, thought it was a nickname and raised questions.*‘Well, they’ve never gotten one, so it’s understandable they wouldn’t know.’*Titles were harder to obtain than runes, so Ryu Min understood their reactions.Just then, Heimer wore a surprised expression.“Huh? Y-You are? The Forerunner?”It seemed he could also see the displayed title.*‘But to the people of this world, it has a different meaning.’*To players, it was just text that replaced a nickname.*‘But to these guys, it seems to have some significance.’*As if there was some internal, predetermined story, they would react to revealed titles.“So you are The Forerunner.”“Ooh, no wonder!”“Oh, Forerunner. We have heard much of your fame.”Displaying the title created an atmosphere of preferential treatment.Since there was no downside for him, Ryu Min just played along.“Is that so? I didn’t think I was that famous.”“Haha, such modesty from The Forerunner.”Heimer let out a hearty laugh, then turned serious to express his gratitude.“Thank you for saving me, oh Forerunner. If not for you, I would have been skewered and sprawled carelessly on the stone floor. The very thought is horrifying.”Watching Heimer shudder, Ryu Min asked just in case.“Do I not need to tell you my name?”“What meaning would a name have? You already have the reputation of The Forerunner.”Ryu Min nodded.*‘I see. The title can substitute for a nickname.’*Now, even if he met other dwarves besides Heimer, he could win their favor just by revealing this title.As if to prove it, a message appeared right on cue.[Dwarven reputation for The Forerunner has increased from ‘Neutral’ -> ‘Friendly’.]He had earned the dwarves’ favor just as he’d hoped.*‘This is the proper function of a title.’*While Ryu Min smiled at the message, the process of weeding out the betrayers continued.However.“Chwiik- Chwiik!”“Chwiiik!!”The witch hunt was temporarily halted by a sudden orc raid.This time, Ryu Min also protected the dwarves from the orcs, not as the Black Scythe, but as Lost Ark.He was taking action to further solidify their favor.And just as expected.-Having The Forerunner with us is truly reassuring.-His skills are outstanding compared to the other warriors, too.-It would be a true honor if he were to use a weapon I forged.The dwarves watching Ryu Min’s martial prowess were inwardly full of admiration.Ryu Min, however, could only sigh at his slower-than-usual hunting speed.*‘The dwarves are watching, so I can’t undo my transformation. I guess I’ll have to hunt with the Hwandudaedo for this wave.’*To be honest, while he was dissatisfied with his hunting speed, the difference wasn’t that significant.With his scythe, he could have killed four in one blow, but with the Hwandudaedo, there was just the hassle of having to stab them four times.*‘Still, if it means building favor with the dwarves and getting a reward…’*They would probably give him the reward he was aiming for after the escort mission, but he built up more reputation just in case.There was no harm in being certain.Just then, as Ryu Min was killing orcs, a welcome message appeared before his eyes.[You have leveled up!][Your rank has increased from ‘Expert’ to ‘Master’.][You can now use the Duel Request function.]He hit level 60, and his rank rose to Master.With it came a function called Duel Request, which was quite useful.*‘You can fight with items on the line, or fight in exchange for some kind of promise.’*Simply put, each party puts up collateral for a one-on-one duel, and the winner takes all. It was a function more often used in reality than in the other world.[To commemorate your rank up, the Mark of Death skill will be enhanced!][Mark of Death skill’s additional damage will be increased from 140% -> 160%.][To commemorate your rank up, the Night of Death skill will be enhanced!][Night of Death skill’s range will be increased from 1,000m -> 1,500m.][To commemorate your rank up, the Moonlight Flash skill will be enhanced!][Moonlight Flash skill’s area damage will be increased from 1,200% -> 1,800%.]His existing skills were enhanced one after another.It was a welcome development, but Ryu Min’s attention was drawn to the new skill.[Additionally, you have learned the Reaper-exclusive skill ‘Red Moon’!][The next skill can be learned automatically at level 99.][Exclusive Skill – Red Moon]-Effect: For 10 seconds, Moonlight Flash’s cooldown is reduced to 1 second. Red Moon can be used again after a 24-hour cooldown.