Chapter 239
Chapter 239
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 239
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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The downpour continued...
Rumble—!
Rainy nights always brought melancholy and fatigue, just like always.
The pitch-black night sky relentlessly dumped its load, and the humans on the ground scrambled to avoid the deluge.
Into buildings with roofs, under umbrellas that blocked the sky.
Rain had its own distinct smell.
Musty yet paradoxically refreshing—this scent.
On days without bloodbaths when the rain fell, Daesan savored it.
Bloodbaths were an excellent way to feel alive, but on days without them, they soured his daily life.
His thoughts and worries multiplied.
Sadness swelled, emotions intensified.
Yet Daesan liked rainy days.
Because sometimes, on such days, he would gather with Gwak Seong and Daeha for heavy drinking, and those memories lingered fondly.
The downpour continued...
Today, too, the scent of rain filled the air.
One difference from usual: it was mixed with all sorts of other smells.
‘Intruders!’
When had so many visitors ever come to his dwelling unannounced?
Especially without prior warning.
Whoosh—!
Daesan flung aside the blanket and drew his greatsword from within.
Thud thud thud...
It could be mistaken for rain, but it was clearly the sound of intruders racing across the roof.
Daesan pushed his speed to the max but silenced his steps. The intruders seemed to be after Gwak Seong, not him.
Soon, he reached Gwak Seong’s quarters and shouted.
“Lord Gwak Seong!”
“Daesan!”
Crash—!
Daesan kicked down the door and leaped inside.
Scattered shouts echoed from all over the estate.
“Block them—!”
“Protect Lord Gwak Seong!”
In that instant, assassins poured out from every direction.
Whoosh—!
Splatter—!
The first assassin to appear was bisected.
“Fall back!”
He said it, but Daesan knew the situation was dire.
Fall back? There was nowhere to go.
Splatter—!
Splash!
Each swing of the greatsword claimed two or three lives.
If Daesan were alone here, he could’ve repelled them easily.
But now, the one he cherished—Gwak Seong—was here, and he had to protect him.
He who had always stood alone in the arena realized in this moment how grueling and difficult it was to guard another.
Slash...
“Urk...”
It was a strike that should never have grazed him.
But Gwak Seong was in danger, so he threw his body in the way.
Then the assassins changed tactics.
Instead of targeting Daesan, they doggedly went after Gwak Seong.
Scratches multiplied across his skin.
Whenever he moved awkwardly to shield Gwak Seong, the assassins struck the openings.
He hadn’t noticed during the fight, but in a brief lull, Daesan’s mind grew hazy.
‘...Poison!’
Not ordinary poison.
These brazen knife-wielders wouldn’t bother with numbing or paralyzing toxins on their blades.
Sizzle...
Even as he fought, his flesh rotted.
Should he amputate his arm now to survive?
But such thoughts had to be erased from his mind.
Crunch!
‘Lord Gwak Seong at least... at the very least, Lord Gwak Seong...!’
He had to pull him from this merciless swamp of death.
“You bastards—!”
Splatter—!
He swung the greatsword until his breath gave out. The assassins eyed Daesan with dread.
Poison so potent it would seize even a beast in convulsions—why did it only make Daesan more ferocious?
Dozens of assassins clung to one Daesan, yet aside from scratches, they left no major wounds.
Even the leader of the silent assassin squad, who never spoke on missions, opened his mouth before dying.
“...Monster bastard.”
Smash—!
Daesan crushed the last assassin’s head in his grip.
This majesty, this power—that was the Conqueror Daesan.
“...Daesan!”
“Hyung-nim!”
“......”
Daesan stood still, wiping blood from his mouth.
“...Are you alright?”
“Daesan! What about you? Are you alright?”
Daesan’s arms to his chest had turned pitch black. Necrosis, nothing else.
Daesan was dying.
“Pff... This is nothing...”
Stagger...
Thud—!
Daesan toppled backward, gasping for air.
“Hah... Hah...”
“Someone! A doctor! Call a doctor!”
“Dae, Daesan...”
“Hurry! Hurry! Daesan’s in danger!”
“Urgh...”
Daeha rushed toward Daesan.
“Hyung-nim!”
“Daeha...”
Daesan, the one dying, seemed strangely serene, while Daeha and Gwak Seong’s faces twisted in horror.
“Daeha... come closer...”
“Hyung-nim...”
“Hurry, time’s... short.”
Daesan gripped Daeha’s hand tightly.
Even now, death’s clock ticked. Necrosis had reached his neck.
“Do you... remember what I said...?”
“W-what...”
“That you must... repay...”
“I remember!”
“Don’t forget... the favor...”
“Yes! Yes! I won’t!”
Strength ebbed from Daesan’s hand. He turned to Gwak Seong.
“Lord Gwak Seong...”
“You fool! Don’t die! You can’t die without my permission!”
“Pff... Lord Gwak Seong... I have a question...”
“What is it? I’ll answer anything! Just don’t die, Daesan!”
Daesan’s face began turning black.
“Was I... useful to you...?”
“You useless fool! What does that matter now?”
“It matters... to me.”
“...Yes, very... useful.”
Daesan’s face blackened completely, even the whites of his eyes turning dark.
He bared his teeth in a grin.
“That’s... a relief.... Take care of Daeha...”
“You fool! Don’t die! If you go, I... I...”
Daesan’s breath hitched.
“Thanks to you... this wretch had a damn good run... in this shitty world.... Thank you... fa... ther...”
* * *
Rumble—!
Kang Seol awoke shedding tears amid thunderous skies.
“...ther.”
Messages filled his vision.
[You have inherited ‘Daesan’s’ last will.]
[Inheriting the deceased’s abilities.]
[You have inherited the Conqueror’s Flag.]
[You have inherited the Conqueror’s Flag.]
[From now on, defeating opponents above a certain level will grant you 20 random stat points. Cooldown is currently 30 days; as proficiency increases, stat gains rise and cooldown decreases.]
[Vocation: Contents of ‘Things That Must Be Reclaimed’ have changed.]
“Hah... Hah...”
Kang Seol panted heavily.
- Vocation’s no joke lol
- Long? He does this every time tsk tsk
- This ability’s +20 stats every month?
- If he got this early, he’d have conquered with finger flicks by now lol
- Isn’t it still early game?
He paused at the chest forming at his feet.
Not in the mood to check now.
Shh...
Kang Seol stowed the chest and spotted Gwak Seong descending the stairs again.
“Done?”
“Yes.”
“Heard groaning, so I came down.”
“I’m fine.”
Kang Seol bowed to Gwak Seong and exited the ossuary.
His business was done, and he needed to rein in his surging emotions.
Thanks to that, Gwak Seong could stand alone before Daesan’s urn for the first time in ages.
“Daesan, you useless fool...”
He stroked the greatsword and spoke.
“On rainy days, drop by now and then.”
A kind, gentle smile graced his face.
“If you’ll think of this lacking Gwak Seong as your father, that is.”
The greatsword no longer wept.
* * *
The carriage raced down a rough path.
Inside rode Kang Seol, Cheonju, Seolhong, and even Bitan.
The next Dragon Contest trial’s location was set, so they hurriedly left Yeocheon.
“Wanted to stay longer...”
Cheonju hastily replied to Seolhong.
“Lady Seolhong! You are the ‘Dragon’s Blood’ who will one day rule the Khan. You must show mercy to the other imperial citizens who haven’t met you yet!”
“Hearing that, it kinda feels that way...”
“It’s not ‘kinda’—it is!”
Yeocheon’s people cheered wherever Seolhong went.
It was her first taste of such massive adoration.
Market wives handed her homemade snacks, and Seolhong ate them without suspicion.
Of course, Kang Seol—master of monster cuisine—watched to ensure nothing dangerous was mixed in.
In Yeocheon, Seolhong was empress.
It was her first such experience, and she had no mental defenses.
Her cheeks flushed red all day, floating on cloud nine.
Kang Seol let her enjoy it. Once they moved elsewhere, this sweet routine would end.
Just a midday escapade.
Seolhong asked Kang Seol, who watched her quietly.
“But why’d you visit Daesan back then?”
“Well...”
As Kang Seol hedged, Bitan blurted excitedly.
【This guy cried!】
“...Bitan.”
【This guy bawled like a kid! I saw it!】
Seolhong and Cheonju covered their mouths, eyeing Kang Seol like a weirdo. Kang Seol lunged for Bitan.
【Wack—!】
Bitan leaped high to Seolhong.
“Eek!”
As Kang Seol kept grabbing, Bitan clung to Seolhong’s head and yelled.
【Let’s go, girl! Night Raven!】
“...Huh?”
【Hurry! Whirly-whirr!】
Seolhong giggled at Bitan’s sound effects.
“What’s that, sea urchin?”
“Ah! Caught!”
Bitan was snatched back into Kang Seol’s grip.
【Aaaah!】
Bitan went limp instantly.
The carriage fell quiet.
Kang Seol asked Seolhong.
“By the way, why was Tumaku chosen as the destination?”
Tumaku was special.
A typical mining town, but uniquely, civilians had bought and developed abandoned mines.
Thus, the Khan contracted to buy ores for a set period.
Tumaku’s mines had a stable buyer for all output; the Khan paid premium but skipped direct development costs—mutually satisfying.
“There’s... one thing worth considering.”
“What?”
“Among Tumaku’s mines, only the largest, most modern Sodong Mine has a different owner. Seems some unfavorable talk reached the Khan recently.”
“Foreign contact?”
“Something like that. Probably offered higher prices for the ores. Sodong’s contract ends this year, so... Khan’s got a headache.”
“Might need to negotiate with Sodong Mine.”
“That’s most likely, but if it’s the trial, it’ll be tricky.”
Kang Seol could guess why.
Unlike other dragonizations, Seolhong had no support base.
Nor any leverage for Sodong negotiations.
‘Definitely troublesome.’
Unless Kang Seol blew up rival buyers, talks would be tough.
“Well, we’ll arrive soon. Worry after the trial.”
“Right.”
Kang Seol nodded and fell silent.
‘Wonder what’ll happen next.’
Best to anticipate that much and move on. More was needless worry.
‘Come to think of it... Haven’t given that to Karuna yet.’
Before boarding, Kang Seol had opened the interim reward chest.
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
[Acquired stat points.]
[Acquired stat points.]
[Albuja’s special ability activates.]
[Acquired additional stat points.]
[Acquired additional stat points.]
[Sly Blood Snake activates.]
[Acquired additional stat points.]
[Acquired additional stat points.]
[I Am activates special ability.]
[Acquired additional stat points.]
[Acquired additional stat points.]
[Acquired additional stat points.]
[Acquired Needle of Deep Contemplation.]
[Acquired Veil of Gradual Erosion.]
[Acquired Ring of Bloody Combat.]
[Acquired Bloodstained Loser.]
[Acquired 23 platinum coins (Khan).]
[Acquired 2 extra-large red potions.]
[Acquired 1 blindness-inducing potion.]
[Acquired 1 metabolism-boosting potion.]
...
Bloodstained Loser and Needle of Deep Contemplation had no suitable summons, so they went straight to inventory. Veil of Gradual Erosion and Ring of Bloody Combat were prime for Karuna.
[Veil of Gradual Erosion]
Grade: Treasure
Appropriate Level: 39–45
Defense: 120
Durability: 150/150
Weight: 0.1kg
A mantle crafted from material imbued with supernatural recovery.
Base Effect: All stats +15
Special Effect: During combat, HP recovery increases proportional to HP lost. Up to 100%.
Excellent for knights.
Karen and Jamad would covet it, but they weren’t here.
[Ring of Bloody Combat]
Grade: Treasure
Appropriate Level: 37–44
Resistance: 85
Durability: 120/120
Weight: 0.1kg
A ring condensing negative energy from brutal bloodbaths.
Base Effect: Strength +22, Agility +18, Vitality +21
Special Effect: Inflicting bleed status on foe recovers wearer’s HP equal to foe’s HP lost to bleed.
Also to Karuna.
Since Karuna returned alone, he took most accumulated gear.
Karen would ache knowing.
During travel, Kang Seol equipped Karuna.
[Equipped Moonlight Knight Karuna with Veil of Gradual Erosion.]
[Equipped Moonlight Knight Karuna with Ring of Bloody Combat.]
- ...Thank you.
‘No problem... But I have questions.’
Kang Seol meant to ask about his future path. And the other summons trapped in emptiness.
But his questions halted.
Boom—!
“Kyaa!”
“Wh, it’s shaking! The carriage can’t tip!”
A roar shook the mountain path they climbed.
Entering Tumaku, heading to the mines.
Kang Seol stuck his head out at the sudden chaos.
“Can you see? What the hell...”
Kang Seol’s face darkened.
“Lady Seolhong.”
“That smoke...”
“Looks like this trial won’t be negotiations.”
Seolhong’s eyes widened.
“Something’s happened at the mine.”