111. "Conditions?"
Daiana Hazel looked at me with a slightly stiffened expression.
"I get that you're here for the quest, but we were doing the quest with him too. You know that if the quest completion reward isn't fixed, the item drop rates change based on the number of people, right? What if some useless junk drops as the reward because of you?"
"What kind of bullshit is..."
She scowled at me.
"Kim Do-hyun. Aren't you afraid of the Kingdom Clan? Sure, you were a top arena ranker back in Dimension World 1, but that's just past glory."
"The ones who can't escape the past are you guys. Like you said, you were one of the eight great clans back then. Now you're all just so-so mediocrities."
"...What?"
"If you were that great Kingdom Clan, you wouldn't have brought along a bunch of ragtag losers like that."
I pointed at the clan members standing behind her.
"You heard from Lisa Kim that I was in Muhal, right? Why do you think that is? Bringing this many people means Daiana Hazel knows who crushed the Los Clan. Isn't that right? You're the most cautious one among the eight great clans. Or..."
I stared at her.
"Or maybe you're scared of me."
Murmurs... murmurs...
My words shifted the atmosphere in the Kingdom Clan.
"Don't strut around like you're hot shit on past glory. You might end up like your underlings, oh esteemed Kingdom Clan master."
"..."
Daiana's face flushed red then pale—it was obvious.
"Wh-what? Why is the master putting up with this crap...?"
"Is it true Kim Do-hyun killed Los Clan's Jaras?"
"Well... just looking at what happened earlier..."
"Shh! Quiet."
They had already lost the will to fight after seeing Lisa Kim get taken down by Red Sickle.
Quite the show.
The leadership probably knew, but the community only had rumors about Los Clan getting wrecked in the desert—no one knew the culprit yet.
Well, I was the one who posted it.
I gave a wry smile.
Rerto Karen probably knew I was the one who posted about the desert incident too. No way he'd mention such an embarrassing defeat from his own clan. But knowing it was me made it even harder for him to suppress the rumors—afraid poking me might cause bigger problems.
"Flame Soldiers."
Whoosh---!!
At my command, five Flame Soldiers materialized around me.
"Wh-what the hell is that?!"
Sneering at the clan members' shocked faces, I took a step forward.
Ssshh...
As the Flame Soldiers followed, the village's broken ground glowed red-hot, spewing steam.
"If you won't negotiate conditions, how about a fight? You've probably always hated how Los Clan gets mentioned first among the eight great clans, right? I'll sort out the hierarchy for you. Who’s stronger... no, who’s the least weak."
"You mad bastard..."
Daiana Hazel ground her teeth at me.
But knowing these Flame Soldiers were what smashed Los Clan, she couldn't rush in recklessly.
"My soldiers eat souls. To them, you're just prey."
"...What do you want?"
Was it the intimidating presence of the Flame Soldiers? Whatever the reason, the haughty woman had bowed her head—with all her clan members watching.
"Master...!!"
A middle-aged man who seemed high-ranking called out urgently.
"Kim Do-hyun. No need to fight you. I apologize for ruffling your feathers. If you hand over Motram unharmed, I'll accommodate you as best I can."
"Five first."
"...What?"
"You made me summon the Flame Soldiers needlessly. I told you—they eat souls. Hand over five clan members' lives, and we talk."
"You bastard...!!!"
Clang---!!!!
The middle-aged man beside Daiana drew his sword with a shout.
Click! Hiss...!!!
His sword hilt extended long, gears whirring as it fused with his hand and blade.
Vrooom-!!
Each step he took echoed like an engine, cratering the ground with immense force.
That's... the weapon Sword Demon Soldiers use.
Kingdom Clan fell under the Leoric Ducal House, which commanded magic-engineer Sword Demon Soldiers. Like how Los Clan became knights of the Kartinin family, most of Kingdom Clan—except Daiana aiming for a hidden class—had job-changed into Sword Demon Soldiers.
"Hanj en!!"
Daiana called urgently, but the Flame Soldiers blocked him faster.
Vwoom--!!
A Flame Soldier's halberd whistled through the air, trailing fire toward him.
Sizzle! Hiss-!!
Flames erupted under Hanjen's feet, forcing him to veer sharply.
He barely dodged the halberd's new trajectory and swung at the Flame Soldier.
Boom...!!
The Flame Soldier burst like a balloon on impact, turning to smoke.
"Nice!!"
"As expected!!"
Cheers erupted from around.
But as I shook my head pityingly, the remaining four Flame Soldiers dropped from the smoke behind him.
"Gah...!!"
A Flame Soldier's fist smashed his occiput; he choked and collapsed.
Another stabbed his leg with its sword.
Sizzzzz...!!
Flesh burned as blood boiled up the blade.
"Aaaargh!!"
Before his scream fully escaped, an axe-wielding Flame Soldier cleaved his neck on the ground.
Kaboom-!!!
A deafening blast incinerated Hanjen's body to ash. Light particles rose, gathering into the axe-wielding Flame Soldier.
The Flame Soldier growled low after absorbing Hanjen's soul, its body swelling then settling. Flames rising from it seemed larger than the others.
It smacked its lips contentedly.
Thud- thud- thud- The exploded halberd Flame Soldier regenerated and resummoned.
"Th-that's cowardly...!!"
The clan members yelled at the Flame Soldiers.
The one that ate Hanjen thudded forward; they backed away with stiff faces.
"Cowardly my ass. You brought a horde and now whine? If you think that, shut your mouths and rush all at once."
"Kuh...!!"
The clan members grimaced at my taunt but didn't charge.
They'd seen the exploded Flame Soldier remake itself—they knew they didn't die permanently.
Resummoning broken ones costs mana, so I can't spam infinitely... but...
Daiana Hazel must have heard from Rerto Karen about my extreme ice magic, so she'd assume my class was magic-based.
She'll expect high mana.
Her expression confirmed my guess.
"Four left."
"W-wait!"
Daiana said urgently.
"Kim Do-hyun, you know PK between players is allowed, but implicitly, we don't gamble lives. Getting your name dragged in the community would burden you too."
"Not really? Most who complain can't say shit to my face. If they're unhappy, tell 'em to come at me. I don't mind guys with the guts."
She scowled at my nonchalant reply.
"Think I don't know the eight great clans put watchers on my allies? Why do you think I'm letting it slide?"
"Why?"
"Just observing how far you'll go. But that's it. Cross the line like now, and I'll handle you first. Remember that."
I turned to a dazed clan member up front.
"Hey."
"...Yes?"
"Bring that."
He hurriedly yanked Amur's dagger from the wall and presented it.
"I'll hand over Motram. We'll meet again soon—heading to see Volgel, your dwarf artisan backing the Leoric Ducal House."
"Show Volgel to you? Better to sacrifice clan lives. Don't dream."
Daiana scoffed.
"Whatever you say. Official request from Jahalga incoming. With the dwarf blacksmith."
"..."
"Burn my warning into your head. Or we'll both get tired. Then your underlings' lives won't cover the cost."
"You wanna war with the eight great clans? Even you can't handle us all."
"If we clash now, maybe I'd lose. Even trash adds up—thousands from all eight clans."
I wiped Amur's dagger blade on my sleeve.
"But when it happens, I'll crush you first. Hundreds against thousands? Piece of cake. Then Kingdom's name vanishes from the eight great clans. Think carefully. I do what I say."
"..."
Daiana Hazel bit her lip, face paling at my warning.
After Black Eye absorbed the White Knight, the kin summon definitely included one.
That meant the White Knight was dead.
Revival possible, but White Knights drop Unique items. Usually only one instance exists to prevent duplicate drops.
Letting Motram live probably wouldn't lead to White Knight history repeating.
No disaster left to devour Muhal's citizens and empower it.
Better to hand him over and probe the ducal house behind it.
Decision made, I shoved Motram's collar at Daiana.
"Ugh...!"
He stumbled forward into Kingdom Clan arms.
"Think and act wisely."
I pointed at my eyes, then her—meaning I was watching.
"...Got it."
Daiana's face stayed stiff taking Motram, but she nodded without fuss, not wanting more trouble.
Something's definitely up.
Kingdom Clan had the best intel among the eight. She prioritized retrieving Motram over pride.
In conquering the continent—not just dungeon clears—they might need more caution than Los Clan.
"Daiana."
I called as she turned to leave through the gate.
She stopped; I asked softly,
"Want to meet the eight great clans' connector?"
"...What?"
She stared like I'd lost it.
"No clue what you mean. Want ties with the eight? Fix that attitude first."
"Tough ask."
"...Hmph."
Daiana snorted and left.
She knows nothing about the connector.
I replayed her reaction.
"Just let 'em go like that?"
Baek Yiheon asked, looking unsatisfied and uneasy.
"For now."
I didn't give Motram for free.
"Gotta bait for the big fish."
"Something still left?"
Baek Yiheon's unease flipped to interest.
Muhal Citizen Rescue
That was when it rang out.
After Kingdom Clan left, in empty Muhal with just us, the alert sounded.
Quest: Mu-hal Citizen Rescue
"Ah..."
I nodded at the quest completion window I'd forgotten.
Baek Yiheon looked at me—same alert for him.
That instant, my face hardened checking it.
Muhal Citizen Rescue
📍 Rescued Survivors:99/99
"...What?"
The last one had died.