Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Hellscape (2)
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An unprecedented monster wave had erupted.
Already, two A-rank monsters had been confirmed.
In response, the Hunter Association issued mobilization orders for nearby regions, and guilds dispatched their affiliated hunters.
"Hurry up and go!"
"Don't push! It's already jammed here too!"
The surrounding areas were already in chaos.
Hunters had arrived, but no one knew what would happen next.
At the very least, the best course of action was to stay far away from the area where the monster wave had broken out.
Even in the dead of night, people who shared this thought joined the long evacuation lines.
Hunters and soldiers surrounded the evacuating crowds, directing them.
"You can't go that way! It's dangerous!"
"Please follow the directions!!"
But their shouts echoed emptily.
It was only natural.
There were not just one, but two A-rank monsters.
Even non-hunters were well aware of the fearsome reputation of A-rank monsters.
And it wasn't just A-rank monsters either.
There were monsters presumed to be B-rank, along with swarms of lower-grade ones.
It was a situation that could truly be called a hellscape.
In a word, peace had been shattered.
As peace shattered, people remembered.
The nightmare from 25 years ago.
The time when dungeons and monsters first appeared in the world.
"Sigh, I wonder how long this one will last. I hope it ends quickly without much damage..."
One of the hunters on site grumbled.
It hadn't even been a full day since the wave broke out.
No, just a few hours had passed, yet the atmosphere was already grim.
The world had been regaining a sense of calm after overcoming previous crises.
For a while—perhaps forever—people had come to believe that peace would continue.
But that belief had been shattered.
Worse, anxiety crept in that such events might become even more common in the future.
In fact, increasingly powerful monsters were gradually revealing themselves.
Just like now.
"It'll wrap up soon. We're in a pretty good spot compared to others, right?"
A colleague approached the grumbling hunter.
They were hunters from the Firebird Guild.
"The Holy Guild guys went off to handle the A-rank monsters. Two of them, no less."
"The Holy Guild, huh? Kim Suho must've gone too. Makes sense for holy knights to deploy against undead."
The A-rank monsters in this wave were a Death Knight and an Arch Lich—both undead.
Light-attribute attacks were most effective against undead races.
And the guild best suited for that was the Holy Guild.
Especially Kim Suho.
Having been ordained as a holy knight by the White Church on the Eldorado Continent, he could probably dispatch the culprits with ease.
Though they were from rival guilds and saw each other as competitors, in a crisis like this, they had no choice but to unite.
"Yeah, please don't come our way."
At least when their own lives were on the line.
"Tch, what's the world coming to anyway?"
They'd heard the epicenter of the monster wave hadn't been located yet.
In that context, the combo of Death Knight and Arch Lich was chilling just to hear about.
These weren't just powerful beings.
Their skills that turned people into monsters were downright vicious.
If they weren't dealt with quickly, the area would be overrun with ghouls and skeletons in no time.
In their minds, they prayed the Holy Guild hunters would resolve it.
It might be dangerous for them, but their own lives came first.
The silver lining was that they were lucky compared to the Holy Guild.
They were just managing civilians from the rear.
As the two hunters chatted, a scream erupted from the back of the line.
"Kyaaak!"
"What?! Why are there monsters here?!"
Screams broke out everywhere as people began to flee.
It turned into utter pandemonium.
"Shit!"
The hunters whipped around at the noise.
And there, monsters truly were.
Dwarven creatures with green skin.
"...Goblins."
All fully armed and equipped.
"Don't tell me more monsters are popping up everywhere!"
"Report to command now! Everyone else, battle stations!"
The hunter directing the scene shouted orders to those around.
The good news was that the monsters were just goblins.
Goblins weren't particularly tricky.
They were tough in groups, but individually, they were truly weak.
"They're coming! Get ready!"
The goblins were approaching.
The Firebird Guild hunters braced for the impending clash.
Gulp—
As everyone swallowed nervously in tension.
"Huh?"
The goblins suddenly halted in place.
"...Everyone, hold!"
Someone spoke from behind the goblins.
The figure emerged from among them.
"......"
Everyone was stunned.
Silence fell simultaneously.
Some even rubbed their eyes, doubting what they saw.
"Whoa, a crown...?"
The revealed goblin looked different from ordinary ones.
Larger in stature, exuding charisma unlike regular goblins.
Above all, the crown on its head proclaimed it a Goblin Lord.
"This can't be real!"
The hunters despaired.
There were definitely only two A-rank monsters.
And both were slated for the Holy Guild.
Yet a third A-rank monster had appeared.
A Goblin Lord.
Goblin Lords commanded all goblins freely and devised strategies, making them notoriously difficult.
"Shit! Go get Team Leader now!"
"T-Team Leader? Which one?!"
"You idiot! Snap out of it! Jeong Ye-rin, who else!"
The hunter bellowed.
Team Leader Jeong Ye-rin, the name he shouted.
Daughter of the Firebird Guild master, and recently, she'd cleared a dungeon.
Coincidentally, it was a Goblin Lord dungeon.
When everyone thought it impossible.
Jeong Ye-rin had subjugated the Goblin Lord and returned alive.
Thus, Firebird Guild hunters sought her first.
The monster before them was also a Goblin Lord.
They held hope that she might do something.
"For now, everyone fall back slowly!"
Knowing a Goblin Lord was present, retreat was wisest for the moment.
The Firebird Guild hunters began pulling back gradually while awaiting Jeong Ye-rin.
The Goblin Lord stood still, observing the enemies' movements.
The goblins, too, maintained disciplined stances, awaiting orders from their mid-boss.
This location was near a dungeon with a dimensional gate.
To secure a retreat after fulfilling the great master's command, they'd come here.
Though with their forces, such measures seemed unnecessary.
Already, Knight Commander Death Knight and Inspector Arch Lich were present.
With General Manager Celia there too, the Goblin Lord had little to worry about.
No real need for this, but it was a superior's order.
Just follow faithfully.
"Kehum. Some of you, scout the perimeter!"
The Goblin Lord ordered subordinates to recon the surroundings.
The human foes had shifted to full defense.
Thus, it dispersed minions to find gaps.
Experienced scouts, they split into groups and began searching the terrain.
And soon after.
Whoosh—
A signal came from the scouting party.
Every scout knew its meaning.
'Intruders...!'
A signal came from the scouting party.
If they were members of the reconnaissance team, they all knew what the current signal meant.
.
"What? More goblins?"
Prior occupants were at the signal site.
Everyone was armed.
It felt like an atmosphere similar to adventurers emanated from them.
Their goblin subordinates lay defeated beneath them.
The Goblin Lord growled in fury.
"Who are you lot, keh."
But the opponents were not flustered.
Instead, they boldly spoke after scrutinizing Goblin Lord.
"Crown? Team Leader, it's definitely a Goblin Lord."
"Looks like it. Who'd have thought we'd snag a Goblin Lord."
The woman at the front was Jeong Ye-rin.
Firebird Guild member and guild master's daughter.
Until recently, she'd battled fiercely in a Goblin Lord dungeon.
She should have been resting, but rushed out upon reports of a Goblin Lord sighting.
A-rank monster or not, she didn't tremble.
Having felled one before, fear held no place now.
"Everyone, battle ready!"
Excitement surged instead.
Jeong Ye-rin shouted to her team.
The goblins outnumbered them.
Plus an A-rank Goblin Lord.
Yet no tension showed on her face.
They were the ones who'd cleared the impossible Goblin Lord dungeon.
Her team brimmed with confidence as a result.
'Once this is over, I really should contact Kang-hyun.'
Clearing that dungeon was sheer luck.
Without the man Yi Kang-hyun from the cafe, it never would've happened.
Recalling that, Jeong Ye-rin steadied herself.
"You all know. It's a Goblin Lord! Don't overextend—chip away from the sides!"
This strategy came from Yi Kang-hyun too, and above all, they made a significant contribution to conquering the dungeon.
That's why she was confident in this battle as well.
The hunters rushed towards the goblins.
Watching, the Goblin Lord activated a skill simultaneously.
A faint red light began to spread throughout its body.
Aura of War
All nearby goblins' strength enhanced. Breath quickens, bodies lighten with overflowing power.
Thanks to the Goblin Lord's skill, a red light also circulated around the bodies of the nearby goblins.
Every goblin's breathing became rapid.
But it wasn't difficult.
On the contrary, their bodies began to overflow with strength.
Above all, their bodies felt incredibly light.
The strength of all the goblins was enhanced.
It was the effect of the Goblin Lord's skill.
The Goblin Lord could never forgive its opponents.
Did the great master command, and did the chief administrator Celia say anything else?
"Minimize the damage...."
But it had already lost some subordinates.
In the end, it had stumbled from the very beginning.
So, it had to make up for this mistake.
"Give it your all!"
With the Goblin Lord's shout, the goblins began retreating.
The Goblin Lord grinned and fell back too.
They weren't running away.
They were scouts from the start.
A scout unit's true strength lay in guerrilla tactics.
Full-frontal clashes were foolish.
They just needed to hold this area.
The night was long.
All would unfold as the great one willed.
I took a midnight taxi to the monster wave site.
Of course, the driver refused to get too close due to danger, so I got off nearby.
"Maru, let's go."
Maru was clad in a black mask and robe covering his entire body, just like last time.
I too donned my prepared robe to conceal myself upon exiting the taxi.
Naturally, I wore a mask over my face.
Suspicious as hell, but this was an emergency.
A monster wave, no less.
The monsters comprising it were mine, of course.
The game I'd started upon returning from the Eldorado Continent.
I'd grown the dungeon and gathered monster minions while playing.
Those same minions caused this uproar.
Being my possessions from the start, they posed no threat to me.
Thus, I had to hide my identity even more.
Even if chaos ensued, they wouldn't attack me.
But if it was obvious, what would others think?
Absolutely not.
It'd only complicate things.
Maru and I proceeded slowly along the road.
As we neared the center with Death Knight and Arch Lich, people grew scarce.
The few we encountered were evacuating in the opposite direction.
How long had we walked?
While continuing forward, I unexpectedly encountered a group.
"What's this?"
The group of five reacted after seeing me first.
"The person next to him... doesn't seem human. Is it a summon?"
"Anyway, what does it matter if he looks weak? The prey has come on its own like this."
"Kick. That's a good point."
They took turns looking at me and Maru, chuckling.
Their expressions looked extremely vile.
Behind them, people were lying down.
None of them looked normal.
Even the women's clothes were disheveled.
"......"
That's not the problem.
None of them were breathing.
They were all dead, not from being attacked by monsters, but from being killed by the people in front of them.
"Hey, have you seen everything? Since you've seen good things, bring out everything you have and show us."
Someone in the crowd said to me.
"Huh? That kid's weapon looks good, doesn't it?"
Someone took an interest in the sword Maru was holding.
"......"
I was so surprised by their appearance that I couldn't even speak.
These scumbags were hunters too.
Such types existed occasionally.
Ones chasing personal gain amid danger.
This was a perilous monster wave.
"Kneel and hand over the weapon. Who knows? We might let you live."
Too busy protecting the area, yet they preyed on fellow humans.
"Ha... Still not listening? Kneel if you're weak, punk!"
As I remained silent, the guys approached me with angry faces.
In an instant, past events came to mind.
Enduring discrimination and bullying at the academy.
Post-graduation, porter work wasn't smooth either.
Life in the other world?
Just recently, guys targeting me—with an academy classmate pulling strings.
'Ha.'
Yes, I know too..
This is what happens when you're weak.
Now, it's a world where the strong dominate the weak.
The voice of the weak had no meaning.
If you're strong, even committing a sin isn't a sin, but if you're weak, even one small thing becomes a sin.
"...Nothing has changed at all."
I muttered quietly.
Of course, it's not for me to say.
In the end, the current situation happened because of me.
Perhaps the damage would have escalated like a snowball, and it's probably still ongoing.
Yes, I didn't do anything right.
I know that well.
But they crossed the line in a different sense.
"Maru."
I said his name briefly, and Maru raised his sword.
And with all his might, he thrust the sword into the opponent.
Pfft—
The sword pierced the heart of the guy who was approaching Maru.
"Huh?"
In the blink of an eye, one person was fatally wounded.
The group, who were his companions, were bewildered.
It was an expression that they didn't know Maru was this powerful.
If the other person knows that they are stronger, most people react like this.
The expressions of those who tried to kill me in the dungeon were like this too.
That's what power was.
"You thought too weakly."
It might have just been pity.
Maybe I wanted to appear morally upright.
I saw their bewildered faces.
And I saw the bodies behind them.
What if I didn't have this kind of power?
What if the opponent was stronger than me?
The person lying on the ground might have been me.
But there are no "ifs."
The opponents crumbled because I was strong.
No matter what story is told, it ultimately ends with power.
No matter how much moral behavior I put forward, it's just a conscience.
That alone cannot change the world.
"Maru."
Those who misuse false values and power.
"Kill them all."
Eradicating them to change the world required power.
That power could forge the better future I envisioned.
Bodies piled up on the ground.
It might be difficult to clean up normally, but don't I have a useful ability?
The fallen bodies vanished gradually.
This absorption was different from the offerings sent by Celia.
Their bodies were intended to be used for the advancement of my dungeon later.
That was also my power.
But I know.
No matter how mighty, uncontrolled power meant nothing.
"Let's go."
Now it's time to move forward again.
Seizing power myself.
Before he knew it, he had reached the location where Death Knight was visible.
And next to it was confirmed to be Arc Lich..
Everyone was watching ahead, but what they were looking at couldn't be confirmed.
However, Celia's figure was barely visible.
Celia must be doing well.
At least that's what he thought as Yi Kang-hyun gave Maru an order.
"Maru, go fetch those guys."
As the command fell, Maru gripped his black, glowing demon sword and charged.
The targets were Death Knight and Arc Lich.
"!"
However, Death Knight, a superior being to Maru, could not be unaware of this.
The Death Knight immediately turned his body and clashed with Maru's sword.
Clang—
The shield adorned with the Demon sword and maid clothes collided, emitting black flames.
The adjacent Arch Lich opened its mouth.
"Clack clack clack. Rattle."
The Ark Lich spoke while holding a feathered pen.
Then the skeleton standing next to him opened a bottle filled with ink.
The Ark Lich dipped the pen in the ink and immediately began writing something in the book he was holding.
However, Maru also had a lot to say.
"Clack clack clack clack."
At Maru's words, the Ark Lich raised his head.
And then, a familiar presence was felt.
In the distance, a figure in a black robe came into view.
Ah.
The Arch Lich nodded.