Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: As the Master Wishes
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Before Yi Kang-hyun and Maru arrived at the scene.
The hunters from the Emergency Response Team were still locked in a standoff with the monsters.
A dire situation where monsters had burst out of the dungeon, threatening human civilization.
They had been dispatched to resolve it, but the situation hadn't improved at all.
In fact, they had realized there were two A-rank monsters.
"Tch."
Han Jeong Cheol, the team leader of the Emergency Response Team, bit his lip in frustration.
'I got it wrong from the start.'
He had known about the ghouls, incubus, and Death Knight, but the Arch Lich was unexpected.
How could anyone have predicted there would be two A-rank monsters that even one would be a handful?
Probably no one had.
And the biggest loss was the vice-team leader.
Misjudging the enemy's strength and charging in had been a fatal mistake.
And then.
The true terror of these monsters revealed itself.
The undead transformation of those they killed.
The Death Knight turned its victims into ghouls.
Similarly, the Arch Lich raised skeletons from corpses.
In theory, the enemy could produce monsters indefinitely.
Of course, they had mobilized to halt their advance, but now it was meaningless.
Even the vice-team leader who had charged ahead had become a skeleton.
A hunter who had devoted his loyalty to the nation was now ironically trying to tear it down.
Han Jeong Cheol slowly scanned his subordinates around him.
The morale that had risen just moments ago had plummeted back to rock bottom.
No one could move from their positions after the vice-team leader's death.
Despair and fear filled their faces.
They were the Emergency Response Team, considered quite formidable.
But had they grown too accustomed to the long peace?
They lacked the power to suppress this monster wave.
The situation was so tangled that they deserved praise just for not fleeing or abandoning the scene.
Fighting them head-on now would be suicide.
As he pondered a temporary retreat to join forces with reinforcements.
Bang-
Suddenly, a beam of light shot toward the monsters.
"?!"
Naturally, the Death Knight raised its grotesque shield to block it.
"Light...!"
But the beam scattered around upon hitting the shield.
The spreading light finally delivered the decisive blow.
Some of the nearby ghouls began to melt away.
Of course, the other monsters besides the ghouls remained unscathed.
Still, a crack had formed in what had been an impregnable monster formation.
'S-strong.'
And beautiful.
That was what the hunters present were thinking.
Han Jeong Cheol's gaze immediately followed the direction the light had come from.
Dozens of armed hunters were approaching from the rear.
Distinctive pure white armor designs.
It was the Sacred Guild.
Leading them was a single man.
It was obvious who had launched the attack just now.
"Kim Suho..."
A member of the Sacred Guild and an A-rank hunter.
He was the same A-rank as Han Jeong Cheol, but they were leagues apart.
Kim Suho had already journeyed to the Eldorado Continent and returned.
And not only that.
He had even been ordained as a Holy Knight there.
Even Han Jeong Cheol, who had never been there, knew what an incredible achievement that was.
Thanks to that, Kim Suho now bore the title of Holy Knight.
Separate from his outward image.
"Ha, can't even handle this much? The Emergency Response Team name feels wasted."
He had long known Kim Suho's rough personality.
Due to the nature of the Emergency Response Team, they interacted with various guilds even outside field deployments.
Han Jeong Cheol had met Kim Suho multiple times through those exchanges and knew him well.
"Lee Mi-rae. You left the Sacred Guild for a dump like this?"
And sure enough.
Kim Suho's tone was arrogant and provocative.
His eyes alone screamed bloodlust.
Kim Suho roughly snapped at Lee Mi-rae, who had been waiting in the back.
'Haa...'
Han Jeong Cheol's head throbbed at the situation.
Kim Suho was always like this.
Those who didn't know him well admired the name Kim Suho, but this was his true nature.
But this was a critical moment.
Regardless of his earlier impression, they needed to pool their strengths to overcome the crisis.
They had already grasped some of the enemy monsters' capabilities.
Plus, the Sacred Guild specialized in holy power, the light attribute.
Combining their knowledge with the Sacred Guild's abilities should suppress the monster wave quickly.
Cooperation was essential.
Despite Kim Suho's rudeness, Han Jeong Cheol silently extended his hand in a gesture of goodwill.
But the other side just sneered.
"No need. What joint attack with people who can't even handle this? Just watch from behind."
Kim Suho avoided outright rudeness in official settings.
But his words dripped with sarcasm.
He belittled the entire Emergency Response Team.
"......"
Han Jeong Cheol had nothing to say.
Arguing further wouldn't sway Kim Suho.
The Sacred Guild followed him and would likely ignore Han anyway.
But it was dangerous now.
Not wanting their forces diminished, Han Jeong Cheol spoke up.
"Don't let your guard down and watch out for the Arch Lich."
He phrased it as politely as possible, but Kim Suho didn't even pay attention to them as they passed by.
Han Jeong Cheol didn't bother stopping them.
They'd realize soon enough.
That their opponents were different from any monsters they'd faced before.
The worst monster wave, yet ironically, overall casualties were low.
Whatever the monsters were after, it was still hopeful for now.
So they resolved to do their utmost.
"Make sure the damage doesn't spread!"
At the team leader's command, the Emergency Response Team hunters began moving again.
"......"
Kim Suho advanced silently.
"Death Knight and Arch Lich, huh..."
He could see the monsters across from him.
He knew about the Death Knight, but the Arch Lich was unexpected firepower.
Everyone now knew from the Emergency Response Team's initial report.
The worst situation had occurred.
But they weren't worried.
After all, Who were they?
The best guild in South Korea, the Sacred Guild.
The hunters he brought were all elites.
And the enemies were mostly undead.
A favorable matchup for them.
Above all, Kim Suho himself was here.
'This is nothing.'
Kim Suho briefly recalled his past.
He had walked an elite path.
He never missed the top at Hunter Academy.
Finally, he graduated as the top student and traveled to the Eldorad continent.
His true value was revealed on the Eldorad continent.
He entered the clergy and achieved several accomplishments there.
Thanks to that, he received the title of a Holy Knight and along with a supply-type holy sword used by Holy Knights.
That much was public knowledge.
Of course, during this process, Kim Suho faced several monsters.
Especially, the monsters on the Eldorad continent were different from those existing on Earth.
"The monsters in front of me are just parasites on Earth!"
That's why Kim Suho wasn't afraid at all.
Someone forged in Eldorado could handle this easily.
Kim Suho slowly drew the sword at his waist.
"Show yourself."
It wasn't a true relic's holy sword, but it shone brightly just by itself.
"The power of the sacred!"
Kim Suho's sword completely came out of its sheath.
"My power!"
At the same time, he swung it forward.
Whoosh-
The light shot from the sword made a fierce sound and headed towards the monsters.
Bang-
It hit true.
However.
"!"
This time too, the attack was blocked by the Death Knight's shield.
but Kim Suho still didn't panic.
He kept firing beams of light.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
Each time, the Death Knight blocked with its shield.
Even though it kept blocking the light, the ghouls around were gradually collapsing due to the aftermath.
But Kim Suho wasn't satisfied with that.
"Urgh!"
Kim Suho's face contorted into a grimace.
The number of ghouls was decreasing, but the Death Knight remained intact.
Why were all his attacks blocked?!
Kim Suho scrutinized the Death Knight.
"Maid outfit?"
There was no prior information related to this.
No, why did he tie a maid's uniform to the shield before that?
It was an odd combo.
'Maybe...'
Something about that outfit?
Otherwise, how could it keep blocking him?
So, avoid the shield.
With that thought, Kim Suho ordered his guildmates.
"Attack simultaneously!"
The Sacred Guild hunters behind him unleashed on the monsters.
Kim Suho gathered max power.
'End it in one blow!'
The Death Knight flailed its shield amid the barrage, overwhelmed.
"Now!"
As it couldn't focus, Kim Suho swung.
A brilliant, larger light shot out.
"Got it!"
The beam flew straight into the Death Knight's gap.
BOOM-
Simultaneously, a tremendous sound rang out, shaking the ground.
Smoke spread thickly, obscuring everyone's vision.
The emergency response team hunters gaped at the sight, while the Sacred Guild hunters were already in a festive mood.
There was a big difference between whether it was one A-rank monster or two.
With the recent attack, Death Knight should have been subdued, so they only needed to worry about Ark Reach in the future.
Shortly after, the dense smoke began to disperse.
Now the opponent would look pathetic being called a monster wave.
But.
"What?!"
Even they were shocked now.
"....!"
Kim Suho was no exception.
Clearly, the blow just now was an attack that exerted all the strength he could muster.
He believed that it would eliminate Death Knight, but a completely different situation unfolded.
"My, what a violent one you are?"
Kim Suho's attack was effortlessly blocked by the being before the Death Knight.
Blocked by an outstretched hand, no less.
"Wh-who are you!"
This time, even Kim Suho was taken aback.
The opponent was visibly extraordinary.
An entity exuding tremendous beauty and charm, but the horns extending above her head represented her as a being.
He readied his sword, but the opponent showed her back.
"Tch."
Humiliation stung Kim Suho.
How lowly did she see him to bare her back?
As he raised his sword to punish the insolence.
"Death Knight and Arch Lich, come to me after this is over."
Her unidentified voice rang out.
For some reason, the monsters next to her began to tremble.
The incubus at the front even pressed his face against the ground.
Even A-rank Death Knight and Arch Lich peeked nervously, backing away slightly.
Even the A-rank monsters, Death Knight and Arch Lich, started to retreat, carefully watching her.
During this process, the Arch Lich seemed to be writing something diligently, but that was probably fine.
'"What's going on...?"
Kim Suho was dumbfounded.
Monsters that strong, quaking at her word.
What was she?
"No way..."
A possibility hit him; he shouted.
"Are you the dungeon master?!"
But she pressed a finger to her lips, as if he had said something he shouldn't.
A hush gesture.
* * *
In the midst of the imminent attack heading towards Death Knight, Celia appeared.
Celia immediately extended her right hand, neutralizing the opponent's attack.
The light dispersed powerlessly.
It was an all-out blow, but it was easily blocked by Celia's hand.
In fact, it was accurate to say that she had taken the full damage.
"My, what a violent one you are?"
Celia looked at her hand.
Her hand had turned slightly red from the previous attack.
That was the extent of the gap between her and her opponent. If the current attack had hit Death Knight head-on, it would have been quite a blow.
Celia looked around as she spoke.
"Death Knight and Arch Lich, come to me after this is over."
At the same time, she also addressed Azmo.
"Azmo... I'll let this slide just once."
As the dungeon's chief administrator and someone entrusted with the role of maintaining order, Celia made her ruling, and the reactions were sharply divided.
Azmo prostrated himself towards Celia and expressed his gratitude.
He had only meant to serve the master loyally.
Therefore, Celia decided to give him a chance.
However, it was different for Death Knight and Arch Lich.
The Death Knight began trembling at her words.
Meanwhile, Arch Lich, who was beside her, did not forget to record as an overseer even in this situation.
As she recorded this, gradually stepping back.
She felt a presence behind her.
Clang-
Death Knight instantly raised its shield.
The Arch Lich saw.
The appearance of the opponent who attacked the death knight.
And also realized that the opponent possessed a similar aura to theirs.
It was a sound of being on the same side.
Why attack an ally?
The Arch Lich voiced its doubt.
And he did not forget to record this as well.
But from the opponent's mouth, a completely different sound came out.
"This is the master's command."
The Arch Lich was stunned.
The master's command?!
Come to think of it, the faint aura of the master could be felt in the distance.
Ark Lich immediately revised the contents.
Of course, written so, but why had the master issued this order?
It was Incomprehensible.
As it pondered the master's intent, Vetter dashed out beside it.
Vetter, selected as lieutenant in Azmo's dungeon management.
He was a slime and a master of transformation at the same time.
Even now, he had the appearance of a human, not a slime.
It moved its mouth, speaking clearly.
"Ah! The master intends to use this situation!"
What did that mean?
Use this situation how?
All wondered.
Even Celia ahead perked up at "master."
"In other words!"
Vetter explained crisply.
1. The master seeks to dominate this world.
2. However, domination based solely on power cannot truly raise loyalty.
3. Therefore, the master stages scenes of saving the world and gains the reverence of everyone.
4. Swallow the world whole.
Vetter had spent many years in the research institute.
Even though it was called a research institute, it was not a place where research was conducted peacefully.
Even among the researchers, there were factions, and it was a place overflowing with intrigue.
Naturally, Vetter was able to acquire such things.
And it seemed certain that the current master also harbored great intentions.
So Vetter explained confidently.
"Oh."
Azmo, who had been lying down listening to Vetter's explanation, reacted first.
"Your pursuit of natural beauty!"
As Azmo, who believed that forcing loyalty was not beautiful, admired the master's insight.
Truly, the master understood true beauty.
Celia nodded too.
"Indeed. Now I finally understand the master's thoughts."
Why he sent her here made sense.
Death Knight and Arch Lich nodded.
Death Knight looked ahead.
There stood Maru, sent by the master.
Nod.
Death Knight nodded to Maru.
Maru, hearing this first, thought and agreed.
Now, one thing left.
To act according to the master's will in all of this.
When Maru's sword struck Death Knight's shield with a thud,
Death Knight flew back dramatically.
It was an incredible display of acting.
As if Ark Lich couldn't lose to this, he lunged toward Maru.
Maru's sword pierced Arch Lich's body.
Of course, since the sword passed through Ark Lich's bones, it didn't affect him at all.
But Ark Lich reached his hand toward the sky.
Aah.
Miserably.
Even more desperately.
Sadly.
The hand reaching toward the sky fell to the ground with a thud.
That's how Ark Lich remained motionless.
"......"
The watching Emergency Response Team and Sacred Guild hunters were aghast.
In their eyes, a mysterious figure cloaked in shadow had appeared, felling the monsters.
Han Jeong Cheol and even Kim Suho could only blink at the scene.