Chapter 186
Chapter 186
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Chapter 57. Zakum (1)
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1.
It took three days for the Adventurers' Association to post the notice and conduct the selection.
"Has everyone gathered?"
"Four hundred, looks like it."
And two more days for them all to assemble at the Elnas Mountains.
"Fast."
"Faster than I expected."
The speed of it all was beyond anyone's expectations, and without exception, the gathered adventurers, Resistance members, Cross Hunters, and Cygnus Knights were all astonished.
Of course, the most surprising part was that very fact.
"I'm shocked we even got a lineup like this."
Famous names that anyone would recognize at the mere mention had assembled.
"Even the Cross Hunters and Resistance showed up."
The biggest surprise was that even those two secretive groups had sent their top talents.
An unexpected situation in every way.
"Anything could happen now, good or bad."
In other words, the crises ahead would easily surpass everyone's predictions.
"My name is Viola. I'll be leading this expedition."
That was why.
"I'm Tatan from Perion. I'll say it upfront: we'll join, but we'll fight our way."
"I'm Lema from Henesys. I agree."
"Heh heh heh, name's Ruka. We're mages, so we'll play our part at the right time."
The leaders of each group insisted on their own methods.
'No telling what might happen. Better rely on ourselves.'
'Any sloppy coordination puts the archers at the most risk. My goal is to minimize casualties.'
'This won't be easy, heh heh heh. Not by a long shot.'
In a situation where no one knew what dangers lay ahead, following someone else's way was as good as facing the danger head-on.
Of course, there was also that line of thinking.
'With a lineup like this, success is guaranteed anyway.'
Confidence that failure was impossible!
In any case, the adventurers were willing to cooperate but determined to stick to their own ways.
The others were different.
"We'll handle ourselves."
Red Panther Lee, who had brought thirty Resistance members, outright refused to cooperate.
"I came here on Bell's word, but I still don't trust the Knights."
Nearly every Resistance member believed they had lost comrades to the Cygnus Knights' betrayal.
In such a situation, they couldn't blindly follow the Knights into this dangerous expedition.
Viola didn't argue the point.
"I understand everyone's opinions. I'll respect them."
She had expected as much.
Internal conflicts were inevitable, and the raid would be far from smooth.
Watching the scene from a distance, the El Pam party's expressions inevitably hardened.
"Boss, this vibe is getting dangerous."
It was natural for top talents to vie for control when gathered, and everyone including Dibo had anticipated that much.
But the current atmosphere went beyond a power struggle.
They were wary of each other.
An unforeseen development.
El Pam, however, was unfazed.
He had seen this coming.
"Teamwork was never on the table anyway."
The reason for assembling such a group despite that was simple.
"Stack the best talents possible."
"Talent isn't everything, though."
"Core adventurers and fighters from each group. The ones they can't afford to lose."
"Ah!"
To draw full support from the Resistance, Cross Hunters, and Adventurers' Association.
It was practically forced.
"Not like we'll get any praise for this raid."
Of course, it wasn't an ideal approach.
The reason for choosing it anyway was straightforward.
"We're not doing this for applause."
The raid required readiness for any sacrifice.
At El Pam's explanation, his companions' expressions grew even graver.
Soon, those words reached the El Pam party's ears.
"Then we'll head to the abandoned mine."
And so the Abandoned Mine Expedition moved toward the mine.
2.
"They're heading to the abandoned mine."
At those words, Hote extended his hand, and a subordinate promptly handed over the prepared report.
Rustle!
Hote skimmed it in an instant, then waved it at Ebob standing nearby. Ebob bowed his head, took the report, and read it himself.
In that moment, Ebob's expression hardened.
"This is?"
"The members of this Abandoned Mine Expedition."
"You got this?"
All information on the Abandoned Mine Expedition was being handled in strict secrecy.
Where they gathered, who the members were, when and how they would raid.
Nothing was known.
Yet here was real-time intel on everything?
'There's a spy inside.'
It meant the Lion King's hand reached deep into the Maple Alliance.
That was astonishing.
'I heard the Lion King hasn't done anything.'
Among the Black Mage's commanders, the Lion King was considered the least active.
Yet he had a grip on the Maple Alliance—a place no other commander could easily touch?
"Not surprising. This is the Elnas Mountains. Nothing escapes the Lion King's gaze."
At Hote's follow-up explanation, Ebob swallowed hard.
It went beyond mere presence of a spy.
"And no one can deny what he says."
It meant that, as the Lion King claimed, everyone attempting to raid that place was doomed to die.
Literally.
This was a mission more crucial than ever.
Yet among those carrying it out was the Lion King's trusted subordinate?
It was like a lethal bomb hidden in the Abandoned Mine Expedition.
One that would kill them all the moment it detonated.
And above all, that place wasn't just any Mystic Gate.
It was hell that no one could conquer.
So Hote had no doubt this moment would become their tomb.
"Most of these names are familiar."
He had only one question.
"But there are some I don't recognize."
In an expedition of the absolute best, there were people without even proper fame, let alone top-tier status.
That was clearly significant.
The Cygnus Knights had included every top asset they could for this Abandoned Mine Expedition.
They wouldn't have added nameless amateurs.
Which meant these were the Cygnus Knights' hidden cards.
The ones who handled what the Knights couldn't, from the shadows and darkness!
In normal times, names worth committing to memory.
Hidden cards were always more dangerous than open ones.
But this time was different.
Hote was certain.
They wouldn't survive to return either.
"No need to remember them."
That was why.
"These six unknowns."
He gave no more thought to those six.
Instead, he pondered.
"They're probably inside the Mystic Gate by now. Wonder what the first monster is."
3.
"It's a Bulldog!"
The moment the Abandoned Mine Expedition crossed the Mystic Gate, the first thing they encountered was a monster called Bulldog.
It resembled the dog breed of the same name.
Of course, the resemblance was only superficial; everything else was different.
For starters, the size.
Grrrrowl!
"Huge."
Bigger than a lion.
"And those teeth."
The fangs protruding from its mouth were less teeth and more like massive, sharp rhino horns.
Grrrrowl!
"Ferocious."
Above all, the red eyes were intimidating.
But it wasn't just looks that were terrifying.
Its body was tough enough to defy comparison with most monsters.
And the destructive power from those massive fangs shattered all common sense.
The most headache-inducing part was that.
Grrrrowl, grrrrowl, grrrrowl!
"They travel in packs like dogs."
From dozens to hundreds strong.
A nightmare for adventurers.
Moreover, the Abandoned Mine Expedition here had one fatal weakness.
Zakum's Curse!
It was like fighting with a limb severed.
"Time to fight."
The battle began in that state.
"Everyone, your own way."
No proper teamwork.
A perfect storm of worst-case factors.
Kyaaang!
Yet surprisingly, when the battle started, the expedition handled the Bulldog pack effortlessly.
"Hold the line!"
First, the Cygnus Knights blocked the charging Bulldog horde.
"Fire!"
"Heh heh, unleash the magic."
Meanwhile, Henesys archers and Heinz mages poured relentless ranged attacks.
And those attacks were pinpoint accurate.
Hardly any misses.
"Charge!"
Clang!
The Wild Hunters put on an even more stunning show.
Riding jaguars, they effortlessly outmaneuvered the Bulldogs, turning them into pincushions.
Impressive feats all around.
Enough to make Zakum's Curse seem irrelevant.
Worthy of admiration.
So the battle ended without major casualties, just a few injuries.
"Heal!"
The Bishop's Heal skill mended those quickly.
From the outside, it looked flawlessly smooth.
"They're fighting well."
But El Pam's companions, including Dibo watching the scene, weren't pleased.
"Better than expected."
They were fighting well, sure.
"But is this okay?"
The problem was it fell short of what the El Pam party expected.
Of course, there was a reason.
Zakum's Curse!
Under its power, ordinary adventurers could barely muster the will to fight.
This level of performance was only possible because of the renowned elites here.
In other words, they were exceeding their capabilities.
"This won't cut it."
They couldn't do more.
That was why the El Pam party's expressions were grim.
'In the end, we have to step up.'
Only the El Pam party, holders of Zakum's Helmet that could break the curse, could make a decisive impact here.
A heavy burden.
'We have to save them.'
Succeed in the raid and carry the lives of these famous Maple World elites.
A massive headache in itself.
They had seen it.
'These stubborn bastards.'
The people here weren't the type to be swayed by words.
If the El Pam party told them to follow orders, they'd pick a fight instead.
Even if offered salvation, they'd choose death.
Truly troublesome wards.
In this situation, there was only one thing to hope for.
"Boss."
That their leader was none other than El Pam.
"You have a plan, right?"
And that El Pam would have foreseen this and prepared a way out.
"I do."
El Pam met their expectations without hesitation.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't."
"As expected!"
Dibo and the others grinned at his firm words.
If El Pam said so, there were no more problems!
"So, what's the plan?"
To the smiling Dibo, El Pam replied.
"First, we die."
"Pardon?"
"Exactly as it sounds. We die first."
"D-Die?"
To the stunned Dibo, El Pam pointed at him.
"You first, Dibo."