Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: 60장. 켄타우로스 킹 (2)
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4.
A common saying when tackling Mystic Gates is this:
“If it takes a month to clear one, half of that—fifteen days—is spent on preparations.”
The preparation phase takes more time than the actual raid.
The higher the grade of the Mystic Gate, the longer the preparations dragged on.
For Yellow or Green grades, the prep time often exceeded the raid itself.
There were several reasons for this.
First off, there were few 4th Circle or 5th Circle adventurers. With so few available, assembling a team required massive effort and planning.
Their high fees meant parties had to be optimized for maximum safety.
They’d study the compositions of previous failed raids and prepare even more thoroughly, with even more methods.
Escort teams were also needed to protect them. And that turned out to be one of the biggest headaches.
For a Green-grade raid, the rewards were enormous—and so were the bandits eyeing them.
Protecting the adventurers naturally required more bodies than the adventurers themselves.
But Blue grade was different.
“Blue-grade raids don’t take time to assemble members.”
In fact, Blue-grade prep was much faster than for the lower Green grade.
The reason was simple.
“The established party members don’t change.”
There were no other options.
“A few members might rotate in from the existing party, but the core stays the same. There’s no room for outsiders to wedge in from the start.”
The team composition was already locked in.
“Items are even more so. They bring everything they can get their hands on. Right? These are 6th Circle adventurers. They arm themselves with the best gear to boost survival rates.”
There was no need to agonize over preparations either.
“Security is crucial too.”
Above all, Blue-grade raids were conducted in utmost secrecy.
The more outsiders involved, the higher the risk of leaks.
Longer prep periods only increased the chances of info slipping out.
It was all about speed and decisiveness.
The Resistance’s Blue-grade raid was no different.
Having successfully transported the Blue-grade Mystic Gate, they assembled the raid team in record time.
“55 Battle Mages, 78 Wild Hunters, 71 Blasters, and 55 Mechanics. The rest are adventurers.”
A 300-strong raid team.
And the members were extraordinary.
Most standout were the 55 Mechanics.
Each Mechanic who could pilot a Metal Armor was worth more than ten ordinary adventurers.
“All are 4th Circle or higher, with 48 at 6th Circle.”
These 55 Mechanics were practically the heart of the Resistance’s Mechanic forces—an incredible lineup.
The Mechanics weren’t the only stars.
Combined, the Wild Hunters and Battle Mages included a whopping 48 6th Circle adventurers.
For the Resistance, that was over 20% of their total forces.
Failure would deal a devastating blow.
“All are armed with Unique-grade items or better.”
The gear provided was the best the Resistance could offer.
No—better than that.
“Legendary-grade items total 193, including those from the Maple Alliance.”
For this raid, the Resistance had even called in favors from the Maple Alliance.
It was truly a do-or-die gamble!
So, the Resistance facing this raid felt no real tension.
Just pure confidence.
“We’ll complete this perfectly and return.”
This wasn’t their first Blue-grade raid anyway.
Far from it. Ever since developing the tech to move Mystic Gates, they’d exploded into a frenzy of raids, making them—right now—the top Mystic Gate raiders, surpassing even the Nautilus or Cygnus Knights.
Lacking confidence would’ve been the weird part.
The executives who came to see them off felt the same.
Mechanic instructor Cheki, Wild Hunter instructor Bell, Battle Mage instructor Henriette, Blaster instructor Ilex.
And finally, Supreme Commander Sigmund!
Their only concern was one thing.
“Your lives are more important than anything. Keep that in mind.”
Minimize casualties.
In other words, no one doubted success.
If they had, they wouldn’t have attempted it.
In this atmosphere of total faith, only one person harbored doubts.
‘They’re too confident.’
El Pam couldn’t easily accept the Resistance’s demeanor.
‘The Resistance isn’t like this.’
The Resistance he knew valued lives above all else, more than any group.
They chose no-risk paths over big rewards.
They weren’t gamblers.
And they couldn’t afford to be.
Their deaths meant Edelstein’s citizens’ deaths. Bearing that weight, they couldn’t even die on a whim.
Yet here they were, brimming with confidence on a Blue-grade raid?
‘The assembled forces are overwhelming, but not confidence-level.’
No matter the items or 6th Circle experts, this wasn’t enough for the Resistance he knew to be this sure.
Nor had they suddenly turned reckless.
‘They know.’
That was El Pam’s conclusion.
‘They know what items are inside. And what monsters.’
There had to be a reason for that certainty.
The problem? No one El Pam knew could provide such intel.
Phantom the thief could spot a boss monster beyond with his eyes—that was it.
No one could scout items or exact monsters.
Unless they knew like El Pam and had regressed.
Not absolutely, though.
Someone might know what lay beyond.
‘A Legion Commander.’
The Mystic Gates were made by the Black Mage’s followers.
His Legion Commanders leading them would naturally know the contents.
Of course, connecting that to the Resistance was a stretch for El Pam.
But he didn’t need to imagine it.
If such a link existed, the Resistance—and Maple Alliance—held a massive card.
Good for El Pam.
‘Whatever it is, raiding this place will reveal it.’
Above all, to verify his suspicions, they had to clear the gate.
“Then please return alive.”
With Supreme Commander Sigmund’s words, the raid began.
5.
Two things tormented adventurers as Mystic Gate grades rose.
First, the five floors.
Second, Blue-grade monsters included ones rare even in Maple World.
Minar Forest monsters started appearing.
Dragon-blooded, they were too strong for normal comparisons.
Even fully prepped, they were tough. Facing unknowns? Suicide.
Knowing what spawned made it far easier.
That’s what the Resistance did.
“A Hengki pack incoming!”
On floor 1, they met Hengkis from Minar Forest!
Bipedal, white-furred brutes with insane HP and defense.
Their mobility was unreal.
Their leaps covered dozens of meters, crashing like lightning onto prey.
Adventurers panicked.
Real-time response to a leaping pack? Impossible.
But knowing they were coming? Options galore.
The Resistance chose firepower.
“Fire at will!”
Over 50 Metal Armors lined up, Gatling guns aimed at the approaching pack.
“Open fire!”
“Gatling Shot!”
They unleashed the Mechanic skill Gatling Shot.
A basic skill.
But arguably Maple World’s strongest basic.
With over 50 Mechanics?
Tutu-tutu-tutu!
It was less a skill, more a typhoon—a natural disaster.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
It shredded foliage and Hengkis alike.
Overwhelming firepower.
Kieee!
The Hengkis didn’t drop in one go.
Hundreds strong, survivors leaped clear.
Kieeek!
Dozens even vaulted the Mechanics.
But that was it.
Beyond waited Battle Mages.
“Death Blow!”
Melee magic specialists swung staves like weapons, obliterating Hengkis instantly.
Overwhelming firepower!
Yet the real shock came next.
“Advance!”
Post-battle, the Resistance surged toward one spot.
Odd, even for floor 1 in a Blue grade.
Common sense: Send scouts to hunt exits cautiously.
Everyone moving together? Insane.
Unless they knew the exit’s location.
And the result was stunning.
Not even a day in, they found it.
“The exit!”
To floor 2.
That moment, El Pam was certain.
‘They know everything perfectly.’
Every detail of this Mystic Gate—monsters to exits.
Realizing that, a chill ran down El Pam’s spine.
‘Worst case.’
How they got the info—Legion Commander or not—didn’t matter.
To El Pam, it was proof.
‘The Mystic Gates are fully controlled.’
The Black Mage’s followers had designed them down to the last detail.
He’d suspected as much.
Everyone knew later they made Gates for some scheme.
But El Pam thought even the followers couldn’t fully control them.
Exhibit A: Martyrs.
Needing Martyrs to up difficulty proved even they didn’t know everything.
But if not?
If a Legion Commander knew it all perfectly?
‘The Black Mage’s Legion Commanders barely interact. They check each other. But one thing’s sure: At least one has the blueprint.’
Knowing everything, manipulating freely?
‘Means adjustable difficulty without Martyrs.’
That realization hit El Pam like certainty.
‘Floor 5 will be hell.’
Then came the words to his ears.
“We hit floor 5 in a week!”
Albi, leader of this Resistance group, issued the order.