Chapter 138
Chapter 138
Chapter 138: The Black Smeltery (1)
Translation: godtl
'Is this for real......?'
The viewer count climbed endlessly, only stopping its meteoric rise after surpassing 1.4 million.
The viewers couldn't hide their astonishment.
As they said, it was rare for viewership to exceed a million unless the streamer was a highly popular Diamond-rank player. Especially in South Korea, where the player base was smaller, only those with top-tier recognition could pull such numbers. So the fact that Si-mun, a Platinum, had surpassed a million viewers wasn't just due to the influx of domestic viewers after the Special Match.
The sharp increase in overseas viewers played a significant role.
The sheer volume of chat messages overwhelmed Arenia's translation system, leaving some comments untranslated. But for Si-mun and the Korean viewers, understanding the chat wasn't an issue.
Naturally, clashes in the chat flared up frequently.
"Alright, everyone. Let's keep the chat civil. No inflammatory or disruptive comments, or you'll face penalties."
Si-mun soothed the chat before opening the manager panel.
The two Constellations jumped in immediately, as if they'd been waiting.
Then—
[Constellation Baal looks at you with an uncomfortable expression, going 'Hmm......']
"Ah."
Realizing his mistake, Si-mun quickly granted Baal manager privileges.
Baal's oddly satisfied chat message drew complaints from the other Constellations.
Si-mun ignored them cleanly and closed the manager panel.
"Alright, everyone. I need to focus on the Arena now, so I'll be closing the chat. The mods are watching, so behave."
[Manager 'Constellation Black Goat' has banned user 'BlackGoatFetishist'.]
After confirming the chat was under control, he closed it for good.
'Time to get moving, I guess.'
The Black Smeltery loomed ahead, its chimneys spewing endless plumes of smoke like storm clouds.
As Si-mun stepped forward, he reviewed the messages he'd seen upon entry.
'Let's see...... It's a Special Arena, but no hints?'
The only notifications were about his entry and the consumption of his entry item, the 'Slave Chain of the Black Smeltery.'
Unlike previous Special Arenas, this one hadn't given even the slightest clue about its objective.
Under normal circumstances, that would've been utterly despair-inducing.
'But it doesn't matter.'
Not this time.
'The goal of this Special Arena was set before I even entered.'
Si-mun opened the quest window.
[To the Black Smeltery] - Hidden Quest
Rescue her enslaved kin imprisoned within.
Entry Requirement: Platinum-rank or higher.
Rewards: Dark Elf race favorability, 10,000 Achievement Points, Black Smeltery components (?)
Originally, the entry item for this place had been received from Dayna along with the quest.
Therefore, if they proceeded with Dayna's quest as their goal, this Special Arena would be sufficiently cleared.
"First, I need to meet Dayna......"
Si-mun surveyed the desolate area that resembled the Chaos Realm.
Though sparse ancient trees and vegetation existed,
they were all withered and twisted, likely due to the aftermath of the Black Smeltery.
'If she's not at this starting point, it means she must be near or inside the Black Smeltery.'
Having quickly assessed the situation, Si-mun—
Flick.
"—Guess I'll have to search."
After snapping his fingers to activate full-body Human Transmutation, his ashen figure kicked off the ground.
Now that the Obsidian Tablet's completion rate had reached 60%,
Screeeech!
Si-mun's new form had already become a streak, rapidly disappearing into the distance.
Meanwhile, from behind a small rock where Si-mun had been standing—
Peek.
"Daddy go bye-bye?"
A child much smaller than the rock poked her head out, eyes sparkling as she watched Si-mun grow distant.
"Hehe! Daddy fast like wind!"
Giggling brightly,
the child stared at Si-mun's disappearing figure for a while before—
Rumble.
—jerking her head around at the sound of another thunderclap.
Reflected in the child's twinkling pupils was:
"Boom boom! Bang bang bang!"
A pitch-black fortress spewing thunder and thick, acrid smoke like storm clouds.
The parched, desolate wind.
Clang. Clank!
The faint sound of metal striking metal drifted through the air.
Having heard that sound enough to be thoroughly sick of it, Si-mun halted his steps.
"Hmm. This should be the last spot......"
His eyes swept over the surroundings.
Though he hadn't activated Odin's Eye,
with multiple Human Transmutations like [Black Panther's Body Tissue] and [Nighthawk's Body Tissue] enhancing his senses,
even after circling the vast perimeter of the Black Smeltery, he couldn't detect even a trace of Dayna's presence.
Si-mun plopped down onto a blunt rock nearby.
'If she's not out here, she must be inside the Black Smeltery... Surely she hasn't been captured or anything like that, right?'
From his preliminary reconnaissance around the perimeter,
the Black Smeltery's military strength was considerable.
'At minimum, Upper-level Dragonkin with some Upper-level Dragonkin scattered throughout.'
While neither mid-tier nor upper-tier Dragonkin were opponents he couldn't handle,
the story changed when they were gathered in force within a fortress.
'With numbers like that, it wouldn't be strange even if Dayna had been captured.'
No matter how much Dayna looked down on even Diamond players, she was still just one person.
Judging by the visible troop numbers alone, it would take an entire raid party to assault this place—
even someone as exceptional as Dayna would find it impossible to hold out against them.
Then—
Swish.
Si-mun's gaze shifted sideways.
There, the empty air rippled like disturbed water.
Rather than tensing, Si-mun smiled.
"Speak of the devil."
Clad in form-fitting black leather armor that emphasized sturdiness and lethality over sex appeal,
the woman who appeared immediately dropped to one knee.
"My noble lord, I have been awaiting you."
"Long time no see, Dayna."
The NPC from the Contaminated Supply Route
and the Dark Elf who had provided both the entry item and quest for this Special Arena.
She studied Si-mun with questioning eyes.
"Yet may I inquire as to the meaning of your earlier words?"
"Huh? Ah, it's nothing. Just a saying from my world."
"I see."
Dayna gave a slight nod.
"For now, let us retreat to my hideout to discuss matters in det—"
Just as she was continuing—
Whoosh!
Si-mun's enhanced senses, amplified by multiple Human Transmutations, caught a heavy, violent sound tearing through the air.
As if he had eyes on his back,
he smoothly pulled Dayna aside while stepping back himself.
CRASH.
The shattered rock and surrounding area.
Tilting his head slightly to avoid flying debris, Si-mun turned his gaze toward the ambusher.
There stood—
"Hoh. Dodged it, did you?"
—a three-meter-tall ashen behemoth with a voice to match his size, arms crossed as he observed them.
One peculiar detail stood out:
'Is he... riding Dvali?'
A mid-tier Dragonkin with four legs like a centaur,
known as the Dragonkin's cavalry—mounted atop Dvali as if riding a horse.
Recognizing the identity of the ashen giant wasn't difficult.
"P-Patrol Captain Malidok!"
It was Dayna, standing beside him, who shouted in an uncharacteristic voice.
At that, Malidok's gaze turned toward Dayna.
"Hoh? Who do we have here? Isn't this Dayna, the one who first tarnished the honor of our Black Smeltery?"
His stone-like eyes curved smoothly.
"Thanks to your escape, our reputation was dragged through the mud. And now you've walked right back in on your own two feet."
Thud.
Malidok dismounted from the Dvali.
Perhaps due to his thick, solid frame, his massive feet sank halfway into the ground.
"Then again, all you elves are the same. Fools who don't know their place and stick their noses where they don't belong. Makes you easy prey."
Thud. Thud.
Each step of his log-like legs made the barren earth tremble like a drumbeat.
Had he closed about five meters?
Only when Malidok came within striking distance of Si-mun and Dayna did he finally halt his oppressive advance.
Neither Si-mun nor Dayna could mistake that they were now within his attack range.
There was just one oddity.
'Judging by his appearance, he seems like an upper-level Dragonkin, similar to Drak. But since there's no Hidden Boss alert, I'm guessing he's a named monster?'
Si-mun observed Malidok with an intrigued gaze, while—
"M-Most Noble One...!"
Dayna's face was taut with tension as she scrutinized Malidok. Then—
"I'll buy as much time as I can! You must flee now!"
She urged Si-mun to escape.
"Kehahahaha!! So you've turned into a coward since running away, Dayna."
Malidok burst into raucous laughter at her words.
"Then again, what else can you expect from such a weak race? Dark Elves like you belong underground, toiling away as laborers—"
Before Malidok could finish—
Swish!
Dayna's dagger sliced through the air.
The dark haze clinging to her blade suggested it wasn't just a simple strike—it was imbued with Sword Energy.
Screech!
The moment her dagger met Malidok's neck, it let out a metallic screech, as if scraping against iron.
Yet, astonishingly—
"Well, well. At least you know how to bare your claws, unlike your weakling kin."
Not a single scale had been dislodged from Malidok's neck.
Si-mun's eyes gleamed with interest at the sight.
'This Malidok... He's no ordinary named monster.'
Drak.
A massive, muscular frame even larger than Drakan's.
An upper-level Dragonkin with the reptilian head typical of his kind, yet lacking a tail—unlike most Dragonkin.
But even if he were a named monster of upper-level Dragonkin descent, blocking Dayna's Sword Energy with his bare body should have been impossible.
Unless—
"Malidok, was it? You're a Draconic."
Only a Draconic, one who had attained enlightenment, could withstand Dayna's Sword Energy barehanded.
And it seemed Si-mun's assumption was correct.
"Hoh? A lowly creature like you knows of such things?"
Malidok didn't even glance at where his neck had been struck, instead eyeing Si-mun with keen interest.
"Most Noble One! Please, you must leave—!"
Perhaps because Malidok's attention had shifted, Dayna frantically tried to get Si-mun to flee, but—
Clank.
Before she could finish, she bit her lip hard—the Dvali had already encircled them, cutting off any escape.
"You keep calling him 'Most Noble One,' don't you? And he knows of the Draconic state... Hmm. You're too valuable to simply burn as fuel, little creature."
Malidok stroked his chin, studying Si-mun with intense fascination.
"Hmm. I think I'll send you to the Cradle of Pleasure. Let's see what twisted secrets lurk in that inferior mind of yours."
"Cradle of Pleasure?"
Si-mun's eyebrow arched slightly at the unfamiliar term.
Malidok, however, showed no intention of explaining.
Thud.
Instead, he clenched his boulder-like fist and took another step forward.
But Si-mun wasn't disappointed.
If Malidok wouldn't answer—
Kiiing.
"Hup!"
—then he'd just have to make him answer.
"Kneel."
The moment Si-mun spoke—
Thud.
Malidok's knees slammed into the ground.
But that wasn't all.
Crash.
"G-Gahk!"
The Dvali that had encircled them in a perfect ring—every last one of them collapsed to their knees.
"W-What in the...?"
Before Malidok could even process the situation—
Yank.
Si-mun seized one of his horns, wrenching his head back to force their eyes to meet.
Malidok's face twisted in horror as he stared into Si-mun's gaze.
"T-This can't be! How is the King's—?!"
But—
"Speak. What is the Cradle of Pleasure?"
Under that voice and gaze—one that brooked no defiance—
"...I-It's..."
Malidok's stone-like eyes went blank, utterly dazed.