Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 101
>Chapter Title: Kkukku Dak Kkukku, Nicknamed Ssamdak
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Chapter 101
>101.
Kkukku Dak Kkukku. Nicknamed Ssamdak.
The reason this seemingly cute nickname stuck to him was simple.
“……Ssamdak? If it’s that lunatic you’re talking about, don’t even mention him.”
“I’ve lived a long life, but that was the first mudeppo I’ve ever seen. No mind games or anything—just a total fucking berserker, I’m telling you.”
“That’s mutual destruction, you know? Die together, that’s what it is.”
Extreme infighting.
With his small frame, he’d burrow in and tear at his opponent until death. He was a berserker incarnate.
There was even a running joke that if there was a creator of the Berserker class, they must’ve modeled it after Ssamdak.
Fights with Ssamdak had no such thing as psychological warfare.
“That crazy Ssamdak? Just charge in blind. No probing, nothing.”
“He stacks all kinds of buffs for close-quarters brawling—no room for mind games. It just turns into a dogfight.”
Pure, unrelenting charges.
Whether one enemy, ten, or a hundred, Kkukku Dak Kkukku never backed down.
As if retreating meant certain death, he focused solely on ripping into his foe.
At a glance, you’d call him rabid...
“Hey, why do you keep glaring? Wanna die?”
“……Huh?”
“Huh? Why’s this guy panicking? Come here.”
But his hair-trigger temper, picking fights at the slightest annoyance, was why they called him Ssamdak.
“Eye contact means death, straight up.”
No wonder the saying circulated.
At first glance, Kkukku Dak Kkukku might seem like trash who PKs anyone he feels like picking on, but it was half right, half wrong.
Sure, it looked like he started shit with anyone, but when you peeled it back, they were always schemers or villains.
Once, curiosity got the better of someone who asked him outright...
-How do you know? Just a feeling, you know?
-You can tell by their eyes. Some looks are just punchable. Phrenology’s science, right?
-……I see.
-Huh? Your eyes just looked off. Back in place.
In the end, no proper answer.
Anyway, Kkukku, founder of that suicidal spearhead style, had essential skills, one being ‘Madness.’
‘A skill that drains HP per second but makes you stronger over time.’
A double-edged sword.
Mishandle it, and it’s suicide by bleed-out. But for a physical beast like Kkukku, no buff was more terrifying.
And Kkukku didn’t stop there.
‘He layered on five or six more on top.’
He stacked bizarre skills mixing debuffs and buffs like Madness—over five at least.
Ssamdak Mode. That birthed the term “dornja.”
‘Even for a Berserker concept, there’s limits...’
Normal folks used one or two at most—beyond that, it’s suicide. Yet Kkukku shouldered five-plus risks and fought over an hour. A monster.
That’s why he never retreated, no matter the numbers.
Once Ssamdak Mode kicked in, backing off just meant self-destruct—so take one more down.
Then vampiric lifesteal might save you.
-If you seek death, you live; seek life, you die. That thing... who was it... the Immortal Lord said it, right?
-……Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
-Oh yeah. Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
Even his comrade Kaiser thought the grinning Kkukku wasn’t right in the head.
Who’d call normal a guy plastering half his skill slots with that crap?
‘Even I wouldn’t pull that gamble.’
After three years of tightrope-walking, was Kkukku mad or brilliant...?
He pushed the Berserker concept to its absolute limit.
Anyway, among Berserker skills, his favorite was Madness.
‘Feels good getting stronger as HP drops,’ he’d say.
Made sense for a guy who kept HP under 20%.
That’s why Do-hyun always eyed him coldly at battle starts—Madness first, always.
‘And now it’s mine?’
Do-hyun chuckled, never imagining he’d wield it himself.
As an All-Master, he figured he’d use old comrades’ skills eventually, but reality felt odd.
‘Wonder their reactions when I stack their signature moves and meet ’em.’
Froth at the mouth, charge in?
He pictured the Sword Emperor mocking Kkukku pitifully, them suddenly fighting, Purple Dad booming with laughter.
‘They’ve heard by now.’
Raven #1 caused a storm—they’d know if grinding God Hours.
City barriers blocked meetings now, but someday. Do-hyun smirked and turned.
‘I’ll use Madness well.’
Two-plus years watching its master meant he knew combos, synergies cold.
Time to focus elsewhere.
“Let’s go. Time to investigate.”
-Huh? What, done already? That was quick.
-Liza!
“I told you, good vibes.”
Zihard, staring at Do-hyun, blurted out.
-Card smash? Nice pull? You look happy.
“Hm?”
Do-hyun paused, eyeing Zihard.
Those pure eyes—clearer than first meeting. How’d he spot the good mood?
“Yeah, something like that.”
-Aw, too bad. Would’ve been fun if it sucked.
“......You’ve been off lately, huh?”
-N-No. Eliza, block!
-L, Liza?
Do-hyun shook his head at Zihard retreating, clutching Eliza from his robe pocket.
Thought he’d changed—same old guy.
Bickering onward, how long? They soon exited the alley, spotting a suitable temple. Do-hyun stretched.
‘Gamillion’s waiting—let’s wrap quick.’
Main quest time.
* * *
Bottom line: no solid intel.
“Who...... Ah, outlander...... No, Apostle City, right? Sorry earlier. Situation’s tense, ahem.”
“Abyss, you say? I’m looking into it too—nothing solid. Slippery bastard......”
“Destroyer Geymon? Dangerous one. Citizens need evacuation ready. Oh, if you encounter him, evade first and report. Too risky.”
Just danger warnings,
“Solve it while Lord Lebed’s away...... Doubtful. Need Lebed back—unsettling.”
“But we’ve got Lord Taxinel.”
“True, Taxinel’s reliable. Lucky he skipped this mission. Never thought that loyal one would......”
“Personal matters, they said. I recall your disappointment...... But now, it’s a blessing.”
“High Priest Gildeti’s preparing something too. Let’s wait.”
And jittery priests’ chatter.
From “lucky we have X, trust and wait,” intel was hopeless.
Do-hyun scratched his head, leaving.
Before him floated text.
-Brion Temple Investigation (2 / 3)
Verdic Temple and Jerdia Temple.
Quest progress from those visits.
‘Everyone’s clueless.’
Not Lair Great Temple scale, but big temples—zero gains.
Just fear, no info sources.
‘Gamillion knows more.’
This Abyss specialist city birthed three contractors?
No one said it, but Do-hyun read it that way. Reaching central plaza...
“Successor, you’ve arrived.”
“Ah, Gamillion.”
Gamillion approached from the central fountain.
Just finished investigating too, apparently.
“Investigation complete?”
“No. Checked Verdic and Jerdia—zilch. You?”
Gamillion shook his head.
“Four spots for me—nothing useful. Just prep for Geymon’s raid.”
“Hm, same as me.”
“Well...... Makes sense. Abyss lore’s scarce. Focus on the immediate Destroyer’s natural.”
Gamillion gazed afar.
There loomed Grisd Great Temple, second to Lair.
“Last stop: there. Together this time?”
“Fine by me.”
Do-hyun shrugged it off.
No real intel anyway—hit it, move to next quest. Why fuss?
......That’s what he thought.
“Hm?”
“What’s wrong?”
Until a casual glance aside.
Gamillion asked oddly at Do-hyun’s blank stare somewhere, but no answer.
Just staring at one temple, dazed.
“That’s...... Lirar Temple. Business there?”
Large-ish, but dwarfed by Grisd.
Famously aloof priests, minimal exchanges.
No reason for Do-hyun there.
He didn’t even know what god it served.
Yet eyes glued to Lirar Temple.
“......Gamillion, no need for Grisd Great Temple, right?”
“No issue...... but why?”
Had to be.
[Eye of Truth activates.]
Beyond that temple: a red dot.
Not ghostly figure of hidden foe.
Smaller, object-like...... much like Fate’s Fragment.
Do-hyun’s instinct screamed.
‘Something’s there.’
He turned.
“Then there. Got a hunch.”
“......Hunch? What’s that?”
“Thing exists. Feels good.”
Nonsense, but Gamillion followed.
Investigation goal—anywhere fine. Worst case, Lirar then Grisd.
Arriving at Lirar Temple...
“......No guards?”
“Indeed.”
Temples warranted guards—none.
Puzzled, they entered. Inside: deathly quiet. No users, no priests.
Sensing wrongness, steps quickened.
Clack. Clack-clack.
Reaching a door down the hall.
‘Here.’
Faint red glow seeping through. Do-hyun flung it open.
Revealed:
“Guh...... ugh......”
High Priest clutched by throat, levitated in pitch darkness. And lifting him: something.
[.......]
Humanoid silhouette, but horns on head, ominous darkness devouring body.
Gleaming red eyes in shadow. Over 2m tall—proof not human.
“What the......”
Unforeseen, Do-hyun muttered. It whipped around.
Faced its abhorrent visage. Abyss mask instinctively terrifying humans.
Ding-.
[You have encountered the taboo-breaking Abyss Contractor, ‘Destroyer Geymon.’]
[Warning! You may lose your life.]
[Sudden Quest ‘Londric Rescue’ generated.]
[Londric Rescue]
-Rank: Sudden Quest
-Description: Lirar Temple assaulted by Destroyer Geymon. Rescue High Priest ‘Londric’ and hear his story.
-Fail if not rescued in time limit—‘Londric’ dies, quest fails.
-Clear Rewards: Massive EXP, Londric Affinity, Destroyer’s Trace
-Fail Risks: Lose Destroyer Geymon, possible false accusation.
-Time Limit: 20 seconds
Vision-flooding messages climax.
Do-hyun pinched his brow at the insane triple whammy.
‘......What the fuck? Why’s every spot I hit a disaster?’
Do-hyun, unexpectedly face-to-face with Destroyer Geymon.