Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 104
>Chapter Title: Lurking in the Depths
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Lush forest.
A landscape densely packed with trees and rocks.
'It's no different, huh?'
For a hidden piece with such a grand name, he'd expected something like a warriors' habitat, something unique.
But this? It was no different from a misty rocky forest.
The only differences were the thicker fog and the absence of orcs.
'Monsters don't set foot here, right.'
The lore said low-intelligence orcs avoided it because the death energy warped the space.
If that was the case, what was the point of the first-clear benefit reward...?
Well, first-clear rewards were always similarly applied anyway.
All he could do was chalk it up to bad luck.
-Ugh... Master, I don't like this place.
-Riza riza....
"Hm? Why?"
-It feels off. Kinda creepy, you know?
But apparently, that was just Do-hyun's take.
Jihad and Eliza were shivering like they were strolling through a graveyard at midnight.
'Something must be here.'
If those two, so sensitive to auras, were reacting like that, it had to be real.
How long had it been since he led the tense pair forward?
After about ten minutes of pushing through the underbrush and checking rocks, Do-hyun finally couldn't hold back and furrowed his brow.
"There's jack shit here, nothing at all?"
-That's weird... It definitely felt off.
-Riza!
Eliza chimed in agreement with Jihad, but contrary to their words, they found absolutely nothing.
Not even a fragment of fate—hell, he was starting to doubt if the Destroyer's trace was really here.
'No monsters, not even a single animal—what the hell....'
Do-hyun had explored plenty of hidden fields in Delmrock, but this was his first completely empty one.
At this point, he could probably smash cards right in the middle without issue....
'Huh? Actually, that's not bad?'
Card smashing in a hidden field?
It suddenly felt promising.
Maybe this could be his third holy land. As that fanciful thought crossed his mind, Jihad shook his head from the side.
-Sigh.
"Sigh? Did you just sigh?"
-No.
"You're just unfamiliar with the joys of card smashing. It's insanely addictive...."
-I don't really get it... Master, hold on.
Jihad, who had been rebutting with a baffled look, suddenly turned serious.
Eliza beside him had a grave expression too, craning her neck over his pouch. Do-hyun tensed up accordingly and held his breath.
"...What's up?"
-Master, someone's over there.
'Someone? Here?'
This was a first-discovery hidden field—did that even make sense?
In that instant, the Destroyer Gaimen naturally came to mind. If anyone was here, it had to be that guy.
Swoosh.
Do-hyun quickly ducked into the underbrush, and Eliza joined with a hushed "Hup," covering her mouth with her front paw.
Peering carefully ahead, Jihad was right—there really was someone.
Do-hyun's current spot was atop a slight hill.
Below was a small cave, and in front of it stood a man in armor.
Do-hyun's eyes widened in utter shock at the sight.
'...Jerthic?'
'Why the hell is that smug bastard over there?'
-Riza!?
Silver armor, glossy blond hair catching the eye—a handsome man.
That punchable face confirmed it: Jerthic.
'Why's he showing up here?'
Could that guy be the Destroyer Gaimen?
Thinking about it, he was a holy knight who strengthened his body using divine power like aura.
He attended every meeting, so it wasn't impossible....
'Hmm.'
But come on, what movie star was he? Acting like a squad leader all that time didn't add up.
As Do-hyun's confused mind spun negatively at this unexpected appearance, Jerthic muttered to himself while pulling a pocket watch from his breast pocket to check the time.
He clicked his tongue.
"...This the last spot? If nothing here, he's hiding in the city."
"No time. Gotta check quick and head back."
With that, Jerthic entered the cave.
Only then did Do-hyun's group exhale the breath they'd been holding.
-...My heart hurts.
-Riza riza....
As the timid guardians calmed their startled hearts, Do-hyun sorted his thoughts.
'Was that guy searching for the Destroyer's trace too? Ended up here that way.'
It was a plausible guess.
The man whose family was wiped out by the Destroyer, living solely for revenge.
He'd shown the most rage during the appraisal ritual.
Not the type to sit idle waiting for high priests to devise a plan.
'As the High Priest Gildetti's guard knight, he'd know about this place.'
To guard a high priest required serious connections and power.
And he wasn't just any guard— a knight with potential to be the next Holy Knight Commander. No surprise if he knew.
The problem was Do-hyun.
'...Should I run into him?'
Jerthic being here made sense.
But him?
The guy who'd reacted so strongly just to an outsider knowing about the Abyss—what would he do in an NPC-unknown hidden field?
'Hope he doesn't try to kill me on sight.'
It was obvious he would.
No detection orb this time, no way to explain.
Not a place you stumble into by accident, and he couldn't sell out Gamillion.
[Remaining Time Limit: 00:14:28]
But he couldn't just wait for Jerthic to come out.
Time was short, and their goals aligned: the Destroyer's trace.
If there was only one and Jerthic took it, quest failure.
'No choice.'
Do-hyun made his decision.
Activating Eliza's bracelet.
[Using 'Faint Stealth.']
-Master, what're you planning?
-Riza riza?
Jihad and Eliza looked worried at the now-translucent Do-hyun.
He replied coolly.
"Tailing him."
-...Tailing?
"Sneak in, grab the trace, and bail. If luck's good, score big?"
-....
Whatever came out, Jerthic would buy time. Snag the trace first, done.
If the Destroyer showed, fight together.
No demanding explanations after that.
-...Flawless plan?
"Right?"
-Yeah, a bit sneaky, but airtight.
-Riza riza.
Eliza nodded in agreement.
Do-hyun chuckled and stepped forward.
"Alright, you two wait. Keep watch for anything coming out."
-Huh? Going alone?
"Yep. You can't stealth."
-Riza riza....
Eliza, whose ability it originally was, looked a bit down, but a head pat had her rubbing her face against him like nothing happened.
-Well... okay. Truth is, I felt an ominous vibe from there anyway.
"...Really?"
-Yeah, so be careful.
-Riza riza!
Something must be there after all.
Jihad aside, Eliza wasn't one to overreact.
'Gotta get in before he takes it.'
With that, Do-hyun entered the cave.
* * *
Like any ordinary cave, the interior was dark.
But not pitch black—you could see.
'Not bad at all.'
Compared to piercing the fog entering the hidden field, this was nothing.
[Glowstone]
-Description: Commonly clings to cave walls, emitting its own light in darkness.
The ceiling and walls were dotted with glowstones.
Not bright, but like streetlights spaced along a dark night alley.
'No trace in sight.'
He scanned carefully just in case, but nothing.
Truth's Eye didn't activate.
No bugs or monsters either—the cave was eerily silent.
'How far did he go?'
Only a few minutes' difference, yet he was nowhere in sight.
Maybe he exited another way? A reasonable suspicion.
Then...
[...You've followed me this far.]
A chilling voice echoed from somewhere.
A grating, cracked tone like nails on chalkboard reverberated heavily through the cave, direction impossible to pinpoint.
Instinct kicked in.
'...The Destroyer.'
This voice's owner had to be Destroyer Gaimen.
True to their kind, stirring primal human fear—a voice with real presence. He'd never imagined it real.
'Caught?'
Gulping, he scanned around.
"Stop—worm!!"
A fury-laced roar from ahead sent Do-hyun instinctively hiding.
Then he saw it.
Ground and walls melted horrifically by the Abyss, and atop them, Destroyer Gaimen.
Unstable darkness rippled around him.
Jerthic aimed his sword at the Destroyer's turned back.
"No excuses. That loathsome horn on your forehead—I remember it clear. I've burned the day I kill you into my brain over and over."
Do-hyun's eyes widened at Jerthic's desperate voice.
'Whoa, what's going on here.'
What morning soap opera atmosphere was this?
Suddenly witnessing a tragic knight's revenge up close, Do-hyun's face lit up with intrigue.
That was when Destroyer Gaimen's mouth opened.
[...Troubling. I had no intent to kill you now.]
"...Kill? You, me? Don't flatter yourself. I'm the one killing you."
[Is that so....]
Muttering, Gaimen slowly turned.
Jerthic's sword had nicked his neck, but he ignored it.
The overwhelming emotion from Jerthic, who'd lived for revenge, reached even Do-hyun watching from behind.
After ten years, the two men finally faced each other.
"...What?"
Jerthic's face twisted in shock upon seeing Gaimen's.
Trembling in disbelief, he pulled his sword from the neck and staggered back.
'What the hell happened.'
Do-hyun's curiosity surged naturally.
What did he see to make even Jerthic react like that? No matter how he craned his neck, Jerthic blocked the view of Gaimen's face.
Only a glimpse of human-like skin proved his instability.
"No... impossible...."
Jerthic, aghast in disbelief, soon bellowed in rage.
"How... how could you betray us!"
[....]
'Betray?'
So he was from the meetings after all?
Someone close enough for Jerthic to feel this betrayed. As Do-hyun pondered who, it came.
[Betrayal... More pity than that, I'd say.]
"Ah... aah...."
[...No ill will toward you, yet unfortunate. Meeting while reverting to human... Was death your fate anyway.]
Never truly your ally from the start. Just a shred of pity.
Realizing that, bloodshot eyes glared from Jerthic.
Gripping his sword like he'd shatter it, he spat a chewed curse.
"I'll kill you... rip you apart. Not quick—slice flesh piece by piece for wolves, tear out every nail and claw...."
But Jerthic's curse couldn't finish.
Slash-.
The unstable darkness stabilized in an instant.
Something flashed; Gaimen vanished, reappearing past Jerthic.
Spurt-.
One strike.
Jerthic's head cleanly severed, he crumpled to his knees.
His rolling head stopped before Do-hyun.
His face, eyes wide in final disbelief.
"...Insane."
Muttering unconsciously at the shocking scene.
Destroyer Gaimen halted, now fully Abyssal, turning toward Do-hyun's hiding spot.
He spoke lowly.
[...A rat lurks.]
With that, Destroyer Gaimen slowly approached.