Chapter 195
Chapter 195
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 195
>Chapter Title: Benefactor of Pratel
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
In Pratel, an unprecedented Lantern Festival was underway, and it wasn't just the players lost in the revelry.
-8,341 points? Is that even possible?
-Crazy... He ended up taking first place even in Pratel?
-Four straight first-place comebacks. This class is insane...
-Is this what Kasin is...?
-Over four times Bariyon's score lololol. Bariyon's was already hailed as legendary, but this...
Viewers were enjoying the festival vicariously through the streamers' broadcasts.
And there were dozens of such streams.
-??
-?????
-What did I just see?
-How the hell did he do it? Wasn't he just picking a fight with Hero Guild over the Luidra raid?
-Maybe that was the final quest? Looked like they took different routes.
Every single chat was filled with shock and questions.
It was inevitable.
-Our visual novel gay Berge barely scraped 9th, and Kaiser takes 1st?
-Duh? He's the master key.
-Pratel's residents recognized Kasin's greatness. Obviously.
-He met the Kaiser, so his wish came true lolol.
-No, you idiots, this isn't a joke. It makes no sense. All he did was kill Luidra, get a quest from Luriel, and hunt. Why first place?
It was called the grave of combat classes in jest, the worst city for rankers. Pratel.
Adventure King Bariyon reaching S-rank was a freak case, an outlier. In reality, countless rankers couldn't even make the rankings.
To boldly claim first place—overwhelmingly at that—in such conditions? Shock was the only response.
-Know what? Kaiser's score keeps climbing higher each time. Breaking his own records.
-Fr, lololol. He's not in this world; he's living in his own.
Compared to his previous records, it was still overwhelming.
While everyone fixated on the rankings, unlike the viewers, the players gathered in the city had gleaming eyes.
"Monopolize this, and the main trade route's ours a hundred percent."
"Show it up close on stream—viewers will explode... Heh heh... If it goes well, maybe snag an interview?"
Streamers and reporters bloodshot with gossip fever.
"Can't wait anymore. Was holding back out of courtesy, but before heading to the Empire, I gotta scout now..."
"Can't use your power in the Empire. This is the last chance."
Scouts and guild reps wouldn't miss this opportunity.
"Where's Kaiser right now?"
"Last spotted near the palace."
"Find him quick! Before he gets lost in the crowd."
From streamers to reporters and scouts.
Even guild reps were scrambling like their feet were on fire.
"Damn, everyone's moving. Hurry!"
"You bastards, forget the festival! If you don't find Kaiser, you're done!"
Those who caught on late from seeing the movement hurriedly joined the chase.
The beautiful finale of the Lantern Festival turned into a chaotic marketplace in an instant.
And at that moment.
"Hey! There! It's Kaiser!"
"I'm first! Come out!"
"Huh? What's this, he's with the king?"
"Don't care, let's go!"
Soon, the frontrunners spotted Kaiser.
Pushing forward lest they get cut in line.
Do-hyun frowned at the chaotic mob.
'What the hell is this all of a sudden.'
He'd been about to check his graduation rewards when players swarmed like a tidal wave, scrambling his focus.
'...The rankings, huh. Guess I'll check rewards later.'
No way to relax and confirm in this mess.
He didn't like it one bit, but unlike Do-hyun, the guardians seemed thrilled by the attention.
-Kiruk, keruk...
-Hmm, must be the crowds drawn by rumors of my lord. Always summoning the vanguard—truly the mark of a hero.
-Liza liza! Liza!
Jihad felt ecstasy from their admiring gazes.
Charlie beamed with pride at her lord's praise.
...Eliza was just hyped because everyone else was.
They rejoiced for their own reasons when—
"Everyone, make way!"
A booming shout silenced the players momentarily.
A brief hush descended.
In that silence, a man rivaling a barbaric warrior, axe in hand, led 100 armed players through the crowd.
"Ha, Hamod?"
"...Jerpak's rival powerhouse. Why's an exec here?"
"No way Hero Guild's stepping in?"
Hero Guild, Pratel branch executive.
Jerpak's rival of the twin peaks, famed for his destructive axe work, a true man's man.
Hamod's appearance cowed everyone.
-Hamod? The guy Jerpak wrecked in a duel?
-Nah, that was time limit forcing it, got one-shot reversed. Hamod had the edge throughout.
-Heard he spec'd up after. Current Hamod might be different.
-Yeah, still one-shot fodder lolol. Jerpak one-shots too; what makes Hamod different.
-That's 'cause it's Kaiser. Here, you can't ignore Hamod or Jerpak's rep. Hero Guild rules Pratel.
-And 100 vs 1? Even Kaiser's screwed.
No matter the player mockery, Hamod's name carried weight here.
With Top 10 Guilds barely investing outside the Empire, few guilds could rival Hero Guild in Pratel.
Who here could handle Hamod, one of Pratel branch's top fighters?
"By Master's order, executing kill-on-sight. Hero Guild takes control from now."
"Step back. Interfering means making an enemy of us."
Leading 100 fighters and radiating killing intent? Words were unnecessary.
"...Damn. Let's back off."
"Fuck... This okay?"
"Dunno, Hero Guild and Kaiser's already at war."
"They got the justification. Weaklings endure."
Hamod nodded as they retreated meekly.
'Hmph, that's right.'
Normally, Hero Guild wouldn't act so brazenly.
But with justification now? Exception.
Kaiser ruined their 6-month Luidra raid and stole it—way over the line.
Power and justification in hand. Time for aggressive moves.
'Master said harass him max before Empire. Break his spirit.'
His master, Berge, never missed such chances.
Hamod's orders: Block Kaiser's warp.
Not forever, of course.
'About a month, he said. Can't reach next city; drag out and group-kill when he leaves... Ugh, brutal just thinking.'
Preemptive karma penalty?
Irrelevant.
Thousands of Hero Guild fighters in Pratel. They'd rotate, clear karma, and keep killing.
'Even Kaiser crumbles dying wordlessly for a month. Bonus if items drop.'
And more.
Kaiser's god image would pop like a bubble; all would fear the guild.
'You can't rule alone. That's Godose's law.'
'Kaiser's nothing solo. Need a guild to survive here.'
'No anomalies. Never will be.'
That realization? What master wanted.
'Nail this, surpass Jerpak.'
Master promised directly.
Succeed, get top exec spot.
End the hated rivalry, gain overwhelming power and position.
How his gut ached when Jerpak got raid leader.
Imagining Jerpak's pain now? Ten-year heartburn gone.
"Heh heh..."
"What's so funny? Creep."
Unable to hold back chuckles, Kaiser's curt voice rang.
"That bastard... Hoo, never mind."
Instinctively frowning, but he sighed it off.
That arrogance ends now.
"Ahem."
Clearing his throat, Hamod declared booming.
"For interrupting our fair, hidden raid boss strategy with Master's good intentions, stealing shamelessly—"
"Hm?"
"The massive damage to our guild led to this kill-on-sight after much deliberation. By Master's order, Kaiser execution begins today!"
Players buzzed at Hamod's proclamation.
Murmur murmur—
"They're seriously out for blood?"
"Damn... Can Kaiser handle this?"
"Fair enough, Hero Guild's in the right this time. Result's he stole, process aside."
"...Is it really stealing? Kinda ambiguous."
Some debate, but most sided with Hero Guild.
Victim was undeniably them this time.
"Master ordered minimal harm to unrelated players! This careful decision—please don't interfere and step back."
"Uooooh!"
Cheers erupted everywhere at their resolute show.
Fans breed haters.
"Kaiser had it coming! Serves him right!"
"Stubborn solo? Should've toed the line! Thought it was his world?"
"That jerk ruined my hunt! Solo hogging everything—what about us?"
Too many praisers kept antis quiet; now they bared teeth.
"...Hey, watch it? Heard some psycho bitch massacres Kaiser-haters and Do-hyun users lately... Suspect she's that 'GgaettoX bitch'."
"Kasin Church vanguard's been nuts lately. Handleable?"
"Who cares! Kaiser's done after today!"
GgaettoX bitch?
Kasin Church? Vanguard?
Who gives a shit. Kaiser's finished today.
"No matter how he flies, solo vs 100... no, thousands? How's he win!"
Even the best have limits.
With Hero Guild's full kill order, even Kaiser struggles to survive.
"They're right, Kaiser."
Sneering as he approached, Hamod growled low.
"Should've known your place, bastard. You brought this on yourself."
-Insolent! My lord, just command. I'll take his head.
-Kiyaaak! Annoying, master. Say the word. Summon legion now.
"Whoa whoa, calm down."
Arm bends inward, after all.
Charlie and Jihad snarled forward; Hamod stepped back smirking.
Do-hyun casually scanned surroundings at his leisure.
'Over a hundred behind at warp... Hundred ahead. About 200 total.'
Piercing this crowd? Even for him, tough.
Backstab has limits; facing them, 'Faint Stealth' gets spotted quick.
Preemptively striking? Jail.
They knew, luring him out of city.
'Lure, kill; revive, block warp repeat.'
Vicious and cruel.
Very familiar too.
"Ha, figured you'd pull this. Hero Guild bastards."
Delmrock early days, infamous guild's go-to.
Do-hyun nearly fell for it once.
Back then, newbie, low experience.
That guild was...
"Hero Guild, no—Viltan."
Hero Guild? Wait.
Delmrock dominators pre-allies, clashed often with Kkukku, Sword Lord's crew.
Collided with Do-hyun unknowingly too.
Planned a wipeout once, but Delmrock declined, they vanished...
"Back then, your karma was too edgelord to recognize. Had some beef with me, right?"
Do-hyun chuckled, drawing Cheonbyeon.
Hamod scoffed in disbelief.
"Crazy fuck, 200 vs 1... thousands?"
"What's stopping me."
Do-hyun just sneered mockingly.
Hundreds vs one? Thousands?
"That was daily in Delmrock."
Ultimate expert in that field: Do-hyun.
Seemingly disadvantaged, but he stands last.
Not baseless confidence.
Past experience gave certainty.
But...
"...Said that, but no need this time."
"...What?"
Not the moment.
No need to.
[Title, 'Benefactor of Pratel' activates.]
[The city's benefactor and hero faces persecution; citizens and knights rage.]
[Overwhelming affinity enrages Gilbeurun greatly.]
"How dare you!!!!!"
"Ugh... Wh-what."
The quietly watching man.
Pratel's sage king.
True master of Pratel, wielding greatest power: Gilbeurun.
He bellowed like a lion.
"Before me, threatening the great hero who saved Pratel!!! Insolent!! Guards! Escort the hero safely; bind those daring to threaten!"
Knights leaped forward as if waiting.
"Pratel Royal Citadel Knight Commander Hyde Rackdrier! By king's command!"
"Heard it! Move!!"
"Yes!!!"
Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack.
"Wh-what's this."
"Why suddenly? We didn't do shit..."
"Insane, what's happening?"
Knights encircled Hero Guild like a noose; guildies and onlookers flinched back.
Hamod most panicked.
"Th-this... Im-impossible. NPC... Why's the king...?"
NPCs don't meddle in player affairs—unspoken rule.
Kaiser makes the king intervene?
Hero? No clue.
Situation flipped instantly; all in chaos.
Only Do-hyun smiled.
Casually approaching Hamod, he whispered in his ear.
"You picked the wrong fight. Let's see it through to the end."
"Ah..."
Hamod's pupils shook wildly.