Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 198
>Chapter Title: Hero Guild and Kaiser
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Chapter 198
>198.
At first, the relationship between the two had been somewhat ambiguous.
They each saw the other as an eyesore and hated the sight of them, but they had never actually come to proper blows.
‘Why did they hate me so much? It was a mystery.’
At most, they’d exchange barbs when they crossed paths or pull some petty sabotage.
Since neither had ever crossed any major lines, Do-hyun had let it slide.
If it were now, he would’ve judged them as trouble brewing and nipped it in the bud, but back then, in the early days, even Do-hyun lacked experience, so he’d overlooked it.
And that had been the root of the problem.
‘I wondered why they suddenly wanted to team up, and sure enough, they stabbed me in the back.’
In the end, with the reins off, Do-hyun had gone all-in and picked a real fight.
Just when it seemed like things were getting serious, those guys vanished out of nowhere, leaving their bad blood unresolved.
In the end, he hadn’t died to them or taken any major damage.
A lot of time had passed since then, and he thought the ill feelings had faded, but facing them like this now still dredged up unpleasant memories.
The fox-like guy who had shocked Do-hyun back then had plenty to say as well.
“Kaiser, you were a thorn in my side. You kept disrupting my plans back then, so I figured eliminating the Irregular like you would remove the variables.”
“……?”
“That’s the face of someone who doesn’t remember. Well, I suppose that makes sense. You were just mindlessly taking down bosses, smashing guilds left and right without a thought.”
The bosses, guilds, and players he casually crushed just happened to be key pieces in Berze’s grand plans more often than not.
He had been hindering Berze, knowingly or not.
Berze knew Do-hyun hadn’t done it on purpose.
But there were limits!
“No matter how much I predicted variables and planned out my quests, you’d pop up like a ghost and ruin everything. Why solo a 6-man hidden boss? How did you even find it? And what possessed you to pick a fight with a major guild all by yourself?”
“……Then shouldn’t they at least put up a solo clear tag? I just took down what was in front of me, and smashed the guys who started shit.”
“That’s exactly the problem with you.”
Even if it wasn’t intentional, when it happened two, three, four times……
Dozens of times piling up would make even Buddha angry.
At least if he moved with a guild, it would be predictable.
But wandering around like some wuxia lone wanderer, casually causing chaos solo—impossible to read, utterly maddening.
“And now this incident…… I can’t forgive it.”
“This incident…… If I said it wasn’t on purpose, would you believe me?”
“That ‘not on purpose’ excuse! I’m sick of it.”
“…….”
“If I let you go now, you’ll just end up disrupting me like you did back then.”
There are no villains without a backstory, they say.
Do-hyun scratched his head, at a loss for a retort.
It had happened this time too, and there was no guarantee it wouldn’t next time.
Especially for someone like him, walking a different path from everyone else.
Berze, having calmed his anger, spoke in a composed tone once more.
“Actually, this works out perfectly. I’ve wanted to get rid of you for ages, and now the moment has arrived.”
“Why not back then?”
“……The timing wasn’t right. I didn’t expect things to fall apart so quickly. I’m not the type to cling to something that doesn’t turn a profit.”
“…….”
It was Do-hyun—the guy who’d endured to server shutdown in that godforsaken game with otherworldly luck—who was the anomaly.
It hit like a bone-deep jab; he rubbed his side.
At the same time, Do-hyun realized something.
No amount of talk would resolve things between him and this guy.
It was bad blood that could only end with one of them erased.
“Ha, fine, whatever. But after all this time apart, did you forget? How many guilds I’ve crushed? What happened to every guild that fought me?”
“Your confidence is as strong as ever.”
Berze didn’t flinch at Do-hyun’s taunt, exuding leisure.
He even acknowledged Do-hyun.
“I’ll admit it. You’re exceptional.”
“…….”
“But what of it? You gonna charge in like old times? Got the confidence?”
It was the attitude of someone who saw no need for mind games before a fight he couldn’t lose.
Do-hyun couldn’t answer Berze’s question easily.
Did he have confidence?
‘……Honestly, it’s iffy.’
Even charging in now, he wouldn’t lose pathetically.
He was confident he could inflict serious damage on them.
But that was it.
With the overwhelming gap in power and numbers against him, no matter how many he took down, he’d die in the end.
‘After that, they’d camp the city respawns and push me out to the field like now.’
That would mean endless pursuit.
While he grew weaker, they’d only get stronger.
“Right now, you’re just a green rookie who’s barely stepped into the Empire. No enhancements, inferior gear and skill quality, and zero experience with the countless growth paths unique to the Empire.”
It pissed him off, but the guy was right.
The Empire’s higher tier wasn’t just from late-game high-grades.
Enhancements and a multitude of growth routes only available once inside the Empire.
Having them or not was the difference between heaven and earth.
“No one will help you. Not the Top 10 Guilds, not the Top 100, not any major guild.”
“…….”
“To guilds, you’re a poisoned chalice. Too risky to claim, too annoying to ignore. Meanwhile, I’ve built my kingdom, my legion—they’ll all become my strength.”
“…….”
“Get it? You can’t survive alone in this world, Kaiser. And……”
Pausing, Berze eyed Do-hyun up and down and smirked before adding,
“Right now, even if we clashed, I’d win.”
“The guild masters I dismantled with my own hands all said the same.”
“Who knows…… I don’t think we need more talk between us.”
And with that, the conversation ended.
Swish—
Berze lightly waved his hand, and the guild members slowly closed in, pressuring Do-hyun.
He had no choice but to back away.
At this rate, he’d soon be chased into the field.
‘Master, you’re not just bluffing, right? You’re really confident?’
‘Liza liza!’
‘……You’re acting tough, but I’m not sure.’
‘W-what!? Then what are we gonna do!’
‘My lord, fear not. This lowly sword shall serve you with its life.’
Watching his anxious summons, Do-hyun frantically rolled his brain.
‘……Escape with Backstab and Lightning Step to buy time?’
Escape wasn’t a good plan.
Even hunting to buy time, he’d be spotted eventually.
It’d only delay the inevitable; they’d catch on quick.
Or log out……
‘Logging back in would just put me right back here. Pointless. Better to charge.’
If that was the case, charging in was preferable.
It wasn’t a “whatever happens, happens” gamble.
He had solid grounds for confidence.
[Thousand Transformations devours ‘Dreadful Nightmare Scythe.’]
>[It has devoured an item of a higher grade than its current one.]
>[Thousand Transformations’ grade is being adjusted.]
>[Thousand Transformations’ grade has changed to ‘Hero+ (Raid Gear).’]
>[Attack power and options are being reorganized to match the grade.]
The scythe from Lluidra, obtained after defeating it.
[Equipping Ominous Nightmare Earrings.]
>[Equipping Sinister Nightmare Bracelet.]
>[Lluidra’s Nightmare Set is applied.]
Plus the other two accessories.
On top of that, the essence ring of Karuk the Rock-Cleaver, whose inheritance he’d just completed.
Do-hyun now far exceeded what they imagined.
If he exploited that surprise for an explosive burst of damage, it was doable.
‘Let’s check the performance.’
And Do-hyun had a few more cards up his sleeve.
The sturdiest was, of course, the Archmage’s Ring.
He didn’t know what skill it would trigger, but as the Archmage’s unique magic that rivaled gods, it couldn’t be ordinary.
‘A bit wasteful to use now…… But if push comes to shove.’
Having a joker card to overcome crisis made him feel secure.
But it was a last resort for the worst case—ideally, he’d handle it with his own power.
[You have not yet checked the reward for the 4th Trial.]
>[Would you like to check the reward?]
The enhanced S-rank graduation reward from the 4th Trial, which might aid Do-hyun.
He’d wanted to savor the sweet reward leisurely, but now wasn’t the time.
Thud, thud.
Clack, clack, clack, clack.
“Our stubborn bad blood ends here. I’d prefer never to see you again. Soon enough, you won’t.”
Now with nowhere left to retreat, he’d been pushed right up to the field warp.
A few more steps, and he’d be in the field—then the attacks would rain down.
Time was truly up.
‘Let’s see what comes out……’
Hoping for something useful in combat, he moved to claim the reward.
That’s when it happened.
“Then, this is the end, Kai……”
“Gasp……!?”
“Hm?”
A sharp intake of breath from somewhere cut Berze off.
And it didn’t end there.
“What the—why’s the back suddenly empty? Everyone left…… Huh? H-hey?”
“No way. Is that who I think it is?”
“Oh my god.”
“What’s going on to make them act like that?”
Starting with that sound, the spectators grew rowdy, halting everyone’s movements.
Even Berze among them.
‘……What the hell?’
Berze sensed a powerful disturbance.
It was a situation outside his plans.
For players to react this way now meant a big shot had appeared.
‘Who is it? NPC? Or a player?’
Whatever it was, it wasn’t welcome.
At the same time, it made no sense.
NPCs didn’t interfere in player matters unless rules were broken, and no players would dare disrupt.
So Berze quickly concluded:
‘……Just passing by.’
That made sense.
Logically, no one would stick their neck out in this.
“Ahem. Then…… this ends here. Kai……”
Having assessed the situation, Berze cleared his throat and smoothly resumed.
“Gasp!”
“Crazy!”
“……Damn it. What now!?”
Berze’s words cut off again; he bellowed in fury.
But neither his guild nor the spectators answered his roar.
“Well, well…… Came to see a familiar face after ages, and what’s this mess?”
A thick voice stood out amid the crowd.
Like a construction site uncle, yet oddly warm and folksy—a voice Berze knew well.
And utterly unbelievable.
Thud, thud.
“……Y-you’re……?”
Over 190cm tall, a massive frame packed with muscle.
Contrasting that, a neighborhood uncle’s kindly face and speech.
Expensive gear adorning his body.
And the purple glow of high-grade accessories and weapons symbolizing peak power.
It all proved his identity.
“The Master of the Armory……!”
Master of Top 10 Guild Babylon.
More famous as the Master of the Armory than by his name Astra, the whale and embodiment of grinding.
‘What the hell is this…… Wait a sec.’
Spotting him from afar, Do-hyun’s eyes widened.
And for good reason—he knew this man well.
‘That speech, that swagger, that beefy build…… No way…….’
No, beyond knowing—this was a man unforgettable.
That holy trinity of traits pointed to one person.
The Master of the Armory.
The high-rank grinder who finished 5th on Delroc’s rankings.
Kaiser’s old comrade, a ranker.
‘……Purple Uncle?’
It was Purple Taste.