Chapter 288
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 288
Chapter Title: The Cracking Barrier
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When Jeong Hoon returned to Darbis, Yeo Min-ji and Yeo Sun-woo had already come back as well.
Hoon! Youre safe!
Yeo Sun-woo lit up at the sight of Jeong Hoon.
Jeong Hoon smiled brightly.
Yes. I heard you had some success.
Its all thanks to you.
Yeo Min-jis face was also full of smiles, suggesting shed had some success herself.
I knew youd make it back safely.
Despite her words, hed heard shed been pretty worried too.
Thank you. So, shall we get moving now?
No way! You need to rest! How long have you been back, and youre already talking about heading out?
Yeo Min-ji furrowed her brow and crossed her index fingers to make an X.
Jeong Hoon smiled and replied.
Im fine. Ive rested plenty already.
Eh? Master, arent you afraid your nose will grow?
What rest? Ive just been suffering nonstop. The human womans rightlooks like a little break would be good.
Mukho and Anima strongly urged him to rest, but Jeong Hoon wouldnt budge.
If I rest now, we might lose them.
More than two months had passed since arriving in Darbis.
No one had crossed over yet, but soon, the party led by James Marcus would arrive.
That was the only party with a shot at taking down the Ultimate Knight.
In fact, before his regression, James Marcuss party had been the first to reach Darbis.
And theyd swept up every opportunity.
As a result, the already massive gap between them had only widened further.
Forget parallel worldsIm not handing over a single opportunity to those guys.
So he had to gobble up as many as possible.
Hmm, wouldnt it be better to rest a bit like Min-ji says?
His mother sided with Yeo Min-ji.
But Jeong Hoon was adamant.
Ive been roaming Darbis for two months. I found more clues about opportunities there.
Lies flowed from his mouth as smoothly as water.
There are more opportunities?
Yeo Min-ji gave him an incredulous look.
Everyone here had already claimed two each.
Even one hidden opportunity was a huge deal, and theyd already uncovered over ten.
And he was saying there were still more unclaimed ones?
Jeong Hoon nodded.
Yes. I deliberately left them untouched so we could go together.
I see
Now she understood why he was in such a hurry.
Still, she didnt want to push him just for more opportunities
Jeong Hoon picked up on her thoughts and added.
If youre thinking about me, then we need to move now.
If they wouldnt go, hed just take whoever was willing and head out.
Alright.
Yeo Min-ji nodded slowly after a moments hesitation.
Then lets go.
Northern Darbis.
Delphos Grand Duchy.
Darbis was a massive empire.
So most of the land belonged to nobles with titles.
Delphos Grand Duchy lay even farther north than Naibi Dukedom.
Wow people actually live in a place like this?
Jang Ha-jin stuck out his tongue.
The farther north they went, the harsher the cold became.
It was no environment for humans to survive in.
Its because of the barrier.
Jeong Hoon explained simply.
Barrier.
That was also why a biting chill had enveloped them the moment they left Naibi Dukedom.
Huh? Why the barrier?
To keep out monster attacks.
Barrier.
The countless dungeons in Delphos Grand Duchy.
Every one of them was over level 500.
Only a tiny handful could clear them nonstop.
In the end, a few mages including an Archmage had erected a barrier centered on the Grand Duchy, but it caused the brutal cold to persist 365 days a year.
Of course, even that wouldnt hold out forever, and Darbis would fall completelybut this land was simulated for Earths humans anyway.
Oh, got it
Will Earth end up pushed this far too?
Jeong Hoon gave a wry smile at Yeo Min-jis question.
Who knows.
Silence fell after that.
Jeong Hoon walked on wordlessly, the others following behind.
They soon reached the capital of the Grand Duchy.
The city was packed with people bundled in thick furs.
Theyre high-level, so they can handle it.
Yeah. They probably dont even need the fur coats.
Those wrapped in thick clothes were all under level 200.
They were locals living inside the Grand Duchy, so high levels werent unusual, but there were a few NPCs over level 300.
They were armored and heading to the capitals castle.
Jeong Hoon approached one with a blinking question mark.
Episode Quest: Search the Delphos Grand Duchy Barrier
-Restriction: Enter Delphos Grand Duchy
-Reward: Proceed to next quest EXP
-Description: Theres a chance the Delphos Grand Duchy barrier could collapse. Help search it.
Episode Quest.
To claim the Grand Duchys opportunity, he had to complete the episode quest.
This episode was part of the collection too, so he could complete the hidden one.
Ill meet the Designer soon.
The more episodes he finished, the closer he got to confronting it.
Hed already obtained the ultimate power.
When he completed 99 of the episodes, the three destructions would come.
It wasnt enough yet, but if he swept up opportunities, hit level 1,000, and maxed his stats, itd be a fight worth having.
Wait for it.
Hed definitely change this damned fate.
Jeong Hoon accepted the quest with renewed resolve.
Starting the first episode.
EP.1 The Darkness Looming Over Delphos Grand Duchy
The moment he accepted, the NPC turned to look at him as if waiting.
Huh? Who are you?
NPC Info
-Nickname: Jiron
-Level: 395
-Job: Seibro Knight Captain
Seibro Knights.
They guarded Delphos Grand Duchy and were in charge of patrolling the outer barrier.
Im from the imperial capital.
The imperial capital?
Jiron narrowed his eyes.
They didnt like the empire much.
The empire had sacrificed Delphos Grand Duchy to protect people from dungeons.
So they couldnt look kindly on Jeong Hoon, whod come from the capital.
You hate the empire?
Hah, I dont know what business you have with me, but while youre in the Grand Duchy, stay quiet and leave when youre done.
Jiron turned to leave after that.
Is that so? I came because the barriers in danger.
Jiron froze at those words.
I dont know how you found out, but our knights will handle it.
Hmm, I dont think thats possible.
What?
The barriers about to break.
The barrier had already reached its limit.
The moment he accepted the quest, the tiny crack would spread rapidly until it shattered.
Then hordes of monsters would flood into the Grand Duchy.
The opportunitys in that dungeon.
One of the dungeons encountered during the Grand Duchy quest.
Thats where the opportunity Jeong Hoon sought was hidden.
Hoon is the opportunity really here?
Yeo Min-ji asked cautiously.
Shed thought theyd reach it quickly once they found it, but the quest-giving NPCs eyes were filled with hostility, contrary to expectations.
I told you. I got the clues. This is definitely the place.
Jeong Hoon smiled.
Jiron, displeased by the smile, drew his sword and pointed it at Jeong Hoon.
Keep flapping that mouth, and you wont leave alive.
Wow, you think you can take me on with your skills?
Jeong Hoon kept provoking him despite the murderous threat.
Ridiculous nonsense.
Finally snapping, Jiron stepped forward and charged at Jeong Hoon.
Guys like this need to be shown the hard way.
Hed already checked Jeong Hoons level.
Charging in so aggressively anyway meant he wanted to test his strength.
Fine then. Time to show him properly.
How vast the gap really was.
Jeong Hoon drew Leviathan.
No need for shadow gear.
First Form: Heavenly Demon Stance activated.
With Heavenly Demon Stance active, Jeong Hoons sharp sword strike engulfed Jiron.
Ugh!
Jiron desperately swung his sword to block, but it was useless.
Clang!
He couldnt even block one strikehis sword clattered to the ground.
Weaponless, Jiron dropped to his knees.
It had happened in an instant.
Jeong Hoon quickly deactivated Heavenly Demon Stance and pointed Leviathan at Jirons throat.
Want to keep going?
I lost.
Jiron admitted defeat swiftly.
Good to see you recognize it quickly.
Jeong Hoon stored Leviathan back in his inventory.
No way
The captain went down that easily?
The knights watched in disbelief.
It was the obvious result.
Jeong Hoon extended a hand to him.
Obvious, huh
Jiron took the hand and stood.
Now will you believe me? The barriers about to break.
I knew. Thats why I was heading to report to His Grace the Grand Duke.
Only now did Jiron nod with a grim expression.
The barrier had been fine during the last patrol, but now it was cracked.
Thats why the knights had returned early.
Then guide me.
To the barrier?
Yes. I want to check it myself.
Its dangerous.
You say that after seeing my skills?
I wont go down, so dont worry.
Youre no imperial.
Even the empires Sword Masters wouldnt match the man before him.
Jiron easily realized he wasnt imperial, but an outsider.
Jeong Hoon smiled.
Took you long enough.
Northern Grand Duchy.
At the northern edge stood the barrier, with massive monsters prowling beyond it.
All over level 500.
As you can see, theres a crack in the barrier there.
Jiron pointed.
A small crack had formed, slowly widening.
For now, lets wait here.
Wait?
Yes. The moment it breaks, well hunt all those monsters.
All of them?
Yes.
Thats how theyd reach the dungeon hiding the opportunity.
Its doable.
The monsters lacked threatening special abilities relative to their levels.
Even James Marcuss party could take them down easily.
So they were no real threat to Jeong Hoon now.
Lets head back to the Grand Duchy for now. Who knows when itll break if we wait here.
He couldnt leave an outsider here.
With the check done, they needed to report to the Grand Duke, regroup troops, deploy around the barrier, and prepare for immediate response.
No. We dont have time for that.
Huh?
Look.
Jeong Hoon pointed at the barrier.
Crack.
The crack was spreading much faster than before.
This is bad!
Jirons face went pale.
Crack.
Crash!
The crack widened rapidly, and soon the barrier shattered completely.