Chapter 412
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 412
Chapter Title: Devil Inn
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Devil Inn.
It really was called the Devil Innno exaggeration.
When asked why it was named that, they said it was built on the empty lot where a devil had been sealed away long ago.
This inn didnt take just any guests, either. Without a prior reservation, no amount of money would get you a room.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Here.
Maint showed something, and just like that, the inn staff permitted entry.
Even without a reservation.
Like an ID card, in other words?
A badge with a black border engraved full of red letters.
Below it, Maints name and serial number were recorded.
Yes. We devotees receive these badges to prove our status. We have to authenticate with them to attend gatherings.
I see.
This place is a church disguised as an inn. Theres an altar dedicated to Beelzebub in the basement auditorium.
With the altar before them, the devotees gathered, dreaming of his resurrection.
And this gathering would be different from the usual ones.
Beelzebub had sent a direct signal, so they claimed to have received a response and were banding together to plot their next moves.
But the door leading underground was firmly shut.
It only opens at the appointed time?
Exactly. Those with positions downstairs are preparing the gathering. Lay devotees like us can only enter once the time comes.
What? Then how were you planning to get the information?
Its more like a roster...
Steal the roster while everyones distracted by the gathering?
Yes.
Good thing I came along.
Gustaines NPCs were all over level 1,500.
Those with positions boasted 2,500 to 3,000.
Even if they were distracted, would they really miss catching a single level 1,000 like Maint?
We cant force our way in, so lets grab rooms and wait.
Understood.
As a lay devotee, Maint could only stay on floors 2 through 4.
Jeong Hoon took a room on the relatively close second floor, while Maint hoped for the fourth to put some distance between them.
Of course, Jeong Hoon dragged him into the same room by force, scrapping that plan.
Time passed, and lay devotees began trickling into the inn one by one.
I, Beelzebub, declare.
While going about their daily lives, each had received a response from Beelzebub.
The foul and loathsome ones seek to bind me.
Foul and loathsome ones.
Bind.
To annihilate them, I allowed myself to fall into their hands for a time, leading me to that detestable place. Thus, offer sacrifices of black pellets in my name. It will greatly aid my grand plan.
Black pellets.
These were black granules crafted from the dark energy Beelzebub himself had bestowed.
They were quite largebig enough to cover an adult mans fist and then some.
The black pellets could only be offered at the altar, which was the very reason for todays gathering.
Our long-held wish is finally coming true. Well escape this damned place and reclaim true freedom.
True freedom.
For them, it meant living not as NPCs, but as humans.
At some point, they had become aware of their nature as NPCs and begun to crave freedom.
The realization that this was a game, a mere device for outworlders to grow, filled them with utter disgust.
I shall grant you freedom.
Before their awakening, the occasional voice that had descended upon those who believed and followed Beelzebub.
To them, he was the only being who could bestow true freedom.
And now, having received a direct response, it was only natural they began to believe with fanatic zeal.
Creak
At that moment, the firmly shut door swung open.
Stairs leading down lay beyond.
The lay devotees had their badges checked again familiarly and descended.
Maint? First time at a gathering?
The doorman checked Maints badge and asked curiously.
Isnt this gathering important?
Hmm, fair point. Go on in.
Thank you.
Maint descended safely, followed by the other lay devotees.
The basement filled with devotees in an instant, though many more hadnt entered yet.
From Arandis to all across Gustaine, devotees abounded, but the gathering was held only here at the Devil Inn.
In the end, the doorman shut the door, refusing further entry.
Let us in too!
Were here for the gathering!
Even told they couldnt enter, the devotees persisted.
Aaagh!
Then, a human scream echoed from outside the inn.
Aaah!
Uwaaaagh!
Save me! Please, save me!
Once the screams began, they didnt stop, spreading all the way to the Devil Inn.
An attack!
Only then did those inside realize it targeted devotees like themselves.
But it was already too late to respond.
Aaagh!
Screams erupted right in front of the inn, and soon the door shattered, revealing the horrific scene outside.
Corpses rolling on the ground, a man drenched in blood glaring at them.
The killing intent radiating from him stripped away their will to fight, freezing their bodies as if brokenunable to twitch a finger.
M-monster...
What kind of aura...
All of them were NPCs easily over level 1,000.
Yet a single glance subdued them, meaning his level was far higher.
The doorman was no exception.
The moment the screams rang out, he tried to open the door, but his body froze solid.
All he could do was watch.
Crazy... He subdued me the instant the attack began.
The doormans level was 3,120.
Far higher than the devotees.
Even he had been instantly subdued.
Aaagh!
The attacker lightly swung the sword in his hand.
The heads of two devotees in front cleanly flew off.
No sound at all?!
Usually, thered be a chilling whoosh, but it was sliced so cleanly, no sound came.
Aaagh!
Spare me!
Now it was clearthe screams came from those with intact limbs, overcome by terror.
The dead hadnt even managed a scream before perishing.
Please! Please!
They begged for mercy, but he didnt blink, slashing devotees one after another.
In an instant, the first floor was cleared.
He stared at the doorman, then vanished.
W-what...
The doorman remained subdued, unable to move.
Rolling his eyes, he saw the first floor piled with corpses.
Why hadnt he been killed?
The screams from upstairs answered that.
There had been guests who hadnt joined the gathering yet, hiding.
Its fine... He spared me to extract information.
Why else leave the doorman alive?
Ill spill everything honestly.
He craved freedom too, but not enough to die for it.
Whatever he wanted, hed comply and survive.
Better to roll in shit than die.
He thoroughly agreed.
Soon after, the attacker slaughtered every last guest in the inn and returned to the doorman.
...!
The doorman tried to speak, but no voice cameonly his mouth flapped.
Then his vision rotated 90 degrees and faded to black.
A shame. Some useful ones in there.
Tenebris eyed the corpses regretfully.
Some surely held decent info.
Jeong Hoon had slain them without mercy.
You heard it all already.
Theyd know more than that beggar?
This is enough.
Jeong Hoon said as he forced open the basement door.
The black pellets underground.
Made from dark energy, hed plunder them all to replenish his own.
Planning to spread dark energy across New World through the sacrifice?
Jeong Hoon pried the door open.
It had been sealed tight against unauthorized entry, but it couldnt withstand his power.
Crunch
The door tore off spectacularly.
Jeong Hoon descended the stairs from the entrance slowly.
Tap-tap
At that moment, a few devotees, sensing something amiss, climbed up the stairs.
Huh...?
W-who?!
Their words cut short.
Jeong Hoon severed their necks without mercy.
Corpses and heads tumbled down the stairs, stirring unrest below.
Lets move fast.
Jeong Hoon stepped into Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon, accelerating, swiftly killing those ascending.
Hell Fire.
A massive fireball formed, writhing with heat as if to incinerate the basement.
A spell he hadnt mastered before, but upon reaching demigod, Jeong Hoon had attained mastery even in magic.
He hurled the fireball to the basement floor.
Aaaaagh!
Kuaaaaagh!
Screams erupted from below.
Whoa! Master! What if you burn the black pellets too!
Mukho panicked, but Har Nion shook his head.
Its fine. Black pellets dont burn in heat.
Then how do you perform the sacrifice? Dont you burn them?
To burn black pellets infused with dark energy, you have to put them in the sacred fire on the altar.
How do you know that?
One of my roles was purifying dark energy.
Jeong Hoon nodded as he listened to their exchange.
Truth be told, hed cast Hell Fire intending to burn all the black pellets.
If they burned, the dark energy would rise as smoke, which he planned to absorb in an instant.
The fireball blazed endlessly, and Jeong Hoon stepped into the flames unfazed.
Everyone in the basement burned to ash.
Everyone except Maint.
Ugh... Youre too much.
A barrier of light enveloped Maint.
Hed cast it simultaneously with Hell Fire to protect him.
A reward for guiding him this far.
Dismiss it?
As Jeong Hoon moved to release the barrier, Maint yelled in horror.
No!
Releasing it amid the inferno would leave him the same as the others.
The black pellets?
F-follow me.
Maint headed underground first to check the black pellets location.
It wasnt hardhed seen a priest enter the storeroom and move them to the altar.
Thus, he could guide Jeong Hoon to the storeroom.
This should be enough for the flames to die down.
Jeong Hoon snapped his fingers, and the all-consuming blaze vanished in an instant.
Th-thats incredible.
Maint blankly clapped.
Dont just stand therestep aside.
Ah, yes.
Maint quickly moved aside.
The storeroom had triple locks, openable only by priests.
But Jeong Hoon shattered them all with raw force and forced the door open.