Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Dark Oak Subjugation
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Dark Oak subjugation.
That was the true nature of the first mission given to Demorus's candidates.
Everyone knew orcs were hunted by low-level players growing stronger in the Sanctuary.
Sein himself had leveled up by wiping out an orc village on the way here.
“You can’t think dark oaks are the same as regular orcs.”
Dark oaks were said to be vastly different from those common orcs.
“Anything swallowed by darkness might as well be an entirely different species.”
One of the more talkative candidates.
He apparently came from an area teeming with monster hunts.
He’d made a living hunting monsters until learning he carried Demorus blood.
That explained his sturdy build and sharp gaze.
But Sein wasn’t paying attention to him.
‘So there are places like that.’
An area full of monsters.
He filed it away in his memory.
“What makes dark oaks especially scary is that even though they’re darkspawn, they form packs.”
The candidate was showing off his knowledge to the gathered group.
“With a bunch of tricky darkspawn together, the subjugation difficulty skyrockets.”
The other candidates listened intently.
Those with little monster-hunting experience.
Those unfamiliar with combat from the start.
Or ones like Sein.
“Forget all that pack nonsense. Are they strong?”
Even ones interested purely in the monsters themselves.
“Are dark oaks strong? Pista.”
The monster expert’s name seemed to be Pista.
“Darkspawn, as you know, get overwhelming physical boosts. Plus, they master the orcs’ unique combat skills.”
Pista explained.
“And the scariest thing about darkspawn is…”
Darkspawn.
Monsters evolved after being swallowed by darkness.
“They can use blessings.”
Blessings.
“……”
Sein paid attention too.
Blessings were unfamiliar even to him.
He carried a fragment of one from Bova, dormant inside him.
“Blessings come in many types, but dark oaks…”
Pista spoke with the confidence of someone who’d hunted them before.
“There are rumors they can use aura.”
“Aura?”
The candidates buzzed.
“Not all of them—only the warrior leaders, from what I’ve heard. I’ve never seen it myself. Darkspawn aren’t something regular hunters can handle.”
“What? So you’re just spouting rumors you haven’t even witnessed?”
“I still heard the stories.”
The mood grew chaotic.
Sein’s take on the whole scene?
“What a bunch of idiots.”
That was it.
“The future of Demorus looks dark. So dark.”
They weren’t twelve-year-old kids; they were adults in their early twenties, yet here they were with that childish chatter.
The candidates shot him annoyed glances at his mutter but looked away.
“Tch.”
Sein clicked his tongue at them.
“No need to get so worked up.”
Someone approached and spoke.
He recognized the face.
‘Sis, was it?’
The one from the main family.
“There are plenty who lived normal lives until their blood awakened.”
Sis settled naturally beside Sein as he spoke.
“Not everyone’s got your kind of track record.”
“You talk like you know me.”
“I did some digging.”
Sein eyed Sis.
“Ciceron’s mad dog. Borfeo’s new master. Antara’s hidden powerhouse.”
“You’re bragging about background checks?”
“Forgot where we are?”
Sis said.
“This is Demorus.”
He’d nearly forgotten amid these clueless fools, but this was Demorus.
One of the three great underworld families.
“No need to get upset over a little digging, right? Do it as much as you want if you’d like.”
“Not interested.”
“Knew it.”
Sis shrugged.
“Anyway, what’s your plan?”
What was he talking about?
“We’re almost there.”
The candidates had crossed zones via portal and switched to a large carriage.
Their destination.
Zone 7’s Vice.
“What’re you on about?”
“You’ll see when we arrive.”
Sis stood with those cryptic words.
*
*
*
A fact he’d almost forgotten amid the candidates’ naivety.
“W-Welcome, Demorus candidates.”
The name Demorus.
It became real upon arriving in Zone 7, Vice.
The situation was different now.
“I-I’m Ode Vice, lord of this Vice.”
A middle-aged man in his forties greeted them trembling.
The name Demorus hadn’t been permitted before reaching Rasiel.
Even if spoken, it wouldn’t have been accepted lightly—but now it was.
“Rasiel’s Campe.”
Rasiel’s low-rank organizer, guiding the candidates, spoke down to the lord.
“Lord Campe, I presume. I’m Ode.”
The lord didn’t snap back; he bowed respectfully, rubbing his palms.
This was Demorus’s true standing now.
“Demorus candidates have arrived!”
Ode shouted.
Clang! Vice’s guards snapped their spears to attention.
As if greeting a grand noble’s procession.
“Hm, ahem.”
The candidates couldn’t hide their pleased smirks.
“We’ve prepared lodgings and such for the candidates.”
Ode rubbed his hands more, but.
“No.”
Campe cut him off firmly.
“The candidates go to the family house.”
“O-Of course. Understood.”
He acquiesced as if it were obvious.
The greetings in Vice weren’t over yet.
First, the lord.
Next.
“Greetings, candidates.”
Vice’s back alleys, backed by Demorus.
A guy named Rolan ran them— a hardened vet who’d ruled them for over a decade.
“Feel free to use anything here.”
He knew his place.
“Let us know if you need anything special.”
He knew his worth.
Especially.
“Ahem…”
Seeing the candidates’ expectant reactions, Rolan smiled.
“We’ve prepared a party.”
Clap!
The doors opened with applause.
“Come in, candidates!”
“To think honored guests would visit our humble establishment.”
Women reeking of perfume.
“We’ll serve you well, candidates!”
Brawny young men in barely-there clothes.
Most candidates blushed at the sudden spectacle but couldn’t hide their grins.
That was the end of it for Sein.
Swoosh.
He didn’t play along with the farce.
“Not enjoying the party?”
Rolan asked the quietly slipping-away Sein.
Sein slowly turned, smiling at him.
“Get lost if you don’t wanna die.”
That was the kindest thing he could say to Rolan.
*
*
*
Sein wasn’t the only one.
Sis, Roberta.
Over ten candidates secretly slipped away from the debauchery.
Sein watched from atop the walls.
“The rest’ll drop out soon enough.”
Those still at the party.
Their futures were obvious.
And.
“So that’s it.”
He spotted Sis and others mingling with candidates.
-What’s your plan?
That must’ve been what Sis meant earlier.
“Forming teams, huh.”
This was a competition.
Each had to prove their worth through feats.
Solo glory would be ideal, but even Demorus candidates couldn’t underestimate dark oaks—so teams it was.
Sis glanced around.
Probably looking for Sein, but no chance at his level.
“Got the dark oaks’ location pinned.”
Bzzz.
The mana gripped in his hand pulsed, signaling.
He’d pinpointed their village via mana waves.
“Hunting them straight-up would be easiest.”
He’d planned to move already.
“Hmm.”
But Sein lingered in Vice for a reason.
“Curious, though.”
The other candidates.
Their skills.
Or rather.
“They can actually use blessings properly.”
The dark blessings they wielded.
Proof of Demorus blood.
Sein had one too, but just a fragment so far.
He’d tried wielding it, but it hadn’t responded yet.
“Whatever.”
Monsters.
Rival groups.
Other lords.
Darkspawn.
A massive barrier against them all.
“Guess I’ll watch.”
Leap.
Sein jumped down without hesitation.
*
*
*
“Then we’ll go with this plan.”
Sis had somehow become the candidates’ leader.
Competition aside, his main family background and shown leadership had swayed them naturally.
“We’ve confirmed the dark oak village location.”
Partly due to Sis’s abilities.
As main family, he got more support.
Word was he had his own faction, and his intel outclassed the rest.
“Not bringing the party stragglers?”
Someone asked.
Sis seemed friendly, looking out for candidates.
“No need to drag along those choosing to fall behind.”
His cold, firm tone silenced them.
“They’re slacking on the first mission. Think Demorus needs that kind of talent?”
“No.”
“Right. Anyway, what about Kindra…”
The guy who’d lost an eye to Sein.
He’d recovered both thanks to Rasiel potions and healers.
“Going solo?”
Sis had taken pity on his skills, but he’d left the party—yet wasn’t here.
“Saw him heading off with others earlier.”
“Can’t be helped.”
Sis neatly wrote off Kindra.
Still, he scanned around, searching for something.
And then.
“Got a question.”
Sis’s lip curled at the voice.
“Why do underworld folks bother hunting monsters?”
It was Sein’s voice.