Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Samhyeoldong Erosion Core
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The undead charging at us, decked out with busts and portraits of those bastards who'd spent three generations diligently sucking North Korea dry, were a total gag even from a distance—and just as hilarious up close.
"Even smashing their busts or portraits doesn't kill them."
They'd already gathered more than enough resentment to create the undead. Still, they definitely weakened once those were destroyed.
"Not that it matters much."
Paradox Flame dripped from my body, burning away the surrounding grudges as it spread further. The creatures instinctively slithered across the ground to avoid the blazing Paradox Flame, but...
"That facility can't escape the flames."
Whether these idiots with busts or portraits jammed into their thick skulls could dodge the Paradox Flame was irrelevant. My target from the start had been that massive jar standing there so elegantly, vomiting up its revolting sludge.
It couldn't move, but it seemed alive enough—the eyes on the jar's face glaring at the encroaching Paradox Flame.
"Hey, staring it down won't make it go out."
Once it latched on, it wouldn't extinguish until I put it out myself. Like a clingy stalker with bad intentions.
Finally, the spreading Paradox Flame crept up the enormous jar, setting it ablaze.
"Hey, this is Yoo Chan-seok. You hear me?"
— Loud and clear.
Confirming Han Sang-ah's voice, I replied immediately.
"Get ready. It's about time."
It wasn't a big deal for those two to swim upstream against the current. They'd arrive any minute now.
While watching the burning jar, I confirmed that the Daedong River water had returned to its original color.
— Chan-seok, you there? The ones gathered in Pyongyang are on the move too.
"What about you guys?"
Splashing sounds echoed loudly.
— Swimming our asses off. Hang tight. We're coming.
I sat on the ground and boiled a cup of instant ramen to eat.
I'd had to move carefully, so it took me a while, but Jeong O-hun and Han Sang-ah had no such need.
After waiting a bit, the two burst out of the water.
"Good work. Now for even harder work."
Now we had to hurry. We needed to reach Pyeongseong before the horde of corpses departing from Pyongyang arrived.
"Pyeongseong will have some defenses, sure."
But nothing compared to Pyongyang. You could tell just from the scale of the resentment I sensed.
"Got it."
While racing toward Pyeongseong City, Jeong O-hun successfully pinpointed the Erosion Core's location.
"But really, just the three of us tackling it?"
I answered Jeong O-hun's question.
"It's not like we're diving into the Gonzalo Fortress."
Considering the skills of two hunters in Hope's List top 20 and my own abilities, any gimmicks might trouble us, but we wouldn't fall due to lack of power.
"Yeah, can't argue. No damn alternatives anyway."
Finishing his words, Jeong O-hun took the lead, guiding us.
"What the hell are those?"
"Who knows. Roughly, the Dear Leader Comrade or... nah, pigs?"
Jeong O-hun made a dumbfounded face at the corpses charging with Kim family busts atop their heads.
In any case, we shredded those bizarrely comical undead as we followed Jeong O-hun's guidance. That's when I sensed a massive grudge about 5km away.
"Almost there."
"But we're faster."
Jeong O-hun said that, staring at the ominous black hole rippling ahead. The entrance to the Samhyeoldong Erosion Core.
"Wonder what fun awaits beyond that hole."
Already looking forward to it. Samhyeoldong—probably a cave, right?
Without a word about who went first, we threw ourselves into the Samhyeoldong Erosion Core.
"It's a cave."
Upon entering the Erosion Core, we found ourselves inside a cave.
Me, Han Sang-ah, and Jeong O-hun had all dropped in the same spot without scattering. Convenient, but also a bit suspicious.
Not separating us meant there was a reason to keep us together.
— Ah, can you hear me? This is Empire Army Brigade Leader Ramin.
At that moment, a voice came from a large crystal on the ground.
Jeong O-hun and Han Sang-ah stared blankly at the crystal. Come on, what are you guys doing?
I grabbed the crystal right away and spoke.
"Coming in clear. Report why you're contacting us."
Their dazed eyes turned to me at my words. What are you looking at?
— Almighty Karistol. By the heavens, we've made contact. No time.
"What do you mean? Explain properly, Brigade Leader."
The guy named Ramin on the other end responded immediately.
— Myself included, 15,000 elite Empire Army troops are set to assault the temple of the wicked false god Vallea.
Vallea's temple. Things were rolling in an absurd direction again. This seemed to be one of the gimmicks in this Grade 1 Samhyeoldong Erosion Core.
"So, what do you need from us?"
— Vallea's temple is protected by five corrupted idols within the cave where you've arrived.
Then we just destroy them. Didn't sound too hard?
— However... the wicked followers of Vallea have noticed our attack. We are merely the vanguard, here to set up teleportation magic circles.
"If Vallea's wicked followers counterattack in this situation..."
Ramin replied in a sunken voice from beyond the crystal.
— Regrettably, Vallea's followers are ruthless. Our 15,000 won't hold out long.
"Tell us what we can do."
Soon after, Ramin explained what we could do.
Besides the five corrupted idols protecting Vallea's temple in this cave, there were structures scattered around to block teleportation.
— Destroying one allows us to teleport about 10,000 more troops.
In other words, before Vallea's minions wipe out Ramin's forces somewhere on the surface, we had to keep reinforcing him. And at the same time, locate and destroy the five idols protecting Vallea's temple.
"So we're not fighting directly."
Han Sang-ah and Jeong O-hun nodded at my words.
— The assault begins soon. The horns of advance are blaring from Vallea's temple!
"One more question, Brigade Leader. After the blessings protecting Vallea's temple vanish with the idols destroyed, how many troops are needed to take down the temple itself?"
This was key. Even if we smashed all those corrupted idols, if Ramin only had 50 troops left at that point, no way they'd destroy the temple.
— Honestly, I don't know.
This damn fool. That was my inner thought.
— But we can send you the battlefield layout and our remaining troop numbers!
"...And?"
I already had a hunch, but I asked Ramin anyway, just in case.
— Lead us. Share your wisdom to annihilate these vile followers of the false god.
Goddamn it—they wanted me to command, and I wasn't even on the battlefield? All while hunting down corrupted idols and teleportation blockers in this cave?
Things were going to shit. I extracted as much info from Ramin as fast as possible.
1. The corrupted idols grow stronger over time, buffing Vallea's minions. Destroying one resets the buffs.
2. 15,000 troops can't hold off Vallea's minions. We must destroy the teleportation blockers in this cave to keep reinforcing them steadily.
3. Using the holographic map from the crystal, we grasp the battlefield and support Ramin's defense from inside the cave.
4. Once we destroy all five corrupted idols, Ramin will launch a counterattack.
Summary done.
"Brigade Leader Ramin, fear not. Almighty Karistol stands with us."
I took a quick deep breath, then continued.
"Our faith is true and unyielding, our convictions a shield and blade to judge the vile before us."
— Indeed!
After bullshitting some encouragement for Ramin, I stood and looked at Jeong O-hun and Han Sang-ah.
"Let's move, folks. No time to waste."
"What the hell are you?"
I glanced at Jeong O-hun.
"What?"
"That Almighty Karistol spiel? You've done it before. Smooth as hell."
Oh man, this guy's onto me. I'd pulled crap like this plenty of times.
"Acting's basic. Save the chit-chat and focus on the tasks at hand."
If we dawdled, Ramin's forces would be wiped out. Game over.
"Burn a hole in the cave wall and join Ramin directly?"
I shook my head at Han Sang-ah's suggestion.
"Different spaces entirely."
Ramin's location and ours were isolated dimensions.
"How do you know?"
Experience. Felt the same when I went to hell. Too lazy to explain, so I ignored Han Sang-ah's question and started walking.
"Satisfy your curiosity and we'll be trapped here forever. Hurry up."
At the same time, I checked the holographic map from the crystal.
"Outer walls, inner walls, and the Summoning Tower in the center."
The outer and inner walls each had four gates. The Summoning Tower was inside the central fortress, with a single entrance.
Destroy a teleportation blocker, and reinforcements arrived via the fortress's Summoning Tower for Ramin.
If his troops got wiped or the tower captured, it was over.
"Commanding, huh."
I muttered and clicked my tongue. Jeong O-hun glanced at me.
"Ever done it?"
"No, but gotta make it work."
Lie—I had. More than "done it." The largest force I'd handled was 750,000. A siege defense with 15,000? I could manage.
"One thing bugs me, though."
"What?"
Scanning the cave, I answered Han Sang-ah.
"It's Vallea."
Remember the corpses piled under stolen victories. In other words, Vallea wasn't undead but deeply tied to corpses.
"Too many corpses in the defense, and it'll go south."
But this damn Ramin hadn't mentioned that. Or couldn't.
We had to minimize casualties. Too many corpses, and they'd rise to attack Ramin and his men.
I wasn't some perv who made easy jobs harder.
"Ah, headache."
This cave wasn't just teleport blockers and corrupted idols.
Like ants in an anthill, monsters lurked here. Not weak ones—Grade 1 Erosion Core beasts.
"Undead and bugs."
Perfect match in grossness. Add the dark, damp, stinking cave, and it was ideal.
For now, Jeong O-hun and Han Sang-ah handled the monsters. I focused on the holographic map and issuing orders via the crystal.
Hearing the report through the crystal, I swallowed a sigh. In 30 minutes, 1,143 soldiers were gone.
How the hell did so many die in 30 minutes? Their training's trash! If we didn't hurry and smash those teleport blockers, this would tangle bad.