Chapter 181: It’s Not My Intention, I Swear.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 181: It’s Not My Intention, I Swear.
The fluttering black cloak billowed like wings.
Veins, like streaks of gold ore, pulsed beneath skin that had turned as black as coal.
Across the sky and the ground, a vast expanse of mysterious black-red script unfurled.
It was as if the world itself was declaring this place to be the Tyrant’s domain.
"W-what... what is that form?"
Min-su couldn't believe what he was seeing.
When Tae-yang had first activated that skill, it hadn't looked this impressive.
But now...
‘He looks way too cool.’
If he enters Phase 3 looking that badass, then what happens to the Unicorn Awakening I worked so hard for?
From these minor aesthetic details to the crucial appearance of his summoned beast—everything was superior.
To think I’d have to feel this sense of inferiority even in a Gate I created specifically to avoid it.
"Why are you acting like the protagonist?! How many times do I have to tell you that I'm the protagonist!"
[Basic effect of Indomitable Hero activated! Automatically analyzing the surroundings and sensing danger!]
[You are currently in the Tyrant's Land. Be careful not to offend the Tyrant!]
[You are facing an enemy that can never be defeated! Overall physical stats are increased, and a great reward will be granted upon victory!]
How did things turn out like this?
I clearly had the upper hand.
Min-su gripped his Brush Sword tightly, slowly trying to figure out how to raid the boss monster before him.
However...
"Fine, you can be the protagonist. You know that saying, right? 'Everyone is the protagonist of their own life' or whatever."
The enemy did not wait.
Boom!
In the time it took to blink, Baek Tae-yang’s face was right there. Min-su only realized he’d been attacked after the sound reached his ears.
With just a single kick delivered as the bastard closed the distance, the overwhelming difference in their levels was made painfully clear.
Just a few seconds ago, he would have waited for help from Who's Amanda, but that was no longer an option.
"This insolent hand dared to leave a scratch on my Lord’s precious body, didn't it?"
"W-wait! Just a moment! I can recover, but it still hurts! Don't do it-am!"
The Troll King’s hand, which Chun-hyang had frozen, was shattered in an instant.
Shatter!
At a glance, the confrontation between Chun-hyang and Who's Amanda looked like David versus Goliath, but the reality was the exact opposite.
Overwhelming dominance.
The Troll King had only recently been buffed to an S-Class monster, while Seong Chun-hyang was S-Class by birth.
Between them lay a massive chasm that could never be bridged in a short amount of time.
‘It’s like watching an old-money heir versus a nouveau riche...’
The difference between something manufactured and something innate.
Because of that, the current Troll King stood no chance against Chun-hyang.
Crumble...
Min-su Land, which had been slowly fading every time he took damage, was now turning to dust.
Before, it was a level of collapse that could be repaired, but now, even the debris was vanishing.
The carousel Kim Min-su had been blown into was also turning to powder, with only half of its shape remaining.
Step, step, step, step.
"I told you to bark like a dog. Then this would all be over."
"I swore... I’d never lose again... Did you think I’d give up after getting hit just once?"
"You should save that 'swearing' for when you're counting cabbages."
An overwhelming difference in power.
A hopelessly disadvantageous situation.
But isn't a Hero someone who displays their true strength in moments like these to defeat the enemy?
"Today! I will defeat you... Kweeeeeeeek!"
The ground and sky lost their distinction and began to spin.
Could he really win? For the first time in his life, Min-su began to doubt himself.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
‘Why isn't the victory message popping up?’
How much more dominant do I have to be to satisfy the system? I can't even kill him.
Tingle.
Since activating Demonization, my entire body stung as if someone were peeling off my skin.
It seemed to be the strain of activating both Tyrant and Demonization simultaneously, but it was still bearable for now.
‘How much longer can I maintain this?’
I estimated about thirty minutes.
Judging by how the strain was steadily increasing, thirty minutes was actually a very generous estimate.
In short, I only had thirty minutes to exert my full power in this state.
It was a duration that could be considered long or short, depending on the perspective.
‘Just knowing this is a huge gain.’
Being able to perform a self-analysis by exerting power I’d never used before was a great opportunity.
Trying to draw out all your strength for the first time when you actually need it is nothing short of suicidal.
"Give up already. I'm starting to feel bad."
No matter how much Kim Min-su increased the output of his Main Skill, if I increased mine by the same amount, everything returned to square one.
In other words, there were no variables left.
Thuck.
"Aaaaaagh!"
The lightly swung pickaxe drove accurately into Min-su’s left shoulder, digging into his flesh.
Normally, the wound should have rotted away the moment it was struck, but Kim Min-su was barely holding on thanks to his unique recovery rate.
I was starting to lose track of why I had to keep doing this.
"I... I won't give up! Brush... Huh?"
As a struggling Min-su pulled back and tried to swing his Brush Sword...
Only then did the bastard realize the sword was no longer in his hand.
"I told you. This weapon is far too good for someone like you."
"Give it back! That's my weapon! Recall!"
The moment he saw the Brush Sword in my hand, Min-su activated his skill out of a sense of dread.
However...
[The opponent has activated Recall. The bound weapon, [Lee Mong-ryong's Brush Sword], is attempting to return to Kim Min-su.]
[The effect of Corrupt Official, inherent in Demonization, is activated. A Corrupt Official never gives away wealth that has entered his hands.]
[Tyrant effect activated! Monopolizing the possessions of an inferior.]
Tremble, tremble, tremble... Thud.
The Brush Sword in my hand flopped like a fish just pulled from the water before going limp.
"Recall!"
Every time he shouted "Recall," the Brush Sword twitched as if being flicked on the cheek, but it remained unmoved.
It could not escape my grasp.
Just as I thought I had completely stolen the Brush Sword, a message window appeared.
[Due to low Protagonist Share, there is insufficient narrative justification to steal the weapon of [Protagonist - Kim Min-su]. It will be recalled shortly!]
‘Wow, unbelievable.’
So I need something like that to steal a protagonist's weapon?
Well, usually, when a protagonist's main weapon breaks or gets stolen, a better one is supposed to be waiting for them.
In other words, unless a higher-tier weapon was scheduled to appear immediately, it was impossible to steal Kim Min-su’s weapon.
‘This is so rigged.’
Just because this is Chubby Ahn’s novel, he gets this kind of favoritism, huh?
Fine, then I have a plan of my own.
"Give it back!"
"Sure, I'll give it back."
If it’s going to end up back in your hands anyway...
‘I’ll show you an overwhelming difference in how to use it.’
To the point where you won't even be able to imitate it after seeing it.
The Brush Sword in one hand, the Pickaxe of Greed in the other.
The stupidest thing I noticed every time Kim Min-su used the Brush Sword was that he insisted on drawing pictures.
Why couldn't he just use the ink lines painted in the air directly for his attacks?
Shring.
"W-why are you... using my weapon...!"
With a light swing of the Brush Sword, a long, sharp ink line flew straight toward Min-su.
"Kweeeeeek!"
As the heavy ink line struck him, that consistent sound of a pig being slaughtered rang out.
‘Hm?’
I noticed something peculiar then.
Min-su, who usually recovered instantly no matter how much I beat him, couldn't get up right away this time.
I hadn't even hit him that hard; I’d just used the weapon in a basic way. Why?
‘Could his recovery ability be linked to his mental state?’
But that thought quickly changed.
As I approached, I saw that he simply couldn't get up because of the sheer sense of loss.
Thump.
"I'm sorry... I can't... die here... For now... I'm retreating-am..."
Right on cue, the Troll King, unable to withstand Chun-hyang any longer, reverse-summoned himself.
The last glimpse I caught of the Troll King was truly horrific.
Half of his body was frozen, and his entire form was covered in cracks as if he were about to shatter.
It really hit home that Chun-hyang, who was now approaching me with a bright smile and waving her hand, was indeed a boss monster.
"My Lord! I won a refreshing victory without allowing a single hit! Now, let us begin the womb-throbbing..."
"Kwek."
Squish. Squish.
Because Chun-hyang was looking at me as she walked, she didn't even notice Kim Min-su under her feet and ended up stepping on him.
No, wait. There’s no way she didn't notice.
‘She did that on purpose.’
Chun-hyang deliberately stepped on his face a couple of times while knowing full well he was there.
I had no idea who she took after to be this wicked.
"Hey, Min-su. It's all over, so just give up now."
"He's right. You should give u— Oh my, looking closely, it was Lee Mong-ryong?"
I spoke while giving Min-su’s stomach a few light kicks.
It had been a while since I won, but since the victory message hadn't appeared yet, it seemed the system wanted a different kind of victory.
Since I had no idea what that was, I just hoped Kim Min-su would give up.
If he realized things weren't going his way, it was about time he left the Gate.
"Mmm... Doing it in front of Master Lee Mong-ryong... Is this the first time...? No, perhaps the second..."
Chun-hyang said that as she slowly began to undress.
Wait a minute.
Why are you taking your clothes off?
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, My Lord... making me say it out loud... Naturally, I'm preparing for the womb-throbbing tip-kiss you promised to give me once this was over."
"...?"
"Sometimes, when My Lord makes such an innocent face, I truly wonder if I'm the one who's a beast in heat."
You are.
Chun-hyang completely ignored my internal retort and finished untying her jeogori.
As if she didn't want her clothes getting dirty on the dusty ground, she piled them all on top of Min-su.
I saw the guy flinch.
‘Even so, this is a bit much.’
A victory-celebration sex session right after the battle?
Does she think everyone is like her?
Just as I was about to push Chun-hyang away as she approached, her pale breasts swaying...
Ding!
[Quest clear conditions are almost met! Keep it up just a little longer!]
An unbelievable message blocked my vision.
"..."
The quest was explicitly encouraging me to have sex with Chun-hyang right in front of Kim Min-su.
‘Seriously, this isn't my intention.’
But why couldn't I stop smiling?
It was the greatest mystery of my life.