◈ Episode 286. Akshan Hungered (1)
So radiant it went beyond dazzling.
There was a reason I’d put on the jacket even while frowning.
The very first set effect alone was outright fraudulent.[One Who Awaits the Dawn 5/5][Set item effect is applied.][Currently applied set effect: 5/5][1. When you are the commander, allied morale becomes ‘maximum.’]…….
It was similar to how the “authority” function activated when relationship and favorability reached their maximum. The moment morale rose to its maximum, it produced an effect close to a miracle.
The problem was the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
Whether they considered me their commander.
I had learned what sort of beings the Shadow Mercenary Corps were through the AAU.
And by sticking a straw into…….
No, by watching them while we attacked the Demon King’s Castle together.‘Their individual abilities are on par with the seniors.’On top of that, during the Demon King’s Castle raid, the Shadow Mercenary Corps hadn’t given it their all and had engaged in combat only moderately. They were a group whose pride was as exceptional as their abilities.
And then there was the AAU’s advice that wasn’t quite advice.
-“I hope this is merely unfounded concern, but the Shadow Mercenary Corps have, after all, been given the setting of masterminds behind the scenes…….”
Even if they had joined the Holy War Alliance.
I couldn’t help but question whether they truly followed me.
But even if I didn’t think so.
Right now, I had to correct my mind so that I did.‘That’s the only way I’ll receive the Dawn set effect!’I can see the Great Evil, the Seven Deadly Sin, Envy.
Its appearance is still vicious.
Then again, even when it had only thrust its hand through the dimensional rift, I’d thought it was no ordinary thing. Seeing its complete form, I can definitely feel that it’s a Great Evil. Why, the Akshan seniors said it too, didn’t they?
-“Akshan’s archenemy is the Great Evil.”
When it came to treating demons as insignificant.
If Akshan, no less than Grandfell, acknowledged them as archenemies?
Then Great Evils must have something different from ordinary demons.‘Of course, to Grandfell, they’re nothing more than the same demons.’But not me.
I, Lee Hoyeol, need to endure by any means necessary.
So that I don’t sink beneath pride.
In that sense, the presence of the Shadow Mercenary Corps?
It couldn’t have been more welcome.
So I opened my mouth.
I will hear the exact circumstances later.
For now, we must face it together through the set effect of One Who Awaits the Dawn.
For that, you must follow me. That was the complicated inner meaning I conveyed in Grandfell’s manner of speech.
“The Shadow Mercenary Corps I hired are not so weak as to fall to a single trifling demon.”
“……!!”
Wolf and Alkari’s faces shook with agitation.
Their pupils trembled. The problem was that this damned mouth had no way to adjust its level of recklessness. But shock therapy is, by nature, certainly effective. Wolf opened his mouth.
“This was not how I wished to meet you, Commander-in-Chief.”
I understand.
The Shadow Mercenary Corps had refused my help and set out to find their own method. There must have been a reason they moved while going so far as to reject my goodwill.
“Did I not say so?”
However.
Whether that had to do with Heavenly Unification.
Or whether it had to do with the Great Evil’s request.
Now is not the time for a leisurely conversation, Wolf.
“I will hear your circumstances after the hunt is over.”
After all, the opponent is a Great Evil.
A voice rang out in my head.
It was Gwicheol’s voice, sharpened to an edge.
-Master, is that what I am to cut?
“That is correct.”
-Indeed, it is worthy of being called a great evil.
A legendary-grade item, Gwicheol.
But once the opponent was on the level of a Great Evil, even Gwicheol didn’t look down on it.
And through experience.
I know that reality is a place favorable to demons.
Why, just look at the faces of the demons that had hidden in society, in reality, until now.‘Nam Cheolmin, Baek Iseol, Branch Manager Baker…….’The demons that had possessed them grew rapidly. They went beyond absorbing negative emotions and spread them around. Even nameless demons like imps and succubi could run rampant in reality.
And a Great Evil had appeared in such a reality?
“Good. Now that I have acknowledged it, my mind is at ease.”
Even if it faced me, its natural enemy.[Fear]
It was no strange thing that it was not overcome by it.
Tempest, who had been pressuring Envy all along, approached my side.
“Awooo.”
His bravery had not weakened in the slightest, but I could tell.
It seemed he was tired.
Understandably so.
The fact that Envy had transformed meant.‘It’s moved on to the next pattern.’I couldn’t know how much damage the Shadow Mercenary Corps had inflicted on Envy.
But Tempest had, on his own, cleared the first pattern of a Great Evil.
No matter how exacting Grandfell’s standards were.
“Well done, Tempest.”
It was an achievement that was more than satisfying.
But then, at my words, I heard someone freeze.
If there was any sound, it had to be from Wolf or Alkari.
Alkari asked politely.
“Could Tempest be the name of that wolf, my lord?”……
Did he think that name sounded middle-schoolish after all?!
Why was the proverb about a guilty conscience needing no accuser coming to mind?
Why else? If he flinched at something merely like Tempest…….
How shocked would he be by Gwicheol’s other name? Furthermore, if he heard Grandfell’s full name……. I was worried he might go beyond surprise and be appalled.
However, thankfully.
“Haha…….”
Alkari nodded and continued.
“Please forgive this lowly one for failing to realize it. Why you said the Demon King and the Great Evil were nothing more than prey. I failed to recall the true meaning behind those words……!”
At that moment, I realized.‘What, so he only figured it out now.’That I was a demon hunter and Akshan’s last survivor.
Unlike Grandfell’s full name, it wasn’t as if I had been trying to hide it.
Beyond that, if anyone had asked politely.
I would have answered with great pride.
That I was none other than Akshan’s last survivor.
But even though bait was circulating in the community.
No reporter or player ever asked me seriously.‘Must be the power of etiquette education.’However, Akshan’s face.
The Akshan wolf that had captivated even players.
Since the Shadow Mercenary Corps were Arcanians and well versed in the continent’s information through all sorts of requests, it wasn’t strange for them to recognize Tempest’s identity.
But as I said, this wasn’t the time to apologize.
“Do not ignore me, Akshan whelp.”
Flash—Envy spread its enormous wings wide.
Whooooosh—The wind pressure that blew forth transformed the surrounding scenery once again.
Since it had entered the next pattern, was it changing the board?
The earth rumbled and surged upward.
“Tempest, take care of the fallen.”
“Awooo!”
Tempest moved swiftly.
He gathered up the Shadow Mercenary Corps members who had yet to wake.
Let’s see, there’s no need to manifest healing magic.
Alkari’s potions would be more effective than my trick healing magic.
Besides, the effect of morale reaching its maximum should be revealing itself soon.[You enter the Hidden Piece, ‘Maw of Envy.’]
So you’ve gone and dragged out a Hidden Piece, have you?
Perhaps because I had experienced a desperate battle against the Ice Dragon Froznax, I was not shaken. Of course, regardless of the feelings of me, Lee Hoyeol. Grandfell maintained his usual, unchanging posture.
From the hair held ramrod straight to the angles of the neck and waist.
As if I would never look up at Envy’s massive frame.
I opened my mouth as I was.
“You are in no posture to invite someone.”
Then I drew up my mana.
The limitless [Blessing of the First World Tree] buff.
And as if that were not enough, even the effect of [Natural Enemy Relationship].
───────Natural Enemy Relationship: When fighting the demon race, combat power increases explosively.───────What that meant was simple.
I don’t know how the hierarchy of the demon race works.
But even when I was much weaker than I am now.
I had experience suppressing one of the high-ranking Demon Kings, Gamigin, with [『Anomaly』].‘Of course, at best, it was nothing more than grabbing his ankle.’In any case, I had succeeded in making him kneel on one knee.
Seven Deadly Sin, Envy.
I don’t know whether you are stronger or weaker than Gamigin.
“Yet that is precisely why you are like the trifling breed you are.”
I have become considerably stronger in many ways since then.
Wooooong—I scattered mana throughout the area.
Hidden Piece, [Maw of Envy].
I don’t know what rules exist on its home ground, but the away team’s morale will absolutely not fall behind. At least, as long as I’m wearing the Dawn Jacket.
“I shall personally discipline you.”
So, brazenly, I continued.
“Show proper form to an honored guest and lower your head.”
Crack!
I pressed Envy’s head down with mana.
“How dare…….”
I felt Envy’s brute strength as it struggled desperately to resist, but I paid it no mind. As I said, now that [Natural Enemy Relationship] had activated, the absolute amount of mana had also lost its limit.
It was only natural that a message appeared.[Seven Deadly Sin, Envy, has been afflicted with ‘Restraint.’]
“Fold away those hideous and cumbersome wings as well.”
“……!!!”
“Do they not stir up dust?”[Seven Deadly Sin, Envy, has been afflicted with ‘Binding.’]
I did not stop at making it lower its head.
I folded Envy’s wings, which it struggled to spread, like folding fingers.
Then I spoke to Envy, whose blood had risen as it ground its teeth.
“You are the first demon to whom I have taught decorum.”
“……Shut up.”
“Consider it an honor.”
At the same time, messages appeared.[Seven Deadly Sin, Envy, has broken free from ‘Restraint.’][Seven Deadly Sin, Envy, has broken free from ‘Binding.’]
Yes, it was neither magic nor Anomaly.
I had not intended to keep it bound for long with pure mana.
As I said, this was nothing more than etiquette education.
Etiquette education, all of a sudden?
And for a demon that was nothing more than prey?
Someone might ask.
Wasn’t it that you did not even exchange words with prey?
Correct.
Grandfell’s pride was truly consistent.
Even if it were a Great Evil he might feel pleased to see again.
There was no way he would be glad to exchange words with it.
But this time was an exception.
“So you have finally attained it.”
Yes.
Envy, this was not etiquette education for your sake.
It was etiquette education for mine.
The reason I forcibly instilled manners into Envy was simple.
If Envy continued rampaging tactlessly like this.
It seemed certain to properly provoke them.
“The qualification to face Akshan.”
Our seniors’ temper……!‘Unlike me, those gentlemen have no mercy.’The players of Heavenly Unification strewn across the mountain range said as much.
There had been some sort of deal between Liuo Junchun and Envy.
Making a deal with a demon effectively meant being a demon worshipper.‘I’m already hard-pressed just trying to restrain Grandfell…….’If the Akshan seniors set out to hunt Liuo Junchun on top of Envy? At that point, it would truly become a dizzying situation.
So it was for the sake of keeping Envy from offending them.
In the end, it was etiquette education begun to make things easier for me.
Fwoosh!──────Akshan’s Legacy: Summons an Akshan demon hunter from the fires of Hell.──────The Hellfire wrapped around Tempest burned quietly.
Soon, my vision flickered.
It was an obvious system message.[Your relationship and influence with Akshan are applied to the effect.][An Akshan demon hunter answers your call.]
But I know from experience.
Our Akshan seniors don’t care one bit about relationship or influence. Even when hunting Gamigin, they had all turned out in force. And now, when a Great Evil that could be called their archenemy was right before their eyes?
There was nothing more to say.
Step, step.
A presence could be heard within the flames.
The sound of metal striking metal rang out.
Clank—!
“Then I shall gladly answer.”
I continued speaking to Envy.
“With the eternal hunt presided over by Akshan.”