◈ Episode 318. And Yet, How Laughable (2)
Shrrng!
Baal’s sword, which had destroyed the Seorn Continent in a single strike.
The moment that sword blow, filled with immeasurable destructive power, came reaching toward me—
Gggggk—?!
With a bizarre sound, Baal’s forearm creaked.
The demons of the Demon World, who had trampled their way up through Seorn, shouted at the sight.
“What is happening?”
“Why is he swinging at empty air……?”
“Lord Baal!”
Even if it was Grandfel, whom no demon could simply ignore,
there was nothing I could do about those demons.
Because the scene I was watching was the past—one I could not interfere with.
Why was I certain it was the past?
Because I, the demon hunter,
could see the Demon Kings I had sent to hell with my own hands standing on the surface.
In that sense, Baal made me flinch once again.
The past and the present.
Baal had perceived my existence across the timeline.
As if that were not enough, he had even swung his sword.
Indeed, he was worthy of being a being capable of sinking an entire worldview with a single slash.
However.
Hadn’t this bastard already said it with his own mouth?
“I never expected understanding from an inferior race.”
Before Baal’s sword drawing closer.
Before the destructive power that had shattered the Seorn Continent in a single strike.
Without retreating in the slightest, I continued.
“Consider it an honor. I shall personally enlighten you.”
Of course, this was an action calculated to the letter.
Those words I had uttered as well.
Was it because I knew how to hunt Baal?
No, as if that could be true.
I simply believed.
In the experience I had accumulated as a player……!
‘A battle will not occur.’
Yes, no matter how strong Baal was.
No matter that he had perceived my existence.
The system did not lie.
As long as no appropriate level appeared in the message—
‘You can’t hit me, can you?’
Baal, you cannot touch a single hair on my body.
Not even a single neatly pressed hem of my clothes.
‘You call that unfair? So what?’
I told you, didn’t I?
It was not baseless confidence.
This was the shameless reason I hadn’t so much as blinked.
Gggggk!
The sound of muscles tearing rang out from Baal’s forearm.
Unlike me, the demons on the surface looked nothing but worried. The flustered voices of the Demon Kings reached the demon hunter’s hearing with startling clarity.
“Why are you wasting such an immense sacrifice, Baal!! Do you know how great a sacrifice the Demon World has made for this day? The Demon World cannot be satisfied with the mere Seorn Continent. Fulfill the contract. Open the gate to the Arcana Continent with that sword!!”
Ah, so there was a reason they looked like death warmed over? From what I heard, according to the contract, Baal was supposed to open the path to the Arcana Continent after the Seorn Continent.
But as you can see,
because he had sensed me watching the past through the curse,
he had swung the sword meant for the Arcana Continent at me instead.
“How utterly foolish.”
“How can that be the King of Kings……?”
“……
Everything has gone wrong. The sky is closing.”
“To miss such an opportunity!”
“Baaaaaaaal!!”
Gggggk…….
The Demon Kings’ screams were becoming reality.
The sword that had been swinging toward empty air stopped. The grip holding the sword loosened. Baal’s forearm bent and crumpled grotesquely, then began to be sucked into the sky that had split open.
Kugung……!
Soon, silence settled as if nothing had happened.
A message appeared before my eyes.
[The Demon World becomes one with the “Seorn Continent.”]
Two completely different worlds becoming one.
Now, where had I heard something like this before?
Yes, this too was an anomaly.
The demon worshiper, Karimzeba, had said it.
—“Demons are merely a means. Surely you know, do you not? What the Arcana Continent needs is the true truth!”
Thanks to that, I was able to realize it.
Back then, I hadn’t known what he was talking about.
But he had been referring to me, who handled anomalies, Karimzeba.
That was right.
Baal, that bastard, was within the realm of anomalies.
He was certainly a being at its peak.
No, considering he was one of the Ten Thrones’ Demon Kings who had existed from the beginning…… Rather than saying he had entered the realm of anomalies like me, it would be more accurate to say he had been born from anomaly itself.
But that was precisely
the reason I was certain I could hunt you, Baal.
Whether it was struggling or anything else,
I was steadily advancing one step at a time within the realm of anomalies. And the one who could not be satisfied unless he reached a peak if one existed was none other than the noble Lord Grandfel.
Besides.
‘In any case, that means we’re still in the same class right now, doesn’t it?’
Someone might sneer and say I was being terribly shameless.
However.
When have I ever not been shameless?
I murmured toward the closed sky.
“You tucked your tail and fled. At least you know your place.”
Even if he was a being at the peak of the realm of anomalies, as long as he was a demon,
to me—
to Grandfel, even Baal was no different from a lowly demon imp.
‘……
Even so, saying he tucked his tail and fled is a bit much.’
Just as I was the one beginning to recognize my place,
my vision began to blur.
An irresistible flow, just as the demon worshiper had intended.
The true truth.
Since it had shown me Baal’s power through the past,
the curse had fulfilled its purpose.
....
[You have purified the curse, “Irresistible Flow.”]
[Your relationship with Akshan has increased.]
[Your influence within Akshan has increased.]
As expected of Akshan’s repeat quest, my relationship and influence increased. Of course, that was not what mattered. My gaze turned to the wall of Mugan, which had been covered all over in curses.
‘Still, I won’t have to wrinkle my clothes.’
Because I had succeeded in purifying it, the curse had vanished cleanly. The demon worshiper’s corpse was no longer visible either. His life force must have run out, and he had been devoured by Mugan according to Mugan’s laws.
I said,
“You were pathetic to the very end.”
In the end, I had denied even the demon worshiper’s final desperate struggle and returned. Why, it seemed like he had wanted my spirit to break after witnessing Baal’s power.
“You were the same. As was the demon who calls himself the King of Kings.”
Instead, he had only ended up instilling Grandfel with needless confidence.
By the way.
……
What time is it now?
Time in Mugan flowed however it pleased, but I had entered the curse. Even if it hadn’t felt like a long time, it was an incident that could have interfered with my schedule and procedures.
The words I would say were obvious.
“I have wasted precious time.”
I spoke coldly and left Mugan.
Thud—
The door to Mugan closed, and I climbed the stairs. As I ascended, I looked back on my own loose tongue. I was thinking about just how much I would have to struggle to make all of that a reality……
But looking back, it wasn’t entirely empty bravado, was it?
—“The Demon World cannot be satisfied with the mere Seorn Continent. Fulfill the contract. Open the gate to the Arcana Continent with that sword!!”
The destruction of the Seorn Continent had occurred in the past.
If I had not entered the curse,
and Baal had opened the gate to the Arcana Continent according to the contract……?
Wouldn’t the history of the Arcana Continent have changed greatly?
‘Did my loose tongue end up preventing that?’
Of course, I couldn’t be certain. Just seeing Baal perceive my existence made it seem like the timeline was a concept far too complex for the current me to fathom.
‘Should I start studying science even now?’
Tsk, at times like this, I resent being a humanities guy.
Even so, I knew one thing for certain.
Baal was not an existence that was utterly beyond reach.
Perhaps thanks to that, my steps were unbelievably light.
Clack.
As expected, time had passed, and sunlight was shining on the Magic Tower. From early morning, the Magic Tower was bustling with crowds. When the sound of my shoes rang through such a lobby, attention inevitably gathered on me.
In the end, whispers reached my ears.
“……
It’s Lee Hoyeol!”
“Wh-what? The Magic Tower had a basement?!”
“Did something happen this early in the morning?”
“Put up breaking news right now!”
But since I was someone who paid no mind to others’ gazes or evaluations,
I headed straight for the portal.
Let’s hurry. I had to stop by the Arcana Continent this evening too.
*
[Zero Mountains]
[Appropriate Level: Not recommended for anyone]
[Collapse Rate: 100%]
The players looked up at the Zero Mountains.
“Wow, back in the day, I used to wonder when I’d ever climb that thing.”
“After the Cataclysm, I honestly forgot all about it.”
“Either way, it feels like we’ve come pretty far.”
Their first entry into the Zero Mountains was overwhelming.
Though the Zero Mountains were not recommended for anyone, the number of players active in the Zero Mountains was increasing, led by the rankers. Thanks to that, tips and information about the monsters that appeared there were spreading one by one.
An archer with a bow slung over his shoulder adjusted his glasses.
“From level 400 onward, they say it’s more efficient than most rifts.”
“Still, I didn’t expect all of you to be level 400 like me.”
“To be honest, I’ve been rushing here with only level 400 in mind.”
The four players maintained a suitable amount of tension.
Sword and shield, staff, bow.
Each raised their equipment and began climbing the Zero Mountains.
“Ah, wait a moment! Actually, I received a map from an explorer I know! He said if I ever entered the Zero Mountains, it would definitely come in handy…….”
At the mage’s words, everyone brightened.
“An explorer’s map?! That’s not an ordinary map, is it? I’ve only seen one in Nettube videos…… I heard it works kind of like a navigation system.”
“Is that true?”
“I’ll hold your staff for you. Look for the map comfortably.”
“Ah, thank you. Thanks to you, I found it!”
[Alliance Explorer’s Map: Zero Mountains Lowlands]
[Grade: Rare]
[Restriction: None]
[Completion Rate: 3.2%]
[Description: A map created by an explorer belonging to the Alliance. The explorer’s footsteps shall guide your path.]
At first glance, the information window looked utterly shabby.
It only recorded the lowlands, and just 3.2 percent at that.
At a casual glance, one might wonder what such a thing could even be used for.
However, in the vast Zero Mountains, 3.2 percent was by no means small.
[The explorer’s footsteps illuminate the surrounding area.]
Along with the message, footprint symbols appeared in the vicinity.
“So these footprints act as signposts, right?”
“Yes! If you look closely…… information appears like this too!”
“I can’t believe you managed to get something this valuable.”
“We’ll work even harder, Mage-nim!”
“Oh, not at all.”
Even in the Zero Mountains lowlands, where new strategies were being updated, it was only natural to feel worried at first. However, because the explorer’s map illuminated the area, the players were able to ease their mental burden.
Rustle!
Suddenly, a presence came from the distant forest.
The players did not panic and checked the footprints engraved nearby.
Judging from the small and cute footprints……
“I think it might be a Mountain Sparrow?”
Mountain Sparrow: Lv.
4
3
0.
Because they had practically memorized it,
the specific information came to mind immediately.
“I can’t believe something that small is level 430.”
“Thinking about the rankers who struggled against rabbits, we can’t let our guard down.”
“If they swarm us, it’ll be trouble, so let’s lure them one by one!”
Though they were still far below rankers, level 400 was high level, and they were treated as undeniable veterans. In particular, players who had reached high levels after the Cataclysm possessed practical instincts gained from life-and-death battles.
That was why they noticed.
Tremble, tremble.
The abnormal changes in their bodies.
“……
Am I the only one getting nervous?”
Level 430 was not easy, but if they attacked together, it was an opponent they could handle. However, their bodies refused to listen to an excessive degree.
Gulp—!
It was not just one player’s misconception.
Something in the bushes drew gradually closer.
For it to be a Mountain Sparrow, the pressure it exuded was indescribable.
The mage steadied his heart.
‘We have the map. The map Senior Hwigang gave me.’
There were no monsters in the vicinity that posed a threat right now.
That thing is a sparrow. A Mountain Sparrow.
But even as he braced himself, he realized something.
“……
But does a sparrow make that much noise when it moves?”
That was when it happened.
Rustle!
The thing approaching from within the forest fully revealed itself.
Before they could even be shocked, a message flickered before their eyes.
It was an appearance message.
[A “Moon Glaive Bear” appears in the area.]
“……!”
Information appeared as well.
Moon Glaive Bear: Lv.
7
0
0.
Why had a monster that even rankers had to gang up on to hunt appeared in the mountain lowlands? In a situation where their lives were in danger, they could not afford to question it.
‘Damn it!’
There was no chance of victory.
They had to run.
But could they escape from a level 700 monster……?
“Everyone, run……!”
In that fleeting instant,
he hesitated, and his words trailed off.
It was already too late. They had to withstand at least one hit.
The moment he resolved himself and raised his shield—
“……?”
Only then did he see them.
The Moon Glaive Bear’s eyes.
Its pupils, glowing faintly like the moon, seemed as though they were possessed by something.
No, as though they were completely enchanted.
Without paying the players any attention, it moved its massive body.
“Wait, its direction—?!”
However, a gap of 300 levels meant that merely overlapping paths was dangerous. Those backed by Strength and Agility could dodge, but for the mage who had been preparing a skill, it was an unreasonable demand.
“U-ugh!”
The mage and the Moon Glaive Bear drew closer.
“……
Huh?!”
But no disaster occurred.
“H-huh?”
In that fleeting instant—
Kudududuk—
A rock wall rose between the Moon Glaive Bear and the mage.
And a voice was heard.
“Are the four of you all?”
“……
Uh, huh?!!”
Facing them,
and paying no mind to the players staring at him in shock,
Hoyeol continued.
“Even so, I do not believe in superstitions.”
He spoke those incomprehensible words so confidently....
Why was it that the more things I had to do, the more interruptions appeared?
At this point, it was practically science.
It was not only the “Moon Glaive Bear.”
From above to below.
The Zero Mountains were flowing backward. In other words, high-level monsters that appeared in the highlands were being driven down into the lowlands. As though they were bewitched by something.
“Even so, I do not believe in superstitions.”
Fine, Grandfel.
Even I, a believer in superstition, will yield this time.
To dismiss it simply as being because there were four players—
because four was the number of death—
the phenomenon occurring in the mountains was far too unusual.
I raised my head stiffly.
And sharpened my senses.
Why, I had learned a thing or two.
More often than not, the culprit behind foul business turned out to be demons.
Then my vision flickered.
See? I was right, wasn’t I?
In the end, it always comes down to demons.