Chapter 35
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nTransator: Ekdud
nProofreader: coyotte508
nTL Check: KobatoChanDaisuki
nChapter 35 – Demon Lord’s Castle (2)
n“Huh”
nHansoo chuckled at the movements he felt behind him.
n‘I wondered what he was preparing so hard for.’
nHansoo nodded.
nIt seemed like they were well prepared as they employed the method they learned from Hansoo fighting the Demons.
nArtifacts that could slow down the movements of the Demons instead of ones that would damage them fatally.
nAnd resistances and buffs to deal with the basic AOE attacks of the Demons.
nThey had a decent assortment.
nTheir movements and attacks couldn’t follow up to Hansoo’s.
nBut they were filling the gaps with various skills and traits.
n‘If you do that then you can definitely hunt it safely.’
nThe opposite method of Hansoo’s.
nIf Hansoo was trying to catch it as fast as possible by taking on the hits while trusting his resistance and his dodges to suppress it down with an overwhelming attack then this method was a safe hunting method in order to receive no casualties whatsoever.
nThe fifteen special forces were rotating endlessly as they injured the demon.
nThis was possible because they could withstand the Demon’s skills to an extent.
nThey couldn’t reduce the damage like Hansoo but they were compensating it with healing skills.
nWhile Hansoo was about to finish off his Demon, the special forces had also pulled out both the hearts from the Demons.
nThe people’s expressions turned grave.
nThey had thought that only Hansoo could kill the Demons but the Clan Lords were killing them well too.
nAnd as they started killing the Demons, the other clan Lords pulled out their own special forces that they had hidden and basically crushed the mages apart.
nThe mages were very threatening to the non-clansmen who didn’t have my magic resistance but it wasn’t really hard for the special forces, who had magic resistances as well as heals and other skills, to deal with it.
nAnd the most attractive thing was their number.
nHansoo was one person.
nThat fact did not change no matter how strong he was.
nBut the sum of the different Clan Lords’ special forces were over 100 and they were hunting that much more efficiently.
n“…if this happens then isn’t it better to just join the side of the clans?”
nSomebody mumbled.
nHansoo was strong but he only had one body.
nAnd the non-clansmen were constantly getting injured from the mages.
nOn the other hand, the Clan unions were advancing while receiving the thorough protection of the special forces.
n“Bitches… if they had such things then they should’ve protected us too.”
nAs one person gazed at the special forces in resentment, a friend next to him, whom he had gotten close to during the defense, shook his head.
n“Those words don’t even make sense. You think they would protect you.”
nWhy would they protect them?
nThey weren’t even part of the clans.
nThe friend, who had been talking, looked at the Demon Lord’s Castle in the distance.
nThis was the first day.
nThere was a long way to go.
nDisliked things were disliked things, so he had to decide rationally.
nHe started to ponder after laying down his possibilities of choices.
nEither to stay in the non-clansmen union.
nOr shamelessly go under the clan union.
n‘…it’s not that bad?’
nThe reason why he was worried about being thrown off was because the number that could move through the crystal was limited to 500.
nBut on the other hand, that problem did not exist anymore.
nNo, the clan unions would actually welcome them instead.
nSince the adventurers who received their symbols would become part of their powers and ascend together.
n‘Well. Let’s at least talk about it. If not then I can just stay here.’
nIt wasn’t bad for them no matter what happened.
nIf they were denied then they could just follow Hansoo’s back.
nAnd if they were welcomed then they just needed to fight under the clans.
nAnd soon multiple people with similar thoughts started to head towards the clans and Guktae smiled inwardly as he saw this.
n‘As I thought.’
nWhat kind of loyalty would these guys have.
nThey were just grasshoppers looking around for safe areas.
nThe only reason they had gone under Hansoo was because he looked quite reliable and because it would be dangerous for them if they stayed behind.
nAs long as their motives for going under Hansoo were clear, the answer was already set.
n‘Yes. Come. We will take you in.’
nIt won’t take long.
nUntil he will be left alone.
n‘I’m curious. As to how far you can go alone.’
n……………………………
n“…The people keep leaving. Is it alright like this?”
nHyunwoo mumbled as he looked at the 300 or so people left
n‘They’re all so amazing.’
nHyunwoo mumbled quietly.
nThey had split up like this within a day of deciding to group up.
nNo, if you look at it another way then it might be something obvious.
nThere aren’t many people who have something more important than their own lives.
nEspecially in a world like this where family, love and faith was hard to maintain.
nHansoo chuckled at Hyunwoo’s words as he spoke.
n“Well. It’s not that bad. If they fight that well.”
nHansoo actually thought that the clan unions were rather good.
nThose guys, who had set up a way to fight against a difficult enemy with near perfection in 20 days, were actually worthy of praise.
nAnd no matter what happened, it was easier to control them if there were more people in the clan union than in the non-clan union.
nIn conclusion, this would increase the number of people who would live and even the speed in which they would advance towards the Demon Lord’s Castle.
n“…But doesn’t the fact that they’re taking the crystals piss you off or anything?”
nHansoo shook his head at Hyunwoo’s words.
nThe things he had been worrying about until now were two things.
nPeople dying at the hands of demons because they tried too hard to get their hands on the crystals and the people who had gained the crystal ascending just like that.
nBut such things won’t happen anymore.
nThere was nothing bad about it because the special forces were hunting demons safely and it was only fair for the killer to take the crystal.
nAnd Eres had saved 600 out of 1000 people.
nIf they advance like this then it meant that the Clan Lords and their core members won’t fall into danger.
nBut why would they leave their gathered powers here and ascend with the crystals?
nActually, if they fought better by buying artifacts with the crystal then it was even better for him.
nSince he will be able to arrive at the Demon Lord’s Castle with the best bodily condition.
n‘It’ll be so much better if they only did things up to this point.’
nAs soon as his words ended, Guktae walked towards him audaciously from afar.
n“Since we caught it the ownership belonging to us is definite right?”
nHansoo nodded his head.
n“Of course. The ownership of the items that dropped from the beast or demon that you killed belongs to you.”
nGuktae shrugged his shoulders.
n‘Well yeah. He won’t fall for simple things such as this.’
nHe had thoroughly guarded the crystals from being distributed.
nAnd because of this, if he had said something about it then he was going to show some supremacy with that as the reason.
nHe was strong but of course they would win if they put their special forces, which numbered over a hundred, in front of them and pushed him back.
nAnd currently the people under him were quickly dropping out.
nHe thought that once he suppressed him, the 300 people stuck to him will drop off in piles but to come out in such a calm manner.
n‘Well. It’s not that bad.’
nIt wasn’t that bad as he saw the guy who hadn’t allowed for his intentions to bend act like this.
n‘Well. We’ll be in more of an advantage as the time goes on.’
nThere was no need to hurry.
nSince the gap will continue to grow.
nOnce he gathered the crystals and got equipped with artifacts like the Drum of Lempal, the gap will clearly get widen.
n“Ey. Fucker.”
nHansoo chuckled at Hyunwoo, who was cursing as he looked at Guktae in the distance, and then started to count the number of crystals he had.
n‘But if I collect crystals at this rate then I can even obtain
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nIf he were to obtain
nIf they advance on friendly terms like this then he might even be able to save more than Eres.
n‘Though it seems that it’ll be hard.’
nHansoo finished his thoughts and then jumped at the Demons just like that.
n…………………………………………
nKudududk.
nHansoo swung his scythe widely towards the special forces that were slowly approaching the Demon which he was fighting
nThe ground dug up following the path of the scythe and because of this the special force members stopped their movements.
nHansoo smirked at those special forces.
n“Don’t really need to help though.”
nSunghoon, one of the special forces, grinded his teeth and then spoke out.
n“But no matter how I see it, it seems very unfair.”
n“What does?”
nSunghoon pointed at the corpse of the demon which was on the ground.
n“You are catching three at the same time. And with just a chain on you.”
nSince they had gotten under the clans, they couldn’t prevent damage from the mages from reaching the clansmen anymore.
nAnd because of this the Lords split up their special forces.
n60 people were fighting the demons with around 12 people to 1 while the remaining 40 were to go up against mages.
nBut while the 60 were hunting five, Hansoo killed three by himself.
nAs if he had spat on them already, he tied them up one by one with the chains and then killed them off one by one.
nThere was a difference in speed due to the fact that they were fighting rather safely in order to prevent injuries from happening to every precious special force member whilst Hansoo was charging in like a maniac without caring for his body.
nBut even so, they were 60 people.
nAnd not any 60, these were the elites who were created by combining psychic powers, skills and runes by using the resources of the whole clan.
nHansoo smirked as he spoke.
n“That’s why I first moved to action when you came to kill them. Just like before.”
n‘…damnable bastard’
nWhat had occurred was that he had split up two of the three demons, who were tied up by the chain, to approach another six of them at a time.
nHe had tied up three but only fought one at a time so they had split up a team to approach the other two which were tied up.
nAnd then this guy just let loose the chains which tied the two up, which of course made the demons go on a rampage, and almost caused one of the special forces to die.
n‘Damnable…’
nIt seemed like there were many demons but once they started killing them, there weren’t as many of them.
nThe number of demons which had appeared to them within the past three days was about 50.
nWhile they killed 30, Hansoo had eaten up 19 of them all alone.
nAnd because of this the Lords couldn’t keep up their face.
nSince they had killed 30 with 12 people.
nAnd they couldn’t even get 10 when they fought for 10 days straight.
nOn whose nose did they want to stick this? (TL: Korean saying describing inadequate things)
n‘This won’t do.’
nSunghoon quickly backed off with a cold expression and then hurriedly walked towards his Lord, Guktae.
n…………………………………
n‘A genius is really a genius.’
nHe had a gist of it but for their hunting speeds to have that much of a difference.
n‘Well. The crystals aren’t the important things.’
nThe crystals were bonuses no matter what happened.
nGuktae sighed after making a fed up expression then thought of his motives.
nHe had thought about the past when he read the Romance of Three Kingdoms. (*TL: Whoever does not know what this is, go read it.)
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nBut here there were 12 clans.
nIt was likely that the stage would get smaller as they went higher and higher.
nIf they think about organizing things later then it’ll be too late.
n‘Let’s see… if you say it takes 10 days then the remaining time is 7 days.’
nIf you discard the fact that they had to go up against undeads and demons without stopping as they advanced, it was a rather long time.
nBut it wasn’t that long in order to complete his plans.
n‘I acknowledge the fact that you’re strong.’
nAcknowledge.
nHe was really strong.
nEven more so than the clan he created with all his might.
nAnd he will think that from now on, there will be times where his individual strength would surpass the strength of a group.
n‘I really want to take him.’
nBut he had already looked into this.
nAs he heard, he had already denied the proposals of other clans.
nBut everyone probably poked him once at least.
nAnd to his knowledge, he denied all of them.
n‘It seems like there’s a reason…’
nHe had many things that he kept hidden.
nThe fact that he didn’t ascend despite having crystals was suspicious too.
n‘Well. Thanks to that there’s an opportunity for me’
nIf I cannot use it then others cannot either.
nThat was too dangerous.
nEven if things were to get dangerous because of his disappearance, he could just escape using the crystals along with his core members and special forces.
nThough they had a connection, the level in which the Sovereign and the ones below, the people with symbols, were very different.
nA Sovereign wouldn’t tell a general to not go to war because he treasures the general.
n‘There’s no need for me to do it personally.’
nIt’ll be over if he made somebody go get hit by the blade and die.
nEven better if the blade got damaged.
n‘Let’s see. Somebody who would be the easiest to make him fall into such a trap is… Taejin.’
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nGuktae ordered something to the clansmen below through the message as he got up and headed towards Taejin.
n……………………………………
nTaejin stared coldly at Hansoo, who was standing in front of the giant door made of bones.
nBecause he thought of the words of another Clan Lord, Guktae.
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nAnd then he said that this fact needed to be remained a secret from others in order to avoid the eyes of the other clans.
n‘…this bastard. You deny my offer but accept Guktae’s?’
nTaejin grinded his teeth.
nOf course he wasn’t dumb and didn’t believe right away.
nSo he had threatened that Hyunwoo guy who was always with Hansoo.
nAnd he found out that there indeed were positive talks going between Hansoo and Guktae.
n‘It cannot happen. It cannot.’
nGuktae already had the most power out of the 12 clans.
nIt was comparing the height of acorns but a huge difference was created once that guy came in.
nThough they were secret allies within the Clan union, how could he just watch things like this when he didn’t know what would happen after they went up.
n‘This bitch…I had left him alone because he was in a neutral position.’
nThere was a huge difference even if they say that the power between him and the affiliated person were the same.
nAnd it’ll be a huge burden once the crystals in his hands go into Guktae’s hands.
n‘I need to make some preparations.’
nHe fought all the way in the very front.
nSo a chance will come by if he looks for one.
nEspecially if it’s near that dangerous looking and suspicious door.
n‘Yeah. You’ve been quite comfortable up until now.’
nUnfitting of this damnable world.
nTaejin grinded his teeth after seeing Hansoo and the giant door made of bones in the distance as he proceeded to order something towards the clansmen below.
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