Chapter 178: Episode 35_A Feint in the East, a Strike in the West (6)
9.
Guilds began to swarm toward the Land of Calamity.
Everyone tensed, wondering if the nightmare from a few days ago was about to repeat itself, but this ti there was no friction.
They all just watched each other and quietly slipped into the hazardous zone.
This was not the ti to fight.
They were entering a place where their lives would be at risk anyway.
There was no need to hasten their own deaths by fighting amongst themselves before even going in.
With a silent understanding, one guild after another entered, once again clutching at the dream of striking it rich.
Of course, not everyone went in.
Most of the major guilds set up camp outside and waited.
A wise choice.
“We’ll hit them when they co out.”
“Instead of dreaming about the jackpot of killing the dragon, we’ll take a hit to our rank and secure the corpse.”
When they compared the opportunity costs, they decided this was far more profitable.
It was the right call.
Rather than shadowboxing against untouchable thunder and earthquakes, it was far more realistic to fight humans they could crush with overwhelming numbers and strength.
Of course, the people who went inside had considered that possibility.
In the end, it was a battle of wits.
Who could think further ahead?
Half a day remained.
A fierce ga of chicken began.
Perhaps because everyone’s focus had shifted, they failed to consider one crucial variable.
The possibility that the tip—that this place was not a Land of Calamity but a Land of Opportunity—might have been a lie from the start.
Ti was that tight.
They had no bandwidth to waste on minor doubts.
The Kenji Guild was no exception.
* * *
“This should be far enough, right?”
“...You’re really going through with this?”
“Of course I am. Did you think I was joking?”
“You might not be able to handle the consequences.”
“That’s for
to decide, punk.”
After receiving the signal from Jeong Seolah, Han Simin took a deep breath.
Unlike the Land of Calamity, which was now crawling with people, this place was lush and pleasant, so quiet that you could clearly hear the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
And it was only a few hours away.
Considering they had been running into people just an hour ago, the change was astonishing.
“We don’t have much ti. We have to finish this quickly. We only get four shots.”
Kardian remained silent.
But he had no ti to appreciate it.
He hadn’t lured the guilds there just to watch them beat each other to death.
That would be nice, but it wouldn’t be enough to kill them all, nor would it be enough to close the gap in the rankings.
It was just a distraction.
A way to move the pests sowhere else.
Now that the ploy had worked, all that was left was the real hunt.
Han Simin hurriedly pressed Kardian.
“Co on. Hurry up.”
“...Haah.”
Kardian glared at him, her expression moving beyond annoyance into outright disgust.
She knew perfectly well this was an urgent situation where every second counted, but she couldn’t help but sigh whenever she received orders like this.
“You want
to use Dragon Fear just to help a human hunt.”
“What? Is there a problem? Are you refusing?”
She didn’t answer.
Dragon Fear.
It was a dragon’s unique authority, the dignity of an absolute being.
It was less a skill one “used” and more an innate aura of poise and authority, a truly broken ability that instilled absolute terror in any being of a lower rank.
And he wanted her to use it just to gather monsters.
What dragon would be happy about that?
Lately, she had been dragged around and used by humans so much that her dignity was in tatters. She was dying of embarrassnt.
And now she was supposed to spam Dragon Fear to abet the slaughter of monsters?
“Haah.”
There was no real problem with it.
In a dragon’s eyes, humans and other monsters were all the sa insignificant trash.
It didn’t matter who killed whom, or whether she was involved in the process. There was no need to feel guilty.
It was just... distasteful.
Being used.
But what could she do?
“Fine.”
When he said jump, she had to jump.
She cleared her throat as she watched Han Simin shake the box containing the Dragon Heart in one hand.
She lightly ignored the nagging feeling that her mana had never once been fully replenished since eting him and gathered every last drop of magic in her body.
“Are you even going to be able to use it like that?”
“Fear is a unique authority.”
“With that face, if you go Roar, it’s going to look pretty weird.”
She ignored his needling and shouted.
—Hey! All of you, get over here!
The monsters were bewildered.
A rough command, carried on a delicate voice, rode her mana and echoed throughout the entire mountain range.
At the sa ti, Han Simin’s suspicious gaze bored into her.
“You’re not ssing with , are you?”
“Heh.”
Kardian shrugged at his look.
Her confidence said, ’Just wait.’
Seeing his face scrunch up in doubt put her in a good mood.
Even in a party, he wouldn’t be completely immune to the effects of Fear.
Then she flinched.
’When did this start? When did Han Simin’s suffering beco my joy?’
It was an uncomfortable realization, but she didn’t dwell on it.
Sothing far more entertaining was on its way.
THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD!
The ground shook.
Enough of them were coming that their footsteps alone made the earth tremble.
Han Simin’s suspicious expression froze.
Then, a faint smile spread across his hardened face.
“This is going to be fun.”
Sudal’s ore began to glow, and the curtain rose on the final day.
* * *
10.
The end of the guild selection event.
It had been fierce, both short and long, and it had seen more variables and casualties than any selection event in history. The final destination of this grueling competition was the Imperial Palace.
It was the place where they would be recognized by the Emperor for their hard work and achievents.
Not a single person entering the palace looked presentable.
That was how difficult it had been.
Even among the major guilds, it was hard to find anyone whose body was completely unscathed. That said it all.
The Emperor felt proud as he looked at them.
Many had died, but they would have grown that much stronger for it.
’A stepping stone for growth.’
Events like this would accumulate, raising the overall military strength of the continent and allowing them to prepare for the crisis that would soday befall it.
The thought put him in a good mood.
“I shall broaden and increase the scope of the selection rewards.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The big-hearted Emperor casually bestowed his favor.
* * *
Han Simin and the Specialists reunited as well.
“Yeseul. Seolah.”
“Oh! Simin?”
Han Simin looked so wrecked that they had almost walked right past him without recognizing him.
“Pfft! Anyone who sees you will think you were the one who worked the hardest in this entire selection.”
“I did work the hardest.”
His shalessness pierced the heavens.
It was only natural.
He was the type to claim credit even when he had done nothing, and this ti he had actually put in a great deal of effort.
The result was that he was covered head to toe in dust, with the blood of all sorts of monsters caked on top.
“Go wash up.”
“I’ll see you in a bit. Watch these two for .”
Handing Squeaker and Sudal over to Kang Yeseul, Han Simin headed toward the palace.
Kardian followed behind him.
“Why is Dian going with him?”
The developnt made both won tilt their heads.
Jeong Hyeonsu answered the question as if it were nothing.
“She’s his slave, rember.”
The two won were speechless.
“Right.”
It was an answer that rubbed them the wrong way, but they couldn’t refute it.
They both felt like they ought to follow, but they held back.
He was probably going to the bathhouse. Were they going to follow him there?
It was just a ga, so technically it wouldn’t matter.
The sense of reality was so strong it bordered on overwhelming, and there were even systems in place that allowed loving couples to enjoy the ga to its fullest, just like in real life.
With Jeong Seolah’s and Kang Yeseul’s personalities, there was no real reason they couldn’t.
Their hesitation stemd from sothing else.
“We probably shouldn’t go, right?”
“I am curious, but...”
They had already witnessed Kardian’s overwhelming presence during the selection event.
They had a feeling it would only make them feel a pointless sense of defeat.
The two won, who had never once felt outclassed, walked gloomily toward the designated eting point.
* * *
Inside a room in the Imperial Palace, accessible only to mbers of the royal family.
As soon as he stepped in, Han Simin started stripping and heading for the bathroom, but then he stopped.
“Why are you coming in here?”
“I need to wash too, human.”
“Yeah, right. You’re here to wait on .”
Kardian glared at him.
“The Dragon Heart is in my subspace, so don’t try anything funny.”
“This is the kind of body males like, you know. Or not?”
“Not enough for
to sleep with you and hand over the Dragon Heart.”
“I can wait on you as much as you want.”
“Dream on.”
He shut down Kardian’s attempt at seduction without hesitation and went into the bathroom.
“Tch.”
Kardian clicked her tongue and pulled her robe back up where it had slipped down.
’He really is no ordinary human.’
She hadn’t expected it to be easy, but this was beyond what she had imagined.
She had thought her approach was quite natural.
She shook off her regret and snapped her fingers.
The dust and dirt on her body vanished without a trace.
The sa went for Han Simin’s armor, which he had tossed all over the room.
“La la la, the stupid dragon is my slave. I’ll strip her down to the bone, buy a building, set up an annuity, and live off her forever and ever!”
She fell silent.
She sat down on the bed and listened to Han Simin humming in the bath.
’Once I get that Dragon Heart...’
Soday, she was definitely going to plant a fist squarely in his jaw.
She steeled her resolve with a determination as firm as any pact.
* * *
11.
The hall where everyone had gathered had more empty spots than it did at the start of the guild selection.
But the atmosphere was far sharper.
A month of life-or-death battles had forged their cohesion and deepened their will to live.
“You have all done well.”
The Emperor offered them a short, weighty comndation.
Those who received his sincere praise went down on one knee, answering his sincerity with their own.
It was a heartwarming sight.
Invisible bonds had ford between those who had once aid their blades at each other’s lives.
They had killed competitors to win, but in the end, they were all survivors of the dangerous hunting grounds of the Cliffs of Fall.
Even though they had failed to achieve their ultimate goal of a successful Dragon Raid, the faces they had seen in the Land of Calamity on that last day would remain in their hearts as a mix of love and hate.
Of course, the touching mont ended there.
“I shall grant fair rewards according to your rankings.”
In the end, it was a competitive world.
No amount of warm feelings would overturn the rankings.
The major guilds couldn’t hide their smiles as they took stock of their numbers.
At last, the day had co when they would overturn the long-standing guild rankings.
The master of the first-place guild strode forward proudly to receive the glory from the Emperor.
“Since I am highly satisfied with this selection event, I shall grant rewards down to tenth place.”
The guild masters were shocked.
Normally, the top 100 guilds received various minor benefits from the Empire.
But they were nothing compared to what first place received. This ti, however, he was saying that the top ten would receive slightly lesser, but still jaw-dropping, benefits.
“Wooooo!”
The cheers of the guild mbers in that range shook the heavens.
“Oh yeah!”
Among those voices was Kang Yeseul’s.
In fact, the entire Specialists guild was cheering.
“See that? You see this? This is what I can do.”
“Wow. Simin, I love you!”
They had narrowly missed first place, but Han Simin still straightened his shoulders. He had put the Specialists in ninth place—a rank no one had ever imagined an adventurer guild could reach.
“If Sudal’s buff cooldown had been just one hour shorter, we could’ve taken first.”
“Ninth is more than enough. Thank you, Simin.”
“Think nothing of it. Hahaha.”
’I got paid for all of it anyway.’
He had no intention of being humble; he milked the mont for all it was worth.
It had been a very satisfying guild selection tournant.
He had gained a ton of levels, forged a one-sided connection with a dragon nad Kardian, and above all—
“Just thinking about the payout makes
grin from ear to ear. My bank account might actually burst. I really should buy a building.”
“I’ll help you with that,” Seolah offered.
“Thank you. In that case, I’ll treat you to a al soti.”
And he hadn’t even received the ’real’ rewards yet.
There was still a full month’s worth of accounting to co.
A smile still playing on his lips, Han Simin turned toward Kenji, who had been glaring at him for so ti.
He waved cheerfully.
Then, though he knew the other man was too far away to hear, he couldn’t resist reminding him.
“You haven’t forgotten our little deal over the Emperor, have you?”
* * *
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