abcnovels
Chapter 183
Chapter 183
Chapter 183
“Can you really just leave him alone?”
“If killed everyone I wanted to kill, the Icarus clan’s number would have already been halved.”
“... Am I one of those people?” Antony asked, sounding slightly anxious for some reason.
“I didn’t want you dead, at least. Not that much.”
“I knew it... Wait. By not that much, you mean...”
Choi Yeonseung walked away, ignoring him.
“Now that you’ve persuaded the Chinese, the rest will be easier.”
He stopped by the Chinese expedition team first since they were the most difficult ones to persuade. The others weren’t easy either, but they weren’t that difficult compared to the Chinese hunters.
***
“I heard you’re helping everyone. Thank you so much.”
The Japanese expedition team’s reaction was more favorable than expected.
Choi Yeonseung was relieved.
‘This will end sooner than I expected.’
“Sure, sure. If you’re really thankful, then let’s get this over with quickly. Let’s begin by organizing the supplies—”
“Ah. Wait a moment.”
“??”
Choi Yeonseung had an ominous feeling when someone who clearly didn’t look like a hunter stepped up next to the Japanese hunters.
“Who are you?”
“I’m an official from the Ministry of Defense...”
While South Korea and the US created new government departments to coincide with the raid era, Japan added a hunter-related division to its Ministry of Defense. In other words, this official was in charge of hunters and raids.
“Hello, Hunter Choi Yeonseung.”
“Nice to meet you. What’s going on?”
“I am very grateful to hear that Hunter Choi Yeonseung is supporting us with supplies, but there are a few things we have to deal with before that.”
The official pulled out paper after paper.
Astonished, the Icarus clan hunters next to them murmured.
-Even IRS officials don’t do this.
-This guy has to be crazy.
“Now! Please take this.”
Choi Yeonseung received the thick bundle of documents and used all his strength to manage his expression. “What is this?”
“Documents for you to sign, Hunter Choi Yeonseung, just in case something goes wrong later after we accept the supplies...”
“What’s wrong with what we are giving you?”
Choi Yeonseung stayed still, but the other hunters had grown furious. Few hunters could stand being treated in such a way, especially considering they came to help with good intentions.
“The documents are in Japanese.”
“Ah... I’m sorry. I don’t have any other papers. Please use a translator.”
As Choi Yeonseung contemplated whether to throw a punch or the papers away, another official came running from behind.
The sight made the hunters feel slightly relieved. Someone was still in their right mind!
“Wait! Wait a minute!”
“Huh? Section Chief, I am acting in accordance with the established procedures.”
“No. I looked up the regulations again. We can’t accept the supplies. According to the regulations, materials provided by other countries can’t be accepted until they have undergone the relevant inspections.”
“Is a test needed?”
“Yes, but we don’t have any inspection equipment right now. We will have to refuse the supplies.”
“......”
“......”
The Japanese hunters looked at the officials with embarrassment in their eyes. However, the officials were very firm.
From behind Choi Yeonseung, Illeya whispered, “Will you use Pressure Point Attack? I think that’s the best course of action here.”
Bang!
However, there was no need. The orcs had launched another offensive. The officials were fortunate enough to escape from the Pressure Point Attack.
***
“Don’t let them enter!” the hunters screamed and cast magic.
The fortress still had defensive magic all around it, and it still had its walls, which the hunters further reinforced. Those now served as the lifeline of the hunters.
Hundreds of hunters cast magic so powerful that even the orcs couldn’t easily pierce through their defenses. As a result, the orcs in front of the fortress were torn apart. However, it was a bit different this time. Previously, they retreated the moment they felt as if their attack wouldn’t work. Yet this time, they were stepping on the corpses of their comrades with the intent to kill.
“Friend, don’t you think they’re acting a little different this time?!” Smallwood shouted, panicking.
The orcs acted as if they planned to put an end to this now, making even the experienced hunters feel a chill going down their spines.
“Yes. Seems like it.”
“......”
Smallwood looked at Choi Yeonseung in bewilderment. Choi Yeonseung was too calm. Right now, the hunters on the other side were panicking and busily discussing countermeasures...
“Maybe the chief of the orcs has appeared.”
“You mean the boss monster of this realm?”
The hunters couldn’t help looking down at the bottom of the fortress. So many orcs had gathered that it was impossible to distinguish one from another. Did the boss monster really appear?
“Are you sure?”
“There has to be a leader for so many orcs to be properly commanded.”
Choi Yeonseung put his foot on the fortress wall.
“???”
“I’m going to take the boss monster’s head, so all you have to do is hold on. The Mount Hua Sect hunters will block the front with their formation. If you use good magic from behind, you should be fine,” Choi Yeonseung said, then disappeared.
Astonished, the hunters he left behind tried to look for him.
***
“I’m glad the boss monster is here.”
Due to many reasons, the boss monster would often be in the deepest part of the dungeon even though it would be more convenient to wait at the entrance and attack the intruders immediately. One of those reasons was that the dungeon usually closed as soon as the boss monster fell.
Hence, the boss monsters avoided coming to the forefront unless necessary. Their best option was to let their subordinates deal with the intruders before they made a move! Nevertheless, the berserker constellation still gathered all the orcs because the expedition was bigger than expected. However, this many orcs would fight among themselves if they didn’t have a leader.
-Ketala! This is great. I can’t believe you are following Master’s strategy so well!
The orc chieftain, Igorka, brandished his weapon as he shouted. He was in charge of all the orcs in here, and he was also the boss monster that had to be killed to clear the realm. Igorka should’ve been the one who heard the voice of the constellation. However, the berserker constellation didn’t contact him.
‘I would’ve given him the orders directly if it wasn’t for his excessive madness.’
The thought didn’t suit the Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood, but sometimes, a constellation’s power could hold them back. Upon exceeding a certain level of madness, one would no longer be capable of properly following a constellation’s order.
-I’ll break the intruders’ skills and chew on their hearts!
-How wonderful, Igorka!
Fortunately, he had a useful household member called Ketala, thanks to whom the berserker constellation could trick the humans’ expedition.
‘The humans of Earth will soon tremble with fear upon hearing my name.’
Unfortunately, the berserker constellation was too careless. When humans launched this expedition, they already carried with them a plan to defeat the boss monster.
“There it is.”
Choi Yeonseung’s plan was simple: they would hold on and minimize the damage they’d sustain for as long as they could. Upon finding the boss monster, he would then charge onward and take it down. Considering his current martial arts ability, Choi Yeonseung was confident he could do it. He was certain he could kill the boss monster with his powers as a constellation.
… Surprisingly, Joseph, who planned this expedition, was thinking of the same thing. Moreover, he was one step ahead of Choi Yeonseung!
[I will give you two treasures: the Cloak of the Elf Slayer and Poison of Existence.]
[Clear the first area and break the power of the berserker constellation.]
After thinking about it for a long time, Joseph’s master, the Iron-Blooded General Who Shakes the Battlefield, thought that assassinating the boss monster was their best solution. The arrogant berserker constellation wouldn’t expect it. Although the general constellation was caught off-guard by the orcs’ sudden attack, his plan was still usable.
“That orc is the boss monster of this realm?”
The hunters who came with them were somewhat convinced. Igorka’s presence was unusual.
“Yes.”
A-grade hunters like Ben Nacht and Adelin Bonaveluzza normally would have had no intention of joining Joseph. Since they all were leading their own expeditions, it would have been better for them to take down the boss monster first than share the results with Joseph. However, Joseph’s proposal turned out to be more appealing than expected.
-I have a way to defeat the orcs right here, right now. My constellation’s the one who came up with it. If you join me, I will share the results with you both.
-......
-......
Even sworn enemies joined hands when profits were at stake. Ben Nacht of Germany and Adelin Bonaveluzza of France were no different. Wouldn’t it be better for them all to profit than starve?
‘This artifact is way more powerful than I expected...!’
The Cloak of the Elf Slayer that Joseph had was much more powerful than they thought. Deceiving everyone in the area, nobody noticed them even as they reached the chieftain. A constellation giving this to him directly had to have been true. If the cloak had this much power, then the other item...
The two A-grade hunters’ eyes widened upon seeing the terrible magic power that radiated from Joseph’s one-handed sword. What type of magic did it contain?
“You only have to create one chance. That’ll be enough for me to take his life.”
“... Okay. Let’s try it.”
Ben prepared to use magic along with the hunters who followed him. They only had three A-grade hunters and a little over ten B-grade hunters, while the enemies had many orcs surrounding them. They would only be able to buy a short amount of time at best.
“Bonaveluzza. As soon as I use a skill, follow my lead and launch attacks.”
“Okay. Get ready.”
With a roar, the nearby orcs were sent flying as the tents around them were torn apart. It was due to the powerful magic of the hunters. Taking advantage of the opportunity opened by the hunters’ powerful magic, Joseph accurately stabbed the great chieftain in the back. The Poison of Existence that the constellation had given him dug deep and melted the chieftain.
… Or at least it should have.
“......?!”
-Ku... Kuooo... Kuoooh...
The chieftain, Igorka, looked down at Joseph with burning eyes. He obviously wouldn’t die any time soon.
[The ‘Iron-Blooded General Who Shakes the Battlefield’ says he was wrong.]
Upon receiving the general constellation’s message, Joseph felt his heart sinking in his chest.
-????????!
The poison made Igorka suffer, but he didn’t collapse. Rather, he was so tough that he just endured it. At the same time, his madness exploded to greater heights.
[The ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ is happy!]
[The ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ gives Igorka more strength!]
[......]
[......]
The unexpected situation made the stunned berserker constellation burst out laughing.
‘These stupid bastards! You underestimated Igorka’s vitality!’
With their assassination attempt failing…
“Retreat! It failed!”
“Hey, you crazy bastard!”
“Are you really an A-grade?”
Dumbfounded, the hunters present hurled insults at Joseph. They didn’t expect someone so confident to fail. Igorka quickly tore up the surroundings and blew away even his fellow orcs. The hunters couldn’t escape even if they wanted to. Due to the noise, the orcs had gathered and surrounded them.
Not long after, however, a deep white light flashed, and Igorka’s head flew away.