Chapter 116 – Demon King’s Castle (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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A certain report of victory.

For that, I needed steady preparation.

No, I had no choice but to prepare steadily.

The Lionheart Knights under Harkon.

The Shadow Mercenaries.

The Goddess Order.

The Mage Tower.

Regardless of the reason, to not show my bare bottom to the allies following me, that is.

In that sense, I stopped by the Mage Tower, Garnet Hall after a long time.

Finally level 390.

It would still be far lacking compared to the overestimation I receive but.

‘Compared to a few months ago, I have grown.’

Looking around the magic tools in the Garnet Hall.

It reminds me of the first time I stopped by the Garnet Hall.

Drooling because of the level restrictions, and eventually, the one with a 100 level restriction.

Taking just this [Hexagram Brooch] and leaving was all I could do.

Right, thinking about that time, I have a lot of options now.

“Chief Lee Ho-yeol, you are the last one.”

The skilled mage managing the Garnet Hall.

He politely bowed his head to me and offered a greeting.

Then he added one sentence.

“Please, I hope there are magic tools left that meet Chief’s discerning eyes.”

As for the magic tools of the Garnet Hall.

To me, most are still pictures of rice cakes.

But I immediately understood the meaning of those words.

‘The goal is to annihilate the Demon Kings.’

I conveyed that plan to the Senior Mages of the Mage Tower, including Marcelo.

Whether my intent was conveyed accurately. Since then, lines of text regarding [Magic Tool Rental] continually popped up on the parchment.

‘Everyone rented tremendous magic tools.’

[Golden Statue of Illusion].

[Miniature Magic Sun].

Down to [Grand Sage’s Staff]…….

Even looking around roughly, the major magic tools were not visible.

The Senior Mages must have rented them.

They must have rented them because they can clearly use them, you know.

I roughly pictured the twenty unseen magic tools.

‘Since the one with the lowest level restriction among them was level 800.’

It meant the levels of the Senior Mages were at least 800.

I anew realize the gap once again.

I thought I had grown in my own way but.

‘It’s the difference between heaven and earth.’

Moreover, Karimzeva and Senios.

And I was even guessing the existence of High-ranking Demon Kings whom even they couldn’t dare to approach.

Heaven and earth. And the existences of the heaven beyond heaven that cannot be compared to even such heaven.

‘……I still have a long way to go.’

Even for ambitious, it’s too ambitious of a goal.

For an ordinary person, their morale would probably drop.

However, since when was I, Granfel, an ordinary person.

“Not bad.”

A lofty pride that seems able to pierce even the heaven of the heaven beyond heaven!

Thanks to that, I could calmly choose the magic tools to rent.

Because anyway, the magic tools rented by the Senior Mages were items that I, who am merely level 390, couldn’t even equip.

“I will go with this.”

I rented a total of three magic tools, items.

That fit my level.

And that I was barely able to equip.

[Token of the Whirlwind]

[Grade: Unique]

[Restriction: Lv.350]…….

[Masterpiece – One Hundred Colors Outer Wings]

[Grade: Unique]

[Restriction: Lv.350]…….

[Masterpiece – Lightning-Struck Branch Wand]

[Grade: Unique]

[Restriction: Lv.380]…….

Ring, clothing, and wand.

There were about three items with level restrictions I could use while also conforming to Granfel’s discerning eyes.

At the magic tools I chose, the skilled mage seemed to flinch.

“……Are you truly alright with just these magic tools?”

Even if I want to choose something else, I lack the level so it can’t be helped.

Of course, confessing my own lacking?

As long as there is pride in my chest, it was an impossible thing so.

I had no choice but to speak shamelessly.

“Even this much is sufficient.”

“……!”

Soon, gazes full of respect pouring over me.

Somehow, he clearly misunderstood but.

There was only me who considered even that gaze natural.

It’s profoundly embarrassing…….

.

.

.

However, separate from that sense of shame.

Granfel’s discerning eyes were amazing.

That evidence was appearing on the status window.

[Name: Granfel Claudi Arpeus Romeo]

[Title: The Last Adventurer]

[Class: Demon Hunter]

[Level: 390]

[Stats]

Strength: 67 / Agility: 73 / Magic: 350 / Luck: 6 / Aesthetics: Medium

[Available Points: 0]

The [Aesthetics] stat rose.

Probably thanks to additionally equipping two [Masterpiece] items. It’s good that the stat which rarely changed from [Low] rose but…….

Sensing it would probably be impossible until I manifest proper magic.

However, there was no need to be impatient.

──────

New Rift, ‘Demon King’s Castle’ is added.

New Rift, ‘Demon King’s Castle’ is added.

New Rift, ‘Demon King’s Castle’ is added.

──────

Exactly as I expected.

Because the Demon Kings revealed their appearances at the update details.

And three of them at that.

Well, I anticipated even this worst-case scenario so there was no surprise.

I immediately entered into action.

I picked up the quill pen and scribbled on the parchment.

Scribblescribble
──────

From now on, we annihilate the Demon Kings according to procedure.

──────

*

[Demon King’s Castle] Rift.

The collapse progression was soaring in real time.

It was because the Demon King’s Castle rift’s collapse rate was rising by 1 percent, which is ten times the rate of an ordinary rift whose collapse rate rises by 0.1 percent at most in the same amount of time.

“……We have never seen such a collapse speed.”

“Just how much are they running wild inside there?”

“Does it mean the power is to the extent that even the rift finds it hard to handle?”

Amidst numerous concerns.

The additional update details that popped up.

The recommended level of the Demon King’s Castle rift was specified there.

[Demon King’s Castle of Rhythm]

[Recommended Level: Lv.800]

[Demon King’s Castle of Self-Indulgence]

[Recommended Level: Lv.800]

[Demon King’s Castle of Hunting]

[Recommended Level: Lv.850]

“……!!!”

Could the details be wrong.

Or maybe my eyes are seeing an illusion.

It was a numerical value that made one harbor useless doubts.

“An 800-level rift? How the hell are we supposed to……?”

The situation was different from the [Broken Dimensional Crack] rift.

The difference between an emergency update and a regular update.

Because it definitely meant it wasn’t a bug or such.

However, the astonishment didn’t stop there.

Following the recommended level, the masters of the Demon King’s Castles.

Even the levels of the Demon Kings popped up.

[Demon King, Amdusias: Lv.800]

[Demon King, Kimaris: Lv.820]

[Demon King, Flauros: Lv.850]

“This is crazy.”

Truly Demon Kings.

Existences that drive the world into fear just with their descent alone.

Even if Amdusias, who has the lowest level among the three, had revealed his appearance, humanity would not have been able to present a proper solution.

But, to think such a guy is merely the weakest among the three Demon Kings.

“……Senior, Branch Manager?”

Seong Hyun-jun.

Yoon Soo-gyeom.

And AAU Korea Branch Manager, Park Min-jae.

They also faced those despairing update details.

Seong Hyun-jun managed to continue speaking.

“Y-yeah! Let’s say we somehow block this Demon King’s Castle even if it means dropping nuclear bombs. What about next? What are we supposed to do about the next Demon King?”

Demon King, Decarabia.

Information regarding Demon Kings they found out through that guy.

The motif for the Demon Kings is the 72 demons and.

A hierarchy exists even among Demon Kings.

According to the hierarchy, Decarabia belongs to the lowest tier.

That information was also valid for the three Demon Kings who appeared this time.

Because they knew that fact.

The two men could not give any answer to Seong Hyun-jun’s words.

Park Min-jae said with a despondent voice.

“You mean those monsters are merely ranked 67th, 66th, and 64th.”

67th, Amdusias.

66th, Kimaris.

64th, Flauros.

That was right.

Broadly speaking, those guys too.

They belonged to the weak tier among the 72 Demon Kings, just like Decarabia.

“Branch Manager…….”

Just a few days ago, AAU finished knowing their place.

Although they wouldn’t be able to predict all threats like in the past, they would pour their all into protecting humanity from Arcana, just as they are doing now.

But.

“……Like this, what can we even do?”

Minimum 800 level, maximum 850 level.

If those Demon Kings are the weak tier.

Just what level are the high-ranking Demon Kings at?

That was literally a threat they couldn’t even guess.

It was a reality where even knowing their place, which they barely finished, was being denied.

“Fcking hell.”

Park Min-jae swallowed a groan.

Despair, a feeling of being shoved into pitch-black darkness.

Is that why.

His thoughts reached the one and only loophole he thought of a few days ago.

The hope, Lee Ho-yeol.

‘Lee Ho-yeol’s estimated level is approximately level 900.’

A player would be able to recognize another player better so.

It was Lee Ho-yeol’s level predicted comprehensively by evaluating the reviews of rankers including Rox and the actions he had shown so far. Park Min-jae pulled out the common sense from back when Arcana was a game.

‘If it were a normal monster, he might have been able to deal with it.’

Putting his level at the forefront, that is.

However, even named monsters have strength that surpasses their level and tricky patterns. Didn’t they confirm that fact in the [Predator’s Swamp] rift as well.

But the opponent was a Demon King.

It means they are Boss Monsters, just as the update details specify.

‘No matter how much it’s Lee Ho-yeol…….’

Moreover, even if his level is ahead by 50 to 100.

Hunting a Boss Monster alone was an impossible thing.

No, reaching the Boss Monster would be a difficult thing in the first place.

‘System-wise, there would be about ten or more named monsters attached to it.’

Bite

Park Min-jae bit his dry lips.

The sight of Decarabia’s time came to mind. Named monsters, the Demon Legion Commanders, of course. He also couldn’t leave out the Demon King’s Army that boasted a tremendous amount of numbers.

‘He’s going to pierce through that encirclement and reach the Demon King?’

It’d be a different story if it was just one.

There were a total of three Demon King’s Castle rifts.

Even.

‘The situation is different from Frost too.’

Back then, Frost hadn’t completely become Decarabia’s territory.

The recapture quest that popped up for players was the proof.

But this time, it was practically invading the Demon King’s Castle, the Demon King’s main base.

It was a natural thing that the difficulty of the raid would be on a different level.

So the more he racked his brain, only sighs came out.

“Branch Manager. It’s said player Lee Ho-yeol has moved.”

“……Yeah? He’s really consistent.”

“Does Mr. Ho-yeol not have something called fear.”

Therefore, even when they heard the news that Lee Ho-yeol, he had moved, they couldn’t just rejoice.

Unlike the excited media, hadn’t they already run simulations in their heads?

“Damn it.”

Lee Ho-yeol.

It felt like he was walking into a deathbed.

If he could, he wanted to stop him.

However, that uncomfortable emotion did not last long.

Because information came in one after another.

“B-Branch Manager Park?!”

Frost, Lionheart Knights.

Yusra Kingdom, Shadow Mercenaries.

Holy Land Muon, Paladin Order.

And down to the Mage Tower.

It was as if they started moving simultaneously as if waiting for just Lee Ho-yeol’s footsteps to drop. Park Min-jae let out a hollow laugh.

What am I looking at right now……?

“It’s not like this is a game where you can use cheat codes.”

Factions that are impossible to move as a player.

“Four of them are moving at the same time?”

Yeah, yielding a hundred times, he could understand up to the Shadow Mercenaries.

Since the mercenaries of Arcana were the ones who would even risk their lives if interests aligned.

“It makes no sense…….”

But the rest cannot be explained.

Even if relationship and influence had reached the max level.

Because those were people who moved putting their own beliefs as the top priority.

“Just what, what in the world did he do……?”

Wait, did Lee Ho-yeol even make their beliefs move?

The ‘no way’ thought gradually grew.

Seong Hyun-jun carefully opened his mouth.

“Wouldn’t it be possible? Clearing the Demon King’s Castle rift.”

At the question, the two men, Park Min-jae and Yoon Soo-gyeom, remained silent.

The Lionheart Knights and the Paladins of Muon.

Their levels could be guessed.

It would definitively be a great fighting power to Lee Ho-yeol.

‘But even that might not be enough.’

As expected, if it were one, it might be different but.

Because there were three Demon Kings.

So the outcome of the Demon King’s Castle raid practically depended on the Shadow Mercenaries and the Mage Tower.

But their levels couldn’t be guessed even by themselves who were the developers of Arcana.

‘One is the mastermind. The other is the continent’s best armed group.’

Please show an active performance fitting of those titles.

Watching while earnestly praying was the best they could do.

Of course, just like the uncomfortable emotions.

That prayer didn’t last long either but.

.

.

.

[Demon King’s Castle of Rhythm]

[Recommended Level: Lv.800]

[Rift Collapse Progression: 17.9%]

[Boss Monster: Demon King, Amdusias]

▶ Lv.800

[Named Monsters: Demon Legion Commander, Blackhorn, and 28 others]

▶ Lv.650

[Monsters: Approximately 100,000 under the Demon Legion Commanders]

▶ Lv.500

[List of Entrants]

[Mage Tower: Dark Magic Senior, Mathis Dean Carl / Fire Magic Senior, Benshi William / Illusion Magic Senior, Naslow]

[Shadow Mercenaries: 2nd Seat, Wolf Sakarin / 6th Seat, Isabelle Mar / 7th Seat, Alkari]

[Goddess Order: Paladin Commander, Talim Heber, and approximately 18,000 under him]

Those watching could not know the detailed faces.

Because the information known about the Mage Tower and the Shadow Mercenaries was also just a tiny fraction.

However, they could guarantee.

What unfolded was a result no one had expected.

“……!”

A rift vanishing in midair.

Meaning the rift had been cleared.

What was unbelievable was that time.

“Th-this isn’t a dream, right. Senior?”

They entered the Demon King’s Castle rift and.

When not even 10 minutes had passed.

Because it was a sight that occurred.

Park Min-jae, who was watching that sight through the monitor, muttered.

“……It was a level I couldn’t even imagine, let alone guess.”

Literally.

The Demon King’s Castle was trampled.