Chapter 13 – Another Whale in the Whale Fight (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The collapse progress of the Rifts skyrocketed.

-Amidst the completion rate of the [Outskirts of the Territory] Rifts reaching 95 percent. Breaking news has come in that the collapse progress of the [Territory of the Count Family] Rifts has exceeded a whopping 60 percent.

It had only been a day.

The collapse progress of the Rifts had surpassed 60 percent.

Since the Cataclysm.

Countless Rifts had been created and disappeared until now, but.

-That is……. This is the first time I’ve seen a case like this too.

For the collapse progress to rise this drastically was an unprecedented event.

There were also cast members guessing the reason.

-The collapse speed originally differs slightly for each Rift, right? Generally, the stronger the monsters inside the Rift, the shorter the time the Rift can endure.

-You mean the monsters inside the Rift might be stronger than expected?

-That’s right. The problem lies in the fact that the collapse speed has increased. So to be exact…… ‘The monsters inside the Rift have become stronger than before’ would be the correct saying. Compared to a day ago.

At those words, the cast members were at a loss for words.

They had heard enough to make their ears bleed about the high difficulty of this Rift.

But, as if that wasn’t enough, the monsters had become stronger.

-……There must be a reason why it turned out like that, wouldn’t there? Perfectly fine monsters wouldn’t have suddenly become stronger, right?

Yes, there is undoubtedly a reason.

If only they could find that reason.

Couldn’t they prevent the monsters from becoming any stronger than this.

And the collapse progress of the Rifts skyrocketing because of that?

However, no matter how much they pooled their opinions, an answer did not come out.

In the end, the anchor had no choice but to deliver this closing remark.

-We earnestly hope the Players will deliver good news.

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I took my eyes off the liquid crystal screen.

I don’t know about other Players, but…….

‘……For some reason I think I know?’

The reason why the monsters inside the Rifts became stronger,

And the reason why the collapse progress of the Rifts skyrocketed.

If you ask why I’m pretending to know so much when I’ve only returned to Arcana after 10 years.

I could confidently ask back.

Even so, I probably know more about demons than you guys?

The never-ending training at Akshan!

Information about demons that I heard until scabs formed on my ears.

It was a given that vampires were among them.

-Vampires can share their authority through blood. Of course, it is also possible to take back the abilities they shared. So do not let your guard down until the very end.

The vampire, Count Ascura, bestowed his authority upon the [Bloodstained Beasts] and [Bloodstained Bandits].

As those monsters were defeated by Players, the authority shared with them naturally returned to Count Ascura…….

‘That is why the collapse progress of the Rifts skyrocketed.’

Indeed, thinking like that made the story fit perfectly.

I could also predict the next development.

‘Wait, then that means if the Territory is cleared, the collapse progress of the Fortress will skyrocket.’

Considering that the current collapse progress has exceeded 60 percent…….

‘At the very least, it would reach 90 percent?’

Perhaps the Fortress Rift collapsing.

And appearing in reality might actually happen.

It was a worst-case scenario, but its probability was quite high.

And Count Ascura is a Level 430 monster just going by level alone.

Thinking that that monster would become even stronger,

It was also true that I felt somewhat at a loss.

However, there was no change in my actions.

I open the closet with the same posture as usual.

I choose my attire according to formality.

Naturally, a suit that is only slightly different in color from yesterday.

Still, while shivering in the cold, there was something I realized.

I wore an ink-black long coat over the suit.

……Yeah, a long coat.

It seems like it’ll drag on the ground while being active in the Rift.

But it’s better than freezing to death. Whatever.

Let’s think positively.

However, apart from that, my mood wasn’t very good.

I muttered in a low voice.

“A noble does not give and take away. Count Ascura.”

That was the Head of the Claudi Family.

The pride as a noble that Granfel considered.

That pride was disgusted by Count Ascura’s actions.

Step

I added while putting on my dress shoes.

“No, even the title of Count is a waste. Ascura.”

If someone saw me.

I might have looked passably decent.

Squeeze

……As long as it wasn’t for this green tea tea bag.

Held in my hand.

Let’s be thankful that there are no gazes watching me.

I headed to the Mage Tower.

*

The full-scale raid begins.

[Territory of the Count Family]

[Recommended Level: Lv.350~400]

[Collapse Progress: 66.1%]

Checking the Rift’s information once again.

Different reactions burst out from everywhere.

“The Recommended Level is Level 350 to 400?! You’re crazy, really.”

“Not even an hour has passed, but the collapse progress went up by 6 percent.”

“No, if the Territory is like this, what the hell is the Fortress like?”

The hundreds of [Outskirts of the Territory] Rifts had all been cleared.

Now, if they just cleared the roughly thirty [Territory of the Count Family] Rifts, they could enter the [Fortress of the Count] Rift where Count Ascura was.

As the number of Rifts had noticeably decreased.

The battle of wits between Players also became fierce.

It was a matter of course.

A whopping Recommended Level of 350~400.

Since it was a high-level Rift, its experience points and loot would also be at a level that could absolutely not be ignored.

As the number of Rifts was lacking, competition was essential.

Therefore, it was a battle of wits to find at least a manageable competitor.

Gaon’s Guild Master.

Nam Tae-min’s situation was better off.

“Well, as long as we don’t overlap with Shining.”

Excluding Shining, it was worth trying against whoever came.

Nam Tae-min had confidence.

Even though the first clear was snatched by the dark horse called Berserker, it was truly a narrow margin with Shining.

Nam Chul-min had the same thought.

Nam Chul-min tapped on his tablet PC.

“The Shining side must be highly irritated too. It wouldn’t do those guys any good to choose the same Rift as us. What else would it be but asking to perish together?”

So let’s go with this Rift.

Gaon quickly preempted a base camp.

However, an uninvited guest they had temporarily forgotten about came visiting.

Nam Tae-min’s eyebrows twitched.

“……Ha, look at these bastards?”

Guild Rank 4th, Inazuma.

As one could tell from its name, it was a Japanese guild.

Even if the Mage Tower sprouted up.

To put down roots in South Korea is absolutely impossible.

Because of their stubbornness.

Inazuma, who had only arrived in Russia after a full day on an airplane, appeared at the Rift.

Inazuma’s Guild Master.

Hisagi Kazuma looked at Nam Tae-min.

Nam Tae-min also didn’t avert his eyes.

Not a single word was exchanged, but.

They both knew each other’s hidden meanings.

Nam Tae-min spoke.

“That bastard wants to have a go. What do you think, brother?”

Nam Chul-min tapped his tablet and shrugged his shoulders.

“Since we took the spot first, it wouldn’t look good to avoid them, right?”

South Korea and Japan.

Gaon and Inazuma chose the same Rift.

That rumor spread quickly.

The filming teams from various countries murmured.

“Gaon and Inazuma are clashing?! This is definitely an exclusive scoop!”

However, there was far too much exclusive scoop material here.

New news endlessly pouring out.

Among them, there was a composition that drew as much attention as the confrontation between Gaon and Inazuma.

“Second Sun and Bohemian. Two competitors ended up clashing, didn’t they?”

“This looks like Berserker got the first clear only to end up in a more annoying situation.”

“They have no business ethics. Those guys. Why do they say they’re the European Union and yet fight amongst themselves even more?”

But among them, the most interesting one was.

Guild Rank 1st and 2nd.

Shining and Unification of the World clashing.

America’s Shining.

China’s Unification of the World.

Indeed, it was a competition worthy of drawing the attention of the whole world.

Because depending on the result, the world’s order might get shaken.

“Unification of the World, did those guys decide to just ruin the party?”

“Isn’t this just asking to perish together?”

“If those two clash, there won’t be anything left.”

Naturally, for both guilds.

It didn’t do anyone any good.

Since it was a situation where they had to divide the experience points and loot of the new Rift with their strongest competitor.

But neither would back down, right.

So it was an entertaining spectacle only for the onlookers.

“Now, let’s take a vote around here!”

The ones as excited as the reporters were the NetTuber Players.

The only ones who could enter the Rift were Players.

Just yesterday, they enjoyed quite a bit of fun broadcasting the situation inside the Rift.

So the NetTubers also had no choice but to read the room.

“Please put it up in the chat! We will also actively reflect donation messages!”

Indeed, which Rift should they choose to gather the most viewers?

A repeated battle of wits upon wits upon wits.

The one who could be free from that battle of wits was…….

Only one person.

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Current temperature minus 5 degrees Celsius.

Is this for real, seriously.

For it to drop by more than 5 degrees in one day.

Thank goodness I at least put on a coat.

Otherwise, I would have frozen to death even before entering the Rift.

Moring, moring

I warmed my hands with the heat of the teacup.

Indeed, it was worth paying a little more attention during the 『Exploration』 and 『Interference』 process.

I merely constructed the shape of the teacup a little more intricately.

But the teacup did not easily cool down even in the sub-zero biting wind.

‘I’m slowly getting used to it.’

To 『Magic』 instead of [Skill].

And to Granfel’s talent of quickly acquiring such magic.

I emptied the cup and let go of the handle just like that.

Tap

The teacup deformed once again in midair.

The moment it fell, it had returned to the shape of a stone.

‘The effort of Exploration and Interference is also reduced when restoring it to its original state.’

This was also an application method I figured out as I got used to magic.

I pondered seriously.

‘……Of course, the problem is whether I can use this in actual combat too.’

That would be something I’d find out by clashing with my body.

Of course, I don’t look down on this Rift.

‘Count Ascura’s Confidant’ : Lv.390

‘Count Ascura’s Knight’ : Lv.350

‘Count Ascura’s Soldier’ : Lv.300

Aren’t these levels that I can’t look down on in the first place?

Even if I let the Soldiers or Knights slide…….

There was a difference of well over 300 levels with the Confidant.

But since when did I ever care about things like that?

Step

It wasn’t just once or twice, and now I’ve resigned and accepted it.

『Even if he were to sink and drown under that weight.』

That I am destined to live like this.

So I was merely struggling with all my might.

To prevent the elegant swan from sinking.

Like struggling below the surface of the water.

I am also merely struggling desperately in places unseen.

Just like I did from yesterday until dawn today.

Earnestly hoping that effort will be meaningful.

Step

I entered the Rift without hesitation.

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The first thing I saw upon entering the Rift were buildings that had collapsed disastrously.

To call it the [Territory of the Count Family], it was too unsightly.

Reality and Arcana.

Even though it was an environment where the two sceneries were mixed, this is too much.

I suppose my aesthetic sense as a noble was naturally frowning.

“It is a terrible territory. Ascura.”

I advanced forward, letting my coat flutter.

“!”

And soon, I was able to encounter ‘Count Ascura’s Soldier’.

The soldier’s eyes were flushed red.

Developed fangs were protruding out of its mouth.

As if it was thirsty.

Saliva flowed endlessly from the corners of its mouth.

That soldier noticed my presence and lunged at me.

I stared at the lunging soldier.

Yes, with this, I was certain once again.

That wasn’t an action stemming from loyalty.

Just under the guise of authority.

Suffering from the ugly vampire’s curse.

They were merely pitiful victims.

I spoke again.

“It is terrible even looking at it again.”

『Explored』 the collapsed building, then 『Interfered』 with its shape.

“However, even that is a waste for you.”

Soon, magic 『Manifested』.

Crash!!

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Rumble, rumble!

A loud roar echoing from behind.

“?!”

The two men turned their heads without caring who was first.

They saw faint dust clouds rising.

Grit

Nam Tae-min and Hisagi Kazuma ground their teeth at the same time.

‘……I don’t know who it is, but can you not?’

They were overwhelmed enough just paying attention to each other.