Chapter 134 – A Ray of Light

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Restoring the collapsed labyrinth to its original state is not difficult.

Because I had 『Reversal Magic』.

Are you asking if I have magic power to use in such a place?

Beyond just having it, it’s sufficient.

A state where [Natural Enemy] is activated.

Moreover, as long as the [Pentagram of Pure Knowledge] exists.

The efficiency of magic interfering with minerals is abnormally improved.

Crack crack crack!

It means I wasn’t just spouting confident words for nothing.

“!”

A sight rewinding like reversed playback.

The existence that must not be awakened began to be buried into the rock wall, the labyrinth’s rock wall again. It’s scary anew. So this is what accepting a sleep-tantrum meant to Granfel.

‘It meant completely covering it tightly with a blanket and making it unable to move.’

Startling at the words I spat out with my own mouth was only for a moment.

I could see Fabian’s party fighting with all their might.

They said they brought magic tools after receiving my letter telling them to make thorough preparations.

Indeed, the level of the magic tools doesn’t look ordinary even at a glance.

Especially that torch Fabian is holding.

‘Green flame.’

Setting its appearance aside, its power also seemed to a level that couldn’t be ignored.

A torch, considering that and Fabian’s class, it definitely wouldn’t be an item classified as a weapon.

Whoosh!

Sizzle sizzle sizzle!

The trajectory where the torch was swung.

Everything began to melt down in an instant.

The guy’s hide, which looked sturdy, was no exception.

First of all, an attack success, Fabian hurriedly stepped back and said.

“How is it. That is precisely the fire of hell.”

[Fire of Hell], huh.

Just hearing the name makes it sound incredibly amazing.

Let’s converse with Fabian about the torch later. Incarnation of integrity, it’s not like I got interested due to material greed, but since Fabian definitely said ‘hell’.

Demon and hell.

And Demon Hunter.

Considering the relationship, it means it’s an item I should pay attention to.

Of course, idle thoughts ended there.

If only to not let my heart sink from my heavy pride.

Because I couldn’t let go of the string of opportunity I grabbed right now.

Let’s broaden our view.

‘The experience during the recapture of Frost.’

I feel sorry to Harkon for comparing them, but let’s consider the players as the Lionheart Knights.

Right now I would need to assist the players who are busy just dodging the guy’s attacks.

Crack crack crack!

A soaring ground.

It was a foothold for close-combat class players.

Even if I trapped the guy inside the rock wall blanket, the risk burden of close combat is considerable.

Meaning even a slight movement would sweep them up in vibrations and earthquakes.

However.

“……Stairs?”

“Wait a minute, if it’s stairs?!”

“First of all, with this, we can freely hit and run?”

As you can see.

If there’s a foothold they can step on and jump up.

It would be a great help in both attacking and evading.

Swoosh!

Swish!

Thwack!

Existence that must not be awakened.

It was a guy suffering from all sorts of status abnormalities including [Fear]. The guy was flinching at the attacks of players that wouldn’t even have left a scratch normally.

“A message just popped up! Critical hit!”

“Good. It’s working.”

“Push it!”

The voices of players heard from all over were the proof.

‘Assisting them doesn’t require much magic power or focus.’

Of course, what made that possible was as expected, thanks to the Outer Wings of a Hundred Colors.

Fluttering outer wings.

One hundred attribute magics manifesting while fluttering like feathers.

It must be thanks to the fact that I can skip the searching process since I’m manifesting stored magics. Add to that the additional damage effect of the [Vampire Count’s Orb] applied to each attribute magic.

However, more than any reason, Tepheran was there.

Even in the past when they lived and breathed.

Even in the present where only resentment remains.

In order to protect the peace of the Arcana continent.

Tepheran’s pride holding onto the guy probably cannot be replaced by anything else.

Setting Granfel’s pride aside, you see.

Even I can notice at least that much.

The opponent is a whopping Level 900 boss monster.

[Tepheran’s 5,321 Contractors of Black]

[Tepheran’s 4,119 Contractors of Black]

[Tepheran’s 2,847 Contractors of Black]…….

Because it is definitely an enemy that cannot be defeated without sacrifices.

I wasn’t the only one who realized that fact.

Tepheran Contractors of Black.

The players who had only looked down on them also gradually came to realize their sacrifices and their pride.

Vwiiiiing

The magic power pouring out from the guy’s eye-light.

The Tepheran Contractors of Black throwing their bodies and blocking on behalf of the players who were almost swept up in the attack.

“……What is it?”

“A monster threw its body to save us……?”

“I don’t know what it is, but everyone is fighting while throwing their bodies on the line.”

That was enough to change the tide of war.

The grim resolve that fell upon the battlefield starting from that.

There were no more unnecessary conversations.

Everyone in this place, including myself.

Were doing their best to defeat the guy.

Therefore, the battle did not drag on.

“Kroaaaaaaa!”

Is it its final will.

Existence that must not be awakened.

The guy let out a ferocious scream.

And then ceased its last ditch effort.

My vision flashed.

[Your level has increased.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Your level has increased.]…….

Level up.

[Due to high contribution in the defeat, spoils are automatically acquired.]

Spoils.

[10 Great Mysteries Quest: Labyrinth of Tepheran]

[World Quest: Evil Dragon Hunter]

Quest.

Messages surfaced endlessly.

However, among the numerous messages.

What caught my eye was only a single message.

Yes, because there are priorities to everything.

[Tepheran’s 1 Contractor of Black]

I looked at the last Tepheran Contractor of Black.

The only thing remaining is only resentment.

Its vision shouldn’t even be intact either.

Did it realize my presence with suitable magic power?

The black figure turned its body towards me.

And then asked.

“……Have we washed away our mistake?”

I immediately answered.

“Your mistakes have been cleared a long time ago.”

As mentioned, even just tying down that kind of monster until now, Tepheran had fulfilled their responsibility.

Therefore, I continued my words generously.

“Since everyone in this place has realized the sacrifice and pride of Tepheran.”

“……!”

“You may close your eyes in peace.”

“……Is that so.”

Swish

At my words, the last Tepheran Contractor of Black began to scatter into the empty air.

Simultaneously with that, my vision was dyed with bright light. It must mean the [Labyrinth of Tepheran] rift has been cleared.

‘I did not sink today too…….’

If I could, I’d want to let out a sigh of relief.

However, a tiring personality that cannot show outward signs.

Moreover, it ain’t over till it’s over yet.

It’s time to carry out the next procedure.

I turned my head towards the players.

Flutter

Folding the fluttering outer wings, I moved my steps.

“It was there.”

Found you, the demon who doesn’t know its place.

*

Supernova, Bread couldn’t hide his shock.

“……This is ridiculous.”

[Labyrinth of Tepheran].

When entering the rift, he thought it was a good opportunity.

The level of the rift was far higher than expected.

To the point where your life would hang by a thread if you fell into even one trap wrongly.

‘Good. Good.’

The reason he was instead happy when his life was in danger?

It’s natural to be happy!

Bread, no, a true name demon ‘Desqui’ possessing Bread’s body.

Because the negative emotions of players actually became his strength.

Desqui licked his lips.

‘I’m different from the Demon Kings. I mean I’m not ignorant.’

He rolled his head wickedly.

‘My goal is Lee Ho-yeol, to the very end.’

Even until entering the rift, his goal was merely to observe Lee Ho-yeol.

To trample underfoot a whopping three of the esteemed Demon King-nims.

Because as a demon, he was purely curious about that strength.

‘But, if I do this well……?’

If it’s this kind of labyrinth.

Lee Ho-yeol, wouldn’t he struggle too?

Wouldn’t he be able to snatch his body by taking advantage of the chaotic situation?

“I will also join the party.”

He acted like those ridiculous humans and aimed for an opportunity.

Even up to then, Desqui was lost in narcissism.

‘As expected, I am clever!’

Demon Kings who run rampant boasting they were born strong innately.

He wanted to show them his wickedness.

From occupying the supernova’s body and utilizing it.

To perfectly acting as a human and achieving his goal.

‘Look. The deep sector of the labyrinth is not far!’

And over there, is Lee Ho-yeol.

An existence the Demon Kings couldn’t even properly approach.

Other demons were currently deterred by fear and couldn’t even step forward.

I, Desqui, confidently stood before Lee Ho-yeol.

‘Where are you. Lee Ho-yeol.’

Desqui’s corners of the mouth rising unpleasantly.

A gradually brightening vision.

It was the moment he witnessed the scenery of the labyrinth’s deep sector.

Thump!

“……!”

……What’s this?

His heart was beating violently.

A sensation he felt for the first time in his life.

Desqui looked around his surroundings to find the reason.

“Why is a pupil that big?!”

Just like the others.

Am I surprised by that massive pupil?

No, I was not.

So what if that snake-like guy is a strong enemy?

His purpose from the beginning was Lee Ho-yeol to the very end. For Desqui, he didn’t even have the slightest intention of fighting that guy properly. So there should be no reason for him to see such a thing and be surprised…….

Thump!

Thump!

His heart wasn’t calming down easily.

It was an unpleasant pulsation.

A target entered such Desqui’s eyes.

“……!”

Ho-yeol, leisurely holding a teacup in his hand.

Desqui forced out a hollow laugh.

If only to calm his pounding heart.

‘I wondered what kind of guy he was, but…….’

He was a tribe arrogant beyond comparison.

Desqui knew.

Just how weak of an existence humans were.

The weak ones in their weak ways.

The strong ones in their strong ways.

There were bound to be vulnerabilities generated in that mental power.

‘How long will that arrogance be able to last?’

Rumble rumble rumble!

And the Tepheran Labyrinth battle that commenced.

The tide of war flowed in a development where Desqui had no choice but to be shocked.

Desqui muttered again.

This is ridiculous.

“How?”

Can a weak human, drag out this kind of change by himself?

He had guessed Lee Ho-yeol’s strength.

Because as mentioned, he was someone who had crushed a whopping three Demon Kings.

“Do not step back!”

“Hyung-nims, I don’t have the intention of dying embarrassingly!”

“Vanguard fall back and switch the formation!”

He did.

What Desqui feared was change.

The emotional changes of the humans who had been weak.

“……I can’t understand it.”

They were definitely humans engulfed in fear.

Thanks to those negative emotions, his power was boiling over.

Yet the moment Lee Ho-yeol started moving.

Everything changed.

Desqui muttered.

“……The worst compatibility.”

Desqui finally figured out his place.

Lee Ho-yeol, he was an existence he shouldn’t dare covet.

He felt like he knew why so many Demon Kings died at Lee Ho-yeol’s hands.

In that sense, it was fortunate he came to know of it even now.

‘It’s best not to get tangled with that guy.’

Having been born as a demon.

Lee Ho-yeol, he is an existence that must not be touched.

Desqui planned to deliver this news to the other demons.

He didn’t care what happened to those guys’ lives, but.

Still, the relationships he had built up disappearing was a bothersome matter in many ways.

“We won!”

Is it cleared?

A rift collapsing at the same time as cheers bursting forth.

Desqui made a resolution.

I shall never do something presumptuous again.

‘……Being satisfied with the present isn’t bad either.’

He had no lingering attachments or regrets.

But then, why?

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

Why is my heart still beating as if it will burst?

“……?!”

A flustered Desqui.

He saw light in his vision.

The light of the collapsing rift.

And a shadow standing with such light behind its back like a halo, looking at himself.

Flutter

Only then did Desqui realize the reason his heart had been pounding.

Yes, it was because of an illusion.

Seeing those wings, I made an illusion on my own.

To be prematurely terrified…….

‘……No.’

It wasn’t.

It didn’t end at just looking.

Why is Lee Ho-yeol approaching towards me?

In the gradually strengthening light, Desqui’s eyes met Ho-yeol’s.

“!”

He met an infinitely cold gaze.

‘I have to run away……!’

He didn’t know how it happened but.

Lee Ho-yeol knows my true identity.

It is certain that he knows the fact that I am a demon.

A cleared rift.

Desqui hurriedly pushed through the crowd and ran away.

However, everything was merely a vain effort.

Magic power flickered beneath such Desqui’s feet.

A portal.

“!”

When Desqui regained his senses.

What entered his eyes was an antique office.

Standing upright in the office.

It was Ho-yeol looking down at him.

What could be heard was only a dry voice.

“You are the second demon to step foot in this place.”

“……D, Demon, you say. What on earth are you talking about?”

“This is also the second time I am listening to that detestable excuse.”

The second time?

The Demon King guys wouldn’t have sought out this place…….

Then don’t tell me?

‘Does he mean I’m not the first one?’

……Does it mean it’s not the first time he’s noticed a possessed demon!

By the time he grasped the meaning of those words, it was already too late.

There is no unnecessary conversation with a prey.

Because the words Ho-yeol spat out were not a conversation.

But merely a resolution to himself.

“However, there is no third time.”

“Wh, What?”

“I shall go to personally dispose of you inferior ones.”

“……!!”

Slice

*

A massive ripple!

Given that the Tepheran Labyrinth rift has been cleared.

Was it thanks to the live broadcasts by the NetTuber players like Park Hwi-gang and the vivid videos remaining?

The interest regarding the Labyrinth of Tepheran was not cooling down.

The ones with the most to say.

Were the players who had entered the labyrinth together with Ho-yeol.

“When I first entered, I thought I was in big trouble.”

“Why?”

“First of all, because I was separated from Lee Ho-yeol player? Haha, I’m joking.”

Various broadcasting stations.

Interviews being conducted with the players.

Even though the things each player had to say seemed different.

If you summarize their impressions, it all converges into one in the end.

“Lee Ho-yeol, no. If Ho-yeol-nim hadn’t been there, it would be horrible.”

“I totally couldn’t even imagine it, I’m telling you? To think I’d be riding those stairs the Lionheart Knights rode……!”

“I was honestly moved. I didn’t know he’d be paying attention to even us.”

The data screen playing along with vivid testimonies.

There, the figure of Ho-yeol playing an active role could be seen.

The players’ testimonies continued.

“Everyone watching might not relate, but we could tell.”

“He was basically waiting for us, Ho-yeol-nim was. Should we say he bestowed mercy upon us?”

“You all saw it, didn’t you? He was overflowing with leeway to the point of even having a teatime.”

Until all players entered the deep sector of the labyrinth.

Ho-yeol was leisurely enjoying tea.

Moreover, his upright attitude that didn’t bend an inch even in front of the Level 900 boss monster, the ‘existence that must not be awakened’.

Even if others didn’t know, the players who were together with him had no choice but to admit it.

“Honestly, we owe him a debt. And an incredibly massive debt at that.”

They wouldn’t be able to say otherwise.

Because there was Ho-yeol’s consideration.

The players contributed to the defeat of the ‘existence that must not be awakened’, having their contribution recognized, and thanks to that, they acquired experience points, and were even able to receive a quest related to it.

[Quest: Trace of a Dragon]

And an ordinary quest but a quest related to a dragon at that.

There was information made certain through that.

Existence that must not be awakened, the fact that the guy was a dragon-race monster.

Therefore, the evaluation regarding the clearance of the Tepheran Labyrinth rift did not differ.

Crushing a Demon King.

As if suppressing the activities of demon-race monsters wasn’t enough.

He steps forward personally and is forcibly hoisting up the players’ levels.

The evaluation of Lee Ho-yeol has to be made anew.

Because he’s not simply just strong.

“Endlessly deep darkness, rather than that…….”

The current alias wouldn’t suit such Ho-yeol.

The Labyrinth of Tepheran, which had been buried in darkness.

Wasn’t it Ho-yeol who emitted a noble presence amidst that darkness?

“A ray of light amidst an endlessly deep darkness. That is how I wish to call him.”

.

.

.

I am afraid.

What now, a ray of light amidst an endlessly deep darkness?

Just how long will that blasted designation going to become……!

“The evaluations of others is not important.”

However, now is not the time to agonize over the past.

Levels, quests, spoils.

Lastly, even the purified Demon King’s spoils.

“My duties cannot be left out either.”

……Yes, naturally. It’s truly unquestionable.

Even to the Chief’s duties that piled up over a single day.

Because there was a mountain of things to check.

First of all, let’s check the flashing messages.