Chapter 15 – Another Whale in the Whale Fight (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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In the Arcana worldview, there are numerous gods.

And there are religions that serve those gods.

If there are gods, there are bound to be demons that oppose them.

In those religions, there were also priests who fought against demons.

‘They were called Exorcist Priests.’

Of course, it wasn’t to the extent that I was interested in the Arcana worldview enough to delve into religions or other classes.

It’s just that a forgotten memory came to mind. Like other things, this was the passage I had heard until I was sick of it while carrying out the Demon Hunter quests.

-The exorcism ritual of Exorcist Priests merely drives out demons. It cannot be a fundamental solution method. We are different from them. Because we tear demons apart and kill them.

……No, back then it really felt cool.

-When you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you? Even if we fall into evil and become demons. We merely hunt demons. Because that is the path of a Demon Hunter.

But looking back at it after growing up, there is no place as messed up as this.

Let alone labor laws.

Wasn’t this a workplace that threw human rights to the dogs?

‘To a middle schooler, a teenager who knows nothing.’

I’m so glad it was ruined, Akshan!

Blaming my dark history on others for a moment.

-What shows that difference most clearly is the exorcism ritual.

[Exorcism Ritual].

Along with Natural Enemy, it was one of only two unique skills for Demon Hunters.

I opened the skill window and checked the difference.

───────

Exorcism Ritual: Invites a demon to the ritual.

───────

After becoming a Player, I had used it exactly once.

Why, in the battle with the Imp that possessed Nam Chul-min.

Its effect was half of what it should be.

No, it was even less than that.

‘Only the most basic effect was activated.’

Not dealing damage to the possessed person.

But the effect of dealing damage directly to the possessing demon.

That was inevitable.

Because I didn’t have the offering needed for the exorcism ritual.

-The exorcism ritual of a Demon Hunter is different from the offering itself. Other religions require pure, unblemished offerings to borrow the power of gods, but…….

In the first place, Demon Hunters did not serve gods or the like.

If gods truly existed.

Demons wouldn’t exist in the world.

Because that was the thought of Demon Hunters.

-Keep this in mind. Our offerings are all things imbued with evil.

Yes, all things imbued with evil.

I had seen that offering when activating the exorcism ritual while carrying out quests in the past.

That item was precisely the Devil’s Item.

This was what Players considered merely a gacha item.

I looked at the necklace.

Looking at it, human nature is like that again.

‘……It makes me kind of want to roll it again.’

Well, you know that feeling, right?

Feeling like I might just win the jackpot for no reason.

Most importantly, it was a necklace, an accessory.

For now, it was confirmed to be a Rare-rank item so. If it had even one magic power regeneration option attached……. The greed that it might relieve my worries about magic power efficiency even a little.

However, setting aside whether it’s a dud or a jackpot.

I know that this is a useless expectation.

『To Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo, wealth was fleeting.』

Knowing that there’s no way I could do such a thing.

Because I know it very well.

Through my experiences so far.

Furthermore, I also found out that the Devil’s Item is the offering for the exorcism ritual.

『No matter the temptation, deception, or ordeal from any demon, it cannot even leave a scratch on Granfel’s noble pride.』

“This is also a trivial temptation.”

Saying that, I folded my lingering attachments towards it.

However, I didn’t feel any regret.

Leaving aside Granfel’s noble personality,

Coming to think of it……. It wasn’t something to regret.

‘……Wait, if it’s an exorcism ritual using an offering.’

Wouldn’t the effect of the exorcism ritual be properly exhibited?

I recalled the effect of the exorcism ritual I had seen in quests in the past.

‘……If that effect also crossed over as is.’

……This, it might just be possible?

Of course, this doesn’t mean I can hunt Count Ascura.

Merely Level 91.

Thinking I could catch a Level 430 monster was arrogance. What I thought was possible was none other than the quest.

─Hunt vampires. (In Progress) ▲

●Announce that the hunt has begun. (Success)

●Make them feel the terror of being hunted. (In Progress)

A Class Quest, not an ordinary quest.

Not hunting them.

But wouldn’t making them feel the terror of being hunted be possible?

Anyway, I’d find out if I tried it.

Step

Whatever the reason was, was it because I overcame the demon’s temptation.

I walked with a more confident stride.

That stride of mine soon came to a halt.

……Why are there so many of them?

*

He felt something going on from the moment they entered the grand avenue.

Before becoming a ruin, it must have been a bustling street.

However, not a single shadow could be seen on that vast street.

‘Something is unusual.’

Nam Tae-min’s intuition warned him.

That the current situation was strange.

Yes, judging coldly, it was heterogeneous.

‘The number of entities is too small.’

[Territory of the Count].

The number of monsters they defeated after entering the Rift was less than ten.

Were they taken away by those Inazuma bastards? Unfortunately, their situation over there probably wasn’t much different.

“I went to scout and it’s the same.”

Stealth released.

The guild member who revealed herself reported to Nam Tae-min.

“Looking at the terrain, all paths lead to the central plaza as one. If we keep going like this, we’ll encounter the Inazuma side at the plaza. So I’ll join up too.”

Indeed, it was exactly as she said.

Upon entering the central plaza, the Inazuma bastards were seen.

Hisagi looked at this side and spoke to them.

“This is quite peaceful despite our resolution. Don’t you think?”

Hisagi Kazuma.

If there was a snake human in the world, wouldn’t it look exactly like that. He resembled a snake to the point of giving that thought.

His smile was exactly as if a snake was flicking its tongue.

Nam Tae-min scrunched his face.

“We aren’t in a relationship to exchange greetings, are we?”

“Saying such hurtful words again.”

“Let’s stop the bullshit there. It’s annoying now. Both you. And Inazuma.”

Nam Tae-min didn’t like Hisagi.

Even when he lost to the guy, or when he beat him.

Hisagi was always smiling. Creepily like now.

But that was also a thing of the past.

Now, neither he nor Gaon.

Had anything to bow down to Hisagi and Inazuma for anymore.

“Annoying you say. Koreans are too straightforward. I get hurt. To the point where I want to return this pain.”

Nam Tae-min sniggered.

“Yeah. If you have the ability to return it, be my guest.”

At that provocation, Inazuma’s guild members bristled.

“You bastard, how dar……!”

At that moment, a voice could be heard in Nam Tae-min’s ear.

Konoyaro, bakayaro.

That voice was quite loud for just bristling.

When he raised the volume of his earphone, Nam Chul-min’s voice could be heard.

-Ah, ah, can you hear me now?

“I can hear you well. I turned up the volume a bit.”

-It’s a relief that you can hear me. But did you really have to say those words just now?

“Brother, in a Rift, there’s a thing called momentum. We can’t be pushed back.”

-Really? If you say so, it must be…….

Nam Chul-min added words.

-For now, I think it would be better to get along.

“What does that mean?”

-I obtained information on the Shining and Unification of the World side.

“……What? Is their progression speed faster than ours?”

-Well, it can’t be helped. Unlike us who weigh the pros and cons. They are in a game of chicken where emotions take precedence. Anyway, thanks to that I grasped the pattern.

Grasped the pattern.

He felt relieved at that sound.

“Really? Sitting my brother down as an analyst paid off.”

-This is a bit tricky to express in words so. I’ll explain while watching the broadcast screen. By the way, where are you right now? I can’t see anything around. Since earlier, I can’t even see any trees?

“Here? It looks like a plaza. Various divergent paths all lead here.”

-……What?

At those words, Nam Chul-min spoke urgently.

-Get out of the plaza right now. Quickly!

“……!”

Though he couldn’t know the reason right away.

Since Nam Chul-min said so, following it was the best option.

However, was it because of the war of nerves with Hisagi.

Damn it, he ended up being a beat late.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!

The sound of horse hooves echoing in the plaza.

Everyone flinched at that loud roar.

“……What is this?”

“W-wait! The ground is shaking?!”

“Enemies are coming! Figure out their locations!”

Clang!

Nam Tae-min swiftly took a battle stance.

His class was a savage warrior, Barbarian.

He lifted a greatsword larger than an average adult male.

-Damn it, can’t it be helped. You’ll just have to endure the first clash.

“These are knights, right?”

-Right. Level 350. Count Ascura’s Knights.

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

Indeed, so they are knights.

To appear riding horses.

The level was one thing, but being cavalry was a bigger problem.

Nam Chul-min also knew that fact.

-Even if you put the tankers in front, they’ll suffer fatal injuries. Even Unification of the World’s tanker line couldn’t completely block their charge. So you had to fight in the narrowest place possible…….

Those words were correct.

In a wide place like this, the destructive power of cavalry doubles.

There was another problem.

“……Master!”

“Speak. I’m listening.”

“These are attacks from three directions? Excluding the south where we came from, cavalries are charging in from three directions!!”

Three directions.

At this rate, it was difficult to even put out a frontline to endure sacrifices.

However, the situation was the same for Inazuma.

Hisagi spoke to Nam Tae-min.

“I don’t like it, but it can’t be helped. I will leave my back to you.”

……What, leave your back?

This shameless bastard.

Nam Tae-min wanted to retort, but Nam Chul-min restrained him.

-I understand how you feel, but it can’t be helped. Right now, there’s no choice but to leave each other’s backs to one another. If we take the east and Inazuma takes the west, the north is left? Damn it. We need to avoid a melee…….

Right, they must avoid a melee as much as possible.

Player Rank 11th.

Nam Tae-min’s level was 368, higher than Count Ascura’s Knights, but there were far more guild members who were not. If it became a melee situation, it was obvious that the gap would lead to huge casualties.

“……It’s my mistake.”

It’s unusual.

When his intuition warned him.

He shouldn’t have naively entered the plaza.

No, if only he hadn’t engaged in a useless war of nerves with Hisagi…….

However, it was already spilt milk.

“I will take the north.”

Such Nam Tae-min’s eyes began to burn.

More intensely, savagely.

It meant the Barbarian’s unique skill was activated.

───────

Berserk: Attack power greatly increases and you become insensitive to damage.

───────

-……Are you crazy? You’re going to take the north alone?

It was a crazy thing to do.

But one must take responsibility for their mistakes.

Just when Nam Tae-min was firming his grim resolve.

Finally, the Count’s Knights revealed themselves.

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

Cavalries barging in from three directions.

Their majestic appearance was truly dreary.

Pupils red like blood.

As if expressing their thirst for blood.

Roughly exhaling breath.

If it hadn’t been for Berserk, he would have definitely been intimidated.

However, he is resolved.

It was the moment he gripped the greatsword firmly.

“?!”

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

A loud roar!

It was different from the sound horse hooves made.

If horse hooves made the ground ring.

This was an impact as if the ground was being overturned.

“……This is?”

This loud roar, he had definitely heard it before.

Nam Tae-min and Hisagi.

The two men flinched at the same time.

It was only a moment before that hesitation turned into astonishment.

“!!”

The shaking ground began to shoot up.

Like a massive city wall.

That stone wall that suddenly shot up far away.

It perfectly countered the charge of the knights.

“S-suddenly what is this?”

“……There’s a Player who can use this kind of magic in Gaon?”

“Don’t tell me, is it the doing of those Inazuma bastards?”

Amidst the commotion.

Step

Suddenly, clear sounds of dress shoes echoing in the plaza.

Nam Tae-min subconsciously turned his head towards the direction of the sound.

Over there stood a man wearing an ink-black long coat.

Then.

Nam Chul-min’s voice, more flustered than ever, could be heard.

-……W-wait! That face is……? I’m right. What is this? D-don’t tell me, the one who summoned that stone wall?! No, wait a minute. That’s possible? No, it doesn’t make sense?!

*

I erected a wall.

I would be disappointed if you dismiss it as simple 『Magic』.

Not to mention considering the efficiency of magic power.

‘It’s what they call the law of action and reaction.’

Even the basic physics knowledge I learned in my school days.

I desperately gathered them and used them as the foundation to raise this city wall.

Yes, as you can see, I was doing my best every moment.

In order not to sink.

It meant I was struggling with all my might.

[‘Stun’ is inflicted on Count Ascura’s Knight.]

[‘Stun’ is inflicted on Count Ascura’s Knight.]

[‘Stun’ is inflicted on Count Ascura’s Knight.]…….