Chapter 181 – All Are Disqualified

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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[Main Quest: Age of Warring States]

A time of upheaval.

Is it simple power they aim for.

Is it the incompetence of the Emperor.

Or is it an irresistible fate.

The powerhouses of the continent covet the imperial throne.

Your choice shall create a new flow.

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Capital city, Antonium.

The last bastion of the empire did not fall. Despite suffering unprecedented damage, it did not succumb to the demons. Truly a desperate resistance.

“Defend it! Risk your lives!”

“If the city walls fall, everything is over!”

“Even if we die, we die defending it!!”

Did the heavens taking pity on that desperate life-and-death struggle?

“……Is that true? The demons disappeared!”

The demon forces that ran rampant all over the empire were annihilated overnight.

It wasn’t just that. Even the king of demons, the Demon King. His movements shrank unlike before.

Clip-clop

The reconnaissance squad thoroughly searching the vicinity of Antonium.

They couldn’t believe it even seeing it with their own eyes.

“W-What kind of harmony is this?”

Just like the news that came, really, the demons disappeared.

As if they were terrified of ‘something’.

Without leaving even a trace.

“……You, go back and deliver this news to His Majesty!”

Everyone in Antonium, including the Emperor, felt relieved.

“We were running out of provisions, thank heavens.”

“I do not know what kind of plot is hidden but…….”

“Stop the ominous talk. We do not have a choice, do we? We can only stay vigilant and utilize this opportunity.”

“Right, you are right.”

They thought the time to finally catch their stifled breaths had come.

However, they were overlooking something.

Demons that grow stronger through negative energy.

Why those demons.

Even after revealing themselves on the Arcana continent.

Grew stronger day by day.

Where the source of that power came from.

Rumble

Soldiers were flocking towards Antonium.

They were neither demons, nor reinforcements.

“Your Majesty! Duke Ymir is leading an army……!!”

“Marquis Cassano, he has rebelled against the empire!”

“The lords of the eastern empire have declared an alliance……!”

They were rebels aiming to bring down the empire.

The Emperor stepped onto the city walls of Antonium.

He looked at those who besieged him.

A bitter smile shadowed his face.

“……I was foolishly mistaken.”

You were the ones who didn’t answer carrier pigeons or the telepathy of the imperial mages. Foolishly, I thought you were all defeated by the demons.

I blamed myself day and night for the fact that I couldn’t protect you.

However.

“You were glaring at me from the beginning.”

A bitter smile slipped from the Emperor’s mouth.

“……It is not a position to be envied by anyone.”

This crown that threatens to crush me with its weight.

Do you wish to step forward and shoulder it?

If the Emperor’s seat was something that could be handed over.

I would willingly hand it over.

Whooosh

The Emperor gently closed his eyes at the blowing wind.

The smell carried on the wind had changed.

The smell of blood, the smell of burning, could no longer be felt.

“……If truly, everything is over.”

If indeed, the demons have disappeared from the continent.

If there are no days where the people of the empire groan in pain even if I disappear.

I will willingly give up the seat of the Emperor.

The Emperor resolved.

“Such an end does not seem bad either.”

It means he was exhausted to the point where it’s hard to endure anymore.

The Emperor opened his eyes and muttered.

“So when we meet again, please do not reprimand me too much, Harkon. Because the debt I owe you so far is too overwhelming to clear.”

Thump

With the Emperor’s futile words as the end.

The vision of the Quernberg Machine Tower shifted.

To the countless forces that besieged Antonium.

“Our alliance is only until the moment we bring down Antonium and drag down the Emperor. After that, do not trust anyone’s words, Duke.”

Until the demons evaporated overnight.

The Arcana continent groaning in pain.

However, the gathered ones showed no signs of fatigue.

It was natural.

Because those gathered here did not fight against the demons.

Turning their backs on the people groaning in pain.

They holed up in their castles like mice and conserved their strength for today.

“The continent wants a new Emperor!”

“Emperor! Your incompetence made the continent like this.”

“This is not a rebellion but a revolution!”

Kugung

Its purpose is solely demon hunting.

The machine tower has no ability to distinguish right from wrong.

It merely captured the scenery of Antonium in its memory device.

Kugung

It was the moment the Quernberg Machine Tower was about to take a step.

A single man blocked its path.

Deep blue hair.

Bright blue eyes.

And an even more chilling blue sword aura (劍罡).

The man who looked like a young man opened his mouth.

“Is this the machine that goes around doing useless things.”

Sssik

Then without hesitation, he aimed his sword towards the machine tower.

It was a sword aura so blue it felt cold just looking at it.

Its brightness was piercing to the eyes. It was intense enough to be clearly seen in broad daylight, even to the eyes of those who hadn’t awakened sword qi (劍氣).

In a word, it was a sword aura beyond a sword aura.

The surroundings buzzed.

“That person is Sir Shegwyn……!”

Sword Saint, Shegwyn.

The continent’s only Grand Sword Master.

At the same time, a Transcendent.

“But why did Sir Shegwyn aim his sword at the Quernberg Machine Tower?”

“……Because the demons’ activities have lessened?”

“Is he saying its value has faded? No, even so, is there a need to aim his sword? Besides, the Demon Kings are still crouching on the Arcana continent…….”

Amidst the pouring concerns.

Shegwyn twisted the corner of his lips crookedly.

“I loathe noisy things.”

Swaaak!

Then he unscrupulously swung his sword.

Shegwyn’s sword cleaved through the air.

Kugugugung!

Then the Quernberg Machine Tower began to crumble.

Cleaved in two.

It collapsed disastrously, pouring out countless gears like blood.

An unrealistic sight.

Gulp!

That transcendent martial prowess made even Antonium, who had turned Shegwyn into an enemy.

Even those who had formed an alliance with him, gasp in shock.

However, the machine tower was neither shocked nor agitated.

The final moment.

What the machine tower kept in its memory device was just Shegwyn’s one phrase.

-“Is this that machine that goes around doing useless things.”

The natural enemy of demons.

The Demon Hunter who inspects even a supposedly dead demon twice.

Because it was the decisive battle weapon that inherited Akshan’s pride.

There must surely be a reason he called demon hunting a useless thing.

Oh, last Demon Hunter.

Please, I hope you see through Shegwyn’s inner thoughts…….

Thump!

.

.

.

I looked at the messages popping up one after another.

[Quest: Useless Thing]

Shegwyn considered demon hunting a useless thing.

Converse with Shegwyn,

And grasp the true intent behind his actions.

─Encounter Shegwyn. (In Progress)

Alright, let’s think rationally.

Setting the content aside, I had expected this.

As I said, I’m an experienced person, right?

Akshan’s tradition.

I expected at least this much of taking on and carrying out a quest left behind by another Demon Hunter.

……But what is this scale?!

First of all, the quest wasn’t just one.

[Main Quest: Age of Warring States (戰國時代)]

No, a Main Quest out of nowhere.

I couldn’t help but resent Granfel.

And his loose lips.

‘Right, it really jinxed it!’

Giving a hundred concessions, if my condition was fine, I might have welcomed it.

A Main Quest!

Unlike World Quests, there is zero related information to the point where even players debate whether it exists or not.

Even.

“Is it a story unknown even to those who explore the fragments of the Creator.”

……Your bluffing is still the same even in this situation, Granfel.

Put simply, it meant there is no concrete information about Main Quests even in AAU. But the system doesn’t lie.

On top of that, it’s very plausible, isn’t it?

‘It’s a romance, something a player would harbor at least once.’

If it’s a quest where you can become the Emperor of the empire.

Indeed, it wouldn’t be lacking to call it a Main Quest.

But as I said, the problem is my condition.

I’m extremely busy myself, what good is a quest popping up!!

Main Quest?

Akshan’s Quest?

All good, that’s what it is.

But before that, liberating the clanking Circle, the effect of [Transcendent], was priority. Right, Granfel. It means you have to follow the ‘procedure’ you value so much.

Because I heard it clearly.

‘Calling demon hunting a useless thing.’

The Sword Saint.

At the same time, the continent’s only Grand Sword Master, Shegwyn.

From Shegwyn’s appearance left behind by the Quernberg Machine Tower, I also picked up a fishy smell.

Wondering if it had something to do with the demons.

‘Well, I hope it’s just my paranoia but.’

Anyway, to carry out Akshan’s quest, I had to encounter Shegwyn.

With the [Map Communicating with All Things] losing its effect currently, the only way to meet Shegwyn would be relying on the coincidences of rifts. If by some chance coincidences overlapped and I encountered him…….

‘First of all, there’s no way I can avoid a clash.’

Would the high and mighty Granfel of the world just let it go?

Shegwyn smashed a perfectly fine machine tower.

To Granfel, it’s an action no different from breaking a comrade.

So I coldly recited.

“I will strictly hold you accountable for your careless actions.”

So even more so.

I had to solve the Circle somehow.

Because I’d need to match his level as a fellow Transcendent to even mix words with him.

However, in this moment.

There was a thought that came before anything else.

Antonium.

The Emperor who made a bitter expression on the city wall.

Harkon, who was the right-hand man of such an Emperor.

‘If Harkon finds out about this news…….’

Harkon will move to save the Emperor.

And Antonium, by any means necessary.

If so, what would become of the [Main Quest]’s direction?

I looked at the quest objectives.

─Bring down Antonium. (Select)

─Defend Antonium. (Select)

Quest objectives that let you choose a faction like a [Battlefield Quest].

I coldly measured the combat power of both sides.

In a siege battle, the defending side is fundamentally at an advantage.

Moreover, it was Antonium that didn’t fall despite countless demon attacks. Even such Antonium was reaching its limit, and the number of forces besieging it was also considerable.

Besides, I thoroughly confirmed it with my own two eyes.

The Sword Saint, Shegwyn’s overwhelming martial prowess……!

They say you only see as much as you know.

Is it because I also reached the level of a sword aura?

I could understand the ridiculous level of Shegwyn’s swordsmanship.

‘The Quernberg Machine Tower’s durability is considerable.’

[Pure Pentagram of Knowledge].

Thanks to it, I’m the one who fully grasps what minerals the Quernberg Machine Tower is composed of.

No matter how much of a capital’s city wall it is, the machine tower is made of minerals unimaginably more valuable in comparison.

‘Because he cleanly cut through such a machine tower like cutting tofu.’

Beyond Harkon.

It meant it was a level I couldn’t dare to look at currently.

Therefore, looking at it from an extremely player-like point of view.

The empire, the Emperor, had no chance of winning.

Even if Harkon, filled with unbridled anger, joins, the result would not change.

So if I choose to defend.

I would completely fail the Main Quest.

However, mind you.

“As for me, I cannot guess your feelings, Sir Harkon.”

I.

Granfel.

Since when did he make rational judgments.

Yes, everything according to pride.

The heavy pride in my chest was speaking.

“However, one thing seems certain.”

I recited as if chewing over my words.

“Without a single exception.”

What, drive out the Emperor and become the new Emperor?

Those bastards.

Tightly hid themselves and didn’t budge an inch until the demons turned the continent into a wasteland?

Yielding a hundred times, it might be the influence from the days when Arcana was merely a game.

Just like the Mage Tower, which was tied down because it had too massive power.

However, even if I try to understand, I cannot understand.

In the end, the Mage Tower broke its contradiction and changed.

Besides, who do you think I am.

No, do you think I faced a Great Evil, not just a Demon King but a Superior Demon King, because I wanted to die?!

“All of them are unqualified.”

So this was another meeting of minds.

“Shegwyn, you are no different either.”

Granfel’s pride.

And a collaboration of the unfairness I, Lee Ho-yeol, felt.

There was no hesitation.

My vision flashed.

─Bring down Antonium. (Failed)

─Defend Antonium. (In Progress)

Sword Saint?

The continent’s only Grand Sword Master?

Indeed, quite a grand alias.

But this side wouldn’t lose when it comes to aliases either.

Boundlessly deep darkness.

A single ray of light in such darkness.

Even an Evil Dragon Hunter!

‘Damn it, my shame multiplies when I say it with my own mouth.’

But putting aside aliases, I have nothing to yield either, right?

Yes, because I was also a [Transcendent] like Shegwyn.

Even if I’m a half-baked one with a sealed effect, anyway.

So what I had to do was simple.

Scrape

I stood up from my seat and looked out the window of the office.

……I must definitely grow them, elixirs.

*

Separate room.

Elsidore opened the door of the separate room and strolled through the Golden Palace. The destination was naturally the flower garden. Seeing Elsidore, the servants of the Golden Palace whispered.

“……He looks in a good mood, doesn’t he?”

“Shh, watch your mouth! I’m afraid he might hear.”

“Me too, but isn’t it surprising?”

After being confined in the separate room of the Golden Palace.

Elsidore’s face had always been scowling.

To the point where the sculpture-like elf appearance faded.

Because Elsidore had always been shooting murderous glares.

“But you know what, apparently he was smiling even inside the separate room!”

Such Elsidore’s face changed.

Why?

There was only one thing they could think of.

“……It was from after he stopped by the flower garden, right?”

That was right.

When Elsidore changed was from the time he started managing Ho-yeol’s flower garden.

The servants chimed in animatedly.

“As expected, elves are close to nature just like the legends!”

“……Could it be, creating a flower garden in the separate room so suddenly was also for the elf? Doesn’t it seem correct? He’s not someone who would normally do that!”

“I told you he seems blunt but is deeply considerate, didn’t I?”

Twitch

The elf’s long ears flinched.

What, that bastard is being considerate?

The bastard who dared to make me like this is considerate?

Elsidore gritted his teeth.

“……I will definitely kill you.”

However, the effect of the [Hierarchy of Blessing] was still active.

Contrary to his resolute commitment, Elsidore had no choice but to tend the flower garden with all his heart.

“How funny.”

The reason Elsidore regained his smile?

It was simple.

Because what Elsidore let out was a sneer.

“Acting all high and mighty.”

To laboriously water this kind of flower garden, how trivial.

Trivial like a bug.

Elsidore was regaining his self-esteem by chewing over Ho-yeol in the flower garden.

“Truly an meaningless effort.”

One day.

“What would change even if you water them?”

And another day.

“I want to show the flower gardens of Sicily to that arrogant fellow.”

Hahaha.

It was when Elsidore’s expression was brightening day by day.

Exactly four days later.

Entering the flower garden, Elsidore’s face turned pale.

“?”

During the few days he didn’t look closely because he was busy scoffing, pouring out curses, and enjoying gossip. The flowers in the garden had grown massively, incomparable to before.

Elsidore muttered.

“……How on earth?”

In just four days.

Could those trivial flowers.

Emit an aura larger, more fabulous, and deeper than the flowers of Sicily that had lived through eons?