Chapter 188 – I Will Not Forget the Debt

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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To put it simply, it is straightforward.

“…now this feels like proper training.”

The effect of [First World Tree’s Blessing] cannot offset it.

Even the great Granfel cannot put up a front anymore, so when the body is pushed to that level.

That is precisely what training that transcends limits means!

I am genuinely astonished in multiple ways.

Even if you dress it up as training that transcends limits and whatnot, the secret to the Demon Hunter’s strength is ultimately just grinding, right? What an astounding consistency, truly.

You too, Granfel.

After overworking the body to a point even the World Tree buff cannot recover from.

What?

Now it finally feels like training?

Then what on earth was everything I had been doing up until now?!

‘I feel wronged, really.’

But most astonishing of all was the message.

[For training that transcends your limits, additional rewards are distributed.]

I had seen a message similar to this one before.

Stat points had risen by an extra point or two, right?

In truth, even that was an astounding additional reward.

Because a single stat point holds the value of one level.

But.

[You have acquired the stat, ‘Tenacity’.]

This time it is different.

Because no less than a stat has been unlocked.

Just as with [Aesthetics], the moment of acquisition.

The effect of ‘Tenacity’ was being engraved into my vision and mind.

[Tenacity: Converts mental fortitude into stats. Each time Tenacity rises, the stats converted additionally increase.]

I could not help but flinch the moment I saw it.

This is practically a Demon Hunter exclusive stat!

Somehow I am making a lot of declarations today, yet…

I would say without hesitation that on the Arcana continent, there are no one with stronger mental fortitude than Demon Hunters. Because the structure of Akshan was one where those with weak mental fortitude could not survive.

‘It was the same in the past.’

On top of the endless grinding quests.

The Demon Hunter’s training methods were closer to a horror game than an RPG. There was no reason to insist on the Demon Hunter class over the many other Arcana classes.

‘Honestly, even I would have quit if it were me.’

If the Cataclysm had not forcibly cut me off from Arcana.

Then naturally as the adolescent phase healed, I would have parted ways with Granfel.

And started fresh with a new account, wouldn’t I?

‘Strictly speaking….’

This time too, the intermediate process was skipped.

Because normally, to acquire [Tenacity].

It seemed like an enormous amount of training would be needed.

enough to keep training even in hell.

But where would this shamelessness go?

I said this even in this moment.

To the Demon Hunter still doing push-ups without stopping.

“Now I stand on equal footing.”

And performed push-ups once more.

Indeed, the effect of the new stat [Tenacity] was felt tangibly.

“I am still going strong.”

The Demon Hunter, mental fortitude beyond that.

I could feel that Granfel’s mental fortitude was sustaining the body.

It wasn’t just my imagination but surfaced as a message.

[Through the effect of Tenacity, Strength temporarily rises.]

I checked the figure while squeezing every muscle.

[Strength: 112 → 162]

…no wait, what is this.

Even if it is temporary, Strength increased by 50 points?!

It was a figure shocking enough to cause muscle cramps.

It could not be helped.

Even if Granfel’s mental fortitude was not at the level of an ordinary human…

[Tenacity: 1]

My [Tenacity] points which I had just acquired were a mere 1.

As stated in its description.

The stats converted were affected by the [Tenacity] value.

‘Then how much will it rise later?’

No choice but to be astonished.

What kind of absurd efficiency is this?

Whether the effect of [Tenacity] was broken.

Or whether Granfel’s mental fortitude was what was broken.

There was no way to know right now.

But one thing became certain.

‘For the time being, all level up points go all-in on Tenacity.’

It goes without saying, but.

No matter how tremendous Granfel’s mental fortitude, the gap in stats could not be overcome. In the end, I opened my mouth only after drenching my shirt in sweat to the point it turned translucent.

“That was a good match.”

A good match?!

There is no more foolish match than this in the whole world, Granfel.

And I hope you enjoyed beating your only junior, truly.

“……”

Only then did the Demon Hunter stop his push-ups and rise.

Whoosh

Hellfire began to coil around his body.

“……”

No fraternizing.

Keeping the rules till the end, very diligently.

Just like from the start, there was no farewell.

But I witnessed it unmistakably.

‘?’

Below the hood, the corner of a mouth glimpsed for an instant.

That corner of the lips was clearly pointing upward.

He was definitely smiling.

‘…did he just smirk at me, right now?’

He’s gloating about winning, right?!

Right, I am grateful that it allowed me to realize [Tenacity].

But doing push-ups out of nowhere.

And disappearing leaving behind a smirk at the end.

Our Akshan seniors, what extraordinary characters!

However, Granfel would absolutely not be left behind.

“At times there are things that come across without words.”

…no, he went one step further.

I declared into the back of the Demon Hunter’s head.

As he returned into the hellfire.

“The next time we meet, I will repay this debt, Demon Hunter.”

…I truly concede to you, Granfel.

*

Castle of Tears.

Rank 56.

The Demon King, Gremory, dabbed her eyes.

A wistful voice spread through the room.

“Without companions above and below, I am lonely.”

Above, rank 55.

Below, rank 57’s throne.

She had thought the Demon King Succession Battle would fill their vacancies.

But an unexpected variable had appeared.

The revival of Akshan.

And the death of the Superior Demon King, Gamigin.

Gremory opened her mouth.

“What do you think?”

“…Y, yes?”

The one who received the Demon King’s question was a human.

Not corrupted, not a demon worshipper, just a plain ordinary human.

Simply the Viscount who had once been the owner of this small castle.

The man broke out in a cold sweat.

‘…answer. I must answer well.’

While he was making up his mind, Gremory whispered.

“Look me straight in the eyes.”

“……!”

The man raised his head and met Gremory’s eyes.

And despaired.

‘How can you be so cruel to me……!’

It felt like a divine trial sent down from the goddess.

How, why does that wretched demon who smashed my territory, slaughtered my people, my retainers, my kin, appear to me as the most beautiful woman imaginable?

The man desperately gathered his composure and answered.

“…I beg your forgiveness for being forward, but I believe it would be impossible without Akshan truly having revived.”

“Hmm, I suppose that is so.”

Gremory puffed out her cheek.

Cascading peach-colored hair and radiant skin.

And an expression full of life.

Were alluring enough that no one could suspect her of being a Demon King.

“But even so, I still cannot understand it.”

Gremory’s gaze turned to the man.

“Do you know this? The offerings for Lord Gamigin were unintentionally far more plentiful than usual. It was because all the demons who had entered the Demon King Succession Battle were killed and became offerings.”

Taking it all into account, Gamigin had manifested using as offerings not just the predetermined ones.

But an additional twelve Demon King-class True Name Demons.

Gremory herself had also confirmed Gamigin’s might.

“Our foolish and dim-witted Lord Gamigin.”

The man doubted his ears.

‘…foolish and dim-witted?’

That a hierarchy existed among Demon Kings.

That was a fact he had learned while serving as Gremory’s conversational companion.

Among those, the power of the Superior Demon Kings was of a different caliber, he had also learned.

Gremory opened one eye slightly.

“You thought it was a disrespectful way of referring to someone, didn’t you, you?”

“Ah, no!”

“It’s fine. A lowly human could not understand.”

“…Y, yes.”

A Superior Demon King classification was given to ranks one through ten.

Even among Demon Kings, their treatment was peculiar. Gremory was somewhat better among them, but the majority of Demon Kings treated the Superior Demon Kings as tools.

Were they not beings one could not even have a conversation with?

“To be exploited until the very end and ultimately get cast into hell… I merely feel inexplicably melancholic about that pitiful end.”

“…I see.”

Gulp.

The man swallowed without realizing it.

Was this what being bewitched by a demon felt like?

He knew that everything about that demon was pretense and fabrication. But looking at Gremory performing vulnerability, genuine pity truly sprouted in his chest.

Gremory wiped the corner of her eye with a finger and spoke.

“However, it is not all sad news. Because there are those who will move for us, pushed to the edge of a cliff like this.”

One of those was the Sword Saint, Shegwin.

Gremory could not forget the image of Shegwin she had glimpsed through the Demon Eye not long ago. The aura emanating from the aging human had been on a level that defied imagination.

“Truly grateful and yet pitiable beings.”

Even so, they were ultimately human.

Humble humans, unlike herself, dying day by day.

In that sense, Shegwin was on the smarter side.

Going so far as to voluntarily give up being human and walk the path of corruption.

The corners of Gremory’s mouth lifted.

‘Some Demon Kings must have been disappointed.’

Even if aged, Shegwin’s body was the finest quality for possession.

Of course, Gremory had no interest in a human’s body.

…gulp.

Just look.

To the point where even enemies had to swallow saliva seeing her.

Her own figure right now as it was, was perfect.

“I, Gremory, am sorrowful.”

Gremory rose from her seat and headed to the window.

A night sky with the Demon Eye risen.

Soon, Gremory’s eyes darkened.

Then the Demon Eye’s vision pierced into her mind.

‘I cannot read you, Shegwin.’

To withdraw from Antonium, the capital of the Empire.

It was an incomprehensible judgment.

Even Gremory herself, not accustomed to war, thought that.

What the reaction of the other Demon Kings would be without even checking was as obvious as day.

‘Everyone is watching your every move.’

In that sense, Shegwin’s destination was unexpected.

After killing useless nobles and gaining insight in handling demonic power. To think he would leave the Empire swarming with humans and head toward the mountain range.

The corners of Gremory’s lips twisted.

“…surely you are not trying to imitate a human, are you?”

Even if that were so, it would be a meaningless thing to do.

Not that it particularly mattered.

Even if fallen, the root was that of a lowly human.

“All you need to do is light the way.”

The scene witnessed through Gamigin’s Demon Eye.

-“Akshan has returned.”

The chill at that time was beyond words.

It felt as though the fear forgotten after Akshan’s extermination was reviving.

The revival of Akshan.

The culprit could be guessed without difficulty.

The silver-haired Demon Hunter.

The man who had suddenly appeared on the Arcana continent disappeared on that day without a trace, along with millions of demons. That was also a fact clearly confirmed through the Demon Eye.

‘But he truly did revive, it seems.’

To think he cast even Lord Gamigin into hell.

There could be no more certain proof of revival than that.

Gremory turned from the window.

“So we have no choice but to hold our breath like this, wretched as it is.”

Immediately after Gamigin was cast into hell.

The Demon Kings went in search of Akshan.

They judged that right now, in the aftermath of the bloody battle with Gamigin.

Was the chance to crush the revived Akshan.

But they absolutely could not find them.

‘Just where is that place?’

A completely alien landscape.

No matter how thoroughly one searched the Arcana continent, neither a place the same as it, nor Akshan, nor the silver-haired Demon Hunter, could be found.

Even borrowing the vision of the Demon Eye.

As expected, this was Akshan.

“To think their mere appearance gave me goosebumps?”

But time was ultimately on their side anyway.

Even if Gamigin had been cast into hell, nine Superior Demon Kings still remained. Well, the presence of the Great Evils that are annoying to deal with could not be ignored either.

Among that, Shegwin’s role was exactly that of a scout.

Akshan or the silver-haired Demon Hunter.

He was bait to make their existence show itself again.

Because is it not Akshan, who loses all sense and charges the moment they see a demon?

Until they take the bait thrown so openly.

All they had to do was wait.

“In that sense, the Zero Mountain Range is not bad either, Shegwin.”

*

Thursday.

Regular update.

For the first time in a while, a sense of tension lingered in the AAU.

“Please let something moderate pop up.”

Sung Hyun-jun clasped his hands together devoutly and prayed.

“Please let our General Director enjoy a proper vacation!”

“You’re worse than me lately, huh?”

“Senior, please hurry and pray too. If you sincerely wish for something, it comes true.”

“Good grief.”

“Oh Homen……”

Click

Yoon Su-gyeom chuckled and hit refresh repeatedly.

Then he addressed Sung Hyun-jun who was muttering.

“At least it won’t be an update related to demons.”

“You think so?”

“They must have taken heavy losses in the Demon King Succession Battle too. Above all, isn’t there a complete defeat for every complete victory? At least they won’t be able to rampage on the same scale as the succession battle.”

Meaning that Demon-type monsters with exceptionally high levels were a different matter, but in that case there would be no need for Ho-yeol to step in specifically.

At those words, Sung Hyun-jun began praying more specifically.

“Then please, as long as it’s not Demon-type monsters…!”

“But who are you even praying to?”

“…God, or Buddha?”

“Is that so? But when you think about it, shouldn’t Raymond Sean be the one listening to those prayers?”

“Wait, cancel that! Like I’d be insane enough to pray to that piece of trash!!”

But had the prayer already reached Raymond Sean?

Click

The moment the Arcana official homepage refreshed.

The regular update details appeared.

No one moved first.

AAU, Republic of Korea Branch.

No, from every branch, the same words burst out.

“The, the Zero Mountain Range!!”

The symbol of the Arcana continent’s chronicles.

That Zero Mountain Range is being added as a new region?

Color returned to Sung Hyun-jun’s face.

“S, senior. Isn’t this a good thing? If the Zero Mountain Range is added as a region, players at least won’t have to worry about hunting grounds!”

The vast Zero Mountain Range had content from low-level all the way to high-level.

Content for all players.

Especially in the Hundred Thousand Caves, quite considerable items lay sleeping.

“…that’s exactly why it’s a problem.”

“What? What’s the problem?”

A problem?

Before Sung Hyun-jun could wonder at such an unexpected answer.

Yoon Su-gyeom said in a trembling voice.

“It’s a problem because it’s too big, way too big!”

Tap-tap-tap!

And at the same time, urgent footsteps could be heard.

It was Branch Manager Park Min-jae.

Park Min-jae shouted out of nowhere.

“Everyone start calculating!”

“Calculating what, what do you mean suddenly…?”

“What, Sung Hyun-jun still hasn’t figured out the situation?”

Yoon Su-gyeom opened his mouth on behalf of Park Min-jae.

“Hyun-jun, do you remember the size of the Zero Mountain Range?”

“Of course. So large that dragons live at its peak…?!”

…wait a second.

If such a Zero Mountain Range appears in reality.

What would the aftermath be?

A geological shift unlike any in Earth’s history.

If the Zero Mountain Range were to rise in a specific country.

That country might disappear from the map forever.

Even if it were to rise from the sea…

Yoon Su-gyeom said.

“That’s right, a natural disaster of an entirely different dimension will follow.”

“……!!!”

Just how do we even prepare for this?

This was a completely different problem from rifts.

To fend off an Earth-ending natural disaster.

Someone murmured.

“Really, without magic, how could you possibly……”

“……?!!”

…wait, magic?

At those words, everyone was reminded.

Of the beings capable of stopping a great catastrophic natural disaster.

.

.

.

“You once said. That all things have a give and take.”

Marcelo picked up his quill pen.

Scratch-scratch-scratch

He wrote neatly on parchment.

“I will put those words into practice. Lord.”

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From this moment, external activities are hereby fully permitted.

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The purpose is salvation in return for salvation.

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All Mage Tower members, assemble.

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Acting Chief Mage, Marcelo Simuard.

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