Chapter 318 – Nevertheless, It Is Laughable (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Sling!

Baal’s sword that destroyed the Seorn Continent in one blow.

It was the moment the sword strike, containing immeasurable destructive power, was stretching toward me.

Greeeeeeek─?!

Along with a bizarre noise, Baal’s forearm creaked.

The demons of the Demon Realm who had climbed up after trampling Seorn shouted at that sight.

“What is that situation?”

“Why toward the empty air where nothing exists……?”

“O Baal!”

Even if it were Granfel, who could not pass by a demon.

There was no way to do anything about those demons.
For the scene I was seeing was a past that I could not interfere with.

The reason I could be sure it was the past?

Because I, a Demon Hunter.

Could see the Demon Kings on the ground whom I had sent to hell with my own hands.

In that sense, I couldn’t help but flinch at Baal again.

Past and present.

Baal noticed my existence transcending the timeline.

Not only that, he even swung his sword.

Indeed, befitting an existence that sinks a worldview with a single sword stroke.

However.

Hadn’t I already spat it out with this snout?

“I did not expect understanding from an inferior race.”

In front of Baal’s approaching sword.

In front of the destructive power that smashed the Seorn Continent in one blow.

I continued speaking without backing down even a little.

“Consider it an honor. I shall personally make you realize.”

Of course, this was a thoroughly calculated action.

Likewise, the words spat out.

Was it because I knew how to hunt Baal?

No, there was no way that was possible.

I just trusted.

The experience I had built up as a player……!

‘Combat does not occur.’

Right, no matter how strong Baal was.

Even if he noticed my existence.

The system does not lie.

As long as an appropriate level did not appear in the messages.

‘You, you can’t hit me, right?’

Baal, you could not even touch a single hair of mine.

Not even a single well-groomed hem of my clothes.

It meant you couldn’t touch them.

‘Unfair? So what.’

I said it, right?

That it’s not groundless confidence.

This was the shameless reason I didn’t even bat an eye.

Greeeeeeek!

The sound of muscle rupturing rang from Baal’s forearm.

Unlike me, the expressions of the demons on the ground were exceedingly worried. The panicked voices of the Demon Kings were heard clearly through a Demon Hunter’s hearing.

“Why are you wasting those massive sacrifices, Baal!! Do you know how great a sacrifice the Demon Realm has paid for this day? The Demon Realm cannot be satisfied with just the Seorn Continent. Fulfill the contract. Open the door heading to the Arcana Continent with that sword!!”

Ah, so there was a reason they looked like they were dying? Hearing it, it seemed that according to the contract, Baal had to open the path heading to the Arcana Continent following the Seorn Continent.

However, as you can see.

Due to the fact that he detected me, who was watching the past through the curse.

He had swung the sword that should have headed toward the Arcana Continent at me.

“How exceedingly stupid.”

“How can that be the King of Kings……?”

“……Everything has gone wrong. The sky is closing.”

“To miss such an opportunity!”

“Baaaaaaaall!!”

Greeeeeeek…….

The Demon Kings’ screams were becoming reality.

The sword that was being swung toward the empty air stopped. The grip holding the sword loosened. Baal’s forearm bent and crumpled bizarrely, and soon began to be sucked into the split sky.

Thud……!

Before long, silence visited as if nothing had happened.

A message popped up before my eyes.

[The Demon Realm becomes one with ‘Seorn Continent’.]

To think two completely different worlds became one.

I’ve heard this a lot somewhere, haven’t I?

Right, this was also the Bizarre.

The demon worshipper, Karimzeva, had said.

-“Demons are merely a means. If it’s you, don’t you know? That what the Arcana Continent needs is the True Truth!”

Thanks to that, I was able to notice.

Back then, I didn’t know what he was talking about.

He was talking about me, who handled the Bizarre, Karimzeva.

That was right.

Baal, that guy was definitely the peak of the realm of the Bizarre.

No, considering he was one of the Ten Thrones Demon Kings who existed from the beginning……. It would be more correct to say he was born from the Bizarre rather than having entered the realm of the Bizarre like me.

But that was exactly.

The reason I was certain I could hunt you, Baal.

Whether it was struggle or whatever.

Because I was steadily advancing step by step in the realm of the Bizarre. If there was a peak, the owner of the personality who had to reach it to be satisfied was none other than the noble Lord Granfel.

Moreover.

‘Anyway, it means we’re in the same class now, right?’

Someone might sneer, asking if I wasn’t being too shameless.

However.

Since when was I not shameless?

I murmured toward the closed sky.

“Did you tuck your tail and run. At least you know your place.”

Even if he was the existence at the peak of the realm of the Bizarre, as long as he was a demon.

To me.

To Granfel, even Baal was no different from a lower demon Imp.

‘……Even so, saying he tucked his tail and ran is a bit much.’

I was just at the moment of knowing my own place.

My vision began to blur.

According to the demon worshipper’s intention, the Irreversible Flow.

The True Truth.

Since it showed me Baal’s power through the past.

The curse had exhausted its effect.

.

.

.

[You have purified the curse, ‘Irreversible Flow’.]

[Relationship with Akshan has increased.]

[Influence in Akshan has increased.]

Befitting Akshan’s repeatable quest, the relationship and influence increased. Of course, that wasn’t what was important. My gaze headed toward the wall of the Infinite that had been covered with the curse.

‘At least I won’t have to worry about wrinkling my clothes.’

Thanks to the successful purification, the curse had disappeared cleanly. The demon worshipper’s corpse was no longer visible either. His life force must have run out and he was eaten by the Infinite according to its rules.

I said.

“Wretched until the end.”

In the end, I guess I returned after even denying the final struggle left by the demon worshipper. Why, it seemed he hoped my spirit would break witnessing Baal’s power.

“You. And the demon claiming to be the King of Kings were the same.”

For it only ended up instilling unnecessary confidence in Granfel.

By the way.

……What time is it now?

Even time flows as it pleases in the Infinite, but I had entered the curse. Even if it didn’t feel like a long time, it was an event that could interfere with the schedule and procedure.

The words I would spit out were obvious.

“Wasted precious time.”

I spoke coldly and stepped out of the Infinite.

Thud─

The door of the Infinite closed, and I climbed the stairs. As I climbed the stairs, I looked back at my snout. I wondered how much I would have to struggle to realize all of that…….

Looking back, it wasn’t just a bluff, was it?

-“The Demon Realm cannot be satisfied with just the Seorn Continent. Fulfill the contract. Open the door heading to the Arcana Continent with that sword!!”

The point when the Seorn Continent was destroyed was the past.

If, because I didn’t enter the curse.

Baal had opened the door toward the Arcana Continent according to the contract……?

Wouldn’t the history of the Arcana Continent have changed significantly?

‘Does it mean my snout blocked that?’

Of course, I can’t be sure. Just looking at Baal noticing my existence, the timeline seemed like a concept too complex for me to fathom right now.

‘Should I start studying science even now?’

Tch, I resent being a liberal arts major at times like this.

Nevertheless, I knew one thing for certain.

That Baal, that guy, was not an unapproachable existence.

Was it thanks to that, my steps were exceedingly light.

Click.

As expected, time had passed and sunlight was illuminating the Mage Tower. The Mage Tower was crowded with people early on. As the sound of dress shoes echoed in such a lobby, attention was unintentionally focused.

Eventually, whispering voices were heard.

“……It’s Lee Ho-yeol!”

“What, what. There was a basement in the Mage Tower too?!”

“Did some incident break out from the morning?”

“Float the breaking news right now!”

But I was one who didn’t care about others’ gazes and evaluations.

I moved straight toward the portal.

Let’s hurry, because I have to stop by the Arcana Continent this evening too.

*

[Zero Mountain Range]

[Appropriate Level: Not recommended for anyone]

[Collapse Progress: 100%]

Players look up at the Zero Mountain Range.

“Kyah, I used to wonder when I’d ever climb that in the past.”

“After the Cataclysm, we completely forgot about it, actually.”

“Anyway, I feel like I’ve quite moved up in the world.”

The heart-fluttering first entry into the Zero Mountain Range.

Although it was the Zero Mountain Range that was not recommended for anyone, the number of players active in the Zero Mountain Range was increasing, led by the rankers. Thanks to that, tips and information about the appearing monsters were spreading one by one.

An archer with a bow on his shoulder adjusted his glasses.

“They say that from level 400, the efficiency is higher than most Rifts.”

“Still, to think everyone is level 400 like me.”

“I actually ran all the way here looking only at level 400.”

The four players maintained an appropriate level of tension.

Sword and shield, staff, bow.

Each raised their equipment and climbed the Zero Mountain Range.

“Oh, wait a minute! I actually received a map from an explorer I know! They said it would surely be useful when I enter the Zero Mountain Range someday…….”

At the words of the mage with the staff, everyone rejoiced.

“An explorer’s map?! That’s not an ordinary map, is it? I’ve only seen it in NetTube videos……. I heard it plays a role similar to navigation.”

“Is that true?”

“I’ll hold the staff. Feel free to look for the map.”

“Ah, thank you. Found it thanks to you!”

[Explorer Alliance Map: Zero Mountain Range Lowlands]

[Grade: Rare]

[Restriction: None]

[Completion: 3.2%]

[Description: A map created by an explorer belonging to the Alliance. The footsteps of the explorer shall be your guide.]

The information window was exceedingly shabby at first glance.

To think it’s only 3.2 percent despite only recording the lowlands.

One would wonder where to use something like this if they looked at it roughly.

But in the vast Zero Mountain Range, 3.2 percent is never small.

[The footsteps of the explorer illuminate the area.]

A footprint pattern appeared in the area simultaneously with the message.

“So these footprints act as signposts?”

“Yes! If you look closely……. information also pops up like this!”

“To think you obtained such a precious thing.”

“We’ll work even harder, Mage-nim!”

“Come on, don’t mention it.”

Even if it’s the Zero Mountain Range lowlands where new strategies are being updated, it’s natural for worries to precede at first. However, thanks to the explorer’s map illuminating the area, the players were able to ease their mental burden.

Rustle!

Suddenly, a presence heard from the distant forest.

The players were not flustered and checked the footprints engraved around them.

Judging by the small and cute footprints…….

“I think it might be a Mountain Sparrow?”

Mountain Sparrow: Lv.430.
For they had almost memorized it.

Specific information comes to mind immediately.

“I can’t believe this small thing is level 430.”

“Thinking of the rankers who struggled with rabbits, we shouldn’t let our guard down.”

“It’ll be troublesome if they swarm, so let’s lure them one by one!”

Even if they were far from being rankers, level 400 was considered a high level, a proper veteran. Especially for players who reached a high level after the Cataclysm, they possessed a real-combat sense gained from life-and-death struggles.

That was why they noticed.

Tremble, tremble.

The unusual change in their bodies.

“……Excuse me, is it just me who’s nervous?”

Level 430 was a formidable level, but at the same time, it was a level they could sufficiently handle if they cooperated. But their bodies were not listening to the point of excess.

Gulp─!

It wasn’t the player’s delusion alone.

Something in the bushes that was gradually getting closer.

The pressure touching them was unspeakable for it to be a Mountain Sparrow.

The mage gathered his mind.

‘There’s a map. The map Senior Hwi-gang gave.’

Monsters that could be a threat do not appear in this area right now.

That’s a sparrow, it’s a Mountain Sparrow.

However, while steeling his resolve, he ended up realizing.

“……By the way, is the sound of a sparrow moving that loud?”

It was then.

Rustle!

Something approaching from the forest completely revealed its appearance.

Before they could even be astonished, their vision flickered.

It was an appearance message.

[A ‘Moon Glaive Bear’ appears in the area.]

“……!”

Likewise, information popping up.

Moon Glaive Bear: Lv.700.

Why did a monster that even rankers have to swarm and hunt appear in the mountain lowlands? In a situation where life was at stake, questions could not be held.

‘Damn it!’

There was no chance of winning.

They had to run away.

But could they run away from a level 700 monster……?

“Everyone, ru……!”

A fleeting moment.

He ended up trailing off because he hesitated.

It was already too late, he had to endure one blow.

It was the moment he resolved and raised his shield.

“……?”

Only then was it visible.

The Moon Glaive Bear’s eyes.

The pupils glowing faintly like the moon were as if possessed by something.

No, as if completely enchanted.

It was moving its heavy body without even giving the players a glance.

“Wait, the direction is─?!”

However, a gap of 300 levels was a level where even having overlapping paths was dangerous. Those with supported strength and agility were able to evade, but it was an unreasonable demand for the mage who was preparing a skill.

“Ugh, ugh!”

The mage and the Moon Glaive Bear getting closer.

“……Ugh?!”

But an unfortunate accident did not occur.

“Oh, huh?”

A fleeting moment.

Rumble─

A rock wall rising between the Moon Glaive Bear and the mage.

And the voice heard.

“Is the four of you all.”

“……Uh, huh?!!”

Facing him.

Unconcerned by the players who were astonished.

Ho-yeol continued speaking.

“Nevertheless, I do not believe in things like superstitions.”

Daring to say something incomprehensible.

.

.

.

Why do more disturbances occur as more work increases?

At this point, it’s science.

It wasn’t just the ‘Moon Glaive Bear’.

From top to bottom.

The Zero Mountain Range was flowing backward. It meant that high-level monsters appearing in the highlands were swarming down to the lowlands. As if possessed by something.

“Nevertheless, I do not believe in things like superstitions.”

Fine, Granfel.

Even I, a believer in superstitions, will yield this time.

To dismiss it as being simply because of the four players.

Because of the number four (死, death).

The phenomenon occurring in the mountain range was unusual.

I held my head upright.

And I sharpened my senses.

Why, I’ve learned something.

The culprit of shady business is usually a demon in most cases.

Then my vision flickered.

See, I was right, wasn’t I?

It’s all about demons in the end.