Chapter 33 – True Natural Enemy (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Stab!

[Giant Lava Koi: Lv.420]

As tricky as its pattern is to deal with, its main body has no choice but to be weak.

Because if it runs wild like that and even has high vitality, it could no longer be called a level 420 monster.

Therefore.

Stab!

Staaab!

Stone spears.

It meant that effective hits could be landed even with stone spears.

Did it not think the lava would split?

The Giant Koi, with dozens of stone spears embedded in its flanks.

Was flailing its tail.

It was only for a moment, but its movements were restricted.

There was no way Harkon and the Lionheart Knights would miss that opening.

Wooooong

Harkon’s sword was dyed in a dense light.

‘……That isn’t something like a skill.’

The reason I thought so?

It’s simple. Because I could recognize it at a glance.

‘Just how strong is he?’

His lofty stage.

『His innate magical talent was to the extent of being able to mimic most magic just by watching. Furthermore, he possessed a physical potential that did not fall behind it.』

……Thinking about it again, I really attached everything good to him.

Because Granfel, in his setting, had martial talent comparable to his magical talent. So I could probably gauge the stage of Harkon that makes his sword shine.

‘It’s definitely different from magic power.’

But unlike magic, I can’t even dare to imagine……?

Where do I have to start to reach such a stage.

As for me, I had no clue.

Of course.

“It rouses my interest a little.”

I opened my mouth arrogantly but.

Still, let’s just think of it as a good thing.

Rather than thinking pessimistically that I can’t do it.

It’s better to be overflowing with even baseless confidence.

Of course, if I were to aim for Harkon’s stage.

Which emits light from the sword.

There won’t be a day my body will be free from fatigue.

Sssshhhh

Indeed, just as I expected.

Harkon really sliced the Giant Lava Koi into sashimi.

“Everyone, snap out of it! It’s our chance!!”

“Contribution points! Secure them by whatever means possible!”

“For now, dash through the split lava…… Dasuuhh?!”

The other Players didn’t even have the time to place their spoons on the table.

Clack

Harkon sheathed his sword into its scabbard.

And just like that, the battle ended.

Thud!

Then, the head of the Giant Koi fell straight to the ground.

It really ended just like that.

Simultaneously, a message popped up in my vision.

[Level Up.]…….

The level increased by 10 levels.

I went from level 166 to level 176.

‘The experience points aren’t bad.’

This was quite unexpected.

Because I formed a party with the Lionheart Knights.

I also had to contribute to the defeat to earn experience points.

Because separated from the lava, the Giant Lava Koi itself wasn’t a tricky guy.

It seemed my contribution points were recognized not a little in that regard.

[Due to high kill contribution, spoils will be automatically acquired.]

……No, looking at it, it isn’t ‘not a little’, but probably more than half?

I immediately checked my inventory.

The acquired island’s treasure was radiating its presence.

[Island’s Treasure, Koi Scale Silk]

[Grade: Unique]

[Restriction: None]

[Effect: When crafting, grants the crafted item a Fire Attribute Affinity increase effect / Grants an Evasion Rate increase effect / Grants an Aesthetic stat unlocking effect]

[Description: A silk that is said to be unexchangeable even with gems of the same weight. Because it is so rare, no one would dare appraise its value.]

Wow.

Following the emerald crystal, another material item.

But this wasn’t an item on a level I could whine about……!

‘The confirmed effects alone are over three?’

Pure Emerald Crystal.

Its effect could only be checked after crafting.

As I said, it was because the effect varied depending on the crafter’s proficiency.

But for the silk, there was no such condition attached.

‘Even if I overlook the other effects, unlocking a new stat.’

[Aesthetic] huh…….

It was a stat I had never heard of nor knew the effect of, but I felt good.

Because I was a Demon Hunter without a single unique stat.

If anything new is unlocked, I would be able to use it gratefully.

As expected, it made sense to say it was unexchangeable even with gems of the same weight.

“It is beautiful.”

Above all, there were no flaws even in Granfel’s aesthetic sense.

That would be the biggest guarantee of its quality.

My thoughts stopped there.

“……Wait a minute, what about the island’s treasure?”

Someone said so.

It was probably because the named monster had fallen, but no message had popped up.

If they asked politely with proper formalities.

It wouldn’t be a difficult task to give them an answer.

But.

……Somehow, the gazes looking at me had become even more unusual.

Roll, roll

Should I say their eyeballs were rolling?

They were gazes that seemed to alternate between the message window and me.

However, I wasn’t leisurely enough.

To care about the reason.

‘I’ve burnt out to ashes.’

Magic power exhaustion.

Because the depletion of my magic power was approaching.

……The energy drains from my whole body.

Fortunately, as the Giant Lava Koi fell, the volcanic eruption stopped and the lava rapidly cooled down.

At this point, there would be no need to maintain the magic any longer.

Soon, Harkon approached me.

“It was a magic that I could not help but admire. Sir Ho-yeol!”

At his words, I was astonished twice.

‘Rather, I’m the one who’s in admiration?’

Once at his humility.

‘No, more importantly, everyone is listening. What?!’

……Sir Ho-yeol?

Another time at that embarrassing title.

In a split second.

I was astonished yet again, but didn’t show it.

I replied without changing my complexion.

“Your swordsmanship was also splendid. Sir Harkon.”

If there’s any silver lining, it’s that no one was sneering at the sight of me.

That was understandable.

I told you, didn’t I?

Because even I get confused sometimes by my method acting.

“……This is nonsense.”

“It’s my first time seeing Harkon being so polite.”

“And his tone is somewhat arrogant too. By any chance, does he hold a higher nobility peerage than Harkon……?”

I wanted to correct them in my heart.

Peerage my ass, I don’t have a single rat’s tail of it.

And arrogant tone?

That this was the most polite attitude for me.

But I couldn’t do that.

“!”

Because a message suddenly popped up before my eyes.

[The Yusra Islands begin to be tainted by greed.]

[Collapse Progress: 9/10]

The Collapse Progress increased.

Naturally, it wasn’t a message that only appeared to me.

The Players murmured.

“It feels like it popped up a bit late…….”

“Wait a minute, the numbers don’t add up in the first place. You know?”

“By any chance, is there another island’s treasure hidden somewhere else?!”

Other Players might be confused.

But I wasn’t.

Because the island’s treasure I acquired didn’t affect the Collapse Progress.

That was because for me.

Because the emotion of greed did not exist for Granfel.

Then what is the reason the message popped up?

I could guess.

An island’s treasure acquired by someone.

That the island’s treasure was once again tainted by greed.

*

Supernova.

Park Hyun-joong continued to bite his fingernails.

His body was drenched in cold sweat.

-Really? It’s the final one. There are no more chances, you know?

-Are you going to keep just watching like that?

-Didn’t you say you wanted the treasure? You’re a coward.

Voices being heard.

However, Park Hyun-joong was not wearing earphones.

Then are these voices an auditory hallucination?

It was natural to doubt and be wary but.

Park Hyun-joong had no mind to do so.

“Shut up. I’ll take care of it myself…….”

Park Hyun-joong surveyed the battle situation.

In the meantime, he witnessed Ho-yeol.

Even though he fled, did they minimally still have loyalty among Supernovas?

It was just as Kinber had said.

If, without knowing anything, he had messed with Ho-yeol…….

“I don’t wanna die yet.”

He thought his life would have ended just like that.

Because looking at the current situation, he could fully realize it.

As if splitting lava wasn’t enough, he fired off dozens of stone spears.

And next to such Ho-yeol was the Lionheart Knights, one of the strongest NPC groups.

Even if that bastard Kinber hadn’t fled, picking a fight with Ho-yeol would be no different from a suicidal act.

At this rate, it was as obvious as seeing fire that Ho-yeol would acquire the island’s treasure.

“Fuck. Things are going so fucking badly.”

But if he returned empty-handed like this…….

“……I’m finished.”

He couldn’t go back like this.

Because he needed the island’s treasure.

In such Park Hyun-joong’s ear, an auditory hallucination was heard once again.

-Then you just have to take it from them, no?

-What’s so wrong with craving for it.

-Why do you need to mind others?

He just needs to take it away.

‘There is no need to mind others.’

At those words, Park Hyun-joong’s eyes flashed.

“……Right!”

If Ho-yeol is out of the question, he just needs to kill another guy and take it.

And Park Hyun-joong knew.

The easiest prey among those who had acquired an island’s treasure.

“There are those Explorer Alliance bastards……!”

The Explorer Alliance.

They were one of the NPC groups that visited the Yusra Islands.

As their name suggested, they were explorers.

Naturally, their combat power was not outstanding.

That was a characteristic that also showed when they acquired the island’s treasure this time.

‘They definitely said they acquired the island’s treasure without fighting.’

That was a method unique to the Explorer class.

Park Hyun-joong’s eyes sank even deeper.

Yes, the method didn’t matter.

‘That those bastards have an island’s treasure.’

Park Hyun-joong put on his earphones.

“I will hunt the Explorer Alliance.”

-……Who is it? Are you crazy? You’re going to touch NPCs?

-Haha. Both Kinber and you have gone completely crazy!

-Are you serious?

Hunting Players and hunting NPCs were different problems.

Moreover, this was an act of turning the entire Explorer Alliance into enemies.

Considering the influence the Explorer Alliance exerted in Arcana, it was an act that shouldn’t be committed rationally.

However, Park Hyun-joong committed it.

“I will take responsibility. Just watch.”

[The Seven Deadly Sins, Greed is watching you.]

[Your judgment is clouded by unbearable desire.]

[Status Effect: Greed occurs.]

Because his pupils were already dyed pitch black.

And it was now.

Park Hyun-joong looked at the corpse sprawled on the ground.

“Fuck.”

He killed an affiliated NPC of the Explorer Alliance.

It was the exact same as when he killed Players.

He killed the guy who was begging to be spared.

He wasn’t so soft as to be agitated about.

Killing a person at this point in time.

Because the Players, the people he had killed so far, were too many for that.

However, his body was trembling.

“……Fuck!”

He obtained the island’s treasure.

The message that popped up made him realize that fact.

[The Yusra Islands begin to be tainted by greed.]

[Collapse Progress: 9/10]

Nevertheless, the desire boiling inside him did not stop.

His chest felt suffocating.

“Fuck. Fuck.”

Park Hyun-joong wildly unbuttoned his clothes like a madman.

“Uuuugh!!”

He recklessly scratched his stuffy chest.

At that time, a crowd gathered at the scream.

“Adventurer? By any chance, what was that sound just now……?”

“U-Uwaaaaaah! Julie? Snap out of it! Julie!!”

“Don’t tell me, you killed Julie……!!”

The explorers of the Explorer Alliance interrogating him.

Park Hyun-joong was puzzled.

‘……Why am I doing this?’

If I killed them, I should run away.

Why am I scratching my chest here?

But that thought did not last long.

“I can’t endure it, I said. Fuuuuuck!”

He felt like he was going to die from suffocation.

Scratching with his fingernails couldn’t quench the stuffiness.

Status effect, the effect of Greed.

Park Hyun-joong, whose judgment was clouded, did not hesitate.

Stab!

He slashed his stuffy chest with his dagger.

In his fading consciousness.

A voice was heard.

-Excellent.

-But your death is not a sublime sacrifice, but something you brought upon yourself, blinded by greed. Regrettably, there is nothing I will give to you in return.

-It means I cannot spare even a speck of dust for you.

“……!!”

Until the last moment.

The voice of the demon deceiving him.

[Collapse Progress: 10/10]

.

.

.

[Collapse Progress: 10/10]

The Collapse Progress increased without any time to do anything.

Simultaneously, a message popped up.

[The Great Evil of the Yusra Islands quickens.]

[The collapse begins.]

Rumble, rumble!

Trembling vision.

It was on a completely different scale from the Giant Turtle or the volcanic eruption.

Because literally, the Yusra Islands, each of its islands were fluctuating.

“In the end, I don’t know what it is, but it collapsed?”

“Yeah, if it ends like this it would be too disappointing considering the foreshadowing they threw us!”

“Seeing how it’s called Great Evil, it’s definitely the Demon Race. Let’s do a quick gear switch.”

Indeed, as expected of top-tier Players gathered here.

They seemed to have anticipated even the worst-case scenario.

However, it was a misjudgment.

I could be certain.

‘This is not an enemy that can be dealt with by the current level of the Players.’

Harkon added strength to my judgment.

His gaze was different from before.

“This energy belongs to a demon.”

An entire 600 level.

Even Harkon, who finished off named monsters well over level 400 with a single strike, showed evident signs of tension.

Yes, as for why a Great Evil is called a Great Evil.

It was an entrance that let you feel it for real.

The Yusra Islands.

Ten islands merged into one.

Then, hidden rifts interlocked and crumbled.

And the true appearance of the Yusra Islands was revealed.

It was a giant golden palace.

A sight that looked as if the word greed had materialized.

Even so, I’m still a Demon Hunter.

I could intuitively feel it.

A palace built with greed.

That inside there, the Great Evil, the Seven Deadly Sins Greed, is coiled up.

At that moment, the quest window flashed.

─Investigate the Great Evil of the Yusra Islands. (Success)

─Prevent the resurrection of the Seven Deadly Sins, Greed. (In Progress) ▲

●Do not let the island’s treasures be tainted by greed. (Pending)

●Defeat the avatar of the Seven Deadly Sins, Greed. (In Progress)

The moment the intuition turned into certainty.

I inadvertently opened my mouth.

“I have been waiting.”

……No, I wasn’t waiting.

I wanted to finish it as quietly as possible……!

Because my condition wasn’t a mess from the beginning in the first place.

“You despicable demon who calls yourself a Great Evil.”

Above all, the biggest issue was magic power exhaustion.

Considering my magic power was bottomed out right now, whether it’s a Great Evil or an avatar of the Great Evil.

Defeating the guy is impossi…….

‘?’

What is this, I can’t feel the lethargy from magic power exhaustion……?

Far from lethargy, my whole body was instead overflowing with vitality.

‘!’

I finally remembered it.

『No temptation, deception, or ordeal of any demon can put even a scratch on Granfel’s noble pride.』

Demon Hunter and demon.

Transcending that Natural Enemy.

The relationship between Granfel and demons.

『Perhaps what demons should be wariest of isn’t Granfel’s class as a Demon Hunter, but the human named Granfel. It might be his very self.』

Lightly arranging my clothes.

Straightening the direction of the brooch.

I continued my words with an upright posture as always.

“It is time to be shoved into hell.”