Chapter 332 – I Will Decline the Shackles

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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Yong Seong-rak spoke with his head bowed.

“……And I have something to tell you. As you have guessed, I belong to World Unification. And right now, my vision is being shared with Liu Oujunchun. It is the effect of the contract for which I offered this eye as the price.”

His finger pointed to his eyepatch.

‘I just thought he had unique taste, like someone I know.’

Liu Oujunchun was the culprit.

A track record of only doing shady things didn’t just disappear. Even so, to think he would offer a guild member’s eye as a sacrifice to monitor the situation on the Arcana Continent.

“Neither leading by example nor pride can be seen.”

Good words could not possibly come out of my mouth.

Yong Seong-rak seemed quick-witted.

That was probably why he had said those words on the battlefield, too.

Of course, that didn’t mean he had realized I was anxious about him mentioning my full name. It just meant he wasn’t playing tricks, speaking honestly first without being asked.

Yong Seong-rak continued.

“Entering the continent, the grand purpose was to expand World Unification’s influence to the Arcana Continent, but…… having broken free from Liu Oujunchun’s brainwashing, I realized it was not. Liu Oujunchun only had the thought of monopolizing it.”

Tremble─

Yong Seong-rak clenched his fists tightly with his head bowed.

Did he have a lot built up against his boss? He truly acted like a member of society.

“Because he is no longer a monarch, but a tyrant.”

A tyrant.

To briefly summarize the specific words that followed…… it seemed Liu Oujunchun had changed his class from [Monarch] to [Tyrant] through a class quest.

“I did not realize it even while being toyed with. I just thought that if my insignificant life could be of help to my Lord, I could offer my life any number of times.”

To put it simply, a tyrant was a leech-like class that sucked the blood and sweat of others even more than a monarch did.

Liu Oujunchun had thrown guild members, including Yong Seong-rak, into the death trap called the Arcana Continent to suck their blood effectively.

‘He’s truly possessed by a demon.’

Fundamentally, Granfel was infinitely merciful to humans.

Why, you could tell just by looking at how he had treated Ignite Maxima a moment ago, couldn’t you?

Regardless of the process, in the end, the Four Families had been forgiven.

But there were humans even the merciful Granfel could not forgive.

First of all, there was Raymond Sean.

Of course.

‘I can’t forgive that bastard, either.’

Because of whom was I this anxious over a single full name……!

After Raymond Sean came the humans who committed atrocities no different from those of demons—guys like the demon worshippers who met their end in the Infinite.

My mouth spat out cold words.

“It is thanks to you.”

That was right.

Taking the lives of others for one’s own growth was an action no different from that of a demon.

Even more so: not just strangers, but deceiving and sacrificing subordinates who trusted and followed him?

“……Thanks to me? What do you mean?”

To Yong Seong-rak’s question, I answered:

“Since the prey has increased by one, is it not thanks to you?”

Congratulations, Liu Oujunchun.

You have now received official recognition as the second prey, following Raymond Sean.

Let’s see, how should I deliver this happy news to you?

While thinking, I said nonchalantly:

“So raise your head.”

“……Yes?”

Yong Seong-rak flinched but did not raise his head.

“No, I cannot do that. I vowed to give you, General Commander Lee Ho-yeol of the Holy War Allied Forces, everything I know about World Unification……! Because I know that is the only way I can survive!”

……Huh?

No, someone hearing this would think I was trying to hunt a person.

Even if I hunt demons like catching rats.

I’m telling you I don’t hunt innocent people.

Grit. The sound of grinding teeth followed.

“But if I raise my head and that guy finds out I am having a private audience with General Commander Lee Ho-yeol…… that guy will take measures to render the information I know meaningless. Because Liu Oujunchun is a man as meticulous as he is despicable.”

Having heard that far, I felt like I knew why Yong Seong-rak had been avoiding my gaze since earlier.

Certainly, if it were a person with a shady background like Liu Oujunchun, he might reverse-engineer leaked information to concoct a scheme.

However.

“Is that so?”

“That is correct. Thank you for understanding……”

“Nevertheless, you must stand upright.”

“……!”

Granfel’s pride was not just any pride.

Since I considered Liu Oujunchun prey, it was expected that my pride would flare up even more aloofly rather than bending in front of a demon.

Before long, Yong Seong-rak reluctantly raised his head at my firm attitude.

I met his eyes and added a word, as always.

“When having a conversation, it is the proper etiquette to meet the opponent’s eyes.”

“I…… I was only……”

“Besides, if he is watching, didn’t you save me unnecessary trouble?”

“……Trouble? What do you mean?”

This wasn’t unfounded confidence.

“Since the prey will realize its own position.”

Let’s know our respective places correctly, shall we?

Because I was the hunter, not the hunted prey.

There was no need to take the trouble to gather information on prey.

Clack─

I looked at Yong Seong-rak—more accurately, I looked at Liu Oujunchun, who would be beyond Yong Seong-rak’s pupils—and tilted my teacup.

‘I know because I’ve experienced it all, too.’

Mage Tower, Holy War Allied Forces, AAU Yusra Branch, Akshan……

I was the one who had ended up shouldering numerous titles.

Thanks to that, I knew very well.

‘That won’t be easy, will it?’

Knowing what information had been leaked, you’re going to set a trap in reverse?

It’s easy to say, but it wouldn’t be an ordinary task.

Yes, I intended to use my experience to screw Liu Oujunchun over.

‘Anyway, let your imagination run wild to your heart’s content.’

Delude yourself as much as you want: that while tilting teacups with Yong Seong-rak, I would eavesdrop on confidential information about World Unification and devise a plan to exploit its weaknesses.

It meant he could set up whatever tricks or traps he wanted and wait.

‘See if I ever walk into a trap.’

For that hard work would be in vain.

You know Granfel’s way of dealing with prey from watching all this time, right?

A head-on breakthrough.

Traps or whatever.

I’d just blow the whole thing away.

So, there was only one topic left for me to discuss with Yong Seong-rak now.

Fortunately, Yong Seong-rak, who had received the teacup, hesitated before opening his mouth.

“If you say so, I will keep silent until you, General Commander Lee Ho-yeol, need me again. The secrets of World Unification, and the sight I witnessed with my own eyes today, I will not utter to anyone.”

……Of course, that includes my full name, right?

‘I hope he doesn’t blabber about what he heard, either.’

I had a strong desire to get a definite answer from Yong Seong-rak, but it was also my usual attitude not to reveal petty inner thoughts.

I just tilted my innocent teacup.

……The green tea was especially bitter today.

.

.

.

It was a series of extremely uncomfortable seats.

Of course, this iron face of mine was keeping my head upright even in such seats, so everything was transparently visible.

The family heads of the Four Families, excluding Ignite Maxima, whose mind was still not intact, and the face of the Emperor they had tried to pull down.

Only silence flowed……

Looking at it, it seemed they were uncomfortable with each other.

Even assuming the Four Families had nothing to say since they were traitors who had failed in their rebellion, the Emperor also couldn’t just be triumphant about winning.

‘Considering the relationship between the Seric Rose Imperial Family and the Four Families, it’s a natural reaction.’

As a third party and as a member of society who could not stand uncomfortable silence, I wondered if even I should say something.

Even if I were a mouth that liked to blabber, it was an expensive mouth that didn’t move when swayed by others’ moods.

In the end, it was the Emperor who broke the silence first.

“……I have no words to say.”

At first, I thought it was a simple thank you.

Regardless of the Claudi family’s circumstances or whatever, it meant I had saved the Empire once again.

But the Emperor’s face was much more serious than I had expected.

“While the Dark Dragon was conversing with the adventurer, I heard the whole story from the heads of the Four Families. To think you were shouldering such a burden…… Foolish as I am, knowing only one thing, I could not even guess beyond that. I apologize on behalf of the Seric Rose Imperial Family.”

……No, you guys told him that in that short time?!

I could understand the family heads showing such an attitude.

Wait—even if they had rebelled, in the end, the Four Families were the ones who had truly served Claudi.

‘No matter what good the intention was, isn’t it too sudden?’

I could roughly guess what words they had conveyed to the Emperor without asking.

Yes, putting everything else aside, the most important fact—that the owner of the Four Families was the Claudi family—they must have clearly stated that.

‘……Wait a minute, then how does the genealogy work out?’

The owner of the Empire, the Seric Rose Imperial Family, served the Four Families.

And if those Four Families served the Claudi family.

Then Seric Rose was the Claudi family’s……?

While I was racking my brain, the Emperor spoke with good timing.

“The Dark Dragon is the true owner of the Empire.”

I am the true owner of the Empire?!

I’m really sorry, but I have no intention of taking on something like that.

But was that not enough? The Emperor paused and corrected his words.

“No, I should not refer to you by an alias anymore. Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo. You, the head of Claudi, are the only existence capable of setting the Empire, and even the continent, straight.”

……This is hard, seriously.

Not just Yong Seong-rak, but even the Emperor.

Why is everyone doing this to me today?

However, my inner lament did not flow out from between my lips.

I just stared.

‘They’re feigning ignorance after causing trouble, those gentlemen.’

Yugrick, Cansel, Akamond.

The burdensome gazes of the three family heads…… those expectant eyes were really wishing for me to take the Empire, wishing for me to sit on the Emperor’s throne.

But did they think I’d take it on?

‘It’s painful enough just now.’

As I mentioned before, starting from the Chief of the Mage Tower, to the General Manager of the AAU Yusra Branch, and the leader of the resurrected Akshan—since I’m the only Demon Hunter, I was both the lowest rank and the leader—I was the one who had ended up shouldering all these titles.

And what? Emperor?!

Making a hundred concessions, if it were the Empire in times of peace…… I might generously consider it.

But if I took on the current Empire, I wouldn’t even have the luxury of enjoying a tea time, which is said to be more precious than gold.

So I answered:

“Regrettably, that will not happen.”

“That’s……!”

Not only the Emperor trailing off, but even the family heads made shocked expressions.

What on earth did you expect from me? I wanted to ask, but my loose tongue immediately continued.

“To me, a throne or a crown is nothing but a restraint.”

“……!!!”

I answered with just one line, but the meaning contained was clear.

I am the head of Claudi.

The Dark Dragon who observes everything.

That is the practical owner of the continent.

What was the point of being tied to a smaller vessel like the Empire?

“My goodness……”

The Emperor might have been used to Granfel-style speech by now, so it wouldn’t be strange for him to understand right away.

But did the Four Families also have their past memories revived?

Swish─

They bowed their heads to me simultaneously with the Emperor.

“I apologize; I failed to realize your deep meaning.”

In the end, the uncomfortable meeting ended with me receiving an uncomfortable apology.

‘Anyway, is the cleanup roughly done?’

Actually, in a state where my embarrassing full name had been exposed, no matter what I did, I felt a sense of unfairness, as if I had suffered a loss, but…… what could I do?

Step─

Before long, I headed to the Emperor’s terrace.

If you ask if I’m roaming the Imperial Palace as I please as a secret powerhouse rather than the Emperor, it was because the only place I knew in the vast Imperial Palace was the terrace.

‘And……’

Flutter─

As I entered the terrace, my jacket fluttered in the wind.

Through my scattering silver hair, Antonium was visible—the panoramic view of Antonium that would have been covered in Suitable Magic Power until just recently.

I grumbled internally.

‘I knew this would happen.’

With that goddamn pride, it was obvious I’d be plagued by a sense of responsibility like this.

So even for my own sake, could I stand not trying to dissuade him?

Despite my sarcasm, the snout remained silent, unlike how it had treated the Emperor and the family heads.

“……”

According to the Emperor, there were no aftermaths in Antonium, so that was somewhat fortunate.

While ruminating on the Blackening again, my thoughts suddenly reached the flickering quest.

Let’s see—wasn’t that also a whopping world quest?

With a name that was extraordinary from the start, it was a quest I shouldn’t delay checking any longer.

I immediately checked the quest window.

[World Quest: Saintess of the Second Coming]

And I flinched.

……Wait a minute, Saintess of the Goddess Church? Freya?

‘I thought it looked familiar……’

That was the one when Muon, the holy land of the Goddess Church, was updated in reality.

The True Name demon that tried to swallow Muon—isn’t that the pseudonym Nefripit impersonated?

But what? That Saintess was a real person?

Not just the Cataclysm—the Arcana Continent was flipped over once again by the Omen.

Let’s say that was possible.

But why was that Saintess of the Goddess Church……

─Survive the judgment of the Saintess, Freya. (In Progress)

Saying she was going to judge me……?!

No matter how I looked at it, this was clearly a misunderstanding originating from the Blackening.

Anyone could guess, but ‘someone’ who does not tolerate even a trivial misunderstanding directed at him was the owner of an absolutely razor-sharp pride.

In the end……

“A goddess? It seems the evidence was lacking. If so, I shall prove it once again: my belief that such a thing as a god does not exist. Therefore, you must also prove yourself.”

The quiet loose tongue finally exploded.

“Of course, my verification will absolutely not be easy.”