Chapter 85 – Blooming in the Swamp (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Bullshit.”

When I first saw that post.

I wondered how there could be such low-level trolling.

-Guys, they say Lee Ho-yeol knows how to use swordsmanship too?

You should say something that makes sense.

“Sigh. Look at the level.”

Who is Lee Ho-yeol?

A Player treated as an equal to the great Chief Mage of the Mage Tower. Even if you exclude that halo, how is it? You’re falling for such words even after seeing the brilliant magic skills Ho-yeol showed in battles so far?

Tadadadak!

A keyboard pounded with a sigh.

Jurururuk

The comment window refreshing.

-What kind of bullshit are you saying so seriously lolol

-It’s not bullshit though? It’s real

-Real bullshit, have you even tried playing Arcana? You’re showing off that you don’t know Arcana

He’s still failing to grasp the situation.

It seems he doesn’t even know what kind of game Arcana is.

There’s a reason Arcana has a class system.

Should I concede a hundred times and give an example?

Hypothetically.

What is Lee Ho-yeol lacking?

It wouldn’t happen, but just in case Lee Ho-yeol wanted to learn swordsmanship and swung a sword, let’s think about it.

-What, you think a swordsmanship skill will pop up with a ‘ring’ just from doing that???

Right, no matter how much you practice, it’s useless.

A useless effort where neither skills, nor stats, nor anything else comes out of it.

Players cannot overcome the limitations of their class.

That is the common sense of Arcana.

So it was natural for the post to be treated as a troll.

But something was strange.

“What’s this. They’re spamming as a group?”

Lee Ho-yeol held a sword.

That nonsensical story didn’t stop on the message board.

If it were normal, I would have wondered which bastard unleashed part-timers again.

But part-timers.

That’s nonsense too, isn’t it?

‘……Does Lee Ho-yeol have any reason to unleash part-timers?’

Just what is he lacking?

No matter how much I racked my brain, there was no proper reason.

Moreover, this wasn’t a promotion or praise.

Lee Ho-yeol, a mage-type class using a sword.

Because it was bullshit that deviated from common sense.

So my brain naturally rolled.

“These filthy bastards again.”

Lee Ho-yeol’s anti-fans released part-timers.

If you browse through communities, you naturally develop a sense for these things.

The mouse starting to move sharply.

“Anyway, trolls. Just let me catch you guys and see what happens.”

Since they were definitely spreading nonsensical rumors.

They would cleverly slip in positive evaluations about themselves.

But.

“……?”

No matter how I searched with my eyes lit up.

There were no stories about other guilds or Players.

It was all stories only about Lee Ho-yeol.

What is this, this feeling like common sense is crumbling.

I couldn’t stay stubborn anymore at the sense of incongruity I felt.

“Yeah. I’ll get tricked just this once.”

The NetTube link I clicked with that feeling.

Soon, the screen that popped up on the monitor.

Ho-yeol was truly aiming a sword there……!

“Crazy!! What is this?!”

That’s right.

At this moment.

The battle between Ho-yeol and the [Beast Predator Anaconda] was spreading to the world through dozens of cameras.

The meaning of those words was simple.

That this real-time video is a reality that hasn’t been fabricated at all.

“It just can’t do anything? A level 530 monster?”

One word was enough to describe that battle.

Crushed.

Ho-yeol was hunting the Anaconda, the boss of the Swampland of Predators.

No, it was even too much to call this a hunt.

Because Ho-yeol hadn’t moved even once since the battle started.

“Wow man. It’s really on a different dimension…….”

“Someone is struggling like this after falling into the mud.”

“Well, it’s Lee Ho-yeol who even cleared a level 1000 rift.”

What that action meant.

The ones who realized it more deeply than anyone were the Players who were similarly hunting in the rift.

Against an Anaconda like that.

It meant there was no need to swing his sword.

“He didn’t have unnecessary acquaintance with Harkon for nothing.”

The posture aiming the sword.

Seeing that posture, one could also notice the relationship between Ho-yeol and the Lionheart Knights.

It is clear that Ho-yeol also has a deep connection with the Lionheart Knights.

The posture identical to Harkon’s was the proof.

“He might be holding a position there like in the Mage Tower.”

“It’s practically confirmed. It won’t be an ordinary position either, right?”

“Since even the great Harkon calls him Sir.”

“Then doesn’t that mean he’s also acquainted with the Imperial Family……?”

“Seriously! Does that make sense!!”

The continent’s strongest armed group, the Mage Tower.

The Empire’s strongest knights, the Lionheart Knights.

How can a Player hold a position in those two groups?

And a position that is clearly not ordinary no matter who looks at it?

For some reason, every time they racked their brains and worried, the questions about Ho-yeol only grew.

“How could not a single rumor spread all this time?”

Even just now, Ho-yeol’s presence that cannot be hidden even if he tries to hide it.

Ho-yeol must have clearly stood out even back when Arcana was a game.

However, nothing came to mind. Stories about such a Player who deviates from common sense.

They were seriously curious about that past!

The moment the spectators harbored such thoughts.

Thud

Beast Predator Anaconda.

The guy’s breath stopped.

A battle that was difficult to even call a battle ended.

The Swampland of Predators.

A colosseum where battles never cease.

For a victor of that fierce battlefield.

There was not an inch of disarray in Ho-yeol’s appearance.

As if he alone was in a different space.

No, as if he alone was in a different genre.

Right, such Ho-yeol’s appearance was incomparably heterogeneous and noble.

Like a lotus flower blooming in a swamp.

*

……Truly, it’s nothing short of a documentary.

And an extreme real-life documentary where you can’t let go of the string of tension even for a single moment.

I checked the popping-up messages.

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]…….

Still, the experience points are a comfort.

[Beast Predator Anaconda].

Befitting its level, the experience points it spitted out were considerable.

Although it wasn’t experience points at the level of a boss monster like a Great Evil or Demon King.

Since it was like I monopolized such experience points.

[Name : Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo]

[Class : Demon Hunter]

[Level : 314]

[Stats]

Strength : 53 / Agility : 60 / Magic : 244 / Luck : 5 / Aesthetic : Low

[Available Points : 18]

It means my level rose by 18 all at once.

It’s just that it rose a lot because my absolute level is low but.

If it’s this kind of six of one, half a dozen of the other, it’s welcome.

Above all, whether it’s three in the morning or four in the evening.

‘I’m not in a position to be picky.’

Even recounting the battle with the Anaconda just now, it’s the same.

If I had let go of the string of tension even for a single moment.

If my posture aiming the sword had faltered.

‘I would have immediately allowed a counterattack.’

A state where [Natural Enemy] is not activated.

No matter how much I have the Strength and Agility stats raised through the class quests.

I have put all the points I acquired through leveling up into Magic. I’ve occasionally invested in Luck.

‘Dodging with just physical abilities would have been impossible.’

Naturally, I would manifest magic.

I would have had no choice but to minimize the damage.

Then, a vicious cycle that is terrible even just to think about would start from then.

Unexpected magic manifestation → Absolute lack of mana → Encountering another battle befitting the Predator Zone → Unexpected magic manifestation again → Absolute lack of mana again → Encountering another battle again…….

So.

‘I was serious.’

I don’t know how that looked to a third party though.

It meant that I engaged in battle without loosening tension for a single moment.

As a result, I was able to acquire not only experience points but also loot.

[Thick Anaconda Skin] – [Rank : Rare]

[Melting Amber] – [Rank : Rare]

[Birch Tree Permeated with Miasma] – [Rank : Unique]

The loot is a whopping three.

Their ranks were Rare, Rare, Unique.

‘Its belly wasn’t bulging plumply for nothing.’

Although they were all material items.

If it drops three of them, there was no reason to complain.

Above all, I am in a state where I acquired knowledge about all minerals and plants on the Arcana continent with the effect of the [Pentagram of Pure Knowledge].

“It must be reasonably valuable.”

The melted amber.

And the birch tree smeared with the Anaconda’s miasma.

I realized right away how to use them.

Of course, since they were loot inside the guy’s stomach.

‘It will need some processing but.’

That didn’t become a big problem either.

‘It’s time to pull out the Mage Tower’s pillars.’

It means I can use the Mage Tower’s services as I please.

For free, at that.

That was also the right of a fair and square Chief.

‘By the way.’

There’s really no time to rest, is there?

The fact that this is a Predator Zone.

Rustle

A new monster appeared, as if waiting for me right after I took down one.

A snake, and then a rat? Of course, its appearance was not an ordinary rat.

[Cruel Scavenger : Lv.550]

Its size is similar to a human.

Beyond its size, it was walking on its hind legs and holding a weapon with its front paws.

A crossbow, an axe, and even a shield.

It didn’t just have one or two pieces of equipment.

Indeed, it meant not all rats are the same rat.

The guy’s long tail twitched.

Perhaps because I was still holding the sword in my hand.

It wasn’t attacking carelessly.

‘Then, first.’

Let’s invest my points.

To me, who leaves much to be desired, every single stat point is precious.

The available points are 18 points.

I was going to invest all of it in Magic but left 1 point.

……Right, there is a saying that luck plays a big part.

Even if I invest 1 more point in Magic.

Isn’t this place a rift with a recommended level of 500?

Rather than expecting a dramatic effect with 1 point of Magic, it’s right to hope for a stroke of luck.

I invested 1 point in Luck.

[Luck : 6]

……But why 6 of all numbers?

A newly popping-up memory.

I definitely invested 2 points back then to avoid the death point, didn’t I?

To think I will have to pass through the devil’s number 6 in the end.

This, it wasn’t the other thing that was a six of one, half a dozen of the other, was it?

But I don’t even have any points left to invest now.

“Superstitions are merely superstitions.”

Somehow it’s not something I, who invested in luck, should say though.

Right, I can’t be conscious of superstitions forever either.

Moreover, if it’s the devil’s number.

‘It’s actually not bad.’

No, I would rather be thankful if an actual demon appears.

If [Natural Enemy] activates instead of all this.

I wouldn’t need to ride on this kind of lotus leaf.

And there would be no need for me to shoot a documentary genre all by myself.

Unnutritious thoughts ended there.

Crack!

What sound is this. This time.

I look at the place where the sound came from.

Giant trees sprouting all over the swampland.

The guy was gnawing at the base of that giant tree with its teeth.

Cruuunch!

Is it because its teeth are big?

The giant tree tilted in an instant, making a loud noise.

The guy’s intention looked obvious.

‘It must be thinking of making the battlefield advantageous to itself.’

The moment the giant tree falls.

The swampland will slosh for a moment.

It must be aiming for that gap.

‘As expected, it’s formidable.’

To use the terminology from when Arcana was just a game…….

You could say its pattern is a pain in the ass.

To think guys who aren’t boss mobs, but merely at the level of named mobs.

Every one of them is tricky to deal with.

But rendering that effort pointless.

Cr-crunch!

To the extent of skipping the exploration process.

I am telling you I see through all the plants in Arcana perfectly.

Naturally, the giant tree the guy was gnawing on with its teeth.

It meant I could also interfere with the [Chukira Tree].

Cru-cruunch?

Exploration is skipped.

Interference is the enhancement of hardness.

Eventually, manifestation.

Cr-cr-cr-crunch?!

It meant no matter how much it tried, it couldn’t bring down the giant tree.

I stared at the flustered giant rat, the [Cruel Scavenger].

Unnecessary conversation was not needed.

I manifested magic while remaining in the stance of pointing my sword.

Against a frozen enemy, there was no need to add [Aesthetics].

The only thing I need to consider is mana cost-effectiveness.

Among the numerous magics pouring down on the guy.

[‘Frostbite’ occurs to the Cruel Scavenger.]

Finding the magic that deals the greatest damage to the guy.

I can’t help it even if it looks ignorant.

In order to face enemies far stronger than my level consecutively.

This is the only way.

‘I can’t figure out the reason, nor do I want to know it.’

I just need to know that it is effective.

‘If it’s frostbite, its weakness is cold.’

I manifested the advanced freezing magic, 『Frost』.

Swooooooosh!

The frost reaching out toward the guy.

Although frost has an extremely slow projectile speed.

It is a magic classified as advanced magic entirely because of its destructive power.

Crack, crackle!

Naturally, the swampland freezing in an instant as you see.

Squeak, squeeeak!

The pressure concerning the tip of the sword pointing towards it.

The decreased movement speed due to the effect of the abnormal status ‘Frostbite’.

Up to the frost slowly sweeping over.

I spoke in a voice colder than the icy coldness.

“I have no intention of joining you in your water play.”

That is my will to not be splattered with a single drop of the swamp’s filth.

‘Moreover.’

I looked at the giant tree, the Chukira Tree.

To be exact, the giant tree that was shaking precariously.

The ‘elixir herb’ that was emitting light at its peak.

‘If the giant tree falls, the elixir herb will also fall into the swampland.’

That was something I couldn’t bear to watch.

What kind of effect that precious elixir herb has.

Because I am the one who knows it better than anyone!