Chapter 215

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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“Moderates?”

—?

—How are the Moderates here?

—That sounds like a lie, Streamer.

—Should we just kill him?

—We’ll do it.

—SNS address.

Viewers poured out suspicion at Ping-pong’s claim of being from the Moderates. Naturally, he had no intention of just believing it, but it was difficult to be certain it was just a lie. Because this Cube of Hell was not the property of any specific faction.

“Tell me how you entered here.”

“I don’t know well either! Because an Investigation Team proctor sent me here without even an explanation…”

“Proctor?”

“Yes! It was a man named Yak!”

“…Ah.”

Han-bit, who heard the proctor’s name, only then grasped the situation. Yak had risen to the position of an Investigation Team member with his bare body. His closest comrade-in-arms was Proctor Heilen.

‘As if he’s not a child.’

The revenge Heilen, who had been ignored by Ibella, would think of was simple. Adding even greater chaos to the test conducted with each other’s candidates appeared to be his goal. The scene of him contacting Yak, who was in charge of the Moderates—specifically the candidates of the Allied Nation Bastia—was roughly pictured without even seeing it. The surprising point was the fact that main quests of other factions could be influenced like this. It was unclear if it was the influence of the update or because of the unprecedented existence of Black Dragon.

“How many players came from that side?”

“Uh… It was roughly 30 people.”

“Is that so?”

If it became like this, the number of remaining players was about seventy. Though there would be people who already died, nothing would change much. Han-bit, who moved his hands, inspected the character information.

[Black Dragon – Lv.261]

[Title: None]

[Faction: Hardliners]

[Ranking: -]

Strength: 500 (+100)

Agility: 500 (+100)

Intelligence: 500 (+100)

Stamina: 495 (+99)

Remaining Stat Points: 0

Faction Points: 451

The result seen at a glance was more surprising than expected. Because it was known that it was considerably difficult to raise levels from around this level. In particular, what stood out was the bottom item.

‘He gave quite a lot.’

Alberto of the Moderates, whom he had killed in front of the Royal Capital, was recalled. The faction points obtained from him, a lower Advance Party member, were 24. But when he scrolled up the log, he had obtained points close to 40 on average from the players who died just now. Assuming everyone was of the Sacred Body Faction, he could reach the conclusion that the amount of points paid for each faction was different.

‘It’s ambiguous to kill everyone though.’

A simple choice that could brush off petty contemplations was presented. Thinking even up to faction points, it wasn’t that bad, but time was a waste.

“Why, why are you looking like that?”

When he looked with an expressionless face, Ping-pong backed away with a flustered face. Watching that appearance, Han-bit lowered his sword and turned his gaze to the twins.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

“Huh? You’re going?”

No-eul quickly followed, and Haneul moved after grasping the situation tactfully. Right then, as the three people tried to leave the spot, Ping-pong hurriedly blocked the front.

“Wait a moment!”

The face of him standing with his arms stretched out wide looked considerably desperate. Han-bit spoke while pointing his sword.

“Move.”

“I don’t want to! If I die now, it’s a real accident!”

—?

—Then die.

—Blocking the path is the accident.

—Black Dragon, let’s tidy him up and go.

Ping-pong was now even kneeling and appealing. Han-bit, who withdrew his sword, let out a sigh and asked.

“What is it?”

“An item I bought by emptying my entire fortune is in my inventory, but this place isn’t being treated as a quest field! I might drop it if I die! Please take me with you! I’ll be of some help!”

No lie was seen in the appearance of him approaching as if he would even grab his pant legs. As even a mailbox couldn’t be used in a combat area, he likely couldn’t have found another way. Though it was truly someone else’s business, it was a variable that this place wasn’t being treated as a quest field.

‘I had forgotten this.’

The gold and ring Hiyori had dropped as she died were recalled. Since it was said that the strengthened PK penalty isn’t applied in quest fields, this Cube of Hell could be seen as being treated as a general field. In other words, a possibility of external players who don’t take the candidate test intervening also existed.

[Time Limit: 24 hours]

The objective of the quest was 24-hour survival. Seeing the time being consumed, it was a flow completely identical to reality. In other words, it meant that if it went on like that, he would have to endure for 23 hours and 20 minutes more. Thinking of the common debuff, the name ‘Cube of Hell’ truly suited it. But he had no intention at all of enduring all that long time.

Han-bit spoke while turning off the broadcast output microphone.

“What kind of help can you give?”

“I’m a pure tanker position! I’ll stand at your front and endure as much as possible! Ah, and there’s also a skill that allows exploration so…”

Ping-pong listed his strengths while diligently packaging them. Though Han-bit hadn’t expected much, the content was better than expected.

“Are you by any chance still suspicious? Shall I even give you my personal information? I’ll reveal my name, age, home address, and belonging company all!”

“I don’t need it. Heavenly Fox, do you want to go over to that side?”

Keureung—!

Heavenly Fox, which was perched on his shoulder, headed to Ping-pong while rumbling its throat. Then it landed on the crown of his head and calmly balanced its neck.

“Uh…?”

“It’s my phantom beast. If you show strange signs, you’ll be bitten, so act well on your own.”

“Understood!”

Ping-pong nodded with a stiffened face. Han-bit headed to the next region along with the twins. Gold and items that looked to be of dead players could also be taken within the possible range.

Jeobeok—

Han-bit’s party, moving forward on the pitch-black burnt forest path, reached a slightly darker space. Right then, a message floated up along with an alarm.

[Region Effect: Loss is released.]

[Region Effect: Taunt is applied.]

[Attention of monsters will be strongly attracted within the corresponding region.]

—Huh?

—We’re screwed;

—But this place also burnt quite a lot?

—Don’t you see it’s mf wide?

The chat window became noisy at the appearance of a new debuff. Certainly, the boundary area was burnt due to the influence of the explosion, but the real part was the inner side anyway.

“Oh, I can hear!”

Right then, Haneul’s expression as she touched her ears brightened. Both ears that were lost had returned to their original state. No-eul also regained his lost sight, and Han-bit regained his right arm. And.

“Oh!”

Ping-pong also raised his voice while touching his head. It seemed the truly empty hair had been the Region of Loss.

“Ju—just for a moment, could you come out…”

Keureung—!

Even at that request, Heavenly Fox didn’t move aside while baring its teeth. Turning his gaze, Han-bit spoke while looking at the twins.

“You might die in one go. Especially Haneul, be careful.”

“Yes!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll properly use that Ping-pong ahjussi as a shield.”

The situation from earlier was delivered via message during movement. They clearly understood the reason for bringing Ping-pong.

“Ping-pong ahjussi…”

Ping-pong dropped his head powerlessly. Seeing that No-eul also didn’t show special wariness, it seemed there would be no reason for empty conflicts to arise.

Seuk—

Han-bit took out the Summoning Stone Imbued with Madness from his inventory again. Using it immediately, ten Madness Army elites revealed their appearance.

“Protect us in the surroundings.”

Tat—!

The army, which scattered along with the instruction, took positions while widening a constant distance. Watching that appearance, Haneul asked while looking around.

“Black Dragon-nim, did you come to this region because it was the closest?”

A question she brought up as if sensing it was a dangerous location was heard. Certainly, coming to such a place that pulls in monsters in swarms with one’s own feet wasn’t a normal option. But the reason Han-bit went to this region was to raise ‘possibility’.

Checking the output microphone that still remained off, he put the plan into words.

“Everyone, listen well. We’re going to find a key fragment.”

“A key fragment?”

Everyone’s gaze gathered at the word that appeared somewhat abruptly. Han-bit continued his words while drawing a simple drawing on the ground.

“It’s impossible to endure for 24 hours here. Because at the very last, you’ll end up dying just by being brushed. So we’re going to find another escape method.”

“Is there another escape method?”

“Oh…!”

Haneul wore a puzzled expression and Ping-pong’s face brightened. No-eul, who was looking at the key fragment drawing on the ground, raised his head and asked.

“Will a key leading to the exit come out if we collect the fragments?”

“No, think of it as a key that opens the Relic Room. Because once you get your hands on that relic, the cube will collapse, so consequently you’ll end up escaping.”

“A relic?”

The relic existing in the Cube of Hell appeared in his mind. It was an item with acquisition conditions so tricky that even the Investigation Team hadn’t discovered it.

“The first fragment of the key would come out from this region. First let’s process as many as possible.”

Deudeudeudeu—!

Right then, a fierce vibration began to shake the ground. Sound was heard from the dark forest that hadn’t burned. They were the owners of this region.

“I will defend!”

Ping-pong, who took out a shield from his inventory, stood at the front. A surface where traces of white ore twinkled was seen. Han-bit knew the identity of that item.

‘He really might have emptied his entire fortune.’

It was a Guardian’s Shield. It was equipment with the effect of reducing the damage of allies within the region, with the shield user shouldering that damage amount instead. It felt a bit strange that that could be bought with money.

Seureuk—

A thin white spherical veil that stretched to the surroundings appeared. Ping-pong delivered the effect directly with his mouth.

“If you’re inside here, I’ll take the damage instead! Since I have a personal barrier, fight freely!”

Kwajik—!

The tree at the front fell at the same time as that voice spread. There, a crowd of monsters spread pitch-black revealed its appearance.

[Malice-filled Hound (Lv.236)]

[Malice-filled Kobold (Lv.237)]

[Malice-imbued Poison Mantis (Lv.251)]

[Malice-imbued Red Boar (Lv.253)]

—Ugh;

—There’s mf many;

—Is the level for real?

—Are we going to fight those later too?

—We are?

—I’ll run in high quality.

—Aren’t all other players already mf dead?

Types stronger than the monsters seen in the Region of Loss appeared. Han-bit, who turned on the output microphone, righted his sword and stepped forward.

“You guys fight within the shield range. Don’t think about life force and mana. I’ll do something about it later.”

“Yes!”

“Oh, understood!”

The morale of the three people rose at the welcome news.

Hwareuk—!

Meanwhile, a storm of flames also arose from Han-bit’s sword blade. As half of health and mana was consumed when using Element Awakening, it wasn’t a technique to use in such a situation. But as he had informed everyone a moment ago, a method to obtain the effect of ‘recovery’ existed.

Tat—!

Han-bit, who kicked off the ground, stood still while passing Ping-pong who was holding the shield. And he swung his sword largely horizontally towards the front.

Huuk—!

A fire storm bloomed along the trajectory drawn long. It swept over the monster crowd that was flocking while being spread low on the ground.

Hwaak—!

Kieeeek—!

Dozens that collided at the front met death in one blow. But the rear wasn’t to the extent of reaching instant death.

Tat—!

Again kicking off the ground, Han-bit dug into the monster crowd.

Swik—!

Chwaak—!

The sword was swung at a fast speed along with the activated Storm’s Sword Dance. This time, magic was also together.

Deudeudeu—!

Kwaduk—!

Rising shadows tied the monsters’ limbs, and gravity spheres crushed them.

[Experience points have increased by 230,000.]

[Experience points have increased by 250,000.]

[Experience points have increased by 290,000.]

[Experience points have increased by 300,000.]

…

Experience points were piling up at a tremendous speed. Despite engaging in such a wide-range battle, not few monsters leaked out.

Chwaak—!

Peobeobeong—!

As per the instruction, the twins were engaging in battle within the shield’s region. Renpa’s Ring obtained from Hiyori showed an excellent effect. Anyway, it seemed they could cope sufficiently even without lending a hand.

Chwaak—!

Han-bit moved forward as if dancing like a crazy person while grasping the situation. From the Hounds aiming for his life from all sorts of directions to the Mantises swinging sharp arms steeped in poison, there was no gap to be off guard.

When such a frantic battle continued for a long time.

Puuk—!

Something entered the eyes of Han-bit who was stabbing a Kobold’s heart. An enormous-sized snake approached while twisting its body elegantly from above the hill. It was the target he was looking for.

[Elite: Malice-imbued Giant Snake (Lv.???)]

—A snake?

—Isn’t that an imugi at that level?

—Do you think everything is okay if you attach Giant;

—Why is there no level again?

—Is that not a boss?

Han-bit, who checked the name, immediately kicked off the ground and returned to the place where the party was. The organization was roughly finished on that side too.

“Found it. Let’s go that way.”

Han-bit took everyone and approached the place where the Giant Snake was.

“Wow.”

“It’s really big.”

“Oh…”

The three people, who saw the snake sliding slowly, each showed a surprised reaction. Han-bit, who put his sword into the scabbard, walked forward.

“I’ll go and be eaten for a bit. When I signal, attack the eyes.”

“…Yes?”

“Huh?”

The reaction of the party members who couldn’t understand momentarily was late. In that gap, Han-bit had already kicked off the ground.

“No, wait a moment! Black Dragon-nim!”

Jjeoak—

The snake’s maw opened wide at the same time as the voice echoed. Before taking any action, Han-bit threw his body into it.

Teop—

The snake’s jaw closed tightly without an anomaly. Haneul ended up freezing just like that with her hand stretched out.