Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 118 - Demon King's Castle (4)

[Demon King’s Castle of Hunting].

 

Players flocked when the location of the rupture was detected.

 

Among them, there were some who arrived at the rupture faster than Hoyeol.

 

Wasn’t Hoyeol always acting the same way?

 

“I assure you. If it’s Hoyeol-nim, he will 100% come to this Demon King’s Castle of Hunting! How can I be sure? No, wouldn’t you be able to tell just by looking at the patch details?”

 

The players knew from experience.

 

Trying to figure out the difficulty of the rupture.

 

They could tell just by looking into the patch details.

 

“Our Hoyeol-nim, who is he putting off difficult tasks for? To the point where you would think it might be too much. How many times has he shown himself as an example by entering into ruptures that others would not dare think of?”

 

Indeed, that prediction was correct.

 

News of other ruptures arrived one after another.

 

Even in [Demon King’s Castle of Rhyme].

 

Even in [Demon King’s Castle of Indulgence].

 

It was breaking news that Hoyeol didn’t show up.

 

drooling.

 

‘This is the jackpot.’

 

It was a jackpot in their head.

 

At this moment, how many giant forces had moved?

 

From Shadow Mercenary Corps to the quiet Knight of Lionheart.

 

The Paladins of the Goddess Church.

 

Even the Mage Tower who actually went outside for the first time!

 

‘Actually, just filming that performance would be amazing.’

 

Yeah, even if they could only capture their performances, it would attract a lot of attention.

 

But as if that wasn’t enough, there was still Hoyeol left.

 

“Aren’t you excited? Hoyeol is leading that force!”

 

That interest.

 

Views.

 

Apart from Nettuber.

 

If you were an Arcana player, it was natural that your heart would flutter.

 

Who would have imagined it? They never thought the day would come when one player would lead such a force to conquer the rupture.

 

And in the midst of that huge expectation.

 

Hoyeol appeared.

 

With only two allies.

 

“…Huh?”

 

In an instant, those expectations turned into doubts.

 

Those who watched couldn’t help but panicked.

 

– Is this for real? There are only three people??? Really??

 

– No, this is different from that time with [Cracked Dimension Gap] ruptureㄷㄷ

 

– That one was like a bug and this one is a regular update…

 

Tens of thousands of troops gathered in [Demon King’s Castle of Rhyme].

 

One hundred troops gathered in [Demon King’s Castle of Indulgence].

 

They knew the scale.

 

“…It’s a bit different from what I imagined.”

 

Among the three Demon King’s Castle ruptures.

 

It was the highest level of difficulty.

 

They naturally expected more power to be put in.

 

Tap tap–

 

The only ones who approached the rupture were Hoyeol and two shadows.

 

However, as they got closer, their doubts disappeared like melting snow.

 

“Hold on, everyone. Is that……?!”

 

Soon, they could identify the shadows.

 

The chief mage of the Mage Tower, Marcelo, who boasted a strong impression.

 

Kitch, the leader of Shadow Mercenary Corps known for its fame or notoriety.

 

– It’s a combination that makes your heart feel grand, seriouslyㄷㄷㄷ

 

-ㅁㅊㅋㅋ Does that mean three people are enough??

 

– Aren’t they actually an all-star?

 

Their levels or skills had never been officially disclosed.

 

They had been around since the days when Arcana was just a game.

 

They were the most famous people.

 

By the way.

 

– Wait a minute. What is that??

 

To the extent that it took away attention from those people.

 

There was Hoyeol that radiated an enormous presence.

 

The players who were watching this spoke in fascinated voices.

 

“…Wow, it’s no joke.”

 

“Just looking at it, it’s incomparable to before…”

 

“Hoyeol-nim, it looks like his level of equipment has improved tremendously!”

 

Hoyeol was equipped with three additional unique items.

 

Certainly, the level of equipment had risen from before.

 

However, it wasn’t a rise that would cause admiration.

 

As they focused their attention.

 

It revealed its overwhelming presence.

 

[Aesthetic: Medium]

 

It was all thanks to the increased aesthetic stat.

 

However, it was an effect of the [aesthetics] stat that even the Mage Tower didn’t know about.

 

Interest from all over the world was pouring in.

 

No matter how many eyes were watching.

 

Since they couldn’t know the truth, all they could do was admire it.

 

In the midst of it, Hoyeol opened his mouth.

 

“Let’s begin.”

 

Flap–

 

At the same time, Hoyeol’s cape fluttered.

 

It looked like flapping wings.

 

He could easily be called a judge who came down from heaven.

 

Tap tap–

 

Fear? Hesitation? Worry?

 

It was a confident stride with no such feelings.

 

The moment when Hoyeol, Marcelo, and Kitch entered the rupture.

 

Players who were mesmerized by their appearance also came to their senses.

 

“T-Then I’ll hurry too!”

 

Even if they just filmed it, it would be a masterpiece.

 

What stopped the players when they were about to enter the rupture with that kind of thought.

 

“…!”

 

It was none other than the message.

 

It was information about the rupture that made them aware of reality.

 

[Demon King’s Castle of Hunting]

 

[Recommended level: Lv.850]

 

[Rupture collapse: 23.0%]

 

“….”

 

A rupture with recommended level 850.

 

At times like this, a few words came to mind.

 

If you touch it, you’ll die.

 

Or the proverb that said the back of a shrimp bursts amid a fight between whales ^[1] The back of a shrimp bursts amid a fight between whales = when strong people fight, weak people that have nothing to do with them suffer the damage. .

 

‘No matter what, trading your life for views is a bit…’

 

Time passed while the players hesitated.

 

Hoyeol’s goal was to completely oppress the demons.

 

They didn’t have a lot of time to think.

 

“Hold on… Okay! Put on some buffs and take a deep breath!”

 

They couldn’t know.

 

*

 

“My poor life…”

 

Kitch muttered and looked around.

 

Although she had no choice but to be dragged out, she hated this kind of thing.

 

Above all, last time, and this time.

 

It wasn’t profitable.

 

‘…There is nothing I can do. This is self-defense.’

 

Lee Hoyeol, he made her like this.

 

Okay, looking at the situation…

 

‘Let’s think of fleeing.’

 

But Kitch’s impure thoughts were just thoughts.

 

It was because of the two men around.

 

Those damn chiefs of the Mage Tower.

 

Marcelo spoke calmly.

 

“It doesn’t seem like it will take long.”

 

Kitch was astonished.

 

‘…Is that really something you can say while looking at the Demon King’s Castle?’

 

Well, if it was just empty words.

 

There was nothing you couldn’t say.

 

Well, even Kitch herself, in order to remain attached to the Yusra Kingdom.

 

She spat out a lie that she didn’t mean. But Kitch was good at lying, so she could tell.

 

Marcelo’s words were truly sincere.

 

“It will be over before the tea gets cold.”

 

…Of course, it was the same for Hoyeol.

 

No, it went one step further.

 

He would finish it before his tea got cold.

 

He was saying that the Demon King’s Castle was no better than a sand castle, wasn’t he?

 

Kitch sighed quietly.

 

“Huft–”

 

She made up words that didn’t exist to cling to the Yusra Kingdom….

 

Not only Hoyeol had seen through the lies, he took advantage of it.

 

Now that the man was next to her, her eyes were wide open.

 

“You have to expect what to expect. My poor fate.”

 

Kitch had no choice but to give up her scheme.

 

Instead, she turned her head in the other direction.

 

‘So those little bastards won’t be my job.’

 

If she just ripped off the head of the demon king or an executive, everything would be over, right?

 

The moment she thought of the target.

 

Kitch’s eyes suddenly changed.

 

The change in her presence was even recognized by Marcelo.

 

‘She’s a brilliant assassin.’

 

With that level of skill, Sir Hoyeol brought her along.

 

Marcelo’s thoughts on Kitch ended there.

 

“!”

 

The Demon King’s Castle was getting closer.

 

At the same time, a loud noise hit their eardrums.

 

Bang–!

 

It was a sound coming from above.

 

Soon, a flying boat emerged from the dark clouds.

 

Marcelo was not surprised.

 

Because he had heard about the situation from Hoyeol and guessed it.

 

But it wasn’t the same for Kitch.

 

“W-What is that? Is that…?”

 

The leader of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

 

Kitch was naturally well-versed in rumors, legends, and information circulating in the Arcana continent.

 

But she’d never heard of flying machines.

 

“H-How can something that big reach the sky?”

 

Outside the ruptures, in the world of adventurers.

 

She had seen something similar called an airplane.

 

This one was an object that emerged from the Arcana continent.

 

A calm voice came to Kitch.

 

“Flying boat.”

 

“…Flying boat?”

 

“Indeed, it is the culmination of dwarven technology.”

 

“…!”

 

Dwarf!

 

She didn’t know what a flying boat was, but she knew what kind of race dwarf was.

 

Among the requests received from the Shadow Mercenary Corps. There were occasional requests to inquire about equipment made by dwarves.

 

‘But, how come they didn’t look surprised at all? Both of them.’

 

No, especially of the two men, Lee Hoyeol.

 

He reacted as if he had expected this situation.

 

‘…Hey, no matter how great you are.’

 

Kitch was cautious.

 

Because her weakness was discovered.

 

She was overestimating him.

 

‘Unless you can look into the future.’

 

What was happening on the Arcana continent?

 

How could he know from this world?

 

But Kitch was stunned by Hoyeol’s next words.

 

“As I heard, they haven’t forgotten their past oath.”

 

…Just like he had heard?

 

What, had he really expected this?

 

By the way, what else was the past oath?

 

Huh, she was scared.

 

Kitch couldn’t help but glance at Hoyeol again.

 

Yes, even if she didn’t know what it was about.

 

‘I am glad I stopped thinking nonsense from early on…’

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

A culmination of dwarven technology.

 

At the same time as I saw the flying boat.

 

The quest window flashed.

 

Two at a time.

 

[Class quest: Akshan’s Annihilation]

 

Annihilation of Akshan and the demon hunters.

 

The last demon hunter.

 

Dig up the truth about the Holy War.

 

-Train your weakened body. (Repeat)

 

– Identify the forces involved in the Holy War. (In progress)

 

• Encounter the Saint of the Goddess Church. (Success)

 

• Identify the true nature of the Goddess Church. (Success)

 

• Hunt the demon disguised as the Saintess of the Goddess Church. (Success)

 

• Identify the original sin of the Mage Tower. (Success)

 

• Confirm the oath with the dwarves (In progress)

 

Holy War.

 

It seemed that the dwarves were also involved in the incident that led to Akshan’s destruction.

 

There was news of the Arcana continent that I learned through Haiel.

 

‘I was guessing.’

 

The dwarves who disappeared from the continent.

 

They appeared after the decisive battle weapon, the Qirnberg Machine Tower, was activated.

 

They led a flying boat and began to hunt the demons of the Arcana continent.

 

I was able to guess from that news.

 

‘Like the Mage Tower, the dwarves were indebted to Akshan.’

 

I looked at the quest goal.

 

‘It’s not just a promise, it’s an ‘oath’…’

 

The dwarves must have broken the oath in the Holy War.

 

Maybe they were trying to protect it now.

 

Even if it was the demons who stood in their way.

 

The evidence was shown in the next quest window.

 

[Demon King, Flauros vs. Dwarves]

 

The Demon King and the dwarves.

 

Who won?

 

The Demon King’s Castle and the flying boat.

 

What were the symbols left behind?

 

It is all up to your judgment.

 

You will reap the rewards of victory according to your achievement.

 

– Join the forces and lead the war to victory. (In Progress)

 

• Participate on the Demon King Flauros’ side. (Select)

 

• Participate on the dwarves’ side (Select)

 

– Current achievement: 0p

 

For dwarves, flying boats were like their Mage Tower.

 

They risked that flying boat and entered into battle with the Demon King.

 

There would be no evidence more solid than this.

 

“As I heard, they haven’t forgotten the oath of the past.”

 

A gap of over ten years.

 

I didn’t know about Akshan’s demon hunters, but.

 

I didn’t suffer anything.

 

Let alone doubt, there was no such thing as resentment in the first place.

 

I shamelessly spoke.

 

“I will no longer doubt your pride.”

 

Of course, I was done choosing.

 

[Faction selection completed.]

 

[You participate on the dwarves’ side.]

 

[Demon King, Flauros is hostile to your forces.]

 

The presence felt in the Demon King’s Castle.

 

Indeed, its momentum was different from the time with Decarabia. It was so intimidating that it wouldn’t be surprising if someone with moderate mental strength would immediately fall into a status abnormality.

 

But there was no half-hearted person here.

 

Marcelo and Kitch and.

 

I, Grandfel, felt overwhelmed by demons?

 

『Grandfel Claudie Arpheus Romeo’s pride is ironically the highest in the presence of a demon.』

 

It could never happen.

 

Marcelo and Kitch.

 

And I went straight into battle.

 

As I emphasized, what was needed was a sure victory.

 

I had no intention of exchanging fists.

 

That’s why I went with full preparation.

 

I reminded myself of the effects of buffs that were currently being applied.

 

[The power of all magic increases slightly for 1 hour.]

 

[Mana regeneration increases slightly for 3 hours.]

 

[Mana regeneration increases significantly for 30 minutes.]…

 

The medicine I took.

 

The bi-herbs that were consumed enough to make my stomach full.

 

And in addition, the effect of the equipment, Mage Tower’s magic tools, that I picked and chose.

 

[Token of the Whirlwind]

 

[Grade: Unique]

 

[Restriction: Lv.350]

 

[Effect: When equipped, the destructive power of all magic activated increases by 100% for 1 minute. – Cooldown time: 24 hours]

 

[Luxury Item – Lightning-Struck Tree Branch Wand]

 

[Grade: Unique]

 

[Restriction: Lv.380]

 

[Effect: When attribute magic is activated, mana consumption increases by 30%, but the destructive power increases by 30%.]

 

[Luxury Item – White Wing]

 

[Grade: Unique]

 

[Restriction: Lv.350]

 

[Effect: When equipped, the attribute magic generated by the user is stored. The number of magic that can be stored is proportional to the color of the wing, and when the stored magic is activated, mana consumption is reduced by 30%. – Number of currently stored attribute magic: 100]

 

As you could see from the effectiveness of the item.

 

I was going to hit with 100 attribute magic.

 

Even thinking about it again, this was truly an ignorant method.

 

‘Even if I skip the exploration due to the effect of the wing…’

 

The process from intervention to manifestation couldn’t be skipped.

 

It was a utilization that most wizards couldn’t even attempt.

 

It was a trick that I could use thanks to Grandfel’s talent.

 

But this was my strength and my best one.

 

Flap–

 

At the same time as I raised my magic.

 

White elytra flapped like wings.

 

I recalled the stored magic of the elytra.

 

Because I brought out the stored magic.

 

I could skip the exploration process.

 

However, I didn’t forget to use the [aesthetic] stat during the interference process.

 

…Are you for real?

 

My mana escaped at a frightening rate.

 

But I wasn’t agitated.

 

Medicine, mana, even if those weren’t enough.

 

[Skill ‘Natural Enemy Relationship’ is activated.]

 

I couldn’t show myself faltering in front of the demons.

 

This was what I was, the human called Gradfel.

 

Marcelo, who recognized my desperate manifestation, shouted.

 

“I’ll open the way.”

 

A swift manifestation incomparable to my tricks.

 

Ten thousand of the demon king’s army was deleted as if they had evaporated.

 

Etio, the commander of the demon army, appeared.

 

“!!!”

 

But he immediately fell to his knees.

 

“Seriously, my life!”

 

Stab–

 

It was because Kitch’s dagger chopped off the guy’s leg.

 

Beyond the fallen Etio.

 

The Demon King, Flauros, was finally visible.

 

I didn’t hesitate.

 

[‘Ceremonial Robe Stained With Evil’ has been chosen as the sacrifice.]

 

[Skill ‘Exorcism’ is activated.]

 

[Demon King, Flauros, is invited to your ‘consciousness’.]

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

Rattle–!

 

The rocking flying boat, Iron Castle.

 

“Damn it. Of all things, why thunder and lightning?”

 

Iron Castle’s only weakness was bad weather.

 

This was because even the culmination of great technology couldn’t defy the power of nature.

 

With the demon king in front of them, there was no time for this. Still, perhaps because they kept turning the steering wheel without stopping.

 

“There we go. We’re out!”

 

Iron Castle could get out of the thunderstorm.

 

The entire view of the Demon King’s Castle was visible in the eyes of the dwarves.

 

“…W-Wait. What’s going on down there?”

 

To be exact, the view of Demon King’s Castle collapsing.

 

The sight was truly disastrous.

 

They were not a demon but they were capable of pushing back the Demon King.

 

“No way…?”

 

At least the dwarves who made the oath in the past knew.

 

“Demon hunter! We’ve found a survivor of Akshan!”

• 1. The back of a shrimp bursts amid a fight between whales = when strong people fight, weak people that have nothing to do with them suffer the damage.