Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 34 - True Enemy (2)

The reason my body, which had been lethargic due to mana exhaustion, became normal.

 

‘Maybe it’s because of the synergistic effect.’

 

If the enemy relationship between the demon hunter and the demon simply improved fighting power.

 

The relationship between Grandfel and the demon increased additional stats, including magic regeneration.

 

‘Unbreakable pride.’

 

To be as straight as ever.

 

I should be happy, but I just couldn’t.

 

I knew from experience.

 

Grandfel’s setting was absolutely not omnipotent.

 

‘…I’m already scared.’

 

It took a lot of effort to realize that setting.

 

I even filled up all the A4 papers because the physical training of repetitive quests was not enough.

 

How many nights had I squandered all that because of the setting of being a genius?

 

But now even the pain was bearable.

 

‘It’s not just your regular demon, it’s the great evil.’

 

To be exact, it was the incarnation of the great evil.

 

In other words, it was an enemy that made even that Harkon nervous.

 

It would be absurd to face such a guy in a state of mana exhaustion.

 

First of all, I should be grateful.

 

As I was thinking about that, Harkon approached.

 

“Sir Hoyeol, don’t tell me, the reason you came to the Yusra Islands…?”

 

Because of the updated quest.

 

To put it bluntly, it was because of the great evil.

 

I answered as if it was natural.

 

“Yes, Sir Harkon.”

 

“…!”

 

His pupils dilated for a moment.

 

Harkon murmured to himself.

 

“…It’s my fault, Your Majesty. If only I knew a little bit sooner.”

 

For Harcon, if it were His Majesty, he must be talking about the Emperor.

 

There was no need to respond to that self-talk.

 

The mistake he was talking about.

 

It wasn’t a situation where I could think about it.

 

“…Everyone ready for battle! It’s come!!”

 

A magnificent palace that seemed to embody greed.

 

Soldiers started to spring up around it.

 

It was correct to say that they were not summoned but really springing up.

 

Dig–!

 

They were really crawling out of the ground.

 

Someone shouted.

 

“Undead!”

 

Indeed, that word was correct.

 

What appeared after digging up the soils were skeletons.

 

‘The undead are not demons, but…’

 

I checked the skill window.

 

───────

 

Natural Enemy Relationship: Fighting power increases dramatically when fighting demons.

 

───────

 

The Natural Enemy Relationship was also in motion.

 

The Natural Enemy Relationship was active even when the great evil was crouching.

 

Now that it was fully showing up, I probably didn’t need to check.

 

But I had to judge with a cool head.

 

I looked around the battlefield.

 

I saw the rushing players.

 

“I guess we have to knock them down first to get in?”

 

“We must fight in a way that minimizes damage as much as possible!”

 

“That would be for the best. The competition will get worse inside!”

 

Unlike me, a demon hunter.

 

The players were unaware of the seriousness of the situation.

 

They seemed excited about the idea of attacking the Golden Palace and the great evil.

 

It was understandable.

 

A golden palace.

 

From its exterior alone, it looked like it would pour out great loot.

 

Greed itself.

 

The golden palace was its very existence.

 

It was clouding the players’ judgment.

 

Of course, as a symbol of integrity of purity.

 

Greed was a non-existent emotion for Grandfel.

 

In other words, my judgment was still the same.

 

Thanks to that, I was able to make rational judgments.

 

‘I have to save up my mana.’

 

The incarnation of the great evil.

 

Its strength was not comparable to that of Count Ascura.

 

I didn’t have the mana to waste on skeletons.

 

In that sense, it was a relief

 

Because I had a stronger ally than anyone else.

 

Even if it was limited to the Yusra Islands.

 

“Sir Harkon. Is your pledge still valid?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Harkon, who answered so, put on his helmet.

 

Clink–

 

Then he raised his sword and shield with his knights.

 

“I have pledged to His Majesty that I will be your sword and shield here. Lord Hoyeol, you have the authority to lead our Knights of Lionheart.”

 

He added.

 

“Furthermore, now that I know that you came here to defeat the demon. At least I won’t back down from the enemy in the slightest.”

 

Standing in line.

 

Knights of Lionheart aligned before me.

 

I felt like I had become an amazing person.

 

I didn’t feel like showing it off.

 

I just took their loyalty for granted.

 

‘…I feel tired.’

 

But because of the burden.

 

Responsibility naturally followed.

 

In short, it was ‘Noblesse Oblige’.

 

Why did I bring up such a tiring setting and stick it on, past me…! At least one thing was certain. I just took some cool-looking words and put them together.

 

Regardless of the truth, of course.

 

I opened my mouth confidently.

 

And said to the players.

 

“In order to fight the undead, the Knights of Lionheart need blessings and protection. If you cooperate, I will deeply appreciate the favor.”

 

…It’s shameless of me to ask!

 

In short, I needed a debuff.

 

Blessing and protection.

 

There was no other weakness for the undead, including the skeletons.

 

Of course, I didn’t have that skill.

 

I thought about it.

 

‘It’s not an order, it’s a request.’

 

I didn’t know I would say something like this.

 

I had grown up because I had something to take responsibility for. Well.

 

Not only that, I would appreciate their favor.

 

Of course, it would still sound arrogant to the players.

 

After all, I was just going to give my appreciation without any concrete reward.

 

Besides, considering the unpleasant gaze that was directed at me.

 

No one would answer back…

 

“We will help you… Sir.”

 

“We will cooperate!”

 

…Or so I thought.

 

For some reason, the answers came at the same time.

 

I looked at the man and woman.

 

…Wait, haven’t we met before?

 

*

In the end, the collapse progress was filled up.

 

A golden palace appeared at the same time.

 

Nam Taemin murmured.

 

“In the end, it turned out as you said.”

 

– Be careful, Taemin. It won’t be easy.

 

The Yusra Islands.

 

It was too calm to be called the legendary treasure island.

 

Even if taking into account that there were ten named monsters guarding the treasure.

 

Since the days Arcana was only a game, the content about it was huge.

 

Nam Cheolmin continued.

 

– Don’t be greedy. Let’s go slowly.

 

Nam Taemin stared blankly at the golden palace.

 

…Why was he staring at it like this?

 

Looking at the golden palace, he felt as if he was possessed by something.

 

“Huh? Uh, yeah. Hyung. I need to get a hold of myself.”

 

Nam Taemin shook his head quickly.

 

Then he told Gaon’s guild members.

 

“The opponent is a demon. Spirit enhancement item, buff. Prepare what you can in advance. You never know when the battle will begin… Well, I didn’t have to say it.”

 

Skeletons rising from the ground.

 

Demon, now undead?

 

“It’s freaking crazy.”

 

The moment Nam Taemin forcibly raised the corners of his mouth.

 

If you cooperate, I will deeply appreciate the favor.

 

…This voice?

 

It was Hoyeol’s voice.

 

Naturally, Nam Taemin.

 

And Nam Cheolmin who was listening with earphones.

 

– Taemin, this is an opportunity!

 

It was Hoyeol’s request, not just anyone else’s.

 

Even if the other players didn’t know, the brothers knew.

 

How many times had they confirmed Hoyeol’s ability with their own eyes?

 

So they couldn’t miss it.

 

“We will cooperate!”

 

He replied reflexively.

 

And their eyes met.

 

“…Shit, what?”

 

Leonie, who was looking up at herself disapprovingly

 

“We will help you… Sir.”

 

The reason she came out with forced honorifics was simple.

 

These crazy people were poking her side.

 

Kyaa.

 

They were even shrieking like a crow.

 

“Sister, it’s a request!”

 

“Hurry up, hurry up!”

 

“No shit.”

 

Of course, she also did it out of her own intention.

 

Like the Nam brothers of Gaon.

 

‘That monster.’

 

Leoni was also one of the first to witness Hoyeol’s power.

 

Did she just witness it?

 

Thanks to Hoyeol, the Berserker Guild became the main character of the grand title of the new rupture’s first clear.

 

‘Well, it’s like paying back that favor.’

 

Favors had to be repaid when the chance came.

 

Above all, Leonie knew it well.

 

– Unfortunately. I don’t have tea for you.

 

Hayeol’s narrow heart.

 

Leonie swallowed a giggle inside.

 

‘Still, he said he wouldn’t forget the favor.’

 

When it was over, she could get that cup of tea, right?

 

Just like that, she was getting her appetite back…

 

But, suddenly, a huge uninvited guest named Gaon appeared.

 

Tingle–

 

Gaon and Berserker.

 

Barbarian and berserker.

 

With heat between them.

 

Tension ran between the two.

 

However, the war of nerves that didn’t seem like it would end easily.

 

“I remember you.”

 

“……!!”

 

It was over in a single sentence.

 

*

 

The world was so kind.

 

Even though we had met before, we hadn’t had a proper conversation.

 

They were willing to come forward like this

 

I felt that kindness was still alive in this world.

 

‘I regret it.’

 

Nam Taemin and Leonie.

 

I had ties with both of them during the ruptures of Count Ascura.

 

Back then, when I was with these kind people.

 

‘I don’t find any formality. I don’t have tea for you.’

 

….I said all the things I shouldn’t say.

 

Of course, Grandfel didn’t regret those words.

 

I spoke calmly.

 

“I won’t forget this favor.”

 

“Oh, well.”

 

Nam Taemin waved at my words.

 

The best guild in Korea, Gaon.

 

And Gaon’s guild master, Nam Taemin.

 

Even if I wasn’t interested in players in the past, I couldn’t not know Nam Taemin.

 

Because in Korea, Nam Taemin was more than a player. He was a hero.

 

“This much favor is nothing. Hoyeol-nim… No, should I call you Hoyeol-ssi? Anyway, I’ve also received help from Hoyeol-ssi!”

 

By ‘help’, he must be talking about the battle in the square.

 

Can I call that ‘help’?

 

‘I was just lucky.’

 

Even if it was magic, all I had done was build a wall.

 

I only met advantageous compatibility in the cavalry and won a great victory.

 

But as with regret.

 

Grandfel didn’t have a feeling of humility.

 

“Is that so? Everything must have a give-and-take.”

 

Knights of Lionheart aren’t enough, now Gaon, too?

 

…I don’t know. Now I am also afraid of myself.

 

I looked at Leonie.

 

“I am also watching your actions.”

 

The Berserker Guild.

 

Although not as good as Gaon, it was one of the top guilds.

 

The image of her wielding the twin swords was still lingering in my memory.

 

I couldn’t copy it properly because I didn’t have swords to wield.

 

“Hiik.”

 

But why are you so surprised?

 

Leonie looked startled at my words.

 

This straightforward personality couldn’t just skip through this question.

 

“What are you so surprised about?”

 

“N-No. I am not surprised at all… Sir.”

 

Forcibly questioning things that were difficult to say.

 

Grandfel was not such a narrow-minded aristocrat to do that.

 

“That’s a relief, then.”

 

Besides, now was not the time for friendly small talk.

 

It was a situation where we only needed to enter the Golden Palace.

 

Harkon said to those two.

 

“Thank you, adventurers. Your blessings will be a great help to fight against the demon.”

 

The Knights of Lionheart armed themselves with buff.

 

A player who seemed to be a healer also approached me and asked.

 

“Is there a buff you need? Goddess’s prayer, blessing, or anything. I’m the most skilled in Gaon Guild!”

 

I answered indifferently.

 

“I don’t believe in God.”

 

…I’m going crazy. I really am!

 

Cringe lines.

 

Even after uttering such lines, my face showed no signs of changing.

 

I’ll be honest.

 

I’m more afraid of opening my mouth than the great evil in front of me…!

 

‘Prayer increases mental strength, and blessings increase physical abilities.’

 

I had both, one-mana buff.

 

So I was just saying I didn’t need a buff.

 

Damn it.

 

An internal sense of shame boiled up.

 

So I didn’t hesitate.

 

Towards the palace of Greed.

 

I made a quick stride.

 

Tap tap–

 

Before someone can catch the end of my words…!

 

*

 

AAU Korea Branch.

 

Sung Hyunjoon accessed Arcana’s official website.

 

He checked the update history that was added late.

 

“…I knew this would happen!”

 

“What’s wrong? Is there an additional patch?”

 

“what? Is there an additional patch out?”

 

“Yes, senior. I’m sure. This is something even Raymond couldn’t have predicted!”

 

The Yusra Islands.

 

No, to be exact, the Yusra Kingdom.

 

It was large-scale content that Sung Hyunjoon had been preparing since he was working as a developer for Arcana.

 

Not only Sung Hyunjoon but also the Arcana development team couldn’t not know the Yusra Kingdom.

 

“No, if you’re going to do it alone, you should at least do it properly!

 

Raymond, his object of resentment.

 

What the hell had that guy messed up?

 

“…Hyunjoon. I’m not the only one who’s mistaken, right?”

 

“You’re not mistaken. The setting is that the Yusra Kingdom was destroyed. Raymond Sean, even if that bastard went missing and Cosmo went bankrupt, this happened!”

 

“But, why now…?”

 

The golden palace that didn’t exist at this point reappeared. That too, along with an unheard-of monster called great evil.

 

“What is Greed of the Seven Deadly Sins? Add what you know.”

 

But, fortunately.

 

Even if it was late, additional updates had been posted.

 

He had to sort out the information that would be helpful to the players.

 

Because that was the role of AAU.

 

However.

 

“…S-Sunbae?”

 

Sung Hyunjoon couldn’t say anything.

 

“This is crazy.”

 

Yoon Sookyum was no different.

 

His mind blanked out.

 

Sung Hyunjoon tried to open his mouth.

 

“Well, we still have the Knights of Lionheart! There’s also Lee Hoyeol. The big guilds are still in good shape…”

 

“The Knights of Lionheart? You think they’re gonna risk their lives here? I don’t know how lucky they get together so far, but we can’t expect any more help.”

 

“…That’s right.”

 

He mumbled.

 

Yoon Sookyum shouted urgently.

 

“It’s impossible! No one should ever enter!”

 

What appeared on the monitor.

 

It was the despairing update history.

 

『A new rupture, ‘Golden Palace’, is added.

 

Recommended level: Lv.600~650

 

New boss monster, ‘Seven Deadly Sins, Incarnation of Greed’: Lv.650

 

A new monster is added.

 

‘Sleepless Soldier’: Lv.500』

 

Yoon Sookyum shouted.

 

“You’ll die if you enter it!”

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

But that prediction was wrong.

 

No one was dead.

 

It was like a flash of light.

 

The level recommendation was 600 to 650.

 

The collapse of the rupture, across the Golden Palace.

 

That prediction was wrong once again.

 

At the front line was the Knights of Lionheart.

 

“Knights of the lion’s heart.”

 

Harcon’s sword was stained with aura.

 

Not to be outdone by the sword, his eyes also shone determinedly.

 

So all the predictions were wrong.

 

“Give your heart. So that Sir Hoyeol can reach the great evil!”

 

They really risked their lives.

 

“Found it.”

 

In the distance, I could see the throne, the embodiment of the Greed of Seven Deadly Sins.