Silence lingered.
It was so quiet as if time itself had stopped.
Even the passing wind was still, as if by appointment.
If it weren’t night but day, wouldn’t clouds just be slowly passing in the sky?
“?”
And in my mind, which witnessed the scene from a moment ago, only question marks filled my head.
When Maru swung his sword, the Death Knight was sent flying.
The Arch Lich fell to Maru’s sword.
No.
What are those guys doing?
Even if Maru’s sword was a demonic sword, his opponents were a Death Knight and an Arch Lich.
Even if Maru wielded it now, he couldn’t unleash power to this extent.
Could it be that Maru had awakened?
I even picked up my smartphone to check, just in case.
“…….”
I could see that the Death Knight and the Arch Lich still existed unharmed in the monster list.
Maru was also the same.
After all, given their ranks, they wouldn’t collapse from just a sword.
Right now, their appearance was nothing more than a show to my eyes.
They were my monsters in the first place, and knowing each other’s ranks accurately, it was simply absurd.
However, the Hunters far away seemed to perceive it differently.
Although the distance was considerable, making it impossible to identify who had come, they must have been Hunters sent by a guild or the association.
They were frozen in place as if bewildered by the current situation, not moving an inch.
In any case, it was the most optimal timing for me.
The Hunters were also still, and my monsters were just holding their positions without clashing.
I quickly ran towards Maru’s direction.
Then, I grabbed the Arch Lich who was in front of Maru.
It was performing its role so perfectly that even when grasped by my hand, it remained limp, a truly exquisite performance.
‘Ha.’
It was so absurd that all I could do was laugh.
Holding the Arch Lich, I looked around.
Celia and Azmo, as well as the Hunters in front, were all looking at me.
‘It would have been a big problem if I didn’t have the robe and mask.’
Currently, Maru and I had our entire bodies covered by robes and masks.
Of course, the monsters seemed to know it was me, but at least the Hunters couldn’t even guess my existence.
“What in the world is going on?”
I questioned Maru with a hint of bewilderment.
I had clearly ordered Maru to capture those guys.
Maru had advanced according to the order; the situation suddenly arose, so it was natural for me to be puzzled.
“Clack.”
Maru spoke, moving his jawbone.
And through my trait, I easily understood Maru’s words.
“What? So you’re saying I’m trying to rule this world?”
What did that mean?
I asked again, wondering if I had misunderstood.
But Maru nodded, confirming it.
“Ha.”
It was even more absurd than I had imagined.
In what aspect was my intention misrepresented?
Now I realized.
‘I need to manage them thoroughly from now on.’
No, at least I needed to give commands with the correct meaning.
Fortunately, I knew that they weren’t ignoring my words but rather it stemmed from excessive loyalty.
Still, the situation had occurred.
I wanted to say something here, but the situation was unfavorable.
Even if I didn’t mind Celia and the others, there were too many Hunter eyes paying attention here.
“Let’s finish this soon.”
However, I couldn’t just tell them to go back.
If I ordered them to return now and the monsters obeyed, how would that appear in their eyes?
At least a minimal degree of naturalness was needed.
I whispered to the Arch Lich in a small voice.
“Can you detonate all those Ghouls?”
It was a skill the Arch Lich possessed even before evolving. Corpse Explosion. Despite the name, only Undead monsters could explode, but that didn’t matter.
I formulated a plan in my mind.
By detonating the Ghouls one by one, I would divert the attention of the opponents as much as possible, and then seize the opportunity to slip away unnoticed.
In response to my question, the Arch Lich nodded infinitesimally. It was still pretending to be dead until the very end.
‘This guy is really immersed.’
I immediately ordered the Ghouls to detonate.
As soon as the Arch Lich received the command, it detonated the Ghouls.
*Boom-*
*Phwoom-phwoom-*
*Kaboom-*
As the ear-splitting roars spread, the Ghouls exploded one after another.
*Boom-*
As the Ghouls exploded, thick dust was created. Smoke generated by the dust engulfed everything around.
When my vision was completely blocked by the smoke, I threw the Arch Lich and commanded Celia.
“Celia! Get them and return immediately!”
This was the opportunity, having bought time with the sacrifice of the Ghouls.
This was the second time I was seeing Celia directly, following the dream the other day.
Since I had met her, I wanted to talk about many things, but I couldn’t afford to delay.
“Take everyone into the dungeon and wait!”
As soon as this mission was completed, I would change the system.
At least in a direction that I could control.
Celia also seemed to have a lot she wanted to say, but there was no time at the moment.
“Understood. Master.”
Celia replied, bowing her head. Then, controlling the remaining ones, she began to escape from here.
“What?”
The Arch Lich, who had approached me, was holding a thick book and writing something. It looked like a notebook. Next to it, a Skeleton armed with Hunter gear held an ink bottle in both hands.
I was curious about what it was recording, but I had no time to confirm.
“You hurry up and follow.”
At my words, the Arch Lich bowed at a right angle and started following Celia.
“?”
Was that the Arch Lich’s way of greeting? At least it was a polite one.
As the remaining Arch Lich also left, I scanned the surroundings.
There were no more monsters left here.
Considering Celia’s abilities, they would safely return to the dungeon.
“Let’s go too, Maru.”
The thick smoke was gradually thinning.
Before all the smoke disappeared, Maru and I just needed to get out of here.
* * *
The sudden explosion of the Ghouls.
The dust created by the explosion obscured everyone’s vision.
“What? What’s going on!”
Hunters cried out one after another. The dense smoke showed no sign of subsiding.
Whenever that happened, with the sound of exploding Ghouls, more dust spread.
“Maintain your current positions and be on alert!”
Han Jeongcheol shouted to the Hunters. They were already facing an opponent with immense power.
And in such a situation, if their vision was also blocked? It was the worst.
The only fortunate thing was that there was a being who showed an incredible spectacle before the Ghouls exploded. Two figures wearing robes and masks. Of course, their identities were unknown due to their covered appearances.
‘A summoner?’
Perhaps they were Hunters who worked together. Whatever the case, their abilities were truly amazing.
As one being charged forward and swung his sword, the Death Knight was pushed back.
Was that all? The Arch Lich was also dealt with in an instant.
‘I must recruit them at all costs.’
Had there ever been a Hunter who so easily dealt with an A-rank monster before?
Even if it was two people, their achievement was extraordinary. If they were summoner-type Hunters, it would be an incredible stroke of luck. Summoned creatures by Hunters were generally weak. In theory, they possessed the power to control a powerful army, but the reality was different. If the summoned creatures indeed did all this.
‘A new wind will blow through the Hunter industry from now on.’
This was not just Han Jeongcheol’s thought.
Kim Suho was thinking the same thing. However, his expression was very distorted. He waited, staring intently forward, for the smoke to completely disappear.
Finally, the smoke that had engulfed everything thinned. Everyone raised their weapons, preparing to attack.
“…….”
But no one was there.
* * *
As dawn broke, news articles poured in. An incredible incident had occurred, so broadcasts as well as portal sites continuously reported on the Monster Wave.
[Worst Monster Wave? Damage ‘Minimal’]
[“The monsters just let us go…” Citizen testimonies flood in…]
[Hunter Association, unable to grasp the situation in advance, is this okay?]
[Not only unaaware, but the dungeon location cannot be found… Government and Hunter Association’s incompetence on display]
[Not over yet? Experts: “This Monster Wave was a plan by highly intelligent monsters”]
[Did someone else end the Monster Wave? What is his identity?]
[Unidentified hero, ‘Maybe S-Class?’; Reactions too…]
The articles on portal sites were broadly of two types. The damage situation caused by the Monster Wave, and the curiosity about the identity of the one who appeared at the end. Still, generally, the reaction was that although a worst-case Monster Wave had occurred, fortunately, there was no significant damage. Of course, minimal damage did not mean no damage at all. Han Jeongcheol, who led the Association’s Emergency Response Team, had lost his deputy. Instead of mourning his comrade, he was being summoned to explain the situation. He might face disciplinary action for failing to respond initially. But it didn’t matter. Han Jeongcheol’s thoughts were directed elsewhere. Towards the entity that defeated the Death Knight and the Arch Lich. If only that power could be recruited, the status of the Emergency Response Team would soar. ‘It might truly be the emergence of an S-Class.’ But rumors spread quickly. The story of an unidentified hero who ended the Monster Wave was circulating rapidly. The media was also reporting on it. Other guilds would likely have started moving upon hearing the news. ‘We must recruit them at all costs.’ A sense of determination was evident in Han Jeongcheol’s eyes.
A guild moved as Han Jeongcheol predicted. Kim Suho of the Divine Guild. He was also shocked by what happened last night.
– So what about Lee Kanghyeon? It seems like the perfect time to deal with him in this chaotic situation.
Despite Jinsoo Kang’s text message, Kim Suho just clicked his tongue and didn’t reply. His mind was occupied by someone other than Lee Kanghyeon.
“How did they overpower an A-rank monster?”
The unidentified entity that defeated the monster. Of course, there were quite a few Hunters who could deal with A-rank monsters. But in this case, two A-rank monsters were defeated. And in a single blow. Kim Suho found that particularly bothersome. It was the guy who faced the Death Knight that he couldn’t defeat with his own attacks. He had been recognized at the Hunter Academy, and even in the El Dorado Continent. And he should continue to be recognized in the future. The world’s attention should be entirely on him, but someone had stolen it. Kim Suho found that extremely unpleasant.
“I need to know who it is.”
One question that arose was why did that guy try to hide his existence? In the end, not only the monsters but also the unidentified entity disappeared.
‘Surely they’re not allied with the monsters?’
The thought crossed his mind for a moment, but he shook his head. He thought he was jumping to conclusions. The monsters might have retreated due to the appearance of an unexpectedly strong opponent. Putting the monsters aside, why did that entity hide itself? With such power, why hide? In other words, it might have been a situation where revealing himself was not allowed. Another possibility dawned in his mind. Kim Suho smirked.
“…Perhaps they could be a villain.”
Villain. An Awakened individual who does not register with the Hunter Association and harms other Hunters and people. Kim Suho immediately ordered the nearby guild members.
“Bring me all the data on registered villains. Every single one.”
It didn’t matter if that entity wasn’t a villain. If he made them a villain, people’s attention would fade. Kim Suho’s expression turned sinister.
It wasn’t just them who were shocked by the Monster Wave that occurred last night. Especially Yerin Jeong, a Hunter belonging to the Fire Bird Guild who had faced the Goblin Lord.
“Is that the true power of the Goblin Lord?”
The Goblin Lord that appeared in the Monster Wave. She had faced the Goblin Lord. But that entity was too powerful. She had also entered the Goblin Lord’s dungeon. And at the end of a prolonged battle, she succeeded in subjugating the Goblin Lord. Of course, all of this was thanks to a certain man.
‘Lee Kanghyeon.’
He had said this: if the Goblins controlled by the Goblin Lord were killed, the Goblin Lord would weaken. And his words proved true. Yerin Jeong, while stalling for time with her team, killed the Goblins. And eventually, they dealt with the Goblin Lord. Therefore, she believed that dealing with this Goblin Lord would also be easy. However. The Goblins controlled by that Goblin Lord were unusual. Their movements were swift, and their equipment was of good quality. They were difficult to classify as mere Goblins. At the very least, their fighting strength was too much to be considered ordinary Goblins, appearing to be D-rank at minimum.
“More importantly, where did they get their weapons?”
The Goblin Lord did not use ordinary weapons. It was the Mana Gun. A gun that used mana, not bullets. As long as the user had mana, it was virtually a permanent Hunter weapon. Yet, the Goblin Lord was using such a weapon. And skillfully at that. Furthermore, its mana grade was high, so its power was also formidable. Because of that, Yerin Jeong had lost some of her team members.
“…….”
Although most of the media reported that the damage was minimal, it wasn’t for her. If the Goblin Lord and its subordinates hadn’t suddenly retreated, she would have suffered even greater damage.
“I need to grow stronger.”
This incident ended relatively well due to a combination of coincidences. But one could not predict what would happen in the future. In fact, stronger monsters were continuously appearing even now. The Monster Wave that occurred this time was an example. She immediately stood up. To become stronger, she first wanted to find the man named Lee Kanghyeon.
“I should have at least gotten his number if I knew this would happen.”
Yerin Jeong regretted it slightly.
* * *
“Mr. Death Knight.”
At Celia’s words, the Death Knight raised its head. As soon as they returned to the dungeon, Celia was carrying out her master’s will. Due to Azmo’s actions this time, her master was very angry. Azmo was already confined in the dungeon and could only come out with her master’s permission. Not only that. Her master had also moved Azmo’s dungeon location.
‘As expected, my master’s power is great.’
And the punishment for the Death Knight and the Arch Lich, who had neglected Azmo, was entirely entrusted to her.
“You are forbidden from going out for a while. Until I permit it, remain in the dungeon and focus on repair work.”
The Death Knight was shocked by her words of being forbidden from going out. Moreover, to start dungeon repair work! The Death Knight drooped as if it had lost its world. Celia turned its head and looked at the Arch Lich.
“Mr. Arch Lich….”
The Arch Lich also stared intently at Celia.
“As punishment, you will monitor the surrounding dungeons for a while. If there are any rumors of you doing anything else, you will be forbidden from going out, just like Mr. Death Knight.”
“Tap!”
The Arch Lich nodded vehemently. Below Celia were four dungeons.
[Red-Haired Tribe]
[Village Covered in Mist]
[Scraps of the Demonic Realm]
[Sticky Puddle]
A while ago, the lords of adjacent dungeons had surrendered to Celia. And her master had merged those many dungeons into four. Until now, she had too much to do to manage them properly. She had left them to the discretion of the lords managing each dungeon. However, this was an opportunity to send the Arch Lich to ascertain the situation of the dungeons in detail. The Arch Lich immediately began packing its belongings at Celia’s command. The thick notebook the Arch Lich carried was held by the Skeleton on the left. The quill the Arch Lich used for writing was held by the Skeleton on the right. The ink needed for the Arch Lich’s record-keeping was carried by the Skeleton behind. The Skeleton behind was a newly made subordinate from Earth. The Arch Lich nodded. All preparations were complete. The Arch Lich and the three Skeletons set out of the dungeon.
