Chapter 25: Battle of the Rhine River Pt. 5

Even as the ninth wave ended, there had been no signs of Choi Yeong-Seong, Choi Yong-Su, or the Northern Army Guild making any moves toward Lee Jun-Kyeong. Instead, they just quietly endured the wave. Just as much as the other Hunters had sacrificed, their wounds had also increased.

Even if they were the elites, the monsters they faced were powerful and numerous. The Northern Army Guild had been quite self-confident, but by now most had been wounded or, worse, killed.

“

Gasp… gasp…

”

“Healer! Someone heal the guild master quickly!”

Even Choi Yeong-Seong and Choi Yong-Su had visible injuries. The ninth wave’s damages didn’t stop there.

“Are you really okay?”

It had been just as difficult for Lee Jun-Kyeong and Jeong In-Chang as they both looked exhausted.

Still…

“I am okay. What about you?”

Jeong In-Chang was worse off than Lee Jun-Kyeong. Most likely, it was the difference between a Hunter's characteristics versus a Player's.

‘Every time I level up, I recover a small amount.’

Unlike Lee Jun-Kyeong, it didn’t seem like the other man’s Sponsor supported him much in the way of recovery. Jeong In-Chang was drained. He had consumed all the potions he had brought, and to make matters worse…

“Traitor.”

“Bitch.”

“

Spit.

You bastard, let’s see if you survive until the end of the raid.”

…the Northern Army Guild members spat curses at him. Their reactions towards their former deputy guild master was quite extreme, even considering that he had gone against their plans and betrayed them. However, he understood them.

‘The general personalities of the members of the Northern Army Guild are similar to Choi Yeong-Seong’s.’

They were Hunters who had been continuously nurtured and incited by Choi Yeong-Seong. Furthermore, due to the guild master's nature, it was obvious that he would have filled the guild with people similar to himself. Jeong In-Chang had been an exception.

‘To them, Jeong In-Chang is a foreigner who deserves to be kicked out in the first place.’

After all, they had different inclinations. Jeong In-Chang had a sense of justice, so he must have been a thorn in the eyes of the Northern Army Guild, who had the same temperament as tyrants.

At any rate, even if they had materials or Healers that could help, there was no way for Jeong In-Chang, who had been branded a traitor, to receive any support from the Northern Army Guild.

“Heal.”

“I have a few potions left over.”

Then, among the surviving Hunters, the healers came by and gifted Jeong In-Chang and Lee Jun-Kyeong with heals. Of course, compared to the elite members of the Northern Army Guild, their recovery was minuscule.

“Thank you.”

“No, I would have already died if it weren’t for you.”

A look of pride flashed across Jeong In-Chang’s face.

“Don’t you feel it’s unfair?” Lee Jun-Kyeong said to Jeong In-Chang, who was recovering. “Weren’t you the deputy guild master? You’re just hunting monsters over on this side… this isn’t enough to be called betrayal, is it?”

Lee Jun-Kyeong was right. In fact, it wasn’t as if Jeong In-Chang had swung his sword at them or had done anything wrong to them. And if he had committed a sin…

“You had to turn your back on the people you had been close to because you fought together with me,” said Lee Jun-Kyeong, looking at Jeong In-Chang.

Lee Jun-Kyeong wanted to know how many eggs the man had broken when he left. He had wanted to test him, but Jeong In-Chang’s answer was completely unexpected.

“So what?”

“...?”

“I had become close to them, and it was because I had thought… they were precious to me that I had come to your side,” responded Jeong In-Chang. Lee Jun-Kyeong finally understood what Jeong In-Chang was going to say. “I can’t just stand here and watch them stray towards the wrong path any longer.”

“However,” Lee Jun-Kyeong interjected before pausing and closing his mouth again while frowning, as Jeong In-Chang had already inferred what Lee Jun-Kyeong wanted to say. What he had been about to say was...

‘If you’re not going to stand aside and watch anymore…’

It wasn’t just simple arguments or discipline anymore.

‘Would you be able to kill them too?’

Would he be able to take the lives of those he had once cherished? That was the egg that Jeong In-Chang would have to break. Lee Jun-Kyeong shook his head for a moment. It was getting close to the time when the other man would have to make a decision. All he had to do was see what he would do in that situation. There was no need to break his heart preemptively.

Jeong In-Chang’s frown had cleared up, and he said, “They’ll make their move soon.”

Their eyes met, and Lee Jun-Kyeong replied, “Looks like it.”

Choi Yeong-Seong and his guild would make their move this time. It was the tenth wave, the last remaining one. If the boss battle began and was resolved without incident.

‘The honor of Choi Yeong-Seong and the Northern Army Guild would be obliterated if that happened.’

Due to the help of Lee Jun-Kyeong and Jeong In-Chang, too many Hunters, the storytellers, had survived. There was no way they wouldn’t spread what had happened inside if they were able to make it out alive.

‘If things turned out that way, they would be contrary to that person’s will.’

The future of the Northern Army Guild and Choi Yeong-Seong was as clear as day if that happened because it would mean they had lost all usefulness. Even if it were because they were worried about their future, they would act.

Jeong In-Chang cautioned, “They’ll make their move no matter what they have to do.”

“I know,” Lee Jun-Kyeong said, straightening his back. “Don’t worry.”

Still squatting, Jeong In-Chang looked up at Lee Jun-Kyeong, wondering what the rookie meant by saying he shouldn’t worry. He then sighed and said, “I have… resolved myself.”

Lee Jun-Kyeong bitterly laughed at his words. This person…

‘He must have made up his mind.’

…had broken the egg. Jeong In-Chang also got up from his seat and replied, “I have already chosen a side.”

As his firm sincerity had touched Lee Jun-Kyeong, notification messages began to appear.

[The last wave will begin.]

[The boss has appeared.]

[The Sponsors are encouraging their Incarnations.]

[The stats of the Incarnations will increase temporarily.]

[Some Sponsors have sponsored the Incarnations in the face of terrible adversity.]

[ has begrudgingly accepted the current situation.]

At the same time, something unexpected had occurred.

Whoosh.

It was a refreshing feeling. Even though they weren’t Lee Jun-Kyeong’s direct Sponsors, the other Sponsors had supported him.

[All health has been restored.]

“...”

In contrast, Choi Yeong-Seong had to get healed through his guild members and supplies. In the end, the one who was smiling was Lee Jun-Kyeong.

Just like that, the boss appeared.

[Warning, warning.]

[The Boss of the Rhine Gate...]

[...‘River Worm’ has appeared.]

They could see what it was without having to look far.

"Wait, wait!"

"This is…!"

THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP—

“Isn’t the river rising?”

The Rhine River was named after a real place, and the river in the gate began to rise.

Roar.

As the water started crashing down…

-

KEUGAHHHHHHHHHH!

…a huge earthworm comparable in size to the entire river emerged.

***

Amongst the Hunters, there was a questionnaire that floated around asking them to select the most difficult monsters. There were a wide variety of candidates. The high-ranking undead that couldn’t be killed without a divine weapon, disgusting and creepy-looking insect-type monsters, and doppelgangers that would rush in with a Hunter’s appearance.

Even unique monsters that would cycle through buffs and debuffs. However, out of all of the monsters that could be voted for, there was one type of monster that received an overwhelming number of votes.

Giant Monsters.

Someone muttered, “This is insane…”

The sun had been beating down upon them with harsh rays until now, but was now covered up. For the first time, it felt like night had encroached on the gate. A river worm had grown to such size that it completely obscured the sun, and it was looking down upon the Hunters.

“This really is ridiculous…” said Lee Jun-Kyeong, who had never been afraid of monsters until now. But this time, there was a special feeling of overwhelming presence that washed over him. It was more awe than fear, as if a skyscraper had suddenly become an enemy.

“The Northern Army Guild… Yeong-Seong Hyung should have a way to kill the river worm,” said Jeong In-Chang. “That person should have given him something. I’m sure of it. Yeong-Seong Hyung definitely has a way of dealing with it. Yeong-Seong Hyung… before hunting the river worm… he’ll make his move.”

Lee Jun-Kyeong could feel people looking at him. He could tell it wasn’t a single individual; instead, there were several. The Northern Army Guild, Choi Yong-Su, and Choi Yeong-Seong stared at him.

“They should be making their move now. They’ll make sure to first deal with us, the biggest obstacles, before they can finish the raid. You should get ready.”

Jeong In-Chang drew his sword, and to his side, Lee Jun-Kyeong's arms flashed into flames. He held Muspel’s Spear in his right hand, and a shield in his left.

‘My level is…’

He quickly opened his status window.

[Level 29]

It was taking forever to increase. As if everything to this point had been a tutorial, the level experience rate began to lag atrociously after reaching level 20. It wasn’t only the leveling that was disappointing.

‘If I could only just use this bracelet…’

If the useless familiar could actually be used and be useful, then Lee Jun-Kyeong wouldn’t have been so nervous. Even though the Hunters were all humans and theoretically on the same side, they would end up fighting each other in front of the literal giant enemy, the river worm. While it was tense…

“It looks like I’m not afraid…” said Lee Jun-Kyeong half to himself.

Jeong In-Chang asked, “What did you say?”

“It’s nothing, Mr. Jeong.”

Lee Jun-Kyeong looked at Jeong In-Chang with a darkened expression. “I will ask one last time. They were colleagues you had been with up until now. They must have been your friends. Are you sure about this?”

Jeong In-Chang laughed bitterly, but he still clearly raised his sword at the enemy.

“What’s happening all of a sudden?”

“Are the Hunters going to fight amongst themselves?”

“What is this…?”

The surrounding Hunters exclaimed in panic. Lee Jun-Kyeong didn’t attempt to persuade them or tell them why. That role was reserved for someone else.

“The Northern Army Guild is using you! Didn’t you feel that something was strange in the first place? They plan to kill us all and monopolize the raid! I, the Deputy Guild Master of the Northern Army Guild, Jeong In-Chang, am testifying! Hunter Lee was right! They plan on killing us from this point on!” Jeong In-Chang yelled in a loud voice. It was his role, and he had definitely picked a side.

“Looks like you’re still making pointless moves!” shouted the faraway Choi Yeong-Seong with a face full of ridicule. “Nothing has changed! Northern Army Guild, we will move as planned!”

Finally, the banquet has begun.

Jeong In-Chang raised his sword for the last time and shouted, “If you don’t believe us, then just stay to the side! After we die, you guys will…be next.”

Jeong In-Chang had taken a perfect stance. Compared to when they had been hunting monsters, his rhythm had changed.

‘Dragon Killer.’

He was a Hunter who grew stronger as adversity approached, and his special ability started to shine at this very moment.

As the Northern Army began to race towards them, the river worm blew a breath towards the sky as if its pride had been hurt from being treated as a bridesmaid.

-

KEUGAHHHHHHHHHH!

Waves from the Rhine River had been crashing vigorously up until a moment ago. Now, water began to spew through the mouth of the river worm, and these waters were mixed with the blood of monsters and Hunters.

Pitter patter.

Suddenly, it began to rain.

***

Fortunately, the Hunters hadn’t made any rash decisions. It may have been because they hadn’t forgotten their resentment to Choi Yeong-Seong and his guild yet, but they didn’t make any foolish decisions. Instead, they felt the peculiarities of the situation and the sincerity behind Jeong In-Chang’s speech.

One of them swore, “Damn it… If we’re going to die either way, we might as well try!”

They drew their swords against the Northern Army Guild. It would have been regretful and a pity if they had died ignorant of the situation, but fortunately, Lee Jun-Kyeong and Jeong In-Chang were there.

At that point, an unexpected and lucky occurrence appeared.

[The River Worm has stopped moving due to an unknown force.]

[The time remaining…]

Lee Jun-Kyeong thought that there was nothing more arrogant than for these Hunters to be infighting in front of such a great enemy as the river worm. However, the river worm had stopped moving due to someone’s will. It was apparent who had affected it.

‘We can’t take too long for this.’

Choi Yeong-Seong had used the device that person had given him, and the river worm had stopped moving.

‘That bastard.’

Lee Jun-Kyeong couldn’t finish his thought. Because he was…

Clang!

…in the middle of fighting Choi Yeong-Seong. The guild master was an A-Rank Hunter, and was someone who would become another Hero born in this era as long as this gate was conquered. And now, Lee Jun-Kyeong was dealing with such an enemy.

“Your fire seems special,” Choi Yeong-Seong commented as he smirked while looking at Lee Jun-Kyeong’s weapon. Even the water the river worm had sprayed that turned into rain couldn’t put out Lee Jun-Kyeong’s flames.

“Tsk.”

Flicker.

His fire intensified, the scorching heat pushing Choi Yeong-Seong back.

“You really don’t seem to know anything,” Lee Jun-Kyeong said.

“What the hell are you saying?” Choi Yeong-Seong shouted in response to Lee Jun-Kyeong’s provocation. Lee Jun-Kyeong thought to himself that the guild master was absurd. There were too many things he was clueless about.

‘There are opposites within attributes.’

For example, fire and water, light and darkness were opposites of each other. Thus, people blindly believed in the attributes in front of them and were prone to mistakenly believing in what they thought of as truths. However, those rules only applied in the

‘realm of the common people.’

In the world of Hunters, while opposite attributes indeed existed, things were more intuitive and straightforward. Whatever was stronger would win. Attributes wielded by the strong would consume others, even those of the opposing attribute. That was why Lee Jun-Kyeong’s flames couldn’t be extinguished.

“

Keheuk…

What in the world are you using?" said Choi Yeong-Seong while staring at him. They had been exchanging blows this entire time. The guild master had been silently wielding his sword, and he now had an unpleasant and desperate expression as he fought against Lee Jun-Kyeong. The reason was simple.

"How… How can you have gotten this strong?" Choi Young-Seong's sword swung down again at Lee Jun-Kyeong.

Just as the name implied, the powers that was supplying were more potent here than usual. However…

Clang!

…there wasn’t even a scratch on Lee Jun-Kyeong’s flame-infused shield.

“I tried my best. I put everything on the line… I did exactly what that person said… I only focused on getting stronger…” the guild master muttered.

It must have been a shock for Choi Yeong-Seong to see that Lee Jun-Kyeong had become so strong, as he couldn’t stop talking in the midst of battle. Lee Jun-Kyeong decided to take a moment to humor his opponent. As he backed up and created space, he replied, “Did you know?”

“...”

“When I had first entered this gate, I was definitely weaker than you.”

In shock, Choi Yeong-Seong responded, “W…What… Even if your Sponsor has just bombarded you with sponsorships…”

“No.” Lee Jun-Kyeong stopped him with a smile on his lips. He had pulled it off. He was strong enough to match a Hero, no, it was someone who was not yet at the level of a hero but was still close to it. Even though his enemy was an A-Rank and he was still a B, he realized again that the special ability of the Player had given him a different strength than that of an ordinary Hunter.

Lee Jun-Kyeong basked in his overflowing power and continued, “I’m saying that while you were turtling up in order to conserve your strength, I got stronger by hunting the monsters.”

“What are you…” Choi Yeong-Seong sputtered.

“You probably don’t understand.”

It wasn’t something that ordinary Hunters would have been able to understand, anyway. Lee Jun-Kyeong pointed his spear at him, a crimson flame erupting from the spear's point.

“You don’t need to understand. I was just saying.”

The spear engulfed in flames, pierced toward Choi Yeong-Seong.

1. The author has been pushing the meal analogy for a while now, and finally, someone will eat.

2. Being treated as a bridesmaid is (at least in Korea) a term that means to be ignored for the main attraction.