Chapter 44: Heracles. Pt. 5

Lee Jun-Kyeong moved quickly, using Hyeon-Mu to find the locations of monsters and Hunters, avoiding them with an optimized route.

Tadadak.

He moved through the forest with Jeong In-Chang. Although he was able to move quickly through the trees, his colleague was finding it difficult due to his greatsword.

"Wait for me!"

Unfortunately, Jeong In-Chang couldn't put the greatsword in his inventory as he didn’t know when he would be attacked. However, Lee Jun-Kyeong didn’t slow down. He was a high-level Hunter, but Jeong In-Chang was soon able to experience what it felt like to have a back soaked with sweat. The two of them ran like that for a while when suddenly, Lee Jun-Kyeong stopped and spoke to Jeong In-Chang.

"We’ll arrive soon."

There was a strong scent of mana that could be felt in their bodies. It was a little different from the suppressive mana that Demetrios exuded, more dark and gloomy. Monsters emitted this kind of mana, and it signaled that they were getting closer to the boss zone.

Furthermore, there was something else as well.

Lee Jun-Kyeong said with a stiff expression, “There are quite a few Hunters already encamped around here.”

Apparently, the Hunters who had already arrived had hidden themselves near the boss zone, almost as if they were waiting for someone. There was no way to avoid them. They had completely blocked off the path to the boss zone, positioned in the best place they could find based on their experience.

‘Did they form a faction?’

Furthermore, although they clearly belonged to different affiliations, they had gathered together and mingled amongst one another. They were clearly united for some purpose.

Perhaps, the pair may have to deal with all of them.

'If their target is me…’

However, Jeong In-Chang spoke up, bringing up another possibility.

"Could they be waiting for Demetrios?"

Rather than the relatively unknown Underdog, whose reputation had yet to spread, it was more probable that the mighty enemy, Demetrios, had brought them together.

Lee Jun-Kyeong made a decision. “For now, prepare for battle.”

They would prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, even if they had to fight against them all.

“All right."

There were countless Hunters, so there must be Hunters with Hero titles that they would have to combat among them. However, Jeong In-Chang didn’t raise any questions, just silently raising his greatsword and preparing for battle. Lee Jun-Kyeong nodded in approval.

The bond between them was quickly establishing itself.

"Let's go."

Finally, Jeong In-Chang and Lee Jun-Kyeong began to move toward the top of Catalyon Mountain.

‘Don’t get lost.’

Of course, he didn’t forget to sprinkle their path with the scent of his mana, laying a path that would entice Demetrios.

***

“Oh, you’ve arrived.”

One of the high-ranking officials of the British Association was welcoming someone. Many Hunters were under this official’s command, demanding substantial influence over the British Government. However, the official stood, greeting someone nervously, hands trembling while forcefully clasped together.

“...”

“

Ha ha ha

… I heard that your trip over here had some disturbances.”

Though the official tried to fish for an answer to determine the guest’s mood, the person standing before them just stood, staring with a stiff expression without a word.

Tremble.

The trembling hands had quickly transitioned to a trembling body, and the official stood still while watching the guest while resenting the inability to control his own motions.

‘Please, say anything.’

The other party was both more powerful individually and in status than the official, who merely held a single position in England. The official continued to stand, lacking in every way compared to the guest before them.

“What’s the status of the gate?” a beautiful voice questioned. The official became even more anxious at the sound that gently breezed softly just by hearing it.

He responded, “As of yet, the gate has not been raided…”

“That’s not what I asked you.”

The guest's voice was beautiful, but it was starkly chilling. Furthermore, the manner in which she spoke to the official, who had a high-ranking status in the British Association, was as if she had utterly disdained the other party's authority.

Nevertheless, she continued to use a commanding tone.

“Has anyone come out of the gate?”

The official had no choice but to bear it. The guest had the strength to back up her disrespect.

Even if she hadn’t, she was a guest sent by

them.

'This damn Olympus...'

They had a massive influence throughout Europe, and even among them, she merited special attention. The Association knew something hidden from the public regarding how much power Olympus really had in Europe.

If they left Europe immediately and changed their territory, Europe may no longer be able to survive.

‘Everything would be ruined…’

In fact, Europe was one of the few places in the world where the most dangerous gates would repeatedly appear without end. It was a situation in which they had to exist while continually tiptoeing around the purview of a powerful guild like Olympus.

"Ah, yes… There is, but…"

After the raid on the Catalyon Mountain Gate had begun, several Hunters had already emerged from the gate. They were dropouts, those who had chosen to flee from the gate in order to preserve their lives. However, they were in appalling states, and their bodies were so ruined that they were unable even to speak a proper word.

"Let's start with meeting them for now."

At the words of the guest—no, the Maiden, the official of the British Association quickly nodded, relieved that he could finally put the awkward and terrifying moment to an end.

"I'll call someone to guide you right now."

The official wanted to leave as soon as possible, but…

“I don’t have much time. You’ll just guide me directly.”

…escape from this Hell was more difficult than expected.

'Damn it!'?

The Official once again lamented that he had lost the game of Rock Paper Scissors. He then proceeded to move forward cautiously while vowing multiple times that he needed to practice in the future.

***

He wasn’t nervous.

Even though countless powerful Hunters were hiding near the boss zone, to the point where it was impossible to ignore.

‘I’m not nervous.’

He thought it must have been because he understood how much his strength had grown or because he could distinguish the level difference between himself and the opponents.

No, that wasn’t it. Lee Jun-Kyeong preferred to be absolutely sure about his choices. He had secured an escape route and simulated a battle against the other Hunters in his mind.

Jeong In-Chang and himself would never lose if they worked together. It would soon be time. Time for them to meet the Hunters encamped around the boss zone. Much of what would happen next would be dependent on their purpose.

Would they join hands, or would they point their swords at him?

Mana.

"…"

They were emitting mana.

But…

"It looks like they aren’t enemies,” Lee Jun-Kyeong said to Jeong In-Chang.

The mana they had emitted was a signal they gave once they noticed Lee Jun-Kyeong and Jeong In-Chang’s approach. It was a pure mana that lacked bloodlust, equivalent to exposing one’s wrists. They had been on edge, but then suddenly, they came out into the open area.

"It's the Underdog."

"He’s so late.”

“We’ve waited for you for quite a while.”

In fact, they were waving their hands toward them with very welcoming expressions. Lee Jun-Kyeong thought that the current situation was strange. However, these Hunters were different from the small fry they had met earlier.

“They’re big shot Hunters.’

Lee Jun-Kyeong had already collected a lot of information about the people who had decided to participate in the Battle of Champions. The Hunters in front of him had been dispatched from colossal secret organizations comparable to Asgard or Olympus. Furthermore, these Hunters weren’t expendables or prisoners who had been sent to die.

“...”

“What is going on?” Jeong In-Chang asked curiously while Lee Jun-Kyeong was silently absorbing the situation.

“Don’t be nervous!"

"Were you not informed by Asgard?"

"Did something go wrong?”

Surprisingly, they started talking among themselves, as if they couldn’t understand the reactions of Lee Jun-Kyeong and Jeong In-Chang. Finally, the two faced the waiting Hunters. Lee Jun-Kyeong approached them, making sure to leave as much space as possible to react in case they had to fight. Someone came forward to match him.

‘It’s a Hunter from the Nile.’

The Nile was a large organization that built its foundation in Egypt. "Have you really not heard anything?" the other Hunter asked.

"…"

"You belong to Asgard, right?"

The gathered Hunters shook their heads as if they found Lee Jun-Kyeong’s reaction strange.

Lee Jun-Kyeong finally replied, “You are correct. We are the Hunters who have been dispatched under Asgard’s banner.”

"Hmm."

They seemed doubtful about something after hearing his response. Soon, as if they had just agreed upon it, the Hunter belonging to the Nile who had spoken up earlier came forward.

The Hunter then said, "We were waiting to help you."

"…?"

“It sounds like you really haven’t been told anything. We have already decided on the winner of this Battle of Champions. Asgard, and therefore you, have been chosen to win this time.”

Lee Jun-Kyeong was confused. They had already decided on a winner?

“There seems to be a problem on the side of Olympus as

his

arrival has twisted a great many issues, but we are waiting to concede victory to you."

He finally understood the secret behind this battle. Initially, Choi Yeong-Seong was supposed to have attended this Battle of Champions to represent Asgard. However, even if Choi Yeong-Seong had earned a title, it would have been difficult for him to match up to the level of Hunters who had attended. The gap was so large that Lee Jun-Kyeong had been wondering how he had survived.

‘So it looks like this is how they manipulate the matches.’

Aside from the low-level organizations that lacked influence, there were apparently already connections between the other larger organizations. It was to be expected. Those that couldn’t match up were destined to be thrown away as consumables. They must have known that it would have been difficult for them to win.

Among the higher organizations…

'It looks like they alternate between the role of executioner and leader.'

…they seemed to take turns dealing with the Hunters who had been sent to be disposed of and winning the predetermined victory, sharing the role of leader of the secret organizations among themselves.

And, there was one more crucial point.

The winner of the Catalyon Mountain Gate had already been appointed as Asgard.

“Huh.”

Lee Jun-Kyeong felt a rush of energy and finally exhaled.

'This…do secret organizations like Asgard…do they really?

think of themselves as comparable to the Sponsors

?'

These organizations acted as if they could control everything according to their will and hold the life and death of the other Hunters participating in the Battle of Champions according to their choices and agreements. Numerous benefits were given to the winner of the Battle of Champions, including priority in materials and gate raids. Furthermore, as for the Champions that were fighting in the battle, no matter how much they were said to be expendable, to think their life and death were decided by a single word from those above them.

‘So this is what they call Heroes…’

There was no difference between these heroes and the corpses.

“Let’s immediately head out to raid the boss. We’ll help you. It seems like it will still be difficult for you to raid the boss alone as you are now.”

They shrugged and started to prepare to move.

“No.”

However, Lee Jun-Kyeong rejected their offer.

"What…?"

"What's wrong?"

They looked at him, seemingly perplexed. He responded, "I will catch Demetrios."

He didn't want to win like this. If he followed them and raided the boss, they would have cleared the gate before Demetrios arrived, and he would have been able to leave the gate without fighting him.

However…

‘If that happens, then all I would get out of this is being used.’

Lee Jun-Kyeong didn’t want the fate of a reed shaken in the wind, blowing in whichever direction those with power had chosen, just like what Odin had meant for him to do by sending him here. It would have been a victory obtained easily, gifted by the will of others.

‘That’s not the road I’m meant to travel.’

Regardless of whether or not they had understood Lee Jun-Kyeong’s intentions…

"What…?"

"

Pu… Puhahahahaha!

"

…each of the gathered Hunters reacted differently. There were those who were flustered, those who laughed, and those who watched, interested. Their reactions were as varied as they were numerous.

"W…why are these bastards laughing?" Jeong In-Chang, who still couldn't understand what they had meant, asked Lee Jun-Kyeong.

"Because they said things that aren’t understandable,” Lee Jun-Kyeong replied.

"Not understandable?"

Lee Jun-Kyeong explained, "A wild beast that grows up eating only what’s been given to it is no longer a wild beast."

"Umm."

“They are just tamed beasts speaking complete gibberish.”

Jeong In-Chang blinked. “Seems to be a complicated situation.”

Although Jeong In-Chang didn’t seem to understand the whole issue, he at least seemed to intuit what Lee Jun-Kyeong was inferring. After thinking for a while, he opened his mouth to respond.

“I’ll just follow you.”

“...”

Even Lee Jun-Kyeong had been taken aback for a moment by his comrade’s energetic answer.

"All right," Lee Jun-Kyeong confirmed.

"Are you serious?"

"You really intend to take down Demetrios?"

After confirming that he was serious, the gathered Hunters had a quick meeting with bewildered expressions.

“I will withdraw,” declared the Hunter from the Nile, who seemed to be their leader.

“I will withdraw as well.”

“Me too. I don’t want to endure a loss to deal with Demetrios.”

“It seems that Asgard sent an insane child.”

Most of them shook their heads in refusal and started to move towards the entrance of the gate. There were few of them that remained.“I’ll watch for now.”

“We will stay in the back.”

Instead of leaving the gate, they seemed to want to try to see what would result from Lee Jun-Kyeong’s choice. No one had chosen to join the fight against Demetrios.

“Well, we’re just back at square one,” Jeong In-Chang commented as if it was not a big deal. While it was a little regretful, they had started this with the two of them anyway. So there wasn’t a reason to beg anyone for help.

"Let's go."

Lee Jun-Kyeong smiled at Jeong In-Chang and finally started to move.

They could feel a massive mana beginning to emerge from behind them.

'He's coming.'

Heracles would arrive soon.