Chapter 217: Salvation of the Future (1)

The vast forest between the Black Kingdom's capital and Eutense territory had become a wasteland after years of war. It was here that the Hunters would face the demons.

Kim Ki-Rok moved diligently through the wasteland. First, he divided the Hunters, separating those who would face the Intermediate Demons from those who would confront the Greater Demons.

"Rather than focusing on coordination like before, we'll put our efforts into balancing out the team."

The Hunters who had made it this far already possessed a wealth of combat experience, the most common being raid battles where many Hunters hunted down a single powerful monster.

Above all, the most important thing in a raid was coordination. Hunters were forced to cooperate with others they met for the first time, or even with those with whom they had a terrible relationship. If they failed to do so, only death awaited them.

"Guildmaster, when should I use

that

?" a Hunter asked.

"Use it from the very beginning," Kim Ki-Rok answered.

"Don't you think they'll be on guard?"

"They will be. But considering their personalities, they won't back down. So, use it at the very start of the fight and aim to inflict a critical wound," he instructed.

The demons were unaware of Pastera. If the Hunters revealed their hidden weapon right from the start, the demons would surely try to face them head-on to figure out what it was.

"You might be able to take down a demon in one blow if you're lucky. If things go well, you might inflict a serious injury. Though, there is a chance your attacks might not have any effect at all," Kim Ki-Rok said.

"Luck, huh..."

"It's more like we'll be faced with different results depending on the personality of the demon. If the demon is cautious, you won't be able to capitalize on our chance. But if they are bold and aggressive, you might see results beyond our expectations," Kim Ki-Rok said. "We won't scatter and confront the demons as soon as they arrive. We will take our positions and wait for them. The same goes for our confrontation. When the time comes, we will attack immediately."

"So, you're saying we won't be able to get a glimpse of their personalities since we have no information about the enemy," a Hunter realized.

"Yes," he said, nodding. "We won't know which Hunter, or which party, will be able to defeat the demon in one shot before it actually happens."

Kim Ki-Rok moved from the cutting board to the large pot and checked on his dakbokkeumtang[1]. It was perfect, and even though he didn't use Discernment, he could tell the effects of his Cooking Skill had been imbued in this dish.

"Guildmaster, I have a question," another Hunter said.

"Please, ask," Kim Ki-Rok replied.

"If we win our fight against the demon, should we go and help our comrades in their fight against their demon?"

"Hmm... I wish that could happen, but that's probably impossible," Kim Ki-Rok answered.

"Impossible?"

"Yes. The Black Wizards would interfere with the confrontation no matter what."

"Even if the demons forbid it?"

"Yep."

The Hunter tilted his head in confusion. " But this is a

demon

we're talking about."

After checking on his other dish, he explained, "The Black Wizards summoned the demons to Middle Earth. Although many restrictions apply because the power of the summoned creature is much stronger than the power of the summoner, the Black Wizards could probably still 'interfere with the rules.'"

***

"I make this request as a Black Wizard who has summoned and made a contract with the demons," Yoost said.

Twenty-two hours had already passed, but the remaining twenty-six couldn't go by fast enough for Mammon. Otherwise, he wouldn't be sitting here listening to this unpleasant request.

"Hoo..."

The moment he let out a deep sigh, Demon Realm mana filled the room. The High-Circle Black Wizards, led by Yoost, shrank back under the influence of the mana.

"What is the request?" Mammon demanded.

"It is to intervene with the rules of the duel," Yoost answered.

"Hm?"

Mammon wanted to ignore the request of the Black Wizards, which he had no doubt would refute the duel itself. According to Kim Ki-Rok's story, the demons could not guarantee their victory here. Even if they had been forcibly made superhuman through various blessings, a Hunter with superhuman abilities was still a superhuman nonetheless. If the Hunters' secret weapon exceeded their expectations, there would surely be casualties, even among the Greater Demons.

However, the Black Wizards did not request the nullification of the duel, but instead asked to meddle with the rules.

Yoost slowly raised his head to look straight at the puzzled Mammon. "You would not accept it even if we requested to refuse the duel, would you?"

"I have no intention of accepting such a request."

"That is why we wish to help you indirectly."

"And you will do so by changing the rules?" Mammon asked.

Yoost nodded. "Yes, that is correct."

"Will your intervention tamper with the enjoyment we would gain?"

"It will not."

As Mammon fell silent, Yoost and the Black Wizards stared intently from behind.

"Meet with Kim Ki-Rok. Discuss the rules among yourselves and return. But if I judge that the new rules diminish our enjoyment, I will nullify whatever you persuaded him to set."

"Thank you."

Yoost bowed deeply to Mammon in thanks, then rose from his seat. He had not been completely excluded from the duel. With the Greater Demon offering no reply, he left the room with the assembled Black Wizards.

"I will go straight to the wilderness," Yoost reported to the others.

"Do you need any help?" a Black Wizard asked.

"I'm fine. Please reinforce the plan."

The High-Circle Black Wizards nodded and dispersed. Yoost watched them go, teeth clenched. He had lost many comrades in this war of conquest, but never on the same battlefield as him until recently. Only once had he seen his comrades fall fighting by his side.

He drew a deep breath and pulled a staff from his subspace. Chanting, Yoost struck the floor to complete the spell. As black light clouded his vision, he closed his eyes and entrusted himself to the mana enveloping his body.

"Guildmaster! One more bowl, please!" someone called out in a foreign language.

"I made plenty, so help yourself," another replied in the same tongue.

Although they spoke in an unfamiliar language, Yoost could understand what they were saying. He gritted his teeth as he listened to the relaxed conversations and slowly opened his eyes. He saw people sitting under a tent, eating.

"Guildmaster! We're out of salad!"

"No more vegetables! Eat the meat!" said a familiar voice.

Yoost turned his head and saw a man standing over a pot, stirring with a ladle. With a whoosh, Demon Realm mana laced with killing intent pierced the sacred barrier. The Hunters tensed, ready to leap to their feet, when Kim Ki-Rok's voice stopped them.

Kim Ki-Rok took off his apron. "Please eat your meals. They won't be able to touch you because of the promise with the demon anyway."

The Hunters sat down again, though they did not pick up their spoons or chopsticks. Instead, they sat and stared at Yoost.

Step by step, the man Yoost longed to kill drew closer. The urge consumed him, yet he could not act. He forced a deep breath in that maddening moment and fixed his gaze on the one he despised.

"Oh my! There are still twenty-six hours left. What brings you here?" Kim Ki-Rok said cheerfully.

Yoost replied with vengeful eyes, "Greater Demon Mammon allowed it. I wanted to go over the rules of the duel."

"You could have organized the rules right before the duel started," Kim Ki-Rok said.

Upon seeing his usual bright smile, Yoost unconsciously released Demon Realm mana mixed with killing intent.

"Wow. Well, this is awkward. Let's get right to the point. You said you came to check and revise the rules?" Kim Ki-Rok asked.

"Yes," he replied curtly.

"Then, first, we need to set up a place to talk," he said, taking out a table and two chairs from his subspace pocket. "Here, please have a seat."

As soon as Yoost sat down, Kim Ki-Rok took the other seat.

"Let's see, let's see. Now, the duel location was the wilderness. Do you wish to change this?"

"No need."

Kim Ki-Rok explained the time and method he had already told Mammon. After hearing when and where the duel would take place, Yoost finally spoke as Kim Ki-Rok mentioned the rules. "Why are all the duels happening at the same time?"

"Do you want to have a winning streak match or set an order for each duel?"

"Yes."

"But the demons wouldn't want that, would they?"

"Well... it's pretty obvious that the demons would refuse, so should we change the rules?" Kim Ki-Rok asked.

Yoost ground his teeth in frustration. Just as Kim Ki-Rok said, the demons would oppose this change. Fighting their opponents at the same time meant there was no need to wait for their turn, and this pleased the demons very much.

"

Tsk!

We'll proceed with the simultaneous duels," Yoost said.

"I want the winner of a duel to participate in other duels," Kim Ki-Rok said.

"I refuse."

"I thought you'd say that, since it would be too advantageous for us. Then, how about this. The winner of a match cannot participate in another match."

***

After some time negotiating, Yoost quickly traveled back to relay the information to Mammon.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"The duel will take place in the wilderness. The match will take place in twenty-three hours, and you have to arrive at the location one hour before the match starts. Is there anything else you wish to revise?"

"There is not..." answered the demon, absentmindedly gazing out the window.

"The matches will take place simultaneously, and the winner cannot participate in another match. Is there anything you wish to change among these rules?"

"No."

Hearing his curt response, Yoost moved on. "Surrendering won't be acknowledged during the duel. The outcome of the match will be decided once someone is dead. Anything you wish to revise?"

"Oh?" Mammon exclaimed. "Did you add this rule?"

"It was Kim Ki-Rok who suggested that anyone declared defeated must surrender their life to their opponent."

"

Hahaha!

What next?"

"That is all. The location of the duel will be in the wilderness and all duels will proceed simultaneously. If one declares defeat, the loser must obey the winner's command. That is all."

"That's it?"

"That's right."

Mammon looked down at the kneeling Yoost and asked with a puzzled expression. "No matter the outcome, you would still attack Kim Ki-Rok and those we spared out of mercy. There'' no way he wouldn'' have known that. And yet you claim this is the end?"

"That's right."

What was he scheming?

Mammon wondered.

As if hoping for an attack from the Black Wizards, Kim Ki-Rok had not included "a ceasefire after the duel" in the rules.

"Spare Kim Ki-Rok."

After a moment of hesitation, Yoost responded "Understood."

"Well, it doesn't matter if you kill him," Mammon said, shrugging.

"Pardon?"

For the first time since Mammon began his explanation, their eyes met. The demon spoke with a gentle smile still lingering, "However, you will have to take over Kim Ki-Rok's role."

"What do you mean?" Yoost asked.

"It means you have to rear opponents who will entertain us. If you can do so, you may kill Kim Ki-Rok when he is returning to the Continental Alliance."

1. A type of spicy Korean stew with chicken and various root vegetables. ☜