Chapter 15

◈ Chapter 15. In the Whales' Battle, Another Whale (3)

The Arcana world is filled with countless gods.

And there are religions that worship these gods.

Where there are gods, there are also demons that oppose them.

These religions also had priests who stood against the demons.

'They were called exorcist priests.'

Of course, I wasn't interested enough in the Arcana world to delve into religions or other classes.

It was just a memory that resurfaced. After all, this was something I had heard ad nauseam while performing the demon hunter quest.

- The exorcism rituals of exorcist priests merely drive away demons. They cannot provide a fundamental solution. We are different. We tear demons apart.

...No, it really felt cool back then.

- When you look into the abyss, the abyss looks into you. Even if you fall into evil and become a demon, we only hunt demons. That is the path of the demon hunter.

But, when I grew up, I realized there was no worse mess than this.

Not to mention labor laws.

It was a workplace that had thrown human rights to the dogs, wasn't it?

'To a clueless middle schooler, a teenager.'

Well, it failed miserably, Arcshan!

I briefly tried to blame my dark past on others.

- The most clear difference is in the exorcism ritual.

[Exorcism Ritual]

One of the two unique skills of the demon hunter, along with the nemesis relationship.

I opened the skill window to check the difference.

───────

Exorcism Ritual: Invites a demon into the consciousness.

───────

I had used it once after becoming a player.

Why? In the battle against the imp possessing Nam Cheol-min.

The effect was half-hearted.

No, it was even worse than that.

'Only the most basic effect was activated.'

It didn't harm the possessed person.

It directly harmed the demon possessing them.

That was inevitable.

There was no offering required for the exorcism ritual.

- The exorcism ritual of the demon hunter is different from the start. Other religions need a pure, unblemished offering to borrow the power of the gods...

But demon hunters don't worship any gods.

If there were truly gods,

there would be no demons in the world.

That was the thinking of the demon hunters.

- Remember, our offering is anything that embodies evil.

Yes, anything that embodies evil.

I had seen the offering when I performed the exorcism ritual during a quest in the past.

That item was a demon item.

What players consider a simple random item.

I looked at the necklace.

Looking at it, human nature is such that...

'...I kind of want to try it again.'

You know, that feeling?

I feel like I might win.

Most importantly, it's jewelry.

It's definitely a rare item. If it has even one mana regeneration option...

I might be able to reduce my mana efficiency worries a bit.

However, I know, regardless of whether I win or not,

that this is a pointless expectation.

"Grangfell Claudius Arpeus Romeo considered wealth to be fleeting."

I can't do such a thing.

I know this very well from my experiences.

Furthermore, I learned that demon items are the offerings for the exorcism ritual.

"Grangfell's noble pride cannot be tarnished by any temptation, deception, or trial of the demons."

"This is a trivial temptation."

I said this, putting aside any lingering thoughts.

However, I didn't feel any regret.

Even without Grangfell's noble character,

thinking about it... there was no reason to feel regret.

'...Wait, if the exorcism ritual uses an offering...'

Would the effect of the exorcism ritual be properly activated?

I recalled the effect of the exorcism ritual I saw during a past quest.

'...If that effect carried over...'

...Could this be possible?

Of course, it's not about being able to hunt the Ascura Baron.

Just level 91.

Thinking I could kill a level 430 monster would be arrogant. What I thought was possible was a quest.

─ Hunt the vampire. (In progress) ▲

● Announce the start of the hunt. (Success)

● Make the hunted feel the fear. (In progress)

This was not a regular quest but a class quest.

Not hunting.

But making the hunted feel the fear.

Anyway, I would know if I tried.

Tap─

Perhaps it was because I overcame the demon's temptation.

I walked with a more confident stride.

But my steps soon came to a halt.

...Why are there so many?

*

I sensed something was off as soon as I entered the main street.

It must have been a bustling area before it became a ruin.

But there wasn't a single shadow on that vast street.

'Something is not right.'

Nam Taemin's intuition warned him.

The current situation was abnormal.

Yes, objectively, it was strange.

'There are too few creatures.'

[The Baron's Territory].

The number of monsters killed after entering the rift was less than ten.

Were they taken by the Inazuma guys? Unfortunately, their situation wouldn't be much different.

"Scouted, and it's the same."

Stealth canceled.

A guild member who revealed himself reported to Nam Taemin.

"Looking at the terrain, all the roads lead to the central square. If we continue, we'll meet the Inazuma guys in the square. So I'll join you."

Indeed, as she said.

When we entered the central square, the Inazuma guys were there.

Hishiga looked over and spoke.

"This is unexpectedly peaceful, isn't it?"

Hishiga Kazuma.

If there were snake people in the world, they would look just like him. He was that snake-like.

His smile was like a snake flicking its tongue.

Nam Taemin frowned.

"We're not on friendly terms, are we?"

"Another disappointing remark."

"Let's stop the nonsense. I'm tired of it. You and Inazuma."

Nam Taemin didn't like Hishiga.

Not when he lost to him, nor when he beat him.

Hishiga always smiled. In a way that made him shudder.

But that was in the past.

Now, he and Gaon.

They no longer had to feel inferior to Hishiga and Inazuma.

"Being tired of it. Koreans are too straightforward. It hurts. I want to return this pain."

Nam Taemin smirked.

"Sure. If you can return it, go ahead."

The Inazuma guild members flared up at the provocation.

"That brat...!"

Then a voice sounded in Nam Taemin's ear.

Kono, Baga.

The voice was so loud, considering how flared up they were.

Turning up the volume on the earphone, Nam Cheol-min's voice was heard.

- Ah, can you hear me now?

"I can hear you clearly. I turned up the volume."

- Good to hear. But did you really have to say that just now?

"Bro, in the rift, there's a certain momentum. You can't let it slip."

- Is that so? If you say so, then...

Nam Cheol-min added.

- It's better to get along for now.

"What do you mean?"

- I got some information on Shining and Tenka Unification.

"...What? Are they progressing faster than us?"

- Well, it's inevitable. Unlike us, who settle things logically, they are in a chicken game driven by emotions. Anyway, thanks to that, we figured out the pattern.

Figured out the pattern.

That news relieved him.

"Really? Our bro, it's worth having you as an analyst."

- It's a bit tricky to explain in words. I'll explain while showing the screen. But, where are you now? I can't see anything around you. I haven't seen a tree since a while ago?

"Here? It's a square. All the paths lead here."

- ...What?

Nam Cheol-min spoke urgently.

- Get out of the square immediately. Hurry!

"!"

I didn't know the reason right away.

But if Nam Cheol-min said so, it was best to follow.

However, perhaps due to the tension with Hishiga,

damn it, I was a beat too late.

Thud thud thud thud─!

The sound of hooves echoing through the square.

Everyone was startled by the roar.

"...What's this?"

"Wait! The ground is shaking?!"

"Enemies are coming! Identify their position!"

Swish─!

Nam Taemin quickly took a battle stance.

His class was a barbarian, a barbarian warrior.

He raised a greatsword larger than an average adult male.

- Damn, what can we do? We have to endure the first clash.

"These are knights?"

- Yes. Level 350. The Ascura Baron's knights.

Thud thud thud─!

Indeed, they were knights.

Appearing on horseback.

The level was one thing, but the cavalry was a bigger problem.

Nam Cheol-min knew this.

- Even if we put the tanks in front, they'll take fatal damage. The Tenka Unification tank line couldn't completely block the charge. So we need to fight in the narrowest possible area...

That was true.

In such a wide area, the destructive power of the cavalry would be magnified.

There was another problem.

"...Master!"

"Speak. I'm listening."

"This is a three-sided attack? Except for the south where we came from, cavalry are charging from three directions!!"

Three directions.

It would be difficult to put a front line and accept sacrifices in this situation.

But the situation was the same for Inazuma.

Hishiga said to Nam Taemin.

"I don't like it, but we have no choice. I'll cover your back."

...What, cover my back?

This shameless guy.

Nam Taemin wanted to retort, but Nam Cheol-min stopped him.

- I understand your feelings, but we have no choice. For now, we have to cover each other's backs. We'll take the east, Inazuma will take the west. The remaining direction is the north? Damn. We need to avoid a chaotic battle...

Yes, we need to avoid a chaotic battle.

Player ranking 11th.

Nam Taemin's level was 368, higher than the Ascura Baron's knights, but there were many guild members who were not.

In a chaotic battle, the gap would lead to significant losses.

"...My mistake."

It's not right.

When his intuition warned him.

He shouldn't have entered the square so naively.

No, if he hadn't wasted time with Hishiga...

But it was water under the bridge.

"I'll take the north."

Nam Taemin's eyes