Chapter 32

◈ Chapter 32. The Foundation is Key

A scream.

Nam Taemin's face contorted like a famous painting.

“……Aaaaaaaah!!”

Suddenly shouting.

There are no monsters in sight.

Did he activate a berserk state?

“What is it? What’s up, Nam Taemin?”

“Bro, did you eat something bad?”

“Yeah, I told you to cut down on those cup noodles….”

The guild members' faces were filled with confusion.

Indeed, they noticed his emotional change.

Thicker than water.

Bro, there was only Nam Cheolmin.

-...Phew. Yeah, I said I was strong!

The push to recruit Lee Ho-yul, who didn’t give up hope.

They were thinking that no news was good news while tackling the Yusra Islands.

But what is this scene before their eyes?

“Eh, how can this be!”

The Ryan Heart Knights.

Leading those monstrous NPCs!

If he had given up earlier, the shock would have been less.

But now, they could cleanly let go of their hopes.

-Taemin, now we have no choice but to go with Plan B.

Indeed, Nam Cheolmin, as befitting an analyst, made a quick judgment.

The alternative he spoke of was simple.

-Friendly relations, and if that’s not possible, avoid hostile relations.

If you can’t handle it, don’t touch it.

Nam Taemin nodded.

“...Yeah, seeing it in person, it’s clear that anger management is a problem.”

A greatsword and a one-handed sword.

Though different in size, Nam Taemin wielded them like Harcon.

Thus, he could guess.

The difference in level.

The same went for the berserker who crossed over from the neighboring island.

“Eek?!”

The strange sound came from Leoni.

“...Sis, is this some new affection you developed?”

Shut up.

I need to stop you right now.

But I was too shocked to even think about it.

The instinct of a berserker who only knows battle.

Leoni began to assess reflexively.

‘...Full frontal? Ambush? Ganging up?! No matter what, it’s impossible.’

The Harcon Kingsguard.

She didn’t think she could win against that old man.

Leoni scratched her head.

“Ugh. Really!!”

The last island.

Since they couldn’t obtain the island’s treasure.

She was determined to go wild.

“This is cheating!”

The Ryan Heart Knights.

How could they suddenly appear?

With this, not only the island’s treasure.

Would they even be able to get contribution points for the named monster?

Stumbling.

Leoni had no choice but to move forward, looking like a zombie.

“...Huh?”

Her small stature.

The limited field of view.

Leoni finally noticed, a beat behind everyone else.

She could see the man with the knights.

“Th-That...?!”

Among the shining plate-armored knights.

A silver-haired man in a black suit.

Ho-yul.

“I knew this would happen.”

Shining.

“How could a Korean kid...?”

Unification of the world.

Rumble, rumble, rumble—

Even a helicopter in the sky.

There was no need to distinguish.

At this moment.

Everyone’s gaze was on Ho-yul and the Ryan Heart Knights.

.

.

.

Look.

Have I ever received such intense attention in my life?

Just that fact alone is enough to make me faint in surprise.

“Seems you’ve maintained the minimum formalities.”

I was actually quite pleased with the immense attention.

Thanks to this, I realized again.

“A significant development.”

This audacity...!

How can you say such things now?

If I could, I would ask myself.

It can’t be helped.

I have some sense, you know.

I can tell that the current silence and gazes are not good.

Even if I put myself in their shoes, I can understand.

‘I would be surprised too, right?’

If a player suddenly appeared leading the empire’s strongest, the Ryan Heart Knights. Especially in a situation where the island’s treasure is at stake.

‘It’s natural to be wary.’

However.

‘I’m going crazy too...!’

The alliance between me and the Ryan Heart Knights.

Wasn’t this relationship born from a misunderstanding?

More precisely, from an overestimation of me.

How are they looking at me, I wonder.

I can’t know just by thinking about it.

But I can say one thing.

‘They can’t imagine I’m only level 166.’

What if the bubble bursts?

Will I be treated as a fraud later?

I might be restless.

If I were my past self.

But now, I am confident.

Not just because of Granfel’s influence.

I was struggling, after all.

I always struggle.

Because I have the confidence that I won’t sink.

『To underestimation, proof. To overestimation, making it a reality.』

...Somehow, I feel like I’m becoming more like Granfel.

But it doesn’t matter.

Black history is not about immersion, but overcoming.

Granfel was just my past self.

‘A lonely battle that no one understands.’

But I’m not lonely right now.

Harcon, who was beside me, echoed my words.

“Indeed, a well-disciplined appearance. Is this the work of Sir Ho-yul?”

It felt like he was going a step further than me.

Anyway, now I need to focus on the enemy in front of me.

The last named monster of the Yusra Islands.

[Lava Giant Carp: Lv.420]

The tension was palpable as it revealed itself.

Indeed, as its name suggests.

It started off fiery.

Rumble, rumble, rumble—!

“...Can you feel it? The ground is shaking!”

“Is it an earthquake?”

“No, it’s erupting. A volcanic eruption!!”

The players shouted.

As they said, smoke rose from the mountain in the center of the island, and red lava began to spew out.

A named monster is a named monster, after all.

There’s definitely something beyond just the level.

“No need to be afraid. We’ll follow the plan.”

“Everyone, did you get the fire resistance gear?”

“Anyone on cooldown? Can I get a blessing from you?”

Of course, there were no players panicking or floundering.

They had confirmed the information in the update notes.

‘Lava’ Giant Carp.

Just the name alone would tell you what precautions to take.

“Not good at all.”

Harcon’s brow furrowed.

It was hard to imagine that the NPCs summoned from Arcana would check the update notes on the website.

Even if they did, it would be difficult to prepare.

I, who had been silent, spoke.

“No need to worry, Sir Harcon.”

It wasn’t just for show.

Fire resistance gear?

Fire resistance buff?

Why would you need them?

With [Magic].

I checked my remaining mana.

‘About 80% with the regenerated mana.’

Indeed, it was worth saving mana despite the brooch’s effect.

With this much mana on the last island.

I can cast magic without worry.

I finished speaking.

“I didn’t bring you here without a plan.”

*

Today’s Arcana.

The experts on the broadcast screen were in a frenzy.

“I, I don’t know what’s happening, but this is unprecedented! Before and after the Great Cataclysm, a player leading a knight order, and not just any knight order, but the empire’s strongest, the Ryan Heart Knights!”

“I agree. From the moment he first appeared, he’s been showing unbelievable actions. Player, Lee Ho-yul!”

“According to the latest report, player Lee Ho-yul has also obtained the island’s treasure. He teamed up with the Ryan Heart Knights to defeat the named monster, the Golden Fang Giant Turtle!”

“The Golden Fang Giant Turtle was the highest-level named monster in the new update, right? Expert?”

Gaeun’s performance.

The studio atmosphere, already heated, became even more intense.

Whether his interview attitude was honest or arrogant.

What does it matter?

“With such performance, we can understand anything he says, whether it’s right or wrong! I’m proud of you, player Lee Ho-yul!”

A feeling of something pent up being released.

The cast members were momentarily lost in the afterglow.

Then, the named monster revealed itself.

Its appearance was already dramatic.

“Indeed, a named monster. It’s changing the environment.”

Thanks to the aerial shot, the changing situation was clear.

The lava was rapidly covering the island.

The experts expressed their concerns.

“...This will be tough.”

“There will be restrictions on movement.”

“I hope the players are well-prepared.”

But the difficulty wasn’t just the environment.

Like swimming in water.

The Lava Giant Carp began to swim through the lava.

Splash—!

The massive creature splashed the lava around, causing it to fly in all directions.

The players’ struggles were broadcast live.

“...If it weren’t for the buffs, we would have taken major damage.”

“It’s quite troublesome. It doesn’t even fight.”

“It’s just running away, causing cumulative damage to the players! Carp! Why are you so cunning for a fish!”

“Expert, it’s not a carp, it’s a carp...”

“Either way, they’re both fish, right!”

To the point where they were unconsciously frustrated.

The situation was not good.

The biggest problem was that the creature had no intention of fighting.

Close combat was impossible due to the flowing lava.

Even long-range attacks like magic were ineffective as the creature hid in the lava, minimizing damage.

The cast members cautiously shared their opinions.

“The battle will inevitably be prolonged.”

Then.

The prediction was overturned.

The broadcast screen suddenly zoomed in.

The onlookers were shocked.

“Wait, wait! The lava is splitting?!”

*

While level was always the absolute standard.

Sometimes, the element was just as important.

For example, now.

“It seems difficult to approach, Chief.”

Harcon, at level 600.

For him, a level 420 named monster wouldn’t be much of a problem.

If he could just get close.

No, if the creature showed any signs of attacking, Harcon could slice it up like sashimi, even taking some damage.

“It would be nice if it showed a small opening. But it doesn’t seem to have that intention.”

That’s what element means.

In the environment or in its nature.

But the element applies differently to me.

I looked at the lava.

Search.

This lava was not a [Skill].

Like scattered rocks.

There was no need for an inefficient process.

‘All thanks to Granfel’s settings.’

Of course, since it’s not a familiar