Chapter 33

◈ Chapter 33. True Nemesis (1)

Thud!

[Lava Giant Carp: Lv.420]

Its patterns are difficult to handle, but its body must be weak.

If it were to have high vitality despite being so unruly, it wouldn't be a 420-level monster anymore.

So.

Thud!

Thud!

Stone spear.

This means that even a stone spear can deal effective damage.

It seems the giant carp didn't expect the lava to split.

The giant carp had dozens of stone spears embedded in its side.

It was thrashing its tail.

For a moment, its movements were restricted.

The Harcon and the Lionheart Knights wouldn't miss this opening.

Roar!

Harcon's sword was dyed with a deep light.

‘...This isn't some kind of skill.’

Why did I think that?

Simple. I could tell at a glance.

‘How strong is it?’

His lofty realm.

『His innate magical talent was such that he could imitate most magic just by seeing it. Moreover, he had a physical potential that rivaled it.』

...Revisiting it, he had all the good traits.

Grandphel had martial talent that rivaled his magical talent. I could gauge Harcon's realm by how he made his sword glow.

‘It's definitely different from mana.’

But unlike magic, it was hard to fathom...

Where would one even start to reach such a realm?

I couldn't grasp it.

Of course.

“I'm a bit intrigued.”

I spoke arrogantly,

But still, I thought it was a good thing.

Better to be overly confident than to be pessimistic.

Of course, if I aimed for Harcon's realm of making his sword glow,

I wouldn't have a day without fatigue.

Swish!

Indeed, as I had expected.

Harcon really filleted the lava giant carp.

“Everyone, snap out of it! This is our chance!!”

“Secure the kill contribution! Use any means necessary!”

“First, let's go through the cracks in the lava... Huh?!”

The other players didn't even have a chance to get involved.

Clank!

Harcon sheathed his sword.

The battle was over just like that.

Thud!

The giant carp's head fell to the ground.

It was really over just like that.

At the same time, a message appeared in my vision.

[Level up.]...

The level increase was 10 levels.

From level 166 to 176.

‘Not bad experience points.’

This was a bit unexpected.

Because I was in a party with the Lionheart Knights,

I also needed to contribute to the kill to gain experience points.

Since the lava giant carp itself wasn't difficult when separated from the lava,

It seemed I was recognized for a significant contribution.

[High kill contribution automatically acquires loot.]

...Not just significant, but more than half?

I immediately checked my inventory.

The obtained treasure of the island was radiating presence.

[Island Treasure, Silk Carp Scales]

[Grade: Unique]

[Restriction: None]

[Effect: When crafting, grants increased affinity to fire attribute, increases evasion chance, and unlocks aesthetic stat]

[Description: A silk that cannot be exchanged for gems of the same weight. Its rarity is such that no one can dare to evaluate its value.]

Wow.

Following the emerald crystal, another material item.

But this wasn't an item to complain about...!

‘More than three confirmed effects?’

Pure emerald crystal.

Its effects could only be confirmed after crafting.

As I said, the effects varied depending on the crafter's proficiency.

But this silk had no such conditions.

‘Even if I ignore the other effects, the new stat unlock.’

[Aesthetic]...

I had never heard of it or knew its effect, but it felt good.

I was a demon hunter with no unique stats.

If anything new was unlocked, I could use it gratefully.

Indeed, it was worth saying it couldn't be exchanged for gems of the same weight.

“It's beautiful.”

Most importantly, even with Grandphel's discerning eye, there was no fault to find.

That was the biggest guarantee of quality.

My thoughts went that far.

“...Wait, the island treasure?”

Someone said that.

Because the named monster fell but no message appeared.

If I were to ask politely and formally,

It wouldn't be difficult to answer.

But.

...Why did the looks they gave me seem more serious?

Rolling eyes...

They were looking back and forth between the message window and me.

But I wasn't in the mood to care.

‘He burned it all out.’

Mana exhaustion.

Because the depletion of mana was approaching.

...I felt drained all over.

Fortunately, when the lava giant carp fell, the volcanic eruption stopped, and the lava cooled quickly.

At this point, there was no need to maintain the magic.

Soon, Harcon approached me.

“I can only admire your magic, Sir Hojeol!”

I was shocked twice by his words.

‘I was the one who was impressed?’

Once by his humility.

‘No, more importantly, people are listening. What? ’

...Sir Hojeol?

I was shocked again by that embarrassing title.

In a moment.

I was shocked again, but I didn't show it.

I replied without changing my expression.

“Your swordsmanship was also excellent, Sir Harcon.”

Fortunately, no one mocked me for it.

It was understandable.

Didn't I say that sometimes I even get confused by the method acting?

“...Unbelievable.”

“I've never seen Harcon be so polite.”

“His tone is somewhat arrogant. Could he have a higher title than Harcon...?”

I wanted to correct them.

I have no title at all.

And about the arrogant tone.

This is the most polite attitude I can have.

But I couldn't.

“!”

Suddenly, a message appeared before my eyes.

[The Yusra Islands are beginning to be tainted by greed.]

[Decay Progress: 9/10]

The decay progress increased.

Naturally, it wasn't just a message for me.

The players murmured.

“Seems a bit late...”

“Wait, the numbers don't add up. This?”

“Could there be another island treasure hidden somewhere?!”

Other players might be confused,

But I wasn't.

The island treasure I obtained didn't affect the decay progress.

For me.

Because Grandphel didn't have the emotion of greed.

Then why did the message appear?

I could guess.

Someone else obtained the island treasure.

That island treasure was tainted by greed again.

*

Supernova.

Park Hyunjun kept biting his nails.

His body was drenched in cold sweat.

-Really? Is this the last chance? There's no more opportunity?

-You just want to keep watching?

-You said you wanted the treasure? You're a coward.

The voice he heard.

But Park Hyunjun wasn't wearing earphones.

Was this a hallucination?

It was natural to doubt and be wary,

But Park Hyunjun didn't have the presence of mind.

“Shut up. I'll handle it...”

Park Hyunjun observed the situation.

Then he saw Hojeol.

Even though he fled, there was still a minimal sense of honor among supernovas, wasn't there?

As Kinber said,

If he had messed with Hojeol without knowing anything...

“I don't want to die yet.”

He thought he would have given up his life.

He could feel it from the current situation.

Not only could he cut through lava, but he could also launch dozens of stone spears.

And by his side was the Lionheart Knights, one of the strongest NPC groups.

Even if Kinber hadn't fled, attacking Hojeol would be suicidal.

It was obvious that Hojeol would obtain the island treasure.

“Damn. This is really not going well.”

But if he returned empty-handed...

“...I'm done.”

He couldn't return like this.

He needed the island treasure.

The hallucination in Park Hyunjun's ear sounded again.

-Then just take it.

-What's wrong with desiring something.

-Why be cautious?

Just take it.

‘There's no need to be cautious.’

His eyes sparkled at the voice.

“...Right!”

If Hojeol was out of the question, he could kill another and take it.

And Park Hyunjun knew.

The easiest prey among those who obtained the island treasure.

“There are the Explorer's Guild...!”

The Explorer's Guild.

One of the NPC groups that found the Yusra Islands.

As the name suggests, they were explorers.

Naturally, their combat power was not outstanding.

This was evident when they obtained the island treasure this time.

‘They definitely obtained the island treasure without fighting.’

It was a method unique to the explorer class.

Park Hyunjun's eyes darkened even more.

Yes, the method didn't matter.

‘The fact that they have the island treasure.’

Park Hyunjun put on his earphones.

“I will hunt the Explorer's Guild.”

-...Who are you? Are you crazy? Messing with NPCs?

-Haha. Kinber, you're both crazy!

-You're serious?

Hunting players and hunting NPCs were different matters.

Moreover, this was turning the entire Explorer's Guild into enemies.

Considering the influence the Explorer's Guild had in Arcana, it was an irrational act.

But Park Hyunjun did it.

“I'll take responsibility. Just watch.”

[The sin of greed is watching you.]

[Your judgment is clouded by irresistible desire.]

[Status effect: Greed has occurred.]

His eyes were already dyed pitch black.

And now.

Park Hyunjun looked at the corpses scattered on the ground.

“Damn.”

He killed an NPC from the Explorer's Guild.

Just like killing a player.

He killed a guy who was begging for mercy.

Now that he had killed someone,

Park Hyunjun wasn't shaken to the point of being weak.

He had killed too many players, too many people.

But his body was trembling.

“...Damn!”

He obtained the island treasure.

The message that appeared confirmed it.

[The Yusra Islands are beginning to be tainted by greed.]

[Decay Progress: 9/10]

Still, the boiling desire inside him didn't stop.

His chest felt tight.

“Damn. Damn.”

Park Hyunjun tore off his clothes like a madman.

“Ughh!!”

He scratched his chest wildly.

Then a crowd gathered at the scream.

“Explorer? Did you hear something just now...?”

“Ugh, Ahhhh! Julie? Snap out of it! Julie!!”

“You couldn't have... Julie...!!”

The Explorer's Guild explorers were interrogating him.

Park Hyunjun was puzzled.

‘...Why am I doing this?’

If I killed, I should have fled.

Why am I scratching my chest here?

But the thought didn't last long.

“I can't take it anymore. Damn!”

It felt like he would die from the tightness.

Scratching with his nails didn't relieve the tightness.

The status effect, the effect of greed.

Park Hyunjun, with his clouded judgment, didn't hesitate.

Thud

He slashed his tight chest with a dagger.

In the fading consciousness,

A voice was heard.

-Excellent.

-But your death is not a noble sacrifice but a result of your greed. Unfortunately, I have nothing to give you.

-I can't give you even a speck of dust.

“...!!”

Until the last moment.

The voice of the devil deceiving himself.

[Decay Progress: 10/10]

.

.

.

[Decay Progress: 10/10]

The decay progress rose without a chance to intervene.

At the same time, a message appeared.

[The great evil of the Yusra Islands is awakening.]

[Decay has begun.]

Rumble!

Shaking vision.

On a scale different from the giant turtle or the volcanic eruption.

The Yusra Islands, each island, were literally shaking.

“Ultimately, no matter what, they decayed?”

“Well, if this ends here, it's too disappointing for the buildup!”

“Judging by the great evil, it's definitely a demon. Let's quickly switch equipment.”

Indeed, with the top players gathered,

They seemed to have anticipated the worst-case scenario.

But it was a misjudgment.

I was confident.

‘This is not an enemy that can be handled by the current level of players.’

Harcon added weight to my judgment.

His expression was different from before.

“This aura is demonic.”

A whopping 600 levels.

Even Harcon, who could end a 400-level named monster with one hit, showed clear signs of tension.

Yes, the reason why it's called a great evil.

It was a presence that made you feel it.

The Yusra Islands.

The ten islands merged into one.

Then the hidden cracks interlocked and collapsed.

The true form of the Yusra Islands was revealed.

It was a massive golden palace.

A scene that seemed to embody the word greed.

But as a demon hunter,

I could intuit.

The palace built by greed.

The great evil, the sin of greed, was nesting inside.

At that moment, the quest window flashed.

─Investigate the great evil of the Yusra Islands. (Success)

─Prevent the resurrection of the sin of greed. (In progress) ▲

●Prevent the island treasure from being tainted by greed. (On hold)

●Defeat the avatar of the sin of greed. (In progress)

The moment my intuition turned into certainty.

I spoke without realizing it.

“I've been waiting for you.”

...No, I wasn't waiting.

I wanted to end it quietly...

My condition was far from good.

“Vile demon, calling yourself a great evil.”

Most importantly, the mana exhaustion.

With my mana completely drained, whether it was the great evil or its avatar,

It was impossible to defeat it...

‘?’

What is it, I don't feel the helplessness of mana exhaustion...

Not only that, but I felt vitality overflowing throughout my body.

‘!’

I finally recalled.

『No temptation, deception, or trial of any demon can even scratch Grandphel's noble pride.』

The demon hunter and the demon.

The relationship that transcended the nemesis.

The relationship between Grandphel and demons.

『Perhaps the most important thing for demons to be wary of is not the demon hunter class of Grandphel, but Grandphel himself.』

Adjusting the clothes.

Straightening the brooch.

I continued speaking with my usual upright posture.

“It's time to be buried in hell.”