Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Usurper (3)

#59

The night of the plateau deepened.

Unrelated to the cursed land the night sky was sparkling with star clusters.

Over the field where ominous fog settled an excited voice rang out.

“Everyone exert strength! Almost arrived!”

It was Urdin the expedition leader of Letunir.

Exiting the rock mountain he was crossing the plateau leading the expedition team.

The interval with the cursed king’s tent was also narrowed to a realistic level now.

Even estimating as far as possible about 5km.

Thanks to most of the cavalry being drawn to Bran’s side he could definitely shorten the time.

“U-uooo···!”

“Huff··· hueeuk··· damn.”

However the members’ morale was not particularly high.

Unlike the beginning where cheers burst every moment most had lost fighting spirit.

The reason was simple.

Because the nightmare of the Kargai Plateau was not only the cavalry.

The closer to the tent the curse dwelling in the land was thickening.

Hwaak!

Evil spirits that popped out from the field covered the members at the rear.

“Kyaaaaak!”

“Keu··· keukeuk···! N-no!”

Screams rang out.

The blessing of the relic hammer that spreads centered on the user could not protect those who left the light.

The members who fell behind were exposed as is to the threat of evil spirits and the curse, and had to pay a harsh price.

The eyes of the members possessed by evil spirits began to dye red.

“Ihi, ihihihi!”

“Why··· entered here···.”

Soon they drew weapons and began killing each other.

Puhak! Puhak! Puhak!

Fresh blood that poured like a fountain wet the dry earth.

“Don’t look back you bastard! Stick more!”

“Huuk··· if stopping we also die!”

Despite the terrible tragedy there was no one helping the colleagues.

Because the moment stopping they would become the same appearance.

To live there was no choice but to follow Urdin.

Boooom!

An explosion that suddenly occurred swallowed two expedition team members.

It was a black explosion.

When the darkness subsided the members who died while stabbing their own necks with daggers revealed themselves.

From the mouths of those who turned their heads hair-raising screams burst out.

“C-c-Cluster!”

Fogs in the shape of people were firing curses toward them.

Clusters of evil spirits that Bran’s group also faced.

Although much smaller than the individual that blocked them, the expedition team had no room to even face that.

“Ignore! Ignore everything and only advance forward!”

“Hyaaaaak! Save me!”

The expedition team just ran.

That was the only method to live.

One member who could not endure caught up with the leading group with dying strength.

“Leader! Even now we have to retreat!”

And shouted.

No matter how important the relic it is not more precious than life.

The members who departed from the rock mountain with 32 had reduced to 15 at some point.

If like this annihilation is an obvious matter like seeing fire.

“No. Going to the end.”

“Leader!”

However Urdin’s reaction was cold.

Rather at his appearance of raising the speed more the member was astonished.

“Th-this is really not it! We misgauged the seriousness of the curse. Even if succeeding in entering the tent the next is the problem. How are you thinking of returning piercing those···”

“Quite noisy.”

It was then.

“Uek?!”

The woman running next to Urdin tripped the leg of the member who raised an objection.

Crash!

The fallen member instantly disappeared behind the back.

Colleagues trampled him.

In the blink of an eye the member who left the range of the red light spat out a scream.

“A-noooo-!”

Evil spirits rushed over the head of the member sprawled on the floor.

The death throe scream was soon buried in the ghost wail and disappeared.

The woman said.

“Continue going leader. Those kinds of guys would have died anyway.”

“Mm.”

Urdin nodded.

His thought also matched the woman.

From the surroundings a voice mixed with sneer spread.

“Keke, with that kind of tenacity thinking of returning alive is bold.”

“With that guy just now would have shaken off about ten evil spirits so he did his value.”

They were the members of the leading group.

Including Urdin all seven.

All were strong ones of rigid body technique 3 stars or more, and the core members of this infiltration operation.

“Everyone concentrate only on infiltrating the tent. Because the return stone is well possessed.”

Saying that Urdin tapped the outer coat pocket.

Inside the bulging pocket was the relic “return stone” that can instantly move up to a maximum of 7 people to a pre-designated place.

Along with the hammer the reason the Letunir expedition team continues to advance.

Quickly collecting the king’s treasure and then activating the return stone was their plan.

“Yeeep! Even without saying we are doing so!”

“Kehehe. Just recalling the king who is dumbfounded after having the treasure stolen a smile comes.”

A pleasant answer returned.

The ordinary members who are struggling even to follow are only bait.

Originally this is the infiltration team’s strategy.

Around the time the distance with the tent narrowed within 2km.

Papak!

Suddenly warriors riding horses rushed out from the tent entrance.

The number of warriors revealed while unfolding from column to row was all seven.

A smile rose at the corner of the leading members’ mouths.

“Aha. The royal guard has come.”

It was exactly as reported by the reconnaissance team.

The seven warriors were each holding different weapons.

Long spear, curved sword, dagger··· in this way.

It was the cursed king’s royal guard.

Three horses and four dogs.

These elites called the three juniors four dogs wait in the tent usually, and only sortie in situations where an intruder threatens the king.

Urdin asked.

“Everyone. Can take one each right.”

“Asking something obvious.”

“Haha, originally won’t even be able to pierce Brakada’s barrier!”

The members laughed heartily.

Since not particularly wrong words Urdin only showed a faint smile.

Coincidentally the number also matched.

Centered on Urdin the members unfolded widely.

“I like this kind of thing. I wanted to try once.”

“Keke, exactly like a mounted match.”

“Guys following behind! Watch well!”

A confrontation structure was made.

Urdin and the six members drew their weapons.

Each’s specialty including rigid body technique strengthened the body and weapons.

In a way of flames soaring from someone’s sword, cold gathering at the tip of someone’s spear.

The distance narrowed in an instant.

Just as the forms of the royal guard and them overlapped.

Slaaaash!

The heads of the six elites surged into the air.

“What.”

Urdin’s eyes widened.

There was not a single wound on the royal guard’s bodies.

The members’ heads were maintaining the confident expression right before the collision as is.

Puhwaaak!

The headless corpses all flopped at once.

“This, impossible···!”

The winner of the 7 vs 7 duel was only Urdin.

One royal guard who was pushed in the power struggle fell from the horse.

“Puhihing!”

However that was by no means a celebration.

The royal guard did not stop even after taking the lives of the leading six.

The blessing manifesting from the hammer could not block their charge and extinguished.

One expedition team member who was following gasped.

“Eh?”

The horse’s shadow was cast over the head.

Even before responding somehow the ghost horse’s hoof drove down on his face.

Boooom!

The six royal guards who rushed rammed the expedition team.

“No!”

From Urdin’s mouth a sound similar to a scream leaked for the first time.

“Hyaaaaak! Save me!”

“Keueuk!”

“L-leader··· kraaak!”

It was one-sided slaughter.

Half died just from the collision, and before even three seconds passed the remaining half’s heads fell from the bodies.

Soon silence arrived.

Urdin who became the only survivor roared while gripping the hammer.

“These guys!”

Running he could not shake off the cavalry.

He fought while knocking away attacks in his own way but the enemy’s number was too many.

Slaaash!

A slash that flew from behind cut the wrist holding the hammer.

“Khak!”

Soon Urdin hit by the hoof fell forward.

Although he tried to pick up the hammer with the opposite hand the royal guard did not give him a gap.

Crunch!

A long spear was stuck in his back.

Just as a revolving lantern was flashing before the eyes of Urdin who became unable to move.

“Hihihihing!”

Suddenly the royal guard stopped their movements.

The ghost horses were howling while raising their front legs.

As if sensing a threat that cannot be left alone.

All six riders’ gazes turned in one direction.

From under the helmet of the royal guard member holding the long spear a cracked voice leaked.

“B-block···.”

He knew for the first time that they can speak.

The six royal guards all turned direction at once.

What happened how?

Urdin who barely saved his life looked in the direction they were running.

“What.”

And froze.

From far away a group wrapped in golden radiance was rushing toward the tent.

“Kieeeek!”

“Kyaaak! Kyaaaak!”

Like a meteor flying horizontally.

Evil spirits were splitting left and right and opening a path.

That appearance exactly reminded of a crowd throwing their bodies while spitting curses.

Kwaaaaa-!

A gale surged over the place the group passed.

“Those are···!”

Urdin’s eyes widened.

The group’s faces were familiar.

On both sides of the boy running at the lead a dragonblood and a wolf were deployed.

On the wolf’s back a dwarf and a blonde girl, a mysterious person wearing a deer mask were riding.

“St···op!”

“Impious, ones···!”

The royal guard who barely matched the time blocked them from the front.

The same structure as earlier. Even the fact that both sides have no intention of stopping matches.

Radiance was filling over the boy and dragonblood’s weapons.

The moment the royal guard who raised speed to full power collided with them.

Tukwaaaaaang-!!!

Along with a roar as if a star falling the six royal guards exploded.

“······!!!”

It was an explosion in the literal sense.

The flesh cut together with the ghost horses collided with the radiance as is and perished.

Golden afterimages were hovering in the place the boy and dragonblood’s slashes were drawn.

Piercing the scattering royal guard’s souls Bran shouted raising his voice.

“Continue going!”

****

Clearing the cursed king’s tent is originally an extremely troublesome quest.

To the point that even pouring a character of appropriate level for a month is insufficient.

High spec requirements, and the relevant quest studded with tricky gimmicks was not an easy matter even for Bran who faithfully performed the rice poop return road routine.

‘Then make it easy.’

So Bran made overspec on purpose.

Enough to ignore all gimmicks that masochists or so would like.

He worked Kale and Ilark hard, and himself trained twice as hard as them.

All the way from Valkeros.

While keeping in mind from the beginning that he would fight these damn ghosts!

Furthermore luckily he could pre-recruit Arazan.

『You entered the influence range of Arazan’s skill [Gale Step].』

『The white wolf’s wind pushes your back. Movement speed increases very greatly!』

The biggest advantage obtained thereby is securing the fraudulent buff skill “Gale Step”.

Originally as an ability the mother of the wolf Baihir possessed, it boasted the most excellent performance among the skills Arazan preyed.

To the point of being able to carry until the moment of seeing the ending.

‘Really lucky.’

The fact that he could ignore the cavalry the third most troublesome element was entirely thanks to recruiting Arazan first.

The combination of the elixir that raises movement speed and Gale Step is god and invincible!

Thanks to that he did not even have to collaborate with idiots like the Letunir expedition team so two birds with one stone.

Slightly turning back Kale muttered in a voice mixed with admiration.

“N-now not even visible···.”

The thousands of cavalry were still wandering near the rock mountain looking for an enemy that does not exist.

Those guys could not even sense Bran’s group rushing out of the rock mountain.

They would have thought it was some bird or something.

Ilark grumbled.

“I expected because royal guard, but too boring more than thought?”

“Didn’t you think it is because you are strong?”

Bran giggled.

The royal guard the second most troublesome element could be pressed with overwhelming force.

Precisely with the combination of overwhelming Divine Power and Strength.

Sure enough the royal guard appeared and blocked Bran’s group’s front.

But the result?

『Amazing achievement! You defeated the cursed king’s royal guard!』

『Weed’s Pack activates. The growth speed of all members’ Strength, Endurance, Agility increases slightly!』

Just exploding at the same time as contact and falling to turmeric powder.

The strengthened Morning’s Blessing was powerful to the point of not allowing comparison with the likes of Urdin’s hammer blessing.

The sensation of the ghost horse and warrior’s soul being cut in half at once was still lingering at the fingertips.

‘By the way why were there only six?’

Originally it should be seven but one was questionable where it went.

Of course it was not particularly important.

“······It seems like dreaming.”

Arazan muttered.

Blankly watching the front she was dumbfounded as if absurd.

Not unreasonable.

Because the difficulty she could not break through even pouring over ten years was being smashed in only a few minutes.

But for them the most troublesome element still remained.

“A-arrived!”

Benden shouted.

The cursed king’s tent was right in front of the nose.

Arrived in an instant. Looking like this really large.

It seems at least five or six of the stadiums where the World Cup is held combined.

“If going like this we’ll collide! Have to detour to the entrance side!”

Benden continued.

There was a reason in the tone where urgency is felt.

Because the tent forged with evil shamanism was an extreme defense wall that resists all physical attacks and magic.

The entrance that can enter the tent is only the front entrance.

Arazan nodded as if agreeing.

“Yes. Cannot go other places. Have to go to the entrance.”

“Oo. How amazing things would be inside again! Not anticipated Kale?”

“I-I don’t know well···!”

Benden and Kale shivered.

Their expectations and concerns were all correct.

The moment entering the tent through the entrance the characters fall into a labyrinth the shaman created.

A labyrinth full of all kinds of traps and monsters.

If authenticating reaching the king’s room in 4 hours on the user community comments like [Are you Korea’s Theseus?] were attached so the difficulty and hassle could not be described.

However.

“No. Going like this.”

“What?”

Bran had no intention of entering through the entrance.

He was already sick of the shaman’s escape room cafe or something.

There was all reason he was leading the group at the front.

The path they were running was a path made to enter a place other than the entrance.

Judging from the position of the decorations on the outer wall it was certain.

The distance with the tent was now about twenty steps.

Ilark was astonished.

“Crazy guy! What are you trying to do?!”

“I’ll tear and enter like this. Gather all strength and strike the tent.”

The reason he did not tell the companions in advance was because persuading was troublesome.

From Benden and Arazan’s position it was an act similar to striking a rock with a quail egg.

“B-Bran··· I believe you but this really does not seem it. If wrong you’ll get greatly hurt!”

“Reckless. Stop!”

But Bran was confident.

With this level of specs he could sufficiently do it.

The remaining distance is five steps.

Noticing that Bran has no sign of stopping Ilark clenched her teeth.

“Aeu, I can’t live!”

Flare!

Heat soared from the axe blade.

The speed was not reduced even a little.

Gathering all strength she fired a slash toward the fluttering tent.

Boooom-!

A roar as if striking stone not leather burst out.

“Kraak! My hand!”

“What···!”

Ilark frowned.

Seeing a long mark remaining on the tent Arazan was astonished.

The blazing scar was definitely in a state of damaging the tent.

Now it was my turn.

Similarly gathering all strength Bran swung the sword over the scar Ilark created.

Morning’s Blessing, pure mana obtained with the Primordial Flow, Numerite forged with the highest possible weight.

It was the moment Smash combining all of that was drawn.

Slaaaaaash-!!!

As the tent tore long the energy of the curse burst as if exploding.

Actually the first intruder entering the tent becomes the target of the curse.

Although the situation of jumping into black flames it did not matter anyway.

『Strong Mental Power overcomes the curse!』

『All negative effects including decrease in physical ability are ignored!』

Because he steadily specced up to counter this kind of situation.

Hwaak!

When the curse’s flames subsided a wide and round space unfolded.

A place connected to the part Bran pierced, the most empty place in this tent.

In the middle of the space a throne made of bones was placed alone.

“Wait. Here is surely···.”

Arazan who entered the tent following froze.

It matched the scenery father explained.

A man exactly resembling herself was sitting on the throne made of bones.

Large black pupils.

Flowing gray-white hair.

From the empty pupils no emotion could be found.

Arazan’s time stopped.

Frozen without being able to say anything she slowly opened her mouth.

“Rahir.”

The shaman was not visible yet.

Hearing Arazan’s voice the king flinched.

“You are···?!”

It seemed he finally noticed the intruders’ existence.

In the empty pupils a spark of anger wavered.

"How did you enter here?"

"Wait. I..."

Although Arazan tried to say something she was ignored.

Rumble!

When the king extended his hand ghost warriors popped out from various places in the room.

Just as the king who drew weapons one after another was about to take a full-scale battle posture.

“Move.”

“Eot...!”

Bran who pushed Arazan and rushed out swung the longsword.

He had no intention of showing a gap. Because the reward of the one-point breakthrough disappears.

The blade that dug into the king’s neck came out to the opposite side.

Slaaaash!

At the same time as the upper part of the throne was cut, the king’s head surged into the air.