<The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family Chapter 118>
Kim Yeon-hee was staring blankly at the monitor.
On the screen was her son, flushed with excitement.
– Bang! Bang… Bang!!
– Yes, this is it! This is it!! This is it!
He was swinging down with someone hanging from his arm. Hahaha…
“Ki-hyuk, that’s not right…”
A sigh escaped her.
The reason for his excitement? It wasn’t a mystery.
He must have gotten caught up in the heat of battle again. That was the nature of this boy.
To be honest, from Kim Yeon-hee’s perspective, it wasn’t even worth sighing over. After all, the Sword Master was being true to his nature. She’d seen this kind of behavior more times than she could count. In fact, his vitality made her feel somewhat relieved.
She sighed only out of politeness, considering she had a guest in front of her.
“Sorry, Tyler. My kid gets like this when he fights. We’ll cover the cost of the broken coat.”
– No problem.
In one of the monitors, a man with a cowboy hat, John C. Tyler, was smiling brightly.
– It was just my son fooling around. Don’t worry about it.
“But I still feel so sorry…”
– It was an old coat anyway. We were planning to replace it. Miss Smart, don’t get hung up on petty money.
“Thank you for understanding.”
– That’s what friends are for.
“Then, since we’re both busy, let’s move on to the main topic, shall we?”
– Okay.
In an instant, the expressions of both became serious.
As Tyler had said, the cost of the broken coat was negligible for them.
There was no way they would waste precious time just for such trivial matters.
Currently, Star Hero had secured seven “Middle Cities” out of which three were already supported by their personnel.
– I know.
“You’re still asking for more support despite knowing it?”
– We just need to contain the collapse phenomenon. Fortunately, your team’s “Kingmaker Theory” is proving effective.
Middle City.
Translated into Korean, it means “Intermediate Outpost” or “Relay City.” In short, it’s establishing a base within the Gate to gain advantages.
Currently, Kim Yeon-hee viewed this with skepticism.
“What if this ecological collapse is not the end? What then?”
– …
“Hmm… Tyler. Haven’t I told you many times already that the ‘Middle City’ is so inefficient.”
Establishing a base within the Gate?
Fine.
The benefits obtained from it?
There’s no point in talking about it. The profits are immense.
It enables smooth resupply for expeditions and allows for high-quality rest. With an Intermediate Outpost – a “Middle City” – otherwise burdensome long-term expeditions become much easier.
Needless to say, the owner of a Middle City will reap significant profits just from commissions alone.
However, despite these obvious benefits, there’s one reason why Kim Yeon-hee is negative about “Middle Cities.”
The risk is simply too great.
Isn’t it essentially running a business within a monster’s lair?
“The Gate is still an unknown territory. We don’t know what variables might arise. Just look at this ‘ecological collapse phenomenon.’ Was there any sign of it? Can we guarantee it won’t happen again?”
– Miss Smart, that’s precisely why we need a Middle City even more.
The irony is that Tyler agrees with her concerns.
No matter how long humanity has benefited from Gates, they remain a world largely shrouded in mystery, with far more unknowns than knowns.
We have no way of knowing what unexpected challenges may come. It could even potentially lead to the extinction of humanity, according to some scholars.
Therefore, Tyler believes:
– We have an obligation to conquer the Gate for the sake of the future.
Not merely for profit, but for the future, for the next generation, we – as the strong – are obligated to conquer this mysterious world called the Gate.
A Middle City is humanity’s first footprint in conquering the Gate.
Indeed.
John C. Tyler, this outlaw hero, is not merely a merchant chasing profits. He is a true “Hero” who chases ideals.
Which is why Kim Yeon-hee finds this man both appealing and difficult.
“…How about we compromise and maintain them only at lower-level Gates? That would be more practical and…”
– We didn’t create them for convenience. We need to keep our Middle Cities at upper-level Gates to properly conduct research.
“Sigh. Seriously.”
– Just ask for volunteers. We’ll offer double pay.
“Don’t get your hopes up. There’s still too much talk due to the previous accidents.”
– Thank you, friend.
Friend…
Kim Yeon-hee gives a final bit of friendly advice to her stubborn friend.
“Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.” (Friedrich Nietzsche)
And Tyler quickly retorts with a smile.
– Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
To which Kim Yeon-hee reacts with laughter.
She realizes anew – her instinct-driven Swordsmanship clan, who cause trouble every day, seem like goddesses compared to this stubborn idealist.
SuperDream.com
<Challenge Board>
Flame Ent
Form: Medium-size, Plant-type, Territorial, Swarm, Breeding. Passive-attack.
Height: 6 to 12 meters. Medium-sized monster.
Attack Level: 5
Defense Level: 5
Characteristics: A variant of the plant-type monster “Ent”. From its roots, stems, to its branches, it has the appearance of a “tree,” except that where there should be leaves, fire is present…
… Passive-attack means it won’t attack unless attacked first. Does not act individually. Moves in groups. When one individual is attacked, the group acts accordingly…
…The main attack pattern alternates between physical attacks using its roots and magical attacks by throwing its fiery leaves. In the case of Elite individuals, it can summon “fire spirits.” The attack level of Elite individuals is adjusted depending on the number of lower-level individuals it commands…
( Updated comments on the Challenge Board due to the “Ecological Collapse Phenomenon.”)
└ 1st!!
└ 2222222222
└ Hate ranking games. ㄷㄷㄷㄷ
└ Write the information, you guys.
└ Good memories. Back in the day, I caught a lot of these in America.
└ ㅎㅎㅎㅎ 맞아, spent six months in the Middle City hunting just this guy.
└ Before ecological collapse: Excellent monster that drops fire elemental stones. After collapse: Useless thing that’s extremely hard to conquer.
└ ㅅㅂ ㅇㄱㄹㅇ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Extremely hard to conquer.
└ How is it difficult, seniors?
└ Because the basic magic resistance is high, physical attacks are the solution, but getting close inflicts fire damage.
└ Wow.
└ Fire resistant equipment is essential.
└ That’s not all. They’re swarm monsters. They gather in one place, and combined fire increases synergy.
└ ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ
└ Seniors, you need to teach properly. When hunting Flame Ents, what you need to focus on is the Elite monsters. They’re insane.
└ 울ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 마따 마따. This is Mad!
└ Fully agreed. According to the explanation at the end, the attack level adjusts depending on the “number of subordinates.” That stat is crazy. The number of summoned spirits is almost multiplies.
└ ?? Multiply? What do you mean?
└ Let’s say the Elite monster summons 10 spirits. But it also has five subordinates. So, it summons 50.
└ Holy hell ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ
└ How many generally gather?
└ Rarely. Even so, there are more than ten as a base.
└ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Haha, the thought alone makes me want to swear.
└ Right? I heard they’re becoming unpopular monsters in America too.
└ Suddenly, America?
└ Didn’t you know? They appear in America.
Racing wildly along the chaotic mountain trail.
The mountain covered in flames from top to bottom.
It’s not a forest on fire—it’s a forest where flames are blossoming profusely. This was the Level 5 Gate, “Mountain Where Fire Blooms.”
Currently, I’m running through the very heart of this “Mountain Where Fire Blooms.”
“Huff… Huff… Huff…”
Braving the heat of the flames, I continue running. I’m approaching the target.
Clutching the greatsword ‘Demon’, I prepare.
Soon, the sound of clashing weapons reaches my ears—the target.
“Fall back!!”
“Ah—My arm!! It’s on fire!!”
“Hey! Drink the resistance potion!! d*mn it, just hold on a little longer. The rescue team is coming!”
The tone and the screams indicate something is seriously wrong here.
Judging—how long can they last?
‘Not long.’
At that moment, a magical circle appears beneath my feet.
Then with a loud bang! In just two steps, I leap into the sky. Hanging in the air, I concentrate.
I see them—right there in the center of the encroaching flames.
First, shift focus.
I adjust my grip on the hilt of the greatsword. Not for slashing but for throwing.
Then…
I gather all my strength and throw it.
Swordmasters’ Swift Sword Technique
Falling Star
The greatsword ‘Demon’ soars like a streak of light, striking with pinpoint accuracy at the core of the ‘Elite Flame Ent.’ The ent retaliates with a defensive magical barrier, its flames roaring furiously.
But is my ‘Demon’ something a simple magical shield can stop? Ultimately, nearby Ents block with their bodies, barely stopping it.
Sensing the threat, the Elite Flame Ent now locks its eyes onto me.
Spirit familiars are summoned. All the nearby Flame Ents begin to blaze fiercely, filling the sky with fire spirits.
That’s a lot, isn’t it?
“I can’t afford to lose either.”
Breaking through the sky, I summon skeletons.
Jingle—
A fissure appears in the air right above the battlefield.
Kyaaa—!!
A skeleton wielding the greatsword pierces through the spatial barrier and plummets downward. A horde of skeletons descends like a raging storm.
As the skeletons fall, they dissolve into the ‘spirit form’ and emit black smoke, gliding through the air.
Thus begins a massive group battle.
The tangled dance of fiery spirits and skeletons.
Meanwhile, I do my part.
“Hurry up! What are you still doing?”
“Eh?”
I grab the blank-faced person by the collar and deliver a slap.
Slap! Slap!
“Ow!!”
“Ow? Oh, d*mn it. Are you trying to get us all killed?”
Finally, some awareness returns to the person. They take care of their comrades and start running away. They even glanced back at me out of conscience, so they’re not entirely hopeless.
“Let’s tidy up this side then.”
I extend my hand. The greatsword ‘Demon’ embedded in the ground flies into my grasp.
Let’s go.
Slicing through the flames, I rush straight ahead and strike the nearest Flame Ent.
The stem splits almost in two.
Even though I aimed to split it cleanly, its defense is higher than expected. The flames waver and swiftly repair the damage.
The Flame Ent’s eyes glare down at me, asking if I was the one who attacked him.
Its branches sway, and the fiery leaves bloom.
Simultaneously, a barrage of flames rains down. The surrounding area, already ablaze, turns into ash.
But I move through the flame bombardment unscathed.
I’ve decided not to use a shield anymore. Believing that the ‘giant’s body’ will handle defense on its own, I focus solely on attack.
Swordmasters’ Draw Sword Technique
Moon-Cutting Slash
Crack!
The Flame Ent torn apart.
Simultaneously, magic unfolds.
Ice Weapon (Modified)
Armament ‘Ice Mountain’
Crunch!
Ice covers the blade of the Demon sword.
The element of ice, superior to water, which is an opponent to fire, activates with enchantments.
In truth, this magic isn’t necessary for me.
Crack!
My skeletons, armed with ice swords, cut through the fiery spirits.
Breaking, slicing, tearing.
The skeletons’ sphere of control continues to grow.
The flickering flames are being consumed by ice. The burning heat that sought to consume everything subsides, replaced by icy cold.
And amidst the collapsing flames,
I brought down the Demon sword onto the final flame.
Jingle!
Having saved the targets and cleared the Elite Flame Ent, I returned to the Middle City.
Wandering into ‘Middle City,’ I was first greeted by a refreshing breeze.
“Wow, it feels like I can live again.”
There’s a reason this Gate is called the “Mountain Where Fire Blooms.”
The heat here is lethal. Seriously, without resistance potions, you’d dry up. It’s rarely as deadly as this place.
For someone who dislikes heat more than cold, it’s a truly unpleasant location.
Then why am I here? Because of that idiot, John Tyler.
Originally, I was supposed to be hunting ‘Basilisks’ in another Gate, the Level 7 ‘Seven Scales Desert.’ And I even tried to convince them hard.
But I was flat-out refused.
“No! That one is too dangerous.”
“Besides, it’s free right now. ‘Mountain Where Fire Blooms.’ Here should be fine for you.”
My friend couldn’t leave his child to d*e, apparently.
And thus, he dumped me into this fiery hell.
He even said it was fine. I preferred to fight a Basilisk one-on-one and earnestly pleaded with him, but…
Failed.
In the end, that d*mn Tyler dumped me into this detestable place.
“d*mn it.”
“Me?”
“Ahhh… Nothing.”
“Haha. I was going to check on you anyway.”
This guy is the supervisor here.
His name is Smith, or something like that. Anyhow, he manages this Middle City and is my nominal superior here.
“You’ve done excellent work. As always, you’ve achieved much.”
“Nothing much. How about the others?”
“They are currently receiving treatment.”
Currently, this Level 5 Gate, “Mountain Where Fire Blooms,” is experiencing an explosion in monster count due to the collapse phenomenon.
We’ve sent personnel to this Middle City to investigate and reverse the situation, and my role is to support these personnel.
“How many were there this time?”
“35 monsters.”
“Hmph… The population of Flame Ents is increasing day by day.”
By nature, when the population of Flame Ents increases, their combat power skyrockets. And their numbers are skyrocketing currently.
To be honest, at this level, it’s absolutely not a Level 5 anymore. More like high-end Level 6 territory.
“Understood. Take your rest.”
After bowing goodbye, I headed to the quarters.
Upon entering, a ‘familiar’ face—William—sat drinking tea.
“Welcome back.”
“Hey, you’re here early. I thought it’d take longer.”
“This much is easy.”
“Did you get what I asked for?”
“Of course.”
I didn’t expect to be glad to see him, but it’s nice now that I’ve asked him for something.
“Wow, impressive.”
“Am I not?”
William made a light-hearted joke and opened up a subspace portal to pull out something.
It was human-shaped armor, resembling medieval full plate armor.
“The Alpha Gear you asked for. It’s called ‘Rose Knight.’ Are you satisfied?”
The new toy has just arrived.
