Chapter 24
“Cooperation?”
“Yes, cooperation.”
A short haircut that swayed as if brushing against the shoulder.
Facial features hinting at mixed blood and eyes as blue as a lake spreading around.
Despite having engaged in fierce battles, the city of Eun, who hadn’t lost her delicate beauty, looked puzzled as if questioning the sudden proposal of cooperation in the midst of it all.
Well, considering I interjected in the middle of the battle with a proposal of cooperation out of the blue, it was indeed reasonable for her to find it strange.
“Leaving that aside… Are you really just fourteen? You do have a mature side to you.”
In the case of Eun in the game, she remained calm and charismatic in any situation, showing no emotional fluctuations.
Perhaps due to being depicted as more mature and rational than Kang Hanbyeol, she exuded a certain aloofness and distance in her demeanor.
It felt somewhat refreshing.
Anyway.
“Let’s talk somewhere else after leaving this place, shall we?”
“…Yes, let’s do that.”
I shrugged my shoulders and gestured towards the edge of the lake with my chin.
It was where the ruler and his subjects were active on the water’s surface.
Although we had defeated some nearby individuals, their numbers seemed to have replenished, and they were stealthily approaching us as we conversed.
It wasn’t a suitable time for a conversation.
Hence, we decided to leave the spot and continue our conversation elsewhere.
[Encountered Monsters.]
[Minions (Rank. 01) x 6]
Monsters slightly smaller than me blocked the path, resembling children.
“Move aside.”
“I’ll take care of the ones over there.”
However, when Eun and I joined forces, the opponents couldn’t stand a chance.
We defeated them and ascended from the lake to the grass field.
Their pursuit ceased.
“They won’t come out of the water, so we can talk comfortably now.”
“Tell me. About this cooperation?”
“Exactly as it sounds.”
“…”
“If you and I join forces, we could bring down the ruler, right? You’ve fought before, so you know. It’s tough to face the ruler alone.”
“…”
“So, let’s bring him down together.”
I plopped down on the grass.
Then, he gestured for her to sit beside him.
But she didn’t respond to the invitation; she simply gazed at me in silence.
After a moment, she spoke up.
“I find it difficult to handle it alone. But even if we cooperate, the situation won’t change.”
“Because of the people around the Sovereign? They will prevent anyone from approaching the Sovereign?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Dosieun nodded.
I couldn’t help but wonder what was troubling her.
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It was a concern I also had in mind.
‘We are not enough on our own.’
Just the two of us.
“Don’t worry about what I say because I say it with careful consideration.”
“What?”
I shifted my gaze behind her.
She sensed my gaze and turned around to look.
Relatives who had been dealing with subordinates were now approaching us.
People who, like me, had been observing from a distance slowly revealed themselves one by one.
They all seemed weary, no matter which side they were on.
“We are not suggesting cooperation between just us. It’s about cooperating altogether.”
“Then….”
“The role of dealing with the Sovereign’s subordinates will be entrusted to those people.”
“….”
“We just have to deal with the Sovereign.”
Brushing off the dirt on my backside, I stood up from my seat.
It was time to persuade them now.
Addressing those coming up the grassy field, I spoke.
“Brother, sisters.”
“Oh, Gyungwoo. I saw you fighting with Sieun earlier…”
“How about cooperating with us?”
“What?”
Confused expressions on the faces of my relatives.
Eventually, upon hearing my proposal, they frowned as if displeased.
“Why should we? Who do you think you are?”
“….”
Yes, I expected it to turn out like this.
* * *
At that moment, on the cliff.
Participants in the assessment were gradually reaching the lake.
By then, the majority of the screen watched by the clan members had shifted to a lake with a sovereign.
“It seems like everyone is struggling.”
Someone let out a sigh.
In response, some of the onlookers nodded their heads in agreement.
“Even if the sovereign has been weakened, wasn’t it too much for the children to handle?”
“The children have little experience fighting in the water, and with so many monsters around, it’s difficult for them to approach the sovereign.”
Even in City Eun’s case.
She, the first to reach the lake, had tried various methods to approach the sovereign.
However, she had not achieved significant success and had only managed to briefly engage with the sovereign and weapons.
But what about the others?
They couldn’t approach the sovereign, only dealing with subordinate monsters and occasionally helping or receiving assistance from City Eun.
It was reasonable for the clan members to mention the high difficulty level.
Moreover,
“The kids seem very tired. They must have consumed quite a bit of energy pushing through the forest to get to the lake.”
“Si-eun is also affected by paralysis, so how must the other kids be feeling.”
“Trying to face the sovereign in that state, the situation can’t be any different…”
Participants in the first forced march at the gate were all exhausted.
Unmistakable fatigue was evident on the faces of the kids on the screen, and the sound of them breathing heavily could be heard.
[Pant, pant…!]
“Ugh, stop it, please….”
[…Phew!]
Suddenly, some participants slipped on the platform, lost concentration, and fell into the water while walking on the surface.
[….]
Morale was dropping.
Those who reached the lake chose to stay away and observe the situation without participating in the battle at any moment.
As the situation unfolded,
“My Lord.”
“….”
Those who had been watching the assessment all along had no choice but to advise Doyeik.
“The kids don’t seem to be in good shape. How about lowering the difficulty level?”
Doyeik’s eldest son, Doujun.
He, who was being considered as the next probable head of the Doyeik family, stepped forward as the representative.
“It’s not that the kids are weak. I just wanted to suggest improving the situation considering the children’s physical condition.”
“Agreed, my Lord.”
“I also think so.”
Dooyun spoke in a polite tone to avoid causing unnecessary offense.
At his words, others perked up.
“Hmm….”
Doyeik let out a short sigh.
He, too, couldn’t help but have similar thoughts like the others.
‘Were those kids too much to handle…’
Grandchildren not yet seventeen.
Considering their age, it could be said that they had already shown enough skill.
So, there was no disappointment.
Just a lingering sense of regret.
“Seo Jungjin took on disciples.”
Without the backing of a prestigious family, he had risen to prominence solely through his own abilities, dominating an era as a hunter.
Tough Guy, Seo Jungjin.
The world believed Seo Jungjin, consumed by battles, was beyond the reach of leaders of current top clans like Doyeik, but he didn’t see it that way.
Surely, when it came to wielding a sword, he would surpass him.
But in ‘combat’, it was different.
It couldn’t be rashly guaranteed.
“He’s a monster.”
Lacking the talent to be hailed as a genius in any field, ironically, he could train himself indiscriminately across disciplines.
Thus, he didn’t confine himself to one weapon, but handled all kinds, displaying a prowess that transcended all combat and production fields.
Though he might not have reached the pinnacle in any one field, an individual who had reached a certain level in all fields could be called Tough Guy.
The reason Doyeik couldn’t easily guarantee superiority in a battle where he had to pour out everything he had achieved was because he was not certain of his advantage.
That’s why.
“If a disciple trained by that monster is to surpass him, undoubtedly, a monster greater than him will emerge.”
While Doyeik held considerable curiosity for Seo Jungjin’s disciple, he couldn’t help but be wary.
If by chance the talent of that disciple combined seamlessly with Seo Jungjin’s efforts and dedication.
“….”
Truly, a hero leading an era would be born.
A hero surpassing the authority of the top clans.
In that case, a new order might establish itself in this country.
It was a situation that the established top families did not wish for.
Of course, more than such concerns….
“I absolutely don’t want to see my grandchildren lose to that guy’s disciple.”
In truth, that sentiment weighed more heavily.
Doyeik harbored a fierce competitiveness akin to Seo Jungjin.
In that sense.
His grandchildren and Seo Jungjin’s disciple could be seen as extensions of his and Seo Jungjin’s competition.
As a result, driven by his competitive spirit, Doyeik had organized this evaluation match.
“Please prepare the inventory, sir.”
“…It’s probably for the best.”
However, it seemed that his enthusiasm had gone too far.
Doyeik reproached himself as he watched the declining descendants.
In the end, he decided to modify his plan by instructing the hunters to reduce the difficulty of the evaluation match.
And then it happened.
“Wait.”
Doyeik reversed his decision.
His gaze was fixed on the screen illuminating the outskirts of the lake.
“…”
The participants who had reached the lake were all gathered in one place before him.
At the center was Dogyunwoo.
[Stick with me.]
Dogyunwoo’s voice sounded self-assured.
Unlike the participants with clouded faces, Dogyunwoo’s face clearly stood out.
His face filled most of the screen captured from the participants’ perspective.
“Ha….”
Having seen the same screen multiple times, Doyeik let out a sigh.
Soon, the sigh turned into a bitter laugh.
A smile crept onto his lips.
“It seems like the kids have something in mind; let’s observe and judge based on that.”
How confident he was to say that.
Doyeik decided to check the confident face of Dogyunwoo.
* * *
“If it were Sieun, well, I could accept it. She has the skills to lead and engage in battle. But Dogyunwoo, you haven’t shown us anything. Why should we help you? What should we believe in?”
“Agreeing to cooperate altogether is fine. I also think that’s necessary. But cooperating to approach the leader through you is a bit much.”
“Where do you get off being so upset at your young age? Just because you beat Doseungwoo, you think we should bow down to you again?”
“We did bow down. But trying to compete with us based on that isn’t right.”
“Are you completely ignoring this?”
“…”
The relatives who were my age or younger watched quietly.
The older relatives openly expressed their anger.
‘One at a time, keep calm….’
I bit my tongue inwardly.
Having been ridiculed as Rabbit in the family for a long time, when I suggested cooperation, I expected some discontent.
It was somewhat anticipated.
Therefore, I could calmly accept the situation without losing composure.
I had, of course, prepared a solution.
“In my heart, I’d prefer settling things with swords rather than words, but that’s not feasible.”
I quickly checked the status windows of my relatives; they seemed exhausted from the start.
If I decided to challenge them, winning the duel wouldn’t be difficult.
However, trying to make them understand, engaging in duels one by one, would be a waste of time and energy.
00:52:34
Time was running out.
So, I decided to persuade them not through a duel but by something else.
“If I don’t fight the Lord, then who will?”
“You don’t need to worry about that, we’ll handle it among ourselves…”
“Do you even have the strength to fight the Lord? With that body of yours?”
“What?”
“Is the strength to fight the Lord still within you? Is the paralysis completely gone now?”
“…”
Upon my words, the relatives who were angry just moments ago fell silent, unable to respond.
Even the latecomers understood that they were weakened now.
“See, it’s not there.”
“…”
“So, cooperate with me.”
I laid down the card that could persuade them: Packet of Ape.
I poured out its contents for them to see.
Swoosh.
Fruits of vitality, fruits of energy, and roots of Mudweed emerged.
I gazed at my relatives staring intently at them and said,
“I’m not asking for help for free. If you cooperate with me, I’ll give you these. Honestly, wouldn’t you all regret it if you didn’t?”
“…”
“With just stamina, with just mana, and as long as you don’t fall into paralysis, you could do better than now.”
“…”
“You must be thinking that way, right? Isn’t that true?”
I didn’t miss the wavering in my relatives’ eyes.
They took the bait.
My words hit the mark.
I decided to continue.
“So, let’s consume these to regain strength and show the elders watching over us a respectable appearance. Time is limited, and if we continue to show a pathetic sight, it will end like that.”
Swoosh!
“Uh?”
I casually tossed the fruit of vitality to someone nearby.
He reflexively grabbed and displayed a perplexed expression.
“Have it, if you want to fight.”
“….”
I urged for a decision.
Upon that, he, who had been hesitant, boldly bit into the fruit of vitality.
Crunch.
A sound of biting into the fruit echoed.
As the sound spread through the silence, it stirred people’s hearts.
I continued to throw the fruits to further incite their impatience.
People caught the fruits.
“Stick with me.”
“….”
“Cooperate with me.”
That was the end of it.
Crunch.
Relatives who had been cursing me just a while ago began to stand by my side.
Soon, I extended the roots to Dosieun, who had been quietly observing the situation.
“Eat too, sis. It’ll be tough to fight without the paralysis being resolved.”
“….Thank you.”
Dosieun also seemed definitively ready to cooperate with me now.
She chewed on the roots.
Whether it was the bitterness or something else, she subtly grimaced.
She quickly gulped down.
“Paralysis seems to have disappeared with this.”
I confirmed the paralysis was lifted and closed Dosieun’s status window.
Meanwhile, relatives who reached the lake also decided to cooperate with me.
“Is this the fruit of vigor?”
“I want to resolve the paralysis….”
“Thank you. I’ll eat it well.”
“Do Gyeonwoo, you…?”
“Are you alive?”
Among them was Do Seungwoo.
Covered in mud from head to toe, he was almost unrecognizable.
“So, will you cooperate too?”
“….Damn.”
His condition wasn’t great.
In the end, he had no choice but to cooperate as well.
The more words at your disposal, the better.
I willingly handed over the roots.
“Alright, pay attention. I will now explain the plan.”
“….”
Perhaps because they received a reward from me,
they obediently followed my instructions.
I meticulously explained the strategy to conquer the boss.
“And Si-eun noona.”
“Yeah.”
“Noona, restrain the boss’s left side. I’ll cover the right side instead.”
“Got it, I’ll do that.”
“The left side. Don’t forget.”
I specifically reminded Do Si-eun.
Upon agreeing, she expressed doubt.
“But does it have to be the left side?”
Do Si-eun blinked her blue eyes, asking.
I replied as if it were obvious.
“Because you’re stronger than me, noona.”
“Huh?”
“Relatively, the left side might pose more challenge than the right. So, I’m asking you to put in some effort instead.”
“Oh, I see…”
“Can you do it? I’ll count on you.”
“….”
The boss had lost its left arm.
Therefore, the defense on the left side was inevitably weak.
Hence, I would guard the right side, and she would guard the left.
It was a highly rational decision.
In any case, thus it began.
[Encountered a Monster]
[Boss – Rank 03 x 1]
[Minions – Rank 01 x 17]
The boss conquest was about to commence.