Chapter 69

The hunters gathered and chose a representative.

Each one was eager to be the first to try, their voices raised in excitement.

Kaiel, Johan, and Alex, having received a warning from the Constellations, did not step forward.

The other hunters found their behavior odd but remained silent.

After all, the fewer participants, the greater their own chances.

After a heated debate, the first challenger was decided.

Patrick Lewain, ranked 20th among hunters and a graduate of the Knight Academy.

He was originally ranked 22nd but had climbed to 20th after acquiring the ‘Sword of Fionn mac Cumhaill’ from the store.

As Patrick stepped forward confidently, the monster knight, which had been waiting patiently, finally reacted.

Its bizarre voice echoed once more.

“Are you the one who will face me.”

“Are you the one who will face me.”

“Are you the one who will face me.”

“That’s right! I am Patrick Dwayne, the young count and knight of the House of Count Dwayne. I will offer your head to His Majesty the Emperor—!”

“You are not worthy.”

“You are not worthy.”

“You are not worthy.”

It happened before Patrick could even finish his sentence.

The monster knight threw the spear it was holding.

“You dare!”

Patrick was not one to be taken down so easily.

He confidently raised the Sword of Fionn mac Cumhaill and swung it at the spear flying straight toward him.

*Clang!* The Sword of Fionn mac Cumhaill and the spear collided.

And in the next moment, the unbelievable happened.

“Huh…?”

Patrick stared blankly at the Sword of Fionn mac Cumhaill, which had snapped in half.

“H-How can this be…”

*Thwack!*

Before he could finish, the spear pierced straight through his chest and embedded itself in the ground.

“……!”

Patrick died on his feet, impaled by the spear, without ever landing a single attack.

*Drip, drip, drip.* Blood trickled from his open mouth.

The 20th-ranked hunter, dead without even a chance to fight back.

The relaxed atmosphere instantly froze over.

No one could move. Not a single person made a sound.

The monster knight extended its arm, and the spear flew back into its hand.

*Thud.*

Only then did Patrick’s body collapse to the ground, a gruesome sight with a gaping hole in his chest.

“One who is worthy, challenge me.”

“One who is worthy, challenge me.”

“One who is worthy, challenge me.”

Unlike before, no one stepped forward.

They only exchanged glances, not daring to make a move.

It had been just a single attack, but it was enough to gauge the monster knight’s power.

It was no wonder they had felt crushed by its presence when the gate opened.

The hunters, finally coming to their senses, just watched one another warily.

No matter how tempting the reward, it wasn’t more important than their lives.

Just then, someone stepped out from among the hesitant hunters.

The 17th-ranked hunter, court mage Shamulan Basters.

The very same lackey who had informed the emperor of Astell’s plan to establish a guild.

As Shamulan stepped forward, the monster knight asked the same question.

“Are you the one who will face me.”

“Are you the one who will face me.”

“Are you the one who will face me.”

“I am a mage, but…”

“You are not worthy.”

“You are not worthy.”

“You are not worthy.”

The monster knight threw its spear without waiting for a full answer.

But Shamulan, who had been prepared, immediately summoned his mana.

“Teleport!”

The spear flew swiftly and struck the spot where Shamulan had been standing.

Shamulan, having dodged the attack with his teleportation magic, appeared in mid-air.

“Ultimate skill, Meteor!”

The atmosphere trembled, and the temperature soared.

Soon, dozens of fiery spheres rained down upon the monster knight.

“……!”

Everyone looked up at Shamulan with astonished eyes.

He hadn’t stood out during the first gate, so how could his magical prowess have improved so much in such a short time?

There was only one reason: he had purchased an ultimate skill from the store.

*BOOM! KRA-KOOM!*

The ground shook.

A tremendous explosion sent dirt flying in all directions, and a wave of intense heat swept through the area.

A storm of dust rose, obscuring their vision.

Shamulan descended to the ground, panting heavily.

His vision swam, and his body shivered. It was a symptom of severe mana depletion.

“Hah, hah… *Hooo*…”

As he caught his breath, a smile formed on his pale blue lips.

He had seen with his own two eyes the meteors striking the monster’s head directly.

It was impossible to emerge unscathed from that.

‘An ultimate skill like Meteor costs a fortune. Of course it worked.’

It was likely dead, or at the very least, severely wounded.

Although his remaining mana was negligible, it would be enough.

‘A single fireball should be enough to finish it.’

Seeing Shamulan’s triumphant expression, a sliver of hope sprouted among the hunters.

“He did it!”

“I-Is it dead?”

“Even if it’s not dead, it’s definitely immobilized!”

“What was that? It was nothing special. I should have gone…”

Murmurs of regret for being scared off so easily spread.

The atmosphere suggested everyone believed the gate had been cleared.

Meanwhile, the dust that had filled the garden slowly began to settle.

The smile vanished from Shamulan’s face as he gathered his remaining mana.

“It can’t be…”

The monster knight was perfectly fine.

There wasn’t even a scratch on its armor.

“H-How is this possible? It took no damage at all!”

“Don’t tell me magic… is ineffective?”

“It seems so! What do we do now?”

Just then, the spear, deeply embedded in the ground, pulled itself free and flew toward Shamulan.

“T-Teleport!”

Unfortunately, with his remaining mana, he couldn’t teleport far. Shamulan reappeared just behind the demonic beast.

The moment he appeared, the beast kicked him with its hind legs.

“Aaargh!”

Shamulan screamed as he was sent flying through the air. The monster knight then threw its spear, finishing the attack.

“Gack! Guhhh…”

Shamulan, impaled on the spear, convulsed before going limp. His life was over.

“One who is worthy, challenge me.”

“One who is worthy, challenge me.”

“One who is worthy, challenge me.”

The hunters flinched.

Their opponent could not only snap a famed sword in two with ease but was also immune to magic.

It was an enemy that only the highest-ranked hunters could hope to face.

The hunters’ gazes fell upon Kaiel, Johan, and Alex.

No one said it out loud, but their eyes pleaded for them to step up.

“Didn’t say a single word to help when my sister was locked up… Ptooey!”

Alex spat on the ground like a ruffian and defiantly crossed his arms.

Kaiel, too, turned away from their gazes with a cold expression.

In truth, even if he stepped up, his chances were slim. The monster was immune to magic.

Johan, unable to stand by any longer, stepped forward.

“I will…”

Kaiel grabbed his arm.

“Lord Johan, did you not hear the Constellations’ message? You mustn’t.”

“But…”

“The Princess does not act without reason. There must be a reason for this as well.”

“But I can’t just stand by. People will continue to die.”

Astell clearly knew the creature’s nature. That must be why she warned them not to fight it. Kaiel answered coolly.

“No, we must wait. Remember the Princess’s words.”

With even Johan falling silent, the hunters turned to the last remaining person.

Dante.

“*Yawn.*”

Dante yawned with a bored expression, showing not a hint of tension.

The emperor, who had only been observing, interjected for the first time.

“Second Prince! Leader of Bluebird! You will step forward!”

“What a pain.”

As Dante drew his sword with a weary look, Kaiel hurried to stop him.

“Your Highness, did you not hear anything from the Constellations?”

“Didn’t hear a thing. There are no Constellations in my room.”

“Pardon…?”

Is that even possible? Kaiel continued, though bewildered.

“The Princess said not to fight it. You must not go.”

“Second Prince! What are you dawdling for! Go and show them the might of Bluebird!”

At the emperor’s roar, Dante shrugged.

“Looks like I have to go.”

“……”

Kaiel had no choice but to back away from Dante. With the emperor watching, he had no justification to stop him any longer.

As Dante approached, the monster’s voice echoed from all around.

“Are you the one who will face me.”

“Are you the one who will face me.”

“Are you the one who will face me.”

“Yep.”

“……Strange.”

“……Strange.”

“……Strange.”

The creature, which had only been repeating the same phrases, said something peculiar.

“What’s strange? Am I not worthy either?”

“I do not know.”

“I do not know.”

“I do not know.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? If you don’t know, then back off.”

After a moment’s hesitation, the monster knight held its spear upright and pulled sharply on the reins.

“All my glory to my liege.”

“All my glory to my liege.”

“All my glory to my liege.”

This was a completely different attitude from how it had casually dealt with the others while seated.

*Hee-iiing!*

The demonic beast reared up on its hind legs and began to charge ferociously.

The distance between them closed rapidly.

Yet Dante’s sword remained lowered. The flustered emperor shouted.

“S-Second Prince? What are you doing!”

“……”

“Second Prince!”

Still, Dante didn’t move. He just stood there, as if he felt no sense of danger.

The sharp tip of the spear surged toward Dante’s torso.

There was no time left to even defend.

“My god!”

Just as everyone squeezed their eyes shut, picturing the gruesome image of Dante impaled on the spear…

Dante tossed his sword aside and raised both hands.

“I surrender.”