Chapter 101 : Hungry Temple (4)
Chapter 101: Hungry Temple (4)
“I-I can’t believe it. Jakan was defeated by... a mere mage?”
Daphne staggered backward.
It wasn’t because he had let his guard down.
He had fought while in his full-body mimicry form.
And yet the battle had been decided in a single strike.
Tremble. Tremble.
Daphne’s body shook involuntarily.
An opponent who was beyond imagination.
There was absolutely no way she could defeat a monster like that.
“Kuhahaha!”
“As expected of my brother Yohan! I knew I could trust you!”
Rodbrock and Lagerseh erupted into cheers.
Meanwhile, the morale of the remaining Beast Tamers crashed to the ground.
After all, Jakan had been one of the strongest among the entire Beast Tamer race.
Just as joy and despair sharply crossed—
“Everyone, fall back!”
Belond, who had been watching from behind, released his mana.
[‘Domain of the Beast Race’ has been declared!]
[The approach of all races other than the Beast Race will be restricted for 10 minutes!]
The ‘Domain of the Beast Race’ was a Large-scale Area Spell that guaranteed the creation of a safe zone, but required an enormous amount of preparation beforehand.
It was also a skill that consumed an overwhelming amount of mana.
Kang Yohan tilted his head.
‘At that point, it would’ve been several times more effective to invest that power directly into the battle...’
The efficiency simply wasn’t there.
If they were only going to waste their strength like this and retreat halfway, there had been no reason to come here in the first place.
The important thing was why.
To survive in the World of Forbidden Books, one always had to ask, ‘Why?’
‘Belond chose to secure a safe escape route rather than decide the outcome here.’
Which meant...
There was a method.
A way to guarantee victory as long as they stalled for enough time.
That was why he was focusing on minimizing casualties.
The characteristics of the ‘Hungry Temple.’
Belond’s abilities.
And if he had truly joined hands with those guys...
The moment Kang Yohan reached that conclusion, goosebumps spread across his body.
He understood now.
He knew exactly what Belond was planning.
Belond noticed the change in Kang Yohan’s expression and let out a satisfied laugh.
“Hahaha! You truly are an extraordinary one. I wondered if perhaps... but to think you even saw through my objective.”
“The stench is so foul that pretending not to notice isn’t even an option. Still, for someone calling himself a king, this is pretty pathetic. Were you planning to fight like this from the very beginning?”
“A mediocre general pours everything into winning the battle before him. A great general designs a situation where defeat is impossible and thus rules the war itself. I merely desire victory.”
“For a Beast Race king, you’ve even read The Art of War? I’m surprised you can understand difficult writing.”
Whichever library had lent it to him really should’ve checked the borrower’s race first.
Better yet, whenever someone like him showed up, they should immediately call the nearest military base or Hunter Association.
Meanwhile, that damned protagonist Seo Changhee was busily writing Belond’s words into his Book of Famous Quotes.
All Kang Yohan could do was sigh.
Nothing but sigh.
“If you survive, you’re going to regret using this method.”
“If, by some impossible chance, that happens, then I suppose I will have made a tremendous mistake.”
Belond readily acknowledged Kang Yohan’s words.
Then he drew the line.
“But that won’t happen. No matter how exceptional you are, escaping this place is impossible.”
That marked the end of their conversation.
Ding!
[The seal of the ‘Hungry Something’ has been released.]
The reason this place had been named the Hungry Temple.
An ominous and sinister status window announced the beginning of that nightmare.
“Then I hope you meet a death as swift and painless as possible. That is the greatest mercy I can offer.”
Belond led his people and slowly disappeared into the darkness.
“Sir Yohan. What exactly did that guy mean?”
Scarlett immediately asked.
Kang Yohan slowly opened his mouth.
“He’s planning to let everything inside this temple get eaten.”
The King of the Beast Race possessed a very special authority.
He could awaken the ancient beast sealed in the deepest part of the temple.
However, it was a double-edged sword.
If even a single survivor emerged from this event, the Hidden Piece destined for the Beast Race would be stolen.
‘But he believes that chance is nonexistent.’
The ancient species.
Behemoth.
The beast sealed away thousands of years ago was so powerful that its true rank couldn’t even be estimated.
At the very least, it was equivalent to the Ninth Moon.
Perhaps even higher.
Such an absurd monster would slowly climb upward...
Devouring everything it encountered alive as it ascended each floor from beneath the temple.
“Then shouldn’t we leave immediately?”
“It’s useless.”
Kang Yohan shook his head at Seo Changhee’s words.
By the time Behemoth was about to awaken, every entrance and exit of the temple had already been sealed.
Meaning no one except Belond and the Beast Race could leave.
However...
If an event that should only appear in at least Episode (22) had occurred through someone’s underhanded shortcut...
There was still one opening left to exploit.
“I doubt you want everyone to die in such a hopeless massacre.”
The moment Kang Yohan finished speaking—
[An Administrator intervenes in the episode.]
White smoke billowed before them.
Appearing within it was the Mid-level Administrator, White Spirit.
The expressions of everyone nearby immediately stiffened.
They had witnessed firsthand how casually Administrators killed humans.
Especially a Mid-level Administrator.
No one could predict what one might do on a whim.
Kang Yohan narrowed his eyes.
That was unexpected.
He had known this wasn’t something a Subordinate Manager could handle, but he hadn’t expected White Spirit himself to appear.
“Hmm. It seems you’re in quite a predicament.”
“We’re about to die. If I said we weren’t, I’d be lying. The mana leaking up from below isn’t even comparable to Gluttony.”
“Hehe. So... are you requesting a balance patch?”
“If this situation isn’t normal, then I simply believe the Administrators should show some fairness.”
Originally, Belond should never have been able to use this method.
He lacked the necessary materials to activate that authority.
And yet Behemoth’s seal had been broken.
Which meant...
‘Someone helped him.’
Someone who knew about this world was responsible.
A single face immediately came to Kang Yohan’s mind.
The man who had once explored the Forbidden Book while leading the Twinsword Guild.
‘Samuel.’
It had to be him.
“It’s true he used a rather unusual loophole, but it’s neither illegal nor legal. It falls into a very ambiguous gray area. There’s also the matter of fairness.”
White Spirit put on a pair of glasses and flipped through a thick stack of documents.
Then he added,
“More importantly, I have absolutely no desire to give you a balance patch.”
“Because of me...?”
“Are you seriously asking because you don’t know?”
White Spirit’s eyes twisted into a vicious glare.
The hostility was so intense it bordered on excessive.
Wait.
“You bastard. You handed Spirit Herb over to Priscilla. I tolerated most things because your abilities were useful enough. But you actually dared lay your hands on something that’s an essential supply for Administrators?”
So that was it.
Damn it.
Priscilla, you idiot.
No matter how plentiful Spirit Herb had become, she should’ve been more careful about hiding it.
Looks like she had slipped up.
“So whether you live or die is your own problem. I only came here to tell you that.”
White Spirit turned to leave.
He couldn’t be allowed to go like this.
If they wanted to raise their survival odds even slightly, they had to do something.
“Reygas must be having the time of his life. If we all die here, the European Branch will gain an overwhelming advantage.”
Kang Yohan immediately struck at White Spirit’s sore spot.
The Eastern Branch and the Western Branch.
It was a calculated move aimed at the fierce power struggle dividing the Administration Bureau.
However—
“You’re always like this. You enjoy poking at your opponent’s weaknesses to manipulate them into giving you what you want.”
White Spirit’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
“That little trick won’t work this time.”
If Kang Yohan crossed the line...
The appropriate punishment would simply be assigned.
An Administrator’s patience was not infinite.
“But if you survive... perhaps we can continue this conversation afterward.”
Even as he left, he couldn’t resist saying something irritating.
White Spirit vanished.
“……”
Kang Yohan licked his cold lips.
The situation was bad.
About thirty minutes remained before Behemoth fully awakened and began moving.
Within that time...
They had to find a way to survive.
Tap tap tap tap!
They ran.
As fast as they could.
Forcing each breath deep into their lungs while pushing themselves one more step forward.
Still...
People always said there was always a way to survive.
The protagonist who formed the core of Plan B finally began to shine.
Seo Changhee, empowered by the Blessing of the World Tree, smiled confidently.
“Hmph! Don’t worry so much. Our story won’t end here.”
If only he would stop talking.
Still, thanks to his ridiculously overpowered trait, they seemed capable of locating the Beast Race’s Treasure Vault.
“Scarlett.”
“Yes, Sir Yohan! Everyone’s heading this way.”
Scarlett had already drawn a map using the bats under her command and sent it to the expedition members who had taken different passages.
They needed to gather as many people as possible.
Only then would their chances of escaping increase.
Soon, Seo Changhee came to a stop.
“Here.”
Before them stood a tightly sealed entrance.
The Treasure Vault of the Beast Race.
Inside slept countless treasures the Beast Race had accumulated over countless years.
The problem was...
The method for opening it changed every single run.
[Only the answer connected to each individual’s fate shall permit entry within.]
If there were one hundred people...
There were also one hundred different methods of opening the door.
Each person received a completely different question.
“Me! I know this!”
Park Yeri confidently stepped forward first.
The strange symbols engraved on the floor.
The palm-shaped indentation.
She was certain.
Park Yeri cut her palm and placed it against the indentation.
“O Almighty Akart. Protect me with eternal light... Huh? That’s not it? Alohomora! Not that either?”
Mm.
Game and novel addiction really was terrifying.
“If it won’t open by force, then that simply means my strength isn’t enough! Off to Valhalla with you!”
Rodbrock swung his axe at the door with all his might.
He was sent flying instead.
No one had expected anything from that fool in the first place.
“In the name of the great House of Juliard, I command you. Open.”
Did she think this was Black Castle?
Around here, claiming to belong to House of Juliard would barely earn you the status of an illegal immigrant.
One wrong move, and you’d be treated as a refugee.
“H-Hoeeeh. I-I’ll give you clams, so please open, okay?”
“I-I’ll even give you two! Including mine!”
Honestly...
He wished the door would just open for them.
To those two, that was their entire world.
Their whole life.
“T-This can’t be happening...”
Even Seo Changhee, who had been full of confidence with, ‘Well, well. Looks like I have no choice but to step in,’ was gradually turning pale.
Hope was fading away.
Kang Yohan let out a deep sigh and approached the door.
「At the lowest place stand six companions, all equal to one another.
At the highest place stand five companions, all equal to one another.
Then how many equal companions stand at the second-lowest place?」
A forest ablaze with autumn maple leaves.
Musical notes scattered among the leaves.
At the center was a long sentence.
‘As expected... this is difficult.’
The meaning wasn’t immediately obvious.
Did ‘the lowest place’ refer to the first run?
Did the ‘six companions’ mean the number of allies he had gathered back then?
No.
That wasn’t it.
His companions and himself being equals?
The premise itself was fundamentally flawed.
Rejected.
Kang Yohan rapidly organized his thoughts.
If it referred to a bond...
Then it had to mean this current run.
His gaze shifted to the scenery surrounding the sentence.
Maple leaves.
There was only one existence they symbolized.
“Vivian.”
Vivian Astraia.
The Witch of the Maple Tree.
Then the musical notes...
—Hmm hmm hmm. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Even in the eastern sky...
The song Vivian always hummed.
The terrifying nursery rhyme that had filled him with overwhelming fear resurfaced in his mind.
Kang Yohan quickly drew musical notes across the floor.
The musical sense he had learned as a pastime during the 882nd Run flowed naturally through his fingertips.
「Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol Fa Fa Mi Mi Re Re Do
Sol Sol Fa Fa Mi Mi Re Sol Sol Fa Fa Mi Mi Re
Do Do Sol Sol La La La Sol Fa Fa Mi Mi Re Re Do」
The lowest place was ‘Do.’
There were exactly six Do notes.
The highest place was ‘La.’
There were exactly five of those as well.
Then...
The second-lowest place was...
‘Re.’
Kang Yohan quickly counted the notes he had drawn.
Six.
He immediately wrote in the answer.
The next moment—
Rumble!
A deafening roar echoed throughout the chamber as the massive door slowly split apart and opened to both sides.