Hatred and Conflict
And so, we entered the third gateway of the Dragon’s Slumbering Range, known as the “Land of Hatred.” Just one more region to cross after this, and we’d reach the site of the ruins. We were more than halfway there, though exploring the ruins themselves was another matter entirely.
“Ugh…”
“Hmm, hmm!”
We’d barely been on the right fork of the path for five minutes when the uneasy murmurs began to escape from the clan members. I knew the reason: it was the field effect of this area, “Hatred.”
According to Vivian, the field effects in the Dragon’s Slumbering Range were quite unique. The ancient residents’ accumulated hatred, combined with the curse of the “Dragon of the Apocalypse,” Magna Carta, had created a terrifying grudge. Over countless years, this grudge had deepened, resulting in an effect that covered this vast region.
Indeed, hatred that had persisted for thousands of years was not to be underestimated. Even with multiple layers of magical resistance from my user information and equipped gear, I could feel a faint seed of hatred taking root in my heart, seeping through my entire being.
There were ways to counter it. I could take a calming pill or use Han-gyeol’s defensive abilities. However, the calming pills needed to be saved for the fourth gateway, and Han-gyeol wasn’t in a normal state right now. So, the best option was to pass through this area as quickly as possible.
If I was feeling this way, I could only imagine how the other clan members were faring. Even those with some resistance to magic would be struggling to control the inexplicable surge of hatred within them.
As I walked calmly along the mountain path, I resolved to keep an eye on the state of both the spirits and my clan members.
“Clan Lord! Hold on a moment!”
Five more minutes passed when Shin Jae-ryong’s shout broke the silence. I raised my hand to signal a stop and turned to see Han-gyeol approaching slowly, looking around with a suspicious and anxious expression.
“Han-gyeol, what’s up?”
“Hyung… I think it’s around here.”
“Around here?”
“Yes. I don’t remember exactly, but I’m sure we passed this way. And…”
Han-gyeol paused, turning his head quickly from side to side, as if trying to recall the situation.
‘We didn’t go too deep… Was it about ten minutes in?’
I stepped forward a few paces and activated my third eye. We had just passed the ten-minute mark since entering the “Land of Hatred.” Allowing for some margin of error, Han-gyeol seemed to remember more than he let on.
Scanning the area ahead, I soon realized Han-gyeol’s memory was accurate. Faint traces were scattered around the spot where we stood.
‘I need to find out what happened here.’
Spotting a trace right in front of me, I knelt to examine it. The bushes on the mountain were all bent forward, but the spot I was looking at was bent in the opposite direction or trampled and torn.
Further down, the ground was sunken in, as if someone had stumbled backward and fallen. I looked at another trace—a long, drawn-out mark, like a car tire skidding, with the earth stained a dark red, as if soaked in blood.
‘Perhaps a spirit appeared, and there was a fight… No, not a fight. They couldn’t even resist; they just ran.’
Just as I was about to investigate further, a pained groan erupted from behind. Turning quickly, I saw Han-gyeol on the ground, clutching his head as if it might shatter.
Pushing through the gathered clan members, I reached him. He looked up at me with a strained expression and spoke with difficulty.
“Hyung, I remember now.”
I nodded for him to continue, but Han-gyeol only gulped, his lips moving silently. He seemed to want to speak but couldn’t organize his thoughts. I waited patiently.
Finally, Han-gyeol began to speak.
“So… we took the fork… and then… they started arguing…”
‘We took the fork, arrived here, and the clients started arguing.’
The likely cause of their argument was the field effect. The inexplicable surge of hatred had made them irritable.
Though Han-gyeol spoke haltingly, I didn’t press for more details. I could piece together the situation from what he said.
“Boom…”
“Huh?”
“There was a boom. And for a moment, everything went white.”
“A boom… and everything went white?”
This puzzled me, and I couldn’t help but ask for clarification.
I tilted my head. The Dragon’s Slumbering Range was a place of deep silence. Walking without speaking, the only sound was the rustle of grass.
But a boom from somewhere? It was possible if there had been a fierce battle with spirits, and someone had cast a spell. Yet, the traces I’d seen showed no signs of a battle, only a hasty retreat.
“Did you fight the spirits?”
“No, we didn’t see any spirits then.”
”…Then?”
“When I opened my eyes again, everything was quiet. Nothing had changed, but it was just like now…”
Hearing they hadn’t fought spirits, my eyes narrowed.
The Dragon’s Slumbering Range had four gateways, each with spirits appearing in different ways. The spirits in the “Land of Hatred” didn’t swarm like those in the “Land of Wandering.” Instead, they appeared as a mass of countless spirits fused into one—a spirit closest to being a true spirit.
In short, the spirits in the “Land of Hatred” didn’t use magic.
It wasn’t Han-gyeol, the clients, or the spirits. So what was the source of the boom? With growing questions, I paused my thoughts and looked at Han-gyeol.
But…
“Ah…”
Han-gyeol had stopped speaking. No, he hadn’t closed his mouth. His lips were slightly parted, and he stared at me with vacant eyes.
Come to think of it, his last words had ended on a curious note. Whatever the case, he seemed to have realized something.
“Han-gyeol, what’s wrong?”
“Yes… just like now…”
Just like now? What did he mean?
“Like the calm before the storm… everything went quiet…”
Han-gyeol continued to mutter to himself, still with a vacant expression. Then he suddenly looked up at the sky, slowly lowered his gaze to meet mine, and I saw fear in his eyes.
Finally, Han-gyeol spoke in a trembling, breathless voice.
“They suddenly appeared…!”
And at that moment—
A long, drawn-out wail echoed, and the ground began to tremble. Instinctively, I knew it was the spirits of the “Land of Hatred.”
Heo Jun-young quickly scanned the front, hand on his sword hilt, and spoke.
“Northwest, north, northeast. They’re coming from three directions. Distance is 45 meters… no, they’ve just crossed 40 meters. Can’t tell the exact number, just countless.”
“Three of them. Prepare for battle!”
Declaring there were three, I felt Heo Jun-young’s questioning gaze. But there was no time to explain. They were closing the distance by five meters in mere seconds; it wouldn’t take long for them to reach us.
“Clan Lord! If there are three, should we use the layered formation again…?”
Amidst the clan members hurriedly preparing for battle, Woo Jung-min’s voice reached me. I drew my sword, the Ilwol Shingeom, and pondered.
The spirits in the “Land of Hatred” were essentially “masses of grudge.” Their numbers were few, but they couldn’t be underestimated. Until the grudge was completely dispelled, they would keep moving.
‘In that case…’
“This time, we won’t use the layered formation. We’ll split into three groups, each taking on one spirit. I’ll take one with Nam Da-eun.”
I calculated that Nam Da-eun could adequately back me up.
I quickly organized the groups for individual combat.
“Cha Sorim will lead the team handling the ones coming from the northwest, with Sun Yuwon, Kim Hanbyul, Ahn Sol, and Woo Jungmin. Heo Junyoung will lead the team for the northeast, with Im Hanna, Vivian, Shin Jaeryong, and Lee Yujeong. And as for Hangyeol…”
Hangyeol, perhaps feeling he wouldn’t be much help at the moment, quickly stood up and stepped back. The clan members immediately organized themselves into the teams I had assigned and moved to their designated positions.
As Nam Daeun approached, I quietly gave her instructions.
“Nam Daeun, don’t overextend yourself. Stay on standby and wait for an opening. I’ll create an opportunity for you, and when it comes, strike vertically with all your might.”
“Vertically?”
“Yes. Judging by the tremors, it seems like a pretty large creature. A downward slash would be more effective than a thrust.”
“Hmm~. Got it. Leave it to me.”
Nam Daeun flicked her sword playfully and winked.
“An Sol! Please enchant my weapon with Holy Striking!”
”───. ───. ───.”
“Fifteen meters left! Im Hanna, hit them as soon as you see them!”
“Hehe, don’t start using informal speech just because of this.”
Listening to the shouts of the team leaders and members, I reminded myself of Hangyeol’s words.
‘A loud bang, a blinding flash, sudden silence, and then the undead appeared.’
There were too many oddities. The suspicions I had when we first entered the dragon’s mountain range were rapidly intensifying.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
But I set aside my thoughts for now. There wasn’t enough information to draw conclusions, and the ground was shaking more violently than before.
Roar…!
Roar…!
Roar…!
As expected, three undead appeared simultaneously from three directions.
I spoke quietly.
“Nam Daeun, it’s your turn.”
With that, I gathered my magic and dashed forward like the wind.
“Ha ha ha ha ha!”
A booming laugh echoed through the dark room.
The figure with protruding horns and a massive build was none other than Asmodeus, the Demon of Lust and one of the seven great demons.
“Satan was right, absolutely right!”
Whatever had him so delighted, Asmodeus laughed so hard it seemed his mouth would tear, pounding his chair like a child thrilled with a new toy.
Perhaps emboldened by this display, the demon prostrated before Asmodeus cautiously lifted its head to look at its master.
“M-my lord. So then…”
“Hmm? What is it, my beloved creation?”
“Will you accept Satan’s proposal?”
“Of course! Now that Satan’s words have proven true, there’s no reason not to.”
“But…”
“But?”
As Asmodeus stood, the demon quickly bowed its head again. To question its master’s words was unthinkable for a mere demon.
Yet Asmodeus seemed unfazed, even patting the demon on the back.
“I know, I know. If you’ve heard the rumors about Satan, you’d have some concerns. He’s bound to have an agenda… But think of it as an investment. An investment. He even disclosed it to me in advance.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. All I have to do is support Satan in the next meeting. Forming an alliance in this situation isn’t a bad idea. Yes, very good. It’s beneficial for Satan and a win-win for me.”
“Congratulations.”
Asmodeus, breathless from laughter, took a deep breath. Then, as if remembering something, he quickly scanned the room and began to move.
“Oh. This isn’t the time for this. I need to get started right away. According to Satan, this will be a groundbreaking attempt. A 100% success rate.”
“Just say the word, and I’ll prepare everything.”
“Heh heh! No need. This time, I must do it myself. The target isn’t human this time.”
“Pardon?”
At the demon’s question, Asmodeus stopped at the door. He flashed a sly grin and spoke in a low, excited voice.
“The target this time… is a dead dragon!”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
The chapters on hatred and conflict will conclude in the next installment. With the Jeongsimdan left, I’ll try to compress the fourth gate into a single chapter, leaving only the ruins. The exploration of the ruins… well, someone kind is helping from somewhere, so it won’t take as long as you might think. You’ll understand what I mean when you read it. :D
As for additional user information, several characters have appeared, but I’ve selected Han Sooyoung, Kim Yuhyeon, Cha Sorim, and Sun Yul. Are there any other characters you’re curious about?
Oh, and voting is still open. The second round of voting will begin after the dragon’s mountain range campaign ends (I have a character I’m personally rooting for, hehe), and I’ll select the top six based on comments from episode 443.
Have a great day, everyone. :)