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Chapter 114: Junior Balrog (5)
11.
Junior Balrog.
This monster was a terrifying one, but on the other hand, it was a monster with a clear strategy for defeating it.
And that strategy was quite well known.
The reason was simple.
“The one who catches the Junior Balrog that appears deep in Sleepywood can become an adventurer who will go down in history.”
The title of “Junior Balrog Slayer” was incredibly valuable to adventurers.
Naturally, the adventurers who earned that title didn’t hide it.
They gladly shared it.
“The first thing I did when I saw the Junior Balrog was one thing.”
How to hunt it.
“Deal with the wings.”
Of course, that method wasn’t easy.
“How do you bring down that flying monster? If you can’t even do that, there’s no reason to go after the Junior Balrog in the first place.”
But conversely, for those who couldn’t even bring down the Junior Balrog, hunting it was impossible from the start.
“The real start is after it’s down.”
Moreover, the truly terrifying thing about the Junior Balrog wasn’t that it could fly.
The Junior Balrog’s strength was beyond what everyone thought or imagined.
“First of all, its strength is on a different level.”
Just by looking at it, you could see the Junior Balrog’s massive muscles, and as expected, its strength was tremendous.
“It can tear a Drake apart with its bare hands.”
Engaging in a power struggle was impossible.
“Naturally, the speed of its movements is also on a different level.”
The movements resulting from such tremendous strength were beyond comparison with other monsters.
“How much, you ask?”
Nevertheless, there were cases where comparisons were made.
“If you put it against a Kappa Drake, it would turn the Kappa Drake into shredded meat in 30 seconds. It would tear it apart with its bare hands. This isn’t a metaphor. It really tears it apart with its bare hands.”
Those who heard this comparison understood to some extent.
“Is that all? Its body is so tough. 4th circle skills only scratch it. You need at least a Unique-rank skill to draw some blood.”
Just how terrifying the Junior Balrog was.
“But it doesn’t end there.”
And to those who understood, the storyteller always said this.
“How do you think a Junior Balrog feels when it loses its wings and falls to the ground? It’s probably not very happy, right?”
What adventurers had to face wasn’t a Junior Balrog that had lost its wings, but a Junior Balrog that had gone mad with rage from losing its wings.
“Krrrrooooar!”
Such a Junior Balrog was now roaring with all its might in front of the El Pam party.
“Krrrrooooar!”
A terrifying roar.
But not a single person trembled or felt anxious at the roar.
There was no need to.
“Krrrrooooar!”
The sound the Junior Balrog was making now wasn’t a roar filled with rage.
“Fire Arrow.”
“Krrrrooooar!”
It was the sound of the Junior Balrog screaming in agony due to the magic El Pam was relentlessly casting.
That’s how it was.
The magic El Pam was creating was powerful enough to easily tear through the Junior Balrog’s hide.
‘The boss becoming 5th circle makes a world of difference.’
That was the power of the 5th circle.
‘That magic of a different dimension.’
Of course, it wasn’t something that could be produced simply because he was 5th circle.
‘Hitting the same spot over and over again, I’m glad he’s not an enemy.’
It was the result of repeatedly piercing the wound, digging deeper and deeper.
“Krrroooaaargh!”
Finally, with a final death cry, the Junior Balrog collapsed to the ground.
The hunt was over.
A party of only five adventurers had hunted the Junior Balrog, that monster.
“We caught it.”
It was something beyond the common sense of Maple World.
“Wow, we actually caught it.”
Even the El Pam party members expressed their admiration at the result.
“To think we’d catch a Junior Balrog.”
“Yeah, I didn’t expect to catch something like this here either.”
That was all.
That was the extent of the El Pam party’s admiration.
They didn’t show the enthusiasm and excitement that adventurers who caught a Junior Balrog usually showed.
There was one exception.
“To catch a Junior Balrog, I’m so excited!”
Ralph, he was clearly excited.
“Really? That’s surprising. I thought you weren’t interested in titles like this? Well, I guess even you would covet the title of Junior Balrog Hunter.”
“I don’t need that kind of thing even if you give it to me.”
“What?”
“I’m excited about how much the Junior Balrog’s horns can fetch! They say the price is whatever you ask for!”
Of course, the reason for his excitement was different from that of ordinary adventurers.
This was also a sight beyond common sense.
However, the El Pam party wasn’t surprised that they had caught a Junior Balrog.
It was natural.
“More than that, this is no joke.”
Divo, who was already at the top level, now had a Legendary-rank item, the Heracles’ Bracelet, on his wrist.
This alone was terrifying, but Ralph also had the Staff of Asclepius in his hand.
He had become a healer who could heal even if limbs were cut off.
With the abilities of those two, keeping the Junior Balrog at bay wasn’t that special.
Of course, hunting wasn’t just about holding it back.
It was meaningless if you couldn’t take its life, no matter how long you held it.
That’s why the El Pam party wasn’t surprised.
“But the boss is even more insane.”
Because they had the mage adventurer El Pam, who boasted stronger firepower than anyone else.
However, this was only the case for the El Pam party.
“Wait, where’s the prince?”
“He’s over there.”
“Over there?”
For Prince Kashan, this whole scene was beyond comprehension.
“He’s out of it over there.”
“Ah.”
Even he, who had experienced all sorts of things beyond comparison to ordinary adventurers, was so surprised that his thoughts had stopped.
“Prince Kashan.”
Prince Kashan only came to his senses when El Pam approached and spoke to him.
“Ah!”
Of course, it didn’t mean he had fully regained his senses.
He still looked dazed.
“The portal has appeared.”
But the moment he heard El Pam’s next words, and the moment he saw the portal that appeared above the Junior Balrog’s corpse, Prince Kashan’s eyes changed.
There was no sign of daze anymore.
Instead, they were burning fiercely.
“Thank you.”
Because he knew.
“El Pam, thanks to you, I was able to come this far.”
The moment he stepped out of that portal, Prince Kashan would become the crown prince.
It meant that he would effectively become the new king of the Ariant Kingdom, Abdullah IX.
“You saved the Ariant Kingdom.”
That was what Prince Kashan had longed for.
“I will repay this debt, no matter what.”
Needless to say, Prince Kashan was willing to pay the price, the rightful reward to El Pam who had given him what he wanted.
“Anything. If you want anything, just say it. I’ll get it for you in advance.”
To those words, El Pam also gladly replied.
“There’s one thing I want.”
“One thing, what is it?”
“The Onyx Dragon’s Jewel.”
“What?”
But at El Pam’s following request, Prince Kashan couldn’t help but be surprised.
“The Onyx Dragon’s Jewel?”
El Pam was asking for nothing other than the king’s treasure, the only treasure in the Ariant Kingdom.
A treasure so precious that only the king could give it, and even the king couldn’t easily give it away!
From Prince Kashan’s perspective, it was a treasure he couldn’t easily promise to give.
Therefore, Prince Kashan pondered.
“Yes, you are worthy of receiving it.”
And then he nodded.
“If it weren’t for you, I would have been a dead man.”
Because it was none other than El Pam who had made Prince Kashan the one who could give the Onyx Dragon’s Jewel.
Thus, the deal was done.
Now, only one thing remained.
“Then I will guide you to the outside.”
12.
It was night.
A dark night without even a moon, a night where the desert seemed to be covered in a black veil.
“When the black sea spreads over the sand, hold your breath like a corpse. Don’t show any light.”
This was the night that those living in the Nihal Desert had to be most cautious of.
“Even a small light from afar can look like the sun.”
It was the easiest time to be spotted by monsters.
Therefore, no adventurer who knew even a little about the Nihal Desert would dare to carry a light.
However, the Tiho Oasis was filled with the light of torches brighter than ever.
Naturally, the monsters of the Nihal Desert, seeing the light, didn’t just pass by.
They swarmed.
In large numbers, an enormous amount.
And continuously, without rest.
Nevertheless, the light didn’t go out.
“Protect the light!”
No, far from going out, the people in the Tiho Oasis did their best to protect the light.
If a torch went out, they would start a bigger fire.
“Don’t let the fire go out until Prince Kashan returns.”
To illuminate Prince Kashan’s return.
For that, the warriors of the Ariant Kingdom continued their battle against the swarming Nihal Desert monsters.
It was a fierce battle.
“Kyaaa!”
Many warriors faced death in the process, but no one complained or ran away in fear.
They all wanted to sacrifice their lives to protect the Mystic Gate until Prince Kashan returned.
Of course, everyone knew.
‘He won’t return.’
The possibility of Prince Kashan not returning alive was higher than the possibility of him returning.
Trying to conquer a 300-person Mystic Gate with only 99 people was a reckless act.
‘So let’s just hold on a little longer.’
In fact, that’s why many people held onto hope.
‘They’ll be wiped out soon.’
They were certain that Prince Kashan’s party wouldn’t last long.
It was then.
“The Mystic Gate!”
Someone shouted.
“The portal has disappeared!”
At those words, everyone had the same thought.
‘Finally.’
‘Prince Kashan is dead.’
That Prince Kashan had just paid the price for his reckless challenge beyond his capabilities.
Many warriors clenched their teeth at this fact.
They were filled with resentment.
‘Damn it.’
Many people knew that the chances of Prince Kashan returning were low.
But regardless, many people were rooting for Prince Kashan.
‘For Prince Kashan to die like this.’
In the Ariant Kingdom, withering away under Abdullah VIII’s terrible extravagance and tyranny, Prince Kashan was the one who worked harder than anyone else for the future of the kingdom.
That’s why many people wanted him to become king.
But now that hope was shattered.
“Everyone!”
That’s why…
“Uoooooh!”
The warriors facing the monsters began to burn with fiercer fighting spirit than ever before.
“Let’s offer sacrifices for Prince Kashan’s death!”
To sprinkle the blood of the swarming monsters on Prince Kashan’s grave instead of flowers of comfort.
To offer red flowers.
“Th-That’s not it.”
“What?”
But the warriors’ dreams were not fulfilled.
“Prince Kashan has returned! He succeeded in the expedition!”
“What?”
The boiling fighting spirit instantly cooled down due to the shock of the news.
‘How?’
‘Is this a lie?’
Some were even dumbfounded.
Of course, they couldn’t just stay dumbfounded.
“Kyaaa!”
Fierce battles with monsters were still ongoing in various parts of the Tiho Oasis.
“Everyone, get a grip!”
In other words, that’s how it was.
The news of Prince Kashan’s return was so shocking that it made them forget they were in the middle of a battle.
Naturally, the news spread faster than ever throughout the Nihal Desert, and everyone who heard it reacted the same way.
“Prince Kashan succeeded?”
Everyone was shocked.
And the moment they recovered from the shock, everyone realized.
“Wait, he succeeded with 99 people?”
“Then?”
That it was impossible for any prince other than Kashan to achieve such an unbelievable record.
“Is Prince Kashan becoming the crown prince?”
That it was practically the same as the crown prince being decided.
“It’s finally over.”
The El Pam party felt the same way.
“With this, the Ariant Kingdom will be quiet for a while.”
With those words, Divo let out a long sigh.
A sigh of relief.
It wasn’t just Divo.
“Yes, it will be quiet.”
“Phew, I feel like I’ve aged ten years, ten years! It really feels like my lifespan has been shortened.”
The El Pam party knew.
If things had gone wrong, a huge war could have broken out.
It was truly a volatile situation.
“There won’t be any major problems until Prince Kashan becomes king. The Sand Bandits won’t make any unnecessary moves either.”
And that the situation had now been resolved.
Of course, he was an exception.
“No.”
“Huh?”
“The commotion is just beginning.”
El Pam said.
“No, what do you mean?”
To that question, El Pam replied.
“You’ll hear the news soon.”
“News?”
“The news that Queen Areda has been assassinated.”
[Translator – Pr?ks]
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