Infinite Evolution Hunter - Chapter 152
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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152
I followed Dallobit under the sharp gazes of the dwarves.
Within ten minutes, we arrived at the Audience Chamber inside the Royal Castle.
“The escort leaves.”
Dallobit stopped as he was heading toward the throne, halted by my words.
“That’s absurd! We are sworn to protect His Majesty….”
The dwarf knight protested, but the elf elders quietly exited the Audience Chamber.
The dwarf knight stared at them with a bewildered expression, as if wondering what was wrong with these elves.
When I clenched my fist and raised it slightly, the dwarf knight stumbled backward.
“…Stay outside. If he makes up his mind, we’re no match for him anyway.”
Only four remained in the Audience Chamber—the three kings and Bae Na-young.
“Bae Na-young.”
Bae Na-young cast a soundproofing spell.
“What…. What are you planning?”
“Both of you, kneel.”
“What…. What did you just say?!”
The Dwarf King flared up and shouted, but then saw the Elf King quietly kneeling beside him, his expression turning dumbfounded.
“Phillarion…. Have you lost your mind?”
“You won’t kneel?”
“Kneel to a human?! I cannot do such a thing—not with the pride of the Dwarf Kingdom at stake!”
The Dwarf King seized his double-bladed axe.
Before he could swing it, I snatched the axe away.
“Ugh!”
Though Dallobit was a warrior, he hadn’t even reached Master rank, so he couldn’t react to my movement at all.
Crash!
I gripped the blade with both hands and struck its flat side against my knee. The axe bent slightly, then returned to its original shape. It was a fine weapon—sturdy yet elastic.
Dallobit, who had flinched for a moment, straightened his shoulders and laughed.
“Hahahaha! Do you think an axe passed down through generations in the Dwarf Kingdom would break so easily?!”
“Is that so?”
I sharpened the horn on my knee like drawing a blade from the back of my hand, filling it with aura before bringing the axe down with full force.
“W…. Wait!!!”
Boom!
“Aaaahhhhh!!”
The axe shattered into pieces. I threw a hook at the jaw of Dallobit as he charged at me, screaming.
Dallobit flew backward, scattering white teeth in all directions as he crashed to the floor.
I gave life force to the writhing Dallobit to heal him.
“Get up.”
“You damn human bastard!”
Dallobit charged again, and when I threw another hook at his head, his body spun like a top as he collapsed.
“Are you trying to wage an all-out war against us?!”
“Don’t think you’ll escape from here unscathed!”
Dallobit charged forward without losing his fighting spirit, shouting. His face had been shattered multiple times, and each time I restored him with my life force.
Phillarion, watching from the side, had gone pale.
Dallobit staggered to his feet with difficulty.
“Want more?”
After taking so many blows, all the fighting spirit had completely vanished from Dallobit’s eyes.
“Kneel.”
Seeing Dallobit hesitate, I took a step forward.
My terror had been etched into Dallobit’s body—he flinched violently at my slightest movement.
“Ugh….”
Unable to resist any longer, he dropped to his knees.
“Joshua may be confined to the Imperial Palace protecting the Emperor, but I’m different. The Western Continent is even on my side. War? Do you really think you can win? Even if you two join forces, you can’t. So what gave you the audacity to defy my orders, seize the Bolboen Plains, and wage war there as if it were your own land?”
Both of them opened their mouths but said nothing.
“That’s not all. When I ordered you to eliminate discrimination, the Dwarves used Goblins as mine slaves, didn’t they? The Elves created separate residential zones for other races within their kingdom and pushed them all there. Did I really seem that easy to push around?”
“Goblins are different! Those creatures have low intelligence! We’re giving them work so they can eat and survive!”
“Inferior beings cannot live alongside us! You told us to stop discriminating, so we let them live separately—what’s wrong with that?!”
Dallobit and Phillarion protested with their own logic.
“So… you Elves and Dwarves are superior, and the rest of the races are inferior? Then what does that make you, getting beaten by a human like me?”
“You are…. an exception.”
Dallobit spoke.
“What?”
“One exceptional individual doesn’t represent their entire species. Besides, Dwarves are a race specialized in craftsmanship, not combat.”
“Elves are also more skilled in magic than crude physical fighting.”
Phillarion added.
“Ridiculous. Those creatures started a war? And the Elves destroyed the Grain Trading Post with that magic of theirs, which is why I came all this way.”
Realizing it was because of Phillarion that I had come, Dallobit glared at him with resentment. Phillarion turned away from that gaze.
I could continue crushing these two nations like this indefinitely, but their ideologies are so deeply entrenched that I doubt it will succeed. To fight the enemies coming from the Gates, they need to unite their strength, yet instead of working together, they’re fighting amongst themselves. Suddenly, I felt the anguish of the dead Emperor.
Unless I slaughter all the citizens of these two kingdoms, I must find a way that these two races can accept.
“Here’s what we’ll do. You’ll compete using the craftsmanship and magic you’re so proud of, and if you win, I’ll completely withdraw all the directives I gave your kingdoms. You’ll live as completely independent nations. Whether Elves and Dwarves fight to the death over each other’s lands, use slaves, or not—I won’t interfere as long as you guard your own Gates well and don’t cause harm to other nations.”
“…Really?”
“How exactly would we compete?”
Dallobit and Phillarion asked in return.
“By creating the ultimate weapon and shield to test against each other. Our weapon against your shield, our shield against your weapon. Elves will compete with offensive and defensive magic.”
“If we lose…. what then?”
“Exactly as I’ve said until now. No slavery, no racial discrimination, no dark magic. Every time you violate it, I’ll come and beat you. But once you see the capabilities of the races you look down on, won’t you understand a little?”
“Fine. We won’t lose.”
“Two weeks should be enough time to prepare?”
“Hmph! More than enough!”
“Wihol will accept the conditions as well.”
Dallobit and Phillarion accepted my proposal. Despite having been thoroughly beaten by me today, they still carried themselves with arrogance.
I extended my hand toward Dallobit.
“What?”
“Hand over the travel allowance. Ten thousand gold.”
“Wh… what?!”
“Didn’t you say you’d pay me when I came? Hand it over.”
“Ugh….”
Dallobit opened the safe with tears welling in his eyes and placed ten thousand gold into my pocket.
“Then I’ll see you in two weeks.”
* * *
I told Jae-in about the competition.
“Your Majesty.”
“No, Jae-in. You’re saying Parchem is using goblins as slaves? You’re just going to leave that alone? How do you plan to face Parchem next time?”
“Who said that?”
“Your eyes are saying it. Your eyes.”
“Hmm…. So two weeks, then?”
“Yes. And the people participating in the creation must be Newus citizens—dwarves are not allowed.”
“I’m technically a citizen here anyway, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Count Alex, may I use the kingdom’s Workshop?”
When I founded Newus, I changed Korean law to permit dual citizenship, so I, Bae Na-young, and Jae-in became both Korean and Newus citizens.
“There’s a place the craftsmen use. You can work there. If you need anything, just let me know.”
“Good. Then let’s start planning.”
Jae-in pulled up a blank blueprint on the workstation and began designing.
“You’re confident too, Bae Na-young?”
“Huh? Yeah.”
Bae Na-young was reading a book as usual.
“Aren’t you preparing?”
“I am.”
Entering a state of concentration, Bae Na-young wove magical circles and geometric patterns from violet mana around herself while reading.
Beside her, Alex endlessly worked through a mountain of documents, and Alice sat on the floor reading a book as large as her own body.
Alice had been cleaned up thoroughly and now wore a large ribbon in her hair. She’d been so thin before that it was heartbreaking, but Bae Na-young had fed her well and she’d gained weight, monopolizing everyone’s affection.
“I’m going to head to Earth for a bit, so just carry on without me.”
“Your Majesty! Are you leaving just like this?”
Alex jumped to his feet.
“Everyone’s handling things fine without me. Besides, I’m worried about leaving Korea unattended for too long.”
I’d been coming and going every few days, but recently I’d been too focused on Telus.
* * *
Fortunately, nothing significant happened in Korea or on Earth. If anything, it was unsettlingly quiet. No Legion Commanders appeared, and there were no anomalies at the Gates.
While there was no damage, our military strength steadily grew. Hunters from the World Tree Academy experienced rapid growth, and the mass-produced weapons created by Rigen spread across the world. As a result, we not only managed to compensate for damage from Angels and Legion Commanders, but our overall strength was enhanced, bringing a bit more peace to the world.
“Thank you for everything.”
“Don’t worry about us. Just go solve the problems over there.”
As I offered my greetings, Hunter Jung Min-gi bowed his head.
“…Why are you speaking so formally?”
“I cannot possibly be disrespectful to His Majesty the King.”
“Your expression makes it obvious you’re joking, though.”
“How could that be? I should be going now.”
Jung Min-gi left with a grin plastered across his face.
His cunning personality remained unchanged, but his combat abilities had grown considerably.
“It seems he took it to heart losing to his juniors. These days he practically lives in the training facility your brother used to use.”
Yang Sang-heon leaned in and whispered.
“And you? I heard you practically live in Japan visiting Hunter Akiko.”
“Ahem… It’s impressive how quickly news travels from someone living in another world.”
“Things going well?”
“We’re not dating or anything like that yet.”
“You look happy though. You used to complain about not having a girlfriend.”
“Hehe.”
After meeting with our mothers and confirming there was nothing else urgent, I returned to Telus immediately.
As I exited the Gate to Malbokia through the Bridge Gate, the scorching heat greeted me. I’d only been gone a day, yet it felt even hotter than before.
Carlton, who had been notified in advance, was waiting at the Gate entrance, perspiration streaming down his face.
“Carlton, you don’t have to come out every time.”
“No, sir. You are Telus’s benefactor, so it is only right that I receive you.”
“But you look incredibly hot.”
Carlton wiped his sweat continuously.
“We’re experiencing an unprecedented heat wave and scorching temperatures. I cannot seem to adapt.”
“Is it not usually this hot?”
“Telus has hot regions, certainly, but Malbokia exceeding 40 degrees is unprecedented in history.”
The heat was so intense that people lay sprawled everywhere. Those sensitive to heat—beastmen and other races in particular—were suffering the most.
Ironically, those standing guard inside the Gate seemed more comfortable.
“I’ll make a circuit through the Allied Forces and then bring some water here as well.”
“You… truly mean that? Thank you so much!”
“It will take several days though. I have the Allied Forces schedule to attend to.”
“That is no problem. Thank you.”
I traveled through the Gate toward Derham, the capital of Newus.
“How is everyone doing?”
The Imperial Palace office was quite cool thanks to the air conditioning Jae-in had installed.
“I am managing well enough, but the drought has become severe. It is a grave concern.”
Worry filled Alex’s eyes as he thought of his people.
I understood his concern. No matter how I thought about it, this level of heat was not natural. There had to be a reason behind it.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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