Murim Login - Chapter 382

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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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Chapter 382
Strike the head, and the body falls.
The moment I seized the three creatures who appeared to be the leaders, the undead they had been controlling froze like wound-up dolls, and the leaderless monster horde scattered—some perishing, others fleeing in disarray.
“Arch Lich?”
At my question, the three kneeling figures nodded their skulls.
I wasn’t sure if I could truly call these things “creatures” when they were already dead, reduced to nothing but bone, but regardless.
I ran my hand across each of the three skulls in turn and continued speaking.
“When a person speaks to you, you answer. Are you going to keep pretending you’re dead?”
Before I could even finish, responses tumbled out.
– Yes. Yes. It is indeed an Arch Lich.
– What you have heard is accurate, great human.
– That is correct.
“Hmm. An Arch Lich, you say. I’ve never heard of such a monster before… But who was that one who answered in informal speech at the end?”
– It was that one!
– How dare he speak so casually to you, great human!
Whoosh, whoosh!
Skeletal fingers pointed accusingly at one of them.
Betrayed by his comrades with lightning speed, the accused creature’s skull trembled violently.
– No! This is a vile slander!
“…I don’t think it’s slander, actually.”
If you’re going to lie, at least change your tone of voice.
I glanced around discreetly, then retrieved “it” from my inventory.
“Golly. Time for a snack.”
A single skull emanating an eerie black luster. Flames flickered within its hollow eye sockets.
– …Golly? I would much prefer you call me Warlord as you did before.
“Why not? You’re a skeleton, so Golly fits perfectly.”
– To insult your commander in such a manner!
“If you don’t like it, then don’t.”
Just as I was about to return it to my inventory, the Skeleton Warlord cried out in an angry voice.
– I shall eat with gratitude!
“An honest one, I see.”
The honest deserve rewards. The liars deserve punishment.
“Go on, have your meal.”
– Thank you, less wicked human. But how much should I consume…?
“Just a little, like before.”
– Hmm. I wish to eat more. But I understand.
Too many treats spoil the appetite. The Skeleton Warlord, expressing just a hint of reluctance, opened its jaws wide toward the trembling creature.
– Come here, then.
– H-help! No!
– Yes!
With the Skeleton Warlord’s resolute cry, the transformation began.
Whoooosh!
No matter how many times I see it, it’s still fascinating.
Like a vacuum cleaner sucking everything in, the black mist flowing from the kneeling creature’s body began to be absorbed into the Skeleton Warlord.
– Gaaahhhhh!
The transformation did not end there.
As the black mist—what the Skeleton Warlord called death essence—flowed out, the creature’s complexion, or rather its bones, grew increasingly pale white.
Meanwhile, the Skeleton Warlord’s black luster became deeper and more intense.
– P-please stop!
– Hehehehe. Such delicious death essence.
– No, don’t!
– I, your commander, shall take it all. Death essence!
Crack!
– Slurp!
“Stop spouting nonsense about death essence. Where are you picking up such strange things?”
– …Are you one to talk?
“Anyway, stop eating now.”
– But why!
“You’re getting fat.”
I stuffed the Skeleton Warlord, momentarily at a loss for words, into my arms and examined it.
The bones that had been dark and dingy when I first saw them were now half bleached white. Having absorbed considerable death essence, the green light flickering in its eye sockets wavered precariously.
– Wheeze, whimper.
At the sight of their companion, drained to the marrow, the other two creatures clicked their teeth anxiously.
– Ask of me anything you wish. Great Flame Sovereign.
– I humbly beseech you. Please accept the loyalty of this worthless being, Orpheus von Maximus Valencia of Bavaria.
“…So you’re not undead but divine beings?”
They seem desperate not to lose their power. Well, if they’re going to cooperate this willingly, I’m grateful.
“Now, if there’s anything else you haven’t told me, scrape the bottom clean and spill it all. If you’ve been spouting lies….”
– I shall tell you everything!
– I humbly beseech you to permit this false and worthless being to speak the truth!
– Y-yes, I shall speak.
Unwilling to become bone broth, the three creatures enthusiastically participated in the question and answer session.
After hearing everything that had transpired from the Arch Lich’s first appearance a week ago until now, I furrowed my brow deliberately.
“You’re certain?”
– Yes, indeed!
– I swear by the River of Death!
– N-not a shred of falsehood.
As the three creatures vigorously nodded their skulls, the Skeleton Warlord suddenly interjected.
– It is true.
“Did you take bribes from them? How can you guarantee that?”
– I swore an oath to the River of Death. For beings like us, that is an absolute promise. One that can never be broken.
“Hmm.”
Watching this creature, normally as light as dust, speak with such weight, I could tell it wasn’t lying.
Besides, there was no reason for them to play tricks in a situation like this.
“Okay. I’ll trust you.”
– Thank you! Thank you so much!
– Kekekek! I shall devote myself with utmost loyalty, my King!
– I, no, I too shall pledge my loyalty to you, human. From this moment forward, I swear by the River of Death that I shall never commit such acts again….
Crack!
The last one faltered, unable to finish its words.
Its trembling green eyes darted between the fist embedded in its chest and me.
– W-why?
“Why? What do you mean why?”
– I, I was, swearing, loyalty, to the River of Death….
“Too late.”
A voice as cold as if it belonged to someone else slipped past my lips.
“There’s no undoing what you’ve done.”
Right here, right now, countless people had died.
Since even armed soldiers and hunters equipped with firearms couldn’t stop them, the number of civilians killed by the monster army’s hands over the past week was beyond counting.
“I don’t need your loyalty. Especially not from wretches like you.”
The moment I released the extreme yang energy drawn up from my core.
Whoosh!
As my fist shattered its ribs, extreme yang force bloomed from where it was embedded. A pale blue-white aura of scorching heat wrapped around its entire body.
Kwaaaaa!
I saw it. The green light in its eyes flickering out like a candle before the wind.
And the two others springing to their feet, chanting incantations.
– Jazcha and Umbado…!
– Bargan Mahla…!
Whoooosh.
The magical winds swirling around them. Just as the sinister spell was about to complete, I uttered a single command.
“Devour them. All of them.”
As if it had been waiting for those very words, the Skeleton Warlord I’d kept in my robes burst forth and opened its maw wide.
– With pleasure.
– Barsaba… Hiiieek!
– No, this can’t be!
The final death cry of monsters desperate to live—or rather, to remain undead.
But contrary to their wishes, the Skeleton Warlord’s suction force was stronger and faster than ever before.
Whoooosh! Gulp!
The Skeleton Warlord swallowed an enormous amount of essence in one bite, its skull trembling, and in the next instant, the two skulls stripped of all power crumbled to dust.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
– Sudden Quest,
[Unexpected Assault]
has been successfully completed!
– You have dismantled a monster legion! This is truly an outstanding Achievement!
– As a Quest reward, you have obtained the title,
[Undead Hunter]
!
– You have acquired a substantial amount of experience and renown!
– Level Up!
Just one level?
In the old days, I would have leveled up several times over, but now that I’ve reached level 120, the experience required has grown considerably.
‘I didn’t do this for the experience, though.’
I simply did what needed to be done, but I can’t help feeling a slight disappointment.
The stronger I become, the greater advantage it will provide in future battles.
‘The same applies to him.’
I muttered inwardly, gazing at the Skeleton Warlord.
Thanks to absorbing an enormous amount of morale, the power I sensed from him was incomparable to when I first met him.
– Mmm. Huuuuuh….
Black mist billowed through the holes in the skull—the nose, ears, and eye sockets.
The surface gleamed with violet flames burning like torches and a sleek, dark luster. Soon, his sinister laughter resonated through my mind.
– Kuhah, kuhahahaha!
“Turn down the volume. You’re too loud.”
– You, cunning human. This time, I, the Commander, shall express my gratitude to you.
“Of course you should. Who fed you?”
At my indifferent response, the Skeleton Warlord bristled.
– Fed?! Are you suggesting this body is a pet?!
“Something like that, isn’t it?”
– Don’t spout nonsense!
“Really? Golly, come here.”
As I extended my hand, the skull bounced up and settled onto my palm.
I gently scratched the space between his eye sockets as a reward.
“Good job, Golly. You’re so pretty.”
– …!
The skull trembled violently.
– This, this cannot be! That I, the Commander, would submit to a mere human!
“Your mouth says no, but your body is honest.”
– I am the master of the Black Forest and the commander of a great undead legion. Do not belittle this body!
“A commander with only a head left?”
– What?! This body is nothing. If I expend morale, I can restore it anytime!
“Really? Then why haven’t you restored it until now?”
– …Even if we repair it, some crazy bastard will just destroy it again anyway.
“Oh, correct answer.”
Crunch. The Skeleton Warlord’s eye sockets narrowed, its teeth long since ground to dust.
– Why, treacherous human?
“What do you mean?”
– Surely you have some ulterior motive for granting me sustenance—no, such tremendous power. You must harbor dark intentions. Speak the truth!
I paused to consider, then answered.
“Simple. Because you’re useless.”
– What?
“You can’t beat me anyway. If that’s the case, it’s more convenient to keep around something stronger and more useful. Makes sense, doesn’t it?”
– …!
“Now, get inside. People are coming.”
I stuffed the stunned creature into my inventory and rose to my feet.
The duty-free corridor of the airport—normally bustling with staff and passengers—now stood empty and dim, and three figures were walking toward me.
Two of them were familiar faces.
“Jin Tae-kyung.”
「Professor Jin.」
It was Choi Team Leader, who looked relatively unscathed, and Shao Shen, an A-rank hunter from the Chinese Public Security Armed Forces.
Despite considerable time having passed since the battle ended, Shao Shen’s face was etched with exhaustion, still covered in blood and dust.
「You were here.」
I nodded toward Choi Team Leader and offered an explanation.
“Yes. I had something to attend to for a moment.”
「Please speak more casually. Damn it—no, Professor Jin, you are a hero who saved myself, my comrades, and the people of China.」
“….”
Was I mistaken? It seemed like he almost said something crude just then.
Whether he read my thoughts or not, Shao Shen continued in an extremely respectful tone.
「Fortunately, with the assistance of the two professors from the Peace Guild, we were able to repel the monsters. I would like to express my gratitude once more.」
“Ah, yes. It was nothing. It was simply what needed to be done.”
I waved my hand dismissively while glancing at Choi Team Leader’s expression.
I worried the Integrated Language Pack might malfunction and reveal something odd, but since I was speaking with Shao Shen, my words apparently reached Choi Team Leader’s ears as Chinese.
“And the person beside you is…?”
The only unfamiliar face among them.
A middle-aged man with graying hair, who had been silently listening to our conversation, extended his hand for a handshake.
「I am Wei Penghu, serving as Minister of National Defense for the Central Military Commission. Pleased to meet you, Professor Jin.」
“Minister of National Defense, you say….”
「My rank is General.」
“Ah, I see.”
I could tell he was an important person, but I had no idea what a General was.
As if reading my thoughts, Choi Team Leader whispered beside me in an ant-sized voice.
“Four stars. Four stars.”
“Ah, ah! So you’re the commander! It’s a pleasure to meet you!”
I too once had four stars. That game I played as a child was quite entertaining. Though my next project didn’t turn out nearly as well.
Wei Penghu, a middle-aged man, offered a faint smile in response to my words and clasped my hand.
「You seem spirited, being so young. I have many questions for Master Jin… but shall we discuss them as we go?」
“Sure, why not.”
I was about to follow Wei Penghu when I hesitated.
“But where are we going?”
「To Operations Headquarters. I’ve had a jet standing by.」
“A jet? Headquarters?”
「Yes. Everyone is waiting for Master Jin there.」
Everyone? Who exactly?

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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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