My Catastrophic‑Level Summon Devours Gates - Chapter 281
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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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Episode 281
“That’s how it happened!”
I found myself nodding at Zaugg’s explanation.
“That’s… convincing!”
Using a Dragon’s presence to provoke the Drakes?
A clever move indeed.
“You’re believing everything a thief says?”
“This man. Jung Shin-ho. A traitor who abandoned our country and fled to China.”
“The very one who brought down the Palace Interior Minister!”
“Brought down is a bit much.”
“My. Does Iron Head consider the Palace Interior Minister serving my Master as a downfall?”
“I was cast out from the place I built with my own blood and sacrifice. That is what I call a downfall.”
“My. Master. Look at Iron Head. A downfall, he says—sob, sob. To think he harbored such resentment.”
“Gal!!!”
Sir Isra’s face flushed crimson as he finally drew his sword.
“Let’s think about what to do with this bastard first.”
“Uuuughhhh.”
Zheng Shiyenho drooled profusely.
Normal conversation seemed impossible.
“Vengeance. Treat his wounds.”
“Are you certain? His Transformation ability seems rather troublesome to handle.”
“I’ll have you suture them without regenerating the arms.”
“As expected of a great one! Such insight that far surpasses even Schne’s wisdom!”
He’s laying it on thick, isn’t he—leaving both arms severed and just healing the rest.
I watched the treatment process with a lukewarm expression.
The arms and Achilles tendons were left as they were.
Vengeance healed the various wounds Zaugg had inflicted while dragging him here and restored his vitality.
“Kwaaaaaaaah!!!”
Zheng Shiyenho let out a scream that tore at his vocal cords.
There was nothing I could do about it.
The Healing Spell the kids had learned was Force Heal, after all.
“The pain will pass soon.”
“Gaaah!!”
Zheng Shiyenho rolled across the floor.
At this rate, he’d reopen his wounds.
While we were enduring this healing torture session.
The Response Department 1st Division members who had been holding back the Monster Wave returned.
“Please step back, Hunter Park.”
“Chief. The thing is, this guy brought a Drake with him.”
“Who is this Hunter—ah, Jung Shin-ho!”
Department Head Jeon Hye-yeon’s expression twisted instantly.
“With a Dragon Knight’s Transformation ability, that would certainly be possible.”
“Exactly.”
“This bastard. A traitor!”
She looked ready to slit his throat on the spot.
I calmed Department Head Jeon Hye-yeon down.
“Let’s hear what he has to say first.”
“Ah. I got too worked up.”
“It seems like Director Jung Seung-il couldn’t come because of this bastard, so I thought it would be better to confirm it from his own mouth.”
“Wow. This son of a bitch.”
Department Head Jeon Hye-yeon’s killing intent flared again.
Seriously. Put the blade away, would you.
“Jung Shin-ho. Or should I call you Zheng Shiyenho?”
“Ughhhh.”
“Stop drooling. You’ve recovered enough to speak, so let’s have a conversation.”
“Wheek. Uurgh.”
“This won’t do. Sir Isra. Let’s cut off another leg.”
Slice—
“Ah! Ahhhhh! My body feels much better now!”
“It’s like watching someone refuse a reward and insist on punishment instead.”
Tsk tsk tsk.
I’ve always wanted to deliver a line like that.
Sounds like something a martial arts master would say.
“Reward? Punishment? What are those?”
“You thief. Punishment is the penalty you take in that drinking game.”
“Is that so?”
“This girl would gladly accept any punishment her Master gives her.”
“….”
I’m sorry. That’s my fault.
“Did you release the Drake?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. What Drake?”
“Schne saw everything, didn’t she?”
“Park Min-ho!! Your Summoned Creature attacked me. This is a diplomatic matter….”
“This won’t work. Cut him.”
Slash—
Whoa. That startled me.
I did order him to cut off a leg.
But I didn’t expect it to happen in less than 0.1 seconds after I said it.
Red blood gushed from the severed cross-section.
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
Zheng Shiyenho’s anguished scream tore from his throat.
“Vengeance.”
【Force Heal.】
I restored his severed leg without reattaching it—simply mending the wound as it was.
“M-m-my leg!!”
“Cooperate, and I’ll restore it completely.”
“Hunter Park. That’s merely resurrection-level Healing Spell.”
“Our Saint happens to be exceptionally talented.”
Roan smiled broadly.
Impressive.
Look at that trustworthy demeanor.
The constraint: one incantation per minute.
In exchange, the power of holy incantations becomes devastatingly potent—that is the Black Blessing.
“So, are you ready to talk?”
“Gasp… yes. Yes, I did it!!”
“What were you trying to accomplish by driving the Drake to the Korean Peninsula?”
“It was an order from the Superhuman Bureau to reduce the burden on the Chinese Front.”
Not particularly surprising information.
“Of course the Superhuman Bureau would do something like this.”
“This wasn’t an attempt to target my Lord.”
“If it were, they would have sent an additional Drake and left.”
Hmm.
What should I do?
I’ve learned this was the Superhuman Bureau’s doing and secured a witness to prove it.
It seems best to keep him alive and let the Rift Bureau handle the rest.
“Roan. Heal him.”
“Black. Resurrection.”
Goooooo!
The severed leg didn’t simply reattach.
From where I’d sealed the wound, a fresh leg sprouted forth with a wet sound.
It’s like watching something regenerate like a certain X-Men character.
“Hunter Park. Would you entrust Zheng Shiyenho’s disposition to me?”
Killing intent saturated every word.
“You intend to kill him?”
“A defector’s testimony won’t carry much credibility.”
―He’d changed his nationality to China but was caught attempting to defect due to homesickness.
There was a high probability they’d frame Zheng Shiyenho as a traitor instead and demand his repatriation domestically.
“That makes sense.”
“He must pay for his crimes.”
“I agree with that. But please, entrust him to me.”
By the point I lured the Drake here,
whether intentionally or not,
it had become an attempt on my life.
So then.
“You won’t find freedom even in death.”
“But you said you’d spare me!”
“Right. I said I’d reattach your legs. I never said I’d save your life.”
There’s no way I’d feel comfortable sparing someone just to kill them later.
I’ll add President Baek’s resentment to the mix as well.
“You’re not seriously going to turn me into an Undead!”
“Don’t worry. I won’t make you into some pathetic Zombie.”
“Just kill me! Please!!”
“Sir Isra.”
Slice.
Zheng Shiyenho could say no more.
His throat had been severed.
[Soul Extraction]
Attempting extraction on a body still warm,
【Gasp! Gasp!】
a steaming soul was wrenched free.
“It’s good to see you like this.”
【No! My body!!】
“Be quiet.”
Using Zheng Shiyenho’s corpse as a medium, I bound his soul as well,
then opened Death Space and stored him away.
I’ll think about what to resurrect him as later.
* * *
Having dealt with two Drakes and Zheng Shiyenho,
I crossed the Yalu River as if nothing had happened.
“Two Drakes defeated in a single battle.”
“As expected of one who conquered the Tower of Chaos!”
“Truly. I thought we were done for, but thanks to Hunter Park, we’re alive!”
The Hunters maintaining the defensive line beyond the bridge bowed deeply in gratitude.
They hadn’t witnessed the minor trouble with Zheng Shiyenho.
“Hehe. The girl handled it well.”
Ingrid had used magic appropriately,
blocking the line of sight so nothing could be seen from a distance.
“Good work.”
It’s best to eliminate any potential complications.
“Cackle! Cackle!”
“Guaaahhh!”
Monsters began crossing the Yalu River Bridge.
The sight of creatures swarming around the riverbank made me feel dizzy.
We’d already felled over a hundred thousand monsters during the delaying action.
The monsters before my eyes now numbered well over a million.
Wait.
Wouldn’t it be better to demolish the bridge and prevent the monsters from crossing at all?
“If that’s the case, destroying the bridge would be more effective, sir.”
Had he read my thoughts?
Zaugg voiced the same concern.
Much obliged, you bastard.
“How foolish. You thief.”
Sir Isra clicked his tongue.
“Look at those monsters. The bottleneck prevents even a tenth from crossing, does it not?”
Creatures swarmed around the bridge.
Despite the considerable width of the bridge span, only a fraction of them were attempting to cross.
“Had you destroyed the bridge, that entire mass would have rushed straight across the river.”
“So you deliberately left it standing to create this situation?”
“Of course. Your eye for the larger strategy is woefully inadequate.”
Tch.
Why did my silence earn me pain?
“This is why thieves never amount to anything.”
This won’t do.
I needed to change the subject to silence Sir Isra’s mouth.
As I was thinking this and glancing around,
Boom-thud!
Crack-crack-boom!
The Mages stationed around the bridge unleashed magic without pause.
Clusters of mana that normally couldn’t extend beyond a hundred meters now struck the monsters across the river.
It was thanks to the pre-installed Refinement Circles and the support of Magic Tools.
“Battle stations!!”
Shing―
Swords, spears, axes, and hammers.
The Warrior-Type Hunters gripped their weapons and fixed their gaze on the horde of monsters pouring across the bridge.
This is it!
“I’ll lend my strength to maintain the front line.”
Phew.
A natural transition.
The manager overseeing the Yalu River Bridge defense shook his head.
“No, sir. We appreciate the sentiment, but the Hero of the Great Rift need not involve himself further.”
A Hero?
Who?
Me?
The awkward phrasing left me momentarily dazed.
“A hero of the Great Rift?”
“There isn’t a soul who doesn’t know of Hunter Park’s battle records and dedication.”
“I’m not sure what you mean by that.”
My back grew damp with sweat.
The battle records, sure, I’ll grant that.
But dedication?
I was just diligently carving up Monsters while pursuing my own interests, you know?
I’d collected a few more S-Rank Boss Monster corpses, including the Cyclops.
What dedication is this supposed to be?
“I relayed your battle records over the radio, sir.”
“Pardon?”
“I wanted everyone to know.”
Department Head Jeon Hye-yeon averted her gaze slightly.
Good grief.
I was being publicly humiliated all over again.
Dedication?
Sacrifice?
I was just putting in the legwork to get Unique corpses, that’s all!!
Sigh.
Though I’d heard unwelcome words, I’d at least succeeded in my original goal of changing the subject.
“Our forces are Undead, so they don’t tire and are doing fine.”
“Still, you must continue to remain on the front line, mustn’t you?”
“The person who’s fought the longest at the very front shouldn’t fight more—they should rest.”
Department Head Jeon Hye-yeon added her own comment.
“What do you think, Sir Isra?”
“The Undead have sustained considerable damage, and everyone has expended significant Mana as well, so a maintenance period would seem prudent.”
That’s fair enough.
Roan is nearly exhausted.
My remaining Familiars have also depleted their strength considerably.
Even while managing Mana and executing a delaying strategy.
When the two Drakes intruded, I’d drawn on every last ounce of power.
During the delaying phase, we’d suffered almost no damage.
But at the end, I’d been thoroughly battered, as if thrown into a washing machine and tumbled.
“Then let’s rest for a while.”
I’d bought over a month of time.
Surely the Yalu River Front has had sufficient opportunity to strengthen its defenses.
Just as I was about to board the prepared vehicle with a considerably lighter heart.
A powerful mana wavelength emanated from the east.
“Hmm.”
Sir Isra drew close beside me, his posture tense.
The mana wavelength grew steadily closer.
“Hunter Park Min-ho!!!”
The figure who shot forward like an arrow, propelled by the ground, was Director Jung Seung-il.
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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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