The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 80

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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 80. Stirring Up Trouble (1)
Hidden Quest.
As the name suggested, it referred to a special quest that remained concealed.
In that sense, this was my first time receiving a Hidden Quest.
So I had no way of knowing how the quest was being hidden—
◆If you’re asking what a Hidden Quest is, it’s only natural that I explain!
The translucent text that had been quiet all this time sprang to life!
The relevant information scrolled before my eyes in a rush.
====
A Hidden Quest refers to a quest that is not clearly displayed to the player.
Such Hidden Quests require the player to visit a specific location at a specific time, or
to build a connection with a specific person, or
to possess a specific item, among other conditions.
While specific conditions must be met to initiate the quest, the player receives no information regarding how to approach those conditions.
Therefore, the player’s insight and deductive reasoning become crucial, and a “special reward” is granted that cannot be obtained from ordinary quests.
====
◆Thus, a Hidden Quest grants you the joy of discovering through meticulous exploration and deduction!
◆You also receive rewards befitting your effort and creativity, so display your adventurous spirit to your heart’s content!!
The text, which seemed composed one moment, suddenly grew theatrical the next.
…Somehow, I’d wondered why it had been so quiet.
Still, thanks to this, I could quickly understand what a Hidden Quest was.
In that sense, the Hidden Quest that had just appeared before me was:
==[What perfect weather for stirring up trouble]==
[Content] – The Fall of Violess
[Reward] – Ian’s Journal
[Failure] – No Penalty
“Ian’s Journal?”
The reward’s contents were far from ordinary.
Ian’s Journal?
I questioned whether such a thing even existed, and if it did—
‘How could that possibly be given as a quest reward?’
Yet, thinking about it more carefully…
‘The Quest system is one of Ian’s abilities, after all.’
I didn’t understand the mechanism behind it, but the Quest system was undoubtedly one of Ian’s powers.
And Ian had clearly intended to pass everything on to me.
Ian, who had even tried to give me his regression ability.
It was entirely plausible that he had left a message meant for me within his abilities.
‘So this is what it meant when it said Hidden Quests offer rewards different from ordinary ones.’
I could now fully comprehend the mechanism of the Hidden Quest and its reward system.
Boom, boom-boom!
In that instant, another explosion tore through the Black Market.
“It’s a monster!!”
“R-run!!”
The Black Market merchants scattered in panic, fleeing in all directions.
As they trampled over one another in their desperate escape, Violess descended into absolute chaos.
And then.
“Intruder!!”
“An unidentified intruder has appeared in the Black Market!!”
A massive roar erupted from one corner of my vision, and a swarm of figures poured forth.
Vister of the Ashen Mask, and Aketa of the Dark Merchant Company.
‘Their response is faster than I expected.’
Looking closer, I could see quite a few high-ranking Aketa among them.
Evangelista—a rank corresponding to a high priest, meaning “evangelist.”
Custos—a rank corresponding to a vice priest, meaning “guardian.”
Mid-level management-tier Aketa were scattered throughout as well. Their response was not only swift but meticulously coordinated.
Even as Isolde, it would be difficult to face them all at once.
I dispersed the Hidden Quest window that had appeared before my eyes and checked that the ring proving Avarus—the Covenant of the Abyss—was firmly in place.
After adjusting my mask securely—.
“You there!”
I called out to the rushing Aketa, stopping them in their tracks.
And when I held up the Covenant of the Abyss—.
“…Executor?”
The Aketa recognized me at once, and all movement ceased.
“Where are you headed?”
“We were rushing to respond to the attack alarm in the Black Market, sir.”
An utterly reasonable answer.
An answer beyond reproach—but.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve run a harassment operation.’
Harassing Tactics—sowing internal chaos to weaken the enemy’s strength.
During my time with the Allied Forces, my harassment operations included neutralizing key Imperial Army facilities.
Infiltrating and destroying supply depots and armories.
Cutting off supply routes. Weakening enemy combat strength. And so much more.
Countless operations, each one etched in memory.
All those experiences and memories remained intact in my mind.
Recalling the countless tactical operations from my past life—.
“How foolish!!”
I barked out sharply.
* * *
Isolde moved freely through the Black Market.
She smashed the Black Market’s structures before her while—.
“Flee! Now!”
I freed the slaves bound in chains throughout the Black Market.
“Who the hell is this bastard!”
“Seize them! Don’t let them escape!!”
Each time, members of the Dark Merchant Company positioned throughout the Black Market pursued me with relentless ferocity.
I threw myself through their assault, evading their attacks, but my limits were approaching.
Strictly speaking, this was a mage’s domain.
Kiiiiing—!
A hexagonal barrier inscribed with incomprehensible runes materialized from all directions, and within it, crimson lightning crackled forth.
Crack, crackle—!
Lightning magic discharged at tremendous speed, accompanied by devastating electrical force.
…I couldn’t evade this.
I clenched my gauntlets and drew forth my holy power.
Then I thrust my fist forward—.
Boom—!! The condensed holy power erupted as a wave.
Crash, crash, crash!! The wave detonated repeatedly, obliterating everything it touched.
Holy Fist Art. Lumentius Style.
Divine Wave Burst.
The holy explosion struck the crimson lightning and the barrier.
Shatter—!
In that instant, the barrier shattered into fragments.
But the moment the barrier broke—.
Rumble—!
The remnants of the shattered magic and barrier fragments scattered in all directions.
Blind projectiles of debris.
I could have evaded easily.
But—.
“Ahhhhh!!”
“P-Please, save us!”
The slaves of the Black Market.
In other words, people would be hurt.
Without hesitation, I lunged forward. Then I crossed my arms and expanded my holy power—.
Whoooosh!
A veil of holy radiance emanated from my crossed arms, enveloping my surroundings and the people within.
Holy Fist Art. Celestia Style.
Celestial Guardian.
Thud, thud—!!
The scattered magical fragments hammered against the holy veil—.
“Ugh…!”
The impact sent my body reeling.
Blood churned within me as though my insides had been utterly devastated.
Fortunately, the wounds healed quickly, but the pain—that was another matter entirely. And it gnawed away at Isolde’s mental fortitude, bit by bit.
Of course, pain of this magnitude wouldn’t deal a serious blow—.
‘There are too many.’
Magical barriers that kept multiplying no matter how many she destroyed, with no end in sight.
The Black Market was practically plastered with magical barriers.
Like clothes soaking through from drizzle, her mental strength wavered as she wondered how much longer she could endure the pain generated by countering them.
“That… that monster-like…!”
“More importantly, didn’t you just use holy power?”
“When are the reinforcements supposed to arrive!!”
And the Dark Merchant Company’s forces were no trivial matter either.
Though they lacked high-ranking members, numbers could overcome skill—a swarm of them was troublesome.
Yet she couldn’t deploy her most powerful techniques.
Scattered throughout the Black Market were still many slaves who hadn’t escaped, who still couldn’t escape.
These slaves weren’t members of the Dark Merchant Company.
Rather, they were victims held captive by the Dark Merchant Company.
They had to be protected at all costs.
Rampaging through enemy territory was already difficult enough. Even more so under these multiple constraints.
It was precisely when Isolde bit down hard on her lower lip—.
“They’re here!! The reinforcements have arrived!”
“Quickly, capture that one!!”
Just when misfortune piled upon misfortune, backup finally arrived—.
“What?! Why are only you here!?”
…Their numbers were considerably sparse?
* * *
I bellowed, and the Aketas flinched, trembling.
“…Yes?”
“Do you truly believe the Black Market is under attack?”
“Of course it is—”
“Idiots!!!”
I unleashed the temperament Iratum had taught me.
Gripped by fear, they trembled and began backing away hesitantly.
Given Avarus’s position, it was a natural reaction.
In Violess here, only one person outranked Avarus.
A Revelator-level worshipper corresponding to a Cardinal—only Iratum.
In fact, even across the entire Cult, those outranking Avarus could be counted on one hand.
“Look there.”
I raised my hand, gesturing toward the Black Market’s landscape.
I made sure not to forget the detail of using the hand bearing the Abyss Covenant.
Just as the Aketas’ gazes touched upon the Abyss Covenant—.
Boom, boom-boom!
At the explosive blasts erupting from the Black Market, Aketa and his men’s gazes snapped toward the commotion.
Isolde rampaging like an ogre.
Of course, the distance was too great to see her form clearly.
Yet she was single-handedly tearing through the entire Black Market with such ferocity that she truly resembled an ogre incarnate.
“What kind of fool attacks the Black Market alone?”
“Your meaning, sir…?”
“It’s a diversion tactic.”
The first diversion—information deception.
“Where is Iratum currently?”
“He’s likely in the Ruins District.”
“The Ruins District?”
“The Executor requested that he procure homunculus materials there….”
“Ah, that’s right.”
The Ruins District is a vagrant settlement at the edge of Violess.
In other words, it would take considerable time for word of this commotion to reach Iratum’s ears.
That was precisely why I had demanded one hundred homunculi from Iratum.
Originally, I had planned to cause chaos alone.
If Iratum remained in the Black Market, it would have been quite problematic.
In short, this was an exceptionally favorable situation.
“Then I shall take command of the scene until Iratum arrives.
The second diversion—collapse of the chain of command.
“Yes, understood.”
“But what do you mean by a diversion tactic?”
“Look—she’s simply destroying the Black Market without any particular objective, is she not?”
“Well, that is true, but….”
“Does it not feel as though her intent is to concentrate our cult’s attention and focus upon the Black Market?”
“…?”
“Is that so…?”
Aketa and the others tilted their heads in confusion, but—
“Are you doubting my words?”
At my icy tone, they all flinched.
After all, since they believed me to be Avarus with absolute certainty, my words were truth itself.
The Fallen Soul Worshippers—a cult that reveres The Abyss Lord as their god.
To them, Avarus was no different from a “divine proxy” who had received the “true name” from The Abyss Lord.
How could they possibly doubt the voice of the divine?
“No, no!”
“Doubt the Executor’s words?!”
“Never!”
And thus the diversion tactic proceeded smoothly.
“That’s a diversion tactic.”
Spreading false information and rumors.
“The true objective lies elsewhere. They may very well be targeting our Cult.”
Tactical disruption through miscommunicated orders.
“We must also consider the possibility that the Crimson Soiree and Black Grasp have joined forces.”
Fracturing alliances.
“Therefore, I will hold back the attackers at the Black Market. The rest of you are to return and prepare for any contingencies.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Inform the other standby teams to guard their assigned territories, not the Black Market.”
Withdrawing support requests.
“There may be traitors within the Cult, so minimize communication among yourselves.”
Inciting internal discord and conflict.
“And to prepare for unforeseen circumstances, we must relocate the Black Market’s funds to a safer location. You there—are you Aketa of Evangelista rank?”
“Y-yes, that’s correct!”
“You will come with me.”
Seizing supplies and resources.
“The Aketa of Kustos rank will evacuate all the Black Market’s slaves to a safe location.”
Ensuring civilian safety.
“Yes…? But why the slaves—”
“Fool!!!”
Cutting off speech.
“Do you not know how valuable slaves are?!”
Insisting stubbornly.
“If even one slave is injured or dies, the financial loss would be catastrophic!!!”
Displaying irritation.
“Or should I grind you all down and transmute you into homunculi instead?!”
Making threats.
“Eek!”
“W-we were shortsighted!”
“We sincerely apologize!!”
The Aketa quickly bowed their heads, terrified of becoming homunculi.
From their reactions, it was clear.
‘So there is precedent.’
Avarus had indeed converted displeasing Aketa into homunculi before.
He had been mad enough to transmute the entire Beneron Barony into homunculi, after all.
Thanks to that history, the disruption operation could proceed all the more smoothly—.
“The rest of you, return to your posts and guard your assigned sectors.”
Weakening enemy forces through dispersal.
“What are you waiting for? Move quickly!!”
“Y-yes!”
With a resounding affirmation, the Aketa turned and retreated en masse.
Thus, the countless Aketa vanished—
“We must move quickly as well.”
“Y-yes, this way, please!”
I followed the Evangelista-class Aketa’s guidance toward the Dark Merchant Company’s vault.
* * *
The Dark Merchant Company’s reinforcements descended upon the Black Market.
Yet for some reason, their numbers were remarkably sparse—and that was merely the beginning.
“Where are the other support forces—? W-what?!”
“What are you doing right now!”
“This is no time to concern yourselves with mere slaves!!”
The already-thin reinforcements of the Dark Merchant Company were evacuating the Black Market’s slaves.
Just as I wondered what manner of situation this was—
“It is the Executor’s command!”
A cry rang out.
Isolde’s consciousness suddenly blazed with clarity.
“The Executor’s command…?”
“Yes! The Executor’s command to minimize damage to the Black Market!”
“B-but what does that—!”
“Silence! Unless you wish to become a homunculus!”
“What did you—?”
“It’s only one person, after all!”
“The Executor will arrive soon, so carry out the orders!”
Soon the slaves slipped safely out of the Black Market one by one, and only then could Isolde comprehend the full situation.
It seemed—
She had made yet another grave misunderstanding.
The name known as the scoundrel of Count Whitewolf’s House.
Adrian Whitewolf.
His actions—deceiving the Dark Merchant Company, orchestrating chaos—appeared reckless to any observer—
Yet the essence emanating from him was unmistakably that of a man of conviction.
Isolde’s lips, which had been pressed firmly shut, now curved into a subtle smile.
All hesitation had completely vanished.
Then what reason remained to hold back?
Isolde squeezed forth her holy power, concentrating it throughout every fiber of her body.
This technique she had nearly unleashed at the final moment of her clash with Adrian.
And this technique, still incomplete.
Isolde focused her consciousness, driving holy power into each muscle fiber, each nerve cell.
And when she released it all at once—
Kwaaaaaaaa—!!!
Empowered by the detonating holy force, Isolde’s physical capabilities spiraled into overdrive.
Muscle strength, reflexes, stamina, speed—all of it.
Combat prowess rooted in physical capability could instantaneously transcend the boundaries of human limitation.
Holy Fist Technique. Isolde’s style.
Divine Ascension.
Isolde stood wreathed in undulating golden radiance.
She bore the form of something transcendent—no longer merely human.

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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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