The Strongest in the Game by Dominating Monster - Chapter 38

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Monster Domination: Game’s Strongest Episode 38

 

“It’s Kairen!”

 

That heated shout was like a fuse.

 

“That Kairen? The event winner?”

 

“Crazy! Kairen was here too?!”

 

“I, I think I saw him earlier! When the enemies first charged, that archer who stepped forward alone!”

 

As the pieces of memory began to fit together, exclamations filled with shock and excitement burst out from everywhere.

 

And it was the same on dozens of broadcasts that were livestreaming this moment.

 

[Whoa whoa whoa, why is Kairen showing up here?]

 

[There are 100,000 moon coins at stake for the room leader’s 1st place mission lololol]

 

[Breaking news: After room leader Teorn, now Kairen has appeared too and I’m sobbing ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

 

[3rd place is still good, Kanu hahahaha]

 

Kairen’s name kept coming up on various streamers’ and BJs’ broadcasts.

 

Though quite some time had passed, the performance Kairen showed during the Goblin Army was truly shocking.

 

The edited highlight videos uploaded to NetTube were still steadily gaining views.

 

“Wow… this is my first time seeing Kairen.”

 

“I heard he rejected all the recruitment offers from prestigious mercenary groups?”

 

“He went to the Palace.”

 

“Palace? The place where Rain is?”

 

“Holy shit! Rain? Crazy! So damn jealous!”

 

The atmosphere of the village and the users’ gazes changed instantly.

 

The awe and interest that had been focused on Theorn turned to the opposite direction.

 

Toward Kairen, who was quietly wiping blood at the edge of the crowd by the creek.

 

And without anyone taking the lead, they all rushed toward him together.

 

“Bro! Bro! I’m a fan!”

 

“Kairen sir! I’m BJ Jakku! Could you please appear on my broadcast just once?!”

 

“The Knight Commander just spoke to you, right? What did he say?!”

 

“Do you have any intention of transferring mercenary groups? If you’ve already signed a contract, we’ll even cover the penalty fee!”

 

Users, streamers, and mercenary group members rushed in like a human tsunami.

 

Kairen’s brow furrowed slightly as he was instantly surrounded by hundreds of people.

 

The noisy cheers and greedy gazes.

 

Since they weren’t worth dealing with, fatigue washed over him.

 

‘I should be able to logout.’

 

Since Allen said he’d rest tonight, it should be fine to take a brief break.

 

Since he felt no value in answering, Kairen quietly muttered, leaving behind the countless questions and proposals.

 

“Logout.”

 

In an instant, all the noise and madness that had covered the world disappeared like a lie.

 

The noisy cheers became faint ringing, and the countless gazes directed at him turned into pitch-black darkness.

 

Inside the quiet capsule, Kairen slowly opened his eyes. Outside, the red twilight had painted the sky yellow.

 

* * *

 

Though he had logged out to escape the fatigue, the world wouldn’t leave Yu Baekjin alone.

 

[Title: Insane archer who stopped hundreds of charging cavalry with just 3 arrows ㄷㄷㄷ]

 

The battle with the ‘Tarahan Bandit Group’ that dozens of streamers had been livestreaming.

 

A NetTube video was uploaded, edited to show only Kairen’s performance from that fierce battle.

 

The video was tension itself.

 

The charge of hundreds of cavalry.

 

An archer drawing his bowstring in response.

 

The first arrow was deflected powerlessly by a bandit’s blade.

 

The second arrow pierced precisely through a horse’s eye.

 

The third arrow caused a massive flame to bloom among the fallen bandits, perfectly collapsing the entire cavalry formation.

 

Just three shots.

 

A miraculous play that blocked a massive tsunami-like charge with just that.

 

The reaction of users who watched the video was explosive.

 

─These archer bastards kept talking shit about being weak, turns out their own fingers were the problem lololol

 

└Yako? Yakoooooooo? Wow this is seriously pissing me off lololol

 

└Hey you bastard. Just because Cha Eunseong is handsome, does that make all Korean men handsome????

 

└Wow, this is the first time I’ve been this pissed since those kids saying it was OP

 

└But honestly, the OP claims are undeniable

 

─No, but seriously, what’s up with that guy lolol The way he matched eyes with the horse, he did that on purpose, right?

 

└I was also shocked when I saw that lol wow, is that the level you get when you actually try to aim?

 

└Holy shit, I was genuinely gasping out loud while watching. I can’t even hit a monster’s head properly ㅜㅜㅜ

 

─Don’t most archers just overwhelm with raw damage?

 

└ Yeah, that’s right. That guy is just in a league of his own lol

 

└His guts are insane lol When his first move got blocked, look how he immediately went for the horse. If it were me, I would’ve rage quit right away lolol

 

─What’s this? What kind of event is this again?

 

└It’s a subjugation request held at Gania Castle. Just a common event helping low-levels.

 

└Oh. But Kairen appeared there? I should watch the broadcasts. Recommend some streamers.

 

└BJ Kanu ㄱㄱ is the biggest corporate streamer among all the broadcasters.

 

└Please come to BJ Yurimin’s broadcast. Still small-time, but working hard!

 

Thousands of comments were posted, and the view count drew a steep upward curve.

 

The name Kairen began to be deeply embedded in people’s minds again.

 

* * *

 

After finishing about 3 hours of brief rest, he entered the game again.

 

Though 3 hours had passed in reality, 9 hours had passed in the game.

 

7 AM.

 

Though it was enough time for the sun to rise and day to break, the surroundings were still dark and gloomy.

 

“Is it going to rain?”

 

Looking up at the sky, the dark clouds were thick, and the humid smell of water tickled his nose.

 

Yesterday the weather was so clear, but today it’s so gloomy.

 

Thinking that even the weather in games was quite fickle, he called for Garuda and Rookie.

 

Whether they slept well, whether they ate, whether anything happened in the meantime, etc.

 

While having trivial conversations.

 

The surroundings gradually became noisy again.

 

“Kairen logged in.”

 

“Holy shit! I watched Kairen’s video five times yesterday!”

 

The pouring murmurs and blatant stares.

 

Trying to ignore them, he stood up from his spot.

 

There wasn’t really anywhere to go, but wandering around the surroundings seemed better than just sitting still.

 

Thud. Thud.

 

As soon as I stood up, I heard heavy footsteps approaching with long strides.

 

When I turned my head, I saw a massive man walking toward me.

 

He was a full head taller than me.

 

Even his body was enormous like a wrestling champion. It was like looking at Baekdu Strongman.

 

Heavy full plate armor that matched his build clanked with each step he took.

 

In one hand he held an iron square shield, and in his right hand a warhammer that made my knees weak just looking at it gleamed.

 

And above his head, the name that had been right below mine on yesterday’s ranking board floated clearly.

 

Theorn.

 

Paladin Johan’s alternate character, and a powerful competitor in this subjugation order.

 

I narrowed my eyes and watched him approach closer and closer.

 

I had no intention of fighting, but I had even less intention of avoiding a fight that came to me.

 

I fidgeted with my bow and habitually looked for gaps in his armor.

 

Rookie and Garuda beside me also kept their eyes on him, conscious of his presence.

 

“It’s Theorn and Kairen.”

 

“Wow… seeing them together is pretty intense.”

 

The Users also held their breath and whispered about the meeting of these two.

 

Then, raindrops that had started falling pitter-patter flowed down my shoulders.

 

At the same time, Theorn, who had approached right in front of me, stopped.

 

He silently looked down at me with deep eyes from within his helmet.

 

A long silence continued, and unable to bear it, I spoke first.

 

“Do you have something to say?”

 

I deliberately spoke coldly and waited for his response.

 

Provocation, or perhaps a warning. I was ready to counter whatever it was.

 

But what came from his mouth was something completely unexpected.

 

“Kairen sir. Could you possibly give me just one autograph?”

 

“…What?”

 

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

 

“I’m really a huge fan of yours, sir.”

 

Theorn fidgeted with his hands and twisted his body bashfully.

 

His behavior didn’t match his build at all, leaving me speechless.

 

“Ah. I’m sorry. Meeting you like this, how presumptuous of me.”

 

Theorn bowed his head and then removed his helmet.

 

The bare face revealed was truly innocent.

 

Gentle, cow-like eyes and a soft impression.

 

Even his somewhat rustic buzz cut.

 

It could be a custom character, but I felt it intuitively.

 

This wasn’t a custom character but one based on his real face like mine.

 

“An… autograph?”

 

I asked again, wondering if I had misheard, but Theorn nodded with a bright smile.

 

“Yes, sir. I’m embarrassed to say, but I became a fan after watching your battle yesterday. It was truly inspiring.”

 

“…Thank you.”

 

An innocent face that didn’t match his intimidating build.

 

Plus his overly polite way of speaking.

 

Everything was hard to adjust to.

 

However, I didn’t sense any pretense.

 

As if he was genuinely impressed, he kept chattering away.

 

“I watched the video too, and I really got goosebumps all over. I’m ignorant so I just fight with my body, but you fight so thoroughly…”

 

Watching him continuously pour out praise without rest, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

 

How should I put it. He seemed like a really gentle person.

 

I didn’t sense any falsehood in his actions and speech.

 

I thought this must be the kind of character needed to become a ranker without karma.

 

“You were excellent too, Theorn sir.”

 

I had caught a glimpse of his performance in yesterday’s battle.

 

How many bandits had their heads smashed by that massive hammer?

 

Certainly, he too possessed something powerful that overcame level differences.

 

“Oh no. Not at all. All I know how to do is use brute force.”

 

Theorn waved his hands dismissively with an embarrassed smile, then made another subtle request.

 

“Sir. So about that autograph…”

 

“I’m sorry. I don’t really have anything like an autograph.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Theorn let out a short sigh of disappointment.

 

Then he clenched his fists, squeezed his eyes shut, and shouted.

 

“Sir! Then could we at least add each other as friends!”

 

“I’m sorry. That probably won’t work either.”

 

When I refused flatly, Theorn’s innocent eyes shook mercilessly.

 

His eyes looked like they might burst into tears at any moment, which was quite cute.

 

“…Yes. I understand.”

 

Theorn turned around with his shoulders drooping in disappointment.

 

His pitiful back view was heartbreaking, but it couldn’t be helped.

 

He seemed like a good person, but I was the Monster Lord, enemy of all humanity.

 

I couldn’t so easily let someone get close to me.

 

* * *

 

Even as the drizzle turned into a downpour, the subjugation force moved forward.

 

Rain pouring from the gray sky roughly pounded the earth as if trying to wash away all the colors of the world.

 

“Ah. This is really the worst.”

 

“My shoes are all soaked.”

 

“Is rain really coming in through my armor?”

 

Complaints erupted from everywhere, and the marching speed slowed significantly.

 

The sticky mud grabbed at ankles, and the cold seeping through armor gaps gnawed at the subjugation force’s morale.

 

The heat that had risen high from yesterday’s victory cooled helplessly under the cold rain.

 

“It’s gotten too spread out.”

 

I muttered while looking at the formation stretched out like a snake.

 

The gap between the front and rear was too long.

 

Allen seemed conscious of this too and worked hard to encourage them, but not only the Users but even the soldiers had their shoulders slumped.

 

Moreover, the rain grew even more intense.

 

“Damn it! Seriously!”

 

“Give it a rest already!”

 

In the downpour so heavy it was hard to distinguish what was right in front of them, Users poured angry curses at the sky.

 

But soon even that anger was swallowed by the downpour.

 

Allen’s shouts were drowned out by the sound of rain and couldn’t be heard.

 

The world was full of discord.

 

The sound of rain falling on armor.

 

Thunder that seemed to tear the sky apart.

 

The sound of fierce wind as if seeking revenge.

 

The squelching footsteps and clanking metal sounds of those walking together.

 

That’s why he failed to notice.

 

The sound of those filled with deep resentment wailing from underground.

 

“…!”

 

In an instant, feeling a strong force grabbing his ankle, he quickly looked down.

 

Then, he saw skeletal fingers jutting up from the muddy ground, gripping his ankle.

 

“…@#!”

 

“#!^@!”

 

At the same time, incomprehensible screams from Users, buried in various discordant sounds, brushed past his ears.

 

Crack!

 

He crushed the white hand gripping his ankle with his other foot and hastily surveyed his surroundings.

 

“After bandits, now undead….”

 

He gripped his bow while watching the enemies that emerged writhing from the ground.

 

Skeletons, zombies, and wraiths.

 

Various undead rose up, emanating their presence.

 

“What a murderous atmosphere.”

 

Gray skies that let in not a single ray of sunlight.

 

Vision blurred by the fiercely pounding rain.

 

Undead appearing in such circumstances.

 

Even a decent horror movie couldn’t be scarier than this.

 

Even so.

 

Even amid the instinct-striking terror.

 

Laughter emerged.

 

His interest that had been dampened by the weather and monsters disappeared.

 

In the midst of all this, new monsters not found in his territory had appeared.

 

Now was the perfect opportunity to welcome new territory residents.

 

“Aaaaah! Save me!!”

 

Even at the User’s screams piercing through the downpour, Kairen’s lips twisted upward in a pleasant manner.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————