Episode 307
[It’s been a long time.]
Asmodeus in front of me opened his mouth.
You have to forget it so you can’t forget it.
It was a voice like scraping metal.
What should I be afraid of?
“okay. A long time.”
Taehyun was greeted casually.
[….]
“….”
Two pairs of red eyes met in silence.
While exploring Asmodeus, I also used my brain to figure out Hazard’s intentions.
‘They said they would give me a reward.’
beast of prey.
No, I threw it in front of a guy who couldn’t even be compared to something like that.
Like a trainer who intentionally starts a fight.
He is a Hazard whose power is second to none among anti-aircrafters.
Even though he hasn’t shown his full power yet.
With just the power he’s shown so far, it wouldn’t be difficult to subdue both Taehyun and Asmodeus at once.
But why?
‘Did you make this a troublesome thing?’
Brief encounters and clues began to tangle in my mind.
‘Hazard places the highest priority on the safety of the dragon race.’
He is in an awkward position between the King of the Upper World, who wants to erase his origins, and the King of the Lower World, who wants to use it as his own power.
He said he would follow the King of the Underworld.
‘I guess I haven’t made up my mind yet.’
Otherwise, he may be planning to make up his mind after checking the performance of the two keys.
It wouldn’t be a bad choice for her anyway.
‘You’re too greedy.’
Unlike simple Orgal or Typhon,
it is like looking at an old politician.
But whatever.
‘Now we have to deal with this guy first.’
In the uncomfortable air current, Taehyun’s red eyes glanced at Asmodeus.
Two horns.
Forked tail.
A pair of wings sticking out from behind the back.
Although its appearance was close to that of a demon race, its outer skin had the scales of a dragon race.
Although he was born as a demon race, he seemed to have acquired the strong body of a dragon race through the power of Baal.
Taehyun, who was a porter in his previous life, didn’t know this, but now he knew how much that fact went beyond common sense.
Combining the strengths of two races.
‘A new species.’
If he had a clan, he might have become the king of that place and waged a turf war.
With that absurd thought in mind, I looked into the guy’s red eyes.
I imagined the same thing hundreds of times.
It has been embodied in dreams dozens of times.
‘I thought I could keep my cool the next time we meet.’
It wasn’t.
As I remembered the miserable end of my previous life, it wasn’t as easy as I thought.
‘Predation. Should I do it?’
It was when Taehyun was thinking like that and not letting down his guard.
Asmodeus also ended his search.
[Hehehe.]
The guy suddenly let out a dark laugh.
“….”
I quietly waited for his next words.
[human. Taehyun Kim. Bugs have become incomparable to what they were back then.]
“Do you still have memories?”
Through Rosaria, we know that Asmodeus has memories from before his return.
Nevertheless, when I actually confirmed the fact through the person involved, I felt strange.
An enemy who took his life in his past life, and a comrade who returned together.
It may be because of such complex emotions.
[Rosaria. Did you hear that from that damn bitch?]
“Think for yourself. Was it the key to the King of Sanggye back then?”
Taehyun, who did not feel the need to share information, asked back.
[Should I say that?]
Just like Taehyun said.
Asmodeus answered without the slightest hesitation.
From the gloomy tone to the voice scraping metal.
He was and still is a bad guy.
“I was just asking. “Monster.”
Taehyun shrugged his shoulders as if he wasn’t expecting anything.
[Hoo. It’s hard to think of it as a bug back then. Was the power you gained quite sweet?]
“There is a proverb in New Korea that even an earthworm squirms if you step on it.”
I don’t think Asmodeus will even understand the proverbs of New Korea.
Nevertheless, why am I saying this?
[Yes, it’s just a bug.]
This is to find out the same reaction.
‘Oman.’
Even though he knows that Taehyun can use the power of the highest species.
Even though I know that that power comes from the Underworld King and Rosaria.
‘I guess they’re still looking at me funny.’
There may be numerous reasons.
The biggest reason is probably because he remembers Taehyun crying from his past life.
The corner of Asmodeus’ mouth went up when he read Taehyun’s eyes.
[Because I was chosen by the King of the Underworld. [Because I signed a contract with Rosaria.]
Asmodeus took a step towards Taehyeon.
The spirit he had been controlling was unleashed.
That alone made me feel the same pressure as when I was facing at least five top-tier species.
‘This guy is still injured?’
Once again, I realized that this guy had been searching for the archdukes and waging battle.
[Tell me. How dare you think that a bug like you is the same as me?]
“Well. “You’ll find out when you check.”
[If you trust Rosaria and nitpick…]
“You could be trusting Hazard and nitpicking.”
[….]
I was silent for a moment due to Taehyun’s pun.
[Did he join hands with Hazard?]
“That’s why I came here.”
Smirk.
Taehyun raised the corners of his mouth and showed his utmost composure.
I was planning to drive a wedge between the two and completely separate them.
Eeeeeeee.
‘Hazard. ‘I’ll make you regret putting me here.’
at that time.
Sigh.
The corners of Asmodeus’ mouth rose.
[Then there is no reason to keep you alive here.]
“Can you do it?”
Taehyun and Asmodeus raised their magic power at the same time.
* * *
Hunting Asmodeus.
That was one of Taehyun’s goals after returning.
At first it was simply out of revenge.
The moment of death that I had dreamed of countless times immediately after returning.
I really wanted to overcome that nightmare completely.
But I learn the secret of the world.
I also learned the secret of the Abyss.
A constant racial war between the upper and lower worlds.
That he was the one chosen by the King of the Lower World to end the war, and that Asmodeus was also given a similar role by the King of the Upper World.
In this way, Taehyun’s vague desire for revenge became a cold reality.
War continues until one side is defeated.
There was no grand sense of mission.
At least I had to meet the person who made the regression happen.
This is because I believe that only by checking if there is any risk of regression and what the true intention is, will Taehyun be able to live his own life.
Someday, I will have to risk my life to clash with Asmodeus.
“That’s not today.”
Taehyun quietly poured out his sincerity.
It’s not because I’m not confident in winning.
The stage just wasn’t good.
As a result, only Hazzard getting the two keys will be a good thing.
Only then did the puzzles floating around in my head come together.
‘I understand now.’
Why did Hazard create this current situation?
What does Hazzard, caught between two kings, want to test?
‘Racial war after the turf war.’
What reaction will occur when the two keys that will determine the future direction meet?
What effect that reaction could have on the Balaur.
‘I want to check it now.’
So far, contrary to Hazard’s expectations, no reaction has occurred.
‘It’s a clash of keys… Predation should not be used carelessly.’
It is best to reduce risk as much as possible.
If you crash and get captured for no reason, it won’t be worthwhile to come here.
It seemed like Taehyun wasn’t the only one who had such thoughts.
[That head doesn’t seem to be a decoration.]
Asmodeus suddenly calmed down.
“There’s a good expression: insight.”
Taehyun also stayed far away from the guy, maintaining only the minimum level of magical power.
I sat down in a suitable spot and channeled the magic power within my body.
It’s not like there aren’t potions and scrolls on the belt and in the arms.
First of all, I think it would be better to save it as much as possible.
Asmodeus chuckled at the sight of Taehyun controlling his magical power while sitting cross-legged.
Soon he sat down and adopted a similar attitude to Taehyun.
Instead of fighting as Hazard had intended, he decided to hold out.
[It wasn’t a wasted effort.]
He had in his eyes the image of Taehyun that he would have to deal with someday.
I also know very well that the King of Sanggye is trying to eliminate the dragon race.
But the goal given to him.
He just wanted to meet with at least one more Grand Duke in order to lead the race war to victory.
Now that I knew what Hazard’s intentions were, there was no reason to stay here any longer.
He’s a fun guy.
How could he calmly control the mana of a subject who was killed by him?
It was Asmodeus who belatedly became interested in Taehyun.
In a little while, the analysis of the magic power of this rare will be completed.
Then, you can escape from this place with the power of the King of Sanggye.
Taehyun also had similar thoughts.
I planned to use the ‘Apostle of the Gate’ to escape as soon as my magic power was restored.
but.
[….]
“….”
No matter who goes first.
Taehyun and Asmodeus’ red eyes scanned the surroundings.
“I think Hazard thinks a little differently.”
After saying that, Taehyun relaxed his lotus position and stood up.
A huge cavity located inside the lair.
There were definitely only two people there.
The dragons radiating fighting spirit had entered.
* * *
‘Are they all pureblood?’
Seven old men, each with a different hair color.
That hair color caught my eye.
Among them, there were some familiar faces.
Ancient-level pureblood.
Blue Dragon Bordeaux.
The remaining six are also showing as much momentum as Bordeaux.
It was said that they were the highest-ranking members of Hazard.
Taehyun’s thoughts were not wrong.
They are all elders of the seven dragon clans.
Although they were one step below Bordeaux, the head of the Blue Dragon, they each had power comparable to that of Erebos.
In other words, it was surrounded by seven or more Erebos.
‘Why now?’
It’s time for Taehyun to ask such questions.
[Fight.]
Bordeaux said as if commanding.
Taehyun and Asmodeus quietly waited for the next words.
[Fight for your life. The Lord wants it.]
“….”
[….]
This is a ridiculous command.
“The compensation seems unreasonable.”
Taehyun laughed at that situation.
Asmodeus was the same.
A sound like scraping metal came out between the guy’s teeth as he shook his body.
and.
Crrrrr.
Black magic overflowed from Asmodeus’ body.
It was the power I saw in Rosaria’s memories.
[I feel like Hazard is soft. I’m just trying to test my strength with you guys.]
Asmodeus chuckled and his red eyes flashed.
The seven dragons also flashed their red eyes and unleashed their magical powers.
[Asmodeus. A mongrel and the like speak with their dirty mouths.]
[The Lord’s orders are absolute.]
[Didn’t I tell you? They won’t obey you easily.]
[If you do that, you’ll have to force them into submission.]
[Don’t let down your guard. The Lord is watching.]
[Is that person the one who hunted Kaiselin?]
[It’s a family matter. I, Chronis, will be in charge of the humans.]
They chatted among themselves and showed off their spirit.
All kinds of ambition weighed down the huge cavity.
All kinds of ominous message windows appeared before my eyes.
But even for a moment.
[It’s been a while since I chewed decent meat.]
Crrrrr.
Black magic exploded from Asmodeus’ body and the atmosphere changed.
At the same time, the old people turned into the main body one by one.
In an instant, the breath and spirit of the six dragons were aimed at Asmodeus.
The vacant lot turned into a battlefield.
and.
[You are mine.]
The battlefield in the back seems uninteresting.
The red-haired old man walked towards Taehyun and said.
“Red dragon. “They say you have an eccentric personality?”
There was no change in the old man’s expression despite Taehyun’s words.
[This is Chronis, the elder of the Red clan. You said you hunted a child of the clan?]
“It’s hunting.”
[Where is the child’s skin? I will decide the disposition based on your answer.]
Arrogance as if he were the judge.
Unlike the serious situation on the battlefield.
I burst into laughter.
“It’s leather… there’s no way a guy who got eaten with his bones would leave something like that behind.”
[What…?]
Tiring.
[Skill Apocalypse (SSS) has been activated. The target has been identified.]
“I’ll eat you too.”
