Chapter 214

"Then I'll leave it to you! If you can put an end to this crisis, I'll give you everything I have!"

Kaiserk V was desperate.

The Märchen Kingdom was on the brink of collapse.

To save his kingdom, he was even prepared to sell his soul.

In fact, before Jeong-hoon's regression, Kaiserk V had made a pact with a demon in an attempt to prevent the fall of Märchen.

As a result, the kingdom was able to hold on for nearly two more years, but due to the pact's repercussions, all the survivors were corrupted and ultimately dragged into hell.

'It wasn't just Kaiserk V. There were many others who couldn't bear to watch the kingdom fall.'

Like Kaiserk V, Ragan also sacrificed his soul to gain power and remained until the end, one of the few who fought to protect the Märchen Kingdom.

"It's time to put an end to this once and for all."

Jeong-hoon fiddled with the Guardian of Märchen hanging from his ear.

The Guardian of Märchen, personally bestowed upon him by Kaiserk V.

[Guardian of Märchen]

- Type: Earring

- Grade: Epic

- Special Ability (1): When the earring's magic is activated, it increases the activation probability of one selected attack skill by 4% for 1 hour. (Cooldown: 12 hours)

- Special Ability (2): When the earring's magic is activated, it increases the wearer's attack power by 4% for 1 hour. (Cooldown: 12 hours)

- (The grade increases and hidden abilities are unlocked when the accessory set is completed.)

The Guardian of Märchen was an epic-grade item.

Some might think of it as a ridiculously overpowered epic accessory, but the problem lay in unlocking its hidden abilities.

'To unlock that, I need to collect the entire set of accessories.'

However, there was no explanation regarding which accessories were part of the set.

That was understandable.

The items needed to activate the set effect were not yet revealed back then.

This was why Jeong-hoon hadn't actively sought out the set.

"Alright, let's head out."

Jeong-hoon made his way to an unnamed mountain to the east of the kingdom.

But to reach the mountain, he first had to eliminate the red portals.

[There are too many monsters nearby.]

[You cannot proceed to the next area until all red portals in this zone are removed.]

"They just keep coming endlessly."

The early special dungeon episodes were generally on the easier side in terms of difficulty.

However, the Märchen Kingdom episode was notorious for its extreme difficulty.

That was because it was part of the collection.

Jeong-hoon summoned back Fenrir and Michael, whom he had previously sent away.

"Yes, master."

"Are we hunting monsters again?"

The ever-polite Fenrir and the quick-to-catch-on Michael.

Jeong-hoon pointed to the red portal.

"We're eliminating that portal again. You understand what that means, right?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry! I'll clear out the monsters with my junior!"

"Junior?"

Jeong-hoon tilted his head in confusion.

Jeong-hoon quickly realized that by "junior," Michael was referring to Fenrir.

He noticed Fenrir's face scrunching up in frustration.

Regardless, Michael summoned spirits with a bright smile on his face.

"Of course! He joined after me, so he's the junior, right?"

"Well, technically, that's true."

"...Master, this is so unfair. I've lived far longer than him. How can I be his junior?"

Fenrir, looking crestfallen, complained to Jeong-hoon.

In his heart, he wanted to rip Michael apart, but as a fellow subordinate, he couldn't act on those impulses. Instead, he hoped Jeong-hoon would make the final decision.

"Sorry, but we follow the order of entry around here."

Unfair as it might be, rules were necessary to maintain order and hierarchy.

"Master! That's an incredibly wise decision!" Michael beamed, while Fenrir's face twisted in displeasure.

It was a moment where joy and frustration collided.

"Alright, let's get started."

There wasn't time to waste talking—they needed to eliminate as many portals as possible.

As Jeong-hoon approached a portal, monsters poured out.

'Lightning Bolt.'

He led with a spell he didn't often use.

Bzzzzzt!

Against enemies of a similar level, this spell wouldn't have caused much damage, but for Jeong-hoon, these creatures were like fodder.

"Kaeeeek!"

The monsters that poured out convulsed as they were electrocuted.

Jeong-hoon cut them down with Leviathan and entered the portal.

* * *

"This can't be...."

Ragan muttered in disbelief.

Behind him, the knights looked around with expressions that were half amazement, half admiration.

The capital, once filled with red portals.

Because of those cursed portals, the capital had been laid to waste in an instant.

Yet now, not a single red portal could be seen.

"It appears they've all been eradicated."

"Haha... How could someone manage to clear out so many on their own...?"

After Jeong-hoon departed, Ragan led the knights in a search, only to discover that every portal in the capital had been destroyed.

"Commander, could he really be the savior the prophecy spoke of?"

There was an ancient prophecy passed down through legend.

It foretold that a great crisis would befall the Märchen Kingdom, and in that time, a savior would appear to deliver them from it.

Since the prophecy came from Brahman, the greatest seer of the era, the king hadn't taken it lightly and passed it down like a final will.

Though the prophecy had reached the ears of many, no one had ever seriously believed in it.

But now, the prophecy seemed to be coming true.

"If peace returns to the kingdom..."

Ragan gulped.

Jeong-hoon wasn't just a benefactor; he was the savior of Märchen.

"Is it even possible...? The capital may be calm for now, but what about elsewhere...?"

At the knight's words, everyone's faces darkened.

While the damage in the capital was severe, it was likely far worse in other regions. In the worst-case scenario, smaller territories might have no survivors at all.

"For now, our best option is to trust Hoon," Ragan reminded the knights once again.

Jeong-hoon had made himself clear before he left.

'Do not leave the capital. Understand?'

After witnessing him eliminate all the red portals, how could they not trust his words?

Even Emperor Kaiserk V had no choice but to nod in agreement, along with everyone else.

There were at least three, sometimes up to five, red portals per zone.

[You have cleared the boss monster.]

[The Blood Ogres have all been annihilated.]

Once all the portals in an area were cleared, Jeong-hoon could move on to the next.

After several hours of relentless portal destruction, he arrived at the Palesman Barony. This barony marked the eastern edge of the Märchen Kingdom.

"Plenty of them here, too."

The barony was completely devastated, with not a single intact structure in sight.

While the capital had its knights to fight off monsters and hold the line, the barony had no such forces capable of doing the same.

Or rather, almost none.

As Jeong-hoon sliced through the monsters, he made his way toward the half-ruined castle.

"Come forth."

There, a towering old man was swinging his sword, mercilessly cutting down monsters.

His sword was even coated in a distinct sword aura, clear and sharp.

'Caryan.'

He was none other than Caryan, the man who had handed the Dark Lord's Memoirs to Hajin.

Originally, Caryan had retired and was serving as the warden of the royal prison. After passing the memoirs to Hajin, he even quit that position.

Emperor Kaiserk V had attempted to grant him a title, but Caryan adamantly refused. Still, the emperor wasn't one to back down easily, and in the end, Caryan reluctantly accepted the baronial title.

"I should lend a hand."

Jeong-hoon used Lightning Bolt to electrocute the monsters closing in on Caryan.

"Hmm?!"

Startled, Caryan turned his head toward the source of the magic.

His eyes met Jeong-hoon's.

'Long time no see.'

Jeong-hoon greeted him with a smile and a nod.

Caryan tilted his head in confusion.

'Who are you?'

His expression seemed to be asking that exact question.

It was understandable—Caryan had met Hajin after he became the Dark Lord, not Jeong-hoon.

'Let's deal with them first.'

Jeong-hoon gestured toward the monsters with his chin, and Caryan nodded in agreement.

The slaughter resumed.

After the battle ended, Jeong-hoon approached Caryan, who was clearly exhausted.

[You use Advanced Healing.]

Jeong-hoon said this while casting advanced healing on Caryan.

"...Who are you?"

Expert in swordsmanship and capable of healing too—Caryan quickly realized that this man was the same foreigner who had once aided the Märchen Kingdom.

"I've come to help."

"I see... how is the capital?"

"The damage is severe. However, His Majesty the King is safe."

"...That's a relief."

Caryan let out a sigh of relief. With so many monsters, even defending a single castle was proving difficult. In such a situation, making it back to the capital seemed impossible.

"Are you the last survivor, Baron?"

"No, including me, there are nine survivors. The other eight are inside."

Caryan pointed toward the castle.

"I see. Are there any wounded?"

"Two are gravely injured."

"Please, lead me inside. I'll treat them."

"Is that true?!"

Caryan's face lit up with hope.

"Yes. It's fortunate there are survivors."

Jeong-hoon had passed through four other territories before reaching here, but tragically, there had been no survivors. The fact that people were still alive here was a testament to Caryan's efforts.

"Thank you! Come inside, quickly!"

"Of course."

Leaving Fenrir and Michael outside, Jeong-hoon followed Caryan into the castle. The castle was in ruins, with hardly any intact rooms left, but there was a small area still habitable. The survivors had gathered there.

"Only eight..."

There were eight survivors: the head butler, three maids, and a family of three who lived near the castle. The two wounded were the parents from the family.

"...The sudden earthquake and monster attacks prevented me from saving anyone else. I barely managed to save these few in time," Caryan explained, his expression filled with regret.

Jeong-hoon nodded and approached the two wounded.

'Their condition is quite serious.'

The two parents had sustained severe external injuries, barely staying alive thanks to potions. Their young child, no more than three years old, clung tightly to the mother.

'I can save them.'

Though the wounds were severe, repeated use of advanced healing would be enough to heal them.

[You use Advanced Healing.]

Jeong-hoon continuously cast advanced healing on both of them. It wasn't until he felt his divine energy depleting that he finally finished their treatment.

"Th-thank you!"

"Truly, thank you so much!"

The two, who had been groaning in pain just moments ago, now felt at ease. They bowed deeply to Jeong-hoon in gratitude.

"Impressive... I never imagined you could heal such injuries."

Caryan was astonished, almost in disbelief. Over the years, he had encountered countless priests, but he had never met anyone capable of such powerful healing.

"I'm glad to see you're better. The child must have been very worried," Jeong-hoon said with a smile, gently patting the young child's head before standing up.

"I'm truly grateful. Without you, we wouldn't have lasted much longer."

His gratitude was genuine. It was challenging to face so many monsters alone; just surviving this long was a feat in itself.

"Not at all. But, Caryan, I have something I need to discuss with you."

"Oh, of course. Follow me to my room."

Quick to catch on, Caryan led Jeong-hoon to a private room where they could talk without interruption. Once they were alone, Jeong-hoon revealed what he had been preparing to say.

"I want to put an end to this crisis."

"You mean the monsters pouring out?"

"Yes."

"......Is that even possible?!"

A glimmer of hope sparkled in Caryan's eyes.

"Yes. However, I will need your assistance to do so."

"My help? Just tell me what you need!"

"I need the key to the Cursed Forest."

The Cursed Forest was a place sealed away due to an incident during the reign of Kaiserk I. It was cursed and off-limits to everyone. Access required two keys—one held solely by the king, and the other kept in the possession of the Palasman Barony.