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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Krokbane, the Dragon-Human Knight
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"Phew~ This pisses me off. Seriously, no answers anywhere?"
After sending Yoo Seongwon off, Nam Gukjin headed to the smoking area outside the association building and let out a deep sigh while lighting up a cigarette with his guildmates.
From their investigation, this whole mess looked like nothing but a disgrace to their guild, no matter how they sliced it.
There was no way around it—they had to chalk it up to the young master recklessly charging in out of arrogance and getting himself killed.
"The young master chased after that guy earlier out of jealousy and ended up as prey for the Scavengers, right?"
"Yeah. The CCTV footage lines up, and he was singing about wanting to bang Baekya's Shin Ayoung~ Probably a hundred percent. The sudden exclusive staff hire was fishy too—he figured the guy was in the way of recruiting talent and decided to take him out."
They'd already mapped out all the movements and taken statements from the students at the Blue Dragon Guild office.
With meeting notes and intel-gathering hints showing they'd schemed to sabotage B-rank Awakener Shin Ayoung from getting her exclusive staff and building a proper team, denial was off the table.
"Why the hell would he go there wearing cheap generic Hunter gear~? He had a full custom order-made set from a Hephaestus-blessed artisan that anyone would kill for…"
"Probably to hide his identity. He's officially Baekya Guild exclusive staff, so causing trouble would be a massive scandal. We wear association sets for disguises sometimes too."
"Fair point. Phew~"
Once they pieced together that he'd gone in disguised with cheap gear instead of the pricey custom set they'd shelled out for, the truth came into sharp focus. It made perfect sense how he'd fallen to Demons or Scavengers.
"So we need to investigate the Scavengers and Demons after all."
Nam Gukjin stubbed out his cigarette and led his team out of the association building.
With zero red flags anywhere, they remained completely oblivious to their young master falling right into Yoo Seongwon's trap.
***
With the Blue Dragon Guild pests gone, I could finally relax, dive into dungeons, and enjoy some peaceful Awakener life.
Sure, being an Awakener wasn't my first choice, but to live easy, I had to get stronger—so today, like always, I carved through monsters.
"Kraaaaargh!"
"Oh~ Worth the maintenance."
I vertically bisected the large demon 'Flesh Slicer'—which used to require severing its leg tendons first—with a single stroke, then shook the blood off my blade like a sword master before sheathing it.
Swordplay had felt awkward at first, but now I'd fully adapted, clearing the dungeon without a hitch.
"Another honorable battle today."
[Pa-pa-pa-pa-bam-bam pa-pa-bam!]
"Hey, it's just an E-rank dungeon—no need to celebrate every time. And where's that BGM coming from?"
[I saved it while gathering intel on XTube.]
With my mental baggage lifted and me adjusted to this damn knight captain show, Seom-myeol, and Akaron, I figured it was time to summon some more knights.
Each new knight boosted not just dungeon runs but everyday convenience too.
Plus, with D-rank dungeon assaults on the horizon, I needed more manpower.
[Victory, but no honor here. Seek stronger foes.]
[Reward: None]
I waited for the reward message, only to get a no-reward notice and a nudge toward tougher enemies.
"Hmm, about what I expected."
No big surprise there.
Running X-meal E-rank dungeons with S-rank-equivalent stats spewing skills and rewards every time would've been ridiculous—and clashed with this knightly honor crap.
Easy farming isn't chivalry.
"Doesn't matter anyway. Got that level 20 reward…"
[You have reached level 20.]
[Choose your reward.]
[Knight Summon or Armament Summon or Skill Point +1]
Dungeon EXP still kicked in, so this clear bumped me to 20. Time to execute my plan.
"Alright. Let's hit that knight summon since it's here."
[You have selected 'Knight Summon.']
[Summoning a knight to aid you.]
No hesitation—I picked knight summon, and a magic circle bloomed in front of me.
Black smoke billowed from it, shaping into something solid.
This summon was to bulk up our numbers for illegal subjugations ahead.
'Wonder who'll show?'
[Dragon-Human Knight - Krokbane]
[You… are Krokbane's… master?]
"Whoa, this guy…"
What emerged was a massive dragon-human knight, covered head to toe in black scales—I had to crane my neck to look up at him.
Looking ferocious in full armor with a huge halberd in one hand, he leaned his head close and introduced himself.
"You can say no if you want. Anything you need?"
[Krokbane… wants fights… booze… food… Swear to that, and I pledge.]
"Sweet! Thanks! You got it!"
[Krokbane… pledges… as knight.]
At my agreement, he set down his massive halberd, dropped to one knee, and bowed.
Just looking at him screamed power—made me feel secure.
Simple terms too: food, booze, fights. No sweat.
"Can't exactly walk him around outside, but I'll keep my end. Here's how to enter the sanctuary."
[Got it… Krokbane sleeps fine on bare ground, master.]
Pulled a good one—lucky break.
I told him the sanctuary spell, and he vanished inside on his own.
Once Akaron was in too, I headed out of the dungeon with Seom-myeol, chatting along the way.
"Hmm, could use a healer or support type. Knights mean no ranged options, though."
"Healing can wait until after battle."
"Still… kinda worrisome."
Everything I summoned was strictly 'knights'—all pure melee fighters.
No healers, ranged DPS, or mages to fill those roles.
"Sure, magic knights or holy knights might pop up, but summoning nonstop for one is dumb…"
Better to snag unique skills myself than roll the dice.
Our current lineup could handle D-ranks easy, even B-ranks with good play.
'Not urgent—take it slow. My own weak spot compared to them is the priority…'
Yeah, the biggest issue: the captain might be the weakest link.
The summoned knights came pre-loaded with experience; I didn't.
'So train harder when there's breathing room.'
Cold assessment: I'm riding talent skills and overstats now, but bigger conflicts loom.
To win those, forge myself while there's slack.
'Not just clears—train and spar inside too. Sigh~ Why didn't I think of this sooner?'
Awakening threw me off, then chaos everywhere—no slack.
Now with some calm, I could think constructively, set real goals.
"Hmm, one more dungeon since I'm warmed up—train inside after."
Perfect sparring partners and combat tutors right here—no worries there.
All I need is will and time. To max that, I booked the next dungeon.
***
One month later.
Blue Dragon Guild, team leader conference room.
Nam Gukjin—scout lead for Team 11 and investigator on Guild Master's son Go Seongjun's disappearance and murder—briefed the team leaders and guild master on results.
"Our Scavenger and Demon probe points to Jeong Min-su, the Flesh Plunderer, as the young master's killer. Former C-rank Awakener with Cheonrajimang Guild, turned Scavenger, then offered sacrifices to Slaughter King to become an apostle Demon with a class change."
"How'd that scum target my son?"
"Paid intel from Scavengers: the day before the young master died, someone massacred a bunch in that zone. Put the local Scavengers on high alert—they even hired a Demon. Then the young master shows up in disguise Hunter gear, fight breaks out."
"Phew~ Told that fool not to underestimate low-rank Awakeners…"
B-rank with Blue Dragon constellation direct class, plus heir gear funded by daddy's wallet—he lacked experience, but shouldn't fold to average Demons.
"Yes. Had he worn his custom gear, or if no incident spooked the Scavengers into hiring Demons, he'd have lived."
"…What's done is done. So Jeong Min-su's the blood debt, but who killed those Scavengers first?"
"No clue. They didn't know either—sicced their own Scavengers and hired the Demon to hunt the perp. Circumstantially, though…"
Click!
A photo projected on the wall.
Association records: Yoo Seongwon, F-rank Hunter, E-rank Awakener.
"This guy's a prime suspect. Let me explain. Day the Scavengers died, he cleared an E-rank in their zone. Next day, Academia CCTV shows the young master tailing him to Nature Spirit Guild."
"So he lured him in?"
"Yes. Ties everything neat. F-rank Hunter clears E-dungeon, overhears nearby Scavenger clash, bolts when young master tails him next day."
One month's work cracked Yoo Seongwon's scheme wide open.
Missed that he personally offed the Scavengers, but it didn't break the logic—full picture intact.
"Demon Jeong Min-su sacrificed the young master to Slaughter King—estimated B-rank stats minimum. Grabbing the inventory custom gear bumps real threat to A+."
"Boom—instant extra A+ Demon apostle. He won't sit idle."
"Correct. Already consolidating local Scavengers, rallying Demons and Slaughter King monsters. Marching on his orders, looks like."
"Phew~"
A+ apostle Demons out-threat raid bosses.
Left unchecked, he'd snowball, menace humanity.
Human sacrifices fuel his power—thirstier for more, needs more bodies.
"Blood debt aside, eliminate before it escalates. He knows Scavenger/Demon life, guilds, association—will exploit gaps."
"Contacting other guilds and association immediately."
"And this Yoo Seongwon? Nature Spirit subcontractor, healer prestige guild…"
"Hmm…"
Go Cheonsu let out a low groan, eyeing the boring F-rank Hunter photo.
Deeply tied to his son's death, yet self-inflicted.
Pondering his fate, Go Cheonsu finally spoke.