Chapter 526
My master is out.
There’s no way he’d be on the same side as me.
Andrea couldn’t be trusted at some point either.
It’d be pointless to even mention Goguma or Undine and the rest of the summons and spirit beasts.
For some reason, these guys didn’t seem to remember all the times I’d treated them well… their eyes were filled with venom.
‘This is why you shouldn’t let them get too comfortable…. Next time, I won’t go soft and will act a little more ruthlessly.’
In the end, the final candidate was….
Sssk!
“Lord!”
Wolyoung appeared using [Shadowstep: Mortal Slash].
A comrade who maintains his convictions no matter how many carrots you dangle in front of him.
Wolyoung stood by Jinhyuk’s side as if to protect him.
“Have you been well?”
“I’m doing fine, but… Lord, you always seem to have it rough.”
“Somehow it just turned out that way. More importantly, can I ask you to watch my back? I know it’s a lot to ask, but right now, you’re the only one I can trust.”
Chun Yoosung, Alice… soon Teresa and the other members would show up one after another.
Facing those crazed enemies alone would be almost suicidal.
Even so.
‘Whew. If I don’t protect you, who will, Lord.’
The sullen look on his face was the most complaint he could express.
‘I’ll have to find him a good bride later.’
He’s so gentle that I worry someone might snatch him away.
“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”
Jinhyuk quietly hid himself, leaving his back to Wolyoung.
Fortunately, Alice and Chun Yoosung were too busy biting at each other to pay much attention to this side.
—
On the floating stone glowing with a unique purple light.
Step.
Someone approached Rick, who was overseeing the event.
It was Bendivia, one of the upper managers and a representative of the Dark Elf race.
Beside him stood another upper manager, Baskerville.
As the elder of the plant-type race, Life Seed, various plants sprouted wherever Baskerville walked.
“Oh! You’ve arrived?”
Rick welcomed the two managers warmly.
However, despite Rick’s greeting, Bendivia and Baskerville’s expressions were dark.
No, it went beyond mere discomfort—they were brimming with intense vigilance.
“Hmph…. So you’re not here to chat about the event. Nor does it seem like you’re here to share news about a new upper manager.”
“Rick.”
Bendivia spoke in a heavy tone.
“Please speak.”
“What exactly are you?”
“I’m not sure what you’re asking, but… by any chance.”
Before Rick could finish answering.
Snap!
A dark-colored shortbow appeared in Bendivia’s hand.
Not even noticing the arrow being nocked.
The arrow, nocked as naturally as flowing water, vanished even faster.
It didn’t follow a parabolic trajectory—it leaped through dimensions, a true sniper shot.
A black arrow appeared right next to Rick’s temple.
Even a deity wouldn’t be able to avoid such a surprise attack.
But.
Boom!
The arrow bounced off a silver staff.
“So, you’re not an ordinary mid-level manager.”
“Is it not enough that you attacked me out of nowhere, now you’re making wild accusations? I only counterattacked to save my life.”
“Shut up! I already know you met with the 50th floor. I thought only Hastings made shady deals, but to think you were behind the upper manager….”
“That means you only recently started suspecting me… strange. Hastings doesn’t know about me.”
Rick continued with a strange smile.
“There’s no way Nyarlathotep would mess around on both sides, so… is it the Sleeper Owl? Ha. That one’s a troublesome being in every way.”
“……”
At the unexpected name, Bendivia fell silent.
Rick took the silence as confirmation.
“I see. I’ll have to ask you a few questions as well.”
“Questions? To us, you dare!”
“Enough, Bendivia. There’s no need to react to every little thing. We can interrogate him after subduing him.”
Baskerville raised his palm.
Rumble!
The floating stone cracked and thick vines started sprouting through the gaps.
Rather than trying to kill him, their intent was to capture and interrogate him.
[Baskerville activates Unique Ability: Endless!]
The eternal cycle of life and death.
As new plants bloomed among the existing ones, the entire area turned lush and green.
The plants—possessing simultaneous effects of [hallucination], [sleep], and [relaxation]—made it difficult to endure just by being near them.
At the same time, Bendivia nocked a new arrow.
Crunch!
The shortbow transformed into a longbow, and black flames rose continuously from the five arrows.
“I’m going in.”
“Alright.”
Bendivia and Baskerville simultaneously unleashed their mana.
And at that moment.
“If there’s no other way.”
Rick pressed down on his fedora.
Fzzzzt…!
A purple spark erupted at that very moment.
An indescribable, ominous energy pressed down on the entire floating stone.
Thud!
Bendivia and Baskerville unconsciously dropped to one knee.
The overwhelming pressure had already erased any abilities they’d manifested.
“Kh….”
“What the hell is this….”
It was all they could do just to endure it.
No, even moving a finger, or simply breathing, was nearly impossible.
A truly overwhelming difference.
They had been going all-out, knowing that Rick was even more dangerous than Hastings….
‘And even that wasn’t enough.’
It was beyond their expectations for two upper managers to be subdued without being able to put up a fight.
“If things had gone quietly, this wouldn’t have happened. What a shame.”
Rick’s voice had changed completely.
The gentle, warm tone was gone.
Only a cold, merciless air remained.
Fzzzt!
Purple sparks scattered in all directions once again.
“Aaaagh!”
“Ugh!”
Agonizing pain devoured their entire bodies.
But then.
Vmmm!
[A 12-star Grand Barrier ‘Limit Access’ has been activated!]
A golden light connected Bendivia and Baskerville.
A power that can only be used when two or more upper managers are present.
A force to defend the dignity of the managers fiercely resisted Rick’s mana.
“Oh. So you’re still capable of struggling. I see you didn’t become upper managers for nothing.”
Rick let out a genuine exclamation.
“I know you’re no ordinary foe. But it won’t be easy for you to take on us while we’re using [Limit Access]. Baskerville!”
“Understood!”
The two upper managers activated their unique holy spears.
[Bendivia activates Unique Holy Spear – Retaliation of Black Iron!]
[Baskerville activates Unique Holy Spear – Flower of Life!]
A giant plant and a wave of black arrows surged forth.
A storm of mana, drawn to the utmost limit, began to flood the area.
But Rick still held his staff with an expressionless face.
Tap… tap. Tap!
Just three taps on the ground was enough to respond.
[Rick Hennessy activates Transformation Ability: Primordial Tentacles.]
Purple tentacles rose from beneath Rick’s feet.
“As the event organizer, I have to see this through. Sorry, but I’ll finish this as quickly as possible.”
Boom boom boom boom boom!
Another battle broke out inside the floating stone.
* * *
Boom!
“Heh heh heh! Just give up now. You’re a rat in a trap.”
“Master! Please, just…!”
The Dark Emperor and Jinhyuk faced off with a boulder between them.
[Time limit 0h : 2m : 54s]
Only three minutes left.
They’d fought each other so much, and Wolyoung had managed to draw attention well.
But now, near the end, a huge obstacle appeared.
“Your movements have improved.”
In front was the Dark Emperor.
“The chance of escape is less than 0.2%. Yup.”
To the left was Frey.
“Hey, Spirit Special Forces! Don’t lose sight of the master!”
“Might as well enjoy 24 hours of happiness before dying anyway.”
“Yeah, right, boss?”
“Mogiii!”
“Everyone be quiet, my head hurts.”
On the right, Goguma and the rest of the spirit beasts had formed a tight blockade.
If I turned around, I could feel Alice’s massive mana coming from that direction.
It was a real dilemma.
Jinhyuk glanced at the cliff, the only possible escape route.
Only a few can fly.
No matter how muscular my master is, I doubt he’d jump from this height.
It had to be several kilometers down, at least.
…There’s only one shot at this.
I had to escape from here with my best getaway move.
Jinhyuk poured all his mana into a single breath.
The new power he’d gained shone along his feet.
[Unique Holy Spear – Down Fall has been activated!]
An ability that lets the user become a giant meteor and fall.
With Down Fall, I could soar straight into the sky and escape this place.
Of course, there’d be no second chance against these sly foxes….
But once would be enough.
More than enough.
But just before [Down Fall] fully activated.
[Deity ‘Howling Thunder’ manifests!]
A blue thunderbolt struck down from the sky.
The thunderbolt landed squarely in Jinhyuk’s intended path.
Boom!
A god wielding Mjolnir with a massive frame.
“Can the protagonist leave already?”
“He’s supposed to stick with us for 24 hours.”
“So you were hoping for a twist at the end? Too bad.”
Beside him stood Berial and Anubis as well.
Damn it.
Nothing ever goes smoothly until the end.
No, more than that….
“There’s only supposed to be one winner. Why did the three of you form an alliance?”
It’s not like you can split up the prize—why make an alliance?
“That’s nothing for you to worry about. First, we’ll capture you, then divide up the time equally among ourselves.”
Ah….
If that’s the case, I have nothing to say.
The moment I realized why these greedy people were getting along so well.
“Now, just give up quietly. Even you can’t last a minute against all of us.”
Not even ten seconds would be easy.
Yeah. He’s right.
He’s right, but….
“I still have one last trump card left.”
“Oh? A trump card?”
Thor’s lips curled ever so slightly.
He looked genuinely interested, wondering if I was bluffing or if I really had something.
“Alright, everyone watching, help me out now. I can’t promise anything big in return, but I’ll remember this favor.”
Jinhyuk muttered into the air.
“Ha! Who are you calling for help? Everyone here is desperate to catch you….”
Thor’s laughter didn’t last long.
[The mid-sized faction ‘Bedramium’ nods at your request.]
[The mid-sized faction ‘Chiwoo’ responds to your request.]
[The mid-sized faction ‘Evening of the Incas’ moves without hesitation.]
[The mid-sized faction ‘Raw Stone of the Mud Doll’….]
Countless factions responded.
They didn’t need any grand conditions.
Just earning Jinhyuk’s favor.
And, having just helped stop the Olympian massacre, that alone was reason enough for them to be here.