Chapter 53
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Chapter 53: Martyr (1)
[TL/N: Just to let you guys know that the name ‘El Paume’ was the wrong name raw wise and his actual name is: ‘? ? ‘ which translates to → ‘El Pam’/’El Palm’ (whichever Spelling you want). We were using ‘El Paume’ to be same as the manhwa, but many og maple story players who read this, dm’ed me to be accurate to the raw.]
1.
For an adventurer, the unknown was the most dangerous thing.
In that sense, the Mystic Gate was the most dangerous place for an adventurer.
Yet, adventurers ventured beyond the Mystic Gate because of one belief.
“There’s nothing more difficult than the Gate’s rating.”
The Mystic Gate had a rating system.
“No matter how difficult the Orange rank is, Yellow rank-gate monsters won’t appear.”
And the Mystic Gate had never betrayed that belief.
That was why Captain Kyrin and other renowned adventurers, heroes, and leaders of great powers like the Nautilus could venture into the Mystic Gate.
They were confident they wouldn’t die as long as that rule existed.
However, there were beings who could break that rule.
‘Martyrs.’
These beings could change the difficulty within the Mystic Gate through martyrdom.
They could strengthen or evolve monsters, inflict zombie curses, and so on.
They caused things that shouldn’t happen at that rank.
Their purpose was simple.
‘A scheme created by the Black Mage’s followers to kill adventurers.’
To eliminate adventurers.
It wasn’t strange.
The Mystic Gate itself was a trap created by the Black Mage’s followers for his resurrection.
A trap designed to annihilate all adventurers, resistance, knights, and hunters in the world to prevent a repeat of the Six Heroes sealing the Black Mage!
That’s why they designed it.
They laid bait and created rules. That way, adventurers would be able to adventure.
While doing so, they created the existence of Martyrs who could break those rules.
Koong!
The 10-meter tall giant swamp mud monster approaching the El Pam party was the result of a Martyr’s martyrdom.
They created a monster that could never appear in an Orange rank Mystic Gate.
Of course, El Pam knew.
‘Only the core executives among the Black Mage’s followers can mobilize Martyrs.’
That Martyrs weren’t beings that could be used easily.
They were that precious.
‘To become a Martyr, one must be able to withstand the Black Mage’s magic.’
One of the most important conditions for becoming a Martyr was the ability to use black magic.
To be precise, they were vessels.
Only a few could properly use black magic in the first place.
So, the Martyrs here referred to those who could hold and release the Black Mage’s magic within their bodies.
Those with such talent were also extremely rare.
Out of 10,000 people with magical talent, only about five or six would have it.
It didn’t end there.
Those with the talent to level up among those with the talent were a separate matter.
Using such a Martyr meant there was someone they were desperate to kill.
‘If they could use them freely, they would have used them against me already.’
Even Ivok, the owner of the Kania Guild, who desperately wanted to kill El Pam, couldn’t use the Martyr card.
‘They’re determined to kill Jack Richie.’
In other words, Jack Richie was worth killing even at such a cost.
Actually, El Pam pondered for a moment here.
‘Jack Richie isn’t that great of an adventurer.’
The Jack Richie that El Pam knew wasn’t that special of an adventurer, except for the fact that his father was Gold Richie. [1]
From the Black Mage’s followers’ perspective, it meant he wasn’t worth killing even by using a Martyr.
Of course, there was an answer here.
The fact that his father was Gold Richie.
‘If Jack Richie dies, the one who benefits the most is Gold Richie Jr?’
In other words, if Jack Richie died, Gold Richie Junior would inherit all of Gold Richie’s legacy.
‘Something is happening. Centered around the Gold Richie Guild.’
The picture was drawn.
Koong!
“Boss!”
Of course, it wasn’t an important picture right now.
“What do we do?”
What was important now was El Pam’s decision in front of that monster.
“That monster right now can be considered a Yellow-rank Gate’s boss monster.”
At El Pam’s following words, everyone’s expressions hardened.
Just by its size alone, it should be considered Yellow rank, but there was a glimmer of hope.
However, if El Pam said this, then it was natural to consider it Yellow rank.
And if it was Yellow rank, there was only one option to choose.
‘We can’t catch it. How can we catch a Yellow rank?’
To run away.
It wasn’t just any Yellow rank.
El Pam clearly said it. A Yellow rank boss monster.
A monster that could be hunted by a party of 4th Circle or higher adventurers, a party of over dozens of adventurers.
And to face that?
It wouldn’t be easy to even run away, let alone fight it.
‘If it’s the boss…’
Still, there was a sense of expectation that El Pam might be able to do something.
With that expectation, El Pam said.
“We retreat.”
2.
Koong!
Escaping a swamp while being chased by a giant swamp mud monster was no easy task.
But the El Pam party was an exception.
Wheeik!
El Pam, using his psychokinesis, could deceive the monster’s attack direction as much as he wanted.
Koong!
With El Pam’s tricks, the giant swamp mud monster moved in the opposite direction of the El Pam party.
Of course, it didn’t end there.
“From this moment on, we move as slowly as possible.”
El Pam moved slowly, at the speed of a turtle.
It was common sense.
The swamp wasn’t a place where you could run fast just because you wanted to, and excessive movement was likely to provoke nearby monsters.
The El Pam party moved quietly.
However, their minds were more complex and busy than ever.
‘What do we do now?’
Until now, the El Pam party had faith. The belief that El Pam would do anything for them.
But the situation was different now.
‘In this absurd situation?’
A Yellow rank monster appeared in an Orange rank Mystic Gate.
The rules were broken.
The faith in El Pam was bound to waver.
There was only one hope they could cling to.
‘Hopefully, we’ll just stumble upon the exit.’
But their expectations for that hope weren’t very high.
They knew.
‘If that were the case, Jack Richie wouldn’t be dead.’
Surely, Jack Richie’s party, who perished here, must have come up with the same thoughts and methods as El Pam’s party.
Yet, they were dead.
El Pam’s party could easily guess what that meant.
And their predictions soon became reality.
“There’s an open space over there.”
Following the snail Mano, El Pam’s party spotted a clearing of about 3,300 square meters.
Not a sinking swamp, but a clearing with solid ground.
It was good news.
A stage had appeared where they could engage in a proper battle and rest in this hellish place.
But no one smiled at the good news.
“It’s a pile of corpses.”
The rotting corpses told them that this was the grave of none other than Jack Richie’s party.
Moreover, the state of the rotting corpses was gruesome.
Like ants trampled by humans, not only their limbs but also their items were crushed beyond recognition.
It was a horrifying sight.
‘They were done in by that monster.’
So, El Pam’s party could easily picture it.
The image of Jack Richie’s party being crushed by the 10-meter-tall mud monster without putting up much of a fight.
“They must have made their last stand here.”
To make matters worse, there was nowhere to run.
This 1,000-square-meter island floating in the swamp was the only stage where Jack Richie’s party could put up a decent fight.
Stepping outside would be nothing short of suicide.
And that fact applied to El Pam’s party as well.
If they were to fight, this was the only place.
So, if they died fighting, this would become their grave.
Just then,
The snail Mano quickly started crawling towards a certain spot.
At the end of its path was a brutally crushed corpse.
“This one’s items are intact?”
The difference was that unlike the other corpses whose items were crushed, this one’s items were undamaged.
The implication was simple.
“It’s Unique rank, then?”
This corpse belonged to Jack Richie.
El Pam stood before Jack Richie’s corpse.
He picked up the helmet first.
The moment he saw it, El Pam’s eyes narrowed.
‘Achilles’ Helmet.’
It was a Unique item that El Pam recognized.
‘A warrior’s item that increases the wearer’s combat ability by 30 percent.’
It was quite a remarkable item.
Next, he noticed the armor.
‘This is Theseus’s Armor.’
It was also an extraordinary item.
“Accelerates the wearer’s movement.”
Upon wearing, it increased movement and attack speed by 30 percent each, an item that even 5th and 6th Circle adventurers couldn’t get their hands on.
And that wasn’t all.
Inside Theseus’s armor, El Pam found two feathers.
“Pegasus wing feathers.”
Two items that increased movement speed by 10 percent each upon possession.
Honestly, El Pam was impressed.
“No wonder he was called a wealthy adventurer.”
It was a ruthless level of item setting, far beyond what a 3rd Circle adventurer could be expected to have.
Of course, they weren’t items El Pam could use.
“They’re all for warriors.”
Jack Richie was a warrior adventurer to begin with. The items he possessed could only be for warriors.
“Nothing the boss can equip?”
At that fact, the faces of El Pam’s party hardened.
The only one they could rely on here was El Pam. But he couldn’t enhance his power?
It was then.
El Pam, who was examining Jack Richie’s mangled corpse, saw the clenched fist of the body.
When he opened the fist, a note came out.
El Pam’s eyes narrowed as he read the contents of the note that Jack Richie had desperately clutched.
“Boss, what does it say?”
At Divo’s question, El Pam replied.
“He searched for the exit for ten days, but couldn’t find it. The only condition to activate the exit seems to be hunting the boss monster.”
At that answer, the faces of Divo and the others hardened again.
Just in case.
The possibility that Jack Richie’s party was simply unlucky and couldn’t find the exit, that the exit simply existed somewhere, was now gone.
“I don’t see an exit either.”
As Jack Richie’s letter indicated, they could only escape by defeating the boss monster, that absurdly gigantic swamp mud monster.
Escape was impossible.
Faced with that fact, El Pam’s party became surprisingly resigned.
Adventurers were those who would eventually face death, so they were always prepared for it.
Of course, this was only possible because they were El Pam’s party.
Most ordinary adventurers would panic in this situation and fight each other to the death.
Being resigned meant having a strong mentality.
‘Well, thanks to the boss, I was able to cure my sister and save enough money to live on even after I die.’
‘It was a life destined to die anyway, and we made it this far.’
‘It was my choice, damn it. But is there really no way?’
Divo, Kiri, and Minerv were exceptionally strong.
“Boss.”
Among them, Ralph was the most exceptional.
“How will we distribute the items?”
“Distribute?”
“If it’s a Unique item, the price won’t be a joke. But we can’t split the item, can we?”
The other three looked dumbfounded at him talking about money even in this situation.
“No, we’re all going to die, so what’s the point…”
What good was money when they were going to die?
“Divo will use this item.”
“Boss?”
But El Pam willingly explained to Ralph.
“All three. It’s better for one person to use everything rather than dividing it.”
“Then what about my share?”
“In exchange, Divo will no longer receive a share of the profits from future Mystic Gate adventures.”
Divo would receive the items, but he would have to pay the price.
“Boss, are you serious?”
“You’re the only one who can properly use this item. If you don’t want it, I’ll offer it to Kiri.”
Divo chuckled at the question.
“I’ll take it. I’ll have no regrets if I die after using a unique item. So, how much do I need to pay?”
“A total of 300 million meso.”
“What?”
Divo’s eyes widened at the amount.
“H-how much?”
“300 million meso. The value could be even higher. I’m open to objections from the other members. Ralph, what’s your opinion?”
“Then I’ll receive 75 million meso from Divo from now on, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“I’m satisfied.”
“What about the others? If there are no objections within 5 seconds, I’ll take it as acceptance.”
During those 5 seconds, Kiri and Minerv just blinked, and as soon as the 5 seconds were up, El Pam looked at Divo.
“The only thing left is your opinion, Divo. The value of the item is 300 million meso. Are you interested in taking it?”
Divo laughed at the question.
Normally, Divo would have rejected the offer. A 300 million meso debt? It was like asking him to work for free for the rest of his life.
But now it was different.
“Yes, I’ll take it. What’s the point of not writing a bad check when you’re about to die?”
He thought the debt was meaningless.
In fact, all of this was meaningless.
So everyone thought,
‘The boss is doing this on purpose to change the mood.’
El Pam, knowing it was pointless, was doing this to shift the atmosphere.
That was quite important.
The smaller and more tenuous the hope, the more desperately one had to grasp for it to catch it.
And thanks to El Pam’s conversation, the mood improved.
Everyone’s hardened expressions softened.
“Then from now on, we’ll take down the giant swamp mud monster.”
That’s why, when El Pam said those words, everyone smiled instead of frowning.
“Yes, we have to catch it while we still have the strength.”
“Let’s do it.”
“We have to succeed so we can get paid.”
“Let’s see how far we can go.”
El Pam spoke to those smiles.
“Divo will aggro the giant swamp mud monster. Kiri, Ralph, and Minerv will support Divo. Your role is to distract the monster while I attack.”
Everyone nodded at the plan.
It wasn’t a difficult plan.
There was only one problem.
“So, how many minutes do we need to hold out?”
El Pam started to think at that question, and everyone else thought along with him.
‘It’ll take at least 10 minutes to catch that monster.’
How long would it take El Pam to kill that monster?
‘Maybe 30 minutes, no, even an hour or more.’
And everyone considered a long time in their thoughts.
It was only natural.
It would take thousands of attacks to destroy the core lodged within the 10-meter monster’s body.
Even at one attack per second, a thousand attacks would take 1,000 seconds, well over 15 minutes.
And El Pam would do it alone?
On top of that, El Pam had limitations on his mana. Frankly, even casting spells a thousand times was impossible.
So, they all came to a conclusion.
It would be impossible, no matter how long it took.
‘Anything goes. Anything.’
But they wouldn’t utter the word ‘impossible.’
El Pam then spread his fingers wide.
All five of them.
“Will 50 minutes be enough?”
“50 minutes, that won’t be easy.”
“75 million meso for 50 minutes, not bad.”
“We can fight all day, 50 minutes is a joke. Just trust me!”
Everyone showed smiles and ease at that calculation, and El Pam tilted his head at their response.
“You’re saying strange things.”
“Huh?”
“It’s not 50 minutes.”
“Boss?”
Divo asked back in surprise at that answer.
“Then surely it’s not five hours?”
“Five hours? It’s impossible to even fight that long.”
El Pam, who furrowed his brows slightly at that retort, said,
“Five minutes. If you can hold out for just five minutes, we can defeat it.”
—————–
Footnotes-
[1] – I got some dms letting me know that Gold ‘Rich’ is actually the wrong spell (according to the game) and the correct spell is Gold ‘Richie’. So I’ll make the following changes from this chap: Gold Rich → Gold Richie; Goldrich Guild → Gold Richie Guild and lastly Jake Rich → Jack Richie]
[Translator – Pr?ks]
[Proofreader – Pr?ks]
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