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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Disposing of the Scavengers
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[Chapter 13]
"Haha, no, we absolutely had no plans to target the Golden Knight. Yeah, it's a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. So, uh, can we head out now?"
"Hmm, that's a separate issue. Because the guy you were after is me. Release."
The scavengers tried to slink away quietly, but I immediately deactivated my armor to show my face, confirming I was indeed the one they were targeting.
And once they saw me, they panicked all over again.
"Eek! See, I told you!"
"No, that's not the problem! We picked the wrong fight! You idiot! Do your damn research next time!"
"I did! I checked the Awakener data through my connection at the Association… He was a Staff. Obviously a non-combat type…"
I'd heard rumors that scavengers had ties to the Association, but feeling it firsthand was chilling.
Anyway, I couldn't just let them go, so I quickly re-equipped my armor.
"Sure, I might've played hooky a bit, but that doesn't mean I can let guys dig up personal info and hunt people down. Akaron, Seom-myeol, let's each take one."
Perfect. Three of them, three of us.
These knights, summoned by my SSS-grade trait, had to be competent, so one-on-one should be fine.
Plus, these scavengers targeted Awakener who raided E-grade dungeons, so even if they were E-grade or higher, they'd top out at D-grade.
C-grade and up could join guilds full-time, so they wouldn't stoop to this. And scavenger leaders would be handling bigger fish.
"Damn it! Run!"
"Where do you think you're going!"
I chased after them right away, but something felt off.
We should've all signaled and bolted together, but it felt like I was the only one moving. When I glanced back…
"By the name of the Holy Knight Order! I, Seom-myeol, shall judge you."
[Command sequence complete. Galactic Knight Order Knight Metal Golem Unit 002, Akaron, deploying.]
Damn it all.
I was already in pursuit, but these tin cans and Seom-myeol were striking poses and reciting lines like they were in a play before finally taking off.
This isn't Shakespeare, guys.
While they monologued, the scavengers had already scattered in every direction.
'Crazy! What's wrong with these knights? Not a sane one among them?'
"P-Please! S-Spare me! We targeted you, but we didn't do anything!"
"Too bad this isn't a courtroom."
"Damn it!"
The scavenger begged me with a pitiful face, but mercy wasn't in my vocabulary.
I knew full well that showing it would put my life at risk, and eliminating loose ends here was the safest bet.
Plus, I'd already shown my face, so wiping him out was the obvious choice.
'Wearing this already memorable golden armor, they'd blab about me for sure.'
That'd bring headaches and risks, so cutting his head off right here was best.
The chase dragged on. I had the speed edge, but as pros, his evasion skills and efficiency kept him just out of reach, dodging obstacles and the dungeon entrance.
'Of course. These guys have prowled here hunting people or monsters… Tch! Home ground advantage is huge. If only I could use thrown weapons, but no dice.'
Cursed by 'chivalry' restrictions, I had to close in and slash with my sword—my limit hit home as I kept pursuing.
Still, my superior stats narrowed the gap to arm's reach. His escape skills must've all been on cooldown.
"Got you!"
"Damn it, fine then! Into the dungeon!"
"Not on my watch!"
"Argh!"
In a last desperate lunge, he dove for a dungeon, but I leaped in, stabbing just in time to stop him.
Panting, relief washed over me.
The golden armor swiftly restored my condition, and I moved to decapitate him before he could try anything.
"W-Wait! Just—"
"No such thing!"
Crunch!
I drove my sword into his neck without another word.
His head rolled across the ground with the sickening sound of flesh and bone tearing.
"First one's tough. Second's a breeze."
Musing on my second kill, I checked his loot and scattered inventory items.
After grabbing miscellaneous gear, I pulled out his phone to mine his chat rooms, apps, and photos for intel.
[Slaughter King's Demon: The human sacrifice we agreed on—you still haven't got it? I'm not overpaying here, so quit screwing around.]
[Ahn Jung-hyun: How do we manage that when the Association and guilds watch people so closely? Civilians barely leave their zones or cities…]
[Slaughter King's Demon: Whatever. If you can't get sacrifices for Lord Slaughter King, your necks will make up the difference…]
[Ahn Jung-hyun: A-Ah, got it! We'll do our best.]
"So the Demons were pressuring them into human hunts."
Powerless anywhere, same old story.
With loot and info secured, I dumped the corpse and trash into the dungeon and got out.
Activating the minimap, I saw 'Akaron' and 'Seom-myeol' barreling toward me at insane speeds.
[Hostile captured. Master.]
"Argh! Let me go! Mercy!"
Whoosh! Boom!
Akaron landed from the sky like it was bragging about being a machine, tossing one of the scavengers at my feet.
So this guy flew here? Flaunting himself for everyone to see?
Flying over this zone packed with Awakeners coming and going?
"Ugh, gonna lose my mind…"
"Mission accomplished, Captain."
"…"
Then, as if to outdo Akaron, Seom-myeol swooped in with four radiant wings fluttering from the heavens.
Are they tag-teaming to screw me over?
I frantically opened my phone to the Awakener community forums.
"Damn! Pictures are already up!"
Sure enough, shots and videos of the flying Akaron and Seom-myeol were flooding the net.
Speculation about a new constellation faction was exploding. Sticking around would cause chaos, so I needed to bail.
"Hey, kill 'em quick and dump the bodies in dungeons! Then follow me!"
[Command received.]
"As you command."
Miraculously obedient this once, they beheaded their captives and tossed the bodies into dungeons.
Confirming the kills, I sprinted on while eyeing the new reward window.
[Well done! You've slain the wicked who offered humans as demon sacrifices! Chivalry upheld!]
[Reward granted.]
[Skill Point +1 or Knight Summon or Armament Summon]
Yeah, these scavengers were straight-up villains—slave hunters feeding people to Demons. Prime targets for knightly justice.
Now for the reward choice, I hesitated.
"Skill point this time. No debate! Urgent! Need a way to store these pains in the ass fast!"
No real dilemma.
Before other Awakeners swarmed to investigate the mystery flying machine and angel, I needed a hiding skill.
Hell, satellites might already be watching from orbit.
[Master, why the rush? Hostiles neutralized, dungeon cleared, no nearby threats. I don't understand.]
"Because of you idiots!"
"We completed the mission flawlessly, no?"
Their paired nonsense from both sides was infuriating, but I held it in.
Finding a concealment skill trumped scolding right now.
Racing along, I kept hunting for options.
"Damn, it's gotta be here somewhere?"
(Unique) Lord Veilhod's Camp Construction
(Unique) Asura Nation, Eternal Emperor General's Field Fortification
(Unique) Abyss Knights' Tomb
"Not this, not that… nope…"
Checking full descriptions took forever.
But the skill I wanted was definitely here.
One word—"knight"—summoned a Knight Metal Golem like Akaron, proving how broad this SSS trait's scope was.
'It's here. Gotta be. Just need the right type…'
[(Unique) Sky Knight Cheon-gang's Sky Whale Fortress]
Sky Whale. A kilometer-long behemoth that flew the heavens, soul-bound to eternally protect Cheon-gang through reincarnations. Built a massive fortress on its back to defend his world…
"Way too flashy! Pass!"
Exactly what I needed, but deploying it would freak out the whole country.
Digging for something subtler, I scrolled frantically.
After ten agonizing minutes, I found a skill tied to storing these problem children.
"Found it… I think?"