Chapter 128

Chapter 128: Dojo Challenge （1）

I watched the Dark Cloud Demon’s movement from atop the wall with the Tribal Federation’s leadership.

“It’s destroying everything thoroughly.”

“It seems angry.”

“It must’ve been a very powerful god.”

“Ugh. This is the second time I’ve seen it with my own eyes, but I can’t get used to it. I tremble every time I see it.”

Rake, Harry, Paya, and Siu each said a word. The others who were watching silently were also overwhelmed by the Dark Cloud Demon’s power.

Woo woo woo!

━ It’s leaving.

The Dark Cloud Demon, which had stirred up Bolvano, looked around the areas near Dubenheim and disappeared as if scattering.

It was random, but it felt like a child who had finished throwing a tantrum was going back.

It seems like transcendental beings don’t necessarily have high-level thoughts.

Maybe Loas are just powerful beasts? They just happened to be worshipped and gained divinity, but maybe they’re not omnipotent and great beings like the gods in creative works or religious books.

━ …

Shall I check what happened to Karon?

I logged into the community. There’s a way to find out here.

Oh. Close-Range Spy posted something. It’s a sniping post aimed at me.

That’s what it seems like just by looking at the title.

[Close-Range Spy: Malak, what’s the difference between you and those sea monsters?

Darkyami: “…It seems you’ve already realized all the facts of the past… I tried to become stronger by absorbing souls through your powerful strength… It was extremely easy to 「brainwash her」 because you’re a fool who’s deeply infatuated with 「her.」…”

Goja Buro: “Excuses are unnecessaryㅡ…!!! Release 「her」 now and atone for your sins with deathㅡ…”

Darkyami: “Release 「herㅡ?? Puhahahaㅡ. You’re saying something ridiculousㅡ. Fine… I’ll release herㅡ.

However, only ‘if you can kill me’ㅡ.”

Goja Buro: “You…!!! You’re going to…!!! 「Dark Ritual」… 「mk.2」 modeㅡ. 「Awakeningㅡ.”

Darkyami: “Oi oi www You… Are you seriousㅡ? Then I’ll have to face you seriously too…

Come out, ruler of Asgardㅡ. 「Death Odinㅡ.”

bgm: （The Dimensional Gate Opens） Wheeeeeeeeeeeng Phewshung Pewshung Pewshung

Death Odin: “Life form detected!!!! Kill Goja Buroㅡ !!!”]

━ Hmm.

Honestly, I expected it.

I’ve also done it once, attracting attention with a title and writing nonsense.

To be precise, I posted something titled ‘（Shocking） Close-Range Spy’s Goja Buro Bait Post 100% Analysis Complete’.

The title was like that, but the content was an introduction to the Tribal Federation.

At that time, Close-Range Spy was furious, saying I used his work as bait. He reacted almost as if he had met his archenemy.

This might be revenge for that incident. He probably wants to see me rush in and get angry after seeing this title.

I ignored it.

It’s best not to respond to posts like this. Whatever I comment, he’ll be satisfied that he got my attention.

He’ll scratch his belly, shout ‘Uhahaha fanfare~!’, and laugh. Huh. Just thinking about it makes me want to flick his forehead.

━ Comments ━

[Morning Tent Erection Knight: Hey, is Malak-nim your friend???]

Siu stepped up anyway. Well, there’s no need to stop even this.

Let’s just achieve the purpose I came here for.

I searched for ‘Reno Johnson’ in the search bar. The most recent post he left was ‘Paladin Zombie Advisory’, which he posted after Karon stole his soul.

Click.

I clicked on Reno Johnson’s nickname and moved to the message window.

The way to check if a user is alive is to send them a private message.

Hanna told me that if a private message is sent, the user is still alive, and if it’s not sent, they’re dead.

Now, it’s time to test Karon’s survival.

Hmm. What should I send?

Since I’m sending it anyway, I want to send something meaningful and cool.

It’s a bit much to send ‘Are you dead?’. ‘You little shit, got what you deserved lol’ isn’t good either.

Is there a cool line that would really piss him off if he’s alive?

…I couldn’t think of anything clever, so I just sent ‘.’.

I can’t call a meeting with the leadership over something like this. I’ll die of shame.

[You cannot send messages to this user.]

The message wasn’t sent. Even if Karon wasn’t dead, the Reno Johnson he was controlling was definitely dead.

I wish Karon was dead too, but I don’t think the end of a madman who challenged the gods would be this bland.

Well, even if he’s alive, it’ll take quite a while to rebuild his forces. By then, I’ll have obtained Manifestation, finished my late-game rise, and be busy catching the Dark Cloud Demon.

Ah, it’s not that I have no worries at all.

[Bamboos: Tribal Federation… Maybe?] （12）

[Goollreu: I think I found the Tribal Federation’s headquarters location lol] （35）

[One Piece: Circumstantially, it seems like this is the right place ㅇㅇ] （22）

The community users figured out that the Tribal Federation’s headquarters is located in Symphony.

The scale of the monster battle between the Giant and the Stingray Demon was too large to be hidden. It couldn’t be helped. There’s no way nobody saw two building-sized monsters fighting while kicking up dust.

Actually, it’s amazing that we weren’t found out until now. There are quite a few Paladins living near Symphony.

They’re all enjoying a forced shut-in life because of the demons, so they were just late to notice.

[LuluTV: Those Tribal Federation bastards are hopeless! Let’s wipe them out as soon as we find them!]

[Odo Daejangbu: Malak’s fortress that makes Paladin stew discovered! Ah! I’m scared!]

[Gubungi: Is that the headquarters of the cult that lures and devours possessed people?]

[Jet Kick: I want to raid them;;]

Honestly, I’m not really afraid of these guys.

They’re just keyboard warriors. How strong could a few of these guys be? Dina’s Special Forces is all that matters.

The only ones who could harm the Tribal Federation are Karon （assuming he’s alive） and Close-Range Spy, but Close-Range Spy isn’t a big problem.

He won’t come down here unless I pull aggro like Atomic Rex by claiming to devour Paladins.

If he really thought the Tribal Federation was dangerous, he wouldn’t be posting bait posts or engaging in keyboard battles like this. He would’ve taken action right away.

Maybe he’s still trying to figure out what kind of guys we are.

In the end, Karon is the problem.

If Karon, who survived after losing his army, finds out the location of our headquarters through the community and attacks us in desperation, it’ll be quite dangerous.

Now that I have the ‘Follower Summoning’ blessing, we won’t be robbed while we’re away, but we need to prepare to some extent.

I ordered Denzo, the commander of the garrison, to strengthen patrols.

“I’ll recruit more patrol members.”

━ Good.

Even if it’s called strengthening, there’s no other way but to put in more manpower.

“I’ll give you sixteen experienced warriors. They’ll be a great help.”

Kanto is helping too.

“Thank you, Great Chieftain-nim.”

I dismissed the leadership after telling them to call me to the altar whenever they needed me.

I’ve even confirmed Reno Johnson’s life or death, so today’s work is done.

“Malak-nim, I have something to tell you.”

The Saint, who had been standing motionless as everyone else left, spoke.

━ Speak.

“I want to talk in front of the altar. Is that alright?”

The fact that she specifically chose a place where others can’t easily enter means it’s not an ordinary matter.

━ Sure.

“I’m Malak-nim’s guardian, so I have the right to listen.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Rake somehow got involved.

I moved my consciousness to Totem No. 1 and waited for the Saint with Rake, who had already arrived and was standing next to me.

A moment later, the Saint appeared with the sound of her staff tapping the ground.

She was in a stable and elegant posture, just like when I first saw her.

The Saint, who had removed the blindfold she always wore in front of people, examined the altar with her cloudy eyes.

Her eyes, which didn’t let in a single ray of light, slowly moved.

I wonder if she’s really blind. Is this blind cosplay?

“I’ve been ‘watching’ the Tribal Federation for ten days.”

What?

You’ve been ‘watching’? That’s wrong. You don’t have eyes to watch with.

I held back that retort and waited for her next words.

“The Tribal Federation is a good place. Because I can hear the laughter of children. I also felt the trust between you all and the strong faith towards you. These are invaluable things, especially in this kind of world.”

Thank you for the compliment. But actually, I haven’t done much.

Rachel does the politics, Kanto does the war, Rake does the boss hunting, so what.

I just gave a few appropriate speeches and spread buffs and debuffs with the totem.

“…As you know, Ishtania-nim hates Malak-nim.”

That’s understandable. I did destroy the Cathedral that provides divinity once.

“As her representative, I inherited Ishtania-nim’s hatred. …I thought I had to be hostile to the Wind and Rain God, Malak. I was taught that he was the one who was trying to bring about the apocalypse.”

━ I see.

I accepted it positively.

If she was still hostile, she wouldn’t have said this. She must have felt a change of heart after coming here.

“Not anymore. Because I’ve seen how much Malak-nim loves humans.”

As expected. Just as I predicted.

“I’ve decided to believe Malak-nim’s words that he will save the world. So, I hope Malak-nim will also believe me.”

━ Belief.

Tsk. She noticed that I’m still doubting her in a corner of my mind.