Three-Way Alliance

Clarity was searching widely for a special demon beast.

“We found Sanmok!”

Sanmok is a mid to high-grade demon beast possessing an extreme poison sac within its body.

Rarely discovered at altitude 5000 meters, even demon beasts avoid it due to vicious toxicity.

Clarity received a quest to bring Sanmok’s extreme poison sac.

It was an opportunity to instantly reverse Hunting Net in first place for contribution.

Saliva already dripped from mouths at the sweet fruit to be obtained after a full two weeks of searching.

“Light fire on Sanmok to first burn branches embedded in the ground. Drive away flowing poison with wind, and hammer all magic into the bastard’s crown.”

Sanmok subjugation is a speed battle.

“If the bastard struggles, poison spreads in all directions. As flames spread, demon beasts also gather, so suppress the bastard in one moment and escape this place.”

“Yes.”

Though various mages mixed together, they perfectly executed operations with flawless command.

With deployment refined through long trial and error, dozens moved like one body.

The moment they stopped before a pitch-black giant tree while hiding their forms with magic so even breathing sounds weren’t heard.

Embers riding wind transferred to branches that descended to the ground.

Piiiiik!

Wind created vibration and noise like whistle sounds while swallowing Sanmok.

The signal dropped.

Veterans who’d matched coordination over long time pressed Sanmok while maintaining positions with only eye contact.

Fire like a volcano erupting covered the giant tree on the dark mountain slope.

Poison flowing from branches washed away in wind.

Steel-like thorns poured out but Sallio blocked everything from the front.

“Press in!”

Magic swept toward Sanmok’s crown.

The tree unable to speak wrapped pitch-black luster on its bark.

Though magic poured like rain, it slipped on the luster.

Luster made by sucking in deep mountain range’s mana is a special membrane flowing away mana.

‘As expected, coming out with self-defense means.’

Sanmok’s self-defense means washes away all nature-type magic, but consumes large amounts of mana to maintain luster each collision.

‘When embers caught, it watched the situation while conserving power. Meaning mana to use for self-defense means isn’t that much.’

That cunning demon beast neutralizes with self-defense means the moment hunters think they’ve grasped victory. Then spews poison to helplessly annihilate hunters.

Like right now, all guild members’ magic becoming bubbles.

‘Against accumulation enhancement rather than principle bestowal, you bastard also have no way to handle it!’

Sallio’s magic ‘Wave’ is an accumulation enhancement method penetrating enhanced mana inside to destroy.

However, as powerful as the might, preparation time also eats quite a bit.

If he’d been alone, he might have been swept by the luster.

But guild members extracted all Sanmok’s luster.

The moment Wave hammers into the core with only shell remaining, all situations settle.

Guild members were certain of victory and already took out tools to harvest the poison sac.

“Haaap!”

Sallio soared while wrapping accumulated mana on his hammer.

With blue aurora overlaid on the hammer, it drove down into the crown with only shell remaining.

BOOM!

A massive roar echoed and spiderweb-like cracks formed on the demon beast’s shell.

“Guild leader…!”

Guild members preparing to dismantle Sanmok hesitated.

Sallio was slowly lifting the hammer from the crown.

“…”

Wave is magic that quietly bursts enemies inside.

It doesn’t spread earthquake-like shocks outside.

Meaning this shock making Sanmok scream wasn’t Sallio’s.

BANG!

At the intense blow bursting consecutively, Sallio scrunched his face terribly.

No one here had noticed until now that another level 6 mage was hiding here holding their breath.

“You…”

As Sanmok tilted, Pernok walked out holding the poison sac in hand.

“What the hell are you doing!”

To Sallio sending murderous gazes, Pernok answered calmly.

“As you see, performing a request.”

For a moment he thought he’d misheard.

But soon seeing Pernok’s poison sac, Sallio frowned.

“That’s our request!”

“Did I misunderstand?”

Pernok put the poison sac in storage.

“I definitely received the mage association’s request to bring Sanmok’s poison sac, isn’t this Sanmok?”

Only then did Sallio grasp this unexpected situation completely.

“Those association bastards…!”

“My, looks like requests overlapped.”

When Pernok smirked, Sallio ground his teeth.

“How dare, how dare you backstab me!”

“What can I do. The client is anxious about Clarity’s skill.”

Pernok shook the poison sac.

“Want to take it and reassure them?”

Bang!

Before Pernok could jump back, Sallio stuck close.

“You coward!”

The hammer wrapped in blue aurora aimed at Pernok’s chest.

“Killing is prohibited.”

Pernok twisted his body to escape the hammer’s trajectory.

“No separately decided rules besides that.”

The second wave came.

At the blue wave that filled his vision before he knew it, Pernok burst Over Impact.

Bang!

The shock pushed both away.

Pernok shook his tingling hand.

‘A type whose mana rises the more excited? Unexpectedly emotional.’

While noting Sallio’s special appearance he’d only felt as cold, Pernok said.

“I positively interpreted that you monopolizing even named requests to kill me by drying out also aimed at this rule.”

“What’s the same about not even starting and theft slickly stealing designated requests!”

“A good opportunity to inform clients of each other’s skills. If you want to stand above me, prove it. That you have power to stamp down at least one person like me.”

Sallio raised veins all over his face while shouting fiercely.

“You want to even wage war!”

Pernok had already distanced himself above trees.

“Then you thought this was playing house?”

Trees began shaking.

At the sudden commotion, demon beasts above altitude 5000 meters were gathering here.

“The loser dedicates everything.”

Pernok mocked Sallio.

“Do you intend to throw tantrums at a place competing for the best?”

Crunch!

The sound of Sallio grinding teeth echoed chillingly.

Pernok escaped the location while stepping on gathering demon beasts.

“Guild leader!”

Sallio shouted while gritting teeth.

“Return!”

Sallio tasted the humiliation of failing a named request for the first time since becoming an A-rank guild.

* * *

Enri strolled the mountain range alone.

Like she’d come out for a walk, she lightly crossed demon beasts and entered a cave beneath a cliff.

Sallio sat sprawled on the floor with veins raised on his face.

“Did you call to fight?”

“Coming from a round with the Beast.”

Enri examined Sallio while speaking shamelessly.

“Looks like the Beast won.”

“He screwed me with a duplicate request.”

Enri grasped the rotating situation and grinned.

“You preempted the request but got backstabbed with a duplicate request? That’s truly amazing. More vicious than the method we used.”

“Not time to talk like someone else’s business.”

Enri shrugged.

“I’d have been hit if I didn’t know. No problem since I heard from you.”

“Everyone there missed the bastard’s presence.”

“Jake said the Beast is a ‘Double.’ Uses doppelganger and physical enhancement magic, didn’t he appropriately apply them?”

“I felt very powerful mana when flashes flickered in his strikes. You’d think that’s physical enhancement magic. But having directly clashed, I can tell.”

Sallio’s eyes narrowed thinly.

“The Beast isn’t a simple Double. He’s hiding something more. You’re not in a position to be overconfident either.”

“What do you want to say?”

Sallio stared at Enri with eyes like they’d caught fire.

“Let’s suppress the bastard so he can’t do anything for at least 6 months.”

“Even if we cooperated for quests, we’re not close enough to be together even for the alliance war, though?”

“It’s a process to handle variables. Consider practicality.”

“You must have been scratched deep inside. You showing anger like Jake.”

“This anger is because of my own patheticness not properly responding. I rather admired the Beast. Demonstrating the wit of duplicate requests in a situation where two A-rank guilds monopolize quests, and successfully executing it. That’s not an achievement doable with average courage. I became certain while clashing with him. To become the best, that bastard’s abilities are absolutely necessary.”

Sallio’s eyes flashed.

“However, everything is talk after you or I stand above. The bastard is skilled at shaking groups alone. To suppress such a bastard without killing requires your help.”

“Shall I hear the story?”

Enri also sat on a rock as if interest was piqued.

“I’ll receive a quest the Beast will drool over. He’ll definitely attempt a duplicate request, and then you and I coordinate to suppress the bastard.”

“If Bayble follows?”

“If Bayble joins requests above altitude 5000 meters, we should welcome with both hands raised. Baggage that only grabs the Beast’s ankles is added.”

“No variables, and stamp down with both major forces to exclude from quests? Well, all’s good, but is there a reason I should accept this proposal?”

“The moment the Beast is suppressed, I’ll transfer all that quest’s contribution to you.”

Enri smacked her lips.

“Clarity adds all the seasoning?”

“Of course. You can think of it as a request we’re handing over.”

“Kyahahahaha! I have no reason to refuse! But is it okay? Will such actions be tolerated by that noble pride!”

“A war where everything besides killing is allowed. I have no thought to refuse rules the Beast set.”

Sallio smiled chillingly.

“Since the bastard provoked it, he should properly take responsibility.”

“Good. I don’t know about 6 months, but I’ll suppress the Beast so he can’t act for at least 3 months!”

For a single collision, Clarity and Hunting Net joined hands.

And one week later.

A named request fell to Pernok.

High-rank danger-designated demon beast.

Above altitude 5500 meters, Demon Knight’s subjugation.

* * *

Demon Knight.

A demon beast possessing level 6 mage-grade mana and using flames, with physical abilities crushing even lightly grasped steel.

The most frightening point is commanding demon beasts slashed with its sword as its subordinates.

Once, the Demon Knight that pushed barrier stones trying to invade humans’ castle was defeated by A-rank guilds’ joint operation.

Now only ominous rumors circulate that it established territory in the mountain range’s eastern region and mercilessly slashes demon beasts.

“I’ll ask again. You only want Demon Knight’s subjugation?”

At Rio’s question, an unfamiliar man shook his head.

“Annihilate the bastard and bring that sword as evidence.”

“Work requiring at minimum two or more silver rank mercenaries.”

“I know. That’s why I came to Bayble.”

The man turned his gaze to Pernok.

“I heard you recently became a silver rank mercenary. I came believing words you have the most excellent skill in this castle. I think qualifications are sufficient.”

“That’s a problem…”

“You said one month?”

When Pernok slowly opened his mouth, the man smiled and said.

“Yes. Please resolve within one month.”

“I’ll tell you an answer soon.”

“I request positive review.”

Watching the man leaving the guild after placing the named request, Rio smacked his lips.

“As expected, they’re making their move.”

“What does that mean?”

When Hallam who’d been quietly watching asked, Rio shrugged.

“Demon Knight requires mobilizing at minimum 100 people. People to restrain demon beasts and strike the main body are needed. Meaning not immediate honor but how much power you possess is important. Entrusting such an important request to our guild in numerical inferiority—isn’t that an obvious trap to anyone?”

“Trap?”

“Clarity or Hunting Net probably made them place a duplicate request on us. That way, they can repay exactly like you did with the Sanmok quest.”

Rio looked at Pernok.

“Perhaps they’re thinking to make you quest-performance-impossible this opportunity.”

Eliminating the dangerous one to create a board for familiar ones to confront.

Pernok had anticipated this situation arriving from when he stole Sanmok.

“Wasn’t I prepared for this?”

“Yes. Because we must show them at least once who holds more advantage.”

Schemes, boldness, scalability.

He’d planted thoughts in them that Pernok is talent they must absolutely have from various aspects.

Now is the turning point.

If he advances one more step here, he can completely subjugate them.

Pernok knew well the most certain means reaching there.

“Tell the association we’ll perform the request.”

Pernok stood from his seat.

“I’ll completely subjugate Clarity and Hunting Net.”