Chapter 44: A New Monarch of the Forest is Born

Dragon Lair Training Ground.

Dozens of Goblins held swords and shields, forming a formation as they trained.

They moved their swords and shields in sync with the chants.

[One!]

Lowering their stances, they raised their shields.

[Two!]

They thrust their swords upward from below.

[Three.]

Then returned to their original positions.

[Again, one!]

[Two!]

Three.

Balak approached Ropenheim, who was watching the Goblins repeat the motions with his arms crossed.

“Dinner has arrived.”

“Thank you. Steak, is it?”

“Yes. We slaughtered a cow from the ranch. It’s made from the most tender cuts—it should be incredible.”

When Ropenheim first tasted Balak’s cooking, his eyes almost popped out in surprise.

Could such cuisine really exist in this world?

The shock was enough to make him think so.

It reminded him of the first time he had eaten the pig’s feet Yongje had bought.

“Later, ask Yongje to buy some pig’s feet or ramen. I wonder how delicious they’d taste compared to the ones you make.”

“Are they really that good? The Orcs and Goblins say the same thing.”

“They’re just as shocking as your cooking.”

Ropenheim sliced the steak on his plate and put it in his mouth.

Juicy and tender.

Even though it was the same meat, the difference in taste depending on who prepared it fascinated him.

“Hngh. The juice is no joke.”

“That’s the last of it. We’ve run out of salt and pepper, so we’ll have to eat the meat as is for a while.”

“Ask Yongje. That stuff should be easy to get.”

“Easy to get? Pepper?”

“Probably.”

Recalling the salt and pepper that came with the chicken, Ropenheim leisurely enjoyed the steak’s flavor.

A hearty fullness swelled within him.

And an overflowing vitality.

Balak’s cooking carried buffs, granting different boosts depending on the dish.

Checking which buff was applied each time was its own kind of fun.

“Hmm?”

Ropenheim set his knife and sword down briefly, gazing northward in the Dragon Lair.

He felt a strong, intense presence from that direction.

“An intruder.”

“Huh?”

“Thank you for the meal.”

Ropenheim handed his plate back to Balak and rose from his seat.

“Goblins, follow me!”

[Following the instructor!]
[Everyone, move quickly!!]

Leading the Goblins, they moved to the fence in the northern forest.

A wooden fence rising to waist height.

It had appeared suddenly after Yongje left for somewhere.

A pitiful defense if meant to hold off enemies.

Ropenheim looked beyond the fence.

The area surrounding the Dragon Lair was a wide plain with open terrain stretching in all directions.

Having experienced countless wars, Ropenheim was well aware of the advantages and disadvantages such terrain held.

‘This place is far too vulnerable to defense.’

The structure made enemy infiltration too easy.

It was no problem with Yongje around, but without him, it was a serious issue.

Just as they were now.

[It’s war! Kill them all!]
[Finish those guys quickly so we can get to the real battle.]
[Shall we bet on who kills more?]
[Kraaaang!]

Thousands of wolves charged straight ahead.

Their fierce presence was anything but ordinary.

All were on par with Orcs.

Among them, three in human form were much stronger than the rest.

On the level of Orcs blessed by the Dragon’s grace.

But the energy Ropenheim sensed was not from them.

There was one among them powerful enough to bring to mind his own prime.

‘…That one in the back.’

A figure hidden in the forest.

“I just have to hope Yongje returns before that one steps forward.”

Ropenheim drew his sword as the wolves approached.

Then, as the wolves reached near the fence, flowers near the fence rapidly grew, forming a wall of stems.

Thud!

Boom!

The wolves tried to climb over the fence but were stopped by the stem wall.

Ropenheim’s solution to their weak defenses.

It involved using Fryra’s plants.

“Fryra, next phase.”

[Yes.]

Fryra and the Dryad Tribe threw flowers and triggered rapid growth.

The Sunflower of Blazing Sun expelled fiery seeds, causing explosions.

Kwah-ang!

Kwah-ang!

The Frozen Moon Lotus bloomed into a massive ice flower, freezing everything.

Zzzeojjeok!

The Anemone of Raging Storm whipped up fierce gusts that swept away the wolves.

[Kyaaaak!]
“What’s this! Everyone scatter!”

“It’s a trap.”

“Don’t be scared! It’s just three Dryads.”

The three human-form wolves—Lycanthropes—charged.

Watching them, Ropenheim leapt onto the stem wall and launched himself forward.

“There are still many wolves left. You all handle those who break through here.”

Assigning tasks to the Goblins, he lunged at the charging Lycanthropes with his sword.

The sword thrust generated a shockwave.

The sharp tip pierced a Lycanthrope’s neck, killing it instantly. Ropenheim withdrew the sword from the corpse.

The remaining two bared their claws, their red eyes flashing.

“Humans?”

“How can a human without mana—”

“Humans must be that insignificant in this world.”

Ropenheim raised his killing intent and sword.

“In my world, Lycanthropes wouldn’t even get a chance to speak.”

【Kuhahaha. Interesting words.】

“Let’s finish this quickly and go back.”

The Lycanthropes rushed toward Ropenheim. Their species trait allowed them to kick off the ground and close the distance at tremendous speed.

However, no matter how fast they were, Ropenheim’s eyes read every movement.

Dodging their mana-infused claws, he thrust his sword.

Slicing the thigh to reduce mobility.

Slicing the wrist to restrict their attack options.

The limping Lycanthrope with shredded wrist charged forward, teeth bared.

“You bastard! I won’t forgive you!”

“Get a grip!”

One of them tried to intervene, but the deranged Lycanthrope charged Ropenheim anyway.

“Mana isn’t everything.”

Ropenheim stepped forward and swung his sword high in a straight line.

Sshhaaak!

Blood splattered as the Lycanthrope was bisected.

“Damn it!”

The last Lycanthrope crossed its claws, releasing mana.

Claw-shaped mana shot toward Ropenheim.

He rolled on the ground to dodge, pushed off, lowered his stance, and sprinted forward.

Sshhaaak!

Sshhaak!

The energy-shaped mana spread in claws all around.

The moment the energy touched, everything exploded.

Kwah-ang!

Kwah-ang!

The ground caved in, and the stem wall was shattered, leaving a hole.

Through the gap, the remaining wolves rushed in.

Ropenheim ignored them, focusing on the Lycanthrope ahead and thrust his sword.

Poke!

Piercing its neck, the sword emerged above its head.

“Huff… Huff…”

Ropenheim gasped, pulling out the sword.

As he wiped the blood from the blade and looked up, cold sweat poured over his entire body.

A terror akin to facing a Demon King.

The powerful being left in the forest moved.

In less than a second, the forest Lycanthrope appeared before Ropenheim.

A Lycanthrope with a black mane.

He smirked and lightly struck the ground.

Kwah-ang!

The ground caved in, unleashing a powerful shockwave.

Ropenheim’s sword shattered.

At the same time, he was hurled through the air and slammed into the stem wall.

“Ugh!”

Ropenheim laughed bitterly, tasting blood at the corner of his mouth.

If only he had a mana hole, he could have put up a real fight against this foe.

“Are you the master of this place?”

“Well…”

“You’re just scheming.”

The black-maned Lycanthrope clenched his fist, gathering mana.

The dense black mana solidified above his fist.

With rippling muscles, he threw a punch.

Kwah-aaaaaang!

A massive shockwave erupted.

Thick smoke spread everywhere.

“Well done. I’ll handle it from here. Rest.”

Ropenheim looked at the man standing before him and smirked.

“Next time, come earlier. Must this old man suffer so?”

“I’ll remember that.”

“Then buy me some pig’s feet and cold noodles.”

Yongje laughed, following Ropenheim’s lead.

“I’ll take care of that guy first.”

Just as they were about to hear an explanation about the shattered tablet and Anne’s chains…

[Intruder detected in Dragon Lair.]

They immediately returned to the Dragon Lair.

In the distance, Redoc and Ropenheim faced off.

Using Absolute Barrier to block Redoc’s attacks, Ropenheim narrowed his eyes at him.

[Are you the master of this place?]

“Yeah.”

“You’ve got some nerve, reaching into the domain of a lord.”

“Don’t pretend to be the real thing when you’re a fake.”

Redoc scowled and exuded killing intent.

Before coming here, Ropenheim had heard about Redoc.

He had betrayed his queen, the Witch Queen Anne, seizing her place without a proper succession, making him a half-blood lord.

[Using Gold Dragon’s Eye.]
[Lord Redoc of the Seventh Forest (S+)]
-Descendant of the Black Moon Clan and ruler of the Seventh Forest.
-Anger is gradually rising.
-Overall stats: S+
-Potential: S
-Equipped items: Necklace of the Black Moon Clan (S), Black Moon Clan Leather Armor Set (SS), Moon’s Blessing Ring (SS)… Witch’s Cursed Ring (S).
-Skills: Half-Blood Lord (S), Physical Resistance (A), Magic Resistance (A), Agile Movements (S), Flexibility (S), Sharp Claws (S), Black Moon Baptism (SS).

An S-rank like Redoc could become a lord after betraying Anne thanks to the skill Black Moon Baptism.

On nights when the black moon rises, it boosts all abilities.

He used it to suppress the witches and corner Anne.

“Who are you? Which lord stands behind you?!”

“Anne.”

【She’s sealed.】

“I freed her.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll seal her again.”

Redoc’s form flickered faintly.

He lunged at Ropenheim with swift movement, but the Absolute Barrier blocked his attack.

Kwah-aaang!

The Absolute Barrier shattered.

A ring on Redoc’s hand flashed.

[Resisting curses through Dragon Heart’s condition.]

Heh.

“Ice Prison.”

Mana from the Dragon Heart vanished as chains of ice poured from the ground.

Redoc leapt into the air, crossing his arms as he scattered black energy.

Kwah-ang!

The magic circle vanished, and the ice chains disappeared.

Redoc dropped rapidly and threw a punch.

Using Fly magic, he retreated backward.

Kwah-aaang!

Dirt and rocks scattered, leaving a huge hole.

Redoc sprang out and swiftly struck with his feet.

Kwah-ang!

He didn’t stop there.

He extended his hands and feet freely.

Kwah-ang!

Kwah-ang!

The Absolute Barrier was mercilessly destroyed, rapidly depleting mana.

Ropenheim took out a top-grade mana potion.

He had received it from Anne before coming here.

Gulp.

The liquid flowed through his body, filling the Dragon Heart.

It filled to the brim and overflowed.

“Absolute Barrier.”

He formed a powerful barrier.

Strong enough to withstand Redoc’s fist.

Kwah-aaang!

Redoc threw a punch again, but the shield held firm.

‘This efficiency is insane.’

Not only was mana recovering, but the mana regeneration rate was so high it seemed infinite.

“Ice Prison.”

He drew a much larger magic circle than before.

From it, tens of thousands of chains shot out toward Redoc.

Redoc scattered his energy to block the chains, but new ice chains appeared, aiming for him relentlessly.

Still, mana never ran dry.

Eventually, Redoc’s legs froze solid.

From there, the ice chains tightened around him.

Preparing to finish it, Ropenheim readied a spell.

“Dragon Fang Spiral Spear.”

A spear made of wind appeared.

[…I acknowledge you, human. But do you think I came here without a plan?]

Before he finished speaking, the sky darkened.

Something overlapped the bright sun.

The moon appeared, swallowing the sun and creating a black moon.

At that moment, Redoc transformed.

“Wooooooooh!!”

Black mana poured from Redoc’s body.

His muscles bulged, his size grew, and his teeth and claws thickened and sharpened.

‘That’s Black Moon Baptism.’

Using Gold Dragon’s Eye, Ropenheim checked his rank. It had changed to SS+.

The ice chains that had subdued Redoc shattered.

Radiating a murderous aura, Redoc smiled grimly and clenched his fist.

“I will kill you.”

“What now?”

Ropenheim still had a trump card.

He used the Ring of Lakkas’ Darkness on his finger.

Goooooo!

Darkness spread from him.

It swallowed all the light around and turned everything pitch black.

Even the black moon hanging in the sky.

[Activation of Blessing of Darkness (SS).]
[All stats and power related to the darkness attribute increase fivefold.]

He used mana from the Dragon Heart.

“Dark Prison.”

Hands made of darkness reached out from the ground, grasping Redoc’s body.

[…What is this! What are you?!]

At his shout, Ropenheim unleashed the previously chanted Dragon Fang Spiral Spear.

The flying dragon’s teeth tore through Redoc entirely.

Kwagagagagang!

[Lord of the Seventh Forest has been killed.]
[Assuming the position of Lord of the Seventh Forest.]
[To become the true lord of the Seventh Forest, you must activate the tablet.]
[Qualified to participate in the Tablet War.]

As messages poured in, Ropenheim dispelled the darkness.

The forest’s tribes all gathered around him and knelt.

[We greet the new Lord of the Forest.]
[We greet the new Lord of the Forest.]
[We greet the new Lord of the Forest.]

Anne, standing among them, approached and handed him the shattered tablet fragment.

“Here it is.”

A tablet shimmering with golden light.

Ropenheim checked it with Gold Dragon’s Eye.

[Fragmented Tablet of Time Piece (Inactive)]
-When activated, the time axis between dimensions is distorted.
-Time in Dragon Lair flows faster.
-For every day in reality, two days pass in the Dragon Lair world.
-The more fragments there are, the more the time axis twists.

What?

That means the rewards gained in the Dragon Lair increase.

“Amazing.”