Grakshar.
The boss of the Gray Tooth Clan, an intelligent monster designated as a danger level of semi-S-rank by the Hunter Association, was an ambitious orc aiming to seize control of the current Green City.
“Haha! Good, very good. I understand your words well. You, human, have quite a bit of courage!”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Grakshar seemed genuinely pleased with the mere human who calmly led the negotiations in front of him.
The negotiations that lasted three days were satisfactory, and the fact that a powerless civilian from the Association stood confidently before him was appealing.
Even during the negotiations, he intentionally bullied and threatened the agent, but the agent skillfully and calmly managed to negotiate terms with Grakshar and his orcs.
Ding! ‘If it weren’t for the A-rank Shadow Sorcerer Hunter, I would’ve had to ask for personal protection, but it’s fortunate, I suppose.’
In reality, a shadow Awakened One, capable of hiding themselves and their companions, was always by the agent’s side, along with several hunters waiting in the shadows as backup, including the Shadow Sorcerer.
If not for this, even with the agent’s experience speaking with various species on behalf of the Association, they would have been scared out of their wits in front of Grakshar and would have spilled everything.
“Crreee! Indeed, vegetable juice is good for the mind and body. Very nice!”
Satisfied with the discussion with the Hunter Association’s agent, Grakshar downed a mysterious drink made from juiced greens, carrots, radishes, and other unidentified vegetables.
It looked to be quite a lot, but chugging it down in one go was very orc-like.
“……Is it tasty? That stuff?”
Of course, it was a somewhat strange sight for the agent of the Hunter Association to see an orc drinking vegan, not meat.
“It’s delicious! It makes my body feel great, even my soul! Not that I care whether I actually have a soul or not! Hahaha!”
“Ahem, I’ll pass.”
The agent was also someone who loved meat. They didn’t dislike vegetables, but they certainly didn’t have the guts to sample the unknown vegetables of another world without any prior information.
Maybe hunters could manage it. There are many among them who have lost all sense of fear.
“Ahem! Anyway, it was a great stroke of luck that Mr. Grakshar is someone we can communicate with.”
“Haha! Indeed, the Bolt Scavengers and Kentauroi are not the types to talk with humans! Succubi and fairy hookers are either freaks or uninterested in ruling over Green City!”
Scavengers or Kentauroi are busy devouring humans whenever they see them. Though Green City is a hell of gluttony and desire, they’re some of the worst sorts even amidst that.
In Green City, vegetables and grains are difficult to acquire compared to meat, so the Vegan Orc leader can easily drink that juice without any trouble.
Regardless, both Grakshar and the Hunters’ agent thought everything was going smoothly.
The Hunter Association was already preparing a direct commission for several hunters.
‘There are still many cards prepared just in case, aside from Grakshar.’
Originally, the Hunter Association’s goal was ‘the control of Green City.’
However, after several explorations of Green City and witnessing the bizarre gimmick of the dead resurrecting the next day, it was evident that controlling it would not be so simple.
If it were easy to control, they wouldn’t be viewed as monsters or beasts, but would be considered a subspecies of humanity.
“Anyway, as promised, the Hunter Association aims not to conquer this Green City but to make you its representative and ruler.”
“Crkhkh, yes. That’s how it should be.”
Saying that, Grakshar gazed out at the neon lights shining through the green fog from the window.
Even at this moment, there were innumerable non-humans, monsters, and beasts clashing and living within that thick green mist.
They shoot guns and scramble for dominance in the alleys, often taking each other’s heads.
The next day, they resurrect again, leaving no downtime for the chaos.
“This place is a city very attractive to us. A place where fighting spirit and desire for domination never die!”
From the moment he first arrived in this city, Grakshar found everything enchanting and wanted it all.
For an orc who seeks struggle, power, battles, and victory, it was the city of dreams.
After all, even death meant rebirth.
Of course, Grakshar wasn’t the only one. Green City was filled with all manner of gangs and mafias aiming for the top. Moreover, not only Grakshar but many other gangs also resurrect the next day if they die, making it a long time before even the strongest Grakshar could firmly rise to the status of the city’s ruler.
‘If those humans were to help, that would be a different story…’
“If you, Mr. Grakshar, become the ruler of this empty Green City, we will promise you the utmost cooperation even after you have become the ruler of Green City. If you desire, we can also arrange regular trade and logistics exchanges…”
“Then later, will it be possible for our clan to go out into the world known as Earth? Could we be recognized as a nation?”
“That’s… well…”
“Crha! I’m joking. Didn’t you come to stop us from leaving this fence?”
“……..”
Being an orc, Grakshar was quite shrewd, and the agent swallowed hard.
From the agent’s perspective, the most dangerous thing was not the success or failure of the negotiations, but that this sharp-witted orc Grakshar might catch on to the Association’s true intentions and express his displeasure by abruptly canceling everything and turning against him and the hunters.
Unlike the monsters of Green City, who resurrected even upon death, the hunters and agents from outside have not been confirmed to have the same benefit.
Even if they repel Grakshar right now, should they choose to reinvade Earth after resurrecting, it would be the most dreadful event for the Hunter Association and various nations.
‘In fact, the gates leading to Green City are not just in the wastelands near Harbin, but are scattered all over the world. It seems the monsters of Green City haven’t realized the existence of the gates on the outskirts yet…’
For now, it was fortunate that the monsters of Green City were only focused on their internal power struggles and dominion over the city.
“Then, Mr. Grakshar, we will now…”
“Oh, and human. Before you go back, let me tell you something good.”
“Good… thing?”
“You earlier said you would make me the ruler of this empty Green City, right? But there’s one thing wrong with your words.”
“Excuse me?”
What could be wrong?
The agent adjusted their glasses and listened closely to Grakshar’s words.
“The position of the ruler of this city is not empty.”
“…I don’t understand. Didn’t you say that to gain control of this city, you would have to subjugate other clans and gangs?”
Without a powerful dungeon boss acting as a ruler, subduing the numerous gangs that are hardly more than mobs in this city shouldn’t be too difficult if they effectively utilize the hunters riding the Hunter Train.
“Think about it. Our clans and other gangs engage in battles in this city every day. They collapse buildings, detonate bombs, and instead of arrows, they fire rusty bolts; the plague-specializing Scavengers blast their plague bombs and cause havoc in the city.”
“That’s correct.”
“Yet, that occurs daily. Before the poison thrown by the Scavengers yesterday even evaporates, the city becomes a warzone, the alleys turn into chaos. It’s funny how even those looking to do business can still survive.”
Grakshar lifted the new juice brought by his subordinate while looking down at the agent.
“Yet the city persists. Even amidst war and chaos, toxins and bullets, the city has never ceased to function. What do you think that means?”
“…The city autonomously restores itself?”
“Smart! That’s right. When that green sun rises, it’s not just us who die and resurrect. The same goes for this Green City. The damaged alleys, concrete, underground pipes, and buildings all seem to magically restore themselves at some point.”
“What does that have to do with the ruler?”
“There was a time before, when my subordinates and I broke into the underground sewer to create a new hideout. But those disgraceful Scavenger bastards ambushed us, resulting in the death of many of our kin, and we needed a place to hold out until the green sun rose.”
“After all, don’t you just resurrect after you die? You could just reclaim it once you come back.”
“The Scavengers pollute their nests with all manner of bizarre traps and toxins upon establishing them. They ensure no one else can use them. Even if the city can restore itself, the pollution the Scavengers leave behind is quite severe, making it uninviting to reenter even after driving them out. The city may recover from destruction, but it certainly does nothing about clearing the toxins.”
As Grakshar spoke, his gaze shifted to something quite unsettling.
The agents knew not what that unsettling thing was.
“This sewer is a peculiar place. There’s a huge sewer system even though it’s not flowing. Countless pipes connect deep underground. And, do you know what I found as I followed those pipes?”
“The ruler?”
“No, we didn’t find any ‘ruler.’ Suddenly, the pipes escalated rapidly, and we all got skewered. As if to say, ‘Don’t come any closer.’ In the end, after the sun had risen and we resurrected, we had to smash the Scavengers and look for a new hideout. These days, finding a place to live is quite a task. Green City is oddly saturated in population! Hahaha!”
The Hunter Association determined that the negotiations with the orc were not overly dangerous, as they believed the dungeon’s threat level was not high, so they made contact with a few gangs and various beings traversing the alleys. Based on several explorations and Grakshar’s statements, the Hunter Association concluded that there was no dungeon boss playing the role of the core in this dungeon.
“And those pipes are spread throughout the city. When collapsing buildings or digging roads, one can find these pipes that shouldn’t be here. Filled with something that could be mana or toxins… Yes, I should say enchanted. They work to repair the city’s damaged parts.”
“Enchanted?”
“No, I don’t really understand. I’m not even sure if those pipes are for repairing the destroyed city. But those things, whether they are pipes or machines that skewered us, are spread like a web across the entire city. Touching them doesn’t provoke a response, but trying to go through the underground sewer triggers traps that skewer us. It shows that while it doesn’t rule over the city like the gangs do, something is definitely reigning over it.”
‘The information that there is a ruler was unexpected. The Association has assessed and made plans thinking there wasn’t a boss in the dungeon…!’
This was serious.
The anxious agent bit their lip.
A ruler.
Meaning, if there truly is a dungeon boss, the danger level of this dungeon would sharply increase.
Of course, even if an unexpected element were to emerge, it wouldn’t be impossible to defeat the ruler.
Right now, within the Hunter Train, there were hundreds of A-grade hunters conserving their strength, in addition to 21 S-grade hunters and another powerful individual, Isia, who single-handedly defeated a boss monster in Blood Swamp.
The problem lay not in their ability to confront the ruler, but rather in the potential loss of life and property that could stem from the Association’s tarnished reputation and the absence of prior information coordination.
The Hunter Association, which was established in 2088 during the era of hunters, was no longer simply an organization for the benefit of hunters. It had become a complex public entity intertwined with various political forces and public sentiment.
What if a risk that could have been adequately prevented led to loss of lives or property due to incorrect preliminary information?
Especially when the massive armed institution, the Hunter Train, was currently in operation, any unnecessary loss of strength and property could lead to the Association facing severe political pressure.
Not to mention the government organizations clamoring to cut funding and budgets. It would also impact the trust of hunters who rely on the Association.
Then there would be the incessant rumors and erroneous pamphlets from annoying journalists.
‘And if by any chance… that single entity known as the “ruler” derailed our plans or led to the annihilation of the Hunter Train, that would be unforgivable.’
Even if it’s quite a stretch, a single unforeseen factor could potentially lead to the annihilation of the hunters due to the absurdity and unique gimmicks of a dungeon.
There could be cases where a hunter perished due to being unable to discern a colorless and odorless toxin within the dungeon.
Or bizarre gimmicks demanding that if a non-virgin exists in the party, they receive intensive attacks from unicorns, and in some dungeons, if the hunters simultaneously close their eyes upon entry, they are annihilated altogether—gimmicks that make no sense.
One should not expect logic within the dungeon.
Thus, the possibility of the initial plan being derailed due to the existence of a ruler could not be ignored.
“Crha! You seem rather surprised, human! Was learning about a ruler so shocking?”
“Uh… yes, indeed. Why inform us of this now? If you had shared this information earlier, the plan would have…”
“Your goal isn’t to build a fence around Green City. Instead, it’s to destroy Green City itself.”
“………….”
“Am I wrong? Human?”
The agent fell silent at the penetrating words.
“And in this moment, let me also inform the other sneaky humans hiding below the shadows. Put away your swords and guns. If you were going to kill me, I would’ve been dead already.”
Grakshar shook the juice while gazing at the agent’s shadow.
He had already noticed the shadow Sorcerer’s ability.
“…..When did you know?”
“From the moment you humans presented clauses that favored our clan in the negotiations. I’ve been suspicious. Why would you show such favor? It’s ludicrous! Given that you initially proposed taking control of Green City and stabilizing it on my behalf, it was absurdly beneficial to me. It was as if you were saying, ‘Accept this support condition, or the orc’s a fool!’”
Grakshar’s previous hearty laugh vanished, replaced by a chilling glare directed at the agent.
I never thought I would use “chilling” to describe a fierce orc, but the agent gulped down the tension rising in their throat.
“In this city, betrayal and trickery are the norm. After years of engaging in that nonsense daily, it becomes easy to detect a lie. I’ve fought against those vile sorcerers who manipulate shadows multiple times, so I know. Your shadow and your movements often do not align; my guess is you’ve got an assassin or another warrior hidden within your shadow.”
“…….”
Grakshar was right.
The Hunter Association wasn’t simply working to make Grakshar the representative of Green City to establish advantageous terms for humanity and Earth.
In this realm where death leads to resurrection,
A place where all intelligent creatures are dragged in from various dimensions,
A bizarre city where peculiar gimmicks that are often seen in only one or two dungeons exist in every alley.
They couldn’t even properly explore Green City. The Hunter Association had concluded that the overwhelming benefit of destroying Green City itself vastly outweighed any gains from exploring or uncovering its secrets.
Granted, this was indeed a long-term plan: to anoint Grakshar as the ruler of Green City to prevent invasions from Earth and gradually increase their influence over it. Only after sealing all the gates would they fully use hunters to commence their hunts here.
The Hunter Train docking at Green City was also a display of force directed at Grakshar.
Boom! We have such strong hunters, so don’t even think about making foolish moves.
Of course, the hunters on standby in the train had no idea about this context and likely thought they were just visiting yet another dungeon.
“Even so, the reason I play along with your human schemes is that, although our ultimate goals may differ, our intermediate processes are the same.”
Having finished the juice, Grakshar rasped his throat while looking at the agent.
“To dethrone the wretched ruler of this cursed city and take his place—For that, I suppose I must endure being lulled into your sweet-talking.”
“What do you plan to do once you become the ruler? Surely you won’t invade Earth, will you?”
“What use is it to tell someone who wouldn’t believe no matter what I say? Do you really think you’d find a fool foolish enough to believe I wouldn’t invade Earth after becoming its ruler?”
“Surely not. Even if I believe it, the chairman and board of the Association, along with the other hunters, would not.”
“Hahaha! Right, exactly. Ah, so quintessentially human. You can hide your disgraceful acts as if it were nothing!”
“Such disgrace would apply to you as well, Grakshar. They say dying honorably in battle is the glory and spirit of an orc, and yet here you are, unable to even die…”
“Enough. If you mock us, you won’t survive to see the afterlife.”
“Is it a threat to say I would be killed in Green City? They say a green sun rises, allowing one to resurrect, right? In that case, it wouldn’t be bad to confirm that on behalf of the Association.”
The agent decided to be bold since things had escalated like this.
He hadn’t expected Grakshar to be much smarter and craftier than he anticipated.
The plan had pretty much gone awry.
In the long term, they had aimed to slowly pressure Grakshar and control him through the Association to topple Green City, but if Grakshar had caught on to everything, the plan was basically in ruins.
“Crkhkhkh, you’re pretty gutsy, human.”
To the agent’s surprise, it was Grakshar who first backed off.
“However, remember this: the gangs of Green City are exceptional at torturing someone as long as they don’t die due to the city’s resurrection gimmick. It’s all just talk for us, but we are allies, aren’t we? I don’t intend to do anything to a fellow ally, but don’t provoke the Scavengers. No, if captured by them, I advise you just bite your tongue and die.”
“…What would happen then?”
“You’d experience the taste of a cocktail made from cyanide and detoxins, along with arachnid poison. You’d even taste the waste of those rat bastards.”
At that remark, the agent’s face drained of color, causing Grakshar to burst into hearty laughter once again.
“Well, off you go now. Don’t forget our agreement. No matter what you plot, I’ll gladly play the puppet for you. But…”
Don’t push your luck too far.
Though he never spoke those words, Grakshar’s meaning was surely conveyed to the agent… or rather, to the Hunter Association above him.
○○○○
At that moment, Shia was…
“The first order is legs!”
Zizzle!
“The second order is wings!”
Chiiiiiing!
“Hah! The third is boneless chicken breast?! This is going to kill me!”
[Cock-a-doodle-doo!!! Just kill me already!!!!!]
“Wait! No way! I’m a saint! I can’t let you die so easily! Don’t worry! I’ll save you, chicken monster!”
Miracle – Great Healing
“……….”
“…Should we step out?”
“But the chicken looks really tasty…”
“Excuse me? Is this good?”
Nom nom nom, “Yes, it’s delicious!”
“That might look like that, but the taste is superb! Don’t worry!”
Shia, diligently frying chicken, appeared truly saintly.
