Chapter 216: Episode 68. Hope (1)
The beginning was simple. It was an argument whether to keep or destroy the ark. However, the relationship between the two arguing demons was a big obstacle. It was a fight between Ariel Diablo and Ufa Blennon.
The two of them were at war. They had cut down each other’s forces and plotted against each other. The only reason they did not fight here was that they tacitly agreed this was not the right place to do it.
But that was nothing more than putting out an urgent fire. Once the fire started to ignite again, this time, it was more blazing than before. It was due to a small issue. The result was too obvious. They started fighting again.
In terms of numbers of forces, Ufa clearly had the advantage. However, Ariel was far ahead in terms of quality. Moreover, demons under Ariel were waiting nearby.
The confrontation between demons and angels became a matter of two archdukes.
‘The most fun to watch in the world: fire and fight,’ I thought.
I sat back and watch. As all of this was happening, the only one who was hunting angels at the moment was Pandemonium. It would be an easy fight if all archdukes fought against angels, but only Pandemonium did so.
I was an onlooker. I hadn’t brought that many monsters from the beginning. Many of my monsters had gone to lure the Wizard of the Moon and got injured. So, I just pretended to fight while watching the match between Ariel Diablo and Ufa Blennon.
I did not want to be blamed later, so I pretended to hunt down the angels. Besides, they believed I was the only one who could open the door of Devildom. Even if I fled, they would not blame me much.
Nobody stopped the fire; it only spread.
“Are you going aboard the angels’ ship? It must be burned down already!” Ariel was insistent. She had the bloodline of the Dark Lord and really hated the Celestials.
“Isn’t the angels’ ship still a ship? It’s excellent. You bitch with rotten eyes can’t see this?” Ufa didn’t change his opinion either.
Most of the angels on the ark were removed. Now the only choice to make was to acquire the ship or burn it. However, they couldn’t decide due to their differing opinions.
It wasn’t a big deal, but it became a matter of pride now. Also, they hated each other in the first place.
“There is a traditional way to solve these kinds of problems. Ufa Blennon, you must die here.”
Ariel Diablo pulled her Ivory Sword. The Ivory Sword was made from the ivory of Balrogs, the strongest monsters. Because they were too strong, the Dark Lord himself had killed most of the Balrogs. At present, not many of them existed. Also, I wondered how the hell she got that sword on Earth.
“Alright. Not going to say no to a fight, especially with you, bitch!” Ufa grinned, revealing his teeth.
Hundreds of thousands of Ufa’s military forces got ready all at once. In contrast, Ariel Diablo’s army was around 5,000. Even if Ariel’s troops had the advantage when it comes to quality, Ufa’s forces outnumbered them. In other words, it would be likely to be Ariel Diablo’s grave.
“Bizart Mendam, you take the leading position.”
Bizart was one of Ufa’s dukes. Ufa appointed him as the vanguard.
Another war between Ariel and Ufa began in front of the huge fallen ark.
***
Demons’ fighting technique was extremely simple: gather, fight, crush.
It was the tradition of the demons to pour in all their strength until the opponent was completely destroyed. It had been very rare to have small-scale fighting. But not many nobles had survived from those big-scale fights. Thus, the battle strategy changed to small-scale limited warfare or war of attrition. I had read about this fact before.
And now, the two were fighting traditionally. In other words, they were pouring all their forces to end this at once this day.
Ufa had overwhelming numbers, but his chance of winning was at 6:4. The difference in numbers couldn’t be ignored, and, clearly, Ufa had more monsters. However, Ariel wouldn’t have decided to fight if she didn’t have a chance of winning against Ufa.
“Good,” I muttered.
This event was working on my advantage. The two fought and reduced each other’s forces. This was perfect for me. One might withdraw after a while, but the damage would still be extensive.
In this situation, Pandemonium would be the most embarrassed. He was busy at the moment fighting against angels. He probably needed back-up from other demons, but Ariel and Ufa were too busy fighting against each other. Since Pandemonium was already having a full-scale war with the Celestials, even if he tried to retreat, they would not let him go.
It was clear that the angels would be on the lookout for an opportunity in the battle between the two archdukes.
I had expected that there might be a conflict, but I did not expect it would be so fierce like this. I was so satisfied and would love to stay and watch this fight. However, I felt like the next step should be implemented.
“Then…” I turned my head.
Among the monsters behind me, I looked intently at the small figure covered in a cloak.
“Rose,” I called the name quietly.
The figure took off its cloak. She was Rose, a female dark elf, Roy’s twin. Originally, she should be in Korea, but I specifically summoned her. Rose smiled as her head was revealed by the cloak.
“Yes, Master?”
“Follow me.”
“Yes, Master.”
“The rest of you, look out for angels around. There is no need to fight actively. White Tiger, you lead the saber tigers and lure the angels to going here.”
There was a newly born white tiger. It had been growing rapidly, and it worked as one of the main monsters of my dungeon. I decided to use it and a group of saber tigers as a bait.
I intended to lure the angels into this place and make the fight between Ufa and Ariel even more dramatic.
I had brought about 3,000 monsters to the Royal Observatory of Greenwich. Most of them were intermediate- to high-grade monsters. There were many saber tigers mixed among them. There wouldn’t be any difficulties in carrying out the operation.
Roar!
White Tiger briefly cried out. It quickly ran and disappeared from my view. I also moved to do my job.
“Now it’s time to receive a delivery.”
I was itching to check what was Hope that the humans were talking about. I urgently moved to check it out and also to achieve another goal. By now, it would have reached the Royal Observatory of Greenwich.
***
The situation on the battlefield was urgent, so Yoo Eunhye was forced to act out faster. The future of this battle was difficult to predict. It was a battle among the sovereigns. There was a high possibility that they would be caught in the middle. She didn’t want to die in such a place.
“That passage is connected to the basement of the Royal Observatory of Greenwich. Not many monsters will be in there now. We need to install Hope in the center of the basement and quickly leave. Only a bit more to go.”
They were currently standing on ruins. However, there was a gap between the buildings. That gap was the underground passageway connected to the basement of Greenwich Observatory.
After Yoo Eunhye finished her speech, the team started removing the remains. Then, they entered the passage full of tension.
The passage was naturally dark. If they weren’t awakened heroes, they would not be able to see a bit. However, they exceeded human limitations, so they could walk through the darkness.
‘The communication got cut off,’ Yoo Eunhye thought.
Their line to the guild master Kim Yongwoo was disconnected. Yoo Eunhye took off her communication device from her ear and focused on the darkness around her. From now on, there would be no assistance from outside. They had to overcome this task by themselves.
Thud. Thud.
The sounds of their footsteps echoed.
Squeak! Squeak!
The water was leaking, and rats were all around. It seemed like this place had been abandoned for a long time. However, Yoo Eunhye had seen so many worse things to be frightened by rats. She kept walking bravely, preparing for a sudden attack of monsters.
“They built the castle on the observatory. There is no way they did not know about the existence of this underground.”
That was why she couldn’t be at ease. If they built the castle, they would figure out about the basement, too. They would know the passageways connected to the basement and be prepared for invasions. It would be weird if they did not assign some guards here.
However, the further they went, no monsters could be seen. There were only rats.
“Hmm… This goes too easily,” Yoo Eunhye remarked suspiciously, frowning.
No monsters had emerged in the long passage. She thought there would be no way they did not prepare for an intrusion, but it seemed like they really did not prepare at all.
‘Is this trap?’ Yoo Eunhye considered.
However, demons wouldn’t bother planting a trap. Rather, it was more convenient and effective to place a few monsters to protect the underground.
“Eunhye, I don’t feel good about this,” Edward whispered cautiously.
“There are no monsters.”
“No, not the monsters… I just don’t feel good about this place.”
“There is no other way but this one. It is impossible to enter the Greenwich Observatory from the ground.”
They had to continue even if their instincts told them otherwise. Yoo Eunhye turned around and checked her team members. They looked nervous. Now was the peak of their mission.
Kim Youra also had a somber look, but she seemed different from the others. Was it guilt or remorse?
‘She is probably just nervous,’ Yoo Eunhye thought.
There was no time to dig into the details. Yoo Eunhye returned to the front and started moving forward again.
She had memorized the route of the passage in advance. They only needed to keep going. It was a swift journey since there were no obstacles.
At that time, they heard a thin voice from the darkness.
“Stop.”
At first, she thought it was a hallucination, but it was clearly a woman’s voice.
“I said stop.”
The voice came from the other side of the passage. When they almost reached the goal point, someone showed up. Yoo Eunhye’s and Edward’s eyes widened as they saw the creature in front of them.
The others were puzzled and vigilant. But for Yoo Eunhye and Edward, that person was not supposed to be there.
“Miss Rose?”
“Yes… Long time no see.”
Rose completely removed her cloak and slowly walk towards them. She was just a little girl, but she held a long scythe in one hand.
Yoo Eunhye asked, astonished, “Why are you here?”
“Because my master told me to be here. Why are you scared of me? Why are you so cautious?”
“Miss Rose, you are not supposed to be here. Or did you come here with the savior?”
“Savior? Ah! Yes. He is him,” Rose confirmed. “By the way, the big thing over there, is that Hope?”
Rose pointed towards the team members with her scythe. Two members were pushing a cart. Yoo Eunhye’s tension increased even more at Rose’s words.
‘How did she find out about Hope?’ she pondered.
Only a very small number of people, including Kim Yongwoo, knew that name.
Yoo Eunhye clenched her fists and answered, “Yes, that is right.”
“Wow. Really? Yay! Master, it is correct!” Rose turned her head to inform someone behind her.
“Is there someone behind?”
Yoo Eunhye’s question was answered in a matter of seconds. A shadow showed up behind Rose. Yoo Eunhye was shocked when she saw it.
“You…”