《The Regressors are Trying to Kill Me》 Chapter 1 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 1 ¡®My idol, my hero, my sun.¡¯ ¡®Yes. Why do you call?¡¯ ¡®Before you fall, before you cease to be my idol, my hero, my sun, I will kill you with my own hands. For your honor!¡¯ ¡®What kind of nonsense... Ugh!¡¯ I chuckled dryly, recalling the conversation I had with my longtime comrade and disciple about a month ago. Damn him. I fed him, clothed him, raised him, and he backstabbed me with such absurd words. ¡°It still hurts like hell.¡± I lifted my shirt to check the wound on my heart from that day. The scar, spanning over a hand''s length¡ª nestled between the white chest muscles, was terribly gruesome. Tzzzzt. Crimson and turquoise electric sparks flew from the cracked crevices, leaking mana. ¡°¡­¡± Cheong Siyeol, that bastard¡ª was clever, just like his master. He seemed to know well that stabbing me with an ordinary sword wouldn''t work. I don''t know where he got such an artifact from. But the artifact he pierced my heart from¡ª ''Chronos'' Hand''¡ª a weapon that slices through the very fabric of time of its target. This wound only grows larger with time. Tssss. It''s much longer and wider than it was a month ago, and now it''s spreading root-like cracks into the surrounding skin. It''s a miracle I''ve lasted a month. If I were an ordinary Ranker, I wouldn''t have made it past that day. Ding! Ding! Ding! At that moment, the Great Constellation shouted at me like thunder in my head. ¡¾¡°Stop with the melodrama and prepare to fight. Why aren''t you using the *¡®Law of Light¡¯ I gave you? I don''t understand.¡±¡¿ ¡¾¡°Do you think I''ve been sponsoring you to see such a pathetic ending? How could you do this to me? Are you really thinking of giving up on life so easily?"¡¿ ¡¾¡°The second protective barrier has been breached. If the third one falls, it''s game over.¡±¡¿ ¡°I know.¡± I forced a bitter smile and looked ahead. Thud! Thud! The ornate, modern-style door, tightly sealed with red chains and mana circles, shook violently. ¡°It¡¯s the third barrier! Just a little more!¡± ¡°What a tenacious bastard. It''s been a month, and he still has this much mana left.¡± ¡°Don''t let your guard down. He''s Hong Baekya, after all.¡± Beyond that door, countless enemies were waiting to kill me. My former disciple, the 4th ranked Swordsman Cheong Siyeol¡ª leading them. I know, because I raised him. In my current state, defeating him is impossible. ¡°But Constellation, you know this too, don¡¯t you?¡± I spoke to the Great Star. ¡¾¡°¡­¡±¡¿ ¡°I can¡¯t win. Maybe if I hadn¡¯t been stabbed in the first place. But the more mana I use, the larger the wound grows, and the more mana I¡¯ll lose. I just¡­ want to be with you until the very end.¡± ¡¾¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. I¡¯m going to hit you for real.¡±¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ¡®Sunny¡¯ slaps you across the cheek with all their might.¡¿ Slap. A gentle spring breeze brushed against my cheek. To think that my Constellation''s physical influence on this world is so limited¡ª a testament to how weak I''ve become. But my sorrow was brief. ¡¾"Have you truly given up?"¡¿ I smiled confidently and shook my head. "No. I have no intention of dying quietly." I have to survive and reach the top of the Tower. That was my promise to my fallen comrades, and the honor of Baekya. ¡¾"Then what do you intend to do?"¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' expresses her doubt.¡¿ [TL/N: I¡¯m not yet sure what ¡®Sunny¡¯s¡¯ gender is, so I¡¯ll be referring ¡®Sunny¡¯ as a female until and unless confirmed otherwise] Ding. I opened my status window and inventory, then took out the artifact ring I always carried. ¡¾Ring of the Returnee (Legendary)¡¿ ¡¾1. Revives the user in the body of the most recently deceased Awakened within the user''s server. 2. This artifact is single-use. 3. If a suitable deceased Awakened is not found within 3 days of using this artifact, the user''s soul will be erased.¡¿ I put the ring on my finger and addressed my Constellation. "Don''t worry. I have no intention of dying. I was careless a month ago, and I won''t make the same mistake twice." ¡¾"So you had a plan all along."¡¿ ¡¾"Then you''re giving up on that body?"¡¿ "It''s a shame, but what can I do? The inside is already patched up like a quilt. I''ve used it for too long, and it''s broken in many places. It might be better to start anew this time." ¡¾"What if no suitable Awakened dies within those 3 days for your soul to inhabit?"¡¿ Bang! Bang! Bang! The door shook violently. The red chains and mana circles shattered. The last protective barrier of the sanctuary was breaking. "Then I guess I''ll really die." I muttered, drawing my beloved weapon from my inventory. Hoping that this wasn''t the end of my story. * * * Bang! With a loud sound, the sanctuary door burst open. "We''re going in!" Cheong Siyeol, Korea''s 4th ranked High-Ranker, the ''Sword Saint'', led the charge into Hong Baekya''s sanctuary. At the top of a 100-story skyscraper in the heart of Seoul. Hong Baekya''s sanctuary was as magnificent as his reputation. It was filled with the purest mana stones, statues and pillars with various magical effects, and artifacts designed to anchor Constellations to this world. In the center, surrounded by 12 pillars. Atop a triple platform where sunlight poured in from the surrounding glass windows. He sat on a massive golden throne. "It''s been a while, Master." "You''re here. I thought I was going to die of boredom waiting. It took you days to break through just three barriers?" The first thing that caught the eye was the holy ring, the halo, floating above his head. Its color was like blazing crimson flames, its pattern as intricate as an Indian mandala. It was the symbol of Hong Baekya, the Awakened who had held the world''s number one position for 13 years. Beneath that, a face where intense masculinity coexisted with a sharpness like broken icicles¡ª held an irresistible charm. His body, clad in a multi-million won suit crafted by a world-renowned tailor, hinted at physique-competitor-like muscles even beneath the fabric, showcasing its beauty. To think he still looked this formidable a month after being struck by Chronos'' Hand... In his prime, he must have been truly untouchable. "It seems I still have much to learn." "Didn''t I teach you to betray only after you''ve sucked everything you can out of someone?" "This isn''t betrayal. I swear it. No one respects you as much as I do." "I guess the definition of betrayal has changed while I wasn''t looking. Or maybe the definition of respect has." Hong Baekya burst into laughter and rose from his seat. Fwoosh! His longsword glowed a faint red. "I cherished you." "I know." "I thought that when I die, I could rest easy thinking of you, entrusting the future of this country¡ª my unfinished dreams, to you." "You said that." "Was that not enough?" "No." "Or was the responsibility too heavy? Or was it too hard being expected to live up to my expectations? Did you start to feel it was unfair for Awakened like us to risk our lives protecting the weak¡ª the non-Awakened?" Cheong Siyeol looked up at Hong Baekya with an inexplicably sorrowful expression. "That''s absurd! I''ve been able to live until now thanks to the expectations you placed on me, the words you spoke, your recognition! So... please don''t say that. At least until now, you were right." A wave of rough, navy-blue bangs covered his teary eyes. Hum. A blue halo spun above his head, and in an instant, a longsword appeared in his hand. "My idol, my hero, my sun. Before you fall, before you cease to be my idol, my hero, my sun, I will kill you with my own hands." Cheong Siyeol''s sky-blue eyes shone brightly as he pointed his sword forward. Clang. Though his stance was filled with hesitation, the tip of his sword remained steady. "I don''t understand what you mean." Hong Baekya raised his longsword above his head and took a step forward. His low voice was tinged with bitter regret. Ding! Ding! Ding! ¡¾Skills... are activated.¡¿ ¡¾Traits... are activated.¡¿ Immediately after their countless skills and traits activated¡ª Boom! The two clashed with a roar like a supernova explosion. Cheong Siyeol''s sword soared like a salmon leaping over a waterfall, while Hong Baekya''s longsword attacked from all directions like the sun''s rays. "N-No way. It''s been a month since he was stabbed. How can he still have that much power left?" "Siyeol is going to lose. We need to help." "Get in the middle of that? Are you kidding me? That''s suicide!" Cheong Siyeol''s comrades cried out in shock and dismay. Whoosh! Hong Baekya, wielding his longsword in his right hand and a blazing fireball in his left, leapt towards Cheong Siyeol like a rising sun. It was a strike powerful enough to cleave Cheong Siyeol, the 4th-ranked swordsman, in two with a single blow. "No!" Just as his comrades were about to intervene, thinking they absolutely had to this time. ''...As expected, you can see through all my techniques. But you won''t know this one. It''s a skill I shouldn''t have learned yet.'' Cheong Siyeol''s eyes flashed sky-blue once more. Swoosh! Cheong Siyeol''s blue sword, like an event horizon, warped space and pierced Hong Baekya''s side. Thud! The sword, thrust beneath his left ribs, pierced diagonally through his body and emerged from behind his right shoulder blade. "Huh?" Baekya, surprised rather than in pain, lost his grip on the fireball he''d raised. Fizzle! The incomplete sun fell from his hand, losing its light and eventually fading away. His legs weakened. Unconsciously, he reached out and grabbed his former disciple''s shoulder. Thud. ''Damn it.'' The shoulder that once felt like it would break if he held it too tightly was now quite firm. "You... could use a skill like that?" "Not originally." "...Originally?" "I don''t know if you''ll believe me, but no. You don''t have to believe me. I don''t want to lie to you, even in this moment." "Alright. Tell me. I deserve to know at least... the reason why I''m dying, don''t I?" Cheong Siyeol''s kind and upright face contorted with guilt. Two streams of tears silently flowed down his jade-like cheeks. "I''m not the person you knew." "What do you mean?" "I, and my comrades, have returned from the future. We are all Regressors." "Regression?" "And you, in the not-so-distant future, will become the worst Awakened, betraying humanity and setting the whole world ablaze. I¡ª! I couldn''t bear to let you! Be remembered that way!" "What kind of... dreamlike nonsense are you spouting?" Baekya couldn''t believe his ears. Ever since the Tower appeared, there had been many who claimed to have regressed or seen the future. Ninety-nine out of a hundred were frauds, and the remaining one, due to the Tower''s ''laws'', could only speak in riddles, offering no real help. But to hear that Cheong Siyeol, of all people, and his other comrades were Regressors... ''So you won''t let me die peacefully after all.'' These weren''t words that should be coming from the talents who were supposed to take charge of Korea''s Tower after his death. ''I will bring you back to your senses.'' He took a deep breath and raised his head. He could feel the mana dissipating within his body. ¡¾The Ring of the Returnee is ready for activation.¡¿ A notification popped up in his mind, indicating that the preparations for his revival were complete. "I see. Whether it was some curse or mental attack, I''m sure it wasn''t an easy decision to kill me." "What?" "So don''t cry. I''m sorry for dying in front of you. I''m sorry I couldn''t remain the great idol, the invincible hero, the unchanging sun." "That''s not it. I did it for your honor...!" Hong Baekya''s halo flickered above his head. His eyes, once burning like coal, cooled. His disciple cried out urgently. "Just one, I have just one question!" "...What is it?" "Why didn''t you kill us all? You had several chances to use Law of Light." "You call that a question?" Hong Baekya''s answer was already decided. "Let''s say I killed you all. I would have died too, right? Then who would protect this country, who would climb the Tower? With neither me nor you..." Half of it was an act, a performance for his staged death. Therefore, the other half was his true feelings. After finishing his words, Baekya''s arms went limp. ''Aitel'' Rank 1 in Korea, Rank 1 in the world. S~?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The sole survivor of the first generation of Awakened. ''The Sun'' Hong Baekya. Deceased. * * * Splash! ¡¾Return successful.¡¿ ¡¾There is a high possibility of danger near the deceased. Please be careful.¡¿ The ''Aitel System'' message rang out, and I felt a sense of relief mixed with a slight chill. Regression? I don''t know how my disciple fell into such a delusion, but I couldn''t turn a blind eye after seeing him in such a state. If I find and eliminate those behind this, the curse will disappear as well. Siyeol, just wait a little longer. I''ll bring you back to your senses. And then, let''s climb the Tower together again. Rustle. I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. Perhaps my eyes were injured when I died, as my vision was blurry. As I tried to take a deep breath, something caught in my throat. Gurgle! Gurgle! Bubbles rose above me. Huh? "Ugh!" Only then did I realize I was drowning! This Awakened had drowned! I desperately reached for the surface of the water I could see above, but my arms flailed helplessly, unable to break through. Huh? This can''t be happening. This ring is single-use, isn''t it? [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 2 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 2 Cough, cough! I coughed violently as I crawled onto the Han River¡¯s bank. I almost died twice in one day. Whether it was the dirty water or the trash strewn across the bank, a foul smell wafted from somewhere. My wet hair obscured my vision. I brushed it back irritably. Then, I noticed a monster hiding among the bushes. "Ribbit, ribbit..." It was a Horned Frog the size of a compact car. Sharp thorns covered its body from its eyes to the tip of its back, and it oozed a foul-smelling liquid. Since no ¡¾ ¡¿shaped information appeared, it seemed to be an inferior F-rank monster. I stared at the Horned Frog with a newfound sense of wonder. It had been a while since I''d seen such a low-level monster in person. In the past, it would have sensed my presence and hidden as soon as I came within a kilometer radius. I wondered why it was here. It probably escaped from a Gate or swam up from the lower Han River. It seemed that the Han River Management Office officials had missed it. "..." Even an inferior monster could be a threat to a non-Awakened. Even though I was in a hurry, it was only proper to take care of it. It wouldn''t be difficult. Thinking so, I raised my right hand. Swish. I was about to use Law of Light, a technique Baekya is famous for. Law of Light. A light that incinerates all reason, returning everything to nothingness. A power that could even distort the ''laws'' of the Tower''s floors. If I had used this technique, I could have annihilated Cheong Siyeol in one blow. Even now, having died once, I had no intention of doing so. It was an excessive power to use against a mere inferior monster. "Huh?" But nothing happened. "L-Law of Light?" Even after shouting it out loud, sacrificing my pride, nothing happened. "Ribbit, ribbit?" S~?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The Horned Frog glared at me. The monster''s eyes, previously filled with the shock of being discovered, now gleamed with predatory intent. "Law of Light!" This shouldn''t be happening. The monster should turn into a white light and scatter, and some of its mana should be absorbed by me. That was the power my Constellation had bestowed upon me. The Horned Frog opened its mouth as if mocking me. Crack. "Ribbit, ribbit!" It seemed to be saying, "I thought you were something special, but you''re nothing." Seeing its mouth, large enough to swallow a person whole, I realized something was wrong. Its tongue, as thick as a man''s arm, shot out like a bullet. Swoosh! "Argh!" I was sucked into the monster''s mouth, wrapped around its waist. It was dark, hot, damp, and smelled awful, like food waste. "Law of Light! Light! Light!" The monster raised its head and shook its neck, trying to pull my legs into its mouth. I struggled, flailing my arms and legs as much as I could. I had no idea why this was happening to me. "Liiiiiggghht!" Then, with a feeling of power draining from my entire body. Flash! Half of the Horned Frog''s plump body turned into a white light and scattered like fireflies. Thump! I fell out of the frog''s mouth and landed on the riverbank. What just happened? I thought I was exhausted from escaping the Han River, but now I didn''t even have the strength to lift an eyelid. It was similar to the time when I first Awakened and used my abilities recklessly, resulting in mana exhaustion. Could it be that I used up all my mana incinerating half of its tiny body? Me, who could erase a kraken larger than a container ship with just a wave of my hand? To think I didn''t even have this much mana. It seemed I had truly returned in the body of an insignificant Awakened. "Hahaha." I chuckled and then collapsed. The sensation of the cement block against my cheek was rough. Then, a thought suddenly occurred to me. Wouldn''t a body with its left half missing fall over to the left? I barely managed to open my eyelids. I saw the remaining half of the Horned Frog''s corpse tilting towards me. Tilt. Oh. Please, no. The foul-smelling corpse toppled over me. Splat! I thought of my disciple, Cheong Siyeol, and muttered to myself. Siyeol. Even if you did it because of a curse, I never thought you''d make me Baekya suffer such humiliation. When we meet again, you''ll get one solid hit from me. As I laid there for a while, I felt some of the mana flowing into me. It was the mana that had made up the left half of the Horned Frog I had incinerated with Law of Light. Sizzle. It felt as sweet as a sip of water after running a marathon. I tried to push myself out from under the corpse, putting strength into my arms. I had a long way to go. With this level of Law of Light, I couldn''t dispel the high-level curse that Siyeol must be under. I needed to grow stronger quickly by incinerating more monsters. Wee-woo-wee-woo! Just then, I heard the sound of police sirens in the distance. * * * "Achoo!" "Why would you do something like that, especially at such a young age and as an Awakened?" "I''m sorry." "Sorry?" "No, I apologize...?" "It''s a scary world out there. Yesterday, the Sun passed away, and today, an Awakened jumps into the Han River¡­" I sat in a corner of the police station, wrapped in a blanket, answering various questions. "We collected all your belongings from the bridge, so check if these are yours. Dry yourself off a bit, and let us know when you''re leaving." "Thank you." The police officer handed me a wallet, car keys, a smartphone, shoes, and a shirt. I had no way of knowing if these truly belonged to this body, but I accepted them as calmly as I could. I opened the wallet and checked the name and resident registration number on the driver''s license. Hong Ilha. That was the name of my new body. I thought we might be blood-related because we shared the same surname, but our ancestral homes were different. Judging by his age, he was only twenty-one years old. Twenty-one. I felt both curious and sorry, wondering what circumstances had driven him to this point at such a young age. Buzz. Thankfully, the smartphone used fingerprint recognition for unlocking. I opened a portal and saw his recent search history. [Suicide fine 2 million won] [Artifact scam] [Compound interest] I pushed aside the depressing search history and entered my name in the search bar. [Baekya] As expected, all the community sites were ablaze. "I knew it." Not only YouTube comments, but also the Awakened anonymous community ''Star Chatter'', the office worker anonymous community ''Blinder'', and every other community were filled with my name and videos. I clicked on the most viewed video on YouTube. A news anchor in a black suit, trying to control his emotions, continued speaking. [Breaking news. Hong Baekya, the Awakened who held the number one position in both Korea and the world''s Aitel rankings for the past 13 years, known as ''the Sun'', has passed away. While the exact cause and time of death have not yet been revealed, some speculate about discord and conflict with fellow Rankers.] I watched the next video. [With the sudden death of the world''s number one, the whole world is in turmoil. The Minister of Gate Management and the Director of the Awakened Support Agency are currently repeating that they are under investigation. In some anonymous communities, a person claiming to be an employee of the Awakened Support Agency has stated that they currently have no information...] I directly accessed the office worker anonymous community. Hong Ilha must have used the same community because the app was installed. I headed to the ''Baekya'' board where people were discussing about me. [I thought he was invincible.] [Me too. I never thought he would die like this.] [May he rest in peace.] [I guess this board will die down now, huh?] [I''m too young to know, but how many times did he save the country?] [He defeated an S+ rank Great Demon 3 times and an S+ rank Dragon 5 times.] * * * "Then we''ll arrange for you to go home." "Hey, young Awakened friend, you shouldn''t be doing things like that. You need to live your life to the fullest." "I understand. Thank you for saving me. I really, really wanted to live." I left the police station and walked towards the building in the distance. "Ah." Come to think of it, that building wasn''t mine anymore. Baekya''s death was making headlines all over the world, and yet, what was I trying to do? Jingle. I checked the car keys in my pocket. It seemed he had driven somewhere near the Han River bridge and then walked the rest of the way. ...But I had no idea where this body had parked the car. I stood there blankly for a while before picking up my smartphone. They say you can find anything with a search these days. [Lost my car] Search suggestions like "how to find my car" appeared. I skimmed through the results and found that most cars these days have GPS, making them easy to locate. This guy''s smartphone even had an app installed for it. But having a map didn''t mean I could easily navigate. I had no idea where I was. Honk, honk! There was no other choice. It had been years since I''d walked around Seoul. I was always chauffeured in the backseat of a Rolls-Royce Phantom. [Route deviation.] [Recalculating route.] After wandering around in circles within a 3km radius for a couple of hours¡­ "Found it." I stood before a car so old that I couldn''t have imagined I''d ever be driving it. Beep. At least I knew how to unlock the car with the key. "Mr. Kim, let''s go." I sat in the backseat of the driver''s side, wondering why the car wasn''t moving, until I realized there was no Mr. Kim. Come to think of it, I was holding the car keys. Click. I moved to the driver''s seat and gripped the steering wheel. But how do you start the engine? Is the brake on the right or the left? Fifteen years I''ve lived, Awakening at twelve and navigating the Tower and Gates. I could ride a dragon, but I''d never driven anything other than chauffeured cars, helicopters, and private jets. That''s right. I didn''t know how to drive. ...Thinking about it, I didn''t even know where Hong Ilha, the owner of this body, lived. No. Wait, did he even have a house? "This is crazy." I let out a hollow laugh, still gripping the steering wheel. I had one more reason to find and kill those self-proclaimed Regressors. To think they''d make me feel this helpless. And Siyeol... You''re getting another beating. I know it''s not your fault, but I''m so annoyed by this situation. "...Got it?" I figured out where the house was by cross-referencing the address on the driver''s license¡ª frequently visited locations on the Naver Map, and the home address on delivery apps. "Have I been here before?" The address seemed familiar for some reason. It was quite far, and I had no idea how to get there by bus or subway. So I took a taxi. "Please take me here." "Alright." The address felt familiar, and now I knew where Hong Ilha lived. I could see the prefabricated container houses in the distance. It was a public housing support complex for those who had lost their homes and hometowns due to Gate Breaks. On the internet, it was called a refugee camp. I remembered when they were building this place, the Awakened Support Agency officials asked me to hold a charity party with other Rankers to pressure large corporations into donating. I think I donated about 5 billion won myself. If I hadn''t donated back then, I might not have a place to go today. "We''re here." "Thank you." "It says your card has insufficient balance." "Ah. Then how about this..." "That''s a transportation card. Come on, man." "Then how about this?" "That''s a bank security card? Sir, you don''t have any money, do you?" It seems he had a house but no money. I couldn''t say anything and looked down. "Well, that''s..." To suffer such humiliation! Me, Baekya, who used to spend tens of billions of won at artifact luxury stores! I felt my eyelids twitching as I looked towards Hong Ilha''s house. Was there anyone who could pay for me? Probably. I remembered checking the construction company bids to make sure my donation wasn''t misused. Those container houses were for 2-3 person households. It meant Hong Ilha didn''t live alone. It was Monday afternoon, and the sun had already set. Whether his housemate was a sibling, a lover, or his parents, they should be home around this time. "I''m sorry. Would you mind coming with me? Or should I leave my smartphone as collateral?" "Let''s go together." I headed towards the house with the taxi driver. Naturally, I didn''t know the door code. Ding-dong. I pressed the doorbell, trying to appear as calm as possible. Please, let someone come out. Otherwise, I might end up back at the police station, or the poor taxi driver might not get paid. Click. The door opened in a matter of seconds. "Brother? Where were you?" A boy with long hair tied back¡ª delicate face yet somehow resilient, stepped out. He called me ¡®brother.¡¯ It seemed Hong Ilha had a younger brother. A thin, white halo hovered above his head, indicating that he was also an Awakened. Seeing this, I wondered why Hong Ilha had tried to commit suicide. It didn''t seem like a situation where he had to work as a porter to pay for his younger brother and mother''s rare diseases, only to give up all hope as their conditions worsened. If they were both Awakened, they could live comfortably even if they both worked as porters, right? This question was soon answered. "Yeah. Where were you? I was worried you might be dead." "We''ve been looking everywhere for you. We shouldn''t have bothered your brother." Two men in suits over floral shirts followed him out. One was bulky, and the other was lanky. ...It seemed the visitors weren''t just the taxi driver. The taxi driver''s face crumpled. "You weren''t going to pay from the start." "No." "I won''t take your money, but don''t ever take a taxi again." As the driver sped away, I apologized inwardly. I''m sorry. It wasn''t my intention. The lanky man asked politely. "Customer. If you borrowed money, you need to pay interest. Isn''t today the due date for this month''s interest payment?" I sighed inwardly. I didn''t know why he borrowed the money or how much he borrowed. But the fact that he tried to commit suicide instead of paying his debts, even with a family and being an Awakened, was a negative point. My favorable impression of Hong Ilha was rapidly fading. "I apologize. I just came back from jumping into the Han River, so my memory is a bit hazy." "What? The Han River? What are you talking about?" "Hold on. I''ll explain later." I set my brother aside for now and dealt with the two men first. "Could you please tell me again how much I borrowed from you and how much interest I need to pay today?" "What?" "Ha, really. I''ve seen all sorts of acts from people trying to avoid paying their debts, but this is a first." The lanky man and the bulky man looked at each other and clicked their tongues. "We''re from Million Loans." "Customer Hong Ilha took out an artifact-secured loan of 850 million won the month before last. Last month''s interest was 27,625,000 won, of which you paid 20 million won, and this month''s interest is the rolled-over interest from last month plus an additional 3.25% monthly interest, making it 27,865,000 won." The interest was 27.865 million won. Nearly 30 million won. That was the price of a single high-grade potion, which I, the 27-year-old Hong Baekya, used to drink like water until a few days ago. And for the 21-year-old Hong Ilha, it was enough to drive him to suicide. And now, in the body of 21-year-old Hong Ilha, I was in a situation where I had to repay this debt. Siyeol. I cherished you like a son, but this situation is truly infuriating. Three solid hits. You''re getting three more hits. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 3 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 3 To be honest, I didn''t quite understand the situation. "Did you say artifact-secured loan?" "Yes. You borrowed 850 million won from us using an artifact as collateral." "Then where is that artifact?" If you took out an artifact-secured loan and couldn''t repay the debt? Wouldn''t you just hand over the artifact? Of course, there could be a story behind it, like the artifact being a memento of his deceased Awakened father or something. That''s ridiculous. Anyone who would pawn such a precious item is already a lost cause. Even if it truly was his parents'' memento, it''s still the same. Any normal parent would rather their child give up the item and settle the debt to live a good life than be shackled to debt as a slave to their possessions. "You really don''t remember? It broke two weeks ago." Then, his younger brother, who had been silent until now, let out a deep sigh. Hong Ilha''s brother looked at me with eyes filled with a myriad of emotions. "You always wanted to quit being a porter and become a Hunter, didn''t you? Your stats weren''t bad for an F-rank. You wouldn''t listen to me when I tried to stop you, and you ended up taking out a loan to buy an artifact and then used that artifact as collateral. And two weeks ago, you went on a rampage trying to hunt and broke it! That''s how you ended up with a debt of 800 million won! Do you get it now? We''re ruined!" "Ah." I learned one more thing about Hong Ilha. It''s not easy to judge people, but this guy definitely lacked a sense of reality. "Then where did the broken artifact go?" "I don''t know! You took it back to where you bought it. You said you were going to get it repaired." "What kind of artifact was it?" "Hey!" Slap! My brother¡ª Hong Ilha''s brother, slapped me across the face. "A sword and shield set!" He sniffled and wiped away his tears. "That''s what it was. Sorry for hitting you." I shook my head. "It''s okay." Honestly, I deserved that. And I also figured out what had happened to Hong Ilha. This idiot got scammed. It''s a scam where the sellers of the artifacts and the loan sharks are in cahoots. ''We''re selling artifacts for cheap. The previous owner died a terrible death, so Rankers won''t buy them because they think they''re cursed. They keep failing to sell at auctions, so we''re offering them at a low price.'' They say things like this, and low-rank Awakened who want to quit being porters and become Hunters flock to them. ''Wow! Really? How much is it?'' ''1 billion won!'' ''Uhm. I don''t have that kind of money.'' ''Then we''ll delay the final payment for you. We''ll introduce you to a loan company, so go there and get an artifact-secured loan. Then you can get this artifact without spending a single penny.'' ''Oh my god!'' ''You''ll easily earn enough money to repay the loan once you start working as a Hunter. And if you decide being a Hunter isn''t for you, just hand over the artifact to the loan company. What do you think?'' ''Thank you so much!'' What happens next is obvious. The weapon he bought for 1 billion won was obviously not an artifact, but a piece of junk hunting device smeared with mana stone scraps or a temporary enchantment scroll. An ''artifact'', a relic imbued with the power of the Constellation, and a ''hunting device'', a mere weapon made from monster shells or bones, are completely different things. A real ''artifact'', especially a proper sword and shield set, is incredibly expensive. 800 million won? That would barely cover the cost of the shield''s handle or the sword''s crossguard. A low-rank Awakened, blinded by the hope of quitting their porter job and becoming a Hunter, would try to hunt monsters. And when the "artifact" shatters, they''d run away. That''s where the scam is complete. Once an artifact is broken, it''s indistinguishable from a hunting device. Of course, a high-rank appraisal scroll or a high-level Awakened Mage could tell the difference if they examined it closely, but where would a mere porter find such expensive consumables or a high-ranking Hunter? It''s a dead end. This was a scam with a long and rich history. When I was the chairman of the Awakened Association, I received reports on the porter ecosystem. Back then, we cracked down on this type of scam through cooperation between guilds, the association, and the government. And now, I''ve fallen for that very scam. If I were truly Hong Ilha, this would be a hopeless situation. But of course, I''m not Hong Ilha. What I needed now was time. Once I regain my strength, I can resolve this kind of issue without even lifting a finger¡ª just by telling the relevant official to "take care of it." "I apologize." I lowered my voice, recalling the times when there were casualties during Gate defense battles. Trying to sound trustworthy. Like I was bowing my head in front of thousands of cameras and the bereaved families watching beyond them. I bowed deeply. "You trusted me and lent me a large sum of money, but I made an irresponsible choice. I''ll make sure to answer your calls and repay you steadily, even if it''s just 50,000 or 100,000 won a day." The key was to instill trust. The belief that this guy wouldn''t run away. "I''ll start working as a porter again tomorrow and try to pay at least part of this month''s interest." These guys weren''t planning on taking everything from me at once anyway. Even if I showed up with 1 billion won, they''d probably close their office and run. Their goal was to keep sucking me dry. "Please, could you give me a little more time?" "...Yes. Alright, customer." "I''ll see you again next Monday." As expected, they left without a fuss. They thought time was on their side. This time, it would be on mine. * * * Hong Ilha''s younger brother, Hong Wolha, was taken aback by his brother''s attitude. ''I''ve never seen that guy bow his head before.'' The way he politely sent the loan sharks away seemed quite mature. "...Come in. Let''s eat dinner." He knew why his brother was obsessed with becoming a Hunter. Contrary to popular belief, the mortality rates of Hunters and porters weren''t that different. And as people perceived, there was a significant difference in income between Hunters and porters. He wanted Hong Ilha to stop working as a porter. He mistakenly believed that it would be safer for him to work as a Hunter alone than for them to continue watching each other''s backs while mining mana stones. It was a kind but foolish thought. It was a hundred times better to work together than to leave his family alone in a dungeon. Moreover, once registered as a ''Hunter'' instead of just an Awakened, one would be subject to conscription whenever a Gate appeared. Hong Ilha''s stats were decent for an F-rank, but he was still an F-rank. He would die if even an E-rank monster appeared, yet he thought he would become like those Rankers who got a tutorial re-entry ticket once he became a Hunter. In a positive light, he was optimistic and full of hope. ''I bought it! I bought it!'' ''Just wait a little longer. I''ll make sure you don''t have to go into dungeons.'' ''Just block with the shield, and stab with the sword as if you''re resting it on the shield!'' In a negative light, he was naive. ''The interest? It''s higher than I thought. I''ll give you what I''ve saved from working as a porter for now.'' ''Please wait a moment. The artifact will be repaired soon. I''ll give it to you then.'' ''Th-the artifact is... completely broken. But! You said it was a secured loan?'' That brother had changed overnight. ''You trusted me and lent me a large sum of money, but I made an irresponsible choice. I''ll make sure to answer your calls and repay you steadily, even if it''s just 50,000 or 100,000 won a day.'' To think he would say such things. Hong Wolha was deeply moved. "Brother." "...Yeah." "Why did you go to the Han River?" "To get some fresh air. I was thinking about things." "So¡­ You didn''t go there to jump in and come back wrapped in a blanket?" "I slipped. The railing was old and it broke." "Liar." "Just play along. I''m back, aren''t I?" Even his smile was different. The original Hong Ilha had a much lighter laugh. It was lively, but also childish. Now, he had a serene, faint smile. It was a mature smile, as if asking for understanding just this once. Hong Wolha let out a soft sigh. "Brother. Let''s give up on our ambitions and just work as porters together. If we keep working and surviving like we have been, we''ll pay off the debt within three years. We''re still in our mid-20s." S?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Okay." "We have plenty of time. We can stay here until we''re 35. And since we''re Awakened, we can try taking the police or firefighter exams. If that doesn''t work out, we can always do manual labor together." "I''m sorry." "It''s okay. You worked as a porter alone and paid for my potions. It''s my turn to save you now." * * * Click. After a few blunders, I finished washing the dishes and went into Hong Ilha''s room, locking the door behind me. "Why is it so messy?" I tidied up his desk while evaluating Hong Ilha. Not the worst, but someone who was only functioning thanks to his good brother¡­ I needed to get back to Baekya''s life as soon as possible. I drew the curtains closed. I sat down on a chair and swiped my finger from top to bottom. "Status window." I was nervous. What level are my abilities at, how many skills and traits have been carried over¡ª is the contract still valid, and so on. If, by any chance, I only have Baekya''s memories, I won''t be able to save my disciple from the curse, let alone repay Hong Ilha''s debt. The status window opened. + ¡¾Status Window 1. Name: Hong Baekya 2. Class: Pyromancer (S+ ? F) 3. Titles: Humanity''s Sun, Bringer of Dawn, Master of Fire, The First and Greatest Climber.... 4. Regional Server: Republic of Korea 5. Ascension Level: 7th Rank Angelus/Angel 6. Skills: Satellization (S+) Dragon''s Breath (S+) Law of Light (EX) Radiant Light Sword (S+) Thermal Radiation (S+) Radiant Wave (S+) Wave of Fire (S+) Accretion Disk (S+) Elementalization (S+) Sunrise (S+) Aurora Curtain (S+).... *Skills cannot be used due to a significant decrease in stats. *Lower skill levels or increase stats. 7. Stats: [Strength 999 ? 18] [Agility 999 ? 17] [Health 999 ? 18] [Mana ¡ö¡ö¡ö ? 15] ¡¿ + "...At least my name remains." At the very least, I avoided living as Hong Ilha, who only inherited Baekya''s memories. The Tower still says I''m the ''Sun'' Baekya. My class level dropped due to the decrease in stats, but the class itself remains Pyromancer. The countless titles I''ve accumulated so far are also still there. My Ascension Level was originally 3rd Rank, but it dropped to 7th Rank. I''ve raised it once before, so I can raise it again quickly. Thinking about the contract, I called out to my Constellation. "Sunny?" ¡¾"You called?"¡¿ As if she had been waiting all along, a reply came immediately. ¡¾"I''m glad you succeeded. I thought I wouldn''t be able to watch your story anymore."¡¿ "Ha, haha." I couldn''t help but laugh at the deep sense of relief. "I couldn''t have let it end with such a bad ending. As you said, you''ve sponsored me so much." My Constellation remained by my side even after night fell. An unwelcome notification also rang in my head. Ding. Ding. Ding. ¡¾Aitel System Notification: A decrease in Ascension Level and Mana, and the collapse of the Sanctuary have been confirmed. The connection with the Constellation will be adjusted to match the 7th Rank.¡¿ ¡¾You cannot possess followers. Contracts will be terminated.¡¿ ¡¾You cannot receive personal quests from the Constellation.¡¿ ¡¾''Comet Shop'' will disappear from the Status Window.¡¿ ¡¾''That Vast Universe Inventory'' will disappear from the Status Window. Items stored in the inventory cannot be taken out until the inventory is reactivated.¡¿ Countless benefits disappeared due to the decrease in Ascension Level, which signifies the strength of the connection with the Constellation. However, my constellation comforted me with unique reassurance. ¡¾"Don''t worry about it. I''ll raise your Ascension Level back up soon."¡¿ ¡¾"But why are your stats in such a state?"¡¿ "I''m wondering the same thing." I forced a smile and zoomed in on the stats section. ¡¾7. Stats: [Strength 999 ? 18] [Agility 999 ? 17] [Health 999 ? 18] [Mana ¡ö¡ö¡ö ? 15] ¡¿ My class, ''Pyromancer'', or more precisely, ''Elemental-type Esper'', is all or nothing. If successful, you''re an all-rounder who can create firestorms, summon lava giants, and wield flaming swords. But if you fail, you''re just a jack-of-all-trades. And I was the most successful Esper in the world. Three of the four stats were at the class limit, and one completely transcended it. Those stats I was so proud of were now devastated. As the Aitel notification said, I can''t use any skills in this state. With 15 Mana, I can barely cast ''Flame Arrow (E)'', let alone ''Dragon''s Breath (S+)'' or ''Radiant Wave (S+)''. ¡¾"It seems like you''ll have to either raise your stats or lower your skill levels."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' is feeling dejected.¡¿ My vision darkened. Siyeol. It looks like it''ll take a bit longer before I can hit you. Until then, don''t you dare die. Protect the country well. Get along with your friends. Manage the Gates properly. And if you have time, please feed the phoenix in my building. ¡¾"There''s no way to raise your stats right now, so how about lowering your skill levels?"¡¿ ¡¾"I know you worked hard to raise them. It''s a shame, but it can''t be helped. Think of it as a cheap tragedy."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' carefully suggests.¡¿ "You''re right. No! Wait a minute." I was about to lower my skill levels but shook my head. Maybe. "I thought of a way to drastically increase my stats." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 4 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 4 ¡¾"Is there such a way?"¡¿ ¡¾"I''ll sponsor you with stat points to the limit every day, so how about being content with that for now?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' expresses doubt.¡¿ As my Constellation said, raising stats was extremely difficult. There were three main ways for an Awakened to increase their stats. 1. Purchase them from the Aitel System using Achievement Points earned through various methods such as killing monsters. 2. Equip Artifact gear. 3. Consume potions. Naturally, none of these were easy. To reach the ranker level through methods 2 and 3, even the wealth of a chaebol wouldn''t be enough. Method 1 wasn''t easy either. It wasn''t just ''not easy'' in a casual sense, it was ''not easy'' even if you put in enough effort to die and come back to life. If it were that easy, Awakened chosen by Constellations in South Korea wouldn''t be valued higher than those born with a silver spoon. The reason this ''being chosen'' was important, was simple. Once the tutorial was completed and the class and stats were finalized, it became extremely difficult to get stronger. Some people are finalized as A-rank, others as F-rank. It''s final. Awakened live in this Aitel era with the basic stats and skills determined at that time. In other words, the initial evaluation was the most important. And the constellations weren''t stingy about showering their chosen apostles with various skills, titles, traits, and Achievement Points. Of course, you could also achieve various feats and use those Achievement Points to buy stats from the Aitel Shop. But meticulously collecting points to raise stats little by little and increase your rank... that was near impossible. Maybe some hardworking genius could succeed, but frankly, I wasn''t confident. At first, it seems easy. You get points for just about anything you do at the beginning. ¡¾You have defeated a Goblin.¡¿ ¡¾First Kill! You have earned 100 Achievement Points.¡¿ ¡¾''Hunt Goblins'' quest completed. You have earned 100 Achievement Points.¡¿ Since your stats are still low, the value of each stat point is also cheap. ¡¾Would you like to spend 1 Achievement Point to purchase 1 Mana?¡¿ If I keep buying stats with the points I earn, maybe I can catch up to those chosen ones? That''s the illusion you fall into. But after just one month of activity, your perspective changes. You''ve cleared all the easy achievements, and the points required to raise a stat by 1 have increased significantly. ¡¾Would you like to spend 100 Achievement Points to purchase 1 Strength?¡¿ The Aitel System demands kill scores in the hundreds of thousands to achieve new feats. ¡¾''Goblin Slayer'' title. 34,503 / 100,000,000¡¿ And those who start with those titles and skills given by their constellations from the beginning. Ding! ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' gifts the ''Goblin Slayer'' title to their beloved contractor, Hong Baekya.¡¿ ¡¾Attack Power increased by 150%, Defense Penetration increased by 50% against Goblins.¡¿ Ding! ¡¾Gifts the ''Orc Slayer'' title to their beloved contractor, Hong Baekya.¡¿ ¡¾Attack Power increased by 150%, Defense Penetration increased by 50% against Orcs.¡¿ S?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Ding! ¡¾You have collected both the ''Orc Slayer'' and ''Goblin Slayer'' titles. Great achievement! Hong Baekya has been awarded the ''Greenskin Slayer'' title. 10,000 Achievement Points have been awarded.¡¿ ¡¾Attack Power increased by 250%, Defense Penetration increased by 80% against all Greenskin monsters.¡¿ This is the chosen one of this era. And I was the one chosen by the most powerful constellation. I know very well how difficult it is to raise stats with Achievement Points. I''m living proof of that. The reason I was stronger than those who worked harder than me was because of that. ¡¾"What strange thoughts are you having again?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' inquires, resting her chin on her hand.¡¿ "They''re not strange thoughts." ¡¾"That can''t be true."¡¿ "I''m going to take potions." ¡¾"Where is a guy who''s 850 million won in debt and has to pay 30 million won in interest every month going to get potions?"¡¿ ¡¾"The Comet Shop is closed, and personal quests are blocked. All I can do for an Ascension Level 7 is provide insignificant combat assistance and chatter like this."¡¿ ¡¾"...I''m sorry. You must be having a hard time."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' squeezes her eyes shut.¡¿ "No. Open your eyes. I''m thinking of going to the ''warehouse''." It''s true that I don''t have the wealth of a chaebol right now. But I did until just the other day. * * * "Brother, where are you going at this hour?" "To, Icheon." "Icheon? Why are you going there in the middle of the night?" "There''s something I need to get." "Get a grip! We need to get to bed early and conserve our energy if we''re going into the dungeon tomorrow." Hong Wolha couldn''t believe his ears when he heard Hong Ilha''s words after he knocked on his door late at night. ''Right. People don''t change that easily!'' Was this guy really saying he was going to take a taxi to a mountain valley in the outskirts of Gyeonggi-do at 11 pm? "I''ll be back by tomorrow morning. If I sleep on the way there and back, it won''t affect my work tomorrow." "Don''t be ridiculous. How can I trust the guy who was partying on the Han River today..." "I know I haven''t been the most reliable person until now." "Don''t try to set the mood. It''s not working." "Just this once, let me go. We''ll go to the mining-type Gate together tomorrow morning, holding hands. Okay?" "...I can''t even hit you for this." Honestly, Wolha couldn''t trust him. It wasn''t just a matter of not trusting him; it was exhausting. But inwardly, something tugged at him. "Don''t even dream of going to Uncle or the aunts for help. I''d rather starve to death than get help from those people who abandoned Dad." A few of their father''s relatives lived in that area. "I know, I know. So please, just give me some money for the taxi. Please?" Hong Wolha was a conscientious person, but he was also realistic. If it were his own debt, he''d rather starve than ask them for help. But he couldn''t stop his brother from trying to solve his debt in his own way. Besides, it wasn''t entirely unpleasant to see his brother acting realistically. He had worried countless times about how Illha would survive without him. So the sight of him seemingly transformed overnight was both unfamiliar and welcome. "...Alright. But answer your phone immediately if I call." "Okay." "And take the bus back!" "Thanks." Hong Wolha took out some money from his wallet and handed it over. Hong Ilha took the money and smiled maturely. And the moment the door closed, Hong Ilha''s face turned cold, hardly recognizable as the same person. ''Out of loyalty for keeping this body alive until now, I''ll at least clear all the debts this guy racked up in his lifetime.'' Hong Ilha, no, Baekya immediately set his destination and called a taxi. "Driver?" "Uh, yeah?" "Have we met before?" "Get out." "I have money." "...It''s a long trip, so I need to get paid upfront. 100,000 won to get there." "Sure." The money he got from Hong Wolha was 150,000 won. Wolha had told him to take the bus back. ''I can even take a helicopter back if I can.'' As long as he could go, that was enough. 11:30 PM. A taxi departed for the outskirts of Gyeonggi-do. Vroom. Baekya watched the streetlights flashing by outside the window and continued his conversation with his Constellation in his mind. ¡¾"How did you even come up with that idea? It''s a bold and satisfying development."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' gives you a thumbs up.¡¿ ¡¾"It''s definitely not because I completely forgot about the warehouse and almost made my contractor lower their skill levels for nothing that I''m exaggerating like this."¡¿ ''They''re not things worthy of a Constellation''s memory. Even the me before entering this body didn''t consider the warehouse that important.'' Warehouse. Any high-ranking Ranker with a full inventory has one or two of these scattered around. He had so many that he gave one to each of his disciples when they became independent. The memory of him patting Cheong Siyeol on the back and saying, "Now you''re a proper Ranker too," was as vivid as if it happened yesterday. ''Thank you so much.'' ''You''re welcome.'' ''How can I ever repay this kindness?'' ''Don''t die. Live a long life.'' ''Of course I will...'' ''Because I''m the only one among the first generation who managed to do that.'' ''...Ah.'' ''Live a long life, take on many disciples, and become a Ranker who can give a warehouse or two to a decent disciple.'' ''Yes, Master.'' ''And come visit me sometimes.'' His mood soured instantly. Anyway. Rankers used warehouses for a variety of purposes. They hid slush funds like Artifacts, cash, and Mana Stones acquired through less-than-legitimate means. They also stored various monster byproducts. The Mana Stone industry was advancing day by day. The price of Mana Stones, and the efficiency of various potions made from elixirs found in the Tower, were incomparable to the past. ''Using refined Troll blood and Slime cores, we can mass-produce low-grade healing potions! This will significantly reduce civilian casualties.'' ''Mage-nim, we''ve successfully extracted sap from the Spirit Tree that increases Spirit Affinity!'' ''Using the wing powder of the Illusion Butterfly can be effective in treating PTSD in Gate survivors and high-ranking Awakened...'' Resources that seemed useless at first glance turned from trash to treasure as technology advanced. Artifacts that seemed useless now but might find their purpose someday. ¡¾Rank (A) Name ??? Function ???¡¿ Elixirs that could be sold at exorbitant prices if technology improved absorption efficiency. ¡¾Sky-Blue Stone Oil (S): A single drop of water formed in the depths of a cave where the energy of nature intertwines without dispersing. It has an excellent effect on increasing Mana, but the absorption rate varies greatly depending on the user''s skill.¡¿ Rankers'' warehouses were filled with such resources. Needless to say, the warehouse of Hong Baekya, who reigned as the world''s number one for 13 years, was overflowing. ¡¾"Isn''t it a waste to consume them all now?"¡¿ ''Yes. But to see tomorrow, we must survive today, right? The sun can''t decide not to rise tomorrow just because it wants to stay in the sand all day. Also, this is the only way to solve both my problem and Hong Ilha''s at once.'' ¡¾"As expected of the Awakened I chose."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' smiles warmly.¡¿ ''Since I''ve gained a body, I should at least do this much.'' ¡¾"Tell me your next plan."¡¿ ''My plan, you ask?'' Baekya''s plan was as follows. ''First, I''ll use the elixirs to recover enough stats to use Law of Light. With the money and gold bars I get from there, I''ll solve Hong Ilha''s debt problem and also compensate Hong Wolha for taking over his brother''s body.'' ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' nods.¡¿ ''After that, there are many options. I can delay re-entering the Tower¡ª disappear like a cloud, or sneak into a Gate. I can even do all three. The important thing is to keep using Law of Light, killing enemies, and absorbing Mana. That way, I can build up my skills as Hong Ilha, not Hong Baekya, and announce Hong Baekya''s return when I''m strong enough.'' The night deepened. ''And I''ll find the bastard who cursed my disciples and kill him in the most painful way possible.'' But the sun, as always, will rise again. * * * "You want me to drop you off in a place like this?" "Are you going to or not?" "Are you... thinking of doing something strange? A few days later, when the police call me in as a witness, I''ll feel terrible for not stopping you now." "You just did." "No, but at this hour, in this dark..." "Should I jump out then?" The taxi driver pulled over to the side of the road after hearing Baekya''s harsh words. ''Oh dear.'' Even for the countryside, this was something else. There were no buildings around, only abandoned fields overgrown with weeds and half-collapsed greenhouses. And this young man¡ª even though he was an Awakened, claimed to have business in a place like this. On top of that, he was telling him to just go back. He had some sense and a conscience. When the young man got in earlier, he was wrapped in a blanket, looking like he''d just come from the river. Loan sharks had come out of his house. And now he wanted to be dropped off in a mountain valley where monsters that had escaped the Gate''s erosion zone might appear. If he couldn''t sense something ominous in this situation, he wouldn''t have lasted as a taxi driver. "I''m saying this because you seem like a nice young man, almost like my own son, but I won''t charge you for the return trip, so..." "Driver." Baekya smiled faintly and shook his head. He was about to get annoyed, but he knew the driver was acting out of good intentions. He had even offered not to charge for the ride earlier, which was a memorable act of kindness in today''s harsh world. Swish. He reached over to the front seat, grabbed an A4 paper and a pen that were wedged between the seats, and wrote his name in elegant cursive. His hand, which was about to unconsciously write ''Baekya'', paused. "..." He tore the paper in half, put one half in his pocket, and the other in the drawer of the taxi''s front seat. "If I ever appear on TV, come find me with that." "What? Wait." Thud. He closed the door without waiting for a reply. In the distance, he could see the greenhouse that concealed the warehouse. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 5 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 5 I approached the greenhouse. Thud. With each step I took, the surrounding space rippled ominously. Thump. A sensation as if something was burrowing deep into my body¡ª resonating intensely, then fading away. ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' has successfully defended against the mental magic ''Ah, I had that appointment.''¡¿ ¡¾Successfully defended against the mental magic ''Ah, I need to use the bathroom.''¡¿ ¡¾"This is the limit for a 7th Rank Ascender."¡¿ "No, this is more than enough. I''m always grateful." The low-level mental defense magic I had set up in my previous life was still working fine. If an ordinary person approached this place, they would suddenly remember something urgent and turn back. Of course, it was at a level that most Awakened could withstand. I had focused more on concealment than effectiveness. It didn''t matter. I had separate countermeasures in place for Arch-Awakened. Creak. I opened the door of the old greenhouse and stepped inside. The moment I took a step, the surrounding space transformed. Rustle. The piles of dry leaves and shriveled vegetable scraps on the floor vanished as if they had never been there. The ceiling, so low I couldn''t straighten my back¡ª rose until its peak was out of sight, and the rusty iron pipe frame transformed into ancient Greek-style stone pillars. In an instant, I stood before a majestic marble temple in an endless expanse of darkness. ¡¾Would you like to enter the ''Warehouse of the Sun''?¡¿ ¡¾Y / Y¡¿ The only choice here was ''Yes''. I moved my finger. Ching! A golden magic circle engraved with countless ancient characters and numbers appeared in multiple layers before my eyes. Authentication. If I made a single mistake, all the A+ Rank Guardians I had brought from the Tower would be alerted, and even the me before this transformation would have to fight with everything I had to escape alive. Of course, unlike a public certificate, it wasn''t that complicated. "By the stars." ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' has prepared Halo authentication.¡¿ Ching. A miniature version of the same brilliant halo that floated above my head appeared on my palm. I pushed it forward and inserted it into the center of the golden magic circle. Click. ¡¾Halo authentication in progress....¡¿ ¡¾3. 2. 1.¡¿ ¡¾Authentication complete¡¿ The notification I was expecting followed, and the golden magic circle disappeared. Once again, a sense of relief and satisfaction washed over me. Even in this state, I was still me. I climbed the stairs and entered the temple. Ding! ¡¾"Was your warehouse always this big?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' exclaims in awe.¡¿ ¡¾"As expected, you had it all planned out."¡¿ "It''s all thanks to the Star''s grace." I replied humbly, looking around. Standing at the entrance of the warehouse was the A-grade artifact, ''Mirror Reflecting Desires.'' Currently, my only desire was to yell at the self-proclaimed Regressors, asking how the so-called Rankers could be collectively cursed to the point of not recognizing their own master''s face. So, I closed my eyes and passed by it. ...For some reason, I thought I saw a reflection of myself burning a certain clock, but I must have seen it wrong, right? That thought quickly vanished. Because the Great Constellation had asked a question. ¡¾"Really?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' asks with a sly grin.¡¿ "How could I dare lie in front of you?" I answered cheerfully and opened the bag I had brought. Between the marble pillars of the temple, stacks of 50,000 won bills, 3 kg gold bars, and high-purity refined mana stones were piled up like a pyramid. The easiest thing to liquidate was, literally, cash. But Hong Wolha didn''t seem like the type to simply say, ''Wow! Brother, you''re amazing! How did you do that?'' if his brother suddenly brought a wad of cash. I don''t mind it being troublesome. If Hong Ilha was that simple-minded, he would have died a long time ago. I carefully stacked the refined mana stones in the bag and took only one bundle of cash. "Ugh." The bag full of mana stones was too heavy for this body to carry. ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' sheds tears at your weakened state.¡¿ ¡¾Focuses on the veins bulging in your arms.¡¿ Such a disgrace. I put it down for now and went further inside. The core of my warehouse wasn''t this petty cash. * * * Baekya quickly passed by the display cases filled with artifacts and various consumables. ¡¾"Wouldn''t one of those be useful?"¡¿ ''This is where I store items that were appraised as high-grade but whose functions remain a mystery to me. They possess potent magical energy, so mishandling them could lead to catastrophic consequences. If I were to wish to become the strongest again and all the Awakened stronger than my current self perished, the nation I''ve dedicated 13 years of my life to protect would be left vulnerable and defenseless.'' ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' is impressed by your deep thoughts.¡¿ He stopped in front of a display case filled with various elixirs. "I''ll start here." He opened one display case and took out what looked like dried jerky, which was actually dried tree bark. ¡¾Dried Giant''s Tendon¡¿ ¡¾Effect: Increases Strength by 1 each time it is consumed.¡¿ ¡¾*This effect only applies when Strength is below 99.¡¿ Strength increases by 1 every time it is consumed. It was a tremendous effect, but the key was the sentence after the ''*''. ''*This effect only applies when Strength is below 99.'' Strength 99. It seemed like a high number, but in the Hunter industry, a mere 100 Strength wouldn''t even be considered combat-ready. However, if he could somehow process this to raise the upper limit to 200 or 300, or even higher, the story would change completely. Even now, countless mages and alchemists were striving to erase or overwrite that sentence. And Rankers like Baekya, believing that such a day would come, stored these elixirs with ambiguous effects. Creak. Baekya quickly opened a few more display cases. ¡¾Remnants of a Spirit¡¿ ¡¾Ownerless Shadow¡¿ ¡¾Lungfruit¡¿ They were all elixirs similar to the ''Dried Giant''s Tendon.'' Each increased mana, agility, and health, respectively. "..." He grabbed a handful of them and poured them into his mouth. Crunch! Once more, and then again. Energy spread throughout his body. His blood ran hot, his forehead turned cold, and his heart pounded. Crack, crackle! He could hear the sounds of his joints stretching and growing. The intense growing pains made his joints scream, but he didn''t stop. Ding. Ding. Ding. ¡¾Mana has increased by 1.¡¿ ¡¾Strength has increased by 1.¡¿ ¡¾Health has increased by 1.¡¿ ¡¾Agility has increased by 1.¡¿ ¡¾Strength 18 ? 30¡¿ ¡¾Health 17 ? 29¡¿ ¡¾Agility 18 ? 30¡¿ ¡¾Mana 15 ? 27¡¿ Notifications about his stat increase filled one side of his vision. "Annoying." Baekya waved his hand to dismiss the notifications, but he was smiling. Until just the other day, raising a single stat point required an astronomical amount of achievement points. He couldn''t remember the last time he had seen these notifications so refreshingly. Then his Constellation spoke. ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' is curious about the taste and wants to try a bite of your elixirs.¡¿ ''No. Please don''t.'' ¡¾"After all I''ve done for you, you can''t even do this much?"¡¿ ¡¾Rolls their eyes and rummages through their pockets for artificial tears.¡¿ Baekya hesitated for a moment, then grabbed a handful of the mixed elixirs and held them up in the air. ''If you insist, then try it. But remember, I warned you!'' 3. 2. 1. ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' spits out the fragments of the lowest-grade elixir in disgust. Frantically searches for water, turning everything upside down.¡¿ ''I told you not to.'' Hong Baekya let out an awkward laugh. The Dried Giant''s Tendon was sticky like taffy and had no taste. The Remnants of a Spirit tasted like chewing on styrofoam, the Ownerless Shadow was like boiled seaweed, and the Lungfruit was spicy and bitter. Combined, they were utterly disgusting. ¡¾"To think I let my Chosen One eat such things! This is an excessive trial. What is the point of my existence!"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' is filled with guilt and anguish.¡¿ "No, please don''t blame yourself. From now on, I need your help." ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' senses what you''re thinking.¡¿ ¡¾"Are you crazy?"¡¿ Baekya shook his head. ¡¾Strength, Mana, Health, and Agility have reached 99.¡¿ ¡¾You can no longer increase your stats with the lowest-grade elixirs.¡¿ A notification appeared in the corner of his vision, stating that all his stats had reached 99. [PR/N: This quick?! ????????] His eyes now held an intensity distinctly different from that of an unawakened person. Those eyes were fixed on another drawer. "Did you think I came all this way just to reach a measly 99 in all stats?" ¡¾"...."¡¿ "At the very least, I need to be strong enough not to get beaten up everywhere." Baekya held his miniaturized holographic Halo up to the drawer to unlock it. ''Huh?'' ¡¾%#@?¡¿ ¡¾Correcting error....¡¿ Since it was an artifact drawer, it displayed the number of times it had been opened so far. The numbers briefly appeared jumbled before returning to normal. He was momentarily flustered but relieved that the contents were fine. ¡¾Fallen Dragon''s Heart (C)¡¿ It was a twisted, heart-shaped lump of red flesh covered in pebble-like scales. Even though it had been extracted a while ago, it was still pulsating. ¡¾Description: The heart of a fallen dragon who retreated underground.¡¿ ¡¾Effect 1: Increases all stats within a maximum of 300.¡¿ ¡¾Effect 2: Grants a skill related to dragons.¡¿ ¡¾Effect 3: May contract ''Scale Disease,'' a curse of the fallen dragon.¡¿ The stat increase was significant, and the random skill granted was usually something decent related to dragons. However, the side effect was the possibility of contracting ''Scale Disease,'' which gradually transformed the consumer into a scaled monster before ultimately killing them. It was an elixir that no one dared to consume due to the high risk. Like the previous elixirs, efforts were continuously being made to remove Effect 3, but there had been little progress so far. Of course. "You''ll help me, right?" ¡¾"I will always be by your side, watching over you."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' nods.¡¿ This didn''t apply to him, the world''s number one, chosen by the most radiant star. * * * "Huff, huff." Baekya laid on the warehouse floor, breathing heavily. Sweat dripped down his forehead. ¡¾You have successfully undergone Body Transformation (Unorthodox).¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations! You have not been afflicted with the fallen dragon''s curse.¡¿ ¡¾You have acquired the passive skill ''Hot Blood (C+)'' as a dragon descendant. Increases Health and Speed by 25% at the start of combat.¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' praises your tenacity and boldness.¡¿ A message announcing his success blinked in the corner of his vision and then disappeared. Sizzle! The waste products that Hong Ilha''s body had accumulated over the years seeped out and burned away with a sizzling sound. "Success." Baekya said with a cheerful smile as he slowly rose to his feet. Swish. Armor-like abs flexed between the burnt and torn clothes. Baekya''s eyes shimmered with a faint red light. His facial features had also undergone a noticeable transformation. His forehead became more prominent, his brow bones more defined, his eyes deeper set, and his jawline sharper¡ª giving him a more distinct overall impression. His entire body was now covered in muscles that bulged like ship ropes, and his height had increased by more than a handspan. But the most striking change was the halo that appeared above his head. S~?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Hum! Hum! Hum! The simple, white ring-like halo had transformed into a complex pattern resembling a red mandala. The symbol of the world''s number one, ''The Sun'' Baekya. From F-rank to S-rank, all Awakened had a white halo made of light above their heads as proof of their connection to the ''Aitel System.'' It was a way to clearly distinguish Awakened from non-Awakened with the naked eye. Moreover, when an Awakened forms a contract with a Constellation, the color and shape of their halo change according to the Constellation''s emblem. Ding. ¡¾"It seems the time for the sun to rise again is approaching."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' puts on a villainous air and lets out a sinister laugh.¡¿ "Of course." Baekya felt the power pulsating in his heart and slung the bag over his shoulder. "There''s no such thing as an eternal night, is there?" The bag, which he couldn''t even lift properly earlier, now felt so light he couldn''t tell what was inside. ''Siyeol, it seems I won''t need to wait that long. I will definitely find out who cursed you and made you betray me.'' It seemed his story wasn''t over yet. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 6 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 6 Hong Wolha ended up not sleeping a wink that night. ''I must be crazy. Why did I let my brother go?'' Judging by the circumstances, it was clear that his brother, who had likely made an extreme choice¡ª had left again at night. Thinking rationally, it made no sense. He wondered why he couldn''t stop him until the very end. If it were the usual him, he would have definitely stopped him. So, the one who had changed wasn''t him, but his brother. He pushed back his usually lowered hair, revealing his forehead. He wore the smile of a working adult, not a teenager. He dealt with the loan sharks like a skilled politician. Hong Wolha knew their intentions. ''Both my brother and I have been porters for quite a while now.'' Porters boasted a mortality rate comparable to Hunters and earned a considerable income, though not as much as Hunters. Naturally, those who took on this job were either people in desperate need of money or those who had nothing left to lose. A tiny minority of lucky ones managed to earn enough to pay off their debts in the hundreds of millions of won within a few months and left this line of work. But most realized that even in their lives, which they thought had nothing left¡ª there was still something to lose. And they paid the price for that realization with their lives. People like Wolha and Ilha, who had been porters for a long time, were rare. At this point, it wasn''t a matter of luck but skill. In other words. From the loan sharks'' perspective, they were guys they could milk for a long time to come. That''s why they could overlook a slight delay in interest payments. His brother must have known this and said what he did yesterday. ''Does he have a plan? If he does, what is he thinking? No, can a person change this much in a single day?'' Countless questions flashed through Hong Wolha''s mind. Dawn was breaking. ''I have to go to work soon, but when will he be back? I need to go early to get a safe spot.'' Just as his anxiety and impatience were reaching their peak. Smoothly. A taxi pulled up outside the window. Ding-dong. Someone approached and rang the doorbell. Even the loan sharks wouldn''t come at this hour. "Who is it?" Hong Wolha opened the door, puzzled. Creak. "It''s me. I''m back." And he thought once again about what he had thought earlier. ''Can a person change this much in a single day?'' The change from last night was nothing short of a complete transformation. Honestly, he wondered if someone had come to the wrong house. He was at least a handspan taller than when he left, and his physique had changed visibly. His black hair was slicked back, and his face resembled not his brother, but the great Hunter seen everywhere on TV and YouTube. It was already well-known that Awakened people''s bodies change in real-time as they go through the Tutorial. But for his brother, who had been Awakened for over five years, to change overnight? It was impossible, according to Hong Wolha''s common sense. "What in the..." Before he could ask anything, Hong Ilha spoke first. "Sorry, am I late? The conversation got a bit long." A low, gentle voice. That was the only thing that remained the same about Ilha, the one he knew. "Here. Open it." Hong Ilha put the bag he was carrying on the floor. He briefly wondered why he put the bag on the floor when there was a desk. Thump! Hong Wolha flinched at the sound. Ziip. "What is all this?" The bag was filled with blue mana stones. Smaller than the palm of his hand but weighing several kilograms each, they were top-quality stones, each worth millions, possibly even tens of millions of won. Such mana stones filled an entire hiking backpack. He understood why he had carried it like a baby. The bottom of the bag would have burst the moment he put it on. "I asked, what is all this?" "Stuff." "That''s not an answer! Did you rob some guild''s vault or something?" "No, I didn''t. Anyway, I have it. And if I could rob a guild vault, do you think I''d be buying artifacts?" "No, but this isn''t about having it! Where did something like this suddenly come from?" Hong Wolha was dumbfounded. Even winning the lottery wouldn''t be this absurd. But Hong Ilha was talking as if he had just picked this up on the street. "Forget it. This should be enough to pay off everything. Let''s exchange it for cash when the Mana Stone Exchange opens at 9 today." "Where did you get it? Answer me." "I did a rough calculation, and it looks like we''ll have about 100 million won left after paying off the debt. Let''s take a break. We''ve worked hard all this time." "Do you not hear me? H. E. L. L. O!!!!" "Let''s eat something delicious, buy some clothes, and travel. You wanted to go to college, right?" "When did I ever say that? In this day and age, even if you graduate from a good university, you''ll end up serving Rankers." "...Didn''t you? You always said you wanted to go to college." "What?" "Nevermind, it''s not important. Anyway, let''s take a break." Hong Wolha looked into his brother''s eyes as he kept giving vague answers. ''What''s going on?'' A red aura shimmered like a heat haze in his black irises. "Did you get this illegally? If you did, I won''t use it." "Illegal... it''s not." Hong Baekya hesitated for a moment. He did have a separate warehouse where he stored money and elixirs acquired through channels that couldn''t be disclosed, but most of the things in the warehouse he visited today were properly reported income. "Tell me where and how you got it." "I can''t." "Why can''t you? Did you really rob a bank or something?" "...I can''t tell you. I swore an oath." ¡°An oath, my foot.¡± Hong Wolha felt so frustrated and dumbfounded that he could barely breathe. He clenched his fists and pounded his chest hard. He couldn¡¯t understand why Ilha wouldn¡¯t speak. There was no way his relatives could afford this many mana stones. If it was through legal means, there would be no need to hide it. If it was through illegal means, there was no need to show it to him either. Swish. At that moment, his brother pointed a finger above his head. Hum! ''Huh?'' The halo, which had definitely been the same white color as his, flickered with a reddish tinge before returning to white. ''Wh-what was that? The Aitel System? Or a Constellation? Really? For real? Then...!'' Hong Wolha was also an Awakened. ''Is it that he can''t tell me, not that he won''t?'' He remembered the thrilling Tutorial, his successful peers, and the indescribable miracles performed by cosmic beings. ''They say it''s common for them to impose vows of silence.'' Hong Ilha left the bag and went back to his room. "I''m going to shower and get some sleep. I''m exhausted." Hong Wolha watched his back with a hollow laugh. He thought the world''s number one Ranker, Hong Baekya, was dead, his brother was in debt, and both their country and family were doomed. It seemed that wasn''t the case. ''But can even an F-rank make an oath?'' * * * Awakened Community, Chatter of the Stars. A brand-new question appeared on the Q&A board. [Author: Anonymous (F-rank)] [Title: Can F-ranks make ''oaths'' too?] [Content: My brother has been acting strangely lately. He won''t answer my questions and just points at his halo. Every time he points, his halo glows red, so it seems like something''s going on, but is that even possible for an F-rank?] In "Chatter of the Stars," where Awakened ranks were displayed next to usernames, questions from F-ranks were often buried. However, perhaps due to the intriguing title, this question received quite a few replies. [Of course they can lol. Who can''t make a verbal oath? We all swore an oath, didn''t we? Something about being an Awakened of the Republic of Korea and upholding the free and democratic nation...] [Your brother is probably messing with you. Or maybe you''re just trolling.] [Is there something really wrong? If he''s an F-rank, he''s probably a porter. I heard they can go crazy from being exposed to the residual thoughts of monsters while working in Gates with high mana density.] [You''re talking about making a magical oath, right? There are two ways. One is to learn contract-related magic, and the other is to be involved with a Constellation. But if he''s an F-rank, neither is possible, right?] [Today''s trolls are pretty good, huh?] [It''s possible. Maybe your brother met an Awakened with a Constellation or one who learned contract-related magic. He got some help or a geas from them. And now he has to fulfill the conditions. That''s the most likely scenario.] [Maybe he reawakened?] [But there are still a few months until the next Tutorial, right?] [You can awaken by encountering a wandering Constellation on the street.] [Anyway, it was an interesting story. If your goal was to distract me during work, you succeeded!] [Could it be the Black Star?] [!] [The Black Hole Constellation? Lol, the one that other Constellations immediately issue an extermination order for?] [Ah! That''s possible.] [Uh, is that a Matiz coming this way?] [OP, are you sure you didn''t order any deliveries? Did someone just ring your doorbell?] [Rankers from 2nd to 100th are all going to show up.] Hong Wolha narrowed his eyes after reading one of the replies. ''A Black Hole contract?'' That''s what they called Awakened who were chosen by inherently evil beings. The most recent Black Hole contractor appeared in China. He had contracted with the mythical beast ''Pasa'' and ravaged an entire city before being killed by Chinese Rankers. Due to the immense negative impact on society, Black Hole contracts were considered a serious crime in any country. ''That can''t be it, right?'' Hong Wolha glanced at the closed bedroom door. He could sense a distinct presence even from outside the door. ''It can''t be. It shouldn''t be.'' Doubt crept into his mind. ''But what if it is?'' The answer that came to his mind was this: ''...He''s still my brother.'' He rose from his seat. It was almost time for the Mana Stone Exchange to open. * * * Friday. In front of Hong Ilha''s house, Mr. Oh, the skinny manager of Million Loan Sharks, and Mr. Lee, his bulky colleague, couldn''t believe their eyes. "The principal of 850 million won. The overdue interest of 28 million won. It''s all here." A large plastic box was filled to the brim with stacks of cash. "Manager, isn''t this prop money for a movie shoot?" "If you don''t believe me, we can go to the bank right now and confirm it." Hong Ilha, who had borrowed the money, was a completely different person from the one they saw on Monday, five days ago. It wasn''t just about his increased height or changed hairstyle. It was his attitude. The childish complaints were gone, replaced by the responsible and relaxed demeanor of a capable adult. ''There''s no way this bastard could get this kind of money overnight.'' Mr. Lee glared at Hong Ilha. The guy he looked down on just a week ago now towered over him. "Where did you get this?" "Why do you care?" Hong Ilha scoffed. His chin was raised, and his defiant attitude was entirely natural. "Excuse me?" "I asked, why do you care?" "Well, if you obtained this money illegally, we have to return it." "Isn''t that why I''m giving it to you in cash, so that doesn''t happen?" "Ha. This customer is getting cheeky, huh? Do you think we''re some kind of gangsters...?" "Enough." Manager Oh stopped Mr. Lee. s?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Alright. It''s not our business where the customer got the money from." "Then please sign here." Hong Ilha handed over the loan agreement. Manager Oh signed the agreement and instructed Mr. Lee to take the box of money. "We''ll see you again then, sir." "Let''s not see each other again, Manager." Vroom. Right after the car started. Manager Oh lowered his voice. "Mr. Lee." "Yes." "Dig into that guy''s background. This money is definitely dirty." "What should we do after we investigate him?" "What do you mean what should we do? Did you forget the clause in our contract?" "...If the debt is repaid with criminal proceeds, such repayment is void... As expected of you, Manager." "Those brothers are pretty skilled porters. We need to squeeze them for as long as we can. I''ll report to the boss, so you quickly get the guys on it." "Got it, Manager." Mr. Lee was impressed by the manager''s profound foresight. Watching the car drive away, Hong Baekya thought to himself. ''Those guys who live like that won''t give up easily... Do they think I''ll just sit back and watch? They say sunlight is great for disinfection. I''ll let them bask in it to their heart''s content.'' He entered the house and called out to Hong Wolha. "I''m going out tonight." "Where to?" "Artifacts. To see if they can be repaired, how to dispose of them if they can''t, or if there''s a way to sell just the materials. Things like that." "Ah. Should I go with you then?" "No need. Rest." "But still..." "We paid off all our debts, so what strange thoughts would I have now? I''m just an F-rank, taking my family along would be pointless." "...Alright." Baekya smiled inwardly, feeling satisfied. ''I''m getting pretty good at acting like his brother.'' Hong Wolha watched his retreating figure and thought. ''Did my brother ever end his sentences with that tone before?'' [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 7 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 7 "That bastard paid off 850 million? Including all the interest?" "Yes." "It''s not counterfeit money or anything, is it?" "I went to the bank and checked. It''s all clean." "That''s impossible! If he had that kind of money, why did he even take out a loan in the first place?" "Maybe he earned it from his porter work? Porters don''t make bad money, do they?" In a decent location, occupying a compact but sturdy building, though not quite a skyscraper, was a loan shark company. The CEO of Million Loan Sharks narrowed his eyes as he listened to Manager Oh''s report. "The porters'' share is 5% these days, right?" "Yes. The guild managing the Gate takes 60%, the government takes 30%, and the mining company subcontracted by the guild and the porters each take 5%." "And only Gates that yield mana stones worth over 3 million won per piece are in operation, right?" "Yes. Anything less than that is unprofitable and only increases the risk, so they shut them down." The CEO pondered for a moment, then picked up his smartphone. "Hyungnim." (Older brother - a term of respect) [Yeah.] His ''hyungnim'' was a veteran Awakened who had been in the mining business for a long time and was also his partner in artifact scams. "Are porters making that much these days?" [They are. If they mine just three mana stones a day, their share is 500,000 won. Awakened with good stamina and intuition can dig up 10 a day and earn 1.5 million won per day.] Of course, earning 1.5 million won a day didn''t mean they could make a high income of nearly 400 million won a year. It was a dangerous industry where surviving for three months earned you the title of a veteran. As a result, most porters aimed to work in Gates for a short period, just enough to pay off their debts. Thus, mining operators were divided into two types. The first type aimed to extract as much money as possible in a short period. If too many porters died, the government or the Association would intervene, closing the Gate or shutting down the mining company. The intention was to encourage careful mining practices to reduce the mortality rate, but the operators interpreted it differently. No matter how careful they were, those destined to die would die. Since they would inevitably have to close down every few years due to unforeseen circumstances, it was better to select desperate individuals willing to work hard and extract as many mana stones as possible to accumulate wealth. If there were too many casualties and the guild managing the Gate or the Awakened Association put pressure on them, they could simply close down, change their name, and reopen. "Aren''t we squeezing them too much?" [Hey, in this day and age, if 10 people die a day like in the old days, the Gate Management Bureau will immediately shut us down.] And then there was the other type. Those who carefully selected only the most skilled porters and operated for a long time without pushing them too hard. Of course, this wasn''t something the operators could control entirely. [Think about the kind of people who enter this line of work. They have nothing but debt.] "That''s right." [Those guys, driven by the desire to pay off their debts quickly, go deeper into the Gate to mine more mana stones, even if I try to stop them. Then they get ambushed by low-level monsters lurking within the Gate and die. And I''m the one who gets fined, penalized, and shut down. How unfair is that?] It was a hand-to-mouth industry where people aimed to pay off their debts and leave. The more skilled the porter, the faster they left. "Exactly. That''s why I recently screwed over two more." [Yeah, you''re the best at this.] That''s how the CEO and his ''hyungnim'' collaborated. Either squeeze them dry and move on to a new company, or manage them gently for a long time. Both scenarios could be resolved if the porter had debt. Porters in debt either worked hard to pay off their debts quickly or worked steadily to ensure they could pay them off. [Anyway, low-rank Awakened are all obsessed with artifacts. I don''t know how they can be so naive. They think they can become Hunters just by having a weapon. Idiots. To become a Hunter, you need to be chosen by a Constellation.] "That''s right." [So, what''s the point of all this?] "Remember the guy we worked on recently? Hong Ilha." [Yeah.] "He paid off his debt." The voice on the other end of the phone wavered. [What? I know their financial situation inside out. There''s no way he could pay it off. That bastard spent everything he earned on potions for his younger brother. Where did he get 800 million won?] "I don''t know either." [That''s why those bastards didn''t show up this week. Wow, after all we''ve done to let them work, they just pay off their debt and disappear like that?] [PR/N: Bruh¡­ tf they are supposed to do then?!] The CEO, with his plump face, wore a greedy smile. "So, let''s work on him one more time." [One more time?] "Get a new replica. Let''s aim for 1.4 billion won this time. We can say it''s 1.4 billion won, but we''ll deduct the 800 million won from the previous item as a discount, so it''s effectively 600 million won. Then send him back to me." [Are you a genius?] An excited voice came from the other end of the smartphone. "This time, we won''t even charge upfront interest." [But will someone who''s suffered from debt once want to take on more debt?] "Doesn''t a gambler who''s gambled once gamble again? Hyungnim, why are you like this with a fellow Awakened? We''re people who can''t help but desire to become Rankers." The CEO concluded. Bursting into a cackling laugh. * * * That evening. "Manager Oh." "Yes." "Withdraw the cash we''re lending to those brothers and put it in the safe before you leave." "Brothers?" "The younger one has recovered and is working as a porter with his brother. We need to double our profits, don''t we?" "Understood." Manager Oh left CEO Dae''s office. CEO Dae remained in his office, gazing out the window. The sun slowly descended below the mountain ridge. The boundary between day and night, that poignant red hue, evoked a sentimental feeling. As if an impossible miracle might occur... "How strange." "Who''s there?" "I was certain I had killed all of your kind, yet you still lurk in the shadows." At that moment, an arrogant and indifferent voice shattered CEO Dae''s reverie. Swoosh Still seated in his chair, CEO Dae turned to look at the man who had just entered. Having managed money and people for many years, he scanned the man from head to toe with his characteristic discernment. Thump! Seeing the white halo floating above his head, it was clear that he was an Awakened. Color: White, Shape: Ring. A basic form, meaning it''s unlikely he''s a high-ranker chosen by a constellation. Handsome face, but his overall impression was somehow unsettling. The checkered suit, attempting a casual look, felt terribly awkward. It was that slight feeling that you get when high-ranking Awakened go to the market and slurp down boiling hot soup without letting it cool, or crunch on chicken skewers, metal skewer and all... As if a god or demon was wearing human skin, mimicking a person. That kind of uncanny feeling. He looked down at CEO Dae indifferently and said. "You know." "..." "I think fraud is the worst crime people can commit against each other." "Is that so?" "Honorifics." "What?" "You should use honorifics when speaking to an elder, right?" CEO Dae was taken aback. ''This young whippersnapper?'' The Awakened before him may have been called a man, but he still had a youthful air about him¡ª like he wouldn''t look out of place in a school uniform. Yet, seeing him raise his chin slightly and make his demand so calmly, it somehow felt like he had to comply. Trying to ignore the familiar feeling, CEO Dae put on a show of composure. "Young man. For an Awakened without a constellation, I''ll admit you''ve got some guts." "Murder, assault, theft... Honestly, most crimes can be committed by mistake. Losing control of your emotions in the moment. But fraud isn''t like that. It''s always premeditated." "Who sent you? No, actually, I''m not really curious, so you don''t have to answer. There are plenty of people who might hold a grudge against me." "They say it''s a problem when superhumans like us get too involved in the world''s affairs." "Cooperate, and I''ll let you go." "But we can''t just let things like this slide. Especially if it''s something we tried to wipe out once before." However, the Awakened before him didn''t budge. Instead, he looked down at CEO Dae with a gaze that was almost purely self-righteous. He was trying to see through what CEO Dae was desperately trying to hide. "It''s insulting." "...!" The moment he saw that smile, too clear to be called a sneer. CEO Dae''s rationality snapped. Click He pressed the emergency button installed under his desk. Press Eeeeeeeeeng¡ª A loud siren blared throughout the building. CEO Dae glared at the nameless Awakened and shouted. "All my men in this building will be here soon! The police will arrive within 10 minutes." "10 minutes is enough." "Don''t even think about getting out of here alive. We can throw bastards like you into a secluded Gate and there won''t be a trace left in an hour." "Bold of you. Can you handle the consequences?" "Nobody cares if low-rank Awakened like us fight amongst ourselves. Especially if we don''t involve civilians." "That''s right." The nameless Awakened replied calmly. He took off his suit jacket and hung it on a hanger in CEO Dae''s office. For a moment, his profile caught CEO Dae''s eye. That nose, the one so many longed to have. It brought to mind a name everyone knew. "I wrote the law that way." "What?" "In a world like this, where administrative power is stretched thin, the government can''t control everything." * * * Thugs from the loan shark company poured into the room. "Who are you?!" "Don''t move!" "How dare this punk come here!" "Hey, grab that bastard and make him kneel!" "Lord, I offer another soul." Every single one of them was an Awakened, with a white ring above their heads. He almost chuckled at the sight of those vicious brutes with halos above their heads¡ª traditionally a symbol of angels. But then, beyond the panoramic window of the CEO''s office¡­ He saw the moon rising over the mountain ridge. And somehow, he was overcome with emotion. *** Siyeol. The moon is bright. In the past, on nights like this, we would go out to the terrace and feel the night breeze. We''d gaze at the Han River reflecting the moon, talking about our future¡ª and the future of our nation. You fool. Because of you, I''m dealing with these lowlifes. I can''t even imagine how sorry you''ll be later. But even then, I''ll comfort you like I always have. We''ll go to a hotel bar, listen to jazz music, sip whiskey, and look down at the Han River bathed in moonlight, enjoying the night breeze. "Status Window." S?a?ch* Th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. I lightly roll my tongue inside my mouth. + ¡¾Status Window 1. Name: Hong Baekya 2. Class: Pyromancer (D+) 3. Titles: Sun of Humanity, Bringer of Dawn, Master of Fire, The First and Greatest Climber... 4. Regional Server: Republic of Korea 5. Ascension Level: 7th Rank Angelus/Angel 6. Skills: Satellization (S+) Dragon''s Breath (S+) Law of Light (EX) Radiant Light Sword (S+) Thermal Radiation (S+) Radiant Wave (S+) Wave of Fire (S+) Accretion Disk (S+) Elementalization (S+) Sunrise (S+) Veil of Light (S+).... *Skills cannot be used due to a significant decrease in stats. *Lower skill levels or increase stats. 7. Stats: [Strength 185] [Agility 205] [Health 220] [Mana 240]¡¿ + A series of sentences flashed before my eyes. Thanks to the ''Fallen Dragon''s Heart,'' I''ve recovered quite a bit, but it''s nothing compared to before. However, stats aren''t the only thing that matters in a battle between Awakened. Ding ¡¾Title ''Slayer of Humans'' activated. Gain 50% Attack Power and 20% Defense Penetration against humans.¡¿ ¡¾Skill ''Battle Healing'' activated. Recover 5% of Health every 10 seconds.¡¿ ¡¾Skill ''Hot Blood'' activated. Increase Health and Agility by 25% during combat.¡¿ ¡¾Trait ''Sun-like Laughter'' activated. Enemies who hear your laughter have a certain chance of being inflicted with the ''Intimidated'' status effect.¡¿ ¡¾Skill...¡¿ . . . Countless notification windows covered one side of my vision. Titles, skills, traits. These are the true powers of a ''Chosen One'' like me. "They''re all roughly in the 200s." ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' sheds tears, pretending to be sad.¡¿ "Don''t cry, my star. Isn''t it more fun when the weaklings struggle against each other?" ¡¾"How did you know?"¡¿ ¡¾Giggles¡¿ I briefly smiled bitterly at the message echoing in my head. "Is everyone here?" I looked at the brutes filling the CEO''s office. The hatchets, baseball bats, and machetes in their hands are somewhat intimidating. I saw some familiar faces. Deputy Manager Lee, the giant who used to visit Hong Ilha''s house, has drawn his katana. Manager Oh is chanting a spell with a book open. "Let''s begin." With a hearty laugh, I ignited the flames. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 8 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 8 My current stats are in the 200s. I''ve escaped the abyss, but I''m not yet at a level to be considered a Hunter. "Get him!" "Break his legs first!" "How dare he cause a ruckus here!" "Hey, grab that guy and make him kneel!" Many of these guys probably have better stats than me. But none of them have fought as much as I have. Their voices, their curses, echo in my ears, slowing down endlessly. Ding ¡¾Trait: ''Battlefield Commander'' activated.¡¿ ¡¾Cognitive abilities are greatly enhanced while Battlefield Commander is active.¡¿ Thud! I leap forward, dodging the metal pipes and hatchets flying at me from all directions. ''Hot Blood'' and countless other agility-related traits grant me a speed that far surpasses my stats. Swish! I duck, letting a small sledgehammer with a hammerhead pass over my head. "Like a damn rat..." "A rat?" I thrust my palm forward. Crack! "Better than a gangster, at least." My flame-infused palm accurately strikes the man''s solar plexus. Traits like Slayer of Humans and Battle Master amplify my attack power, armor penetration, and critical hit chance. Crash! The thug flew over 10 meters, crashing through the window and falling to the ground below. ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' rejoices at your feat.¡¿ ¡¾"First kill!"¡¿ ¡¾They shouts, clenching their fists.¡¿ I didn''t kill him. I controlled my strength. ...It''s not my fault he died from the fall. "This bastard!" Two guys on my right lunge at me simultaneously with sashimi knives. Swish! One guy on my left is holding a metal pipe. I jump high on the spot, dodging the sashimi knives. I step on the shoulder of one of the knife-wielding guys to maintain my balance. Whack! Then I kick upwards, landing a solid blow on the left guy''s jaw. It''s quite satisfying to see his cheek wobble, teeth fly out, and eyes roll back into his head. ¡¾"Double kill!"¡¿ It''s not a kill, I¡¯m telling you. "Damn it!" The guy who lunged with the sashimi knife reached out to grab my calf. Excellent choice. If he grabs and stabs, even I can''t dodge that. Before he can swing his knife, I aim my left palm at his face. ¡¾Heat Ray¡¿ Woo Woo Woo Wooong¡ª The dim CEO''s office is illuminated by the bright light, and the guy''s expression freezes. "Aaaaagh!" A short, intense orange heat ray, fiercer than a torch''s flame, shoots out briefly, sizzling and burning his face. "He''s an esper!" "Kill him!" Having confirmed my ability, their attacks become even more ferocious. The encirclement I disrupted with my initial charge has long been restored. I took down three, but ten more took their place. "Let''s see if you can still run wild after getting a knife in your neck, you bastard!" Whoosh! Hatchets and sashimi knives rain down from all directions. I can''t dodge this time. I frown, gauging my remaining mana. Even though I''ve been conserving it, it''s already running low. Considering the CEO as well, it might be a bit tight. But winter must pass for spring to come. ¡¾Form of Fire¡¿ Fwoosh! Flames erupt from my eyes, spreading throughout my entire body in the blink of an eye. For a moment, my consciousness fades, and the world turns black and white. Whenever I use this technique, laughter involuntarily escapes my lips. ¡¾Trait ''Sun-like Laughter'' activated.¡¿ "Ha, hahahahaha-!" Clack! Slash! Clack! Hatchets, sashimi knives, metal pipes, all swung through empty air. You can''t cut flames. I could see the thugs faltering and backing away¡ª their expressions filled with fear. "Boss! That guy''s at least C-rank!" "We can''t beat him!" "Why is someone like him..." Even the CEO, who had been so smug since they entered, jumped to his feet and looked me up and down. Form of Fire. A skill typically usable by C-rank Pyromancers and above, it was the signature move of a Pyromancer. Of course, I didn''t think this alone would make them back down. ¡¾Explosive Regeneration¡¿ Woo Woo Woo Wooong¡ª My body¡ª transformed into flames. The base color is red, but the places where their weapons grazed me, white flames burn like scars. Fwoosh! Fierce crimson flames burst out, tearing through those white flames. The erupting crimson flames spread out in a spherical shape, blasting the surrounding thugs against the wall. At the same time, my body returns to its original form. ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' pats your head in delight at your performance.¡¿ ¡¾It swings its arms around in joy.¡¿ At that moment, only three people were left standing in the CEO''s office, including me. * * * CEO Dae couldn''t believe what he was witnessing. He had shrugged it off when the first thug flew out the window, and even when the guy flitted around, knocking down a few others. ''Huh?'' But the moment he saw the heat ray, he thought something might be wrong. ''If this goes on, it''s game over.'' Seeing the Form of Fire confirmed his suspicions. C-rank. The rank that separates ''Hunters'' from mere Awakened. Hunters, who raid Gates and climb Towers, receive excellent social treatment. s?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Even if the police arrived on time, there was no guarantee they would side with CEO Dae. He had to kill him. "Deputy Manager Lee, Manager Oh." "Yes." "Kill him." Step. The massive Deputy Manager Lee stepped forward with his katana. The long blade gradually turned blue, then shone brightly, illuminating the darkness. The skinny Manager Oh looked at the Pyromancer. Three ice spears materialized above his shoulders. The Pyromancer brushed off his suit and picked up two sashimi knives from the floor. "Phew. This is tough." The sashimi knives in both his hands glowed the color of molten steel in a furnace. He tilted his head back and muttered nonchalantly, "When am I ever going to raise my mana?" "Ha!" Deputy Manager Lee, swift as the wind, swung his katana. Whoosh! It was the same strike that had once split a dump truck in half, from the windshield to the end of the cargo bed, when a debtor had charged at him. The Pyromancer blocked it by swinging both sashimi knives in the same direction. Clang! The molten blades clashed with the blue blade, sending a shower of sparks flying. Screech! "Why is someone like you doing gangster work?" The Pyromancer twisted his entire upper body, deflecting Deputy Manager Lee''s katana to the side. He pressed the hilt and blade of his sashimi knife¡ª the point where he could exert the most force, against the tip of the katana¡ª where it had the least leverage. The moment the katana was deflected. Slash! "Gah!" The diagonally swung sashimi knife precisely sliced between Deputy Manager Lee''s shoulder and neck. It was a strike that avoided the protective range of the monster hide armor worn under his suit. "Take a break for a while." It wasn''t a deep cut, so it wouldn''t be fatal, but with his shoulder slashed, he wouldn''t be able to swing his sword until it healed. Manager Oh didn''t miss the opportunity. "Release." One sashimi knife was still pressing down on the katana and the other held high after the slash. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Three ice spears shot towards the Pyromancer. ''Got him.'' Both CEO Dae and Manager Oh were certain of victory. Even a graze would cause the immense cold to freeze his blood like slush, turning his entire body into mush. But the Pyromancer blocked the ice spears in an unexpected way. Thud! Without hesitation, he reversed his grip on the sashimi knife in his right hand, hooking it around Deputy Manager Lee''s neck and pulling him forward as a shield. Thwack! The ice spears pierced Deputy Manager Lee''s broad back. Crack! His suit was punctured, and the monster hide armor beneath it froze solid. "See? I told you he''d shoot at you too." The Pyromancer muttered playfully and then pounced like a cat. "Wh-what?" Manager Oh, who had fired all three ice spears at once, was flustered. The Pyromancer threw one of the sashimi knives he was holding. Swish! The sashimi knife, flying through the air like a comb''s teeth, pierced Manager Oh''s shoulder and lodged itself in the wall. "Aaargh!" Manager Oh''s body twitched like a pinned insect before he fainted. "Anyone else you want to call?" The Pyromancer walked back to the desk and asked. His chest heaved up and down as he breathed heavily. CEO Dae trembled, unable to utter a word. ''It''s only been this long?'' He glanced at the clock. Only 1 minute and 2 seconds had passed since he pressed the emergency button. Including the time it took for his men to arrive, it meant that the guy had defeated a dozen Awakened thugs and even taken down Deputy Manager Lee and Manager Oh in less than 40 seconds. CEO Dae hesitated for a moment, then reached for his waist. Whoosh! In the chaos following the advent of the Aitel System, many weapons had flooded the black market. Anyone who called themselves a CEO usually had at least one pistol. As he gripped the handle and released the safety. Slash! A molten blade flashed before his eyes. "What?" The barrel of the gun, sliced in half, clattered to the floor. Thud At the same time, the Pyromancer''s sashimi knife also snapped in half. "Cheap steel doesn''t last long, after all." The Pyromancer shrugged and jumped onto the desk. Thump, thump! He playfully kicked CEO Dae''s nameplate, computer monitor, and other office supplies, sending them tumbling to the floor. "Well, it''s not like I can''t do this barehanded." His fists glowed a faint red. CEO Dae felt his breath hitch. ''What is this guy?'' There was no hesitation in the Pyromancer''s eyes. ''He''s really, really going to kill me.'' His demeanor was so matter-of-fact, it was as if he had done this countless times before. "Wait!" "Hmm?" "Do you know who my boss is?" "Who?" "He''s a C+ rank Hunter!" "...!" "Y-yeah! You''re also C-rank, so you should know, right? From C-rank onwards, the gap between people of the same rank widens." The Pyromancer withdrew his hand. CEO Dae, thinking he had gotten through, continued. "Okay, I was wrong! I''ll never do this kind of business again, not to you, not to your family. Let''s forget this ever happened. Just go." The Pyromancer glanced behind him for a moment. "Is your boss this person, by any chance?" A large paper bag sat on the sofa. ''What''s that?'' CEO Dae remembered the guy tossing something down when he first entered. The Pyromancer flicked his finger. Snap The paper bag caught fire, revealing its contents. "B-Boss?" CEO Dae wanted to faint. This was absurd. He was a fool for falling for such a petty scam. He was an idiot who couldn''t even tell the difference between an artifact and a hunting device. There''s no way his boss could have been killed by someone like that. He could no longer contain the emotions he had been trying to suppress. His breath quickened, and his vision blurred. Filled with terror, CEO Dae asked. "Wh-who are you?" The Pyromancer shrugged. "You don''t recognize me?" He continued, standing on the desk. "I''m Baekya." "Baekya?" "The Cataclysm, when Gates first erupted. The Transitional Period, when Awakened and non-Awakened clashed. I''m Baekya, who ended those two eras and ushered in the age of great Hunters." Only then did CEO Dae notice that the halo glowing above his head had changed shape. ''When?'' It had definitely been a white ring when he first entered, but now it was a radiant red mandala. ''Was it a disguise? But that''s...?!'' That halo was also the symbol of one person known to the entire nation¡ª No, the entire world. "Baekya? The Sun, Hong Baekya? But you were dead!" The Pyromancer smiled, as if confirming the answer. "I told you clearly. Don''t scam the porters. If I catch you, I''ll kill you." CEO Dae felt like he was going crazy¡ª caught between the news that had been buzzing around the world for days and the fact that the man in front of him was alive and well. Memories of running away from crackdowns during Hong Baekya''s time as the chairman of the Awakened Association flooded back. ''This can''t be happening.'' CEO Dae wished he could cut off his own hand, the one he hadn''t been able to keep clean back then. "So why didn''t you listen?" The Pyromancer¡ª No, Baekya''s hand slowly approached. "Neither I nor my star likes these petty stories." * * * Million Loans, notorious for its aggressive investments and various scams. The incident where Million Loans'' building and loan documents were burned down, and the CEO and key members were all wiped out, naturally caught the police''s attention. However, the investigation was sluggish. "Any leads?" "Nope, nothing yet." "Didn''t you say the CCTV was working?" "Yeah, that CCTV, you wanna take a look?" "...This is insane." The CCTV footage looked like a scene from a documentary about high-rankers. An intruder, not captured by the entrance or rooftop cameras, suddenly ''appeared'' in front of the CEO''s office. He entered the office, followed by the thugs, then BOOM! And that was it. "You said CEO Dae is alive, right?" "Yeah, but he''s completely lost it. They say he''s just screaming ''Baekya, Baekya'' over and over." "Baekya?" "The culprit must be a Pyromancer." "That''s obvious just from the footage. This instantaneous movement with flames is ''Descent from the Crimson Flame.''" "You even know the skill name?" "I''m a Baekya fan, you know. He put a lot of effort into helping espers systematize their skills." "Right. So, Mr. Baekya fan, what level do you think this Pyromancer is?" The officer reviewing the footage frowned. "This is truly unbelievable." "You think so too, huh?" "The reason his face and halo aren''t showing isn''t a quality issue. This is the ''Veil of Light.''" "Veil of Light?" "It''s a technique that high-ranking Awakened who don''t like media attention use to cloak themselves. It distorts light, so while it''s active, they either don''t appear in photos or only their silhouette shows up." "There are all sorts of skills, huh." "Both Descent from the Crimson Flame and Veil of Light consume quite a bit of mana." "What rank are those skills?" "A-rank?" "Damn." The two officers chuckled wryly. Even though Korea was a leading nation in the Aitel System era, A-rank meant a ''Ranker,'' someone within the top 100 of the national rankings. Rankers were closely tied to power, with each one having a dedicated 5th-grade civil servant from the Awakened Support Agency. They could throw the Million Loan Sharks and everyone else in jail with a single phone call, so why would they come in person? "Hey, let''s bury this." "What?" "You know what the higher-ups are like right now, right?" "...They said the guilds are practically on a war footing." "The whole country is in chaos. If we make a fuss about a Ranker here, we''ll just get yelled at for causing trouble. If a Ranker really got pissed and came to take care of things themselves, what can we do about it?" "There are no civilian casualties, so... the higher-ups will probably stay quiet." "Exactly. It''s best to just wrap this up quickly and quietly." "But I''m really curious who it is. Judging by their height and build, it''s a man..." "Hey, hey! I said let''s bury it!" "I''m just trying to figure it out personally. I''m curious, okay? How hard can it be to find a male Pyromancer or fire mage of that height among the top 100 Rankers?" "Oh, for crying out loud!" [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 9 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 9 Blue House Safe House. Cheong Siyeol, along with a few colleagues, met with the National Security Advisor, the Minister of Gate Management, and the Director of the National Intelligence Service. After a lengthy discussion that lasted over four hours, the Minister of Gate Management let out a long sigh. "Then, the cause of Baekya''s death will be kept unofficially top secret, and officially, we will show no reaction." "Thank you for your cooperation." The conclusion reached in this meeting was as follows: The perpetrator who murdered Hong Baekya is unknown in number, name, age, and nationality. Hong Baekya spent a month moving between various safe houses, attempting to escape and counterattack the perpetrator, but ultimately perished alongside a few others. Domestic Rankers who sensed the situation joined in, but unfortunately, it was too late. Considering the deceased''s personality and status, it''s presumed that the reason for fighting alone for a month was to prevent domestic Rankers from getting involved. The perpetrator is likely a high-ranking humanoid monster or a Ranker at the level of the Black Dawn''s leader. And so, the aftermath was settled. The sunset was visible outside the window. The sun had set. The Director of the National Intelligence Service and the National Security Advisor nodded in agreement after the Minister of Gate Management. "The government also understands the gravity of the situation. If an entity capable of killing the former Association President Hong Baekya exists in this country... we won''t be able to control the public''s anxiety." "The deceased was more wary of the panic that would ensue due to such an entity, rather than a specific monster or a high-ranking member of the Black Dawn. Leaving the assassin''s identity as an intangible fear could also be a strategy. Countless conspiracy theories will emerge." One of the colleagues spoke. "We''ll leave it to you." The Director of the National Intelligence Service gave a wry smile. "Yes. We''ll need to reactivate the NIS Psychological Control Task Force. We''ll post several plausible causes of death on various domestic community sites. We''ll also instigate comment battles." Another colleague spoke. It was the graceful colleague with the scent of morning dew. "We''ll share any information our Rankers gather while tracking the culprit in real-time." The Minister of Gate Management replied. "We''ll leave the culprit''s pursuit to you Rankers. Originally, the Awakened Support Agency should be handling this... but I''m not sure what our kids can do in this situation. If you need any assistance, whether it''s budget or personnel, please contact us immediately." Cheong Siyeol silently sipped his tea to moisten his dry throat. A blue halo¡ª manifestation of his immense power, shimmered above his head, visualizing countless spectral swords. Yet, his eyes were sunken, reflecting the profound exhaustion and sorrow he carried. He was showing extreme fatigue in the position he had created, but no one said anything to him. His colleagues, the high-ranking officials, they all knew. Hong Baekya was like an older brother to Cheong Siyeol. Telling him to separate personal feelings from work was impossible; the state of the recovered body was too horrific. Even if it were an unclaimed body, seeing such a sight would cause anyone to lose sleep for days. How much more so for the body of a mentor who was like family? They knew Cheong Siyeol was suffering more than anyone, knowing he had let Baekya fight and die alone. Of course, Cheong Siyeol wished they would torment him instead. He genuinely wished they would publicize what happened that day, condemn him, and then execute him. He had protected Baekya''s name but failed to protect his body. But if asked to do it again, Cheong Siyeol would. Even if he wanted to cut off his sword-wielding hand, even if the air filling his lungs was bitter, even if tears welled up at the mere mention of Hong Baekya''s name, he would. He was Hong Baekya''s beloved disciple. He knew better than anyone that Baekya would want him to. Still, he wanted to rest, just a little. The sword that was him was worn to the point of breaking. That''s why, after the meeting that day, when his colleague with the scent of morning dew disappeared somewhere, he didn''t bother to follow. * * * "Let''s go buy some clothes." "Clothes? We just bought some a few days ago. What more do you need?" "Doesn''t it feel good to wear new clothes? You''ve always been wearing those drab, stiff work clothes. Come on!" "Brother. You seem excited that we''ve paid off all our debts, but we need to save money. You''re not even working right now. All the money we have is a little over 100 million won. That money might seem like a lot, but you know it disappears quickly once you start spending it, right?" "Right. We can''t just spend it. Let''s wear nice clothes, see beautiful things, and work hard with the determination to live like this from now on." "No, that''s not what I meant..." "You''re healed, and my debts are paid off. It''s time for us to think about what we want to live for and how we want to live. We can''t be laborers forever, right? So we shouldn''t be trembling in fear of money either." Hong Wolha wondered since when his brother had become so eloquent. ''He''s become quite the sophist.'' His brother, who used to be less logical and uneducated than him, had turned into a smooth talker overnight. But what was even more frustrating was... "Okay. Let''s go. Let''s go." ...that his words made a strange kind of sense. Seeing good things, eating delicious food, and maintaining motivation to live and work in the future¡ª even he thought it was quite important. Hong Wolha tied his long hair, which had grown naturally during his long hospital stay, and put on some casual pants and a T-shirt. "Are you ready?" Hong Ilha wore the suit he had bought recently. It was the ill-fated suit that had gotten wrinkled in less than a week after the accident, and still smelled of smoke even after being washed three times. But they say the most important thing about clothes is the hanger, and the suit looked good on his brother. ''When did he get so tall?'' Originally, the height difference between them wasn''t that big, but now it was more than a handspan. His skin had become smoother, and his posture straighter¡ª making him look like a completely different person. "Let''s go." Hong Wolha liked the changed version of his brother quite a bit. "Where are we going first?" "The hair salon." "To cut your hair?" "Nope. YOUR hair. You look good with it tied up, but let''s just trim the ends." "And then?" "We''ll buy clothes, and maybe¡­ watch a movie?" "A movie! They''re re-releasing Baekya-related movies these days. Let''s watch one of those. You used to like them, brother." "Watch a Baekya-related movie?" "Yeah. Why?" Hong Ilha gave an awkward smile. "Well..." Hong Wolha tried to understand his brother''s feelings. ''It must be hard to even watch them.'' It made sense, actually. Baekya. No one truly believed that the Awakened¡ª hailed as the sun of humanity, would ever die. The legendary Awakened who single-handedly cleared the Tower up to the 20th floor, conquered countless S-rank Gates, and was the first in the world to open the 49th floor. Even when countless first-generation Awakened and Rankers fell before the monsters emerging from the Gates, he alone¡ª like the rising sun, would fight and win again, tomorrow and the day after. The entire nation was in turmoil at the news of Baekya''s death. [Why no state funeral?] [Did the Rankers really have an internal conflict?] [Then what''s with Cheong Siyeol being caught on camera in the lobby?] [Why is no one saying anything?] It had been over a week, and nothing had been revealed. Only strange conspiracy theories circulated on community sites. Citizens strongly criticized the government for not properly investigating the incident. Many citizens voluntarily hung mourning flags or held memorial services. The two brothers also sincerely respected Baekya. ''Go.'' It was Baekya who had stopped the horde of monsters chasing the refugees when their hometown was burned down during the Gate Break. ''I''d like to donate to the settlement.'' It was Baekya who had given them land and a house to live in. It was only natural that his brother was deeply shocked by Baekya''s death. "Okay. Then let''s watch a different movie. We''ve seen Baekya movies many times, haven''t we?" "Yeah. Thanks." The gratitude confirmed his suspicions; his brother was indeed affected, even if he didn''t show it. ''He''s changed, but he''s still my brother.'' Hong Wolha thought so and shrugged. Going out with his brother was enjoyable, but also full of surprises. "Don''t cut it too short! What kind of treatment are you using? What is that?" At the hair salon they had booked, the director, who apparently had experience in model shows, came out to attend to them. "Brother! You''re trying to buy a 3 million won jacket?! Are you crazy?! For me? Don''t be ridiculous. Just give me the money instead. I''ll buy a nice T-shirt." At the department store, they bought clothes at prices he couldn''t even imagine. "This palm-sized piece of meat is 70,000 won? Brother. Let''s go somewhere else. No. I''ll buy a bunch of meat and grill it at home. It''ll be even more delicious." At the restaurant, they ate food that was incredibly delicious but made him think, ''This money could buy a whole damn lot!'' How did his brother even know about these places? Moreover, he seemed dissatisfied¡ª even unimpressed, with everything, as if it wasn''t good enough. As he was about to give his brother a questioning look, his brother turned to him and said. "Wolha." "Yeah?" "From now on, don''t be surprised when you come to places like this." His voice held a hint of embarrassment and sadness. ''When has he ever been to places like this?'' The thought crossed his mind briefly. But he quickly understood what his brother was trying to say. That everything he was doing was for him. "Okay." "Good." "Thanks." Hong Wolha suppressed the questions he had been wanting to ask since morning. The day after his brother went out in the evening, both the mining company they worked for and the Million Loan Sharks his brother borrowed money from went bankrupt. Did he perhaps meet a Constellation? Did he make a Black Hole contract? Instead of asking, Hong Wolha followed his brother. "Shall we take a walk by the river before dinner?" "Let''s do that." Step. Step. The river flowed gently beside the road, and the reeds swayed. In the distance, a subway train passed over the bridge, and the skyscrapers of Seoul were still lit up as always. The Aitel Tower¡ª once a symbol of hope and defiance against the monsters, now pierced the sky as an ever-present reminder of the new reality they lived in. His brother''s broad back moved steadily forward. It was a special kind of normalcy that he had never experienced before. Hong Wolha had a thought he wouldn''t normally have. ''Even if he''s changed because of a Black Hole contract, wouldn''t this kind of change be okay?'' * * * I headed to the warehouse in Icheon once again. Of course, I knew that Hong Ilha''s younger brother was becoming suspicious of me. From experience¡ª people don''t acknowledge you when you do what you''re supposed to do, but when you do what they want you to do. What would a younger brother want from his older brother? That''s why I took him out the other day. I fed him meat, bought him clothes, watched a movie, took a walk by the Han River, and even had some chicken and beer there. While everyone struggles in this era, being a laborer is undeniably tough. A late bloomer''s enthusiasm is frightening, they say. After a lifetime of hardship, the kid''s eyes were filled with honey after just one day of fun. Dressing well makes you feel good, even just walking down the street. The glances from passersby, thinking ''Not bad,'' are incredibly thrilling. Especially for someone who''s lived a hard life. Of course, appeasing him like this won''t completely erase his suspicions. But he''ll want to believe it''s not true. Because people see what they want to see. Ah. Damn it. Thinking about appeasing him reminded me of that bastard Cheong Siyeol. He was the same. Whenever training got tough, the expectations weighed heavy, or he felt despair in the Aitel era¡ª all it took was a fun day out and some luxury goods to get his spirits back up. That damn brat. I bought him so many Artifacts. No. Don''t resent him. It''s all the fault of the one who cursed him. You should hate the one who swings the sword, not the sword itself, right? Lost in such thoughts. ¡¾"Is it okay that you burned down the building?"¡¿ The Constellation spoke, as if trying to bring me back to reality. What a thoughtful being. ''Yes. It seems the investigation has been buried somehow. My death alone caused enough chaos, so how could anything be done properly?'' ¡¾"I''m not sure whether I should be happy or sad that the country has come to a complete standstill because of my contractors death."¡¿ ''New Rankers appear with every Tutorial, but this is the first time the sun has fallen, isn''t it? It''s natural for everyone to be shocked.'' ¡¾"You''re truly the best. I made the right choice watching over you."¡¿ ''I hope I can use this opportunity to build the capacity to prepare my Vice-Commander. That would be the best-case scenario.'' ¡¾"And what would be the worst-case scenario?"¡¿ I thought for a moment before answering. ''Rankers start fighting amongst themselves, and overseas operations weaken the domestic Hunter forces. Then, a Grade 1 Gate breaks out, and the patriotic Hunters from the Gate Management Department all die. The country, having lost its defense capabilities, falls into the hands of power-hungry individuals who only care about their own pockets, and slowly perishes.'' S?a??h th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. ¡¾"That''s a horrifying ''what if'' story. But how can you speak of it so calmly?"¡¿ ''Many countries have already met that fate. Just because I don''t acknowledge it doesn''t mean it won''t happen. The important thing is to prevent it from happening. That''s my job.'' I paid the taxi fare and got out. I crossed the fallow land towards the greenhouse where the warehouse was hidden. The moment I opened the door. Thud "Found you." Someone grabbed my shoulder. "I knew you''d be alive." It was a familiar voice. One of the disciples who killed me. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 10 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 10 ¡¾Heat Ray¡¿ I quickly turned to counterattack, but my opponent was one step ahead. Crack He grabbed my wrist and twisted it outwards. Compared to my prime, his physical strength was insignificant, but with my current strength of 200, I couldn''t resist being dragged along. Ziiiing! The heat ray I managed to fire only cut through a harmless tree. Thwack He covered my face with his palm. Through his slender, firm fingers, I saw him open the warehouse door. Thud! I was kicked from behind and tumbled into the greenhouse. Splash! Tsssss! The miscellaneous illusions covering the floor vanished, replaced by a calm, dark expanse of shallow water stretching endlessly. Ahead, I could see the white marble, temple-like warehouse. Creak He closed the door and entered the warehouse. "I knew you wouldn''t die so easily, Baekya." "Na Jeongwon." "You just shot a ray ray at me, didn''t you? I was surprised at how weak it was. Honestly, even while grabbing your wrist, I was only thinking about dodging a direct hit." I bounced back up and glared at Na Jeongwon. A laurel wreath-shaped halo mixed with lime green and brown. Gray hair, neatly trimmed into a comma shape, that turned white in the light. Softly drooping eyes with a strangely determined air, and a tear mole. A lean body clad in a loose-fitting knit cardigan over a crisp shirt and cotton pants. A magic staff with a few green leaves still clinging to it. This guy, with an aura reminiscent of a young teaching assistant in botany, was one of the self-proclaimed ''regressors'' who came to kill me along with Cheong Siyeol. Several questions flashed through my mind. How did he know I was alive? How did he know I frequented this particular warehouse out of my many? And who cursed you? But 13 years of struggling against an entity that imposed rules regardless of human will had taught me something. "Endure the pain." I could only get the answers I wanted after beating my opponent half to death. At the very least, I needed to be in an advantageous position to get a proper answer. In my weakened state, even Law of Light wouldn''t be potent enough to shatter the curse binding Na Jeongwon. So. ¡¾Hellfire (A+)¡¿ ¡¾Ignores all of the enemy''s defenses and status effect resistance.¡¿ ¡¾*Insufficient mana to maintain the skill.¡¿ Whoosh! I ignited the flames of hell in my right hand. Crack Mana drained from me, making me feel like my heart was being squeezed. Just maintaining the flame made my legs tremble. But I had succeeded in summoning Hellfire, and Na Jeongwon took a step back, either in tension or reflex. "Your temper hasn''t changed." "I spent a month slowly dying with my heart pierced by the Chronos¡¯ Hand. And I was hunted by my most cherished disciple and beloved colleagues. You should have expected this kind of reaction." "Endure the pain, he says. How kind of our Sun." "You can scream, you know. No, actually, I''d prefer it if you did." "But can you even fight me? It looks like you''ll collapse from mana exhaustion if we exchange a couple more pleasantries." "Yeah. Let''s roll around together. You, engulfed in inextinguishable flames, and me, gasping for breath from mana depletion." Thwack! In the next moment, both of us kicked off the ground simultaneously. Black water splashed beneath our feet. ¡¾Flame Arrows¡¿ Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! I transformed the Hellfire into several small arrows and fired them in a fan shape. ¡¾Wall of Ice¡¿ Boom! He countered by raising a massive ice wall from the ground. Hiss! The ice wall melted instantly, creating a thick fog of steam. Whoosh! Dozens of ice arrows shot out consecutively from the parting steam. ¡¾Form of Fire¡¿ Whoosh! I transformed my body into flames, letting the ice arrows pass through me harmlessly. "Ugh." The timing was perfect, but the elemental matchup was unfavorable. Summoning Hellfire had left my mana reserves dangerously low. ''Oh, Star.'' ¡¾"How dare that insignificant insect touch my contractor!"¡¿ ¡¾"At this point, I''ll ignore the Aitel System''s restrictions. I''ll descend directly into your body..."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation, ''Sunny,'' is enraged.¡¿ ''There''s no need for that. Just lend me the power of Hellfire one more time. I''ll finish this in close combat while in the Form of Fire.'' * * * Baekya, who had been maintaining a distance of over dozens of meters, charged towards Na Jeongwon, leaving a comet-like trail in his wake. Whoosh! Though his speed had decreased due to his drastically reduced stats, his nimble footwork and exceptional sense of distance remained unchanged. He was close enough to see and react to his opponent''s ranged attacks. And close enough to engage in close combat within a single breath if he wished. That was Baekya''s main strategy, making him a formidable opponent at any range, like a demon. "That would have worked back then." Na Jeongwon, with a faint smile on his model-student-like face, slammed his staff down. Thump Ripples spread across the black water, and thorny vines sprouted beneath Baekya''s feet. "But not now." ¡¾World Tree''s Mistletoe¡¿ Tssss! The thorny vines, said to have been used by ancient shamans to communicate with ancestral spirits through their smoke¡ª tightly coiled around Baekya''s body, even in its intangible, flame-like form. Thud! Immediately after, Baekya reverted from flames back to his human form, accompanied by the recoil of being expelled from the elemental world. "Cough!" Blood spurted from his throat as mana backflowed. Na Jeongwon leaned on his staff and approached Baekya. Thud His footsteps carried the weight of an ancient tree, and a green light flickered in his eyes. "Even with the unfavorable elemental matchup, did I seem that weak to you? I''m the ''Fairy King.'' Rank 3 in Korea, Rank 5 in the world. I haven''t even summoned my spirits yet." "Ugh." "I was incredibly surprised to learn of your resurrection. But it seems you didn''t return with your original strength." The World Tree''s Mistletoe grew profusely, entwining Baekya''s limbs and neck. Baekya''s face turned red, then black in an instant. Na Jeongwon muttered. "Even the sun can''t resurrect twice, can it?" Baekya, gasping for air, asked. "Now, what will you do? Will you set the world ablaze, starting with this country?" "Can you tell me what you mean?" "I''m asking the sorcerer who cursed Na Jeongwon. You must have planted some kind of bug inside him to maintain a curse on an S-rank Spirit Summoner. Answer me directly. Are you... an international terrorist chosen by the Black Hole Constellation?" "Is that what you think?" "Or perhaps an enemy within the Tower? A high-ranking official in the Awakened Support Agency trying to eliminate me? Or maybe even a great demon from within the Gates." Na Jeongwon scoffed. "You truly only see what you want to see. Just like before, even now." Baekya sneered. "Are you still acting even after coming this far? If you wanted to kill me while I was consumed by the despair of being betrayed by my comrades¡ª you failed. I trust them. It seems you haven''t corrupted all the Rankers yet, so at least one of them will become a new hero. And that person will kill you and lead this country back to the dawn." Baekya''s eyes, shining like molten steel in a furnace, were filled with unwavering conviction. "So kill me now. I never thought I''d die twice. Having experienced it once, it wasn''t as painful as I thought it would be." He kept his eyes wide open, as if trying to find something beyond Na Jeongwon until the very end. Na Jeongwon gritted his teeth, as if disgusted by his attitude, and then swung his staff. The vines wrapped around Baekya''s neck loosened slightly. "Let me ask you just one thing." ¡°If you''re looking for the Awakened Support Agency''s secrets, you''ll have to pry them from my cold, dead hands.¡± "...What were you planning to do once you regained your former strength?" Baekya couldn''t comprehend Na Jeongwon''s question. But the duty of the one called the Sun of Humanity remained the same, then and now. "Clear Gates when they break out, climb to new floors of the Tower." "And?" "Train promising juniors, weed out the rotten ones." "And?" "If I can, I''d also respond to support requests from overseas." "And then?" "I''d have to think about institutional and social measures to prevent Awakened from abusing ordinary people. And conversely, improve the perception that ordinary people have of Awakened, where they try to shift all responsibility for security onto us. And get rid of the politicians who engage in shady dealings in the middle." "Ultimately?" "I''ll climb the Tower. I''ll reach the end and find out why this is happening to us. I need to know. What''s up there. Why this is happening to us." Baekya was powerless, his hands and feet bound. Na Jeongwon could strangle him to death with just a little more force. But his voice still carried the unwavering conviction of someone who believed they were right. "...!" The light in Na Jeongwon''s eyes wavered. The ''World Tree''s Mistletoe'' binding Baekya also momentarily weakened its grip. The Hunter who once reigned at the world''s summit didn''t miss that opportunity. Baekya enveloped his entire right hand in flames and tensed his arm. ¡¾Hellfire (A+)¡¿ "Aaargh!" His five fingers curled like sickles. Veins, like IV tubes, bulged on the back of his hand. The mistletoe binding his wrist smoked and burned. Snap! The mistletoe finally broke. Baekya''s hand, heated like iron in a forge, flew towards Na Jeongwon''s chest. Crack! Its trajectory aimed precisely at his heart. But there was an insurmountable gap in physical strength between an S-rank and a D-rank. Na Jeongwon desperately leaned back. His light brown knit cardigan and crisp white shirt were ripped apart by Baekya''s fingers. Rip! He gritted his teeth with a look of frustration. "Until the very end..." A green light blazed once again in his eyes behind his dislodged glasses. The severed mistletoe regenerated rapidly. But Baekya didn''t give up, not even at the very last moment. "Yes, until the very end!" He struggled, tearing the vines binding his left hand with his burning right hand. He saw an opening to strike Na Jeongwon''s heart. Just a little faster, please. If he could just sever these vines and land one blow on his chest, maybe, just maybe, he could escape. That''s when Baekya saw it. ''Huh?'' On Na Jeongwon''s chest, exposed between the torn cardigan and shirt, a pocket watch symbol glowed with a magical blue light. Suddenly, Cheong Siyeol''s words came to mind. ''I''m not the person you used to know.'' ''My colleagues and I have returned from the future. We are all regressors.'' ''And you, in the not-so-distant future, will become the worst Awakened, betraying humanity and setting the world ablaze. I... I couldn''t bear to let you be remembered that way!'' Baekya had consistently dismissed those words until now. They were nonsense. It was a typical repertoire of scammers in the era of the Aitel System. They weren''t words he, who had even served as the president of the Awakened Association, could trust. Gnash! He gritted his teeth. S?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The question burst out involuntarily. The question he had repeated countless times during the month he was hunted and the few days after his resurrection. "Na Jeongwon!" Na Jeongwon, who had stumbled, regained his balance by thrusting his staff into the shallow water. "Why did you kill me! Why?!" Na Jeongwon was an opponent who could summon spirits and kill him at any moment. "Why did I kill you?" But instead of doing that, Na Jeongwon gave the same answer he had repeated for the past month. "In the previous timeline, you rode the Sun Chariot across the sky, burning everything, and summoned the great demons of the Flame Realm from your sanctuary, leading them into war!" Baekya tore the mistletoe binding his left hand. ''Shut up.'' The thorny vines were ripped away, leaving a stinging sensation in his palm. "Shut up with your nonsense!" "Hong Baekya!" "I''m a first-generation Awakened who awakened at the age of 12 in Aitel''s first tutorial. I''ve closed eleven Grade 1 Gates so far. I''ve killed five ancient dragons and three great demons." ¡°You were unstoppable. It took Cheong Siyeol, who reached the 99th floor countless sacrifices, to turn back time itself!¡± "I started climbing the Tower when no one else dared! Thanks to my achievements, this country is so stable. The number of tutorial participants has increased, the proportion of high-ranking Awakened has risen, and those damn Gates have decreased!" "Do you know how many Rankers died by your hand? Do you know what happened to those who trusted you until the end?" "I was the one who took the hand of a middle school Spirit Summoner, who had nothing but a weak body and dying parents, and led him to the Spirit Realm of Aitel. I was the one who brought him all sorts of elixirs so he could be chosen by a Constellation." The middle school Spirit Summoner from back then raised his voice in front of the Awakened, who was the strongest in the world even then. "Tell me why I would lie to you, even in this situation!" The Awakened, who was the strongest in the world even then, now moved his hand, bound by the mistletoe, towards his ankle. "Shut your damn mouth... and get out of Na Jeongwon''s body! You damn criminal!" Na Jeongwon once again grew the mistletoe. "Please, just listen to me! You stubborn overpowered bastard!" Baekya''s limbs were once again entangled in the mistletoe vines. He retorted with determination. "Kill me painfully! I don''t negotiate with terrorists!" Na Jeongwon trembled all over. He took a few deep breaths, trying to compose himself. After wiping his flushed face a few times, he continued. "I believe everyone deserves a second chance." "...!" Baekya raised an eyebrow. Those were Na Jeongwon''s signature words. He said them when he tried to expel all the low-ranking students from the Awakened Academy. He said them when he tried to kill all the Hunters who didn''t respond to the Gate outbreak summons. He said them every time he wanted to deep-fry the politicians who tried to put leashes on Hunters. If the sorcerer knew this and used it, it was in poor taste. But if not... Na Jeongwon spoke in a firm, unwavering voice, as if overcoming his fear with conviction. "Even if that ''everyone'' is you, Baekya." Baekya looked at Na Jeongwon''s chest, exposed between his shirt. The pocket watch symbol on his white skin was still glowing blue. He called out to his Constellation. ''Oh, Star.'' The answer was shocking. ¡¾"It''s not fake."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation, ''Sunny,'' is silent in surprise.¡¿ It felt as if Chronos'' Hand had pierced his heart once more. Na Jeongwon spoke, emphasizing each word. "You betrayed humanity in the previous timeline." Baekya asked in a voice that seemed ready to crumble at any moment. "Why would I?" [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 11 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 11 "...If we knew the reason, we wouldn''t be foolish enough to cling to a sliver of hope." "You''re saying you don''t know." "..." "You don''t know? You stab someone in the back and kill them, and when asked why, you say it''s because your future self has fallen, but you don''t know why you fell?" Baekya''s tone lightened. At the same time, it became sharp as a razor. "Cut the bullshit. What kind of explanation is this? Do you even want me to believe you?" If the person in front of him wasn''t Na Jeongwon but some nameless Awakened, he would have already gone berserk. He wasn''t an Awakened who had lived a leisurely enough life to listen to this kind of nonsense. "Hong Baekya." "Just because you have some fancy symbol on your chest and say something, it doesn''t mean it''s all true..." "I''ll show you." With that, Na Jeongwon lifted his staff and pressed the lush green leaves against his own temple. ¡¾Mist of Memories¡¿ It was a Spirit Summoner''s mental technique. Saaaaa. A white, mist-like energy flowed from his temple, gathering into the shape of an orb. The misty orb floated in front of Baekya, swaying gently. "See for yourself. What I remember." Baekya''s eyes wavered along with the orb. ''There''s no trickery in the technique. The possibility of this being Mihonhyang instead of water... is zero. The constellations wouldn''t have missed it either.'' He then inhaled the mist through his nose with a light gesture. Saaaaa. Na Jeongwon''s memories smelled dry, like ashes left behind after a fire. In an instant, Baekya''s pupils contracted sharply. ''...! '' A sky burning like a sunset. The Statue of Liberty, half-melted. ''Nooooooooo!'' Beijing, Paris, Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul groaning under the heat. People running away. Himself, riding a sun chariot across the sky. ''It''s Baekya!'' ''Run!'' ''Prepare to intercept!'' A crimson halo shining above his head. Indifferent eyes shedding that light. ''Insects.'' Faaaaa! The light of Law of Light erupting from Na Jeongwon''s perspective. It was definitely him. "Cough!" Saaaaa. The white mist flowed back out of his nose with a rough cough. Na Jeongwon swung his staff, gathering the mist and absorbing it back into his temple. "Do you understand now?" He asked in a sunken voice. His words pierced Baekya''s ears like needles as he lowered his head, panting. "Even after experiencing all of this, I decided to give you a second chance. Not as a courtesy for what you''ve done so far, but as an opportunity that any human deserves." His firm tone hid an underlying strength. But Baekya, with a deep sigh, collected himself. "No. Give me the courtesy I deserve." "..." He had dealt with his fair share of illusion-type monsters. ''Stay calm.'' He was used to managing memories and emotions that weren''t his own. "I deserve that kind of treatment. Don''t forget. I''m the one who made you the Fairy King." He raised his head proudly and looked at Na Jeongwon. "Alright." Na Jeongwon wore a complex expression. He seemed both angry and relieved. But he definitely seemed to have expected Baekya to respond that way. Swish. Na Jeongwon took off the silver ring he was wearing on his index finger and handed it to him. "Be careful of Cheong Siyeol and Joo Suhyeok. Almost every Ranker knows the location of this warehouse. If anyone starts coming and going here, they''ll all get suspicious." As he placed it on his palm and gazed at it intently, information about the artifact appeared. ¡¾Silver Ring of the Gap (Common)¡¿ ¡¾A mass-produced inventory artifact with a 300L capacity.¡¿ ¡¾*Weight Limit: None¡¿ ¡¾*Caution: No living creatures allowed.¡¿ ¡¾*Special Note: The blessing of the lower wind spirit, Sylph, grants +15 to Agility stat.¡¿ It had a decent capacity for a common item. Furthermore, +15 Agility was a pretty good bonus, especially since it was attached to an inventory item, not combat gear. But Baekya scoffed as if it were insignificant. "There''s a limit to even playing games." Na Jeongwon looked as if he''d been pricked with a needle. "Wh- why?" Baekya immediately used Law of Light. Faaa! ¡¾Special Note: The blessing of the lower wind spirit, Sylph, will be permanently removed.¡¿ A white light emanated from the ring. The option disappeared, and a small amount of magical power was absorbed by Baekya. He put on the Silver Ring of the Gap and said. "So you can figure out where I am and who I''m meeting? Hey, just assign someone to follow me instead." "..." Na Jeongwon couldn''t meet his eyes. He turned his head away, his earlobes red with shame. "You were always terrible at lying. Even after I taught you so diligently." Only then was Baekya certain of Na Jeongwon''s purpose in seeking him out. ''It''ll be hard to come back to this warehouse. It seems he really did come to find me to give me a chance.'' Na Jeongwon had always been like that. That''s why he taught him that being so soft in this day and age would get him killed. He tried to persuade and coax him, and when that didn''t work, he even scolded him. He scolded, saying that someone with power like him needed to be firm. ''Do you not understand what I''m saying?'' ''No.'' ''Then please, just!'' ''But still.'' ''¡­¡­.'' ''You haven''t given up either, have you? Can''t you trust that person just one more time?'' That''s how he was, always giving second chances even after being scolded and lectured. He must be trying to do the same for him. He let out a quiet sigh. "...Still, I''ll put this to good use. I''ll take your advice to heart. I won''t come back here." Na Jeongwon spoke again, his tone firm. "This is your second chance. Make the right choice this time." Baekya shook his head as he walked towards the stacks of cash. "I always made the right choices. It was you guys who made the wrong ones. You didn''t say anything and just stabbed me in the heart." The red, flamboyant halo flickered and returned to its white ring form. * * * I filled my inventory to the brim with gold bars, mana stones, and cash. As Na Jeongwon said, it would be difficult to return to that warehouse, but I had no intention of engaging in any normal economic activities. Ultimately, I needed to secure enough living expenses until I could climb the Tower again. On the way back to Hong Ilha''s house in a taxi. Vrooooom. I stared blankly out the window. The past 3 hours felt like 3 days¡ª no, 3 months had passed. ¡®In the previous timeline, you rode the Sun Chariot across the sky, burning everything, and summoned the great demons of the Flame Realm from your sanctuary, leading them into war! After countless sacrifices, Cheong Siyeol reached the 99th floor and turned back time.¡¯ ¡®...If we knew the reason, we wouldn''t be foolish enough to cling to a sliver of hope.¡¯ ''Noooooooo!'' Did that really happen? They weren''t cursed? They weren''t black hole contractors who hated seeing others happy or brainwashed by the great demons inside the gates? Cheong Siyeol really stabbed me in the back? I couldn''t believe anything. No. I didn''t want to believe it. I didn''t even want to think about the story of my future self or whatever. What''s important to me now is that guy. Cheong Siyeol, whom I raised like my own brother. He killed me of his own free will. My mouth tasted bitter. I wanted to curse, but the words lodged in my throat, refusing to come out. High-ranking Korean Rankers collectively getting cursed VS my future self falling and the Rankers reaching the 99th floor to regress. Which one is more likely? A thrilling stabbing event story unfolding in Seoul~. "..." Thinking such silly thoughts. ¡¾"Are you alright?"¡¿ ¡¾"I know you need some time alone, but you looked like you were about to jump out of the car, so I couldn''t just leave you be."¡¿ ¡¾"I''m sorry there''s nothing more I can do for you."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation, ''Sunny'', pats your shoulder.¡¿ My constellation personally comforted this foolish me, who couldn''t even raise a disciple properly. Swoosh. I felt a warm breeze settle on my shoulder. I wiped my face. The sun was still shining. I muttered softly. "Yes. I''m fine. I''m perfectly fine. No. If I''m not fine, then I''ll have to make myself fine." ¡¾"Is that right?"¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation, ''Sunny'', breaks out in a cold sweat.¡¿ "Isn''t that what I''ve been doing all this time? The country wasn''t fine, and people''s lives weren''t fine, so I made them fine. I''ll interpret this as a sign that I''ve done enough and it''s time to take care of my own life." ¡¾"How do you plan to take care of it?"¡¿ "Nothing will change. First, I''ll recover my strength and climb the Tower again. I''ve always lived my life climbing the Tower. I climbed for the sake of the country and to find out what lies at the end. Now I have one more reason to climb the Tower." Every time the Tower was climbed, the country where it was located received systemic benefits. The Tower''s profitability increased, producing more elixirs and resources. Detailed alarms went off whenever a gate opened. The proportion of high-ranking Awakened also increased. The Tower, which I already had to climb for the sake of the country. "I''ll reach the 99th floor. The sword was called Chronos'' Hand, so that must be there." ¡¾"Are you thinking of finding that thing and turning back time again?"¡¿ "No. Why would I turn back time for someone else''s benefit? I''ll incinerate it with Law of Light. Then, the regression will become ''something that never happened''." Now I''ll climb for myself and my disciples too. "Didn''t you like that kind of story? The story of a dreamer who never gives up." ¡¾"I really... don''t know who''s contractor you are to be this smart. How do you understand my heart so well?"¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation, ''Sunny'', is amazed by your groundbreaking idea.¡¿ "My constellation, I lost my disciples to the future." Thinking about it again, those kids were indeed cursed. Cursed by the future. Cursed by knowledge. It''s my job to break that curse. The future? A future where I burned the world, those kids turned back time at the cost of countless sacrifices, and as a result, they stabbed me in the heart? I sincerely refuse such a future. It needs to be incinerated with Law of Light. "I will get them back." Eunwoo, Jungwon, Siyeol. I don''t know what happened, and I don''t particularly want to know. I''ll make it all as if it never happened. Just wait a little longer. * * * Dinner time. "Brother, did something happen today?" S?a?ch* Th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Wolha sensed something was off from Ilha''s unusually heavy expression. If Ilha in the morning was serious and reliable, the current Ilha seemed to be carrying all the worries and anxieties of the world. Ilha shook his head. "It''s nothing." "It''s not nothing. Come on, tell me." "It''s just... like you said, I was thinking about what we should do in the future. Earning 100 million won isn''t hard, but spending it is." "That''s true." "So I thought about this and that... how about becoming a civil servant?" "A civil servant?" Wolha couldn''t believe his ears. This was the brother who used to say how boring it would be to be a civil servant. "Yeah, the Gate Management Department. Not the administrative position, but the field position. It''s a bit tough, but it''s nothing compared to being a porter. The competition is much lower than for administrative positions too. And later, we can study more and transfer to an administrative position." This brother of his had finally opened his eyes to reality. He was beyond words with emotion. "That sounds good. Since we''re both Awakened, we''ll get extra points, right?" A bright smile naturally bloomed on his face. Ilha, no, Baekya smiled back at Wolha. ''It''ll take longer than I thought to regain my strength, fight the regressors, and climb the Tower. It would be nice to have some internal help from the Gate Management Department then. Even just getting access to Ranker monitoring information would give me a lot more flexibility.'' Wolha spoke up. "Then I''ll look into textbooks tomorrow. No, let''s go to an academy. We''ve both been working with our bodies for too long." Baekya shook his head. "No. You, not me." "What?" Wolha asked back, as if he had misheard. "Then what about you?" Baekya quickly continued his thoughts. ''I can''t use the warehouse anymore, but since I ate the Fallen Dragon''s heart, I''ve basically taken everything I could from there. Now I need to go to the Tower or dungeons. There''s a gate open that has good synergy with me...'' But there was no way Wolha would accept him going there. ''How do I explain this?'' After deep thought, the answer he came up with was: "Um... travel?" As soon as he finished speaking, Wolha''s face crumpled, as if he''d just told him the world was ending. "Brother." "Yeah?" "Don''t say such ridiculous things." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 12 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 12 ''No. You''re going to make your brother study for the civil service exam while you go traveling?'' ''No, that''s not it.'' ''What do you mean it''s not it! There''s no other way to interpret it!'' ''I''ll just get some fresh air and come back! Okay?'' ''Don''t tell me you''re still hung up on that and planning to go into some Tower or gate?'' ''Of course not. Do you think I''m that stupid?'' Inside the taxi. Vroooom. I chuckled, recalling the conversation from yesterday. Maybe telling my brother I''d leave him to study for the civil service exam while I went traveling was a bit too much. If I think about it as leaving Siyeol to handle the National Assembly audit while I went to a hotel buffet... Wouldn''t he have pulled out a knife and attacked me by then? Maybe Wolha''s reaction was actually quite mild. But no matter what, I need to distance myself from him. It''s for my sake, but also for his. As a Ranker myself, I know. How much Rankers look down on ordinary people. If necessary, they''re the kind of people who would carpet bomb my entire neighborhood without a second thought. He probably wouldn''t want to get involved with me and end up getting hurt. "We''re almost there." The taxi driver spoke up. I snapped out of my thoughts and looked out the window. In the distance, green smoke and thick fog were swallowing up a reservoir and several hills. Unlike normal fog, it didn''t clear even at midday and was so dense that you couldn''t see an inch ahead. A Grade 2 gate in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province. ''The Ghost Princess'' Castle''. It had been sitting there for months, a few kilometers away from the city hall and apartment complexes. As if feeling tense just by looking at it, the taxi driver gulped and asked. "It''s so eerie just looking at it. I hope it''s being controlled properly, right?" I intentionally responded cheerfully. "Yes, it should be. That''s what I told them to do." The whole way here, I tried to give off the impression of someone working for the government, from my tone of voice to my attire. "Oh my, you must be a high-ranking official." "Just a messenger." "Haha. If there''s any problem..." I knew well that gates were the embodiment of fear for ordinary people. I needed to reassure him. "It''s nothing serious, so don''t worry too much." Gates are one of the symbols of the Aitel era. The white towers rising in the capitals of each country, the Awakened with colorful rings above their heads, and the gates. Of these, the two that directly harm humanity are the Towers and the gates. Of course, the Tower has a bit more light than shadow. Once a floor is successfully cleared, it becomes friendly to humans, and climbing the floors and achieving feats grants both individuals and the country large and small rewards. On the other hand, gates are just darkness¡ª tragic ghost stories. From the moment they are created to the moment they disappear, they harm humanity through three stages: absorption, emission, and collapse. If a Grade 1 or 2 gate erupts, an entire country could literally disappear overnight. Countries with weak administrative power like Africa and South America, or places with vast wilderness like China, India, and Russia, suffered the most damage. And that place, the ''Ghost Princess''s Castle,'' has already entered the second stage, ''emission.'' * * * "Have a good day." "Thank you." I got off in front of the city hall. The taxi disappeared around the corner. I took off the cheap name tag necklace I was wearing and shoved it into my pocket. I also ruffled my hair, which I had styled to look gentle. Of course, I didn''t pretend to be a government Awakened for the sake of that taxi driver. It''s just in case that taxi driver posts something on some community site. An unidentified Hunter is heading to the Ghost Princess''s Castle. The moment such a post goes up, the Hunters who have been keeping an eye on me would start moving. I really wanted to avoid that. I walked towards the reservoir, which had been encroached upon by the gate. Until I left the city, I didn''t feel any problems, but the moment the large buildings disappeared, the atmosphere changed completely. [Warning! No Entry] The road leading to the reservoir was completely blocked by barricades. Layers of safety tape fluttered in the wind. But even without such signs, no one would want to enter that path. The temperature and the wind were different. The temperature seemed to be more than 10 degrees lower than the surroundings, and the wind felt like a clammy tongue licking my skin. Multiple layers of sacred ropes, large and small talismans, and iron pillars engraved with spells could be seen everywhere. Seals. Officials from South Korea''s Gate Management Department, working alongside Awakened from various guilds, had sealed off this entire mountain. It was a solid seal that ordinary people couldn''t enter even by mistake. But I''m not an ordinary person. With the help of my constellation, I broke through the anti-personnel boundary magic designed to keep out drunkards and YouTubers who were trying to illegally enter the gate for incomprehensible reasons. ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' has successfully defended against the mental magic ''Ah, I remember that promise.''¡¿ ¡¾Successfully defended against the mental magic ''Ah, I need to use the bathroom.''¡¿ ¡¾"Don''t worry about such trivial things."¡¿ I also broke through the barrier designed to keep out Awakened who were trying to illegally enter the gate for incomprehensible reasons. ¡¾Entering the Eight Gates Sealing Formation for Awakened.¡¿ ¡¾"Because I''m still by your side, watching over you."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' points to the Life Gate.¡¿ I even crossed the seal that confined the Ghost Princess. ¡¾Would you like to cross the ''Artificial Samdocheon''?¡¿ ¡¾Beyond the Samdocheon is not ''this world''.¡¿ ¡¾The government of the Republic of Korea takes no responsibility for any incidents that may occur to individuals who enter beyond this point without permission.¡¿ The last place I had to cross was the guard post. Guild Hunters, subcontracted by Seongnam City, were stationed in the watchtower inside the Artificial Samdocheon, monitoring any abnormal phenomena occurring in the ''Ghost Princess''s Castle'' 24/7. Of course, there''s no chance of getting caught. This gate should have been closed more than a month ago, and the personnel should have been withdrawn. The chaos in the industry caused by my death is severe. There''s no way the handover of the management of this gate was done properly. I want to applaud those Hunters just for showing up to work. As expected, I was able to approach the watchtower without any hindrance. I eavesdropped on their conversation for a moment. "...So when is this place closing?" "Wasn''t Baekya supposed to come and close it? But with him dead, it''s just been left hanging." "There''s no way anyone would take over..." "They say all the Rankers and high-ranking guilds are suspicious of each other and on edge right now." "There''s even talk of a civil war." "Tanks are rolling into Seoul, you know? Heh heh." "You think this is funny?" "So, is this seal really safe? I''ve been having nightmares every day lately." "You don''t trust the seal made by the Magic Tower?" "No, but still, we''ve never left an unconquered Grade 2 gate open for over a month, have we?" It was 100% as I expected. Leaving their anxious voices behind, I walked into the thick fog. "Huh? Didn''t something just move?" "Must be a false alarm. No one was scheduled to come today." Green smoke rose from various spots. All the trees, big and small, seemed to have turned pale¡ª their bark bleached white as they crumbled and collapsed. Their bare branches swayed as if screaming. If Hunters specializing in Spirit Summoning had come, they might have actually heard the screams. I went deep enough that the watchtower was no longer visible. The sound of waves from the reservoir could be heard in the distance. ¡¾"The energy of the dead is strong here."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' advises caution.¡¿ I nodded. Yes, my star. I think so too. Translucent green figures flickered among the trees. ¡¾''Ghost (D)'' appears.¡¿ At the same time as the Aitel system notification rang out. Whoosh! The figure lunged at me. "-----!" A snake-like tongue shot out from between its four long, green jaws. * * * Ghost-type monsters are generally considered difficult to deal with, regardless of their rank. Since physical attacks don''t work on them, the majority of Awakened, who are physical types, become useless. There are consecrated bullets and swords, but it''s impossible for ''everyone'' to have ''enough'' of them ''all the time''. ''Possession'' or ''Bewitchment'' can also lead to allies fighting each other. If ghosts were to pour into a city in masses and start possessing non-Awakened people indiscriminately, ending the situation would become increasingly difficult. As a result, ghost-type monsters are enemies that Awakened find tiring just to imagine. That was usually the case. ¡¾"That''s right! That''s my contractor!"¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation lets out a refreshing cheer.¡¿ But not for Baekya. "Come." He swept both hands grandly, like a veteran orchestra conductor. Red magical power surged, and the white halo above his head blossomed into a radiant red mandala. ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ Faaaaa! A white light burst forth, engulfing the ghost. "---, ---!" The ghost let out a shrill scream, its entire body contorting. The translucent green form melted like cotton candy caught in the rain. Baekya smiled faintly and walked deeper into the forest. Originally, the power of flame was closely associated with purification and dispelling evil. Moreover, Law of Light was a skill that could even distort laws. He could burn ghosts as he pleased. Ding! ¡¾''Ghost (D)'' appears.¡¿ ¡¾''Wraith (C)'' appears.¡¿ ¡¾...... appears.¡¿ ¡¾The number of hostile entities is overwhelmingly large. Please be careful.¡¿ As if to rebuke his arrogance, Aitel notifications flooded his vision. "---, ---!" Ghosts in green hoods, wraiths resembling corpses draped in rags, banshees with mouths gaping open to their stomachs. Countless ghosts rose from the ground, the sky, and between the trees. Saaaaa. The forest, once filled with white mist, now seemed to be overflowing with green ghosts. S?a?ch* Th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. But Baekya looked at those ghosts not as enemies, but with eyes that saw sweet honey jars. ''In this world, there are matchups that cannot be overcome by numbers.'' ¡¾"I''ll assist you, so go wild. Don''t you need to relieve some stress too?"¡¿ ''Would that be alright?'' ¡¾"Do you know who I am? Even as a 7th-rank Ascender, I can provide some mana assistance."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' will bear 20% of the mana consumption.¡¿ ¡¾"It''s been a while since I''ve seen such a lively scene."¡¿ Being chosen by a constellation and having the ''Ascension Level'' rank displayed on the status window meant that. Even now, at the 7th rank, he could communicate with his constellation and receive various sponsorships and assistance in battle. ''Thank you, my star.'' Now there was nothing to hesitate about. ''Just like in the old days.'' ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ Hwaaaaak! White beams of light shot out explosively from Baekya. There were so many that it looked like a hemispherical force field was expanding. "----!?" "---, ---?" The ghosts that touched the light scattered like fireflies and crumbled. The spirit energy generated from the ghosts'' demise transformed into mana. That mana flowed directly into Baekya''s body. One side of his vision filled with Aitel messages. ¡¾Mana increases by 1.¡¿ ¡¾Mana increases by 1.¡¿ ¡¾Mana increases by 1.¡¿ In the past, he would have waved his hand irritably to dismiss them, but today he welcomed them with a satisfied smile. ''This is it.'' Perhaps that smile was provoking? ¡¾Phantom (B) appears.¡¿ ¡¾There is a large difference in rank with the hostile entity. Please be careful.¡¿ A powerful entity, significant enough for Aitel to send a notification, emerged. Saaaaa. The ghosts and wraiths parted to the left and right, as if to welcome the Phantom''s procession. An impressive entity with a medieval-style cloak and a masquerade mask covering its eyes. Just as the high-ranking ghost was about to reveal its true form. "Spit out your mana!" Hwaaaaak¡ª! The Phantom''s head was erased, as if bitten off in one large chunk, by the light of Law of Light. Baekya walked past the falling Phantom towards his next target. ''Completely annihilating a B-rank is still too much, but this much is nothing.'' White light surged upwards. Aitel notifications once again filled his vision. ¡¾You have hunted a high-ranking entity with a significant rank difference.¡¿ ¡¾You have acquired the skill (passive) ''Underdog (C+)''.¡¿ ¡¾Attack power and defense penetration are increased by 10% against enemies with a rank difference of 2 or more.¡¿ Baekya had rarely encountered enemies stronger than himself in his life. ''What a strange skill to give.'' He briefly felt a strange sense of wonder at the unfamiliar skill type. ¡¾Warning! Warning! Warning!¡¿ ¡¾''Ghost Ship'' appears.¡¿ Kugugugugu¡ª! A medieval-style sailing ship emerged from the reservoir. A translucent green ship, like the other ghosts. Its sails were tattered, but the deck was filled with ghosts wielding cutlasses. [TL/N: Cutlass¡ª a type of saber, a slightly curved sword.] ¡¾"Looks delicious."¡¿ ¡¾"I''ll support you one more time. Just for 10 minutes, 25%."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' licks their lips.¡¿ "Thank you, my star." But neither the constellation nor the contractor showed any fear in their eyes. Above Baekya''s head, the red halo hummed, as if expressing his exhilaration. "I''ll reach C-rank today." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 13 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 13 Kuru-ru-rung! A thunderous roar echoed through the misty forest created by the ''Ghost Princess''s Castle.'' A translucent pirate ship crashed into the decaying forest, billowing green smoke. The broken mast dissolved into the air. "---, ---?!" "-----!" The ghosts tied to the ship scattered in confusion, only to be pulled back into the ship as if bound by invisible chains. Thud. I trampled across their deck, heading towards the captain''s cabin. A triangular captain''s hat bobbed up and down inside the round window. Knowing it was listening, I gestured provocatively. "Come out." "..." "A captain should go down with his ship." Just as I had¡ª Fate, whether good or bad, must be met. There was no running away forever. Creak! As if it understood, the door to the captain''s cabin swung open boldly. ¡¾Ghost Captain Kidd (C+)¡¿ ¡¾Even in death, Kidd is an object of fear and respect to his crew.¡¿ Thud. Eyepatch, hook hand, peg leg, coat, and all. A man who looked like a collection of pirate stereotypes stood before me, a green pipe in his mouth and a cutlass in his hand. "Captain, forgive my rudeness for boarding without permission." I pretended to take off my hat and bow. "Get off my ship!" Ghost Captain Kidd shouted, kicking off the deck. Thwack! His charge was so powerful it felt like he was folding the ground beneath him, and the three successive sword strikes he unleashed while spinning his body were executed with masterful precision. The distance closed in an instant. The soul-cutting cutlass swung at my neck, side, and thigh in turn. Chwaaaaak! But I was a veteran of veterans, having conquered 20 floors alone. The attack trajectories a creature with two arms and two legs could display were already predictable. A lightning-fast strike was coming from my 2 o''clock. Whoosh! I deflected the flat of the cutlass with the back of my right hand and spun my entire arm. Snatch! I tucked the cutlass under my armpit, twisted my body, and bent my wrist to force the sword to drop. Of course, Captain Kidd, being a ghost, tried to phase out of my grasp at that moment. ¡¾"Now!"¡¿ "Yes, I know." ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ I ignited a white flame in my left hand and thrust four fingers into Captain Kidd''s heart. "Hello and Goodbye!" Stab! "Urgh!" Captain Kidd''s single eye contracted. Shock and admiration towards me raced across his wrinkled face. Bang! His green astral body and the fallen ghost ship burst like balloons pierced by needles. The story of a pirate captain had ended. ¡¾Captain Kidd has been defeated.¡¿ ¡¾The ship and captain share the same fate.¡¿ As expected, the captain also served as the ship''s core. Tssss. I landed on the ground beneath the vanished deck, feeling the mana returning to my heart. "---, ---! (Run away! Run away!)" "-----!? (You''ll disappear forever!)" The ghosts, banshees, wraiths, and phantoms no longer dared approach me, only screaming incomprehensibly as they flew through the fog. ''That''s a relief.'' When I use Law of Light, a portion of the annihilated enemy''s mana returns to me. Also, since my constellation was sharing a third of the mana consumption, it wasn''t a particularly difficult battle. However, unlike my past body with its endlessly overflowing mana core, the mana in my heart was now running low, like clothes getting soaked in a drizzle. ''That''s enough for today.'' Considering the journey back, it was time to retreat. I opened my status window to check today''s gains. I zoomed in on the important classes and stats for now. + ¡¾Status Window 2. Class: Pyromancer (D+ ? C-) 7. Stats: ¡¾Strength 185 ? 195¡¿ ¡¾Agility 205 ? 220¡¿ ¡¾Health 220 ? 230¡¿ ¡¾Mana 240 ? 255¡¿¡¿ + I raised my eyebrows in satisfaction. It was a decent¡ª no, an excellent result. ¡¾"You''ve already reached C-rank, even though I didn''t help much."¡¿ ¡¾"At this rate, you might even aim for A-rank within this year."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' praises you.¡¿ ¡¾"I''ll sponsor you with some stat points. It''s only a single digit, but be satisfied, as I''m a 7th-rank Ascendant."¡¿ Ding. ¡¾Mana +5¡¿ ¡¾Mana 255 ? 260¡¿ Receiving the bonus from my constellation made me shrug my shoulders proudly. I carefully examined my class and stats. Even with the ''-'', being C-rank meant I was officially a ''Hunter''. Not a porter, a laborer, or some half-baked bodyguard, but someone who could make a living hunting monsters and climbing the Tower. Now, except for Strength, all my stats were in the 200s, and Mana had even surpassed the 250 mark. I still had a long way to go to reach my former prowess, but this was a solid step in the right direction. I turned towards the exit of the gate. That''s when I noticed the ghosts fleeing from me. * * * The ghosts weren''t scattering in all directions but were gathering in one place. Among them, I noticed a few Phantoms glancing at me. Their gazes weren''t the kind that said, "We''ll deal with you later," but rather the eyes of scouts gathering information on their opponent. They were clearly relieved. The enemy''s relief meant our tension. I needed to check it out. "My Star." ¡¾"Can''t you wait until tomorrow or the day after and check when you''re fully prepared?"¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' is displeased.¡¿ "Doesn''t every second count in matters of life and death?" ¡¾"Even 1 or 2 points of mana can mean the difference between life and death. Don''t even think about taking risks until you get another ring for returning."¡¿ I thought for a moment. My constellation was right. I only have one life. So. "I''ll just check it out." ¡¾"Then why did you even ask!"¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' writhes in agony, twisting their body in all directions.¡¿ I felt sorry for my constellation, but I''ve lived like this for 15 years. I never overlooked even the smallest risk factors. I always made sure to thoroughly resolve any issues that arose. And I never ran away from my duty, no matter what. Baekya''s pride was too strong to cower and tremble in fear even after falling to this state. Tadadadak! With movements honed on countless battlefields, I dashed across the fog-covered ridge. ¡¾Insight¡¿ I used the skill to see through the thick fog. "!" My face hardened involuntarily. Not only was I short of breath due to the considerable mana consumed, but the scene before me was too devastating. The vast reservoir was filled with ghost ships. The wide valley between the two hills was teeming with ghostly warhorses and knights. And at the forefront of those knights stood a Dullahan commander. He was giving some kind of speech to the knights. Judging by the atmosphere, I could understand it even without my constellation''s interpretation. "---! -----!" Every time the headless knight shouted something, the ghost knights and captains cheered, waving their spears and swords. It was just like when I led my disciples on Tower raids. They were clearly trying to break the seal and get out. The emission itself... had already begun. The sealing ritual, the ''Artificial Samdocheon,'' was merely preventing them from coming out. This situation itself, where the gate had been left unconquered for months, was unusual in the first place. Then why hadn''t anyone closed this gate? The answer was obvious. Because I wasn''t there! I remember receiving a schedule report from my secretary. Originally, there was no need to send in other Hunters; I was supposed to erase them all with a single blast of Law of Light. The budget and manpower for the sealing were planned with my participation in mind. But then I died overnight. It was inevitable that the tasks related to this gate would be left in limbo. Siyeol, couldn''t you have waited just until the schedule for closing this dungeon? I shook my head, recalling the face of my beloved disciple and irreplaceable comrade. "-----!" The Dullahan commander shouted something and then raised his longsword to the sky. Poooo! A Banshee trumpeter blew a long, charging horn. The pirate captains unfurled the sails of their ghost ships, and the ghost knights grabbed the reins of their skeletal warhorses. Clack. Clack. Clack. The Ghost Princess''s army began to move. I pondered for a moment. If an incident occurs in a Grade 2 dungeon, a Ranker, someone within the top 100, will definitely come. As far as I remember, this city is under the jurisdiction of the 5 major guilds, the ''Iron Blood Legion.'' And the guild master of the Iron Blood Legion was one of the regressors who followed Cheong Siyeol. If he comes and sees my halo, I''m finished. I can''t hope for the optimistic outcome of getting away with it. A natural question arises in my mind, one that any human would have. Do I really have to report this? Isn''t there a watchtower just a bit further ahead? But my hand, contrary to my thoughts, was already preparing the ''Fire Arrow'' signal flare. "..." It can''t be helped. In the end, everything proceeds according to inertia. This is how I live as myself. I can''t just rely on that watchtower. I can''t turn a blind eye to the potential crisis of a city being destroyed. "My star." ¡¾"Why seek advice you won''t even listen to?"¡¿ "I''m not seeking advice, but help." ¡¾"I knew it."¡¿ "Don''t you always want to see me doing this?" ¡¾"...I won''t answer that."¡¿ I heard a chuckle, "Ahaha." ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' rises.¡¿ "Thank you." I shot the ''Fire Arrow'' into the sky. Peeeeeeeee! The fire arrows soared upwards in succession, making a loud noise. A few seconds of silence passed. Eeeeeeeeeng! A dizzyingly loud siren wailed in response. Signal flares announcing the emergency shot up from the watchtowers all around. The sharp sound felt like cheers supporting my choice. "---, ---!" Was it because their surprise attack was discovered before it even began? Big and small ghosts rushed towards me. Wraiths, ghosts, phantoms, banshees, ghouls... "Kraaaaah¡ª!" The sight of their dance alone was enough to distort my vision, and their screams threatened to cloud my consciousness. ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' successfully blocks the status abnormality ''Confusion''.¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' successfully blocks the status abnormality ''Fear''.¡¿ But my constellation, as always, illuminated my path. I, too, stepped forward along that path. "-----!" A skeletal soldier charged at me with a mace in hand. A zombie soldier thrust its long spear. Even a ghost with its jaws split open to its waist. To block the enemies surging like angry waves... ¡¾Wall of Fire¡¿ I raised a wall of flames. Boom! An explosion devoured dozens of ghosts in an instant. Five banshees flying overhead crumpled and fell, their whole bodies contorted. Whoosh! The flames, their momentum now somewhat subdued, stretched left and right, creating a wall spanning over ten meters. "-----!" A group of ghost soldiers, charging at me, danced in agony within the flames before melting away. "Hah." A sigh of relief escaped my lips. Saaaak! The wall of fire split open, two meters wide, creating a path for a massive ghost to emerge. ¡¾Dullahan (C+)¡¿ Clack. The headless ghost knight, the commander Dullahan, pointed its longsword at me, its head tucked under its arm. Once, my gaze alone would have forced it to submit. But now, it was an enemy that could kill me. * * * Our fight didn''t last long. I had no intention of going head-to-head with a C+ rank monster in my current state, with my mana nearly depleted. Even with the same C+ rank, this was a different league compared to someone like the pirate captain, Kidd. I didn''t rely on honed skills, but on the skill bestowed by my constellation to finish this. S?a?ch* Th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The moment the Dullahan swung its sword down, I used ''Descent from the Crimson Flame.'' Boom! As my body transformed into flames... The Dullahan''s sword stopped mid-air. Keegik! It was an outstanding technique, rivaling its immense strength. But I was one step ahead. I sprung from the ''Wall of Fire'' blazing behind the Dullahan, my body arced like a bow. Whoosh! I reached out and snatched the head the Dullahan was holding under its arm. Without looking back, I dashed outside the gate. The enraged torso followed, shaking the ground, but its massive body wouldn''t be able to catch up to me easily. I threw the Dullahan''s head into the sealing barrier, the ''Artificial Samdocheon.'' The barrier might be crumbling, but it should have enough power left to incinerate a single entity. Splash! The dead man''s head trembled, then sank into the bottomless water. The Dullahan''s body stiffened, then went limp and collapsed. I, too, collapsed on the spot. "I''m dying." Thump! Thump! Thump! My heart screamed. Not a drop of mana remained. Beads of sweat trickled down my temples, past my ears, and down my neck. My lungs ached as if they were tearing. As my vision blurred, a sweet notification sound reached my ears. Ding! ¡¾Skill Acquired: Dullahan''s Gaze (C)¡¿ ¡¾The knight Dullahan, who carries its head under its arm, possesses a wide field of vision. Using this skill, you gain flaming eyes that function as an ''Observer''.¡¿ It was a new skill. ¡¾"You''ve done really well. You''re amazing, my contractor."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' praises you.¡¿ A gentle breeze carrying the scent of sunshine brushed past my cheeks. It was a welcome respite. I murmured, "Thank you," under my breath. Beeeeeep! A mana signal flare shot up in the distance. The Iron Blood Legion hunters were coming. Their guild master, the Regressor who was there when I was killed, would be with them. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 14 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 14 I suppressed all my emotions, from love and hate to doubt. The self-proclaimed Regressor group were all former rankers. There was nothing I could do by meeting them now. In my current weakened state, it was time for rational decisions. I moved to the outskirts of the ridge, lying flat on the ground for cover. My plan was to slip away amidst the chaos once the battle started. The Iron Blood Legion hunters came up the path diagonally to the right. "It''s a flood! Estimated at over 10,000!" "Prepare for battle!" "Request reinforcements from the Holy Church! The mobs here are all ghost types. They''re a terrible matchup for us." I tried to use the skill I''d just acquired to assess the situation. "Oh Constellation." ¡¾"If you''re thinking of joining the fight, you can step over me. I''m against this whole thing."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' lies flat on the ground.¡¿ A bitter smile crept onto my face. "I know my own condition. I just want to check the situation. Will Dullahan''s Gaze consume a lot of mana?" ¡¾"That skill isn''t combat-oriented, so I can support it 100%. Enjoy the show."¡¿ "Thank you." I used ''Dullahan''s Gaze''. A fist-sized fireball rose up without draining my mana. Whoosh! A vertically slit eyeball was embedded in the center of the fireball. Considering the possibility of being mistaken for a ghost and attacked, I hid Dullahan''s Gaze atop a dense tree and looked down at the battlefield. Ghost knights on skeletal warhorses were engaged in a fierce battle with the Iron Blood Legion hunters. The Iron Blood Legion guild actively utilized magic engineering technology and had many Gunner-class Awakened. Their combat gear, unlike that of ordinary hunters, had a cyberpunk feel. Plasma energy glowed within tubes inserted between ceramic armor plates, and coil gun rounds and hyper-vibrating knives tore the ghosts to shreds. Flash! It was the overwhelming firepower I remembered. But despite blasting away dozens of ghosts with each strike, the tide of battle was turning against them. "They''re not dying!" "Hold on! Just hold on until the guys from the Magic Tower arrive!" "These bastards, physical attacks aren''t working!" This was why hunters hated ghost types. It was also why the ''Ghost Princess''s Castle'', despite having an average mob rank of C, was classified as a Grade 2 Gate. The standard-bearer of the Iron Blood Legion grimaced. At that moment, a man standing among the large hunters at the rear stepped forward. I recognized him instantly. "Lee Eunwoo?" For a moment, my concentration wavered, and ''Dullahan''s Gaze'' almost went out. ¡¾"You know him?"¡¿ "Yes. I taught him too..." ¡¾"The swordsman stabbed you in the heart, and this guy shot you in the head."¡¿ "...That''s also true." Lee Eunwoo, ranked 7th in Korea, ''Mr. Pistol''. A Gunner with a halo of a black diamond and a blue diamond half-overlapping. A man with a cold impression, sharp jawline, and subtly long dark brown hair. An Awakened who embodied both intellect, with his black suit and thick-rimmed glasses, and decadence, with his flashy red and blue aquamarine earrings. He was not only an exceptional hunter but also the rising star who had elevated the Iron Blood Legion to one of Korea''s top 5 guilds. "Focus fire in 12 seconds for 4 seconds. Then, we''ll fall back 80 meters." After giving instructions through his earpiece, he drew a pistol from his waist and aimed it forward. Ching! With a clear metallic sound, the illusion of a sleek mechanical giant rose behind him. Green lights blinked rhythmically between the glossy black armor plates. Lee Eunwoo pulled the trigger of his pistol and uttered an incantation. ¡¾"Oh, God of Machines!"¡¿ Bang! With a single gunshot, the machine behind him opened fire. Ziiiiing! A green laser beam knocked a ghost knight off its horse. S?a??h the N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Whoosh! A sleek rocket tore a phantom apart. Flash! A railgun round shattered a Dullahan. Even the God of Machines was a god. The ghosts hit by Lee Eunwoo''s skill, imbued with divinity, could not revive. The charge of the ghost knights was momentarily halted. "Now''s our chance!" "Fall back!" The Iron Blood Legion hunters quickly retreated. Lee Eunwoo, too, breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew with his subordinates. But I felt an ominous premonition, one that had always proven true. Poooooo! A second charge horn blared. A ghost knight with a banshee adjutant stretched out its hand. An Aitel notification popped up, indicating the arrival of a high-ranking opponent. ¡¾Warning! Warning! Warning!¡¿ ¡¾Ghost Princess''s Champion (B)¡¿ The fog that had shrouded the castle began to creep towards the city. "Kyahahahaha!" "Kekeke!" Within it, banshees, wraiths, ghosts, and phantoms swarmed. The ghost knights and Dullahans at least had some semblance of physical form, but these didn''t. They were literally the Iron Blood Legion''s worst nightmare. Bang! A hunter from the Iron Blood Legion looked back with an expression of disbelief. "You, you!" His partner hunter was grinning wickedly, about to pull the trigger of their coilgun at his back. The partner hunter''s eyes glowed with a sinister green light. ¡¾Status Effect: Possession¡¿ Similar scenes unfolded across the battlefield. "Protect the Leader!" "Hey! Snap out of it!" "Healing potion, no! Get the holy water!" "Bring out the Spirit Barrier flag!" The Iron Blood Legion hunters scrambled, wary of each other. The possessed hunters stabbed their comrades with hyper-vibrating knives or even put gun barrels in their own mouths and pulled the trigger. I turned Dullahan''s Gaze towards the forest. The ghost knights¡ª regrouped, were preparing to charge once more. At their forefront was the Champion of the Ghost Princess. It had a white handkerchief tied around one wrist, and in that hand, it held a longsword. The longsword looked sharp enough to cleave through the Iron Blood Legion hunters'' heavy armor in a single strike. Saaaaa. The moment the white handkerchief on its wrist glowed, the Champion''s longsword blurred. I used ''Observe'' once more. ¡¾Champion''s Sword (Rare)¡¿ ¡¾Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief (Heroic). A handkerchief bestowed upon her Champion by the Ghost Princess. It possesses the power of concealment, making what should be seen unseen.¡¿ The sword was ''Rare'', but the handkerchief was a ''Hero'' grade item. I imagined the Champion and the ghost knights breaking through the Iron Blood Legion hunters and pouring into the city. Countless spirits would possess the non-Awakened and drain their life force. Eunwoo wasn''t the type to abandon his subordinates and the citizens, so he would die alongside them. When he pointed his gun at me, I felt my blood run cold. But I didn''t want to see him and those hunters die. I had seen the news. After my death, all the rankers had supposedly holed up in their guild buildings. But Eunwoo, at least, had answered the crisis alert and rushed here on time. He was one of the ones I had taught. My disciple had acted as I taught him, and I couldn''t just stand by and do nothing. If I could take down the Champion, it would be a huge help. With that as a turning point, he could surely pull off a comeback. And if my disciple, who even killed me once, couldn''t manage that, then he deserved to be expelled, dead or alive. I quietly got to my feet. My mana had recovered slightly. ''Law of Light'' was out of the question, but with the Constellation''s help, I could probably use four or five skills. "Oh, Star." The Constellation replied in a pleading tone. ¡¾"Must you really do this in your condition?"¡¿ "I want that handkerchief. With that, I might be able to conceal my halo even while using mana, right?" ¡¾"I''ll give you a thousand of those handkerchiefs later. Please, let''s just go back now."¡¿ "I beg you." I pleaded back. ¡¾"..."¡¿ And my Constellation was always weak to my pleas, and the challenges that followed them. In truth, it seemed like they wanted to see it. * * * Lee Eunwoo, amidst the ongoing battle, felt the ground rumble beneath his feet. Thud thud thud thud¡ª! The stones on the ground shook and bounced. ''They''re coming.'' He couldn''t see the ghost knights due to the thick fog, but the thunderous sound of hooves was clear. "Teams 1, 3, and 5! Continuous fire on the front line! Pour it on!" With his sharp reasoning, he came to a single conclusion. ''This is our chance.'' The trembling ground meant the ghost knights had materialized, and if they were materialized, bullets would work. The Iron Blood Legion hunters could easily wipe out mere C-rank monsters. But the situation wasn''t favorable. "It''s impossible!" "Too many of our teammates are possessed!" With the banshees leading the evil spirits, their ranks were half-collapsed. Lee Eunwoo acknowledged that the enemy commander, the Champion of the Ghost Princess, had strategized well. ''We shouldn''t have come here alone from the start.'' Ideally, the ''Magic Tower'' or the ''Holy Church'' would have sent hunters capable of wide-area blessings or anti-ghost enchantments. If they had coordinated with such hunters beforehand, they could have not only defended but also pushed through this Gate entirely. However, after Hong Baekya''s death, all the rankers in Korea were on edge, refusing to step outside their guild buildings. Even the production guilds that manufactured consumable artifacts had shut down. Lee Eunwoo suddenly thought of the saying, ''what goes around comes around''. ''I told him so many times that we needed to keep him alive at least until we reached the 90th floor...'' Regretting not having dissuaded him more strongly was pointless now. Lee Eunwoo turned to his adjutant and asked. "When will the reinforcements from the Holy Church arrive?" She replied with a scream. "3 minutes and 25 seconds!" After a brief moment of thought, he gave the order. "Fall back once more." "What? There''s nowhere left to retreat!" "I''ll hold them off. It''s the most efficient way." Click. He transformed his pistol into a service rifle using his exclusive weapon''s ''Shape Transformation'' ability. "Thanks to my title, I can damage spirits too. We don''t have to die here." Thud thud thud thud¡ª! The sound of the skeletal warhorses'' hooves drew near. The Iron Blood Legion hunters panicked. "Fall back!" "No! The City Hall is right behind us!" "If we''re breached, it''s all over!" At the forefront of the ghost knights was the Champion, its blurred longsword emanating a chilling aura. "Leader!" Ignoring his adjutant''s scream, Lee Eunwoo charged forward. Whoosh! At that moment, a ''Flame Arrow'' shot out from the side. ''Huh?'' The arrow flew past him, heading straight for the ''Champion of the Ghost Princess''. Its trajectory was aimed precisely at its eye. Thwack! However, the Champion of the Ghost Princess raised its left hand and caught the arrow in mid-air. The Flaming Arrow fluttered like a fish within the gauntlet of its left hand. ["How pathetic...!"] The moment the Champion clenched its hand, trying to crush the flaming arrow... Boom! A fierce explosion erupted, and the Champion''s entire hand was blown off. ''A hunter?'' A hunter appeared where the flaming arrow had been. They emerged from the explosion that destroyed the Champion''s gauntlet, landing gracefully atop the head of a skeletal warhorse. Their left hand pressed down on the Champion''s right shoulder, preventing it from swinging its sword, their movements smooth and natural. The thick fog made it difficult to see their halo clearly, but it was red and disc-shaped. Their high nose bridge, glimpsed in profile, seemed strangely familiar. ''No, it can''t be...'' Seeing the technique and the halo, Lee Eun-woo thought of his recently deceased mentor and comrade. Crack! The unidentified hunter thrust their hand into the Champion''s gauntlet, reaching into the center of its armored torso. They seemed to have targeted the spirit core within the armor and detonated a flame, as fire briefly erupted from the gaps in the Champion''s armor. Whoosh! "Kaaaaak!" The Champion of the Ghost Princess stiffened. The unidentified hunter embraced the Champion and threw themselves under the horse. Unable to overcome their momentum, the ghost knights trampled their fallen commander. Crunch! The Champion of the Ghost Princess was crushed beneath the hooves of its subordinates. The unidentified hunter tried to roll away with a breakfall but was struck by a hoof and collapsed, getting trampled along with the Champion. "Ah." Lee Eunwoo gritted his teeth in frustration. Whoever they were, if they used flames, they were likely a physically weak mage or psychic-type. Being trampled by that many warhorses meant certain death. As he mourned the promising hunter who could have become a ranker with proper growth... Boom! Another explosion erupted. It was far more intense than the first. The ghost knights were sent flying into the air¡ª horses and all. The charge, momentarily halted by the commander''s fall, finally came to a near standstill. "!" Lee Eunwoo realized this was their chance to turn the tide. "Now! Fire!" The Iron Blood Legion hunters, having barely managed to regroup, aimed their guns at the materialized ghost knights. They were exceptional gunners, capable of piercing through dozens of C-rank monsters at once. "Keeek!" The ghost knights desperately tried to turn ethereal, but... Bang! Tatatat! Tatatatatat! The coilgun rounds were faster than they anticipated. Hundreds of ghost knights were torn to shreds in a single volley. "Nice!" "Maintain formation and retreat!" "Someone get the Leader!" "Don''t ever do that again!" As Lee Eunwoo was dragged away by his furious adjutant, he looked back at the spot where the unidentified hunter had been. A single hunter. A single intervention. Yet, it had turned the tide of the battle in an instant. Their actions reminded him of the hero they had killed not long ago. ''They couldn''t have survived...'' Then, Lee Eunwoo saw it. Amidst the corpses of the ghost knights. The unidentified hunter was untying the Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief from the Champion''s wrist. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 15 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 15 Vroooooooom. The taxi sped towards the public housing complex on the outskirts of Seoul. I slumped like a corpse in the backseat, my head resting against the window. The Great Constellation roared in my ear. ¡¾"Are you insane? You almost got a bad ending just a few days into Part 2."¡¿ ¡¾"It seems you''re suffering from various mental conditions, including an inflated ego, due to the shock of your death. Why don''t you go to the hospital and see a healer?"¡¿ ¡¾"Lee Eunwoo is a high-ranker you raised yourself, isn''t he?"¡¿ That¡¯s right. Lee Eunwoo is ranked 7th. A high-ranker among high-rankers. He''s strong enough to send the likes of me to the afterlife with a single bullet. Moreover, unlike other high-ranking Awakeners who are a bit off their rocker, he was a very calculating and rational person. ¡¾"Using a combo like ''Flaming Arrow'' followed by ''Descent from the Inferno'' in front of him... Are you desperate to get caught?"¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' is tearing their hair out!¡¿ I retorted in my mind. ¡ªNo. But I couldn''t just stand by and watch Seongnam City turn into a den of ghosts, could I? The constellation read my thoughts and said. ¡¾"I don''t know why I''m more worried about your life than you are."¡¿ So I continued the conversation in my mind. ¡ªIt''s because you''re more worried about my life than I am that I will recklessly charge into the Tower and close Gates without a second thought, isn''t it? ¡¾"...."¡¿ ¡ªIf no one else is looking out for me, I''d have to look out for myself. But I have you, don''t I? ¡¾"Am I supposed to be grateful or angry right now?"¡¿ In the distance, I saw Hong Ilha''s house. I paid the taxi fare and entered the house. "I''m home." Wolha was studying at the living room desk. An online lecture was playing on an old tablet¡ª textbooks, reference books, and notebooks were spread out next to the desk. "You''re back, hyung?" He looked me up and down. "Why are you in such a state? Did you get into an accident or something?" "Ah." As Wolha said, I was a mess. ''Explosive Recovery'' was a skill that restored damage to the body, not to clothes. Considering I was trampled by a horse''s hooves, it was fortunate that only this much was damaged. "It''s fine." "What do you mean it''s fine! You look like you got seriously injured!" Wolha stood up. I blurted out whatever came to mind. It was the improvisation I had developed from frequent press conferences. "I was walking on a mountain trail. The dirt is from helping someone who fell in front of me, and my clothes got ripped from getting caught on thorns." But Wolha seemed to be smarter than the reporters. "Stop making up nonsense! Where would there be such big thorns?" There''s no helping it. I changed the subject. "What were you looking at?" "Huh?" "Are you preparing for the civil service exam? Today?" Wolha let out a deep sigh. "You said we should. So I thought it wouldn''t be a bad idea either. While you were out, I signed up for online lectures and went to the bookstore to buy some textbooks." "You could have had them delivered." "I need to start as soon as possible. Later on, even an hour will be precious." I clicked my tongue inwardly. What impressive initiative. Wolha, still looking at me suspiciously, said. "Don''t go out tomorrow. We need to go to the Gate we used to work at and terminate our employment contract. Go wash up and rest. You must be tired." "Okay." I went into the bathroom to wash up. I heard Wolha muttering behind me. He thought he was speaking softly, but he couldn''t fool my hearing, which was enhanced to over 200. "Walking? The hyung used to hate walking." I see. I''ll keep that in mind. * * * Lee Eunwoo watched as the seal was once again being placed on the outskirts of the ''Ghost Princess''s Castle.'' "It''s done!" The ''Artificial Samdocheon'' flowed freely. The thick fog and green smoke couldn''t escape beyond the Samdocheon. Thanks to the perfectly timed intervention of the unidentified Hunter, they were able to defeat the Ghost Knights. Immediately after, Hunters from the Magic Tower and the Holy Church joined in, successfully preventing the outbreak. However, their combined strength wasn''t enough to close the Gate completely, and the Hunters from the Iron Blood Legion had also suffered significant losses, so they settled for restoring the seal for now. The raid would be thoroughly prepared and carried out later. From beyond the control line, a child looked towards them and bowed their head. "Thank you." Lee Eunwoo felt a sense of guilt, as if he had stolen the cheers that should have gone to another Hunter. "..." It wasn''t him who killed the Ghost Princess'' champion. The unidentified Hunter with the red halo was the true hero of the day. Lee Eunwoo had experienced a similar feeling before, against Baekya. Baekya had used ''Law of Light'' to break through the barrier and half-incinerate the Life Vessel, leaving the Lich half-paralyzed. All Lee Eunwoo did was put a bullet in the Lich''s head. But it was Eunwoo who was known as the Hunter who defeated the Lich and saved the people. As the saying goes, ''The grace of a teacher is like the sky; the more you look up, the higher it seems.'' Even in death, Baekya seemed to be looking down on him. ''This is irrational suspicion.'' Lee Eunwoo opened his status window, accessed the Aitel system, and checked the rankings. + ¡¾Server: Republic of Korea / Ranking¡¿ NO 1. Great Mage / ¡öVasa NO 2. Fairy King / Na Jeongwon NO 3. Sword Saint / Cheong Siyeol NO 4. Fist King / Joo Suhyeok NO 5. Seven Star Saintess / Joo Ye-eun NO 6. Mr. Pistol / Lee Eunwoo . . . + Everyone had moved up one spot from their previous rank. ¡¾Server: Republic of Korea / S-Rank¡¿ ¡¾11¡¿ The number of S-Ranks in Korea had also decreased from 12 to 11. ''The Sun of Humanity'' Baekya had definitely died by Cheong Siyeol''s sword that day. ''My emotions were clouded by the crisis, leading me to think of such irrational stuff.'' Lee Eunwoo lightly bit his lower lip. Baekya was the idol of many pyromancers. Awakeners of that class who use ''Flame Arrow'' and ''Descent from the Inferno'' in combination were now everywhere. Unlike Cheong Siyeol, who still admired Baekya, Lee Eunwoo was different. In his mind, Baekya was nothing more than an irrational terrorist who burned the world without any purpose. He acknowledged that Baekya was once a great teacher and a hero, but that was all. So even if he saw a Hunter using a similar combat style, he shouldn''t have suspected that Baekya was alive. It was irrational to be personally attached to someone who, from a utilitarian perspective, had to die, and it was disrespectful to compare a hero who acted anonymously to a mere terrorist. ''Huh?'' At that moment, numbers that Lee Eunwoo shouldn''t have been able to see appeared before his eyes. ¡¾Server: Republic of Korea / Achievements¡¿ ¡¾Collapse/Expand¡¿ ¡¾First Climber¡¿ S?a??h the N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. ¡¾First to Clear Floor 10¡¿ ¡¾First to...¡¿ ''Why are these still here?'' These achievements were usually found deep within the system, so he hadn''t paid them much attention. When an Awakened climbs the Tower and achieves something, the entire country benefits in various ways, such as an increase in tutorial participants. Some of these benefits persist even after the achievement is initially unlocked, while others require the achiever to maintain their position. Let''s take Baekya''s achievements, ''World No. 1'' and ''First Climber,'' as examples. Even after Baekya''s death, the fact that he was the first to climb the Tower remains unchanged. Therefore, the benefits gained from the ''First Climber'' achievement still remain with Korea. However, ''World No. 1'' requires the holder to be the current world''s number one, so it has now passed to a Hunter in the United States. What Eunwoo saw were these ''Retained'' achievements, starting with those two. ¡¾First Climber¡¿ ¡¾First to Clear Floor 10¡¿ ¡¾First to Clear Floor 20¡¿ ¡¾First to Clear Floor 25¡¿ ¡¾First Archdemon Slayer¡¿ These achievements are only active if the corresponding individual is alive and active on the server. If Baekya was dead, he should have been crossed out. ''What''s going on?'' Uncharacteristically flustered, Lee Eunwoo stopped in his tracks. His adjutant looked up at him. "Is something wrong, sir?" He didn''t even hear the question. ''There are two possibilities. Either Baekya is alive, or there''s an error in the Aitel system. Which is more irrational?'' ''The Aitel system can''t have errors... It''s reasonable to assume it can''t, at least not until now. So we can reasonably expect it to continue functioning correctly in the future. But... someone who was thought to be dead can be alive.'' ''Excellent.'' His thoughts raced. Lee Eunwoo had argued this from the beginning. ''Are you going to stop climbing the Tower just because he''s dead? He believes in us. We have to use what we can! From a rational perspective, his power is useful.'' He didn''t understand concepts like good or evil, nor did he particularly want to. There were only gains and losses. And Baekya was still an Awakened whose benefits to this world outweighed his harm. Lee Eunwoo shifted his gaze. National Assembly members, the mayor, the chief of police, and others were pushing their way past the control line, taking pictures as if they had done something. "Chief." "Ah! Mr. Eunwoo." Swish The chief, slightly nervous in the presence of the S-Rank Hunter¡ª offered his hand for a handshake. Without even looking at his hand, Lee Eunwoo spoke in a commanding tone. "I''m looking for someone. A young adult male, tall, and an Awakened. His halo is either a white ring or a red disc. I request that you review all of the city''s CCTV footage from today." ''It would be good to find the nameless hero, and if it''s Baekya who has returned... even better. Even after his fall, that incomprehensible man continued to fight against the Gates.'' A look of embarrassment and humiliation flashed across the chief''s face. "Why... are you looking for that person?" "Are you curious?" Lee Eunwoo sneered. His halo, shaped like two overlapping diamonds in blue and black, pulsed lowly as if reprimanding the chief. Hum! The chief was reminded once again that he was dealing with an S-Rank Awakened. "...No, sir. I''ll find them right away." * * * I locked the door, closed the window curtains, and sat in front of the full-length mirror¡ª opening my status window. Once again, I zoomed in on the important parts. + ¡¾Status Window¡¿ 2. Class: Pyromancer (C-) 7. Stats: [Strength 195] [Agility 220] [Health 230] [Mana 260 ? 265] + My Mana had increased again, by 5 points, without me even noticing. It had gone up by 25 points in a single day. In the past, it took months of burning monsters all day long just to barely gain 1 point. I didn''t know whether to be happy about the absurdly fast growth or sad that I was still weak. As for the skills, I got two decent ones. + ¡¾Skill (Passive): Underdog (C+)¡¿ ¡¾Increases attack power and defense penetration by 10% against enemies two or more grades higher.¡¿ ¡¾Skill (Active): Dullahan''s Gaze¡¿ ¡¾The knight Dullahan, who carries his head under his arm, has a wide field of vision. Using this skill creates a burning eye that functions as an ''Observer.''¡¿ + ''Underdog'' is passive, so I don''t need to worry about it, and ''Dullahan''s Gaze'' seems perfect for situations like today. It''ll be very useful for me now, since I won''t be able to stand out for a while. But the biggest gains from this expedition are these two. I carefully took out the sword wrapped in newspaper. ¡¾Champion''s Sword (Rare)¡¿ ¡¾A sharp longsword of a Ghost Knight. It is imbued with dense spirit energy.¡¿ ¡¾Magic Power +10, Strength +15, Health -5¡¿ I had obtained the artifact that Hong Ilha had so desperately desired. The dense spirit energy should help the blade withstand the Radiant Light Sword skill. I''m willing to accept the Health -5 penalty for the sake of the other two stats. But the real star of the show is this. A handkerchief embroidered with green thread on white cloth. ¡¾Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief (Heroic)¡¿ ¡¾A handkerchief the Ghost Princess tied, wishing for her champion''s safe return. Grants the wearer a powerful stealth effect.¡¿ Heroic grade was high enough that even my original self would consider it quite useful. I had checked it over and over with the Constellation''s help, but there was no mention of it being unusable by the living or any hidden penalties. With a trembling heart, I picked up the handkerchief and tied it around my wrist. My reflection was still visible in the mirror. A handsome man with a white ring-shaped halo and black hair. It wasn''t that the handkerchief wasn''t working. ¡¾Flame Arrow¡¿ I summoned a Flame Arrow above my hand. The halo above my head was still a white ring. Success. I inwardly let out a cheer. It worked. It worked! If Wolha wasn''t studying outside, I would have screamed at the top of my lungs, dignity be damned. A thrilling shiver ran through my body. The Constellation spoke in a tone that suggested even she approved. ¡¾"You''ve done well."¡¿ ¡¾"Now you can use your skills freely outside without being suspected of being Baekya."¡¿ My strength gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor. It was originally impossible for an Awakened to hide their halo. Only someone like me could change its shape when not using abilities. From S+ High Rankers to F-Rank porters, all Awakened had to display their halo 24/7. It meant that playing the ''hidden powerhouse'' game was fundamentally impossible. Now, I''m the exception. No matter what happens at the Gate tomorrow, no matter what happens at future Gates or in the Tower, I won''t be mistaken for Baekya! [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 16 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 16 Wolha and I left for the Gate early in the morning. It was the place where Ilha and Wolha used to work together. "It''s this way." "Should we take the bus?" I stopped Wolha, who was heading towards the bus stop as if it were natural, and called a taxi on the spot. "Hyung, you can''t keep spending money like this." "Time is money, Wolha. Didn''t you say that even an hour would be precious later?" I asked Wolha a question in the taxi. "We just need to go there and stamp our seals, right?" "Yes, we''re going to terminate our employment contracts." "Terminate the contracts?" "You know, that law Baekya-nim made a while ago. The one that requires Gate mining companies to get a stamp from porters whenever they quit." I had made so many laws that even I couldn''t remember them all. Wolha looked at me with a puzzled expression. "Why are you talking like you don''t know? You worked longer. You must have stamped the papers when I recovered and we changed companies, right?" "Did we?" "If we didn''t, they''re breaking the law, right? Should we report them now and get a reward?" His eyes lit up at the mention of a reward, and it was quite a sight to behold. "Forget it. It''s all in the past." I remembered. When we were cracking down on that artifact scam, we added a clause to the Awakened Protection Act. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. ''Didn''t we make it so that if a porter dies, the company has to shut down?'' ''We did?'' ''So the mining company owners aren''t reporting porter deaths and just pretending they quit on their own.'' ''Wow. That''s a new one.'' ''What should we do about it?'' ''Wouldn''t it be enough to get a stamp from them whenever they quit?'' ''Wouldn''t everyone find that bothersome? And there''s the actual issue of porters leaving without notice.'' ''It''s a matter of life and death.'' I knew that Ilha and Wolha were quite diligent and skilled porters. They wouldn''t let them go easily. That''s what I thought the whole way there, and as expected, I was right. A Gate opened near Namhansanseong Fortress. A mining company was located on the second floor of a commercial building next to it. In that place, which had an atmosphere somewhere between a labor agency and a mercenary office... The tough-looking executives grumbled. "Hey, how can you just quit like this after not showing up for the past few weeks without saying anything?" "We naturally assumed you both would come back. We even kept your spots and took good care of your equipment." "Come on, young people shouldn''t be so disloyal. They say hardship builds character when you''re young. Just finish up today''s work, okay?" Things were getting messy. Wolha spoke firmly, but the seasoned executives tried to brush it off with friendly smiles. "We''re quitting. Bring us the contract." "Don''t be like that, just think of it as earning some extra cash and help us out for today. We have to pay tribute to the Guild, you know?" Every time they smiled, the smell of cigarettes wafted from between their yellowed teeth. I desperately suppressed the urge to test the combo of the ''Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief'' tightly tied around my wrist and the ''Champion''s Sword'' sheathed in leather and slung over my back. No. Why should I suppress it? Since things have turned out this way, how about I start by splitting the loudest one in half and then resume the conversation? I can calm Wolha down later. Yeah. That''s a good idea. As I reached for my back, the Gate outside the window suddenly caught my eye. The Gate had consumed the entire interior of the neighboring commercial building. Come to think of it, I remember receiving a report about the Gate at Namhansanseong Fortress. The raid went well, the yield was good, and the golem mobs were non-aggressive, making them ideal for mining. I distinctly remember them mentioning that it dropped artifacts related to the ''Hardening'' skill. Unless I have overwhelming firepower like before, durability is crucial for me now that I''ve fallen so far. Didn''t I almost get trampled to death by horse hooves just yesterday? "..." Looking at the fingers of the company executives, I noticed they were all wearing rings that seemed to be defensive artifacts. "In that case, I''ll just go in and say goodbye to my former colleagues." "Hyung!" Wolha was shocked as soon as I spoke. His delicate face hardened with worry. Yeah, I understand. He probably thinks his airheaded brother is about to get taken advantage of again. This time, it will be different. "But only I''ll go in. And I''ll stamp the papers as soon as I come out." Alright. Let''s go hunt some golems in secret. * * * The executives of ''Woori Mining,'' a subcontractor in charge of managing the Namhansanseong Grade 3 Gate, had been in a state of chaos lately. ''Million Loans is completely bankrupt. Everyone''s dead, and the building burned down.'' ''So what happened to hyungnim?'' ''They investigated the burnt jawbone found there, and it matches our hyungnim''s gold tooth placement.'' Their main job was as mining company executives, but their side hustle was scamming porters as loan sharks for Million Loans. Initially, the idea was to keep the porters in debt so they couldn''t quit easily. However, as their relationships deepened, the commission they received for each person they sent increased. ''This month, we made more from referral fees.'' The mining company''s profit margins weren''t that high. After paying rent to the Guild, the Gate''s owner¡ª daily wages to the porters, and taxes, there wasn''t much left. Naturally, their eyes turned towards the side benefits rather than the main task. Before they knew it, they were more enthusiastic about their side hustle than their main job. ''This is a gold mine!'' ''I didn''t know they worked so hard.'' ''Let''s sell another artifact. Someone get a fake one quickly.'' They had also caught the Ilha and Wolha brothers in the same way. With a debt exceeding 800 million won, the brothers were destined to work themselves to the bone, filling the executives'' pockets until they died. But then something completely incomprehensible happened. Million Loans went bankrupt, and their boss died along with it. In that situation, as if they had been waiting, Ilha and Wolha came to them, saying they wanted to quit. They had many questions. Did they pay off their debt to Million Loans? What exactly happened to the boss? ...Did you two do something? However, these weren''t questions the mining company executives, who were officially unrelated to Million Loans, could ask. In that situation, if the two of them were willing to part ways, and even better, if one of them was willing to enter the Gate where there was no phone signal, they were just grateful. ¡¾Would you like to enter the cleared Gate ''Aringen''s Open-Pit Mine''?¡¿ ¡¾Y / N¡¿ Before reaching the ending, this Gate was a rocky plateau filled with giant Golems. Now that the ending had been reached, most of the high-level mobs were gone, but even the F-Rank and E-Rank monsters roaming the field as remnants of the nightmare were fatal to porters. The place with the best Mana Stone yield was at 12 o''clock from the entrance. That was also where the porters worked. Step. However, contrary to his words about greeting his colleagues, Ilha headed in the opposite direction, towards 6 o''clock. Of course, the executives welcomed that. ''Thank you.'' In the desolate and gloomy Gate, it was hard to see each other even if they were just a short distance apart. There were also many towering rock pillars in this area, blocking sounds intermittently. No one would know what was happening here. Step. Ilha continued walking. He also looked around as if searching for someone. Executive Hwang, the longest-serving executive at the company and a C-Rank Awakened, called out to Ilha. "Stop right there." "What?" A disrespectful, informal reply came back. Ilha didn''t even turn his body, just glanced over his shoulder at them. His eyes held a sense of emptiness and mockery that didn''t seem to fit him. Executive Hwang, feeling a subtle displeasure, pointed and said. "And why are you acting so awkwardly? Why are you here looking for your hyungs? You know no one comes this way because there are still Golems left here." "Oh, really? I didn''t know that." "And this kid''s been using informal speech since earlier. Hey, how old are you?" "Age doesn''t really matter. Time flows differently in here." "Stop talking nonsense and come here quickly, you brat. It''s okay! We won''t kill you! Just answer a few questions, and you can come back to work tomorrow." The executives all laughed at the same time. Clang. Executive Hwang drew a long sword from his waist. Ilha raised an eyebrow, as if he was surprised. "You''re going with such a cliche?" At that moment, Executive Hwang suddenly thought that Ilha was taller than he remembered. ''What''s this?'' Come to think of it, his features had become much more defined, and his deep eyes held an indescribable charisma. It reminded him of high-ranking Awakened who had been chosen by the stars. Ilha reached for the scabbard at his waist. His slow movements made Executive Hwang anxious. "...Kid, put that sword down. You''ll get hurt badly." The other executives chuckled. "Hey! Come here and beg quickly. Executive Hwang is scary when he''s angry." "You''re F-Rank! Idiot. What are you even going to do to a C-Rank?" "Do you think you suddenly have some hidden power? Did buying an artifact make you think the world is yours? We have artifacts too! Much better ones than yours." Executive Hwang couldn''t laugh. ''Is it that sword and shield set? It''s definitely a fake, just for show. Even if it were real, he¡¯s F-Rank and I''m C-Rank, we''re not in the same league. But why¡­?'' Looking at the blade tinged with a gray aura, his lips suddenly felt dry for some reason. Hum. Hum. Hum. Hum. And as the blade began to glow red like molten iron in a furnace, Executive Hwang thought. ''Huh?'' Something was going very, very wrong. * * * ¡¾Radiant Light Sword¡¿ Baekya gripped the glowing red sword and accelerated. Tap. The first step was a brisk walk, but from the second step, his speed increased noticeably, and from the third, he left long afterimages. ¡¾Skills... are being activated.¡¿ ¡¾Titles... are being activated.¡¿ Battle Maniac, Battle Healing, Human Slayer, Sword-Body Unity... Countless passive skills and titles activated, amplifying all of the Awakened''s stats by tens or even hundreds of times. "This bastard really wants to fight!" Executive Hwang shouted, as if trying to suppress his fear with anger, and swung his sword. Even the abundant vitality of an Awakened couldn''t completely overcome years of indulgence, leaving him with a protruding belly and a double chin, but his swordsmanship still retained some of its former sharpness. Slash! The sword strike, swung in the shape of the number 4, aimed to tear Baekya''s body apart. In response, Baekya swung the Champion''s Sword off-beat, disrupting Executive Hwang''s combo. Clang! With a dull metallic sound, Executive Hwang stumbled back. "What?" His eyes trembled as if he was having a nightmare. There was a significant difference in stats between F-Rank and C-Rank that couldn''t be overcome by any technique. ''Did he reawaken or something?'' Executive Hwang gritted his teeth at the inexplicable phenomenon. The image of Ilha, bowing and scraping before him for his daily wage, resurfaced. "How dare you!" Executive Hwang shouted in rage and raised his sword once more. Clang, clang! Clatter! ''Not bad.'' Baekya thought as he parried Executive Hwang''s sword. The mining company''s boss he had killed recently was a retired C+ Rank Awakened Mage, but his reaction speed was incredibly slow due to the aftereffects of his injury. ''He''s much better in one-on-one combat.'' Executive Hwang parried the sword Baekya thrust at his shoulder and dodged the kick aimed at the side of his knee. Swoosh! An upward slash adapted from a Brazilian kick, changing its trajectory mid-swing... Thud, Thud! He skillfully blocked the attacks, utilizing both the ring, which seemed to have a Body Hardening option, and his sword. He parried the Champion''s Sword with his ring-clad hand while simultaneously thrusting his own sword forward, showing considerable skill. It was a counterattack technique that required not only skill but also guts and good equipment. ''If the ring is this good, the other artifacts the Golem drops must be great too. Let''s quickly subdue him, hunt the Golem, and get out of here.'' Baekya let out a mocking laugh. "So you dare!" ¡¾Trait ''Invincible Laughter''¡¿ [TL/N: Sun-like Laughter ¡ú Invincible Laughter] "Ugh!" The trait activated, and Executive Hwang''s body froze. ¡¾Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief¡¿ It was time to test the artifact''s function. ¡¾Distortion Barrier¡¿ Swoosh! An eerie aura rose from the glowing red sword. The Champion''s Sword blurred. It was as if he had used ''Invisibility.'' "What the...?" Executive Hwang''s pupils trembled. Slash! Baekya strode forward like a gust of wind and swung his sword. ''What?!'' Executive Hwang saw his left arm fly into the air, severed below the elbow. "Executive Hwang!" "You bastard!" The other executives shouted in anger, drawing their weapons. At that moment, Executive Hwang caught a glimpse of Baekya''s white ring-shaped halo flickering. Like a screen with static, a red light flickered between the frames. He didn''t know it, but it was because the resources used to camouflage the halo with ''Distortion'' were being disrupted. ''Reawakening?'' Executive Hwang tried to shout a denial. The opponent was not the Ilha they knew. The monster disguised as Ilha pulled off the Hardening ring and put it on his own finger, then raised his sword. ¡°Finally, I have something to back me up.¡± He muttered. With a smile as if he had regained something precious he had forgotten. "Get him!" The four executives charged at him simultaneously. The man who was once Ilha grinned, a chilling smile spreading across his face. The still-invisible blade swung in a blur of deadly arcs, swift as lightning and thunder. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 17 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 17 Flames erupted like waves from the sword Baekya wielded. Whoosh! The four executives were flung in all directions like bowling pins hit by a bowling ball, tumbling across the floor. "Aaaaagh!" They didn''t just roll a few times and stop; they skidded for dozens of meters, their faces and backs scraping against the ground, before finally coming to a halt. Executive Hwang, clutching his cauterized left arm stump with his right, looked up at Ilha. ''We''re screwed.'' ''It''s a Reawakening. It has to be a Reawakening.'' ''Why did it have to happen at our company!'' In web novels and various modern media, it was a common cliche for an oppressed F-Rank to Reawaken and take revenge. Executive Hwang had also imagined countless times Reawakening as an A-Rank or S-Rank after suddenly meeting a Constellation. Instead of this plain white ring-shaped halo, he would have a geometric halo with vibrant colors and diverse shapes. And a life where he exuded an otherworldly aura and climbed to the top of the Tower as a Ranker. The protagonist of such a story was standing right in front of him. As an enemy. ''We messed with the wrong person.'' He finally understood how the boss and Million Loans had met their demise. Whether the Reawakening or the scam came first, the result was that they had provoked a Reawakened. He lamented the misfortune of those two. Executive Hwang slammed his head on the floor and prostrated himself. "I''m sorry! I''m sorry! I didn''t recognize you." The other executives grasped the situation. "..." Among those who lived by the sword, there was a way to understand just by crossing blades once. Whether they could handle it or not. In this era, survival depended on quick wit. Two of the four executives immediately followed Executive Hwang''s lead and bowed their heads. "We''re sorry!" "Please spare our lives!" The remaining two turned and fled towards the Gate''s entrance. "Shit!" "Where the hell did that monster come from!" An Awakened running for their life was as fast as the wind. Tap, Tap! Their movements, leaping between stone pillars and sprinting across the uneven terrain as if it were flat ground, were a desperate, frantic scramble for survival. However, on this plateau lived a Golem thousands of times more dangerous than a snow leopard in the Himalayas. Boom! The rock that one of the executives had kicked vibrated. Crack, Crack! It was a massive rock, reaching the height of a four-story apartment building. S~?a??h the n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Stone dust fragments fell. The crystalline joints emitted a pale, ominous light. The Golem with glowing blue eyes roared. "-----!" Aitel sounded a warning alarm at the appearance of a powerful enemy. ¡¾Warning! Warning! Warning!¡¿ ¡¾Aringen''s Rock Giant (B)¡¿ The fleeing executives froze in their tracks like frogs staring into the eyes of a snake, unable to move. The best they could do was roll their eyes with all their might. ¡¾Status Effect: Intimidation¡¿ ¡¾Overwhelmed by the difference in power.¡¿ ¡¾All stats decreased by 50%.¡¿ Thud! The Golem shook the ground as it moved its foot. The two executives'' faces paled, and their groins grew damp. ''No, no, no!'' Although they operated this place as a mining dungeon because the Golems were non-aggressive mobs, if a fight were to break out, it was an enemy they could never defeat. B-Rank and above were classified as ''High-Rank.'' It was a level that couldn''t be handled with old-fashioned firearms. The wall between B-Rank and C-Rank was several times higher than that of D-Rank and C-Rank. The Golem approached the two. Thud! The two executives squeezed their eyes shut. The sky within the dungeon was always hazy and gloomy, but the ground, shimmering with crystal and Mana Stone fragments, shone like the night sky. In this world where heaven and earth seemed reversed, the giant, the earth itself, took a step. Crunch. One of the executives turned into a pool of blood. The second executive was about to meet the same fate. Executive Hwang couldn''t bear to watch and tried to turn his head away. But then. Step. At that moment, Ilha walked towards the Golem without hesitation. ''What?'' Executive Hwang, drenched in cold sweat from the Golem''s overwhelming presence, stared at Ilha''s back. ''How can he move? No, how can he even think of fighting? Is he immune to Intimidation?'' Ilha shot a Flame Arrow towards the top of the Golem''s head. Whoosh! And then, using the skill popularized by Baekya, ''Descent from the Crimson Flame,'' he teleported above the Golem''s head. Boom! Emerging from the flames, Ilha plunged downwards, sword aimed at the Golem''s neck. Clang! But Ilha''s blade bounced off the Golem''s neck, sending sparks flying. Only a slight scratch remained on the carapace of rock and crystal. ''Even with Reawakening, he still can''t win.'' Executive Hwang squeezed his eyes shut. He didn''t want to see the gruesome scene that was about to unfold. Those who lived as Awakened were rarely granted a peaceful death. He, too, had unconsciously accepted that reality. He heard the sounds of a few sword swings, metallic clangs, and the Golem''s footsteps. How many minutes had passed? Rumble¡ª! A deafening roar, like a landslide, echoed through the air. At the same time, the oppressive pressure that had been weighing down on everyone vanished. ¡¾The status effect ''Intimidation'' has been lifted.¡¿ The Aitel system notification appeared in the corner of his vision. Executive Hwang abruptly stood up from his prostrate position and looked towards the Golem. "...Did he win?" His voice trembled slightly. Including him, the four surviving executives all wore stunned expressions. "Did you think I couldn''t?" Ilha stood firmly on the ground, which shimmered like a sea of stars under the cloudy sky. His white halo, the same as theirs yet somehow completely different, cast a shadow on his handsome face. Before him, the Golem''s massive body lay crumbled like a ruined fortress. "Let''s go. I''m done saying my goodbyes." Ilha gestured vaguely towards them with his chin. The Gate''s interior was dim. But to Executive Hwang, it felt as if Ilha was standing under the sun. * * * ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' has successfully defended against the status effect: ''Intimidation.''¡¿ ''Thank you.'' Baekya thought as he watched the Golem rise. ''It''s definitely harder to find them in a cleared dungeon when they''re non-aggressive. I missed it even though I passed through this area before.'' He was grateful that it had appeared on its own. ''Let''s finish this quickly. Hardening skill? Artifact? What will it drop?'' Crunch. One of the executives turned into a pool of blood. He felt no human sympathy. Judging by their behavior, this mining company seemed to be half a group of scammers, the kind of people who would think anyone deserved to die at any time. Baekya had always believed that fraud was the worst crime. But at the same time, Baekya was also the Sun of Humanity. What was he supposed to feel when he saw monsters killing people? To put it crudely, it pissed him off. "Constellation, I request your assistance." ¡¾"Go ahead. Burn to your heart''s content."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' will bear 25% of the Mana consumed.¡¿ The higher an Awakened''s ascension rank is, the more direct assistance their Constellation could provide. Considering that other Constellations struggled to provide even 10% support to their 7th Rank contractors, this was more than enough aid. Baekya, well aware of this, smiled brightly and fired a Flame Arrow. Whoosh! The moment the arrow passed over the Golem''s head... ¡¾Descent from the Crimson Flame¡¿ Boom! Baekya''s body vanished from the ground and reappeared above the Golem''s head, over a hundred meters away. Even from a height of over 20 meters, there was no fear in Baekya''s eyes. He gripped the Champion''s Sword in a reverse grip and thrust it downwards with all his might. He aimed for the gap between the neck and shoulder. Clang! But the Champion''s Sword bounced off, sending sparks flying. A gouge nearly a finger deep was left, but the Golem was a mass of rock. ''Just a few more times!'' Baekya continued to strike the Rock Golem''s weak points with the Radiant Light Sword. His movements were surprisingly agile and nimble for someone with his muscular build and height. Bang! He dodged the Golem''s stomping foot and aimed for its hamstring. He used the Golem''s forearm as a stepping stone to leap up and strike between its neck and chest. He evaded the ''Crystal Breath,'' which spewed noxious gas, and targeted its jaw joint. Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! The Champion''s Sword rained down like a shower. However, only minor cuts and scratches appeared on the Golem''s body, no fatal wounds. ¡¾Aringen''s Rock Giant (B) is enraged!¡¿ It seemed he had only fueled its anger, provoking the Golem''s fierce attacks. ¡¾Ground Leveling¡¿ Rumble! The Golem stomped its foot violently. Shockwaves spiraled out from its foot, which had sunk nearly 2 meters into the ground. Crack! Crack! The earth''s surface rose, forming countless sharp spikes. The ground within a 100-meter radius rose sharply like shattered glass. Even for Baekya, there was nowhere to escape this attack on the ground. ''Then I''ll just go to the sky.'' Whoosh! Once again, he used the Flame Arrow and Descent from the Crimson Flame combo to escape into the sky. 300 meters above the ground. From this height, even the massive crystal Golem looked small. Whoosh! He began to fall, gaining speed rapidly. His short hair fluttered behind his forehead. ''It seems I''ll have to use a close-range attack.'' ¡¾"Isn''t that too much?"¡¿ ¡¾"Your body won''t be able to handle the recoil."¡¿ ''I have this, don''t I?'' Baekya grinned, holding out his left hand and looking at the ''Hardening'' ring shining on his middle finger. It seemed like it would be a one-time use, but if he could take down a B-Rank Golem with a ''Normal'' grade artifact, it would be a profitable trade. ¡¾"Then it might be worth a try."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' smiles with anticipation.¡¿ The Rock Golem watched Baekya falling from the sky and clenched its fist. Crack! Layers of white shockwaves gathered around its angular fingers. Hum. Hum. Hum. Hum. Instead of clenching his fist, Baekya opened his palm. The sensation of the wind passing between his fingers was refreshing. ¡¾Radiant Wave (S+)¡¿ Bzzzzzt¡ª! Even with the Constellation''s assistance, the Mana in his body instantly plummeted to zero. The power, compared to before, was like a ripple before a tsunami. However, the Radiant Wave, a technique utilizing high-heat radiation wavelengths and their vibrations for aerial combat, was Baekya''s favored close-range skill, both in the past and present. The preferences of the strongest always held value worthy of being chosen by the strongest. The red energy gathered in front of Baekya''s palm, pulsating as if eager to burst forth. Intense radiant heat left a comet-like trail behind Baekya. The Rock Golem, the ruler of this field, threw its fist with the intent to crush the insolent being who dared to look down upon it. Whoosh! As Baekya watched the fist approach, the absurdity of his situation struck him. ''Hang on a second, I''m facing a B-Rank with a measly C-Rank!'' He remembered how his disciples had reacted when they''d done something similar. ''Siyeol.'' ''Yes, Master?'' ''If you have a death wish, just let me know.'' Now, he could empathize with their concern. ''Alright, I''ll admit it. It''s utterly reckless to gamble your life for a shortcut to a place you could reach eventually. But that''s also what makes it thrilling.'' He thrust his palm, imbued with Radiant Wave, forward. ¡¾Underdog¡¿ ¡¾Increases attack power and defense penetration by 10% against enemies 2 or more grades higher.¡¿ The final Aitel notification flashed across his vision and faded. Crack! The Golem''s fist and Baekya''s palm met in mid-air. Rumble! Immense force and white shockwaves surged upwards, threatening to pulverize Baekya''s arm and shoulder. It was a full-powered strike from the Golem, one that could crush a C-Rank Awakened in a single blow. But that strike was halted as effortlessly as a child''s fist against an immovable mountain. Baekya''s image was reflected in the Golem''s crystalline eyes. Bzzzzzt¡ª! The heat and color of the Radiant Wave penetrated the Golem''s rocky body. Crack, Crack! Thick cracks spread through the crystal that held the rocks together. "?!" Just as the Golem was about to let out a roar... Crack The spreading cracks reached the Golem''s jaw, causing it to fall off. * * * Boom, Crash! Baekya landed and watched as the Golem''s massive body crumbled. ''To think I could barely handle even this much.'' Despite achieving a feat that would shock everyone in this Gate, his expression wasn''t bright. His left arm was still trembling. The ''Hardening'' ring he had worn on his left middle finger had crumbled without a trace. If it weren''t for that ring, his left arm would have met the same fate. ¡¾"No, you did well enough."¡¿ ¡¾"To be honest, I thought you wouldn''t be able to win, so I was imagining a scenario where you''d have to run away."¡¿ ''Oh, Constellation!'' Of course, his uncharacteristic gloom didn''t last long. The wall between B-Rank and C-Rank was incredibly high. Even with all sorts of traits assisting him, defeating a B-Rank as a C-Rank was something to be proud of. ¡¾You have acquired ''Hardening (B).''¡¿ ¡¾Your body becomes as solid as rock, and you will not be easily injured by most attacks.¡¿ ¡¾Health +100, Strength +75¡¿ As if to praise him, an Aitel notification appeared. Baekya couldn''t believe his eyes. ''Huh?'' He had been prepared to hunt at least ten of them. ''The drop rate is this high?'' And the notifications didn''t stop there. ¡¾Congratulations.¡¿ ¡¾An artifact has been dropped.¡¿ [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 18 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 18 ¡¾Aringen''s Crystal Coat (Masterpiece) has been dropped.¡¿ ¡¾This coat, where blue crystals grow between the black wool fabric and the leather belt, provides the wearer with sturdy protection and a stylish fashion.¡¿ ¡¾Health +250¡¿ I was speechless when I saw the artifact that appeared with a bright light. s?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The ''Hardening'' skill I just got was pretty good too. Just having it gave me +100 Health and +75 Strength. Although I haven''t checked yet, if I expand my status window, my rank might have gone up from ''C-'' to ''C.'' But this coat gives a whopping 250 Health. When I ate the ''Fallen Dragon''s Heart'' and became D+, my Health was around 200, and it only recently reached 220 when I became C-Rank. But just by wearing this coat, I get 250 Health. It means that even a non-Awakened person could gain the stamina, detoxification ability, and defense of a C-Rank Awakened. I picked up the coat and muttered. "I''ve rarely thought of myself as lucky..." The Constellation''s voice echoed in my head. ¡¾"Isn''t there a tendency for the artifact drop rate to increase the fewer hits you land?"¡¿ ¡¾"Except for a few sword swings, you practically smashed it in one hit, so it''s reasonable for it to drop. Others would have had to hit it thousands of times more than you."¡¿ The executive with the severed arm, the middle-aged man named Hwang, muttered in a daze. "That thing actually dropped?" The other executives also mumbled incoherently. "I''ve never seen that happen in years of working here." "Didn''t he practically kill the Rock Golem in one hit? Was there a hit count limit on the drop condition?" "We attacked that guy... no, that person?" They all seemed bewildered. I knew from my long experience in the field. People tend to feel like they''re dreaming when they witness something like this. It would be surprising enough that I defeated the Rock Golem, but the fact that it was done by an F-Rank who was mining Mana Stones here until a month ago... It was abnormal to accept it immediately. ¡¾"Haven''t you gotten everything you need? Let''s go."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' points towards the exit.¡¿ I hesitated for a moment. I got ''Hardening'' and the ''Crystal Coat'' in one go, so if I catch a few more, wouldn''t I be able to raise my specs much higher? I couldn''t help but have expectations. "Yes, let''s go." But I neatly put aside my greed. I might feel like I''m on cloud nine, but I used up all my Mana with that one Radiant Wave. Also, due to the nature of my fire abilities, I wasn''t a good match against rock or earth types. Even among B-Rankes, there''s a big difference between a ''Ghost'' and a ''Rock Golem.'' Until I could erase everything in front of me with Law of Light like before, it was better to be mindful of elemental matchups. I gestured to the executives sprawled around. "What are you doing? Get up." "Yes, yes?" "Aren''t you leaving? You need to get my and Wolha''s signatures. We said we''re quitting." "...?" Executive Hwang and the other executives exchanged glances. "You''re... not going to kill us?" "Why would I?" "We, uh..." I know everything. These guys committed fraud, probably even killed some people, and just now, they tried to kill me too. But wasn''t cutting off one arm enough? I have no intention of overlooking the injustice I witnessed, but a high and mighty person like me can''t personally punish every single wrongdoer. Instead, I''ve tried to create a system that maintains order even without me. "Do you think I''m a psychopath? Awakened can fight each other too." So I''m going to report them. The police and prosecutors will handle the punishment. "Let''s get out of here quickly. Another Golem might appear." All I want is to quit the porter job that Ilha used to do. ¡¾Would you like to exit the cleared Gate ''Aringen''s Open-Pit Mine''?¡¿ ¡¾Y/N¡¿ I exited the Gate and returned to the ''Woori Mining'' office. Unlike when I left, the executives around me were very polite. "It''s lunchtime, shall we order some food for you?" "What kind of drink would you like?" "May I ask if I can go to the hospital to treat my arm?" And Wolha and the other executives who remained in the office... "You damn shrimp, just do as he says! Stop talking back!" "Hey, you honestly want to keep working here, right? Right? Say it, you damn bastard." "You''re not actually trusting that hyung of yours, are you? He''s probably half-dead by now, you know?" "Hurry up and sign here. ''I will work for the next 5 years at minimum wage.''" "If you don''t sign, your brother''s as good as dead, you know? Even after a Gate''s been cleared, F-Rank and E-Rank monsters keep popping up, right? They''ll pick his bones clean in 20 minutes flat." They still hadn''t come to their senses. The company employees and executives surrounded Wolha, who was sitting on the sofa¡ª their eyes darting around frantically. "!" I heard the sharp intake of breath from the executives who had entered the Gate with me. I put on a bright smile and said. "Wolha, I''ve said goodbye to everyone. If you''re done with the paperwork, let''s go home." One of the company employees, with an irezumi tattoo outlining his arm, pointed at me. [TL/NL: Irezumi is a traditional style of Japanese tattoo art that has a rich history and cultural significance.] "Who said you can go home? Hey, you come sit here too. Hurry up and get over here!" I didn''t answer and just glanced to the side. Executive Hwang, now one-armed, was turning pale. Tsk. To have such clueless subordinates... * * * "Pull yourself..." "Pull yourself..." "Together." "Together!" The executives and employees of Woori Mining were all bowing their heads on the ground in unison. One young executive, unable to give up until the very end, tried to take Wolha hostage. "Don''t move!" He flinched as the sashimi knife he had pressed against Wolha''s neck pierced through his own hand. "Yeah, don''t move." "Aaaaagh!" The sashimi knife, impaled through his hand and into the table, quivered. "Sorry. I lost my temper for a moment there." Pull. Baekya apologized as he pulled out the sashimi knife. The apology might have been insincere, but the part about losing his temper was genuine. ''Why?'' He wasn''t even his real brother. He was just sticking around because he had nowhere else to go and wanted to repay the body''s owner for keeping him alive. ''Could I have gotten attached?'' But seeing a knife at his throat made his blood boil. Baekya decided not to dwell on the question. There were many questions in the world that were better left unanswered. Instead of seeking an answer, he heated his finger like a branding iron and cauterized the wound on the young executive''s hand, which was gushing blood. Sizzle! "Aaaaagh!" The man let out a high-pitched scream and wet his pants. The 1st generation old-timer''s eyes narrowed at the fact that an Awakened couldn''t even withstand this much pain. "How weak." "You, you, you''ll pay for this." "Sure, give it your best shot." "Do you know who my brother is?" "How would I know?" "He''s a member of the ¡®Sun and Moon Divine Guild!¡¯" Sun and Moon Divine Guild. [TL/N: The name is subjected to change in the future as I get more context about it.] It was a large guild where Awakened with ''martial arts'' related traits, titles, and classes gathered. Although they had fewer members than Lee Eunwoo''s ''Iron Blood Legion,'' their average quality was higher. If he was a regular guild member there, he was a Hunter with enough influence in this Awakened society that worshipped power. "Really? Give me your business card." "What?" "I said, give me your business card. I''ll pay him a visit." But Baekya was the supreme ruler who had reigned at the top of that Awakened society for 15 years. He, whom even the Sun and Moon Divine Guild Master would greet barefoot, wouldn''t be intimidated by a mere guild member. "If I tell them his brother is going around threatening porters, they''ll probably give me some hush money." "You crazy bastard!" At that moment, another conversation was taking place in Baekya''s mind. ¡¾"Are you really going to demand a reward?"¡¿ ''No. I intend to postpone revealing myself to the Awakened society as long as possible.'' ¡¾"Just bluffing then?"¡¿ ''Not that either.'' ¡¾"Then what is it?"¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' expresses curiosity.¡¿ ''I''m going to launder the money I took from the warehouse as a reward.'' I needed money anyway, and this seemed like a good opportunity. ''I''ll squeeze some money out of them this time, help him focus on the civil service exam. If I have enough, I''ll get him a couple more elixirs and raise him to C-Rank. That should be enough to repay him for keeping this body alive.'' ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' is impressed by your profound thoughts.¡¿ ¡¾3 Mana stat points are sponsored.¡¿ ''Thank you!'' Baekya received the sponsorship for the day and focused back on the people in front of him. "Hand over the business card, and bring the documents." His voice, firm as a thousand-year-old glacier, made the young executive flinch. He ran out of the office and returned with the documents that had been carelessly stored in a hallway cabinet. Porter Kim, Porter Park, and Porter Choi, who had finished their morning shift and came out for lunch, witnessed the scene. "Oh my god." "That''s Ilha and Wolha, right?" The once-intimidating executives and employees were bowing their heads before the two. * * * The three of them wrote posts on the ''Porter Bulletin Board'' of the Awakened community ''Star Chatter'' while eating lunch that day. [It seems like a colleague I worked with Reawakened~] [I think I saw a Reawakening today. Mwahaha!] [That''s one lucky junior.] The content of their posts followed a common pattern on that bulletin board. A hardworking porter junior, who was diligently working to pay for his younger brother''s medicine, recently fell victim to an artifact scam and ended up in massive debt. Somehow, he managed to pay off the debt and didn''t show up for work for a while. Then today, he came back saying he wanted to quit and completely turned the company upside down. The comments were polarized. [If all the Reawakened people in these stories were real, Korea would have over 100 S-Rankers by now.] [Wow! You guys had quite the show. I''m envious.] [I hope that friend does well. Hehehe~] [I hope the same luck comes to you hyungs~] [Did you think saying it''s too cliche would make us believe it?] [This is why the New Year''s Literary Contest is failing.] About half of the comments were telling them not to make things up, and the other half were congratulatory. Certainly, this kind of story appeared quite frequently on the Porter Bulletin Board. Reawakening was something that all porters, at the bottom of the Awakened society, dreamed of. That''s why neither those who said not to make things up nor those who congratulated them wrote their comments very seriously. Even Mr. Kim, Mr. Choi, and Mr. Park, who had posted the stories, felt the same way. They occasionally chuckled or got annoyed while looking at the comment notifications, then headed back into the Gate with the other porters. However, the story was different for the executives of Woori Mining. "I took Executive Hwang to the hospital and came back." "What happened to those guys talking about the police earlier?" "I checked on my way back, and they said we have to show up at the station starting tomorrow. They warned us that if any of us try to skip town, we''ll be arrested on the spot, so don''t even think about it." "Ah, they''re trying to quell the chaos caused by Baekya''s death by cracking down on us." They were all ''Hunters'' with at least a D+ or C- Rank, so they could somewhat grasp the strength they had witnessed. "It''s like... I had a nightmare. I don''t know what I saw." Everyone nodded at one executive''s words. "Hyungnim, are you saying he really took down that Aringen Rock Golem in one hit?" "You think it''s a lie? Didn''t you see Executive Hwang lose his arm?" "That level of strength... he''s at least B+ Rank, isn''t he?" "Jinyoung was taken out instantly earlier. And you''re C-Rank, aren''t you?" "Honestly... it felt like sparring with my hyungnim." "It''s a Reawakening. A genuine Reawakening." "We''re lucky to be alive." "Hey, when we go for the police investigation, spill everything. If we try to get clever and that bastard comes back, we''re dead meat. Even if we rot in jail for a few years, it''s safer there. Got it?" "Yes." One executive looked at the young executive who had his hand stabbed earlier. "Hey, do you think he''ll actually go after your brother?" The young executive hesitated for a moment before answering. "I hope he does. Then he''ll die." The executives and employees nodded one by one. "He probably will." They knew how arrogant real Hunters could be. The only ones they respected were the High Rankers who raided the Tower alongside Baekya. They barely even acknowledged the government Awakened who fought against Gates. No matter if he had Reawakened, he was just a porter until a few days ago. Beep A familiar disaster alert broke the brief silence. [Emergency Gate Disaster Alert] [Gyeonggi-do, Seoul, Highway 100, Goryeo Overpass. Grade 5 Gate occurrence. Coordinates...] One of the executives muttered. "Isn''t that on the way to that Ilha kid''s house?" [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 19 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 19 It seemed like we spent more time at the Gate than I thought, because by the time the taxi merged onto the highway, it was already rush hour. Rush hour traffic in Gyeonggi-do was like a parking lot. Cars were crammed bumper-to-bumper from one end of the road to the other. I fiddled with my smartphone, thinking about getting out of the taxi and calling a helicopter, while Wolha kept glancing anxiously at the rising meter, worried about the fare. But that didn''t last long. "Hey, bro." "Yeah?" Wolha leaned back against the seat and then sat up again. He looked at me with a determined look in his eyes. The outline of his delicate face was illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window. "How did you do that earlier?" Here it comes. I tried to put on a brave face. "Huh? What are you talking about?" "That officer earlier, he was a C-Rank, wasn''t he?" ¡°Nah~ No way. No, no." "What do you mean, no! Don''t try to brush it off." I might be able to incinerate the horizon with a single gesture, having come from a world where I lived among the strongest, but that doesn''t mean C-Ranks are weak. Even F-Ranks, who are treated as non-Awakened in the ''Chatter of the Stars'', possess strength greater than professional athletes from the pre-Aitel era. A C-Rank can easily slice a truck in half with a single sashimi knife. Ranks above that are rarely encountered by ordinary people, so executive Hwang and his colleagues we met today were the ''strongest Awakened'' that regular people could possibly encounter. I''m sure both I and Wolha had been subjected to their abuse while working at ''Woori Mining''. "I wasn''t going to ask, but it was just so shocking." "It was a coincidence. A coincidence. Hahaha." "You don''t expect me to believe that, do you? Do you think I''m an idiot?" "L-let''s talk about it at home. The driver''s giving us weird looks." Wolha seemed to have a lot to say, but he toned it down as if he couldn''t help it because we were outside. His gaze followed me persistently. "I don''t want to go home now." I muttered quietly, just enough so Wolha couldn''t hear. And my wish was granted in the worst possible way. Beep! A loud alarm sounded, and a message from the Aitel system appeared in my vision. ¡¾Warning! Warning! Warning!¡¿ ¡¾Level 4 Gate Breach!¡¿ ¡¾Finale Story: The Road to Judgment in the Valley of Bankruptcy¡¿ "Huh?" "Wh-what''s that?" Wolha and the taxi driver panicked simultaneously. The Gate alert messages from Aitel were visible and audible to everyone. Whoosh! A black sphere expanded towards us from the road ahead. "Open the door! Open it! Can''t you hear me?" The taxi driver''s eyes were already wide with shock and fear. "Damn it!" Thud. I kicked the door, breaking it off its hinges. "Get out!" I reached out to Wolha urgently. "The seatbelt is stuck!" Wolha''s seatbelt wouldn''t unbuckle, as if something was caught in it. The black sphere was already right in front of us. Wolha''s eyes shook violently. I tasted bitterness in the back of my throat. The Constellation''s voice echoed in my ears. ¡¾"Retreat. You can do that, can''t you?"¡¿ ¡¾"I''m not really interested in seeing this kind of side story."¡¿ She was right. If I used my Flame Arrows and Descent from the Crimson Flame, I could easily escape on my own. Then, a terrible thought flashed through my mind. He''s not even my real brother, do I really need to risk my life going into the Gate for him? Then Wolha spoke. "Bro. Jump!" He looked at me with eyes as pale as the moonlight, yet as gentle as the moon''s glow. Damn it. How embarrassing. "Hold on tight!" I jumped back into the car, grabbing Wolha''s hand firmly. Whoosh! The black sphere expanded, devouring everything in its path. The first stage of a Gate breach: Absorption. My vision went completely dark. ¡¾Absorption Complete¡¿ ¡¾Time until Release: 06 days 23 hours 59 minutes¡¿ And when my vision returned, what I saw was... "6 days? It''ll take 6 days until release?" "We''re all going to die!" ...the sight of people who had been pulled into the Gate with us, screaming in despair. A timer showing the time remaining until the ''Release'', when the Gate would naturally open even if not cleared¡ª a blood-red sky, and a narrow path between crimson cliffs rising on both sides. * * * "What... is this?" Wolha muttered, dazed. Even someone as composed as him couldn''t easily overcome the fear of being trapped inside a Gate. Meanwhile, Baekya calmly surveyed their surroundings. ''Is this a scenario-type Gate?'' Having climbed the Tower, Gates didn''t particularly faze him. They were in a circular space, enclosed by walls on all sides, filled with people who had been sucked into the Gate. Around 300 people. Scattered among them were Awakened individuals with white halos floating above their heads. The scene before him was pure chaos. "No!" "We''re all going to die!" "Mom! Mom!" People screamed, clutching their useless smartphones. Most modern devices were rendered useless inside a Gate. "Waaaaah!" Someone''s scream triggered a wave of weeping that spread like wildfire. Then, one of the Awakened shouted in a booming voice. "Calm down, everyone! The Hunters will be here soon! You all know how good Korean Hunters are. It''s just a Level 4! A Level 4!! They''ll dismantle this low-level Gate in no time." People turned to look at the man. The white halo shining above his head seemed quite reassuring. "Don''t worry about the notification about how many days are left until the Release. It''s true we won''t be able to get out until then, but the Hunters will come in and clear the Gate before that anyway. Everyone, just stay calm and wait." Thanks to his intervention before the panic could fully escalate, the atmosphere among the people shifted. "R-right!" "Let''s spread out and sit down for now! Just wait patiently." "Anyone need water?" The people, with their innate Korean group spirit, quickly gathered and started sharing what they had. "Bro, let''s go too." Wolha, having regained his composure, tried to join one of the groups. "Wait a minute." Baekya grabbed Wolha''s wrist. In extreme situations, people were the most dangerous thing of all. Beep. ¡¾Finale Story: ''The Road to Judgment in the Valley of Bankruptcy'' begins.¡¿ ¡¾Walk to the end of the path where your sins return, cleanse your sins, and clear the Gate.¡¿ ¡¾Clear Reward: Certificate of Pardon (Masterpiece). Nullifies Proposition-type debuffs.¡¿ Soon after, a notification window popped up in front of them. Since everyone could see it again, the crowd stirred once more. "The Road to Judgment?" "Where are we supposed to walk?" "Isn''t it over there?" Someone pointed to the path between the cliffs. The path was narrow, barely wide enough for two people to pass side-by-side, and it stretched into the distance. S?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. It blended with the red sky, making it unclear if it even had an end. Wolha looked back at Baekya and sat down again. Then, a man stood up and said. "Can''t we just walk there?" As soon as he finished speaking, countless blades shot up from the cliffs on both sides of the path. Shing! Swoosh! Slash! At first, it seemed possible to dodge them and enter the path, but as the path narrowed, it became clear that getting stabbed or cut was inevitable. "Eek!" The man who had bravely stood up slumped back down to the ground. "H-how can we go there?" Someone shouted, voicing everyone''s thoughts. As if mocking them, another notification window popped up. ¡¾First volunteer recruitment: 60 seconds.¡¿ ¡¾If no volunteer steps forward after 60 seconds, the corrupt group will face collective judgment.¡¿ Panic spread among the people once again. "It''s saying someone has to walk there right now!" "I-I can''t do it even if I die! I''d rather we all die together." "Th-the Awakened! Shouldn''t an Awakened step up?" "What the f***? I''m just a porter!" The timer ticked down, as if mocking them. ¡¾16¡¿ ¡¾15¡¿ When it dropped below 15 seconds, the walls and floor started to vibrate. Rumble! Rumble! Sharp spikes began to sprout from the edges of the floor, near the walls. "Ahhh!" People huddled together towards the center. One Awakened grabbed a college student, an ordinary person, by force. "Come here!" The student''s friends grabbed the Awakened''s arm and clung to it. "No!" "Help!" "I''ll report you as soon as we get out! Don''t you know assaulting an ordinary person is an aggravated offense for an Awakened?" Just as the Awakened, dragging the friends along, was about to shove the student onto the path... "Stop." Whoosh! A Flame Arrow whizzed past the Awakened''s face. Baekya parted the crowd and stepped forward towards the path. "Bro?" Wolha tried to grab Baekya''s wrist, but he gently slipped his hand away. "I''ll go." In his mind, his Constellation let out a deep sigh. ¡¾"I knew this would happen."¡¿ ''I''m sorry.'' ¡¾"Well, since things have turned out this way, make sure you succeed spectacularly. That''s the only way to break even."¡¿ ''Understood. I''ll put on a good show for you.'' Baekya slipped off his crystal coat and handed it to Wolha. "Make sure you keep this on." ''Let''s think positive. It said "clear." There''s a high chance there''s a physical button or something like that at the other end. If I can burn it, I might be able to absorb the high-quality mana that''s maintaining this Gate.'' "Bro!" Wolha reached out once more, trying to grab his brother''s wrist, but Baekya strode onto the path, out of his reach. "I will undertake this penance." An icy silence fell over the crowd. ¡¾The First Judge appears.¡¿ ¡¾Name: Hong#@...... (Unknown error occurred)¡¿ It was a familiar silence to Baekya. He walked briskly down the path, lined with blades on both sides. ''You dare judge me?'' As the path narrowed, the blades naturally pressed in on him, but... Clank! They couldn''t pierce his hardened skin and were deflected. * * * Perhaps because of the incident where an Awakened man tried to force a non-Awakened person onto the path, the Awakened and non-Awakened had gathered in separate groups. Wolha wanted to stay with the non-Awakened, but the wary glances he kept receiving forced him to move towards the Awakened. A female Awakened approached him. "Is that your brother?" "Yes." "He''s cool. What rank is he?" "...It''s a bit complicated." "So his rank is a bit of a mixed bag, huh?" "...Yes." "Well, just by looking at him, he seems to be at least C-Rank, so there''s not much to worry about." Her tone was suggestive. Wolha met her eyes and asked urgently. "But?" The woman narrowed her eyes. "This is a Gate with strong story elements. There haven''t been any monsters or anything like that." "Yeah." "The notification earlier mentioned something about judgment, and it seems like your brother is blocking the blades with a skill, right?" By now, Baekya''s back was just a tiny dot in the distance. Clang! The sound of blades breaking could be heard intermittently. "But with stories like this, if we don''t follow the narrative, it''ll try to force us back on track. Your brother''s skills seem really good, so that force will be even stronger." Wolha felt as if a cold hand had gripped his heart. "So you''re saying he should have been bleeding profusely to break through?" The woman replied. "That''s what I think. It would be best if he could just crush that force with overwhelming power... but he can''t, can he?" Wolha looked at the path between the cliffs. ''He''s okay... right?'' Baekya, who had been progressing smoothly, suddenly stopped moving. Fear gripped Wolha''s heart. It felt like all the good things that had happened to the two brothers lately were just precursors to this misfortune. How much time had passed? Finally, a notification appeared once more. ¡¾Second volunteer recruitment: 60 seconds.¡¿ ¡¾If no volunteer steps forward after 60 seconds, the corrupt group will face collective judgment.¡¿ Wolha''s legs almost gave out, and he nearly collapsed. ''No.'' "Bro..." The voice that escaped his parted lips trembled more than he could believe. Hope was fading. "Huh? Uh?" "What?" "D-did he fail?" "No way. If even a C-Rank Awakened failed, how can we succeed?" The chaos among the people intensified, far worse than before. ¡¾10¡¿ ¡¾9¡¿ Meanwhile, the countdown raced towards zero. Beep. ¡¾Judging the corrupt group.¡¿ Spikes erupted from the floor once again. Whoosh! "Aaahhhhh!" Sharp spikes rose from the outer edges of the floor. Long, spear-like spikes shot out sporadically from the walls, targeting the people. Stab! An unusually long spike jutted out. Its tip was aimed at a man holding a child who looked about seven years old. The man shielded the child with his body and crouched down. Thud! Wolha found himself pushing the man out of the way. ''Did I catch the meddling bug from my brother too?'' A bitter smile crept onto his face. He braced himself for excruciating pain. But he felt no pain at all. ''Huh?'' Wolha groped his chest. The coat wasn''t even pierced, let alone wrinkled. ''What is this?'' Wolha didn''t know it, but the crystal coat he was wearing was a Masterpiece-Grade artifact. It could easily withstand the mid-level punishment process of a Gate like this. Pierce! But the spear-like spikes kept shooting out. "Aaaagh!" Screams grew louder from all around. The red sky seemed to speak. Judgment. Be judged. All of you are sinners, so be judged. You who are stingy, lazy, gluttonous, lustful, angry, envious, and arrogant. Be judged! Wolha shuddered at the Gate''s malice. ''What kind of judgment is this? Tell it to stop this nonsense!'' Just then, a man approached him. "Excuse me, could you lend me that coat? It looks like an artifact." He was supporting an elderly woman who seemed to be his mother. "I want to put it on her. Please, I beg you." Immediately after, a burly man shoved the man roughly. "Ugh!" "Hey! I''ll give you 10 million won if I get out of here! No, 100 million! 100 million won! Lend me the coat. It''s an artifact, right?" "Artifact?" "Did you just say it¡¯s an artifact?" "Hey, you!" Hundreds of eyes, filled with expectation, anxiety, and desire, focused on Wolha. The pupils, reflecting the light of the red sky, gleamed crimson. Even for someone as bold as him, it was an overwhelming burden for a 20-year-old who had been bedridden for so long. "Th-that''s..." Wolha felt his vision blur. ''What should I do....'' Spikes continued to erupt from all directions. Whoosh! One spike hurtled towards them¡ª about to impale both the mother and son in front of him. Thud! At the last moment, Wolha squeezed his eyes shut. Fizzle! But instead of a gruesome piercing sound, he heard something akin to ashes scattering. He opened his eyes. ''Huh?'' The spike was enveloped in a white light, burning away as if on fire. A woman who had been bleeding profusely from her wounds murmured in a trance. "...My wounds are healing?" "We''re alive!" "We''re alive!" The injuries of those who had already been hurt were healing as if they had never been there in the first place. The blood-red sky cracked, and blue light seeped through. An Aitel notification appeared in his vision. Ding! Ding! Ding! ¡¾Finale Story: ¡®The Road to Judgment in the Valley of Bankruptcy¡¯ has ended.¡¿ ¡¾The Gate is collapsing.¡¿ Wolha whipped his head around to look at the end of the path. ''Did he succeed?'' He could faintly see Baekya raising his fist in triumph. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 20 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 20 The path between the blade-filled cliffs. Baekya advanced, his hardened body shattering every blade in his path. Clang! Another blade shattered and fell. ''Talking about judgment and all that nonsense.'' The gap narrowed further. The walls were rough and abrasive, as if he had entered a car wash with glass sandpaper instead of bristles. ''A demon who came to collect human suffering and despair.'' Baekya pushed his body into the tight space without hesitation. ''I refuse this gore story. I won''t even give it a second of playback.'' Scrape! The glass-shard-filled walls couldn''t penetrate Baekya''s white skin; instead, they were smoothly shaved away like mashed potatoes. This was Baekya, who had climbed to the 20th floor alone, burning the Tower''s rules with Law of Light. The finale story of a mere low-level Gate like this¡ª in the past, he wouldn''t have even bothered reading it before incinerating it. The notification window frantically displayed messages, seemingly flustered. ¡¾Notice from the Valley of Bankruptcy¡¿ ¡¾Using skills or other means to circumvent the challenges will not be considered as completing the Road to Judgment!¡¿ ¡¾Release Hardening!¡¿ Baekya waved the message away from his vision as if shooing a fly. Finally, thick blades emerged from the narrow gap. Thud! Thud! Thud! Several blades blocked the path between the cliffs like iron bars. ''Should I break them?'' It wasn''t meant to inflict pain; it was meant to completely block the path. Another sadistic notification appeared. ¡¾If you remain in one place for more than 60 seconds, the Road to Judgment process will end, and the second subject of judgment will be summoned.¡¿ ¡¾59¡¿ ¡¾58¡¿ ''Damn it. Time...'' ''Should I use the Law of Light? No. My mana is already low from fighting the rock golem. I need to conserve it until at least I reach the core.'' Baekya glanced back briefly. At this distance, Wolha probably couldn''t see him clearly. He looked up at the blood-red sky visible through the cracks. Its intentions were obvious. ''You want us to play along with your story, don''t you? You want us to fight amongst ourselves, to struggle and fail on this path, and to despair.'' But Baekya had never once played along with such obvious intentions. He was the Sun of Humanity. The Pinnacle of the Era. The Chosen One. The one who had reached the peak of this world. ''I decide how I ascend. I decide what story I¡¯ll write. Anytime, anywhere!'' Ignoring the notification, he used a skill. ¡¾Form of Fire¡¿ Baekya''s body flickered, transforming into flames. He meticulously controlled his mana, maintaining a human form. Even from behind, it was impossible to tell that he was using Form of Fire. ''If Wolha finds out about it, he¡¯d never let it go.'' Sizzle. Baekya moved forward with his feet not even touching the ground. ''Let''s go.'' Clunk! The blades, both the ones blocking the path and the countless others beyond, raked against him, but they only left white scars on his burning form. The more notifications popped up, the more certain he became that this method was working. ¡¾Deactivate your skill!¡¿ The distant other side was now visible. The gap between the cliffs was too narrow to pass through, even without the blades. ''I knew it. Well, at least there is another side.'' Within the space beyond the fence of spear-like blades, he saw... ["You."] ["What have you done?"] ["You ruined everything!"] A demon with four blade-adorned arms and red skin pointed at Baekya. ¡¾The Lesser Demon of Pain (B-) shows strong hostility towards you.¡¿ Baekya scoffed at the demon and passed through the final gap between the spear-like blades. "I ruined everything? That''s impossible." His fiery body was covered in white scars from the blades. ["I''ll kill you a hundred times over¡­ I''ll make you wander this hell forever¡­"] "I fight for my country and my dreams. So I''ll always be right, and you''ll always be wrong." The androgynous demon swung all four of its blades at once. Slash! Instead of dodging, Baekya used a skill. ¡¾Explosive Recovery¡¿ BOOM! The power of Explosive Recovery was proportional to the number and severity of his wounds. And Baekya''s entire body was horribly mangled. ¡¾Titles: Demon Slayer, Flame of Destruction, Bringer of Dawn... are activated.¡¿ Thanks to various titles and traits he possessed, the already powerful skill amplified several times over. FWOOSH! Fierce flames erupted from the countless wounds all over his body. The Demon of Pain''s eyes widened in shock. ["Wait...!"] BOOM! The explosion filled the space between the cliffs. ¡¾"That was a decent finish. Explosive endings are always reliable. The more gruesome the setting, the more satisfying it is."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation, ''Sunny,'' gives you a high-five.¡¿ ¡¾You have defeated the Lesser Demon of Pain (B-).¡¿ ¡¾You have acquired the Demon''s (B-) Spirit Core.¡¿ ¡¾You have been granted the traits ''Painless'' and ''Indomitable Will.'' You will no longer flinch from pain.¡¿ ¡¾Finale Story: Valley of Bankruptcy, The Road to Judgment has ended.¡¿ ¡¾You have been rewarded with a Certificate of Pardon (Masterpiece). The Certificate of Pardon nullifies Condition-type status effects.¡¿ ¡¾You have used ''Form of Fire'' with exceptional control. ''Form of Fire'' has now evolved into ''Flame Dance.'' You can now maintain a clear human form even while transformed into flames.¡¿ ¡¾Explosive Recovery used 10,000 times! You have been awarded 1,000,000 Achievement Points. The power of Explosive Recovery has increased by 250%.¡¿ Reward notifications filled one side of his vision. Baekya first secured the Certificate of Pardon, which nullified Condition-type status effects. It was a document written on high-quality paper with gold-infused ink and stamped with a red seal. ¡¾I, Luciella, guarantee to all who possess this Certificate of Pardon (Masterpiece) the freedom to escape from any condition.¡¿ ''This will be useful until I regain my strength.'' He placed the demon''s Spirit Core, along with the Certificate of Pardon, into his subspace ring. He could incinerate it with Law of Light to absorb its mana, or he could use it for various other purposes. He didn''t pay much attention to the traits ''Painless'' and ''Indomitable Will,'' or the new skill ''Flame Dance.'' After all, this was Baekya, who had stood at the pinnacle of pyromancy and obtained Law of Light after trying everything imaginable. ''If I act on my will, that itself becomes a skill.'' That''s how Baekya sorted through his rewards. Finally, he looked at the core of the crack dungeon, embedded halfway up the cliff. A crimson orb lodged in a rock wall that looked like flesh with bulging veins. From the beginning, he had endured all this hardship to incinerate that core with Law of Light and absorb its mana. Now, for the sake of the injured, he had to burn it with Law of Light. He had to make sure that their injuries disappeared as if they had never happened in the first place. * * * The Hunter from the Sun and Moon Divine Guild and the official from the Gate Management Department in Korea (GMDK) arrived at the scene an hour later. Unfortunately, the rift had opened right in the middle of the highway, paralyzing traffic in the area. They had been delayed while arranging for a helicopter. ''This is bad.'' ''It''s a Judgment-type story, who knows how many casualties there might be.'' The Divine Guild¡¯s Hunter, clad in a pristine white robe adorned with a white sun and a black moon, and the GMDK Hunter, wearing a combat uniform with the GMDK insignia, jumped out of the helicopter without even bothering with ropes. There had been reports of a few Awakened being pulled into the Gate, but statistically speaking, they were most likely just porter-level Awakened. It would be fortunate enough if they didn''t cause more trouble than they were worth. Such issues were very common with low-ranked Awakened in Gates. They are looked down upon in the Awakened society, but to ordinary people, they are still superhuman. The Divine Guild and GMDK Hunters braced themselves for the sight of bloodied victims. "They''re here!" "They¡¯ve arrived?" However, the scene on the overpass was completely different from what they had expected. On the shoulder of the road, women and children were huddled together under blankets. "Thank goodness." "Did that person leave? I wanted to express my gratitude." S~?a??h the ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "I think he looked like someone famous." Some men had parked their cars close to the side of the road and were even taking it upon themselves to control traffic with tripods and safety cones. There was no laughter, given the ordeal they had just experienced, but everyone''s faces showed deep relief. The GMDK official asked the taxi driver, who had just moved his doorless taxi to the side, "Wasn''t there a Gate Break?" "Yes, there was." "But how..." "The Awakened person I was driving was around C-Rank. At first, I thought I was going to die, but then he just stepped up and..." The two Hunters listened intently to the taxi driver''s story. ''It isn¡¯t a joke, is it?'' ''It was a dangerous situation.'' It was an incredibly dangerous dungeon, considering that a normal clear was impossible from the start. Hundreds of people could have been trapped in that hell forever, suffering endlessly. It was nothing short of a miracle. "Would it be possible to get his contact information?" the GMDK official asked the taxi driver. The taxi driver turned to him, puzzled. "Excuse me? His contact information, why...?" "The government would like to give him a reward." "Ah." A moment later, the Divine Guild¡¯s Hunter also spoke up. "The Sun and Moon Divine Guild would also like to offer him a reward." The two Hunters looked at each other, raising their eyebrows. ''It''s a government reward. No ulterior motives!'' ''I know you''ll try to scout him while saying that. Don''t even think about exploiting his patriotism for cheap labor!'' The taxi driver simply smiled. "He already gave me a large sum of money as compensation for breaking my taxi door when he escaped, so hearing this puts my mind at ease." That day''s events even made it onto the news. [Seoul Overpass Gate Resolved by an Unknown ''Good Samaritan''] Naturally, it also became a hot topic on the Awakened community, ''Chatter of the Stars.'' [So, does anyone know who it was?] [If they solo cleared that, they should be at least C+ to B- Rank.] [I heard they might even be a porter?] [? Why the hell do these guys always have to downplay Awakened who were porters?] [? Who cares about their background? They walked that blade-filled path, enduring the pain.] [And in the end, they even destroyed the Gate''s core cleanly, healing everyone''s injuries. They could have made a fortune selling that core, they must be a really good person.] The sentiment leaned towards praising the hero. The direction shifted slightly when a notable user, with a High-Ranker verification mark next to their ID, appeared. Anonymous (A) [Their injuries disappeared?] [Whoa! An A-Rank, hyungnim?] [It''s a Ranker!] [Welcome!] [Yes! I was on the support team and saw it myself. I even interviewed people.] Anonymous (A) [That doesn''t usually happen, does it?] [Huh?] Anonymous (A) [The only way everyone''s injuries disappear when a Gate closes is through Baekya-nim''s Law of Light. He''s been so active that it''s become a common knowledge in Korea, but people are misunderstanding.] [I''m sorry! I don''t understand.] Anonymous (A) [Really strong curses sometimes dissipate on their own when the medium or caster disappears. But most of them remain. If the knife that cut me breaks, my wound doesn''t just disappear, now does it?] [???] [Am I the only one freaking out right now?] Anonymous (A) [Well, maybe that Gate was special.] Anonymous (A) [Or maybe that Hunter awakened a similar ability to his.] * * * Baekya and Wolha''s house. In the room. I sat at my desk, lost in thought. I messed up. I was in the middle of reading a heated thread on ''Chatter of the Stars.'' I just did what I always do, out of habit. For someone like me who can absorb mana with Law of Light, it was more beneficial to absorb the rift''s core than to sell it. "Maybe he''s actually still alive?" "It would be awesome if the whole death thing was just a hilarious prank." "Maybe that''s why the GMDK hasn''t made an announcement yet, that would be epic." I read a few comments aloud in a low voice before turning off my smartphone screen. "..." Anyway, I have no regrets. If I hadn''t used Law of Light, countless people would have been seriously injured or killed. I''d do it again if the same situation arose. But I also realized that I need to be more cautious from now on. Those self-proclaimed... Yeah, those self-proclaimed regressors didn''t care that I had saved the Earth and my country countless times. They killed me once. Knock, knock. There was a knock on the door. "Bro. Here. I wore it well." Wolha handed me the crystal coat. I expected him to ask where I got it. But Wolha simply said, "Thank you." He looked at me with those sincere eyes, filled with the belief that I would tell him everything someday. "I was just being a good older brother for once. Get some rest, you must be tired. It''s damn hard to come home everyday." Wolha left, taking the crystal coat with him. Ding. I checked the new text message on my phone. It was from the Sun and Moon Divine Guild. Reward or compensation, I''ll take it. Tomorrow, I can finally launder the cash in my inventory. From now on, I''ll be grilling steak every day. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 21 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 21 The headquarters of the Sun and Moon Divine Guild was a 40-story building in the heart of Seoul. In the lobby, statues of the sun and moon, made of gold and silver leaf, stood tall. High-ranking Hunters, their heads adorned with colorful halos, gathered in groups and walked through the hallways. Wolha waved to his brother from the first-floor coffee shop. "Be careful what you say. The atmosphere isn''t great, so don''t cause any trouble. Okay?" "Okay." Worry choked his throat, making it hard to speak. Wolha also knew about the recent atmosphere in the Hunter industry through communities like ''Chatter of the Stars''. Since Baekya''s death, the Hunter industry has been in a state of high tension. Rankers had stopped climbing towers and clearing gates, holing up in their own buildings. Naturally, this created a huge gap in the defense against monsters. The government issued work resumption orders, and the media constantly criticized the Rankers'' immorality, but the Rankers remained unmoved. ''A fine? I''ll just pay it.'' ''Forced execution? Try it.'' ''You won''t tell us why Baekya died, but you want us to go out there?'' ''You didn''t kill him, did you? You said he got too strong.'' Even the Divine Guild Hunters in the lobby were fully armed. The hidden armor artifacts beneath their robes clicked softly, and several long swords hung at their waists. Even though they had been invited, they were checked several times at the entrance. Wolha made eye contact with Ilha, who had risen from his seat. "Even if they act arrogantly, just let it go. You know, hyung. This is the Sun and Moon Divine Guild." Wolha clearly remembered the time when Ilha had beaten up a Hunter from ''Woori Mining'' who had mentioned that his older brother worked at the Sun and Moon Divine Guild. Hunters who risk their lives have sky-high pride. ''He didn''t stop even after my brother mentioned me? I''ll teach him a lesson! Does my name seem that insignificant?'' ''Argh!'' In Wolha''s mind, he could already see a high-ranking Divine Guild Hunter pointing a sword at Ilha. Ilha grinned and nodded. "That''s my specialty. Leave it to me." Ilha waved to Wolha and left the coffee shop. He showed no signs of nervousness, even though he was entering a building swarming with high-ranking Hunters alone. ''I guess you still see me as your older brother.'' Ilha, or rather, Baekya, was the top expert in the Hunter industry. And in Baekya''s estimation, there was a 90% chance that this matter would be resolved within 30 minutes. ''Don''t worry. Whether it''s a reward or compensation issue, it''s nothing to a large guild like this.'' This wasn''t some insignificant local guild. This was the Sun and Moon Divine Guild, the largest of the four guilds forming the Martial World Alliance. It was also one of the five major guilds in the Republic of Korea, the most advanced nation in the Aitel era. [TL/N: Martial World Alliance is subjected to change in the future.] The whole thing might even be settled by the PR team, not even by the Hunters on site. Yesterday''s phone call was enough to show how they viewed this matter. ''Hello. This is the Sun and Moon Divine Guild¡¯s PR team. We''re calling regarding your great contribution at the Dungeon on Highway 100....'' They didn''t even care about the incident with a guild member''s younger brother. To large guilds like this, mining companies were just consumables. They were free to side with him once, creating a sense of obligation, or simply switch to a different mining company altogether. ''To justify that, giving me a billion won wouldn''t be a big deal.'' Also, even if a fight did break out, he was confident he could handle it. Yesterday, he consumed both the Gate''s core and the demon''s spirit core. ¡¾Mana is greatly increasing by 10, 20, 30...¡¿ Although he hasn''t reached C+ rank yet, his mana alone was close to B- rather than C+. Baekya headed towards the elevator, thinking about exaggerating the reward they gave him several times over. ''Once the money laundering is done, I''ll be able to take taxis as much as I want without Wolha nagging me.'' And as soon as he entered the office on the 15th floor of the building, he was met with the cold stares of the Divine Guild Hunters. They weren''t ordinary office workers, but Hunters with white halos above their heads and swords at their waists. "Hong Ilha?" ".....?" "Aren''t you Hong Ilha?" "Ah! Yes, I am Hong Ilha." "Speaking informally?" "You did it first, didn''t you?" "Wow. This kid is something else. Well, someone who caused such a big incident should have this much guts." "Incident?" "You dared to touch my younger brother?" Baekya let out a deep sigh. His prediction was wrong. * * * I was reminded of a common understanding in the Hunter industry. The more one relies on magic or psychic abilities, the more likely they are to have a contract with a constellation and receive greater benefits from it. Conversely, those who rely on physical abilities, especially martial arts, are less likely to have a contract and receive less from their constellation. This isn''t a difference in talent, but a choice. The path of martial arts is ultimately a solitary one. Relying on a constellation for help leads to dependence. How can one achieve mastery without relying on oneself? This is a belief shared by most martial arts Awakened. In fact, among A-Rank swordsmen or martial artists, there were more with plain white haloes above their heads than those with colorful ones. The point is, many martial arts Awakened have the willpower to forgo contracts for the sake of achieving mastery in their craft. In a positive light, it''s unwavering determination; in a negative light, it''s stubbornness. They can be righteous or wicked, but they all share a lawful tendency. And a lawful tendency means they''re willing to draw their sword to enforce their will. The Hunter team leader, wearing a red bandana, opened his wallet and took out a few checks. "Here. This is for the reward, the bonus, and... compensation for the trouble." Flutter! He tossed the checks in my face. "....." I was so dumbfounded that I couldn''t even get angry. It felt like I had stepped into a sitcom or a drama. No one in power in this world would dare to treat me like this. The Tsar of Russia, the Pope of the Vatican, the President of the United States¡ª they were all courteous in my presence. Yet, a mere team leader, not even the leader of the Martial World Alliance or the head of the Sun and Moon Divine Guild, dared to do this! The team members, wearing black bandanas, snickered quietly. "Take it." "Take it, we said! Why aren''t you taking it? Didn''t you come here for the money?" "A lowly porter gets lucky and beats the team leader''s brother, and now he''s acting all high and mighty, coming in here?" "You''ve got guts." I was reminded of how the Sun and Moon Divine Guild was portrayed in the media. All that came to mind were their infamous reputations, like being the predecessor of the Heavenly Demon Divine Guild or another name for the Demonic Cult. That''s right. These guys were fundamentally evil-aligned. When I was ''Baekya the Sun'', they always followed my lead, so I didn''t realize it. But there were a couple of things these guys didn''t know about me. One, that I was Baekya. And two, that I was an extreme pragmatist. [TL/N: Pragmatist ¡ª someone who is practical and focused on achieving a goal, and who deals with problems in a sensible way that suits the circumstances] I have a strong sense of pride, but I don''t let it ruin things. For the sake of laundering the money in my inventory, I could endure a lot, if not everything. I meticulously gathered the checks scattered on the floor and counted them one by one. 1,000, 2,000, 3,000... 7,000? OK. Ah, this one''s only 100. How embarrassing for someone who looks at least B-Rank. If you''re going to give, at least give all 1,000s. I stuffed them all into my wallet and asked. "Is that all?" The leader in the red bandana gaped at me in disbelief. "Hey, don''t you have any pride?" "Did I come here for pride? I came for the money." "Anyone would think I owed you money." "In the martial world, debts and grudges are settled through blood ties and the bonds between master and disciple, aren''t they? If your brother did something wrong, you should pay the price." Swish The leader''s hand moved towards his waist. I knew it. After all that provocation, there had to be a reaction. Hunters live and die by their pride. He probably thinks it''s shameful for someone who''s at least B-Rank, like him, to be sitting here and taking insults from someone who looks like a C-Rank, like me. The leader gave a chilling smile. "Yes, you should pay the price." His longsword was drawn like a flash of light. Schwing! * * * The stronger an Awakened becomes, the wider the gap within their rank. The difference between a C+ and a B- was even greater than the difference between an ordinary person and a C+. It wasn''t without reason that they became arrogant. Moreover, the government reacted sensitively to conflicts between Awakened and ordinary people, but conflicts between Awakened were ignored, like the principle of "non-interference in martial affairs" in martial arts novels. Therefore, there was no reason for Team Leader Park, a B-Rank Hunter of the Sun and Moon Divine Guild, to keep this insolent Awakened alive, the one who had offended him. So what if he might be the Hunter who made a scene at some overpass Gate the other day? Team Leader Park didn''t care. Schwing! The leader drew his sword like a flash of light and struck at Baekya''s neck. Clank! Schwing! The long blade sliced down, cutting through his shoulder and thigh in succession. Schwing! The four team members also drew their swords simultaneously, slashing and stabbing at Baekya. The moment the leader drew his sword, they all became accomplices. That was the culture of the Sun and Moon Divine Guild. But Baekya still stood there. From the wounds where he was cut and stabbed, instead of crimson blood, a chilling white light flowed out. The leader''s eyes wavered. ''He''s not dying?'' Baekya scoffed at his hesitation. The eyes are the windows to the soul. Eyes wavering after drawing a sword meant a wavering heart, a wavering sword. What could a swordsman with a wavering sword cut? "Now even people like you dare to point your swords at me." ¡¾Flame Dance¡¿ The skill, which Baekya had been able to use since yesterday, allowed him to transform his insides into flames while maintaining his human form. It did consume quite a bit of mana, but thanks to devouring two spirit cores, it wasn''t too much of a strain. "It''s like I''ve become the protagonist of a horror story." ¡¾Explosive Regeneration¡¿ A violent explosion erupted from the gaps in his wounds. Boom! The four team members, Team Leader Park, and various office equipment were blown away in all directions, with Baekya at the center. Team Leader Park felt his vision blurring and thought. ''The damage... it''s impossible. My defense is over 160%. How much penetration did he have?'' He recalled the PR team mentioning something like this. ''Judging from various circumstances, the porter who quit Woori Mining seems to be a Re-Awakened. Or perhaps the same Awakened who closed the Gate on Highway 100. And...'' ''And?'' ''The injuries of those caught in the Gate when it closed disappeared. It''s ''Nullification''.'' ''Nullification...'' ''Yes. It''s possible that it''s a similar ability to ''Law of Light''.'' They said the newly appeared Awakened might have a similar ability to Baekya. That they might have inherited a fragment of the legendary Hunter. ''I made a grave misjudgment.'' Team Leader Park squeezed his eyes shut. In the Hunter world, a mistake meant death. Thump "Get up. Stop pretending. It didn''t hit you that hard." But instead of finishing him off, Ilha approached and extended a hand. ''Is he... sparing me?'' Team Leader Park lowered his head and took the hand. Slap! Ilha slapped Team Leader Park''s hand away. "Give me the money, the money. You had more checks in your wallet!" "Huh?" Team Leader Park awkwardly took out his wallet from his pocket and handed it over entirely. Ilha took out all the checks and cash and tossed the wallet back. "Here. I didn''t touch your Hunter license." Team Leader Park listlessly took back his wallet. The deflated wallet looked pitiful. ''It''s all gone.'' Swish Just then, someone gracefully entered the office. "What''s all the commotion?" The scent of orchids filled the air. "V-Vice Guildmaster?" "Greetings, Vice Guildmaster!" The team members stumbled to their feet and bowed. It was then that Team Leader Park saw Ilha''s expression. ''What''s this?'' The guy who had been so confident looked as if he had seen the Grim Reaper. It wasn''t just a figure of speech; he really looked like he was seeing someone who had killed him once before. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] S?a?ch* Th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 22 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 22 I instinctively held my breath as my eyes fell upon the Hunter who had just entered. He had a purple halo above his head, shaped like a circle enclosing a square, symbolizing the Eastern philosophy of "Heaven is Round, Earth is Square" His black hair, without a single strand out of place, flowed down to his waist, and his eyes shone like amethysts. His gaze was infinitely clear, yet not quite human. His small face, looking slightly younger than Wolha''s, overflowed with youthful charm, and his toned muscles were faintly visible through the black Hanbok embroidered with gold thread depicting the sun and moon. The stronger an Awakened becomes, the more beautiful their appearance and the more vibrant their energy. From that perspective, this Vice Guildmaster was at least an S-Rank. I knew him. And at the same time, I didn''t. He was among the self-proclaimed "Regressor" group who had attacked me along with Cheong Siyeol, Lee Eunwoo, and Na Jeongwon a month ago. But the reason I said I didn''t know him was that he wasn''t truly my disciple. I wasn''t sure, but he was probably an Awakened they had brought in from outside. Of course, there was one thing I was sure of. I was screwed. "....." I immediately fired two flaming arrows towards the window. Crash! The first shot shattered the window, and the second flew towards the sky. Whoosh! I was planning to escape using ''Descent from the Crimson Flame''. The Awakened with the purple halo clenched his fist in the air. ¡¾Grasping the Void¡¿ Crack! The gesture of the martial arts Awakened, who had reached the pinnacle of his craft, caught and crushed the flaming arrow flying through the sky. I blinked in bewilderment. What was that? Scary. The attendant who had followed the purple-haloed Awakened spoke into his walkie-talkie. "The Vice Guildmaster has made his move. We''ll secure that guy in the first-floor lobby. Stand by until we move." The Awakened with the purple halo, the Vice Guildmaster, spoke in a voice filled with arrogance befitting a powerful individual. "I don''t want to cause any unnecessary trouble in these chaotic times. Please come with us quietly." It took me a moment to realize he was talking to me. I hesitated for a moment. The Hunter industry was in a state of emergency. The Rankers were probably meeting in secret, trying to figure out why I died. In such a situation, a ''troublesome'' variable like me appears? If I''m lucky, I''ll be imprisoned; if I''m unlucky, they''ll kill me to silence me. This wasn''t a matter of efficiency or morality, but of emotion. The world''s strongest, a respected mentor, was killed by an unknown force for an unknown reason. No idea if the culprit was a Black Hole Awakened, a great demon from some Gate, a government agent wary of Awakened, or some transcendent being. The situation was already tense, ready to explode at the slightest touch. If they heard that a C-Rank outsider like me was causing trouble at a time like this, I wouldn''t blame them for reacting harshly. Of course, I had no intention of going quietly. Even against an opponent presumed to be S-Rank, I could at least escape. But if I did, Wolha would either die or suffer terribly. "....." There was no need to think about it. I was Baekya. I hadn''t lived my life sacrificing much, and I didn''t want to. But betrayal was something I hadn''t even considered in the past 15 years. And it would remain that way. In this situation, there was only one way to divert their attention. "Did you say you''re the Vice Guildmaster of the Divine Guild?" I looked at the Vice Guildmaster''s face. "Show some respect." The attendant blocked my way. As expected of someone presumed to be S-Rank, even the attendant had been chosen by a constellation and wore a dazzling halo. "He may be your Vice Guildmaster, but he''s not mine." I raised my wrist, where the Ghost Princess''s handkerchief was tied. Most high-ranking Awakened possess the ''Insight'' skill. The Vice Guildmaster''s eyes narrowed, as if he had realized that this was meant to ''disguise'' something. His amethyst-like eyes met mine. His gaze felt like it could pierce through my very soul. If I weren''t Baekya, I probably would have crumbled under that gaze alone. ¡¾You have been affected by ''Insight''.¡¿ A notification appeared before my eyes, warning me of the expected attack. "Wait." As expected, he stopped his subordinates. The Vice Guildmaster asked with an unreadable expression on his face. "Could you spare me a moment?" But I was certain. I would be taken somewhere different from where they originally intended to take me. * * * The Vice Guildmaster''s private underground training hall. The walls, reinforced with various barriers and encased in steel-reinforced concrete, boasted a strength that wouldn''t budge even if a nuclear bomb exploded underground. He and I entered the training hall alone. His subordinates protested, but he silenced them with a single glance. He was quite impressive. At his age, I was struggling between politicians who didn''t value the lives of Hunters and sent us into danger, and my disciples who didn''t value their own lives and jumped into those dangers. He spoke. "I recognize that halo." "....." I didn''t expect this to be discovered, even if other things were. The constellation always easily blocked Insight. I thought he would only realize that I was hiding something. I didn''t expect him to figure out exactly what I was hiding. Was I being too careless? "That star must have chosen a new Awakened. Since he''s dead." "....." "I won''t hold you accountable for what happened earlier. It was our fault, wasn''t it? Both you and your brother will be able to return safely." "Thank you very much for that." "But, no. Anyway, I need you to spar with me once. So I can save face in front of the staff, I mean, the guild members. You understand, right?" The young Hunter looked at me as a high-ranking official of a large guild. He was probably thinking of using this spar as an excuse to humiliate me. I understand. That way, he could mitigate the humiliating situation of a Divine Guild Hunter losing to an unknown outsider. At the same time, it would give him a reason to appease the other Divine Guild Hunters who might want to kill me. In any case, he seemed to think I was the contractor ''Sunny'' had chosen after Baekya. Friendly sparring was common among high-ranking Awakened. Since I had just effortlessly defeated a B-Rank Awakened, there was no point in trying to convince them that I was actually only C-Rank and that my victory was due to my unique traits. So, I readily nodded. "Yes. I''ll do my best." In a way, this spar was an opportunity for me too. Since he was also part of the self-proclaimed Regressor group, he was someone I would have to fight eventually. Memorizing his skills and habits, which I couldn''t focus on in the previous chaotic situation, would be a great help. I had no intention of going easy on him. I opened my subspace ring, took out the ''Champion''s Sword,'' and held it in my right hand. He put away his real sword and took out a wooden practice sword, holding it with both hands. The next moment, a clear notification appeared before my eyes. It was because ''Insight'' had activated automatically after sensing his power. But the content was a bit shocking. Ding! Ding! Ding! ¡¾Opponent''s Trait: Heavenly Demon Body (Legendary) is active.¡¿ ¡¾Main Title: Heavenly Demon (Legendary) is active.¡¿ ¡¾Opponent is about to unleash the comprehensive skill Heavenly Demon Divine Art (S+). Be careful!¡¿ Heavenly Demon? A legendary-grade class? This is insane. I activated ''Radiant Light Sword'', causing the Champion''s Sword in my hand to glow red-hot like molten steel in a furnace. The constellation''s voice echoed in my ears. ¡¾"I was speechless when I saw that frustrating scene earlier. Why did you let him use Insight on you?"¡¿ ¡¾"Forget it. I knew you were like this. Now that you''ve started, show me victory."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation will bear 25% of your mana consumption.¡¿ Thank you, Great Star. We were standing more than thirty paces apart. Stomp! But with a single step, he closed the distance as if the ground itself was bending to his will. A vivid purple aura blazed around the wooden sword he held. ¡¾Black Heaven Sword Aura¡¿ The terrifying Black Heaven Sword Aura slashed down, aiming to cleave me in two. It was a skill I had never seen before, but its trajectory felt strangely familiar. Swish! Thanks to that familiarity, I had the leisure to unleash a Radiant Burst with my left hand while swinging the sword in my right. Clang! But even with the Radiant Burst added to the Radiant Light Sword, I couldn''t block the Black Heaven Sword Aura. Crack! The Black Heaven Sword Aura ripped through the Radiant Burst and struck the Champion''s Sword. But by then, I had already fired a flame arrow into the air. ¡¾Descent from the Crimson Flame¡¿ Whoosh! My vision blurred. The next moment, I was behind him. I swung my sword, aiming for the back of his neck. Swish! If he made any big movements to dodge or block, I planned to throw the sword and engage in close combat. ¡¾Black Maitreya Divine Art¡¿ Thump! But he effortlessly blocked it with a physical enhancement skill. The impact of the block traveled up the Champion''s Sword. He seamlessly turned and raised his wooden sword. The magnificent Black Heaven Sword Aura still flickered around it. ¡¾Thousand Slaying Strikes¡¿ Slash, slash, slash, slash, slash! The skill, capable of a thousand cuts in a single breath, was unleashed. I strained my mental power to its limits. Miraculously, I could somehow see the trajectory of his sword. It was as if I already knew it. With the precision of catching scattered rice grains with chopsticks, I deflected his relentless sword strikes. "Uwaaaaaaaah¡ª!" But soon I reached my physical limits, and at that moment, I used the next skill without hesitation. Swish! I intentionally let my arm and chest get slightly cut, then... ¡¾Explosive Regeneration¡¿ Boom! A fan-shaped explosion erupted forward. He blocked it again with physical enhancement. ¡¾Black Maitreya Divine Art¡¿ Thump! The white flames that gushed out like a fountain couldn''t even singe his clothes before fading away. It was truly the spirit of a Heavenly Demon. If I had a physical enhancement skill like that, I would have fought the same way. I was grateful. I had prepared the next step, expecting him to react that way, but I didn''t think he would actually do it. ¡¾Hellfire¡¿ I unleashed the inextinguishable flames, weaving them into a wall of fire. Boom! He had stood firm to block the ''Explosive Regeneration'', but he couldn''t avoid the flames that erupted from beneath his feet. He was engulfed in crimson flames. But even while covered in flames, he raised his sword. His purple eyes burned with the determination to never give up. "Ha!" His spirit reminded me of myself at that age. ¡¾Black Heaven Sword Aura: External Release¡¿ The Black Heaven Sword Aura shot out from his sword. Whoosh! The crescent-shaped aura, thrusting vertically downwards, felt like a death sentence. This time, I couldn''t use the Radiant Burst. I tried to parry it by laying the Champion''s Sword flat. Crack! The Champion''s Sword snapped in half instantly. The ''Radiant Light Sword'' skill was canceled, and mana backlashed. He widened his eyes in surprise, but my life was already hanging by a thread. I had no choice. I used the mana that had backlashed from the cancellation of the Radiant Light Sword skill. ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ Squeezing all the mana from my heart, I blocked the Black Heaven Sword Aura. I stretched both arms forward. Boom! The clash of white tinged with red against purple tinged with black erupted in a dazzling shower of sparks. Screech! The Heavenly Demon''s sword aura, said to conquer all, and the Law of Light, which returns everything to nothingness, collided and screeched. My arms trembled. It seemed that a straightforward approach still wouldn''t work. Just as I thought I was being pushed back, I muttered under my breath. "Now." ¡¾"Understood."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' takes out the Certificate of Pardon (Masterpiece).¡¿ ¡¾The conditional debuff of the ''Trait: Heavenly Demon Body'', ''Heavenly Demon''s Return, Ten Thousand Demons Submit'', is lifted.¡¿ The balance shifted. Fwoosh! s?a??h th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The Black Heaven Sword Aura scattered into a white haze. The guy in front of me raised his eyebrows. His boyish face was filled with curiosity and admiration befitting his age. He was just like how Cheong Siyeol used to be. ''My idol, my hero, my sun.'' Damn it. I closed my eyes for a moment and then opened them. I spoke as calmly as I could. "I''d like to stop here. I''m at my mana limit." But as I calmed down, he seemed to become more excited. "Just a moment." His eyes gleamed with heightened fervor. This time, I was prepared to be completely humiliated. He called the attendant who was waiting outside and said. "Please see that my brother, the one who was in the coffee shop, is treated to a meal. Make sure it''s at a good restaurant. I need to have a longer conversation here." "Y-yes?" "Do I need to repeat myself?" "No, sir." The attendant went upstairs with a puzzled expression. Clatter Just then, he dropped his wooden sword. "Senior?" "Excuse me?" He took a step closer. He was now standing in a spot where the dim light illuminated his entire face. Only then could I see his face clearly. It was filled with the joy of meeting a deceased loved one and the guilt of feeling responsible for their death. A different kind of chill ran down my spine. "I think you have the wrong person." "Don''t lie, Senior." "Vice Guildmaster." "It''s me, Haneul. Heavenly Demon Ryu Haneul!" He rushed towards me, gliding with a strange footwork, and embraced me tightly. If he had attacked like this just now, I would have been killed instantly. The scent of orchids from his slightly pointed ears was so strong it made my head ache. I tried to push him away, but I had exhausted my mana. The physical difference between an S-Rank and a C-Rank was incomparable. "I thought you were really dead. Do you know how worried I was? I really thought I had killed you, Senior." He buried his forehead in my shoulder. The weight of his tearful voice was heavy. I didn''t know what this was all about, but one thing was certain. I was alive. "Alright, Haneul. Let''s start with one request." "You still call me that... Yes, I''ll do anything for you!" "Step back a bit. We''re strangers, you know." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 23 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 23 Baekya was led to the Vice Guildmaster''s office at the Sun and Moon Divine Guild. A mother-of-pearl nameplate with the three characters for "Vice Guildmaster" was placed on the large desk. Ryu Haneul took off the durumagi he was wearing and hung it on one side of the wall. Then, he personally brewed tea and offered it to Baekya. [TL/N: Durumagi ¡ª It is a form of outerwear which is usually worn as the topmost layer of clothing, over a jeogori (jacket) and baji (pants).] "Please, have some. It''s from the Tower." "Thank you for the generous hospitality." "Please, speak comfortably, Senior. It''s hard for me to get used to formalities." It could have been quite burdensome to have someone stare at him intently without even taking a sip of the tea they offered, but Baekya didn''t mind. "Is that okay?" He had reigned at the top of the world for 15 years, achieving countless feats. Many people tried to get close to him, but Baekya often met people without even knowing who they were. Ryu Haneul nodded his head frantically, like a fan who had become a celebrity after admiring a star and finally stood on the same stage. "Yes, yes. Please do." Baekya closed his eyes halfway and finished the remaining tea. ''This is nice.'' He savored the aroma rising from his throat to his nose. "Then let me ask you a few things." He threw his first question. "How do you know me?" No matter how many people Baekya met or how busy he was, Ryu Haneul was a powerful Hunter, presumed to be S-Rank. Even if he wasn''t Korean, there was no way he could be completely unaware of Baekya. Haneul answered with a slightly awkward smile. "Originally, I didn''t exist in the Awakened society yet." Baekya felt a sense of incongruity with the word ''yet.'' "Yet?" "I was originally supposed to Awaken at twenty. The regression has moved the timeline forward quite a bit." "So you''re about 18 years old now?" "Yes." Baekya was surprised once by the casual mention of regression, and twice by the fact that he was 9 years younger than himself. He carefully examined Ryu Haneul''s features. Although it wasn''t very noticeable due to his long hair that reached his waist and the intense appearance typical of high-ranking Awakened, there was definitely a youthful air about him. ''No wonder he looked so young...'' "Then you are..." "Yes. I''m the disciple you''ll take in the future, Senior. You cherished me very much. I climbed the Tower with you and saw things that people in this world couldn''t even imagine." Baekya thought that he definitely would have done that. The amethyst-like eyes, sparkling like finely cut jewels¡ª the yearning for the Tower evident in his voice, and the self-assuredness radiating from his very being. These were all the qualities that Baekya valued highly. He didn''t know why he was called ''Senior,'' but he would find out in due time. "So that''s why your fighting style felt familiar." "Yes. You taught me everything, Senior. When I saw the flame arrows, I knew you would aim for the neck. But I didn''t expect you to follow up Explosive Regeneration with Hellfire." "I wouldn''t have done that originally. I wouldn''t have let my sword break in the first place. It was half improvisation." "Hehe. It''s amazing to hear you say it was improvisation, Senior. You blocked every attack I made, as if you could read my every move." "Of course. I must have taught you. That was a dilemma for me too. I wondered if I was forcing my methods on you guys when our abilities were clearly different. Was I trying to teach a bird to swim? I had those worries." "You said the exact same thing!" "I did?" "And I said, wouldn''t it be good if a bird could also swim? Because... someday, it will fly away. You let Siyeol, Eunwoo, and Jeongwon all become independent, didn''t you?" Gathering information wasn''t that difficult. One side had already completely opened up. Ryu Haneul giggled. It was a pure, innocent laugh, completely at odds with the ''Heavenly Demon'' who had just wielded the Black Heaven Sword Aura. "It was the greatest honor of my life to be able to stay by your side until the very end, Senior." At that moment, Baekya was certain. Not all Regressors were his enemies. ''Even Na Jeongwon said he would give me a second chance. There are factions within them.'' Of course, Ryu Haneul could turn out like Cheong Siyeol. Just as Cheong Siyeol had... ''My idol, my hero, my sun! I will kill you with my own hands before you fall!'' Ryu Haneul could do the same. Baekya left that as a possibility and pondered his next question. ''I need to ask about the regression.'' Just as he was about to speak... "Then..." Knock, knock. There was a knock at the door. * * * "Team Leader Park?" "Vice Guildmaster. I apologize." It was Team Leader Park who had entered. He couldn''t even look Baekya in the eye and fidgeted nervously. "I was blinded by personal reasons and pride, and I made the wrong choice." Ryu Haneul spoke coldly. "Explain yourself in detail." Team Leader Park continued, bowing at a 90-degree angle. "We were managing a Gate in Namhansanseong with a mining company called ''Woori Mining.'' My younger brother, who was an executive there, unilaterally provoked Mr. Ilha and tried to take his brother, Mr. Wolha, hostage. My defeated brother tried to use my name to smooth things over, and I felt humiliated that the situation wasn''t resolved even after my name was mentioned. So, I made the grave mistake of attacking Mr. Ilha when he visited the headquarters today." Ryu Haneul looked at Baekya, and Baekya extended his hand to Team Leader Park. Team Leader Park respectfully held out a paper bag he had brought. Baekya could feel the sincerity within it through its weight. He could also feel it through the amount printed on the green bankbook. ''500 million won in cash, another 500 million in the bank account... I can gladly overlook this for this much.'' From the beginning, he had no intention of receiving any reward or compensation from the Guild. Frankly, he would have been satisfied with a 1 billion won receipt just for show. ''Brother, where did you get this money?'' ''The Divine Guild gave it to me.'' ''Brother, where did you get this elixir?'' ''The Divine Guild gave me that too.'' ''Brother, how did you get so strong?'' ''With the help of the Divine Guild...'' I could use it to launder the slush fund in my subspace ring. Even for a team leader of a large guild, it wouldn''t be easy to gather 1 billion won in cash in less than an hour. This was a sincere enough apology. "Team Leader Park." Baekya put the paper bag down on one side. "Yes." "Do you know exactly what you did wrong?" "I couldn''t control my pride and drew my sword first..." "Don''t give me that press conference nonsense." "....." "Do you still have any shame? Your mistake was losing to me. If you had won, there wouldn''t have been any problem. But you lost, didn''t you?" "....." "Don''t lose. If you do, you''ll create sins where there were none, and you''ll lose everything you have." Baekya didn''t entirely agree with that way of thinking. But he had learned something during his time as the chairman of the Hunter''s Association. Awakened individuals were governed not by the existing social laws, but by the laws of the Aitel system that had suddenly appeared 15 years ago. If they lose to monsters, they lose everything. When an A-Rank monster roared in front of them, the only thing that allowed them to stand their ground was their pride. There was no benefit in needlessly provoking that pride. He opened his wallet. He returned all the checks he had taken earlier. "Take this. I was being rude." * * * The door closed. Baekya was about to bring up the Regressor topic again, but Ryu Haneul spoke first. His lowered voice was filled with anticipation and a hint of playful cunning, like a mischievous child plotting something. "What are you going to do now?" "Now?" "You must have plans for the future, right? Are you just going to stay quiet? Or are you going to seek revenge? Or maybe you''ll just stay holed up in the Tower?" His tightly clenched fists reflected his anticipation. After countless regressions, Ryu Haneul had finally reunited with his senior and grabbed his hand tightly. "Any plan is fine. Take me with you. I''ll tell you everything I know and do everything I can." Baekya tried to shake his hand off, but it was no use. So he decided to strike a mental blow. "Didn''t you also try to kill me?" The unspoken words were, "So what makes you think I will trust me?" But neither of them felt those words were missing. Ryu Haneul''s shoulders slumped, like a dejected hunting dog. "But... you said it back then. That I was like an immortal bird, reborn from the flames even after dying once." Baekya had no recollection of this. ''Well, it sounds like something I would say. But I don''t remember it.'' However, the scene from that day was still etched in Ryu Haneul''s eyes. The blazing world and Baekya''s back turned to him. That back, as always, was broad, but it was unusually cold. ''Senior!'' ''¡­¡­.'' ''Why, why are you doing this?'' ''¡­¡­.'' ''Please, just say something. Then I''ll follow you. I''ll kill whoever you want me to kill, and I''ll save whoever you want me to save. You know I''m capable!'' He was Ryu Haneul, the ''Heavenly Demon.'' He was meant to break the existing heavens, transcend them, and open up a new world. But this era of the Aitel system was too chaotic. ''Believe in the Aitel God and go to heaven!'' ''The conflict between the ruling and opposition parties over the Awakened Mobilization Act is intensifying day by day.'' ''The Republic of Korea must stop exploiting other countries using its superior mana stone refining technology...'' ''Which country''s politician are you!'' ''A Grade 1 Gate has opened on Mount Baekdu! North Korea has used nuclear weapons, and the Shenyang Military Region of China has mobilized its tank units.'' He couldn''t even tell what heavens he was supposed to break. That was when Baekya became his heaven. ''Follow me.'' ''Where are we going?'' ''To the Tower.'' ''Why?'' ''I need to know. What''s up there. And why this is happening to us.'' As much as Baekya, or perhaps even more. ''...Then I''ll find out first and let you know, Senior.'' Whether it was good or evil, it didn''t matter. The only heaven he aimed for, the only heaven he needed to stand on, was his Senior. Ryu Haneul''s eyes welled up with tears. "Please take me with you, Senior. Don''t abandon me this time. Don''t leave me alone." Baekya knew he was weak to the tears of promising youngsters. ''This kid is just as crazy as Cheong Siyeol. Now I understand why I left him behind.'' It was also natural for a master to step aside for their disciple, a senior for their junior. ''Well, all my disciples are like that.'' As if he couldn''t help it, he asked. "Then tell me about the Regressors. You''re one of them, aren''t you?" Ryu Haneul averted his eyes, looking uncomfortable. "I''m sorry. I''m not a proper ally, so I don''t know much." "What?" "I only joined them during the 99th-floor raid. So many Awakened had died by then that even I, who was labeled pro-Baekya and put on the wanted list, was needed. I barely managed to follow them when they were originally planning to regress without me." S?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Baekya changed his question. "Then at least tell me why I fell." Ryu Haneul answered without a second''s hesitation. "If I knew that, I would have fallen with you, Senior." That answer was satisfying in its own way, but it wasn''t the answer Baekya wanted. "No, there must have been some incident or information, right?" "That''s... I''m sorry." "Is there some kind of system restriction? Will your lifespan decrease if you tell me?" "No. I really don''t know. That''s why no one understood you, Senior." Ryu Haneul''s shoulders drooped. Baekya extracted as much information as he could from that answer. ''I''m not the type to brood alone. I always discussed important matters with those around me. But if no one knows, it''s likely it was a personal matter. Maybe someone was taken hostage, or there was a need to reduce the population, or I was hit with a mental attack. Or maybe I actually died, and a flame-type demon or foreign god disguised as me descended.'' Then, as if to tease Ryu Haneul, he asked. "Then what can you do for me?" Ryu Haneul trembled all over with a sense of helplessness. "Th-th-that''s...!" He stuttered, his mind seemingly crumbling, then held up one finger. "I-I''ll get you a new identity!" "Identity?" "If I say it''s for one of my alternate accounts, it''ll be ready in a day! Then you can enter the Tower again, right?" Ryu Haneul pointed at the handkerchief tied around Baekya''s wrist and reached out his hand. ''His fingers are really slender, aren''t they?'' His touch was careful as he retied the loosened part of the handkerchief. "As you know better than anyone, Senior..." "Yes, the Tower''s efficiency is incomparable to dungeons. Especially if it''s a power-leveling zone." "Yes. I''ll even lend you a private hunting ground!" Baekya imagined himself entering the Tower right in front of Cheong Siyeol. ''Not bad.'' If he trained in a power-leveling zone within the Divine Guild, recovering his stats to the 800s within the year wasn''t a dream. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 24 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 24 Baekya changed his expression completely. "That sounds perfect." Ryu Haneul''s eyes curved into crescents. "I knew you''d like it. When do you want to go? Tomorrow? The day after?" "I''ll match your schedule. I''m unemployed, after all." "I don''t have any plans either. All my Tower raids have been canceled." "What about Gate raids? You''ll get sued if you don''t go." "Senior comes first." "But I clearly taught you to prioritize the Gates. To soar, you need a solid foundation, and to conquer towering peaks, you need a secure base. This guild is our foundation, our base." "We still have a 5-minute standby team. My turn is a long way off." "Good." Haneul raised an eyebrow and asked. "Ah, you were curious about the Regressors, weren''t you?" "Didn''t you say you didn''t know anything?" "I realized that you don''t know anything right now, Senior. I''ll tell you the general outline." "Alright. Thanks." "There are nine in total." Baekya had two thoughts simultaneously. ''That''s fewer than I expected. But I can''t trust everything this guy says. Let''s consider it a baseline for now.'' Ryu Haneul continued fluently. "There are four hardliners, three moderates, and two gray areas." "Siyeol must be a hardliner. And Jeongwon is a moderate. The hardliners want to kill me immediately, and the moderates want to give me a chance?" "He''s definitely a hardliner, but it''s ambiguous with the moderates. Jeongwon was the most moderate among the moderates." Baekya guessed that the other moderates either wanted to keep him barely alive or argued that there was no need to kill him immediately. ''Wait a minute.'' Thinking that way, he couldn''t figure out which faction Ryu Haneul belonged to. S?a??h the ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Aren''t you a moderate? You... don''t seem to want to kill me." Ryu Haneul looked at him, aghast, as if the answer was self-evident. "I''m in the gray area! There are those who stand between the moderates and hardliners, and then there are people like me." "What do you mean by ''people like you''?" "Well, I was against killing you in the first place." Baekya once again reminded himself that he couldn''t trust the moderates either. ''The only difference was whether to kill me immediately or wait for me to show signs of danger.'' Ryu Haneul continued in a resolute tone, as if stating an eternal truth. "I was just sad that I couldn''t follow you, Senior. It''s fine if you want to destroy the world. It''s fine if you want to climb the Tower. It''s fine if you want to live as a Dark Knight in the shadows, never revealing your identity. I only want one thing." "What do you want?" At Baekya''s question, he answered as if he had been waiting for it. Thump His fist, placed on his chest, was firm and graceful. "Whether you''re happy or sad, victorious or defeated, a hero or a demon, I want to be your shadow, your junior, following you closely, never leaving your side." Baekya thought that his future self must have taken in the wrong disciple. The glint in Ryu Haneul''s amethyst eyes was chilling. But Baekya enjoyed the chill. He declared just as resolutely as Ryu Haneul. "I appreciate your kindness. But I think we need to remove a few things." "Excuse me?" "There''s no way I could ever experience something like ''defeat''." Even if he had lost tactically, he had won strategically. Cheong Siyeol ultimately failed to kill him. "It''s a promise. No matter what happened before, things will be different now. I''m not interested in being a Dark Knight, a hypocrite, or a villain. I am Baekya. Once I''m strong enough, I''ll proudly announce my return. And then I''ll climb the Tower again and incinerate that damn clock or whatever the fuck with Law of Light." [PR/N: Don¡¯t ask wut the clock is I donno either.] And right after his declaration, Baekya wondered what would happen to Ryu Haneul if the clock disappeared. If the previous loop disappeared, it would be as if he had never taken him as a disciple in the first place. He added a fitting remark. "If your memories disappear as a result, I''ll come find you again. I''ll ask the constellation or find a memory restoration artifact." Just as Ryu Haneul had helped him, it was his turn to help Ryu Haneul. Ryu Haneul nodded without hesitation. "Yes, it''s okay. That''s also me." Relationships could be rebuilt. It wouldn''t be easy, but it was nothing compared to resurrection. "Don''t you feel wronged? Your memories might become jumbled because of me." "On the contrary, that would make it the same as the previous loop. I would have Awakened at 20, and you would have climbed the Tower with me then. It''s just that this twisted timeline will disappear." Baekya and Ryu Haneul both looked out the window at the same time. The tower, soaring high into the sky, was visible even from here. The goal was the 99th floor. It was the path they were going to take anyway. The comrade who was supposed to join later had already been added. "Alright. Then tell me about the hardliners. Anything you know is fine. You, having lived through the future, must have some insights into what''s important." "First, there''s Cheong Siyeol and Joo Soohyuk, and then there''s Ri Baejeong." "Ri Baejeong? That name sounds familiar." Baekya narrowed his eyes. He was definitely an Awakened, but he couldn''t remember which guild he belonged to. "He''s a high-ranking official at the Awakened Support Agency. I think he''s the most dangerous enemy. Siyeol and Soohyuk are Rankers, but Ri Baejeong can utilize the national system." * * * "Please follow me." "Where are we going?" "It''s lunchtime, let''s have a meal." Wolha inwardly prepared for death when the high-ranking Awakened from the Divine Guild invited him to eat. He had hidden a self-defense spray and a knife in his bag, but his opponent was at least an A-Rank Hunter. He was a powerful individual who could easily eliminate an F-Rank Hunter like Wolha without leaving a trace. So even when he took him to a high-end steakhouse and grilled fresh beef for him, Wolha thought it was his last supper. ''My brother is probably dead already. Will I end up in the mountains? Or inside a dungeon?'' He couldn''t tell if the meat was going down his throat or his nose. But Wolha didn''t blame Ilha. Both him and Ilha had been swept along by fate their entire lives. Losing their parents, Awakening, becoming an F-Rank porter, his illness ¨C none of it was their choice. But everything that had happened since his brother changed recently was their choice. Deciding to become a civil servant, deciding to leave the mining company that day. The consequence was that they had offended a high-ranking Hunter from the Sun and Moon Divine Guild and were about to die. He wasn''t regretful, even if it was unfair. Even if he could go back to that day, Wolha would still tell him to quit Woori Mining and demand the contract. It wasn''t like they were the ones who started the trouble with the high-ranking Hunter''s brother. So there was no need to blame himself for not backing down. Just because someone was too powerful to reach didn''t justify their actions. Wolha thought. ''He''s probably just a B-Rank at best. If he were Ranker-level, he would have set up a mining company for his brother instead of just getting him a job there.'' Even the Hunter who was trampling on him and his brother was just a bug in front of the true powerhouses. Thinking that way made him feel a little less resentful. Ding Just then, the restaurant door opened, and two people entered. "Already eating?" Wolha couldn''t believe his eyes. "Brother?" Ilha was alive. Behind him, a top-tier Hunter with a purple halo, a combination of a circle and a square, entered. Mana, characteristic of a high-ranking Awakened, overflowed from his entire body. The entire restaurant seemed to be filled with the light emanating from his halo. The high-ranking Hunter asked Ilha. "Brother?" Ilha introduced him. "This is ''my'' younger brother, Hong Wolha. Wolha, say hello. This is the Vice Guildmaster of Sun and Moon Divine. His surname is Ryu, and his name is Haneul. We had a good talk." Ryu Haneul looked back and forth between them, then smiled. "Nice to meet you. I had a good talk with your brother." He placed both hands on Ilha''s shoulders. Wolha couldn''t understand why such a formidable Hunter would act that way towards someone like Ilha, but it seemed like he was showing off his closeness to him. "It''s not exactly joining the guild, but we''ll be spending some time together. We might see each other often, so please remember me." Just then, another staff member rushed in and handed Ryu Haneul a necklace-type ID card. Ryu Haneul took it and stood on his tiptoes behind Ilha. He wrapped his arms around Ilha''s neck as if hugging him and put the ID card necklace around his neck. Ryu Haneul looked at Wolha with a triumphant expression. ''Senior, I''ll be more useful to you. Get rid of that F-Rank brother of yours quickly and come to our Guild.'' Wolha couldn''t understand why he was making such an expression. ''Why is he acting like that?'' What was even more puzzling was that he felt strangely annoyed. ''¡­¡­.'' Yes, it was really strange. * * * That evening, Wolha and Ilha returned home and slumped across from each other at the dining table in the living room. They had a lot to talk about, but they were too exhausted to even open their mouths. It had been a day filled with too many events. Only after they hurriedly ate dinner and devoured a generous amount of fruits for dessert did they finally find the energy to start talking. Wolha was curious about what had happened that day, and Baekya was contemplating how to explain that he would be going to the Tower from tomorrow onwards. "Brother." "Wolha." "You go first." "No, you go first." The heartwarming scene of siblings politely offering each other the first turn to speak was short-lived. Wolha returned to his role as the head of the household. "How much compensation did you get?" Baekya glanced at the apple box in the corner of the room and held out the paper bag. "The reward and compensation combined came to 2 billion won. 1.5 billion in cash, and 500 million deposited into the bank account." "Stop talking nonsense." Wolha didn''t believe him. He got up from her seat, opened the apple box, and... "Oh my god." He collapsed right back into his chair. Bundles of 50,000 won bills filled the box. "No way. How could they give us this much money for just a bit of compensation?" It wasn''t something someone who had a sword held to their throat should be saying. But Wolha was a young adult, thoroughly jaded by the harsh reality. He couldn''t believe that a proper, or rather, generous compensation had actually happened in Korea. Baekya spoke slowly and carefully. It was the eloquence of the Rank 1 Hunter, who could speak for dozens of minutes in front of hundreds of reporters with just a few lines of script. "I didn''t receive it just for that." He spoke slowly, as if hesitant. Making him want to ask more. "Then?" "It''s because of ''this,'' you know." He subtly gestured above his head, emphasizing the word ''this.'' Wolha''s breath hitched as he saw his finger pointing towards his halo. ''A Black Hole contract!?'' His voice trembled involuntarily. "...Oh." From that tremble, Baekya was certain that the person who had been asking questions about Black Hole contracts on ''Chatter of the Stars'' recently was Wolha. ''Our IPs were the same. So that''s what you were worried about. Well, I''m grateful that you''re making that assumption on your own.'' "Apparently, there are quite a few Awakened in the Divine Guild who have contracts with those constellations. Their name itself is like a sect from a martial arts novel." "That''s true." "So they said they would teach me how to control this." "Then... it''s like a contract fee?" "Essentially, yes. And a threat at the same time." Wolha let out a deep sigh. "They caught you." "They recognized it right away. I think they had a hunch since the Gate incident. The reward was also bait." "...I did some research too." He had also looked up a lot of information after suspecting that his brother might have made a Black Hole contract. "Since it''s a contract with inherently evil transcendent beings, it''s basically a serious crime, right?" "That''s right." "But it rarely works out that way in reality." Every country wanted Awakened as part of their power, so the rules were often overlooked. If they went berserk, they would be killed, but as long as they controlled themselves, they were often tolerated. "I think this could be a good opportunity. I''ll study hard, so you definitely have to become a Hunter, brother." Joo Soohyuk, one of the top ten high-rankers in South Korea, was openly known as the ''Fist Demon,'' and it was public knowledge that the constellation he had contracted with was ''Asura.'' "When are you leaving?" "Tomorrow." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 25 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 25 The headquarters of the Iron Blood Legion, one of the five major guilds of the Republic of Korea. The top floor of the 60-story building, its exterior painted stark black. In the office, reminiscent of a spaceship bridge, Guildmaster ''Mr. Pistol'' Lee Eunwoo stared at the image on the screen. "....." The person Lee Eunwoo was looking for had just appeared on the CCTV footage. A man got out of a taxi that had stopped in front of Seongnam City Hall. The resurrected Baekya. Or the man presumed to be the rookie flame magician. Lee Eunwoo leaned more towards the hypothesis that he was the resurrected Baekya. Even if they had contracted with the same constellation, and even if that constellation, unable to forget its former contractor, had influenced the new contractor''s appearance, they couldn''t be this similar. It wasn''t just the face, but also the subtle details that inevitably differed between individuals. The gaze always directed towards some distant place, the languid, self-assured smile of someone who bestowed favors as easily as breathing, the gait that drew a straight line like a fashion model''s walk. Everything resembled ''Baekya the Sun.'' "...You." Lee Eunwoo unconsciously crossed his legs. His neatly pressed suit pants wrinkled along with his previously stoic expression. He gestured to his Awakened secretary to move on to the next piece of information. Simple confirmation was more than enough at this point. "So, where does he live now?" The secretary replied respectfully. "In the Seoul Refugee Camp, or rather, the public housing support complex." "Does he live alone?" "The data from the Community Welfare Center we received shows that two brothers are living there." "Are they both Awakened?" "Yes. They''re F-Rank. They work at the open-pit waste crystal mine, the Gate managed by Sun and Moon Divine Guild in Namhansanseong." Lee Eunwoo leaned back in his chair for a moment. ''If possible, we need to ensure Baekya ascends the Tower to at least the 80th floor, preferably even higher. The sacrifices we made in the last time loop were far too devastating.'' As was his habit, he closed his eyes and organized his thoughts. ''But we already killed Baekya once. A confrontation is inevitable. He might be lying low now because he''s powerless, but once he regains his strength, he''ll try to kill all of us Regressors, including me. Even if he forgives us, the hardliners won''t forgive him.'' Hum. Hum. Hum. The overlapping black and blue diamond-shaped haloes emitted a glow, casting neon-like light on his cold, handsome face. ''Therefore, Baekya''s return must not be made public. He''ll probably enter the Tower again soon anyway. He''ll need to go around all the Gates in the world to regain his strength.'' The secretary, knowing her Guildmaster''s long-standing habit, left him alone. In fact, she and all the other Iron Blood Legion employees quite liked it when Lee Eunwoo was lost in thought. ''Then... I need to conceal his return. If possible, stop it from being revealed, and if it is, we need to spin it as the emergence of a rookie.'' Their Guildmaster, known for his good looks even among Rankers, looked more human with his eyes closed than when they were open. ''I need to align my plans with Na Jeongwon. And if the opportunity arises, with Ryu Haneul as well. He probably harbors no fondness for me, but he''ll require my assistance in the immediate future.'' Having thought that far, Lee Eunwoo slowly opened his eyes. The way his lapis lazuli-like blue eyes were revealed reminded one of an electronic device powering on. "Secretary Kim." "Yes." "Contact the ''Fairy King'' and the ''Vice Guildmaster'' and set up appointments. Make sure the Sword Saint, Fist Demon, and the Gate Management Agency don''t find out. Keep it strictly confidential." "Understood." "Send a few boxes of non-Awakened elixirs to the Seongnam Police Chief." "I''ll do that." "Assign a sniper to that kid. With Freeze Formula-infused bullets. Have them report everything, including who he meets and what he eats." Lee Eunwoo''s finger pointed to the face of the young Awakened on the screen. Secretary Kim didn''t ask why. Not questioning her superior''s orders. It was an essential quality for a high-ranking Ranker''s secretary. * * * "Is someone talking about me?" "Someone, somewhere, is always talking about you, Senior." Ryu Haneul''s car was a Rolls-Royce Phantom provided by the guild. It was customary for most S-Rank Hunters to receive one. Baekya sat beside him in the back seat. Since Ryu Haneul had offered Baekya the seat behind the driver, Baekya was able to sit in his usual spot. ''It''s been almost a month.'' He saw the buildings of Seoul passing by outside the window. The feel of the seat against his buttocks and back, the distance where his toes wouldn''t touch the front seat even when he stretched his legs out, the size of the window that allowed him to see far ahead¡ª it was all familiar. Vroom The nostalgia peaked when the car passed by Baekya''s building. Yellow police tape fluttered, encircling the massive building. The multiple layers of police tape formed a wall in itself, but there wasn''t a single police officer or investigator in sight who should have been coming and going through that wall. "....." Ryu Haneul and Baekya fell silent at the same time. The Tower came into view ahead. Ryu Haneul, gauging Baekya''s reaction, said. "We''re almost there." Baekya looked at the Tower with eyes filled with a myriad of emotions. "Yes." The octagonal white tower that appeared in the capitals of each country 15 years ago. 500 meters in diameter, 4 kilometers tall. From 4 kilometers up, the tower became translucent, blending into the surrounding space¡ª crimson and turquoise electric sparks crackled where it merged with the space. Of course, this was just the visible form perceived by the naked eye; the interior space was completely different. It was the space that Baekya loved the most, hated the most, and spent the longest time in his life. Baekya spoke to Ryu Haneul, who was still watching him cautiously. "You know my building was modeled after the Tower, right?" "Yes." "If I climb that, I guess I''ll be able to climb my building again too." "That''s right." "You''re the one giving me that chance. I''m grateful to you." Only then did Ryu Haneul smile shyly. He murmured, turning his head away. "You don''t have to thank me for something like this." The car stopped in front of the Outer Tower Administration building, the donut-shaped structure surrounding the Tower. It was a complex building housing the Gate Management Agency officials, staff from various guilds, and branches of production guilds selling various consumables and artifacts. This was where the Tower''s various systems were coordinated with the laws of the Republic of Korea. "Floors 1-20 will continue to be managed by Samjeong JY!" "We''ve announced a 50% tax increase on the 33rd floor starting this week! If you don''t like it, don''t come in, and if you''re unhappy, clear it yourselves!" "Floors 24, 38, and 41 will be closed for one month starting next week! It''s training time for new guild members!" "If you''ve obtained a Hero-grade or higher artifact, you must register it with the Gate Management Agency! Open your inventory while we''re still being nice!" Once a floor was conquered, the ''Epilogue Story'' concluded, and the environment within transformed into a space hospitable to humans. The quality of artifacts, elixirs, and mana stones found there was incomparable to those from Gates, and any Awakened could freely enter and collect them. At least, that was how it worked in the Aitel ''system.'' The high-ranking guilds who had shed blood to clear the floors had no intention of letting just anyone enter. ''Our guild risked our lives to clear this floor, so why should you guys make the money?'' The Tower was different from Gates. There were more people willing to fight monsters to protect their families, friends, and country than one might think. But if you asked them to leave their families, friends, and country behind and go to another world, possibly never to return? And even if they did return, they might have spent decades inside? That was a difficult proposition. Fewer Awakened dared to challenge the Tower than one might expect. However, climbing the Tower increased the number of tutorial participants, attracted the attention of constellations to South Korea, and lowered the average danger level of Gates that appeared. It was a commendable act to ''climb'' the Tower. Even the most shameless politician couldn''t demand that those floors be shared. Therefore, in Korea, the Hunter or guild that cleared a floor was granted the mining rights to that floor. Baekya chuckled, recalling his time as the chairman of the Awakened Association. ''The guild that clears it gets it all. If it was a joint effort, then they split it.'' ''This floor has almost no artifacts, only mana stones. What should we do?'' ''Let''s just charge a fee and open it up. Porters would prefer the safer Tower to Gates anyway.'' ''What if a high-grade artifact appears on such a floor?'' ''Let''s ask them to hand it over!'' ''Are we gangsters? Don''t be ridiculous.'' ''B-But it''s unfair! We spent years developing that place.'' ''Don''t talk about being unfair. Still, it''s dangerous for high-grade artifacts to be indiscriminately distributed... If you insist, let''s make the guild managing the floor forcibly purchase it at market price.'' ''Can we really act like such thugs?'' ''Thugs? If they don''t like it, they should climb the Tower themselves. Make them sign an agreement before entering. We''ll charge a lower fee than for Gates, but in exchange, you must sell any high-grade artifacts you find.'' He was the one who had created this entire system. The system he had created was still running smoothly even after he had died once. Ryu Haneul approached the Divine Guild¡¯s counter. There were two lines in front of the counter; one for ordinary Hunters who wanted to hunt on the floors owned by the Divine Guild, and the other for Hunters belonging to the Divine Guild. Ryu Haneul leisurely walked past the line of Divine Guild¡¯s Hunters and approached the counter. The staff at the counter stood up and bowed. "Ah, Vice Guildmaster, welcome." At the mention of the Vice Guildmaster, the surrounding Hunters checked Ryu Haneul''s halo and gasped. Ryu Haneul spoke in a mature tone that belied his appearance. "I''d like to go to the 23rd floor. One companion." "Yes, you''re all set. Please proceed inside." The registration was completed in an instant. Ryu Haneul turned and headed towards the Aitel Tower, and Baekya followed behind him. The Hunters waiting in the long line looked at Baekya, not Ryu Haneul, with envious eyes. They couldn''t understand who this person was that the recently famous young S-Rank Hunter was taking such good care of. Ryu Haneul and Baekya entered the Tower''s lobby. A vast marble plaza, 500 meters in diameter, unfolded before them. The dome-shaped ceiling was so high that everyone felt overwhelmed when they first entered for the tutorial. The moment Ryu Haneul stepped into the lobby. ¡¾Ta-da! Ta-da-da-da!¡¿ ¡¾Server: Republic of Korea, Rank No. 7, ''Heavenly Demon'' Ryu Haneul has entered.¡¿ An Aitel system notification, as large as a house, appeared in the middle of the dome ceiling. A purple halo, with a square overlapping a circle, spun around in the dome ceiling as a hologram. S?a?ch* Th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. All the Awakened in the lobby bowed towards Ryu Haneul. "Greetings!" "Pay your respects! An S-Rank has arrived!" "Heavenly Demon''s Return, Ten Thousand Demons Submit!" Some playful or Divine Guild Hunters even shouted out slogans. Regardless of affiliation, it was a show of respect towards a top-tier Hunter, an S-Rank. Baekya, watching the scene, broke out in a cold sweat. ''This is a bit nerve-wracking, isn''t it?'' The handkerchief on his wrist became damp. If the Ghost Princess''s handkerchief didn''t work here, he was done for. That fanfare sounded whenever a Hunter chosen by a constellation entered. He was currently C-Rank, so it wouldn''t be as grand a fanfare as Ryu Haneul''s, but the notification that ''Baekya the Sun'' had entered would surely be visible to everyone. It just occurred to him that he could have asked Ryu Haneul to enter while wearing the ''Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief'' to test its effectiveness. Having lived a life far from hiding his identity, he was always a bit slow in this regard. Baekya took a shallow breath. He could see the goosebumps rising on the back of Ryu Haneul''s neck. He was just as nervous as Baekya. Seeing that strangely eased his tension. He took a step into the lobby. * * * The 23rd floor of the Tower. To briefly summarize its ''Epilogue Story,'' it was about saving a medieval-style kingdom from a horde of giant ants emerging from the underground. Now that the floor had been cleared, the kingdom, the ant queen, and the named mobs had all disappeared long ago, but giant ants still crawled up in swarms from beneath the green earth. Baekya followed Ryu Haneul to one of the ''power-leveling zones.'' This particular ant nest, with an exceptionally fast respawn rate, was the Vice Guildmaster''s private hunting ground. "Here it is." "Looks good." Baekya calmly walked towards the entrance of the nest. Ryu Haneul grabbed his sleeve and said. "Use this." He handed Baekya one of the two swords he had at his waist. ¡¾Heavenly Lotus Sword (Masterpiece)¡¿ ¡¾A sword made of high-quality steel, refined a hundred times. It is very sturdy and sharp.¡¿ It didn''t have any special abilities, but it was an excellent sword. It was well-suited for Baekya, who often used the ''Radiant Light Sword'' skill to heat the blade. "Aren''t you being too generous, giving away a Masterpiece-grade item like this, even if you''re the Vice Guildmaster?" "I broke the sword you were using before, Senior." "Don''t worry about that. It was just a Rare-grade item." Baekya said that, but he didn''t refuse the offer. The new sword spun in his hand. Countless compound eyes glowed red from within the ant nest. "Hiss!" Ants the size of cars started pouring out. "Shall we?" Baekya calmly pointed his sword forward. That day, Baekya reached B-Rank. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 26 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 26 Baekya, in his past life, was a versatile fighter, capable of both close-quarter combat and long-range firepower. However, due to his usual role as the raid leader and the efficiency of his cheat skill, Law of Light, he didn''t often engage in direct melee combat with enemies. ''I can''t remember the last time I did this.'' Ryu Haneul clenched his fists, witnessing the rare spectacle of his senior in a brawl. "Hiss!" Ants the size of cars poured out of the ant nest. Thump! Baekya dashed forward, swinging the glowing ''Heavenly Lotus Sword'' at the head of an ant. Slice! Even the steel-like carapace couldn''t withstand the Masterpiece-grade artifact enhanced by the ''Radiant Light Sword'' skill. The ant''s head melted and was sliced off like butter cut by a hot knife. Even to Ryu Haneul, the top-tier martial arts class ''Heavenly Demon,'' it was flawless swordsmanship. "...Screech!" The giant ant twitched its legs and then collapsed. From Ryu Haneul''s perspective, Baekya never swung his sword more than twice to kill a single ant. ''Is this a warm-up?'' He cut off one of its legs, causing the ant to momentarily lose its balance, then sliced diagonally upwards at its head. Slash! He leaped into the air, bringing his sword down to separate the head from the body. Whoosh! He landed on the ant''s head, stomped on its carapace, shattering it, then spun around in place, cutting down countless other heads. Slice, slice, slice! "Screech!" Just then, an ant with particularly thick mandibles seized the opportunity while its comrades were being slaughtered and lunged forward. Whoosh! Baekya swung his sword, pushing against the massive mandibles. The sheer difference in mass pushed Baekya back, but Ryu Haneul realized this was Baekya''s intention. The ant charged, its mandibles gaping like stag beetle''s. Whirl! Baekya switched his grip on the sword to a reverse grip and spun half a circle, turning his back to the ant. The ant, thinking this was its chance, missed the blade that suddenly emerged from Baekya''s side. Stab! The orange blade pierced through its compound eyes and shattered its brain. Ryu Haneul marveled at the clean maneuver. ''As expected of Senior.'' Baekya was truly the pinnacle of an all-rounder, excelling in everything from close combat to magic. The ants in the nest frantically released pheromones in response to the annihilation of their vanguard. "Hiss!" "Hissss!" With tremors that made one wonder if the nest was collapsing, a massive soldier ant appeared, dwarfing the surrounding ants. Thump! Thump! Thump! If the giant ants they had defeated so far were the size of cars, this one was the size of a dump truck. ¡¾Soldier Ant (B)¡¿ "Rooooar!" The soldier ant roared towards the sky. Acidic liquid sprayed in all directions, transforming into a cloud of noxious, burning smoke. Ryu Haneul unconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword. ''Senior!'' Soldier ants rarely appeared in this power-leveling zone. This ant, armed with incredibly tough carapace and acidic liquid capable of melting even armored Hunters along with their armor, was... ''Wasn''t this floor already cleared?'' It was a monster among monsters, having devoured countless Hunters who had let their guard down, thinking a cleared floor would be safe. He didn''t dare doubt Baekya''s skills, but even with the best control, a level 1 couldn''t defeat a level 99. Swish But Baekya, as if saying "Trust me," stretched out his hand and blocked Ryu Haneul''s approach. ''Senior?'' He even let his only weapon, the sword, hang loosely at his side. Thump! Thump! The soldier ant, as large as a house, marched forward¡ª its six massive legs moving in unison. Just as its body fully emerged from the ant nest... Boom! Flames erupted from beneath the soldier ant. The ''Wall of Fire'' Baekya had created engulfed and blazed across the soldier ant''s entire body. "Screech!" The soldier ant charged forward in fury. Even after escaping the burning ground, the flames clinging to its body didn''t die out. It tried to crush Baekya with its hydraulic press-like mandibles. Crash! But by then, Baekya''s astral body was already soaring into the sky. It was a perfect combination of ''Flame Arrow'' and ''Descent from the Crimson Flame.'' Twisting his body in mid-air, Baekya descended headfirst. In his outstretched palm, a skill that Ryu Haneul knew all too well gathered. Radiant Burst. Rumble! A wave that shook the entire space shot out in a fan shape. Crack! * * * The soldier ant, its abdomen crushed, writhed for a moment before dying. Formic acid poured out from its belly, sizzling and dissolving its own body. I looked at the endless stream of ants pouring out of the nest and thought. A black wave that seemed to never end, no matter how many I burned. It had been a long time. The 23rd floor was the third floor I had given up on solo clearing and attempted a group strategy. At that time, I had a perfect understanding of what the ''Epilogue Story'' of this Tower was, so I didn''t spend more than a year on each floor. ''Hero, please help us.'' On this floor, there was a medieval-style kingdom. They, tormented by monsters, had summoned a hero to help them, and that was us. The kingdom was on the verge of collapse due to the endless swarms of ant monsters emerging from the underground. ''Each individual ant could be dealt with by the kingdom''s knights, but the knights couldn''t stop the devastation of the farmland and the abduction of the citizens. This is the last land we''ve managed to protect.'' The temporary capital, built on a bedrock layer, was the kingdom''s last city. ''But the soldier ants are trying to break through the bedrock. The fate of the kingdom rests in the hands of the heroes. Please help us.'' We started exterminating the ants from that point on. ''We burned down Breeding Ground No. 4.'' ''We reopened Passage No. 8.'' ''We succeeded in developing an antidote for the pheromones. We found the queen ant''s location.'' We appeased the public''s plummeting morale. ''A group of soldiers is causing a commotion, saying they can''t stand our actions any longer.'' ''Ignore them. It''s most likely just a power struggle within the kingdom.'' ''We''ll prioritize distributing the food harvested from the recovered farmland. We''ll also teach magic to talented children.'' ''Jeongwon, why do you learn everything just to give it away?'' We even eliminated the uncle who was plotting against the princess. ''You beast!'' ''Ugh!'' After a year-long Epilogue Story like that, we entered the underground world and fought the queen ant. ''Hyung! Law of Light! Please use Law of Light!'' ''How many of them are there?'' ''Elite humanoid ants are approaching!'' The battle ended in success. I had power back then that was incomparable to what I have now. I burned hundreds of thousands, millions of ants, and erased the Queen Ant, the Princess Ant, and all the drone ants. And so, the kingdom was saved, and the scenario ended. I thought it was a happy ending. The night before we rang the bell signaling the clear. That was the case, at least until the princess summoned me to her chambers in the middle of the night to reveal a certain truth. ''Princess.'' S?a??h th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. ''You''ve come. I have one last request.'' ''Tell me.'' ''There are still ants alive and moving in this world.'' ''What do you mean?'' ''Do you remember the humanoid, high-ranking ants?'' The princess took off her gloves in front of me, revealing hands that gleamed, encased in black carapace. ''I''m already mixed. Who do you think is the most well-fed and prosperous person in this world? I must have eaten the most contaminated crops grown in this tainted land. You heroes, beings of a different origin, may be safe...'' ''Princess.'' ''The duty of the royal family and the nobles is to protect the nation. I will fulfill my duty.'' ''The ending conditions have already been met. I will ring the bell as soon as the sun rises tomorrow and leave this land... and then you will disappear too. This land, everything.'' ''You''re still saying things I can''t understand. But with your light, you can surely cleanse all the remaining contamination in this land, right?'' That was how the conversation ended. After ringing the bell, everything disappeared. Only a few ant nests remained in the form of dungeons. The royal palace and the people vanished as if they had never existed. I walked through the ''concluded'' 23rd floor, reminiscing about the year-long adventure, and a month later, I challenged the 24th floor. "Hiss!" Seeing the ants in front of me brought back memories of that time. As always, recalling memories from within the Tower left a bitter taste in my mouth. It was like waking up from a good dream and repeatedly confirming that I could never dream of it again. "Screech!" A high-ranking ant, similar in size to a human, stood on two legs and swung its four long arms at me. Green acidic liquid dripped and shimmered from the long blades formed by its carapace at the end of each arm. ¡¾Praetorian Guard (B)¡¿ Through Insight, I saw its name: Praetorian. If I remembered correctly, the missing knights, nobles, and royalty had transformed into these. A surge of disgust made me swing my hand irritably. ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ Fwoosh! A white light flashed. The Praetorian Guard''s head flew into the sky like butterflies made of light. I kicked its body, knocking it down. Green and red magic sparks flew from its fingers. Such sparks usually appeared when artifacts dropped. It seemed the drop rate was high because I killed it in one hit. ¡¾Praetorian Guard''s Articulated Ring (Masterpiece)¡¿ ¡¾An articulated ring used by a Praetorian Guard. It is proof of someone who had a wish they wanted to convey, even at the cost of everything.¡¿ As expected, an artifact dropped. The jet-black articulated ring resembled the segmented fingers of a gauntlet. Snap! I bent down and snatched the articulated ring, then backstepped dozens of meters away from the ant nest. I immediately put the ring on my left middle finger. Checking artifacts was always important. I channeled a bit of mana into it. As a pyromancer, if I unleashed pure mana without any specific control, a gentle flame should have appeared. But what shot out from the ring was a thin, sharp beam of heat. Ziiiing! A long, burnt mark was left on the ground. It was tremendously compressed. "....!" It might not have any additional abilities, which is why it''s only Masterpiece-grade, but in terms of efficiency for killing monsters, it seemed to be on par with Hero-grade artifacts. I looked up towards the ant nest. In just a few seconds of distraction, countless ants were swarming again. It was definitely a power-leveling zone with a high respawn rate. At this point, it wasn''t about the number of ants but the area they covered. And I was a pyromancer, the most advantageous class for fighting against large numbers. I channeled mana into the Praetorian''s Articulated Ring and swung my hand. ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ Ziiiiing! Unlike before, the pale light didn''t spread out in a fan-shaped gas flame but shot out as a single, sharp beam of heat. Slice! It was the sound of the ant army, occupying a whole area, being cut in half. The ants, sliced horizontally from head to chest to abdomen, collapsed one after another. "Ha!" Even to me, a high-ranker among high-rankers, it was an overpowered attack. ¡¾"That''s quite impressive."¡¿ It was impressive not in terms of power, but in terms of efficiency. If it originally took 100 mana to eliminate this many ants with Law of Light, it felt like I had only used about 30 to 40 now. And no matter how much I used it, the amount of mana recovered remained the same. ¡¾Mana has increased by ''1''.¡¿ ¡¾Mana has increased by ''1''.¡¿ ¡¾Mana has...¡¿ ¡¾Maximum Mana has greatly increased due to a large amount of Mana being recovered in a short period.¡¿ Aitel system notifications filled one side of my vision. A refreshing pain, as if my bones were stretching, spread throughout my body. ¡¾"I''ll add some more while we''re at it."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' sponsors ''5'' Mana stats.¡¿ I instinctively sensed significant growth. ''My idol, my hero, my sun.'' ''Hyung, yesterday I...'' The kids I taught used to tell me they felt this sensation whenever they overcame a certain wall. As expected, a flurry of Aitel notifications popped up. ¡¾Maximum Mana has greatly increased. Your Mana is no longer defined within the C-Rank level.¡¿ ¡¾Class level up!¡¿ ¡¾Pyromancer C+ ? B-¡¿ ¡¾There is an imbalance between your Mana stat and other stats. It is recommended to balance them to maximize the advantages of your class.¡¿ I couldn''t help but turn to Ryu Haneul and shout. "Success!" Ryu Haneul ran towards me with a bright smile, as if his own level had increased. "Congratulations!" It was a genuinely happy smile that involuntarily softened my wariness. It seems the future me did a good job raising at least one disciple. Unlike Cheong Siyeol or Lee Eunwoo, he didn''t try to kill me. * * * Ryu Haneul guided me out of the ants'' attack range. Once a floor in the Tower was conquered, all the monsters within became passive, and even during combat, one could break their aggro by retreating to a certain distance. Ryu Haneul, overflowing with excitement, gushed. "As expected, Senior, you''re the best." His fair face was flushed with a deep blush. "Law of Light and mana absorption... You''re truly amazing and admirable. I''m so glad I''m the only one by your side, Senior. You''re my Senior, all mine!" [TL/N: Uh¡­] [PR/N: You sure this ain¡¯t BL??] [TL/N: ????] Even I, who had heard all sorts of flattery, from Cheong Siyeol''s dramatic declarations to the adoration of many others, couldn''t help but feel a flush creep onto my cheeks at his words. Suddenly, a question popped into my mind. "Haneul, but why ''Senior''?" "Pardon?" "Most of the others called me teacher, or hyung, or Chairman, or something like that. Some who were a bit more... expressive called me Sun." "Yes." "But why do you call me ''Senior''?" Usually, "Senior" wasn''t used for someone who taught you, but for someone who learned the same thing before you, right? "Uh..." Ryu Haneul wore an unusually troubled expression. "Now that you mention it..." "Can''t you tell me?" "If you don''t like it, should I call you something else?" I decided not to pry. After all, he was currently my one and only ally who was actually being helpful. "No, it''s just that you''re the only one who calls me that, so I was curious. Call me whatever you like." "I''m the only one? That''s exciting." "No. Don''t say things like that." "Hehe. Senior, you''ll come tomorrow, right?" "Of course." At Ryu Haneul''s suggestion, I thought about the ring on my left hand. It was a truly efficient artifact. I was looking forward to seeing how much mana I could gather tomorrow. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 27 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 27 Baekya continued hunting on the 23rd floor. "Can I come again today?" "Of course. Let''s be together tomorrow and the day after tomorrow too!" The synergy between the ''Praetorian''s Articulated Ring'' and Law of Light was superb. With a single blast of Law of Light channeled through the ring, countless ants were cleaved in two, their severed halves turning white and disintegrating. He also earned a decent side income by selling the useless artifacts that occasionally dropped. "Soldier Ant''s Armor Set, Acid Sprayer, Praetorian''s Gauntlet, Compound Eye Glasses, Drone Ant''s Wing Glider... Shall we sell them all?" "Yes, please. The commission is 30%, right?" "How could I take that from you, Senior?" "Take it. Taking care of these things properly prevents friction in relationships." "You did say that back then, too. Well, since I''ve earned money for free, I''ll buy you a meal. Let''s go eat meat tonight!" "Sounds good! Oh, except for the Drone Ant''s Wing Glider. I think I''ll keep that one." "This one?" ''Flight,'' whether through artifacts or skills, was a fairly rare ability. ¡¾Drone Ant''s Wing Glider (Rare)¡¿ ¡¾A glider made from the wings of a drone ant that gracefully fell after its mating flight. Guarantees short flights and long glides. Hoping for a different fate than its previous life, which existed solely for a single flight.¡¿ It was only Rare-grade, but it was precious enough to be carefully stored in the subspace ring he received from Lee Eunwoo. ''I got a decent artifact, and more importantly, the hunting efficiency is really good. Maybe I can even remove the hyphen from my rank here?'' Baekya headed towards the Gate at the center of the floor with Ryu Haneul, thinking about the hunting efficiency and artifacts. He was particularly focused on the ''Praetorian''s Articulated Ring.'' ''I never thought I could use Law of Light like this.'' Law of Light was already an overpowered skill on its own, so unlike normal flames, there was no need to explore its various applications. But now, having fallen to the bottom and needing to hide his identity and conserve mana, it was crucial to use Law of Light in a way that didn''t look like Law of Light. ''I need to think about various ways to apply it. The current method is good, and mixing it with normal flames could also work.'' As Baekya continued these thoughts... ''I wonder what Senior is thinking about now. Is it revenge against Cheong Siyeol? Or maybe the spar with me tomorrow?'' Ryu Haneul stared intently at Baekya''s face with his amethyst-like purple eyes. He always loved Baekya''s gaze, the way it seemed to look beyond the horizon. To the ''Heavenly Demon,'' who was destined to destroy the heavens and establish new ones, Baekya always showed him new horizons. Two weeks passed, with the two of them visiting the 23rd floor every day. One day, Baekya asked. "Isn''t it a bit much, sticking to me like this? Doesn''t the guild say anything?" Ryu Haneul nodded with the utmost seriousness. "Yes." Baekya thought he should humor him and go along with it, even if it was just to appease Ryu Haneul. "...Alright." Of course, Ryu Haneul wasn''t lying. There had been rumors circulating within the Guild recently. "Did you hear? The pyromancer who''s always with the Vice Guildmaster closed a Gate all by himself." "I heard he''s a Re-Awakened." "They say he''s B-Rank? But there''s no way the Vice Guildmaster would be so attached to a mere B-Rank." "I heard that pyromancer also has a martial arts-related title. We have plenty of physical ability users in our guild, but long-range ones are rare." "A martial artist who''s also a pyromancer? Does he have a skill like Blazing Yang Energy or something?" "Well, I''m sure the Vice Guildmaster knows what he''s doing." "He''s truly amazing." "I know, right? At his age." Within the guild, praise was circulating about Ryu Haneul, who had recognized a rare talent. While the Vice Guildmaster''s reputation was soaring within the guild... The opposite was happening at Ilha and Wolha''s house. "Senior, let''s go!" "Okay, let''s go." Every morning, a pristine white Rolls-Royce Phantom stopped in front of their prefabricated house. Wolha, taking a break from studying for his civil servant exam, looked out the window. ''He''s here again today. Doesn''t he have work to do?'' The Heavenly Demon, with his purple circle and square halo, was clearly delighted as he pulled his brother along. Ilha naturally put his hand on Haneul''s shoulder. Wolha couldn''t understand why he felt a sense of emptiness in his chest. He couldn''t even put a name to this feeling. Was he annoyed? Unlike his childhood friends, he wasn''t the type to lump all negative emotions into a single word. Was he feeling left out? If his brother, who had always been like a child needing constant care, had become close to the Vice Guildmaster of a major guild, he should be overjoyed. He couldn''t even understand why they would come all the way to pick up his inadequate brother like this. But still... ''Why do I feel so uneasy?'' The emptiness wouldn''t go away. And the one receiving all those emotions... ''Heavenly Demon'' Ryu Haneul clearly recognized the emotions in the eyes he saw through the window. "Senior, please get in." He let Baekya get in first, then turned his head slightly to look at the house window. The way he pretended nothing was wrong and then quickly turned away when he looked was pathetic. ''A fake sibling acting like they''re the real one?'' Ryu Haneul suppressed the rising murderous intent. His Senior, Baekya, attracted devoted followers wherever he went. ''Cheong Siyeol was already a handful, I can''t have more rivals here.'' It was also one of his amazing Senior''s abilities, but as his one and only junior, he couldn''t help but wish to remain the only one. ''Should I kill him?'' Ryu Haneul pondered for a moment before getting into the car and closed the door. Matters related to his Senior should be handled with his Senior. "Senior, how long are you planning to stay in that house?" S~?a??h the ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Why?" "It''s inconvenient, isn''t it? It''s cramped, it''s in the outskirts of Seoul, and there are no amenities nearby. Why don''t you move into the guild dormitory, Senior? We recently relocated, and it''s very spacious and nice. You''ll have your own room, and it''s closer to the academy district than your current place." "Should I?" "Besides, it''s not good for you to stay there, Senior." "I''ve thought about that. There''s only one way in and out of here." "Yes. If something happens, you can''t escape by car." At that moment, there was someone else who had a similar thought to Ryu Haneul''s. * * * "Sir, as you instructed, we have finished stockpiling consumables. We are now capable of effectively dealing with even spiritual or divine-type enemies." "Well done. I refuse to be thrown unprepared in front of ghosts again, like last time." In the president''s office of the Iron Blood Legion guild. Lee Eunwoo received his secretary''s report in his 60th-floor office, which resembled the bridge of a spaceship. The overlapping blue and black diamond-shaped halo floating above his head cast a cold light on his deep-set eyes. "Also, try contacting foreign Enchanter Awakened who want to seek asylum. You know, those who were labeled as dissidents by China. People from Xinjiang would be good too. In the long run, we need to focus on upgrading our equipment itself." "Understood." "Anything else I need to know?" "The agents assigned to track Ilha have requested additional stealth equipment." At those words, Lee Eunwoo''s well-shaped eyebrows twitched. "...Understood." His emotions didn''t show on his face. He was a rational man, not one to be swayed by frustration. But his secretary, through long experience, could tell that he needed some time alone to think. "I''ll come back in a bit." The secretary left the room. Lee Eunwoo let out a deep sigh in front of the 16-split monitor. Images of Baekya''s house, Ryu Haneul''s sedan parked in front of the Tower, and Baekya and Ryu Haneul getting out of the car played on each monitor. Lee Eunwoo watched the Divine Guild Hunters greeting Baekya. He reached for his Awakened-use cigar. ''He''s becoming too famous too quickly. I don''t know if he''s thinking or not. This is happening even with my efforts to conceal his return. Does he want to be discovered by the hardliner Regressors and get himself killed?'' He took a couple of puffs, organizing his thoughts. It was unlikely that Ryu Haneul had given them any useful information. Even before the regression, he had only participated in Tower climbs. ''I know he''s arrogant because he''s never had a rival, but even considering that, he''s too unguarded. Perhaps... he''s figured out that I''m watching his back. It''s also possible that he''s deduced that there might be one or two Regressors who would find him useful.'' Reaching that conclusion, his turbulent emotions slowly calmed down. ''I have no intention of being used, but maintaining a loose connection isn''t bad. The timing to cut that connection is in my hands anyway. The moment the domestic Hunter forces are strong enough that his absence won''t cause problems for Tower strategies or national defense, I''ll take his head.'' Just then, the door opened. Click "Guildmaster." Lee Eunwoo turned around, feeling more puzzled than displeased. Secretary Kim was always perfect in these matters... "We received a call from the Awakened Support Agency." She held out her smartphone with a troubled expression. Lee Eunwoo took it, feeling like he wanted to shoot the phone with a gun. "Chief Ri?" "It''s been a while, Chairman Lee." The unpleasant voice crackled through the speaker. His smooth tone made him want to vomit every time he heard it. "Get to the point." "Well, it seems you''re looking for someone. If there''s anyone you want to keep an eye on, we might be able to ''help'' you with that." "!" But with superhuman rationality, Lee Eunwoo understood the implication. ''Son of a bitch!'' It meant that the Awakened Support Agency had caught their tail. ''We''ve been discovered.'' Beep He immediately ended the call and instructed Secretary Kim. "Prepare the car, no, the helicopter." "Sir?" "I said, prepare the helicopter. We''re going to Baek-, no, Ilha." "C-Chairman!" Lee Eunwoo''s sculpted face contorted as he grabbed his gun. ''Damn it.'' Chief Ri Baejeong of the Awakened Support Agency. A formidable barrier mage, he was an even more radical hardliner than Cheong Siyeol. He was the Regressor who insisted on killing Baekya ''immediately.'' ''I don''t understand how much blood he''s willing to spill while climbing the Tower. Has he completely forgotten how efficient Law of Light was?'' Lee Eunwoo wholeheartedly agreed that Baekya had to die. But not today. * * * "I''m home... Huh?" Upon returning, he found the house filled with Awakened agents in black suits. There were even a couple of Rankers mixed in. "H-Hyung." Wolha was visibly flustered, drenched in cold sweat. I quickly typed an auto-complete text message on my smartphone and sent it somewhere, then placed it on the nearby desk with an exaggerated gesture. "Oh, are you Mr. Hong Ilha?" A smooth voice emerged from among the black suits. Two bulky figures parted to the sides, revealing a man. "I''m Ri Baejeong, Chief of the Management Bureau at the Awakened Support Agency under the Gate Management Administration." He wasn''t particularly tall, but his slender build and small face gave him good proportions. A plain, white, ring-shaped halo floated above his head. His narrow eyes curved like crescent moons, and his thin lips held an enigmatic smile. His shoulder-length hair, dyed an unconventional mix of yellow and mint green, clashed with the image of a typical government official, yet somehow complemented his sharp black suit. I knew that face. He was the one who had relentlessly pursued me for a month, shadowing my every move as I sought refuge in Panic Rooms across the nation. We weren''t exactly on friendly terms, so I had tried to kill him a few times. Each time, Cheong Siyeol had intervened, and I failed, which left a lingering frustration. "Pleased to meet you." Swish He offered me a handshake. The constellation shouted in my head. ¡¾"Run away immediately or incinerate him on the spot."¡¿ I thought about using Law of Light as I clasped his hand. He looked at me with eyes that were a mix of yellow and green. His gaze was like a cat toying with a mouse. I wasn''t sure if I could kill everyone here. But I was confident I could kill him. Just as I was about to channel mana into the Praetorian''s Articulated Ring... "I''ll get straight to the point, even though it''s a bit sudden." He smiled, his expression almost bewitchingly gentle. "Would you be interested in working for the Awakened Support Agency?" [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 28 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 28 Lee Eunwoo observed Baekya''s house from outside the village. Although the Awakened Support Agency agents had covered all the windows, Lee Eunwoo, a top-class Gunner Awakener, possessed the ''X-ray Vision'' skill. In addition, a few days ago, while Baekya was away, guild members disguised as electricians had installed bugs. Therefore, it wasn''t difficult for Lee Eunwoo to keep track of everything happening inside Baekya''s house. Just now, Ri Baejeong had made a scout offer to Baekya. "...It''s a bit sudden. In the first place, I''m still young and my rank isn''t high." "Age isn''t that important these days. A talented person who has cleared a Gate deserves respect regardless of their rank. Moreover, you seem to have sufficient dedication towards the country and Awakened." "Pardon?" "Million Loans." "!" "They were famous for squeezing low-rank Awakened with fraudulent contracts. Ah, don''t worry. I''m not here to cause trouble. On the contrary, from our perspective, it''s a plus point. You can simply do that kind of work for the country." Ri Baejeong pressed on, applying subtle pressure. It was a threat that Baekya wouldn''t even scoff at, but as he said, an inexperienced worker like him had no choice but to succumb. Baekya lowered his head to meet Ri Baejeong''s eyes. ''Is this the end?'' Lee Eunwoo anticipated a physical confrontation. However, that prediction was completely off the mark. "Could you give me a day to think about it? I''ll contact you tomorrow at 10 a.m." Baekya kept his head bowed. Lee Eunwoo clicked his tongue. ''There was that way too.'' The timeframe was short and a specific time was mentioned, so even Ri Baejeong had no grounds to refuse. "...Alright." The Awakened agents who had entered with their boots clomping left the house one by one. Wolha looked down at the floor and let out a deep sigh. "When am I going to clean all this up?" Baekya saw Ri Baejeong off to the front door. Ri Baejeong seemed oblivious, but Lee Eunwoo could read the ''Get lost'' sentiment in his expression. At that moment. ¡¾Warning! Warning! Warning!¡¿ ¡¾Seoul City 37¡­¡­, 127¡­¡­¡¿ ¡¾Level 4 Gate Breach¡¿ ¡¾Finale Story: Winter Vanguard¡¿ A disaster that no one expected or wished for had arrived. "Huh?" "What''s this?" "Kyaaaak!" An Aitel notification popped up in front of everyone residing in the temporary housing complex for Gate Erosion victims. Kwaaaaaaaa¡ª! A black sphere expanded violently in the middle of the road. Nearby temporary houses, cars, and people were sucked into it whole. In that instant, Lee Eunwoo saw it. While everyone was frozen in shock, Baekya turned and ran back into the house. "Hong Wolha!" The worried hands that forcibly dressed him in the crystal coat. The resolve that pulled a translucent, raincoat-like artifact from the subspace ring and made him hold it. "Hold on tight!" "To what?" Baekya shot a heat ray at the ceiling of the house. Ziiiing! The circularly cut ceiling fell down. Wolha looked at the man, whom he probably believed to be his brother, with bewildered eyes. Baekya exerted strength as if his arms were about to burst. He threw Wolha, wearing the crystal coat and riding the glider, into the sky as if launching him. Whoosh! As his body was propelled into the sky, the ''Drone Ant''s Wing Glider'' unfolded. "Hyung! Hyung!" Wolha, riding the wind, flew up, leaving the Gate behind. Baekya stood there, closing his eyes quietly. "There''s no need for you to get caught up in this too." It was an action befitting the man Lee Eunwoo had admired back then. Immediately after, the black Gate swallowed everything. The Gate victims, Ri Baejeong and the Awakened agents, even Baekya. Soon, an Aitel notification popped up. ¡¾Absorption Complete¡¿ ¡¾Release in 13 days 23 hours 59 minutes¡¿ Lee Eunwoo narrowly escaped. "Master!" "You need to return." Secretary Kim and the guild hunters, who were a bit further away, swarmed in. Lee Eunwoo shook his head with a small but firm gesture. "No. I''m entering." Secretary Kim, unusually, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sir! This isn''t our jurisdiction. This isn''t something you need to get involved in!" Lee Eunwoo understood why they were acting this way. ''In the end, it''s my fault.'' After Baekya, the world learned that even S-Ranks, who were like demigods, could die. Not in a glorious death on a grand battlefield like a Gate or Tower raid, but a meaningless and absurd death for no reason. It was natural for the guild members to worry about their guild master. However, he was always the one to convince others with cold logic. "No. It was my jurisdiction." "Pardon?" ''Until he abandoned us.'' Before Baekya betrayed humanity. ''Cheong Siyeol advances at 11 o''clock, Ryu Haneul at 2 o''clock. Lee Eunwoo backs up 100 meters from my 7 o''clock position.'' Lee Eunwoo was Baekya''s backup in every Tower raid. Baekya had ''not yet'' betrayed humanity. S?a?ch* Th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, Baekya''s back was still his jurisdiction. * * * ¡¾Finale Story: Winter Vanguard¡¿ Inside the Gate, true to its ominous name, it was the dead of winter. Moreover, it was a vast, barren plain with no shelter from the wind. "Ah, ahhhh!" "No! No!" The scenery was so exotic, it was hard to believe they were still in Korea. The people who had been sucked in were all in a state of panic, their faces pale. Every single one of them had either lost family to a Gate or their homes to the monsters within. Having to go through such a harrowing experience twice was enough to break anyone''s spirit. Moreover, their clothing was a problem. The season was between late summer and early autumn. It was still warm enough for short sleeves. There were many people who had been dropped into this freezing place wearing only a thin cotton shirt, where even a long padded coat and heat packs wouldn''t be enough. Ri Baejeong took a deep breath and looked around. Based on his memories from before his regression, this Gate was likely a fragment of the large-scale epilogue story from the higher floors of the Tower, ''Frozen Star: Winter Duke''. However, in his past life, he wasn''t even part of the Awakened Support Agency, let alone the Chief, so he knew nothing about the field missions during that period. Ri Baejeong was the type to fight using a combination of knowledge and information, rather than relying solely on his Awakened abilities. In a situation like this, he was bound to be much more powerless compared to other Awakened of the same rank. He tried to help the people at least. "Are you alright?" "I''m freezing!" "Damn it! Not another Gate!" "Uwaaaah! Aaaack!" "Stay calm! Don''t panic!" However, as a sealing specialist barrier mage, there was nothing he could do at the moment. If monsters had popped out, he might have had a chance to shine, but he couldn''t seal the weather itself. Ri Baejeong tried to at least take off his suit jacket to offer it to someone. And then he realized it was an ultra-lightweight, cool summer suit made of linen. The appropriate temperature for public institutions in summer was 28 degrees Celsius. Just as his vision was darkening. "Please come this way." "Wo-wow!" "It''s a heat-generating technique that utilizes fat burning. It''ll end when all your body fat is burned, but you''ll be able to get out of here before then." "Thank you! Thank you!" Words of gratitude came from Ilha''s direction. "!" While he was floundering, Ilha was approaching each person one by one, using the combustion technique. "For now, everyone gather in a circle to keep warm. We Awakeners will take the outer perimeter." He had somehow gathered the ordinary people together like penguins for protection and was helping them maintain their composure. Naturally, he even gave instructions to the Awakened agents. "You''re a water manipulator, right? Could you put up a wall on the windward side? Blocking the wind will make the cold much less severe." "Maintain the defensive formation. Keep an eye on the inside as well. Everyone''s stressed and scared, so they''re more likely to fight over minor things." "I''ll devise a strategy. Starting with the exploration formation..." It was the moment when suspicion turned into certainty. Ri Baejeong, still with an unreadable expression, approached Ilha. "Let''s go with A." "Chief!" The Awakened agents, who had been unknowingly following the instructions of an outsider, were all taken aback. "It''s the basic exploration formation created by ''Sun'' Baekya. Let''s proceed cautiously since we don''t have visibility." Ilha bowed politely. "Let''s do that." * * * "You''re quite calm." "Isn''t experiencing all sorts of strange things part of an Awakened''s life? When stars shine even during the day, and a 4 km high tower rises in the middle of Seoul, there aren''t many things left to be surprised about." Baekya and Ri Baejeong were talking, slightly away from the group. ''Should I kill him here? No. There are too many eyes.'' ¡¾"Why worry about that?"¡¿ ¡¾"You can just wipe out all the eyes that are watching, can''t you?"¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' whispers insidiously.¡¿ ''Don''t say such absurd things!'' ¡¾"What''s so absurd? Compared to the risk those lowly commoners pose to your identity and safety..."¡¿ ''Don''t you think it''s about time you realized I''d never accept such an offer?'' Inwardly, he was thinking a million things, but he acted as if nothing was wrong. Baekya, who had just turned 21, didn''t consider that this might seem even more suspicious to Ri Baejeong. Ri Baejeong took out a cigarette from his pocket. The flame didn''t go out even in the strong wind. "Would you like one?" "No, thank you." "That technique you used earlier, it was originally created by Baekya, wasn''t it?" "That''s what I understand." "And the strategy formation was also Baekya''s creation." "Yes." "If the blizzard stops, we could use a faster formation, but for now, it can''t be helped." Ri Baejeong said. His constellation spoke in his mind. ¡¾"Why does this guy keep making such cryptic remarks? Does he think it makes him sound profound? It''s unbelievable that such an insignificant person is strutting around as an Awakened. It makes me question the iTel system''s Awakened selection criteria."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' expresses annoyance and sarcasm.¡¿ ''I agree.'' Baekya completely concurred with his constellation''s words. "Yes. It doesn''t seem like it''ll stop anytime soon." Ri Baejeong asked again. "What kind of formation would be good to use if it does stop?" Baekya thought about shoving a fireball into his mouth and carefully chose his words. He couldn''t understand why he had to have this kind of cryptic conversation with the guy who killed him. "If it stops..." Fortunately or unfortunately, he didn''t need to ponder that question any longer. Whoosh! "Ugh!" An ice arrow, shot from within the blizzard, pierced the side of an Awakened. "Ambush!" "Humanoid monster! Ice attribute!" The Awakened agents all channeled their mana, preparing for battle. Instead of scattering, the civilians huddled closer together, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. They were well aware, thanks to national safety education, that scattering in such a situation would only make them easier targets for the monsters to pick off one by one. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Ice arrows flew in from all directions. Some were deflected, others grazed their targets. "Ugh!" Tssss! Even where the arrows merely grazed, ice spread, gnawing at their bodies from within. An ice arrow flew towards Baekya as well. Clang! Thanks to ''Hardening'', it bounced off, but frost spread across his skin. ''If it pierces even once, it''ll be fatal.'' Baekya, tense from the considerable power of the attack, used a skill. ¡¾Insight¡¿ The figures moving around in the blizzard became visible as if through an infrared camera. Whoosh! He immediately raised his hand to use Soul ignition, but then remembered Ri Baejeong was right beside him. [TL/N: ¡®Soul ignition¡¯ is subjected to change in the future.] ''Damn it.'' Baekya focused on the knuckle ring on his left middle finger. Infusing the ring with mana, he used both a regular heat ray and Soul ignition simultaneously. His constellation, once again, did its best to support him. ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' expresses admiration for your amazing achievement.¡¿ ¡¾Your technique has been sponsored and turned into a system skill.¡¿ ¡¾You have acquired ''Skill: Incineration Ray (B)''.¡¿ Expressing his gratitude to his constellation, who was sometimes forceful but always his most reliable ally. ''I''ll put it to good use.'' ¡¾Incineration Ray¡¿ Jiiiiiing! He shot the Incineration Ray towards the figures running across the snowy field. "Hiss!" "Crack!" The figures, cleaved in two, crumpled to the ground. The severed edges were consumed by embers, scattering like ashes, and a portion of the mana that had formed their existence flowed into Baekya. ¡¾Mana has increased by ''3''.¡¿ ''3 for one? Is their entire race made up of mages or something?'' He briefly widened his eyes at the significant increase. Then, the number of enemies in his sight drastically increased. The sight of the snowfield filled with red dots through his ''insight'' skill was terrifying in itself. "Hiss!" "Hissss!" The blizzard intensified, and an eerie whistling sound could be heard from afar. The faces of both the civilians and the Awakened paled. ''Since it''s come to this.'' He briefly glared at Ri Baejeong''s yellowish-green hair, a flicker of vengeance crossing his mind. ¡¾"Oh, God of Machinery!"¡¿ A familiar voice came from behind. ''Lee Eunwoo?'' [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 29 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 29 Lee Eunwoo, living up to his reputation as an S-Rank, drove away all the monsters with his strength. Ri Baejeong, on behalf of the nation, expressed his gratitude. However, neither of their expressions were particularly bright. "Thank you." "It was my duty." "Are the Iron Blood Legion hunters not coming to assist?" "I was passing by this area by chance and entered after seeing the alert. I informed the guild of the situation before entering, but as you know, there''s no guarantee of landing in the same location after the initial absorption. Even if my unit arrives, I''m not sure if they''ll be of immediate help." "Then... I suppose the situation hasn''t improved much." As a Regressor, he had a grudge, but... "I told Baekya that today wasn''t the day he would die. And yet, here he is, in danger once again." ''As expected, Hong Ilha was Hong Baekya all along. Could this guy even be involved in his own resurrection? Traitor. Yes, that''s what he is!'' Although Lee Eunwoo had driven away the monsters, it was only a temporary solution. The blizzard was still raging, and they still hadn''t found any clues. For Baekya, the situation could be considered even worse. ''...Screwed.'' Lee Eunwoo assumed Baekya was deliberately ignoring the fact that he was being monitored. He thought Baekya had seen through his efficiency-focused mindset and was using the surveillance on him as a sort of pseudo-bodyguard. However, from the moment he returned until now, Baekya had never once considered the possibility that he was being watched. ''Completely screwed.'' This was because he had been a celebrity since he was very young and was used to the attention of others. Therefore, Baekya couldn''t even fathom the idea that Lee Eunwoo had come to save him. Judging by the glances exchanged between Lee Eunwoo and Ri Baejeong, he suspected they might be waiting for the right moment to strike him down. If Lee Eunwoo, who had come prepared to fight Ri Baejeong, knew this, he would have been truly indignant. Lee Eunwoo and Ri Baejeong put their emotions aside for the moment and devised a strategy. "It would be most efficient to select some Awakeners and send them on reconnaissance towards the direction the monsters came from. We need to know something before we can do anything." "I agree. But let''s take a short break before we set off. We need time to treat the wounded." From Baekya''s perspective, even that seemed like a ploy to hunt him down. ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' tells you to stay sharp.¡¿ ''Yes. There''s no one here I can trust.'' He deliberately distanced himself from the people. It was the direction from which the monsters had come. In case of emergency, he planned to escape towards the monsters. Of course, to those unaware of the situation, it looked like he was scouting in the most dangerous area. "Look over there." "Oh my." "You guys should go help him instead of standing here!" "Wasn''t he the one who got hit by the ice arrow earlier? Is he alright?" "Chief. I have some potions left." Not only the civilians but also the agents from the Awakened Support Agency thought so. Ri Baejeong approached Baekya with the remaining potions. White snow had piled up on his shoulders. "Are you injured? I don''t have many left, but I do have some potions." "I wasn''t even grazed." Baekya deliberately took a step back. The people''s gratitude was heartwarming, but Baekya couldn''t accept anything that had passed through Ri Baejeong''s hands. He wouldn''t take it even if this squinty-eyed bastard offered him an elixir instead of a potion. Ri Baejeong tried to light another cigarette but then shook his head and asked. "As a pyromancer, you must have admired ''Sun'' Baekya, right?" Baekya replied with a hint of sarcasm. "Which Awakened wouldn''t?" "Wouldn''t even Baekya have been flustered in a situation like this? With the blizzard raging, allies scarce, and countless people to protect." "Well, I suppose there might have been some dramatization in the movies, but I heard that was everyday life for the first generation. There were only a handful of Awakened, and the entire nation needed protection. Hmm. He might have been flustered. But he would have found a way." "Is it good that people believe he''ll find a way? Aren''t people relying on him too much?" "Humanity would go extinct without the sun, but the sun doesn''t rise for the sake of people, does it? If it were him... if you want to rely on me, go ahead. I think that''s what he would have said." Ri Baejeong''s narrow eyes curved downwards. Snowflakes fell on his long eyelashes. "That''s... an interesting perspective." "I don''t think he was conscious of the entire human race, the entire nation, 24/7. I think he just kept defeating the monsters in front of him, saving the people in front of him, countless times. And in doing so, he ended up saving the country." Baekya answered casually. It was part of a line spoken by the observational protagonist in the movie. He couldn''t remember what his thoughts were¡­ 15 years ago. His thoughts weren''t particularly consistent, and he didn''t want to remember them anyway. Baekya said coldly. "Let''s just prepare for the raid." A plan was slowly forming in his mind. A plan that might allow him to gather a massive amount of mana once again. * * * "I''ll go on the reconnaissance alone. The Awakened Support Agency¡¯s agents, please protect the civilians here. Hunter Lee Eunwoo, if you could stay here and provide artillery support if I fire a signal flare, I would be grateful." Baekya spoke loudly enough for both the civilians and the Awakeners to hear. "You''re going alone?" "It''s dangerous!" "You should at least form a two-person team." Everyone objected, but Baekya was unfazed. "Dullahan''s Gaze." Whoosh! He used his skill to conjure a flaming sphere. Upon closer inspection, it was a skull, not a sphere, but the flames were so intense that it was hard to tell. "This is my skill. If I send this ahead, there''s no need for anyone else to come. I''ll keep a distance of at least 100 meters from it, so you don''t have to worry." "Ah." "Not to mention the protection of the civilians, isn''t Mr. Lee Eunwoo here the world''s best gunner? If I take the minimal risk, everyone will be safe. There''s no need to hesitate. We can''t stay here forever, can we?" One by one, expressions of agreement appeared in people''s eyes. ¡¾"As expected, you''re good at psychological warfare too."¡¿ "If I don''t return or a signal flare isn''t fired within an hour, assume I''m dead and send a team in the original formation as planned." Lee Eunwoo and Ri Baejeong seemed reluctant, but they eventually nodded. ''It would be troublesome if we send him alone and he dies.'' ''It would be troublesome if I let him go alone and he actually clears the gate.'' Baekya smiled like the sun and stepped into the blizzard. Swoosh. "Then, I''ll see you all outside the Gate." A voice echoed in his mind. ¡¾"So, what kind of psychological warfare was that?"¡¿ ''I gained favor with the people from the start using my skills. Thanks to that, I was able to partially tie down the hands of the agents from the Awakened Support Agency, who represent public authority. They''re merciless towards Awakened due to the nature of their organization, but they''re endlessly soft towards ordinary people.'' ¡¾"Then why isn''t Lee Eunwoo stepping up? Wasn''t he also trying to kill you?"¡¿ ''He''s a top-tier Gunner who uses X-ray vision. Whether he can kill me or not depends on his power, not distance. A blizzard like this won''t be any hindrance to him. And... this is half wishful thinking, but if Ryu Haneul was right¡ª Lee Eunwoo is a moderate. He might try to kill me someday, but maybe not today.'' Baekya replied and held up the ''Praetorian Guard''s Articulated Ring''. ''Thanks to the skill you gave me, I can now hide Law of Light without this ring.'' ¡¾"No. I''m sorry I couldn''t give it to you sooner. It seems we''re both still caught up in our past glory¡ª being the best we once were."¡¿ ''Let''s get back to those days quickly. What I want to say is not that, but that this ring is no longer that important.'' Baekya looked up at the sky. The blizzard was now so strong that he could barely see in front of him. He could see the back of his hand reaching out, but the tip of his sword was blurry. Even Baekya would have had trouble finding his way if he hadn''t used ''Dullahan''s Gaze'' and ''Insight.'' ''A blizzard of this magnitude is a magical phenomenon. And my Law of Light... burns and absorbs mana.'' Baekya poured mana into the ring. ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ Instead of ''gathering'' mana in the normal direction, he ''scattered'' it in the reverse direction. It was an act that drastically reduced the lifespan of the artifact, but that wasn''t important right now. Fwooosh¡ª! Law of Light expanded spherically, becoming an infinitely faint flame. Its power was weakened to tens of thousands of times due to being dispersed, but it was enough to erase snowflakes. ¡¾Mana has increases by ''1''.¡¿ ¡¾Mana has....¡¿ The mana that was causing the snowstorm flowed into Baekya. It couldn''t be compared to the Ghost Princess'' castle or the tower''s rapid leveling zone, but it was a decent side income. ¡¾"That''s a brilliant idea."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' gives you a standing ovation.¡¿ The true effect was securing visibility by removing the snowflakes. The air within a hemisphere with a diameter of 1.5km and a height of 750m became clear. The humanoid monsters that were ambushing here and there were startled and fled. Baekya used ''Insight'' on them. Flash! ¡¾Snow Ghost (C+ ? D+)¡¿ ¡¾The Winter Duke''s scouts become stronger in winter and weaker outside of winter.¡¿ A notification window popped up in front of him along with a clean success. Now all he had to do was find the core. It was like a lie that he had trouble seeing because of the blizzard; now that the blizzard had lifted, a wide-open plain unfolded before him. It was a piece of cake for Baekya, who also possessed ''Dullahan''s Gaze'', to find something different. ''Found it.'' In the distance, on a low hill, there was a half-frozen cavalryman. Both the horse and the rider were half skeletal, but a bluish flame blazed between the bones. Baekya approached it and used ''Insight'' once more. ¡¾Snow Ghost Cavalryman (A ? B+)¡¿ ¡¾The Snow Ghost Cavalryman expands the territory of the Winter Duke according to his orders. Where the flag is planted becomes the territory of the Winter Duke.¡¿ ¡¾Story Artifact: Winter Vanguard (B+)¡¿ It seemed that the cavalryman''s core was the gate''s core. If he killed the cavalryman, the gate would be cleared. Baekya''s current rank was B-. It seemed like there wasn''t a big difference between him and the B+ ranked cavalryman, but the gap within a rank widened as the rank increased. Even C+ and C were practically different species, so B- and B+ was an insurmountable gap. s?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Even with all the titles and traits Baekya possessed, the cavalryman was a wall. Of course, the reward would be just as great. The large flag it was holding also seemed to be at least a Heroic-grade artifact. ''The spirit core must be amazing too.'' If he could absorb that Spirit Core with Law of Light, it wouldn''t be a dream to remove the ¡®-¡¯ and reach a solid B-Rank. Baekya felt his heart leaning towards one side and ignited a flame in his hand. ''I''ve made up my mind.'' ¡¾"You''ll need mana assistance?"¡¿ ''Yes. But not now.'' A slightly mischievous smile appeared on his face. ''I''m going to use that guy Lee Eunwoo just once.'' * * * "It''s been 50 minutes. I think it¡¯s good to assume he''s dead." "No!" "Send a rescue team quickly!" "Are you crazy? We''re about to die ourselves, what rescue team?" "You''re alive and not frozen to death thanks to Ilha. He and his brother struggled so much, and now you''re going to let him die just when he''s about to have a good life?" The place where the people remained was filled with chaos. The worsening blizzard carried worries and anxieties with each snowflake. Thanks to Ri Baejeong reversing the sealing barrier to provide only shielding, they didn''t have to worry about freezing to death, but people always fight more fiercely over issues other than survival. Just before a fistfight broke out between those who wanted to send a rescue team for Ilha and those who didn''t. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Several fire arrows soared fiercely from afar. It was a clear Mana Light that could pierce through this fierce blizzard. They didn''t know it, but it was a technique derived from the Incineration Ray. "Hmph." Lee Eunwoo sneered at Ri Baejeong. Ri Baejeong, who secretly wished for Baekya to die at the hands of the Snow Ghosts, clicked his tongue in annoyance. Click, clack! Lee Eunwoo transformed his pistol into a sniper rifle and stepped forward. With three signal flares marking the coordinates, there was no need to overuse his X-ray vision. Bang! A gunshot rang out loudly. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 30 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 30 The moment I decided to use Lee Eunwoo... The Snow Ghost Cavalryman turned its horse towards me. Creeeak! The black horse pawed the ground, shaking icicles off from its frozen body. I drew the ''Heavenly Lotus Sword'' from my subspace ring and glared at it. Even Lee Eunwoo couldn''t hit a moving target in this blizzard. Of course, he could fire buckshot or grenades to wipe out this entire area, but then I''d get caught in the crossfire too. I had to fire the signal flare after pinning him down in one place. "I could''ve had it easy!" Notifications of countless traits and titles activating popped up on one side of my vision. Clatter, clatter, clatter! The Snow Ghost Cavalryman charged towards me, holding a flag in one hand and a frost-covered sword in the other. It was a B+ rank monster. It had been an A-rank before I weakened it by clearing the blizzard. A head-on confrontation wouldn''t be a wise choice. It pointed its sword towards me. Whoosh! Just before the sword could cleave me in two from head to groin... I skillfully shot a flame arrow into the air behind it. ¡¾Descent from the Crimson Flame¡¿ I transformed my body into flames and emerged from within the arrow. I heard a ''bang!'' and felt the dizzying sensation of my body being compressed and then returning to normal. The disorientation characteristic of short-distance teleportation couldn''t overcome my bloodlust towards the enemy in front of me. A smile unconsciously formed on my lips. I thrust my sword upwards in a reverse grip. "Ha!" ¡¾Radiant Light Sword¡¿ Flare! The red-hot sword slashed down at the Snow Ghost Cavalryman''s neck. Clang! It bounced off with a sound that shouldn''t have been possible. Huh? I was extremely flustered. What''s so hard? I just used Radiant Light Sword. That''s an S-Rank skill! I slipped in mid-air and fell towards its left side, where it held the flag. "Ugh!" I rolled on the snowy ground, breaking my fall. Swoosh. The Snow Ghost Cavalryman looked down at me with its blue-flaming eyes. I felt cold sweat trickle down my back and freeze. I used ''Insight'' to check the armor it was wearing. ¡¾??? (Legendary)¡¿ Damn it. I couldn''t confirm it properly because the glimpse was too short, but it was a Legendary artifact. No wonder even ''Radiant Light Sword'' couldn''t pierce it with my current skill level. "---, ---!" The cavalryman let out a roar of incomprehensible rage and raised its flag. Saaaaah! Mana surged, attempting to stir up another blizzard in the area. A bone-chilling cold emanated from the flag, making my fingertips feel like they were about to fall off. If it was deliberately raised, there must be an activation condition. It was clear that I couldn''t let it touch the ground. "Damn it!" I once again poured mana into the Praetorian Guard''s Articulated Ring in reverse. I poured in all the mana I had accumulated from burning ghosts and ants, holding nothing back. ¡¾Wide-Area Incineration¡¿ Fwooosh¡ª! The range was narrowed down much more than before. Instead of kilometers, I limited it to a 10-meter radius around me. ¡¾Domain Expansion: Snowfield¡¿ At the same time, it slammed the tip of the flag into the ground. Thud! A brutal chill swept in. It was a coldness that seemed to steal and shatter all heat. Saaaaah! Tears froze on my eyes, making it difficult to see properly. ''Wide-Area Incineration'' and ''Snowfield'' clashed for dominance over the space. The erasing flames and the stealing cold overlapped, creating the sound of shattering and twisting. Crack, crackle! Mana poured out like water into a bottomless pit. My heart ached as if it were being torn apart. "Star!" ¡¾"I know!"¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' answers your call.¡¿ ¡¾Bears 25% of the mana consumption.¡¿ ¡¾Bears 30% of the mana consumption.¡¿ ¡¾Bears 35% of the mana consumption.¡¿ The halo above my head wailed like an overloaded machine. A hot beam of light flowed into me from the top of my head to the tip of my tailbone. ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' bears 40% of the mana consumption!¡¿ My heart, which felt like it was about to burst out of my throat, settled back into my chest. The flames and the cold continued to clash. Crack! It was the sound of the Praetorian Guard''s Articulated Ring cracking. It was due to the excessive mana poured in reverse. But in the end, I succeeded in withstanding its attack. ''Wide-Area Incineration'' and ''Snowfield'' dissipated simultaneously, leaving only a noisy vapor. "Huff... huff." I took a deep breath and raised my head. Although my vision was blurred by the ice forming on my eyes, I could clearly see that the demonic energy in the Snow Ghost Cavalryman''s eyes had weakened considerably. I got up and reached out through the steam. Grab! I grabbed the flag the cavalryman was holding with my left hand. At the same time, I swung my right hand and shot three flame arrows into the air. These arrows, also derived from the Incineration Ray, should be able to pierce through the blizzard. Bang! Bang! Bang! S?a??h the N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The three arrows exploded spectacularly. Coordinate calculation using three axes. Lee Eunwoo, a top-tier Gunner, should be able to understand it. Of course, he might aim for me, so I made some adjustments for my safety. "-----!" The cavalryman roared again and raised the sword in its other hand. Instead of taking a defensive stance, I held onto the flag it had planted in the ground and braced myself. It also didn''t let go of the flag in its left hand. It sneered at me. The frost-covered sword descended menacingly. It was a sharp blade that could sever my neck in one strike. But I was the one who wanted to sneer at it. I had pinned it down in this spot. And Lee Eunwoo had definitely seen the coordinates. The moment its sword began to fall... Bang¡ª! A tremendous burst of energy swept past my eyes. The cavalryman''s left arm and shoulder exploded. Even the Legendary armor couldn''t block the bullet from the Gunner with the Mythic title, ''God of Machinery.'' The Snow Ghost Cavalryman''s arm and the side of its armor were shattered. The Spirit Core inside its rib cage was clearly visible. It staggered, almost falling off its horse. I didn''t miss that moment. ¡¾Incineration Ray¡¿ Ziiiing¡ª! A sharp ray of heat pierced through the Snow Ghost Cavalryman''s side and penetrated its Spirit Core. Crack! The small sphere, shimmering with a blue flame, shattered as if pierced through. Its Spirit Core was also the Core of this gate. The moment it was destroyed, this space could no longer be maintained. As expected, an Aitel notification popped up in front of me. Ding. ¡¾''Finale Story: The Winter Duke''s Vanguard'' has ended.¡¿ ¡¾You have acquired the ''Winter Duke''s Standard (Legendary ? Heroic)''. The Standard declares territory and encourages subordinate forces.¡¿ ¡¾*Due to the difference in compatibility with the current owner, the artifact''s performance is partially restricted. To restore the artifact''s performance, purify the artifact or change your own attribute.¡¿ Despite the mention of weakening, I didn''t feel any displeasure. The higher the grade of an artifact, the more specialized it is to an individual, so this was common when using monster drop items. As the Aitel notification said, it was just a matter of attributes, so it wasn''t a big deal. From what I experienced earlier, it seemed to be an artifact related to territory control, and it even had a buff for subordinate forces. I welcomed it wholeheartedly. The first function was a great ability that could be useful to anyone, anywhere, anytime, and the second buff would definitely come in handy after I returned to my original strength. A slight question also arose in my mind. If I remember correctly, this was a Level 4 gate. Level 4 isn''t that high. It''s not a place where a monster like that, wearing Legendary armor and carrying a Legendary flag, should appear. Maybe the fact that I, Ri Baejeong, and Lee Eunwoo entered affected the difficulty, or maybe we crossed a double gate without realizing it. Tsssss! Mana flowed in from the Snow Ghost Cavalryman''s Spirit Core. I felt a sense of fullness, as if I had finished a hearty meal. "Wow..." A sigh of admiration escaped my lips involuntarily. It was such an ecstatic feeling of satisfaction that I wanted to lie down and fall asleep right there. Unfortunately, I didn''t immediately lose the ¡®-¡¯ and become a full B-Rank. Well, from now on, I needed a more balanced growth for leveling up. I don''t know the exact numbers, but my mana stat is probably higher than all my other stats combined. It seems that focusing too much on mana isn''t good even for a Pyromancer who needs to grow into an all-rounder. Of course, it''s certain that my mana stat has increased significantly. It''s just frustrating that I don''t have time to check my status window. ¡¾''Eternal Single Season Dagger (Rare)'' drops as a clear reward for ''Finale Story: The Winter Duke''s Vanguard''.¡¿ [TL/N: Name is subjected to change.] As expected, the clear reward was ordinary. Of course, it was a good dagger, but it was still just a dagger. ¡¾The Eternal Single Season Dagger is cool and sharp, and has strong resistance to heat-related debuffs.¡¿ "Huh?" That''s what I thought until I saw the artifact''s description. Resistant to heat-related debuffs? My ''Radiant Light Sword'' is a skill that heats up the sword, giving it cutting power like a lightsaber from the movies, but it also drastically reduces the weapon''s durability. I could already feel the Heavenly Lotus Sword losing its luster and wearing down, but if even a dagger has resistance, that''s a different story. With a happy heart, I put the dagger into my inventory. Flicker, flicker! The dungeon was slowly disappearing. The snowy field of the dungeon and the space of the residential support complex flickered in and out of view. I had to run away as soon as I got out. I had texted Ryu Haneul about the situation earlier, but I don''t know if he saw it. Tension crept back in, making my fingertips tingle. Judging by his expression, that Ri Baejeong guy realized I was Baekya. If I hadn''t gained the people''s support, he would have killed me earlier. He''s good at information warfare and psychological warfare. He might have seemed a bit clueless inside the gate, but the moment he can use the power of public authority outside, he becomes a monster. All of my and Wolha''s cards will be frozen immediately, countless CCTVs will chase us, and we''ll be framed with countless false charges. My constellation spoke to me. A relaxed voice echoed in my ears. ¡¾"Didn''t I tell you that you should have killed them all earlier?"¡¿ I answered firmly. "I won''t do that." ¡¾"What if your hesitation gets you killed?"¡¿ "I am Baekya, the ''Sun''. If I abuse public authority in front of people and even resort to murder, that''s when I truly die. And... at least for today, it seems like he''s on our side." It''s not just danger that awaits me. When I shot the flame arrows earlier, I transmitted my location instead of the Snow Ghost Cavalryman''s. If Lee Eunwoo had intended to kill me under the pretense of aiming for the Snow Ghost, he would have shot exactly at the coordinates. But if he still intended to keep me alive, he would have missed slightly. Lee Eunwoo''s bullet hit the Snow Ghost''s shoulder, not me. They said he''s a moderate. It seems it''s not my day to die yet. * * * "He''s alive! He''s alive!" "Ilha did it!" "Not Ilha, it was Lee Eunwoo!" "But Ilha went in and gave him the coordinates!" The blizzard subsided. The snowy field gradually disappeared. People cheered at the top of their lungs. The agents from the Awakened Support Agency breathed sighs of relief. However, Lee Eunwoo and Ri Baejeong''s faces were filled with the tension of what was to come. Ri Baejeong, his bright yellow-green bobbed hair swaying, walked towards Lee Eunwoo. Step. By the time the ten-step distance had shrunk to two, they were both standing on the road, not on the snowy field. In the afternoon, the sight of people hugging and cheering in the residential complex was heartwarming. Ri Baejeong asked, like a lazy but flamboyant and deadly viper. "Earlier. You could have killed him, couldn''t you?" Lee Eunwoo displayed an uncharacteristically human behavior. He smirked. "I guess the wind must have shaken the tip of my barrel." Considering that he was a supreme marksman who also handled guidance techniques, it was a blatant lie. Ri Baejeong shrugged as if to say it was ridiculous. "Let''s go with that. There''s no point in fighting amongst ourselves now." "Now?" "That sun is about to rise again, isn''t it?" "I''m afraid of Baekya." "Excuse me?" Lee Eunwoo looked down at Ri Baejeong. While putting a cigarette in his mouth. "Why that look? He''s a being to be feared, rationally speaking. If we act only on righteousness without fearing him, there will only be inefficient sacrifices." "What are you trying to say?" "But you don''t seem to fear Baekya, you seem to hate him. Same as before." "......" Ri Baejeong didn''t answer. He turned around and picked up his smartphone. He gave the order as it came to his mind. "Hong Ilha has killed civilians. Execute him immediately according to the special law." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 31 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 31 "Wolha!" "Hyung, what''s going on?" Wolha couldn''t understand what was happening. He was thrown into the sky, flew several kilometers on a glider, landed in a nearby national park, and immediately took a taxi home. When he returned, his house was gone. A black sphere covered the entire neighborhood, and the roads were controlled by Guild Hunters and Gate Management Department Hunters. "You can''t come in!" "It''s a Gate! Turn back!" "So when is the Blue Sky Sword Guild coming!" [TL/N: Blue Sky Sword ¡ª Name is subjected to change.] After several hours, the Gate suddenly disappeared. It meant that the Gate had been cleared. Of course, just because it was cleared didn''t mean he could enter immediately. Gate Management Department Hunters would go in first to conduct various investigations and interviews, which would take at least a few hours. Buzz! Then Ilha called. S?a?ch* Th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Hyung?" [Wolha? Can you hear me?] "Yeah, I can hear you." [Come home right now. You have 5 minutes.] Wolha frowned at the road situation. The police line was impenetrable, and the Awakened agents'' gazes were sharp, scanning the area like 360-degree CCTVs. "It''s blocked here right now!" [Just get here somehow! Tell them you need to use the bathroom. Or that you need to check on your cat.] Ilha shouted in frustration. Wolha thought his brother was getting worked up over something trivial again. It was common for Ilha, who was impatient and easily agitated. "..." But the reason Wolha was subtly looking around for a way to get in... Was because his voice sounded so desperate. ''What''s going on?'' Ilha hadn''t shown any impatience since ''that day''. This kind of reaction definitely meant something was wrong. Wolha thought to himself. He had come to trust his brother''s words quite a bit. ''I don''t know.'' Wolha ran into the neighborhood. "You can''t go in there yet!" "Sir! Sir!" "Can''t you see the ring? That bastard''s an Awakened. Don''t call out, just go and catch him!" If he got into a physical fight with the agents, who were at least C-Rank, he had no chance of winning. But Wolha and Ilha''s house wasn''t far from the entrance to the neighborhood, so Wolha was able to get inside before being caught. "What''s going on?" "You''re here." Ilha got up urgently and handed him a suitcase. It was the suitcase that Ilha kept in his room like a sacred object. Whatever was inside, it was quite heavy. Even Wolha, an Awakened himself, felt its considerable weight. "What''s this?" "Take this and follow the Divine Guild Hunters. A support vehicle will be here soon, so just join them. I''ve already made arrangements. The Awakened Support Agency might come later and ask you questions. Just answer them honestly. Don''t lie to try and help me." "But¡ª" "Don''t worry. It''s all a misunderstanding, I''ll be back soon." Gate Management Department agents pounded on the door as if they were about to break it down. "Come out!" Wolha turned to the door in confusion. At that moment, the boy who had been standing quietly in the corner of the living room moved. ''Ryu Haneul?'' He exuded such an immense presence that it was a wonder why Wolha hadn''t noticed him sooner. The purple halo of the Heavenly One''s Authority resonated above his head. Click. "What''s going on?" "But... we clearly saw... Aaagh!" "R-R-Ryu Haneul?" "Why is an S-Rank Hunter here...?" "What brings you here... no, didn''t someone just go in...?" "My friend lives here. I came to check on him because I was worried. Is there a problem?" The talented individuals who had passed the civil service exam in South Korea knew how to respond when an S-Rank Hunter asked if there was a problem. "No, sir!" "Please, go ahead!" The Awakened agents retreated as if fleeing. They were not from the Awakened Support Agency, so they hadn''t received the request for reassignment orders yet. Ilha asked Ryu Haneul. "When is the car coming?" Ryu Haneul answered naturally. "It''ll be here in 3 minutes. It''s best to go outside." Wolha couldn''t understand why Ryu Haneul was speaking formally to his brother, or why Ilha was acting like someone running away after committing a crime. "Hyung." Wolha asked, carrying the weight of being the young head of the household. "Where do we have to run away to? Hyung didn''t do anything wrong, right? Right?" Even though he was mature for his age, he was still only twenty. His big eyes, framed by sweat-drenched and disheveled short hair from running, trembled with anxiety. It wasn''t a worry for himself. It was the fear that his brother''s life, which was finally starting to go well, might be ruined. The answer came from Ryu Haneul. His purple eyes shone with an indifferent and monotonous light. "I can''t tell you the details but it''s related to Baekya. Just know that." "What...?" It wasn''t something he could question, asking why Ryu Haneul was answering instead. Wolha froze at the mention of a name he couldn''t even imagine. "H-Hyung?" Ilha avoided his eyes, looking apologetic. "I couldn''t ignore it." "I understand." Wolha understood Ilha. His brother loved and admired Baekya even more than he did. It was impossible not to be swayed by that name. "But you have to come back safe. Okay?" His voice trembled, sounding a bit pathetic. He clenched his fists, suppressing the surge of emotions. Everything was confusing. The next moment, his mind went blank. Ilha strode over and hugged him tightly. His steel-like body was burning hot. "Don''t worry." "Hyung." The low voice whispered in his ear. "I have no intention of falling now that I''ve come this far. And if I do fall, I''ll climb back up." The words, spoken as if referring to a distant place¡­ Somehow reminded him of the Hunter that the brothers admired. "I''m going." Ilha and Ryu Haneul jumped up and disappeared through the hole in the ceiling. Wolha stood there for a moment, staring blankly at the spot where they had vanished. * * * Even for Chief Lee Baejeong, gathering all the agents right now was difficult. He had no intention of doing so in the first place. He mobilized only a few teams that he could somewhat control. He quickly gave instructions and started his car. "Team 1, block the bridge, Team 2, start tracking through CCTV. Teams 3 and 4, join me!" "Chief, where should we go?" "Follow that Phantom!" The car accelerated suddenly, throwing everyone backward. Lee Baejeong dropped his smartphone twice on his face, but he still managed to type in the secret chat room where eight Regressors, excluding Ryu Haneul, were gathered. [Lee Baejeong: Emergenyc!] [Lee Baejeong: Emergenyc! Emergenyc!] [TL/N: Intentional mistake.] [Lee Baejeong: Baekya is alive!] [Lee Baejeong: Everyone, get out here!] The Regressors reacted differently. [Na Jeongwon: ...] Na Jeongwon only sent ellipses. He seemed to have mixed feelings. Lee Baejeong knew that Na Jeongwon had gone to find Baekya. It seemed that even though he had given Baekya a second chance, everything had ended before Baekya could prove that he was different from his past life. Lee Eunwoo quickly sent a message. [Lee Eunwoo: Killing Baekya again now is inefficient.] He had argued even before the regression that it was not the time to kill Baekya. This was his last chance to push his argument. [Lee Eunwoo: What about clearing the 50th floor? The 75th floor?] [Lee Eunwoo: What about the countless Level 1 Gates he closed?] [Lee Eunwoo: We can''t kill Baekya before we have a plan for those.] [Lee Eunwoo: He''s wary of us, but at the same time, he seems to have some lingering human attachments. From a utilitarian perspective, it''s justifiable to exploit those emotions and take what we can!] Joo Suhyeok showed the reaction he wanted. [Joo Suhyeok: Enough talk.] [Joo Suhyeok: Where are you?] [Joo Suhyeok: Fuck. I''m on my way.] [Joo Suhyeok: Photo (Jumping out the window)] Seeing an agent''s smartphone ringing, it seemed like he was already on his way. Cheong Siyeol... [Cheong Siyeol: I can''t believe it.] "Damn it!" Lee Baejeong cursed as soon as he saw the message. [Cheong Siyeol: I already killed him with my own hands.] It seemed like he wouldn''t be able to get Cheong Siyeol''s help for now. "Open the window!" "Yes, sir!" A subordinate opened the window. Lee Baejeong leaned out as far as he could. Through the tinted window, he could see the two figures in the backseat, scrambling around. ''Where are you trying to go? No matter where you go, you''re within my grasp.'' He couldn''t use magic and chase them through the city streets. Maybe Ryu Haneul would, but Hong Baekya definitely wasn''t the type. They had gained some distance for now, but Seoul was covered in CCTVs. Once the other teams started blocking the roads, they would be trapped like rats. Vroooom! The traffic light turned green. The massive sedan, like a flagship, made a sharp turn. ''What?'' Lee Baejeong couldn''t believe his eyes when he saw the direction they were heading. ''The Tower?'' Their vehicle crossed the Han River bridge and sped towards the Tower. ''They''re going to enter the Tower?'' Lee Baejeong grabbed the radio. "The target is heading towards the Tower. I repeat, the target is heading towards the Tower. Outer Tower Management, restrict entry." The subordinate who was driving asked. "Is this okay, sir?" Lee Baejeong smiled like a fox. "I anticipated this to some extent. If they go to a cleared floor, it''ll be helpful for us. We can use our full power without worrying about civilian casualties." He was confident that he could kill the current Baekya within an hour. "They won''t try to escape to the 50th floor, will they?" "!" But if they went to an uncleared floor, it would be a different story. "They wouldn''t do that, would they? If they do, it''ll be a blessing for us. It''s suicide." "But they might be desperate enough to take that risk." "They''ll die. Definitely." The ''Epilogue Story'' was teeming with powerful enemies. Space-time was distorted there, so even if they entered at the same time, one could end up decades earlier or on the opposite side of the world. "Even Baekya spent months preparing for that place. Those two greenhorns won''t last a few days." Moreover, the Tower became drastically more difficult every 10th and 25th floor. How brutal the 50th floor, where those two intervals met, would be was currently the world''s biggest concern. "They''ve exited the vehicle. Outer Tower Management, we''re being breached." "Stop them. Damn it! We''re getting out too. Prepare for engagement!" Ilha, no, Baekya and Ryu Haneul were definitely running towards the Tower. The area around the Outer Tower Management was open, with a parking lot and a plaza. In front of the main entrance to the Outer Tower Management, Ryu Haneul was blasting away the Awakened agents. As soon as Lee Baejeong got out of the car, he activated his skill. ¡¾Heavenly Net¡¿ ¡¾The net of heaven is vast and wide, though sparse, it misses nothing.¡¿ Whoosh! A blue glowing net flew in, as if it would engulf the entire world. Baekya turned to look at him, gritting his teeth. Hostility was clear on his face. Lee Baejeong smiled as widely as Baekya''s face contorted. Lee Eunwoo was right. ''Yes, I hate you, Baekya.'' In truth, he believed that even if Baekya hadn''t fallen, he should have been killed. ''You''re too strong. As long as you exist, this country will continue to have a night without sunset, just like your name. And the moment you disappear, we will face the true night.'' This country was too peaceful under Baekya''s light. Politicians questioned other Hunters, asking why they couldn''t be like Baekya, and bureaucrats were busy bowing to high-ranking Hunters instead of developing institutional and practical measures. ''You didn''t save us, you just tamed us. Humanity needs to at least experience the evening.'' In Lee Baejeong''s view, this country relied too much on one person. If this country was going to fall apart without that one person, it was destined to fall apart from the beginning. They had to cut off their dependence on Baekya before it deepened. They had to see the true darkness of the night. "Aaaargh!" The Heavenly Net flew towards Baekya. As a net that missed nothing, even Baekya couldn''t escape it. But Baekya had no intention of escaping in the first place. Flash! The white light of Law of Light flashed. The blue net disappeared like a mirage. Lee Baejeong shouted. "Attack!" The Awakened agents drew their respective weapons. * * * "Run!" From the start, there was no option to fight and win. Not only did I lack the strength right now, but if I wiped out all the Management Bureau''s Awakened, who would catch the criminal Awakened next? Time was not on our side. If even one or two more Regressors joined the fight, we would be at a disadvantage. If it were someone strong like Cheong Siyeol or Joo Suhyeok, it would be the end. I entered the Tower lobby with Ryu Haneul. The fanfare of the Aitel System blared, and at the same time, the Management Bureau''s Awakened unleashed their skills and bullets rained down. My mana was running low because I had just nullified the Heavenly Net. "Senior!" Ryu Haneul tried to shield me with his body. His eyes, pleading to be remembered, were both pitiful and alluring. I pulled Ryu Haneul along and took out the ''Winter Duke''s Standard'' from my inventory ring. ¡¾Domain Expansion: Incineration¡¿ Whoosh¡ª! White flames expanded in a spherical shape, blocking the skills and bullets. Thanks to the flag''s support, I barely managed to succeed. From afar, Lee Baejeong swung his hand once more. This time, Ryu Haneul blocked it by manifesting his Black Heavenly Sword Aura externally. Then, something unexpected happened. Whether it was the flag''s power or not, the white flames of Law of Light were added to the Black Heavenly Sword Aura. There was potential for growth here, but there was no time to consider that now. "Senior? Are we really going?" "I didn''t expect it to turn out like this either!" Climbing the Tower was truly a last resort. We could definitely escape, and if we succeeded in clearing it, reaching A-Rank was almost guaranteed. It might sound absurd, but the Tower''s ending rewards were truly reliable. However, the probability of dying horribly was much higher. But if we stayed here, we would definitely die horribly. Now, it was either death or transcendence. "Aitel! I challenge the 50th floor! Transport us!" ¡¾Do you wish to challenge the 50th floor?¡¿ ¡¾This story has a high probability of death and it is very difficult to give up midway.¡¿ "Transport us, I said!" ¡¾Confirmed.¡¿ Fwoosh! The ground beneath our feet glowed white. Lee Baejeong ran towards us, his face filled with frustration. He lunged at me. I kicked him in the chin with an upward kick. Thwack! [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 32 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 32 Ryu Haneul and I, holding hands tightly, fell endlessly. "Senior! Something''s strange! When we usually go up the Tower, it''s definitely..." "I know! Something''s wrong." Normally, when moving between floors in the Tower, there should be a flash of light, like when using a teleportation skill, and then we''d arrive at the destination. But we had been falling for like almost 30 minutes. Moreover, the fact that we were ''falling'' was strange. The Tower was, after all, a ''Tower,'' and clearing it involved ''climbing.'' Reaching the 50th floor by falling from the 0th floor? It felt a bit odd. I asked Ryu Haneul, "How was it before you regressed? Was it like this then too?" Ryu Haneul avoided my eyes and answered. "I¡­ I wasn''t even Awakened back then!" "There must have been interviews with me or something!" "You always talked about the rewards you got from clearing the Tower, but you hardly ever mention what happened inside!" "...You''re right. So it''s all my fault?" "That''s not what I meant!" "Forget it. Just hold my hand tighter! We might end up in some strange space-time if we''re not careful." "I know that too!" It was common for there to be a time gap of a few days to a few weeks internally when entering a floor. At its most extreme, there was a difference of over 30 years in internal time. If you succeed in reaching the ending of an episode story, aging and injuries were nullified, but if you failed, that was it. Giving up midway was only possible in a very few ''system zones,'' and considering the Aitel notification that popped up when we entered, it seemed virtually impossible on this floor. Ryu Haneul looked directly at me. His purple eyes seemed to contain both flames and the depths of the ocean. "I will never, ever let go of this hand. I even went back in time for you, Senior. Even if we fall into hell, I will conquer it and follow you." Those were words that resonated with me. I burst into laughter and opened my subspace ring once again. "Cheong Siyeol said I would open the gates of Flame Realm and raise an army of demons." I took out the ''Winter Duke''s Standard'' and gripped it tightly in my left hand. "What are you going to do?" "Doesn''t this process feel like ''loading''?" "Yes, yes! Now that you mention it, it does." "It''s like certain conditions need to be met, right? And from what I can see, the first condition is that we get separated." "!" I''ve been climbing the Tower for a while now. I can pick up on these kinds of hints. Ryu Haneul asked, looking perplexed. "Then... should we let go?" "No, why would we?" I held out the Winter Duke''s Standard. "Hold it, and channel mana into it with me at the same time. You know how to handle titles, right? You''re the Heavenly Demon. The Heaven-Shattering Heavenly Demon." From using it a couple of times, I was certain that this standard had the power of amplification or enhancement. If the ''rule'' of this floor was ''to be separated''¡ª My Law of Light could erase that rule. And Ryu Haneul''s class, ''Heavenly Demon,'' could overturn that rule. Ryu Haneul nodded. His long, black hair flowed gracefully with the motion, and the purple halo above his head resonated. "Let''s begin." "Yes." I started by drawing up my mana. ¡¾Domain Expansion: Law of Light¡¿ Fwoosh! A pale light flickered from the standard. Ryu Haneul immediately poured his inner energy into it. ¡¾Class: Heavenly Demon (Legend)¡¿ ¡¾Trait: ''Heaven-Shattering'' is activated.¡¿ ¡¾Trait: ''Ten Thousand Demons Submit'' is activated.¡¿ ¡¾Trait: ''I Alone Am the Honored one'' is activated.¡¿ I could feel Ryu Haneul''s traits, his powers, coexisting with my Law of Light under one banner. The jet-black mana of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art writhed as if it was about to burst forth at any moment. I instinctively knew that this was the moment. It was the intuition of an Awakened who had spent 15 years on Earth and countless years within the Tower. I ''thrust'' the standard into the empty air. The sensation of piercing through the exact gap traveled up my arm. Crack! A thick crack appeared in the empty space where we had been endlessly falling. ¡¾Aitel Notification: Error Occurred¡¿ ¡¾Executing simultaneous transmission.¡¿ ¡¾Rejected: Will cause critical damage to the floor''s structure.¡¿ ¡¾Retrying¡¿ ¡¾Rejected¡¿ ¡¾Retrying¡¿ ¡¾Rejected¡¿ . . . ¡¾Forced Execution: Forcing execution to prevent the spread of the error.¡¿ Familiar notification windows appeared in my vision. I couldn''t help but smile, feeling a pang of nostalgia. Ryu Haneul stared at me intently. A moment later, the white light that should have come earlier enveloped us. * * * Baekya couldn''t believe his eyes. ''I definitely entered the Tower, didn''t I?'' The place he was standing wasn''t some exotic world. It wasn''t a burning land, the capital of a thousand-year-old kingdom, or a dragon''s nest. These buildings, the Tower, and most importantly, the large river flowing through the middle of the city. He was certain. It was Seoul, the heart of South Korea. The same city he had been in just a few minutes ago. But it was slightly different from how Baekya remembered it. Whoosh! The entire city was ablaze. Flame-winged demons from the Flame Realm soared through the sky. Buildings crumbled tragically, and Hunters were dying everywhere. ''Sunny?'' He called out to his Constellation, but there was no answer. It meant that either all of this was an illusion, or the situation was so dire that his connection to his Constellation had been severed. He could see the Han River Park ahead. A familiar figure stood there. The purple halo of the Heavenly One''s Authority glowed above his head, and his long, black hair swayed with the wind, along with the surrounding reeds. But his limp hands told a different story. Ryu Haneul was not in his right mind. "Ryu Haneul? Are you okay?" Baekya approached Ryu Haneul and placed his hand on his shoulder. Thud. "What did you see that made you so... Well, I can see why." And then he froze too. He recognized it instantly. The 100-story building next to the Tower, built alongside it. It was his building. Four red pillars rose from the rooftop, gleaming ominously, and a red dimensional gate was open in the center of those pillars. And from that gate, demons from the Flame Realm were pouring out endlessly. "...Senior. No. Tell me this isn''t true." Ryu Haneul''s eyes were vacant. Baekya let out a sigh. It was time to use the traditional solution. ''This won''t do.'' He went in front of Ryu Haneul and slapped him hard across the cheek. "Wake up!" S?a??h th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Smack! The Heavenly Demon''s head snapped to the side. Like a puppet with its strings cut, or the tragic protagonist of a melodrama, the Heavenly Demon collapsed onto the ground. "Gasp! Gasp, gasp!" Ryu Haneul inhaled sharply, like someone who had nearly drowned. "S-Senior? It''s you, right? So right now, time is..." His youthful face was covered in cold sweat. Baekya grabbed both of Ryu Haneul''s cheeks and looked him straight in the eyes. "You succeeded in regressing, and I died once and returned. We entered the 50th floor of the Tower to escape Lee Baejeong. Remember?" "Oh, yes. Yes!" He guided Ryu Haneul''s gaze, which had always been directed towards some distant point, and brought it back to the present. It didn''t take long for his eyes to regain focus. "I''m back, Senior. Thank you." "Good. Now get up." "Yes." Ryu Haneul reached out his hand. "What are you doing? Get up on your own." Baekya stared blankly at the offered hand. "Never mind." Ryu Haneul got up by himself, looking a bit dejected. Baekya, looking at the endless stream of demons pouring out, said. "That''s been repeating since a while ago, you know?" "Yes." "I think this is some kind of mental attack. The kind that traps you in a dream and drains your mental energy. Sometimes it''s a good dream, sometimes it''s a nightmare." "I understand." Ryu Haneul, befitting a Heavenly Demon, looked ahead with composure. He seemed to have completely returned to normal. "You''re right, Senior. It''s trapping us in the worst possible moment and making it last forever." "Was this your worst moment?" "Yes." "What kind of moment?" His composure didn''t last long. Ryu Haneul turned his head slightly. His slender fingers trembled. "When you... abandoned me." Baekya exhaled sharply. He had been hailed as a savior by countless people, but this was the first time he had received such heartfelt devotion. "What was I to you?" "...That." "Forget it. Don''t answer. Anyway, it''s good that you''re awake. You''re here, and I''m here." Ryu Haneul obediently closed his mouth. Just as he said, Baekya was still standing by his side. Their faces were bathed in the red light of the burning sky. The colors and shadows were familiar. It was like the time when he proudly displayed the ''Sunny'' emblem without even bothering with a handkerchief. Baekya continued. "I get it now. I understand why they tried to separate us. This is the type of Epilogue Story that becomes ridiculously easy if even one of us is with the other." It was true. Because Baekya was there, Ryu Haneul was able to quickly regain his senses. "Will the rewards remain the same?" "They might adjust it, but it shouldn''t change much. I''ve pushed the limits with Law of Light a lot, and I know they can''t change the rules themselves." "Ah!" "We didn''t say it was okay to reduce the rewards just because we lowered the difficulty. This is good. I should be able to reach A-Rank without any problems." Ryu Haneul clicked his tongue. "Senior, isn''t this totally cheating?" Baekya nodded. "Why are you talking like I did it all by myself? We did this together." Ryu Haneul loved the word ''together'' in that answer. The world around them warped and twisted, fading into a monochrome palette. Space distorted once more. * * * Everything before Ryu Haneul''s eyes turned white. At that moment, he saw the Aitel System notification and Baekya''s memories. ¡¾Loading...¡¿ ¡¾Selecting...¡¿ ¡¾The selection process may take some time...¡¿ ''Senior?'' He wasn''t sure if his senior had also seen his memories, but it was likely that he hadn''t. Judging by the notification, this situation seemed to have risen due to his senior''s unique characteristics. ''It''s when he was young.'' The first thing that caught his eye was 12 years old Baekya. ''He was ordinary back then?'' Baekya at that time was just an elementary school student, a bit more handsome than his peers. That year, the Tower appeared in the world, and Gates started opening. 12-year-old Baekya was abducted into the Tutorial on his way home from school. After overcoming several near-death experiences and returning home, he found that the entire neighborhood where his house had been was swallowed by a collapsed Gate and turned into a sea of lava. ''M-Mom? Dad?'' The next Baekya was 15 years old. It was around the time when the chaos of the early Gate openings reached its peak. Gates were still bursting open everywhere. ''Level 1 Gate outbreak in Busan!'' The conflict between Awakened and non-Awakened people was intensifying. ''We oppose the forced conscription of Awakened!'' ''Awakened are innocent, non-Awakened are guilty? Punish Rankers'' misconduct severely!'' Conflicts with other countries also began. ''Japan has dispatched Awakened special forces to Dokdo!'' The next scene was on a certain floor of the Tower. In that place where sandstorms raged endlessly and mummies never died, Baekya spent a long, long time. The deaths of his comrades were too numerous to count. ''Mister! Mister!'' It had been a long time since Baekya became the last survivor of the 1st Generation, the final survivor of the 1st Tutorial. He witnessed a fight against an unimaginably powerful ancient dragon. ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö He also saw memories that were completely blacked out. How much time had passed? ¡¾Selection process complete.¡¿ The system notification appeared. ¡¾Constructing the world.¡¿ Fwaaaaaah! The next moment, they were standing in the middle of a desert. The sun blazed fiercely in a cloudless blue sky, and sand dunes like tidal waves stretched to the horizon. Unlike before, when they were slightly apart, this time they were completely stuck together. Ryu Haneul asked. "Where are we?" "Ha." The emotion Baekya displayed at that moment was something Ryu Haneul had never seen before, not in the previous regression or this one. "S-Senior?" The eyes that had been looking up at the top of the Tower rolled back, hiding within themselves. Baekya¡­ was afraid. Baekya, who had fought ancient dragons, closed Level 1 Gates, and wandered through the other worlds within the Tower as if they were his own backyard, was afraid of a mere desert. "Okay, this might be a bit tough." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 33 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 33 "What happened here that made it like this? No, forget it. Let''s get into the shade first." Ryu Haneul helped Baekya up and led him to the shade of a sand dune. Ryu Haneul tried to sit Baekya down, but... Thud. "..." Baekya collapsed onto the sand, lying flat on his back. His unfocused black eyes looked hazy and decadent. Objectively, Ryu Haneul had every reason to resent Baekya. He had followed him into the Tower to help, but Baekya, who was supposed to lead the clearing, had collapsed. However, Ryu Haneul smiled mischievously. ''This is the first time I''ve seen Senior so listless.'' It was a sight that even Cheong Siyeol hadn''t witnessed. ''Whether Senior saves the world or destroys it, I want to be by your side. I wish I could be with you from the beginning, through the middle, and to the end.'' It was as if he had found another kind of heaven. Whether aware of these feelings or not, Baekya mumbled softly. "...Find it." "What?" "Finding a needle in a desert." "What do you mean?" "That''s the Epilogue Story here." Ryu Haneul checked his status window. ''There wasn''t even a notification.'' An Aitel quest had appeared at some point. ¡¾Epilogue Story: Finding a Needle in a Desert¡¿ Just reading the contents made him gasp. ¡¾The wealthy merchant Al Chiron of the Comet Merchant Group wants to go to heaven. But it is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. After years of careful breeding, Al Chiron has created a small camel that can pass through the eye of a needle. Now, all that''s left is to find the right needle and have the camel pass through it.¡¿ ¡¾Al Chiron has reached the tombs of the pagan kings, where countless treasure needles are said to be hidden according to legend. However, Al Chiron, a devout believer, cannot enter the tombs of the pagan kings. If you find the needle for Al Chiron, he will reward you greatly.¡¿ ¡¾Scenario Reward: Genie''s Lamp (Mythical)¡¿ Ryu Haneul reread it several times, wondering if he had misunderstood something. ''But it''s not wrong?'' After repeating it three times, Ryu Haneul accepted that this was indeed an Epilogue Story about finding a needle in a desert. "How did you progress through this story?" Ryu Haneul asked. Baekya weakly raised his hand and pointed in one direction. Between two massive sand dunes, something like the roar of a beast could be heard. "Go and see. Wait... put me down..." Ryu Haneul carried Baekya and walked between the dunes. ''Wow.'' Beyond the dunes, there was a procession that seemed straight out of Arabian Nights. "Pay your respects to Lord Al Chiron!" A procession of elephants and camels, much larger than those on Earth, stretched to the horizon. Countless handsome men and beautiful women, along with guards armed with fine weapons, bustled about. The merchant leader, Al Chiron, was at the head of the procession. He was riding on the back of an elephant adorned with gold and purple silk armor, and slowly descended as if to meet someone. Ryu Haneul checked who Al Chiron was going to meet. ''Lee Baejeong?'' A handsome man with a stylish bob of yellow and mint-colored hair, wearing a well-tailored black suit. It was Lee Baejeong. He was translucent like a ghost, but he didn''t seem to notice anything amiss. Ryu Haneul ducked his head below the sand dune and then carefully peeked back up. They weren''t too far away. With an Awakened''s senses, it was easy to notice them. But Lee Baejeong didn''t seem to be aware of their presence at all. Ryu Haneul thought that they couldn''t actually be in the same place. ''Originally, each of us should have been dropped into a different space.'' Lee Baejeong looked dismayed, as if he had just received a quest. He looked back at the desert and shrugged his shoulders. Ryu Haneul spoke to Baekya, who was still lying on the sand. "Senior, Lee Baejeong also received the quest." "I see." "Shouldn''t we complete it first?" "Let him be. Let him suffer a bit like I did." "What?" "The size of the tomb is no joke." Ryu Haneul didn''t understand what Baekya meant. Lee Baejeong used some kind of skill and walked away. * * * The tomb was an enormous underground structure. They had to dig through the sandy desert to find the entrance and then explore the interior. Lee Baejeong managed to do that without much difficulty. He was originally an Awakened specialized in sealing and searching. Since Baekya was still out of it, Ryu Haneul followed Lee Baejeong inside alone. The tomb became wider and wider as they descended. The walls were covered in all sorts of hieroglyphs, which even Ryu Haneul, who had the ''Decryption'' skill, couldn''t read. [TL/N: Hieroglyphs ¡ª a system of pictorial writing used by the ancient Egyptians, and the word means "sacred carving".] Ryu Haneul would occasionally come back out and tell Baekya what he saw. ''Senior is only holding on because he has stronger mental fortitude than me, but he must be in a very confused state right now. I need to keep talking to him and make him realize that this isn''t that time.'' "Senior, there are hieroglyphs inside, but I can''t decrypt them. How was it back then?" "Same here. I couldn''t read them either. None of us could. We just wasted time." While searching for the path, they often entered the wrong rooms. Inside were large and small mummies and swarms of flesh-eating scarab beetles that attacked them. "Damn it!" Every time Lee Baejeong threw a tantrum, Ryu Haneul laughed triumphantly. Mummies were nothing in front of the Black Heavenly Sword Aura and Samadhi Evolution, and the flesh-eating scarab beetles couldn''t penetrate Ryu Haneul''s body, which had mastered the Black Maitreya Divine Art. "How did you deal with them, Senior?" "I burned them all. Surprisingly, the ventilation system worked well, so I didn''t suffocate." There were also traps like spikes, maces, or spiked maces that shot out from the floor or walls. Beyond those traps were treasure rooms. As soon as Lee Baejeong opened one of the doors, he collapsed on the spot. "Oh my god." Even Ryu Haneul agreed with Lee Baejeong at that moment. "Whoa." The treasure room was larger than six regulation-size soccer fields combined and filled with all sorts of jewels. A significant portion of it was occupied by treasure needles. Large and small needles carved from various jewels like gold, silver, crystal, and turquoise were piled up, reaching the high ceiling. Lee Baejeong tried to use countless skills like ''Search,'' ''Appraisal,'' and ''Tracking,'' but within the tomb, protected by the aura of the dead king, he couldn''t identify which needle was the story artifact. "So in the end, you just grabbed a bunch and came out." "There''s no other way but to check them one by one." "Even carrying them out wasn''t easy. The mummies followed us all the way to the desert." "Yeah, they''re relentless." At first, Lee Baejeong took a large number of needles. But the way back from the tomb to Al Chiron wasn''t easy either. ["You dare steal the king''s treasure!"] A crocodile giant mummy and a jackal giant mummy, probably around B+ Rank, attacked. Lee Baejeong eventually subdued them, but he lost a considerable number of needles during the fight. In a situation where he couldn''t tell which needle was the story artifact, it was a fatal mistake. He managed to bring back 315 needles. "No." "That''s not it either." "This one isn''t it either." Al Chiron shook his head at all of them. Lee Baejeong shrugged as if he had expected this. Ryu Haneul and Baekya watched as Lee Baejeong entered the tomb once again. "It seems like around 200 is the safe limit if you don''t want to drop any." "Yeah, I could manage up to 250." "And one round trip takes about 40 minutes." Suddenly, Baekya''s eyes regained focus. "It took me nine years and seven months to empty that entire pyramid." It wasn''t a mumble like before; it was his usual powerful voice. "Senior?!" Ryu Haneul was shocked by both the tone and the content of his words. The sun was setting over the desert. Baekya sneered. "Let''s see how long it takes Lee Baejeong." * * * The time Baekya spent regaining his senses grew longer each day. From then on, instead of following Lee Baejeong, Ryu Haneul would go into the tomb and bring out useful items. Good artifacts often appeared inside the coffins. Of course, there were guardian mummies, killer scarab beetles, and giant scorpions. "Heavenly Demon''s Reign!" But nothing could stop ''Heavenly Demon'' Ryu Haneul. "Senior, I''m back." "You''re back?" Under the blue sky, in the shade of a sand dune. Baekya, who had been lying with his eyes closed as if dead, opened them at the sound of Ryu Haneul''s voice. Ryu Haneul had crossed the desert sand without leaving a single footprint, using a special movement technique. "You''re good now?" "I don''t think so. My head feels like it''s splitting. I heard medicine made from mummies is good for you, do you have any?" "The mummies I saw here didn''t seem like they''d be good for that. But I did find this medicine." "The name of the elixir is... 3,000-Year-Old Honey? Is it safe to eat? Wait, it''s B-Rank?!" Ryu Haneul rummaged through his Eastern-style robe adorned with the sun and moon, pulling out various artifacts. "This is a mummy''s bandage, a healing item." "Not bad." "This is the Eye of Thoth amulet, mages would love it." [TL/N: Thoth ¡ª The God of Moon, of reckoning, of learning, and of writing¡ª in Egyptian religion.] "I love it too. It''s a mana item. It would be great to attach it to the Winter Duke''s Standard. Can I borrow it?" "I''ll just give it to you. It''s not really my style. Oh, and this is a fragment of the Emerald Tablet. It''s just a fragment, but it''s listed as Legendary?" "Keep it safe. I have a few too. They say if you collect all 81, it becomes Mythical." "Wow?!" "Why do you look so surprised?" "You know me well now, Senior. This is what I found today." He handed Baekya a scarab amulet made of gold and lapis lazuli. ¡¾Solar Scarab (Hero)¡¿ ¡¾Effect: Battle Continuation. Nullifies fatal wounds once.¡¿ Baekya stared at it for a moment, then returned it to Ryu Haneul. "Shouldn''t you keep it?" But Ryu Haneul forcefully pushed it into Baekya''s pocket. "I haven''t died yet. You''ve already died once, Senior, so you''re more likely to die again. You should have it." Baekya accepted it, feigning reluctance. "I feel a bit annoyed, but I can''t really argue. Thanks." "And I already have a similar skill. Have you heard of Returning Light?" "As far as I know, that''s not similar to this one, is it?" "The effect is similar." "Alright then. What about Lee Baejeong?" Ryu Haneul grinned at Baekya''s question. "He''s currently grabbing the merchant by the collar." S?a?ch* Th? N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "How much time has passed?" "Three weeks. It''s almost four weeks now." "He''s slower than us. We endured for three months without complaining." Then, his expression turned 180 degrees, and he asked seriously. "Senior, how long did it take you to get out of here?" How long did it take to get out? It was a question that reminded him that he had indeed escaped this place before. Baekya was gradually regaining his senses throughout the day. Maybe he could overcome the nightmare now. As if lost in memories, Baekya''s eyes grew distant. Finally, he spoke. "It varied for each person. The shortest was 10 years, and the one who endured with me until the end lasted 400 years." It was a time span Ryu Haneul couldn''t even imagine. "What?! 400 years?!" Baekya nodded. "It was that kind of time." "What kind of time?" "A time when we were busy, but could finally catch our breath?" "Ah." "Up until the 9th floor, there weren''t enough Hunters outside to block the Gates... and I needed some time alone. You might have seen it, but my real family..." "Yes, I saw. You don''t have to say anything." "Right. But around that time, I had come to terms with things, and the country had stabilized a bit. So, for the 10th-floor raid, I entered with teammates for the first time." Distant memories flashed before his eyes. Baekya slowly recounted the events of the past. ''It''s safe near the merchants. Leave if you can''t handle it.'' ''You should be the one to leave. You''ll go crazy at this rate.'' ''I''m already crazy.'' ''Don''t be so self-deprecating.'' ''It''s okay. I''m really okay. I can leave anytime, so I just have to fight myself.'' ''Do you know how many years have passed?'' ''Do I need to know?'' ''...'' ''They say time is just a way to divide change into regular units.'' ''You''re talking in riddles.'' ''Since we''re doing the same thing every day, not a single day has passed.'' ''Which pyramid was this?'' ''The 43rd, or maybe the 44th.'' Baekya finished his long recollection and words. "...It took a long time." The night sky was filled with stars, the sunset long gone. Ryu Haneul, filled with a mix of emotions from pity to shock, asked. "So, Senior, how many years did it take you to clear this place?" Baekya looked into the distance and answered. "3,000 years." Ryu Haneul squeezed his eyes shut. It was an unimaginable amount of time. Baekya replied, slightly embarrassed. "And I didn''t even clear it properly. I erased the entire desert with Law of Light." His voice had regained its usual confidence. "What do you mean...?" "I''m back to my senses now. Let''s go finish this." "What?" "I found the needle." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 34 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 34 I''m not sure how many years ago it was. It''s true that I spent an exceptionally long time on the 10th floor, but on other floors, I casually spent anywhere from a few years to over a hundred years. But this damn adventure in this sea of sand, even now that it''s erased parts of my memories and emotions, still evokes feelings that make me tremble. Resentment? Anger? Probably both. By the time I reached the 10th floor, I had already attained immortality. At least I wouldn''t die of old age. But my comrades were different. Unlike me, who had wandered and conquered the previous nine floors, receiving all sorts of elixirs and rewards, they were just slightly stronger than normal humans. 10 years. 3,650 days. That''s when the first one gave up. It was because we couldn''t find the story artifact even after completely emptying the treasure room of a pyramid. ''This wasn''t the end?'' ''Please, stop!'' ''I¡­ I can''t do this anymore. I miss my wife and son.'' Inside the Tower, you could only return to the Tower lobby through a very few ''system zones.'' The 10th floor was relatively easy to find these ''system zones.'' They were right next to the merchant group that stretched to the horizon. The man who had been killing monsters out of anger for losing his wife and son went mad after 10 years. He left the Tower in search of his wife and son who were already gone. I couldn''t stop him. The thought of having to do this all over again was driving me crazy too. But once you left, there was no way to rejoin the ''raid'' on that floor midway. In other countries, when faced with such a hopeless situation, they would all give up together and then retry based on the clues they had gathered. But back then, our country lacked the time and manpower. It was difficult to gather even ten teammates from all over the country for a Tower raid. Once we gave up, there was no telling when we could gather again. And needless to say, this kind of grinding quest was even worse. I was already sick of it. I had no confidence in clearing this alone. It was around the 80-year mark when people started giving up in droves. ''Baekya, I''m sorry.'' ''Noona, why do you look so haggard?'' ''I''ve become a grandma. Look at the wrinkles on my face. It''s driving me crazy.'' ''What grandma? You still look like you''re not even thirty.'' ''Hey! I was a college student when I entered this place.'' Except for a few, including myself, people were starting to show signs of aging. Aging and injuries would heal once we left the Tower, but death was irreversible. Even natural death was still death. After 150 years, three of us were left. After 250 years, there were two. And after 400 years, I was alone. And for 3,000 years, I searched 300 pyramids for the treasure needle. I didn''t feel the passage of 3,000 years. It took about ten years to empty just one pyramid, and since we searched 300 of them, I figured it took roughly that long. Then one day... ¡¾Special Ancient Language Decipherment (C)¡¿ ''Huh?'' I had acquired the ''Special Ancient Language Decipherment'' skill. Skills are usually obtained through repeated practice of specific actions that match your class, like a swordsman swinging their sword or a mage practicing magic, or they can be gifted by a constellation. Usually, skills like ''Decipherment'' or ''Insight'' were easily obtained by magic-type Awakened. It seems those guys went back after 80 years, so they must have lacked repetitive practice. I''m an Esper class, so I needed even more repetitive practice. Anyway, I could now read the hieroglyphs. Their contents were excessively harmful. "What did it say?" Ryu Haneul asked from beside me. I collected my overflowing emotions and answered. "You know the tomb wasn''t underground but a pyramid, right? We went inside, so you have a rough idea of the structure." "Yes." "Originally, there wasn''t sand piled up like this. There were enormous pyramids lined up along a large river, and as desertification progressed, everything disappeared under the sand." "Wait a minute, senior, are you saying...?" "Yes. The name of that now-vanished river was the Needle River. It was narrow and long like a needle, and it produced a lot of high-quality magic crystals that were the raw material for the treasure needle." Ryu Haneul was at a loss for words. Seeing him cautiously glancing at me, my expression must have been quite grim. "So, the needle that the camel had to pass through meant that you just had to take the camels over this and go west. I didn''t know that, so I rotted in this desert for 3,000 years! And you know what that merchant bastard said when I went to tell him?" "What did he say?" "''You figured it out now?''" But I could guarantee that anyone who went through what I did would be in this state. "I wandered for 3,000 years, and he says, ''You figured it out now?'' Did I, did we... to hear those words..." "S-So what did you do?" "I think I killed him." "You think?" At that time, I truly couldn''t see anything. ''Sunny? This is...'' When I came to my senses, ''Sunny'' was hugging me from behind, and my vision was filled with the white light of Law of Light and Aitel''s system error window. From then on, I cleared the 10th floor only that way. I listened to the people inside the tower as little as possible and erased everything first. Because I absorbed a tremendous amount of mana by erasing the pyramid and the entire upper part, I was able to manipulate even the epilogue story itself from then on. I erased unfavorable clauses and burned entire fields as I climbed the tower. All of this happened before I even turned 20. But I''m not that child anymore. Even now, it''s definitely a shitty memory. But I don''t need to live in this memory. I crossed the desert and approached Al Chiron''s tent. "Tell the group leader that I found the needle he wanted." The guard went inside, and soon the tent''s flap opened. A middle-aged man with a turban and a stylish mustache came out. My hands trembled involuntarily, but Ryu Haneul held my arm steady beside me. Feeling a myriad of emotions, I said. "The needle the group leader wanted is over there." Al Chiron asked. "I see nothing but desert. Where is this needle?" "Beneath the desert lies a river named the Needle. That river was the boundary between the barren wasteland where farming was impossible and the vast grasslands where the ancients lived. Since nothing could survive beyond the river, the ancients believed that the other side was the afterlife." Al Chiron''s eyes widened exaggeratedly. "I knew there were such legends among the heathens. As a devout believer, I couldn''t be the first to venture out, but if these are the words of kind foreigners, perhaps it''s worth believing." Even my constellation couldn''t act better than that. At that moment, I understood the whole story. It seemed Al Chiron couldn''t move recklessly due to opposition from the extremist believers within the group. He must have needed to hear these words from us, the foreigners, to create a basis for persuading them. "I hope it was helpful." "It was a great help. Thank you. This is a token of my gratitude." He took out a small lamp from his ornate silk sleeve and offered it to me. ¡¾Genie''s Lamp (Mythical)¡¿ ¡¾Rub the lamp, and a genie will appear to grant your wishes. You can make a total of three wishes.¡¿ ¡¾*Wishes to increase the number of wishes, love, resurrection, and wishes involving the genie actively committing murder will not be granted.¡¿ I accepted the lamp and stepped aside with Ryu Haneul. "Let''s go! To paradise!" Al Chiron shouted, raising his fist as he mounted an elephant. Under the starry night sky, the elephant let out a low bellow. Starting with that, the procession that stretched to the horizon began to move. It was a procession that might have been stationary for years. As I watched for a while, I noticed something peculiar. The beginning of the procession was flamboyant and leisurely, but the further back it went, the simpler and sharper it became. The more I saw the soldiers guarding the rear and the ragged people hurrying to keep up, the more it seemed like a refugee procession rather than a merchant one. "..." Ryu Haneul also seemed to notice something strange, his expression was subtle. "Senior, what did you say about the world inside the tower?" "Some say it''s another world somewhere in the universe, and others say it''s an instant dungeon in a game that Aitel creates and destroys on the fly." "What do you think, senior?" "I don''t think about it." "Why?" "Because no matter what this actually is, it won''t change what I experienced and the emotions I felt." I stood there until Al Chiron''s procession crossed the sea of sand that stretched under the night sky. The world turned monochrome. I said to Ryu Haneul. "Thank you. I couldn''t have gotten out without you." Ryu Haneul smiled warmly. "No. I couldn''t have gotten out without you either, senior." * * * I snapped back to reality. We had gone through Ryu Haneul''s nightmare once, and mine once, so I thought we''d be falling into Lee Baejeong''s nightmare next. But after the world turned black and white, there was only darkness, neither up nor down. Thump. A faint vibration spread from afar, passing through me. "Senior. Something''s strange, isn''t it?" "Prepare for battle." "Huh?" "Something''s coming." Thump! Ryu Haneul must have felt the vibration too, as he drew the Black Heavenly Demon Sword from his inventory and scanned the area ahead. Whoosh! It struck in an instant, like a spatial jump from a sci-fi movie. The entire dark space we were standing in seemed to be absorbed into its domain. A loud alarm rang in my ears. ¡¾Warning! Warning! Warning!¡¿ ¡¾The Mirror Prince of the Ruined World (S+) has appeared.¡¿ ¡¾The Mirror Prince is gathering countless people''s ''worlds'' to restore his homeland. Be careful not to be absorbed by the Mirror Prince.¡¿ It changed its form. Crackle! "The sanctuary?" "This is my house?" In the next moment, Ryu Haneul and I were standing in a space similar to the sanctuary on the 99th floor of my building. A spacious octagonal room, surrounded by Greek-style pillars and statues. It was a place all too familiar. But the difference was that instead of panoramic windows, mirrors were plastered everywhere. Slurp! Accompanied by a sticky, monstrous sound that didn''t match the smoothness of the mirrors, blurry facial features emerged from within the giant mirrors. It reminded me of the default male character in a 3D app. It seemed to simply exist, devoid of any personality or individuality. It screamed. ["Who are you and why have you come here!"] Before its mouth could fully open, I pulled out the Certificate of Pardon from my inventory. Flash! The Certificate of Pardon, which nullifies proposition-type debuffs, flashed, and a strong wind passed by me. ¡¾Status Abnormality: ''Ego Collapse'' Nullified¡¿ A notification popped up in the corner of my vision. "I''m okay." I looked to the side and saw that Ryu Haneul''s eyes were also wide open. Well, now wasn''t the time to worry about the ''Heavenly Demon.'' The Mirror Prince opened his mouth once more. ["Who am I! Your nightmares will multiply like my endless nightmare!"] As soon as he finished speaking, a figure stepped out of the mirror in front of us. Step. "...Ha." I couldn''t help but gasp. Magical noise flickered across his face, making it difficult to recognize him properly. But the blue halo that soared in all directions like swords, the dark blue hair covering his forehead, and the well-built physique left no doubt about his identity. Cheong Siyeol. It was definitely Cheong Siyeol. That Mirror Prince bastard must have summoned him from my memories. Shing. Cheong Siyeol drew a blue longsword that looked as if it were made of sapphire. He spun the sword left and right once, then kicked off the ground and charged. It was a scene I had seen recently. Whoosh! I immediately used ''Radiant Light Sword'' on the Heavenly Lotus Sword to block him. Clang! "Ugh!" But I couldn''t even withstand a single blow and was sent flying to the opposite side of the sanctuary. Even at my peak, pure hand-to-hand combat with ''Sword Saint'' Cheong Siyeol was not easy. "Senior!" Ryu Haneul tried to raise his Black Heavenly Sword Aura. I shouted urgently. "Don''t interfere! If you show hostility, you might create an enemy for yourself too!" "But¡ª!" "And that''s probably me at my peak." Indeed, next to the mirror where Cheong Siyeol had appeared, a figure that looked suspiciously like me flickered in and out of view. "..." Ryu Haneul gritted his teeth and lowered his sword. Cheong Siyeol raised his sword again and charged. Clang! As I parried his downward strike, the ''Heavenly Lotus Sword'' reached its limit. The heated blade shattered and broke off. I immediately dropped the sword and tried to use the Repulsion Wave at close range, but... Thud! Cheong Siyeol''s kick to my chest was faster. Ryu Haneul looked back and forth between me and the Mirror Prince, unsure of what to do. The Mirror Prince didn''t move anymore. Perhaps there was a limit to the number of replicas he could summon at once. I hoped so. "Siyeol." I took out the Winter Duke''s Standard from my inventory. Holding the standard in my left hand, I walked around the sanctuary and stood with my back to the central throne. "You still don''t understand what I''m saying, do you?" It was the same setup as back then. Cheong Siyeol''s eyes flashed sky blue. Swoosh! The blue longsword, like an event horizon, warped space and slashed towards my side. Stab! The sword pierced below my left ribs, diagonally through my body, and emerged from behind my right shoulder blade. At that moment, I activated ''Battle Continuation'' with the ''Solar Scarab'' amulet I had put in my pocket. ¡¾Solar Scarab (Hero)¡¿ ¡¾Effect: Battle Continuation. Nullifies fatal wounds once.¡¿ Fwaaaaaah! The scarab, pushing the sun upwards, shone brilliantly. [TL/N: Pushing the sun upward ¡ª is a metaphorical expression. In many cultures, the scarab is associated with the sun due to its behavior of rolling dung, which was metaphorically linked to rolling the sun across the sky.] Yellow light burst from the amulet on my chest and the wound. The replicated Cheong Siyeol''s lips twitched in surprise. I then used the standard in my left hand to ''Declare Domain.'' Thump! The moment the bottom of the standard touched the ground, white light spread out in a spherical shape, burning away the Mirror Prince''s space and his control over it. I had already used this standard to create a ''gap'' when we entered. Based on the Aitel System''s explanation, this place seemed to be a space where entities were created from memories. Just as the replicated Cheong Siyeol used the techniques of his living self, my memory contained him. Unlike back then, I wasn''t holding the Fire Dragon Sword now. And people tend to notice empty spaces more. "Gotcha." Grip. ¡¾Fire Dragon Sword (Myth ¡ú Hero)¡¿ A long, curved sword with a dragon engraved on its handle, was pulled out from Cheong Siyeol''s memory. S~?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. I grabbed the replicated Cheong Siyeol''s shoulder with my left hand. Unlike in the past, when it felt like he would break if I held him wrong, he felt very solid. I swung the Blazing Fire Dragon Sword upwards in a reverse grip. Slice. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 35 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 35 The fake Cheong Siyeol''s head rolled across the floor. The blue halo flickered, then scattered into magical sparks and vanished. The head stopped after three rolls, facing Baekya. His face was distorted by magical interference, making it impossible to discern his full expression. But a faint smile of admiration was visible on his lips. It was a smile as if he had wished for, or perhaps expected, this outcome. "Is that so?" Baekya pushed the headless body of Cheong Siyeol, sending it tumbling. Thump! The moment the body touched the ground, it scattered. "I see. That makes sense." Baekya lowered his head for a moment, lost in thought, then exhaled slowly, seemingly collecting himself. It was too early to indulge in sentimentality. That wasn''t the real Cheong Siyeol. He tightened the Ghost Princess''s handkerchief tied around his wrist and glared at the Mirror Prince. Even without the halo above his head, red light flickered in his eyes like a wildfire. "It would be wise to stop messing with other people''s painful memories." The Mirror Prince''s face materialized on the large mirror that was originally a clear window. His mouth gaped open. Another something, or perhaps someone''s replica, tried to emerge from the mirror. "You''re going to keep doing this, huh!" This time, Ryu Haneul raised his Black Heavenly Demon Sword. "Stay back." "Senior!" Baekya stopped Ryu Haneul. "I don''t know how many floors we climbed together in the future, but even in the future, it must have been me who cleared the 50th floor. Right?" "Yes." "And I would have definitely dealt with a floor like this, one that dared to toy with me, in this way... Though in the previous regression you experienced, you probably solved it yourself instead of receiving help." He gestured for Ryu Haneul to get closer. Ryu Haneul trotted over and stood beside Baekya. Baekya handed him the flagpole, not the sword. "One more time. Remember?" He said with a gentle smile, filled with trust in his companion. For a moment, Ryu Haneul''s body stiffened. He briefly lowered his head, then looked up with a smile that radiated boundless confidence. "Yes!" They both gripped the flagpole at the same time. They were two people who had seen each other''s weakest moments. ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ ¡¾I Alone Am The Honored One¡¿ ¡¾Domain Expansion¡¿ Fwaaaaaah¡ª! Waves of white and purple light spread out in a semi-circular shape. The two-colored waves struck the eight mirrors. Boom! The mirrors surrounding the sanctuary shook violently. The world created by the Mirror Prince itself was shaking. The Mirror Prince roared. ["You dare obstruct my journey! I will revive my homeland!"] Crack! At the same time as cracks appeared in the eight mirrors¡ª Whoosh! Countless mirror shards rose up like sharp, long thorns, seemingly in defiance of the Domain Expansion''s waves. All the mirrors turned into sharp blades, hurtling towards them. Within the mirrors, the final moments of countless worlds the prince had gathered were replaying. It was a deadly attack that would suck them into those worlds if they were even grazed once. Swoosh! Ryu Haneul, using the Black Maitreya Divine Art, tried to embrace Baekya from behind. "Be careful!" Ryu Haneul''s small frame couldn''t even cover a part of Baekya''s body, but he tried nonetheless. Baekya didn''t even use Hardening. He simply stared straight ahead with blazing eyes. "That''s what my enemies should be doing." He rubbed the ''Genie''s Lamp'' he had taken out of his inventory. ¡¾Genie''s Lamp (Mythical)¡¿ "Genie." A voice echoed in his mind from within the lamp. ["Yes, Master."] Without a moment''s hesitation, Baekya declared¡ª "My first wish. I want to summon my Constellation here." ["The Genie grants your first wish."] At the same time, a thick, blue mist poured out from the lamp. The blue mist formed the shape of a giant, swinging both arms. Hum! The halo above Baekya''s head transformed back to its original form, as if a veil had been lifted. A magnificent halo, like an Indian mandala, radiated red beams of light in all directions. "Ugh!" Ryu Haneul involuntarily closed his eyes. Even though he had turned his head away, his vision was still filled with blinding white light. The brighter the halo, the stronger the connection to the Constellation. ''This level of light... it''s like forming a contract for the first time.'' And now, Baekya''s halo was shining so brightly that it was impossible to look at. Hum! Hum! Hum! Just when the light felt overwhelming¡ª Silence fell. It was an eerie stillness. Even with his senses heightened, he couldn''t feel anything. The mirror blades that had been flying towards them, threatening to pierce their hearts, were nowhere to be found. How many minutes had passed? Their conversation broke the silence. Their tones were different, but their voices were the same. It was as if one person was playing two roles. ["You''ve pushed yourself too far. Descending as a B-Rank with the 7th stage of Ascension..."] "I know." ["Even a wish from a Mythical grade artifact is difficult to handle. The aftereffects will be significant."] "In order to see tomorrow, we need to get through today, right? That way, you can continue to watch over my story." Ryu Haneul squeezed his eyes shut even tighter. That was an existence that ''others'' should never face. Even if he knew everything about Baekya and was destined to break him someday, it was still true. Just like his Constellation, it was a privilege among privileges, granted only to the chosen one. ["Indeed. You always wished for a ''tomorrow,'' just like me."] Swoosh! The light dimmed considerably. Ryu Haneul cautiously opened his eyes. It was still bright, but not unbearably so. Baekya was facing the Mirror Prince. ["Now, show me that wonderful sight filled with victory and glory."] "I always wanted to show you only wonderful sights filled with victory and glory." With a sun-like halo above his black hair and an expression filled with compassion and pity. Sizzle! The mirror blades all around had already melted and were stuck to the floor. The Mirror Prince screamed in terror. ["This isn''t right! This isn''t fair! This is unfair intervention! I can''t accept this!"] Baekya pointed the blazing Fire Dragon Sword forward and shook his head. "Can''t accept it? I used an artifact you created in a world you made. What''s the problem?" Hearing his incoherent ramblings, it seemed like he had already lost his mind. ["Y-You! You think you''ve won? Do you think you''ve won, huh?! Too many worlds have mixed together. In trying to find my original world, everything has been ruined. There should be only one sun in the sky!"] "Yes. Me." ["I was also a favored one like you! You''ll end up like me!"] Baekya burst into laughter at his nonsensical words and raised his hand. "I''ve heard similar stories so many times that it doesn''t even faze me anymore." ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ Fwaaaaaah¡ª! White light exploded forth. "You even copied the last words you wanted to leave with a mirror, huh, Mirror Prince." [Stop! Stop! No!] Baekya''s hair and clothes fluttered in the wind. Beneath his high nose and sharp jawline, deep shadows felt like a character in a black and white comic, and finally, his entire form turned completely white. ["I, our world..."] The only color left in that world was the halo, symbolizing the connection with the Constellation. It was the sight Ryu Haneul loved the most in his life before regression. The sight he had witnessed from Baekya''s right, and Cheong Siyeol from his left. This time, it was all his. Soon, the fierce flames subsided. Color returned to the world that had been painted entirely white. Flicker. Flicker! Baekya''s halo blinked and then returned to its white ring shape. The eight mirrors were all gone. The Mirror Prince, who had been screaming from within the mirrors, was also gone. Ding. ¡¾Mirror Prince (S+) has been eliminated.¡¿ ¡¾''World-Reflecting Mirror (Legendary -> Heroic)'' has been dropped.¡¿ ¡¾''Aesthetics of Reversal (Heroic -> Master)'' has been dropped.¡¿ ¡¾*Due to the class difference with the original owner, the artifact''s potential is partially restricted. To restore the artifact''s full potential, purify the artifact or change your class.¡¿ With a loud notification sound, the scenery of the sanctuary changed once more. Tssss! In an instant, the two of them were standing in the middle of a magnificent, early modern-style castle. The spacious hall was filled with mirrors from the ceiling to the walls and floor, likely a display of wealth by showcasing such a large quantity of what was once a luxury item. "Senior! You''re the best!" Ryu Haneul couldn''t contain his excitement any longer. Like a fan meeting his longtime idol, he ran and hugged Baekya tightly from behind. He didn''t even notice the artifact set that had just dropped. "You temporarily summoned your Constellation using the power of the standard and the Genie, right? That''s amazing. Even with a considerably high ascension level, summoning a Constellation... Senior?" At that moment, Ryu Haneul sensed something was wrong. Baekya''s body was always strong and warm. When he hugged Baekya, he should have felt like he was embracing heated metal beneath thin leather. ''Why is he so cold?'' But now, Baekya''s body was soft and cold. "...I''m fine." "Don''t say such nonsense!" "I''ll get better if I rest for a few days. But before that..." Baekya pointed his chin forward. In the middle of the room, there hung an incongruously large bell. Ringing that bell meant clearing the gate. Ryu Haneul tried to help Baekya up and approach the bell. "You should be the one to ring it, Senior. I came here because of you, after all." "If I ring it... wouldn''t my name be plastered all over the Tower''s broadcast? Then Cheong Siyeol would come running to kill me." "...Ah." "Hurry up. I want to rest." Ryu Haneul carefully laid Baekya down on the floor. Then he quickly approached the bell and rang it. Ding! Ding! Ding! A clear bell sound echoed, and an Aitel notification appeared before their eyes. This notification was visible to all Awakened belonging to the South Korean server. ¡¾Congratulations!¡¿ ¡¾Regional Server: ''South Korea'' has cleared the 50th floor''s Epilogue Story for the first time on the server.¡¿ ¡¾The Constellations are paying even closer attention to the Regional Server: South Korea.¡¿ ¡¾The following titles and benefits are granted to Regional Server: ''South Korea''.¡¿ ¡¾First Ascent of the 50th Floor¡¿ ¡¾Possesses the First Climber of the 50th Floor¡¿ ¡¾Increased tutorial participants, increased probability of A-Rank or higher Awakened appearing, decreased occurrence rate of Level 1 Gates, decreased overall rift occurrence rate...¡¿ Baekya looked at the notifications and closed his eyes. ''So we cleared the 50th floor.'' Even he, who was treated like a demigod, felt overwhelmed at times. On such days, he doubted whether he could truly reach the 100th floor. Maybe, after being stabbed by Chronos''s Hand, he had half-given up deep down. But hearing the bell sound¡ª He realized that he didn''t really wanted to give up. He wouldn''t give up on his beloved disciples, nor on the journey to the 100th floor. He wouldn''t give up on anything. ''Siyeol, I told you, didn''t I? That I would obtain everything one day.'' Because that was his story. ¡¾Transporting climbers to the lobby.¡¿ The Aitel notification echoed in his mind. ''Lobby?'' Baekya''s eyes widened in surprise as he read the notification, and he quickly sat up. "Haneul! Prepare for battle." "What?" "Think about it, less than a day has passed outside the Tower! The Management Bureau agents will be swarming!" "What?!" * * * A few days later. "I''m dying." I was suffering from muscle pain, chills, and occasionally coughing up blood due to the aftereffects of the summoning. Even painkillers from the pharmacy and most potions didn''t work on these aftereffects, so I could only groan in pain. I told Wolha it was just the flu. ''Really?'' ''Yeah, it''s true.'' S?a??h th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. ''Okay, if you say so.'' He didn''t seem to believe me, and I didn''t expect him to in the first place. I opened my status window, hoping to forget the pain¡­ Of course, the status window itself didn''t have any pain-relieving effects. + ¡¾Status Window 1. Name: Hong Baekya 2. Class: Pyromancer (B- ??? A-) 3. Titles: Sun of Humanity, Bringer of Dawn, Master of Fire, The First and Greatest Climber... 4. Regional Server: South Korea 5. Ascension Level: 7th Stage Angelus/Angel 6. Skills: Satellization (S+) Dragon''s Breath (S+) Law of Light (EX) Radiant Light Sword (S+) Radiation Beam (S+) Repulsion Wave (S+) Wave of Fire (S+) Accretion Disk (S+) Elementalization (S+) Sunrise (S+) Veil of Light (S+)... 7. Stats: [Strength 495] [Agility 505] [Vitality 520] [Mana 732] ¡¿ + The pain relief came from the ''Pyromancer (B- ??? A-)'' section. Yes. This was it. This is what a Hunter should be. I burst into laughter, forgetting my dignity. I even winced because my abs hurt from laughing, but I couldn''t stop. The ''A-'' next to ''Pyromancer'' was so, so lovely. It would have been even lovelier if it were just ''A'' without the ''-'', but considering I attempted an abnormal raid using the Winter Duke''s Standard from the start, used the cheat of summoning my Constellation in the most important boss fight, and even let Ryu Haneul ring the bell, this was still a tremendous achievement. Especially considering that even when I was ''B-'' before, my stats were barely at the B- level. This was more than enough of an accomplishment. I became certain during this raid that I wouldn''t even need to reach S-Rank. Once I hit A+, I could probably challenge the Tower alone. Of course, I wouldn''t be able to just sweep everything away with Law of Light like before. I''d have to find clues one by one, unravel the story, and periodically go in and out of system zones to recover. But at least I could enter the Tower. Growth within the Tower was incomparable to that from Gates. It wouldn''t be long before I regained my former strength and announced the return of Baekya. I was already looking forward to the thrilling comeback story. "Hyung, come eat." Wolha called me from outside. I stumbled out to the living room. Hopefully, I won''t cough up blood in front of Wolha. ...Thinking about it again, it probably wouldn''t be that quick. ...Once I recover, then it''ll be quick. "How are you feeling today?" Wolha laid out a feast on the marble dining table, brought in on a cart. "The same." From one window in the living room, I could see the Han River, and the giant TV monitor on the other side was as vivid as a hologram. Of course, Wolha hadn''t bought this house by cashing in all the gold bars and cash in my suitcase. This was a kind of dormitory run by the Sun and Moon Divine Guild for its Hunters. I received this place after joining the guild as a contract worker directly under the Vice-Leader. As I was eating, the news came on. [Breaking news. Director Lee Baejeong of the Awakened Support Agency has regained consciousness after successfully undergoing memory erasure therapy by the ''Seven Star Saintess'' Hunter Joo Ye-eun.] [TL/N: ¡®Seven Stars¡¯ often refers to the Big Dipper constellation in Korean culture, which holds significant cultural and religious symbolism.] [It has been reported that Director Lee Baejeong lost consciousness after suffering a mental attack while participating in the 50th-floor raid with Hunter Ryu Haneul. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Director Lee Baejeong entered the Tower while pursuing an Awakened criminal and lost a week''s worth of memories related to the criminal due to the aftereffects of the procedure...] It was very welcome news, rare in these times. [The next news is related to Hunter Ryu Haneul, known as the ''Heavenly Demon.'' Despite being a beginner who awakened only a few months ago, Hunter Ryu Haneul has garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally for clearing the infamous 50th floor of the Tower alone. The difficulty of the 50th floor is said to be such that even the world''s No. 1 ranker, the late Hunter Hong Baekya, spent months preparing for it...] [Meanwhile, in his raid interview, Hunter Ryu Haneul declared his admiration for the late Hunter Hong Baekya and stated that he would now move on from the grief of losing him and carry on his will by conquering the Tower and closing Gates. It is expected that the domestic Hunter industry, which had frozen after the death of Hong Baekya, will now regain momentum...] [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 36 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 36 [Joo Suhyeok: You missed him?] [Joo Suhyeok: Is this even making any sense?] [Joo Suhyeok: You missed him when he just popped out of the tower?] [Na Jeongwon: Then how could we not miss him?] [Na Jeongwon: Ryu Haneul is openly protecting him. Didn''t you anticipate that? Didn''t you take him in expecting that much? You needed the Heavenly Demon''s power, but you didn''t want the Heavenly Demon''s will?] [Na Jeongwon: Then you should have killed him as soon as you regressed. But you didn''t want to do that either. Because it felt like being a bad guy.] [Lee Baejeong: You''re using strong words today. Haha.] [Lee Baejeong: I heard you even told Baekya that we''re being careful and giving him a second chance.] [Na Jeongwon: Yeah, that''s true.] [Joo Suhyeok: Shit, do you guys still have lingering feelings for him?] [Joo Suhyeok: That bastard was always like that from the beginning. He probably sees everyone in the world as insects, right? That''s why we all agreed to kill him right after the regression, didn''t we?] [Lee Eunwoo: Hold on a second.] [Lee Eunwoo: I can''t just let that slide.] [Lee Eunwoo: I agreed to the fact that he should be killed, not the timing of immediately after the regression. You, Cheong Siyeol, and Lee Baejeong got scared on your own and killed him on your own.] [Joo Suhyeok: This guy is acting all calm again. If your brilliant calculations had all worked out, we wouldn''t have needed to regress in the first place.] [Lee Eunwoo: It''s better than killing him blindly and then having things blow up when we uncover the truth.] [Lee Eunwoo: Like now.] [Joo Suhyeok: Oh, for fuck''s sake!] [Lee Eunwoo: I clearly said it back then. We don''t know what kind of extraordinary artifact Baekya might have. He''s the one and only Hunter who solo climbed from the 1st floor to the 20th floor. So we need to prepare for a long time and kill him in one go without a single mistake.] [Lee Eunwoo: How did the situation turn out now?] [Lee Eunwoo: In the end, we couldn¡¯t kill Baekya. Worse yet, Baekya now knows we¡¯ve regressed, and is aware of the trump card we were holding.] [Lee Eunwoo: There¡¯s even talk within the guild that we might have had a hand in it. Read this seriously. Right now, Baekya is the world¡¯s hero. If we¡¯re not careful, we might be the ones wiped out.] [Lee Eunwoo: And because we killed him so hastily, we didn¡¯t even have time to properly plan for what comes next.] [Joo Suhyeok: Plan?] [Lee Eunwoo: What¡¯s your plan for breaking through the 60th floor right now? Or what about the S-rank gate that will open in the East Sea in a few years? And the Yinglong that nearly devastated China¡¯s eastern coast?] [Joo Suhyeok: You know what to do, don¡¯t you? We¡¯ll just fight when the time comes.] [Lee Eunwoo: I hope that¡¯s a joke. The hunters who have to follow an idiot like you as their guild master better have luck on their side!] [Joo Suhyeok: You bastard!] [Lee Eunwoo: Admit it. We¡¯ve left too big of a gap, too soon.] [Lee Eunwoo: Starting now.] [Cheong Siyeol: We need to kill Baekya again.] [Lee Eunwoo: What?] [Joo Suhyeok: Oh!] [Na Jeongwon: Ah.] [Lee Baejeong: Wow!] [Lee Baejeong: What were you doing until now?!] [Lee Baejeong: If you had believed me back then.] [Lee Baejeong: By now...] [Cheong Siyeol: You know that wasn''t possible, don''t you?] [Lee Baejeong: ......] [Cheong Siyeol: I''ve read all of your discussions.] [Cheong Siyeol: It seems like everyone is confused after everything was undone.] [Cheong Siyeol: I''m not confused.] [Cheong Siyeol: My idol, my hero, my sun. May he remain as the light of the world.] [Cheong Siyeol: I still earnestly wish for that.] [Cheong Siyeol: Didn''t we all swear? To never let that disaster repeat itself?] [Cheong Siyeol: Now that Ryu Haneul has started public activities, we can''t keep hiding. Public opinion is reaching its limit too. The Blue House keeps complaining, don''t they? Let''s resume our activities from next week.] [Cheong Siyeol: After turning public opinion around like that.] [Cheong Siyeol: Let''s finish what should have been done months ago.] "..." * * * "Ugh!" I was in the bathroom, gripping the toilet with both hands, retching repeatedly. The toilet bowl was filled with pitch-black, dead blood. It was the aftermath of the advent, my mana circuits fried from the strain. This was the first time I''d pushed myself this hard since the early days of the apocalypse when Aitel first appeared. I flushed the toilet, cleaned the blood splattered around with the showerhead, and thoroughly rinsed my mouth. If Wolha noticed this, it would be a disaster. ¡¾"Are you alright?"¡¿ ¡¾"Even I think you had no choice but to enter the tower at that time, so I can''t say anything."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' is fidgeting.¡¿ ¡¾"Take this at least."¡¿ ¡¾Sponsors Health stat ''5''.¡¿ ¡¾Health +5¡¿ "No, thank you." I muttered softly as I left the bathroom. "Thanks to the constellation''s help, I was able to reach A-Rank again. I shortened the time by months, no, years, so this pain is... Ugh!" My stomach churned again. "Hyung. Are you feeling sick?" I heard Wolha opening the door and coming out of his room. "No, I''m fine! I''m fine. You don''t have to come out." I quickly closed the toilet lid and pretended nothing was wrong. And I pushed Wolha''s back, sending him back to his room. He kept talking to me. "I saw blood splattered on the tiles yesterday..." "Wow~ What are you studying now?" "I''m fine..." "Korean modern history? Or the philosophy of Gate management?" I pretended not to hear him. He glared at me for a moment. It was a stern look that didn''t match his age, but to me, it was just cute. I shrugged nonchalantly, and he let out a shallow sigh and replied. "It''s just a collection of past exam questions. I was working on the questions from last year. You have to arrange them in order and explain how the earlier ones influenced the later ones." There were five options written in the question book. A: Awakened Registration Act B: Awakened Mobilization Act C: Designation of Mana Stones and Artifacts as Strategic Materials. D: Declaration of Towers and Gates as National Territory E: Establishment of the Awakened Support Agency. Seeing the marks of repeatedly writing and erasing the answer with a sharp pencil, it seemed like he was struggling quite a bit. "This is hard." "Right? The multiple-choice questions are manageable, but the essay questions are a bit tough." From what I could see, Wolha was intelligent. It''s almost as if he took all of Ilha''s brain cells for himself. However, questions like these are easier to solve if you have good background knowledge and are familiar with related terms. "Want some help?" "From you, hyung?" Wolha raised an eyebrow. He looked like he''d just heard a bad joke. I pointed to each option one by one. "The first thing they created was the Support Agency." "Wasn''t it the Registration Act first?" "It''s the Support Agency, Registration Act, then Mobilization Act. You need to be registered to be mobilized, and you need a responsible organization to register." "Oh." "The next part is easy, right? They declared the territory to designate strategic materials. You get the context, right?" Wolha stared at the paper for a moment before answering. "It''s that. The efforts to integrate and control Awakened into the existing society as much as possible." I clapped my hands. See? He''s pretty smart. Wolha looked up at me while sitting in his chair. "But do Awakened actually follow these laws?" I answered without thinking, "They follow them pretty well, don''t they?" Thinking back, it wasn''t something Ilha would say. "Aren''t there unregistered Awakened?" "There are. But if you''re not registered, you can''t trade Mana Stones." "That''s because of the strategic material designation." "Yeah. You can only buy and sell at the central exchange. Whether you''re buying or selling, you have to go through them. Also, if you''re not registered, you don''t have the right to vote or be elected in the Hunter Association elections, and you''re restricted from entering the Tower." "I saw on ''Chatter of the Stars'' that there are also killers made up of unregistered Awakened." "They''re all insignificant. Almost all Rankers are registered." "Why?" I raised my right hand and pointed to the halo above my head. Suddenly, the ''Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief'' tied around my wrist caught my eye. It was getting a bit worn out. "Because I can''t hide the fact that I''m a Ranker." Wolha nodded as if he understood. "That makes sense. Okay, I got it. Thanks." "Don''t mention it. I just picked it up from the Divine Guild Hunters." I put my left hand in my pocket. With it still in my pocket, I opened the inventory ring and took out another ring. To Wolha, it would look like a ring appeared from my pocket. ¡¾Aesthetics of Reversal (Hero ? Masterpiece)¡¿ ¡¾Reflects all (physical, magical, mental, etc.) attacks of C+ rank or lower with 100% power, and all attacks of B+ rank or lower with 90% power.¡¿ ¡¾*Recovers its rank when ownership is transferred.¡¿ It''s one of the drop items from the Mirror Prince. It''s a good piece of equipment for tanker-type Awakened who fight in place, but it''s not very useful for me since I prefer mobile combat. It''s definitely not because I''m worried that he might get caught up in some low-level Gate and die like last time when I''m not around. Common sense dictates that you wouldn''t give a Hero-grade artifact to someone who isn''t even your real brother, right? "Here''s a gift. I saw it while I was out and bought it. It''s not anything special, just a fashion silver ring, but wear it well." "Huh?" "It''s a fashion ring. Even if you''re studying for the civil service exam, you can still have this much style." Of course, I can''t tell him it''s a Hero-grade artifact. Since an F-rank wouldn''t be able to see the artifact status window anyway, I can just make up an excuse. "O...kay. Thanks." Wolha stuttered strangely as he received the ring with both hands. He also suddenly rubbed his eyes and blinked. What''s going on? Did his eyes get bad from studying all day? "I''m going out for a bit. Keep studying." I should buy some vitamins on my way back. S?a??h th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. * * * ¡¾"Don''t overdo it today. I don''t want to see a bad ending after you''ve finally conquered the Tower and overcome your trauma."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' repeatedly urges you.¡¿ I nodded several times. "Don''t worry." I had no intention of overdoing it today either. This was rehabilitation, not training. My destination was the Ghost Princess''s Castle. It was a place where I could gain an absolute advantage with an overwhelming matchup. I was thinking of going there to get a few more ''Ghost Princess''s Handkerchiefs''. It was time to start paying more attention to managing my identity. On the way, I opened my status window in the taxi. I went deep into it. + ¡¾Server Ranking / South Korea¡¿ ¡¾Hong Baekya: 313th (Invisible)¡¿ + As expected. Even if it''s barely scraping by with a minus, an A is still an A. I''ve already entered the top 300 of the rankings. All Awakeners within the top 1,000 can see their ranking on the server. From 300th, the rankings are also revealed to other Awakeners. From 100th, they are periodically displayed on the Tower wall. And from 30th place, they float on the Tower wall in real-time. Of course, people usually only check up to around the 100th. It''s annoying to keep pressing the status window button to get this far. But for someone like me who needs to hide their identity, the fact that someone can see my name and ranking is very dangerous. That''s also the reason why there are almost no unregistered Rankers. Even if they''re not registered with the government, they''re already registered in the Aitel system. Anyway, if I climbed just a few more, I''d enter the visible range for others. Then, simply disguising my halo like this wouldn''t be enough. I''d have to cover my face every time I go out. Of course, things like masks and sunglasses would be useless against an E-rank Awakener''s ''Discern'' skill. I''d need something like the Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief, which could hide my halo. "Thank you." The taxi arrived in Seongnam City. ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' effectively uses mental magic...¡¿ Once again, I crossed various mental magic defenses, anti-Awakener barriers, and even the artificial Samdocheon to enter the Ghost Princess''s Castle. It felt like the defenses had become even weaker since last time. As long as I didn''t go berserk, it was a good thing for me now. As always, green ghosts swarmed towards me. ¡¾Phantom (B) appears.¡¿ ¡¾Ghost (C) appears.¡¿ ¡¾Wraith (C) appears.¡¿ ¡¾Banshee (C+) appears.¡¿ I prepared Law of Light. Instead of just blasting it randomly like before, I combined it with an existing skill, like when I used ''Incineration Ray''. There was one that was perfect for ghosts. ¡¾Light of Purification (B+)¡¿ That''s it. I fired ''Light of Purification'' mixed with ''Law of Light''. Fwhoooosh-! A light like a powerful military flashlight shone in the darkness. The thick fog and green ghosts were swept away cleanly. Despite being a tremendous wide-area skill, it didn''t consume much mana. My mana was slowly increasing. ¡¾Mana increases by ''1''.¡¿ The increase was much slower because I had incomparable power to just a few months ago, but it wasn''t meaningless yet. More importantly, I needed to find a Dullahan or a Ghost Knight quickly. That''s how I''d get the Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief. I don''t know how many ghosts I burned. ¡¾Dullahan (B) appears.¡¿ A notification popped up. Unlike last time, there was no ''warning'' alert. That meant my rank had risen that much. I was about to fire an Incineration Ray. "Found you!" Swish! If a figure hadn''t jumped out from behind and bisected the Dullahan from neck to groin with a single slash of their longsword, I definitely would have fired. The figure was wearing thick artifact armor. So, before their face, my eyes went to their wrist first. ¡¾Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief (Hero)¡¿ A white, ring-shaped halo floated above their head. "..." "..." I quietly hid my hand behind my back. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 37 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 37 I looked at the nameless swordsman. The nameless swordsman also looked at me. An awkward silence passed. It felt like how bandits would feel if they ran into each other. I spoke first. "It seems like no items dropped just now, so I''ll consider the monster I was trying to catch as yours." The fewer variables, the better. I wanted to send them away quickly. "It''s awkward to be facing each other for so long in a place like this, shall we go our separate ways?" The nameless swordsman glanced at my right hand, which was hidden behind my back. They replied in a low voice. "...Yes. It seems like you were preparing an attack skill, thank you for stopping in time. I was careless." We awkwardly nodded a few times. And we passed each other and walked back into the fog. ¡¾"That was someone who knows how to handle a sword. You did well to avoid them."¡¿ "Yes. They were. They didn''t show a single opening." Their footsteps that moved in a semicircle, their longsword that seemed to hang loosely but was ready to strike at any moment, and most importantly, their eyes that were constantly watching me. It was evidence of a skilled Hunter. ¡¾"Weren''t you curious who they were? Why didn''t you use ''Insight''?"¡¿ "I would have used it in the past. Back then, I was confident I wouldn''t be detected by even most S-ranks. But if I used it in my current state, that person would definitely get a notification." And in the Awakened society, using Insight on someone out of the blue meant you were challenging them to a fight. "I don''t think I can win if I fight now." That swordsman was a strong opponent that I couldn''t guarantee victory against in my current state. They were also disguising their Halo with the ''Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief'', just like me. Disguising one''s Halo meant they had a specific Halo worth hiding. In other words, they were a Ranker who had contracted with a Constellation. "I''m already not feeling well, why push myself? Let''s just drop the handkerchief and go back." ¡¾"You''re finally starting to take care of yourself."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' is very pleased.¡¿ I walked into the foggy forest. For the next two hours, I hunted five Dullahans, three Ghost Knights, and countless ghosts. My mana increased by about 5, I acquired a few more Ghost Knight longswords, and the ''Dullahan''s Gaze'' skill stacked a few times. But the ''Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief'' did not drop. "It seems like only high-ranking monsters have it." ¡¾"Am I thinking what you''re thinking?"¡¿ "Yes." ¡¾"Please, let''s not do that."¡¿ "Your predictions are all correct, even the ones I wouldn''t listen to." I walked towards the lake. It seemed like I had to raid the Ghost Princess''s castle. I would have to get the handkerchief directly from the Ghost Princess. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. And in front of the drawbridge leading to the castle gate. "We meet again?" "Huh?" I encountered that swordsman again. My Constellation sighed. ¡¾"At this point, isn''t that guy also a Regressor trying to kill you? Let''s just use Law of Light right away."¡¿ ¡¾"Whether you take the handkerchief from the Ghost Princess, or... receive it, or get it from that swordsman, it''s all the same, isn''t it?"¡¿ I inwardly disagreed. That swordsman also seemed to have come because their handkerchief was wearing out. Setting aside the morality of attacking someone to take their belongings, there was no reason to do so. This time, the swordsman spoke first. "It seems we have to go to the Ghost Princess." Their voice was low and awkward. "Indeed." "Would you like to go together? I''m a bit hesitant to go alone." I also awkwardly asked a question. "May I ask your class?" "Swordmaster." "Pyromancer." "You have the better synergy, so I''ll give you priority on loot." "In that case, thank you." I readily nodded. I was hesitant to break through alone due to the aftereffects. They were even willing to give up priority on artifact drops, so there was no reason not to go together. My Constellation warned me. ¡¾"What if they betray you? As a Swordmaster, they''ll have the advantage in close combat. They might lull you into a false sense of security and then backstab you."¡¿ Of course, I had a plan. I muttered quietly, so they couldn''t hear. "Am I just any ordinary Pyromancer? I have the Raging Fire Dragon Blade in my inventory, so I won''t lose easily. Also, if I use the combination of Flame Arrow and Descent, I can escape instantly." The swordsman spoke. "Shall we go?" "Let''s." We, who had passed each other in our first encounter, crossed the drawbridge side-by-side in our second meeting. Still awkwardly. * * * "---, ---!" A horde of Ghost Knights and Dullahans swarmed in. The Swordmaster let out a rough breath. "There are more enemies than I thought." I first checked to see if the Swordmaster showed any signs of throwing me to the Ghost Knights and running away. They didn''t. I was conscious of the mirror inside the ring in my inventory. "Once we meet the Princess, I can solve it with my artifact." The Swordmaster drew upon their demonic energy. "Then let''s push ourselves a bit further." Fwhoooosh! A chilling green demonic energy rose and spread widely, and the Dullahans blocking the passage fell silent all at once. I squeezed between the Dullahans and leaped into the air. I dodged a Ghost Knight charging from outside the window, kicked away a Ghost Knight climbing up from the stairs below, and fired a Replicate Wave at the Ghost Knight in front of me. Clang! A red wave shot out in a fan shape, heating the air, and the Ghost Knight was flung away like a discarded toy. "Now!" "Yes!" We left the remaining Ghost Knights behind and dashed towards the Ghost Princess''s audience chamber. Our eyes, glancing back to check if the other was running away, met in mid-air. Embarrassingly. "......" The remaining corridor was only about 50 meters long. For Awakened like us, it was a distance that could be covered in an instant. But no matter how much we ran, the distance to the door ahead didn''t seem to close. Creak! The castle walls spewed green fog and produced new bricks. The corridor was lengthening endlessly. Aitel''s notification window appeared in my vision. ¡¾Infinite Staircase Spell¡¿ ¡¾The endless staircase is...¡¿ We didn''t even finish reading it before using our skills. "Lion''s Soul-Seeking Sword!" "Incineration Ray!" Green demonic energy and a white ray carved into the floor. Mana sparks flew from within the castle floor, and a loud explosion erupted. Crackle! The corridor, which had been moving like a moving walkway, stopped, and we rushed into the Ghost Princess''s audience chamber. Bang! "The bolt!" "Right here!" After closing the massive door and bolting it, I looked ahead. "......" A brief silence followed. This time, it wasn''t awkward. Even now, when it was overrun by ghosts, the audience chamber was beautiful enough to evoke its past glory. The jewel mosaics on the floor, the pillars carved with heroes and kings, the dust drifting in the frozen air... And the soft light pouring in from the stained glass that filled the space behind the throne. I realized that even within this horrifying Gate, such beauty could be hidden. But in the end, this place was a den of man-eating ghosts. I stepped towards the throne first. "Ghost Princess?" A ghost wearing a gray veil sat there. Unlike the ghosts outside, her form was distinct, and demonic energy wasn''t burning wildly around her. A notification window popped up. ¡¾Ghost Princess (B+)¡¿ ¡¾She has resided here for a very long time.¡¿ The Ghost Princess slowly raised her head. Green light flickered from her normal two eyes and the third eye on her forehead. Tzzzzt. We exchanged glances. I asked first. "Are you going to kill her right away?" The Swordmaster nodded. "I don''t want to just let the Hunters responsible for clearing this dungeon have all the fun... but yes, we have to. We''ve come this far, and the handkerchief hasn''t dropped, so we have no choice. We can''t run away now either." "Should we try asking her for it?" "It won''t work in a Gate. Everything here is already messed up." I inwardly upgraded my assessment of the Swordmaster once again. They knew what they were talking about. My Constellation spoke in my mind. ¡¾"They''re definitely quite skilled."¡¿ ¡¾"And your eyes that recognized that are also amazing."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' grants ''Insight'' to your ''Appraisal'' skill.¡¿ ¡¾"It''s a gift."¡¿ I couldn''t be more grateful. Thrilled with a surge of satisfaction, I looked at the Ghost Princess again. "You!" The Ghost Princess pointed a bony finger at me. "Why did you abandon us! Why, why did you leave us to become like this? Why!" Her trembling hand hinted at some untold story. She abruptly stood up from the throne. "Betrayer, betrayer, betrayer, betrayer!" She looked up at the ceiling and screamed. ["Kyaaaaaaaaak¡ª!"] The entire audience chamber echoed with a deafening sound. ¡¾Ghostly Wail¡¿ ¡¾Status Effects: Confusion, Fear, Intimidation, Reduced Sanity, Impaired Judgment, Reduced Accuracy...¡¿ Thump! We both leaped back simultaneously. ¡¾"How dare you."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' has effectively defended against a series of status effects!¡¿ I briefly saw the white halo above the Swordmaster''s head flicker green before returning to normal. It seemed their Constellation had also blocked the status effects. Mine probably flashed red in the same way. We made eye contact and laughed awkwardly. "Let''s finish this quickly. I''m going crazy from the awkwardness right now." "Yes." And we each raised our flames and longsword, splitting to the left and right. Thump! The Ghost Princess, who had stopped her Ghostly Wail, raised both hands. Saaaaaaa¡ª! A green energy surged forth. The entire audience chamber trembled. Gaps appeared between the bricks, and fog seeped into the chamber. ¡¾Warning! Warning! Warning!¡¿ ¡¾The opponent''s power level is rapidly increasing!¡¿ Aitel''s alarm blared loudly. The Ghost Princess opened her third eye wide. Countless hands rose from the stone floor. "-----!" "---, ---!" A thousand? Ten thousand? Countless hands grabbed our ankles, trying to drag us down into the stone floor. As expected, it was a control-type ability. This entire Gate was the Princess''s limb. We had to separate her from it. I channeled mana into the ring in my inventory and shouted. "Swordmaster!" "Yes!" "Are you confident you can win a one-on-one fight against that ghost?" "Yes." A confident answer came back. They were definitely a Ranker chosen by a Constellation. "Understood." I took out an artifact from the ring in my inventory. ¡¾Mirror Reflecting the World (Legendary ¡ú Heroic)¡¿ It was a mirror that was originally a bit larger, but had been reduced to the size of a hand mirror due to a debuff. I channeled mana into the artifact. From what I had tried at home, this mirror was optimized for dealing with control-type monsters like this. ¡¾The mirror reflects the world.¡¿ ¡¾Copying...¡¿ ¡¾Materializing...¡¿ Aitel''s notifications appeared in my vision. The scene of the audience chamber was reflected all around the mirror. ["No one escapes!"] The Ghost Princess swung her hand. The green hands rising from the floor doubled in size. It was as if countless sea cucumbers or anemones were wriggling. The five fingers at the end of each hand were incredibly grotesque. "Pyromancer! How long do we have to hold out?" The Swordmaster shouted while cutting down a few hands. "Almost done!" I replied, keeping my eyes on the "Materializing..." notification. The Ghost Princess yelled. ["I said no one escapes!"] A giant hand rose from the center of the audience chamber. It seemed to be over 10 meters tall. The giant hand fell, as if trying to crush the Swordmaster. Just before the hand could crush the Swordmaster''s fedora. ¡¾Materialization complete¡¿ ["What?"] All the hands that had filled the audience chamber disappeared at once. The third eye embedded in the Ghost Princess''s forehead also closed shut. In an instant, the audience chamber returned to its tranquil and quiet state from a few minutes ago. One thing had changed. No color could be seen in the stained glass. ["Wh-what''s going on?"] The Ghost Princess was flustered. The Swordmaster also looked at me in surprise. "How did you do that?" I put the Mirror Reflecting the World back in my pocket. "It''s a kind of mirror world. I cut off the connection between that monster and the dungeon." The Ghost Princess tried to force open the eye on her forehead with both hands, but it remained firmly shut. The Swordmaster stepped forward lightly, twirling their longsword. Somehow, the movement was similar to Ryu Haneul''s. "Then leave the rest to me." * * * As expected, the Swordmaster was an outstanding Hunter. The Ghost Princess vomited up all the souls she had consumed and struggled fiercely, but the Swordmaster ultimately pierced her third eye and defeated her. The following artifacts dropped: ¡¾Ghost Princess''s Throne (Heroic)¡¿ ¡¾Ghost Princess''s Tiara (Heroic)¡¿ The Swordmaster said. "There''s no handkerchief." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 38 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 38 I caressed the surface of the pocket mirror. Its smooth surface rippled as if it were shattering. Crack! In the next moment, the mirror world dissolved, and light returned to the stained glass windows. But the light didn''t return to our faces. We came here to find the Ghost Princess''s handkerchief, but the handkerchief was nowhere to be found. Instead, we only got a tiara and a scepter. I forced myself to stay positive. "Let''s consider this a success. We closed the gate, after all." The swordsman replied with a smile, though it was clear he was forcing it too. "Yes, let''s." The ownerless castle began to shake. Rumble rumble rumble...! The throne crumbled, revealing the core of the castle. A green core, about the size of two fists combined, spewed out a frenzy of fog. With gates like this one, where the core''s energy release had already begun, there was a chance it could create a new princess on its own. Without hesitation, I fired off a heat ray. It was a good skill that absorbed mana without looking like it was incinerating anything. Ziiiing! The green sphere was pierced by the white heat ray. Fizzle! A considerable amount of mana flowed into my body. It wasn''t enough to remove the "-" attached to my A rank, but it was a massive amount of mana, worthy of a large gate''s core. An Aitel notification popped up. ¡¾Finale Story: ''Ghost Princess''s Castle'' Cleared¡¿ I had seen another ending. The castle began to collapse. Stained glass windows shattered, and the floor of the audience chamber caved in. We each grabbed an artifact and jumped out the window. Crash! The castle completely collapsed. Countless bricks evaporated into steam. The fog lifted, and sunlight poured in. Had it been 10 minutes? The reservoir in Seongnam City returned to its peaceful scenery, as if it had never been consumed by the gate. We stood at the edge of the reservoir, gazing at the sight. It was a sight that was always beautiful to behold. I looked down at the jewel-encrusted scepter and gave a bitter, but definite, smile. Even though we failed to retrieve the handkerchief, we conquered the gate. No one would acknowledge it right now, but that was okay. I had never done any of this for recognition. I was simply proud to have removed a source of trouble from Seongnam City. It was a shame we couldn''t get another handkerchief, but the one I was using wasn''t broken, so it wasn''t an immediate problem. I could ask Ryu Haneul to find a craftsman Hunter in the shadows who was skilled at restoring the durability of artifacts. I gave the swordsman an awkward farewell. "Swordsman, thank you. We were able to win thanks to you." The swordsman also gave an awkward greeting to Baekya. "No, if it weren''t for the Pyromancer, we would have been in big trouble in the audience chamber." "It seems like neither of us found what we were looking for... That''s a shame." "It can''t be helped. But still, this is a hero-grade artifact, so we can get some money if we sell it somewhere, right?" "Right. Then shall we just take it as it is?" "Yes, let''s. We''re the same rank, so why bother splitting hairs?" We awkwardly parted ways until the very end. The Awakened at the watchtower must be in an uproar by now, so we had to get out of there quickly. We passed the Artificial Samdocheon and the Eight Trigrams Formation and came out to the national highway. Once we were back in the civilized world of paved roads and could breathe a sigh of relief, the Constellation spoke to us. ¡¾"Let me see the scepter."¡¿ "Yes." I took the scepter out of my inventory. It was a silver, sparkling wand with a wing pattern and a green jewel embedded at the tip. ¡¾Scepter of the Ghost Princess (Hero)¡¿ ¡¾The scepter used by the princess to command the ghosts. Grants partial control over spirits.¡¿ ¡¾* Use ''Insight'' to unlock additional information.¡¿ This was the skill the Star gave me earlier. I immediately used Insight. The text in the artifact description box blurred and then returned to normal, with additional content. ¡¾A scepter that symbolized royal authority. The people of the Lake Kingdom obey the authority of the scepter even after death.¡¿ ¡¾Allows the user to command ghost-type monsters.¡¿ I narrowed my eyes at the description. Command? ¡¾"Aren''t you happy?"¡¿ ¡¾"You now have subordinates who will never betray you."¡¿ I held the scepter and infused it with mana. Whoosh! Flames erupted, reaching nearly 2 meters high. The flames split into four. Each divided flame took on the shape of a human. They looked just like Pyromancers using ''Fire Form''. The fire ghosts knelt before me. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "We greet the master of the flames." ¡¾Ji-gwi (C+)¡¿ ¡¾* The type of ghosts has changed due to the influence of the scepter''s owner.¡¿ It seemed that because I was a Pyromancer, the ghosts also embodied flames. I raised an eyebrow at their rank. Not bad. C+ was a decent fighting force. There were four now, but once I got used to it, I could increase their numbers. Maybe I could even form an army of fire ghosts. I could already think of a few ways to use them. I could use ''Descent'' from Hongyeom to change their positions or use ''Fire Form'' to hide among them. Using both at the same time would make it much easier to control the flow of battle. I wanted to test it out right away, but I held back since we weren''t in a tower or a gate. I swung the scepter to recall the ghosts. * * * "..." The swordsman watched the scene from the road on the other side of the reservoir. Her eyes, hidden under the wide-brimmed hat, curved like a fox''s. It was a success. Baekya had once again taken hold of that scepter. * * * A few days later. At the reservoir where the Ghost Princess''s Castle once stood. "The gate was cleared, but we don''t know who cleared it?" "Yes, yes, that''s correct." The Seongnam City gate official couldn''t even raise his head in front of Director Lee Baejeong. "Let''s say the mental barrier for civilians was breached, but the Eight Trigrams Formation and the Artificial Samdocheon were also penetrated? Are you sure you received proper items from the Magic Tower and the Cathedral Church?" "There were no problems when we checked them." "There''s a problem now! Don''t you understand that if someone could get in, something could get out?" Lee Baejeong shouted, her bright, medium-length hair, a mix of gold and mint, ruffled wildly. The official, with a tearful face, looked towards the ''Ranker'' standing at the edge of the reservoir in the distance. ''Please.'' A tall figure with a halo containing countless swords shooting out from a blue circle. Rank 3, the ''Sword Saint'', Cheong Siyeol. The last and most nurtured disciple of the Red and White Nights. He too had been in seclusion for a long time after the Red and White Nights'' death, but resumed his activities after Ryu Haneul''s 50th floor conquest. If Cheong Siyeol testified that even he couldn''t prevent intruders with the level of surveillance here, she could be absolved of responsibility. A moment later, Cheong Siyeol approached with a hardened expression. His stride, with his upper body barely moving, was both intimidating and dignified. Lee Baejeong left the official behind and approached, asking in a low voice, "Is it true?" Cheong Siyeol nodded. Faintly, but clearly. Lee Baejeong let out a heated sigh. "I see. Who else could do such a thing but him? And he wasn''t alone, was he?" Cheong Siyeol nodded once more. The hardliner returnees knew. Although all nine of them had sworn to kill Baekya, less than four truly wanted to. Everyone was subtly trying to keep Baekya alive, making various excuses. Cheong Siyeol spoke, his voice as calm as the ripples on the reservoir. "Honestly, I understand." "Is that so?" "Even I, if there was a 1%, no, 0.1%, no, even the slightest possibility that the Sun could be redeemed..." As he spoke, a deep blue wave surged in his previously indifferent eyes. Cheong Siyeol whispered into Lee Baejeong''s ear. "I would kill you right now and return to him." His voice was like the stirring of a monster lurking beneath a peaceful surface. "..." Lee Baejeong was a Hunter who would have tried to kill Baekya even if he hadn''t fallen, and Cheong Siyeol was the Hunter who wished for Baekya''s redemption more than anyone else in the world. The reason why these two, who were originally opposed to each other like the two poles of a magnet, came to form the axis of the hardliners was only one. Even Cheong Siyeol had given up on Baekya''s redemption. Lee Baejeong added one more color, heterogeneity, to her eyes that held a multitude of brilliance. "Come to think of it, you know, don''t you? Why Baekya betrayed humanity." Cheong Siyeol nodded. "Of course. I was the Sun''s most favored disciple." His gesture and tone were still dripping with pride. "That''s why we need to find him quickly. He can never walk with us." My idol, my hero, my Sun. So that your name doesn''t become synonymous with disaster. With my own hands, before you fall completely. * * * Vroom. I was in the car with Ryu Haneul, heading towards the Tower. As a contract worker but officially a member of the Divine Guild, there was nothing to worry about anymore. Ryu Haneul turned on the news on her smartphone and showed it to me. "Senior. This was you, right?" [Seongnam City''s ''Ghost Princess''s Castle'' Cleared by an Unidentified Hunter?] I nodded without hesitation. "Of course." Ryu Haneul looked back at me with eyes like a cat caught in the rain. "Why didn''t you take me with you? Am I not needed?" Why is she acting like this again when she should know better? It was both awkward and endearing. I opened my mouth wide and retorted. "It was a secret mission! Secret! It''s not a place for the Heavenly Demon who was the first in the world to clear the 50th floor! No. Why are you so obsessed?" "Okay. A useless junior like me will just play the role of a money bag." "Do you have an affection deficiency or something?!" "If I''ve become useless, just put a return sticker on me..." Maybe she did. It wasn''t uncommon. Come to think of it, it made sense for her to feel lonely. She had turned back time just for me, and everyone in this world must seem like colorless supporting characters. And then I went somewhere without her. I put my finger in front of Ryu Haneul''s lips. "That''s enough." "..." "I don''t know what happened in the future, but you''re the disciple chosen by this Baekya. Belittling you is like belittling my own judgment." Ryu Haneul lowered her eyes demurely. "Of course, if you were waiting to complain to me about why I chose you but don''t pay attention to you, then I can''t help it." As if she had been waiting for it, she continued. "Next time I go somewhere to fight, I''ll at least send you a text. Thanks for worrying about me." Ryu Haneul''s expression was filled with a myriad of emotions. Her brilliant-cut amethyst eyes lost focus and wavered, eventually spinning in circles. "You''re mean." "I know." "Senior, you can read minds, can''t you?" "No?" "...Na Jungwon says thank you." "Okay." He handed me an elixir wrapped in luxurious wrapping paper. ¡¾Ancient Tree Coal (Rare)¡¿ It was an elixir that was good for Pyromancers, fire spirits, or fire-type familiars. For example, ghosts, or ghosts, or ghosts... How did he know? It must be a coincidence. Or maybe he gave it to me to eat. I grabbed the elixir. "Why did I have to hear this news from Jungwon?" But Ryu Haneul didn''t let go of the elixir. I spat out, as if breathing fire. "Hey! Are you jealous?!" "Did you meet anyone else there? You didn''t smile at them, did you?" I burst into laughter at the absurdity. At the same time, I felt a chill down my spine. "...I didn''t meet anyone! Give it to me. You said it was for me!" "No!" "Hey!" Somehow, I managed to get the coal. The driver parked the car in the Outer Tower parking lot. "We''ve arrived." We decided to go to the 33rd floor that day. The 33rd floor wasn''t solely owned by the Sun and Moon Divine Guild. It was owned by the ''Murim Alliance'' and shared by all guilds that had joined the alliance. "This is the first time I''ve seen everyone gathered like this." "Even my clothes aren''t flashy here." As expected, most of the gathered Hunters were Awakened from the Murim lineage, and their clothes were all in an Eastern style. I continued to power level there, burning monsters. I was still feeling the aftereffects of Descent, so I was planning to rest soon. Just then, a man who looked like an executive from another guild shouted so that everyone around could hear. "Heavenly Demon! That Hunter doesn''t even seem to be from the Murim lineage, why did you bring him all the way here?" [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 39 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 39 I looked back at the man. "...." A martial arts uniform in blue with white cloud patterns. It was once a familiar sight, but now I couldn''t help but frown. It was the uniform of the Azure Sky Sword Sect, the elite guild established by Cheong Siyeol. Judging by the number of cloud patterns, which exceeded five, he seemed to be an executive. He spoke to Ryu Haneul in a questioning tone. "This is a space for the Murim Alliance to replenish its resources and for martial arts Awakened to train. So I''m curious why the Deputy Sect Leader of the Sun-Moon Divine Sect, who should be at the forefront of upholding such rules, has brought an Esper Awakened here." He was maintaining a bare minimum of courtesy, but that was all. It wouldn''t be surprising if the Sun-Moon Divine Sect Hunters drew their swords, shouting, "How dare you speak to our Deputy Sect Leader like that!" Besides, I also had titles related to Murim. The ''Radiant Sword'' that heated up my sword was a Murim-related skill, and I also had skills like ''Scorching Sun Divine Art'' and ''Red Hand Demon Art''. I was fiddling with my status window, trying to figure out how to show only that part to him, when... "Senior, what should we do?" Ryu Haneul whispered in my ear, leaning close. "He''s right." I sighed. Wasn''t this guy a Regressor? Why was he acting like a real 18-year-old? "Right my foot. He''s just asking for it." I playfully flicked Ryu Haneul''s chest. "You''re the Deputy Sect Leader. Use your authority to shut him down. Say something like, ''How dare you question my personnel decisions!''" Ryu Haneul protested, his eyes wide with indignation. "But this is Siyeol hyung''s guild. He''s just looking for an excuse to mess with me. What if I make things worse and you get dragged into it?" Come to think of it, he had a point. I lowered my voice so only Ryu Haneul could hear. "I guess we have to assume that my resurrection is already an established fact among the Regressors, right?" "Yes. They were already Rankers with extraordinary power, and with Director Lee Baejeong from the Management Bureau involved, they must be tracking us through every possible channel." "What''s the chance of them just barging in here?" "I think it''s low. Even last time, they acted quite rashly. Right now, Cheong Siyeol, Lee Eunwoo, Joo Suhyeok, and the others are under suspicion from other Rankers." If that was the case, the possibility of a surprise attack was low. They were probably trying to find some leverage to take down both the Sun-Moon Divine Sect and me. Thinking that way made the guy in front of me look even more unpleasant. Of course, Cheong Siyeol wouldn''t have told him about the regression. Competition between guilds was natural. It was also natural for them to be wary of Ryu Haneul, who had cleared the 50th floor at such a young age. So it was also natural for me, wearing the Sun-Moon Divine Sect uniform, to get angry here. I pointed a finger at the executive from the Azure Sky Sword Sect. "Hey." I made sure he couldn''t pretend not to see or hear me. "You said that for me to hear, didn''t you?" "What? ''You''?" He scowled. The white, ring-shaped halo above his head hummed. Ryu Haneul tried to grab my shoulder. "Senior!" "It''s okay." I gave Ryu Haneul a reassuring smile. And then I strode towards the man. "This is a space for the Murim Alliance to replenish its resources and for martial arts Awakened to train. So you''re saying I can''t be here?" "Yes." "Don''t talk nonsense." "Ha!" He glared at me. Hum! His halo glowed with a low hum, indicating his anger. The surrounding Hunters murmured. I heard snippets of their conversation. "Isn''t that Kim Jeongwoo of the Azure Sky Sword Sect?" "Who''s that guy?" "You know, the one the Heavenly Demon has been hanging around with lately." "Isn''t he a Pyromancer? I guess he joined the Sun-Moon Divine Sect." "Kim Jeongwoo is right. What''s a Pyromancer doing here?" "He''s probably gotten arrogant from sticking by the Heavenly Demon''s side. A good beating from Kim Jeongwoo will bring him back to his senses." ''Azure Sky Sword Saint'' Kim Jeongwoo, huh. Judging by how the guild''s name was almost directly used as his title, he seemed to be someone Cheong Siyeol personally trained or acknowledged as a strong individual. If he drew his sword, it wouldn''t be an easy fight. But I would win the battle of logic. I could guarantee it. Because this time, I was truly in the right. "There''s no need to worry about resources. I''m not taking any Mana Stones, and I''m giving all the dropped artifacts to Deputy Sect Leader Ryu Haneul." The main value of the Tower, Mana Stones and elixirs, came from mining and gathering. Killing monsters yielded ''cores,'' not Mana Stones. Of course, cores could also be sold for money, but the amount I was taking was too insignificant to be considered hindering the Murim Alliance Hunters'' income. "Then the problem is that I''m not a martial arts Awakened, right? Let''s be clear. What exactly is a martial arts Awakened?" "What?" Azure Sky Sword Saint Kim Jeongwoo frowned. After a brief hesitation, he retorted arrogantly. "They are Hunters who fight monsters with the power they''ve cultivated through refining their bodies." "I think you''re wrong." "What?" He and the surrounding Hunters were all startled. Some glared at me as if they wanted to devour me. "What the hell is that guy saying?" "That''s what a martial arts Awakened is!" "Don''t listen to his bullshit. Move aside. I''ll rip his tongue out." I raised my voice so everyone could hear. "That''s just a description of 80% of Awakened, the physical types! If you''re going to call someone a martial arts Awakened, shouldn''t they have martial arts-related traits displayed in their title itself?" I gestured grandly towards Ryu Haneul. Countless eyes turned to him. He flinched, and at that moment, the purple halo, symbolizing the Eastern concept of "Heaven is Round, Earth is Square" above his head vibrated once. Hum! The Hunters gradually realized what I was talking about. "...Is that so?" "He has ''Heavenly Demon'' as his class in his status window, but most of us have ''Physical Enhancement Specialist.''" "So only those who have contracted with those Constellations are true martial arts Awakened, and we''re just people who got really strong. Is that what he''s saying?" "Hey, am I the only one who doesn''t get it?" "So the question is how we define a martial arts Awakened. Is it someone who calls themselves that and strives to be one, or is it someone who''s chosen by a Constellation of that lineage?" The murmurs grew louder. In a world where classes were displayed on status windows, this was a very complex issue. It was even more so because our social consensus couldn''t influence the status window. Azure Sky Sword Saint Kim Jeongwoo frowned. "I disagree." "You disagree?" He was more eloquent than I expected. He was worthy of being chosen by Cheong Siyeol. "That path is valid, but so is this one. We may not be martial arts Awakened as defined by the status window, but we are martial arts Awakened as defined when we established the Azure Sky Sword Sect and the Murim Alliance." And I knew he would say that. Because I was the one who first came up with that logic. When Cheong Siyeol, Joo Suhyeok, and a few others gathered to create guilds of physical Awakened and even formed the Murim Alliance... ''So we don''t know who to consider a true martial artist.'' ''What are you talking about?'' ''Should we only consider those with martial arts classes in their status windows as martial artists? Or those who have mastered martial arts through their own training?'' ''You''re worrying about strange things.'' ''What?'' ''Of course, both are martial artists. Why do you think there has to be only one true definition?'' ''Ah...'' ''Someone with ''Plum Blossom Sword Saint'' in their status window is obviously a martial artist, and someone who can perform the 24 Plum Blossom Sword Techniques without the help of a Constellation is also a martial artist.'' With this logic, we resolved the conflict between those who became martial artists through contracts and those who became martial artists through training. The martial artists we speak of and the martial artists defined by the status window. Both are martial artists. That''s why I could confidently say¡ª "Then I''m also a martial arts Awakened." Azure Sky Sword Saint Kim Jeongwoo clicked his tongue. "If my eyes didn''t deceive me, you were breathing fire a moment ago." "You must be mistaken." "You''ve got some nerve." Even Ryu Haneul looked at me with an expression that said, "What are you thinking?" I channeled mana into the ''Subspace Ring'' and opened my inventory. I took out the ''Fire Dragon Sword (Heroic)'' from within. Swish. "If you don''t believe me, check it out. Let''s spar in the power-leveling zone. I''ll show you that I''m a swordsman worthy of calling myself a martial artist, even in front of you." There was no way he could refuse here. Because if he said that only those with martial arts classes in their status window were considered martial artists, 95% of the people here, including himself, would no longer be considered martial artists. Kim Jeongwoo flinched when he saw my sword. "You..." But then, his expression turned to indignation. "Baekya was versatile. He wielded flames like an Archmage and used Yang Energy like someone with the Solar Lord class." "That''s true." "I''ve heard that after him, more and more Pyromancers started carrying longswords like him, but I didn''t expect anyone to be this brazen." "I guess so." "Let''s have a kill count competition." "Alright." "If I win, hand over that sword. I''ll keep it here as a memento of a foolish Pyromancer." "And if I win?" Azure Sky Sword Saint Kim Jeongwoo pondered for a moment before answering. "I''ll give you this armor." He took out a full set of armor from his inventory. The armor had a mix of Eastern and Western styles, giving it a unique look. ¡¾Haneol Swordsmith''s Armor (Master)¡¿ ¡¾Armor crafted by Haneol Swordsmith, a crafting guild in the South Korea Regional Server. It is exceptionally sturdy.¡¿ I inwardly let out a gasp. No, he didn''t have to go this far... Of course, just because artifacts were of a similar grade didn''t mean they had the same value. For the same grade, special artifacts like inventory items or those with debuff effects were more expensive than offensive ones. And defensive artifacts were even more expensive than special ones. The drop rate was low, and they were difficult to craft, so the supply was far less than the demand. Even in my prime, I couldn''t acquire armor that met my standards. Even if the Fire Dragon Sword was a Heroic-grade artifact, if I could trade it for this armor, I would be making a huge profit. "Don''t go back on your word later." I switched to a more respectful tone, indicating my agreement to his terms. * * * At the power-leveling zone on the outskirts of the field. Many Hunters had followed us. Ryu Haneul looked at me with anxious eyes. I went down the hill with Kim Jeongwoo and agreed on the rules. "You won''t use any ranged attacks as a Pyromancer. Do you agree?" "I agree. If either of us inflicts physical harm on the other, it will result in immediate disqualification and loss. Do you agree?" "I agree. The one with the higher kill count at the end of one hour will be the winner. Do you agree?" "I agree." The moment the last word was spoken... Monsters emerged from the forest. Thud. Thud! If I remember correctly, the 33rd floor was where monsters appeared that seemed like a bizarre mix of several Eastern religions. ¡°Venerable Imjo, the Ancient Spirit, Eternal Lord, and Battle Immortal!¡± "Raging Crane of the Three Realms and Three Worlds, Guardian of the Four Directions, Ancient Bull!" "Manifestation of the Three Realms and Three Worlds, the Immortal Bull!" As if to confirm my memory, the monsters that rushed out were all dressed in Eastern-style clothing and adorned with accessories like prayer beads. Of course, they were still grotesque, with heights of at least 3 meters, four or more arms, and fish or deer heads growing from their necks. Aitel notifications appeared in my vision. ¡¾Earth Deity (B) has appeared!¡¿ ¡¾Wooden Guardian (B) has appeared!¡¿ ¡¾Ox Deity (B) has appeared!¡¿ Kim Jeongwoo and I simultaneously leaped towards the monsters. Thump! Azure Sky Sword Saint Kim Jeongwoo displayed swordsmanship worthy of his grand title. ¡¾Azure Sky Sword Technique, Chapter 1 Verse 1 - Azure Sky, Meteor Strike¡¿ ¡¾A single star rises in the azure sky.¡¿ S?a?ch* Th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Fwaaaaaah¡ª! He extended his sword outwards, then swung it upwards in a wide arc, as if thrusting and slashing at the same time. Thwack! The monster, with a frog''s head, six arms, and thick prayer beads around its neck, was sliced apart in an instant. A B-Rank monster was on par with a Crystal Golem in terms of power. He had cut down a monster that would require several Hunters to risk their lives with a single strike. A member of the Azure Sky Sword Sect shouted from atop the hill. "One!" A grotesque monster lunged, its gaping maw releasing a psychic wave. A wave of incomprehensible thoughts washed over me, threatening to overwhelm my mind, but... "Azure Sky Sword Technique!" ¡¾Dark Heaven Sword Qi: External Release¡¿ Swish! Azure Sky Sword Saint Kim Jeongwoo unleashed a crescent-shaped aura, cleaving a pot-bellied monster in two. "Two!" I admit it. He was quite skilled. I channeled mana into the Fire Dragon Sword and raised my chin. A crimson aura flickered on the heated sword. ¡¾Traits: Supreme Yang Body, Embodiment of the Sun, Demon Slayer, Heavenly Sword Master... activated.¡¿ There''s a saying, "All paths lead to the same destination." It means that any path, when pursued to its extreme, leads to a similar state of mastery. As I thrust the sword forward, I twisted it at the shoulder, elbow, and wrist, altering its trajectory. Fwaaaaaah¡ª! A brilliant light erupted from the sword, spiraling outwards in an ever-widening arc. The sword glowed so intensely, it was like a miniature sun. Countless sword beams, like a laser bombardment, ravaged the ground. An Earth Deity was split in half, a Wooden Guardian was set ablaze, and an Ox Deity turned tail and fled. From behind, Ryu Haneul shouted¡ª "Twenty-five!" His voice was cheerful, as if he had expected this. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 40 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 40 ¡°Haah¡­¡± I gasped for breath, raising my head after unleashing the Radiant Sword. If I lowered my head, blood would likely gush from my nose. The mana circuits within my body screamed in protest. Looking down at my fingertips, I saw my nails were torn, and blood was dripping. ¡¾¡°Why did you have to make a bet like that?¡±¡¿ ¡¾¡°I don''t want to see you bleed anymore.¡±¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation, ''Sunny'', is furious.¡¿ I pushed myself too far. I admit that. But it wasn''t a reckless act without thought. In the distance¡ª Kim Jeongwoo, the Azure Sky Sword Saint, stared at me with a vacant expression. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that just now¡­ the Radiant Sword?¡± All traces of fighting spirit and anger had vanished from his face. All that remained was bewilderment, a hint of admiration, and an even greater sense of defeat. I knew it. High-ranking Hunters may be arrogant and overbearing, but they know how to acknowledge what they see. I let the Fire Dragon Sword hang loosely at my side and looked at him with a questioning gaze. The question was, ''Do you still think I''m just a nobody?'' Kim Jeongwoo, who had just slain his fourth monster, jumped back. He could probably use a skill like that too. But his face already held the clear, calm expression of someone who understood everything. The Hunters watching us from the hill were no different. ¡°I thought he was all show with that sword, but damn, he''s the real deal.¡± ¡°Radiant Sword, external qi manifestation. That''s the pinnacle of the Scorching Sun Divine Arts'' sword techniques. It was popular for a while after Baekya, but everyone gave up because it was too difficult and consumed too much mana. Can''t believe someone actually mastered it.¡± "Gotta respect that, even if it''s just for the showmanship. Hell, even Baekya himself would''ve given him props if he was still around." It was a strange kind of recognition, but I decided to take it as a compliment. Azure Sky Sword Saint Kim Jeongwoo raised a hand, about to shout something. ¡°I acknowledge that the guest of Deputy Sect Leader Ryu Haneul is not a nobody¡­.¡± But I couldn''t hear the rest. Even though I had created a momentary gap by slaying dozens of monsters with a single skill, we were still within the monsters'' attack range. Thump. Thump! A Chusin from the forest aimed its spear at Kim Jeongwoo. [TL/N: In Korean fantasy and mythology, Chusin are often depicted as monstrous beings or deities associated with livestock or animals. They can possess immense strength and supernatural abilities.] ¡¾Mid-Rank Chusin (B+)¡¿ It was nearly 4 meters tall, with a deer''s head, six arms, and wore an Eastern-style jacket. Because of the abnormally dense vegetation, it seemed Kim Jeongwoo couldn''t see it properly. The Chusin lunged forward with incredible speed, with its four red thorn-like spears ready to strike. Whoosh! The tips of the four spears gleamed ominously. I raised my hand, ready to fire Incineration Ray. At first, I thought it was a good thing. I could even repay my debt of life. But my mana dissipated halfway. Fizzle! Huh? ¡¾¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? Who told you to push yourself like that?¡±¡¿ I felt bewildered, even dumbfounded. Me, Baekya, experiencing mana overload?! Something I hadn''t even experienced when I first awakened! But there was no time to be surprised. The Chusin was still charging towards Kim Jeongwoo. I did want to teach him a lesson. But I didn''t want him to die. S?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He''s someone''s son, someone''s lover, and a Hunter of South Korea. We couldn''t afford to lose a presumed A+ Hunter so senselessly. I channeled mana into the ''Subspace Ring''. Being in direct contact with my body, the silver ring somehow absorbed the mana, and I opened my inventory. I took out the ''World-Reflecting Mirror'' from within. "Watch out!" I tried to pull only Kim Jeongwoo and me into the mirror world. But the Chusin was faster than I thought. Thud! Three things happened simultaneously. Kim Jeongwoo turned at my shout and managed to dodge, but the Chusin''s thorn-like spear still grazed his side, missing his heart. In that instant, all three of us¡ª Kim Jeongwoo, the Chusin, and I¡ª were sucked into the mirror world. "Some kind of... gate?!" This was the worst possible scenario. We were trapped, cut off from any potential help from Ryu Haneul and the others on the hill. * * * ¡°Keuk!¡± Kim Jeongwoo clutched his side and rolled on the ground. Thump! He kicked the Chusin hard in the chest, sending it stumbling back a few steps. ¡°Nodohaksamcheungsamgyesasingou¡­!¡± He had only been caught off guard, but Kim Jeongwoo was an A-Rank Hunter. ¡°Damn it. How embarrassing.¡± Even a B+ Rank Chusin was something he could usually kill barehanded. But the wound was in a bad spot. ¡®Of all places.¡¯ His breath hitched; it felt like air was leaking from his lungs. He didn¡¯t expect any help from the Baekya cosplayer. He was grateful the guy had warned him in time. The external manifestation of Radiant Sword energy was truly impressive, but now the cosplayer was clearly struggling, gasping for breath from the aftereffects. Kim Jeongwoo''s acknowledgment hadn''t been given lightly. Radiant Sword was that demanding a skill. ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter. If I can just hold out for a few seconds, the others will¡­ huh?¡¯ Azure Sky Sword Saint Kim Jeongwoo, his body not in optimal condition, tried to buy time. But something was strange about his surroundings. The trees and the sky were all a dull, monochrome gray. The only splashes of color in this bleak landscape were Kim Jeongwoo himself, the Baekya cosplayer standing some distance away, a few scattered corpses, and the menacing Chusin right in front of him. It seemed like some kind of barrier had sprung up around them, trapping them in what felt like a pocket dimension, cut off from the rest of the world. It seemed the cosplayer had tried to rescue him with an artifact, but they had ended up trapped together. ¡°Hey! Release this!¡± Kim Jeongwoo shouted at the Baekya cosplayer. ¡®That bastard¡¯s got a few screws loose too. Well, I guess that''s true for all those who imitate famous Rankers.¡¯ The Baekya cosplayer waved his hands in the air, looking troubled. And when the guy started waving around what looked like a silver magic wand, Kim Jeongwoo revised his assessment. ¡®No. He doesn¡¯t just have a few screws loose. I doubt he has even a couple of screws left.¡¯ Azure Sky Sword Saint Kim Jeongwoo staggered to his feet, clutching his right side with his left hand. His left hand firmly covered the wound, while his right hand raised his sword in front of him. The Chusin, back on its feet, glared at him, spinning three thorn-like spears. [¡°Nodohaksamcheungsamgyesasingou!¡±] The Chusin¡¯s gray antlers glowed white and began to grow like plants. ¡®All I have to do is hold out until that idiot deactivates this subspace.¡¯ Like his master, Cheong Siyeol, he would never retreat. He vowed to see both the enemy and his own end with a single sword. ¡°Huh?¡± The next moment. As if in cruel mockery of his determination, Azure Sky Sword Saint Kim Jeongwoo''s sword slipped from his grasp. Clang. The lifeless forms of Chusin, Jisin, and Mokin alike began to stir, rising to their feet. "---, ---!" Their entire bodies burned and sizzled like demons from the underworld. Engulfed in flames, they swung their four to eight arms, resembling demonic monsters. ¡°Shit! What the hell is that?¡± Kim Jeongwoo instinctively used Analyze. Aitel notifications filled his vision. ¡¾Chusin''s Corpse (Status Effect: Possession)¡¿ ¡¾Mokin''s Corpse (Status Effect: Possession)¡¿ ¡¾Jisin''s Corpse (Status Effect: Possession)¡¿ ¡®Was this guy a Necromancer instead of a Pyromancer?¡¯ Kim Jeongwoo stared at the Baekya cosplayer. He was wielding the silver wand like an orchestra conductor. With each wave of the wand, another corpse ignited and rose. The ''possessed corpses'', now numbering eight instead of four, charged towards the mid-rank Chusin. [¡°Nodohaksamcheungsamgyesasingou!¡±] [---, ---!] The psychic energy of the living and the dead clashed violently. In terms of physical strength, the mid-rank Chusin was overwhelmingly superior. But the burning corpses felt no pain, had a numerical advantage, and used their own heat to inflict debuffs. [¡°Nodohaksamcheungsamgyesasingo, go, gouuuu!¡±] It took only a few minutes for the mid-rank Chusin to be torn to shreds with a scream. Azure Sky Sword Saint Kim Jeongwoo stared at the scene in a daze. ¡®What kind of necromancy is this?¡¯ He himself was undoubtedly higher in rank. The Aitel rankings hadn''t shifted significantly, after all. Yet, there was something about this Baekya cosplayer that transcended mere rankings, something Kim Jeongwoo couldn''t quite put his finger on. ''He controls flames freely, is skilled with the sword, and even dabbles in summoning. He''s just like the real Baekya, isn''t he?'' The aura of someone confident they could climb even higher. It was the same aura Kim Jeongwoo had seen in all the high-rankers he''d met. The army of corpses burned out one by one, disappearing completely. Fireballs emerged from the corpses and returned to the wand. The Baekya cosplayer raised the World-Reflecting Mirror once more. Crackle¡ª! The black and white world shattered, returning to normal. "Are you alright?" "What happened?" "You suddenly disappeared." The area was now filled with Hunters who had rushed down from the hill. Some were cautiously watching the forest, while most surrounded them. "Hyung! Your side¡­!" "Get a potion! Call a healer!" The Hunters'' eyes sharpened as they saw Kim Jeongwoo''s wound. Some even glared at the Baekya cosplayer. ''No!'' Kim Jeongwoo imagined the Baekya cosplayer cutting them down with his dagger and then raising them as fiery undead. "Hey, you." Kim Jeongwoo clutched his side and approached the Baekya cosplayer. He opened his inventory and took out a Master-grade armor. Thump. It was a full-body armor, white with blue patterns, a blend of Eastern and Western styles. The surrounding Hunters murmured. "Armor?" "Why is he taking that out?" "The fight wasn''t over, was it?" Kim Jeongwoo bowed his head to the Baekya cosplayer. "Thank you for saving me. You saved my life. It''s embarrassing to say this after seeing the Radiant Sword, but I''ll say it clearly. You are a true martial artist. You have the right to hunt and train on this floor." The Baekya cosplayer''s pale face lit up. For a moment, he nodded with a look of joy and pride. "No, I was too rude earlier." "So was I. A new martial artist arrived, and instead of guiding him, I tried to bully him. So let''s call it even, and forget about the bet¡ª" "I gratefully accept your gift, senior. I will follow your example and become a Hunter who takes responsibility for his words." "No, that''s not what I meant¡ª" "I gratefully accept!" The Baekya cosplayer bowed deeply, opened his inventory, and quickly snatched the armor. "W-Wait a minute!" Then he stuck close behind Ryu Haneul and ran off deeper into the hunting grounds. * * * "Did you see his face?" "It was hilarious." Ryu Haneul and I escaped deeper into the field and burst into laughter, sitting side by side. Even though we were inside the Tower, the sky was blue, and the wind was cool. There wasn''t a single bug on the grass, and in the distant forest, monsters that would become my experience points were teeming. Moreover, I had learned that even Hunters these days knew how to admit their mistakes and apologize. As a first-generation geezer, I couldn''t be more satisfied. I lay down on the grass. Ryu Haneul stretched his legs and sat down, offering his thigh as a pillow for my neck. "Want to lie down?" "Thanks." "Huh? Really?" "I don''t refuse offers like this." His thigh was firm yet slender, perfect for supporting my neck. In my field of vision was a face that blended boyish charm and charisma. His purple eyes darted around, seemingly flustered. I don''t understand why he acts so childish despite being a Regressor. "Senior." "Yeah?" I was tired, and sleep was beckoning. "What did you use in the mirror world to create so many burning corpses?" "How did you even... Ah, you must have figured out I got it before." "Yes." ¡°....¡± I briefly debated whether to tell him the truth. This guy was also a Regressor, after all. He hadn''t told me everything, and I couldn''t expect to hear everything from him. Besides, relying too much on knowledge of the future would only lead to being influenced by it. If I became reliant on him and he betrayed me even once, it would be game over. But I couldn''t keep it a secret forever. I didn''t even think I should hide it. "I cleared the Ghost Princess''s Castle and gained the ability to control Ghosts. I can possess corpses with them and use them like summons." "Can you please not use that?" "Why?" "It overlaps with the image." "Image?" "Remember what Cheong Siyeol hyung said?" "That I''ll set the world on fire?" "Yes. Opening the gate to the underworld and commanding a legion of demons..." "Ah." "It''s ominous." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 41 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 41 [Na Jeongwon: Everyone, gather around.] [Na Jeongwon: We have something to discuss.] [Lee Eunwoo: Come to think of it, there''s less than a week left.] [Lee Eunwoo: A Rank 2 Gate. Right in the heart of Seoul.] [Lee Eunwoo: To think we''ll be facing it without Baekya.] [Cheong Siyeol: Don¡¯t get too worked up over something that¡¯s already happened.] [Cheong Siyeol: It was bound to happen eventually.] [Cheong Siyeol: The Azure Sky Sword Sect can mobilize on its own. We¡¯ll have our guild members on standby.] [Lee Eunwoo: I''ll do my best too. My leadership isn''t being questioned yet.] [Na Jeongwon: Why hasn''t Lee Baejeong said a word?] [Na Jeongwon: We need the Gate Management Department''s help if we want to naturally prevent the upcoming disasters.] [Lee Baejeong: I was in a meeting.] [Lee Baejeong: Unlike you all, I have a job. And I even pay taxes.] [Lee Baejeong: I''ve submitted a proposal internally, but since I''m with the Awakened Support Agency, not the Gate Management Department, I''m not sure how effective it will be.] [Lee Baejeong: Still, I''ve sent official letters to the Holy Church, the Magic Tower, and other large guilds affiliated with major corporations, so those guys won''t be slacking off.] S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Lee Baejeong: I''ve also spread rumors that a high-ranked gate is about to open, using a ''reliable but unidentified source''.] [Lee Baejeong: Come to think of it, this will be the first high-ranked gate we face without Baekya.] [Lee Eunwoo: He must be grinning from ear to ear, right?] [Lee Eunwoo: Hoping we fail?] [Lee Baejeong: That''s not possible.] [Lee Baejeong: He simply wants everyone to realize how precarious our world is.] [Na Jeongwon: Both of you, stop it.] [Na Jeongwon: We''ve fought him before, we know the story. Don''t assign any strange meanings to it.] [Na Jeongwon: End it as soon as it opens.] [Cheong Siyeol: Let''s wrap up this topic here.] [Cheong Siyeol: What have we learned about Baekya''s location?] [Cheong Siyeol: I¡¯m asking you, Lee Eunwoo.] [Lee Eunwoo: You didn''t actually expect an answer, did you?] [Lee Eunwoo: According to the Iron Blood Legion''s tracking, he''s somewhere on planet Earth.] [Lee Eunwoo: LOL] [Lee Baejeong: Ryu Haneul is protecting him so thoroughly that it''s been impossible to track him down.] [Lee Baejeong: Now that he''s under the Sun-Moon Divine Sect''s protection, a full-scale surprise attack like last time is impossible.] [Joo Suhyeok: No. It''s possible.] [Lee Baejeong: You only show up for these discussions, don''t you?] [Lee Baejeong: I''ll say it again.] [Lee Baejeong: It''s impossible.] [Lee Baejeong: As Mr. Pistol has stated multiple times, we cannot provide any justification for Baekya''s death at this point in time.] [Lee Baejeong: Remember how much effort we put into controlling information during the last surprise attack.] [Lee Baejeong: If we''re going to catch him, it has to be within a legal framework. For example, if the Sun-Moon Divine Sect doesn''t participate in this raid, we can hold their high-ranking officials accountable and summon them to the Management Bureau.] [Lee Baejeong: Do you understand?] [Joo Suhyeok: Enough with the seriousness.] [Joo Suhyeok: I get it.] [Joo Suhyeok: Let''s say we leave Ryu Haneul alone. What about Choi Gimin?] [Lee Baejeong: That son of a...] [Lee Baejeong: We can kill him.] [Lee Baejeong: It''s legal.] * * * On a peaceful grassy field on the 33rd floor of the Tower¡ª I listened to Ryu Haneul''s reply while lying down with my head on his lap. "I know it''s different from back then, but it still feels ominous. I''m sorry. I already said I''d follow you no matter what path you take. But I... hope you won''t take that path." He was more concerned about the fact that he was saying this to me, rather than whether I used ghosts or not. I was ''The Sun'' Baekya. No one dared to try to understand my heart. So those who, like Ryu Haneul now, tried to truly understand me, with gentle persistence... They always managed to touch my heart. I chuckled softly. I reached out and playfully ruffled his black hair that fell around my face like a curtain. "Really? Then should I not use it?" "Huh?" "You''re worried, right? You''re worried about me, aren''t you?" "...Yes." "Then I should listen. Not many people have worried about me." Ryu Haneul''s face brightened visibly. His stiff expression softened. "Thank you, senior." Just then, my Constellation shouted in my ear. ¡¾¡°What kind of ridiculousness is this?¡±¡¿ ¡¾¡°Did you take a blow to the head or something? Do you have any idea what could save your life if you find yourself in a similar situation again?¡±¡¿ ¡¾¡°Enough with the sentimental nonsense. Get back to raising your undead army. I want to see it in action.¡±¡¿ I couldn''t argue with her. To be honest, my Constellation was absolutely right. Then Ryu Haneul spoke first. It seemed he realized I was caught between my Constellation and him. "Then, senior, how about this?" "What?" "You said you''d declare your return once you regain your strength, right?" "That''s right." "How about you only use it until then?" ¡¾¡°That''s not a bad idea.¡±¡¿ ¡¾¡°I''d like to tell you to keep using it, but since you''re so fond of this kid, I''ll compromise this much.¡±¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' relents slightly.¡¿ ¡¾¡°But remember, now that you have an army at your command, if you recklessly charge into battle headfirst, I won''t hesitate to speak up. I''ve witnessed that far too many times.¡±¡¿ It was an excellent compromise. I hadn''t planned on using it for long anyway. Summoning didn''t quite fit my combat style, and the Scepter was originally a Heroic-grade artifact. It wasn''t weak, but my main equipment was all Legendary or Mythical grade. They weren''t weapons meant for the front lines of the Tower. I could use it until I declared the return of Baekya, and then gift it to a suitable swordsman or necromancer Hunter. "Alright. Let''s do that." I got up from his lap and spoke. Once I had decided to use it, I needed to master it. I planned to hunt another monster and possess it right away. The forest where monsters respawned was nearby, so there was no need to wait or travel far. As I approached the forest, there was an immediate response. A Mokin, a monster that looked like a mix of a human and a tree, revealed its grotesque body and charged at me. ["Imjohwasanggoryeongcheunyeongjujeonjangsaeng!"] From its shriveled mouth, a maddening psychic energy blast shot out. ["Gal (Halt)!"] But an even stronger psychic energy burst from behind me, countering the attack. It was Ryu Haneul, his purple circular and square halo glowing above his head, who had shouted. I sometimes forgot because he always smiled shyly in front of me, but he was the Heavenly Demon. "Kee, keeek! Keekeekeeek!" The Mokin stiffened and collapsed on the ground. I used Appraisal to check its status. ¡¾Status Effect: Suppression¡¿ ¡¾Status Effect: Ten Thousand Devils'' Anguish¡¿ ¡¾Status Effect: Confusion¡¿ The Mokin was completely overwhelmed, unable to put up any sort of fight. "Si¡ª no. Haneul, thank you." I expressed my gratitude, my voice slightly strained. The familiar name lingered on the tip of my tongue before fading away, leaving a bittersweet taste in my mouth. A sense of embarrassment and self-reproach washed over me. Ryu Haneul raised an eyebrow theatrically and asked¡ª "Did I hear you wrong?" "No. I... I misspoke." "Well, since a senior can never be wrong, I must have misheard. Let''s just pretend it never happened." "Agreed." I took out the ''Ghost Princess''s Scepter'' from my inventory once again. Ryu Haneul grabbed the Mokin and dragged it out of the other monsters'' attack range. "Let''s start." "Yes." A few hours passed. As a result, I learned several important facts. And I was able to strategize on when and how to use these guys most effectively. "If they''re under the ''Confusion'' status effect and have lost their sanity, or if they''re severely injured, I can possess even living beings." "The combat power of a possessed minion is boosted by the Ghost''s power, making them even stronger than when they were alive." "The number of Ghosts I can summon... it''s substantial. It seems they''ll keep coming as long as I have the mana to fuel them." "Yes. It seems the Scepter summons other souls and turns them into your servants, senior. Once they pledge loyalty to the king, they become his subjects." "I can use Law of Light instead of normal flames. It strengthens them momentarily, but the lifespan of the possessed body is drastically reduced." The Ghost before me burned with a more intense orange glow than usual. Just as I did when using Incineration Ray or the Standard''s wide-area incineration, I infused the normal flames with the power of the Law of Light. Since the Ghost was a spiritual entity sustained by my mana, manipulating its flames felt remarkably similar to controlling Incineration Ray. In truth, Ghosts themselves weren''t very useful. In the battles I would face, even C-Rank monsters would be instantly slaughtered. The key was possession. The combat power of a possessed Ghost was greatly influenced by the possessed body. In other words, the tougher the fight and the stronger the enemies, the more useful this ability becomes. All I need to do is take down a few foes and then turn their corpses into my undead soldiers. That''s why having the Ghosts at my disposal is such a valuable asset right now. "But to truly rely on them as my main fighting force, I''d need to stockpile a bunch of B-rank monster corpses, wouldn''t I?" "Your inventory''s only 300L at the moment, senior." "Exactly. That''s why I can''t fully utilize them yet." Their reactions to this realization were polar opposites. "Such a relief." ¡¾¡°Such a waste.¡±¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' is clearly frustrated.¡¿ ¡¾¡°Let''s focus on raising your ascension level and getting that ''Vast Cosmic Inventory'' back as soon as possible.¡±¡¿ I responded to Sunny''s nagging in my mind. If I regain enough power to get that back, I won''t even need to rely on these pathetic ghosts. * * * "Why does it feel like I haven''t been back in so long?" "You''ve been coming home only at night lately. Leaving early in the morning too. It feels like it''s been a while since I''ve even seen your face." I was out for dinner with Wolha. It wasn''t because I particularly wanted to be nice to my younger brother, who was busy studying day and night. Objectively speaking, he had a lot of leverage over me. From the suspicious money, gold, and Mana Stones, to the downfall of Million Loans, and even the bloodshed at the mine. On top of that, he mistakenly believes I''m a Black Hole contractor. If he reports me, things could get pretty messy. So, I figured a little culinary bribery with some premium beef might be a good investment in maintaining our sibling harmony. As I said, it''s not like I''m suddenly overflowing with brotherly affection for the kid who''s practically living at his desk these days. Definitely not. "Two more servings of striploin, please." "Right away, sir!" We sizzled and devoured our way through a mountain of meat. I made a point of asking Wolha plenty of questions, feigning interest in his life. You know, the usual stuff: dream job, travel aspirations, fantasy car... The department he wanted to join after passing the exam, the places he wanted to travel before starting work, the car he wanted to own someday, and so on. "The Awakened Support Agency. I want to help out the top-tier Hunters, like Baekya." "Travel? Who has time for that? Though, I wouldn''t mind seeing a tropical beach someday." "A car? I haven''t even thought about it. Hmm. I think Audis are cool." I wasn''t interested in his preferences, but this was how I should show interest to be an ideal older brother. It would be good to make him imagine a bright future and have expectations from me. That''s all. Really. Just as we were both starting to feel comfortably full¡ª An Aitel notification popped up in my vision. And its content was quite shocking. ¡¾Guardian ''Ajax'' has been activated.¡¿ The guardian I had stationed at the warehouse started moving. Someone had entered my warehouse. ¡¾"Whoever it is, they''ve got some guts. Messing with the The Sun''s warehouse."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' mocks your opponent.¡¿ ¡¾"But I bet the thief has an inventory artifact with a huge capacity, right? What do you think?"¡¿ [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 42 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 42 I hailed a taxi and headed to Icheon. ''Wolha, I''m going out for a bit.'' ''Again? Alright. Be careful.'' It seemed the hearty meal had put Wolha in a good mood, and he didn''t raise any objections to my sudden nighttime excursion. I watched the sun setting outside the window. I called out to my Constellation in a voice so soft it almost didn''t leave my lips. "Sunny." ¡¾"Yes, I''m here."¡¿¡¿ "Could this be Cheong Siyeol''s trap instead of a thief?" ¡¾"Don''t worry. I''ll provide you with the maximum mana and detection assistance your ascension level allows."¡¿ Hearing Sunny''s answer, I closed my eyes. In Korea, there were professional thieves who specialized in breaking into warehouses. They exploited the fact that Rankers often forgot about their warehouses. Even if they noticed through notifications, there was nothing they could do while inside the Tower. Moreover, since Rankers often stored slush funds in their warehouses, it was difficult to make these incidents public. Of course, if caught, the thieves would likely lose legal protection, but people who thought they might get caught wouldn''t engage in theft in the first place. "Please stop here. Keep the meter running, and wait for 10 minutes." "You''re not up to anything shady, are you? I have the right to refuse service if it''s anything illegal." "I only mentioned it because I''ll be right back if things aren''t as I expect. You''re free to leave. I can easily find another taxi for the return trip." "S-Sorry." I got out of the car more than 2 kilometers away from my warehouse. Leaving the taxi driver behind, I ran along the darkened road. If it were those Regressors, they might sense my presence even from this distance. I shuddered at the thought of Na Jeongwon''s spirits or Lee Eunwoo''s see-through ability being used to track me down. ¡¾"Relax. I don''t detect any spirits or See-Through energy signatures in the vicinity."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' offers reassurance.¡¿ I arrived near the field where my warehouse was located. I used my skill, pushing it to its limits. ¡¾Scan¡¿ ¡¾*Condition: A-Rank or higher¡¿ Whoosh! Invisible waves of energy surged out from me, scanning the surroundings. High-powered detection with a condition was a double-edged sword. If there was an Awakened of A-Rank or higher within a 1 km radius, my Scan would pick them up without fail. However, the downside was that anyone within that same radius, even an F-Rank Awakened, would sense that someone had used a detection skill. ¡°¡­.¡± Nothing. It''s clear. At least there didn''t seem to be any Hunters of A-Rank or higher within a 1 km radius. That meant it was probably really just a thief. There was a reason I had come this far, despite the risk that it might be a trap set by the Regressors. My warehouse contained many artifacts and elixirs that I couldn''t use yet for various reasons. Among them were many cursed items or those with severe side effects. The thieves would likely ignore those side effects and sell them at high prices, claiming they were high-grade artifacts. I couldn''t let such dangerous items fall into the wrong hands. Since this guy had dared to sneak into my warehouse, he couldn''t expect any legal protection. I walked towards the greenhouse, opening my inventory as I went. ¡¾Haneol Bladesmith''s Armor (Master)¡¿ I pulled out a magnificent full-body armor from my inventory, a striking fusion of Eastern scale mail and Western plate armor. I infused it with a touch of mana, and the individual pieces detached and then reassembled, seamlessly encasing my body. Feeling a pleasant sense of weight, I also took out my weapon. ¡¾Fire Dragon Sword (Heroic)¡¿ I held the long sword with its elegantly curved blade in my right hand. The sword, so long it looked oversized even when held with both hands, extended downwards at my side. With a smooth stride, I stepped into my warehouse. I closed the door. Plop. With the sound of water droplets falling, the ceiling rose, and the frame on both sides expanded. Suddenly, I stood before a marble temple rising from a vast, shallow expanse of water. My temple was a sanctuary that no one could enter except for me and a few others I had personally brought in. Black footprints marred the steps leading to the sanctuary. "...." It seemed the guardian had already been breached. I climbed the stairs. I didn''t have to go far. A man in shabby hiking clothes was hunched over, his backside sticking up in the air as he clumsily draped a black cloth over the ''Desire-Reflecting Mirror.'' "What are you doing here?" "Baekya''s dead, so why should his stuff rot away in a warehouse like this, unknown to anyone? Someone who knows its value should take good care of it. Look at this. The Desire-Reflecting Mirror. Almost done packing it up." "Is that so?" "Do you have any idea what was in that cabinet over there? A full set of hero-grade armor, for starters. And the Mantle of the Demon Marquis? That thing was practically begging me to take it! I could easily rake in 10 billion won if I sold all that... Hold on, who the hell are you?" He turned to look at me. I smirked and used ''Insight.'' ¡¾Name: Oh Daeho¡¿ ¡¾Class: Hacker (B)¡¿ As expected, he was a special-type Awakened. Being a B-Rank, he likely had the skills to bypass the guardian, given enough time and planning. His face was exactly as I had anticipated. Time and hardship had etched deep lines into his features, leaving behind a hollowed-out shell of a man. His beady eyes, filled with greed, glinted like those of a cornered rat. I swung the Fire Dragon Sword. Slice! His left arm, adorned with a chunky ring, flew into the air. He screamed and crumpled to the ground. ¡°Aaargh!¡± I caught the severed left arm and pulled off the ring. ¡¾Subspace (Master)¡¿ ¡¾The inventory artifact ''Subspace'' provides its owner with a personal storage space roughly the size of a 400-square-foot studio apartment. Enjoy your very own portable hideaway.¡¿ As expected of a thief, he had quite the useful item. It''s mine now. ¡¾"Now you can truly raise an army of the undead. Let''s get back to the 33rd floor with that."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' bursts into a laughter.¡¿ I clutched the ring preciously and grinned. Like a bloodthirsty killer. "How did you know I wanted this?" The thief''s face was filled with dismay. "You, you! How did you get in?" "What are you talking about?" "I clearly gave the order. To stop you!" "What?" There wasn''t a shred of remorse or embarrassment on his face, only the raw frustration of a thief caught red-handed. He was indeed a professional thief. And I was a professional hunter. I raised my sword once more, intending to show him that some Hunters hunt people too. Whoosh! A gust of wind rushed towards me from behind. ¡¾"Watch out."¡¿ ¡¾Guardian Aegis (A+)¡¿ ¡¾Status Effect: Confusion¡¿ I turned my head and saw it. A Greek-style hero statue, nearly 5 meters tall. Its eyes flickered with an eerie green light. ["Begone, thief."] The guardian raised its stone hammer. The hammer flew towards me ["This is not a place for you to tread."] Its speed was faster than sound, its power enough to crumble mountains. Damn it. Thump! * * * I was sent flying like a kicked ball. I crashed through the warehouse pillars and landed on the shallow, black water. "Gah!" I rolled and tumbled like a bowling ball for what felt like an eternity before finally coming to a stop. I couldn''t breathe. Sprawled on the black water, I twitched helplessly. If it weren''t for the Haneol Bladesmith''s armor, I might have actually died. With all my might, I managed to move my pinky finger, just like when waking up from a nightmare. Wiggle. A tingling sensation spread from my fingertip, returning feeling to my hands, feet, and muscles. I staggered to my feet. "Damn it!" Oh Daeho was taking advantage of the chaos to flee towards the entrance. I opened my inventory and retrieved the Scepter. ¡°Catch him.¡± As soon as I gave the command, six blazing Flame Specters erupted in succession. ["---, ---!"] The six fireballs soared into the air. Sea??h the Novel?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What the hell!?" Oh Daeho''s eyes widened in further shock as he quickened his pace. But there''s always someone faster in this world. ["-----!"] The Flame Specter blocked his path, unleashing their psychic energy. Oh Daeho tried to use his hacking abilities. "Ack!" But he only had one hand, and hacking didn''t work on spirits anyway. The Flame Specter breathed fire. Oh Daeho''s face paled as he collapsed onto the black water. ¡¾Status Effect: Fear¡¿ After confirming his status, I turned to look at the guardian, Aegis. Clank. Clank! The guardian approached, holding a rectangular tower shield in one hand and a stone hammer in the other. It leaped gracefully between the warehouse pillars and landed before me, its posture overwhelmingly imposing. ¡¾"This is absurd. It should be confronting the intruder, not bravely attacking its master!"¡¿ ¡¾"How about we just smash it to pieces?"¡¿ No, we can''t. It''s incredibly expensive. I let out a sigh filled with frustration and worry. I could fix it later. Perhaps it can learn some discipline along with the rest of us. ¡¾"Then let me ask you. How exactly do you plan to take that?"¡¿ It was a reasonable question. I answered by putting the ''Subspace'' ring on my left index finger. "I plan to take it like this." I infused it with mana. A notification window popped up. ¡¾Subspaces usually have locks. If you want to know the secret, unlock it.¡¿ ¡¾Enter password: 00000000¡¿ It was an eight-digit password. I didn''t even scoff. As if a mere Master-grade item could stop me. ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ White flames enveloped my left hand. Sizzle! Black smoke rose from the ''Subspace'' ring. A series of messages appeared. ¡¾Password function will be erased.¡¿ ¡¾The artifact''s grade will be decreased due to the removal of the password function.¡¿ ¡¾Master ¡ú Rare¡¿ ¡¾Additional space will be allocated to compensate for the decreased grade.¡¿ ¡¾The studio apartment has been upgraded to a two-bedroom apartment! The Subspace expands from 400 square feet to 600 square feet.¡¿ Nice. I didn''t need a lock anyway. The fact that it was on my finger was the lock itself. ¡¾Release All¡¿ I dumped everything inside. Crash! All sorts of junk and stolen goods poured out onto the shallow water. I noticed a few severed hands among the mess. I couldn''t help but frown. I made a mental note to check it out later and kicked off the ground. Thump! Guardian Aegis was closing in fast, its heavy footsteps echoing through the chamber. With a powerful leap, I soared high above the guardian, clearing its shield with ease. Whoosh! The guardian reacted instantly, raising its shield to intercept what it perceived as an incoming attack. It was a textbook defensive move, but the raised shield left its vision partially obscured. ¡°Come here.¡± I summoned the Flame Specters. Fwoosh! Three of the six Flame Specters flew towards the guardian. The specters circled around the guardian''s body. Thump! They kicked off the guardian''s shield and soared even higher into the sky. As if waiting for this moment, the guardian swung its two-handed hammer. Whoosh! It was a blow that could crush me in an instant, utilizing the pinnacle of spear combat techniques - block, seize, and thrust. Even in my prime, I wasn''t sure I could have dodged it. But I maintained my composure until the very last moment. To make it miss by a wide margin! ¡¾Descent from the Crimson Flame¡¿ Whoosh! The Flame Spirit clinging to the guardian''s back erupted in an even fiercer blaze. Boom! The instant I teleported, I raised my dagger in a reverse grip. The dagger, now blazing with the power of ''Radiant Sword,'' shone like a mirror catching the full force of the sun. Pierce! The sharp blade pierced through the guardian''s shoulder. It didn''t fully penetrate, but it went in more than two handspans deep. Sizzle! Thick smoke rose from the burning stone. The intense heat, the power of the S-Rank skill, and my mana as its original owner caused the guardian to falter momentarily. ["Aaaaagh!"] Its green, flickering eyes flashed red for an instant, then went dark, then turned green again, repeating the cycle. I pressed the Subspace ring against the guardian''s back. ¡¾Subspace¡¿ "Come on!" I continued to pour mana into the ring, waiting for the moment the guardian deactivated. It wouldn''t enter the inventory while active, but I could store it once it was turned off. The inventory ring glowed brightly. Flash. * * * I had Oh Daeho kneeling inside the warehouse temple. "How did you find this place?" "Y-You! Do you know who I am?" "Who are you?" "I work for Mr. Choi Gimin! You don''t know Choi Gimin?" [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 43 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 43 "Choi Gimin?" "Y-Yeah, that''s right. Choi Gimin! Ranked 21st in the Korean Aitel rankings! You know how terrifying he is, right?" Of course, I knew exactly who that bastard was. He was also one of the Regressors who came to kill me. But I had a bad history with him even before that. ¡¾"Choi Gimin¡­ Isn''t he that punk with the dreadlocks and flashy clothes?"¡¿ ¡¾"The one who caused trouble every day and made your life difficult."¡¿ That''s right. Choi Gimin was like a collection of all the negative stereotypes of a Ranker. Assaulting civilians, murder, drugs, sexual assault, organizing criminal groups, gambling, smuggling... Watching that bastard''s actions made me feel like the people who claimed Awakened were monsters were right. It got to the point where, when I was working as the chairman of the Awakened Association, I even briefly considered just going crazy and agreeing to the ''Ranker GPS Mandatory Attachment Law'' created by the Awakened Support Agency. There were countless times when I wanted to just incinerate him with ''Law of Light'' in the middle of Gwanghwamun Square. Considering the public opinion about him at the time, I was confident that even if I burned him to death, I wouldn''t be prosecuted, or even if I was, I''d get a suspended sentence or probation. I didn''t go through with it. Because back then, Cheong Siyeol said¡ª ''I completely agree with the Sun banishing the darkness, but I don''t think it''s a good idea for the ''Chairman'' to set a precedent where they can impose capital punishment-level sanctions on an Awakened.'' Of course, I imposed every sanction the Association could, and I personally beat him up a few times. He never changed. Seeing as I still had this kind of guy under me even after regressing, it seems things were the same in the future. Perhaps thinking my hesitation was fear, Oh Daeho continued excitedly¡ª "Are you starting to understand the situation now? Do you get who''s behind me?" I responded by raising the Fire Dragon Sword. "Raise your hands properly before I make it so you can''t even do that." "...Damn it." The guy whimpered again and raised his left hand. I looked at his right hand, which was missing a bit below the elbow. "You need to raise the other one too." "......!" Oh Daeho looked at me as if to say, "How can there be such a cruel person in the world?" I met his gaze unflinchingly. "I cut it below the elbow so it''d be easier to attach a prosthetic, and you''re not happy about it? If you''re not happy, I can cut off more." "Eek!" He flinched and raised both arms so high his shoulders touched his ears. It was a pleasant sight. I pulled a chair over, crossed my legs, and sat down. "So. Did Choi Gimin tell you to raid this place?" "Uh." "Uh?" "Yes?" "Yeah. Answer me. Did Choi Gimin tell you to raid this place?" He hesitated for a moment before answering. "Do you know where this is?" "Of course I do. It''s Baekya¡¯s warehouse." "You see, after Baekya''s supposed death, all his assets were meant to be returned to society, right?" What nonsense is that when I''m clearly alive and well? "That''s what it said in the will he wrote before every Tower entry. Because of that, Samjeong JY almost lost their mining rights for the 20 floors they were managing. Anyway, that''s not important..." That''s the most important thing. I never wrote any will before entering the Tower. It seems I was out of the loop for a while because I wasn''t watching the news. There must have been something broadcasted about the Hunter industry that I didn''t know about. Whoever it was, someone tried to steal my inheritance, and I''ll have to take care of them as soon as I get back. "Any assets that haven''t been accounted for by the government so far have their ownership released and returned to the original acquirer. Of course, you''ll have to pay miscellaneous income tax, similar to winning the lottery." Oh Daeho looked at me with a disgruntled expression. "That''s... why you''re here too, isn''t it?" I didn''t answer. It wasn''t worth answering. He seemed to mistake me for someone like him, but delusions are his freedom. "Hey, listen to me. As I said, I work under Choi Gimin. He even gave me a Legendary Purification item to sweep this place clean. Of course, it''s not free. It''s on credit. You know how bad his temper is, right? He''ll definitely come looking for me. Not to save my life, but because he hasn''t gotten his money." "...." "You seem young, but it''s not easy to sell things you get from places like this. There''s a reason it''s called the black market, you know? Let me go. I''ll help you properly. If I have a powerful Awakened like you helping me, I can sell everything at its proper price." It seems he was seriously mistaken. He had even switched to casual speech at some point. "Aren''t we comrades in the same line of work? This time it''s not even illegal. We don''t need to fight like this." It was irritating. A thief trying to lecture me. "So put that sword away and let''s talk. A good thing is a good thing, right? Huh? We''re all just trying to make money, aren''t we?" Oh Daeho lowered his hands slightly and grinned cheekily. He naturally tried to get up and approach me. I chuckled. "Not really." "Huh?" I swung the Fire Dragon Sword, aiming for his right hand. Each of his fingers was cleanly sliced off. Slice! Oh Daeho looked down at his right hand with a bewildered expression. "Aaaargh!" His mouse-like scream came a beat later. I got up from the chair and kicked him in the chest. He sprawled on the floor like a frog, spewing curses. sea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Y-Y-You crazy bastard!" "A thief calling someone else a crazy bastard." "You came here to steal too, so why are you acting like this?! I said let''s make money together! So why are you acting like this?! We''re all just trying to make money, aren''t we?" He pointed at me, looking at me as if I were an incomprehensible being. I kindly denied him once more. "I told you, it''s not about the money." "What?" He expressed his confusion through his tear-filled eyes. I reached for the Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief tied around my wrist. "It''s not about making money. It never has been." That''s right. It''s not about making money. I lived for 27 years on Earth, and 15 of those years as an Awakener. During that time, long or short as it may be, there was never a single moment when money was my goal. Oh Daeho writhed on the floor in a fit. His face, smeared with tears and snot, looked pathetic. "Then what the fuck is it?!" "I tried to save people. And in doing so, I hoped to one day see the end of the Tower." All I ever wanted was the stability of this land and the story of the world above the Tower. "This guy is completely insane!? Does he think he''s some kind of High-Ranker!?" "What if I am a High-Ranker?" "Bullshit, stop bullshitting!" "I asked what you''ll do if I am." I untied the handkerchief from my wrist, revealing the halo. Swoosh¡ª The light reflecting off the back of my raised hand changed from white to red. "I''ve seen things you can''t even imagine." Oh Daeho was terrified. "Wh-Wha¡­ What?" "I''ve seen the fall of an empire that lasted ten thousand years, the flames of a dragon burning the sky, and the resilience of people overcoming all those disasters." "What! What¡­ No, no, no." "All those moments almost vanished into nothingness." "This can''t be happening, fuck! This can''t be!" "But I eventually returned, opened my warehouse, and found an insolent thief." He sat there, folding and unfolding his legs like an inchworm, and scurried towards a cabinet. He seemed to be in complete panic. "You said Choi Gimin would come if you died, right?" "Y-Yes. Yes. Yes! He''ll definitely come. Definitely." "Is that so?" I raised the Fire Dragon Sword. The tip of the blade, heated once again, glowed a dazzling orange. "Let''s find out." Slash. * * * Baekya incinerated Oh Daeho''s corpse with Law of Light. Next, he brought the items that had fallen from Oh Daeho''s ''Subspace'' inventory ring into the warehouse. Several severed hands tumbled out. They were a kind of charm that thieves carried. Judging by the common belief that they had to be cut off personally to be effective, their source was obvious. ''I should have killed him more painfully.'' ¡¾"I agree."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation, ''Sunny'', sighs.¡¿ Baekya burned those hands without leaving a trace. He could only hope that their souls had gone to a better place. ''May they rest in peace.'' Overwhelmed by the thought of what else might appear, he quickly organized the items Oh Daeho had packaged to take. After all, those were all his belongings. There was no worry of a human hand suddenly popping out. ¡¾"For a thief, he sure had an eye for expensive things."¡¿ ''Indeed.'' Starting with the ''Desire-Reflecting Mirror'', he gathered high-priced artifacts that could be sold immediately and high-level potions. ''He managed to recognize all of these.'' ¡¾"The guy with the gaudy halo also had good eyes."¡¿ ''If he had a Constellation like Lupin, wouldn''t his emblem have been shaped differently? Or maybe that Constellation had a high-level disguise skill among its abilities.'' [TL/N: Ars¨¨ne Lupin, a fictional gentleman thief and master of disguise created by French writer Maurice Leblanc. He is a popular character in literature and has been adapted into various films and television shows.] ¡¾"That''s an interesting thought, but since it''s a character from popular media that became famous in modern times, it wouldn''t have become a vessel for a god yet."¡¿ Even in this situation, the guy had used wrapping paper with a blocking spell on it. It was irritatingly meticulous, preventing any curses or side effects that might occur from mere contact. Among them was a Heroic-grade artifact that Baekya had thoroughly sealed. ''I''m glad I came.'' ¡¾Mantle of the Demon Marquis (Heroic)¡¿ ¡¾All Stats +550¡¿ ¡¾Special Ability (???)¡¿ ¡¾Even after death, the Demon Marquis craves a blood-boiling battle. Using the Skin of the Demon Marquis allows the Demon Marquis to protect the user and help them continue the thrilling fight.¡¿ ¡¾*Dual-wear Artifact: Can be combined with separate armor, cloak, etc. Can be worn as everyday clothes normally and transforms into armor during combat.¡¿ ''If this had been unsealed, it would have caused chaos.'' At first glance, it looked like a fantastic Heroic-grade artifact. In the case of Legendary or Mythical artifacts, which are higher than Heroic grade, they often function like a set principle, so in many cases, they don''t provide much help in terms of stats themselves. Therefore, this Mantle, which grants +550 to all stats, can be considered one of the most rewarding stat-boosting equipment in the world. It could easily fetch hundreds of billions of won in Korea, and in foreign countries where Tower progress is slow and artifacts are even scarcer, it would practically be priceless, commanding any price the seller desired. However, Baekya had this artifact stashed away in his warehouse. ¡¾"You still haven''t gotten rid of that cursed item?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' forcibly activates the Special Ability (???) using ''Insight''.¡¿ It was because of a line of text that started to appear in the corner of his vision. ¡¾Special Ability: Hellish Battle Continuation¡¿ ¡¾The vengeful spirit of Demon Marquis Sard begins to consume the body.¡¿ ¡¾Forcibly patches up all injuries to recover.¡¿ ¡¾Status Conditions: Consumption, Erosion, Possession, Demonification, Loss of Self, Irremovable...¡¿ Hellish Battle Continuation. Once this armor was worn, one could neither die nor live, becoming a puppet of Demon Marquis Sard. Even if he tried to burn away just that part with Law of Light, it was the core of this armor and couldn''t be easily removed. ¡¾"How about just burning it and absorbing the mana? Didn''t both the Vatican and the Holy Church say it''s impossible to purify it without destroying it?"¡¿ ¡¾"Unless a Legendary Purification Scroll appears on the higher floors of the Tower later, it''s a meaningless artifact for now. And by the time a Legendary Purification Scroll appears, you won''t even look at a Heroic-grade armor, right?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' suggests.¡¿ ''Yes. You''re absolutely right.'' Baekya nodded. ''This armor is a double-edged sword.'' It was too valuable to throw away, but too dangerous to use, leaving him in a dilemma. For now, he discreetly placed it back inside the cabinet. It was his habit to keep things he was unsure about discarding. ¡¾"Didn''t you just agree with me? Just get rid of it. There''s no way a Legendary Purification Scroll will suddenly drop from somewhere, right?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' taps her chest.¡¿ Baekya looked away as if trying to ignore the voice ringing in his ears. Just then, something sparkled and shone from within the pile of luggage Oh Daeho had been carrying. ''Huh?'' He reached out and pulled it out. It was a luxurious parchment scroll with gold lettering. Whoosh! A brilliant light flowed out on its own. ¡¾%#Purification Scroll (Legendary)@)&¡¿ It seemed like something was wrong, but it was definitely a Legendary Purification Scroll. The voice of his Constellation, tinged with disbelief, echoed in Baekya''s mind. ¡¾"There''s no way that would appear already?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' can''t believe her eyes.¡¿ "Is it uncertain even for you, Constellation?" ¡¾"If I knew everything, I would have stopped you from taking Cheong Siyeol as a disciple."¡¿ After some thought, Baekya said¡ª "I have a guess." ¡¾"What is it?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' is genuinely curious about your guess.¡¿ "Earlier, Oh Daeho said he received something from Choi Gimin. Could it be that Choi Gimin brought it from the future? Even if everything disappeared when he traveled back in time, maybe a few things remained?" In fact, there was a way to avoid tracking magic by putting something inside an inventory artifact, inside another inventory artifact, and so on. Even the Aitel system has its loopholes. It wouldn''t be strange if Choi Gimin, whether by luck or skill, brought back one or two things from the future. ¡¾"That''s an interesting theory. It makes sense."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' gifts you 1 point each in Health, Agility, and Strength stats for your wise deduction.¡¿ "Thank you." Baekya didn''t ask how those three stats were related to wisdom. Because that in itself was wisdom. "I''ll try using it." He picked up the scroll with the broken text and held it up to the ''Mantle of the Demon Marquis''. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 44 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 44 Dawn. I returned home and stared at my status window for a long time. + ¡¾Status Window 1. Name: Hong Baekya 2. Class: Pyromancer (A-) 3. Titles: Sun of Humanity, Bringer of Dawn, Master of Fire, First and Greatest Climber... 4. Regional Server: South Korea 5. Ascension Level: 7th Rank: Angelus/Angel 6. Skills: Satellization (S+) Dragon''s Breath (S+) Law of Light (EX) Radiant Sword (S+) Radiation Beam (S+) Resonance Wave (S+) Wave of Fire (S+) Accretion Disk (S+) Elementalization (S+) Sunrise (S+) Veil of Extreme Light (S+)... 7. Stats: [Strength 500] [Agility 520] [Health 550] [Mana 750] 8. Condition: Overload (98% recovered)¡¿ + The damage from the descent had almost completely healed. Considering the upgraded armor I would be wearing, I was now at a level where I could start climbing the Tower again. Just by ascending one floor, I could expect an S-Rank recovery, and I was confident I could get at least an A+. If I climbed a couple of floors, I would be able to regain the stats of a world-class High-Ranker. Of course, this was both an opportunity and a crisis. The moment I enter the top 300 in the rankings, people will have a way to know I exist. If I enter the top 100, it will start to be displayed on the walls of the Tower. The whole world will know about my return. Including the Regressors who killed me. From the top 100 rankings, it was really difficult to climb even a step or two. It wasn''t just about stats; all sorts of bizarre titles, traits, and classes appeared. The ''Ascension Level'', which signifies the connection with a Constellation, also becomes incredibly important. Cheong Siyeol, Na Jeongwon, and Lee Eunwoo are all High-Rankers in the top 10. They have grown to the highest levels in every possible area. Fighting them while climbing the Tower will not be easy. Of course, I had no intention of giving up. Nothing has ever been easy. I admit that I became strong without much effort compared to other Hunters, thanks to being chosen by Sunny. But I never used that power for my own safety or comfort. What I want, now and always, is just one thing. The 100th floor of the Tower. No one has said it, but everyone knows. There, a sea of stars stretches above and below. Those who reach there are freed from the cycle of reincarnation and the laws of all things. I will definitely reach there. To do that... Creak. Lost in thought, I heard the sound of a door opening from the living room. Looking out the window, I saw that dawn had passed and morning had arrived. It was time for Wolha to wake up and start studying. Perfect timing. I went out to the living room and asked¡ª "Wolha." "You were already up?" "Want to go out and have some fun today? I heard the new movie is good." "I need to keep up with my studies..." Wolha trailed off. But I saw the smile that appeared on his lips. After a long time, the two of us went out to downtown Seoul. We watched a movie. We ate delicious food. We bought nice clothes. "No. You''re buying another expensive outfit?" "Hey, I got a job now. Just wear it." "I''m studying for the civil service exam! I''ll never have a chance to wear a suit." "Think of it as a pre-celebration for passing." "Celebrate when I actually pass. Don''t count your chickens before they hatch." "If you pass, I''ll buy you a watch then. A car would be nice too." "Sure, buy me everything if I pass. If I pass." Wolha still nagged like the head of the household. But it wasn''t as severe as before. He was no longer the young boy who had to take care of his sick and delusional older brother. His neatly tied bobbed hair shone, and his delicate face was filled with the vitality of someone who turns luck into happiness. "You''re nagging less?" "You won''t listen anyway!" "That''s right! You''re finally starting to understand me." He looked like any other well-loved, decent young adult starting their career. He glanced at me and mumbled softly. "...Thank you." He thought he hid it well, but he couldn''t fool the ears of an A-Rank Awakened. "What was that? Can you say that again?" "Huh? I didn''t say anything?" He played dumb. With a rather sly smile. That''s when I knew. It was time to end this game. It was time to return to my rightful place. His civil service exam was coming up soon. Once his exam was over, I would challenge the Tower. And then I would come back and reveal everything. The moment I thought that... My Constellation''s shout erupted in my mind. ¡¾"Run!"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' yells at the top of their lungs.¡¿ "Excuse me?" ¡¾"Grab that fake brother of yours and run. Now!"¡¿ An Aitel notification popped up in my vision. ¡¾Warning! Warning! Warning!¡¿ ¡¾Aitel Special Alert: Rank 1 Gate Outbreak!¡¿ ¡¾Seoul 37.50..., 127.00...¡¿ ¡¾Finale Story: The Fallen Demon Commander''s Charge¡¿ At 1:48 PM, a Rank 1 Gate Outbreak occurred. * * * The Regressors'' secret chat room was in an uproar. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Joo Suhyeok: How the hell did this happen?] [Joo Suhyeok: None of our calculations predicted this outcome.] [Joo Suhyeok: It was definitely a Rank 2. Definitely.] [Cheong Siyeol: I don''t understand why this became a Rank 1 Gate.] [Joo Suhyeok: What''s the difference?] [Lee Eunwoo: Weren''t we supposed to have cleared up to the 51st floor by now?] [Lee Eunwoo: The month we killed Baekya this time, we cleared the 50th floor, and we were just about to enter the 51st. It''s possible this is related to the Tower''s Epilogue Story.] [Lee Eunwoo: Or it could be a matter of probability. The more high-ranking Awakened there are, the lower the chance of a Rank 1 Gate outbreak. When Baekya was around, the probability was so low that Rank 1 Gates almost never appeared. Now, it might have increased.] [Lee Baejeong: Enough with the praise and worship.] [Lee Baejeong: Blue House has declared a national emergency and re-imposed martial law.] [Lee Baejeong: A mobilization order has been issued according to the special law, so everyone, get your asses over here.] [Lee Baejeong: Let''s communicate on the official Ranker channel, not this chat room. Everyone, move over there.] The Gate Management Department was also in chaos. "Mobilize all agents! Tell the Awakened Support Agency to cooperate!" "Which guilds have we contacted?" "Are there any S-Ranks who have left the country? There aren''t, right?" "We''ve contacted Cheong Siyeol of the Azure Sky Sword Sect. He and his guild members happened to be near the area!" "We''ve also contacted Lee Eunwoo of the Iron Blood Legion. He and his guild members happened to be near the area too!" "What?" "They''re saying the same thing! Quickly summon the Magic Tower, the Holy Church, the Murim Alliance, and all the major corporate guilds!" "Everyone, get a grip. This is not a drill. If we can''t stop this, we''ll be bankrupt overnight, no... we won''t even have anything left to be bankrupt with." Even 15 years after the advent of Aitel, a Rank 1 Gate outbreak remained an existential threat to the nation. It wasn''t about the economy collapsing or anything like that; it was a matter of physical existence. So far, South Korea has been quite successful in defending against Rank 1 Gates. Because Baekya had vaporized all the monsters. But the beacon that once banished the darkness had been extinguished. Now, it was time to light their own way. * * * ¡¾Absorption in progress...¡¿ Rumble. Rumble. Rumble! A black, hemispherical force field rapidly expanded. Seoul''s towering skyscrapers that pierced the sky and the countless people filling the streets were instantly swallowed into the force field. "Kyaaaah!" "Run!" "Mom, Mom!" Koreans usually reacted calmly to most Gates. This was because the response time of Hunters was the fastest in the world, the survival rate of non-Awakened caught in Gates was the highest, and safety education was well-implemented. But Rank 1 Gates were different. Rank 1 Gates were akin to large-scale natural disasters like meteorite impacts or the eruption of Mount Baekdu. At the point where destruction became visible, all the safety education they had received became meaningless. Even the arrogant Awakened were screaming and running for their lives. C-Rank Awakeneds pushed people aside as they ran, while F-Rank, E-Rank, and D-Rank Awakened couldn''t even move. It wasn''t because they were more conscientious or stupid than C-Rank Awakened. They were completely overwhelmed by the mana of the Rank 1 Gate and couldn''t even bring themselves to move. "Hyung!" Wolha grabbing Baekya''s wrist¡ª "Run!" It was an act of sheer desperation, a plea born from a love that transcended reason. But Baekya, with a touch both tender and resolute, gently pushed his hand away. "Are you crazy?!" Wolha thought he had lost his mind. He raised his hand and slapped Baekya''s cheek. Slap! "Run! We have to run! Please!" "Too many people have been sucked in. I have to go..." "Why are you going there?!" "The people..." The people? What about the people? Wolha clenched his fists and shouted¡ª "Since when did you start caring about people?! You never cared about yourself or me!" People were running from all directions towards the opposite side of the Gate. The roads became a tangled mess of abandoned vehicles, their drivers having joined the panicked exodus on foot. In the midst of the chaos, Wolha stopped and shouted¡ª "We were finally starting to live a good life! We finally had a future! Why is this happening?!" "...." Baekya couldn''t answer. That wasn''t something he could do. He could only urgently push Wolha towards the entrance of a building, blocking a car that was rushing towards them. "I''m sorry." Crash! The oncoming car slammed into Baekya. But the car''s bumper didn''t hit Baekya''s legs and sent him flying. Because Baekya had reached out with one hand and pressed down on the car''s bumper. Crack! The bumper crumpled under his palm, the front wheels dug into the sidewalk, and the car screeched to a halt. People who had been crouching down looked at Baekya with surprised expressions before running away. Wolha felt the gap between him and his brother. "We had a good time today. Please, let''s just go home." His voice was mixed with tears. Baekya nodded readily. "Yeah. We had a good time today." If it had been a Rank 3 or even a Rank 2 Gate, he might have just run away with Wolha. ''Let''s see how well you guys do after killing me.'' But this was a Rank 1 Gate. A Rank 1 Gate that even he, at his peak, had to be wary of, that he had to fight with all his might and every means available. He was right not to trust his disciples. That was the normal thing to do. Anyone who said they could definitely win against a Rank 1 Gate needed to be beaten back to their senses. 1:53 PM, absorption process complete. ¡¾Absorption Complete¡¿ ¡¾Time until Release: 00 days 00 hours 09 minutes¡¿ A black hemisphere, spanning 1 km, had swallowed countless people in the heart of Seoul. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump¡ª! A helicopter squadron flew in from one side of the sky. They bore the emblems of the Azure Sky Sword Sect and the Gate Management Department. The propellers of the low-flying helicopters created a strong wind. Baekya stood under that wind and smiled serenely. Even as the turbulent wind ruffled his hair and clothes, the halo above his head continued to shine in place. ''I gave him the Aesthetics of Reversal, so he should be able to get back alive.'' "Stay inside. I''ll definitely come back." He turned his back on Wolha without a second glance. Amidst the screams of everyone trying to get as far away from the Gate as possible, he alone went against the flow. Wolha reached out towards his back. His hand, trying to grasp at the air, eventually fell. "...Hyung." Baekya continued forward without looking back. ''Mantle of the Demon Marquis, activate.'' He focused his thoughts and poured mana into the armor. The white shirt he was wearing under his suit jacket wriggled as if it were alive. The white shirt sprouted red tissue. It had a strange texture, somewhere between biological tissue and a metal framework. In no time, Baekya''s body was completely encased in a sturdy plate armor. It was neither Eastern nor Western in style, a white armor adorned with red accents. It was an artifact created by combining the ''Haneol Bladesmith''s Armor'' with the ''Mantle of the Demon Marquis''. ¡¾Mantle of the Demon Marquis (Heroic)¡¿ ¡¾''All Stats +550'' is being activated.¡¿ His new armor. He opened his inventory and pulled out the ''Fire Dragon Sword''. He took a step into the Gate. ¡¾Would you like to enter ''Finale Story: The Fallen Demon Commander''s Charge''?¡¿ ¡¾Y / N¡¿ When he opened his eyes, he saw¡ª A crimson sky and a scorched black earth. And a demon charging towards him. ¡¾''Mid-Rank Demon, Blazing Beheader (B-)'' shows strong hostility towards you.¡¿ ["Kaaaaaaaak!"] The demon had a lean, muscular body and red skin. A pair of black horns sprouted from its head, and it held a flaming longsword in its hand. Baekya swung the Fire Dragon Sword, glowing orange, deflecting the demon''s sword and striking its neck. Slice! The demon''s head flew into the air. The sword was imbued with the mana of Law of Light, so the dead demon''s body slowly burned, its mana being absorbed. His Constellation laughed in his mind. ¡¾"I knew you wouldn''t listen even if I told you not to go in, so I didn''t even bother saying it."¡¿ ¡¾"Demonic mana is highly pure, so let''s absorb it to our heart''s content."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' bursts into a carefree laughter.¡¿ But Baekya couldn''t hear even the voice of his revered Constellation. ''Ah.'' His grip on the longsword weakened. His heart pounded uncontrollably. His gaze was fixed on the figure before him. "Which guild are you from?" A multitude of blue halos, resembling swords, shone above his head. "Please answer me." The real Cheong Siyeol stood before him. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 45 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 45 Thump. Thump. My heart pounded. My lips were dry. I wanted to say something, but I didn''t know what to say. He looked a bit haggard after not seeing him for so long. "...." The blue halo above his head still shone brilliantly, and his wavy hair still had its luster, but his cheeks were hollow, as if he hadn''t eaten in a while. Strangely, I felt a bit happy. At the same time, I felt a slight tightening in my chest. I wanted him to be a little more haggard, yet I also wanted him to be well-fed and healthy. It was a contradictory and conflicting feeling. I didn''t know why. Actually, I did. But I couldn''t express it in clear words. He asked urgently¡ª "Which guild are you from?!" I came to my senses and answered. This was a Rank 1 Gate, after all. Even if he was the enemy who killed me, it was time to put aside personal feelings for now. Though I wasn''t sure if he would do the same. "Ah...! I''m not affiliated with any guild. I was in the vicinity and responded to the summons immediately." Contrary to my worries, he didn''t seem to recognize me at all. High-Ranking Awakened could recognize each other by their halos and mana signatures. But with my halo and mana signature concealed, it would be absurd if he recognized me now. It would mean he was relaxed enough to pay attention to faces in this situation. That fact strangely hurt my feelings. "Please state your specialty." "Psychic." "Alright. Go to the flank and provide support." I objected. "Can''t you send me to the front lines? This is an artifact armor. I can withstand it." It wasn''t because I was planning to stab Cheong Siyeol in the back, but because I was genuinely worried about the country. This was a Rank 1 Gate. Most Hunters wouldn''t last a few minutes. They definitely needed me. "I know." Cheong Siyeol gave a reply filled with the charisma of a guild master. "But the Azure Sky Sword Sect is currently preparing the Harmonious Sword Formation at the front lines. If someone who isn''t coordinated joins, it will only hinder us. Please go to the flank." I pretended to understand and moved towards the flank of the formation. There must have been a small skirmish at the start because dozens of demon corpses were already scattered around. Cheong Siyeol went to other Hunters who had just entered the Gate, asking about their positions and incorporating them into his command structure. "...." I unclenched my left fist, which I had been tightly gripping since earlier. My hand was drenched in sweat. As I moved to the flank, I checked the surrounding terrain and situation. The sky inside this Gate was red and high, the ground black and low. A single mountain rising in the distance was the only visible undulation in the vicinity. Behind him, ordinary people were gathered. As the Gate had opened in the middle of Seoul, the number of people sucked in was in the tens of thousands. Naturally, it was far more than the number of Awakened gathered now. The Awakened from the Gate Management Department were keeping them waiting right in front of the Gate''s entrance and exit. "This Gate will open in 10 minutes! Everyone, please remain calm!" "You can return in just 10 minutes. Please line up in an orderly fashion so you can enter!" Controlling a crowd of tens of thousands with only a dozen or so people was a battle in itself. Fortunately, thanks to the safety education that had been implemented so far and the high level of civic awareness, it was being managed somehow. It was rewarding to have insisted on nationwide safety education when I was the chairman of the Awakened Association, grabbing the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health and Welfare and shouting at them. The terrain was slightly valley-shaped, with the left and right sides higher and the center lower. It was a very minor advantage, but it was still a hundred times better than nothing. Dozens of Azure Sky Sword Sect Hunters stood at the front, and the flanks were mixed with Awakened Support Agency Hunters and Hunters like me who had rushed over. Hunters were still entering through the entrance every moment, and their numbers weren''t small. I looked at the notification window in the corner of my vision. ¡¾Time until Release: 00 days 00 hours 05 minutes 01 seconds¡¿ The moment that number dropped to 4 minutes and 59 seconds. ¡¾Warning! Warning! Warning!¡¿ ¡¾The Fallen Demon Commander''s army reveals itself.¡¿ A sunset glow appeared beyond the horizon. Fwoosh. Fwoosh! Countless flames ignited on the black earth. The Gunner-type Hunters with good eyesight gasped first. "No way." "There are too many of them." "How can we stop that?" They were demons similar in form to the ones I had killed as soon as I entered. Demons with humanoid shapes, red skin, curved horns, reverse-jointed legs, and flaming longswords. They were swarming. Painting the black earth with a crimson hue. Their numbers were beyond counting. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud¡ª The horrifying sound of their footsteps echoed for kilometers, reaching even here. It was a sound that made you want to drop your weapon and run just by hearing it. Hunters who seemed to be Mages muttered beside me. "How many are there?" "Maybe a hundred thousand?" "It can''t be more than a million, right?" "...." I couldn''t respond to their hopes. Excluding insect-type monsters like ants or flies, the largest army I had ever seen at once was five million strong. Five million. 5,000,000. Before I awakened, there was a time when Gwanghwamun Square was filled with a sea of candlelight. The police estimated the maximum number of people at that moment to be about 320,000. An eight-lane, ten-lane highway filled to the brim and stretching far beyond, that was 320,000. I had personally witnessed an army nearly twenty times that size on the move. And the demons swarming now. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. The demons marching forward with their horrifying footsteps. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Those demons completely covering one end of the horizon to the other. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. They were definitely more, not less, than the five million army I had seen back then. At that scale, it wasn''t a matter of numbers, but of area. They would decimate all enemies just by moving, without the need for strategy or tactics. It was a number that made even me, who had traveled countless other worlds while climbing the Tower, doubt my own eyes. Many of the Hunters around me had already lost their fighting spirit. "...The country''s doomed." "Is this for real?" "I''m going home. It''s all over. I should at least kiss my wife one more time before I die." "Unauthorized departure is a serious crime! Maintain your positions!" "Who''s going to punish us if the country''s doomed? Fuck!" "How are we supposed to stop that without Baekya?" "Is it really the end? Is the country really going to fall like this?" Some people even tried to leave the Gate and got into fights with the government Awakened. Even among those government Awakened, many seemed to have lost their spirit. I didn''t want to blame them. I was close to succumbing to despair myself, so how could I expect them to be any different? It was perfectly normal for ordinary people to lose their minds in front of an enemy whose numbers they couldn''t even comprehend. But¡­ We didn''t want to be ordinary people. There was a reason Aitel placed halos above our heads. Awakened didn''t challenge the Tower just because they loved the other worlds. Ordinary people didn''t tolerate the Awakened'' misdeeds because they were fools. ["All Awakened!"] Cheong Siyeol shouted, looking up at the crimson sky. His skill-amplified voice boomed across the area. ["We have been chosen by the Aitel system and the Constellations."] He drew his blue sword and pointed it forward. ["Let''s show those demons."] A blue sword aura blazed, as if pushing back the red sky. ["The power of the chosen ones!"] The Awakened on the front lines started to raise their heads one by one. "...." Even the Awakened who were pushing through the crowd towards the exit slowly turned back. Ranked 3rd in South Korea. ''Sword Saint'' Cheong Siyeol shouted. ["Raise your heads. Straighten your backs. Behind us lies our homeland, your home, your lover, and the sports car you bought on full installment!"] Faint laughter erupted here and there. ["Let''s not give them anything."] The Awakened raised their weapons. ["They have no right to take away our happiness."] Mana sparks flew here and there. I recalled the time when I sat Cheong Siyeol down and taught him how to give speeches. "Ha." I couldn''t help but chuckle. To prevent Awakeners from abandoning their posts during emergencies, we had countless discussions with psychologists. The core of their conclusion was this. Make them aware of their specialness. Let them know what they have to lose. They said it was the best way to get Awakeners, who were soaked in a sense of privilege, to voluntarily step up. I went along with it because the experts said so, but seeing their changing expressions always made me wonder. Doesn''t everyone, Awakener or not, become stronger when they have something to protect? My Constellation spoke to me. ¡¾"Stop with the strange thoughts. If it seems like you''re going to die in battle, run back to the Tower. I don''t want to see your ending yet."¡¿ ¡¾"Though I doubt it would come to that, if you die here fighting to protect these people, I''ll grab your soul and make sure you don''t go to hell."¡¿ "Why are you so sure I''m going to hell?" ¡¾"I like you, but even you have to admit you''re not exactly heaven-bound, are you?"¡¿ What do you mean by that? I''m the one who threaded the camel through the needle''s eye. I didn''t bother pointing out my Constellation''s prejudice. Instead, I focused on activating various traits and titles. ¡¾Titles: Sun of Humanity, The First and Greatest Climber, Destroyer of Gates... are being activated.¡¿ ¡¾Traits: Demon Slayer, Hot Blood, Embodiment of Fire, Light of Destruction, Radiant Laughter... are being activated.¡¿ My four basic stats, and the invisible stats derived from those four, amplified in various ways. Then, an unexpected bonus came in. ¡¾Due to the effect of the ''Title: Embodiment of Fire'', 10% of your mana will recover every 10 seconds.¡¿ ¡¾Due to the effect of the ''Title: Embodiment of Fire'', your Mana stat will continuously grow while you remain inside this Gate.¡¿ Huh? What''s this? ¡¾"So this setup is finally paying off."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' lets out a hearty laugh.¡¿ What is it? Please enlighten me too. ¡¾.......¡¿ But my Constellation remained silent. It wasn''t really a situation to focus on conversation anyway. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. The demon army had already approached to about 1 km ahead. The approaching red legion looked like fire set to a black canvas. At the same time, the ''waiting for release'' ended. A notification window popped up from behind. ¡¾Time until Release: 00 days 00 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds¡¿ ¡¾The Gate is opening.¡¿ ¡¾*Monsters inside can now exit the Gate.¡¿ "Exit calmly!" "Make way on the right! Other Hunters need to come in!" Tens of thousands of civilians began to exit in order. Their faces and the faces of the Hunters watching them were overflowing with relief, but the faces of me, Cheong Siyeol, and a few other commander-level Hunters were grim. It meant those demons could now leave too. If we were breached, those demons would appear in the middle of Seoul. Ah. Gates are such a pain in the ass. I wish there were more S-Rank Hunters in Korea soon. Wouldn''t it be great if we had more Hunters like Baekya reaching S-Rank? * * * ''Why did a Rank 1 Gate break out? Why?!'' Lee Eunwoo flew across the Seoul sky in the Iron Blood Legion''s helicopter. It seemed like every helicopter in Korea was out, filling the heart of Seoul with the sound of propellers. A radio transmission just came in through her headset. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Ilha has entered the Gate.'' It was a message from the snipers assigned to Baekya and Wolha. Lee Eunwoo let out a vulgar curse that didn''t match his noble-like face. Although Baekya had become much stronger, he wasn''t yet at a level where he could be active in a Rank 1 Gate. Moreover, Cheong Siyeol was currently there. Secretary Kim radioed in. [Master, what should we do with our Hunters?] Lee Eunwoo pondered. Originally, they had expected a Rank 2 Gate to break out, so they had brought Hunters suitable for a Rank 2 raid. ''If we go in like this... there could be more casualties.'' It was a basic principle that the higher the Gate rank, the smaller and more elite the team should be. ''I told them so many times to keep Baekya alive!'' For a moment, he felt a surge of emotion, his vision turning red. ''If only the smart ones would listen. Those ignorant brutes who only know how to fight and that sly bastard with shifty eyes have ruined everything.'' Lee Eunwoo let out a deep sigh. Baekya was already inside. "We''re going in." He had to go, if only to prevent Cheong Siyeol from recognizing Baekya and snapping his neck like a beer bottle cap. He hated the darkness that Lee Baejeong spoke of. He yearned for a world bathed in the perpetual light of dawn. 2:10 PM, Lee Eunwoo joins the battle. * * * ¡¾Incineration Ray¡¿ Baekya just incinerated a monster with a beam and thought¡ª ''That bastard has come to kill me for real this time.'' [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 46 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 46 Slash! Baekya swung the Fire Dragon Sword, beheading a low-rank demon. Bzzt! He fired an Incineration Ray, bringing down a mid-rank demon that was flying through the air. ''There''s no end to them.'' The Hunters fought valiantly. At the center of the front line, Cheong Siyeol and the Azure Sky Sword Sect unleashed streams of blue sword aura and sword energy. "Azure Sky Swords!" The 25 of them moved as one, showcasing a skill where one was like 25, and 25 were like one. No demon could withstand their consecutive sword strikes more than three times. The flanks were also holding strong. They concentrated their firepower on strategic points and used their abilities to shape the battlefield. Mages, Earth Manipulators, and Cryomancers raised walls to restrict the demons'' path. Lightning, magic bullets, and fireballs rained down on the kill zones they created. The Gate Management Department Hunters managed to evacuate tens of thousands of civilians back to Seoul before the demons could break through. The Awakened Support Agency Hunters supported the guild Hunters by distributing potions and casting blessing spells. However¡­ All that passion, duty, conviction, and resolve. Lost all meaning in the face of overwhelming numbers. "---, ---!" For every one they killed, a hundred more demons swarmed in. For every hundred they killed, a thousand more came. The black plain had long been stained with the light of burning longswords. The Azure Sky Sword Sect at the front lines started to slow down. "Leader." "The B-Ranks are at their limit. Only we will remain." Their white and blue uniforms were dyed the same crimson as the sky. Baekya, who had been fighting on the left flank, was now running back and forth to the right flank, putting out fires wherever they flared up like a firefighter. ¡¾Incineration Ray¡¿ ¡¾Wave of Fire¡¿ ¡¾Resonance Wave¡¿ ¡¾Radiant Sword¡¿ ¡¾Flame Arrows¡¿ ''Mana...'' 10% recovery every 10 seconds. Payback from Law of Light. The Constellation bears 25% of the mana cost. Even considering all that, it was reaching its limit. The ground was still stained red, the original black color only groaning beneath. A demon with wings took flight from afar. It was four times larger than the other demons. ¡¾Warning! Warning! Warning!¡¿ ¡¾High-rank Demon ''Bloodlust Demon (A)'' has appeared.¡¿ ["---, ---!"] Cheong Siyeol gritted his teeth and pointed his sword at the demon. He had to bring it down with a single External Qi blast. It wasn''t that he lacked mana. He was the greatest masterpiece among the disciples forged by the light of ''Sword Saint'' Cheong Siyeol and ''Sun of Humanity'' Baekya. When he climbed the Tower with Baekya, there were times when they fought for an entire week. So the reason his sword tip wavered was... "...." ''How many days will it take?'' Even if they fought for another week, he didn''t think they could kill all these demons. But he hadn''t learned to give up. ¡¾Azure Sky Sword Technique: External Qi Manifestation¡¿ Fwoosh¡ª! He unleashed a blue crescent moon from his longsword, striking down the high-rank demon. ¡¾Warning! Warning! Warning!¡¿ ¡¾Two High-rank Demons ''Bloodlust Demon (A)'' have appeared.¡¿ Two filled the spot where one had fallen, but... ''One more time.'' The cold flames burning in his blue eyes didn''t die out. His idol, his hero, his sun never lowered his head even in situations a hundred, a thousand times more bleak than this. He never dared to think he could replace him. He just wanted to live as a disciple and comrade who wouldn''t be ashamed until the very end. What stopped him from unleashing another External Qi Manifestation was... The cold voice that came from behind him. ["Oh, God of Machines."] ¡¾Deus Ex Machina¡¿ Fwoosh¡ª! The illusion of a jet-black, elongated steel giant loomed over everyone''s heads. The steel giant''s gun barrel spewed fire, and a white magic bullet tore through the wind. Whoosh! The white magic bullet split into two like twin comets in front of the two monsters. Bam! It silenced both high-rank demons simultaneously. "I''m late." ''Mr. Pistol'' Lee Eunwoo joined the fray, leading the Iron Blood Legion Hunters. His stylishly parted dark brown hair and red and blue earrings fluttered in the hot wind. Hundreds of Iron Blood Legion Hunters marched in behind him. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Clad in cyberpunk-style heavy armor and wielding gleaming metal guns, the Iron Blood Legion Hunters resembled an army. "To your positions." Lee Eunwoo, standing next to Cheong Siyeol, gestured elegantly. The Iron Blood Legion Hunters deployed behind the left and right flanks. The Iron Blood Legion had suffered a major setback at the ''Ghost Princess''s Castle'' in the past. To explain, at that time, the Hunter industry had come to a standstill, and the supply of various consumables was not smooth. Lee Eunwoo, in his own way, had planned to use that Gate to eliminate an executive and his subordinates who suspected him of killing Baekya. Now, the situation was completely different. Consumables were fully stocked. Lee Eunwoo intended to do everything in his power to keep Baekya alive. He proved with results that his earlier explanation was not an excuse but a clarification. ["Fire."] Mana-infused bullets, loaded and blessed with the Holy Church''s scrolls, were fired from the guns. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! A single bullet pierced through the heads of 30 demons before finally stopping after embedding itself in the skull of the 31st. ¡¾Warning! Warning! Warning!¡¿ ¡¾High-rank Demon ''Myriad Horrors (A+)'' has appeared.¡¿ A massive entity, its height reaching nearly ten stories of an apartment building, rose amidst the demons. "Thanks for making yourself an easy target." Lee Eunwoo summoned ''Deus Ex Machina'' once more. Bam! The high-rank demon, not even a minute after rising, was silenced, crushing its own allies under its weight. A slight respite opened up on the front lines. Cheong Siyeol sent his disciples to the rear in turns for healing and blessings. "Group 1, retreat." Lee Eunwoo twirled his magic gun, transformed into a revolver, and surveyed the battlefield. He had to find Baekya before Cheong Siyeol did. ''Where is he?'' But Baekya seemed to be deliberately hiding, nowhere to be found. Boom. Boom! With fireballs and beams flying everywhere, he couldn''t even use his abilities to locate him. Just then, an Aitel notification drew Lee Eunwoo''s attention to the front. ¡¾Mid-Rank Demon Flame Ripper (B+) has appeared.¡¿ A massive hyena-shaped monster, clad in thick brass armor, was leaping towards him. An elite demon, wielding a flaming longsword in one hand, sat atop the monster''s back. The distance between them was a few dozen steps. In a battle between an Awakened and a monster, this was practically point-blank range. ''This is troublesome.'' Lee Eunwoo suppressed a wry smile with cold rationality. His magic gun was currently in revolver form. He could definitely kill one of them. But he could only kill one. If he killed the rider, the monster would maul him; if he killed the monster, the rider would swing his flaming sword. Lee Eunwoo didn''t hesitate for long. He aimed at the monster, prepared to be slashed by the flaming sword. But he didn''t even need to pull the trigger. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Whoosh! A flaming arrow flew from between the front lines. Its trajectory, flying from behind him, past him, and towards the front, felt strangely familiar. Boom! ''Descent from the Crimson Flames'' exploded cleanly. An Awakened in white and red armor emerged from the flames. He swung his elegantly curved longsword, piercing the monster''s eye. Stab! ["How dare you!"] The Blazing Crusher swung its flaming sword, aiming to inflict a fatal wound on the Awakened. Clang! But it couldn''t even scratch the armor. Lee Eunwoo used ''Appraisal'' to identify the armor, and... ¡¾Mantle of the Demon Marquis (Heroic)¡¿ ''What the hell is he wearing?!'' Lee Eunwoo was silently shocked. Baekya, with the ''Fire Dragon Sword'' still piercing through the monster''s eye, extended his left hand. ''Hellfire'' blazed fiercely in his hand. Sizzle! He grabbed the rider''s face and burned it. "Kyaaaah!" The demon screamed and melted away. The hazy mana was absorbed into Baekya. Thump! The monster knelt on the ground. Baekya pulled out his longsword and gracefully leaped backward, landing next to Lee Eunwoo. The Awakened fighting on the flanks cheered. "Nice!" "That was awesome!" "Amazing!" Lee Eunwoo felt a volcano-like heat, on the verge of eruption, churning within his chest. "...If you were going to do that, why not just take off the handkerchief, reveal your halo, and use Law of Light?" Baekya looked back at him with an expression full of the confidence of a strong man. "Even after regressing, you''re still not honest? At times like this, you just say thank you." Seeing that sly smile made him want to pull the trigger right at Baekya''s face. Lee Eunwoo suppressed that urge with superhuman rationality and asked¡ª "Just one question." "What is it? I''ll answer." "Is this... something you orchestrated?" "What kind of nonsense is that?" The demons here were of the Flame Realm. Before the regression, it was a Rank 2 Gate, and the scale was much smaller. Considering that he had cleared it with Baekya back then, it might be an irrational suspicion. But having witnessed the end of the world, he couldn''t help but ask. Baekya frowned deeply and fired an Incineration Ray towards the front. Bzzt! The hyena monster that was charging fell, and its rider tumbled to the ground. He answered as if preaching an eternal truth. "I am Baekya. The Sun of Humanity. I would rather let the world betray me than betray the world myself." Lee Eunwoo stood mesmerized, listening to his answer. The red light of the sky was reflected deeply in Baekya''s eyes and the white halo above his head. "And I will not betray myself either." Under the burning sky, on the scorched earth. The Hunter, also known as the Master of Fire, stood tall like a God of this world. Lee Eunwoo let out a sigh and pulled the trigger. Bang! A demon aiming at Baekya with a hand cannon fell. "See, it was definitely more efficient to keep you alive." Baekya shrugged confidently. He took down three demons approaching Lee Eunwoo with two sword strikes. "Of course. Is that even a question?" "Don''t try to be clever in the future. Not before I decide it''s more efficient to kill you." "You talk about killing people so easily... Well, I guess." He channeled his mana to use Radiant Sword. The sword raised beside his face glowed orange, and Baekya''s eyes were reflected on its surface. They were eyes filled with pure focus, completely immersed in the moment. "That''s why I took you as my disciple." Lee Eunwoo''s sky-blue eyes shook violently. There were moments, both then and now, when he simply couldn''t figure Baekya out. ''Just what are you...'' He shook off his thoughts and transformed his pistol into a shotgun. This place required cold rationality, not lingering thoughts. * * * Wolha stood still at the entrance of the building where Baekya had left. People who came out of the Gate fled to one side under the guidance of the Gate Management Department Hunters. The sky was bustling with helicopters sent from various guilds. It was filled with noise. "Come out this way!" "Dad! Dad!" "Treat the injured on-site! The sky is congested with helicopters right now!" "We''ve requested Healers." "Why aren''t more Rankers coming!?" But Wolha couldn''t feel the unique energy of Rankers, that suffocating and inhuman mana. ''They''re not here.'' He vaguely knew that the Korean Hunter industry had been acting strangely since Baekya''s death. He didn''t even bother asking, knowing he wouldn''t get an answer, but Ilha and Ryu Haneul had mentioned that they were working on something related to Baekya. An F-Rank like him had no access to any information. But one thing was for sure, Ilha was inside that Gate right now. And only two High-Rankers had entered. He didn''t know exactly how powerful a Rank 1 Gate was. But even Baekya had said that he couldn''t easily clear a Rank 1 Gate. Wolha turned on his smartphone. [Ryu Haneul] "...." He was a strangely uncomfortable person. He knew, intellectually, that Ryu Haneul was a very helpful person. Thanks to him, Wolha could focus solely on his studies while living in a nice house and eating delicious food. He was also helping his brother, who had signed the Black Hole Contract, in every way possible. Perhaps it was an unfair prejudice born from his Heavenly Demon class. But whenever Ryu Haneul visited their old house or the current official residence, the way he looked at him... It was as if... he was looking at an insignificant opponent who had stolen something precious from him. Like looking at a reseller who had swept away merchandise from a game he enjoyed, or an ugly businessman who was marrying his favorite idol. But he was the 7th Ranked High-Ranker in South Korea. He was the only one who could help his brother. "Hello?" The area was practically in a state of communication blackout due to the countless calls from people worried about their families and friends, various radio transmissions, and mana waves. But the call to that number connected instantly, as if it were using a different satellite. A cold voice answered. [Hong Wolha?] "Yes. Yes!" [I''m busy right now. If there''s a problem at home, tell the residence manager...] "I''m calling about the Gate. It''s chaos here, and they say they''re short on Rankers. Isn''t the Sun-Moon Divine Sect coming?" A sigh came from the other end of the smartphone. [Ha...] [Why would we trust those bastards and go there... No, wait. What am I saying to an F-Rank...] [I''m the Deputy Sect Leader, not the Leader. Whether we respond to the summons or not is decided by the Leader, not me. Understand? I''m hanging up.] Wolha didn''t ask if they would face severe punishment for not following the mobilization order. He didn''t ask why they weren''t coming even though a Rank 1 Gate had appeared, causing such a commotion in the Hunter industry. "My brother is inside the Gate." [I''ll be there in 5 minutes. Don''t hang up.] [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 47 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 47 Thump thump thump thump¡ª! Five large helicopters, emblazoned with the symbols of the sun and moon, flew across the Seoul sky. Inside the lead aircraft, Ryu Haneul looked down at the streets of Seoul through the window. In the distance, a black hemisphere swallowing a whole intersection caught his eye. "...." As a ''Heavenly Demon'', he could feel it. The immense malice emanating from that black hemisphere. Ryu Haneul connected his headset to his smartphone and called one of the Regressors. "Jeongwon hyung." The response was filled with shock. [Ryu Haneul? Don''t tell me you''re heading to the Gate?] "Senior is there." [....] "You come too, hyung. Senior is holding onto that second chance you threw at him like a bone." ''Fairy King'' Na Jeongwon asked nervously, [Isn''t it strange that a Rank 1 Gate suddenly appeared? What if it''s a trap by the Gate Management Department? What if Cheong Siyeol and Lee Baejeong are planning to kill all the moderates like me and Lee Eunwoo? Just rushing in there without a plan...] The Regressors were suspicious and wary of the situation, as were the Rankers. There were too many precedents to simply dismiss their concerns as inappropriate in a national crisis. There had been times when Rankers, receiving national defense budgets, tried to flee overseas on their private jets as soon as a Rank 1 Gate appeared. There had been times when the government tried to steal the corpses of Rankers and send them to Necromancer Hunters to use as weapons. There were many crazy Hunters who tried to use civilians caught in the Gate as meat shields. There was even a famous urban legend that if a blacklisted Ranker got injured, an Awakened Management Bureau agent would give them dissolving liquid instead of a potion. But Ryu Haneul didn''t say much. "Senior is there, I''m telling you." [....] He was a Heavenly Demon. An acting immorality, a proactive evil. The pilot shouted from the front. "Deputy Sect Leader! There are too many helicopters, it''ll be difficult to land on the road. We''ll approach the top of a nearby building." Ryu Haneul replied nonchalantly, "No. We''re going to skydive. Gain altitude, stabilize, and open the door." "Pardon?" "Do I need to repeat myself?" The pilot, flustered, followed Ryu Haneul''s instructions. Click! The helicopter door opened, and the wind rushed in. [....!] Na Jeongwon shouted something through the headset, but Ryu Haneul had already taken it off. In the Seoul sky, where skyscrapers pierced the clouds. "Jumping." The Sun-Moon Divine Sect Hunters leaped from the helicopter. But Ryu Haneul and the Hunters who followed him didn''t plummet towards the ground. ¡¾Skywalk¡¿ Boom! An invisible wave of energy erupted beneath Ryu Haneul''s feet. ¡¾Walking on Air¡¿ Hum! An invisible force supported the guild members. Boom! Boom! Boom! The demons of the sky descended to the earth, walking on air. For the sake of one respected individual. The Gate Management Department Hunters, who were controlling the scene, all gasped. "T-The Sun-Moon Divine Sect?" "Are you here to enter now?" The people holding smartphones near the barricade also widened their eyes. "It''s Ryu Haneul!" "They''re coming?!" The Sun-Moon Divine Sect was a guild that blatantly disregarded the government''s policies and the Awakened Association''s regulations. Incidents and accidents involving their Hunters were frequent, to the point where videos of them appearing in court circulated more than their combat footage. They had even come close to being designated as a criminal organization and having their corporation dissolved. "They''re the third to arrive, right?" "Azure Sky Sword Sect, Iron Blood Legion, Sun-Moon Divine Sect. That''s right. They came incredibly fast!" The Sun-Moon Divine Sect, of all guilds, was the third major guild to respond to the call. Considering that the Azure Sky Sword Sect and the Iron Blood Legion had rushed in as if they ''knew'' the Gate was going to break out, this was an incredible speed. And they didn''t just send a few third or second-string guild members. "We will enter first. The Leader will personally lead the rearguard." "The rearguard is coming too?" "Yes." The super rookie who had solo cleared the 50th floor had arrived. "Because there''s someone I need to protect." Ryu Haneul, clad in a black dragon robe, stood at the forefront, and the guild members in white uniforms embroidered with the sun and moon formed a wedge behind him. The guild members chanted. "Heavenly Demon''s Advent, All Demons Submit!" "Sun and Moon Eternal, Demonic Rule!" "The Heavenly Demon is Great!" What evil spirit would dare to violate this land? When the demon of the sky had already descended! Ryu Haneul threw himself into the Gate without hesitation. ''Senior! Your good boy Ryu Haneul is coming!'' He thought, imagining how the guild members and people would grab him by the scruff of his neck if they knew his thoughts. 2:25 PM. Ryu Haneul of the Sun-Moon Divine Sect joins the battle. * * * When Ryu Haneul opened his eyes, what he saw was... "Kieeeeeek!" A forest of burning blades. From the mountain rising in the distance to right in front of him, demons filled the entire space. "Pull back the front line!" "Maintain the formation!" "Move the wounded!" Guild executives and Gate Management Department Hunters were shouting and running around. "Wouldn''t it be better to block them outside?" "No! The diameter of this hemisphere is 1 km. Right now, we only need to defend this valley, but if we go outside, we''ll have a 3.14 km front line." "But still." "The moment monsters appear in Seoul, housing prices and the KOSPI will plummet! Do you want to see all the foreign investors pull out?" [TL/N: KOSPI stands for Korea Composite Stock Price Index. It is the benchmark stock market index of South Korea, similar to the S&P 500 in the United States. It tracks the performance of all common stocks listed on the Stock Market Division of the Korea Exchange.] "Damn it! You''re worried about that in this situation?" "If we''re not worried about that, why are we even fighting?!" The bickering between the two commanders, so typical of Koreans, was brief. Ryu Haneul confirmed that they were currently withdrawing the front line to reorganize the formation. ''There are so damn many of them.'' Of course, that wasn''t Ryu Haneul''s concern. ''Senior, Senior, Senior! Where are you?'' His purple eyes darted around restlessly until... "....!" He stopped abruptly. Withdrawing the front line meant that the front would be momentarily empty. Someone had to buy time until the formation was reorganized. Usually, S-Rank or A+ Rank Hunters took on that role. At the front line. Amidst the endless rush of demons with black horns. ¡¾Wave of Fire¡¿ Fwoosh¡ª! A Hunter clad in strange full-body armor was raising both hands, creating a wave of fire. "More, more, more!" Every time he swung his arms in a circle, surging flames soared into the sky. Finally, when the flames reached a height of over six stories of an apartment building... "Ha." The Hunter in full-body armor pushed his hands forward, releasing the wave. The wave, spraying fiery sparks instead of white foam, crashed forward. "Don''t push yourself too hard!" "Hyungnim! Stop worrying needlessly and just fall back!" "He''s really amazing. Why didn''t we know who he was?" The surrounding Hunters retreated, praising the Hunter in the full-body armor. Rumble. Rumble. Rumble! Just then, a demon even larger than the wave charged, shaking the ground. ¡¾Myriad Horrors (A+) has appeared.¡¿ Crack! Small and medium-sized demons were crushed under the giant demon''s feet. The giant demon blocked the wave of fire with its entire body. Swoosh! The giant demon also staggered from the considerable recoil, but the wave of fire swept through a much narrower area than expected before dying out. ["Krrrr...!"] The giant demon glared at Baekya with its yellow eyes. ''Senior!'' Ryu Haneul wanted to run towards Baekya immediately. "Deputy Sect Leader, where should we join..." "Figure it out yourselves! Just follow the Management guys!" "Excuse me?!" He even gave the order for "full cooperation," something he would never normally do. At that moment, a sky-blue, star-like Hunter shot towards Baekya like a bolt of lightning. Whoosh! ''Palace God''s Swift Shadow?'' Ryu Haneul was certain of the guy''s identity even without checking their halo. It was Cheong Siyeol, the ''Sword Saint''. ¡¾Azure Sky Sword Technique: External Qi Manifestation¡¿ Fwoosh¡ª! Cheong Siyeol fired a blue sword aura, severing the demon''s arm. As if on cue, Baekya shot an inextinguishable flame into the wound. The flames devoured the demon''s body from within, and the massive demon writhed in agony before collapsing. This time, a humanoid demon about 3 meters tall charged forward. Whoosh! ¡¾Elite Flame Ripper (A)¡¿ It swung its flaming longsword, attacking Cheong Siyeol. Fwoosh! Cheong Siyeol took a step forward and deflected the longsword with a horizontal slash. Clang! It was a perfect defense, with no intention of counterattacking. The demon grinned and was about to unleash a ferocious barrage of attacks, but... ¡¾Incineration Ray¡¿ Bzzt! Baekya fired a beam, accurately piercing the demon''s eyeball and scrambling its brain. Next, a heavily armored demon swung its axe. Clang! Baekya parried the axe with the Fire Dragon Sword. Stab! Cheong Siyeol thrust his blue sword between the gaps in the armor. ''What is this?'' It was a flawless combo that only those who had trained together for a long time could pull off. It was so natural that it seemed like they weren''t even aware they were performing a coordinated attack. Ryu Haneul felt his blood run cold. ''Should I call out "Senior!"?'' His vision blacked out and returned to normal several times. He barely managed to regain his composure and looked back at his cultists. "Stay close to the Azure Sky Sword Sect. We''re going to deploy the Roaring Calamity, Death Emperor, Demon King, Radiant Formation." * * * With the Sun-Moon Divine Sect joining the fight, the tide of the battle stabilized considerably. At the front, the Sun-Moon Divine Sect and the Azure Sky Sword Sect swung their swords. "Heavenly Demon''s Advent, All Demons Submit!" "Azure Sky Swords!" At the rear, the Iron Blood Legion provided support. "Oh, God of Machines!" The Sun-Moon Divine Sect''s mystical swordsmanship, both offensive and defensive, held back the demons. The Azure Sky Sword Sect''s sharp swordsmanship pierced through the gaps they created. Flying units and large demons were shot down by the Iron Blood Legion. However, no one had a clue about the clear conditions. Cheong Siyeol shouted, "It''s likely a wave-based system. We''ll probably have to defend like this a few times to draw out and kill that Fallen Demon Commander." Lee Eunwoo shouted, "My rational analysis says it''s definitely a headhunting mission. We need to form a separate team and kill the commander." sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ryu Haneul shouted¡ª "Senior! Let''s run away together!" "What?" "No, that''s not it... I mean, maybe it''s just a simple extermination quest without any special conditions? It''s manageable for a Rank 1 Gate so far, isn''t it?" "!" "I think it''ll only trigger as a Rank 1 if we consider this entire army as the enemy, not just individual demons! Don''t you think so?" Cheong Siyeol and Lee Eunwoo gritted their teeth. ''I hoped it wasn''t the case.'' ''That makes sense.'' Indeed, for a Rank 1 Gate, the individual demons were manageable. Whether in the future or the past, ordinary Hunters couldn''t even enter Rank 1 Gates due to their malice, toxicity, and mana density. It was always Baekya and an extremely small, elite group, including them, who could participate... "Shouldn''t we confirm it?" "Senior?" At that moment, Baekya approached Ryu Haneul. Baekya opened his inventory and took out the Winter Vanguard''s Standard. Lee Eunwoo and Ryu Haneul flinched simultaneously. But Cheong Siyeol didn''t seem to notice at all. "If you have a way, please, I beg you!" Baekya exchanged glances with Ryu Haneul, and they both grasped the Standard simultaneously. ''Are you serious? Here?'' ''Dead serious. Right here.'' ''I have no idea what''s going on.'' They channeled their mana into the Standard, raised the pole, and then thrust it into the ground. ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ ¡¾I Alone Am The Honored One¡¿ ¡¾Domain Expansion¡¿ Fwoosh¡ª! A white hemisphere spread out in all directions, sparking flames in the air. At the same time, a garbled status window appeared, as if being dragged out. ¡¾Finale Story: The Fallen Demon Commander''s Charge¡¿ ¡¾The Fallen@#%* Demon Commander is gathering his army on the Mountain of Fire^&*. The Mountain of Fire^%#@...¡¿ Ryu Haneul shouted¡ª "The Mountain of Fire! It says we need to stop or destroy the Mountain of Fire!" The four of them looked ahead simultaneously. The only thing in this land that could be called a mountain was the one towering in the distance on the horizon. Cheong Siyeol gritted his teeth. "We need to pull some people back." Lee Eunwoo shook his head. "If even one of us leaves, it''s over. According to my analysis... we won''t last 5 minutes." He spoke coldly¡ª "If we gather only the elites, we might be able to break through. But then Seoul will burn. This Gate is a kind of time attack. We have to do something about that Mountain of Fire before Seoul is completely engulfed in flames." Baekya lowered his head. ''Damn it.'' If it were before, he could have wiped out this measly horde with a few hand gestures. But now, he didn''t have the strength, and even if he did, he couldn''t use it freely in this situation. It was humiliating. The four Hunters looked at each other. The Gate Management Department Hunters who were listening nearby had determined expressions on their faces. "We''ll try to hold them off here somehow..." Just then, a 9th-Level civil servant from the Gate Management Department rushed over. "A Hunter has arrived." "How many?" "Just one. But..." A 5th-Level official from the Gate Management Department shouted like a volcano erupting. "Are you kidding me?! What can one person do..." The Hunter who had come with the 9th-Level civil servant spoke calmly. "Yeah, I wish this was a joke too." "Who is it that dares... Wh-What?!" Above his head, a laurel-like halo, mixed with green and brown, shone with a harmless and refreshing light. "Never mind. Unfortunately, it''s not." 3:13 PM. Ranked 2nd in Korea. ''Fairy King'' Na Jeongwon joins the battle. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 48 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 48 Among Awakened, there were those specialized in one-on-one combat and those specialized in one-versus-many combat. There were examples like Baekya in his prime who excelled at both, but high-ranking Awakened tended to choose one side eventually. ''Sword Saint'' Cheong Siyeol was a typical example of a Hunter specialized in one-on-one combat. And ''Fairy King'' Na Jeongwon was a typical example of a Hunter specialized in one-versus-many combat. Na Jeongwon lightly tapped his staff on the ground. Tap. The sound itself was small, but the ripple that spread from it seemed to resonate with one''s soul. ¡¾World Tree¡¿ Rustle. Rustle. Rustle! Behind Na Jeongwon, the illusion of a giant tree that seemed to reach the sky unfolded. Its circumference seemed impossible to grasp even if a thousand people held hands, its countless branches seemed to cover the whole world, and even its smallest branch had more than a thousand spirits perched on it. Summoner and Mage-type Hunters gasped in shock. "He''s manifesting Yggdrasil in reality?" "Is¡­ is that even something a human can do?" "...Oh my god." Na Jeongwon gracefully waved his hand and chanted. A deep yellow-green light overflowed from one of his eyes. ["Obey the King''s command. Always, and as many times as needed."] His voice wasn''t loud, but it seemed to echo in everyone''s ears. Tap. His slender, white finger pointed forward. Countless spirits soared, following his gesture. ["Salamanders of fire obey the King''s command."] The flames on the demons'' longswords dimmed. ["Undines of water obey the King''s command."] The wounds of the injured began to heal. ["Sylphs of wind obey the King''s command."] The bodies of those fighting became lighter. ["Gnomes of earth obey the King''s command."] Walls made of earth and rock rose up. Awakened cheered from all over. "This is it!" "We''re saved." "We can fight more!" "Don''t back down!" Lee Eunwoo breathed a sigh of relief. "Retract the previous order. We can hold them off now. Na Jeongwon and I will take care of this place, so you two form an infiltration team." Cheong Siyeol bowed his head slightly towards Na Jeongwon. "Thank you for coming." Ryu Haneul discreetly tugged at Baekya. "Senior, let''s go now. If we stay any longer, we''ll definitely get caught." Baekya shook his head. "I want to, but I''m still worried. I know Jeongwon is strong, but he can''t win against a horde with sheer numbers." Ryu Haneul heard the conflict between his emotions and rationality. ''Senior is right. Even with all the spirits combined, they can''t compare to that army. And most importantly... I''m not even sure if that army is actually decreasing in size.'' ''Senior, can''t you just do as I say this time?'' At that moment, Baekya opened his inventory and took out the Ghost Princess''s scepter. "Haneul." "Yes?" "Let''s go. I want to consume this Gate''s core. Can you help me?" He glanced at Ryu Haneul, making a suggestion in a tone that didn''t sound like a request at all. ''Are you serious?! Can''t you see Cheong Siyeol right there? Do you want to die again?'' ''As expected, you need me! Your good boy Ryu Haneul is on it!'' Ryu Haneul felt the urge to scream and grin at the same time. He shrugged and twirled his Dark Heavenly Demon Sword. Click. "Alright, Senior. Let''s go." "Thanks." "Don''t mention it. I told you, I''ll follow you to the ends of the earth. I even turned back time for that, so why wouldn''t I follow you into a single Gate?" At that moment, Cheong Siyeol also transferred command of his disciples to the Vice-Leader and approached them. "Ryu Haneul?" "Yes, Cheong Siyeol." Although they already knew each other well, they maintained an attitude as if they were meeting for the first time. Blue eyes held contempt, while purple eyes held anger. "Are you going in?" "Yes." "And the person next to you is also joining?" "Yes. He''s a member of my direct subordinate team." "I see. I''ve been keeping an eye on him." "Stop looking at him, he might get worn out." "...Excuse me?" sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Everything you cherish breaks before it even gets old, doesn''t it?" Ryu Haneul glared. Cheong Siyeol gripped his sword hilt tightly. He glanced to the side and asked a question. His blue eyes held a hint of longing. "He resembles someone I know." "I''m honored, Siyeol-nim." Baekya replied with an uncharacteristically sly smile. "I''ve heard that a lot. Our abilities are both flame-based, so it makes sense. I even copied his fashion out of respect, but I couldn''t give up the armor." "He also wanted to wear armor. He just couldn''t find one that suited his status. If he knew you found such good armor, he would definitely praise you." "I hope so." Contrary to Ryu Haneul''s worries, Cheong Siyeol didn''t even consider the possibility that Baekya might be standing next to him. ''I can''t completely trust what Lee Baejeong said.'' Even though he wrote that in the chatroom, he was still half-convinced about Baekya''s resurrection. Moreover, Cheong Siyeol was certain that Ryu Haneul was practically keeping Baekya locked up somewhere. The contempt in his eyes deepened as he looked at the Heavenly Demon''s halo. ''You know nothing and don''t even try to understand. You just blindly follow what you see. He has plenty of followers like you.'' Ryu Haneul read his gaze but didn''t react. ''Idiot. I ride in the same car as Senior. I let Senior live in my house. I eat with Senior every day. And you killed Senior, didn''t you?'' Baekya read the unspoken exchange between the two. ''If this goes on, they might start fighting each other before we even reach the Mountain of Fire.'' "Shall we go?" At his suggestion, the two nodded. "Yes." "Let''s." The three Hunters leaped over the wall created by the earth spirits. Tap! The two Hunters, who were once the right and left arms of a great Hunter. ''I''ll charge, and you guys cover me. That''s a great plan, right?'' ''Yes, Senior! It''s a truly brilliant plan.'' ''Wouldn''t it be better to reconsider?'' Now, they were once again plunging into the enemy lines with that Hunter. The Awakened, gathering from the Azure Sky Sword Sect, Sun-Moon Divine Sect, Iron Blood Legion, and other guilds big and small, cheered loudly. "Be careful out there! Leader!" "Heavenly Demon''s Advent, All Demons Submit!" "Go, Pyromancer! You''re the best!" "We''ll hold out until they bring back some information! If we fall, Seoul falls! Don''t retreat, even if it means death!" * * * The moment the three of them landed beyond the wall. ¡¾Mid-Rank Demon ... is gazing at you!¡¿ Countless warning notifications filled their vision. "We''ll break through! Follow me closely!" Cheong Siyeol raised his longsword, surrounding himself with a blue sword aura. Baekya stopped him¡ª "Wait a moment." Baekya stopped him. "Both of you, conserve your mana. I''ll clear the path." Half of it was genuine concern, and the other half was to create an army to protect himself from Cheong Siyeol''s potential surprise attack. "Excuse me?" He swung the scepter he was holding in his left hand. ["Serve the King. Even in death, even after death!"] Fwoosh¡ª! ¡¾A large number of Ghosts (C) are being summoned!¡¿ Countless burning ghosts poured out. Cheong Siyeol and Ryu Haneul flinched simultaneously. Baekya improvised an explanation. "My abilities are specialized in this area. I couldn''t show you earlier because I was worried you''d be too wary of me." There were many ways to refute that statement, but one of them wouldn''t bother, and the other wouldn''t have the mind to. His prediction was accurate. Cheong Siyeol was speechless, unable to say anything. "What is this..." ¡¾A large number of Ghosts (C) are possessing!¡¿ Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! The dead demons, engulfed in flames, rose again. The demons, whose only flames were their swords in life, were now ablaze from head to toe. From above, it would have looked like countless candles being lit in succession. ''These demonic bastards dare to play with fire in front of me.'' Baekya focused on mana recovery during the time Na Jeongwon had bought them. Thanks to the Mantle of the Demon Marquis, his maximum mana capacity had increased significantly. There was also a mountain of demon corpses that his allies had slain. This was the result. ''I''m not the type to run around trying to put out fires once they''re lit.'' Baekya set a counter-fire against the burning legion. A fire several times hotter. Sunny burst into laughter and began mana support. ¡¾"This is it. Yes, this is it."¡¿ ¡¾"You''ve always shown me what I wanted to see. As expected of my contractor, the Sun of Humanity!¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' bursts into a hearty laugh. She will share 40% of the mana cost.¡¿ "Let''s go." Baekya gestured towards the mountain on the horizon. "Forward, further forward." Cheong Siyeol flinched and looked back at Baekya. ''Let''s go. Onward, to greater heights.'' The shadow of his revered master overlapped with Baekya. Among Awakened, especially Pyromancers, it was common to find people literally cosplaying as Baekya. They imitated not only his fashion but even his minor mannerisms. Baekya had even appeared on YouTube with a few such Awakened, making a video where he distinguished himself from the imitators. Cheong Siyeol had picked out the real Baekya with an accuracy that was almost boring. ''But why?'' Yet now. To that nameless Pyromancer, with even his halo being an ordinary white ring¡ª The image of Baekya, his idol, hero, and sun, overlapped. The Pyromancer, unaware or uncaring, charged forward. Leading a legion of burning demons, big and small. * * * Right after summoning the burning legion, I was ecstatic. Laughter threatened to burst out, and it took considerable effort to suppress it. ¡¾Mana has increased ''1''.¡¿ ¡¾Mana has increased ''1''.¡¿ ¡¾Mana has increased ''1''.¡¿ ¡¾Mana... is soaring. A breakthrough is imminent.¡¿ Success. Success. It worked. The more mana I used, the more mana I gained. The concept was simple. Minimize the mana going out, maximize the mana coming in. Of course, the concept was simple, but the execution was difficult. From the moment I summoned the Ghosts, I mixed pure flames, hellfire, and the light of Law of Light in an appropriate ratio. After long experimentation, I found that the 3:6.45:0.55 ratio was optimal. The Law of Light within the Ghosts slowly incinerates the possessed body. In return, it boosts the possessed''s combat capabilities, driving them into a frenzied state. That''s an advantage too, but the key point is that the mana the consumed body had also flows into me. I used a skill, and my mana is recharging instead of depleting. Of course, that alone isn''t enough. When a demon possessed by a Ghost fights a normal demon, the fire naturally spreads. If the fire imbued with the power of Law of Light spreads, that demon also slowly burns and dies. Then, that mana is also absorbed by me. In this state, if my Constellation''s mana support reaches 25%, the mana I expend and the mana I get back are perfectly balanced in real-time. If the support goes above 25%, all the incoming mana is absorbed by me. Right now, my Constellation''s mana support is about 40%. 15% of the mana I use every 10 seconds accumulates, increasing my maximum mana and rank. Since my Ascension Level is at the 7th Stage, direct sponsorship isn''t even possible right now. I was worried about how to bypass the Aitel system''s restrictions, but I never thought there would be a way like this. Genuine joy erupted. What a fucking time to be alive. It doesn''t seem like it will last long. I can feel the light flowing back into my heart. It''s a feeling of omnipotence I haven''t felt in a long time. "Ha¡­ hahahaha!" ¡¾Trait: ''Radiant Laughter'' is upgraded.¡¿ ¡¾You have acquired the trait: ''Smile that Transcends the Stars''.¡¿ ¡¾Mana... is soaring. A breakthrough is imminent.¡¿ Excited voices filled my ears incessantly. ¡¾"Cheers! I never thought you''d break through the system like that."¡¿ ¡¾"I wish I could show you my expression right now. At this rate, your Ascension Level might recover soon."¡¿ ¡¾"I''ve always loved stories of victory. Show me more. Try to take it all."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' is thrilled with anticipation for you.¡¿ Oh, Constellation. Thank you, always. I looked down at my army and shouted¡ª "Burn them all!" * * * Breaking through wasn''t difficult. This was because my burning legion was indeed a legion, and Ryu Haneul and Cheong Siyeol were top-tier hunters. The mountain came into view ahead. "It seems like we''re almost there!" Thump! "What are we supposed to do with that thing?" Thump! "We have to smash it to pieces!" But why is the ground shaking? [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 49 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 49 The Gate Management Department had four bureaus under its command. The Gate Management Bureau, which directly fought against Gates, was practically the national army of the Aitel era. The Awakened Research Bureau, which researched various artifacts and invested in related industries. The International Awakened Bureau, which handled international cooperation related to Aitel. And the Awakened Support Agency, which supported and managed civilian Awakened. The public perception of the four bureaus was quite different. The Awakened Research Bureau and the International Awakened Bureau were viewed similarly to ordinary government ministries. Occasionally, issues like embezzlement or parachute appointments would arise, but they were still generally seen as just regular government offices. The Gate Management Bureau was universally respected. They fought against Gates like Rankers, while receiving civil servant-level salaries. They were heroes dedicated solely to national defense and glory, so it was only natural for people to respect them. And the Awakened Support Agency was always at the heart of controversy. News articles written by a reporter at one-hour intervals exemplified how the world saw them. [Rankers'' ''Sidekicks''? The Cleanup Crew for Crimes!] [Exclusive: Support Agency Hunter Assassinates a Ranker!? Shocking!] They were the ones who provided all sorts of legal services, siding with arrogant Ranker punks who got drunk and high in clubs and then hit people. They were also the ones who quietly assassinated Awakened who, regardless of their personality, were deemed a potential threat to national security. When the unprecedented incident of Baekya''s death occurred, the Support Agency was the first place the Rankers contacted, and also the first place they suspected. It couldn''t be helped. Although they were under the umbrella of the Support Agency, internally, the Support Division and the Management Division were completely separate. The reason they didn''t create a separate Management Bureau was that the expression ''managing'' the citizens would obviously be attacked by the opposition party during election season. Within the bureau, countless lineages and factions were divided into large and small teams. Even Lee Baejeong, the head of the Management Division, only had a flimsy grasp on a few teams. In front of the completely controlled intersection. "Director! It''s dangerous! Please step back!" "Director of the Management Division, what are you doing here? This is under the jurisdiction of our Support Division." "I received the summons as a Ranker. I''m here not as the Director of the Management Division, but as an Awakened of South Korea." "I don''t believe a word you say with those shifty eyes!" Lee Baejeong argued with the Support Division Hunters in front of the Gate. He believed that for the country to be able to confront rifts and climb the Tower even without Baekya, the government needed to be able to control the guilds. And for that, the power of the Management Division was crucial. To strengthen the Management Division, he first had to take control. To control the team leaders who were suspicious of the director suddenly parachuting in like a special forces unit, he needed achievements. The achievements of the Management Division''s director came from making an example of Rankers who caused trouble, showing that the law was applied equally. He intended to bring all the Rankers who didn''t respond to the summons this time to court. To do that, he had to show his own prowess. If he didn''t perform well this time, the Rankers who had scoffed at the summons would turn the tables on him. ''So, what were you doing at that time, Director?'' ''You were probably hiding at home, planning how to catch us, weren''t you?'' The argument that the Management Division''s director''s job wasn''t Gate suppression wouldn''t work. The Awakened society was a world where the strong ruled and the weak were preyed upon. Once you were looked down upon, you lost all your power. Moreover, this Gate incident had a personal significance for Lee Baejeong. This was the first Rank 1 Gate raid without Baekya. It would be good if they suppressed it safely, but it wouldn''t be bad if they didn''t. It would serve as a wake-up call for everyone who had been living with a false sense of security under his light. ''We must embrace the night.'' Lee Baejeong pushed past the Support Division Hunters and entered the Gate. A crimson sky and black earth met his eyes, and the smoky wind ruffled his flamboyant hair. Na Jeongwon''s World Tree loomed over the Hunters'' heads, and Lee Eunwoo''s sniper rifle fired at the giant demons. And in the distance¡ª In front of the red mountain at the edge of the horizon. A group was charging in a counterattack. The demon army, wielding flaming longswords, looked like a wildfire. The charging army, their entire bodies ablaze, seemed to be setting a counter-fire. Hunters stationed on the walls cheered in unison. "Cheong Siyeol! Ryu Haneul! Hong Ilha!" "Ilha! Ilha! Ilha!" Lee Baejeong recognized the names. His face contorted. "The Management Director?" "Lee Eunwoo..." At that moment, ''Mr. Pistol'' Lee Eunwoo approached him from behind. "Don''t even think about it. We wouldn''t have lasted this long without him." Click. The sound of the hammer being cocked was chilling. Lee Baejeong didn''t even scoff. "It would have been better if we hadn''t lasted." * * * Thump! The ground shook. Thump! The mountain was moving. "That wasn''t an actual mountain." Baekya let out a hollow laugh as he looked up at the turtle dragon that looked like a mountain. ¡¾Volcanic Turtle Dragon (S-)¡¿ The turtle dragon carried a shell made of several volcanic peaks. New demons rose from the flowing lava, wielding flaming longswords and marching forward. Seeing this sight, he realized that his judgment was correct. ''As expected, there was no way to solve this with conventional methods. We have to take it down here. If that thing gets out, Seoul is finished. Even if it doesn''t become a complete wasteland, it will no longer function as a capital.'' Hesitation. Ryu Haneul unconsciously took a step back. And immediately after, he realized he had retreated in front of his Senior and his face hardened. ''How embarrassing.'' Just looking at the rank, it was lower than Ryu Haneul himself. However, Haneul had not yet fully recovered his pre-regression strength. Moreover, S or A ranks were more about quality than quantity. With a size like that, regardless of rank, a quality born from sheer quantity was bound to exist. Cheong Siyeol let out a sigh that sounded like a laugh. He gripped his blue longsword anew and spoke calmly. "Let''s go. It''s even clearer now. We just need to kill that." His tone was similar to saying he was going to have steak for dinner. Baekya suppressed a satisfied smile. ''That''s the spirit.'' Cheong Siyeol was still the same as he remembered. If he, Baekya, could cripple the enemy with Law of Light¡­ ''Go.'' ''Yes, my idol, my hero, my sun.'' That same composure from back then, when he would charge into the enemy lines alone and behead the monster leader, still lingered in his sword. ''Before you fall, by my own hand.'' He must have meant those words sincerely. At that moment, Baekya didn''t know whether to be sad that his disciple would betray him or proud that he had raised such a consistent disciple. So he decided to do both. "Yes, let''s go." Powerful demons were swarming around the Mountain of Fire. ¡¾Bloodlust Demon (A)¡¿ ¡¾Myriad Horrors (A+)¡¿ ¡¾Extreme Flame Armored Demon (A)¡¿ There were many demons with higher ranks than Baekya just by looking at their levels. But Baekya didn''t hesitate for even a second and kicked off the ground. Tap! That''s how he had lived, and that''s how he had taught. He swung his scepter, ordering all the possessed around him to charge forward. ["-----!"] ["---, ---!"] Counter-fire and fire clashed, and thought waves burst forth fiercely. He put the scepter back into his inventory and shot a Flame Arrow into the air. Whoosh! The moment the arrow became as small as a distant dot, he used ''Descent from the Crimson Flames''. Boom! His body flickered and reappeared in mid-air. A dizzying descent began. The hot wind brushed away the beads of sweat on his forehead. He burst into laughter, befitting the once-strongest. ["Ha, hahahaha!"] ¡¾''Smile that Transcends the Stars'' is activated.¡¿ ¡¾Numerous demons are afflicted with the status condition: ''Suppression''.¡¿ ¡¾*Some demons are immune to the status condition due to the difference in Rank.¡¿ With his hands clasped together above and below, he fired a beam. Bzzt! ''Now that I''ve reached A-Rank, it should be somewhat usable, right?'' ¡¾Diffuse Reflection: Incineration Ray¡¿ The Incineration Ray bounced around inside the sphere like a laser pointer, creating a chaotic dance of light above and below his palm. Countless lines overlapped, forming a near-spherical shape. "Ha!" He threw the sphere into the middle of the demon army. Crackle. Crackle. Crackle¡ª! Reddish-white beams raged in succession. The beams sliced through the demons'' necks, their weapons, and then again. Since there were so many high-ranking demons, tens of thousands of them weren''t instantly torn to shreds. But it was enough to scatter the densely packed demons. His Constellation exclaimed. ¡¾"Fantastic!"¡¿ ¡¾"It''s a shame I can''t see this in person beside you."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' focuses their vision.¡¿ Ryu Haneul glanced up to confirm Baekya''s safe descent from the sky. ''No problem.'' Only after seeing Baekya''s stable posture did he throw himself into the enemy lines. He wasn''t too late. ''I won''t miss it!'' It was a combo they had practiced tens of thousands of times in the lost time. Ryu Haneul knew exactly when and what he had to do. ¡¾Heavenly Demon Divine Art¡¿ The purple halo above his head shone brilliantly. Boom! Boom! Boom! Qi waves erupted, his black dragon robe billowed from within, and his beautiful jet-black hair surged around him. ¡¾Heavenly Demon''s Reign¡¿ Crash! Ryu Haneul leaped high and plunged into the midst of the demons. A violet wave spread out as if to overturn the entire universe. Rumble. Rumble. Rumble...! It was as powerful as a meteorite impact. In the face of the most exalted evil in the sky, the evils of the Flame Realm bowed their heads. ¡¾Status Conditions: Suppression, Confusion, Loss of Morale, Ego Collapse...¡¿ Status conditions spread like wildfire. And through the path created, "Azure Sky Swords!" Cheong Siyeol charged forward like a blue comet. His halo, his eyes, his mana, his sword. An Awakened filled entirely with blue loyalty tried to exert that loyalty once more. The Turtle Dragon glared at Cheong Siyeol. The monstrous beast opened its house-sized eyes. Demonic mana shot out from its yellow eyes. Whoosh! ¡¾''Status Condition: Suppression'' failed to apply.¡¿ ¡¾''Status Condition: Fear'' failed to apply.¡¿ Thanks to the difference in Rank, the status conditions didn''t work, but... Hum. For a brief moment, Cheong Siyeol''s body stiffened. Hum. Hum. Hum. The Turtle Dragon prepared its breath during that time. The wrinkles on its neck stretched taut. The volcano on its back bubbled and boiled. Hum! Hum! Hum! Hum! Hum! The beak-like snout opened like a giant tunnel. Heat like a mythical forge emanated from its maw. ¡¾Breath¡¿ Rumble rumble rumble! A tremendous pillar of fire, spanning hundreds of meters, erupted, aiming to blow Cheong Siyeol away. It was a strike capable of ending the legend of the Sword Saint. "Cheong Siyeol!" At that moment, Baekya, who was just about to touch the ground, used ''Flame Arrow & Descent from the Crimson Flame'' once more. Fwoosh! He teleported in front of Cheong Siyeol. He swung the Fire Dragon Sword, which he had strapped to his waist instead of putting it in his inventory, with his right hand. ¡¾Fire Blossom Transformation Wall¡¿ ¡¾Flames flutter and become a wall¡¿ With his left hand, he unleashed a Resonance Wave, trying to offset the breath attack. Clang! At that moment, time seemed to slow down. The dissatisfied voice of his Constellation echoed in his mind. ¡¾"You know I haven''t been sponsoring you for this kind of development."¡¿ ''Cheong Siyeol''s sword is the best suited to cut down that turtle dragon.'' ¡¾"You''re risking your life for your enemy, after all this time being alive? Why?"¡¿ ''I''m practically immune to flame-type attacks thanks to my many flame-related traits and titles.'' ¡¾"You can lie to me, but you can''t lie to yourself."¡¿ Baekya showed his sincerity in response to his Constellation''s question. ''I''m not lying. I believe in him.'' ¡¾"...."¡¿ ''I am the Sun of Humanity, the Embodiment of Fire. I radiate light in all directions and cast shadows everywhere.'' ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' makes a face as if they''ve been struck.¡¿ ''I know that wherever I look, light and shadow will inevitably be created. So I always had to choose, and this time, I chose to resolve the situation by killing the monsters. Didn''t you like that about me?'' He didn''t need to say the last part. ¡¾"I sure have a remarkable contractor."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' grins.¡¿ The slowed-down time returned to normal. Crimson flames poured towards Baekya. * * * A notification window I couldn''t make sense of blinked above my eyelids. ¡¾Achievement: ''Perfect Sacrifice'' achieved!¡¿ ¡¾You protected your comrade at the perfect timing with the most efficient choice... points are being... calculated... Ascension conditions...¡¿ "Senior! Open your eyes! Senior!" Ryu Haneul''s voice sounded double, triple layered. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m not dying. Stop shaking me." I got up with his help. The surrounding scenery was very satisfying. The demons, big and small, were completely demoralized and fleeing, and the mountain-like Turtle Dragon was dying, having lost its head. And I was rolling on the ground, kilometers away from the Turtle Dragon. It seemed I had been hit by the breath attack and flown all the way here. As expected, my hair and skin weren''t burned at all. Well, it would be ridiculous if the ''Embodiment of Fire'' got burned by fire. But the Mantle of the Demon Marquis wasn''t unscathed. The arms and legs could be repaired somehow, but the chest plate covering the torso was completely shattered, exposing my chest and abdomen. The flames didn''t hurt me, but it seemed the mana of the breath attack itself had pushed through. "Oh, please..." I''m not someone who cries easily, but tears were welling up. A Heroic-grade artifact, and even worse, armor, was half-destroyed. When would I ever get armor like this again? Moreover, the Fire Dragon Sword seemed to have been broken or lost during the flight; it was nowhere to be seen. Because of that damn disciple, I lost two of my main artifacts. Whatever. Forget it. It''s already done. My body is fine, and I haven''t been exposed yet, so it''s all good. I raised my head and reported to my constellation in my mind. I''m alive. I''m always grateful. ¡¾"That was a close call. It''s been a while since I''ve been on the edge of my seat."¡¿ ¡¾"If your power had recovered a bit more, I could have raised your Ascension Level. It would have been a huge loss for both of us if you had died here."¡¿ Is that so? I suddenly regret it. ¡¾"It was fun. But cherish your life. You have to live a long life and show me what I want to see."¡¿ Yes. I replied and focused back on reality. "Haneul, did any notification pop up?" "No. We definitely defeated the Turtle Dragon, but the Finale Story itself hasn''t progressed yet." "Really? Let''s go check it out properly. It might revive if we''re not careful." "That''s possible." Hum! At that moment, the halo above my head vibrated once. Huh? Did you have something else to say? The moment I thought that. ¡¾"Be careful."¡¿ Bam! Ryu Haneul was hit by something and flew backward. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 50 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 50 ¡¾Warning! Warning! Warning!¡¿ ¡¾High-rank Demon Four-Bladed Sword Demon (???) has appeared.¡¿ Baekya looked up at the demon that had landed in front of him. ¡¾Status Conditions: Fear, Suppression, Mana Rampage...¡¿ ¡¾Status Conditions negated due to the effects of ''Ten Thousand Demons'' Blessing'' and ''Certificate of Pardon''.¡¿ It had the upper body of a human and the lower body of a snake, wielding four flaming longswords with its four arms. Its loose black hair reached its waist, and sulfurous smoke rose every time its angular jaw opened. ["You''ve been quite the nuisance."] Everyone instinctively knew. This was the ''Commander of the Fallen Demon Assault Force''. ["To think you''d block the Turtle Dragon''s breath."] Every word it uttered was laced with psychic energy. It was enough to make even Baekya''s head throb. The Four-Bladed Sword Demon swung its sword down. Stab! Baekya''s chest was pierced effortlessly. But instead of bursting into triumphant laughter, the Four-Bladed Sword Demon raised an eyebrow in confusion. It didn''t feel like it had cut through flesh. "Shut up." Baekya, with his chest impaled, grabbed the blade with his left hand and stepped back. Instead of blood, white flames surged from the gaping wound. A combo counter using ''Play of Fire'' and ''Explosive Recovery''. It was a feint he had been preparing since the moment Ryu Haneul was blown away. Boom! A fountain-like explosion erupted from the wound in his chest. ["Ha!"] The Four-Bladed Sword Demon roared and swung its flaming longsword. Slice! The first dazzling explosion was sliced away as if it were nothing. Slice! The second left a white scar on Baekya''s forearm. Slice! The third pierced his lungs. Even with Explosive Recovery, he couldn''t recover from all the damage. Being of the same flame attribute, there was even a risk of being consumed in reverse. Baekya shuddered and retreated repeatedly. But there was no humiliation on his face. ''There he comes.'' He had achieved the brief deception he desired. "Azure Sky Swords!" ¡¾Paired Wings¡¿ ¡¾Reaching for the Heavens¡¿ Cheong Siyeol, who had been standing in front of the Turtle Dragon''s neck, dashed forward as if folding space and swung his longsword down. A blue sword aura surged like a wave. It was a strike powerful enough to cleave a high-rank demon in two with a single blow. The Four-Bladed Sword Demon barely managed to block it by overlapping all four of its longswords. Clang! ["-----!"] The Four-Bladed Sword Demon pushed forward with its crossed swords, trying to crush Cheong Siyeol with its weight and height. Four blades dug into Cheong Siyeol''s neck and shoulders. At that moment, Baekya unleashed ''Diffuse Reflection''. ''3. 2. 1. Release.'' Beams of light crisscrossed between his clasped palms, forming a sphere, then collapsing back into a single ray. Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! The reddish-white beams slashed at the Four-Bladed Sword Demon''s hide. The smell of burning flesh rose from the sturdy demonic body, and pus oozed from the open wounds. Stagger! The demon''s posture momentarily faltered. Cheong Siyeol didn''t miss the opportunity. ¡¾Sun-Piercing Strike¡¿ Fwoosh¡ª! He kicked off the ground, leaping like an arrow towards the demon. It was a perfect thrust, disregarding all defense. ¡¾Inverted Yin-Yang Sword¡¿ The Four-Bladed Sword Demon crossed two of its longswords and swung them wide, trying to deflect Cheong Siyeol over its head. Baekya unleashed a Resonance Wave towards the exposed torso. Crack! Red heat spread out in a fan shape, striking the demon''s solar plexus. It was the ultimate technique that had allowed him to crush even a B-Rank golem when he was C-Rank, but the demon endured. ["---, ---!"] The Four-Bladed Sword Demon unleashed a powerful psychic wave. Hum! Hum! Hum! The scorched earth cracked, and the hot wind swirled. Baekya countered with a debuff skill of his own. ["Ha, hahahaha!"] ¡¾Trait: Smile that Transcends the Stars¡¿ Crackle! Mana sparks flew in the air as the two skills clashed. Baekya and the Four-Bladed Sword Demon stood a short distance apart, but veins bulged on their foreheads as if they were locked in a power struggle. However, the balance gradually tipped in Baekya''s favor due to the absolute difference in Rank. Drip. Drip. Drip! The blood vessels in the demon''s eyes burst, and blood trickled from its nose. "Keuk." At that moment, Cheong Siyeol, who had been flung behind the demon, raised his sword overhead. ¡¾Azure Sky Sword Technique: External Qi Manifestation¡¿ Fwoosh! A blue crescent moon shot out from his sword and soared into the sky. One of the demon''s thick arms flew into the air. Slice! The Four-Bladed Sword Demon flinched and retreated to one side. The demon, Cheong Siyeol, and Baekya formed a triangular formation. Cheong Siyeol and Baekya exchanged glances naturally. The plan was for one to hold the demon''s attention while the other finished it off from behind, no matter who the demon attacked. But the demon, now with three swords, attacked them both simultaneously in a way they hadn''t anticipated. ¡¾Inverted Yin-Yang Sword: External Qi Manifestation¡¿ Swoosh! The three swords drew a single circle. The crimson sword aura stretched out like a whip in a curved line, tracing a bizarre trajectory. The spiraling sword aura targeted Baekya and Cheong Siyeol. Bam! Cheong Siyeol''s left shoulder was slashed, and Baekya''s ''Mantle of the Demon Marquis'' forearm was completely crushed. Baekya''s face, narrowly avoiding having the Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief cut, was filled with astonishment. ''It has a sword technique like this?'' They both gritted their teeth and retreated. The footwork of the master and disciple was strikingly similar, like twins. ["You shall burn in a pool of lava for a thousand years."] The Four-Bladed Sword Demon, having separated the two, unleashed another External Qi Manifestation. ¡¾Inverted Yin-Yang Sword: External Qi Manifestation¡¿ Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Crimson sword aura lashed out like nine whips. At that moment, Baekya and Cheong Siyeol naturally coordinated their movements without even making eye contact. It was possible because they had spent a long and significant time together. It was a combined attack they weren''t even consciously aware of. Boom! Baekya leaped into the air using Flame Arrow and Descent from the Crimson Flames. He kicked off in mid-air, twisting his body 180 degrees. Whirl! He unleashed a Resonance Wave directly at the demon''s crown. There were very few defensive techniques designed to counter attacks from above. Clang! The Four-Bladed Sword Demon blocked the Resonance Wave as if headbutting it with its horns, but the Inverted Yin-Yang Sword technique was inevitably disrupted slightly. At that moment, Cheong Siyeol wielded a single sword as if it were three. ¡¾Supreme Yin-Yang Sword: External Qi Manifestation¡¿ Rumble. Rumble. Rumble! Nine whip-like sword auras surged forth. The blue, clockwise vortex neutralized the crimson, counter-clockwise vortex as if swallowing it. Whoosh! S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A void formed where the two External Qi Manifestations vanished, and a gentle wind pushed outwards in all directions. It was a perfect counter, something that would have made martial arts Hunters applaud for days. The Four-Bladed Sword Demon tried to retreat. "Going somewhere?" But Baekya had already grabbed its back before it could move. Baekya pulled his arm back as if to unleash a technique. "!" The Four-Bladed Sword Demon flinched. Cheong Siyeol seized the opportunity and kicked off the ground. Slash! A blue line extended, and another of the Four-Bladed Sword Demon''s arms was half severed. The Four-Bladed Sword Demon grimaced and staggered. ["You dare... toy with me?!"] "You should be grateful. I was just playing with you." Baekya held the demon''s arm for a split second before launching an off-beat attack. Resonance Wave exploded, heating the air. Crack! The Four-Bladed Sword Demon, losing its balance, tumbled and slid across the ground. Foul smoke rose from its scorched long hair. The Four-Bladed Sword Demon could only stop by stabbing its swords into the ground. For a moment, Cheong Siyeol was struck by a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, as if he had met this Pyromancer somewhere before. That profile, with a nonchalant yet refreshing smile against the backdrop of a world engulfed in flames, was too familiar. "Have we... met before?" But the moment passed quickly. The Pyromancer replied with a seemingly flattered expression. "Didn''t I tell you earlier? This is our first meeting. How could I have possibly met the Sword Saint?" Normally, the conversation would have ended there. But Cheong Siyeol heard an instinctive urge telling him not to let this conversation end. "Have you ever learned combat from Baekya?" "I''ve imitated him a lot. I''ve watched his talent donation lecture on ESB at least a thousand times." The Four-Bladed Sword Demon didn''t miss the opportunity. Crunch. The demon gritted its teeth and plunged its tail into the ground. Each scale glowed crimson. Whoosh! The tail, burrowed underground, shot up like a trap. Thwack! Cheong Siyeol sensed the tremor in the ground and leaped to avoid it, but the tail tenaciously pursued him, aiming to pierce his spine. Baekya''s face contorted in anger. Even now, Baekya couldn''t look directly at Cheong Siyeol. ''I don''t understand what you''re thinking.'' Even in the midst of a battle where there was no time for idle thoughts, he couldn''t help but think of his disciple whenever he had a moment to breathe. From what he had learned in his thousands of years, or perhaps just 27, there seemed to be no particular connection between understanding and empathy. Even after experiencing a future where the world burned, there were things he could understand intellectually but couldn''t empathize with emotionally. He cherished his disciples as he cherished himself. He was lenient with his disciples as he was lenient with himself. Even when they went astray, acted frustratingly, or even held their swords the wrong way, he accepted it all. It would be a lie to say he didn''t feel any resentment. But he never wished for his death. ''World-Reflecting Mirror.'' He thought of taking out the mirror from his inventory, dragging the Four-Bladed Sword Demon into the mirror world, and unleashing Law of Light there. Impossible. There wasn''t enough time. ''Winter Vanguard''s Standard.'' He thought of using the Standard to activate ''Domain Expansion'' and incinerate the Four-Bladed Sword Demon with overwhelming firepower. Impossible. Again, there wasn''t enough time. Stab! The tip of the demon''s tail pierced Cheong Siyeol''s pelvis. The jagged scales acted like barbs on a fishing hook. The demon coiled around Cheong Siyeol and pulled him closer. The tendons on its arm holding the flaming longsword bulged. It looked like it was about to cleave Cheong Siyeol''s slender body in half. * * * Cheong Siyeol raised his sword overhead. He intended to sever the demon''s tail and two hands simultaneously. His sword, which had felt as light as a reed, now felt heavy. He took a deep breath and tightened his core. ''Can I do it?'' He had expended too much mana when he cut down the Turtle Dragon. It was already a tremendous feat to be able to continue fighting after slicing a monster the size of Mount Seorak. His blue eyes wavered slightly. The eyes are the windows to the soul, and so his sword tip also wavered. Cheong Siyeol thought of his master, whom he had slain with his own hands. ''My idol, my hero, my sun.'' If he were here, things would surely be different. Did he regret it? He did not. It was his loyalty to let his idol, hero, and sun vanish as such, rather than let the world he protected point fingers at him. Cheong Siyeol stared at the Four-Bladed Sword Demon until the very end. Never take your eyes off your enemy until the very end. That''s what Baekya had taught him. Fizzle! At that moment, the light in the Four-Bladed Sword Demon''s eyes vanished. ''Huh?'' The Four-Bladed Sword Demon was glowing white-hot. ["Law of Light."] White orbs of light rose one by one from its tail, its swords, its eyes, its horns. It was as if countless fireflies were taking flight. The crimson demon scattered into dazzling light. The tail that had pierced Cheong Siyeol''s body also vanished. Thud. Cheong Siyeol fell to the ground. He stumbled a few steps before regaining his balance. Whether by a cruel coincidence or a twist of fate, he was now facing the nameless Pyromancer head-on. His halo, which had been a simple white ring, was now flashing like a magnificent mandala, infinitely colorful and grand. Hum! Hum! Hum! His face was pale as lead, as if he had drawn upon an immense amount of mana. The grand halo flickered like a hologram before returning to its original white ring shape. But Cheong Siyeol had already seen the handkerchief tied around the Pyromancer''s wrist. ¡¾Appraisal¡¿ ¡¾Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief (Heroic)¡¿ ¡¾A handkerchief bestowed upon her Champion by the Ghost Princess. It possesses the power of concealment, making what should be seen unseen.¡¿ He didn''t need to see any more. No matter how upright Cheong Siyeol was, like a sword, and no matter how focused he was on one thing at a time, he wasn''t foolish enough to not recognize him after seeing all this. "Hyung?" * * * ¡¾"What a fucking perfect timing!"¡¿ ¡¾"I was about to burst with frustration, but the mana you absorbed from that Law of Light was the final piece of the puzzle."¡¿ ¡¾"I don''t know whether to be angry or praise you. Did you plan all of this? Did you want to show me this incredible reversal?"¡¿ I heard my Constellation''s voice ringing in my head. ¡¾"You''re the best, anytime, anywhere! My contractor!"¡¿ It was the voice of someone who should be angry but was left speechless by the amazing outcome. ¡¾Aitel Notification: You have fought many strong opponents, gained sufficient power, and proven your worth to contain more starlight.¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' raises your Ascension Level.¡¿ The status window opened and closed forcefully. + ¡¾Status Window 5. Ascension Level: 7th Stage Angelus/Angel ? 6th Stage Powers/Dominions¡¿ + The ''Ascension Level'' section blinked, and the level changed. Fwoosh! I felt something hot and overwhelming filling my chest. It felt like my chest was brimming with a celestial elixir, as if I''d scooped up the entire Milky Way with the Big Dipper as my cup. But I had no time to bask in this sense of victory. Cheong Siyeol could rush over and cut me down any moment now. ¡¾Your Ascension Level has risen to the 6th Stage.¡¿ ¡¾Wandering Constellations show interest in you, who now holds more fragments of the Constellations.¡¿ ¡¾The Comet Shop is reopening.¡¿ I quickly moved my fingers and entered the Comet Shop''s sales window. And I purchased an artifact that would allow me to escape this situation. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 51 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 51 Baekya''s fingers tapped the air as if playing a piano. His rough hand motions swept from his thumb to his index, middle, ring, and little fingers. Immediately after, an emerald light, which shouldn''t exist, flickered in the crimson sky. The light flew towards Baekya. Whoosh! An emerald tail stretched long. Ryu Haneul, watching it, muttered as if in a trance¡ª "Comet store." The comet, flying in an elegant curve, crashed above Baekya''s head. Fwoosh! A burst of intense emerald light erupted. Baekya''s silhouette was enveloped in the radiance. Immediately after, Baekya soared into the sky like a fallen star rising again. Tap. Tap. Tap! With each step he took, red and blue lights bloomed from his shoes, stretching long like a comet''s tail. From the moment he tapped the invisible status window to the moment he soared into the distant sky as a comet, only three seconds had passed. It was the time it takes to blink a few times. In the blink of an eye, the comet crossed the sky and reached the north where the gate entrance was located. However, as if he had left something behind, the comet suddenly changed its direction and flew towards the Turtle Dragon. Only after retrieving something from the severed neck of the Turtle Dragon did it turn back. ''I guess he left the spirit core behind.'' Ryu Haneul gazed at the trail of light with eyes filled with admiration and excitement. Sometimes, escaping the scene was the best solution. Just a moment ago, he was gathering mana to ambush Cheong Siyeol, but he didn''t expect the situation to be resolved so cleanly. Cheong Siyeol, as if finally regaining his senses, pointed his deep blue sword at the empty sky. "...." But Baekya was already passing through the gate. Leaving Ryu Haneul and Cheong Siyeol behind amidst the countless demon army. ["Krrr...." ] Ryu Haneul twirled the Dark Heavenly Demon Sword, looking at the countless mid-rank demons looking back at him. ''But, senior. You didn''t think about how I would get back, did you?'' ["---, ---!"] The roars of the demons echoed loudly. Eventually, the two were able to return to the gate before long. The core of ''Finale Story: Commander of the Fallen Demon Assault Force'' was the Turtle Dragon. The moment the Turtle Dragon died, the countless demons that filled the horizon evaporated without a trace. Barrier Mage Lee Baejeong explained. "That Turtle Dragon was a production base and a router. A router that allowed the demons to draw on their original power. It''s no wonder they were all reverse-summoned when it was destroyed." ''Fairy King'' Na Jeongwon said. "Still, they held on well because they were quantity-based. If their numbers were 1/10th but each individual was ten times stronger, Seoul would already be a sea of flames." The giant gate slowly disappeared. In the distance, the horizon shimmered, and the buildings of Seoul began to appear. The crimson sky tore, revealing a blue sky, and the sounds of footsteps on asphalt echoed from the black earth burning with sulfur and embers. Before they knew it, the group of hunters was standing in the middle of a wide intersection in downtown Seoul. Citizens waiting anxiously outside the police line at the intersection were the first to burst into cheers. "Clear!" "We''re alive!" "Honey! You don''t have to sell the stocks! Buy more now!" The hunters, who had been holding their ground against the waves of enemies, cheered a beat later. "Did we win?" "We won!" "We won!?" Some even slapped their own cheeks in disbelief. It was understandable. Most of the hunters hadn''t even been informed of the plan where the three - Cheong Siyeol, Ryu Haneul, and the unnamed pyromancer - charged forward. Even the commanding officers who had received the plan were too busy trying to block the demon army that filled the horizon. A certain director from the Gate Management Bureau sheathed his sword with a deep sigh. ''We couldn''t have done it without Lee Eunwoo and Lee Baejeong. The Fairy King was our lifeline - without him, we wouldn''t have lasted 10 minutes. The arrival of the Magic Tower and the Holy Church gave us a fighting chance... but even then, I thought we were going to be overwhelmed.'' He honestly thought they were going to die, completely and utterly. The feeling of helplessness, that no matter how hard they struggled, they couldn''t change anything, rose to his throat. If even he, a veteran hunter who had experienced countless battles since Baekya, felt that way, the other hunters were all in a state of shock. Many hunters collapsed on the road from exhaustion. But, in the end, it was a victory. The director clapped his hands and roused the hunters around him. "Alright! Let''s move! Get up. Load the critically injured onto the emergency helicopters, and the lightly injured can find a healer on their own. The Holy Church is distributing holy water in the empty lot next door, so grab a bottle each." Then he looked at the two hunters who were the biggest contributors to this operation. In the very center of the intersection. On a beautiful afternoon with tall glass buildings rising in all four directions and the sun starting to set on one side. Amidst the cheers of joy from countless citizens and hunters. The hunter with the blue halo and the hunter with the purple halo stood still with dazed expressions. Cheong Siyeol was biting his lower lip as if overcome with self-disgust, and Ryu Haneul was clenching his fists as if filled with anger. ''The pyromancer must have died. I need to talk to the Support Bureau about designating him as a veteran and awarding him a medal. It''s a shame. Truly a shame.'' The director prayed for the repose of the rookie whose name he didn''t even know. He approached the two high-rankers. He could faintly hear their conversation. For a moment, the director doubted his ears. "Don''t you understand the situation? You killed your senior, and your senior saved you, even though it meant dying again. And you still can''t let go of your stubbornness? Are you even human?" "I admit that I was blind. But that''s why it''s even more impossible." "It''s all in the past now. Didn''t we go through all that trouble to make it that way?" Kill? Save? ''What are they talking about?'' He couldn''t follow their conversation. But he couldn''t intervene either. Cheong Siyeol''s deep blue halo, which visualized countless swords, sent shivers down his spine just by looking at it. "Can you say that in front of Joo Suhyeok?" Ryu Haneul''s purple halo, which symbolized the Eastern concept of "Heaven is Round, Earth is Square", made him feel as if he was being crushed by the world of the Heavenly Demon. "Since when did you care so much about others? Let''s not be so hypocritical. Or at least be honest. Did you secretly resent or envy your senior?" Ryu Haneul asked a question. A foxy sneer was mixed in his crescent moon-shaped smile. Cheong Siyeol responded with a glacial sneer. "What do you know to say that?" "...." "He is my idol, my hero, my sun. Before, now, and forever, as long as I live. I only wish for him to remain that way." Ryu Haneul looked as if he had been struck hard. He trembled as if he couldn''t overcome the surging emotions. "Yes, that''s true. But you also need to know this. Just as you saw your senior as an idol, a hero, and the sun, and will continue to do so, he will also continue to see you as his beloved disciple." "Do you think he will?" "The sun rises where it always rises and sets where it always sets. Seniors also live by inertia and emotions. In some ways, even more so than us. Your senior chose to save you instead of killing you even when the demon kicked you, and he will continue to save you." His tone was laced with intense jealousy, contempt, and indescribable anger. "You ruined everything back then. You could have changed everything, you could have had everything I wanted, and you could have achieved everything you wanted." Ryu Haneul walked past Cheong Siyeol and approached the director. Their shoulders bumped hard, and it wasn''t an accident, even on second glance. The director felt both curiosity about what they were talking about and the instinct that he shouldn''t ask even if the sky fell. Ryu Haneul, passing by him, gritted his teeth and shouted. "Sun-Moon Divine Sect. We''re withdrawing!" * * * Baekya headed not home, but to a nearby hotel. It wasn''t unusual for an Awakened, battered and bruised, to check in when a gate had just opened nearby. "A potion and some holy water, please. And a small room." He downed the potion and holy water the staff brought to his room in one gulp, then discarded his blood-stained shirt and pants, changing into a hotel gown. Sitting in a chair by the window, he called Wolha. A scream-like shout answered immediately. [You idiot! Have you completely lost your mind?!] Baekya frowned but didn''t let it show. This emotional reaction meant his act was working perfectly. [What were you thinking, going in there and causing a scene? What were you thinking?! Do you have a death wish or something?] S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You were worried. I''m sorry." He answered softly in a low voice, and a response came right away. [... Are you hurt?] The tone softened noticeably. "No. I didn''t really fight anywhere too intense." [Good.] "I want to come right away, but the guild and everyone else is calling. I''ll talk to them and then head over. If it takes too long, I might not get there until tomorrow afternoon." [Okay.] "Are you hurt?" [No.] "Alright. See you the day after tomorrow." Baekya ended the call with a gentle, smiling voice. And as soon as the call ended, all traces of his smile vanished. "Come in." Click. The doorknob of the hotel room turned behind him. Thud. Thud. Thud. An Awakened approached Baekya from behind and stood a step away. Although it was daytime, their faces were reflected in the windowpane. A halo where blue and black diamonds overlapped more than halfway. Dazzling earrings that didn''t quite match his cool, intellectual face. Baekya called his name. "Lee Eunwoo." He, too, called Baekya''s name. "Hong Baekya." They stared at their reflections in the window for a moment. Memories of a time when they stood in a similar configuration, in a different place, resurfaced in their minds. But they both knew too much had changed since then, so the peaceful silence didn''t last long. Lee Eunwoo spoke first. "Let''s talk about the future." He took out an Awakened cigar from his inner pocket and a gun from his waist. Click, instead of a bullet, a flame flickered from the trigger, and Lee Eunwoo inhaled a puff of smoke. His face bore the fatigue typical of someone engaged in complex calculations. Baekya, looking incredulous, reached behind him and snatched the cigar. "In front of me?" It was unclear whether he was referring to the display of fatigue or the act of smoking. Lee Eunwoo raised an eyebrow for a moment, then took out a second cigar. "Do you know this saying?" "I doubt it. I''m a middle school dropout." "If you kill 100 enemies, you become a hero, but if you save one ally, you become a god." "I know that one. I heard it in some kingdom inside the Tower." "But you killed them all. To the point where it overshadows all your glorious achievements." Lee Eunwoo lit his cigar again. Baekya chuckled and waved his hand. The cigar, which had been emitting wisps of smoke, was engulfed in flames. Lee Eunwoo flinched and spat out the cigar. "This...!" Baekya then spun his chair while still seated. Lee Eunwoo gripped the gun in his right hand with both hands and brought it to his chest. Click! His chest, with its rippling muscles like ropes, was exposed through the shower gown. The cold, black muzzle contrasted with his warm, white skin. Lee Eunwoo''s diamond-shaped halo reflected in his jet-black eyes, making them look like those of an android. "So? Are you going to kill me?" The halo above ''Mr. Pistol''s'' head flickered. Baekya, still holding Lee Eunwoo''s gun and wrist, continued. "Pisses you off, doesn''t it? Things aren''t going according to plan." "Baekya." "I guess you thought I''d be scared after dying once, but it wasn''t that bad." "Stop bluffing..." "I still need to be alive. Why? Because I closed the Rank 1 Gate." With each clear syllable he uttered, his crimson tongue flickered between his white teeth like that of an evil dragon. "At least a few million. It could have been more. If it was a head-on confrontation, even if all the hunters in Korea gathered there, it would have been a definite loss." "...." "Not to mention the Tower raids. You guys have never even been there without me, have you?" "The future is different." "But you had to call Ryu Haneul because so many died?" "...." Lee Eunwoo''s eyes clouded over like a computer''s loading screen. The more that happened, the more conviction Baekya''s voice carried. "But... I won''t let bad luck make me unhappy. Everything I''ve wished for and achieved from the past to now is all connected, isn''t it?" "Is that so?" "I wanted to see the top of the Tower. It was a long road to go alone, so I raised comrades. I realized that the country needs to be stable to secure a steady supply of power." "...." "So don''t look at me like that. I have no intention of conquering the world or anything." Lee Eunwoo spoke in a tone filled with endless suspicion. His finger traced up to the trigger. "What makes you so sure?" Baekya calmly let his hand be and continued. "I could have done it before, too." "!" "Things you can do anytime are practically already done. Destroying, burning, taking... those hold no value for me. Everyone knows I''m strong. Mending the social divide between Awakened and non-Awakened is harder than unifying Northeast Asia by force." A sigh escaped him as he uttered the last words. It was the kind of sigh only someone who constantly grappled with such concerns could make. "So help me. Keep that damn Bureau Director and my messed-up disciple from chasing me." Their gazes met in the air. Lee Eunwoo removed his finger from the trigger. "He won''t be able to chase you even if I do nothing." "Why?" "The aftermath of a Rank 1 Gate is a long and arduous process." "True. That''s true." He looked down at Baekya''s shoes. ¡¾The Little Prince''s Shoes (Comet)¡¿ ¡¾The Little Prince traveled between stars wearing these shoes.¡¿ The upper part looked like ordinary shoes, but the heel part glowed with an emerald crystal like ice. Artifacts from the Comet Store, which had a different system than ordinary artifacts ranging from Common to Unique, boasted incredible performance and mana consumption. "Your Ascension level has risen, I see. 6th Stage?" "That''s right." "I recommend focusing on that rather than stats. You know this better than me, but you get closer to Ascension by killing one Great Demon than 100 million small fries." Baekya readily nodded. "I know. I need to go in that direction. I''ve pretty much maxed out my basic stats." It wasn''t the content, but the fact that he offered helpful advice that mattered. Lee Eunwoo opened his inventory and took out a short sword. "Take this." It was a stylish short sword with a dark blade etched with cyberpunk-style blue patterns and a handle wrapped in paracord over metal. ¡¾22nd Century Katana (Master)¡¿ ¡¾A Master-grade artifact produced in the workshop of the Iron Blood Legion. Heat-resistant and sturdy, but at the cost of some sharpness.¡¿ [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 52 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 52 Baekya held the "22nd Century Katana" up to the light. The dark blade maintained its characteristic matte finish as if absorbing the light, while the red magic circuit embedded within it shone like a ruby vein in a rock. "Nice." "Right?" But he couldn''t just accept it outright. He was a popular hunter who had received numerous gifts like dolls with cameras in their eyes or luxury watches with built-in GPS. "What kind of tracking magic is on this? Something direct? Or is it more subtle, like a lingering scent?" Lee Eunwoo narrowed his eyes at Baekya''s question. "What kind of gifts have you been receiving?" "It''s not something where the tracking magic activates only when mana is infused, connecting the circuit momentarily, is it?" Baekya asked again in a nonchalant manner, and Lee Eunwoo shook his head. "Our style is satellites. Not tracking devices." "That makes sense. Then, even if I consider it goodwill..." "It''s not goodwill." Lee Eunwoo shook his head again. Baekya laughed awkwardly. "At least say it''s goodwill." Lee Eunwoo slightly lifted the corners of his mouth. "You''ve more than earned it. You bled and fought too, and who knows how long it would have taken to figure out the finale story without you. We might have run out of time completely." "...." Baekya didn''t answer. He simply stood up and turned around, trying to hide the natural curve of his eyes. He took out the Fire Dragon Sword''s scabbard from his inventory and sheathed the 22nd Century Katana. The long blade disappeared into the scabbard with a click. "So you acknowledge it." He said with his back turned. Lee Eunwoo muttered¡ª "You saved Cheong Siyeol too, didn''t you?" "You saw that? I should have just let him die." "Don''t say things you don''t mean." Baekya replied in the same muttering tone. "Yeah. I had no intention of letting him die. None of you." "Still arrogant, I see." "Don''t I have the right to be?" "Still reckless." "I don''t know about that. But one thing''s for sure..." He walked towards the hotel room door and glanced back. A benevolent smile curved on his firm jawline. "Correcting your disciples'' mistakes is also a teacher''s job. And a friend''s." Lee Eunwoo started to wave but stopped. He had seen too many horrific sights to believe those words. So, ''Mr. Pistol,'' who had lived his entire life by calculations and predictions, simply hoped at this moment. That they were all wrong and Baekya was right. That they had all just experienced a collective nightmare. * * * Inside the taxi heading to the Sun-Moon Divine Sect dormitory, Baekya, with his eyes half-closed in the backseat, continued his conversation with his Constellation. ¡¾"I sincerely congratulate you on reaching the 6th Stage."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' claps.¡¿ ''It''s all thanks to the Constellation''s grace.'' ¡¾"You showed me such a splendid scene that I couldn''t help but be gracious."¡¿ A pure smile, almost innocent, graced Baekya''s lips. ''I''m just grateful.'' ¡¾"Seeing you smile like that, it seems you really like the Comet Store."¡¿ ''I''m not exactly a hunter lacking in mana, am I?'' ¡¾"That''s true. Even when I open the store and let them buy artifacts, some kids can''t use them because they lack mana."¡¿ ¡¾"I''m so glad you have enough mana. It would be such a shame if you couldn''t use what I offered."¡¿ The ''Comet'' grade artifacts from the Comet Store boasted monstrous performance and equally monstrous mana consumption. Even the ''Little Prince''s Shoes'' that Baekya was currently wearing consumed so much mana that an average hunter wouldn''t be able to take a single step. Even Baekya, after exiting the gate, couldn''t bear to fly any further and had to resort to his ''Flame Arrow & Descent from Crimson Flame'' combination to escape. ''It''s thanks to the Constellation giving me Law of Light that I have such mana.'' ¡¾"...Is that so? Then why don''t you listen to me better usually?"¡¿ ''Don''t I listen well to most things?'' ¡¾"Can ''most things'' and ''usually'' coexist in the same sentence?"¡¿ ''What do you expect from an uneducated middle school dropout?'' ¡¾"Forget it. Continuing this conversation with you, who''s dealt with politicians, will only lead to my loss."¡¿ Hum. The halo, disguised as a white ring above his head, buzzed softly. Baekya smiled innocently once more and changed the subject. ''You heard everything I talked about with Eunwoo earlier, right?'' ¡¾"Yes. It''s time to face high-ranking beings. The merit of slaying 100,000 lizardmen doesn''t compare to slaying one dragon. You''re a whopping A-rank now, you know?"¡¿ According to the Magic Tower''s research, the ''rank'' in the Aitel system was a concept closer to quality than quantity. And this ''quality'' was practically synonymous with ''density.'' Increasing quantity doesn''t automatically increase density. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To further raise his rank, he needed to focus on the quality of his mana rather than the quantity. ''Even if I burn tens of thousands of ghosts like before, I can only recover the mana I used, not increase my maximum mana capacity.'' ¡¾"You need to find high-ranking entities."¡¿ ''That''s not as easy as it sounds, is it? In conquered floors, you''re lucky to find a B+, and gates are even worse.'' Finding high-ranking entities was harder than he thought. Even in the Rank 1 gate they just conquered, there were only two S-ranks. ¡¾"That doesn''t mean you should go into the Tower alone."¡¿ Of course, the Tower was a different story. ''What do you think about going as a duo... Just kidding. Just kidding.'' ¡¾"I admit, during the 50th floor incident, I couldn''t think of any other way. But if you do the same thing again, I''ll be the one exploding from frustration. I don''t want to see my contractor die a glorious death. No sacrifice or victory can compare to reaching the 100th floor."¡¿ ''I said I was kidding. I had no intention of rushing into the Tower recklessly.'' Even Baekya gave up on solo climbing after the 20th floor. Inside the Tower existed a vast world and countless magical beasts. Spending months there was the norm, and sometimes even centuries. The 50th floor was an exception among exceptions, a coincidence among coincidences. Although he did plan to challenge the Tower, it didn''t mean he would rush in recklessly. At the very least, he needed to reach rank S so that he could attempt a mid-climb retreat and retry if things got too dangerous. ''Sparring with Ryu Haneul... wouldn''t be very meaningful, would it?'' ¡¾"It would help, but there''s a limit to sparring."¡¿ ''For real growth, it needs to be a life-or-death situation.'' ¡¾"Wouldn''t he be willing to die for you?"¡¿ ''I was the one who achieved the goal while keeping alive someone who was willing to die for it. That''s how I earned the title of Sun.'' As he was having such thoughts and conversations, he arrived at the Sun-Moon Divine Sect dormitory apartment before he knew it. "We''re here." "Thank you." He returned to his assigned room. "I''m back." The house was bright, and a sweet scent filled the air. Wolha was watching the news on the living room sofa. [Cheong Siyeol of the Azure Sky Sword Sect, Ryu Haneul of Sun-Moon Divine Sect, and an unnamed pyromancer from Sun-Moon Divine Sect, who wished to remain anonymous, made a daring advance into the heart of the enemy forces in a small detachment... their heroic actions...] [The list of casualties is...] It was news about the Rank 1 gate. The Constellation in Baekya''s mind clicked her tongue. ¡¾"That child has a soft heart too. With the exam the day after tomorrow, she''s not studying and doing what instead?"¡¿ Baekya was taken aback by the Constellation''s absurd remark. ''A Rank 1 gate could have led to the downfall of the country. What good would being a civil servant be if the country is ruined?'' ¡¾"That''s true."¡¿ "Hyung!" Wolha sprang up from the sofa and ran towards the entrance. "You''re early! You said you might come tomorrow?" "Things changed. Haneul, no, the Deputy Sect Leader let me leave early. He said you''d be¡­ worried?" "He did?" For a moment, he couldn''t quite believe it. Then, a deep sense of relief washed over his delicate face. "...You''re not hurt, are you?" Wolha asked, raising one arm to cover her eyes. His red-rimmed eyes showed that he had been quite worried. Baekya grinned and spread his arms wide. "See for yourself. I''m fine, aren''t I?" Dinner that night was exceptionally delicious. ''Why is that?'' It would be strange if a meal after fighting for hours didn''t taste good, but there was something more to it. It was different from the times he''d throw parties, inviting all those who loved to play in Seoul whenever he conquered a floor in the Tower. ''Siyeol, it was your birthday, wasn''t it? Why didn''t you say anything?'' ''That''s...'' ''Happy birthday.'' ''Is it a day to celebrate?'' ''If you weren''t born today, we wouldn''t have met, right?'' ''That''s true.'' ''So it is a good day. A day to celebrate.'' It was a different kind of warmth, a bit more humble, but comforting. For a moment, Baekya almost dropped his chopsticks. "Hyung?" Wolha tilted his head, looking concerned. "It''s nothing. I guess I''m just a bit tired." Baekya smiled faintly and continued eating. During his time as the Awakened Association President, he had mastered the art of smiling regardless of his mood. But he hadn''t mastered the art of changing his mood. That was a skill even his great Constellation couldn''t bestow upon him. The Constellation spoke in his mind. ¡¾"What''s wrong?"¡¿ ''Oh Constellation.'' ¡¾"Yes."¡¿ Baekya answered inwardly. ''What if my family hadn''t died? If I came back from a fight and had dinner with my family, would it feel like this?'' ¡¾"...."¡¿ ''I had that thought.'' ¡¾"If your family were alive, do you think it would be like this?"¡¿ ''You never know with people. I had many disciples who were close to me like family. But still... yes, I think it would feel like this.'' The Constellation asked succinctly. ¡¾"Then isn''t that a good thing?"¡¿ ''....'' Baekya couldn''t answer. "Hyung?" Wolha called him again. "You''re not hurt anywhere, are you?" Baekya gave a complicated smile towards the empty air, then shook his head. "Let''s eat. It''s delicious." * * * + ¡¾Status Window 1. Name: Hong Baekya 2. Class: Pyromancer (A- ¡ú A) 3. Titles: Sun of Humanity, Bringer of Dawn, Master of Fire, The First and Greatest Climber.... 4. Regional Server: South Korea 5. Ascension Level: 7th Stage Angelus/Angel ¡ú 6th Stage Powers/Dominions 6. Skills: (Collapsed) 7. Stats: [Strength 500 ¡ú 580] [Agility 520 ¡ú 600] [Health 550 ¡ú 600] [Mana 750 ¡ú 797] ¡¿ + Baekya opened his status window with a satisfied smile. There were many sentences that pleased him today. He liked ''Pyromancer (A- ¡ú A),'' and he liked all his stats. [Strength 500 ¡ú 580] [Agility 520 ¡ú 600] [Health 550 ¡ú 600] [Mana 750 ¡ú 787] Except for his mana, which had slowed in its growth, all his stats had increased by 50 to 80 points, enough to change his rank in the lower tiers. Especially his Strength, Agility, and Health, which had been relatively lacking, had all seen significant improvement. Now he was confident that he could handle close combat and melee situations with sheer power, not just skill. ¡¾"Those are good numbers. It seems hunting demons was a big help."¡¿ ''They''re monsters whose mana is their flesh, a unity of body and spirit, so just absorbing their mana affects the other stats. They''re a generous race that gives without holding back.'' ¡¾"That''s an analogy I''ve never heard before."¡¿ Baekya scrolled down, listening to the Constellation''s voice. NEW! [Comet Store] He accessed the Comet Store next to the NEW! mark. ¡¾The Wandering Star comes to you.¡¿ The Comet Store''s signature phrase appeared, and the status window transformed into something resembling an online game''s shop interface. ¡¾Coat of Ten Thousand Colors (Comet)¡¿ ¡¾Supreme Crystal Potion (Comet)¡¿ ¡¾Frozen Skeleton (Comet)¡¿ Products dyed in the comet''s characteristic blue hue lined up. They were all excellent artifacts, but Baekya didn''t even glance at them. The Constellation asked. ¡¾"What are you going to buy?"¡¿ ¡¾"Don''t you like those gauntlets quite a bit?"¡¿ Baekya let out a groan. ''Not enough points.'' ¡¾"What?"¡¿ ¡¾"How can you be short on points? Don''t tell me it was soulbound?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' grabs the back of her neck.¡¿ The Aitel achievement points usable in the Comet Store were soulbound. Baekya had accumulated a fair amount of points in his new body. He had closed several gates, incinerated countless ghosts, and even cleared the 50th floor with just the two of them. But it wasn''t enough to freely purchase Comet-grade artifacts. The Constellation whispered in a voice that seemed ready to collapse. ¡¾"I can''t believe I''m making my contractor suffer such humiliation."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' is depressed.¡¿ ''Since I already bought the Little Prince''s Shoes, it seems I can barely afford one thing I need right now. I can get everything back once my inventory opens anyway.'' ¡¾"That''s true. What are you thinking of buying?"¡¿ Baekya had a plan. ''I''m looking for the "Compass that Chases Mythical Fragments."'' ¡¾"Good thinking! That''s how you find strong opponents!"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' is impressed by your wisdom and sponsors 2 mana stats.¡¿ ¡¾Mana +2¡¿ He scrolled and scrolled until he finally found the artifact he wanted. ¡¾Cracked Compass that Chases Mythical Fragments (Comet)¡¿ ¡¾Points to fragments of myths that have become reality. Meet monsters that escaped from gates and roam the Earth, legends brought to life by the Aitel system!¡¿ ¡¾*Accuracy may be slightly reduced due to cracks.¡¿ With this compass, he should be able to find monsters that escaped from gates and hid in the human world. If he killed them, he was sure to gain sufficiently dense mana. The problem was the price. ¡¾12,500,000 points¡¿ 12.5 million points. ¡¾Current points: 8,504,450 points¡¿ Unless there was a way to earn 4 million points overnight, he''d have to drool over it for a while. An uncracked one was currently in the realm of dreams and hopes. ¡¾"...Let''s just go back to the gates."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' is preparing combat support.¡¿ Even the Constellation was suggesting they go fight first. ''There''s no need for that.'' Baekya shook his head. ¡¾"Where do you plan to get 4 million points?"¡¿ ''Didn''t I pick up the spirit core earlier?'' ¡¾"You did."¡¿ ''Can''t I sell it here?'' ¡¾"....!"¡¿ He had a plan all along. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 53 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 53 ¡¾"It''s the first time a human is selling something to the Comet Store. Let''s give it a try."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' watches you with intrigued eyes.¡¿ Listening to the Constellation''s voice and the system notification, I pressed the seller chat window that appeared on one side of the Comet Store. A smaller chat window popped up on the sales window. [Manager: How can I help you today?] [Hong Baekya: Is selling also possible?] [Manager: I''m sorry, customer. Our Comet Store does not purchase goods from regional servers.] They don''t purchase? I wondered how they acquired items to sell, but I didn''t express my curiosity. Were there only one or two things in this world that I couldn''t understand? The important thing was to never stop trying to understand. And to confidently push forward with my own interpretations. [Hong Baekya: I have the core of a Rank 1 gate.] Gate cores were the most sought-after resource in this era, second only to mana stones. They were essential for creating space-type artifacts, especially defensive barriers installed in schools, government offices, and shelters. If it were a 4th or 5th rank core, they wouldn''t even bat an eye, but with a Rank 1 core, it might be a different story. [Manager: Please wait a moment.] As if to say my prediction was correct, an urgent notification popped up. How many minutes had passed? Ding. Ding. Ding. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Messages arrived in succession. [Manager: Customer Hong Baekya.] [Manager: First of all, we sincerely thank you for your boundless love and support for our company.] [Manager: We would like to inform you that our Comet Store is interested in purchasing the Rank 1 gate core.] Yes. I knew it would work. [Manager: We propose two sales methods.] [Manager: 1. Auction, 2. Immediate purchase.] [Manager: The auction will be held at the end of this month, and the starting bid for the Rank 1 gate core is 8 million Aitel achievement points. The commission fee upon successful bid is 25%.] [Manager: In the case of immediate purchase, payment is possible as soon as you hand over the item. The price we''ve appraised is 15 million Aitel achievement points.] I carefully read through the series of messages. And I made my decision right away. [Hong Baekya: I would like to request an immediate purchase.] [Manager: An excellent choice!] A reply came as soon as I wrote, and I also heard the Constellation''s voice. ¡¾"If the starting bid for the auction is 8 million, the final bid will be several times that. Even considering the commission fee, it would be an overwhelming profit. Why did you choose immediate purchase?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' makes a questioning gesture.¡¿ I answered firmly. "How can I wait until the end of the month?" ¡¾"....?"¡¿ "If there''s something that needs to be done, it needs to be done now. Wasting time over a few pennies is a bigger loss. Moreover, I''m currently being hunted. I need to keep moving and keep growing to stay ahead of my disciples'' expectations." ¡¾"That''s true."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' understands.¡¿ The Constellation understood. Another message popped up. [Manager: Please move to a location where you can see the night sky and display the item. We will dispatch a retrieval team immediately.] [Manager: The points will be paid as soon as you hand over the item to the retrieval team. We hope you have a good day...] I opened my inventory and took out the Rank 1 gate core. The crimson orb, the size of two fists combined, glowed ominously yet beautifully. Slide. I opened the window wide and even opened the screen. The weather was nearing early winter, past late autumn. A cool breeze poured in. I looked up at the sky. A shooting star streaked across the night sky, which would normally be obscured by city lights. Just as I thought the meteor was heading this way... Fwoosh! A blinding emerald light filled my vision. ["Item successfully received, Customer Hong Baekya."] The light was too bright to see their faces. All I could remember was the refreshing voice and the gentle touch that took the core. The next moment, the blue meteor soared back into the sky, tracing the same trajectory it had come from. It passed over the Aitel Tower, piercing the sky. I enjoyed the lingering afterglow of the spectacle that had become commonplace for a moment, then closed the window. * * * ¡¾Cracked Compass that Chases Mythical Fragments (Comet)¡¿ ¡¾Points to fragments of myths that have become reality. Meet monsters that escaped from gates and roam the Earth, legends brought to life by the Aitel system!¡¿ ¡¾*Accuracy may be slightly reduced due to cracks.¡¿ A compass lay on the desk. It was a compass encased in black metal, with an emerald crystal needle. As the descriptor "cracked" suggested, there was a thick crack on its surface, but thankfully, the needle itself seemed undamaged. ¡¾"Hurry up and use it!"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' exclaims with anticipation.¡¿ "Yes." I held the compass in my hand and infused it with mana. Hum! The needle vibrated softly and spun around in all directions. Click! After a few spins, the needle pointed in one direction and stopped precisely. ¡¾"It stopped. Where is it pointing?"¡¿ "I''ll check." I accessed a map website on my laptop and confirmed the direction. It was northwest, closer to the west. It was a direction that almost followed the Han River, and if I kept going that way, I would reach Gimpo City and Ganghwa County. It meant that there was some escaped monster or a legend brought to life by the Aitel system in that direction. Surely it didn''t mean I had to go all the way to China. ¡¾"But isn''t that a Comet Store item?"¡¿ The Constellation read my mind and spoke. ¡¾"Perhaps it''s pointing to a planet a few light-years away in that direction?"¡¿ That was quite a shocking thought. "I don''t think so." ¡¾"Is that a guess or a wish?"¡¿ "A wish." I checked the map on my laptop once more. I hoped some information I had received in the past would come to mind. Come to think of it, the directional information wasn''t that precise. In the past, I would have immediately dispatched a helicopter, but I''m not in a position to do that anymore, am I? I could ask Ryu Haneul, but that would be too conspicuous. I don''t even want to imagine Cheong Siyeol firing a Azure Sky Sword Slash at a helicopter. Oh? At that moment, a familiar place name caught my eye. It was a place I couldn''t forget even if I tried. Because I had thought about burning it down. I smiled brightly and spoke to the Constellation. "I found it." ¡¾"You found it?"¡¿ "I know where it''s pointing." I zoomed in on an area in Ganghwa Island. "This is that bastard Choi Gimin''s guardian warehouse." ¡¾"Choi Gimin? That..."¡¿ "Yes. The backer of that thief bastard, the punk with the dreadlocks. That bastard wreaks havoc on everyone, regardless of whether they''re Awakened or not." ¡¾"I remember you being angry about him."¡¿ "Yes. He often used thieves to raid the warehouses of other high-rankers. If it were just items being stolen, I''d be angry but let it slide. Most of the items in the warehouse aren''t immediately profitable anyway. The problem is..." ¡¾"The problem is?"¡¿ A sigh escaped me just thinking about it. "He steals the Guardians too." ¡¾"Steals the Guardians?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' is puzzled.¡¿ "Guardians are much more expensive than you''d think. They''re artifacts that rarely appear even within the Tower. And since he knows how to sell them off well, he takes everything, the warehouse and the Guardians." Most of the stolen Guardians end up with broken internal circuits, becoming unusable. They go berserk, unable to recognize their owners, and destroy everything within their designated space. Of course, that bastard sells even those broken Guardians as stolen goods overseas. ¡¾"So you''re saying there''s a collection of Guardians there?"¡¿ "Yes. Aren''t most Guardians beings that protect something in myths and legends?" Even my Guardian was Ajax, the hero from Greek and Roman mythology. There were also various other Guardians like the dragon guarding the golden apples, the Haetae guarding the palace gates, and the firstborn of the Dragon''s Nine Sons, the Bixi. "With dozens of such Guardians gathered in one place, it''s no wonder the compass pointed straight there." The Constellation whispered in an excited voice. ¡¾"If you go there, you can feast on high-quality mana. And since they''re broken, you don''t have to feel guilty about destroying someone else''s property. You can even get back at that punk who tried to rob your warehouse."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' looks at you with eyes filled with both excitement and anxiety.¡¿ Then, her voice lowered. ¡¾"But remember, you''re making another enemy."¡¿ "That''s true." ¡¾"If I recall correctly, he''s also a Regressor, but he''s never come after you before. Ryu Haneul didn''t mention him either. Are you sure you want to make another Regressor your enemy?"¡¿ I was grateful for her concern. But if I just ended it with a "thank you," I wouldn''t be worthy of being called the Chosen One. The love and support of the Constellations were never unconditional favors. "Actually, I just had an idea." ¡¾"What is it?"¡¿ "There are three main ways to become stronger. First, like me, absorbing mana, or like most hunters, accumulating achievements, or simply fighting enemies to get stronger. Second, there''s the method of consuming elixirs." ¡¾"What else is there?"¡¿ "Yes. There''s also the method of buying artifacts." ¡¾"Ah."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' makes a face as if they''ve been outsmarted.¡¿ "Currently, I have the legendary artifact ''Winter Vanguard''s Standard'' and the heroic artifact ''World-Reflecting Mirror.'' Both are nerfed. If I can restore them, it would be a great help to my strength." Even in their nerfed state, they were powerful artifacts that amplified mana, distorted the laws of the Tower, and created subspaces. If I could recover from the rank downgrade, it would be a huge help. Maybe I could even enter the Tower before reaching S-rank. "But... as you know, I''m not in a position to openly seek out a master artifact crafter right now." The hunter industry wasn''t free trade; it was protectionism. Awakened individuals in the crafting class who could handle heroic-grade or higher artifacts all worked exclusively for large guilds or were affiliated with agencies, only taking on 1-on-1 commissions. In the past, I could have summoned 10 or 100 of them with a single phone call, but I wasn''t the same person anymore. "The Iron Blood Legion and Sun-Moon Divine Sect also have master artifact crafters, but they are all experts in swords or firearms." ¡¾"So?"¡¿ "That bastard Choi Gimin is a gangster and a black market dealer. He has his hands in everything, both domestically and internationally. If I can crush him, if I can get him to cooperate!" The Constellation seemed to grasp my intentions and burst into laughter. ¡¾"Ah..."¡¿ ¡¾"What a clever contractor! You were planning to fight from the beginning, weren''t you?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' feels both excitement and fear at your bold attitude and ambitious plan.¡¿ I concluded confidently. "I can start by absorbing high-quality mana and even look forward to restoring the artifact''s rank." Hum. The halo above my head buzzed softly. The Constellation promised her support in battle. ¡¾"Let''s do it right away! I''ll provide the best support. I look forward to your success."¡¿ I opened my inventory and took out the ''22nd Century Katana'' that Lee Eunwoo had given me. Looking at the stylishly curved blade, I thought to myself. This was still just a delusion that I couldn''t even hope for, so I didn''t tell the Constellation. But if that bastard Choi Gimin had connections to that place I knew... Then the growth of Law of Light wasn''t just a dream either. * * * After two days of complete rest and recovery, I departed for the warehouse in Ganghwa Island. The hardliner Regressors like Lee Baejeong, Cheong Siyeol, Joo Suhyeok, and Park Seojin were all busy running around dealing with the aftermath of the Rank 1 gate. Choi Gimin''s Guardian warehouse wasn''t utilizing subspace like mine; he had illegally occupied an abandoned large art museum building. There were countless protective and warding spells, but... ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' effectively... ''Oh, there was something urgent!''¡¿ They crumbled like spring snow before the constellation. Creak. I opened the warehouse door. Dust was accumulating on the rows of exotic sculptures. Sunlight streaming through the large windows cast grotesque shadows on the sculptures'' faces. It was as if they, unable to fulfill their duties and broken, were screaming and writhing. I drew the 22nd Century Katana. At the same time, the sculptures began to move. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 54 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 54 Guardians were fundamentally made of stone or metal, large or small. They took on various forms: Japanese-style with armor and a longsword, Indian-style with an androgynous appearance and eight arms, Greek-style holding a brass shield and a bronze spear, and even Korean mythical beasts like the Haetae. [TL/N: Haetae is usually portrayed as a lion-like creature with scales covering its body, a horn on its forehead, and often a bell or flame motifs around it. A mythical creature from Korean folklore and history. It''s often depicted as a guardian figure and holds a special place in Korean culture.] The museum building was spacious, and all the partitions had been removed, allowing a clear view from one end to the other. Except for the scattered pillars, there was nothing to obstruct the view. Baekya quickly assessed the overall number. ''About 20 in total.'' It wasn''t a number he could incinerate in one go with Law of Light. The Guardians were teeming with high-ranking entities around A-rank. Even now, his head ached from the constant ''warning!'' alerts. Even if he could turn five or six of them into white orbs in an instant, countless spears and swords would fly at him the moment he gasped for breath. Therefore, all big moves were sealed. He had to resolve this through pure melee combat. Baekya placed the ''World-Reflecting Mirror'' in his inner suit pocket and held the ''22nd Century Katana'' in his right hand and the ''Eternal Cold Steel Dagger'' in his left. Click. Click. He had received the Eternal Cold Steel Dagger as a reward for clearing the finale story ''Winter Vanguard.'' It was resistant to heat, so even when he used ''Radiant Sword'' at full power to heat the blade, it wouldn''t be damaged. ¡¾Traits: Impervious to Water and Fire, Impervious to Swords, Hot Blood, Underdog... are activated.¡¿ ¡¾Titles: Sun of Humanity, Destroyer of Cogwheels, Master of Fire, Gargoyle Slayer... are activated.¡¿ Countless notification windows popped up on one side of his vision, while the movements of the Guardians filled the other side. Creak. Creak! The brass Indian-style Guardian was moving its joints, turning its neck around. Its eight arms, adorned with jeweled bracelets, opened and closed like lotus petals a few times. Boom! The next moment, the Indian-style Guardian kicked off the museum floor and charged. The dust that had accumulated on its face fell away in an instant. It was a terrifying speed, leaving no time to even check its name, basic specs, or rank with ''Insight.'' A beat later, the other Guardians also moved. The Japanese samurai, the Greek hero, and the Korean mythical beast all sought to bite and tear the unholy intruder to shreds. The Indian-style Guardian, the first to move, formed a strange hand gesture and thrust its eight hands forward. Just before those hands could tear Baekya''s suit jacket to shreds... Baekya infused mana into the ''World-Reflecting Mirror.'' Fwaaaash! Concentric circles spread out from Baekya. The next moment, only the Indian-style Guardian and Baekya stood in the black and white museum. The Indian-style Guardian''s two pairs of eyes twitched. The sudden change in space and the redefinition of the ''place to be protected'' was the first factor. The second factor was that all its comrades who had charged together had vanished. But no matter what anomaly occurred, the goal remained the same: kill the enemy, the cunning intruder, in front of it. "---, ---!" The Guardian let out a metallic roar like thunder and continued to extend its eight hands. Baekya''s eyes focused not on the eight hands, but on the Guardian''s heart. The 22nd Century Katana in his right hand glowed like burning coal. The Eternal Cold Steel Dagger in his left hand didn''t turn red, but the heat haze distorting the surrounding space showcased its intensity. Whoosh! The eight hands targeted eight vital points on Baekya: the crown of his head, temples, philtrum, neck, heart, lungs, solar plexus, and thighs. Each strike carried enough power to crush a B+-rank monster. In response, Baekya swung the 22nd Century Katana just once. ¡¾Golden Ring Eclipse¡¿ ¡¾Leaving only a golden ring¡¿ Whirl! The red-hot blade rotated in a wide arc from right to left. The tip of the blade drew a bright circle in the air, ending with a curve. The middle and base of the blade, due to their tremendous speed, drew dark circles as if space itself had been sliced. The eight arms caught in those circles all rotated in the same direction the blade had spun. Swish. Swish. Swish! All eight arms of the Indian-style Guardian twisted and turned, bending to the left. Baekya switched the Eternal Cold Steel Dagger to a reverse grip and stepped forward. He stabbed the dagger into the Guardian''s heart, where its spirit core resided. Screech! Mana sparks flew as the dagger''s tip clashed with the Guardian''s brass body. But only for a moment. The dagger, imbued with both the Eternal Cold Steel''s chill and the heat from the Radiant Sword skill, pierced through the Guardian''s body. Thud! It penetrated the spirit core in one swift motion. After the Rank 1 gate incident, Baekya could infuse all the flames he wielded with the light of Law of Light. Naturally, both Radiant Sword and the dagger, empowered by the Radiant Sword skill, contained that power. The dense mana of the A-rank Guardian shattered into fragments. Within the mirror world, the Indian-style Guardian crumbled and dissipated like melting snow. Its four blood-red eyes reverted to green. The Indian-style Guardian brought its eight hands together in a prayer-like gesture and bowed its head. "The place I was protecting... was not this ruin." "I know." A sad yet gentle smile appeared on its lips, which had been filled with wrath. "In the end, I couldn''t protect anything." A moment later, even that smile turned into white orbs and scattered. Tssss. The incineration was complete. The high-quality mana that had formed the spirit core flowed into Baekya. A burning sensation, like drinking strong liquor, warmed his stomach. There was also a tingling sensation, like bubbles of carbonation, as if he had swallowed a mouthful of starlight. Baekya took a deep breath and gathered the absorbed mana. ''This is more efficient than I thought?'' The payback from Law of Light decreased the stronger and denser the opponent''s mana was. He had expected at most a drop or two of good quality mana, but this was closer to a mouthful. The Constellation spoke in his mind. Ding. ¡¾"I never imagined you''d pull it into the mirror world."¡¿ "I didn''t want to get surrounded and beaten up." ¡¾"You''ve been recklessly charging in all this time, even though you knew this strategy? You weren''t enjoying watching me burn with frustration, were you?"¡¿ "How did you know... no, never mind." ¡¾"What?"¡¿ "The reason I haven''t been interested in strategy until now is that I am the strategy. Don''t they say that if your body is good, your head doesn''t have to suffer?" ¡¾"Is that right? In my memory, it was the opposite. Your world''s sayings change too quickly."¡¿ "Anyway, I haven''t used it until now because I haven''t had the need to, not because I didn''t know how. Please understand that." ¡¾"Alright."¡¿ Baekya focused his mana once more on the hand mirror in his inner pocket. "Then, I''ll go again." ¡¾"Go ahead."¡¿ Just before dismantling the mirror world, he asked one more question. "But are you satisfied with this kind of picture?" ¡¾"What do you mean?"¡¿ "If I remember correctly, you seemed to enjoy watching me bleed and roll around." ¡¾"That''s a groundless slander. Do you think I''m such a twisted Constellation?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' frowns and refutes.¡¿ ¡¾"You know everything, so why are you acting like this? It''s thrilling to fight your way up from the bottom, but it''s the most fun to trample those below from the top."¡¿ "...." Baekya''s lips twitched. It was unclear whether it was a smile or a frown, or perhaps both. ¡¾"Don''t deny it. You''re the Awakened I chose. I can see right through you."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' smiles slyly and strokes your cheek.¡¿ Instead of answering further, Baekya dismantled the mirror world and faced the next Guardian. Crash! The black and white world cracked and shattered. Color returned for a moment, and... "Intruder!" The Greek-style sculpture, wielding a spear, charged forward. Tssss! Once again, color drained from the world. That day, Baekya incinerated and devoured a total of 17 broken Guardians. "Huff, huff!" By the time the battle ended, the sun had almost completely set. He lay on a sofa in the abandoned museum building, gasping for breath. His sweat-drenched abs twitched between his torn suit jacket and shirt. The Eternal Cold Steel Dagger was rolling on the floor, and the 22nd Century Katana had several chips in its blade. The mirror overloaded a few times, forcing him to take out the Winter Vanguard''s Standard to assist. The rewards of the fierce battle were more than enough. Baekya smiled like a sports player who had won after a hard-fought match. "I succeeded." The Constellation spoke in a tone that suggested they were bursting with pride. ¡¾"You''re brimming with starlight."¡¿ "It feels like I''m just one step away from A+." ¡¾"Since you''re already here, why not finish off the remaining three?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' expresses curiosity.¡¿ A warm breeze, unseasonably warm for the time of year, blew in, drying his sweat and ruffling his hair. In the direction the wind was blowing, there were three Guardians remaining inside the museum. They were the Korean Haetae, the Egyptian Anubis, and the Chinese Terracotta Warrior. Unlike the other broken Guardians, they didn''t attack even after seeing Baekya. After a moment of contemplation, Baekya replied. "I''ll take those into the Subspace." ¡¾"You''re not going to incinerate and absorb them?"¡¿ "Seeing as they''re staying still, they''re probably not broken. In that case, it''s definitely more profitable to take them. As I said, Guardians aren''t cheap. If these weren''t broken, I wouldn''t even consider using them as fuel for Law of Light." ¡¾"So you''re saying you''ll take them and sell them."¡¿ "You''re wise." ¡¾"Shouldn''t you find their owners and return them?"¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' says something they don''t mean.¡¿ Baekya approached each Guardian and examined them carefully. "As far as I know, these were in Jeongwon''s warehouse. He killed me once, so let''s consider this payback. I''ll burn that damn watch and return them double." He pushed the three Guardians into his inventory ring. The museum, which had been filled with 20 Guardians, was now empty. Baekya dusted off his hands and smiled with satisfaction. "Now, that bastard Choi Gimin will come looking for me at my warehouse." ¡¾"How do you know?"¡¿ "No matter how much of a punk and a scumbag he is, he''s still a Ranker. That means neither the goods he acquires nor his power is something smuggling organizations can easily handle." ¡¾"So?"¡¿ "So he gets paid a lot upfront." ¡¾"He''s got guts for a thief."¡¿ "He has some Ranker pride, so he won''t want to stiff anyone. There aren''t that many places that can handle stolen goods like this." ¡¾"So he''ll try to steal more Guardians?"¡¿ "And there just happens to be an ownerless warehouse. A warehouse with two A+ rank Guardians." Baekya left the museum with a bold laugh. It was time to prepare for the fight with Choi Gimin. He had to subdue him, use the information gained from him to upgrade his artifacts, and then challenge the 51st floor with those artifacts. ''Aitel.'' To him, Earth was a cradle. But no one could stay in the cradle forever. * * * In a private room of a members-only club. A man sat on a luxurious leather sofa, legs crossed, with a wicked grin on his face. "Heh, hahaha! Hahaha!" A halo shaped like a circle of green scales floated above his head. He had his braided dreadlocks tied up neatly, wore flashy designer sunglasses, and was dressed in a sensual Versace shirt. Despite his rough fashion sense, he was a handsome man who would turn heads on the street. His face was flawless, and his expression was cheerful. His name was Choi Gimin. He was a Ranker fluctuating between the top 10 and 20 in the national rankings and the most famous gangster in Korea. He leaned forward and grabbed the ice bucket on the table. He took a swig of whiskey straight from the bottle in the ice bucket and then put it down next to the sofa. "Ah." He wiped the liquor from his mouth with his sleeve. "Ah. I guess I was really underestimated." He took ice cubes from the ice bucket and threw them mockingly at the hunters in black suits lying on the floor. Thud. Thud! The ice cubes hit the heads of the suited hunters and shattered. Their faces contorted in pain. They were elite agents from the Management Bureau. There was even a Ranker in the top 30 among them, and they were a formidable strike team that had once subdued a top 20 Ranker with a group of five or six. It took less than 10 minutes for them all to be crushed by Choi Gimin. "Lee Baejeong, that bastard, told me to bring you in? You bastard, back then you were begging me to help you, and now your attitude has changed?" Choi Gimin laughed at the Management Bureau agents sprawled on the floor. "Ah. I''m also hesitant to kill all of you, you know? Believe it or not, I''m a patriot too. For me to live as I please, the country needs to be in good shape, right? So..." Just as he was about to utter a dreadful condition. Ring! Ring! Ring! His smartphone rang loudly. "Hello! What? ... What? You got robbed? What nonsense!" He hurriedly got up from the sofa and paced back and forth after receiving the call. "Alright! I''m on my way!" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He shoved his smartphone into his pocket and left the room. "Shit! Consider yourselves lucky!" The Management Bureau agents tried to follow him, but their frozen bodies showed no signs of movement. Choi Gimin ran down the hallway, thinking. ''Who the hell would steal that? Shit! When you''re having bad luck, things like this happen. ... Come to think of it, that bastard Daeho hasn''t returned. And Baekya''s warehouse had powerful Guardians too. I need to go there tomorrow.'' He pushed open the exit door with both hands. ''He really is our sun, whether alive or dead. When he''s alive, he protects us with the Awakened Protection Law, and when he''s dead, he protects my pockets with his legacy. I don''t know why he ends up like that in the future, but it''s all in the past now. ... Huh?'' Choi Gimin frowned and looked up. Dozens of laser pointers were aimed at him. "Hands up!" "Don''t move! Or We''ll shoot!" Dozens of fully armed Awakened Management Bureau agents were positioned in front of him. Not only were there white ordinary halos, but also several Chosen Ones'' halos, boasting various colors. "Ah." Choi Gimin didn''t even blink in the face of their numbers. "Looks like I have to make another run today." The green scale-like halo above his head vibrated rapidly, emitting a threatening sound. He slowly took off his sunglasses. "I''ll go easy on you. You''ll be free in a few hours." His eyes flashed yellow-green. Flash. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 55 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 55 In the backseat of Ryu Haneul''s sedan. Ryu Haneul and I sat side-by-side, engaged in conversation. "That''s really unfair of you. You''re going to meet another Regressor and you''re leaving me behind. And it''s not even someone reasonable like Jeongwon or Eunwoo, it''s the biggest gangster in Korea!" "You''re starting to act like my guardian, aren''t you?" "Senior, you''re still an A-rank. Once you get that S back next to your class, I won''t interfere with where you go or who you fight. But not now. I don''t have the confidence to turn back time twice." "There was only one person who could tell me what to do, and it''s not you." "I''m a Regressor! In reality, I''m not that much younger than you." "Don''t make me laugh. Should we include the time spent in the Tower in our age?" The purple halo above Ryu Haneul''s head vibrated softly. "I... I earned the right to spend time with you, Senior! You have to give me a proper reward." His sincerity was evident. "In that case, I''m the reward, not the one giving it. Forget it. Let''s drop it." I decided to give in. To be honest, having an S-rank hunter who listens well and is skilled to accompany me was something to be grateful for. I was just worried about him. I turned my body to face him and asked¡ª "Are you okay?" "With what?" "Everything. From the aftermath of the Rank 1 gate to other Regressors targeting you. Plus, come to think of it, I left you in the middle of the monsters at the Rank 1 gate and ran away." Unlike the other Regressors who were already single-digit rankers, like Cheong Siyeol, Na Jeongwon, Lee Eunwoo, and Joo Suhyeok, this guy, in the original timeline, was just an ordinary person who hadn''t even Awakened yet. Even if he''s an S+ rank now, he has to start from level 1 again. Of course, he''d be on a different level compared to most monsters and hunters, but the hardliner Regressors he''d be up against were not ''most'' anything. "You''re finally telling me now." Ryu Haneul smiled bashfully. His shoulders, bathed in the backlight streaming through the window, still looked narrower than Cheong Siyeol''s. "I''m a hero now. Didn''t you see the news?" He took out his smartphone and snuggled close to me. As the scent of orchids filled the air, almost overpowering, he showed me the news articles and YouTube videos he was featured in. [Heavenly Demon''s Advent, Ten Thousand Demons Submit, Both in the Tower and the Gate!] [Exclusive! The Great Deeds of Sun-Moon Divine Sect''s Rookie] [Let''s learn about the 3-man suicide squad!] Millions of views were the norm, and his solo interview had long surpassed 10 million views. I looked at him anew. His triumphant smile was indeed befitting of a Heavenly Demon. "They can''t touch me, you know? It was the same in the future. They may be traitors who would tear each other apart, but they pride themselves on being patriots. They can''t touch me as long as I''m a hero." He continued¡ª "So¡­ Don''t go anywhere without me." I chuckled and leaned back into the seat. "I''ll think about it." "Senior!" "Tell me about that Choi Gimin bastard. What was he like in the future? Did he somehow manage to survive?" "Well, it wasn''t much different. He was always causing trouble, and every time, you''d beat him up. After you fell, he went around China, Japan, and Korea, acting like an international gangster, and then joined the 99th-floor expedition team." "I guess he turned over a new leaf there?" "No way. He caused so much trouble even within the expedition team that he almost got kicked out. He''d seduce women with boyfriends or men with girlfriends, act like a savior and collect tributes from people, assault, theft, dine-and-dash... He was a disgrace to all Rankers." "Did Na Jeongwon or Cheong Siyeol just let that slide? Especially Na Jeongwon, I''d think she would have killed him by now." Ryu Haneul let out a soft sigh. "Because even considering all that, he was an incredible debuffer." I nodded. "That''s true." It was the same reason I had kept Choi Gimin alive until now. Choi Gimin''s ''Petrification'' wasn''t really about turning people into stone, but closer to the concept of ''stopping'' them. This skill was useful in combat, but it shined even more in evacuating the wounded. He could temporarily petrify people who were dying from various injuries and then unpetrify them later in a safe place for treatment. If any other hunter had lived like that, I would have killed him, no matter what kind of infamy he gained. But he was an Awakened who could save allies. I couldn''t let go of that lingering hope. "I heard that on some battlefield, he even stopped an Awakened who was hit by your Law of Light before they dissipated." "That''s really impressive. It''s not something to say in this context, but it''s enough to hurt my pride." "Anyway, Senior, you''re planning to lure in such a monster. Do you have a countermeasure for petrification?" An old vinyl greenhouse came into view in the distance. I fiddled with the ''World-Reflecting Mirror'' in my inner pocket and replied. "Of course I do." * * * Vroom. Choi Gimin parked his sports car in front of the field where Baekya''s warehouse was located. "Ugh, this place stinks every time I come here. What''s wrong with building a warehouse in a basement or something?" He crossed the field towards the greenhouse with a disgusted look on his face. His gaze was filled with revulsion as he looked at the mud sticking to his shoes. ¡¾Protective magic: ''Oh, there was that promise'' is not working.¡¿ The protective magic activated, but it couldn''t stop him, who possessed the power of the Gorgon. "It''s for ordinary people. How bold. He must have thought, ''Who would dare touch my warehouse?'' That''s how arrogant this bastard was." Choi Gimin opened the door without hesitation and entered the warehouse. Black water rose shallowly, enough to wet the soles of his shoes, the ceiling heightened, and the space expanded left and right. In no time, he stood before a white temple rising in the middle of a black world. "...." He also felt a sensation of passing through a double-layered membrane. Such a sensation was common when entering a subspace, so he ignored it. "Who else but Baekya would light the place with white flames?" Choi Gimin scoffed, even though there was no one to hear him, and climbed the temple stairs. At the entrance, white flames burned in two braziers placed on either side, and the ''Desire-Reflecting Mirror'' stood tall in the middle. ''When will the Guardians~ come out~?'' Choi Gimin tried to pass by without even glancing at it. Then he suddenly noticed something strange. ''Wasn''t that mirror frame originally decorated with lapis lazuli? Why does it look black?'' "Shit! What''s this?" It was also suspicious that no protective system had activated even though he was already inside the temple. He turned around to go back down the stairs. At that moment, an unexpected answer grabbed his shoulder. "What do you think?" "....!" Choi Gimin flinched and turned around. From behind a large pillar, a flawless-looking man walked out leisurely. He had jet-black hair that seemed to absorb light and deep eyes that dripped with the charisma unique to high-ranking Awakened. The Chosen One of the brightest Constellation closest to him. Choi Gimin recognized him. "Ah!? Shit!? You¡­ You¡­ you weren''t dead? I saw Cheong Siyeol rip out your heart!" It was an opponent he couldn''t mistake. Baekya clicked his tongue in disbelief. "My junior in the future only recognized me after using Insight, clashing swords, and all that, and my disciple who''s been with me for years couldn''t recognize me even after fighting together, but how did you figure it out just by looking at me once?" With a casual gesture, he untied the handkerchief from his wrist and held it in his hand. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hum. The disguise disappeared. A red halo, like the rising sun on the horizon, and as flamboyant as an Indian mandala, cast a dark backlight over Baekya''s face. Step. As he descended a step, he asked¡ª "You''re living the same way even after regressing? From the looks of it, you''ve cut ties with the other Regressors too." Choi Gimin unconsciously took a step back. "This bastard..." And then, realizing that, he gritted his teeth in shame. His jaw clenched, and his hands reached up to the sunglasses on his face. Slide. "Whatever. Shit. If I catch you and gift-wrap you myself, that bastard Lee Baejeong will leave me alone." The sunglasses came off. His yellow-green eyes, slit vertically like a snake''s, gleamed. The magic eyes that wielded countless powers, including petrification, were revealed. "A guy like you, who loves to act all high and mighty, didn''t even bother announcing yourself as Hong Baekya! That means you''re still a weakling, right? Right? Shit! I knew it!" Choi Gimin, standing at the bottom of the stairs, looked up at Baekya on the top. His eyes gleamed with thrill and excitement. It was a chance to break free from his long oppression and retaliate. "You know about partial petrification, right? I''ll just freeze your limbs. You''ll still be able to think and scream." He felt a rush of blood to his lower body and let out a chilling laugh. "Looking forward to it?" And then he used his signature skill, Petrification. The halo above his head vibrated intensely. ¡¾Petrification¡¿ Flash! A yellow-green light flashed from his eyes. The light, radiating in a narrow fan shape, rushed towards Baekya. Baekya stood there, doing nothing. He didn''t swing his sword or use Law of Light. Instead, a large mirror, as if ''summoned'' from thin air, descended and hovered in mid-air. "Shit?!" It reflected Choi Gimin''s petrification beam head-on. Clang! "Ugh!" Just as Baekya didn''t burn and Ryu Haneul didn''t succumb to demonic energy, Choi Gimin wasn''t affected by petrification. However, the shock of being directly hit by mana remained. He stumbled backward as if kicked hard in the chest and fell to the floor. "Gah, ugh!" He landed on his butt and scrambled back, moving his limbs awkwardly. He couldn''t understand what had happened. Baekya was a pyromancer, not a mage. There was no way he could use a skill like reflection. Baekya descended another step and spoke. "This is a mirror world. Aside from petrification, most projectile-type abilities won''t work here." He shot a flame arrow into the air. Ping! The arrow, flying forward, disappeared at some point and flew in from behind the temple. Baekya, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, calmly caught the arrow, chuckled, and snapped it in half. "The moment you entered, you already lost." Choi Gimin felt a chill ran down his spine and asked¡ª "When did you activate it?" "From the moment you entered." "Shit. I walked right into it." His heart pounded in his chest, and he clenched his fists tightly. He leaped into the air, lowering his stance. His eyes gleamed with a light different from when he used skills, and his fists, covering the lower half of his face, were covered in hard, sharp scales. Tssss! The more concentrated his mana, the stronger it became. This was why using a weapon didn''t always guarantee an advantage. Baekya let out a mocking laugh. "You''re going to face me without Petrification?" Choi Gimin kicked off the ground without hesitation. "You don''t have the Fire Dragon Sword either, you once-dead bastard!" Thud! * * * Baekya faced the charging Choi Gimin and thought. ''I didn''t expect things to go so perfectly according to plan.'' This space was formed by the ''Standard''s'' domain control and the ''Mirror''s'' reflection. It was a way to draw out 100% of the mirror world''s potential through domain control. He had been steadily practicing using the two artifacts in conjunction, and he was quite satisfied that he seemed to have achieved excellent results from the start. Thanks to this, he was able to create the close combat situation he desired the most. He drew the ''Eternal Cold Steel Dagger'' and the ''22nd Century Katana.'' Swish. Swish! He took a stance, holding a dagger and a longsword, extending them to his sides and then raising them. He aimed the Eternal Cold Steel Dagger forward with his arm fully extended and held the 22nd Century Katana in an upper stance beside his ear. ¡¾You have acquired Dual Wielding (D+).¡¿ A notification popped up on one side of his vision, informing him that his repeated practice of the movements had reached the level of acquiring a new skill. Immediately after. Swish! The duel was decided in a single clash. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 56 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 56 Both Baekya and Choi Gimin had a slight discrepancy between their public image and their true selves. Baekya was famous for closing countless Rank 1 Gates, but his greatest achievements were all within the Tower. Choi Gimin was infamous for his countless misdeeds, but at the same time, he was also a savior who drastically reduced the mortality rate of those injured inside Gates. Baekya was known for his high-powered skills that incinerated opponents without lifting a finger, but in reality, he was also proficient in close combat and chaotic battles. Choi Gimin was famous for his various crowd control abilities based on his magic eyes, such as petrification and mind control, but in truth, he enjoyed the boxing-based fighting style he had learned for a long time before Awakening even more. At this point, their physical abilities were almost equal. Choi Gimin''s stats, as displayed numerically in the status window, were higher. But when Baekya received the buffs from his numerous titles and traits, they became evenly matched. Therefore, Choi Gimin anticipated a fierce melee. ''Cheong Siyeol, Ryu Haneul, even Lee Eunwoo... This bastard had two guys willing to fight in his place and rear support, all while he just used skills. In the past, I couldn''t win because our stats were too different, but now...'' Thinking that, 10 seconds later. Choi Gimin muttered. "...Forget it." Baekya was just then raising the dagger in his left hand, breathing heavily. The snow-white Eternal Cold Steel Dagger emitted a heat haze, distorting the surrounding space. "I''m screwed. Keuk, keuk!" He was currently lying on the floor with Baekya''s foot on his chest. Their physical abilities were almost equal. But their skills were on a different level. As soon as the duel started, Baekya swung his sword downwards, baiting an evasion. Choi Gimin dodged lightly to the right and closed the distance. He planned to aim a punch at Baekya''s jaw while he was preoccupied with the incoming dagger attack. However, Baekya spun to the left and swung the dagger in a wide arc. His fist landed weakly on Baekya''s back, and at the same time, the Eternal Cold Steel Dagger struck his temple. It was perfect timing. Just as he was about to shout "Wait!", he felt a sensation of his head being pierced. Thud! Choi Gimin collapsed onto the marble floor. ''Shit?'' As he struggled to open his eyes and regain his senses, Baekya was already standing on his chest. Baekya looked down at him with a smile. "Gimin, Gimin. Just because I get my memories wiped every time I leave the Tower doesn''t mean I forget the skills I learned in there." "Wow. Shit... I''m no match for this." "I have a few questions for you. Will you answer them? I''d like to start by getting the contact information of your dealer in Busan." It was that look, the one everyone loved but he hated. Choi Gimin bared his teeth and shouted. "Fuck off!" He glared and used his magic eyes. The green halo above his head throbbed violently. ¡¾Mind Control¡¿ Fwoosh¡ª! A blinding yellow-green light burst from his eyes. Baekya didn''t even flinch this time either. His eyes, framed by the sun-like halo, were unwavering, like a god gazing down upon the world. The space between him and Choi Gimin distorted, and a borderless mirror formed. Tssss! Choi Gimin''s light was supposed to be reflected back at him harmlessly by the mirror. But then something unexpected happened. Instead of being reflected 180 degrees, the light that hit the mirror rotated 90 degrees and spread sideways. The yellow-green light spread sideways and touched Baekya''s leg. Instantly, Baekya''s vision distorted as if twisting. ''Huh?'' The temple pillars swayed like rubber. * * * Baekya regained consciousness. He was standing in darkness. The warehouse was nowhere to be seen. He had felt a similar sensation recently. It was like when he entered the nightmare created by the Mirror Prince. "Constellation." He called out to his Constellation first. Regardless of whether he could receive help or not, he needed to be able to communicate with someone to avoid being consumed by anxiety. ¡¾"I''m here."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' answers your call.¡¿ A response came. At the same time, the red halo above his head hummed loudly, as if asserting its presence, and emitted red light in all directions. "Do you have any idea what''s going on? I don''t think I would have succumbed to his mind control so easily." ¡¾"I agree. After all, I''m also in charge of the mental aspects..."¡¿ ¡¾Your Constellation ''Sunny'' looks around to see what''s happening.¡¿ ¡¾"I understand."¡¿ ¡¾They smile triumphantly.¡¿ "You understand?" ¡¾"This guy''s Constellation isn''t that weak either. Just as I gave you the power of Law of Light, this guy also received a power close to a divine ability."¡¿ "He did seem close to his Constellation." ¡¾"If you are ''Deletion,'' then this guy is ''Pause.'' That''s why the reflection was temporarily stopped."¡¿ "So I''m trapped in some kind of dimensional gap?" ¡¾"It''s not that powerful. You''re just caught up in it. He tried to mess with your mind, got hit by the reflection, and now you''re messing with his mind instead."¡¿ Baekya shook his head. He didn''t really want to see inside this guy''s head. ¡¾"Normally, the observer should be able to interfere, but it seems that part is ''paused'' because of his power. It''ll be released automatically when the regeneration is complete. Until then, just enjoy the show."¡¿ "This will be an unpleasant experience." ¡¾"Not as unpleasant as having all your terrible memories exposed. Try to find a weakness or something."¡¿ The Constellation fell silent after speaking. At the same time, a video, like a movie screen, started playing in front of Baekya''s eyes. It was a video narrated by Choi Gimin himself. "It was a decent life." The video showed a family of four. Father, mother, Choi Gimin, and his younger sibling. Choi Gimin didn''t have dreadlocks then, nor was he wearing a Versace shirt. His father had a good job, his mother was a housewife, and Choi Gimin and his sibling were model students. In the midst of these harmonious days. They were victims of real estate fraud. It was a large-scale rental fraud case that caused a stir in South Korea. ''So where''s our money?'' ''What do you mean you can''t return it?!'' ''Bring out the landlord! Just bring him out!'' They lost their entire fortune overnight and were on the verge of being homeless. ''You''re saying there''s nothing we can do?'' ''Why does our house belong to those people?'' The law wasn''t on their side. The stern and powerful laws of the world weren''t on his side. They had to move. It was a village of villas with tangled electrical wires on the utility poles. His mother and father fought often. His father started drinking, and his mother cried often. His sibling started hanging out with a bad crowd. One day, the class president approached him and said¡ª ''Hey. Is this your sibling?'' The picture of his sibling on the smartphone was horrifying. ''I thought I should tell you.'' They weren''t just hanging out. At that time, Choi Gimin did nothing. And late one night, when the leader of that group left the PC cafe and was heading home, he struck him in the back of the head with a baseball bat. Thwack! It was an act he committed, prepared to go to jail. But nothing happened. ''Huh?'' In that area, countless gangs of Korean, Southeast Asian, Chinese, and North Korean descent engaged in daily knife fights. There was no administrative power to spare for a high school brawl. At that moment, Choi Gimin thought. ''It''s nothing.'' The laws of the world, which had seemed so solemn, were nothing special. Being kind and hardworking didn''t guarantee success, and being evil and lazy didn''t guarantee punishment. The absolute laws of the world that he and everyone else implicitly believed in didn''t even exist. From then on, Choi Gimin grew his hair long. ''You¡­ You bastard... We agreed not to cross into each other''s territory!'' ''Idiot! You believed that?!'' He stole, threatened, and destroyed. As Choi Gimin lived his life mocking laws and ridiculing rules. ¡¾The Aitel System is activated.¡¿ ¡¾Server: South Korea, Population: 51,285,153¡¿ An absolute law that transcended even the laws of physics arrived. System windows appeared before people''s eyes, white towers soared in the capitals of each country, and monsters poured out from holes in the sky. ''A guy who couldn''t even awaken.'' It was a mere F-rank porter who had turned Choi Gimin, who ruled like a king in his territory, into a half-wit. Choi Gimin, trampled and stuffed into a back alley dumpster, thought. ''I''ll kill him.'' He wanted to break this law too. This law, too, only seemed great now; in the end, it would be nothing special. He pulled himself together. He waited for the porter to collapse in a drunken stupor. He relentlessly targeted his eyes and other vital points. When the porter''s convulsions finally stopped¡ª He burst into laughter, even as he gasped for breath. That day, he heard the voice of a Constellation. ¡¾"You. You''re interesting."¡¿ ¡¾The Constellation ''Hundred Eyes'' is watching you.¡¿ Awakened individuals were typically born through periodic tutorials. Even Hong Baekya met his Constellation during the tutorial. Choi Gimin Awakened without going through a tutorial. ''I am the one who mocks the rules, I am the one who transcends the rules!'' He was immersed in the illusion that he was free from everything. Now, nothing could bind him, deceive him, render him powerless, and trick him into losing everything! Nothing. That''s what he thought until he met Baekya. ''Baekya. The President of the Awakened Association.'' He was the very embodiment of the absolute law that Choi Gimin mocked. In an era where the laws of the Aitel system clashed with societal laws, he established a new law and became the new era itself. They clashed, sometimes in sparring, sometimes politically. But Baekya never once tried to kill him. ''Don''t rely on skills, utilize them.'' ''In battles between Awakened, having a weapon doesn''t always give you an advantage.'' ''Try focusing your scales in one area.'' It was as if even Choi Gimin was just a chess piece living within the rules Baekya had set. His defiance, his laziness, his atrocities all seemed to be within Baekya''s calculations. Just like the sun, he looked down on everyone from a place higher than the clouds and the sky, as a benefactor of all things. Then one day. On a day that was neither particularly special nor particularly clear. Baekya fell, just as abruptly as he had appeared in his life. ''This world shall burn beneath my feet!'' He was still as aloof as the sun, and his Law of Light became even stronger than before. He ''deleted'' everything and absorbed the remnants, growing endlessly powerful. Choi Gimin thought. ''Is that what''s right? What I do is evil, but when you do it, it''s the system?'' As expected, he hated Baekya. Baekya was the system itself, which had never been on his side. Like all the systems that surrounded him, it had to be shattered or rendered meaningless. So he risked his life, helped Cheong Siyeol and Na Jeongwon reach the 99th floor, and turned back time to kill Baekya. Watching the light fade from his eyes, he thought. ''I was right.'' As expected, there was no such thing as absolute and solemn laws of the world. Those who believed in such things were all fools under some strange hypnosis, and living as he did, as he pleased, was the right way to live. But. But. But... resurrection? Resurrection? An eternal system? ''That''s nonsense.'' He couldn''t accept it even in death. Choi Gimin gritted his teeth. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That''s where the long flashback ended. * * * "Keok!" "Ugh!" Baekya and Choi Gimin opened their eyes simultaneously. They were in the midst of a fierce battle inside the temple created within the mirror world. Choi Gimin was lying on the floor, and Baekya was standing on his chest, dagger raised. Ryu Haneul, hiding behind a pillar, was unsure whether to jump in or not. Choi Gimin struggled furiously. "You see that, you bastard?!" His handsome face contorted in rage. "Then die!" He grabbed Baekya''s foot with both hands and tried to twist his ankle. Baekya pulled one of Choi Gimin''s hands towards him and then plunged the blazing hot dagger downwards. Thud! The Eternal Cold Steel Dagger pierced through his palm and deeply into the marble floor. "Shit! Shit! Shiiiiit!" Choi Gimin screamed and swung his other hand. Baekya lifted his foot from his chest and stepped on the flailing arm to immobilize it. He recalled the Law of Light used by his future self that he had seen in Choi Gimin''s memories. ''He used it in much shorter bursts. It was closer to erasing than completely burning. How does he use it? Does he increase the output significantly and then... just let it disappear on its own?'' Although he would never follow the same path as his future self, it seemed there were techniques he could learn. ''Let''s practice.'' Baekya concluded his observation. He had intended to ask about the black market, but he ended up seeing someone else''s memories. He knew it was wise to just consider it as something he stepped on and move on. He was ¡°that¡± Hong Baekya. Countless people looked at him with countless expectations or resentments. A savior to some, a teacher to others, a potential threat to yet others... He was used to receiving various gazes. But he never thought there would be someone who saw him as an absolute system. ''I wish I were like that too.'' Baekya felt dizzy as he recalled those times. Awakened criminals running rampant, control laws born from victim mentality, politicians who couldn''t get their act together... ''Every day was truly chaotic.'' It was a time he had stumbled and staggered through. Baekya knew there was no point in saying this. But he looked Choi Gimin straight in the eyes and spoke. "You seem to like laws? Let me tell you one. It worked before the Aitel era and it still works now." "...." "Mindlessly rebelling doesn''t help change the laws, and there''s no connection between changing and breaking them." "...What do you know?" "I won''t comment on your life before Awakening. But you had a chance to change everything. You were chosen too." "Hong Baekya!" "Tell me the location and password for the Busan black market." Because I need to upgrade my artifacts. He didn''t bother saying the last part. Choi Gimin''s expression was filled with a mix of emotions. His eyes, distorted with anger and humiliation, trembled. Then, he let out a sigh-like utterance. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 57 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 57 In the early morning, before dawn broke. Lee Baejeong walked along the sidewalk and stopped in front of a building. Reports from the team leaders came through the earpiece in his ear. [Director, strike teams 1, 2, and 3 are ready.] [Pursuit team 1 on standby.] [Pursuit team 2 on standby.] [Traffic control has begun. You can start anytime.] During the recent Rank 1 Gate incident, Lee Baejeong had played his part. He had set up multiple layers of barriers to buy time for civilians to evacuate even if the defense line was breached. He had also used various illusions to disrupt the demons'' advance. Towards the end, he had thrown away his dignity and mystique as the director and stood on the front lines, casting binding spells. ''Heavenly Net!'' Even while bleeding profusely from his nose, he had managed to restrain nearly ten large demons. Now, no Ranker from any guild could ignore Lee Baejeong. Using the popularity he gained, Lee Baejeong secured the cooperation of the managers and team leaders at the Bureau. ''Our director didn''t seem like that type, but he''s a real man.'' ''With the demon army stretching from one end of the horizon to the other, he stood in front of them and cast barriers... That was impressive.'' ''I thought he was a bit sly, but I guess you can''t judge someone by their appearance.'' It seemed like he could solidify his position if he achieved one or two more feats here. The Bureau Director''s specialty was punishing rogue Rankers with the ''Hundred Punishments,'' demonstrating the fairness of the law. In South Korea right now, there was no one who fit the description of a "gangster Ranker" better than ''Magic Eye'' Choi Gimin. Lee Baejeong glanced up at the rooftop of a nearby building. ''He was brought in from the beginning for the 99th-floor raid. Ryu Haneul alone is enough of a variable. Now he needs to become a stepping stone for me to solidify my position. Farewell, Choi Gimin. Rot for a long time in the peaceful prisons of the Republic of Korea.'' The rooftop was filled with pursuit team agents and reporters gathered from newspapers all over South Korea. Soon, the strike team would enter the underground room salon and engage Choi Gimin in combat. ''He''ll resist fiercely. It''s fine if he''s eventually subdued, or even if he escapes once or twice. Either way, it''ll be my achievement for successfully capturing that dangerous guy.'' There would be chaos, and that''s what he wanted. People cheered louder the more severely a terrifying Ranker was punished. A voice came through his earpiece. [Strike team 1 is entering.] Management Bureau agents, hidden in the shadows of various buildings, armed with hunting devices and artifacts, poured into the underground room salon. From the rooftop, Lee Baejeong saw countless cameras, like gun barrels, protruding and aiming at the entrance of the room salon. ''Good.'' The dawn sky gradually brightened. Finally, a ray of sunlight rising over the mountain ridge stretched along the main street. The morning sunlight illuminated the entrance of the salon precisely. Click. Click. Click. Silhouettes emerged from the stairs. Lee Baejeong clenched his sweaty hands. The cameras on the rooftop moved frantically. Reporters eager to capture a spectacular scene. Strike teams 2 and 3, gripping their weapons in preparation for a brawl. Pursuit team agents blockading the area in case of an escape. Even a few citizens who had gathered since early morning, wondering what was happening. Hundreds of people were watching intently. And then Choi Gimin appeared. He had his braided dreadlocks tied up neatly, wore designer sunglasses and a sensual shirt, and his clothes were not even slightly disheveled. "Yo! You found me?" Choi Gimin ascended the stairs with an air of confidence. He boldly shouted, facing the new sun of the day head-on. He looked not like a notorious gangster, but like a magnanimous man who had voluntarily turned himself in to clear his name. That image was captured by countless reporters'' cameras and broadcast live on YouTube. ''Huh?'' Lee Baejeong sensed that something was wrong. He didn''t know what was wrong, but something was definitely wrong. Cold sweat trickled down his back. The Management Bureau agents, who had rushed in expecting a fierce battle, were coming up the stairs behind Choi Gimin with dejected expressions. He heard the manager''s flustered voice in his earpiece. Lee Baejeong knew it too. [D-Director!] "I know. Get them out of there. We''re heading back to the Bureau. Get rid of all the reporters." [If we try to get rid of them now...] "You want to broadcast that image? Something''s off about that bastard. If we let that air, it won''t be the picture we wanted!" All the excitement had fizzled out. The image of a fierce struggle ending with the capture of a gangster Ranker and bringing him to a solemn court was now gone. Another team leader, oblivious to his feelings, rambled on. [But at least it''s a relief. I was really worried that someone might get hurt. Even if Choi Gimin doesn''t kill...] He was a true patriot hunter who had cooperated with Lee Baejeong from the beginning, but at this moment, he wasn''t the talent Lee Baejeong needed. Lee Baejeong, fuming, crossed the road and approached Choi Gimin. His footsteps quickened involuntarily with an overwhelming sense of frustration. "What are you doing?" He whispered to the handcuffed Choi Gimin. "Who ordered you?" Choi Gimin replied in an equally low voice. With the most triumphant smile in the world. "Fuck off." S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had been tipped off by Baekya the night before. ''If Lee Baejeong comes to arrest you, just let him.'' ''What? Hey, you bastard! I told you everything you asked! That bastard might actually kill me!'' ''He would if you resist. Then he could claim he caught you because he''s so great. But what if you just surrender?'' ''...He becomes the lucky one?'' ''It''s common sense that surrendering reduces your sentence.'' He had said that the best way to screw Lee Baejeong in this situation was to surrender willingly. He had been half-convinced until then, but now he could believe it completely. The expression on that bastard''s smug face was priceless. ''I feel like petrifying him right here and now.'' * * * At the Sun-Moon Divine Sect dormitory complex. Wolha asked his brother, who was moving around busily¡ª "Hyung, where are you going again?" The answer came not from his brother but from Ryu Haneul standing at the entrance. "He''s going to Busan for a guild workshop. For three nights and four days." The tone was incredibly curt and annoyed. It seemed like he shouldn''t ask any more questions, but a strange sense of defiance welled up inside him. Wolha asked Ryu Haneul¡ª "You are going too?" Ryu Haneul nodded as if it were obvious. "Of course." A triumphant, twisted smile appeared on the ''Heavenly Demon''s'' face, which was usually as elegant and aloof as a landscape painting. It was happening so frequently that it was hard to dismiss it as a misinterpretation. ''Why is this happening?'' Wolha tried to ignore the questions bubbling up inside him. Ilha approached him and said¡ª "Can I borrow your ring again?" "Ring?" "I heard there''s a good enchantment mage in Busan. The Deputy Sect Leader said he''d get one made for me. It would be great if we could add something to that ring, right?" "...." Wolha looked at the ring that Ilha had brought, claiming it was a fashionable silver-plated ring. "Okay. Thanks." He took off the ring without hesitation and handed it over. Ilha and Ryu Haneul left the dormitory. He saw a luxury sedan driving away from the window below. Wolha stared at the ring and recalled the status window that appeared when he looked at it. ''What is it?'' He couldn''t understand anything. Not his brother giving him an artifact disguised as a fashion silver-plated ring, not Deputy Sect Leader Ryu Haneul''s disdain for him, not this baseless wariness he felt towards him. * * * Busan. The ''Black Sea Pearl,'' a super-luxury, super-large hotel with a yacht marina, stood tall. Its majestic black hull, like a wall, overlooked the sea, as if declaring itself the master of the Busan coast. Ryu Haneul looked around and said, "There are a lot of people." Baekya nodded calmly. "A lot of Awakened come here." The area around the hotel was teeming with Awakened, each with a white ring above their heads. There were various ethnicities: Koreans, Russians, Japanese, Chinese, and even Americans. Anyone would think it was absurd that there were countries struggling with a shortage of Awakened in this world. "Where should we go?" "I haven''t been here directly in so long, I''m a bit confused. Just a moment." Baekya headed towards the hotel front desk with Ryu Haneul. "I have a reservation for the 51st floor, suite room 5121, under the name Ryu Haneul. The reservation number is 165, 499, 888, 613." The receptionist looked puzzled. "Excuse me?" Baekya smiled faintly and repeated himself. The receptionist, still looking confused, asked again. "Are you sure you''re in the right place?" Baekya said it for the third time. Ryu Haneul seriously contemplated whether to activate his Trait. Finally, the receptionist nodded. "It seems you have the wrong room number. You should go to the 48th floor, room 4801." She smiled brightly and handed them the key card. Baekya headed to the 48th floor with Ryu Haneul. Ryu Haneul asked¡ª "What happens now?" Baekya muttered the reservation number and password he had received from Choi Gimin once more, then answered. "There will be a staff member there. 4801 isn''t a room for guests. Haven''t I brought you here in the future? If you can''t say because of causality or something, you don''t have to answer." "You''ve never brought me here directly. They always came to us from the Black Sea Pearl." "That''s true. Even before I died, I never came here myself. You know what this place is, right?" "Yes. An international smuggling ring." "You know well." They got off the elevator and opened the door to room 4801 with the key card. They sat on the sofa and waited for a while, and then a man in a black suit entered. He was also a Ranker-level Awakened with a colorful halo above his head, and judging by his features, he seemed to be Russian. The man asked in fluent Korean, "Are you Mr. Choi Gimin?" Baekya recited Choi Gimin''s password. "I''m here to get the new Versace collection. And I also wanted to hear the song of thunder and wind." The man entered the hotel room nonchalantly. Baekya rose from the sofa and followed him, and Ryu Haneul, his eyes darting back and forth, followed Baekya. One of the rooms in the suite. The man opened a complex lock that required both a keycard and a halo mana pattern recognition. A secret elevator was revealed. "Let''s go." "Yes." The elevator descended, and descended further. Ryu Haneul couldn''t understand why they were going down again. "Are we going down?" "It''s better to be on the first floor or underground if you need to escape quickly. Also, the meeting place changes depending on who you''re meeting. Since this is our first time, they''re bound to be cautious." Ryu Haneul groaned in displeasure. The halo of Heaven and Earth above his head flashed once. The Russian hunter glanced at his halo and then looked away. After going through a few more procedures, they finally arrived in front of the room where the owner of the Black Sea Pearl was waiting. Seeing Ryu Haneul''s expression stiffen with each passing moment, the Russian man hurriedly said, "I apologize. Even for VIP customers, all procedures must be followed on your first visit. S-rank hunters can receive a number on the same day, so this won''t happen again next time." "I hope so," Ryu Haneul replied coldly. The door then opened to both sides. The owner of the Black Sea Pearl was waiting inside a room with a view of the sea. "I wondered who it was when Gimin said he was sending someone, but it turns out to be quite a remarkable guest." He was a cheerful-looking seafarer. A halo shaped like a yellow cogwheel floated above his head. His beard, which looked like it hadn''t been shaved for about three days, was impressive, and he was wearing a naval officer''s uniform. He asked playfully, "What brings the King of Heaven down to this sea?" In the Aitel era¡ª Artifacts, mana stones, and spirit cores were all core resources designated as strategic materials by each country. Their export or sale overseas was strictly prohibited. However, while the leaders of each country didn''t want their own resources to leave, they did want resources from other countries to come in. ''It would be great if we could export our artifacts minimally and acquire their mana stones to the maximum.'' This was the reason why the dark organization Black Sea Pearl, which handled artifacts, mana stones, and even the secret immigration of Awakened from various countries, could continue to exist. "Just tell Fengyun, and I can get you anything. Hidden in clouds and carried by the wind." The owner of Black Sea Pearl was the man in front of them, Fengyun. Ryu Haneul knew it was a nickname but didn''t know his real name. "Haneul was going to introduce me, but today I''m here because of me." Baekya stood silently for a moment before speaking. Fengyun narrowed his eyes, looking slightly displeased. "Who are you?" Baekya chuckled and reached for his wrist, where a handkerchief was tied. "Senior!" Ryu Haneul tried to stop Baekya. How could he reveal his identity to this gangster? But Fengyun seemed to have already figured it out, his eyes wide open. It was the look one gives to a benefactor to whom they owe an unrepayable debt. "The sea devil who was enchanted by magic?" Baekya leisurely shook his head. "No." "I heard he was definitely dead." "He was." "Then who in the world..." "It''s better you don''t know." Fengyun''s expression turned serious, then he nodded. "Alright. It''s better to exercise the right not to know." Ryu Haneul understood why he said that. ''He''s got some sense.'' Fengyun was a skilled hunter, but he wouldn''t be able to defeat the one who killed Baekya. It was better to remain ignorant than to become a target unnecessarily. He was a bit wary of this stranger who seemed to be an acquaintance of his senior, but with that level of discernment, it didn''t seem like there was much to worry about. Baekya asked¡ª "I''d like to request repairs on a few artifacts. Can you do it?" Fengyun answered before even seeing the items. "I''m Fengyun. If I can''t do it, no one can." Baekya, as if he had been waiting for that, opened his inventory. "Yes. That''s why I came to you." His movements were hurried, and to Ryu Haneul, it seemed like he was trying to drive the point home before any distractions. Artifacts emerged one after another with flashes of mana light. Pop! Pop! Pop! ¡¾Winter Vanguard''s Standard (Legendary ¡ú Heroic)¡¿ ¡¾World-Reflecting Mirror (Legendary ¡ú Heroic)¡¿ ¡¾Aesthetics of Reversal (Heroic ¡ú Master)¡¿ Fengyun muttered, looking slightly flustered. "That''s... more than I expected." Pop! ¡¾Guardian Aegis (Status Conditions: Confusion, Rampage, Loss of Self...)¡¿ Crash! When the Guardian appeared and slammed its head into the office ceiling, Fengyun''s face hardened noticeably. Finally, Baekya untied the handkerchief from his wrist and placed it firmly on the desk. Tap. ¡¾Ghost Princess''s Handkerchief {Heroic (Status Condition: Wear and Tear)}¡¿ "That''s all." His sparkling eyes and the relieved smile on his lips looked a bit smug, even to Ryu Haneul. "Ha, haha." Fengyun let out a deflated laugh and nodded. "Alright. I''ll try my best." A moment later. He tilted his head, examining the ''Aesthetics of Reversal.'' "This ring... it''s a twin ring. It used to be two attached together." ''Two?'' Ryu Haneul felt his gaze drawn to it involuntarily. ''So two people can wear one each?'' [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 58 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 58 As Fengyun said, the ring with the protective magic, ''Aesthetics of Reversal,'' was two rings joined together. Ryu Haneul''s eyes sparkled as he looked at the ring. ''I''ll give that brat of a brother a defensive artifact, and then Senior and I can each wear one of these rings, right?'' Fengyun channeled yellow electrical sparks from his left hand, which held the ring. Crackle. Crackle! Tiny cogwheels appeared, surrounding and scraping the ring. It was the skill ''Adjuster''s Terminal,'' which had brought Fengyun to his current position. The ring, enveloped in the cogwheels, trembled. Brrr! The vibration reached its peak, and the two joined rings separated with a thud. "Like this." ¡¾Aesthetics of Reversal (Heroic ¡ú Master)¡¿ ¡¾Aesthetics of Distortion (Heroic ¡ú Master)¡¿ "Oh!" Baekya exclaimed in admiration. Ryu Haneul focused on the ring''s function description. ''Aesthetics of Distortion?'' The halo above his head glowed purple, and the Aitel explanation appeared. ¡¾Deflects B-rank or lower projectile attacks in the desired direction, and A-rank or lower projectile attacks in a random direction.¡¿ ¡¾Twin Bond: When the rings are worn by two separate people, and one activates its function, the other wearer will be notified.¡¿ A hero only faces worthy opponents and knows where they should be. It was a function befitting a Heroic-grade artifact. And it even had resonance. He was completely satisfied. ''It''s mine!'' Ryu Haneul felt the call of his conscience telling him to snatch the ring and put it on. "Senior, the ring split into two." ''So give me one, please?'' He spoke to Baekya, omitting the latter part. Baekya smiled with relief. "It did. I was worried that Wolha might get caught up in our affairs, but this worked out well." It was a smile that showed he didn''t understand anything. Ryu Haneul wanted to scream and tear his hair out. ''That''s not it! Give it to me! Me!'' In his experience, Baekya''s ''perception'' was peculiar. ''You''re not pretending not to know, are you?'' The absolute strongest had a side of him that marched to his own beat. At the same time, he had a mature side, having accumulated various experiences in countless worlds. If his senior was deliberately acting, there weren''t many ways he could figure it out. Even that great ''Heavenly Demon'' wasn''t granted the power to read his true intentions. Ryu Haneul decided to step back here. Fengyun then proceeded to envelop the other artifacts Baekya had brought with his cogwheels. The artifacts that touched the cogs and then separated had their ranks restored. In the case of the ''Winter Vanguard''s Standard,'' even its presence felt different, and the ''World-Reflecting Mirror'' changed in size. As Ryu Haneul watched with surprise, Fengyun grinned. "The Heavenly Demon seems surprised." "What kind of skill is that?" "Removing penalties isn''t that difficult. It''s just a matter of scraping it a bit and adding a few more circuits." It seemed he wasn''t going to explain further. The work was finished in a couple of hours. It was an amount that would have taken an ordinary crafting-class Awakened more than a week. ''Even if the Sun-Moon Divine Sect''s exclusive craftsman repaired their specialty weapon, it would take several times longer than this.'' Ryu Haneul couldn''t believe his eyes. "Took you long enough?" Baekya said something absurd. ''Senior? You think that took long?'' From Ryu Haneul''s perspective, this was insanely fast. Baekya didn''t seem to think so. "Why have you only been using your left hand?" Fengyun shrugged as if he didn''t understand the question. "Who said I was only using my left hand?" "Your hand." "I didn''t pace myself well because of this unexpected schedule..." "Your hand!" Fengyun muttered, "Alright, alright," and raised his right hand onto the table. His right hand was half-covered by his uniform sleeve. It was thick with calluses and covered in scars, big and small, with green veins bulging prominently. It was clearly not normal. Ryu Haneul naturally thought of one word. ''Curse?'' Baekya asked with anger in his voice¡ª "Why is it like this?" Fengyun shook his head. "I messed with something that came from America, and there was a reason they gave it to me cheap." "Why didn''t you go to the Holy Church?" "I have my pride as a Busan man. How could I go there? Do I want everyone to know that I''m losing my touch?" "You''re from Itaewon in Seoul. You still haven''t gotten the hang of the dialect, have you?" "Ugh!" Baekya asked¡ª "Haneul, this is a nightmare-type, right?" "Hold on." Ryu Haneul stared intently at the green light in the veins. His halo above his head glowed as the Heavenly Demon''s trait activated. Swoosh. In Ryu Haneul''s vision, the green light in the veins grew darker. He even seemed to hear strange whispers in his ears. ''Your senior doesn''t even know you.'' ''How long will your senior see you as a younger brother? He has a real younger brother now.'' ''You know, you were once pushed aside by Cheong Siyeol too.'' Ryu Haneul closed his eyes and then opened them. As his blurry vision returned to focus, he immediately declared¡ª "Yes, it''s definitely a nightmare-type." Baekya clasped Fengyun''s hand. Firmly. "Shall we burn it?" Fengyun panicked and tried to pull his hand away. "So suddenly? Wait a minute. If something goes wrong, my hand could get blown off!" Baekya raised an eyebrow as if to say, "Stop nagging." "You look like you haven''t slept in a month. Do you still have the energy to bluff?" Ryu Haneul looked at Fengyun''s face. ''This is serious.'' Dark circles reached down to his cheeks. If an Awakened who was supposed to be A-rank looked like that, it wasn''t a curse that time could heal. Fengyun nodded heavily. Baekya gathered his mana. Flash. * * * Just before the Aitel era dawned. Fengyun was a young man exceptionally filled with patriotism. He had mastered various martial arts from a young age, graduated at the top of his class from the Naval Academy, and was commissioned into the special forces. Everyone liked him for his sincere attitude. He became a captain at a young age. ''Sir! Reporting for duty. Lieutenant ¡ö¡ö¡ö has been ordered to be promoted to Captain...'' He thought he would lead a fulfilling life like that. That was until a stormy summer day. ''Captain ¡ö. A young man has gone missing on that island over there.'' ''Are there any fishermen out at sea in this weather?'' ''No, it seems the son of a high-ranking official from the Presidential Office went to the island with his friends. The higher-ups are making a fuss. Just pretend to search for him.'' ''That''s not possible. It''s really dangerous to send a boat out in this weather!'' ''Hey!'' ''Why are we even being mobilized for a missing person search in the first place? Tell them to report it to the Coast Guard.'' ''Think of the parents'' feelings.'' ''Please also consider the commander''s feelings. How can I send my subordinates out into this sea?'' ''Hey!'' The outcome was disastrous. He lost his subordinates. The attempt to make it a public issue failed. [Special Forces Captain Orders Subordinates to Search in Typhoon!] [Allegations of Presidential Office Involvement. Controversy over Pre-Election Opinion Manipulation?!] He was forced to take off his uniform. Perhaps due to a shred of conscience, he wasn''t dishonorably discharged. All he knew was the life of a soldier, living and dying by orders. He was confused. ''What should I have done?'' The country was also in chaos. A white tower rose in the capital, monsters fell from the sky, and people with superpowers who could shoot fire appeared. But Fengyun didn''t stop. He used his experience to join the police special forces. He was assigned to Busan. He was worried he''d be looked down upon, but most people understood him. ''You''ve been through a lot, son.'' ''That bastard Division Commander Jo was infamous. You''re not the first one to be used as cannon fodder.'' ''Cheer up. You''re still serving the country, just like before. In times like these, being a police officer might be even more rewarding.'' How big could the South Korean special forces community be? Even with the difference between the military and the police, everyone knew each other after a few connections. His turbulent heart calmed down. Fengyun transformed from a patriotic soldier to a patriotic police officer. His exceptional skills and diligent personality remained the same, and he quickly accumulated achievements. One day, he was assigned to an international drug smuggling ring arrest operation. After much effort, they made the arrests, but it sparked controversy over excessive force. The criminals were eventually released. ''What in the world is going on?!'' ''Keep your voice down!'' ''Excessive force? Those bastards had guns!'' ''Regardless, they were Russians, not Koreans. Did any Koreans have guns?'' Rumors were rampant that the executive who made that decision was taking bribes behind the scenes. ''Didn''t you cause trouble in the military before? Want me to bring that up too?'' Fengyun had to take off his police uniform as well. As soon as he did, the gangsters he had put away before came back. They threatened his girlfriend instead of him. ''These bastards.'' Fengyun crushed them. And then, in handcuffs, he met his former superior. ''What the hell are you doing? You''re a former cop.'' ''You ordered it, didn''t you?'' ''Who are you calling "you"?'' ''It''s because of the drugs, isn''t it?'' ''...Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused me? Do you even know where those drugs were headed?'' When he came to his senses, Fengyun was strangling the officer with his handcuffs. ''Grrr.'' ''...Ah.'' Fengyun was the ace of Korea''s top special forces unit. Even before Awakening, he was close to superhuman. He couldn''t stop now. He fled to Southeast Asia on any ship he could find from Busan Harbor. It was a winter day with strong winds and crashing waves. Six months later. Fengyun returned, a completely different person. ''....'' He wiped out the existing organization with firearms he brought from Southeast Asia. ''You. You crazy bastard!'' In a world still in chaos due to the Aitel system, no one paid attention to a few dead gangsters. He bribed his friends who were still serving in the police special forces. ''Your kid''s starting middle school soon, isn''t he?'' ''Hey. Hey.'' His friends, who knew the whole story, couldn''t be harsh with him. That''s how Fengyun became the master of Busan''s night. ''Help!'' First, he entombed all the druggie bastards in concrete and threw them into the sea. His end came on a stormy summer day, just like before. ''This bastard dared to touch my boys?'' Some high-ranking officials from Seoul sent professionals after him. He took down dozens, but in the end, he was overwhelmed by their numbers and fell. Click. ¡°Crazy bastard. This guy.¡± Just before being shot to death. As the barrel of the pistol pressed against his chest. ¡¾You have been selected for the Aitel System tutorial.¡¿ ¡¾You will be transferred to the tutorial location in 02 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 58 seconds.¡¿ An opportunity had been given. ¡°What the hell is this? Shit!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll terminate the target.¡± At that time, in Busan, a three-way battle was unfolding between the Fengyun organization, a killer from Seoul, and Busan''s special forces. In the brief moment of distraction as the killer reacted to the Aitel alert... Bang. The Busan Special Forces took him down, and Fengyun was apprehended. Public sentiment was unwavering. "Execute him!" Fengyun, a criminal, needed to be executed before he could complete the Tutorial and become superhuman. The thought of him gaining supernatural powers was unacceptable. At the time, the government was eager to demonstrate its tough stance on crime to quell the social unrest caused by the Aitel system. It was possible that the death penalty, dormant for decades, would be reinstated. Fengyun gave a bitter smile from within his cell. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He loved his country. He had intended to dedicate his life to its service. He couldn''t fathom how things had gone so wrong. He thought back to that stormy summer night. Should he have stayed indoors, away from the typhoon? Was this his punishment for mistaking a high-ranking official for the nation itself? Lost in these thoughts... Thud. Thud. Thud. Someone entered his cell. "I heard a lot from Chief Joo in Busan. You know him, right? He was your senior in the military." "Baek... Ya?" The man''s presence alone seemed to illuminate the entire space. An Awakened, renowned in the news and on YouTube. "I''m not offering you a chance. I just believe Aitel had a reason for choosing you." The sun-like Hunter extended a hand to Fengyun. "This is your chance to sever ties with your past and serve your country once more. It''s also a punishment. The nation will never truly accept you." "...." "You smuggled some gold bars back when you were a gangster, right? I''ll be assigning you something similar. Can you handle it?" Fengyun didn''t hesitate for long. His country had betrayed him, and he had lost his girlfriend. He would no longer give his body or heart to anyone. From now on, he lived on borrowed time. He would live like the wind in the sky, like the clouds. He stood and took Baekya''s hand. Baekya spoke. "Yes. Rise." A blinding white light erupted. ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ Fwaaaa! The space within the cell melted away. The damp smell and sense of despair vanished like melting snow. Fwoosh! Green mist touched the white light and burned with a noxious smoke. The green mist was incredibly dense. But the white flames, like a demolition expert targeting key support structures to bring down a building, dispersed the mist in an instant. ''He''s gotten even stronger.'' The Baekya he knew relied on overwhelming power, not this kind of finesse. The flames pierced through the mist, burning it away. A green halo, like a graceful brushstroke, flickered briefly within the flames. A pair of narrow, long eyes, seemingly familiar, appeared, offering a bittersweet smile. ''Ah, hahaha.'' A laughter-like hallucination echoed in his ears. The green mist completely dissipated. * * * Baekya slowly let go of Fengyun''s hand. His grip had been so firm that it left a distinct imprint. ''The technique went smoothly, but... what was that just now?'' He had used Law of Light in a new way. With his mana depleted, he couldn''t keep obliterating everything entirely. He''d tried to find the framework of the curse and trigger a chain collapse by destroying one part. The joy of success was fleeting. The halo pattern, the strange eyes, and that laughter bothered him. The curse wasn''t a typical one either. "...Hmm." Fengyun raised his head. Baekya met his gaze and asked¡ª "Are you back to your senses? Do you remember anything?" Fengyun blinked a few times before answering. "...Thank you. I saw it. It wasn''t an ordinary curse, was it?" Baekya nodded. As expected, his senses were sharp. "Yes, it''s a proliferating curse. It feeds on your memories and willpower, growing stronger. It''s not something that would accidentally attach itself to an artifact." "So..." "Someone deliberately cursed you." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 59 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 59 "Who?" Fengyun''s cheerful expression clouded over. As an international crime boss, he had many enemies, but if someone capable of such a curse existed, they would have shown themselves by now. Baekya picked up a notebook and pen from the desk. Scribble. He sketched the halo pattern he''d glimpsed while burning away the curse. It was a rough, brushstroke-like shape in a poisonous green, with a triangle attached to each side of a larger triangle. Baekya had never seen this halo before. ''I know most of the high-rankers. Is it a foreign ranker who works in the shadows?'' But there was someone knowledgeable right beside him. "Haneul, do you know it?" Even if they were hidden now, they might be revealed in the future. "Hmm..." Ryu Haneul furrowed his brow in concentration. "Yes, I know it, senior. It''s the Black Star Cluster. One of their executives had that halo." Fengyun''s jaw dropped in surprise. "Wow. As expected of the ''Heavenly Demon.'' Even among those who dwell in the shadows, there''s a difference in class between us and them." Even as a major crime boss, he''d never even heard rumors of that halo. "Do you know every Chaotic and Evil Constellation? Are you some kind of all-knowing encyclopedia?" Baekya turned his head and asked seriously¡ª "Are you sure?" Ryu Haneul met his eyes and answered. "Yes, senior. I''m certain." ''In the future, they were openly active.'' Baekya gestured with his hand, indicating for him to bring a chair closer. Ryu Haneul scurried over, and Baekya let out a soft sigh. "If it''s the Black Star Cluster, then it''s those guys. The international terrorist group founded by the Black Hole contractors." No matter how many times Baekya had crushed them, they kept coming back. "That''s right." "...Did you see them often too?" (Interpretation: Were they active in the future as well?) "Back then, you were even more famous, senior." (Interpretation: Back then, you were even more rampant.) "Damn it." Ryu Haneul and Baekya sighed simultaneously. Fengyun, unable to follow their conversation, looked back and forth between them. "Hey, why are you two leaving me out?" Baekya waved him off and then grabbed the back of his neck. "This is getting tiring." "Yes." "Those bastards want nothing. Not money, not power, not even some political ideology." "That''s right." True emptiness, impossible to compromise or communicate with. Not evil by human standards, but evil as classified by the Aitel system. "But why would those bastards target me? Our territories don''t even overlap." Fengyun raised his now-functional right hand and stroked his slightly stubbled chin. "Hmm." "Perhaps..." Neither Baekya nor Ryu Haneul could readily answer. Even though they both operated in the shadows, Fengyun and the Black Star Cluster were fundamentally different. Fengyun''s Black Sea Pearl was a profit-driven organization, while the Black Star Cluster was purely destructive. "Don''t you think they''re trying to take over Black Sea Pearl?" "What would those bastards do with a smuggling operation? I''m a gangster, but this is practically a semi-public company. You know I go to the Blue House often, right?" "It might not be about the money." "Then why?" Fengyun briefly spread his arms wide before returning them to his sides. Baekya pondered the sailor''s words, an odd mix of standard Korean and Busan dialect. If it wasn''t about the money, then they might need the smuggling organization itself. This was a business the nation could never acknowledge but also could never abandon. "Maybe they need to... smuggle something in?" "...!" Fengyun gasped. He clenched his fist and shouted, "Those bastards! They''re trying to use me as a pawn? Do they think I''ll just let them? Now that the curse is lifted..." His halo flared brightly, and yellow lightning crackled from the gears. He was enraged, but Baekya''s response was cold. "Not yet. It''s a curse that parasitizes your mind, so I couldn''t completely remove it. You''ll be fine for a while, but to eradicate it completely, I need to increase the power of Law of Light." "What, what did you say?" "If you''re going to someone else, go to the Seven Stars of the Holy Church. They can burn it away with holy power." "As I said before, that''s not an option. Losing face in this world is the end. You''re the only lifeline I have left." "Be careful, since it''s a rope that''s already snapped once." "But if you''re talking about increasing Law of Light, doesn''t that just mean I need to get stronger?" "No." Baekya shook his head. His black eyes shimmered mysteriously, like the gems he was about to request. "Get me an Irregular Polyhedron." Fengyun''s breath hitched. "That...?!" A black gem with countless facets that shifted every time you looked at it. Some called it a fragment of the Aitel system, others a shard of a deceased Constellation. It was a treasure among treasures. That gem, capable of interfering with providence just like Law of Light, could be used to strengthen it. Fengyun hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I''ll do my best. My life''s on the line now, so I have to succeed no matter what. Thank you. While you''re in Busan, do you want the full-course treatment? I''m amazing at setting up blind dates..." Baekya immediately shook his head. "Not yet..." "Ah, that''s right, you''re a man of devotion, aren''t you?" Fengyun grinned broadly, then turned serious. "By the way, who knows you''re alive?" "The ones who killed me, him, and you." "What about the Chairman?" "..." "Shouldn''t you at least let her know?" Ryu Haneul saw an expression on Baekya''s face that he never imagined possible. ''Senior?'' Baekya, whose presence usually filled any space he was in, now looked like a lonely man occupying a single chair. Baekya looked into the distance and shook his head. "Not yet." Fengyun didn''t press further. "...Alright." Baekya searched his pockets for his wallet. "The cost of purifying the artifact..." Fengyun waved his hand dismissively. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Forget it. You saved my life, I should be the one taking care of you. Besides, you were going to make the Heavenly Demon pay for it anyway, right?" "...Do you think I''m some kind of freeloader?" "Even if you''re wearing the ring, it looks inconvenient to keep putting things in and taking them out of the flag, mirror, and scepter, doesn''t it?" Ryu Haneul had no idea what Fengyun was offering. But judging by what he''d seen so far, Fengyun''s crafting skills were exceptional, so anticipation welled up, and he leaned forward involuntarily. Fengyun smiled contentedly, clearly pleased with Ryu Haneul''s reaction. "Just wait a bit. I''ll streamline everything for you." * * * "It''s really neat." Ryu Haneul couldn''t help but admire it. The ''Ghost Princess'' Scepter'' had been disassembled, leaving only the core jade bead, which was then tied with brass wire and leather cord and hung as an ornament on the end of the ''22nd Century Katana'' handle. The cyberpunk-style sword and the antique ornament were an unbalanced yet strangely harmonious combination. The function to summon the Flame Specter was perfectly preserved, and the size was reduced several times over¡ªa groundbreaking modification. He had also combined the ''Winter Peacock''s Standard'' and the ''World-Reflecting Mirror.'' "I don''t understand why it was so complicated. Why did they make it so inefficiently large?" He tore off the inscribed part of the Standard, sewed it onto the flag fabric, then folded and stitched the fabric into a suit vest. The ''World-Reflecting Mirror'' was attached to a silver chain in the inner pocket, allowing it to be carried like a pocket watch. "Try it on. It''ll fit you perfectly. You always liked not having to touch anything with your hands, right?" "How do I activate it?" "The trigger was set to ''stabbing,'' but I changed it so that even a light stomp will activate it. It wasn''t difficult." Ryu Haneul clicked his tongue. ''This is incredible.'' He said it casually, but modifying artifacts was an extremely difficult task. Changing them into entirely different objects while preserving their functions was a legendary feat, even in the Hunter industry. Of course, there were downsides. "Senior, does this mean you can''t use the Infinite Manifestation Sutra and Law of Light at the same time anymore?" ''I really liked holding the Standard together.'' Fengyun grinned. "I already sensed it. The dark mana remaining in the Standard''s circuit was yours, Heavenly Demon. I tried my best to preserve the simultaneous activation function. Originally, you had to hold the Standard together, but..." "But?" "Now you can just hold hands and use it." Ryu Haneul felt a halo shining behind Fengyun. ''Hands!? Holding hands with senior?'' Suddenly, his fondness for Fengyun skyrocketed. ''This boss knows what''s up.'' His earlier impression of Fengyun being quick-witted was indeed correct. A smile crept onto his face. "That''s great. What do you think, senior?" Baekya stood up, walked to the mirror, and replied with satisfaction. "Yes, I like it. It''s always fine." The 22nd-century katana with the jade bead on its handle hung stylishly from his left hip, and the military vest made him look even taller. ''This guy should have been a designer, not a soldier or a gangster boss.'' ''Senior likes it too?!'' Fengyun realized that the two of them were having a conversation with completely different contexts. But since they both seemed satisfied, he said nothing. "Take this with you when you go." Finally, he handed over a key. "What is it?" Baekya took the key and asked. "I have a Mariana yacht in Seoul too. Use it if you ever need to escape to the sea." Fengyun muttered that Baekya wouldn''t go far. "Thank you." "Don''t mention it. I''ll contact you as soon as I get the Irregular Polyhedron." "Okay." Baekya and Ryu Haneul left the hotel room. Fengyun watched them go until they were out of sight. "By the way, senior, do you know how to sail a boat?" "I can if it''s just a sailboat. I sailed one for decades in a tower somewhere." "That... doesn''t count as knowing how to sail." "I think so too. Do you know how?" "Yes, I do." "Then it''s fine." "Huh?" "You''re not going to sail the boat for me?" "No? Of course, I''ll sail it for you." The cheerful conversation, laced with laughter, slowly faded away. ''Brings back memories.'' Fengyun closed his eyes, reminiscing about his military days. ''Captain!'' ''Captain ¡ö¡ö¡ö!'' He had vowed to live like a cloud, even if he couldn''t become one. But the winds of time, which had unpredictably pushed him into the future, now seemed to be pulling him back to the past. He reflected on his life, from soldier to policeman to gangster. It felt like he had tried everything he could. He had faced injustice, but he hadn''t let misfortune turn into misery. He had strived to serve his country and hadn''t made excuses for himself. Thanks to that, even though his life had been full of turmoil, he had been able to glimpse the light from within the shadows. * * * Seoul at night. The bar of a high-rise hotel. Lee Eunwoo sipped whiskey at a window seat. Lee Baejeong approached with a cocktail in hand. For a moment, eyes turned towards them. Lee Baejeong, with his yellowish-green bob, was eye-catching, and Lee Eunwoo, a high-ranker with a unique halo as a symbol of being chosen by the Constellations, needed no introduction. But no one tried to eavesdrop on their conversation. Unlike Baekya, they didn''t have the Ring of Reincarnation, and they had come here to discuss matters that were best kept private. Lee Eunwoo asked without even glancing up. "What is it?" Lee Baejeong gave a bitter smile. "Unfortunately, we can''t kill Baekya right away. We''ll have to split the pursuit team." Lee Eunwoo''s eyes widened, but he didn''t react further. "I see. The difference between those who see Baekya''s death as a means and those who see it as an end. It''s fortunate for me. What''s the matter?" It was as expected, to some extent. "Some members of the Black Star Cluster have entered the country illegally. They used a route through Busan." "Should we eliminate Fengyun?" "No. He''s still a patriot." "Then... you''re saying we''ll slow down the pursuit for a while." "Because I have to use ''Precognitive Dream'' elsewhere." Clink. Lee Eunwoo slammed his glass down hard. His eyes flickered like a computer screen receiving an incalculable equation. "Has the future changed? That child would have told us." Lee Eunwoo''s hand reached for the gun at his waist, but then... "It hasn''t changed yet, unfortunately." He stopped abruptly. "I''ll send half of the personnel assigned to monitor and protect Baekya and Ryu Haneul as a support team. Is that enough?" "Yes." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 60 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 60 After meeting with Fengyun, it was already night and the sun had set. "I think I''ll stay here tonight. Is that okay with you?" "I even followed you to the tower, why wouldn''t a hotel be okay?" Baekya and Ryu Haneul headed to the hotel restaurant. "Are you sure you''re okay? The 3-night, 4-day workshop wasn''t a lie, was it? Won''t the guild be looking for you?" "You don''t know how amazing this junior of yours is." "How amazing?" "Well, to begin with, she was always quite free-spirited. S+ rank Hunters aren''t that common, you know." "That''s true." "Also, after I cleared the 51st floor and blocked a Rank 1 gate, I got a free pass to do whatever I want. The guild''s image has improved so much." "Right, I saw your video. The one where you were flying down with the instructors. It was awesome." "Y-Y-You saw that?" "Of course, I did. I watch all the videos of high-rankers." "...I came because of you, senior." "That sounds like you wouldn''t have come if it wasn''t for me. Did I teach you that way in the future?" "Does it matter if you ask? You have no way to confirm it even if I lie. You''ll believe whatever I say if you want to, and you won''t if you don''t want to." "Ah, I haven''t taught my disciple well. What will you do with your life?" "Senior!" After dinner, they went up to the 30th-floor hotel bar. The authentic bar was cozy and inviting, with dim orange lighting and the soft accompaniment of live piano music. Outside the floor-to-ceiling window that took up an entire wall, the Busan night sea stretched out refreshingly. "Glenmorangie X Signet. Two glasses." Baekya ordered a strong drink out of habit. "...Haneul. How old are you biologically right now?" "18 years old." He recalled Ryu Haneul''s biological age standing next to him. "...Please change one glass to a suitable non-alcoholic cocktail." "Senior. Don''t be ridiculous. I''m over a hundred years old too." "If I admit that, I''ll become too old." "Then aren''t you about 19 years old too, senior?" "I''m 21. Or was it 22? Anyway." The bartender showed no reaction to this strange conversation. Even with a ring-shaped halo, it would be understandable, let alone an S-rank Hunter chosen by a Constellation. It was best to wait patiently until the two came to a conclusion. Baekya thought for a moment before making a decision. "Two shots of a decent whiskey with mint soda or grapefruit soda, 500ml or more, please." Ryu Haneul couldn''t be satisfied with that, but she could at least accept it. The two sat at the bar table and sipped their drinks. "It''s been a while since I''ve had Western liquor." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You don''t even drink much, so why did you say something ridiculous like that?" "No. I usually drink Eastern liquor. My Constellation likes it." Ryu Haneul pointed to the purple halo above his head. Baekya laughed, showing his teeth. "That''s how it goes. I prefer evenings, but my Constellation always wants to go out when the sun is up." In the Awakened society, conversations about each other''s Constellations were only shared between very close relationships. The contract with a Constellation was a sacred vow between the two, one that no one else could intrude upon. Sharing stories didn''t mean they influenced each other. It simply meant they trusted each other completely. The next morning, they received Blackstone''s customer number and password. In the afternoon, they departed for Seoul. A white yacht cut through the sea, leaving a trail of foam in its wake. They planned to sail north along the west coast and enter Seoul through the Ara Waterway. Since they had set off leisurely, the sun was already setting as they approached Seoul. The sun dipped below the western horizon. Baekya stood on the deck, gazing at the scene for a long time. ''It''s done.'' The preparations were complete. ''The Winter Vanguard''s Standard and the World-Reflecting Mirror have returned to their Legendary Artifact status. The Winter Vanguard''s Standard... no, should I call it a vest? Anyway, it amplifies abilities and works well with Law of Light.'' The artifacts had regained their original power. ''With the addition of the "Mirror" that creates my own world, I can force any opponent into a one-on-one battle. That''s enough. I may not achieve overwhelming victories like before, but at least I won''t get beaten up anywhere.'' He could now enter the Tower again. ''51st floor, 52nd floor... and someday, the 99th floor!'' Just uttering the name inwardly stirred a myriad of emotions within him. ''Siyeol.'' His tongue moved from his lower front teeth to the roof of his mouth, forming a name that never touched anything. ''You were such a reliable presence by my side.'' He would reclaim that name. He was his disciple, raised by him. "What are you thinking about?" "Huh?!" He sensed someone nearby. Baekya turned his head. Ryu Haneul was standing there, his hand resting on the railing. The last rays of sunlight fell on his face, as white as porcelain, and his long hair fluttered in the sea breeze. "I''ve been standing next to you for a while, senior, but you never looked back." His violet eyes, filled with inner light, held a hint of both mystery and eeriness. They were the kind of eyes Baekya liked. He answered concisely. "The preparations are almost complete." "Yes." "Now, all I have to do is keep climbing." "That''s good to hear." "Once I climb 7 or 8 floors, I should be able to handle a few Regressors easily. Around the 10th floor, I can announce Baekya''s return. If I can surpass the 75th floor... from then on, I''ll surpass my former glory days." "Only good things await you." "There''s going to be a huge uproar. Those Regressors aren''t ordinary folks, you know? They''re all big shots who hold important positions in this country." Baekya joked. "I wonder how much Hong Ilha will try to hinder me every time I conquer the Tower and come out. He might even openly raid me." Ryu Haneul asked, like a sly cat. "What are you worried about?" "I felt my limits during my solo climb on the 20th floor. I almost died, you know. That''s when I thought, ''From now on, just raising disciples won''t cut it.''" "So that''s why you became the Association President. And you met with a lot of politicians too." "Exactly. After all, society needs to be stable for Awakened individuals to receive adequate support and systematic training." "You''re right." "But the moment I step up in earnest... wouldn''t the entire Hunter scene in this country be turned upside down?" Ryu Haneul understood what Baekya was saying. The Rookie''s solo climb, the Returner''s comeback, the nine Regressors, the history of Baekya''s fall... none of it was trivial. Whether it was revealed or not, it was sure to cause great turmoil in society. A world where apartment prices were determined by whether a nearby school had a defensive barrier installed, where the Samjeong Group''s mana stone power plant reduced winter electricity bills to 100 won increments, and where a Ranker''s overseas trip led to a drop in the KOSPI index. Chaos in the Hunter world meant chaos for all of South Korea. "I''ll admit what I need to admit. If you asked me whether the stability of this country was my goal or a means, it was a means. But as much as it was a means, I put a lot of effort into it. Now, it''s become as important a value as conquering the Tower." "Does it feel like you''re breaking it with your own hands?" Baekya didn''t deny it. "Yes." The fragments of the sunset disappeared below the horizon, and the shadows cast on his face also vanished. Only darkness remained. Ryu Haneul tilted his head back and tied his hair, tangled by the sea breeze. A few stray hairs stuck out from his slender, white nape. "I don''t understand any of it. To be honest, both my Constellation and I are closer to the evil alignment." "Well, they don''t call you the ''Heavenly Demon''s Reincarnation'' for nothing." "But I made one promise. I can promise it a hundred times, a thousand times over." The halo, symbolizing heaven and earth, glowed softly above Ryu Haneul''s head. "I''ll go with you. Wherever you go." Baekya finally burst into laughter. "Thank you." He looked at the Aitel Tower, which was Constellation to appear in the distance. That tower made his heart race, just as it did 15 years ago. ''Yes. I need to know. What''s on the higher floors.'' He turned to Ryu Haneul standing next to him and asked. "Hey. But if you''re here, who''s driving?" Ryu Haneul shrugged. "No one?" Baekya''s face fell. "What?" "These days, all ships are GPS-operated. It''s the same with airplanes; you just need to take care of takeoff and landing. Didn''t you know?" "Let''s go inside right now." "Hahaha." * * * "I''m back!" "You''re back?" Hong Wolha went out to the entrance to greet his older brother who had returned after two days. Ilha was wearing a vest he hadn''t seen before, and it emanated a dazzling aura. It was so intense that Wolha couldn''t focus until a status window popped up. The Heavenly Demon, who usually stuck to him like a shadow, was nowhere to be seen. ''Thank goodness.'' Wolha felt a strange sense of relief. Ilha spoke slowly, as if talking about everyday matters. "The exam date is out." Ilha grinned. "Think you can pass?" Wolha was getting used to Ilha''s casual speech patterns. He sometimes wondered if Ilha had always talked like that. "Yes." Ilha entered the house and asked a question. "In the Awakened Special Law, what is the justification for the mandatory mobilization of Awakened individuals in the event of a gate outbreak?" "It''s based on the constitutional clause stating that all citizens have the duty of national defense. Awakened individuals fulfill their military service obligation not through regular military service but by complying with mobilization orders during gate outbreaks or other Aitel system-related incidents." "Under the Awakened Registration Act, what is the justification for registering Heroic-grade or higher artifacts?" "It''s the same principle as requiring a permit to possess swords!" Wolha answered without any hesitation. It was the kind of speed only someone who had memorized everything perfectly could achieve. Ilha asked a few more questions and then smiled faintly. "You''ll really pass." He then took out the ''Aesthetics of Reversal'' ring from his inventory and handed it back. "Here. They inscribed a simple protection spell on it. It''s Common-grade, but it''s still an artifact now, so take good care of it." ¡¾Aesthetics of Reversal (Heroic)¡¿ ¡¾Reflects 100% of all attacks C+ grade or lower (physical, magical, mental, etc.) and 90% of all attacks B+ grade or lower.¡¿ Wolha suppressed the question that rose to his throat, ''Common-grade?'' He believed Ilha would tell him someday. "I''m going to wash up and sleep. I''m a bit tired, so I might sleep in. Eat breakfast first tomorrow morning." Ilha went into his room. As he opened the door, a flicker of green light seemed to flash on his right hand. * * * When I came to, I was standing in the middle of a dreamlike forest. Trees grew tall, reaching for the sky, and tens of thousands of fireflies flitted about, emitting a soft glow. "Ah." At that moment, I realized I was dreaming. It went according to plan. I had lured the curse to transfer, and it seemed to have worked. I stepped on the pleasantly rustling fallen leaves and walked towards an open space in the middle of the forest. There, where an unusually large number of fireflies gathered, he stood. The swordsman, wearing a wide-brimmed fedora and a stylish coat. Unlike when I saw him at the Ghost Princess''s castle, the front buttons of his coat were undone, revealing a bondage-style outfit full of black leather straps and silver rings. A wry smile formed on my face. "I thought you were just some hidden asset of a guild or a large corporation." That bondage-style outfit was the symbol of the Black Star Cluster. Individuals favored by a Constellation that humans couldn''t and shouldn''t try to understand, wielding terrifying powers. The swordsman replied in an androgynous, mechanical voice. "I also thought you were a secret rookie from some guild." The light from the fireflies was an eerie green, but my surroundings were filled with a warm, candle-like color. I looked at my sleeves and saw no handkerchief. I looked down at a small puddle. Above my head, a holy crimson crown shone brilliantly. "...." "To think you''d dispel that curse. What a shame. If I had control over him, I could have moved freely throughout Northeast Asia." "I can''t allow that. Do you know how hard I''ve worked to protect this country?" "The old you could have protected it." The swordsman stretched out his hand. Shweeeak! Shweeeak! Shweeeak! Three green ghosts flew towards me, their mouths wide open. It was ''Gwi Ryeong Tan'' (Ghost Spirit Shot), a signature technique of Hunters who wielded spiritual energy. I channeled mana into the ring on my left index finger and blocked it. ¡¾Aesthetics of Distortion (Heroic)¡¿ Thump! Thump! Thump! A force field that distorted space in a strange way flickered, and the Ghost Spirit Shots slid along its curved surface. The swordsman clicked his tongue. "Don''t think you''ll die easily. You''ll pay for hindering us all this time." Tssssss...! Suddenly, the entire forest seemed to writhe as if it were alive. Countless branches and fireflies seemed to be glaring at me. "Why don''t you tell me what kind of damn plan you''re cooking up this time." I channeled mana into the ''Winter Vanguard''s Standard'' and replied. "Who knows? Maybe I''ll kill you painlessly." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 61 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 61 ¡°You dare to oppose this light?¡± Baekya raised his left hand with an exaggerated gesture. From his fingertips, the white light of Law of Light rose like bubbles, scorching the surrounding space. ¡°As much as I want in my dream.¡± The Ghost Swordsman answered in a low voice and took a step closer. Thump. That single step contained the power to shake the entire dream world. ¡¾Dream Domain¡¿ Fwaaaaaaat¡ª! The surrounding trees, fireflies, the entire dew-laden night forest became the Ghost Swordsman''s weapons, flying towards Baekya. Leaves became blades, roots became whips, and fireflies became Ghost Flame orbs. It was a fatal attack, trying to fill the entire space above, below, left, right, front, and back in a spherical shape. It was also a fatal blow that could not be avoided or blocked. Baekya had no intention of avoiding it from the beginning. Because the sun does not move around and fight. ¡°It feels like morning is coming soon, how long are you going to sleep?¡± ¡¾Fire Domain¡¿ Fwaaaaaaat¡ª! The vest made from the Winter Vanguard''s Standard was ablaze with crimson radiance. A sphere of rose-colored heat and white flames was created around Baekya. The domain of fire spread like ripples on the surface of water. It was as if an untimely sun was rising in the night forest. Clang! The Dream Domain and the Fire Domain collided from all directions. The leaf blades falling from above, the branch spears rushing from the side, the root thorns rising from the ground, and even the Ghost Flame orbs circling around all burned up. The Ghost Swordsman''s face was hidden by a fedora and a mask full of leather and studs. But anyone could tell that the Ghost Swordsman''s eyes were shaking. The Ghost Swordsman clenched his teeth, and the dark green forest tightened once more. Creak! The huge trees roared like carnivorous demons and raised their thick branches. Baekya poured mana into the ''World-Reflecting Mirror'' in the inner pocket of his vest. He muttered a small incantation, concretizing the image. ¡°This works too.¡± And then he made it a reality. ¡¾World-Reflecting Mirror¡¿ Fwaaaaaat! The flames reflected in the mirror burned twice as bright. The crimson sphere surrounding Baekya instantly increased its presence. It was ''replication'', the original function of the World-Reflecting Mirror. The fire spread to devour the forest, and the forest swept over to crush the fire. Clang! Trees tens and hundreds of meters tall became black spears, trying to pierce through the Fire Domain, and Baekya''s sphere breathed out fire, burning up the fireflies. And so, in the burning night forest. ¡°You couldn''t kill me then, could you? The moment you failed, you lost.¡± ¡°You didn''t recognize us then. The moment you failed, you lost.¡± The Pyromancer and the Ghost Swordsman clashed head-on. Whoosh! Flames trailed behind Baekya. Swoosh! Ghost Flame orbs chased after the Ghost Swordsman. Baekya raised his ''22nd Century Katana'' high. First, the mana circuit engraved on the blade, then the entire blade, heated up like molten steel in a furnace. Hum! The heat that started from the base of the long sword ran towards the tip. Hum! Hum! Hum! "Leave this country, and never return!" ¡¾Solar Sword Radiance¡¿ Shwaaaaa¡ª! Shwaaaaa¡ª! Shwaaaaa¡ª! Shwaaaaa¡ª! Shwaaaaa¡ª! Dozens of streaks of red sword light erupted from the long sword. Each streak had the power to shoot to the far end of the horizon, burning and cutting everything in between. Steel-like black trees were cut down, and ghosts were torn apart. The Ghost Swordsman, without a moment of panic, raised his long sword, which was emitting a green ghostly energy, and swung it down. The trajectory of the sword formed a green crescent moon, and the Solar Sword Radiance, which had been cutting in a straight line, was deflected. Once its trajectory was skewed, the Solar Sword Radiance collided with other streaks of sword light, distorting the entire technique. Baekya''s face was also distorted. The Ghost Swordsman lightly spun his long sword and said¡ª "That''s a technique suited for a sword. It''s not a technique that can be used with a long sword in the first place. Even if you push through with overwhelming mana and overwhelming experience..." Whirr, Whirr, Whirr! Fireflies gathered every time the long sword spun. The fireflies emitted increasingly strong light, transforming into evil spirits. "You don''t know how you should fight." He shot out the sword, along with the fully gathered evil spirits. ¡¾Hundred Ghosts Night Parade¡¿ Ah, hahahaha¡ª! The green ghostly energy blazed chillingly, and the firefly ghosts, their mouths wide open, flew towards Baekya. The trajectory, tightening in a spiral, was so bizarre that it seemed impossible to block even if you saw it. "But I know that I don''t know." "...!" That''s why Baekya closed his eyes. ¡¾Solar Sword Radiance: Sunset¡¿ ¡¾The last rays of sunset illuminate all¡¿ Baekya''s long sword drew a large circle in front of him. Saaaaaaak! It was a circle made of countless straight lines connected together. It was like scattering tens of thousands of heated needles in all directions. The ghosts that were swarming in a spiral were sucked into the circle drawn by Baekya. Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwa! The Hundred Ghosts Night Parade and Solar Sword Radiance were mutually annihilated. Baekya, opening his eyes, smiled leisurely. Brushing his long sword aside, he said¡ª "I''ve wandered through dozens of worlds and lived for thousands of years. You think I wouldn''t know what you know?" The Ghost Swordsman clicked his tongue and nodded. "Your control has definitely improved." He tried to appear calm, but he couldn''t hide his bewilderment. "I don''t think you showed me any swordsmanship the last time I saw you. Did another member teach you?" Baekya asked, seemingly genuinely puzzled. "I''ve never let any of the Black Star Cluster bastards who entered this country live." The Ghost Swordsman lowered his body. "...You talk too much." Baekya lifted his chin. "And you have no right to speak." The Ghost Swordsman prepared another big technique. Green ghostly energy overflowed from the long sword. Baekya noticed that he was about to dash forward by looking at the Ghost Swordsman''s ankles, knees, and shoulders. ''He''s going to fire a big one and then dash at me.'' Close-quarters brawls weren''t his style. Why would he roll around on the ground with him when he could win just by setting fires from afar? But he had never really lost in a brawl either. The Ghost Swordsman swung the long sword he was holding with both hands as if thrusting it forward. ¡¾Lion''s Soul-Seeking Sword¡¿ ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ª! A green ghostly energy, as if roughly painted with a brush, shot out with a strange scream. ¡¾Solar Sword Radiance: Dawn¡¿ Fwaaaaaaat! Baekya also countered with a similar technique. If Solar Sword Radiance illuminates all directions and Sunset captures it in a single point, Dawn illuminated only one spot. The two powers clashed, unleashing a light like the beginning of the universe. Crack! Both dashed forward towards the explosion. It was a speed just a little slower than the forest and fire they had unleashed. "Hong Baekya!" "Ghost Swordsman!" The engagement distance, which had been over a hundred meters, instantly closed to the point where their elbows could touch each other. With the spectacle of green sword energy and crimson sword light exploding like fireworks as a backdrop, the two clashed. Crack! The reflexes of high-ranking Hunters were beyond imagination. They constantly experienced the sensation of time slowing down during battle, living and breathing in tenths and hundredths of a second. The Ghost Swordsman threw a left-handed punch. Thump! Thump! Thump! A whitish shock wave was running like a heartbeat through the ridiculously thick gauntlet. Baekya extended his left fist as well. He wasn''t wearing a gauntlet, but he was wearing the ''Aesthetics of Distortion'' ring. Clang! Clang! Clang! A hemispherical force field that distorted space was created at the tip of Baekya''s hand. Swish! The Ghost Swordsman''s left fist drifted away like a rubber boat swept away by a wave. Whirl! Baekya switched his grip on the ''22nd Century Katana'' to a reverse grip and swung it upwards. Swish! The sharp blade dug into the Ghost Swordsman''s left armpit. It was a situation where he couldn''t avoid it, as his left arm, which had created the distortion force field, was being pulled and bounced back. The Ghost Swordsman also switched his grip on the long sword in his right hand to a reverse grip, aiming for Baekya''s neck. Whoosh! The determination to give up his arm and take his neck was evident in that strike. Baekya, who was aiming for the armpit, had no choice but to twist his long sword and hold it up in the air. Screech! Both long swords, held in reverse grips, clashed in mid-air. Their tightly gripped fists crossed, and their forearms trembled. The Ghost Swordsman tried to swing his gauntlet and strike Baekya''s head. Baekya was a step faster. Swish! "...!" He was holding the "Eternal Cold Steel Dagger¡± in his empty left hand. Reaching his left hand behind the long sword he had thrust out, he tried to rip into the Ghost Swordsman''s side. Thud! The sharp blade pierced through the coat and the bondage-style outfit made of leather and steel rings. Sizzle! The dagger, empowered by ''Radiant Sword,'' heated up and sizzled the flesh. "Kghhhh!" The Ghost Swordsman''s body trembled. Fireflies gathered, and tree roots tried to spring up from the ground. Baekya, without hesitation, poured more mana into the ring. Thump! The distortion force field was activated. The Ghost Swordsman, caught in the indescribable direction of the force, swayed and was thrown backward. This time, Baekya had clearly seized the initiative. ''He''s been in the country for months. I have to kill him. I can''t let the Black Star Cluster interfere while I''m gone and our country''s high-rankers are in disarray!'' Thwack! He dashed forward like the wind, wielding two weapons at once. Clang! The Ghost Swordsman, startled, swung his long sword to block. The long swords clashed, and fierce sparks flew. Baekya thrust the Eternal Cold Steel Dagger and activated the distortion force field simultaneously. The Ghost Swordsman tried to block with his gauntlet, but... Hum! Hum! Hum! The distortion force field, true to its name, distorted even the trajectory of the Eternal Cold Steel Dagger. The attack, which should have been blocked, pushed the gauntlet away and dug into his side. Thud! The smell of burning flesh rose once more. "Gah!" The Ghost Swordsman faltered, and his long sword wavered. Baekya was a Hunter who wouldn''t miss that moment. It was martial arts honed for 15 years on Earth and for millennia in the Tower. The 22nd Century Katana thrust forward, aiming for the Ghost Swordsman''s heart. ''Got you.'' Thump! * * * Huh? Confused, I blinked. Above my field of vision, I saw trees, the forest, and the ground I had been standing on. Whoosh. Only then did I realize that I had been thrown into the air. I was certain that I had stabbed the Ghost Swordsman in the heart. The Ghost Swordsman didn''t have the leisure to handle the Dream Domain either. But somehow, I was in the air, and I hadn''t killed the Ghost Swordsman. What happened? I looked around for the Ghost Swordsman. He was lying on the ceiling, that is, the forest floor, breathing heavily. Trees, grass, and puddles were looking up at me. I wondered if I had been hit by a mental attack, but my Constellation didn''t say anything. I saw some kind of artifact attached to the inside of the gauntlet the Ghost Swordsman was wearing. It was in the form of a metal ruler with several cylinders containing fluorescent liquid attached to it. ¡¾Imbalanced Level (Black Dawn)¡¿ A level. Literally a tool used to check for horizontal levels when constructing buildings or making furniture. It seemed like he had used it to flip my sense of direction. The Ghost Swordsman said in a tired voice¡ª "That''s all for today. I don''t think I can hold on any longer..." Perhaps the blade had grazed his mask, or the voice modulation device was broken, because his voice was erratic. I was about to shout, "Who said you could decide that?" but then I noticed the state of my surroundings. "Ah." The dark green forest was ablaze. The puddles had evaporated, the trees had turned to ash, and the space itself seemed to have holes in it, with white spots here and there. No wonder I felt an overflow of mana; the Law of Light¡¯s payback was no joke. I prepared a heat ray along with my reply. Having these two together made it easier to get the answers I wanted than having them separately. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Who said you could decide that?" "I''ll be back in a few days anyway, so why don''t we meet again then?" Coming back? To Korea? As if he had read my expression, he said¡ª "Now that you''re gone, who can stop us?" "I''m right here?" "Aren''t there a few guys who want to kill you?" I was about to answer confidently. You think I''d back down just because monstrous bastards like you are coming? Then it hit me. "...?!" How did that bastard know that the regressors killed me? No way. It couldn''t be. Regression is no joke, how could even a bastard like that... As if to kick away my hopes, the Ghost Swordsman said¡ª "We didn''t even need to step in then. You did all our work for us." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 62 [Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 62 The dream world was rapidly collapsing. In the overturned world, fireflies fluttered around, unsure of where to go. The rising flames reached the fallen leaves on the ground and spread even faster. I dispersed the heat ray I had prepared. "Ha." The fireballs floating above my shoulders disappeared. I could instinctively tell that attacking any further was pointless. This dream world was no longer intact enough to manifest attacks and damage. The Ghost Swordsman poured mana into his gauntlet. The level attached to the bottom of the gauntlet glowed once more, and the overturned world returned to its original state. I twisted my body in mid-air, landed on the ground with my hand, and stabilized myself. "You said I did your work for you?" I dusted off my hands and asked casually. Killing him would have been the best option if I could, but if I couldn''t, I had to get some information at least. The Ghost Swordsman nodded. "Yes. We were so grateful." The Ghost Swordsman said, covering his scarred leather mask with his left hand. "Don''t be ashamed of that fact. You are our idol, our hero, our sun." His words made me frown. My idol, my hero, my sun. It was an idiom that had become a worldwide trend after Cheong Siyeol used it a few times on broadcasts. To use words meant to praise and worship me to curse me instead. It felt disgusting. The Ghost Swordsman took a step closer. "Oh, beloved and respected Doom." He placed his right hand over his heart and bowed respectfully, as if he truly respected me. I raised my chin and laughed at him genuinely. "Weren''t you trying to kill me just now? That''s quite the attitude change. Don''t you think you''re being inconsistent?" "...." I hadn''t expected an answer. There was no need to listen to what the Black Star Cluster had to say. They were completely out of their minds, driven mad by the whispers of the evil constellations. There was once a thesis published on why high-ranking Awakened individuals are inevitably arrogant. Just hearing that you''ve been chosen by some transcendental being makes you feel proud, and then that being sponsors only you, tells stories only you can hear. It gives you a heteromorphic halo so that everyone in the world knows you''ve been chosen, and even provides various support during battles. It''s impossible not to feel like you''ve become a god. You can''t help but listen to whatever that being demands or suggests. You start to think that whatever that transcendental being says must be right. If you can''t believe that humans have their own system, you''re forced to live by the constellation''s system in a human body. But in the end, humans have to live as humans, and constellations as constellations. ...That''s what the thesis said. The point is this. There''s no need to pay attention to what that guy says. It''s far more important to find out if he''s really a regressor, if he''s been in contact with any of the regressors, or if he''s just bluffing. "I have a question." "Don''t expect an answer." The Ghost Swordsman raised his head. "This world is doomed anyway. Even if it wasn''t by your hand." "By yours?" "Even if not by ours, even if not by yours, this world is doomed anyway." "...." "So, if the end is inevitable, I''d rather it be ruined by your hand. That would make it a little less unfair, you know? Who would say anything if you, who protected the world, were to destroy it?" I felt a genuine madness in the Ghost Swordsman''s voice, a kind common in this field. The green glow under the brim of his hat flickered eerily. It was a gaze filled with sorrow. As if he knew me personally. I firmly shook my head, erasing that thought from my mind. "No. I don''t have that right. I have the right to be treated well everywhere, the right to enjoy privileges, but not the right to destroy. That''s a right no one in this world can have." "You can have it. You are the one and only exception in this world." "I know better than anyone how capable I am. Destroying the world would be very easy for me. I could do it anytime." The Ghost Swordsman wasn''t the first to say such things to me. And he wouldn''t be the last. But my answer would always be similar. "Things that can be done anytime aren''t very impressive. I''m going to do impressive things. I''m going to stabilize the country, take care of the people I cherish, and reach the top of the Tower." For a while, we were silent. In the burning forest, under the pale moon. We stood there, looking at each other. Then the Ghost Swordsman spoke. "I wish that could have been possible." His voice was filled with bitter resignation. It was an emotion far removed from me. "I will never let it be destroyed." "How?" "Because I''m going to erase all those who try to destroy it." I drew upon my mana. ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ Fwaaaaaaat! The entire forest was torn to shreds. Even the moon, casting its pale light, shattered like glass. "...Ha." And so, I woke up from the dream. * * * A few days later. "...That happened?" "Yes." "Why didn''t you tell me? No, more importantly, why did you let the curse into your mind?" In the backseat of Ryu Haneul''s sedan. The two were sitting side by side, heading towards the Tower. "I told you, didn''t I? I was planning to lure it in and kill it. You know I have good synergy with things like ghosts and curses." Ryu Haneul''s eyebrows shot up in surprise as he listened to Baekya''s explanation. "Wait, you said you met that Ghost Swordsman at the Ghost Princess'' Castle?" "Uh? Yeah." Then, he glared at Baekya with a look filled with a different kind of ghostly energy. "Wasn''t it that Ghost Swordsman who gave you the scepter?" "Well, that''s..." "You said you didn''t meet anyone back then?" "So..." "A-are you lying to me right now?" "No, that''s not it..." "How could you do that!" Ryu Haneul screamed, tearing at his hair. The driver in the front seat looked like he was seeing a hallucination, and Baekya shook his head. Baekya covered Ryu Haneul''s mouth with his left hand, restrained his arms with his right, and pressed down on him. Baekya leaned back against the door and looked down at Haneul, who had frozen. "That''s enough. You''re being unsightly. Didn''t I teach you to maintain the dignity of the chosen one?" When he spoke, his white teeth, even his canines, were bared. Ryu Haneul trembled with his purple pupils and nodded in a trance. A strong scent of orchids wafted up. "Yes..." "I''ll send you the confirmed D-DAY, so check it out. I don''t know if that bastard is really a regressor, but something''s going to happen that day." Baekya released Ryu Haneul, and Ryu Haneul tried to say something but shook his head. "...." "Why?" "I didn''t think he was a real regressor, but I''m not sure." "Don''t you know all eight of them except yourself?" "You said he was wearing a voice modulation mask and a bondage uniform. That has body modification mana on it too, right?" "Indeed. I couldn''t even tell if he was a man or a woman." "Still, I think it''s highly likely he''s not a real regressor. If he wanted to destroy the world, there would be no need to regress. It''s already been destroyed." Baekya groaned. "...Was the future that bad?" "The population didn''t decrease significantly right away. It was because civilization collapsed." "That''s crazy." "Anyway, I''ll keep all possibilities open." "Okay." "We need to prepare too. I hope we hear from Fengyun-hyung soon." "Right." "And let''s secure more power." "Power?" Ryu Haneul smiled with boyish charm. "Ahjussi, please turn the car around." "Where are we going?" "You''ll see when we get there." Baekya couldn''t believe where Ryu Haneul had brought them. "This is the Administration''s detention center, isn''t it?" ''No way, right?'' For a moment, he even suspected that Ryu Haneul was trying to hand him over to the Re-allocation department. ''You lied to me? I''m so disappointed!'' ''Ugh!'' Ryu Haneul left Baekya in the car and entered the building. "Please wait a moment." When he came back out, Ryu Haneul was accompanied by the most famous A-rank Hunter in Korea. A captivatingly handsome man with re-tied dreadlocks, a Versace shirt, and designer sunglasses. Baekya once again couldn''t believe his eyes. "Choi Gimin?" Ryu Haneul spread his arms in an exaggerated gesture and said¡ª "Ta-da?! What do you think, senior? Isn''t he a great asset?" * * * A few dozen minutes earlier. Ryu Haneul entered the detention center. He had double and triple-checked that the Re-allocation department head was away on a business trip. From the entrance, he could hear the noise of mana suppression artifacts operating. To generate enough output to neutralize a Ranker, they had to shovel mana stones into it like coal into a steam locomotive. Just keeping them locked up was a drain on taxes. That was the reason why they imposed hefty fines but didn''t give out prison sentences. "You''ve arrived?" "Yes. Shall we go down right away?" Ryu Haneul descended underground with the Administration officials. Choi Gimin was sitting inside a cell. "What brings the Heavenly Demon to such a humble place? Don''t tell me you got caught?" Choi Gimin sneered, and Ryu Haneul clicked his tongue. "Don''t you want to get out?" "...." A Ranker could be released immediately if another Ranker vouched for their management responsibility. Choi Gimin clicked his tongue, and Ryu Haneul, like the Heavenly Demon he was, raised his head. "I''ll give you a chance to learn from the greatness of my senior by his side." Choi Gimin scratched his ear. "Ah. The greatness of Doom?" "Don''t be sarcastic. He''s someone who knows how to find values worth pursuing, even though we have to live within the system." "Because he''s good at making money?" "Quit if you don''t like it. I came here because I thought you''d want to get out." "Ah. How long do you think I''ll be stuck here?" "Not long. But you''ll still have to stay for a few months procedurally, right? Do you want that?" Ryu Haneul turned his back as if to leave. Choi Gimin jumped to his feet. "What I''m really curious about is..." "Yes." "Aren''t you the same as me? Don''t you ultimately want to kill him too?" It was as he expected that Ryu Haneul would stop, but the hardening of his expression was not something he had anticipated. Choi Gimin, a pro at being a rascal, could tell Ryu Haneul''s expression just by looking at the back of his head. "That''s your core keyword, isn''t it? Heaven Shattering. Don''t you ultimately have to break your own Heaven?" Ryu Haneul answered with his back still turned. "Heaven Shattering isn''t about destruction, it''s about transcendence." "What''s the difference?" "Transcendence is only possible when you fully understand the existing laws. Because it''s about becoming better. True transcendence naturally breaks down the previous laws." "See! That''s what I''m saying..." "In other words, if the previous laws haven''t crumbled, it means you haven''t transcended yet. I still have a lot to learn." Ryu Haneul turned around and walked towards the cell. An official opened the door, and Ryu Haneul kicked Choi Gimin''s knee with his toe. Thwack! "Ouch! You little brat!" "Don''t call me a brat! I''ve lived hundreds of years longer than you!" Ryu Haneul grabbed Choi Gimin by the hair. "Show some respect, you vulgar thing. I''m giving you a chance to learn how to give meaning to your life." He pulled a green and black mixed bead out of his pocket and forced it into Choi Gimin''s mouth. The bead wriggled as it went down his throat. "...That''s how it happened." Ryu Haneul smiled brightly. Baekya looked at Choi Gimin. "You fed him ''Loneliness''?" Loneliness was a representative biological artifact from the martial arts-themed floors. It came in a pair of Yin and Yang, and the one with Yin could control the one who was fed Yang. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Naturally, it was illegal under modern law, but the Sun-Moon Divine Guild used it anyway. [TL/N: Sect ¡ú Guild] Because they were the Sun-Moon Divine Guild. Choi Gimin stood with his legs crossed and nodded. "That''s how it is. Shit." Ryu Haneul continued¡ª "He''s a Ranker, so he won''t die even without an antidote, but he''ll suffer quite a bit if ''Loneliness'' acts up. Wouldn''t that be enough of a safety measure?" Baekya was about to say something to Ryu Haneul but gave up. ''Whatever I say, it''ll just be spitting in my own face.'' Whether he hadn''t taught him properly or had taught him this way, both were his fault. "...Do as you please." Baekya concluded the matter and relayed the phone call he received while Ryu Haneul was in the detention center. "Fengyun contacted me. He said the Irregular Polyhedron is ready." Ryu Haneul gestured to the driver to start the car. "Already? That''s great. Let''s go right away." "But there''s a minor issue, we have to go and get it ourselves." "Where is it?" "Sinpo City." Ryu Haneul tilted his head. It was a place he hadn''t heard of before. Choi Gimin''s expression soured. "That''s North Korea! Shit!" [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 63 [Translator - Hestia] [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 63 North Korea had fallen. It wasn''t because of social conflicts between Awakened and ordinary people, nor was it due to the collapse of the one-party dictatorship of the Communist Party caused by the Awakened''s power. It was simply because the Aitel Tower itself never appeared there in the first place. The Aitel System had regional servers for each country. And it designated North Korea as the sole ''country'' on the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, it conducted tutorials in the territory occupied by North Korea, summoning the participants to the heart of Seoul. In other words, Gates opened in the North too. Gates opened, but there were no Hunters. Because they were all dragged to the basement of the National Intelligence Service as soon as they awakened, still dazed and confused. It was a situation destined for collapse. Many died, as they did everywhere else in the world, and many were accepted, as they were everywhere else in the world. It wasn''t that people who had opposed unification for economic reasons suddenly changed their minds overnight. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. North Korea had gained some leeway as it became a developed country in the Aitel era. Besides, the statistics were the statistics. With tens of millions of potential Awakened, there would be at least 50 A-rank Hunters. They couldn''t just abandon them because of mere ideological issues. There were also people who were negative towards North Korean defectors. ''Why should we feed them with our taxes?'' ''If we accept them, our foreign minister will have a reason to go to the UN and say we can''t accept any more refugees!'' ''Is that so?'' ''North Korean defectors vs. Southeast Asian, Indian, and Chinese refugees. Both in the millions. Take your pick.'' Those who emphasized economic logic above all else came to understand another kind of economic logic. Despite some discrimination and conflict, the former North Korean residents integrated into South Korea within 15 years. Since they couldn''t all come down south at once, they settled in major cities near the 38th parallel, such as Kaesong. The South Korean government also projected its administrative power northward, helping them become self-reliant. Although it was still riddled with special laws and temporary provisions, somehow maintaining the situation, South Korea was gradually incorporating the former North Korean territory into its administrative jurisdiction. And there were still places where the day they would come under administrative control seemed distant. "That''s Sinpo City, where we''re going now, you see~" Fengyun burst into rough laughter on the deck of the large yacht. Ryu Haneul asked¡ª "What kind of place is that?" "China, Russia, northern Japan, even South Korea. It''s a blind spot for Northeast Asian trade. If the Black Sea is a global artifact trading zone, Sinpo City is like the trading zone for Northeast Asian artifacts, hahahaha." Ryu Haneul narrowed his eyes. "Isn''t there a ''secret'' missing before the word ''trade''?" "That''s right! Our little Heavenly Demon is so smart!" "I heard that the phrase ''blind spot'' also means a place that''s hidden..." "That''s right. There are various perspectives in the world, aren''t there?" Ryu Haneul was an Awakened who had even regressed, but Fengyun was also a gang leader who had seen it all. Realizing that words wouldn''t work, Ryu Haneul turned his head and... "S-Senior." "Let''s go! Raise the flag!" He spotted Baekya standing side by side with Choi Gimin on the upper deck of the yacht, bursting into laughter. "Senior! You were being cautious just a while ago! W-what are you doing with that gangster!" "Didn''t you feed him ''Loneliness''? I trust you." Baekya jumped down from the upper deck and approached Ryu Haneul. Ryu Haneul let out a resentful complaint. "I''ve been thinking this for a while now, but you''re too good at sophistry, senior." "I''m a politician, aren''t I? I''ve attended more parliamentary inspections than most ministers." Baekya naturally pulled Ryu Haneul''s shoulder and headed towards the front of the deck. "Look over there." He stretched out his hand towards Sinpo City. Sinpo City at midnight was bright, unlike the image that came to mind when one thought of North Korea. Huge concrete structures stood here and there, and searchlights illuminated the entire city. "That''s where your Irregular Polyhedron is, right?" "Yes. With that, we can go straight to the Tower." "And we can lift Fengyun-ssi''s curse." "That''s right." But the light was somehow pale and gaunt. Baekya also frowned and looked at the island in front of Sinpo City''s docks. "That''s the ''problem''." Ryu Haneul looked at the island. There was a fairly large island located in the sea in front of Sinpo City''s docks. If it were South Korea, they would have connected the mainland and the island with a bridge and built a dock on the island, but it seemed North Korea hadn''t been able to do that. From that island, a thick demonic energy was rising, enough to surprise even the ''Heavenly Demon'' Ryu Haneul. "That... it''s completely eroded, isn''t it?" "Yes. There''s no notification window either." "Does that mean it''s at the level of an inferior species?" Ryu Haneul asked in a voice devoid of much expectation. Baekya replied in an unusually self-deprecating voice. "You know how you can tinker with things as a reward every time you achieve something while climbing the Aitel?" "Yes." "Come to think of it, I think I''ve limited all sorts of conveniences to the South Korean side so far. The furthest it spread was Kaesong?" "Why did you do that?" "It was government policy. We had to survive first, right? Besides, back then, the North Korean warlords were making a fuss about establishing an independent state. There''s no reason to give those guys the benefits that our Hunters earned with their blood." Ryu Haneul couldn''t disagree. Baekya continued in a reminiscent voice¡ª "Those benefits are applied by range and density. Based on the benefits I received on the 40th floor, if I compress and use the benefit range within Seoul, it even provides Gate forecasts. Gates below Rank 2 don''t even open." "So you''re saying that the Gate warnings, absorption, release, collapse, and all that stuff only work in South Korea and the Kaesong area?" "Yeah." Ryu Haneul smiled brightly and clapped his hands. "I never imagined. I still have a lot to learn from you, senior." "You''re the Heavenly Demon. The Lord of the Sixth Heaven." "Yes." Choi Gimin heard the whole conversation from the upper deck. He wanted to say, ''Is this the example you were talking about? The real rascal isn''t me, it''s that Baekya bastard!'' But he kept his mouth shut, fearing he would get hit. He was a man of poor character, not a stupid one. "Turn on the lights." "Yes, hyungnim." Fengyun instructed his subordinate. The subordinate turned on the yacht''s bright lights, illuminating the water. Under the black surface, a monstrous creature of an indiscernible shape vaguely revealed itself. It looked like a bloated, shiny gray tick with a demonic face, and it was bigger than Fengyun''s massive yacht. ¡¾Deep Sea ???(???)¡¿ As Baekya had said, it was so far from the convenience benefits provided by Seoul''s Aitel Tower that its name and Rank couldn''t be properly identified. "Ha." Baekya clapped his hands as if to ventilate. "With something like that roaming around, it''s no wonder they couldn''t get out." Ryu Haneul asked¡ª "What should we do?" "We''ll have to deal with it like we did at the Ghost Princess'' castle." "I wasn''t there, so I don''t know anything." "...Kill all the ones that have already crawled out, go inside, and burn the core." "So that''s what you did there?" "...Just you wait and see if I ever go anywhere without you again. I''ll make you follow me around until I beg you to let me have some privacy." "Really?! Senior, the Sun shouldn''t lie! I think I''m going to ascend." Choi Gimin thought Baekya seemed to have lost. * * * Fengyun had his men steer the yacht closer to the island. "There used to be a Reds, no, a North Korean submarine base here." Looking at the sonar, the water depth was indeed deep and the bottom flat, making it seem suitable for submarines. Choi Gimin, rolling up his sleeves, asked sarcastically. "Do people still use the word ''Reds'' these days?" "Shut your trap. I''m ex-North Korean special forces." "Fucking scary. Guess those bastards are still in business." "What the hell are you talking about? It''s been ages since those guys went under... What''s that?" Beep. Beep. Beep. Something that looked like a submarine appeared on the sonar. It seemed twice as big as the yacht. "Should''ve brought a bigger one!" Fengyun drew a sashimi knife from his waist and stepped out onto the deck. Ryu Haneul also drew the Dark Heavenly Demon Sword from his inventory, and Baekya prepared a heat ray. Bubble bubble! Bubble bubble! The surface of the water boiled frantically. White foam rose and disturbed the surrounding water. The illuminated depths were glimpsed, and... "Here it comes!" The depths glimpsed them too. "What is that!?" ¡¾Aquatic ???(???)¡¿ If one had to describe it, it was a fish with countless hands where its head should have been. Its plump body was covered in armor like an ancient fish, and its unusually white palms had bulging, reddish eyeballs. ["¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ª!¡±] It opened its mouth, which was located who-knows-where, and let out a roar that shattered the listener''s mind. "You''re nothing!" Just as Baekya was about to fire his heat ray... ¡¾Petrification¡¿ Crackle. Crackle! Choi Gimin, having taken off his sunglasses, widened his eyes. His vertical pupils met the eyes on the countless hands, and... Thud. The demon of the deep sank into the sea like a drug dealer who had been beaten up by Fengyun. Baekya, Ryu Haneul, and Fengyun all turned to look at Choi Gimin. "What, what the...?" "This is why I brought him along." "I can''t hate his skills, no matter what." Choi Gimin, who had been standing on the upper deck, slowly put his sunglasses back on and shrugged. "YO! Let''s finish this quickly before more comes." Fengyun''s subordinate moored the yacht at the old harbor. The concrete made with the sweat and blood of the people was still sturdy even after decades. "Let''s go. Guard the ship well." "Yes, hyungnim." "Yes." Fengyun''s subordinates remained on the ship. Even though they were subordinates, they were powerful Awakened, around B-rank. Baekya looked at them with satisfaction and then poured mana into the vest made from the Winter Peacock''s military flag. ''Fire Domain.'' This vest was like an old water pump. When he put in his mana as priming water, it allowed him to control the mana in the surrounding area. "Be careful." "Of what... Whoa, shit! That scared me!" Fwoosh! A faint flame spread out spherically from Baekya. Flare! Flare! Fwoosh! The dried-up trees and fallen leaves caught fire. The entire dark island became much brighter. Fengyun asked¡ª "Won''t this cause a forest fire?" "I did it. This whole island needs to be burned down." Choi Gimin took off the sunglasses he had stylishly put on. "I see them." Horrible creatures began to emerge from the forest. Several monstrous beasts, larger than the old lighthouse at the docks, were also visible. Ryu Haneul narrowed his eyes and then shook his head. "No notification window pops up. My constellation tells me if I ask, but the Aitel notifications don''t really appear." Fengyun drew his sashimi knife and shouted gallantly¡ª "So we''re on our own then? No one here is without the blessing of their constellation, right?" The four Awakened checked above each other''s heads. "Right." Baekya was camouflaging it with a handkerchief, but he had the most famous halo in the world. "Yes." Ryu Haneul''s was purple, shaped like a ring and a square. "Is there such an idiot?" Choi Gimin''s was green, shaped like a circle lined with countless scales. "Guess not." Fengyun''s was yellow, shaped like a gear. All four were Rankers chosen by constellations. "Alright then, let''s go!" As Fengyun shouted, the four Awakened dashed into the island. * * * The main enemies in that Gate were merfolk. [TL/N: Merfolk are legendary, human-like beings that live in the water and are part human and part fish.] Those labeled as ''Aquatic'' were humanoid monsters with fish heads, wielding sharp harpoons and short swords with ease. When they were at a disadvantage, they would stretch their necks like eels and try to bite, making them very tricky opponents, but... "Brings back memories!" They were no match for Baekya and the three Hunters. "Indeed." "You said it. When that Kraken appeared in Busan, you and I... Huh?! Heavenly Demon-nim, have you known Baekya for a long time too?" "W-well, that''s... Here they come!" "Yikes!" With three physical-type Awakened, Baekya fought with rear fire support. Ryu Haneul took the lead, Choi Gimin and Fengyun took the left and right flanks respectively. The swarming Aquatics were met with Baekya''s flames. ¡¾Hellfire¡¿ "Kaaaagh!" While they were struggling like that, their heads were smashed by Ryu Haneul, Fengyun, and Choi Gimin. ¡¾Ten Thousand Souls Embrace¡¿ ¡¾Tempest''s Aria¡¿ ¡¾Petrification¡¿ Choi Gimin stared into the darkness and shouted¡ª "Big one incoming!" Baekya turned his head to the left. ''...!'' In the darkness, between the trees withered by the sea breeze, two giant shadows emerged. A land octopus with a tank-like head and eight thick legs was pointing its short, cannon-like mouth towards them. ¡¾¡°That one looks a bit tough.¡±¡¿ ¡¾¡°Its name is Walking Octopus, Rank A-, but it fluctuates a bit.¡±¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' says something worrying about you with an expectant smile.¡¿ "Dodge!" Baekya dashed forward, pouring magic into the ring on his left hand. "Senior!" At the same moment Ryu Haneul cried out in alarm, the Walking Octopus spewed fire from its mouth. ¡¾Ink-Black Shrapnel¡¿ Boom! Fragments surged towards them like a tsunami. The dense trees between them, the decaying buildings, and the unfortunate monsters were all swept away. The ground touched by the fragments turned black and rotted. ''Wide-area erosion type? This is bad.'' Baekya gritted his teeth and activated the Distortion Field. Clang! ...He was sure it wouldn''t be enough. ''More.'' Maintaining the posture with his left hand extended forward, he unleashed the Resonance Wave. Zeeeeng! ''More!'' The force field that distorted space and the wave that heated the entire space overlapped in a single phase. Hum! Hum! Hum! In that instant, Baekya realized that this manipulation was possible even with just the Resonance Wave. ''Heat it up, make it buoyant, and push it away.'' He also stretched out his right hand, which had no ring. ¡¾¡°As expected, you are excellent.¡±¡¿ ¡¾You have quickly grasped the properties of the element with your outstanding insight.¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' greatly praises you for achieving ''skillization'' level proficiency in an instant.¡¿ ¡¾Mana +3¡¿ A notification window popped up in the corner of his vision, and... Zeeeeeeeng! Resonated heat, forming a tangible curtain, gushed forward. A wide, fan-shaped force field illuminated the darkness of the night, blocking the path of the four Hunters. ¡¾Distortion Wave¡¿ "...Ha. You really are amazing." "Senior... you''re the best." "This is why I can''t help but feel frustrated." The three Hunters murmured in a daze. Clang! Clang! Clang! The fragments that were surging in like waves couldn''t penetrate the red curtain, stopping in mid-air and burning away. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 64 [Translator - Hestia] [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 64 Crackle. Crackle! The fragments that poured out from the Walking Octopus''s mouth were caught in the Distortion Wave and burned in mid-air. Having lost all kinetic energy and mana, the fragments became mere biological matter and fell to the ground. "I blocked it...!" Baekya lowered his arms, which he had stretched out in front of him as if opening a double door. His fingernails were torn, and blood was flowing freely. It was the result of forcibly manipulating mana in a new way. Ryu Haneul saw this and raised his voice. "Senior...?!" "Get a grip! Do you want to get hit by that octopus again? Did your intelligence regress along with your return?" Choi Gimin dashed out like a bullet. Bang! A full-powered leap of an A-rank Hunter. The ground deeply caved in, and Choi Gimin''s shadow soared into the sky like a cannonball. The night sky was dim, with clouds obscuring the moon. "Ha! Ha! Ha!" The Hunter, without even a weapon, flashed his vertically slitted eyes. "Eat this!" It was difficult to completely solidify them because of the high mana within their bodies. But Choi Gimin had no intention of completely solidifying them in the first place. ¡¾Partial Petrification¡¿ Crackle. Crackle! White light flashed repeatedly from his eyes like a camera flash. "...?!" The two Walking Octopuses, bathed in the light, staggered, unable to move their legs. They couldn''t hit anything with their mouths that couldn''t adjust their firing angle. "Khahahaha!" Choi Gimin burst into rough laughter and clenched his fists tightly. Tsssss! Bronze scales rose and covered his fists like gauntlets. Choi Gimin struck the Walking Octopus''s leg with all his might. Thwack! Even the thinnest part of the leg was as thick as a large tree. With a single blow, the leg was half destroyed. Thwack, thwack, thwack! Korea''s number one rascal unleashed a barrage of punches. Crack! Finally, one leg was completely severed. "Hurry up!" Choi Gimin looked back. Baekya, Ryu Haneul, and Fengyun were running towards him. Just then, the Walking Octopus prepared another attack. "...Wait, shit!" Under its belly, the mouth attached in the center of its eight legs gaped open. A mental wave, indiscriminate in its target, unique to high-ranking monsters, erupted like thunder. [ "---, ---!"] It was an attack that didn''t need to adjust its firing angle. Choi Gimin imagined himself being blown away, blood gushing from his ears. ''Huh?'' But he didn''t hear even a ringing in his ears, let alone feel any pain. "Get a grip! What are you blabbering about? Do you think everyone here is a regressor!" Ryu Haneul, who had rushed over like lightning, was blocking his front. Hum! Hum! Hum! The halo of Heaven and Earth pulsated, and his black hair fluttered faintly. "Haa!" Ryu Haneul took a deep breath and clenched both fists, holding them to his sides. ¡¾Lion''s Roar¡¿ ["Go!"] The roar that erupted clashed with the Walking Octopus''s mental wave. The grayish-white wave and the blackish-purple wave resonated, swirling violently, and then subsided simultaneously. "Hurry up and do something! You, your title is the Sun of Humanity, isn''t it? Those bastards will keep coming!" "Calm down. I''m fine." "Who was worried about you? I was worried about myself. My curse won''t be lifted unless you''re okay, will it?" Fengyun summoned gears larger than the ship''s steering wheel, one in each hand, and fought the Aquatics. When the gears, sparking with yellow lightning and swirling with white air currents, cut through them... Screech! The wounds were torn open dozens of times larger, bursting the Aquatics'' bodies. If his fingertip grazed them, their shoulder would be ripped off; if their belly was pierced, their body would be split in two. This was the effect of the special skill ''Adjuster''s Terminal'' on living beings. Protected by Fengyun, Baekya raised his longsword. Thud. "That''s what you were worried about." Blood was still flowing from his fingertips, but his eyes were filled with a sun-like heat. The red-hot blade glowed once more. Hum! Normally, the light of the Radiant Sword would struggle to spread in all directions, but this time, the light only gathered at a single point. Hum! Baekya swung down his ''22nd Century Katana.'' ¡¾Solar Sword Radiance: Noon¡¿ Tsskaaaaaaaaack¡ª! A yellow beam of light shot out like a heat ray. It was a rough, thick line, as if drawn with a brush. The barehanded ''Incineration Ray'' or ''Diffuse Reflection'' were suitable for taking down dozens of weak monsters. This ''Noon'' was perfect for taking down one strong monster. Sword energy and Radiant Sword had the disadvantage of having a shorter range than the heat ray, but their power was incomparable. "Ha." Baekya exhaled deeply and spun his longsword, shaking it off. "Got it." ''Noon'' sliced one of the Walking Octopuses in half, from head to crotch. As if that wasn''t enough, it cut down another large Aquatic that had just emerged from the sea before finally stopping. The soil and rocks melted by the heat of the Radiant Sword flowed like magma. Fengyun looked back and forth between his two gears and Baekya''s longsword. "Isn''t this a weapon issue?" "No." "Then why do you get to use Radiant Sword like that, while I have to cut down each one individually?" "Don''t ask me that." "Why do you get to use Radiant Sword, and I have to..." Baekya shrugged and ran towards the second Walking Octopus. The moonlight, just emerging from between the clouds, brightly illuminated half of his face. "Because I''m Baekya. Baekya, chosen by the Constellation that shines even in the daytime. I can help you become like me, but you can''t become me." Fengyun stared at his backlit figure for a moment and then nodded. "Alright, alright, I get it. Let''s just get rid of them all first." * * * The lighthouse keeper of Sinpo City was a relatively high-ranking position. He assisted in the docking of multinational smuggling vessels from China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea. ''Did you receive the radio transmission? You can proceed to Dock 4.'' If the coast guard from any of those countries came, he had to discreetly notice and inform his boss. ''Boss, the guys on the ship that just came in... Judging by their accents, they seem to be Japanese Coast Guard.'' He also had to be wary of sea monsters roaming the ocean. ''Emergency! Emergency! It''s the Soaring Dragon!'' That''s why the lighthouse keeper position was generally filled by a magic-user type Hunter. Because magic users could see beyond the horizon from where they were sitting with spells like ''Clairvoyance'' or ''Eye of Heaven.'' Anyway, the lighthouse keeper of Sinpo City has been having a terrible time lately. A Gate of an unknown rank had opened on the island right in front of him, completely eroding it. ''They say that in South Korea, Aitel tells you the Gate rank and the monster types, but why does the notification window here only show question marks?'' The lighthouse keeper didn''t have to go and fight the monsters himself. But with that terrible demonic energy wafting from right under his nose, it was driving him crazy as a magic user sensitive to mana. "Achoo! Achoo!" The lighthouse keeper sneezed all day long like a person with pollen allergies in spring. If it were just sneezing, he could somehow endure it, but with his eyes itching as well, it was truly driving him mad. ''Boss! Please do something about that! I''m dying.'' ''A hundred of our sons died there. If we lose more men, won''t the Chinese guys raid this place? Wait.'' ''How long do I have to wait?'' ''Fengyun will be here from Busan soon. I asked him, so just be patient, okay?'' ''That, if we ask that girl who visited you guys a while ago...'' ''Don''t even mention that girl!'' After being severely scolded, he had been waiting only for Fengyun. "Achoo! Achoo!" One night, as he continued sneezing as usual... Bang! Boom! An explosion occurred on the island. [Boss! What''s going on?] A radio transmission came from his underlings at the harbor, and the lighthouse keeper immediately cast a spell. "Hold on, I''ll let you know right away!" ¡¾Eye of Heaven¡¿ The lighthouse keeper closed one eye, and that eye appeared and disappeared like a phantom in the cloudy sky. The scenery of the island came into the lighthouse keeper''s view. ''What''s that?'' He saw one white ring halo and three heteromorphic halos. "Senior, I''ll block them!" "No! You go find the core here! The core!" The Hunter with the white ring halo had just blocked the Walking Octopus''s dark shrapnel bombardment with a red wave. Meanwhile, the Hunter with the purple halo dashed towards the center of the darkened island. Thwack! ''Is that kid a magic user too? Judging by his clothes, he looks like a martial artist?'' His speed was so fast that he moved from the edge of the island to the center in the few dozen seconds that his vision was lagging due to the demonic energy. The one with the yellow gear halo among the four was Fengyun. ''He''s here!'' The one with the green halo was that gangster. ''That Choi Gimin bastard... Damn. The guys are going to have a hard time again.'' He couldn''t tell who the one with the white ring halo was. ''That guy is really handsome.'' He looked definitely familiar, but he couldn''t remember. The strangest thing was that those three powerful Hunters were following the orders of the guy with the ring halo. "Senior, I think I found it! No, I found it!" "These bastards are swarming! Block them! Petrification! Petrification!" "Shit! I''m not some miracle worker!" "Are they going to charge? Are they going to flank? Choose! I''ll follow closely!" Even Fengyun, the lord of the Black Sea, was like that. ''Who the hell is that guy?'' The lighthouse keeper zoomed in on him a little more. Suddenly, the man lifted his head. His blazing eyes seemed to pierce through even the lighthouse keeper''s soul. ''He noticed? That''s impossible!'' Flustered, the lighthouse keeper zoomed out again. The man seemed to be deep in thought, glancing at the lighthouse keeper''s ''eye'' before smiling and turning his head. He ran towards the young Hunter with the purple halo. ''He''s crazy.'' The lighthouse keeper couldn''t control his pounding heart. That smile was like a candle, revealing its presence alone in the warm darkness. It was impossible to look away, and before he knew it, his eyes were following him. The lighthouse keeper watched as the Hunter with the white ring halo dashed across the demonic island. "Senior, over there!" The Hunter with the purple halo pointed to a coral tree growing in a deep bay on the island. Coral, which usually grew underwater, had emerged from the water and grown like a massive tree. Unlike the beautiful image that usually came to mind when one thought of ''coral,'' this bluish coral tree was only emitting a jet-black demonic energy. "Breakthrough!" The Hunter with the white ring halo dashed forward like the wind. "Kieeeeek!" All the Aquatics on the island swarmed like cockroaches, trying to protect the coral tree. Land octopuses, sea maggots, shark merfolk... "How dare you!" "You stinking things!" Fengyun unleashed his gear attacks, and Choi Gimin''s eyes flashed with petrifying power. The monsters, momentarily petrified by Choi Gimin''s gaze, were cut and exploded by Fengyun''s gears. The Hunter with the purple halo leaped higher than the tallest tree on the island. Thud! From that position, he kicked off his own feet and jumped once more. Thwack! "Go!" The Hunter with the purple halo fell towards the ground like a meteor. Boom! An immense shockwave spread out. The Aquatics, struck by the purple wave, rolled on the ground. The Hunter with the white ring halo dashed through the path created like the wind. The lighthouse keeper didn''t know who he was. But he hoped he would succeed, and... ''Please.'' He also knew, with an indescribable sixth sense, that he would succeed. ''Go.'' The Hunter with the white halo raised not the longsword in his right hand, but his empty left hand towards the sky. "Ha!" White flames erupted from his hand. Fwoosh! For a moment, the lighthouse keeper''s vision was dyed white. Bang! "Ugh!" A thunderous roar resounded. The lighthouse keeper fell from his chair and rolled on the floor. He heard murmurs from everywhere. Embarrassed, the lighthouse keeper immediately jumped to his feet and tried to cast a spell again to check the situation. "...Ah." There was no need to cast a spell. He could see it with his naked eyes. Rumble. Rumble...! A white sphere was swelling from the bay of the demonic island. Large enough to engulf the entire island. * * * On the deck of the yacht. "Senior, what''s this?" "This. You want it?" I handed Ryu Haneul a coral branch, about the length of a forearm, that looked like deer antlers. ¡¾Coral Branch (Legendary)¡¿ ¡¾Grants tremendous regenerative power with the coral''s resilience. Instantly heals all curses and injuries.¡¿ Ryu Haneul read the Aitel description and then shook his head triumphantly. "I''ll just take your kind intentions. As an S+ rank, I can''t receive a gift from an A-rank." I noticed that behind that expression was the thought, ''Please keep it, senior, and use it when you''re hurt.'' "Alright." "Huh? Aren''t you going to offer it again?" "There are some opportunities in life that never come again! I''m learning another lesson today." As we were having such a trivial conversation... Thump. Fengyun approached us. "It''s done. They say we can enter the port. Now we just have to go and get the Irregular Polyhedron." Finally. I clenched my fists in excitement. "And they say they''re giving us something else for closing the Gate. We''ll see when we get there." [Translator - Hestia S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 65 [Translator - Hestia] [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 65 "Haneul, sorry, but you and Choi Gimin need to stay on the yacht." "W-why?" "Fengyun obviously has to go, and I need to check the goods. But I can''t leave Choi Gimin alone on the yacht, can I?" Ryu Haneul''s face fell. He looked like he was barely restraining himself from drawing the Dark Heavenly Demon Sword and killing Choi Gimin right there, then with a disturbingly bright smile, he''d say... ''Can I go now?'' He wouldn''t actually do that, would he? Lately, I''ve noticed that he has a tendency to go off the rails when it doesn''t involve me. He''s a grateful and satisfying friend, but I need to keep a close eye on him. I left Ryu Haneul behind and disembarked with Fengyun. Before getting off the yacht, Fengyun changed into a neat naval uniform. "Let''s go." "Yes, hyungnim!" Seeing him in uniform, leading dozens of Awakened subordinates, it really hit me that he was a big shot in the international underworld. ¡¾¡°Didn''t you make him that way?¡±¡¿ That''s true, but it''s been a while since I''ve seen him in person. ¡¾¡°Well, I guess after conquering the Tower, it feels like hundreds of years have passed.¡±¡¿ That''s also true. With the great Fengyun himself accompanying me, we didn''t encounter any obstacles as we entered the city. "Welcome!" "We''ve been waiting for you." "Thank you. Thanks to you, we can set sail again!" People from various countries were gathered in the city. The Russian mafia shook hands with South Korean brokers, and Chinese triads bargained with North Korean gangsters. A Japanese yakuza drew a sashimi knife and shouted something, but... "If you''re going to stab, then stab, and if you''re not, don''t even take it out. Damn it." As soon as he made eye contact with Fengyun, he sheathed his knife and bowed his head. We passed through concrete-covered buildings, one after another. "Here it is." We stopped in front of a luxurious room salon. "You''ve arrived!" "Welcome. He''s waiting for you in the basement!" Several gangsters bowed their heads to us. All of them had ring-shaped halos, and in the distance, between the shadows of buildings, I could see colored halos as well. Leaving two of his subordinates at the entrance, Fengyun went inside. The room salon, decorated with gold leaf and red tiles, was quite luxurious. However, to my eyes, accustomed to the highest class both inside and outside the Tower, it looked cheap. "Thank you for your hard work coming all this way." "Thank you so much for closing the Gate." A spacious room. A gangster in a yellow suit and a gangster in a green suit, who had been sitting on the sofa, stood up. Despite both being Awakened with white rings, their faces were haggard. It seemed they had suffered quite a bit because of the Gate. As if they knew each other, Fengyun waved his hand dismissively. "That''s enough. That''s what friends are for. Just give me the thing. I''m busy and have to go back without even having a drink." "Oh, that''s too bad." The gangster in the yellow suit sighed and took out a luxurious paper bag. "What you were looking for, hyungnim, is here." Inside the paper bag was a cubic wooden box. Even without opening it, I could feel a strange mana emanating from the box. It was a mana similar to the Gate core, or the feeling when being transported to a higher floor in the Aitel Tower. It seemed it wasn''t a fake. The gangster in the green suit picked up another paper bag. "Thanks for closing the Gate." Fengyun waved his hand. "Hey, hey, hey, put it away. What''s this all about? We all help each other out." "How can we live if we can''t sail from a port city? Hyung, you saved us all." Inside that paper bag was a rectangular wooden box, which the gangster in the green suit took out and opened. ¡¾Bloodbath Wakizashi (Master)¡¿ [TL/N: Wakizashi = Short sword with a blade between 30 and 60 cm long.] ¡¾A wakizashi used by a certain swordswoman. Blood won''t stop flowing from a wound inflicted by it.¡¿ Inside the box was a Japanese-style short sword. The black blade was two spans long, and the wooden handle and scabbard were adorned with stylish red patterns that seemed to hold some magical power. Fengyun exclaimed in apparent gratitude, "What''s this...!?" The gangster in the green suit smiled amiably. "Please save us one more time." And then he grabbed the ''Bloodbath Wakizashi'' and thrust it forcefully into Fengyun''s lower abdomen. Thud! "Ugh!" "I-I just want to sleep now!" Green ghostly energy flickered in the eyes of the gangster in the green suit. Ahaha, laughter echoed in his ears like an auditory hallucination. Damn it. Betrayal? sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It seems the gift was a stabbing. The image of the Ghost Swordsman turning his back flashed through my mind. "Y-you son of a bitch!" Fengyun grabbed the blade with his left hand. The man in the green suit tried to push the blade in deeper, and blood flowed down Fengyun''s hand. Fengyun channeled mana into his right hand and thrust it out. Clank! A brass-colored gearwheel sprang out, rotating violently. Yellow lightning and whitish wind swirled. The gangster in the green suit, holding the wakizashi, was thrown back like a kicked ball, crashing into the door. Thud! As if that were a signal, gangsters from all over the world started pouring in from the hallway. "È«²¿š¢¤»!" (Kill them all!) "š¢‚€¾«¹â!" (Kill them all!) "§µ§Ò§Ö§Û§ä§Ö §Ú§ç §Ó§ã§Ö§ç." (Kill them all.) "Kill them all!" Despite their different languages and races, they were all saying the same thing. Kill them all. "You bastards!" "I''m going to bring my boys from Busan and wipe out this whole city!" "You think you can do business for even a month without our goods?" Swish. Swish. Swoosh! Fengyun''s subordinates drew their sashimi knives and blocked the doorway. I let out a deep sigh and grabbed the box containing the Irregular Polyhedron. "Fengyun!" "What?" Fengyun had just pulled the wakizashi from his stomach and was kicking off the ground. Thud! He cornered the gangster in the yellow suit against the wall, pierced his shoulder, and then stabbed him in the side and thigh in succession, finishing him off. "Are there any Korean Rankers here?" Fengyun shook his head. "Nope! They don''t come here." "So all those guys are Chinese or Japanese, right?" The room we were in had large doors at the front and back, and a chaotic battle was raging throughout the hallway connected to those doors. There were Awakened with colorful halos among the enemies, indeed Contractors. "Argh!" "Ugh!" Fengyun''s subordinates were being pushed back mercilessly, unable to withstand even two or three exchanges. Fengyun swore and replied¡ª "Yeah! But what are you going to do about it?!" I flung open the wooden box. "That''s all I need." A strange radiance spread through the room. "I''m using it here." "What?" * * * The Irregular Polyhedron was a fist-sized black and white gem. Like a faceted gemstone, it displayed a mesmerizing dance of colors depending on the angle, sparkling and shimmering with countless facets that seemed to writhe and flow with an inner light. I had seen it a few times before, but every time I saw it, my heart would strangely race. My earlobes would flush red, my fingertips would tingle, and my lips would become dry and chapped. Nervousness. I couldn''t tell what I was nervous about. ¡¾¡°Do you know what this is?¡±¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' lets out a laugh like a scientist who has found a rat that has reached the end of a maze.¡¿ My constellation asked me a question. Despite the fact that hundreds of Awakened were fighting around me, it was quiet. Since it was realistically impossible, I had to assume that this conversation was only happening in my mind. I answered as I knew it. "As far as I know... it''s a fragment of a collapsed Aitel Tower." There were some countries, like certain dictatorships in Africa or small nations in Southeast Asia with weak central governments, that were destroyed despite having an Aitel Tower. The Towers there fell under the waves of monsters. They disappeared with a burst of magic power, leaving behind only a few fragments. This fragment must be one of the pieces left behind by one of those Towers. ¡¾¡°That is correct.¡±¡¿ Sunny answered brightly. ¡¾¡°What do you think the Tower is?¡±¡¿ "It''s a world." ¡¾¡°And?¡±¡¿ "It''s a terminal. A terminal that connects me and you." ¡¾¡°Yes.¡±¡¿ ¡¾¡°The Tower is both a world and a terminal. It is a terminal that projects the laws of Aitel onto this world.¡±¡¿ That was right. Law of Light, Ten Thousand Souls Embrace, Petrification, even Regression, were all powers that couldn''t be explained by the laws of physics alone. "What do you mean by that...?" ¡¾¡°If you consume this fragment, you will become a being closer to the laws of Aitel than the laws of humans.¡±¡¿ "...." ¡¾¡°You will cease to be human.¡±¡¿ "...." ¡¾¡°Aren''t you afraid? Of becoming something completely different from the beings you have protected and loved all this time? Aren''t you anxious that you might become like those you hate?¡±¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' asks provocatively.¡¿ I looked down at the Irregular Polyhedron in my hand. The black and white gem with countless facets boasted a mesmerizing radiance like the moonlight reflecting on the black sea. Gripping the Irregular Polyhedron more tightly, I answered. "No. I am not afraid." ¡¾¡°I thought you would be afraid?¡±¡¿ My constellation''s voice was still provocative. I decided to gladly respond to that provocation. "From the moment they awaken, they''re no longer ordinary people. In fact, whether they awaken or not, people don''t live their lives thinking they''re the same as others. They live with the expectation that some special opportunity, power, or fateful something will come to them, for half their lives, or until they die." ¡¾"Isn''t it only until they''re 15?"¡¿ "It''s especially prevalent then, but no. That''s not true." ¡¾"...Go on."¡¿ "There''s nothing more to say. In our society, there isn''t a firmly established, absolute, and common massive set of ''this is what people are like.'' It''s not that it doesn''t exist, but it''s at the level of instinct, like eating when hungry and seeking out your kind when lonely." ¡¾"My opinion differs."¡¿ ¡¾"To my eyes, you all look pretty much the same. Why else would only a handful of you, out of the countless grains of sand, be able to receive the call of Aitel, and among them, only a pinch be able to directly reach us? Isn''t it because you''re all so similar? So much so that you can''t tolerate those who have become different from yourselves."¡¿ It was quite a decent argument. But I smiled faintly and shook my head. "As I said, there is no major premise of ''this is what people are like.''" ¡¾"Indeed."¡¿ "But there seems to be a major premise of ''this is what people should be like.''" ¡¾"...Go on."¡¿ "In history, that condition has included things like skin color or gender, but in any case, that condition has been broadening. Have subjectivity, treat others the way you want to be treated, love, be filial, vote, study..." I felt a sense of deja vu. It was as if I had had this conversation once or twice before. "That''s why people all seem similar. Because they are pursuing the same major premise. No matter the era or the world, how different can the conditions necessary for people to live together be?" My constellation provoked me once more. ¡¾"Did you understand that too?"¡¿ It was something a child might say, but I couldn''t take it that way. I had seen worlds that no one could imagine and done things that no one else could do. "...It''s not my thought, Cheong Siyeol says that." Naturally, my constellation pressed further. ¡¾"Then you are already not human?"¡¿ I knew you would say that. "Think as you wish." ¡¾"Oh?"¡¿ "Human or not, I don''t know. What do you expect from a middle school dropout?" If I could know only one thing, I would need to know what was on the higher floors. If I could gain only one thing, I would choose my disciples, whom I painstakingly raised until they could understand me. If I could protect only one thing, I would protect the country I stabilized so that I could raise such disciples. And perhaps. Anyone who lived like me would have made similar choices. "I just want to get to the 51st floor quickly, and I want to help Fengyun''s subordinates before more of them collapse. So please help me absorb this Polyhedron." That was my specialness and my ordinariness. ¡¾"Alright."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' strokes your cheek with an affectionate touch.¡¿ ¡¾"You''re the best after all."¡¿ A wind carrying the scent of sunlight brushed past my cheeks. Clink! The Irregular Polyhedron in my hand shattered into hundreds of pieces. Amidst the clear laughter¡ª "Aaaargh!" A pain like hot glass shards piercing and digging into my blood vessels swept over me. Even in that pain, I remembered. Yes. This pain, this conversation. It wasn''t the first time. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 66 [Translator - Hestia] [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 66 "Hyungnim! There are too many of them!" One of the subordinates shouted, bleeding profusely. The Awakened that Fengyun had personally brought with him were all strong individuals, ranging from B to B+ rank. However, just as a water droplet can pierce a rock after a thousand years, the multinational gangster Awakened of Sinpo City came in literally ''endless'' numbers. There was an unusually high proportion of Chinese among them, and they were especially reckless in their attacks. "Hyungnim! The guest has lost his mind!" In this urgent situation, Baekya had frozen like a stone, holding the Irregular Polyhedron. "Damn... Collapse the back hallway! I''ll break through the front myself!" Fengyun roared and stepped forward. The gear above his head spun, and yellow electricity crackled madly from the two gears in his hands. ¡¾Adjuster''s Limbs¡¿ "Hey! You guys confident?!" Fengyun leaped towards the hallway filled with gangster Awakened. No longer bound to anything. He would live like the wind, like the clouds. Just like the pseudonym he chose for himself, Fengyun''s gears danced. Swish. Swoosh. Swoosh! Swoosh! The gears pierced and slashed the bodies of the Chinese Awakened, and they exploded from within. Bang! Bang! Bang! The hallway was covered in flesh and blood, and Fengyun dashed forward, roaring like a demon from hell. "Uoooooh!" ''Damn it. I really hate this berserker stuff!'' No matter how many wild dogs there are, they can''t defeat a tiger. In front of an A+ rank Awakened, the multinational Awakened, ranging from E to C rank, were swept away like fallen leaves. Bang! Fengyun burst out of the salon and... S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Holy shit..." He let out a hollow laugh. On a winter night in Sinpo City. Multinational Awakened gangsters surrounded the entire street in a semicircle. Among them were several bosses he knew. "Hey, you guys really confident?" Fengyun rasped. "What are you thinking? You really going to cut ties with me?" His legs were trembling. He glanced down to see his pants soaked in blood. ''I''m screwed.'' The blood wouldn''t stop flowing from the wound inflicted by the Bloodbath Wakizashi earlier. "You think you can take over the Black Sea Pearl just by taking me down? You''re not that stupid, are you?" Although Fengyun was the head of the Black Sea Pearl, its fate was decided by powerful figures in the political and business world. "I''m practically a semi-public market! You idiots!" The Black Sea Pearl was a company that ''the Republic of Korea'' had deliberately supported to dominate both the underworld and legitimate business in the Aitel era. If some foreigner killed Fengyun and pretended to be the boss, a high-ranker like the Fairy King Na Jeongwon would descend and make it all disappear. "We know." "We know." Thud. Two Hunters who had been observing the situation revealed themselves. "Who are you?" Fengyun snapped irritably, but he observed them carefully. ''Chinese?'' Judging by their tone, they were Chinese, and they looked like brothers. They weren''t faces he recognized from the underworld, and he couldn''t tell where they came from. But seeing that both had colorful halos above their heads, they were Contractors. "We''re the owners of that Irregular Polyhedron." "We lent it out, but it seems we won''t get it back, so we came ourselves." Fengyun frowned. "Those bastards tried to sell me stolen goods?" The brothers nodded. "They asked to borrow it, and we heard that Fengyun of Korea was looking for an Irregular Polyhedron. We had a rough idea of what was going on, so we came to check it out. It was as we expected." Fengyun pressed his bleeding side. Should he use a potion? Given that it was a Master-grade artifact''s ability, he wasn''t sure if the ones in his inventory would work. "Those bastards are already dead. Want me to return the Polyhedron? Take it and get your guys out of here?" The Chinese brothers looked at each other. "Seems like it." "Seems like it?" "We needed to test its performance anyway. It would be perfect to kill you and take the Irregular Polyhedron as well." "Shit." While cursing, Fengyun grasped the situation. ''Test the performance?'' He couldn''t figure out what there was to test. As he was examining the faces of the Awakened gangsters to see if they had any artifacts... ''Huh?'' Something strange caught his eye. ''Why do those bastards'' halos look like that?'' Ninety percent of the Awakened surrounding the building had strange halo shapes. They were white and ring-shaped, but the rings were broken in places, or only half-formed. The characteristic pale white light was also too weak compared to other Awakened. ''Don''t tell me these bastards were... made?'' Due to the nature of his job, Fengyun had a hand in everything that happened in the shadows. In an era where the number of Awakened was directly linked to national power. Experiments for artificial awakening were conducted secretly in many countries, both past and present. The most common methods were receiving blood transfusions from Awakened or having parts of their bodies transplanted. Furthermore, Fengyun knew about the identity and truth of the Irregular Polyhedron. ''A fragment of the Aitel Tower, a terminal, a transplant... I don''t know the principle, but it''s definitely something.'' It took less than 0.1 seconds to deduce that much. Fengyun had a hunch. ''I''m really fucked now.'' No matter how big of a shot Fengyun was, he couldn''t compare to the secret of successful artificial awakening. ''Given the nature of the Chinese industry, it''s likely that the Chinese government developed this technology. If I know, then our country knows too...'' Even before the Aitel era, the Chinese government had been using all sorts of tricks to catch up with South Korea. ''They''ll never let me go.'' There was no way they would miss the chance to acquire the technology instead of just catching up. Thump. The Chinese brothers approached leisurely. One was wearing a suit, and the other was wearing armor made of countless scales. "Recognize this?" Fengyun recalled for a moment. "Isn''t that the armor I sold you? Dragon Scale Armor." The one wearing the armor grinned. "That''s right. You know how tough it is, right? You''ll never pierce it in that state." Fengyun noticed that his left hand was limp. The gearwheel in his hand wobbled as if it were about to fall at any moment. ''It''s cold.'' He suddenly realized that it was winter. Ever since he awakened, he hadn''t felt a thing even when swimming in the middle of winter. Plop. Plop. Snow began to fall. "How many people do you need to catch one A-rank?" "We''ll find out soon." The Chinese brothers smiled ominously. The artificially Awakened rushed towards Fengyun. "----!" Their momentum was like a swarm of ants that had found candy. Fengyun''s subordinates fought like mad, but they couldn''t overcome the overwhelming numerical disadvantage and fell one by one. Fengyun glared at the smiling faces of the Chinese brothers, visible among the crowd. ''Even if I go down...'' Ever since the day Baekya came to him and offered him a hand, he had been living a bonus life. A life that was good to have but wouldn''t be a loss if he didn''t, he even named himself Fengyun, meaning ''floating clouds,'' to live a carefree life. He felt the last wind of his life blowing. ''I''d feel better if I took those bastards down with me.'' Fengyun kicked off the ground and melted into the winter wind. Thwack! "Uwaaaaah!" Snowflakes fluttered and danced. The white grains fell, blanketing the entire street. ''What the...?!'' Fengyun gritted his teeth at the snowflakes hindering his final charge. He could see their faces in the distance. He cut down the Chinese artificial Awakened, one after another. At the end. The faces of the Chinese brothers, visible at the end, were... As if they had seen a ghost. ''Huh?'' A white snowflake landed on his cheek. "Whoa! Did global warming make the snow hot too?!" It was hot. "..." Even as he said it, Fengyun knew it was nonsense. It wasn''t snow. He looked back. Fwaaaaaaat... The entire stone building where the room salon was located was fluttering as a white mass of light. The light reflected off the falling snow again and again, as if the whole night was dyed white. Thump. An Awakened person came up from the passage leading to the basement. Slightly exposed forehead between wet hair and reddish eyes gazing into the distance. A presence that dominated the entire space like a single candle lit in the darkness. Fengyun unconsciously dropped his gear. "Uh, uhh...?" The Chinese artificial Awakened also faltered and retreated, not knowing what to do. There was only one Awakened in the whole world who could wield such light. Thump. Baekya stepped onto the stairs leading out of the basement. His indifferent gaze surveyed the entire street. Someone called out his name. "Hong Baekya? Is that¡­ Hong Baekya?" The high-ranker, who was incredibly good at listening to his own name, subtly pulled down his right sleeve. Baekya spoke in a voice that wasn''t very loud, but strangely carried well. "I absorbed the Irregular Polyhedron." A commotion spread among the artificial Awakened. "What, what?" "Absorbed?" "You could absorb that thing?" The faces of the Chinese Ranker brothers hardened. "Brother." "We have to retrieve it even if it means cutting him open alive. The Party won''t leave us alone." Baekya continued speaking, ignoring them. "I have no more business in this city. If you don''t stop me, there''s no need for us to fight." Hundreds of pairs of eyes stared at Baekya. Baekya calmly approached Fengyun and helped him up. Fwaaat! He placed his hand on the wound on Fengyun''s side and activated the light of Law of Light. The bleeding curse scattered like snowflakes. Fengyun felt the regenerative power of an A-rank Hunter kick in again. "Thanks." "We''re late. You okay?" "Not at all." Baekya took out the coral branch from his inventory. There was one large branch with seven smaller branches attached to it, and he broke off one of them and handed it to Fengyun. Snap. "It''s fine. This much will heal if I just get a good night''s sleep... Cough!" "I can see your neck bone right now. I guarantee you that if you wait another 10 minutes, even Chilseong won''t be able to fix it." The coral burrowed into Fengyun''s body and began to regenerate him. Fengyun trembled from the bone-gnawing pain, but at the same time, he noticed that it was much easier to breathe. "Hyungnim." "Thank you, sir." Fengyun''s subordinates rushed over and took him. Baekya led the way, cutting through the artificial Awakened. Thud. Thud. The artificial Awakened were frozen stiff, unable to even think of moving. It felt like thousands upon thousands of needles were piercing their bodies. As half-Awakened, they could sense it. The difference in their levels. It was around the time Baekya had broken through half of the encirclement. "...Stop." "Stop!" The Chinese brothers called out to Baekya. Thud. Baekya pushed the backs of the subordinates supporting Fengyun. "Sir?" "Keep going." He turned and took up the rear of the group. Clang. The Chinese Ranker in armor drew a broadsword. "You said you ate the Irregular Polyhedron! Right?" Baekya readily admitted it. "That''s right." "That''s our government''s property, which we secured. You need to return it." "..." Baekya turned his head from left to right, looking at the artificial Awakened gathered there. Whenever Baekya''s gaze landed on them, the artificial Awakened flinched, their resolve flickering like a dying flame. The Chinese Ranker in the suit pulled out a two-span magic wand from his pocket. The Chinese Ranker in armor looked ready to pounce at any moment. Baekya met their eyes. "I was wondering where I heard that..." He chuckled, lifting his chin. "What?" He walked towards the two of them. "I was once asked by an exiled government in Southeast Asia to do something for them. They wanted me to retrieve fragments of the Tower, artifacts used by their high-ranking Awakened, and all sorts of things, so I went to their capital." "...!" Hearing Baekya''s story, the brothers flinched simultaneously. "If I succeeded, half of it would be mine. Of course, I succeeded. I handed over the goods. Since it was such a large quantity, I entrusted the transport to their ship. But on the way back, that exiled government''s transport ship was attacked by Chinese pirates." "..." "About half of it was stolen, so my share went from 50% to 25%. Back then, I thought those bastards were struggling because they didn''t want to pay... I let it slide because I thought they were just trying to feed their own people, even a piece of bread. Seems like I was wrong." "Wait a minute, brother." "Damn it." "They said it was a duo back then too." The Chinese Ranker brothers made eye contact. "Uwaaaaah!" "Uoooooh!" They rushed to use the strongest and fastest attacks they could muster. Blue light emanated from the wand, and yellow energy rose from the broadsword. Baekya simply waved his hand nonchalantly. "Delete." ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ Fwaaaaaaat! The ownerless Dragon Scale Armor fell to the snow-covered street. Clang. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 67 [Translator - Hestia] [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 67 While Baekya was picking up the Dragon Scale Armor and putting it in his inventory, chaos erupted on Fengyun''s yacht. ["Wooooooah!"] From the sea, the remaining Aquatics crawled up. It was an Aquatic with the lower body of a crab, the upper body of a human, anemone tentacles hanging from its back, and the size of a five-story building. "Shoot those bastards!" From the city, Awakened gangsters swarmed. They were the artificial Awakened with half-formed halos. Every single one of them was armed with firearms, and they were throwing white phosphorus grenades, which were illegal under international treaties. It was a large yacht with armor plating, so it wouldn''t sink easily. However, it was obvious that if bullets hit the radar, GPS, or other equipment, it would cause a serious problem. On a snowy winter night. As white snow fell softly over the entire dock... "How dare you attack the ship my senior is on!" "You bastards don''t recognize me? From now on, this city will be a city of statues!" The ''Heavenly Demon'' and the ''Gorgon'' dashed out in different directions, filled with rage. Ryu Haneul stood on the front deck of the yacht. Fwoosh! A blackish-purple sword energy flickered menacingly from his outstretched longsword. The Aquatics, clad in shells, cut the ships at the dock with their pincers. Crack! It was like a child breaking a toy with scissors. The Aquatics approached Fengyun''s yacht. "I''ll sink them all. All of them!" The halo above Ryu Haneul''s head, confronting them, hummed. ["Do you know who I am?"] Purple flames flickered in his eyes, and his voice was imbued with an irresistible force. ["No one can bring me to my knees, no one can raise their head before me."] Ryu Haneul manifested his Dark Heavenly Sword Energy externally. ["I am the king of the Sixth Heaven!"] The blackish-purple sword energy shot out in the shape of a crescent moon. When it first left the sword, the sword energy was the same length as the sword. As it flew, it became twice, three times as long. By the time it clashed with the Aquatic, it was already longer than a streetlamp. Crack! The Aquatic''s sturdy shell shattered like an eggshell struck with a hammer. Ryu Haneul let out a bright laugh and swung his sword again. ''Reach for the sun!'' It was the sword he wielded towards the top of the Tower. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A mere monster that crawled out from the lowest depths. If he couldn''t crush it in one blow, it would be an insult to his senior. "Hahahaha!" Choi Gimin jumped off the yacht and leaped into the midst of the enemies. "Petrification! Petrification! Petrification!" A milky white light flashed from his vertically slitted eyes in a narrow fan shape, and countless artificial Awakened were petrified. Choi Gimin''s fists flew towards the hardened gangsters. It was a fist covered in bronze scales, imbued with green fighting energy. The gangsters'' bodies shattered like ice hit with a sledgehammer. "Your organization is finished! Revolution!" It was a sight that made one wonder who the real gangsters were. However, the tide of the battle only worsened. "Choi Gimin!" "What?!" "That bastard is about to fire his magic wand!" "Magic wand? What''s tha¡ª Is that Aladdin''s magic wand?!" In Sinpo City, weapons from the former North Korea, Russia, Japan, and Chinese warlords were also traded illegally. Anti-tank rockets and military grenades flew towards the deck. "Petrification!" Choi Gimin turned them all into stones, but... In the meantime, the artificial Awakened swung their weapons at Choi Gimin. "Ack, agh! These bastards!" Choi Gimin was one thing, but the damage to the ship was a bigger problem. No matter how sturdy the mega yacht was, it couldn''t withstand anti-tank rockets. "If even one gets through, we''ll have to swim back!" "I know that, kid!" "Kid? I''ve lived 300 years longer than you!" "Not counting time in the Tower!" In the end, Choi Gimin climbed back onto the deck, and Ryu Haneul, unable to finish off the Aquatics, joined in the defense. "Raise the bridge!" "Yes, sir!" Fengyun''s subordinates raised the bridge, but... "Set the ladders!" "Just jump! We''re Awakened now too!" The artificial Awakened jumped from the pier or set up nearby ladders to climb onto the ship. "Get off the ship my senior is going to board!" The first five who boarded were bisected at the waist and legs by Ryu Haneul''s longsword. Slash! "Get lost!" The next four had their heads smashed by Choi Gimin''s fists. From the tenth person onwards, they couldn''t be dealt with in one breath, and... From the twentieth person onwards, even Fengyun''s subordinates had to draw their sashimi knives. Choi Gimin punched a young artificial Awakened in the solar plexus, knocking him unconscious, and shouted, "Hey! Get the ship moving! Let''s get out of the harbor first!" Ryu Haneul swung his longsword, severing the limbs of a dozen artificial Awakened in the vicinity. Covered in blood, he truly looked like the Heavenly Demon. "Are you crazy? Senior hasn''t come back yet!" "You think that amazing person can''t jump that far?!" "Are you arguing with me? Have you forgotten that you were fed Loneliness?" "You''re openly threatening me because senior isn''t here? I have no allies?! This is fucking lonely!" In the distance, fifteen artificial Awakened simultaneously aimed their anti-tank rockets. ...Bang! ...Bang! ...Bang! They fired their rockets at two-second intervals. "We''re screwed." Choi Gimin muttered in despair, raising both hands. "I''m on cooldown." "You have those too?" "How can I shoot all of those down?! Even if I solidify one, the second one will hit!" Ryu Haneul swore and clung to the deck. He spun the longsword he held in both hands, creating a defensive perimeter. ''Senior, I''ll never let you swim!'' ¡¾Celestial Barrier¡¿ Clank! Blackish-purple sword energy shimmered in a hemispherical shape. The translucent hemisphere gradually became opaque, then completely turned blackish-purple and swelled. It was large enough to completely envelop the luxurious mega yacht. Bang! Bang! Even Aladdin''s magic wand couldn''t penetrate the Heavenly Demon''s defense. However, even Ryu Haneul couldn''t expand a ''protective'' technique into an area-of-effect skill. "Cough!" Blood vessels burst in his eyes from the immense mana consumption. It felt like an icy hand was gripping his heart. Blood trickled from his nose. The fifteen artificial Awakened continued to fire their anti-tank rockets. Ryu Haneul felt wronged. Even a thousand of those guys couldn''t defeat him. Even a direct hit from an anti-tank rocket would only sting a little. Yet, here he was, struggling to block them. Was it because his concentration was broken? The Celestial Barrier started to flicker. "Ryu Haneul! Master Ryu Haneul! Oh, Ryu Haneul!" Choi Gimin completely changed his attitude, kneeling and shouting. Ryu Haneul couldn''t even bring himself to scoff. ''Senior, I miss you.'' The moment the sun''s smile that illuminated the world came to mind... ''Senior would have handled this easily, right?'' Bang! Bang... As if by magic, the explosions stopped. Ryu Haneul opened his eyes wide and looked ahead. "Haneul!" ''Senior?'' A thin heat ray flickered from the darkened pier. "Kgh!" "Ack!" "Gasp!" Every time the white light flashed, the waists of the artificial Awakened were cut, and their hearts were pierced. The fifteen rocket launchers were already left with only their lower bodies. Ryu Haneul shouted with a smile as bright as the sky, "Senior!" From one side of the pier, Baekya was running towards them as if flying. Behind him, Fengyun''s subordinates were helping Fengyun walk. Ryu Haneul immediately shouted¡ª "Senior! Choi Gimin said to leave without you!" Choi Gimin jumped up in alarm. "W-when did I?!" Baekya shouted with a bright smile that lit up the night¡ª "That''s why I left you behind!" Baekya leaped and landed on the deck. He hugged Ryu Haneul tightly and patted his back. "You did well. Thank you." Ryu Haneul felt like he was going out of his mind. In the middle of the night, there was the unexpected scent of sunshine. * * * The lights of Sinpo City faded below the horizon. Fengyun sat on a long chair, grinding his teeth. "Just you wait. I''ll bring my boys and wipe that city off the map." Baekya stood beside him, nodding. "Yes. Do that." It was dawn, and the eastern sky was gradually brightening. The thick sea fog was slowly receding. Fengyun, cautiously gauging Baekya''s mood, asked, "Did you... eat that thing?" "The Irregular Polyhedron?" "Yeah, that." "It''s not quite eating, more like absorbing." Baekya nodded with satisfaction. The control and output of Law of Light had increased several times over. His memory was already hazy, but come to think of it, something similar seemed to have happened a few times before. He had vague memories of absorbing some kind of fragment with Sunny''s help and becoming drastically stronger in a short period. "Give me your right hand." "My right hand?" Baekya took Fengyun''s hand. He unleashed a white light. Fwaaaaaaat! "H-hold on!" Fengyun was startled, but Baekya instantly found and reached the root of the curse that he couldn''t remove before. ''Back then, it felt like pulling out my beard with pliers, but now it feels like using tweezers.'' He accurately fired the light of Law of Light at the root of the curse. The green mist that was embedded deep within Fengyun''s blood vessels burned cleanly and disappeared. "Done." "Done? It''s gone?" "Yeah." Fengyun asked in bewilderment¡ª "You''re saying it''s really gone? It was that easy?" The nightmare that had tormented him for the past few months was over in less than three seconds. Baekya nodded. "You know who I am, right?" Fengyun felt a strange sense of emptiness and deep relief at the same time. "Yeah, I know." His face, looking up against the backdrop of the sky, was not clearly visible. Whether it was because of his severe injuries or the backlight from the sun that had just risen above the horizon, he couldn''t tell. But he could tell that Baekya was smiling calmly, just as he had when they met through the bars. It was the sun that had transformed him from ice, through water and steam, into a cloud. Fengyun nodded awkwardly. He wanted to change the subject. "Did you, uh, bring the coral branch?" Baekya noticed it but didn''t let on. "I even got the Dragon Scale Armor. The armor''s pretty good." "Wear it well. I sold it, but it''s really good." "I can''t thank you enough." There was something urgent to discuss. "And those bastards..." "Yeah, we need to do something." "Can they even enter the Tower?" It seemed Fengyun knew for sure. Research on artificial Awakened had been going on for 15 years. South Korea had also secretly conducted it, but they only figured out ''how to fail.'' "It would be nice if they could enter." Baekya said with a sigh. Only Awakened could enter the Tower. Even though there were far more mana stones, artifacts, and elixirs inside, ordinary people, who made up most of the workforce, were systematically barred from entering. If artificial Awakened could also enter the Tower, the amount of mana stone mining would increase significantly. They might even be able to install protective barriers in every school, kindergarten, hospital, and government office in the country. Fengyun said¡ª "It might turn out the way you wanted, right? If you want, everyone can become Awakened, enjoy rights and responsibilities, and challenge the Tower with you." Baekya sincerely hoped that would be the case. "On the other hand, the number of people under you could increase dramatically. Right now, it''s divided into Awakened and ordinary people, but from then on, it''ll be divided into Awakened, artificial Awakened, and ordinary people." That''s why he had been thinking about it even before it happened. Fengyun smacked his lips as if in regret. "Should''ve captured a few. I threw them all into the sea." Just then, a youthful voice came from the front of the deck. "Where have you brought me?!" Baekya and Fengyun exchanged glances. * * * "He was caught on the bow line. We thought we threw him into the sea, but he must have gotten snagged." One of Fengyun''s subordinates bowed his head apologetically. Baekya, Fengyun, Haneul, and Gimin all went out to the front deck and looked at the artificial Awakened. The halo above his head was a half-ring, and the intensity of the light was about a third of that of Fengyun''s subordinates. He was definitely an artificial Awakened. He appeared to be in his late teens or early twenties. He was skinny, but his clear eyes had a long, gentle, oriental beauty. Choi Gimin clapped his hands twice to get everyone''s attention. "Now, now. No one''s interested in human smuggling, right? Doesn''t look like there''s any money to be made? Let''s release him back into the sea so he can return to the North." Surprisingly, no one paid any attention. Baekya and Fengyun exchanged smiles. "This is good." "What a stroke of luck!" Ryu Haneul walked up to him and checked his face. "H-he looks like a girl even though he''s a guy!" The boy blushed but still yelled, and Ryu Haneul tilted his head. "You." "What?" "What''s your relationship with the Re-allocation department head?" The boy tried to bite Ryu Haneul''s nose. "I don''t have a brother like that! That bastard betrayed the Republic and fled to South Korea!" Baekya and Fengyun exchanged smiles once again. "Even better." "We hit the jackpot!" [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 68 [Translator - Hestia] [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 68 In the morning, with Busan city visible in the distance, Baekya organized the situation he was in. ''I have to climb the Tower, and the regressors are after me. My constellation wants to see me succeed, but at the same time, he wants to see me struggle.'' It was complicated, but not beyond his ability to handle. ''The Black Star Cluster thinks I''m dead and is trying to come to this country. But they also have an intersection with the regressors. I don''t know if the whole organization knows I''m alive, or if only that Ghost Swordsman knows, but either way, they''ll think I''m no longer an obstacle.'' He was someone who had even experienced political battles between the National Assembly, the Blue House, the military, and Hunter factions. ''I''ll show them they''re wrong.'' Baekya quickly came to a conclusion. ''If possible, I won''t take action myself. But I''ll maintain a situation where I can step in if I have to. Whether I intervene or not, once the Black Star Cluster issue is resolved, I''ll immediately enter the Tower.'' Fengyun, Ryu Haneul, and Choi Gimin were all looking at him expectantly. Baekya first called Ryu Haneul. "Haneul." "Yes." "Sort things out with your brother and come back. After that, let''s move together. I''ll say it''s for training, so play along." "Yes!" Ryu Haneul was delighted. ''Senior, you''re finally looking at me!'' He had been testing the waters for a while, but Baekya had always refused, playing the role of an older brother, which had been frustrating him. It was getting awkward to bring it up again, so he was grateful that Baekya had offered first. "It seems the Black Star Cluster will be here soon. They''ll cause trouble using artifacts or magic. There are countless countries that have been ruined overnight or had their national fortunes broken because of those bastards." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We can''t let that happen." "I''ll leave her to you, negotiate with the Re-allocation department head. The country needs to know the situation too." Baekya gestured with his chin towards the Re-allocation department head''s younger brother. He was being held by Fengyun''s subordinates and breathing heavily. Ryu Haneul nodded once again, and Baekya turned to Fengyun. "Fengyun." "Uh, yeah, I''m listening." "You understand the general situation, right?" "I live off reading the room in Yeouido. Of course, I know. The Chinese bastards, artificial Awakened, and the Black Star Cluster are all mixed up. Don''t worry. I''ll stay low and cooperate with the suits, withdrawing like a turtle." Fengyun nodded gallantly. Baekya took off the ''Aesthetics of Distortion'' ring from his finger and handed it to him. "And one more favor. Make this into a necklace. Change it into a style suitable for a young man in his 20s with fair skin." "No problem." It was likely to be the last gift. Choi Gimin thought, ''It''s my turn now, right?'' ''I also struggled to protect the yacht, so of course, he''ll say something to me...'' However, Baekya ignored him and approached the artificial Awakened held by Fengyun''s subordinates. "Let go. I need to talk to the kid." ''Huh?!'' Choi Gimin''s shoulders slumped. ''I fought so hard that my shirt ripped. Shit! As expected, I shouldn''t associate with that Baekya bastard.'' Fengyun''s subordinates hesitated and then released the artificial Awakened. Baekya spoke to him. "Are you okay from where you were hit earlier?" The black-haired boy hesitated for a moment and then snapped¡ª "Someone''s coming, someone''s coming, that''s all I''ve been hearing... Whoever''s coming, I hope they all die! You damn South Korean bastard!" He raised his hand and slapped Baekya''s cheek. The sound of the slap echoed across the front deck. "..." At that moment, a chill fell over the deck, making even the midwinter sea breeze feel warm. "Senior? What, what, what kind of rebellious act is that..." Ryu Haneul placed his hand on the hilt of the Dark Heavenly Demon Sword and exuded killing intent, and Fengyun also frowned. Only Choi Gimin was grinning, but even he soon stopped smiling. Even after slapping him, the artificial Awakened looked flustered and shifted his eyes around. Anyone would have thought he was the one who got slapped. Baekya met his eyes without flinching. "What''s your name?" "I don''t have a name to tell you South Korean pig bastards!" "Okay. Then let''s call you Baejeong''s brother." "Do, do your kind also call me that? I''m not that son of a bitch''s brother! My name is Lee Baeyun!" "You said it." "...Damn it." Lee Baeyun tried to look away, but Baekya''s overwhelming presence didn''t allow it. Baekya raised a hand and pointed to Busan city. "Look." His voice held pure will, and Lee Baeyun couldn''t help but obey. And so, he saw. Skyscrapers so tall they seemed to pierce the heavens. Countless cars speeding along the coastal road. Crowds of people commuting to work on the sidewalks beside the main road. Baekya asked¡ª "Do those people all look like South Korean pig bastards who deserve to die?" "Hmph! Aren¡¯t there also traitors to the Republic among them? Those bastards all need to die!" Lee Baeyun knew that she was faltering. It had already been over 10 years since the North Korean government had collapsed. He knew everything he needed to know. It was just that she couldn''t change the habits of a lifetime overnight. And Baekya, a former president of the Awakened Association, had met and led countless such people. He spoke calmly¡ª "Yeah, there are a lot of people you want to kill. I have a lot of those people too. But if you kill everyone you want to kill, what would happen to the world? Do you want to live in a world where people kill everyone they want to kill?" "..." "You want stability too, right? Something you couldn''t get over there. If the price for that is not killing people, isn''t it cheap?" "..." "I''m not saying don''t be angry. You can think of him as a traitor. I''m just saying you need to create a reason to control that emotion. Like your brother." "...Why are you bringing up that bastard again?!" "Because I hope you can find that reason too." Baekya stopped there and gestured to Ryu Haneul. Ryu Haneul approached, took Lee Baeyun''s hand, and headed towards the opposite side of the deck where the cabin entrance was. Lee Baeyun''s eyes were already shaking like reeds in a typhoon. Thump. The two passed the corner of the front deck. At that moment, Ryu Haneul activated his mana. "Hey." Halt. Lee Baeyun''s body stiffened at the chilling voice. Lee Baeyun looked up at him and forgot how to breathe. His mind went blank, and he couldn''t think of anything. The halo above Ryu Haneul''s head was burning with an ominous and oppressive color, and his clear expression was like a wrathful deity from hell. Ryu Haneul spoke with an intensity that suggested he wanted to devour her with every word. "If you lay a hand on my senior again, I will break your bones and tear your muscles. If you don''t want to be fed Loneliness, shut up and be quiet. Then I''ll at least feed you three meals a day." Lee Baeyun involuntarily sank to his knees. "Lock him in a suitable cabin." Ryu Haneul handed Lee Baeyun over to Fengyun''s subordinates. Lee Baeyun disappeared below deck. Ryu Haneul continued to pant for a few minutes afterward. ''How dare he.'' He felt some regret for taking his anger out on a kid who didn''t know anything, but the moment he saw Lee Baeyun touch Baekya, he snapped. Perhaps it was the trauma of witnessing Baekya''s death firsthand. ''I can''t control my emotions. Maybe I need to have my memory partially erased...'' Physical contact with Baekya was a privilege granted only to a select few, including Ryu Haneul himself. He wanted to hang him in Gwanghwamun Square and have passersby spit on him. If this were a medieval world inside the Tower, he might have actually done it. "Ha. You''re no different from me, are you? As expected, all Rankers can''t help but become bastards." And that Choi Gimin bastard, sneering from a short distance away... Even in the modern world, it seemed like something he could do. Ryu Haneul spoke in a tone that clearly conveyed his desire to activate Loneliness. "Shut up." "That great Baekya is no different from you." Normally, Ryu Haneul wouldn''t dislike such words; he might even like them. But he had just heard Choi Gimin compare himself to Ryu Haneul. Didn''t that mean Choi Gimin was putting himself on the same level as Baekya? He needed to know his place. "Not everything that comes out of your mouth is worth saying." Instead of spewing insults, Ryu Haneul reached for the sword at his waist. Choi Gimin raised both hands and said playfully, pretending to be scared¡ª "No, really, this is frustrating. Don''t you realize he just assigned you the villain role? It''s the worn-out bad cop, good cop routine. Anyway, that guy, he''s a master of pretending to be nice." Ryu Haneul took his hand off his sword. Choi Gimin was so pathetic that he wasn''t even worth cutting down. At the same time, he understood why Choi Gimin thought that way. "Please, at least try to pretend to be nice." "What difference does pretending make?" "That''s what we call social skills." "Which society? Awakened society? Aitel society? Or the society inside the Tower?" "...I get what you''re trying to say, but don''t instigate social conflict. You know how much senior struggled to prevent that..." "Exactly. In the end, both you and that guy are just doing what you have to do while suppressing your emotions. That guy relieves stress through disciples like you. I relieve it directly. What''s the difference?" Even before his regression, Choi Gimin didn''t climb the Tower. Choi Gimin joined during the final raid on the 99th floor, and the 99th floor didn''t have much of an epilogue story. "You wouldn''t understand even if I explained it." Ryu Haneul murmured, looking into the distance. "I''m the sky, senior is the star, and you''re stuck on the ground." "Fuck. Talk about narcissism. And you have the nerve to take your anger out on a kid after living for over a hundred years." "That''s why you don''t understand." They had been to places others couldn''t even imagine. Very, very far away. * * * Baekya returned to the Sun-Moon Divine Guild dormitory. He tucked the ''Aesthetics of Distortion'' ring, which Pungun had transformed into a chain necklace, into his pocket. He was lost in thought from noon until evening that day. Wolha, who came out to eat dinner after studying for a long time, was surprised. "Hyung, have you been sitting here since earlier?" Baekya looked up at his face. ''Yeah, we really don''t look alike.'' Wolha didn''t resemble Baekya. Both were handsome with distinct features, but Wolha had much softer lines than Baekya. His brow bones were lower, and his ears were round. So, it wasn''t that he was seeing an overlap with his biological younger brother, whose face he couldn''t quite remember, from 15 years ago, or a few thousand years ago, whichever it was. Baekya acknowledged what he had to acknowledge. ''I''ve grown attached.'' Living together and seeing each other every day, it was inevitable that they would grow attached. Just like the bonds he formed in the Tower, a world he sometimes felt reluctant to leave and return to Earth from. However, Baekya had returned to this world every time he climbed the 50 floors. He had a talent for turning memories into reminiscences. Baekya took out two stylishly packaged paper boxes from a paper bag. "You came at the right time. I received a bonus for doing a good job recently." "A bonus?" "A low-grade elixir and an artifact. Open them right away." Wolha accepted the paper boxes. They were sealed with wax stamped with the emblem of the Sun-Moon Divine Guild. Even before opening them, a subtle fragrance wafted from within. Wolha''s expression became serious. Watching the news, it seemed like elixirs were overflowing from the Tower, but that was just about raw materials. ''Even if my brother did a good job, would they give me an elixir and an artifact?'' To consume them properly, they had to be compounded and made into pills in a workshop, and the price went up as purification procedures and special processing methods were added. ''What if this is stolen goods? They say there''s an obligation to compensate...'' As Wolha hesitated, Ilha opened the second box. ¡¾Aesthetics of Distortion (Heroic)¡¿ Inside was a stylish chain necklace. It seemed like it would suit him, but the weight of the grade displayed in the Aitel description was too heavy. Moreover, Wolha was already wearing a ring of the same grade, which Ilha had also given him. Wolha seriously wondered¡ª ''He didn''t rob the Sun-Moon Divine Guild''s vault, did he?'' After hesitating for a long time, he asked¡ª "Hyung." "Yeah." "Is something happening?" "..." Wolha was smart. All the artifacts Ilha brought him were defensive ones. Ilha avoided his gaze, but nodded with a confident gesture. "Yeah." Wolha didn''t ask any further. He just smiled brightly and said¡ª "Okay, thanks. I''ll put it to good use. And take care of yourself and pass the exam. Thanks for worrying about me." "..." "I''m worried about you too, brother. It''s good to see you doing well these days. But don''t overdo it." Ilha abruptly stood up and headed for the front door. "The cart''s here. I''ll get the food." Wolha, like all younger siblings, knew that his brother had a problem expressing his true feelings directly. * * * Lee Baejeong left the Sun-Moon Divine Guild headquarters with a look of utter defeat. ''You think that kid will become my weakness?'' ''He''ll be an advantage to your political enemies.'' Not only was the reunion with his brother, whom he thought was dead, a shock, but he had also heard too much shocking information. ''Artificial Awakened.'' That alone was enough to make his head explode, but he also had to prepare for the Black Star Cluster. Lee Baejeong believed that the country should be able to function without Baekya. Baekya said he intended to stay out of it as much as possible this time. In a way, things had turned out as he wanted. ''Damn it.'' That''s why it was even more irritating. "How did it go?" His assistant asked as he got into the car. Lee Baejeong sighed. According to their own intelligence network, D-Day was a week away. It wasn''t enough time, but there was never enough time. "Check the mana stone inventory for activating protective barriers in shelters and schools, and I''ll block Rankers from leaving the country." "Excuse me?" "Send an official letter to the guilds that are considering challenging the 51st floor, telling them not to attempt it for the next month, and gather the guild masters who held back during the Rank 1 Gate incident." "Yes, I understand." The assistant replied with a puzzled look. Lee Baejeong put his hand on his throbbing forehead. ''And it seems like there''s a Black Star Cluster spy among us, so do something about it. You''re the head of the Administration.'' He needed to kill Baekya, but he kept receiving help from him. It was an endless series of obstacles. Lee Baejeong worked overtime for seven days. And so, a week passed. [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 69 [Translator - Hestia] [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 69 They were evil incarnate. "Kill them all. Impartially." "Eternal darkness shall come to this star too." "Let''s paint it black. Not a single white fragment shall remain." They loved chaos and praised destruction. In their wake, only screams, frustration, and despair remained. It is said that modern metropolises cannot function for even a few days without external supplies. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They enjoyed proving that fact. They isolated cities and... ''The bridge is down.'' ''The rescue team can''t come. The army has been annihilated!'' ''The eastern road has melted.'' They heightened anxiety and... ''Flying monsters!'' ''My dad was taken!'' They enjoyed watching people driven to extremes. ''Ah, mister, why are you doing this?'' ''Come out now, and I''ll let you off with just one arm.'' ''Is this... really sea turtle soup?'' They had contracted with the black star and... "We must return it to black, impartially. But there''s one place that keeps getting brighter. It''s defying the laws of the world. Everyone is getting darker, embracing the night equally, but only that place is getting brighter. It''s truly absurd." "There was a sun there. A sun that emitted light alone. But... it has set now." "Get your tools. Let''s go, guys." The world called them the Black Star Cluster. Late at night, at the central mana stone exchange in Korea. The security guard, a C+ rank Awakened, saw something moving in the shadows. "..." Instead of shouting "Who''s there!", he pressed the yellow button on his radio. Click. 60. 59. 58... The timer ticked in the earpiece. It was a security device that would automatically sound an alarm and contact the police if the yellow button wasn''t pressed again within a minute. 30. 29. 28... The security guard activated his ''Detection'' skill and looked around. The skill didn''t detect anything. However, he saw several tiles that were about 1mm lower than the surrounding tiles. They were tiles that would be slightly pressed down if a certain weight was placed on them. The security guard immediately tried to press the red button on his radio. "...!" But a tall man, No. 2, jumped out from the darkness and struck him on the head with a crowbar. "How did he know?" "Gah!" It was a man wearing shiny black leather clothes, his entire body bound with white leather straps and silver buckles. Thud! The faithful security guard collapsed like an office worker after three days of overtime. The difference was that he would never get up again. No. 2 burst into rough laughter. The gas mask covering his face made the laughter sound grotesque. Starting with him, a large number of Awakened in bondage gear and armed with tools poured in. Thud! Thud! Thud! They easily knocked down the security guards blocking their way and headed towards the mana stone warehouse. "Open it." "Are you ready?" "I''ve set up the combustion magic circle. All we need are the mana stones." It wasn''t like the central mana stone exchange held the majority of Korea''s mana stones. However, the amount of mana stones piled up in the warehouse, which was as big as a typical distribution center, was enormous. It was bright enough to see even without turning on the lights, illuminated by the blue glow of the stones. The Awakened of the Black Star Cluster exchanged glances and nodded. "Let''s begin." One of the Awakened snapped his gloved fingers to create a spark and threw it on the floor. Fwoosh! A huge magic circle made of translucent light had been drawn on the floor beforehand. As soon as the flame touched it, the magic circle burned rapidly, leaving black marks. The Awakened of the Black Star Cluster placed the mana stones from the warehouse in the center of the magic circle. The magic circle opened a Gate. It was a type of Gate that could only be used on Earth, cost billions per second to maintain, and was a blessing granted only by black hole constellations, so other Hunters couldn''t use it, but it was still a Gate. Rumble! Rumble! Rumble! Rumble! Powerful magic waves surged repeatedly, and the scene beyond the Gate became visible. Minotaur monsters, their bodies reaching the height of a five-story building, roamed around the ruined city. One of the Cluster members burst into laughter. "Shall we start with these guys?" Another member tilted his head. "Can''t we just bring out the S+ rank right away?" The member who had laughed looked back at him. "That wouldn''t be fun. We have to enjoy it. That''s the most important thing." As if those words were a signal, the giant minotaurs began to cross over to this side of the Gate, kicking up dust. Thump. Thump. Thump. The parking lot in front of the warehouse, usually lined with countless trucks, was now filled with a herd of minotaurs. Their eyes gleamed with madness, and electric sparks flew from their horns and hooves. Just as they were about to charge into Seoul... "So it''s today." A slender figure appeared on the roof of the warehouse building. The bright moonlight cast his shadow long. He was wearing an oriental robe embroidered with a yellow dragon and had a blackish-purple halo above his head. No. 2, who had wielded the crowbar earlier, felt a surge of frustration. ''How anticlimactic.'' They were supposed to be the protagonists of tonight. "How dare you look straight at me?" The slender Hunter, Ryu Haneul, spoke as if reading No. 2''s gaze from beyond the gas mask. "If you are also a demon, you dare not raise your head before me!" Unlike in front of Baekya, his tone and gestures were arrogant and unrestrained. ["Kneel."] But Ryu Haneul''s words were imbued with power. ¡¾Heavenly Demon''s Advent: Ten Thousand Souls Embrace¡¿ Bang! The lord of ten thousand demons declared. Thump! Thump! Thump! One by one, the minotaur monsters that filled the spacious parking lot knelt. "Whoa?!" "Moo!" Even the monsters'' eyes wavered in confusion, but they couldn''t defy Ryu Haneul''s will. To those who belonged to the realm of demons, the Heavenly Demon''s declaration was a law in itself. Thud! Thud! As the monsters knelt, the Sun-Moon Divine Guild Hunters appeared on the roof. They leaped down to the parking lot, their robes with the sun and moon fluttering. Each plunged their weapons deep into the necks of the kneeling minotaur monsters. Thud. Thud! The Black Star Cluster members gritted their teeth. No. 2 slung the crowbar over his shoulder and glared at Ryu Haneul. "How dare you." Ryu Haneul smiled arrogantly, as if wondering why he wasn''t kneeling. "Yes, how dare you." The next moment, Choi Gimin, who had been hiding behind Ryu Haneul, jumped out. "Ha, hahaha!" His magic eyes, freed from his sunglasses, flashed like a monstrous cat''s. ¡¾Petrification¡¿ Flash! The Black Star Cluster members, who were glaring at Ryu Haneul, couldn''t avoid the light hitting them head-on. "Damn it!" "FUCK!" Choi Gimin was the first to jump down to the warehouse. Ryu Haneul also drew his Dark Heavenly Demon Sword and followed Choi Gimin, throwing himself down. It was the beginning of a long night. * * * ''I thought at least one or two would notice.'' The Ghost Swordsman thought as he walked down the street. [Gate alert, Gate alert, citizens, please...] Disaster warnings blared from loudspeakers throughout the city. The Ghost Swordsman chose a random high school and entered. All schools were equipped with artifacts to create barriers, and there were also mana stones to operate these artifacts. It was a policy that would be impossible in a country without a level of public safety comparable to South Korea. The Ghost Swordsman intended to exploit this policy. Thud! The Ghost Swordsman rushed to the classroom where the artifact was stored, knocking out the janitor and the gym teacher with his scabbard. "Who are you?!" "What do you think you''re doing?!" Teachers and students flocked to the scene, but the Ghost Swordsman possessed them with ghosts and sent them back to the classroom. If he did it himself, it would be murder, but if he used the hands of monsters, it would be fate. The Ghost Swordsman opened the storage room, drew a magic circle, and poured all the mana stones from the safe into the center of it. Flash! A blood-red pillar of light shot up into the night sky of Seoul. Starting with that pillar, other pillars of light began to rise from various parts of Seoul. ¡¾Strange Bird (C)¡¿ ¡¾Wyvern (B+)¡¿ ¡¾Ghost Ship (B-)¡¿ ¡¾Sky Whale Larva (B+)¡¿ Large and small flying monsters poured out from those pillars of light. ["Kaaaagh!"] Lee Baejeong watched the scene from the 40th-floor banquet hall of a hotel in Seoul. ''It has begun.'' Gathered there were guild masters and prominent Hunters from each guild, who were enjoying (?) the party with the most uncomfortable expressions in the world. ''This is a social gathering hosted by the Administration. Please attend and grace us with your presence.'' ''Excuse me?'' ''Grace us. With your presence.'' They were all Hunters who had held back during the recent Rank 1 Gate incident. Naturally, they thought they would face retaliation. A party? If it were a charity party, they would have gone with ease. That was a time-honored signal of reconciliation sent by the government when conflicts arose between the Association and the government. You guys made a mistake, so pay the fine. But we''ll let you keep your pride. If they went there and made some donations, the investigation would be dismissed. But this time, it wasn''t a charity party, just a party. What were they up to? It felt like they were on the verge of a classic assassination attempt, where they would invite people to a banquet hall and shoot them dead. Therefore, all the Hunters arrived at the hotel fully armed. ''You too? Me too.'' ''I should have worn a few more.'' They wore leather armor under their suits, and their fingers were covered in force field rings. It seemed like they wouldn''t even lose a finger if a nuke fell on the hotel. It was all part of Lee Baejeong''s plan. It was a way to gather the Hunters in the heart of the incident, fully armed and on high alert. Ding. Ding. Ding...! Mobilization messages were sent in succession to the smartphones of all the Hunters gathered at the hotel. [Gate Management Department transmission: Large-scale terrorist attack. Coordinates...] The Hunters murmured amongst themselves. "What''s going on?" "Did you get the message too?" Lee Baejeong clapped his hands loudly twice to gather their attention. Clap! Clap! "Everyone." Hundreds of pairs of eyes looked at him. Their eyes were all shining with an inhuman light, and white rings or colorful halos were floating above their heads. Lee Baejeong faced their wary gazes head-on. He narrowed his eyes, grinning, and spread his arms theatrically. "I trust that everyone has checked their messages today." He pointed to the pillars of light outside the window and then to the exit leading to the emergency stairs. It was the most polite attitude in the world. "Now, you can go out and fight." * * * [Cheong Siyeol: I''ll go to Seocho.] [Lee Eunwoo: Lee Eunwoo in Yeongdeungpo.] [Na Jeongwon: Jongno.] [Park Seojin: I''m in Yongsan!] [Joo Soohyuk: I''ll take care of Gwanak and then head to Dongjak.] Messages popped up one by one in the regressors'' group chat. [Lee Eunwoo: I don''t know what kind of trouble this is. It''s not like I said let''s not kill him, I said let''s kill him after we''ve built up enough strength, didn''t I?] [Lee Eunwoo: If only Baekya were here, we wouldn''t have to go through this.] [Joo Soohyuk: Shut up, I get it.] [Lee Eunwoo: If you get it, then you can shut up.] [Joo Soohyuk: I don''t want to see you whining.] Messages were also popping up on the Ghost Swordsman''s smartphone. The Ghost Swordsman stood on the roof of the school, looking at the pillars of light rising from all directions. It was a spectacular sight. He channeled mana into his artifact earring. "Cheong Siyeol in Seocho, Lee Eunwoo in Yeongdeungpo, Na Jeongwon in Jongno, Joo Soohyuk in Gwanak, Park Seojin in Yongsan. I''m in Yongsan." The magic wave emanating from the Gate was interfering with radio communication. Having sufficient communication equipment beforehand was a basic requirement for a professional terrorist. "If possible, avoid engaging with high-rankers. There are many schools and government offices in Seoul. Also, if things get unfavorable, let''s retreat individually. A country doesn''t fall just from physical destruction. Even with a few shocks..." As he continued speaking... Whoosh! A flaming arrow flew towards him. The Ghost Swordsman expertly dodged it by leaning back, but he didn''t expect the flaming arrow to explode. Bang! He also didn''t expect a person to emerge from it. "I wasn''t originally planning on coming. I thought I had done enough." "Baekya." He had a presence that filled the empty rooftop, and he was wearing armor made of countless silver-gray scales. "But I can''t stand feeling uneasy. Well, that Leveler also looked interesting." Baekya held the 22nd Century Katana in his right hand. The long blade glowed like molten steel. "I''ll admit it. I want to quickly go to the Tower, become stronger, and get my disciples back. But after getting them back, I wanted to see you guys again as soon as possible, regardless of whether people die from the Black Star Cluster''s terrorism! That can''t be right, can it?" He ignited white flames in his left hand. It was the flame of Law of Light, more refined and powerful than before. "Yes, that can''t be right." [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 70 [Translator - Hestia] [Proofreader - Kaya] Chapter 70 On a midwinter night, on the rooftop of a certain high school. The two Awakened circled each other warily. The Ghost Swordsman spoke, gripping the hilt of his longsword¡ª "Believe it or not, I don''t want to kill you." Baekya aimed his 22nd Century Katana and replied¡ª "That''s unfortunate. Because I want to kill you." The Ghost Swordsman leaned back as if exasperated. He glanced around, checking for escape routes. "You call yourself the Sun of Humanity? Are you allowed to say that? Aren''t you afraid of a character controversy?" Baekya read his intentions. "I''ll blow your heads off along with your character." Even as they exchanged words, he was looking for the right moment to strike. ''There are still kids left in the school.'' He had to push the Ghost Swordsman out of the school grounds, at least onto the athletic field, in one go. The Ghost Swordsman shrugged. "Confident, are you?" Baekya tensed his legs. At the same time, he channeled mana into the winter vest he wore under the Dragon Scale Armor. "Lee Baejeong probably knows by now. He''s a cunning one, so he''ll know how to deal with a dark creature like you." "The head of the Awakened Administration?" "Don''t play dumb. It must have been tough juggling two identities. I''ve tried it, and it''s not something anyone should do." It seemed like if he charged in three seconds, he could send the Ghost Swordsman flying out of the school gate. "Don''t you think so? Regressor." The Ghost Swordsman''s shoulders twitched slightly. "Ha." A chuckle escaped his lips. 3. 2. 1. Baekya kicked off the ground with enough force to avoid collapsing the rooftop. Thwack! He put all his weight and strength into his heated blade and swung it as if thrusting. The Ghost Swordsman countered with a draw, as if he had expected it. Clang! As the blade left its scabbard, ghostly energy surged. The green sword energy and the crimson blade clashed in mid-air, scattering dazzling magic sparks. Shwaaaaaack! Baekya had the momentum, but the Ghost Swordsman, though pushed back to the edge of the rooftop, held his ground. His green eyes, visible between the mask and fedora, flashed with a gloomy light. "Don''t you know? The worse one is always stronger." The Ghost Swordsman swung his longsword down, as if trying to pin down Baekya''s. It was a move that acknowledged Baekya''s inability to use his full strength. Baekya smiled wryly and nodded. ''If I used Jin Gak and swung upwards, the school rooftop would collapse.'' [TL/N: Jin gak ¡ª Martial Arts Term] "I know. That''s why I tried harder." ¡¾Fire Domain¡¿ Fwoosh! Intense heat surged from between the scales of the Dragon Scale Armor. The translucent sphere of the domain expanded violently. Bang! The Ghost Swordsman collided head-on with the domain. "...Gah!" His shadowy figure, wrapped in a coat, flew a hundred meters towards the school gate. The Ghost Swordsman rolled on the ground, then stopped in front of the school gate, propping himself up with one hand and sliding to a halt. "So you want to do this, huh?" The dust settled. Ghostly energy billowed from within his coat. Baekya fired a flaming arrow towards the Ghost Swordsman. Whoosh! "You guys started it, didn''t you?" ''When I was around, you wouldn''t even think of coming to this country.'' Bang! Baekya, who had teleported with ''Descent from the Crimson Flame,'' swung his longsword down. Clang! The blades clashed three times in a single breath. The Ghost Swordsman''s coat fluttered. His studded leather clothes and countless belts were visible, and the ghosts gathered within his coat all took flight at once. ¡¾Hundred Ghosts Night Parade¡¿ ["Kyahahahahahaha!"] It was a quantity sufficient to turn not just the school, but all the people in the surrounding area into ghost hosts. The night sky was momentarily dyed green. "...I knew you''d say that." Baekya poured mana into the jade bead on the hilt of his longsword. Hum! ¡¾Earthly Ghosts¡¿ Countless earthbound spirits soared into the sky, chasing after the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade. The ghosts of the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade were slightly stronger, but the Earthly Ghosts were imbued with the flames of Law of Light. The ghosts of the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade, having consumed the Earthly Ghosts, burned white from within and vanished. "...!" The Ghost Swordsman glanced at the sky and gritted his teeth. Baekya didn''t miss his anxious expression. ''Oh, my Constellation.'' ¡¾"I know."¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ''Sunny'' supports 30% of your mana consumption.¡¿ He swung his longsword with a wide arc. Clang! The Ghost Swordsman was completely pushed out of the school grounds. Shwaaaaaack! At that moment, Baekya raised his left hand high. White flames flickered between his fingers, curved like hooks. "I will erase you." ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ Fwaaaaaaat! The light that returned everything to nothingness exploded forth. The Ghost Swordsman cried out in alarm and threw himself to the ground. He rolled several times, narrowly dodging the attack. "Gah!" The Ghost Swordsman placed his hand on the ground. ¡¾Forest of Corpses¡¿ Shwaaaaa! Instantly, in the middle of Seoul, towering trees, countless fireflies, and large and small puddles appeared. A dreamlike green mist billowed, and the shadow of a deer with antlers like a crown passed between the trees. Crack! A skeletal hand emerged from the moss on the ground and grabbed Baekya''s ankle. The towering trees thrust their trunk-like spears, and the fireflies rained down as Ghost Flame orbs. ¡¾"Be careful."¡¿ ''I know.'' Baekya didn''t even blink. Clang. Clang. Clang! The tree trunks and Ghost Flame orbs bounced off the Dragon Scale Armor. ''I will burn it all down. In my own way.'' ¡¾Law of Light¡¿ ¡¾Fire Domain¡¿ Bang! As Baekya stomped his foot, a white and red sphere exploded outwards. Rumble. Rumble...! The sphere expanded, incinerating the dark green Forest of Corpses. Large and small trees, puddles, and fireflies were all consumed and vanished. The forest that had appeared in the heart of Seoul disappeared as quickly as it had formed. Baekya kicked off the ground and charged towards the Ghost Swordsman. Crack! Thick cracks spread across the asphalt. Baekya, accelerating as if teleporting, pulled his right arm back beside his ear. The tip of his longsword aimed for the Ghost Swordsman''s shoulder. Whoosh! The Ghost Swordsman thrust out his left hand, clad in a heavy gauntlet. The Leveler artifact attached to the gauntlet attempted to distort space once more. Crackle! Magic sparks flew in the air, and there was the sound of Baekya''s Dragon Scale Armor being dented. Baekya had anticipated this. Instead of his drawn-back right hand, Baekya thrust out his left hand and countered the gauntlet. ¡¾Distortion Wave¡¿ Clang! A red wave of energy burst forth in a wide fan shape. The gauntlet crumpled, and all sorts of parts flew off. The leather belts tightening his shoulder snapped, and the studs scattered like shrapnel. Screech! The Ghost Swordsman slid a long way down the sloping road. "...Not bad." His voice trembled despite the voice modulation spell on his mask. Baekya didn''t even lose his stance. He smiled faintly to himself. ¡®It took an awfully long time to burn down the forest back then. No, it''s not even right to say that I burned it down. I should say that I drove it to the point where it was difficult to maintain the space through continuous damage.¡¯ The amorphous polyhedron was indeed good. ¡°I''m pretty good? Is that really what you want to say in this situation? You''re the one who''s pretty good.¡± ¡°....¡± ¡°I am Baekya. The Baekya that illuminated even the night of Northeast Asia, created by the Serpent that Swallows the Sun.¡± ¡°That''s why I thought you were on our side.¡± ¡°I told you there was a time when you got what you wanted without lifting a finger thanks to me. Don''t expect it this time. I don''t know why that happened then, but that history is an error.¡± Baekya glanced at the horizontal artifact rolling on the floor. A level with three small cylinders containing bubbles in fluorescent liquid, indicating the balance of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines. ¡¾Level of Imbalance (Black Copper)¡¿ He had broken the gauntlet to drop this. He picked up the Level of Imbalance and shook it. ¡°I saw that you were going to counterattack with this when you felt like you couldn''t win.¡± The Ghost Swordsman looked up. ¡°I thought you were a mindless firepower enthusiast, but you''re quick-witted.¡± ¡°If you have a good body, you don''t have to worry about your head. But now that your body isn''t well, your head has to work hard.¡± The green demonic energy was clearly weaker than it had been at first. Baekya was sure of victory. ¡°Didn''t I tell you before? I''d make you regret crawling into this country¡­¡± And as always, he was wary of the moment when he felt certain. ¡¾¡°Be careful.¡±¡¿ ¡®Yes, I know.¡¯ The space beside him rippled like the surface of water after a stone had been thrown. Thud! A black shadow popped out, squeezing through the space. ¡°No. 8!¡± The shadow called the Ghost Swordsman No. 8. The Ghost Swordsman called the shadow No. 11. ¡°No. 11?¡± He was also a member of the Black Star Cluster, his whole body wrapped in leather straps. Baekya quickly scanned him. ¡®Long braided hair, and tall. Almost as tall as me. Weapons are¡­ a single dagger and a flat pencil?¡¯ Judging by what he brought as a weapon, he seemed to be a magic type. There was no way a physical type would only bring a single dagger. Baekya immediately tried to unfold Human Annihilation. The newly appeared No. 11 showed a move that Baekya hadn''t even thought of. No. 11 swung a carpenter''s pencil in the air. Slash! The space folded and unfolded as he drew a line. Thud. Thud! The Ghost Swordsman, who had been only a few dozen meters away, moved to the rooftop of a hotel several kilometers away. ¡®Space movement?¡¯ Baekya narrowed his eyes, and No. 11 glared at Baekya. ¡°Self-proclaimed Sun.¡± He was also wearing a voice modulation mask. Baekya thought he would run away. ¡®Flame Arrow¡­!¡¯ It was an ability specialized for surprise attacks and escapes, after all. ¡°Hand over the artifact.¡± Thud! So when he folded the space and rushed at him, he felt dumbfounded, beyond just being flustered. ¡®What does he believe in?¡¯ First, he swung his 22nd-century katana to induce defense. Chaak! No. 11 dodged as expected, bending his body. Baekya kicked No. 11''s leg below the knee with his left foot. Crack! He struck his temple with the end of the Jangdo''s handle. [TL/N: Jangdo ¡ª Traditional Knife] Thwack! He threw an uppercut with his left hand, causing a distorted wave. Clang! No. 11, who was floating in the air, rolled on the asphalt floor. ¡°...Ugh!¡± Baekya poured magic into the ¡®World-Reflecting Mirror.¡¯ He was going to open the mirror world. ¡®I can''t let him escape.¡¯ ¡¾¡°Yes. Good thinking.¡±¡¿ ¡¾Your constellation ¡®Sunny¡¯ highly praises your calm actions.¡¿ ¡¾Sponsors 3 Strength stats.¡¿ S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He pointed at No. 11''s pencil with his fingertip. ¡°Don''t you want to try running away with that? I can let you go. I don''t know if our country''s Hunters will let you go, though.¡± No. 11 gritted his teeth. ¡°Let''s see how much more triumphant you can be.¡± Baekya opened the mirror world. ¡°That''s what I wanted to say.¡± * * * Lee Baejeong looked around downtown Seoul from the hotel rooftop. Blue defensive barriers were activated at schools, government offices, and shelters throughout the city. There was no one walking the streets, and there was no commotion in front of the shelters. It was thanks to the safety education that had been well conducted habitually. Engagement reports came in. [Engaged in battle!] [We are being pushed back in Yongsan.] [Gwanak subdued! Closed the pillar of light.] Places where high-rankers went directly had the advantage, and places without high-rankers were in a deadlock. Lee Baejeong unfolded the ''Eyes of Heaven'' with a spell. Cheong Siyeol, Lee Eunwoo, Na Jeongwon, Park Seojin, and Joo Soo-hyeok were all pushing back Black Star Cluster members in various locations. Cheong Siyeol shot sword energy into the sky, bringing down a ghost ship, and Park Seojin stuck his hand into the heart of a magical beast, absorbing its origin. Lee Baejeong turned his gaze toward the Mana Stone Exchange, where the most magical beasts were pouring out. Ryu Haneul and Choi Gimin were fighting there. He sent the Administration''s best team to support them. ''Ryu Haneul. I acknowledge your skills. With Choi Gimin there as well, it shouldn''t be difficult to subdue a few terrorists. But even you guys won''t be able to lift a finger after dealing with the magical beasts and then the Black Star Cluster.'' It wasn''t just Baekya who thought of resolving everything today. ''You won''t be able to deal with the Administration''s suppression team one after another. When the shadow that is you disappears, Baekya is finished too.'' Lee Baejeong leisurely expanded his view. And he saw something happen that should never have happened. Bang! Ryu Haneul was bouncing away like a kicked soccer ball. The purple halo above his head was not visible. * * * ¡°There is no swordsman who practices assuming a situation where they can''t use their sword. There is no magician who practices assuming a situation where they can''t use magic. You can''t train while assuming a weakened state.¡± No. 2, holding a crowbar, sneered. Thud. Ryu Haneul, who had crashed into a building, staggered to his feet and reached out his hand. The Dark Heavenly Demon Sword flew towards him with a buzzing sound, then fell in the middle. Thump. No. 2 kicked the Dark Heavenly Demon Sword, sending it flying towards Ryu Haneul. ¡°Your senior must be in the same condition by now.¡± Shing! Ryu Haneul hurriedly caught the flying Dark Heavenly Demon Sword with both hands. The sharp tip of the sword stopped in front of his heart and trembled. He opened his purple eyes narrowly and smiled. He could see Administration Hunters running towards him in the corner of his vision. ¡°That''s impossible. I told you everything. What kind of supernatural powers you use.¡± ¡°That can''t be. Everyone who saw this power is dead.¡± ¡°For now, that''s true.¡± [Translator - Hestia [Proofreader - Kaya]