Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Shadow Lord Stein (1)
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Stein’s will echoed relentlessly in his mind.
It was the first time.
This was the first time one of the investors had expressed their opinion so forcefully.
Kim Gunja didn’t particularly like Stein, but he wanted to oblige if possible.
It wasn’t a difficult request, and it was true that he’d received a lot of help from his abilities and special quests.
But,
‘The situation isn’t ideal.’
The passage the Hunters, led by expedition leader Choi Byungdu, were heading toward was straight ahead, with Kim Gunja as the reference point.
Not the right side Stein was shouting about.
He couldn’t afford to act on his own before the proper expedition even began.
Kim Gunja shook his head slightly and followed the Hunters. Sure enough, Stein’s will came through again.
Kim Gunja furrowed his brow.
The frustration was mutual.
‘Coming at me out of nowhere like this with no explanation... Wait, is there some kind of restriction?’
He wondered if there were limitations on how investors could convey their will to him, the master.
Judging by Stein’s vibe, this seemed like a pretty important matter, so it was odd that it was being communicated in such fragmented bits.
Then, the wills of the other investors came through as well.
...War Maniac?
It was a new investor name he’d never seen before.
‘No way it’s the Holy Knight Abel, is it?’
No, putting that aside.
He couldn’t understand why the investors were envious of Stein.
And luck, of all things.
As questions piled up one after another, his pace naturally slowed.
That was when a slender man sidled up and murmured softly.
“Mr. Kim Gunja?”
It was Jang Geunhwan, an A-rank Hunter who’d received investment from Geum Jinung and joined this expedition.
He was looking at him with concern.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“Oh, Mr. Jang. No, it’s nothing. I just have a lot on my mind...”
Kim Gunja trailed off.
Due to the sudden alert window that popped up.
[Shadow Lord’s Long-Cherished Wish (1)]
Difficulty: B
📍 Content: The Shadow Lord wants his master to act alone! Head to the Shadow Lord’s secret hideout in the underground waterway by yourself!
🎁 Success: Everything the Shadow Lord has prepared in the secret hideout
🎁 Failure: Recovery of all Shadow Lord-related abilities and your master’s sturdy, smooth left leg
It was a special quest.
One that reeked of jackpot rewards.
But Kim Gunja focused more on the content than the reward.
‘Stein’s secret hideout?’
He didn’t know what powers investors had.
But at the very least.
It couldn’t be the ability to instantly create a hideout.
Especially not in a dungeonized area like this, out of nowhere.
Which meant.
This dungeonized place was connected to Stein in some way.
‘As I thought... that wasn’t a coincidence.’
Kim Gunja’s gaze turned to Red Moon.
Sword Saint Jin Wei had said.
He’d found Red Moon in a caldera-type gate.
Kim Gunja had his doubts about that.
Ma Ilcheon had met his end near the caldera too.
It felt too suspicious to chalk it up to mere coincidence.
Temporally and spatially.
And now, in this moment.
Kim Gunja felt like he was one step closer to unraveling that mystery.
Thanks to the dungeonization, Stein’s reaction, and the special quest content.
‘Not certain yet, but maybe the investor’s purpose is...’
Kim Gunja’s face hardened as he pondered deeply.
Jang Geunhwan looked worried at his expression.
Because he recalled the incident before entering this place.
When Kim Gunja had been ambushed by a Slayer.
Jang Geunhwan asked cautiously.
“Mr. Kim Gunja... are you perhaps poisoned?”
His question snapped Kim Gunja out of his thoughts.
‘Right. Not enough evidence yet. I’ll think about it later.’
For now, it was time to move.
He’d planned to avoid rash actions as much as possible, but with a special quest on the line, he couldn’t.
And he had an excuse prepared for times like this.
“Mr. Jang, sorry, but I think I’ll have to act separately.”
“Pardon...? Well...”
Jang Geunhwan pondered briefly before lowering his voice.
“That’s fine by me since joining the expedition was the full extent of our contract... But Team Leader Choi Byungdu is infamous in the Association for his inflexibility. He won’t permit solo action that easily, you know?”
Kim Gunja smiled faintly at that.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll let the team leader know. See you.”
“Ah... okay.”
Jang Geunhwan watched Kim Gunja head straight for Team Leader Choi Byungdu without hesitation, a strange look on his face.
‘Where does that confidence come from...?’
Even if this was an expedition rather than a hunt, they still had to follow the team leader’s lead.
The idea of going solo during an expedition was surprising enough, but heading to say it to the team leader without a shred of hesitation was downright baffling to Jang Geunhwan.
‘That won’t be easy...’
The strict Choi Byungdu he knew would never allow it.
He was a veteran who knew full well how valuable a single A-rank Hunter’s combat power was.
Confirming Kim Gunja approaching the team leader, Jang Geunhwan started walking.
To intervene when Choi Byungdu inevitably blew up.
He was timing his approach when—
“Wh-what...?”
Jang Geunhwan looked deflated.
His expectations had been way off.
They hadn’t even exchanged a few words.
Choi Byungdu, whose face had twisted as if about to yell, flinched once and let Kim Gunja go without a word.
It was a scene Jang Geunhwan could hardly believe even seeing it with his own eyes.
‘What the hell... What did he even say...?’
Flabbergasted, Jang Geunhwan’s gaze followed Kim Gunja, as did the other Hunters’.
Kim Gunja had no choice but to bolt after breaking from the formation to move alone.
‘What? Where’s he going by himself?’
‘He talked to the team leader, so maybe he has separate intel?’
‘Still, isn’t wandering alone in a place like this a bit dangerous?’
‘Nah, pointless worry. That guy Kim Gunja survives charging in solo every time.’
‘True... He handled the Homunculus lab and even the gate break alone.’
Ignoring the chatter and stares lightly, Kim Gunja moved on.
Toward the right waterway, unlike the other Hunters.
A bitter smile played on Kim Gunja’s lips as he traversed the right waterway.
What could he say.
It felt like he finally understood why people clung to power.
‘I expected this outcome, but...’
It had been too easy.
Almost disappointingly so.
The card Kim Gunja had shown the team leader, Choi Byungdu, was like a cheat key.
No need for lengthy explanations.
Kim Gunja had simply stated he’d act alone and added one line.
That it was the guild master’s orders.
Hearing that, Choi Byungdu grabbed Kim Gunja’s collar as if about to strike, raising his voice.
—Guild master?! Some guild master infringing on the team leader’s authority...! W-wait. You’re... S-sorry. I misspoke. Pretend you didn’t hear that. Please.
By the end, he was the one apologizing, his attitude flipping in an instant.
Choi Byungdu had realized while fuming.
That Kim Gunja belonged to Hero Guild—and who its guild master was.
White Flame Baek Jincheon.
His presence was that absolute in Korea.
Even a seasoned A-rank Hunter like Choi Byungdu could only back down without a peep from his team leader position.
‘When else would I use it if not now?’
Kim Gunja had invoked the name of Baek Jincheon, whom people revered, without batting an eye.
He wasn’t too worried about repercussions.
If Choi Byungdu had the guts to confront Baek Jincheon directly about the orders, this tactic wouldn’t have worked in the first place.
‘Power, huh...’
How many people could wield such influence with just a name?
Baek Jincheon was undoubtedly remarkable.
And he was preparing to fight someone like that.
Which meant he couldn’t afford to be careless.
The moment he gave even a tiny opening or pretext, it’d be over—he wouldn’t be able to do a thing.
‘One by one. Thoroughly.’
With those thoughts, Kim Gunja walked on. Then stopped.
Splash, splash.
Numerous presences approached from the front.
To avoid trouble if he ran into a patrol, he first hid behind a curved wall and observed.
Splash, splash.
The creatures that entered his view were giant bipedal rats.
The spears in their hands and their grotesquely protruding yellow incisors looked menacing.
Ratmen, monsters common in environments like underground waterways.
Now that he’d confirmed they were monsters, there was no reason to hesitate.
Humm—
He drew the Dimensional Dagger Zarathu and gripped it in his left hand.
‘Being alone is definitely more convenient.’
No need to watch others’ reactions. Kim Gunja channeled his sacred lightning power.
Crackle, crackle—
Zarathu glowed golden, sparking wildly.
Squeak, squeak!
Sensing the anomaly, the Ratmen spotted him and charged ferociously.
Clutching spears in both hands.
At that sight, Kim Gunja smiled and spoke.
“Time to test conductivity?”
He lightly tossed Zarathu, infused with sacred lightning, toward the floor in front of the oncoming Ratmen—not at them directly.
Squeak?
The Ratmen’s bewilderment lasted only a moment.
Splash—
The instant Zarathu touched the waterway wetting their feet.
Bzzzzt—!
The nearby rats convulsed, collapsing without even a scream.
Squeak! Squeak!
Showing some intelligence, the ones in the back scrambled out of the water.
Humm—
Leisurely retrieving Zarathu from afar, Kim Gunja sent it back into subspace.
Then he approached one of the fallen ones and picked up its spear.
‘Perfect training spot.’
Crackle, crackle!
As Kim Gunja advanced toward the Ratmen, smiling with the golden-sparking spear in hand.
Squeak, squeak!
The Ratmen began backing away bit by bit.
How long had he walked?
A considerable amount of time had passed since he’d been battling the underground waterway monsters while following Stein’s navigation.
Rumble—
A sound he hadn’t heard before echoed faintly.
‘A waterfall...?’
It was a roar of water that massive.
As he followed Stein’s guidance, the sound grew louder.
Rumble!!
It was deafening.
If someone were beside him, he’d have to shout to be heard.
When he reached the end of the passage.
Kim Gunja identified the source.
It looked like a cylinder riddled with holes standing upright.
Water poured from the surrounding passages like waterfalls.
‘Impressive.’
The exit where Kim Gunja stood was roughly 15 stories high.
Below, an immense volume of water flowed in depths too profound to gauge.
Rumble—
Mist rose thickly from the tons of water cascading down.
‘Quite the spectacle, but...’
After taking in the surroundings, Kim Gunja tilted his head.
There was nowhere left to go.
As he wondered if Stein’s guidance was wrong.
Stein’s will came through.
“......?”
At Stein’s words, he instinctively looked down again.
Small whirlpools and mist rose here and there, like beneath a massive valley waterfall.
...No way, down there?
“Good grief...”
Of all places.
He wasn’t thrilled, but he didn’t hesitate long.
No other choice.
The hideout was down there, apparently.
Letting out a faint sigh, Kim Gunja dove into the water without further delay.
Splash—
As he unleashed Heaven-Shattering Divine Art to maintain balance against the pouring pressure and fierce currents.
He swam downward as instructed.
How far down had he gone?
Just as the pressure started to overwhelm him.
The bottom came into view.
Noticing strange patterns and writing on one side, he focused his mana into his eyes.
‘A moon swallowing the sun?’
As he thought that.
...What?
‘Why mention something that crucial only now...’
Kim Gunja paused mid-thought.
Shadow Lord Stein.
He instantly recalled what made him unique.
As Kim Gunja stepped onto the pattern with his left foot and channeled dark mana,
Fwaaah—!
The pattern began to glow.
Softly, like moonlight.
And then,
Stein went wild once more.