Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Change (2)
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In front of the Awakener Association headquarters.
A horde of reporters had set up camp, desperately waiting for one man to emerge.
"When the hell is he coming out?"
"Dude, it's been less than an hour since he went in."
"No, usually..."
"He's out!"
"It's the Virtuous Sword!"
Kim Gunja emerged alongside Park Mu-won, a government official.
As Kim Gunja, wearing an awkward smile, stepped up to the photo line, a barrage of camera flashes exploded.
It had been a week since the artificial island incident—the first time he was appearing publicly.
"Sorry for the hassle."
"It's all necessary."
Kim Gunja responded maturely to Park Mu-won's apologetic grimace.
The government had requested a level re-measurement from Kim Gunja.
They trusted the Virtuous Sword's word, but they needed visible proof for the public.
That was politics.
It required a bit of showmanship to prove they'd done their job.
Kim Gunja had agreed readily.
He had confidence thanks to his dramatically altered status window.
After a brief photo session, Park Mu-won picked up the microphones from the waiting broadcasters.
"Now, we'll announce the measurement results."
The noisy crowd fell silent in an instant.
"The Virtuous Sword's physical and mana levels both came out at Level 7, identical to during the battle."
Gasps of admiration erupted.
They'd expected as much, but now the mystery of who had taken down a Single Number was deeper than ever.
"The measured data will be uploaded to the Association's site for immediate verification."
Reporters hammered out articles on the government's announcement in real time.
After his brief statement, Park Mu-won extended a hand to Kim Gunja.
"You've worked hard."
"No trouble at all."
"If you ever need any assistance, don't hesitate to contact me."
"Thank you. Well then..."
"Yes, take care."
At Park Mu-won's gesture, waiting police cleared a path for Kim Gunja.
Kim Gunja walked along it toward the idling vehicle.
Reporters and guild scouts, blocked by the police line, clamored desperately.
"We heard you left Hero Guild! What's your plan moving forward?!"
"You came from Hyunmu Guild! Does that mean...!"
"Rumors say you're heading overseas—is that true?"
"Daesung Guild's...!"
He gave a slight bow instead of answering, then slipped into the car.
"Phew... Yeah, this stuff really isn't my thing."
His grumbling drew soft chuckles from the others already inside.
"Man, what a circus. Good job out there."
"Uncle, you're totally the big shot now, huh?"
It was Park Chunduk and Sin Yeji.
"Big shot? Nah... I just feel bad for you guys."
Not that it wasn't true.
While Kim Gunja had been hospitalized, Park Chunduk and Sin Yeji had been hounded by reporters.
It was unavoidable.
The public loved even roadside weeds if they had a compelling story.
And Kim Gunja? He had a dramatic tale tangled with Kang Inhyeok's death and the mystery slayer of a Single Number.
Of course the attention poured in.
That was reporters' job, after all.
Today, they'd at least tied up some loose ends.
Park Chunduk shook his head as he gripped the wheel.
"Bad? Forget it. Look at all we've gained thanks to you."
With that, he pulled the car away.
"But seriously, your measured level really came out as 7? Wow, I half-doubted it, but a rubber-band level that adjusts like that? Freak."
Kim Gunja gave a wry smile.
Even he had to admit it sounded ridiculous.
During that week of recovery, he'd figured out why his levels displayed like that.
Two main reasons.
One was the familiar effect of the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl.
The other was the unlocking of Kaisir's additional ability.
Dragon Scales.
Unlike the pearl, this one massively boosted his physical level.
'Thanks to this, my physical level cap jumped from 8 to 10.'
Kim Gunja drew mana from his heart.
To extract what the failed-assimilation Kaisir had left behind.
Woooong—
Ferocious mana gathered at the back of his hand per his will.
With a tingling sensation, familiar jet-black scales formed like armor over his skin.
Clink—
The substance that hadn't even scorched under Baek Jincheon's searing heat.
Kaisir's scales, possessing absolute defense.
His physical level rose partially.
As Kim Gunja flexed his hand lightly, the scales clinked against each other.
The flawless jet-black scales gleamed with polish.
No hindrance to movement—a perfect custom fit.
'Still, I can only manifest palm-sized patches for now...'
Training and time would handle that.
Sin Yeji, watching from the side, giggled.
"No matter how I look at it, Uncle's got that manga protagonist vibe."
"Huh...?"
"Think about it. Manga heroes go Super Saiyan 1, then 2, getting stronger each time."
"Ah..."
He got it.
Channeling three energies for a level boost was stage 1.
Generating Dragon Scales for full-body reinforcement was stage 2.
"Well... not entirely wrong..."
"Right?"
"You must've loved manga as a kid."
It slipped out naturally.
Yeji always referenced comics in her out-of-left-field remarks.
"Well, when I was little, my fr— Anyway, yeah."
Before he could question her dodge, Chunduk hyung chimed in.
"So, what's the plan going forward?"
"Mm. Thinking of heading to Jeju first."
"Jeju...?"
Park Chunduk's puzzled echo got only a grin from Kim Gunja.
Shanghai, China.
Two dragon statues carved in gold flanked the jade throne where a man lounged.
A dragon tattoo etched one side of his face.
Zhu Ziliang, guild master of the world No. 3 Huanglong Guild.
"So they finally imprisoned White Flame?"
A beauty in a form-fitting cheongsam leaned against the throne and replied.
"Yes. Pathetic, really."
"What an idiotic move."
Zhu Ziliang smirked coldly.
"I agree. Tossing away a Single Number over a few murders and shady dealings? Doesn't add up at all."
"Tsk tsk. That's small nations for you. Laws are just tools for rulers—abusing them so rigidly..."
"But it's good for us. No more headache from White Flame."
True enough.
Only two guilds in the world held Single Numbers.
Pentagram and Hero Guild.
Aside from Chris and Baek Jincheon, no others were guild-bound.
Their talents came with outsized egos.
"No more watching Hero Guild punks strut around here."
Baek Jincheon was ambitious.
He stationed forces worldwide to swallow other nations' interests.
But without White Flame, that was over.
"What now?"
The woman trailed her fingers up his shoulder.
"Can't just sit after taking a hit."
With the breakwater gone, meddling in Korea's turf was natural.
Zhu Ziliang stroked his chin, then spoke.
"Call the executives. Meeting in an hour."
"Got it."
She sauntered out with a sultry reply.
Moments later, Zhu Ziliang moved behind the throne and infused mana.
Grrrind—
A faint rumble, and the throne slid aside, revealing a hidden staircase.
A passage to a secret floor between this top level and below.
As he descended, the entrance sealed.
Passing a corridor thick with the stench of blood, a vast chamber appeared.
Rare runes and fresh blood smeared floor and walls; corpses littered everywhere.
At the center stood an elderly man in ornate robes.
"Archbishop."
Zhu Ziliang knelt before him.
The elder, Slayer Church's Grand Archbishop Benedict, stared into the void.
Then he frowned slightly, displeased by something.
"Getting bolder by the day."
His voice grated like nails on steel.
Zhu Ziliang knew who he meant.
Sword Saint Jin Wei.
The man who ignored all but swords was suddenly hunting them desperately.
Not a welcome change.
Benedict shifted his gaze.
"Speak."
With permission, Zhu Ziliang reported on Korea's situation.
"Good news. How's demon flower production for Korean distribution?"
"On track. Stable output from the private land we bought on Jeju."
Demon flower trafficking wasn't simple.
Slayers sourced locally in secret.
Farthest from White Flame's eyes.
No longer necessary.
Zhu Ziliang's Korean play was ostensibly guild rivalry, but really to bolster Slayer ops.
Benedict nodded.
"That day approaches. Stay vigilant."
"Understood."
"Go."
Zhu Ziliang bowed deeply and withdrew.
The secluded foothills of Jeju Island.
Screech.
A car pulled up, and Kim Gunja stepped out.
He'd come to Jeju following the address from Abbot Jeonghye.
Checking his phone's navigation, he scratched his head.
"...Around here, but..."
A chain-link fence marked private property ringed the base.
He briefly considered finding the owner.
But explaining would be tricky.
Couldn't reveal his father's identity, nor did he want to broadcast his visit.
'...I'll just slip in and out quick.'
Nodding, he parked far off and vaulted the fence effortlessly.
How far had he gone, following coordinates?
"Huh...?"
Kim Gunja tilted his head.
The letter described an abandoned cave in empty surroundings.
But suspicious buildings now stood blatantly before it.
Structures clearly built with concealment in mind.
Over ten years had passed—not impossible.
'Doesn't look like a legit permitted facility...'
Pot calling kettle, really.
What to do?
After a moment's thought, he strode forward unhesitatingly.
He had an artifact perfect for this—no need to waste time.
As he donned [Blessing of Stealth] from his coat pocket, masking his presence toward the cave—
'Hm?'
He spotted a man at the building's corner, drooling uncontrollably.
"Heee..."
Kim Gunja's face hardened slowly.
A symptom he could never forget.
'...Demon flower!'
Abandoning the cave, his figure darted into the building.
Peering through a window gap, he saw laborers mass-producing demon flowers.
Ordinary folk—no mana signature, not Slayers.
'Demon flowers made domestically, by civilians no less...'
It shocked him.
He never dreamed the stuff turning humans into Slayer ritual fodder was produced here.
Then it hit him—this was private land.
'...Manager's probably nearby.'
Slayer?
Time to check.
Scanning, his eyes locked on one spot.
An office partitioned off from the unsanitary production line.
Approaching, he listened.
Steady breathing.
Asleep. He eased the door open and slipped in.
But the hinges were rustier than expected, and the man inside a light sleeper.
Screech...
"Who..."
"Quiet."
Just one word.
As Kim Gunja entered, the bearded man felt his throat constrict.
'...W-what, why...?'
Bewildered, his body trembled uncontrollably.
Scream for help.
Reason screamed it, but instinct rebelled fiercely.
Defy him and die.
"You the manager here?"
A low, unassuming voice.
But to the man, it boomed louder than thunder.
Defy and die.
The power in Kim Gunja's words forced instinct over reason.
Yielding, the bearded man slid to the floor on his knees.
As if greeting an absolute sovereign.
Lips quivering, he answered.
"Y-yes..."
The Dragon Speech—even Baek Jincheon had knelt to Kaisir's—that had manifested from Kim Gunja's mouth.