Chapter 74: Shadow (2)
Han Baekgil.
He was the leader of Shadow, the group dreaming of reviving a great being.
Even Kim Minwoo didn't know much about the 'great being' they spoke of.
That was because the members of Shadow only vaguely referred to it as the great being, never mentioning its name or characteristics.
‘Or more precisely.’
Even they themselves didn't truly know the entity they served.
That was why users often called them a cult of lunatics.
They fervently prayed and offered sacrifices to an existence they didn't even know, without any real rewards. Shadow was akin to a fanatic cult.
A group with no real benefits to gain from getting close. Normally, he would have chatted idly, left some room for future contact, and dragged out the time to end the meeting.
It was the standard way to delay an assassin's visit.
But things were different now.
“Mr. Kim Minwoo. Don't you want to level up even faster?”
“I'm already leveling up plenty fast.”
“Haha. What if you could gain far more experience from hunting the same monsters?”
“… What are you getting at?”
“If you wish, I can offer you a special opportunity.”
An experience copy opportunity?
Han Baekgil might be a madman, but he was at least an honest fanatic. His scouting pitches were always filled with empty praises like the great being is watching you, or seize this glorious chance to join us.
So why was he suddenly offering something concrete?
‘This isn't his style.’
That made it intriguing.
Bluffing with nothing to back it up wasn't his way. Had this fanatic actually discovered an experience copy bug?
“I thought you were just a fan… but this feels way too much like a cult.”
“Haha. I can see why it would. I admit it. But it's real.”
“…”
Kim Minwoo narrowed his eyes slightly.
Cult.
It was one of the words Han Baekgil, the rootless fanatic, hated most.
Normally, dropping that word would make his eyes roll back as he charged with his weapon drawn.
Why? Because he knew perfectly well that they really did come across like a cult.
And rightly so—they didn't even know what they believed in, there were no rewards, yet they had to offer sacrifices.
It screamed deranged cult leader and brainwashed followers.
‘But he's so relaxed?’
Why the composure?
Simple.
He wasn't shaken anymore.
In other words.
Han Baekgil had gained some solid backing.
Backing so firm he could laugh off being called a cult.
‘Interesting.’
Kim Minwoo stared straight at him.
“If it's that important, this isn't the place. Shall we go to a nearby café?”
“Sure. I'll buy.”
The two stood up.
Outside the auction house.
On the way to the café, he glanced at Han Baekgil.
‘His face has this weird calm vibe.’
Usually, he looked frantic, eyes bloodshot like he was being chased.
But not this Han Baekgil.
He walked the street with a smile, as if enjoying the crisp winter breeze.
‘… Well, could be because it's a clone.’
This wasn't the real Han Baekgil. It was a shadow clone, one of the assassin S-rank skills.
A skill that created a highly detailed clone for independent action.
That's what this one was.
He could tell easily.
‘Items don't copy.’
As a infamous villain, Han Baekgil had top-tier gear—unique at minimum, legend-grade likely.
A walking treasure trove.
But the items on this one were all crudely made, patterns off.
A newbie wouldn't notice, but Kim Minwoo was a veteran among veterans. He could spot fake clone gear at a glance.
That's why he'd provoked him. The real body might be trouble, but a clone? He could smash it in seconds. Then another clone would show up in a few days.
And so, Kim Minwoo and Han Baekgil entered a nearby café.
They ordered coffee, exchanged names formally, and got to the point.
“Mr. Han Baekgil. So what's this experience copy thing?”
“We receive baptism from the great being.”
“… You really are a cult.”
“It's natural you wouldn't believe it. But it's true. Many are already benefiting.”
“… Fine. Let's say it exists. Why give something that good to me?”
“We've seen your potential, Mr. Kim Minwoo. Especially since you directly witnessed that one’s pattern.”
“… Pattern? That weird drawing?”
“Yes. Even devout followers rarely encounter it. Yet you grasped it in one try. It impressed us greatly.”
Han Baekgil spoke with eyes gleaming maniacally.
“The price?”
“It's nothing much. Trivial, really. But first, one question. Mr. Kim Minwoo, is the well-being of strangers more important to you, or your own strength?”
“Obviously the latter.”
What kind of question was that?
He wasn't some hero. Hunting outer gods wasn't about saving the world nobly.
If he didn't, he'd die.
Of course, that didn't mean he'd sacrifice people bloodlessly like Han Baekgil.
Moderation was key in everything.
Just your average guy. He valued himself over some random stranger.
Han Baekgil nodded in satisfaction at the honest answer.
“Excellent. The price is simple. Offer sacrifices to that one and carry out its commands.”
“Sounds pretty pricey to me.”
“No, no. Experience nearly doubles.”
“… Doubles?”
“Yes. Doubles.”
“You said many are benefiting… but it's awfully quiet for that.”
“You should know better. The best things are enjoyed in secret. To avoid envy.”
If that was true, Shadow members were offering sacrifices, completing missions, and secretly copying experience in secret.
“The baptism—what exactly is it?”
“Normally, we wouldn't share this with outsiders…”
“Yeah? Outsiders gotta stick together. I'll be off then.”
He stood up immediately.
They had approached him first, fawning over his talent.
Time to show who held the upper hand.
Sure enough.
Han Baekgil grabbed his hand urgently.
“Not saying no—just explaining. Please sit. I'll tell you.”
He sat back down.
Staring at Han Baekgil.
“We've received the call of the great being.”
“What's this great being?”
“A mere worm like me dares not even think or speak its name. It would drive me mad.”
“Mad, huh. What is this, Cthulhu mythos? You expect me to buy that?”
At that moment, Han Baekgil handed over a stone.
“See for yourself.”
[Stone of Life]
[Grade: Special]
[A stone that reveals the life or death of 'Lee Seoyoon.' Imbued with strange power.]
[Effect 1. Loses light if the target 'Lee Seoyoon' dies.]
What was this?
Stone of Life.
An item he'd never seen in all his gameplay.
‘No wonder their intel was so quick…’
They had means like this?
Han Baekgil said.
“Ever seen an item like this?”
“Nope. But couldn't it drop from a gate?”
His face turned deadly serious.
“I obtained this through prayer. The baptism works the same way.”
“… Same?”
“Prayer yields an orb filled with great power. We use it to bestow baptism.”
“You're saying you'll pass that orb's power to me?”
“Yes. Sharing dilutes it, so existing members strongly opposed. But you're worthy, Mr. Kim Minwoo.”
Kim Minwoo's face hardened.
Shadow.
A group worshiping illusions had overnight become servants of a real monster. They handed out experience-copy orbs via prayer?
If true, some enormous backer was involved.
‘Is it an outer god?’
The first thought was an outer god. Only something that massive could toss out weird items like this.
‘Not impossible.’
Stage 6: Hunt the outer god.
That thing was surely active by now. Or maybe it had been all along in this world's lore. Shadow getting caught in the fallout wasn't strange.
“One thing I'm curious about.”
“Go ahead.”
“Let's say there's this enormous being. Why help weaklings like you? So weak you can't even think its name.”
“True, we're insignificant. But even lowly creatures like us can serve the great being.”
“By offering sacrifices?”
“Haha, that's just a small token from us. The real missions are separate.”
“What are they? I'm curious.”
“You'll learn gradually once you join. Hard to say here.”
Han Baekgil's eyes turned firm. He wouldn't stop him if he left now.
‘Outer god. What an outer god might use pawns to target…’
Could be items on Earth, people, or some third thing he didn't know.
Something worth targeting, anyway.
‘Might even be me.’
It had happened immediately after his awakening, when he saw the beings beyond the veil.
● Warning! Warning! Warning!
●??? Feels something unnatural!
●??? Begins searching for the cause!
● Beware.??? Will not overlook this incident!
He'd seen strange messages.
Question marks that wouldn't let it slide.
An existence where thinking or saying the name drove one mad.
Maybe the question marks were a filter to protect him.
‘Felt brutal from the start…’
If Han Baekgil truly served an outer god, the final boss had gone alert mode just two months in.
Of course.
This all assumed Han Baekgil's 'great being' was a real outer god targeting him.
‘Still all hypotheticals.’
But if they were true.
Stage 6.
Wouldn't be easy at all.
“What's the group's name?”
“We are 'Shadow.' We exist everywhere.”
“… Everywhere? Worldwide organization?”
“Correct. Quick on the uptake. Allow me to reintroduce: I am Han Baekgil, high priest of Shadow's 'Korean Branch.'”
Well.
They'd grown big.
From a Korean backwater group to a global powerhouse overnight.
“Yes, I heard you out. I'll think it over and get back.”
He had no intention of joining.
Who knew what side effects baptism might have.
Worst case, instant mind control.
Better buy time first.
“Good. I'll visit again in a month.”
He nodded.
A month bought.