Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Shadows of Betrayal
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I closely examined Cha Jin-hyuk, who had openly revealed his trait without any hesitation.
'Now that I look at him, his eyes are similar too.'
Jeong Ji-un had always worn a black hood pulled low since our first meeting, so I hadn't gotten a good sense of his overall appearance. But Cha Jin-hyuk's slightly grayish eyes definitely resembled those of Jeong Ji-un.
Why had Cha Jin-hyuk hidden his identity to become Jeong Ji-un?
'It must be connected to the disappearance of the Sun Guild.'
In any case, one thing was certain.
Jeong Ji-un had betrayed me.
And he knew better than anyone that he couldn't defeat me.
On the day Jeong Ji-un died by my hand.
He had wept silently, as if he had no choice.
'I wonder what this life will bring.'
Whether he had betrayed me due to someone else's scheme in the past life, or suddenly felt like committing suicide by charging at me, only one thing mattered.
So.
Would he be helpful in the war against the Demon Realm?
'He seems useful.'
His current strength was impressive enough, and Utopia hadn't even begun its full-scale development yet.
In modern times, especially in Korea, the power of chaebols and conglomerates couldn't be ignored. So rather than turning him into a skeleton...
'I'll use him for now. But this time, I'll make sure to investigate thoroughly.'
The mastermind behind Jeong Ji-un's betrayal. Whoever it was that schemed even during the height of the war with the Demon Realm needed to be eliminated quickly.
'If I poke at Cha Jin-hyuk gently, they'll crawl out on their own.'
If they had interfered for reasons I didn't know in the previous life, it would be the same this time.
I could decide Cha Jin-hyuk's fate later.
"Whoa, Legendary grade? That's incredible. By the way, now that we're friends, how old are you? I'm 24."
From now on, I would treat Cha Jin-hyuk as a provisional skeleton No. 2... no, a comrade.
Until the day he betrayed me.
Having no way of knowing my thoughts, Cha Jin-hyuk answered the question without suspicion.
"I'm 26 this year, but since we're friends now, you don't need to call me hyung."
26 years old—two years older than me.
'He didn't lie about his age.'
It matched my memory of Jeong Ji-un.
"Then, should we drop the formal speech?"
At my suggestion, Cha Jin-hyuk grinned.
"Sure."
"No take-backs later?"
"Of course not."
He nodded as if it was absolutely impossible.
"Alright, let's wrap up the deal then."
I extended my hand to Cha Jin-hyuk.
"Hand it over. The money."
"Hahaha! Straight to the point, as expected."
Cha Jin-hyuk laughed heartily and reached into his pocket. The wallet in his hand.
"I prepared checks. Ten for 100 million each."
He pulled out ten crisp white checks and handed them to me.
I checked them before tucking them away and spoke.
"I trust you didn't tamper with them. Not that it matters if you did."
The difference between my relationship with the Cha Jin-hyuk sitting before me and Jeong Ji-un from the previous life.
I knew his secret. If he acted rashly before the mastermind could move, it would be a problem.
Only if Cha Jin-hyuk moved freely as he wished would the black curtain stir.
"Oh, and don't worry about the secret leaking."
"Obviously! If I was concerned about that, I wouldn't have suggested being friends."
How did he trust me so quickly? I was objectively good-looking, but not the type to inspire instant trust. The way he acted, it was as if...
'Does he have a skill to discern truth?'
Cha Jin-hyuk met my eyes straight on, as if fully trusting me, and continued the conversation.
"By the way, what's your trait? You went to the orc zone, so it can't be No Trait."
"My trait?"
"Skeleton Expert (Common). It's a necromancer-line trait."
I told him honestly.
He had approached me because of who I was, not my power.
"Threatening me with a Common-grade trait. That's so you."
As expected, Cha Jin-hyuk didn't care much about my trait.
"If you want to level up quickly, just say the word. Once I secure a guild hunting ground, I'll get you in."
He was even offering to help me level up, with excessive kindness.
"...Sure."
Guild hunting grounds were zones filled with monsters easy to handle once you knew their weaknesses. Places with high EXP and abundant magic stones.
No reason to refuse.
"Shall we head out now?"
I downed the rest of my drink in one go to stand.
"Already?"
Cha Jin-hyuk asked with a surprised look. Did he think we'd chat all day?
In a café, just two guys?
"Should the Sun Guild Master be lounging around idly? It's a new guild—you must have tons to do."
"Lounge? I'm building connections. With my promising friend Lee Han. What's the problem?"
That smugness. It's been a while.
"The connection's built. Now go. You need to find me that guild hunting ground quick."
"Already putting me to work? Starting to regret it a bit?"
And that cheekiness too.
"You're not actually into guys, right? You got a girlfriend, confirm?"
I played along naturally.
"Of course! I'll introduce her later. She'll like you too."
I had no desire to meet her.
"We'll see. Anyway, I'm busy now, so I'm off."
Cha Jin-hyuk still looked reluctant.
"But it's the first day. Shouldn't we hang out longer?"
This is why Earth fell to the Demon Realm invasion. Jeong Sia was one thing, but the world was full of lunatics.
He kept trying to hold me back. Must have nothing better to do.
"Watch your words. People might misunderstand."
"It's true, what's to misunderstand?"
"Cut the nonsense. See you later. I'll call."
I stood up.
"Cold friend."
Cha Jin-hyuk grumbled as if hurt, standing to follow me.
"Where you headed?"
"Rest a bit, then to Utopia."
"Why? Not enough with 1 billion? If it's money, I'll just give you more. Dangerous with that trait, no?"
Is this what it's like having a rich friend? Felt like I'd acquired a piggy bank full of gold.
"Not about money."
Cha Jin-hyuk looked puzzled at my words.
"Not about money?"
His reaction was natural.
At this time, Utopia was a place where people risked their lives solely to make money. Nothing more, nothing less.
Only a tiny fraction of the vanguard went purely for growth.
The risk was their own lives, so unless they were exceptional madmen, safety came first in hunting.
Later, as trait holders increased, villains—trait criminals—emerged, using Utopia as a hideout, causing more chaos. But that was in the future.
"Yeah. I have other reasons."
Regardless, I had a desperate need to grow stronger.
'Desperation. That must have been our downfall.'
We hadn't even imagined a war with the Demon Realm back then.
"Other reasons? Like what?"
"Just want to get stronger."
"'Just'? Come on."
No intention of blabbing about the Demon Realm war.
'Can't change the future.'
Tampering with major flows, not even minor ones, might ruin all the info I knew.
Especially now, without the Undying Lord trait.
'Info is everything. Must utilize every detail.'
Meanwhile, Cha Jin-hyuk gave a slightly disappointed smile at my answer.
"Can't hold you if it's 'just'."
He extended his hand smoothly.
"Well, that's it for today. Let's grab food next time you're free."
I shook his hand.
"Got it. But you're paying, rich guy."
"Hahaha! Deal."
There was genuine warmth in Cha Jin-hyuk's bright smile.
But I knew his true face.
A kind lunatic.
A twisted human, though I couldn't pinpoint why.
That's what those who knew Jeong Ji-un from the previous life called him.
"I'm off. Lee Han."
"Take care."
As soon as we stepped out of the café, a luxury car appeared as if waiting, and Cha Jin-hyuk drove off.
After parting with him, I headed straight home. With money in hand, next was getting an auction house entry ticket.
'Didn't expect Cha Jin-hyuk to bring cash so soon; forgot to grab my ID.'
I needed my resident registration card. I grabbed it quickly and took a taxi out.
"Taesan Auction House in Cheonho-dong."
In the taxi, I checked the Taesan Auction House website.
'Anything else worth buying besides Phoenix's Tear?'
The minimum bid for Phoenix's Tear was 300 million.
I'd taken 1 billion just in case, but remembered it selling for around 500 million.
So I looked for other items I could buy with the rest.
'Need to get myself a weapon.'
The condition for my ideal weapon was simple.
Unbreakable durability.
A weapon that stayed intact even after slicing through tens of thousands of demons.
'Heard there's a Legendary-grade blacksmith-line trait. Got kidnapped by villains, I think.'
How many weapons had I discarded? I'd picked up and wielded whatever came my way—swords to scythes. I could handle most.
If I couldn't find one, I'd make it somehow.
Not personally, of course.
Commission someone skilled with crafting skills.
If they refused, persuade them physically if needed.
'Turns out I'm pretty good at persuasion.'
"We're here, sir."
At the driver's words, I looked out the window.
A towering building.
The largest auction house in Korea, Taesan Auction House.
After getting out, I entered the lobby.
Even though it was still morning, it buzzed with a huge crowd.
"How much for this item?"
"C-grade should fetch at least 100 million, right?"
"Hope it goes for 200 million. Even after 10% commission, that's a lot."
People registering items they'd scavenged somewhere.
"What about this item? Seems useful."
"The one next to it looks good too."
"How much does our guild have? 300 million?"
"Yes. About 330 million."
"We'll spend it all?"
"Yes. Gotta invest to make more. Good items bring in the cash."
And those buying items to grow stronger and rake in more money.
All sorts.
'Let's see.'
I stood before the directory on the wall.
'Fifth floor.'
Auction entry tickets were sold on the fifth floor. I took the elevator up.
Plenty of people here too.
'So many rich folks.'
Entry tickets weren't expensive. Just 1 million won.
But there was a condition: minimum assets of 300 million.
If you didn't meet it, no ticket.
I joined the long line stretching to the office door. Then, commotion erupted at the front.
"I showed you 300 million! Why can't I buy a ticket?!"
Peeking ahead, a burly man was yelling excitedly.
"It has to be 300 million in cash, sir."
The responding staff member's voice was calm.
No trace of emotion, probably from dealing with jerks like this often.
"I have it! 300 million! Look!"
Watching from behind, the man thrust something forward.
"See? It's in stocks! 330 million!"
His phone, probably.
'Doesn't even know the basics.'
Taesan Auction House dealt only in cash.
"Taesan Auction House aims for same-day cash transactions, sir."
That policy made them Korea's top auction house.
"I need an item this afternoon! You know it takes days to pull money from stocks!"
The man shouted in frustration.
Understandable desperation.
"I'm sorry, sir. No cash, no ticket."
Indulging one would lead to more.
The auction house wouldn't last.
"Come on, help a guy out!"
"No can do."
"It's really important, miss!"
"Still no, sir."
I listened to their back-and-forth while scanning around.
'No guards?'
Should have someone to handle troublemakers.
Fifth floor had only the one female staff member attending customers.
"Fuck! Annoying!"
Hold up?
The man's fist suddenly turned red.
'Using a skill here?'
Furious enough to cause a scene.
Then, something incomprehensible happened.
"I'll come back later."
What?
The man, who moments ago radiated murderous intent.
His fist returned to normal as if nothing happened, and he turned away.
Then, the female staff member hidden behind him came into view.
'You're...'
The moment I saw her face, I furrowed my brow.
A face from my memories.
Pale jade-like skin, a mole by her eye.
'Hyeon A-rin.'
She was someone I absolutely had to kill.