33. Acquired the Sacred Relic
I furrowed my brow at Zhuque's words.
"Means?"
Not 'method,' but 'means.'
"Is there something you need?"
-Yes. It might be a bit tricky, but it's simple.
I shot back curtly at those words.
"I just have to summon you, stab and slash repeatedly—so why should I bother?"
-If I awaken, my reason will return, and I'll be even more useful to my master. What's not to like?
"Hm."
There was some logic to what it said.
But what mattered was what that 'means' actually was.
"Fine. Let's hear it."
-Simple. Go back to that volcanic zone where I was.
"......What?"
-Give me the Fire Bell Divine Lock inside the crater.
"Hold on."
I quickly left the training ground and returned to my quarters.
I needed to have this conversation alone, somewhere with no one around.
"You're saying I should dive into the crater right now?"
-That's right.
What lay inside the crater was obvious.
It would be filled with magma.
"That's ridiculous......"
I trailed off before finishing the sentence.
Then I paused to think it over.
Common sense said it was absurd, sure.
But was it truly impossible? That was worth considering carefully.
I wasn't an ordinary human anymore.
The question was whether I could withstand the lava.
I asked Zhuque for its opinion.
"Do you think I can endure it?"
-If I didn't, I wouldn't have brought it up.
"Hmm."
I was about to accept that, but a sudden unease crept in.
"Then why didn't you just consume it yourself earlier?"
-I was saving it in case I hit the limit of my awakening.
Fair enough. Back then, Zhuque probably never imagined it would lose.
It continued.
-But now that things have come to this, I can't just let it rot there. Better to consume it now.
That seemed to be Zhuque's judgment.
......Should I give it a shot?
But I couldn't fully trust Zhuque's words.
The base environment on Floor 14 was already murderous on its own.
Even if Angelica could cover the phantom pain, swimming through lava was a whole different beast.
"First, I'll reach the Peak realm and then decide."
If I was going to go, I should do it as safely as possible.
I set everything else aside and focused solely on ascending to Peak, circulating the Blood Cycle.
I'd stashed the Sealed Sword under the bed, so no one could interrupt me now.
I vowed not to leave this room until I'd gathered the internal energy for Peak.
* * *
I opened my eyes.
I repeatedly clenched and unclenched my sweat-soaked fists.
Glancing at the clock, the time hadn't changed much from when I'd started gathering energy.
"......"
In that moment, I realized a full day had passed.
Shuwaaa.
At some point, every time I circulated the Blood Cycle, a mystical phenomenon occurred.
A dark crimson vortex generated at my feet and swirled around my body.
I instinctively knew this was a sign of reaching the Peak realm.
Normal Peak experts didn't exhibit this, but it seemed unique to the Blood Cycle.
Madric Blood often produced something similar to visually intimidate foes.
"Heh heh."
Let's see how it turned out.
"My info."
"B-rank."
-Hrm. Congratulations, master. Shall we go fetch the Fire Bell Divine Lock now?
"Hmm......"
I weighed my options.
Should I just summon Zhuque and train it personally as its master?
Or risk it all to retrieve the Fire Bell Divine Lock and awaken Zhuque?
"Awakening is guaranteed, right?"
-Of course, master! I never lie.
"You do hide things, though."
-Th-that... just overlook it this once.
"I'll decide after seeing the results."
-Understood. That means we're heading for the Fire Bell Divine Lock!
I slapped my knee and stood up.
"Nothing's decided yet."
-Th-then what do you plan to do, master?
"I need to make some preparations first."
There was one person I had to bring along.
Without him, it could get really dangerous.
I showered to wash off the sweat-soaked grime and changed into a spare suit.
Then I headed straight to the cafeteria.
Having skipped lunch and dinner yesterday, I needed to load up on breakfast.
Munch munch.
"Take it easy, Jeongha hyung. Someone might think it's your last supper. Heh heh."
After finishing my meal, I scanned the cafeteria for 'him.'
"Found you."
I waited until he was done eating.
Moments later, I approached as he cleared his tray.
"Robert."
Robert turned, raising an eyebrow.
"......You?"
"I have a favor to ask."
"Hm. I know you saved my life on Floor 10, but I believe I repaid that debt on Floor 14."
Oof.
Was Robert always this calculating?
As disappointment started to set in, he smirked faintly and continued.
"But well, without Section Chief Kim back then, I might've died anyway. Fine. As long as it's not too unreasonable, I'll hear you out."
"Come with me back to Underground Floor 14. Just once."
"......?"
Robert looked like he doubted his own ears.
"Why on earth would you go back there......?"
It was the reaction I'd expected, so I fed him the excuse I'd prepared.
"I left something important behind. Can't sleep at night thinking about it. I have to retrieve it."
"Hm...... So we just go, grab it, and leave?"
"Yes. Just cast a few spells once we're there."
"Sigh...... Alright. But give me some time to prepare."
"How long?"
"You seem in a hurry. I'll come find you in the Operations Control Room once I'm ready."
"Got it. Thank you."
Good thing Robert wasn't stingy after all.
Pondering what to do until lunch, I suddenly remembered something I'd forgotten in the bustle.
I needed to see Seon Ga-hee.
The mask's words—not to keep her waiting too long—flashed in my mind.
It had been two days since then. Might be cutting it close.
As I left the cafeteria and started walking normally, I paused and drew up my internal energy.
Shuwaaa.
I sent the warm energy to my legs, took a running start, and kicked off the ground fiercely.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Whoooosh—
Moving at speeds far beyond any ordinary person, a fierce wind whipped around me in welcome.
I could see the lobby staff's eyes turning toward me.
"......What just flew by?"
"Looked like someone from Safety Planning."
"Red hair, sword at the waist—that's the guy from Restructuring, right?"
Hunter Stock Company was still in its early days.
In time, people like me would be commonplace, but for now, it was a rare sight.
Soon, I arrived at the HR Department and scanned the staff around.
Showing up demanding to see the director would raise alarms for sure.
Better to pick someone less rigid...... Ah, found the right one.
I approached him and spoke.
"Plum Blossom Sword Scholar. Nice to see you."
I'd learned something from my first chat with Yi-gun: calling him Plum Blossom Sword Scholar made him thrilled.
Sure enough.
He clasped his hands in a fist salute and grinned.
"Tyrant Crimson Sword Kim Jeongha. Good morning. A pleasure."
"Tyrant Crimson Sword?"
"Your crimson form radiates a domineering aura, so I coined it on the spot."
"You can sense that?"
"I've felt it since we met before. But now it's even more pronounced. Seems like an unorthodox martial art, but no offense intended."
I replied without a flicker of emotion.
"No issue. I learned this art after joining Hunter Stock Company, so I'm not well-versed in my own sect either."
A glint of interest sparked in Yi-gun's eyes.
"Oh? So there's a martial artist from the jianghu here. Is that what you're saying?"
Curiosity piqued, I nodded and asked him.
"Do you know of the Black Moon Sect by any chance?"
"Black Moon Sect......? Hm......"
He pondered briefly, then shook his head.
"Not really. Aside from orthodox sect members, I haven't encountered many martial artists."
"Hm."
Maybe ask Gwak Do-cheol about the Mount Hua Sect later?
As I thought that, I noticed something off about Yi-gun's attire.
It was so natural it had slipped my notice until now.
"Martial robes? You haven't received your suit yet?"
"Ahem...... I have."
"Then why aren't you wearing it?"
"How could a disciple of the Great Mount Hua Sect don the garb of an outside power?"
Yi-gun still saw himself as a Mount Hua warrior, not a Hunter Stock employee.
Not that such mindsets change overnight.
"I'm curious how Seon Ga-hee permitted that."
"Ahem......! Well...... She allowed it on the condition I only wear it within HR premises."
I spoke in a serious tone.
"That's as it should be. If Safety Planning gets reprimanded from above because of other departments' staff, it'll put everyone in an awkward spot."
As an employee of Safety Planning, tasked with maintaining company security and order, I couldn't overlook it.
He nodded at my firm tone.
"Understood. Please don't hold it against me."
Seon Ga-hee must've given him an earful too.
"Anyway, where's Director Seon Ga-hee right now?"
"Here to see the director?"
"Yes. Personal business."
Yi-gun nodded readily.
"Fine. I'll take you."
"Thank you."
"But on one condition."
"What?"
He clasped his fist salute again.
"Tyrant Crimson Sword Kim Jeongha. I request a friendly spar."
"This isn't a training hall."
I said it with a slight smile—not a refusal.
Yi-gun nodded vigorously, catching on.
"Very well. I'll wait until your meeting ends."
And so I followed Yi-gun to Seon Ga-hee's office.
Soon, he pointed to the director's door.
"Here it is."
Impressive—he navigated flawlessly on my second day.
Probably got summoned here often over the attire issue.
I gave a silent bow and reached for the door.
That was when it happened.
Creeeak.
The door opened on its own, and a familiar face—no, a masked one—emerged from inside.
"Mask......"
"Call me Committee Chair."
Right.
The HR Department's number two, 'Mask,' held the title of committee chair.
And her name was...... Huh? What was it?
Ah, I remembered.
Not her name, but why I couldn't recall it.
It was tied to her ability, which was...... What was it again?
Damn.
The more I tried to think of Mask, the faster my memories of her faded.
"Perfect timing, Employee Kim Jeongha. The director is inside."
Mask shifted her gaze to Yi-gun, scanning him up and down.
"Section Chief Yi-gun, be advised: appearing outside your department in civilian attire may result in referral to the Employee Review Committee."
Her tone was remarkably calm.
That clear, jade-like voice carried an unsettling weight.
"Ahem...... Noted."
Committee Chair Mask bowed slightly to me.
"I hope you have a productive conversation."
I returned the bow.
"Yes, Committee Chair."
"Please, go in."
She opened the door fully.
I entered the director's office with her.
Seon Ga-hee, her blue hair tied in a ponytail, looked up.
"Come in. I was wondering when you'd show."
She stood and approached me.
"So, how should we do this? Tell me the customs from your world, and I'll apologize accordingly."
Different worlds meant vastly different cultures.
Missteps happened.
Sometimes a sincere apology back home could ignite bigger fury here.
Seon Ga-hee's approach was eminently reasonable.
She glanced at Committee Chair Mask.
"Mask. I'm warning you upfront—don't interfere. This is between Kim Jeongha and me."
"......Understood."
Committee Chair Mask bowed, looking faintly surprised for some reason.
I spoke evenly.
"The way they do it in the director's world should suffice. I'm curious about it anyway."
Seon Ga-hee shook her head.
"No good. Where I'm from, you just kill anyone who wrongs you. Can't have you dying."
"......"
I rubbed my temple.
"Then......"
Korea's way.
I pictured her bowing her head in a standard apology—and suddenly grew curious.
Kasumi had offered to commit seppuku.
How far would Seon Ga-hee go?
As I pondered, a prickling sensation hit me from the side.
I turned to see Mask's gaze—emanating from the voids of her eyeholes—seeming to say:
Don't push too far.
But human nature is to want more what you're told not to do.
"In my world, there's a custom called dogeza. Have you heard of it?"