Chapter 35
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: 34. Team Battle
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How long had I been waiting in Im Yoo-jin's mansion?
Finally, the woman herself arrived at the mansion with her bodyguards.
"Good work. You can head back now."
"Yes, miss."
After sending the bodyguards away, Im Yoo-jin paused as she entered the mansion.
"Hmm."
It was understandable. I was sitting openly on the living room sofa, after all.
"You know, I've been targeted by villains' assassination attempts a few times, so I'm a bit sensitive about this sort of thing."
Ho. Yeah. Well, at her age, as the chairwoman of Cheonsan Group, it made sense.
"You don't exactly look like you came here to kill me. What's with the sofa?"
"Fair enough. I suppose I was too careless with a woman who's hired plenty of villains before."
No one knew what had happened to the villains she'd hired.
She'd probably handled them quietly behind the scenes.
"Who are you? I don't think I've seen you before."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Dahaka, the leader of the Black God Cult."
I greeted her cautiously in a nun-like manner, and Im Yoo-jin scanned me from head to toe.
"Dahaka... so the Black God Cult's leader is Japanese?"
"I'm Korean, for now."
Maybe I should've given my full name.
"Fine, whatever. Not important. So, why did you come to see me? Trying to blackmail me into funding the Black God Cult?"
"Blackmail? This is good for you too, miss."
"I have no intention of compromising with the Black God Cult."
The Black God Cult had a reputation as one of the worst among villains—pure scum.
"How about these?"
I pulled a few magic stones from my pocket.
Not artificially made ones, but pure magic stones created solely with my own power.
Courtesy of the adorable little dragon the author created. Made in Azidahaka. Made by Dragonny.
I took pride in what I'd made.
Im Yoo-jin took the magic stone I offered and examined it with a businesswoman's eye, then fetched a magic stone appraisal device to check it thoroughly.
And she was shocked.
"Magic stones? Where did you get these?"
She had to be wondering how magic stones of such high purity could exist.
"The purest magic stones in the world, ones you can't find anywhere else. Cheonsan Group is researching magic stones, right? But most of the supply from the association goes elsewhere, so you can't conduct independent research. Isn't that right?"
"Are you offering regular supplies?"
"If you provide what we need."
To survive based in Songdo, just plundering disobedient villains around us wouldn't cut it. We needed help on the level of Cheonsan Group.
I give her magic stones, and she supplies materials to keep Songdo alive.
Isn't that a win-win?
"Planning to overthrow this country?"
"Haha. What, because I'm Korean? Of course not. If we wanted to, the current Black God Cult could do it."
As I grinned, Im Yoo-jin stared at me intently.
A strange light flickered in her eyes.
The Eye of Truth. Im Yoo-jin's ability.
It could discern lies and true intentions.
Like a lie detector she could use anytime, but her version had zero margin for error.
In other words, she saw the truth from me.
And that the Black God Cult truly had the power to topple the country.
After staring at me for a long while, her pupils shook like there was an earthquake, but she soon composed herself.
"Then what exactly are you plotting?"
"We're gathering people back in Songdo. Don't you feel sorry for those abandoned by the government?"
"Why would the Black God Cult bother? Trying to clean up your image now? Weren't you the ones who attacked Hansung with Kim Jae-su?"
Hansung was where Im Yoo-jin's sister, Im Yoo-jeong, attended. Attacking there must have tanked the Black God Cult's standing with her even further.
I had no idea why that dead Kim Jae-su was still causing me so much trouble.
"Kim Jae-su acted alone. Not important anyway. Isn't this enough?"
I pulled out more magic stones.
Still not convinced? I kept pushing.
Im Yoo-jin's serious gaze softened just a bit, falling for my temptation.
"Not just some cult, then."
"Now that the original owner is back, we have to shed the cult image. Think of us as a warlord faction. China has them too—warlords from villains."
One of those was the Sin-affiliated warlord.
They eventually compromised with the Chinese Communist government, shifting from semi-independence to invading North Korea with their backing.
"So, you give me magic stones, and in return, I send supplies to the isolated zone."
"Just prepare them and contact me via this magic communicator, and I'll send a gate user."
I handed Im Yoo-jin a magic communicator used by the Black God Cult.
As long as we did business, she'd never betray me.
Her group came before patriotism or national interest.
The key now was whether she found a compromise point in our deal.
"Never thought I'd end up shaking hands with the Black God Cult."
Did that mean the deal was on?
"You see the potential in the magic stone business, right? That's what matters."
"So, no intention of showing your face?"
My face was fully covered by a veil, beyond even her truth-seeing eyes.
"Haha. My face is priceless. Very much so. Want to see it? Join the Black God Cult."
Not just anyone could see my face. Not even the executives knew it. Why would I?
"Can't join a group I don't know what they do yet. Fine. Deal's on. But only to that extent."
"Yes. Then I'll take my leave. These stones are a down payment. I'll request what we need via the communicator."
With that, I cautiously exited and took to the skies.
I'd been ready to threaten to sell the stones to rival companies if needed. But Im Yoo-jin turned out to have quite the greed.
Thinking of partnering with villains for the magic stone business. Well, she knew compromise was the smarter play.
No downside to not provoking someone who could turn Seoul into a sea of fire, plus gaining magic stones. Pure profit for her.
And with us in the shadows, we could preempt anyone targeting Cheonsan.
Tensions with China ramp up after the team battles, during the individual matches.
Team battles are domestic, but individuals include students from China and Japan. That's when clashes with Chinese hunters happen, and Choi Si-woo fights them.
Afterward, Choi Si-woo gains fame among Chinese hunters, marked as a threat. The Communist-backed hunter warlord tries to swallow Korea before it grows too strong by taking North Korea first.
Part of me wants to go to China alone and wreak havoc.
But I can't, since the future could change.
I don't know when individual season starts, but with groundwork laid bit by bit, it should be fine.
In Im Yoo-jin's mansion after Yoo Eun-ha vanished, Im Yoo-jin let out a ragged breath.
"W-Well held, Im Yoo-jin."
She took deep breaths as if she'd barely survived death.
Truth was, Yoo Eun-ha didn't know everything.
Im Yoo-jin's Eye of Truth didn't just detect lies. Unlike status appraisal, it clearly revealed a person's essence.
"N-No way... That Dahaka was Azidahaka itself."
Azidahaka hadn't caused chaos in Korea, but its rampage in neighboring China made it infamous there too.
Then it vanished, and the Black God Cult appeared. Who'd have thought its leader was Azidahaka.
Rumors—no, intel from China—said Azidahaka brought massacres, cannibalism, incitement, all sorts of disasters.
She'd casually accepted a proposal from that evil dragon and rejected the invitation to join the Black God Cult.
"Hah... hah."
Im Yoo-jin was unusually excited for once.
Whether that evil dragon exuded pheromones or not, was Im Yoo-jin some pervert who got sexually aroused by overwhelming fear?
Didn't matter right now.
She felt dampness in her panties.
Time for some alone time.
Day of the team battle. Arrived at Goryeo Academy.
Heard the rules explained again.
Just like described: capture the flag. Honestly, beating each other senseless would be simpler. Capture the flag? What, planning flag tug-of-war with monsters later? Villains just get crushed with DPS.
Anyway, since the academy head asked me personally, I'd play it speedy and clean.
"Whoa, Yoo Jin-seok's sister, Yoo Eun-ha."
"Oh, the famous lesbian."
"Choi Si-woo, one of the two Divine Sword Heroes, is here too. Wait, she's a girl?"
Who the hell spread rumors to Goryeo Academy?
Whoever it is, I'll separate their flesh from bone.
[Hansung Academy Class A Team 1 VS Goryeo Academy Class C Team 2]
Perfect, up against Goryeo Academy. Class C? Nothing to see.
I won't nerf myself to give the protagonist growth chances. Besides, Choi Si-woo and the heroines are plenty strong now.
I'll turn them into monsters later to make them even stronger.
Class C Team 2 is way below us. No need for Reina, Han Su-ji, or Choi Si-woo to hold back.
Healer Rosaria goes without saying.
Victory by stealing the flag or rendering all five opponents combat-ineffective.
"You can't lose to Hansung! Crush them, even if it's Class A!"
"Yoo Eun-ha! Don't lose! Give those Yankee bastards a smackdown!"
No, being under Viola doesn't make them Yankees.
Maybe influenced by Viola, but Goryeo students glared at us like they wanted to smash Hansung.
"Even without Instructor Viola, we stake Goryeo Academy's honor—we won't lose!"
Looks like Goryeo planned a real fight, not just flags.
What's the point then?
Original goal was knocking each other out. Flags probably added for weaklings and brainiacs.
The arena was a simulation lab.
A massive battlefield with compressed barriers via magic gear.
Way too big for just ten people.
"What do we do?"
"It's flag defense. We guard hard. Mid: Si-woo and Rosaria. Top: Han Su-ji. Bot: Reina."
Don't think of it like an AOS game.
Four defenders, one attacker among five. Breakthrough weakens defense.
"Why defend when we're better? Just smash through."
I want to, but Kim Young-hee told me to dominate overwhelmingly.
Calling me specifically means show my power.
Got to equip our Reina with a weapon, so this much is fine.
"No need to complicate. I scouted the enemy. Si-woo, your thoughts?"
"I'll leave it to you."
"Good. I'm jungling."
Plus, opponents had a decent strat.
Knowing they're weaker—or coincidence—they planned sequential breakthroughs.
Same as original against Choi Si-woo's team.
I knew their five combat styles inside out.
All five head to the forest first, ambushing before we link up.
So I stepped out solo to bait easily.
How many would bite? We'd see.