Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Swift Resolution
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Everything had to be handled with lightning speed.
Once the sword was drawn, no one could exploit any gaps.
A terrorist attack in South Korea.
-Min Jun-hyuk has a confession from Cha Seong-gyun!
Min Jun-hyuk immediately went public with an announcement to the nation.
The whole world was watching.
-This terrorist act was planned by Japan's Kishin Guild, led by Jin Ei, along with certain members of South Korea's National Assembly!
It was tantamount to staking his political career on mere testimony.
Especially since it was a massive terror plot targeting key figures like the president, National Assembly members, major guild masters, and foreign association heads.
And naming Japan, of all places, where tensions had long been simmering?
Many worried it was a gamble that could bring everything crashing down if it went wrong.
-The Kishin Guild's terrorist actions have already been confirmed.
But what if Japan's Prime Minister, currently in Korea, stepped forward to acknowledge it himself?
The narrative would veer in an entirely different direction.
-It was orchestrated by the far-right Kishin Guild, and we have no intention of letting it slide. The Kishin Guild has already been subdued by the Takeda Guild.
Everything had unfolded with ruthless efficiency.
-All evidence has been secured.
It was a relentless barrage of shocks.
When was the last time a terror attack of this scale had occurred?
And for a national leader to nearly become a victim of a bombing?
The perpetrators behind it had all been obliterated.
-Furthermore!
Japan's Prime Minister spoke alongside Min Jun-hyuk.
-After deep discussions, we plan to install a warp gate in Tokyo! -This is not a matter of national dispute. It was the deviation of individuals, and moreover, the machinations of demons.
And with that, the incident was resolved.
“Daaaanjang!”
As Kim Sion appeared with Yoon Seung-ah, she immediately leaped toward Go Yohan.
She rubbed her face against him like a puppy.
It was as if she were begging for a head pat.
“Um, I...”
“You did well.”
Go Yohan stroked her head.
“Hehe!”
Kim Sion grinned like a puppy for real.
It was hard to believe this was the same person who had razed the Kishin Guild to the ground just hours ago.
“Oh, right. That one was pretty strong, huh?”
Kim Sion pulled back and said.
“Demon contractor.”
He had already pieced it together while investigating Kishin.
But damn it, they wouldn't reveal their true forms without extreme measures.
That was what made them so tricky.
“Yeah.”
Hiding their presence, biding their time like dormant bombs ready to detonate at crucial moments.
No one knew how many such time bombs were lurking in the world.
“Cockroaches, the lot of them. Stomp 'em dead, and more crawl out.”
Even with the Black Mirror monitoring parts of the world, they kept emerging.
“......”
Of course.
Did anyone really think beings capable of destroying the world would rely solely on brute force?
They were demon spawn.
Growing silently in the shadows until they could swallow the world whole.
“Captain, that's what I wanted to discuss.”
Yoon Seung-ah stepped forward quietly.
“What is it?”
“I'd like to expedite construction of the Magic Tower.”
Magic Tower.
The apostles' eyes lit up at the name.
The church had long prepared plans to counter demons.
The Magic Tower was one of the top priorities, alongside the Temple.
But it required Go Yohan's approval.
“I've already cleared it with Min Jun-hyuk.”
Permission had been granted to maximize its influence within South Korea for the year.
“With the Magic Tower in place, at least in Korea, it'll be much easier to detect demon contractors.”
The time had finally come.
“Approved.”
Go Yohan's permission was granted once more.
*
*
*
The Magic Tower, like the Temple, carried multiple meanings.
When the apostles planned the church.
They envisioned it as a 'sanctuary.'
An absolute domain impervious to any assault or invasion.
While designing its underground levels, Dwarven Ironclad had joined, making it a reality.
Of course, mere superficial changes wouldn't warrant mention.
This was about creating an entirely new 'world.'
But the Magic Tower was different.
A 'hub.'
Establishing the center of this world.
A plan to protect it more securely through that.
With Go Yohan here, South Korea had already become the center of this Earth.
The Magic Tower would solidify that, extending its magical influence.
“The right call.”
Ironclad approached and said.
“No need to hesitate.”
Go Yohan sat before him.
The church was under reconstruction, but its exterior and orphanage remained intact.
All made possible through magic.
“Should've done it sooner.”
Ironclad said.
A smirk.
Go Yohan twisted his lips.
It was a sneer.
“My apologies.”
It wasn't hard to understand.
It was Trabania's sin as well.
“They pushed you away hard.”
Before the war with demons escalated into a full threat.
'Crazy bastard!'
Truth be told, Ironclad knew.
He had no right to speak to Go Yohan that way.
Even if it wasn't just him.
Back then.
“The world shunned you.”
Everyone had strained to push Go Yohan aside.
But time passed, and they realized.
He should have been at the center.
“This place must not become another Trabania.”
“......”
“So don't doubt it. And so what if it's authoritarian or arbitrary?”
Ironclad said.
“We've seen what happens to those who whine about preferring death over subjugation.”
They had prayed.
They begged.
Because vanishing wouldn't just be them alone.
Because it was their families slaughtered by demons.
They even begged to be ruled.
When those pleas went unanswered, they grasped the demons' hands.
“I'm not sure yet.”
Go Yohan said.
“It's worthwhile, sometimes.”
“......”
“And it's not about saving the world or anything noble like that.”
Go Yohan continued.
“I've already lost all qualifications for that.”
“...No.”
“I'll just do what I can, as far as my heart leads me.”
“That is...”
Ironclad said.
“That is enough.”
Quietly.
The two, bound by ties from Trabania, sat there.
*
*
*
The Magic Tower project required an immense amount of resources.
Independent land.
“Why not just declare it?”
“Declare what?”
“This is an independent nation now. If you're pissed, come at us!”
Amusingly.
“Not a bad idea.”
One of the plans actually involved exactly that.
If Go Yohan stepped up and declared it now, total chaos would ensue.
But what could they do?
“It'd be a massive uproar.”
No army or force could stop it.
Still, chaos had to be minimized.
“Too much disorder gives demons openings to infiltrate.”
“Tch.”
“At least on this land, we need to follow some procedures. Enough for people to accept it.”
Human negative emotions couldn't be allowed to stir them.
Especially since South Korea was the strongest link to the demon realm.
“What about Russia?”
Ivan had actually offered Go Yohan a portion of Russian land.
And not just them.
Several countries had signaled they'd provide independent territory if desired.
Those who knew how immense a safeguard Go Yohan represented.
“Rejected.”
Lee Ha-yeon said.
“As you know, this plan hinges on this land.”
South Korea.
And.
“The church grounds aren't just any land anymore, right?”
The apostles had taken root here, and the followers had grown.
If it were just time and resources, relocation would be simple.
“But after so long here, the worldlines have tangled.”
It was Go Yohan.
“This is the center.”
By spending time here and doing all he had, it had truly become vital ground.
Demons, divinity, mana.
These operated on dimensions beyond players or gates.
They required intricate conceptual notions ordinary people couldn't fathom.
Like human negative emotions, for instance.
They fueled demonic energy for demons, weaving black threads that connected to the demon realm and took form.
Necessary in moderation, but unchecked, they became threats.
Symbolism and faith worked similarly.
For these complex reasons, this land couldn't be abandoned.
“There are plenty of ways.”
There were, indeed.
“The question is which method to choose, and which benefits this war most.”
Go Yohan said, propping his chin.
“Something undeniably visible would help.”
“Exactly! The Temple! Build the Temple!”
Ironclad seized the moment.
“Make it grand and massive!”
Not bad, but.
“Rejected.”
This time, Go Yohan shot it down.
“......”
There was a reason.
The Temple from the S-rank gate.
“...A Temple on this land won't carry much symbolism. Seems like someone's already claimed that ground.”
The apostles' expressions darkened.
Investigations had long been underway under Go Yohan's orders.
“And the Magic Tower needs more than that.”
Land and resources.
Those were plentiful.
“What's absolutely essential are mages.”
Of course, Yoon Seung-ah was at the church.
“One Yoon Seung-ah isn't enough?”
“The reason I haven't approved the Magic Tower until now is exactly that. She can't do it alone. And her magic isn't something she can teach others.”
Ah, it might be possible.
If there was another child with magical talent coveted by an archdemon.
That child might somehow learn Yoon Seung-ah's magic.
“On that note...”
Then Ironclad spoke up again.
“I think there's a way.”