Chapter 156
Chapter 156
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: The Messenger's Demise
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[You have acquired Divine Power.]
It was a voice I hadn't heard in a truly long time.
'What a joke.'
A hollow laugh escaped me.
If it was divinity, I could already wield it.
And this...
'It's not the goddess's voice.'
That was when it happened.
Pahaa!
The body of Shin Min-gyu, whose neck had been snapped and breath cut off, began to dissolve into dust and scatter.
In that instant.
Kwaduk!
Go Yohan's hand clawed at the empty air once more.
The moment the pure white powder tore apart again.
-Kuwaaaah!
A horrific scream echoed through the air.
-You'll... regret... this!
A voice mixed with curses and resentment—Shin Min-gyu's—soon faded away.
Paat!
The surrounding world began to distort and shatter.
Kwaaaang!
And finally, when the world returned.
"Huhk, heuk."
"A-Are you... alright...?"
Kim Cheon-seok and Yu Baek were also freed from the pressure and able to open their mouths.
"I'm fine."
Despite having just fought Shin Min-gyu, Go Yohan acted as if nothing had happened. He reverted the Great Sin to its original form and scratched his head.
"Shin Min-gyu..."
They seemed unable to believe that Shin Min-gyu had appeared.
"What in the world was that power...?"
The unrealistic power that Shin Min-gyu had displayed.
Kim Cheon-seok and Yu Baek had heard it too.
'I have come to convey the words of the gods.'
That Shin Min-gyu had claimed to be a messenger of the gods.
'This is the power granted to me by those divine beings.'
That the power had been given by entities called gods.
'Was that truly... the power of gods?'
Even without words, what Shin Min-gyu had shown was undoubtedly something divine, enough to be called as much.
Gulp.
They couldn't easily speak.
Even if Go Yohan's appearance was the same as usual, they could clearly sense the displeasure lurking beneath it.
"Is Shin Min-gyu... dead?"
Kim Cheon-seok was the first to speak.
They had clearly seen his neck break and his body turn to dust and vanish.
But for some reason, they couldn't feel certain that he was dead.
It was just like...
"No."
The sight of those without sins hunting demons.
In other words...
"He won't be able to use one arm properly, but he'll show up alive and well."
Immortality.
"...How could..."
An incomprehensible situation.
There was only one word that came to mind.
'Demon.'
But was it really a demon?
That holy and grand-seeming power, the undeniable wings of light on his back—if that was truly a demon...
"I know you have many questions, but you'll learn in time."
At that moment, both Kim Cheon-seok and Yu Baek could be certain.
'The Captain has changed somehow.'
Go Yohan's change.
"Understood."
Yu Baek stepped forward, smartphone in hand, and spoke.
"Indeed, we can't get through."
The pillars of light in the distance had vanished, but contact with some of the remaining shrines had also been cut off.
The Sanctuary Union was vast, and since it was a low-priority organization, most seemed to still be intact, but they wouldn't be of much help.
"We'll handle the Sanctuary Union."
Yu Baek said.
"There probably aren't more like Shin Min-gyu. If they're just player-level..."
Even without using skills, they could win.
And if they gathered the union like that, it might lend even a little strength to Go Yohan.
"Will you come with us? Or do you have plans to head somewhere?"
The church's limbs—no, even its torso—were all restrained.
But as long as Go Yohan, the head, remained, they could manage somehow. It was time to ask where to start unbinding.
"Hmm."
That was when it happened.
Ripple.
At the appearance of the shadow, Yu Baek and Kim Cheon-seok immediately reached for their sword hilts but soon let go.
It was because of the tension after the fierce battle, but this aura was definitely not an enemy's.
Rather, at this moment, it was the most trustworthy and helpful presence of all.
"Seung-ah."
It was Yoon Seung-ah.
The appearing Yoon Seung-ah gave a small nod and spoke.
"Our key stronghold is trapped in a barrier, but there are no issues."
No issues?
"No way..."
In that instant, something flashed through Yu Baek and Kim Cheon-seok's minds.
"Did you foresee this situation?"
With Go Yohan and the Apostles vanishing, and new enemies appearing.
"Of course."
Go Yohan said.
"I was worrying about how to draw them out, and now they've finally shown themselves, haven't they?"
Go Yohan had definitely said that when facing Shin Min-gyu.
-Now you finally reveal yourself.
Then it was fine.
"Leave the Sanctuary Union to us."
Just like before, everything would flow according to Go Yohan's desired direction.
"What about the guy?"
Go Yohan said toward Yoon Seung-ah.
"He'll be attacked soon."
*
*
*
In a penthouse worth 20 billion won, the living room overlooking the Han River clear as day was filled with all sorts of computers and cutting-edge equipment.
Kkaduk.
The one sitting in the plush chair, hat on backward, was anxiously biting his nails.
"Damn it!"
It had quieted down now, but he had seen the pillars of light that had shot up across South Korea, including Seoul, just moments ago.
If it had been one or two, he might not have been sure, but seeing that many pillars of light, he was certain.
"Damn...!"
They were attacks.
Pillars of light rising from guilds belonging to the Holy Alliance.
From Taehan and Sanctuary Union's Seoul guild houses and such.
This was an attack on his long-time idol, Go Yohan.
"......"
Even racking his brains while biting his nails yielded no answers.
Even what he was best at was blocked.
[Account suspended.]
Red letters appeared on the computer screen.
Tadadadak.
Even creating new accounts repeatedly was the same.
Bypassing the system, using pre-made accounts, this and that...
[Access denied.]
Only red screens popped up.
This was no ordinary occurrence.
"Da...mn."
It meant the locations were pinpointed.
A large other screen showed CCTV footage from various places.
No major changes yet.
'Trapped.'
He was certain he had trapped himself.
He had preparations to escape anytime, but could he actually escape?
Kkaduk.
The moment he stepped out of the house now, wouldn't his head roll?
"The security system is working fine..."
The security system, into which he had invested 80% of the money he earned for this day, was still operational.
But the thought that enemies could burst in at any moment only heightened his anxiety.
He cherished his life and was afraid.
But...
'That person... hyungnim is...'
At this moment, the one at the center worried him more.
His savior and idol.
"Yo-han... hyungnim..."
Go Yohan.
That was when it happened.
Click.
Suddenly, one of the CCTV screens went black.
And in the next instant.
Swipe.
Shadows that appeared from somewhere were glaring at the CCTV camera.
Click.
Another screen went black.
*
*
*
A penthouse worth 20 billion won—a place he could never have dreamed of originally—but there was a reason he had bought it with a huge sum.
"Ah..."
The one with the hat on backward rushed to the wall and reached out, revealing buttons in a hologram.
He entered the number, scanned his fingerprint, scanned his iris.
Not enough with that; after the gate appeared, through advanced magic engineering, it even verified the mana signature unique to each lifeform before.
Kkiiik.
The door opened.
Rushing inside, there too were several computers, daily necessities enough to last a year, a luxury bed, and the like prepared.
Panic room.
Advertised as survivable even in a nuclear war, able to withstand a few days in an A-rank gate break.
Kkaduk.
But even entering this place, his anxiety remained.
Click, click, chiijik.
Even here, the connected CCTV screens began to go black one by one.
And he spotted another one.
"That's...!"
Blood.
In another screen, blood was pooling like a puddle.
And then.
Flash.
Light began to flicker.
"......?"
Penthouse security!
Prioritizing security in purchase, player-composed security firm guarded the entire building.
Indeed, their uniforms seemed to belong to the security firm.
Chwaaak.
But what sprayed red blood across the screen was not the black shadows thought to be enemies—it was a security firm employee.
"Aaak..."
The screens began to go black.
And then.
Click.
The just-blackened CCTV screen was the elevator heading to the penthouse.
Wooong.
"Ah..."
Could he hold out?
Even with mana devices effective against players everywhere, could they block those who sliced through security firm employees in a single strike?
No, more than that.
"...Aah..."
Those were definitely enemies here to face Go Yohan.
Could facilities he invested in block forces powerful enough to confront Go Yohan?
Smartphone and computers were dead.
"Hyungnim..."
He covered his eyes and ears, trembling.
"Hyungnim..."
If only he could see him at least once more.
"Please..."
A choked sound leaked through his plugged ears.
"I wanted to say... thank you..."
Please let this moment pass.
Please let him survive.
That was when it happened.
Kwaaaang!
A massive explosion rang out.
"......!"
Lifting his face buried in his knees in haste, the security system was pouring out red light.
It was operating—and also destroyed.
"Uh. Euup.... Euueup..."
His face turned blue, unable to say a word.
Kwaaaang!
Another explosion resounded.
He put on headphones and blasted music.
He closed his eyes and buried his face in his knees again.
If he died without seeing or hearing anything, it would be a mercy.
'Please. Please.'
He didn't want pain anymore.
If ending it, in one blow.
Kwaaaang!
An explosion piercing through max-volume headphones.
He could be certain.
'It can block A-rank gates! Nuclear bombs can't pierce it!'
These frauds.
The panic room door must have blown open.
Was he dying now?
That was when it happened.
Tok, tok.
Someone gently tapped his head.
'No. I won't look.'
Terrified, he didn't lift his head.
Tok, tududuk.
The tapping continued.
Even then, refusing to lift his head.
Hup!
His head was forcibly grabbed and lifted.
And the face hidden under the hat seemed to shift dozens of times in an instant.
"...Hyu..."
There was an unbelievable face.
"Hyuuuungniiiim!"
It was Go Yohan, with silver-white hair and sky-blue eyes.
"This is the first time seeing you like this. You're Yongyong, right?"