Chapter 207
Translator: penny
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: Unexpected Scout
The caretakers moved swiftly, with Yun Seung-ah and Yu Se-hwa restoring everything as if nothing had happened here.
"I've heard that story."
Go Yohan and Cheol Jung-bae walked together for the first time in a while.
Cheol Jung-bae spoke first.
"About the 'anomalies' appearing in Babel."
Babel's anomalies.
"Even though Babel is under the World Tree's authority, it hasn't reached the upper levels yet, right?"
Go Yohan nodded.
"Floors 76 and above are still in flux."
It was as if the world itself was evolving—the upper floors were still changing, rejecting the World Tree's touch.
It had started with the collision of countless gates, but the aftermath swirled with a force that no human, not even a god, could control.
"There..."
Cheol Jung-bae stopped and said.
"I've heard traces of Travania have been found there."
The changes unfolding in the upper floors, under Yu Se-hwa's subtle influence.
"Does that mean this Sword Soul, the holy sword... is due to that influence?"
And.
"No."
Go Yohan replied.
"Travianian elements are felt in the phenomena at Babel's highest floors right now, but that's just acceleration."
There had been a thought Go Yohan had heard long ago.
'How does the goddess's blessing exist here?'
The thing called the system.
And.
'The me who was Michael.'
Himself, who had been Travania's Michael.
Even if Go Yohan had opened the gates to the demon world, something from Travania had already seeped into this world.
"The upper floors' changes and the original changes are intertwining to create something massive."
Go Yohan said.
"So, prepare yourselves."
Cheol Jung-bae nodded heavily.
"I plan to climb Babel as well."
"......"
"What you've given me is more than enough, but I believe exploring this turbulent world will allow me to grow further."
Cheol Jung-bae.
"I'm no longer just a dwarf or the chieftain of the Brown Beard clan—I'm the Dwarven Cheol Jung-bae."
"Is that so."
"I'll climb to floor 50. No need to worry."
He still wasn't a knight.
"I plan to ascend quickly so it doesn't interfere with other matters."
Go Yohan nodded and continued forward.
"Then, see you at floor 50."
"I'll hurry."
By the time he parted from Cheol Jung-bae, the shockwaves from the incident here had already been completely erased.
"Seung-ah."
"Yes, Captain."
Yun Seung-ah appeared at Go Yohan's call and stood beside him.
"If a holy sword was found here, movements outside will start soon too. I'll be tied to Babel for a while, so can I leave the outside to you?"
And.
"Of course."
Her response came without a hint of hesitation.
She had been in a childish spat with Yu Se-hwa, but she clearly separated work from personal matters.
"I'll investigate all traces of Travania or any anomalies that can't be explained ordinarily."
"I'm counting on you."
Yun Seung-ah vanished into the shadows.
With few pieces he could move right now, Yun Seung-ah was one of Go Yohan's best cards.
And.
"Se-hwa."
Rustle—the falling petals transformed into Yu Se-hwa.
"We need to investigate every floor."
"I've already started."
"You know what to look for, right?"
"......"
Yu Se-hwa didn't answer.
And.
"I know."
The reply came belatedly.
"The manifestation of a holy sword means those bystanders and riffraff might show up."
Travania.
Yu Se-hwa gestured with her body and moved forward.
"Honestly, I still don't get it. About that goddess you've been searching for so desperately."
She turned her head to gauge Go Yohan's reaction, but there was none.
To him, it was far too familiar a topic from the start.
"To say it again, I know nothing about that goddess as a deity. As a Travanian divinity."
Yu Se-hwa.
She said.
"Even after interacting with so many gods from Travania."
"......"
That was the key point.
Travania wasn't home to just the goddess and the World Tree.
"I'll search for traces of those betrayers who plunged Travania into chaos and sold out the world."
Leaving those words, Yu Se-hwa glanced at Go Yohan as she prepared to leave.
"And you?"
"I'll keep climbing."
Nod.
*
*
*
On floor 10, the name Joseph had already climbed past the midpoint on the 1st floor ranking stone, securing a spot quite high up.
-Joseph? Who's Joseph?
-Is there a ranker named Joseph you know?
Now it was at the level where people were talking about him regularly.
And.
-I hear it's that guy?
-That guy?
-The black-haired swordsman.
-Ah!
Speculation about his identity was starting too.
-Black-haired swordsmen aren't just one or two! Most Koreans have black hair, you lunatic!
-No, you know, the Goblin Slayer.
Goblin Slayer.
-The one who massacred a whole goblin village barehanded?
-That's the level to be a rising ranker, right? No one even knows who he is, and he wasn't around back then either.
-Does that make sense? That was so long ago, and now he's on floor 10 already...
-Exactly. That's why it has to be someone with that kind of impact.
For now, speculation about his true identity was all over the place.
In the midst of that, on floor 10.
"You're Joseph, right?"
A group approached Go Yohan, surrounding him as they spoke.
"......"
He had already been asked this several times while climbing to floor 10.
It was because his sealed mana made his hair even darker than a typical Korean's.
Even transformed, his striking features and unique aura drew attention.
"No answer? Guess that means you really are."
"Spotted on floor 8 just the other day, and now floor 10. Monsters really are monsters."
At their words.
"May I pass?"
The moment Go Yohan responded.
"Ah, don't misunderstand. We're not here to hassle you or pick a fight. This is just..."
He reached into his vest pocket, pulled something out, and held it up before Go Yohan's eyes.
It was a business card.
"Not even flinching at this. You reacted, so you're the real deal. Anyway."
Business card.
"It's a scouting offer."
A scout.
Go Yohan looked at the man's face.
There had been people trying to talk to him on the way up, but this was the first scouting proposal.
No.
'Was there one before?'
As far as he remembered, no.
It felt strangely novel.
Long, long ago.
-Wanna join the Dragon Slayer Knights?
Excluding what happened in Travania.
"I know you'll say no or that you expected it. But hear me out."
As if reading Go Yohan's mind, the man said.
"You'll be tempted once you hear it."
"......?"
"You know?"
Glancing around, the man leaned in and whispered quietly.
"Our guild master is from Shin Sung Middle School. You get what that means, right?"
"......?"
*
*
*
Go Yohan moved along with the group.
Babel's floor 10 definitely felt different from the others.
Up to floor 5, it felt fairly organized, but floor 10 still had a chaotic vibe.
Cities were being built, but only the official ones managed by Babel—no further expansion.
"Even as a rising rookie, you can't ignore the name Shin Sung Middle School."
The man walking beside Go Yohan.
An Mun-cheol said.
"The Babel visitors are mostly Korean anyway, and for Koreans..."
He grinned.
"No Korean doesn't know Shin Sung."
Shin Sung Middle School.
One might think it's just a middle school, but to Koreans.
No, even worldwide, its reputation was immensely high.
The name itself included Seongshin, Korea's top guild, and the foundation it belonged to was tied to the Holy Guild and its affiliates.
Elite of elites.
And that meant.
"Our guild master and Go Yohan..."
An Mun-cheol mentioned the name, then quickly checked his surroundings.
"Go Yohan, the great savior, are alumni. That's what I'm saying."
"The great savior?"
An Mun-cheol frowned at Go Yohan's words.
"What, got a problem with that, newbie?"
"I haven't said I'd join yet."
"Hah, look at this punk mouthing off. Even after hearing Shin Sung? Trying to drive up your price? Fine."
But a smile spread across An Mun-cheol's lips.
"But one thing—no badmouthing the great savior, Go Yohan-nim."
"......"
"If not for him, Korea would've collapsed flat, and the world would've been devoured by those demons by now."
Go Yohan considered clenching his fist for a moment.
But he relaxed at the mention of demons.
"He and the knights called Shins are the most revered figures in today's world. Anyway, that's not the point."
An Mun-cheol stopped and said.
"The point is, once you join us here, you won't want to leave."
"Forcing me to join?"
"No, no—you'll be begging to join."
"......?"
"Why?"
The flush on An Mun-cheol's face showed how excited he was right now.
"Because our guild master isn't just any alumni of Shin Sung or the savior."
"What do you..."
He pointed at the signboard with his finger.
-Triad.
"Our guild master is Go Yohan-nim's classmate!"
That was when.
"What's all this commotion?"
A sharply dressed man and his entourage emerged from the building.
"Guild master! You're here?"
"Mun-cheol?"
"I made a big catch. You know that noisy rising rookie on floor 1 lately? Joseph."
"And...?"
"I brought him here. Introduce yourself, newbie!"
An Mun-cheol reached to pat Go Yohan's back as he spoke.
"This is Yi Geon-hu of Triad!"