Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Time to Become the Villain
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In the middle of the gate, with red waves churning far in the distance, Go Yohan's solitary figure shuffling back to camp stood out like a sore thumb.
His silver-white hair and sky-blue eyes showed no trace of battle, and he wasn't even properly geared up—like he'd just stepped out for a stroll near home.
Murmur, murmur.
Yet his appearance had all five thousand players in the camp buzzing.
Pat, pat.
A group approached Go Yohan.
"You've returned."
Yu Baek of Baekgang.
"You must be tired."
Awe filled his eyes.
The others were the same.
'Sanctuary Alliance.'
They were the church's above-ground forces.
And then.
Swoosh.
Far off, separate from them, another camp had been set up by those who didn't mix.
"Did anyone enter the orc village?"
Go Yohan asked straight away.
"We checked based on the reports, but no. There wasn't anyone bold enough."
It wasn't because of Go Yohan's warning.
No one was reckless enough to strike directly at a village teeming with Red Orcs and even Black Orcs that dwarfed them.
"...And for now, Shield Guild is moving with us."
Shield meant Kim Cheonseok, who'd entered from Buyeo together.
"He's a bit rough around the edges, but a good man. If you'll allow it..."
"Bring them into Sanctuary. They have solid skills and grit."
Yu Baek's face lit up.
Many other players wanted to speak to Go Yohan too, but.
Munch, munch.
'What the hell did Greed do?'
They didn't dare approach him, merely eyeing Yu Baek enviously as he stuck by Go Yohan's side.
That was when.
Clank, clank.
The metallic sounds rang out again.
At one corner of this massive camp, the top brass had emerged.
Yu Baek and the Sanctuary Alliance members bowed their heads and stepped back.
The approaching shadows.
"......"
Go Yohan looked up at them with a faint smile.
It was a smile tinged with bitterness and warmth.
"Is it true?"
The man in golden armor who approached spoke.
"...You're talking like my father."
"I asked if it's true."
Over ten years' age difference.
And the man all but certain to lead Divinity one day.
"You took on all of them alone? Took down that many Red Orcs?"
Golden Knight, Go Woojin.
He was the captain of Divinity's 1st Raid Team.
"......"
"Any injuries?"
"None."
Only then did relief soften Go Woojin's face.
Clench.
But his fists trembled.
From what Yu Baek had said, upon hearing of Go Yohan, he'd tried to lead his forces straight to him.
If the Sanctuary Alliance led by Yu Baek and the Divinity-led coalition hadn't stopped him.
"This isn't the place to talk. Got any water?"
Even at Go Yohan's words, Go Woojin's expression didn't ease.
He spoke in a heavy tone.
"Let's go to our tent."
*
*
*
Go Woojin was a face Go Yohan hadn't seen in ages.
Their last meeting at the Black Gate had been a mere glimpse.
He hadn't seen him properly since Go Yohan had gone into seclusion three years ago.
"Tea? Or cola if you want."
He was like a big brother he hadn't met in forever.
At the mention of cola, Go Yohan smiled unwittingly.
"I'm not a kid."
"I know. You're over twenty now."
Unlike his stern exterior, Go Woojin's demeanor had softened.
This was his true self.
"......"
Seated, Go Woojin grew grave again.
"Hard to believe. Even hearing it from Minji."
"......"
"Did the Guild Master... know?"
Go Yohan shook his head.
He might have suspected, but Go Yohan had never shown it directly.
"Why... "
Go Woojin said.
"Why hide it?"
Truth be told, Go Woojin was probably the most confused.
He'd been shocked enough that Go Yohan was the key player in the last Black Gate raid, but now word was he'd cut down more enemies in this Black Gate than all the guild coalitions combined.
And that was just the start.
"What the... since when?"
The Sanctuary Alliance guilds treating Go Yohan like a god was another blow.
These were groups that had once rivaled Divinity, yet they followed Go Woojin cautiously without a hint of rebellion.
"Sigh. I can't wrap my head around it."
Go Woojin said.
Why hide his power? Why build a faction? What was he really up to?
And.
"Why exclude Divinity from all of it... "
Had he shut them out completely?
It wasn't about greed.
Go Yohan belonged to Divinity too—he could've used that power.
Especially since what he wanted involved saving as many people as possible.
"If I'd known, I'd have given everything to support you."
Saying he'd hand it all over to a mere twenty-year-old.
"That's why."
Go Yohan said, rising.
"Divinity's too good a place, and my brother and parents are too good people."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm not a good fit."
"What... "
Go Woojin rose too, but Go Yohan shook his head.
"I won't match what you or my parents think. And... "
Clench.
"You'll find out this time."
"Yohan."
"I've been truly grateful all this time."
His farewell-like demeanor made Go Woojin widen his eyes.
But by then, Go Yohan had already stepped out of the tent.
"Sigh."
Left alone, Go Woojin couldn't comprehend it.
How had that young Go Yohan gained such power and built a faction?
And what was this about Goldian or whatever?
'What number one in Korea?'
Even with the name Divinity, he couldn't grasp or do a thing.
After the last Black Gate incident, Mother had grown quieter.
And Guild Master Father Go Jaehan had called Go Woojin aside alone.
'What he's trying to do is beyond what we can handle.'
A tone like he knew something.
'Just.'
And he'd urged.
'Do your best not to hinder the path he's chosen.'
Go Woojin steeled himself.
He might lack brains, but he always had his stubborn resolve.
"Go ahead. Whatever it is."
Divinity—no, his family.
"Will stand by you to the end."
*
*
*
Go Yohan poured bottled water to wash up roughly and ate the food prepared by the Sanctuary Alliance.
"Tastes good, I bet."
The chef was Kim Cheonseok from Shield.
"Anyway, it's kinda weird."
As Go Yohan wolfed it down and rested, Kim Cheonseok spoke.
"Your power, the way Yu and the other guild masters treat you."
Kim Cheonseok said.
"More than that, you seem like a soldier."
Was this his way of showing thanks?
Thanks to him, Shield had survived, and now they could claim a spot here.
"I was deployed overseas once. But you move like you've spent decades in the field."
"Bro, quit bugging him and come here."
"Got it. Just feel bad for him."
As Kim Cheonseok was dragged off by Yu Baek, he added.
"He's twenty, right? Wonder what it'd take to end up like that. Kinda sad..."
Not done, he tossed one more as he left.
"And stay away from those guys. Some crime syndicate types? Even if they stepped up for the country, quality might be iffy."
The group he pointed to had pitched tents off to the side.
Guilds not easy to hear about above ground, but infamous in the shadows.
"Still, those guys worked hard too."
Even Kim Cheonseok and most of Sanctuary probably didn't know.
Only a few zealots among the faithful would.
'Black Crown.'
Same church affiliation, Black Crown.
Just then, Go Yohan opened his closed eyes and turned his gaze.
Following.
"Hojo Guild's back!"
The sentries shouted.
A group of players was rushing desperately toward the camp.
They were the ones sent to scout before Go Yohan arrived.
The leadership mobilized at their return, and Go Yohan stood too.
'......'
A bad feeling.
But something bound to happen eventually.
"One orc village is completely empty."
The Hojo Guild players who'd scouted reported.
"About three hundred Red Orcs, and around ten we suspect are Black Orcs."
"Ooh!"
The listening players lit up.
That number was plenty doable with even a third of their current forces.
Though crushed by Sanctuary and Divinity.
Flicker.
Greed sparked in the players' eyes.
"Whether it's their storehouse or what, we spotted a ton of items."
"Oooh!"
Items to boot.
On the way here, players had hunted and reaped rewards.
Level-ups incomparable to other gates, plus rare drops now and then.
Gulp.
All of them Rare-grade at least.
Whatever grumbling about jaws or whatever, that was for later—if plain Rares, each fetched thousands, even tens of millions.
Moreover.
'Magic stones.'
The stones from slain monsters were impressive too.
From ogres and trolls that weren't ordinary, appraisals said they were worth several times more.
The greed of players suppressed by the top brass till now.
"Let's do it."
Was rising.
"If you won't, we'll go ourselves."
A few guilds had already colluded and piped up.
"Hold on."
From the center of the camp, amid the commotion, Go Yohan's voice cut through.
"Everyone, back off."
Now.
"W-what?"
It was time to play the villain.