Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Gwangju Black Gate
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The level of the Sacred Order's raid teams was certainly high.
"They're at a level where they could hold their own even in world rankings."
They simply hadn't revealed their true potential yet, and hadn't had the opportunity to do so.
If the conditions were met, they seemed like they could truly soar.
The day Go Yohan had visited the Sacred Order.
"Sacred Order raided?"
A few articles like that had popped up.
Not only had Go Yohan been spotted for the first time at the Sacred Guild House, but a massive hole had been punched through what was reputed to be the safest building in South Korea.
"How was it?"
Lee Jae-kyung asked curiously.
Go Yohan had never properly seen the Sacred Order's full strength before, so he was interested in his assessment.
"Not bad?"
"Right?"
Having been with the Sacred Order for so long, Lee Jae-kyung's voice brimmed with pride at Go Yohan's words.
"But that's it."
Go Yohan said, stretching.
"Each raid team handling one Triangular Demon. About that much."
"Hmm."
"If your brother leads First Raid and combines with Second and Third, they might handle a Quadrangular one? Assuming they can fight at full strength, of course."
Even so.
"Let's support them. Since it's come to this, out in the open."
Lee Jae-kyung's eyes widened at Go Yohan's words.
"You're serious?"
"...Who knows. But I won't regret it."
Up until now, Go Yohan had pathologically hated any involvement or connection with the Sacred Order.
'This is the day.'
But he seemed to have finally realized it.
No matter how much he pushed them away, he couldn't keep the Sacred Order at bay.
"They're strong."
His blood kin weren't so weak that Go Yohan would underestimate them.
"That's not all. Anyway... it's not about giving them a chance so much as trusting them."
Lee Jae-kyung nodded eagerly.
"You've thought it through well."
He knew why Go Yohan had tried so hard to push the Sacred Order away.
'He doesn't want them becoming targets.'
What Go Yohan had to face were those damned demons.
From Lee Jae-kyung's experience facing demons alongside Go Yohan, he knew they would pull every dirty trick to bring him down.
At that moment.
'The Sacred Order could become a weakness.'
The Sacred Order with his blood kin could become a weakness.
That's why he tried to cut them off and push them away.
'But that's not the only reason.'
There was an even more important one.
"They won't get hurt."
"What's that out of the blue?"
The path Go Yohan had to walk was ruthless and harsh.
Perhaps.
'Not just demons.'
Everything could become an enemy.
If, in the midst of that, the Sacred Order betrayed him, Go Yohan would suffer a wound that would be hard to heal.
'If it comes to that.'
Lee Jae-kyung bore some responsibility for urging Go Yohan.
'I'll take responsibility.'
He was already prepared for that.
Rustle.
Go Yohan eyed Lee Jae-kyung with half-lidded eyes.
"Oh, Han Executive Director said to pass on a message."
"......!"
"He said your contact changed and he couldn't reach you."
"No way...."
That was when.
Bzzz.
Lee Jae-kyung's phone vibrated softly.
-Long time no talk?
It wasn't a saved number, but he knew who it was.
"You have to take responsibility, right?"
"Aaaah!"
Lee Jae-kyung freaked out like he had PTSD.
Vmmm.
Then, a voice echoed in both their minds.
It was better news than if Shin Su-kyung had returned.
-A Black Gate has opened near Gwangju.
"......"
Go Yohan's eyes darkened.
"......Something's off."
Whenever a Black Gate had opened before, the Goddess had always warned him.
But now, even though one had already opened, there was no warning at all.
-It was a regular gate that mutated into a Black Gate.
Along with the voice.
Shimmer.
Shadows rippled.
"Three guilds got caught up, and guilds for support entered immediately."
"Don't move rashly."
Go Yohan frowned.
"What's the situation?"
"......They say the gate closed."
Something was definitely wrong.
"I'm heading there. And when did you get back?"
Yun Seung-ah, who had revealed herself at Go Yohan's words, gave a small smile.
"Just arrived."
*
*
*
A Black Gate appeared in Gwangju without warning.
It was an unprecedented case of a regular gate turning into a Black Gate, and three nearby gates merged, dragging in three guilds at once.
After that.
"It's called Geo Guild."
The nearest Geo Guild had immediately entered the Black Gate for rescue.
"Geo Guild?"
"Not one of ours. Mid-tier guild, but we judged there was no need to bring them under us."
Go lower and lower.
'In truth, six-tenths of South Korea's guilds are under the Church.'
Lee Jae-kyung had been shocked.
Gaining that much influence in such a short time was nearly impossible.
But the Apostles had done it.
"We've secured as much influence as needed in the Gwangju area where Geo Guild is based anyway, and their guild master is so stubborn."
Yun Seung-ah said.
"They wouldn't join hands with anyone."
Too big to force into submission with influence alone.
If needed, they would have taken them, but there was no reason to.
"The reason is."
"But right now is the bigger issue."
The Church's directive for its affiliates was to prohibit rash entry into Black Gates.
"Why could Geo Guild enter?"
The Association thought it had some influence, even if not at the top.
"That's...."
By then, Go Yohan and Yun Seung-ah had arrived at the site where the Black Gate shimmered.
Weeeeng!
Ear-piercing sirens and evacuating residents.
Even players who had come for potential support, just in case.
"The Association removed a bunch of our people."
Halt.
"Removed?"
"Sent them all on standby or overseas dispatch."
They had known the Association was onto them for a while, but not that they'd draw their swords so suddenly.
That was when.
Rustle.
Players giving Go Yohan meaningful glances.
Among them were some from the Sanctuary Alliance, but plenty of unrelated players too.
"I'm...!"
Trying to make some connection with Go Yohan.
Or.
"......"
It seemed Go Yohan's declaration that day had moved some hearts.
As he passed them toward the Black Gate.
Smack.
Association members in unusual gear and movements blocked Go Yohan.
"......?"
Go Yohan looked at him.
"Player Association Gwangju Branch Chief, Kim Un-seok."
"Speak."
"Access to the Black Gate is prohibited. Player Go Yohan."
"......"
Go Yohan's eyes darkened.
*
*
*
Go Yohan and Yun Seung-ah were blocked by Kim Un-seok and the Association members.
Their number was nearly fifty.
Especially, they looked more like combat-oriented Association members than the usual gate management ones.
Even now.
"......"
More Association members were undoubtedly heading here as reinforcements.
"What do you mean?"
Go Yohan asked calmly.
"As I said. The Association has been ordered to strictly manage Black Gates from now on. Entry is permitted only to authorized personnel, and all others are barred from approaching."
Kim Un-seok spoke like a puppet.
"This is also something Player Go Yohan wants, as far as I know."
At those words.
Snicker.
Go Yohan laughed.
Kim Un-seok's words weren't wrong.
Strict Black Gate management and controls to prevent needless sacrifices were exactly what Go Yohan wanted.
Murmur murmur.
The standoff between the Association, Kim Un-seok, and Go Yohan made the surrounding players buzz.
The Sanctuary Alliance grimaced in displeasure.
Rustle.
Slowly approaching this way.
"The top priority entry for this Black Gate has been designated to Geo Guild. Second priority..."
Everyone perked up at Kim Un-seok's words.
If they slipped up.
Gulp.
The players posing as onlookers and the reporters sensed something irreversible might happen.
'Reporters.'
Yes, they were there too.
Black Gate sites had always restricted reporters, but for some reason, they were here this time.
"Sanctuary Alliance affiliates, Dari Guild and Vice Guild, are scheduled next."
Go Yohan stared into Kim Un-seok's eyes.
"......"
The Association couldn't be unaware of the Sanctuary Alliance and Go Yohan's connection as second priority.
The public knew the Sanctuary Alliance had supported Go Yohan, and that there was some link between them.
They knew from the Buyeo Black Gate that he had moved with Sanctuary's White Steel Guild.
If needed this time, Go Yohan would use the Sanctuary Alliance to enter.
"Any problem with that?"
Second priority being Sanctuary meant if Geo failed to raid, use their name to go in.
'They even left a loophole.'
It was more cleverly laid out than expected.
'Gu Seunghun, was it.'
The Association Chairman's skill was evident.
-Captain.
Yun Seung-ah's voice was as usual, but the anger simmering beneath was palpable.
If Go Yohan just gave permission.
Boom!
An explosion, the area engulfed in flames—it was vivid in his mind.
"Moreover, the gate is closed right now, so entry is impossible anyway."
No problem, then. Nothing to complain about.
Every word from Kim Un-seok was spot on.
Rustle.
The Sanctuary Alliance drew closer.
Shing.
Association members half-drew their swords, visibly tense.
Truly.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A powder keg.
Every heart in the area pounded fiercely.
"I said it clearly."
Finally, Go Yohan spoke.
Roooar!
Some Sanctuary Alliance players were awakening their mana.
"If it's demons. If it's related to them, I'll kill them all."