Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 072
Chapter Title: The Exposed Plot
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Camping at a massive gate wasn't anything special for players.
Customized gear for that very purpose was even being manufactured these days.
"We'll handle reconnaissance."
Kim Doha said.
"Geo will take watch."
Choi Geo said.
Swish.
Go Yohan silently entered the tent that had been set up for him.
"......"
Unlike the group members Geo or Biren, there was nothing for the lone Go Yohan to do.
Moreover.
"That rude bastard."
Having witnessed the scene, there was nothing left to say.
It didn't even make sense to assign him menial tasks when he was single-handedly fulfilling the roles of over fifty top-tier players.
"Choi Jiun."
Choi Geo called out to his cursing younger brother.
"Cut it out."
"Ha. Now you're taking that bastard's side?"
"Calm down. What's got you so worked up?"
"It's just..."
But Choi Jiun shook his head as if it was no use and moved on.
"Rest up. I'll decide who stands watch."
"The guild members."
"I got it already!"
His younger brother had always been fairly rebellious.
'It's getting worse.'
It was probably due to his recent rapid growth and the influx of praise.
It worsened every time they entered a black gate.
"......"
Left alone, Choi Geo fell deep into thought.
Time passed late into the night.
They took turns sleeping.
Choi Geo leaned against his tent for a quick nap as well.
Rustle.
He sensed an unfamiliar energy around the tent.
He immediately reached for the hilt of his sword.
"Brother. It's fine. It's me."
The one entering through the tent flap was his younger brother, Choi Jiun.
And.
"Guild Master Kim Doha?"
It was Kim Doha.
"It's a spirit. I confirmed Go Yohan is asleep, but he's still a monster, right? No harm in being cautious."
"...What are you talking about?"
"It means Go Yohan won't hear what we say in here."
Choi Geo's face hardened.
"Wait."
Choi Geo tried to cut him off.
"It's the perfect time to hunt the boss monster."
"I think so too."
He was speechless at the sudden exchange between Kim Doha and Choi Jiun.
"That monster... the moment to kill and erase him will only come once."
"......!"
Choi Geo's complexion turned pale.
"Kentaros was horrifying."
"What the hell are you two talking about!"
As Choi Geo shouted, Kim Doha tilted his head in confusion.
"Vice Guild Master Choi Jiun. What's going on here? Surely the guild master doesn't know?"
Then, he chuckled.
A chill ran down his spine.
"Ah, I see. Your brother is so stubborn, after all."
"Choi Jiun!"
It was then that Choi Geo tried to draw his sword.
Clunk.
The sword wouldn't budge.
"......!"
"But in the end, like this, even Brother won't refuse."
"Kukuku, what a ruthless guy."
Choi Geo turned ashen.
"You're thinking of killing Go Yohan?!"
He wasn't so naive a player as to miss what their conversation implied.
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Brother."
Choi Jiun and Kim Doha looked at Choi Geo.
Ripple.
Something unknowable rippled in their eyes.
"There's no way we can just leave a monster like that alone."
"It's necessary for us to become the best, Brother."
"You... madmen..."
"You've felt it too, haven't you? As long as that thing lives, Geo can never be number one."
Choi Jiun gestured for Kim Doha to stay back as he spoke.
"Number one. Number one. What you've always wanted, Brother."
"Choi Jiun!"
"Don't shout. Unlike you, who's given up and settled for reality at some point, I've never lost sight of my dream."
Smirk.
"That's why they gave us this power."
"Truly......"
Were these so-called blessing items actually curses?
"Ah, don't misunderstand. They're not curses or anything."
"...Then."
"It's just real power. They're not demons either."
Choi Geo's face was deathly white.
"Go Yohan is the demon. That holy background, that power. And... do you know this?"
Choi Jiun said.
"The Sanctuary Alliance swore loyalty to Go Yohan? Swore loyalty! In this modern age! And they're not even knights or anything. Heh."
Choi Jiun continued.
"There's talk that even Goldian is under Go Yohan's command. And that's not all."
"What... nonsense..."
"That's right, Brother."
Choi Jiun leaned in closer, shoving his face forward.
"That nonsense? That crazy monster bastard made it happen. That's why we have to kill him here."
The recording device was turned off.
"Jiun. Snap out of it. This isn't right."
Choi Geo shook his head.
"The number one I wanted wasn't like this. And no matter what, killing Go Yohan here..."
"Brother, don't play innocent. It's disgusting."
Choi Jiun twisted his face.
"Whatever, I brought the blessing items. You allowed it. And... I've been watching from your side all this time. You're not so clean yourself, Brother."
Choi Jiun stood up.
"What will you do? We're done talking. If you refuse here..."
Ripple.
"We'll have no choice but to silence you."
"You..."
"It doesn't matter to me either way."
Choi Jiun turned to leave.
"By tonight. Let us know your decision."
"Is this okay like this?"
Kim Doha asked Choi Jiun.
"I poisoned him with paralysis toxin. The spirit is watching, so we decide before Go Yohan wakes at dawn."
As Choi Jiun said, his body wouldn't move.
"Shouting won't help. No one will hear."
With that, Choi Jiun exited the tent.
Kim Doha did too.
Wink.
"Don't regret it."
He gave a knowing glance and left the tent.
"Ha......"
Choi Geo felt like the sky was collapsing.
"How... what should I do?"
He couldn't find the right answer at all.
*
*
*
Choi Geo was out of it.
Everything felt futile, and terrifying.
"...The warning was real."
Choi Jiun had said these blessing items weren't curses, and those who gave them weren't demons, but Choi Geo thought differently.
'Demons.'
The fact that no one else had noticed made it all the more despairing and horrifying.
-Destruction.
Go Yohan's warning, spoken aloud, was the unvarnished truth.
Just how far did the wrongdoing extend, and where had the demons' hands reached?
Grip.
If he refused here, what would happen afterward.
Even if he accepted, what would follow terrified him.
"Jiun......"
He knew darkness had taken root in his brother, but not that it ran this deep.
He closed his eyes.
And it was time to decide.
Rustle.
He heard movement in the tent.
Clearly, Choi Jiun and Kim Doha coming to hear his answer.
"I refuse."
Choi Geo said without opening his eyes.
Refusal meant his own death, but at least he didn't want to see his brother slit his throat.
"Snap out of it. This... this isn't right. Jiun."
He thought it would be his final words.
"That was close."
But the voice that came wasn't Choi Jiun's or Kim Doha's—it was someone else's.
"......!"
It was Go Yohan.
"Honestly, I didn't expect innocence, but incompetence is all there is."
"......Go Yohan?"
"Moreover."
Go Yohan, entering the tent, looked down at the slumped Choi Geo and said.
"I thought you'd be swallowed by the power."
Flinch.
Choi Geo trembled.
Go Yohan's words pierced straight through all his prior agonizing.
'What if these are curses? Then what?'
The worry of whether he'd be able to let go of this power when the time came.
"You... knew all along?"
He unwittingly spoke politely.
"It was all too obvious."
"...Then why..."
"Things hiding in the shadows have finally shown themselves. Cutting off just the tail would be a waste, wouldn't it?"
On Go Yohan's skin, tattoos writhed.
"Not all of them, perhaps... but if it's a chance to eradicate some..."
Go Yohan said with an expressionless face.
"If they can't harm me at all, then leaving them be is the right call."
"That's not what I meant!"
Choi Geo shouted.
Was it the spirit? Or Go Yohan himself?
Outside was deathly quiet.
"Why.... why..."
Choi Geo said, on the verge of tears.
"Didn't you tell me...!"
That his brother had joined hands with demons.
That most of Geo Guild had been consumed by it.
"If you'd told me sooner..."
Go Yohan tilted his head.
"......?"
"I did warn you."
"......!"
"I taught everyone about the demons' existence. I said their schemes and plots were enough to destroy this world."
Go Yohan said.
"Even on the first day we met, I warned you."
-Demons. Anyone connected to them, I'll kill without mercy.
He definitely had.
"But..."
He couldn't have thought it directly involved Geo.
"You suspected. You had doubts. That was enough already..."
Go Yohan said.
"It served as a warning. That's why I'm here now."
"......"
He couldn't deny it.
"Still, this..."
"Wasn't it wrong? Couldn't you have saved them? With this power, with this information..."
Go Yohan cut off Choi Geo's words.
They were exactly what he had been about to say.
"Why should I?"
He was at a loss for words.
"Do you think I'm some hero or brave soul?"
He pulled up a chair and sat down in front of him.
"I already know such things can't save anyone."
"......"
"I'm merely a knight serving the one I revere."
In that moment, Choi Geo recalled Go Yohan's declaration.
-Villain or demon, I don't care.
He had said he'd become anything to exterminate demons.
"Accept Choi Jiun and Kim Doha's proposal."
Go Yohan returned the chair to its place and said.
"I'll handle the rest. Or do whatever you want. The outcome won't change."
By the time he blinked, Go Yohan's figure had vanished, as if it had all been a dream.