Chapter 89

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 89

Chapter Title: Resentment Returns 100-Fold

-Ding!

The moment I faced the alert window.

A single scene flashed through my mind.

-Hyunsu... please open your eyes... please, Hyunsu...

Park Hyunsu, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠collapsed on the ground in a pool of blood.

And Bug Hater, herself drenched in blood, cradling him in her arms.

The healer Bug Hater had squeezed out every last drop of her mana, risking total depletion.

Yet the blood pouring from Park Hyunsu's wounds wouldn't stop.

All she could do was hold his cooling body close.

And wait in vain for a response that would never come.

And then, from behind her.

A man's voice rang out.

-That's why you should've joined us when we made the offer nicely.

-A fresh S-rank punk acting all high and mighty.

A young man dressed in martial robes emblazoned with a blue dragon and sword emblem.

I'd seen that emblem before.

The news often called people in those outfits the Blue Dragon Guild.

-Tch... I didn't mean to kill him, but his weapon was soulbound. No choice.

-Hey, clean this up quietly—no loose ends. Vaporize the Javelin Guild too.

-Oh, and package this spear nicely in my name for Spear Dragon Captain. It's a good one; should score some points.

With those final words, the man and his crew vanished into the distance.

And the scene flashing in my mind ended there.

...What the hell did I just see?

<[...Father?]>

Tabula's worried voice snapped me back to reality.

I looked around. I was still descending the stairs to the 10th floor.

Tabula said that right after I put on the ring, I'd stood there blankly for about three seconds.

Seems she, unlike me, hadn't glimpsed that split-second future.

<[...Are you okay?]>

"...I'm fine."

After that, Tabula started watching me carefully.

She clearly sensed something had happened but hesitated to ask.

Her voice sounded scared, like she'd witnessed something unprecedented.

And at that moment.

"Master. Why are you so angry?"

Ravlis, following behind me, spoke up.

"...Me?"

Am I... angry right now?

I wasn't sure.

Honestly, the scene had been so sudden it felt unreal.

It was a future that hadn't happened yet, but I'd seen Park Hyunsu die.

And from the man's parting words, Bug Hater and her guildmates probably wouldn't survive either.

But I didn't feel angry—just a curt "Is that for real...?" echoing in my head.

I thought I wasn't showing any emotion.

Until Ravlis pointed it out.

"It seems you've rarely ever gotten angry for someone else's sake in your life."

Thump-! Thump-! Thump-!

This is weird. My heart's beating faster and faster.

"Master. Don't let anger consume you. Control it. Use it as fuel."

Crunch...!!!

Without meaning to, tension flooded my body, and heat surged through me.

<[Father...]>

"If you're angry for others, you must learn to control it even more."

Tabula kept watching me nervously.

Why was Ravlis giving me this advice?

"Master. Remember this: if anger consumes you, you'll destroy what's most precious with your own hands."

What expression am I making ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right now...?

Have I ever gotten angry for someone else?

I can say with certainty: no.

My relationships have been nonexistent—narrowed to nothing by Mental Illness (S+).

I've gotten angry for myself, sure.

But never for others. Absolutely never.

That's why I'm like this now.

My body burning hot, trembling all over.

Unable to control my face, worrying everyone around me like a fool.

Why am I so pissed?

Because that Blue Dragon Guild bastard killed Park Hyunsu and stole his spear?

Yeah.

He killed Park Hyunsu—the guy I'd decided to raise—and took his weapon.

Splitting that scum in half right now would be justified.

Because he ordered Bug Hater and her guild wiped out?

That's right too.

Those bastards treated lives like insects—ordering extermination like swatting bugs.

But those weren't the root cause of my rage.

The reason my limbs shook with fury was...

...me.

Park Hyunsu died because of me.

I'd told him to tackle the 50th floor without thinking and claim results. He followed through.

That drew the Blue Dragon Guild's eyes.

They probably offered him a spot in their ranks, but he refused to follow me instead.

Then it unfolded exactly like the future I'd glimpsed.

They'd try to recruit him via duel.

But seeing the White Horn I'd gifted him, they'd change plans.

A top-tier spear even domestically—they'd covet it.

Soulbound item? They'd kill for it.

In the end, I'd gifted the spear with good intentions.

But Park Hyunsu died just for possessing gear beyond his station.

If I hadn't given him the spear.

No—hadn't pushed him to climb the 50th and bring results.

He probably wouldn't have caught their eye or died.

That's why I'm this furious.

At myself—for failing to protect even one person under my wing.

For acting on impulse like I was some big shot.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

If Clarity of the Still Waters (S), activating every second, hadn't kicked in.

I might've been rampaging in rage by now.

I'd cloak Ravlis in killing intent to hunt that dogshit who killed Park Hyunsu.

The moment I found him, I'd cleave him in two.

Blue Dragon Guild or whatever—didn't matter.

And afterward, as usual.

"...I screwed up," scrambling for damage control.

Yeah. As usual.

Like the incompetent me who let Park Hyunsu die.

The me who couldn't properly use my power or abilities.

"Huuuup..."

I took a deep breath.

Recalling Ravlis's advice.

"Hooo..."

I exhaled deeply.

Pushing the rage filling my head to one side, as Ravlis said.

For the day I'd use it as fuel.

Right now, I needed a cool head and calm actions.

Clashing head-on with one of the Four Great Guilds, Blue Dragon Guild?

I wasn't prepared at all.

......

Once the constant pings from Clarity of the Still Waters faded.

I decided to do my best with what I could, coldly and rationally.

To prepare for a future not yet come.

To prevent a future that mustn't happen.

"Tabula. Make some potions right now."

<[What kind of potions?]>

"Potions that can definitely save someone from fatal wounds. Money doesn't matter—make several."

<[Should I use the rewards from this floor's clear?]>

"Please do."

If needed.

Even if it meant using today's 20th-floor clear rewards.

While Tabula prepared potions for any contingency.

I descended to the 8th-floor entrance and asked the suit-clad team leader waiting there.

"Has anyone from Blue Dragon Guild visited?"

"Yes. They arrived 15 minutes ago."

"Who's handling them?"

"The sub-team leader is currently."

"Location?"

"Last report: headed to the 6th floor about 5 minutes ago."

That Blue Dragon Guild bastard must've just arrived.

But heading straight to the 6th floor with its virtual battle sims and DPS dummies...

"...Park Hyunsu must be there too."

"Pardon? Oh, yes. Report said he went to test the spear you gave him on the dummies."

He'd either messaged 1:1 or tailed him.

Somehow pinpointed Park Hyunsu's location and approached.

Probably negotiating recruitment under Blue Dragon's banner right now.

And then.

Crackle...!

-Team leader. Blue Dragon Guild now moving to 7th floor.

The sub-team leader's voice came through the suit-clad leader's in-ear.

"The 7th? Suddenly why?"

-There was a bit of an argument with Park Hyunsu, the owner's acquaintance.

"Explain in detail."

-He refused recruitment under Blue Dragon, so they proposed a duel. Park Hyunsu accepted.

"He accepted? Why?"

-Well... they're threatening his fiancée as hostage. We tried intervening, but he's not listening.

"...Got it."

Crackle!

"...Mr. Yi."

"I heard everything."

So that's how it went down.

I'd wondered why Park Hyunsu accepted the duel recklessly.

If it was to protect Bug Hater, it made perfect sense.

Collision was now inevitable.

All preemptive avoidance plans were scrapped.

So... what now?

With a fight against Blue Dragon Guild locked in.

Could a mere 20th-floor scrub like me handle it?

...It's not impossible.

Message Tower Expert PhD 1:1, explain the situation—he'd sort it out.

From his actions so far, he seemed untouchable even by the Four Great Guilds or the Administration.

Heck, they called him the Sage.

That'd probably be the right call.

The easiest. Fastest way to resolve this.

The absolute best option.

But.

Is the "best" choice always the "right" one?

The moment he intervened, they'd turn meek and slink away.

I'd watch from afar, gushing "Professor's amazing!"

And think inwardly.

'Gotta get strong like the professor soon!'

Just like always.

Even though it was an unpassed future.

Even without avenging Park Hyunsu's death.

I'd dodge the crisis on his coattails and complacently vow to "do better next time."

...Is that really right?

Pretend I don't know?

Pat myself on the back, say they're too dangerous, let it slide this once?

"Contact the sub-team leader. Tell him I'm heading to the 7th."

"Understood."

I say no.

If I let this slide, I'd repeat it next time something like this arose.

Repeated concessions would dull me, make me yield to injustice.

Eventually, I'd become like Blue Dragon Guild or the corrupt Administration.

Hell, maybe even side with invaders.

So to avoid that.

I'll act somehow.

<[Father. All the potions you asked for are ready.]>

"Good work, Tabula. Want to rest, but... can you help a bit more?"

<[Of course! What do you need?]>

"Find one person for me. Remember the Changseong Group chairman's secretary who visited last time?"

<[Awakener Kang Cheol-jung?]>

"Send him one of the potions you just made via 1:1 trade. Say I'm that Fire Alchemist, want to contact the chairman."

<[...Isn't this too hasty? We lack info to trust the chairman.]>

"Maybe."

I don't know what the chairman does, what he looks like.

His daily life, ambitions—nothing.

He could be the world's worst scum.

This choice might drag me into unbearable risk.

But still.

One thing I knew about him.

"That guy's holding Korea's No.1 corporate throne amid this mess. As a non-awakener climber no less. That's what I'm betting on."

A non-awakener who'd climbed to global influence.

Would a man with that savvy ignore my value, my utility?

"Tell the chairman: whatever he wants—Elixir of Youth, Potion of Longevity—I'll make it. So invest all his assets in me."

If that Blue Dragon Guild punk struts with his guild backing him.

I'll just match that weight class.