Chapter 285
Chapter 285
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 285
Chapter Title: Heir to the Yeonam Group
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“And Moon Kyung-nam.”
Moon Seung-hee hoped I wasn’t coming across as threatening or coercive, so she spoke in a bright voice.
“Process it as an accidental death.”
Had I spoken too cheerfully? It felt a bit off.
Fortunately, Moon Seung-hee gave a reasonable response.
“An accident?”
“Yeah, an accident. A horrific one, right?”
I gestured around us. Not that there was much to see—no matter which way you turned your head, you couldn’t spot that [Horrific Accident Site].
The site in question had been swallowed whole by this massive Ulsan Rock we were standing on.
“Moon Kyung-nam’s foolish actions ruined the entire project. No more relic excavations, and even the original construction plans are impossible now.”
As I spoke, I carefully channeled mana through the Ulsan Rock.
Something squirmed beneath it.
Down there lurked Moon Kyung-nam, half-turned into a monster; a massive shoggoth; the ruins infused with the influence of the [Great Source].
And on top of that, the [beast from Tindalos… that thing] bound by my restraints.
Heh, stay put.
I sent a stronger surge of mana to halt ‘their’ movements and turned to Moon Seung-hee.
“…….”
She stared at me, her posture rigidly upright and tense.
Nothing particularly different.
She’d always been beautiful, but somehow lacking a touch of humanity—like a statue facing the world with unnatural stiffness.
“Haa…….”
In the end, she seemed to give up, letting out a sigh as she spoke.
“Director Moon Kyung-nam showed excessive obsession with this site. He ignored the experts’ advice and demanded reckless blasting operations.”
“That story works great. You opposed it, Director, but he came all the way here and pushed for the blasting anyway—and in the end, the accident everyone feared happened.”
It was a clumsy script, but not entirely a lie.
Moon Seung-hee turned her head toward the temporary shelter set up a short distance from the Ulsan Rock.
“There should be documents in my temporary office— the one you ‘rescued’—that back up those details.”
With that, she gave me a suspicious look, her lips twitching for a moment before she continued.
“…You didn’t pull that container out of the chaos just for that, did you?”
No need to answer.
I shrugged lightly and continued.
“I trust you’ll handle compensation well for those who died or were injured alongside the director.”
A good number of the thugs Moon Kyung-nam brought in had died or been hurt.
Surprisingly, the others hadn’t suffered much damage, thanks to Curtain Call, Kwak Dae-yong, and the others moving efficiently.
Oh, those with mental trauma might need some rest and recovery for a while.
As I thought that, Moon Seung-hee stepped closer and said.
“This isn’t that simple.”
Right, it wasn’t simple.
Compared to Moon Kyung-nam, the cultists I’d taken down before were mostly wild wasteland outlaws.
With those guys, you could usually gloss over whatever happened in the fight.
But not Moon Kyung-nam.
‘That’s why I wanted to keep him alive if possible.’
He was the third in line for succession in the Yeonam Group, a massive conglomerate.
For a moment, I recalled the message that had popped up before my eyes just hours ago.
[You have defeated ‘Yeonam Group Heir – Moon Kyung-nam.’]
[You have interfered in the Yeonam Group’s succession rights. ‘Faction – Yeonam Group’ takes interest in you.]
It had triggered by force.
In some ways, a more insane scenario than [Triad Schism]: [Yeonam Group Heir].
We could paper over it officially, but soon enough, people wanting more than that would come crawling out. Like the old fogeys at Yeonam Construction who’d been cozying up to Moon Kyung-nam?
They might send superhuman assassins or even suicidal maniacs for terror attacks.
“You know Moon Kyung-jun? The fourth.”
Not literally the fourth son.
He was the executive director of Yeonam Trading, fourth in the Yeonam Group succession rankings.
“You’ll hear from him soon. Promise full support in the name of Yeonam Construction. Then you’ll become a director there in no time.”
Moon Seung-hee’s already statue-like expression hardened even further. Not a metaphor—she looked like an utterly inorganic stone figure.
“I don’t want that.”
A very Moon Seung-hee response.
If she had, she wouldn’t be slumming it as a manager under Moon Kyung-nam; she’d have found someone who could use her talents better.
“But it’s for the best. Otherwise, you won’t just be blamed for failing to protect Moon Kyung-nam—you’ll end up covering for his crimes too.”
“Crimes—?”
“You know. The embezzlement.”
“How did you—?”
“You’ll lose your current position too. Isn’t taking over all of Yeonam Construction better than that?”
“But someone else will move faster than Executive Director Moon Kyung-jun.”
She’d already shifted from ‘I don’t want to’ to ‘It’s impossible.’
“Don’t worry about that. My people are already talking to Moon Kyung-jun.”
“Your people, Wizard…?”
I smiled and glanced toward Paju.
* * *
A lavish interior finished with marble tiles.
Opulent decorations placed everywhere.
A heavy, luxurious sofa that induced more burden than comfort for whoever sat on it.
Less a space for casual conversation, more a place designed to pressure and intimidate visitors.
Even in such a setting, Tudor gazed at her counterpart with a vibrant smile.
“How are you finding it?”
Her red hair neatly pinned up unlike usual, paired with slightly exaggerated horn-rimmed glasses.
And behind her, the petite woman acting as secretary had a massive lamp where her head should be. Panida, whom Kim Shin-hwa had met before.
She looked less like a businesswoman and more like someone playing at business, but the man in the black suit across from her spoke to Tudor with a serious expression.
“I’ve confirmed it. Reports confirm an accident really happened on site.”
Moon Kyung-jun’s deep, dark eyes fixed on Tudor with unwavering intensity.
He had his own charm.
Tudor thought so as she met his gaze.
Serious, ascetic.
Yet ready at any moment to unleash the wildness within—like a noble wolf exuding such an aura.
Moon Kyung-jun spoke again.
“This kind of deal is a first for me, but it’s quite intriguing.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Moon Kyung-jun slowly stroked his jawline with long, delicate fingers, speaking meaningfully.
“Lately, some unfortunate events have plagued our Yeonam.”
Like the chairman who controls the Yeonam Group falling gravely ill, or the designated successor suddenly crushed to death by a rock.
“In times like these, it’s good to have reliable friends nearby. Shall we continue our friendly relations going forward?”
Tudor flashed a serpentine smile, replying in an excessively kind voice.
“As I said at the start, what we can do is more limited than you might think. But if that’s fine with you, we’d be happy to be Executive Director’s friend anytime.”
With that, Tudor subtly glanced eastward—far off.
Naturally, all she could see was the fancy marble wall, but ignoring physical barriers— at the end of her gaze, Kim Shin-hwa was looking back toward her.
Tudor winked as if she could actually see him.
‘So, how’s that?’
* * *
[‘Yeonam Group Heir – Moon Kyung-jun’s succession rank has been adjusted to 3rd.]
[‘Yeonam Group Heir – Moon Kyung-jun remembers your name.]
[Your relationship with ‘Yeonam Group Heir – Moon Kyung-jun’ has changed to ‘Friendly.’]
Looks like Tudor wrapped things up nicely.
Around then, Moon Seung-hee spoke with a serious expression.
“Moon Kyung-jun is like a starving wolf. And given my position… even if I brought him something, he wouldn’t trust me.”
She trailed off midway, but I knew her situation well.
“It’s temporary. Moon Kyung-jun won’t last long in this insane succession battle anyway. What we need now is someone to protect you for the time being, me, and…”
Saying this might make me seem petty and underhanded… but no choice.
“Someone to protect Sun-bin.”
A flicker of light anger and brief worry crossed Moon Seung-hee’s face.
“You can’t keep living like before. Once again—get Yeonam Construction under Moon Kyung-jun’s protection first. I’ll provide any funds you need.”
I’d have to make some money when I got home.
“What’s in it for you, Wizard, doing all this?”
Her voice carried wariness.
The question implied there had to be some gain or motive. Her sharp gaze probed to pierce my inner thoughts.
“Hmm—”
What should I say?
I had to kill Moon Kyung-nam to prevent the world’s destruction, but I don’t want to get tangled in the fallout [Yeonam Group Heir] scenario.
So, just like with the [Triad Schism], I plan to stall this scenario and keep it from progressing too far.
You, Manager Moon Seung-hee, are one of the pieces I need for that.
…Yeah, can’t say that.
“I took a commission.”
“A commission…?”
In the end, I went with a vague dodge.
“Your name was at the top of the protection target list for this job. So I’m protecting you.”
Absurdity floated across Moon Seung-hee’s statue-like face.
A bit later—though it was after some time—I realized I was on the same level as Curtain Call and felt a little sad.
* * *
After escorting Moon Seung-hee back to the group, I climbed atop the Ulsan Rock again.
“In the end, I have to do this myself.”
I’d hoped to hold out longer for an easier way, but the situation wouldn’t allow it.
I pulled out a worn, ancient book from my inventory.
[Sealed Rock Chronicles]
[Sealed Rock Chronicles (封巖記書)
Classification: Magic Tome
Author: Unknown
Creation Era: 13th–17th century (estimated)
Language: Medieval Korean and Hanja
A book written by special shamans who sealed evil entities infiltrating this land, influenced by ancient gods. It records secret arts borrowing divine power and spells related to sealing.
Research is required to verify its true value.]
Flutterflutterflutter—
It had some absurd theories and bombastic claims here and there, but the creators seemed to have been in a relatively sound state of mind.
Makes interpretation easy. Yeah, this kind of writing needs a straight mind behind it.
Flutterflutterflutter—
Ten minutes? No, about thirteen?
[System: Research on ‘Sealed Rock Chronicles’ completed.]
[System: Acquired 6 unique spells recorded in ‘Sealed Rock Chronicles.’ ‘Medium’ trait required to master them perfectly.]
There were more than six spells written, but the rest were ones I already knew.
[Soul Return Ritual], [Demon Seal Array], [Immovable Bind], [Indestructible Vajra]……
Everything but Soul Return Ritual was sealing or defensive spells.
“Good, good.”
These extras were bonuses anyway.
What I needed was [Demon Seal Array].
I immediately sat cross-legged on the Ulsan Rock and drew up my mana.
Vrrrrrrrr—
Using the Ulsan Rock as a medium, I’d activate [Demon Seal Array] to seal the [Great Source] ruins.
“And shake off that [Disgusting Thing] for a while too.”
It wouldn’t be a perfect fix, but it’d buy some time.
Spells that couldn’t activate without the [Medium] trait in the game, but now—with my fine control over magic and mana structures—I could bypass those limits to some extent.
Just before activating [Demon Seal Array], a mild irritation welled up, and I muttered.
“But where the hell did our medium guy go?”
Starting to get worried.
Once this quest wraps up, Moon Seung-hee will need time too, so better to look for Jang Hyun-deok directly over anything else.
Ah, decide that later—focus now. Focus.
Vrrrrrrrr—
Hanja characters floated around my body.
Eastern geometric patterns.
A rainbow of five colors.
[Demon Seal Array]
[Spell Enhancement: Maximized]
Greeeeeeeeek—
The five-colored rainbow swirling around me expanded, enveloping the entire Ulsan Rock.