Chapter 287
Chapter 287
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 287
Chapter Title: Sokcho Cleanup
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[Immobilize]
Ziiiiiing—
I channeled my mana to suppress the pitch-black lightning crackling in all directions while unfurling the long sleeves of my [Night Veil Wingrobe] to cover Lee Sunbin's face.
‘Looks like the [Great Source] anticipated Moon Kyungnam's failure.’
Following the traditional strategy, it had shoved its influence into the person nearest the player whose mind was the most fragile.
Lee Sunbin, with her spelunking phobia, wouldn't have been able to resist the horrific voice of the [Great Source] rising from the deep underground darkness.
Left like this, she'd soon become a cultist brainwashed by the [Great Source].
It had probably planned the classic story: grab Moon Seunghee hostage at the right moment, attack me, and so on.
‘Old-school. Does someone as exalted as you not mingle with other abyssal beings?’
Ever since I'd started wandering the [Cthulhu World], I'd resolved issues like this several times already.
Honestly, Moon Kyungnam could have turned back into a person too if he'd had the time.
"Director. I'll fix this right away, so please step outside for now."
"Please...."
Moon Seunghee mumbled pleas—wizard, please, and such—as she headed out.
I pulled out the [Butcher's Hook], [Blade of Righteous Judgment], and [Flesh Sword], suspending them in midair. They floated around me, amplifying my mana.
The [Butcher's Hook] absorbed the target's mana and malevolent energy, while the [Blade of Righteous Judgment] would enhance spells targeting the virtuous—like Lee Sunbin.
And the [Flesh Sword] was made from the [Great Source] itself.
[Voice of Authority]
『O ancient and corrupted mana, return to your master's body.』
Ziiiiiing—
Mana itself held no will. The [Great Source]'s mana dwelling in Lee Sunbin couldn't distinguish between the [Great Source] and the [Flesh Sword], slowly departing her body toward the sword.
"That's it, good. Nice. Come out a bit more."
At the same time, I activated my spells.
[Evil Gaze]
[Sanctuary]
The [Evil Gaze] compressed the separated mana, while [Sanctuary] filled the tent with purifying energy to prevent escape.
[Mana Absorption]
[Immobilize]
[Crystallization]
Unlike usual, instead of storing mana in the [Butcher's Hook], I pulled out several high-purity mana stones and fused them with the mana.
Kududududuk—
The invisible, abstract energy slowly took the form of transparent crystals.
The wriggling mana hardened rapidly, like crude CG footage.
"Now that my hierarchy's higher, this is much easier."
I'd tried something similar before, but each time it meant agonizing brain burn and extreme exhaustion.
"But now it's this simple."
Kudududuk—
Done.
The mana stone had transformed. Now it was an [Avatar Stone] infused with the [Great Source]'s power.
"For me to snag even this. You're really generous."
With the [Flesh Sword] and now an [Avatar Stone] from the [Great Source], fights against its avatars would go much more smoothly.
Lee Sunbin now slept peacefully, and confirming it, Moon Seunghee hugged me and burst into tears, leaving me flustered for a good while.
* * *
"Thank you."
Moon Seunghee rubbed her reddened eyes, thanking me in a voice not her usual stern tone but a watery mumble.
"No trouble at all."
"If anything worse had happened to Sunbin... I—I wouldn't have had any reason left to live."
Pretty extreme statement. Why are people in this world all so all-or-nothing?
"What can I do for you, wizard?"
Her tone carried the nuance of granting any wish.
I nodded briefly at her words before replying.
"Well, it'd be great if you could tidy up this site soon. A sturdy vehicle and a decent driver would be even better."
"Heading somewhere else?"
"Yeah."
"I figured Paju."
"Hm, Buyeo instead. Ansan depending on the situation."
Moon Seunghee stared silently for a moment, then spoke with a calmer expression.
"I see. Understood. I'll clear the site quickly so you can move freely."
"Thanks."
* * *
Moon Seunghee soon began coordinating with HQ for site cleanup, and I stepped back outside.
"Won't take long, right?"
Sigh. Honestly, I just want to ditch everything, go home, eat whatever Sanghyeon cooks, and rest.
As I wandered with those thoughts, a gruff voice suddenly called out.
"Kim Shin-hwa, what're you doing?"
Curtain Call.
Even after all that chaos, his red leather jacket still gleamed stylishly.
"Haha—hey, Kim Shin-hwa. Hear me out, Collie."
The furry guy smiling and butting in: Bau Kalrak.
"What do you mean? Waiting for site cleanup."
I'd blocked the descent, handled the cultists, cleaned up the aftermath, and got my reward.
Time to leave Sokcho for elsewhere.
But per this game's system, I was still the bodyguard for Yeonam Construction's site, and ending it required Moon Seunghee's say-so.
"No, not that. Kim Shin-hwa, what're you gonna do now?"
"Me? What are you getting at?"
Better send off the ones who can communicate—
I eyed Bau Kalrak with that in mind, and he caught on, hurriedly telling Curtain Call.
"Ah, so—Collie, sorry, mind if I say it?"
"Go ahead."
With Curtain Call's okay, Bau Kalrak stepped forward and said to me.
"Kim Shin-hwa. Once site's cleaned up, what's next for you?"
"Ah, after this?"
I reacted like that, and Bau Kalrak nodded, leaning in low.
"Don't know your plan, but can we join?"
Ah, got it.
Moon Kyungnam was Yeonam Construction's director, and we'd come on their request.
In principle, no matter what he did to Moon Seunghee—we should've just stood guard as ordered.
But the fixers summoned under Yeonam Construction's name hadn't acted that way.
‘One. Protection target didn't include Moon Kyungnam, so he's not protected.’
‘Two. But Moon Kyungnam attacks protected target Moon Seunghee?’
‘Three. So beat Moon Kyungnam to death.’
Curtain Call pushed that simplistic, brutal three-step logic, but reality wasn't that straightforward.
Still, the fixers here ignored the mess and followed Curtain Call's logic because—
"Heard it again from Tudor earlier. Rewards included."
I'd promised them enough compensation to nix other thoughts.
From director Moon Kyungnam's view, it'd be like double-contracting: guard him, then assassinate him. Fraud, basically.
Cost a pretty penny too.
"We love generous clients most, but Collie's picky about jobs."
Curtain Call snorted at Bau Kalrak's words.
"But Collie agreed to join if it's your plan, Kim Shin-hwa. Whaddya say? No clue what it is, but can we work together?"
Looking over, Curtain Call's crew watched me and Bau Kalrak from a distance.
Eyes sparkling with anticipation and greed.
Tudor must've already dangled the payout.
"Next plan?"
Say I'm hunting Jang Hyun-deok, and they'll all sulk.
They think I'm diving into Yeonam Group's successor war now—big project to throne some guy as next chairman?
I glanced at Curtain Call, whispering to Bau Kalrak.
"Curtain Call really gets it? Doesn't seem like his kinda project."
"Well, Collie loves killing rich folks."
"......"
He'd bought into it weirdly.
I turned back to them.
They looked ragged after the ordeal, but they're a pretty famous crew in Paju.
Sure, known first for Curtain Call's brutality, then his weird eating habits, before their skills—but not hacks.
Perfect timing, actually. Needed helpers, and these guys'll do.
"I do have a plan. Listen up."
I explained, and as soon as I finished, Curtain Call lifted his chin, scowling.
"What the hell? No way!"
"Knew you'd say that."
Before he could gripe more, I pulled a shrunken item from my pocket and handed it to him.
"What's this?"
"Present. Said I'd replace your demon sword."
I released the shrink spell, and it became the [Merciless Avalanche] I'd gotten as reward.
"This the thing that rhino dude swung earlier?"
"You recognize it? Saved it for you. Whaddya think?"
Way too huge for pint-sized Curtain Call. The haft alone was taller than him, and the rock-and-metal head fused with mana stones into a lump bigger than his torso.
Common sense said he couldn't even lift it, let alone wield......
Fwooooosh! Bwoooom!
Curtain Call swung the [Merciless Avalanche] with glee.
Hell of a noise.
He flashed a cool smile I'd never seen, saying.
"Satisfied. Thanks, Kim Shin-hwa."
"No trouble. Now?"
"Fine. No complaints."
"Good."
This side sorted.
* * *
The people gathered here were filthy, exhausted, and dazed from escaping the massive disaster.
Some muttered nonsense. Others screamed without context. Some laughed hollowly at Seoraksan's utterly changed landscape.
Everyone was beat and tired, but someone had to snap to and handle the aftermath.
So Moon Seunghee gathered the least-damaged folks, standing tall and composed as she declared.
"By authority of site director, I'm halting this project."
Might seem like pointless ceremony, but it's more important than it looks.
She bowed to the crowd next.
"I'm sorry we couldn't prevent this incident. Regarding your losses and contracted pay...."
No one could've stopped it no matter what, but she apologized for her oversight and outlined compensation and next steps.
People cheered, thrilled to escape this hellish Seoraksan—or at least get paid properly.
I watched from afar, and soon a quest complete message popped up.
[Quest completed!
[Escort Quest: Legend of Ulsan Rock]
Reward: 5,000,000 XP (Broker's promised cash separate.)]
All done.
Now I can shake it off and head out.
Vehicles soon rolled in for personnel transport, and I waited for mine......
Rrrrring—
"Hmm, suspiciously spot-on timing."
Park Kwang-rim, whom I'd sent to find Jang Hyun-deok.
The call I'd been waiting for......
Why so ominous?
"Hello?"
- Kim Shin-hwa! Kim Shin-hwa! Ah, is this Kim Shin-hwa?
Park Kwang-rim sounded chaotic—manic, even.
"Uh—Park Kwang-rim? Calm down. What's up?"
- That Jang Hyun-deok you told me to find. Jang Hyun-deok! The 10 billion won guy!
"Yeah, that Jang Hyun-deok."
Feels familiar somehow.
Last round was different, but I'd gotten a call like this.
- That guy's...... probably already dead.
What the hell? What's this now?
But different from Yang Seo-ho. I barely kept calm, asking back.
"Probably dead means maybe alive? Explain."
Rough deep breaths came through the phone from Park Kwang-rim.
- That orphanage you mentioned. It's not right. Everyone's too happy here—too peaceful! Something's wrong! Kim Shin-hwa! No place like this exists! Jang Hyun-deok's probably dead. Everyone's so nice and......
Nice and.
Peaceful and.
Happy and.
Park Kwang-rim's voice trembled with unstable terror as he listed those fine words.