Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Price of a Short Walk
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Creak... BOOM
The massive iron gate of Lee Do-ha's forge—the beating heart of the weapon industry not just in Korea, but across the entire world—swung open with a thunderous groan.
Everyone froze in shock.
The sound was like a colossal beast stirring from a long slumber, stretching its limbs.
Heat poured from the gap like molten lava from a furnace.
Three hundred sixty-five days a year, without a single break, two thousand apprentices hammered away, their blows vibrating through the entire building. Amid that hellish blaze, a man emerged, brushing off the black soot clinging to him.
Lee Do-ha.
"Hoo..."
Do-ha exhaled a long breath, as if trying to expel the acrid metal dust lodged deep in his lungs, narrowing his eyes.
His gaze lifted to the Seoul sky. In the past year, he'd stepped outside this gate only a handful of times.
"Finally out... How many months has it been? The air out here really is different. Inside, it feels like your lungs are cooking just from breathing."
Do-ha chuckled casually, tapping the dirt from his work boots.
He looked utterly ordinary—far too mundane for someone who held the world in the palm of his hand. That very normalcy made him seem all the more otherworldly.
Irmi, the Hunter Association Headquarters Chief trailing behind him, felt a sharp pang in her chest.
'This man... Just how far is he willing to sacrifice himself?'
In her eyes, Do-ha wasn't merely a craftsman.
He was an ascetic, locking himself in that scorching prison, burning his own body as fuel to boost humanity's survival rate by even 1%.
Seeing such a man beaming with joy at a mere puff of mild neighborhood breeze stirred pity that transcended mere respect.
"Indeed, Meister. You've been so consumed by your work. Take it slow today. I've got the mana flows within a 1km radius fully monitored."
Irmi spoke softer than usual, her heart aching for him.
Known as the Gale Archer, her senses had already mapped the flows through downtown Seoul.
It was peaceful. At least until then, it seemed safer than anywhere else on earth.
That peace shattered the moment Do-ha took his second step.
[Warning: Fatal threat detected to System Administrator Lee Do-ha]
[Emergency Protocol Activated: Humanity Protection System temporarily suspended]
[Failure: Humanity Extinction Countdown will begin]
A sinister screech tore through the air, slamming into eardrums like an explosion.
The blue sky over Seoul ripped open like rotting flesh, bleeding red.
"Meister! Get back!"
Irmi screamed, throwing herself in front of Do-ha.
But before she could even draw her bow, black dots rained down from the tear like hail.
One, two, hundreds, thousands.
They weren't human. Mere lumps of flesh in human shape.
A thousand assassins, offering their hearts as tribute via the forbidden magic of Life Transfer, descending into the heart of Seoul.
And at that instant, a blood-red system window forcibly overlaid the retinas of all 7 billion people worldwide.
00:59:59
00:59:58
A massive timer hung in the air, ticking down.
This was no mere warning. It was a death sentence: if Do-ha died, the system died, and humanity ended.
"What...? Extinction? If Do-ha dies, we're all done for?"
The streets turned to pandemonium in an instant.
Drivers abandoned their cars and fled; hunters inside buildings smashed windows to pour out into the chaos.
Holy shit, look at the sky right now! Timer's counting down, this is fucking insane
Author: Anonymous
Thought it was bullshit, but it's real. 1,000 assassins just dropped from the sky.
Saw the system alert? If Do-ha dies, extinction countdown starts.
Seoul folks, what the hell are you doing? Get out there and tank for him!! If that guy dies, our families are fucked!!
Grabbing my kitchen knife and heading out. Gotta save my daughter, fuck!
Hunters at Gangnam Station, rally up!! No weapons? Throw rocks!!
Those dog-shit spies daring to gamble with humanity's lives?
A golden wave exploded from beneath Do-ha's feet.
Even without his intent, the system forcibly expanded [Sanctuary: Do-ha] across all of Seoul to protect its master.
[Cleanse All Hostile Forces in Do-ha Sanctuary Quest Issued]
[Success: Lee Do-ha Exclusive Equipment Provided + System Authority Expansion]
And in that moment, true hell unfolded not from the sky, but on the ground.
The safest everyday life twisted into the most horrific site of betrayal.
In a Seoul beer hall:
"Hey, Kim Min-su, what's that on your forehead?"
Park Jun-young, an aspiring hunter who'd been drinking to steel himself before rushing out to protect Do-ha, froze.
His best friend of ten years, Min-su, the guy he'd toasted with just yesterday while praying for hunter exam success.
A vivid red [Traitor's Brand] burned on his forehead.
The surrounding noise faded; only the crimson letters on his friend's brow filled his vision—a vision of terror.
"Min-su...? What's wrong? System glitch? Right?"
Jun-young's voice trembled, a desperate plea for denial.
But Min-su's eyes, lifting to meet his, held no trace of the warmth Jun-young knew. Only fanatic zeal gleamed there.
"Jun-young, get out of the way."
"What?"
"If we kill Do-ha... our homeland can be great again. That monopolist is ruining the world!"
Min-su drew a black dagger from his coat. Jun-young stumbled back.
Revulsion at the incomprehensible reality hit before betrayal did.
"You psycho... You were a spy? All our time together a lie? Answer me, Kim Min-su!"
"For the greater good!"
Min-su swung at Jun-young.
But the blade never connected—other hunters in the bar and passersby piled onto Min-su.
"You traitor scum!"
"Kill him! This bastard's gonna get us all killed!"
Friendship was crushed on blood-smeared asphalt.
Jun-young sobbed, watching his friend pummeled by hunters on the floor.
The friend he knew had sold out humanity—and he had to let him die by his own hand. Or not.
Just one of thousands of tragedies unfolding across Seoul.
Meanwhile, at the airport:
"Security level maxed! Hunters, move to Seoul immediat—Gurk!"
The announcement cut off as the staffer's throat was slit.
The airport's third defense squad guarding arrivals—elite hunters trusted by the nation—all 300 bore red brands on their foreheads simultaneously.
Uniformed guardians turned into the deadliest killers in a horrific twist.
"All units, engage! Tie up the hunters—even if you have to slaughter civilians!"
With the squad leader's roar, shields meant to protect became weapons of massacre.
Magic bullets rained on travelers; the airport became a slaughterhouse.
"Mom! Help!"
"The guards have gone mad! They're shooting us!"
Screams and explosions mingled in chaos.
But the carnage didn't last.
Rankers and guild leaders from across the nation, abandoning departures to rush to Seoul and save Do-ha, witnessed it.
"You worthless dogs!"
A massive greatsword cleaved the squad leader in half. Enraged rankers surrounded the traitors.
This wasn't mere enmity—it was loathing for fellow hunters, uniformed comrades, who'd crossed the line.
"Aren't you ashamed of those uniforms? Fed by Korean taxes, selling the country to China?"
"Argh! Mercy...!"
The squad begged, but the rankers showed none.
They smashed the 300 traitors' heads into the airport marble.
Blood flowed red along the moving walkways—a gruesome sight.
That blood wasn't just liquid; it was society's wound from shattered trust.
National Assembly:
"Citizens! Stay calm! I will protect Meister Lee Do-ha!"
Assemblyman Kang, a prominent politician, thundered from the briefing room.
His face burned with resolve, voice booming—but mid-live broadcast, red light glowed on his forehead.
Amid flashing cameras, [Apostate] etched clearly.
The naked face of power, broadcast to the nation.
"Huh...? Sir, your forehead..."
"That's a brand, right? Spy brand!"
Kang covered it in panic, but too late. Lenses zoomed mercilessly.
"This is slander! System error! All I've done for this country..."
"Shut up, you traitor!"
His guard hunter drew sword to his throat.
Even the bodyguard couldn't stomach the betrayal.
"System just leaked your accounts—three years of Russian slush funds, all of it!"
"No, I didn't know!"
Kang fled, but furious aides and reporters swarmed.
Mics became weapons, cameras blunt instruments.
The assembly floor stained with a false leader's blood.
The highest fallen lowest.
The "battle" was less war, more one-sided purge.
The thousand assassins targeting Do-ha, plus 5,612 spies hidden across Seoul.
They were ground to dust in Seoul's giant blender—no escape for system-designated foes.
[Seoul Region Hostile Forces Cleanse Complete]
[Threat Elimination Complete]
[Rewards Distributed: Lee Do-ha Equipment Granted to All Participants + System Expansion Activated]
The streets reeked of blood, yet a strange relief hung in the air.
Do-ha panted, surveying the tens of thousands encircling him.
Their clothes torn, bloodied—but eyes burned fierce.
Do-ha bowed deeply to them, body trembling, a full 90 degrees.
"Because of me... You've all suffered so much. I'm truly sorry. I'll be more careful from now on."
The world's mightiest powerholder bowing before bloodstained citizens.
Heavier than any speech, more precious than any reward—a sincere heart.
That apology echoed across Seoul via amplifiers.
Silence.
Then someone shouted.
"Meister! Lift your head! We live if you live!"
"He's right! We protected our future!"
Cheers erupted like waves. Irmi wiped tears, approaching Do-ha.
"Can you hear them, Meister? This is the world you've built."
Do-ha raised his teary eyes.
"Irmi, tell everyone here... and all who fought in Seoul: Come to the forge later. For your hard work today, I'll personally handle equipment repairs and system checks—even if it takes all night. No charge."
Seoul erupted in cheers again.
Do-ha turned back toward the forge's darkness.
He was no longer alone.
Behind him stood tens of millions who'd stake their lives, an unbreakable wall.
BOOM!
The forge door shut. Hammer strikes rang out once more.
The grandest victory march averting humanity's doom.