Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: End of the Respite
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"Ah, there you are."
"I told you not to call me unless it's an emergency... So what's the reason?"
"It's an emergency, that's why I called. I've got important news. About that commission you're handling, the one on Pastor Lee. There are other incidents, but this takes priority."
"What the hell did that guy do now... It hasn't even been long since he got smashed to pieces, and he's stirring up trouble again...? Huh? He's dead?"
Yoo Seongwon jumped in surprise the moment he saw the report titled 'Pastor Lee's Death.'
He knew the guy had retreated safely after being repelled, so he was curious about what had killed him. He immediately checked the documents.
"Ah, infighting among his followers? And dismantling the human ranch? Yeah, that pretty much seals it."
"Thanks to Pastor Lee's actions, three Archdemon Beasts vanished. With a blunder like that, even the constellation Slaughter King would be pissed. His other followers and apostles wouldn't sit still either."
"Well, at least he's dead now. That guy really seemed dangerous."
Having met him in person, Yoo Seongwon found Pastor Lee chillingly terrifying.
On the surface, he looked like a mild-mannered, intellectual clergyman grandpa, but he was a true serial killer who'd cooked and offered tens of thousands of humans. That gaze and madness were more horrifying than any horror movie demon.
"Not just dangerous—he was one of the top villains in all of Asia. Sigh~ Just look at this incident. A guy who can rally every Scavenger, Demon, and dungeon monster at once isn't common."
"So he had that kind of status. But what about my mission and the reward?"
"Hmm... It's a tricky issue, but the Association's holding off judgment until there's solid proof of Pastor Lee's death. Contribution distribution is never straightforward."
"Ah~ I don't know the details, but it's clear they don't want to pay me. Hmm? What's this?"
As Yoo Seongwon kept reading the report, he spotted something odd.
It was a statement from the Association and government explaining that his account freeze was due to the judiciary. They claimed it was unavoidable because of connections to Shin Gangnam's power players, and that the executive branch, Ministry of Defense, and Hunter Association were innocent.
"Personal details on the judge who froze my account and other judiciary folks? Giving this to me means they want me to handle it myself?"
"...Yeah, something like that. The government's hands are tied because of those Shin Gangnam influencers and politicians. Resolving it through political battles and backroom deals would take months..."
"So basically, since the shit's already hit the fan, they want me to clean it up."
"What'll you do?"
"If a pond can't self-purify, better let it rot dry. Plus, I don't feel like dancing to the tune of the big shots."
With that, he flipped past it as if forgetting it and continued reading the report.
Next up was nationwide chaos among Hunter guilds and Scavengers due to Pastor Lee's mess, so they were calling a total assembly to restore order and poll lower guilds.
"Total assembly? So they're summoning everyone for what?"
"Roll call."
"Then I don't have to go. Or maybe you could proxy for me, Elder."
"Why not at least check the mood among the Hunters?"
"Nah. I'd just fan the flames if I showed. Better to hit a dungeon and level up—keeps my mind at ease. Anyway, that's all the agenda. I'm heading out."
Yoo Seongwon finished checking the remaining docs, handed them back to Baek Ga-yeon, and flew off on Eldraen.
She thought she was getting used to it by now, but Baek Ga-yeon still couldn't pin down Yoo Seongwon's personality.
Still, thanks to the 'knights' he'd summoned, even if he acted like a total slacker, she figured he was somehow steering things positively. With that in mind, she left the dungeon for other business.
"Krokbane? What're you doing?"
[Sunbathing... Master.]
Flying the opposite way this time, he spotted Krokbane lying naked by the lake.
Nude, but as a dragonkin, he looked almost dinosaur-like—no sense of incongruity.
"Well, no issue there. But Akaron, you too?"
[Collecting data fragments, Master.]
"That's... even with overtechnology, gotta do it, huh. Gaulf and Seom-myeol?"
[Both on standby in the sanctuary.]
"...Alright. Ugh, looks like it's you two for playtime this time."
With that, Yoo Seongwon flopped down between data-collecting Akaron and sunbathing Krokbane.
Not sure if 'play' was the right word, but Krokbane turned his head slightly while prone and spoke.
[Master... so... next fight... when? I want... to battle... those guys again.]
"Hmm, probably not seeing those guys for a while. They're busy with their own infighting—won't come down."
[Then... we invade... them?]
"Why should we go out of our way to suffer?"
[Repelled invasion... captured execs... advantage ours... strike before regroup... good... so let's go.]
'Like a puppy begging for a walk.'
Krokbane tugged at Yoo Seongwon's clothes with his teeth, pleading, but since 'going' meant war, Yoo Seongwon naturally refused.
"Nah, I don't really wanna go."
[I see... shame.]
His tail drooped as he resumed his prone position.
Yoo Seongwon felt a twinge of pity, but he didn't want to start a fight himself—nothing to be done.
As he lay there, Gaulf and Seom-myeol quietly slipped out from the sanctuary and sat nearby.
"Why'd you guys come out?"
[Heard something interesting. Anyway, attacking while their momentum's broken—like Sir Krokbane says—isn't wrong?]
"Why invite trouble? Hassle. Even if we liberate North Korea, what's in it for us~"
[Victory and honor?]
At Gaulf's words, Seom-myeol, Krokbane, and Akaron all nodded in unison.
Yoo Seongwon, meanwhile, got chills seeing his knights earnestly say and agree to such things. Subordinates or not, were they nuts?
"...For real?"
"I agree with Sir Gaulf this time, Captain. It's obvious evil sits up there—whoever looks sees it."
"...True, but..."
From Slaughter King down to his minions—top-tier villains, no question.
Monsters that eat humans, even dreaming of human ranches to livestock them. Perfect.
Sure, Pastor Lee's status was unknown, but his Scavengers and Undercity still ran on slavery—that was fact.
"Born as knights in this 'Stars' Battlefield'! Evil we must topple exists? That's a blessing! Serving a wise captain is luck upon luck! Captain! Resting is fine, of course. But when you head out, please consider subjugating the wicked forces of constellation Slaughter King."
[Grrr! Sir Seom-myeol speaks... truth!]
"Hmm~ Can't deny it. I'll think about it based on the situation."
Seom-myeol's intimidating aura, plus the others chiming in, wasn't something he could flat-out refuse.
Anyway, once he left, there was the assembly, other dungeons for leveling—he figured if they pushed, he'd forget or get sidetracked. So he let it slide.
'What the hell, subjugating Slaughter King? His core dungeon's S-rank difficulty. They're insane, seriously!'
Constellation core dungeon.
Also called S-rank constellation dungeon, stronghold, temple—whatever. It was the heart of evil-aligned constellations.
'...Only a madman would go there. Ugh! Forget it, forget.'
Surpassing normal S-rank dungeons, it was their core essence, raison d'être—a temple, even.
Known to exceed imagination in difficulty, just thinking about it paled Yoo Seongwon's face as he shook his head, desperately trying to forget.
***
Two weeks passed like that, marking the 17th day since entering the Goblin Empire Dungeon.
Yoo Seongwon had been having a blast until then.
No electronics needed—status window expansion let him watch TV and surf the net. He safely toured the Goblin Empire Dungeon too.
Occasionally sparred with his 'knights' to keep his edge sharp, helped train goblin soldiers joining the Thousand Sword Army—never bored.
'Sigh~ What to do about that.'
"Elder."
"Yes?"
"I'm heading out tomorrow, so pass the word to Iron Fortress."
After all the fun, his bombshell statement shocked Baek Ga-yeon. Her eyes widened as she stared and asked again.
"What did you just say?"
"Heading out, so relay it. Rested enough—time to work."
"Ah, no... You ignored me no matter what before..."
"Well, I hadn't rested fully then. Now leveling up's on my mind, gotta raise So-mi noona and A-young's levels too. Plus, even without Pastor Lee, Slaughter King's forces are still strong—makes me uneasy..."
Yoo Seongwon's anxiety was the everyday sort common folk felt.
Rest felt great at first, but the longer it went, the more unease gnawed: gotta do something. Eventually, back to work.
Never one for abundance, he couldn't endure it. As an awakener not at his limit yet, he chose to step out himself.
"Anyway, once out, assembly or whatever first—so keep that in mind. Prep to leave."
'Heh, my worries were unfounded.'
Anxious he'd crumble in peace or abandon everything, Baek Ga-yeon relaxed at his resolve, left the dungeon, and began prepping to return to Iron Fortress.