Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: Pastor Lee's Clones
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But the ones suffering were only the Japanese people and government. For the scavengers and mafia who had crossed over from Japan, it was nothing short of paradise.
At this point, the quality of hunters capable of maintaining public order and security had plummeted.
Even one S-rank per organization made it hard to keep them in check, but the subordinates of the constellation Slaughter King who had come from Korea numbered four who were equivalent to S-rank.
***
Tokyo outskirts, Undercity.
“If I’d known it’d be like this, I should’ve come sooner. Man, this new Undercity is even better than before, and there are way more slaves. It’s much nicer than Pyongyang.”
“Plus, the land’s vast, wild dungeons are plentiful, plenty of game to hunt, adult vids(?), figures(?), too… Haha.”
“…Wonho, you into that stuff? Anyway, there are too many big shots here who came to grab power.”
“No problem. Our guys aren’t average, you know? Masters of urban warfare and hunting.”
Just as he said, the traps and booby traps set by the scavengers under Slaughter King were nearly silent, freely deployable according to each person’s skills, and consumables like crossbows, bolts, crossbow strings, and traps could be easily crafted anytime with just magic stones, human bones, flesh, and hides.
Some even contracted demons and used them like hunting dogs, making them utterly terrifying.
“Be careful in case they prepare countermeasures against us… Any tough spots or big players?”
“No big shots from China or Russia. Probably because they’re government-backed—if they send those kinds, and identities get exposed, it’d be a national embarrassment. The Americans are from scavenger companies, but they’re all merchants at heart, so no real heavy hitters.”
“What are they selling?”
“Weapons for awakeners and hunters. They sell to us, and even to the Japanese government over there~ Total lunatics.”
“Nothing strange about it. Isn’t arms dealing America’s top business? Puha!”
With famous scavengers from around the world gathered, this place wasn’t just a marketplace—it was the perfect testing ground for hunter and awakener weapons.
Firearms and guns were just the start; magic armaments, scrolls, mana detectors, and more were consumed by the thousands daily in fights, with all sorts of cutting-edge gear and equipment constantly flowing in.
“And that’s why Pastor Lee’s been thrilled.”
“You can secretly buy and sell goods here in the chaos that you couldn’t even approach otherwise. Definitely a boon.”
“Exactly.”
The chaos in Japan was a golden opportunity for Pastor Lee too. American awakener equipment companies pushing into new markets, plus ties to the Chinese and Russian governments, had actually made supply lines smoother.
His research was progressing rapidly as a result.
“Good thing everything’s going well.”
“Ugh? Pastor Lee? Didn’t you say not to call you when you’re busy, but here you are.”
Speak of the devil—the two chatting away were startled as Pastor Lee approached in his usual demeanor.
He’d set up a lab in the Undercity and never emerged without being called, so Park Sookja and Kwak Youngho were flustered by his sudden appearance.
“What brings you out today?”
“Ah, I needed something. Was gonna ask you to pick it up on your way out.”
“Can’t you just call?”
“Wanted some fresh air too. Anyway, I’ll give you magic stones…”
“Young slaves, 20s to 30s, male or female…”
“Get me 30.”
At those words, two more Pastor Lees suddenly peeked out from behind him.
Park Sookja and Kwak Youngho, horrified like they’d seen a horror flick, whipped out weapons and aimed at the trio.
“What the fuck are you? Who sent you?”
“Magic? Some kinda spell?”
“Calm down.”
“They’re all real.”
“This is the fruit of my research.”
“Mew, if even you S-rank hunters are fooled, it’s a perfect success.”
“Uwaaaah!”
A Hanwoo beastman version of Pastor Lee even appeared behind the three human ones.
He stood grinning smugly behind his identical copies, satisfied at Park Sookja and Kwak Youngho’s freakout.
Even these guys, who knew him best among humans, were completely duped—so normals wouldn’t have a chance.
“Y-you old coot! There’s a limit to treating us like idiots! What the hell is this? Wait, those… are clones of yourself?”
“Mew~ Of course. Theory and experiments need repetition. And for proof, cloning myself is most effective, right? Isn’t it, ‘me’s?”
“Exactly.”
“No doctrine shines without practice.”
“Heh heh heh.”
‘…Creepy! Even knowing they’re clones, how do they sync so well? Insane.’
The Pastor Lees meshed perfectly, which only looked more bizarre and scary to Park Sookja and Kwak Youngho.
Usually, clone or doppelganger tales had one killing the other upon meeting, driven by loathing for the threat to their position—but Pastor Lee seemed utterly unfazed.
“Well… at least they get along. Was half-expecting knives out.”
“Though our bodies are divided, we’re linked by one faith. These ‘me’s know they’re clones, but our true ‘devotion’ is singular.”
“Amen.”
“Amen.”
“Amen.”
‘…Unbelievable. But practical stuff like this means research is nearing endgame. Wow~ Japan’s results this impressive? At this level, core dungeons, Slaughter King aside—he’d be welcomed anywhere.’
Unclear how perfect, but if they shared ‘appearance, knowledge, and even thoughts as the same person,’ it was as good as technical success.
“…So why show off clones suddenly? Just bragging? And those clones… can they use your abilities fully?”
“Awakening is ‘God’s bestowed grace.’ Can’t clone that. Hum hum! Never planned to. My goal is purely a ‘human factory.’ Mass-producing tastier, superior offerings.”
“But aren’t awakener meats tastier? Better as sacrifices too.”
As Park Sookja said, Slaughter King preferred awakener and hunter offerings over normals.
Even Pastor Lee here had fully ascended as apostle only after sacrificing an S-rank hunter.
So mass-producing plain humans wouldn’t yield proper efficiency.
“Muhuhu, exactly. But grasp the theory’s core. Is the ‘awakened’ great? Or the ‘chosen for awakening’? You don’t know the truth yet. What if you think of ‘souls’ worthy of ‘awakening,’ and meat containing those ‘souls’?”
“…So, quality humans get ‘awakened’? Not that ‘awakened’ humans are good?”
“Close to the truth. It’s not because they’re ‘awakeners’ or ‘hunters’ that they’re favored. It’s because they’re the ‘humans’ chosen for it that they taste divine.”
“…Ah, yes. Got it. So, just run the errand?”
“Muuu~ Yes. Thanks to ‘myself,’ research staff’s no issue now. Appreciate it.”
To fulfill the request from the now even more unhinged apostle Pastor Lee, Park Sookja started contacting her scavenger underlings.
If they had captives, buy with magic stones; otherwise, head into Tokyo district to hunt themselves.
Pastor Lee’s plan was at its finale—just needed the final push.
The day his research completed, Slaughter King’s forces and ‘Pastor Lee’ would grow near-infinitely stronger.
Crucially, most knew nothing of his research—and even if they did, dismissed it as nonsense or urban legend—so no one could check him.
***
Iron Fortress.
Though recuperating, Yoo Seongwon felt bad just lounging, so he left frontline city duties to Ayoung and handled Iron Fortress management to split the load.
He spent time tending to the three rescued S-rank hunters and the awakened kids.
“Honestly, don’t model after someone like me. Opportunist, money-grubber, got hurt messing with a core dungeon. Anyway, don’t think this place is forever. The ark must remain an ark.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“And stop with the ‘Your Majesty’! Yocheong, Jinseok, Junghan are weirdos— you kids, don’t do it!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“Oh! Good, perfect. Even in a wheelchair, I’m SS-rank. You there yelling—over the hill for a spanking!”
A grown man over thirty acting childish, but his presence alone brightened Iron Fortress’s mood.
Some unease over his health, but with all knights intact, external colluders abandoned rebellion, and internal troublemakers purged—no worries.
“Ayoung’ll chew me out seeing this, wondering if I’m working.”
“What’s wrong with it, sis? My turn to slack. Went to a core dungeon and all… Hey, Jaeyoung, Hayoung, Suyeong—where are they?”
“In class with the elder. S-ranks are a handful to control. They listen now you’re here.”
“And the names… no complaints?”
“Everyone’s happy with that part, luckily.”
The three kids from Japan. After agonizing, he gave them his surname ‘Yoo’: boy Yoo Jaeyoung, girls Yoo Hayoung and Yoo Suyeong.
Stumped on names, Ayoung came to mind—her role in their adjustment made her ‘young’ character the perfect generational name.
“Couldn’t properly care for them amid core dungeon runs… Glad they follow me anyway.”
“Probably that Perseia thing? Saving them from near-death helped most. They rebelled hard otherwise, insisting only you’d do. Made me and Ayoung suffer… Good Yocheong stayed. Whew~”
Young S-rank hunters, ex-special forces with brutal training and mods—weapons forged, not born.
No unique classes; specialist types supplemented with needed skills/stats.
“When they raided the armory, fully geared to rescue you, and bolted from Iron Fortress—heart stopped. Elder, Ayoung, and I suppressed quick, or disaster.”
“…Haha, hahaha.”
They passed days in such cheerless chats turned routine.
Post-core dungeon flop, ‘recuperation’ excuse worked too well, letting him savor peace—wondering if he should visit Ayoung after kids’ class, he checked his phone.
A mail arrived in his account, furrowing his brow.
[Mail from ‘Olympus Guild’ has arrived.]
“These bastards, what do they want now… Haa~”
Dread at the headache-inducing phrase; resisting urge to spam without reading or block, Yoo Seongwon opened it.