Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Indifferent Guilds and Commanding Presence
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“Shin Gangnam may be a cesspool full of scumbags and problems, but if we turn that barrier into a fortress and stop the Mountain Stronghold and Scavengers from turning the Under City into their base, Seoul can avoid becoming a warzone for the time being. How about we start by thinking about the fallout if things get worse?”
“The elder’s words are correct.”
“Then let’s start there... and resolve it.”
He had retired from hunter work and wasn’t leading any faction or guild now.
Still, his decades of surviving dungeons couldn’t be ignored, and his opinion hit the nail on the head, leaving no room for argument.
“Damn old hag’s being a pain again.”
“It’s a solid point, so no arguing that... but tch. Looks like you’re not thrilled about it either.”
“As if Olympus is any better? Arkades.”
“Hey~ It’s not that bad. I don’t care either way. Just a bit interested in the scraps that’ll come from Seoul Guild tearing itself apart and collapsing? Nothing like Blue Dragon openly targeting Korea’s top guilds.”
Go Cheonsu, Blue Dragon Guild Master, and Arkades, dispatched from Olympus, were both here.
Both S-Class hunters, Arkades wasn’t Korean-affiliated but had come for the Golden Demon Knight investigation, only to get dragged into this emergency summons.
“I’m not exactly hoping they fail. But I’m not going out of my way to help either.”
“Same here.”
With that, the two confirmed they didn’t care if Shin Gangnam fell or held, ignored the rest of the meeting, and focused on swapping recent intel.
“So, what’ve you found out about the Golden Demon Knight?”
“Oh dear, why ask about that all of a sudden?”
“Because that Golden Demon Knight’s weapon is a Titan Stake, made by Hephaestus—one of the constellations you serve. Think we’re idiots? A quick investigation turns that up.”
“As expected of Blue Dragon. We noticed too and kept it under wraps... Hmm~”
Besides these two, all the top guilds in Korea were obsessed with investigating the Golden Demon Knight.
Designated SS-Class demon, but judging purely as a threat to humanity, it was ambiguous.
He’d taken down the Slaughter King’s apostle and monsters, and the clash with Seoul Guild was due to Chairman Bae’s twisted hobby—so morally, he leaned good, meaning dialogue might be possible.
“But even knowing it’s a Titan Stake, those things were mass-produced and scattered worldwide, so tracking one missing piece is impossible. They weren’t made as weapons to begin with.”
“Still, not just anyone can use it, so it probably hasn’t moved much. Investigation should turn it up quick.”
“Well, we did find a suspicious spot, but the problem is we swore on our constellation’s name, so we can’t dig further.”
“Then how about sharing that? We have to find the guy. Our Cheon-yong got a level down from losing Jeong Min-su to him.”
The Blue Dragon constellation prized “struggle,” especially winning competitions.
Victory brought massive rewards, but defeat meant penalties, so Blue Dragon guild members were always desperate.
In the last Jeong Min-su subjugation, they’d been toyed with and lost their target to the Golden Demon Knight, landing a penalty on S-Class hunter Go Cheon-yong—his own brother—dropping him five precious levels.
“To reverse it, we have to catch him.”
“Hmm, fair enough. To flush out a hiding beast, you light a fire. Give me a sec.”
Arkades happily shared the data with Blue Dragon Guild.
Their goal was contacting the Golden Demon Knight wherever he surfaced and recruiting him, so they couldn’t poke around recklessly—having Blue Dragon do it was a welcome break.
“Hmm, looks like the meeting’s wrapping up while we chat. They settled on pushing the Shin Gangnam front together, just like the elder said.”
“Do whatever. I’ve got northern Slaughter King monsters to handle, so I’m fine.”
“Anyway, it won’t be easy, but we’re counting on you for the Golden Demon Knight.”
“The bigger the prey, the bigger the reward. And who’s facing the tough opponent here? You guys, right?”
“Hahaha.”
Olympus Guild might seem idle in Korea, but globally, as Go Cheonsu noted, they were constantly busy with massive foes on multiple fronts.
With that, the meeting ended, and the association, government, and guilds dispersed to pursue their own goals.
***
The same evening.
Baekya Guild headquarters, guild master’s office.
Having joined the prior S-Class demon Jeong Min-su subjugation, Baekya Guild was wrapping up a peaceful day’s work.
Guild Master Shin Somi was reviewing reports from hunters who’d cleared dungeons today when someone jumped up from the guest sofa ahead.
“Uwaaaah! Too much homework and reports! Mom, save meee!”
It was her daughter, Shin Ayoung, straight from school at Academia. She’d been struggling with a mountain of backlog and proxy class reports.
She’d spent about a month pretending to hold Yoo Seongwon captive while goofing off, so this was the price.
“It’s all because you wanted to do it. Be good and finish.”
“Yeees~ But Mom, how’s Shin Gangnam now? Will it affect our guild?”
“Fortunately, they’re committing full force to clean it up. But what’s Seongwon up to?”
“Uncle? Still dragged into civil defense work. Complaining about sudden extra shifts needing more supplies. He could just go fix it himself~ Mom, why’s he like that?”
To Shin Ayoung, Yoo Seongwon’s actions made no sense.
He had SS-Class demon-level combat power, leading knights rivaling S-Class hunters, yet he was just shuttling supplies in civil defense.
“He’s just someone accustomed to ‘giving up.’ Ever hear the circus elephant story?”
“Hmm~ Think I heard it in class~ Ah! The one where they chain a baby elephant so it learns it can’t break free, and it never tries even as an adult?”
“Right. Even with SS-Class demon-level power, he’s given up on the ‘world,’ so he won’t try anything. Poor guy.”
They’d investigated Yoo Seongwon beforehand due to Ayoung hanging around him.
32 this year, nine years at Academia, spent school years (minus military) in protection facilities.
His time there likely shaped his personality most—she’d dug into how he ended up there and what happened.
“At nine, he lost his family in an accident fleeing monsters and entered a protection facility, living there to adulthood... The Grandmaster Incident left a huge hunter gap, with battles and sacrifices everywhere, so it was chaos.”
“Did something bad happen there?”
“No, it gets complicated from there. No matter how good people are, harsh environments and situations break reason and dignity...”
Yoo Seongwon’s childhood coincided with the Grandmaster Incident, when S-Class hunters and others fled Korea, creating the worst hunter shortage. Korea suffered most from monsters and dungeons then.
‘With treatment facilities overwhelmed, injured and dying must’ve flooded protection sites. Kids wouldn’t get proper care. What pain, thoughts, scars in that chaos... unimaginable.’
All she could do was infer from records and photos.
Imagine young Yoo Seongwon’s view.
He’d have seen deaths as normal, people abandoned untreatable due to limits.
A child learning only powerlessness amid cruelty—what would he think as an adult?
“Probably internalized giving up and resignation first. His grades show no special talent...”
No matter the struggle, nothing gained; without talent or wisdom, only quick surrender remained.
Over twenty years of that, even SS-Class power wouldn’t change his mindset.
“Doesn’t seem talentless... Ah, it’s from awakening!”
“Yeah. Sad, isn’t it.”
But you couldn’t force or persuade someone—power gap aside, overturning personally learned life truths was too hard.
Asking one who only knew surrender to be others’ hope was cruel.
“Still, not consumed by hate or rage, so that’s a relief. Otherwise, we might’ve faced a rampaging real Golden Demon Knight by now.”
“Yeah, that’d be scary. But leaving him like this isn’t great either.”
“I know. But nothing we can do now.”
Changing a grown adult’s life way isn’t easy.
Especially one forged in suffering.
It needed a trigger or proof his values were wrong—unlikely given his nature.
“But maybe that’s why he controls his sudden immense power. Look at the three major guilds or posers everywhere bragging on good constellations boosting stats and hunter rank.”
“Oho~ Defending him at the end? You like Uncle too, Mom?”
“...! Ahem! Not that! We owe him because of you! Don’t get cocky from your A-Class stats—be self-guarded like him.”
“Yeees~ Ugh~ When will this end~”
Shin Somi hid her slight blush, wrapped it in wisdom, and dove back into work.
But Shin Ayoung smirked knowingly and buried herself in her homework pile.
***
“Alright, everyone, good work today. Go home, rest, and return here tomorrow morning. Emergency’s not over. News says full commitment to resolve, but no second Shin Gangnam closure declaration means your summons continue...”
Academia had lodging, but with Shin Gangnam not fully breached, civil defense let us off after shifts.
Watching people leave, I pondered options and headed to my assigned exclusive staff dorm at Academia.
“Tch, no choice. Anyway, full commitment means the second Shin Gangnam Incident wraps in days.”
Back at staff dorm, I showered quick, lounged in underwear on the sofa, and checked phone news.
Full commitment was announced, but busyness cut updates, so I needed details.
“Let’s see. Ooh, encirclement annihilation formation! Got it. Cut off enemy advances from Constellation Mountain Stronghold’s base in half, blocking reinforcements. Should’ve used mobile strategy sooner. Who... Huh?”
Eager for news on the reversal strategy, I checked.
Curious who flipped the tide single-handedly.
Scrolling, an unfamiliar face: eyepatch, scarred old hag. To an ex-Academia staffer like me, all too familiar.
“President? Why’s this old hag here?”
Seeing her command the front imperiously, I dove deeper into the news for details.
I’d ignore any new commander usually, but with my history with President Baek Gayeon, I couldn’t.