Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Exposed Trails
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“So, how exactly did you clear that B-rank dungeon? It’s got an apostle of the constellation Hundred-Eyed Bird of Pain in it, so it couldn’t have been easy… Time dragging on is understandable, of course.”
“……”
Yoo Seongwon flinched at Elder Baek Gayeon’s question.
He hadn’t done a single thing during that dungeon clear, so it was awkward to even respond.
Sure, he could say something if pressed, but that would be as good as spitting in his own face, so there was no way he’d do it.
“…It’s a secret.”
“Oh, good attitude. You know how to keep yourself hidden without needing lessons. That’s right, that’s how it should be. For C-rank and higher dungeons, secrecy is always the best policy.”
‘Is this going to slide?’
It had turned into some kind of confidentiality test in reverse, but somehow it passed, and Yoo Seongwon breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’ll just fudge the report somehow. You’ve got experience fighting Hundred-Eyed Bird forces, so faking it won’t be hard. And since you’re officially E+ rank, claiming you soloed it would be a huge deal, so how about we say the whole team did it together? Sound good?”
“Sure, whatever.”
“Um, excuse me. W-Wait a second, Headmaster… I mean, Leader! Could you change my part? If you include my B-rank clear on my record, I’m done for!”
Everything seemed to be going smoothly until Ayoung suddenly shot to her feet and objected.
If things stayed on this track, she’d end up as Academia’s biggest star.
Level 45, A+ status upgrade, plus tagging along with S- and A-ranks—even clearing officially as a four-man team would be a massive achievement.
“Hm? If we say you got carried, it won’t count as that big a deal, right? Aren’t you worrying too much?”
“And if you were that worried, shouldn’t you not have come in the first place?”
“That’s separate—I wanted the level-up. Anyway, leave me out entirely, or write it as me collapsing in battle or getting trapped and rescued. I’m exhausted enough without more drama. Things are chaotic as it is… Ah~ I don’t wanna go back to Academia!”
Shin Ayoung grumbled as she flopped face-down on the empty table, whining.
She’d just face endless “S-rank hopeful” harassment disguised as advances from all sides once she returned, so of course she didn’t want to go.
Shin Somi sighed with a helpless look, while former headmaster Baek Gayeon nodded knowingly, understanding her plight.
“Now you get how I feel? Ugh~ And you’re not even a confirmed S-rank yet… Imagine what it’s like for me if it gets out.”
“There’s that old strategy: hide the tree in the forest. Shall we use it? The identity of the SS-rank Golden Demon Knight is! Dun dun duuun!”
“That’s definitely a solid strategy. As long as you think about the fallout.”
“I’m kidding, kidding~ You think I’d sacrifice someone else to make my life easier? That’s the worst.”
Stab!
Her follow-up excuse pierced Yoo Seongwon’s gut deeply.
The ‘Shin Gangnam Incident’ alone was a massive mess he’d caused deliberately to cover his own tracks, so of course it stung.
Sure, he wanted to casually point out that stuff like that happened all the time in society, but that would be the same as telling her to sell him out, so he held his tongue.
‘In the end, it boils down to the coward’s advice of picking your battles wisely. Gotta endure.’
“Anyway, with the B-rank clear done, C-ranks and other B-ranks should be easier now.”
“No. That B-rank felt like a special case. I’m counting it as zero real clears. It was remnant Hundred-Eyed Bird forces from the start, so it won’t help much against other constellations’ factions. The content was… way too different from standard dungeons.”
“Hmm, honestly, that makes me even more jealous. A dungeon type that breaks away from just fighting and beating monsters. It’s rarer in reverse. Most hunters struggle with those types, so the experience is a huge asset.”
He’d basically just built a house in the dungeon and lounged around until the boss gave up—that was it. Her high praise left Yoo Seongwon at a loss for words.
But she was right: experience with irregular dungeons was invaluable. It honed the composure hunters needed for constant surprises.
“Hmm~ Anyway, that wraps my B-rank. Let’s head to the next one right away. Granny, no backstabbing this time.”
“Next dungeon’s at least a week out. Even with me here, you can’t just blast through high-rank B-ranks like that. People need time to prepare and brace themselves.”
“So, cooldown needed. Fine by me. I’ve got stuff to do in the meantime.”
“Oh? Did clearing a B-rank give you some hunter enlightenment?”
“Nah. Thinking of grabbing a mountain and building a house.”
Baek Gayeon’s face froze in disbelief at Yoo Seongwon’s answer.
This guy cleared a B-rank and still wasn’t thinking like a hunter—he was plotting how to hide from the world.
What kind of willpower was that? It was almost admirable.
“A house? You’re already planning to turn your back on society and go full hermit?”
“Sounds great.”
“Good lord, is that really something to say?”
“It’s not wrong, is it? The eternal dream of the common folk, one of the top reasons for Korea’s low birth rate, and still an unsolved issue.”
Yoo Seongwon countered sharply, but to Shin Somi’s family—who’d built wealth hustling in hunter circles—and Elder Baek Gayeon, it hit differently. They looked shocked for a second before recovering.
“You put it that way, and I’ve got nothing to say. Fair enough—nesting isn’t a bad idea.”
“Didn’t expect you to let it slide.”
“Everyone chases different things, right? Better than scheming evil. I’ll help. Need land, yeah? A mere staffer buying pricey property would raise flags, so I’ll scout realtors with you.”
Even as a has-been, no big realtor would dare scam an official S-rank. Her help was definitely worth it.
“Just find the mountain. I’ll build it myself. Everything from scratch, sourcing materials one by one.”
“Hoo? Didn’t peg you for having construction know-how. You sure?”
“One of my knights is a pro at it.”
“Ah~ Those guys? With a dragon in the mix, labor’s free— just materials. Issue’s permits~ Eh, delays won’t matter. You’re building your way anyway, so blueprints are pointless. More importantly, not gonna introduce those knight friends?”
“Hmm, they’re my ace in the hole. I’ll show you later.”
Yoo Seongwon smiled and brushed it off. He really didn’t want this old lady meeting his knights if he could help it.
No real friction, but they’d probably hit it off too well, and he wanted to avoid that.
‘This granny’s recklessness is Don Quixote-level. My knights would drop dead for her type. Can’t let them bond.’
He could already picture them drumming up “chivalry,” “honor,” “duty,” “justice.”
The status window’s constant “chivalry” spam was headache enough— if they started chanting it outside too, he’d lose it.
‘Can’t hide forever, but… delay as long as possible. Sigh~ And eventually, I’ll have to show them ‘that’ in the dungeon.’
Fighting while spouting honor and duty was annoying enough—he wanted to put it off as long as possible.
Of course, he couldn’t hide indefinitely, so stalling was best.
“Fine, if you say so. Got it. So you and I scout land ASAP, and Guild Master Shin Somi and Ayoung head back?”
“Yes. I’ve got guild business.”
“Gotta go back to Academia too. Sigh~ Dealing with all those creeps again… Ugh~”
With the dungeon conquered, they scattered to their tasks.
Yoo Seongwon and Baek Gayeon stayed with the trailer; Shin Ayoung headed to her Academia dorm, and Guild Master Shin Somi returned to Baekya Guild.
As Yoo Seongwon scanned maps for a homesite, Baek Gayeon offered quiet advice.
“By the way, while you were in the dungeon, we did a full review of your movements and flagged risks.”
“Why the sudden weirdness?”
“Weird? We’re in the same boat now. Had to check. You think the ones chasing the Golden Demon Knight won’t target us?”
The Golden Demon Knight was now an SS-rank threat. Plenty hunted his trail, and anyone linked or informed would be marked.
While Yoo Seongwon dungeoned, Baek Gayeon and Shin Somi had audited everything.
“…No way. So, what’d you find?”
“You handled individuals fine, but overall? Not good.”
“Huh?”
“Look. Your trail. From staff days onward—every major incident the last few months, you’re in all of them.”
From the Go Seongjun harassing Shin Ayoung incident, to S-rank demon Jeong Min-su, SS-rank demon human-breeder Pastor Lee’s Seoul attack, then Shin Gangnam. Anyone spotting one figure repeating in big events would get suspicious.
“…You’re tied to all these, right? At least you skipped the S-rank monster Leghorn. But here’s the kicker: the weapon you use as Golden Demon Knight? Olympus Guild’s Titan Stake. No traits or options—just monstrous hardness and weight… not even meant as a weapon.”
“But it’s super useful.”
“Doesn’t matter if it works for you—probably how they tracked you. It’s not common.”
“What?”
It blindsided Yoo Seongwon.
The craftsman from constellation Hephaestus who gave it swore secrecy by oath to his constellation. How would they link it to him?
He tilted his head blankly, and Baek Gayeon sighed, explaining in detail.
“Olympus execs would spot it instantly and investigate. Their constellation’s divine relic in some punk’s hands?”
“Ah! So they traced the Titan Stake to that weapon shop I visited.”
Even without the Hephaestus craftsman spilling, they’d pull every stop to find the Titan Stake’s owner.
Locate the shop it vanished from, scour CCTV and records around it—‘Yoo Seongwon,’ popping up in every incident, would stick out.
“They might’ve already pegged you as the Golden Demon Knight.”
“…Damn! Can’t even relax!”
“Time’s short. Fate’s hand is pulling you in.”
“So… what am I supposed to do?”
“That’s on you. Since when do you listen to others? Heh.”
Her past demeanor suddenly felt like payback.
Her words stirred real anxiety—guilds and the world closing in.
And the Try-Head Bird’s buried words resurfaced to torment him.
“Sigh~ Hm? Call? Why now… Huh?”
Fate’s hand, craving more torment, delivered fresh trouble before he’d prepared.
Guild Master Shin Somi’s message: no text, just a photo of Blue Dragon Guild and Olympus Guild vehicles parked at Baekya Guild’s entrance.