Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Uninvited Guests at Baekya Guild
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Baekya Guild.
Shin Somi, the guild master who had just returned from a raid, was startled by the sight of two trailers parked in front of her guild building, which resembled a temple.
They belonged to Blue Dragon and Olympus—two of the former top three guilds that had no business with her own.
“Haah… First things first…”
There was no way they had come for anything good, so Shin Somi quickly snapped a photo and sent it to Yoo Seongwon.
She didn’t include any detailed explanation, just the image itself. Spies could already be lurking around the guild premises.
“This might be exactly what I feared…”
No matter how she thought about it, these people had no reason to show up for anything positive.
Olympus might have a slim chance of proposing guild cooperation or borrowing her as an A-rank hunter, but Blue Dragon—with their son’s issue involved—approaching them first was impossible.
‘If they’d summoned me, fine. But them coming in person like this? No way. Sigh…’
That left the matter of Yoo Seongwon, the Golden Demon Knight, as the obvious culprit.
When he had been inside the B-rank dungeon, she and Elder Baek Ga-yeon had reviewed the footage. There were gaps here and there, but the Titan Stake area was relatively easy to track—just by checking the CCTVs after a full investigation.
‘Of course, considering retention periods, it might’ve been wiped. But a shop handling weapons from the Hephaestus Constellation would likely keep records longer… Anyway, stay calm and handle it.’
“Oh, Guild Master, you’re back. Was the dungeon raid a success?”
“Yes. But it looks like we have visitors. Blue Dragon and Olympus vehicles—whose are they, and what’s their business?”
“Well… They insisted on speaking to you directly. With Guild Master Go Cheonsu and A-rank hunter Legas here, we couldn’t press for more details.”
With an S-rank and an A-rank hunter present, there was no need to ask further. It had to be about the Golden Demon Knight.
No longer needing to probe, she bought time to think of a response.
“Understood. Give me a moment to freshen up, then tell them to wait…”
“No need for that.”
She had planned to use the post-raid cleanup as an excuse, but they had clearly anticipated her return.
Guild Master Go Cheonsu and Hunter Legas were already waiting to greet her.
“We’re all busy people who don’t care to linger. Let’s talk briefly. Unless… you have something to hide?”
“No, nothing like that. I just came back from a filthy dungeon and didn’t want to stink up the place. Guild Master Go Cheonsu, please follow me to the VIP room.”
“Very well.”
Normally, she would have used the general reception room, but given who they were, she led them to the VIP lounge she had prepared and maintained just for such occasions.
To gauge how much they knew and how certain they were of Yoo Seongwon’s identity, she spoke first.
“So, what brings you to this insignificant guild of ours?”
“Where’s that E+-rank hunter from your guild, Yoo Seongwon?”
“After the New Gangnam Incident, he got scared and wandered off on his own. Elder Baek Ga-yeon, the academy director, took him in.”
“…What?”
Go Cheonsu and Legas flinched at the sudden mention of Baek Ga-yeon.
She was widely known now as the Academia academy director, but to their generation, they had seen her in action as a legend among active hunters.
The man they suspected as the Golden Demon Knight suddenly being linked to that legendary hunter sowed confusion among them.
‘She probably planned this to leverage that connection.’
“This is surprising. I never imagined he’d be tied to her. Or did he pop up from an unexpected place like that?”
“No new Constellation descents around here lately. So an existing figure stepped in to help, huh.”
Go Cheonsu and Legas revised their intel on Yoo Seongwon, factoring in his connection to Baek Ga-yeon.
But it was a blatant lie. Yoo Seongwon was a pure dark horse with no ties to any Constellation or organization.
They had agreed on this cover story during their talk with Elder Baek Ga-yeon, anticipating such questions.
“Fine. Just one question, then. Is that Yoo Seongwon the Golden Demon Knight?”
“Yes, he is.”
“Really? I expected denial… You’re admitting it awfully easily.”
“Why deny it when you two must have come prepared with solid evidence? There’s no reason for Blue Dragon’s master and Olympus’s ace to visit a guild like ours without that level of certainty.”
That was why Shin Somi had so readily confirmed Yoo Seongwon’s identity.
Denying it would be pointless; they clearly had near-irrefutable proof. There was no need to waste time on futile arguments and build resentment.
“Hmm. Fair enough. So, what’s your relationship with him?”
“We’ve received favors from him, and he’s shared info on stolen goods, guilds, and hunters. He has no interest in joining the Association or any guild.”
“We could tell from his movements. But was he aiming to be a Scavenger? Or some other goal? Or does he follow a Constellation?”
“I don’t know the details. It’s purely a mutual-benefit partnership. That’s all.”
She knew plenty about Yoo Seongwon, but sometimes, believable lies were better than unbelievable truths.
‘SS-rank stats and skills, top-tier gear, powerful summons—and all he wants is to live quietly out of the spotlight.’
Saying that honestly would sound insane to the pinnacle of Korea’s hunter world.
“Hmm… Appreciate the candor, Guild Master. But aiding the culprit of the First New Gangnam Incident is something we can’t overlook.”
“Wow, Guild Master Go Cheonsu, that’s harsh. You’re being too rough on someone who cooperated fully. Thanks to that incident, you easily crushed the Seoul guilds and claimed the top spot. Haha!”
‘…As expected, they’re not here just to confirm.’
If that were the case, they wouldn’t have dragged trailers along.
Go Cheonsu’s words were outright blackmail. Baekya Guild, now culpable, was ripe for devouring.
“By the way, those sponsor families and Seoul Guild folks hate the First New Gangnam Incident even more than the Second. The evil-aligned Mountain Ghost Constellation was their sworn enemy even before the barrier went up, and they can’t touch them legally. But you? Different story.”
“Whew…”
Baekya Guild was officially under the Association, making lawsuits viable.
Even limiting to the First Incident, the barrier collapse caused billions in damage. A flood of suits from sponsor families would bankrupt a mid-tier guild like theirs. And Scavengers would target her too.
“Weren’t you after the Golden Demon Knight from the start?”
“We’re aiming for bigger gains too. A potential S-rank and an A-rank. Such talents are wasted in a small guild like this, no?”
“Why not check their own wishes first?”
“This industry doesn’t fuss over methods when recruiting hunters. It’s priority one. And with Constellation contracts, it’s ironclad.”
A Constellation’s oath symbolized unbreakable trust—or inescapable bondage.
Drag him over, oaths or not; once the Constellation vow was sworn, loyalty was assured.
That’s why they pressured without pandering.
“Hey, miss, forget this dump. How about Olympus? Even if you join Blue Dragon, grudges will make staying in Korea a hassle. Just leave the country—easiest solution, right? Haha!”
His light, polished tone carried the same threat as Blue Dragon’s: same playbook.
But Shin Somi showed no fear or fluster under the pressure.
She wouldn’t have become a Constellation’s apostle without the guts to withstand this.
“In that case, perfect. I can ditch this burdensome guild master role, and a long-overdue adventure sounds nice.”
“Hah, you’ve got spine. Negotiations failed, then. Time for Plan B: temporary arrest of the Golden Demon Knight’s accomplice…”
Threats failing, they moved to force.
Unthinkable for Korea’s top guilds, ignoring law and order like thugs. But even before Awakeners, the world teemed with those above rules.
“How petty.”
“Call it rational.”
Now, no force in Korea could check Blue Dragon, the nation’s strongest.
With the Golden Demon Knight as pretext, “arrest” was just a formality.
“Ah, this means we split the spoils. We’re good with the A-rank. The daughter? That auntie can snag her.”
“Likely. Better send people ahead.”
‘…How do they see people?’
Even pre-coordinated with Olympus—that terrified Shin Somi more.
Before her: S-rank Go Cheonsu and A-rank Legas, both frontline fighters.
As a caster A-rank specialized in dungeon support, she was at a dire disadvantage.
Fighting? Impossible. Escaping? No chance.
Any twitch, and they’d knock her out cold.
‘Should I have pretended to agree? No, they’d force a Constellation oath. What now?’
Cold sweat trickled down her neck.
Go Cheonsu and Legas eyed her like cornered prey, toying lightly.
Beyond enjoyment, the standoff aimed to wear her down, crush resistance.
Shin Somi resisted the intangible pressure as best she could, but a sealed box would eventually crush her.
‘If only I could contact Ayoung…!’
Magic? Impossible. Not even a finger.
The intensifying battle aura clouded her mind.
All she could do was pray to her Constellation, the Balancer—but silence.
‘…Is it… over for… me?’
[Damn it! Stepping up like this isn’t my style!]
‘That’s… ah…’
Boom!
Struggling to endure the violent pressure, her vision blurring as consciousness faded, she spotted a familiar golden-armored knight.
Believing in salvation without gods, she collapsed.