Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Siege at Baekya Guild
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I got a photo via text on my phone and rushed over immediately, sensing something was off.
Since I was officially Shin Ayoung's exclusive staff, I used that as an excuse for running her errand, and slipped into the guild without much trouble.
Of course, there were guys blocking the entrance, but they were out cold after sharing a deep kiss with the wall.
Anyway, the moment I smashed through the door, sure enough, shit had already hit the fan inside, just like I'd feared.
"Damn it! Stepping up like this isn't my style!"
"Golden Mine Knight!"
"Whoa... showing up here? W-Wait a sec!"
While they were thrown off by my entrance, I quickly secured Baekya Guild Master Shin Somi first.
I scooped her up in my arms, pulled out Titan's Stake, pointed it at the bastards—nope—and immediately smashed through the wall to bolt.
"...He's running?"
"Shit! Grab him now!"
'You think I'm an idiot? Start a raid right here?'
For one, we were indoors, which sucked, and this wasn't some disposable spot like Shin Gangnam—it was Baekya Guild territory.
Plus, fighting with a hostage in tow was a disadvantage, so evacuating her took priority.
I burst out of the building and raced down the road, summoning my knights.
"For something like this, the fastest option is... Seom-myeol, Akaron!"
"Yes, Captain!"
[Yes, Master!]
"You two, get her somewhere safe! I'll handle the pursuit. They might track her via belongings or electronics, so be extra careful! Seom-myeol, come back to me once she's secure and tell me the location directly!"
The two took off as ordered.
With the hostage worry out of the way, I turned to deal with our guests.
Go Cheonsu as Guild Master made sense, but the foreigner next to him was a new face.
And behind them, about twenty Hunters started encircling me, all geared up.
They had a mishmash of guns, swords, staves, and whatnot—no uniformity—but as top domestic guilds, they seemed grouped by similar weapons, ready to respond.
'Gaulf and Krokbane are primed to break out the rear anytime, so no worries there, but...'
"You got us good. Never imagined you'd show up like this. Golden Mine Knight—or should I say Yoo Seongwon?"
"Every bad feeling I had is proving spot-on, just like the old lady said. Sigh~ All because of this damn Titan's Stake. Tch..."
Of course, without Titan's Stake, I wouldn't have beaten that Archdemon Beast-Reg horn, but it was the biggest giveaway of my identity.
And future headaches aside, I had to deal with these immediate threats first.
"Call me whatever. My life's already fucked anyway—what's it matter?"
"Fucked? No need to be so dramatic. You've got a golden opportunity right in front of you."
"Pfft~ Who'd step into a pigsty? Keep the jokes in check."
"Well now~ Color me surprised."
Go Cheonsu widened his eyes, shocked that I'd called his Blue Dragon Guild a "pigsty."
Since climbing to the top three guilds, no one had dared treat him this rudely.
They held massive sway—even seats at government, association, and global guild conferences.
It had been ages since anyone dished out this kind of treatment, so rather than annoyance, it felt oddly refreshing.
"Makes sense you'd pull off something like the Shin Gangnam incident. Anyway, don't let hot blood cloud your judgment. Fighting now is one thing, but you should think about your future, no?"
"You clawed your way up without ethics or a care for the world, and now you're lecturing me about the future? Save that crap for people who've actually worked for theirs. Us trash? Let's just scrap like the filth we are."
Clack...
I said it while aiming Titan's Stake at Go Cheonsu.
All their fancy rhetoric was pointless to me.
Aftermath? Future worries? Screw that. Just smash anyone blocking my path or threatening people near me.
Even if the apocalypse hit! With Akaron handling whatever, I'd live comfortably.
***
After trading barbs with the arrogant Golden Mine Knight, Go Cheonsu grinned at the reaction from their constellation, Blue Dragon.
From the start of the talk, the guy hadn't stopped insulting his guild—and now the constellation—leaving Blue Dragon furious.
['Constellation Blue Dragon rages at the Golden Mine Knight's "pigsty" remark.']
['Constellation Blue Dragon orders you to eliminate the Golden Mine Knight immediately for the following insult of "trash."']
['Constellation Blue Dragon designates him beyond a rival—now an object of "true wrath"—and demands his annihilation. Rewards will far exceed previous ones, of course.']
'Heh heh heh... Stakes are nicely raised.'
He'd bantered with the grudge-bearing "Rival" foe just to jack up the pot.
The Golden Mine Knight reacted perfectly, maxing the payout, and Go Cheonsu was thrilled.
'No proper opponent lately, but this should get me to SS-rank.'
"Guild Master, all requested forces are assembled."
"Good."
And it wasn't just for raising stakes that he'd jawed with the Golden Mine Knight.
Anticipating Shin Gangnam-style chaos from an SS-rank like him—on their artificial island or key interests—Blue Dragon had prepped contingencies and mobilization protocols.
With Olympus Guild joining due to aligned interests, just in case.
The signal dropped, and while holding formation, guns, magic, and arrows poured down on the Golden Mine Knight like a monsoon.
"...Ugh, damn! Since when did the rear get this packed?"
Yoo Seongwon, battered by the barrage—not truckload levels, but overwhelming—realized why Go Cheonsu had wasted time on nonsense talks.
Surrounded on all sides and taking one-sided hits, he started moving to break out, but the onslaught blinded him, driving him nuts.
'Damn! Doesn't hurt, but the sheer volume is insane. And if this keeps up...'
Even with martial talent skills, it was like blocking a river with bare hands.
His armor took gradual damage, absorbing mana for self-repair.
Meaning: damage accumulating, resources draining.
'They ghost me if I evac, pounding away. Argh! Chase me, and they scatter like phantoms!'
Were they even considering building damages? They pursued, firing nonstop; magic homed in relentlessly; close assaults netted maybe two or three before dispersal.
'Damn, didn't expect this many...'
Plus, the encircling Hunters—nearly two thousand—showed thorough post-Shin Gangnam prep.
Dodging between buildings to buy armor repair time, Yoo Seongwon racked his brains for an escape.
'Guessed it roughly, but not they'd handle it this well... Fuck! When their rice bowl's threatened, they step up? Shit! Shit! Shit! Then use this skill to nab that pastor instead! Damn it!'
Fuming at their competence, he glared at Go Cheonsu, grinding his teeth.
No headshots possible—Go Cheonsu had Go Cheonyong and Chae Jiyeong flanking him, masters of evasion.
'Hmm... This drags on, I'll get ant-bit to death. Only one choice... Argh!'
Boom!
A fireball exploding in his face snapped his thoughts; patience maxed out.
To shatter this one-sided grind of slow death, he needed a massive move.
Summoning Eldraen? The kill zone was too tight; her huge frame would take heavy hits.
One option left: Paehwang Cheon Geom Ryu. Not raw power—max mana dump into an AoE faster than they could dodge, blasting multiple Hunters at once.
'The old lady said minimize casualties if possible, but I can't die, and by now, civilians have fled.'
Decision made, Yoo Seongwon gripped Titan's Stake and summoned Gaulf and Krokbane.
Using a big move openly would let them mitigate; needed a smokescreen.
Pretend a breakout dash, then nuke.
"If we feint a breakthrough, they'll thicken the line or cluster—perfect for a big skill."
[Fine plan, Contractor. Evolving sharply in battle. Hm-hm-ha-ha!]
"...Ugh, no more of that. I hate it. My goal's a peaceful life in a lake-view house! Let's go!"
[Peaceful with that look? Sure~]
Gaulf shrugged and followed.
Krokbane at the rear, they dashed buildingside, weaving cover toward one flank.
Their intent clear—breakout—Go Cheonsu ordered blocks.
But then,
"How's it looking? Krokbane?"
[Sniff sniff... Master... clustering as predicted.]
"Good! To hide mana buildup... Eldraen! Defensive magic! Make it flashy!"
[You ask much!]
Shwaaaaa!
Before Paehwang Cheon Geom Ryu, Yoo Seongwon summoned Eldraen overhead.
Ordered mana-fueled defensive spells; Blue Dragon and Olympus Hunters pivoted, weapons trained, firepower converging.
"Fire! Blast 'em all!"
"More ammo!"
"Hey! I'm an archer! Why magicite rounds? Get the arrowheads!"
"Looks like spellcasting... Anti-magic ready?"
"Yes! Prepped for S+ mana levels..."
They projected fire per training, bracing for spells and breath—but it was bait.
Mini-map showed Hunter clusters; Yoo Seongwon aimed Titan's Stake, gathering mana for Paehwang Cheon Geom Ryu.
"Perfect. Right now...! If mountains block me, I'll cleave mountains; if rivers bar me, I'll slash rivers. My path to conquer all..."
[Aieieieieieieieing! Ah! Both sides, cease combat immediately. Cease fire and withdraw at once! This is an order from the Korean government, Hunter Association, and Seoul City. 'Blue Dragon Guild' and 'Olympus Guild,' halt attacks and pull back now. Ignoring this will trigger legal, administrative, economic sanctions, plus association-led subjugation team response. Repeating...]
"...What?"
Primed for the big blast, broadcasts blared everywhere.
Blue Dragon's assault cut off; Yoo Seongwon blinked skyward in confusion.
Transports, helicopters hovered; trailers from other guilds, even tanks rolled in.
"Uh, um... anyway... time to bail. They said stop fighting, not stop running! You lot, head in! Ah! Eldraen! You too!"
Seizing the halt, Yoo Seongwon spun quick logic: unsummoned Eldraen, sent Gaulf and Krokbane to sanctuary.
Slipped the net amid Hunters clashing with soldiers, vanishing clean.