Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Iron Fortress
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“Let’s see… I’ve taken your photo and registered your fingerprints, so that’s done. I’ll make you a temporary administrator as requested, so just wait a bit. It’s not an official position, so it’s a hassle. Or do you want to watch?”
“No. Whatever~ Even if I look, I won’t understand any of it, so do whatever.”
The terminal screen was filled with windows and English words scrolling by, but with my short attention span for that stuff, I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
Since watching wouldn’t help anyway, I turned my head and gazed beyond the iron bars at the place called Iron Fortress. It was more relaxing that way.
“Man, it’s really huge. How do they even clean and maintain all that? Maybe start by clearing out a spot to live in first?”
“Hmm? It seems you don’t know anything about this place.”
“How would I know about a guild and hunters who were active before I was even born? It’d be weirder if I did.”
“Hmm, I suppose so. Hearing that really drives home the generation gap. Well~ since you’re clueless, I’ll explain briefly. This base handles most of its security and maintenance automatically.”
“Huh?”
Flash! Flash!
Creak! Whirr!
As I startled in surprise, lights suddenly flickered on across Iron Fortress, and the hum of machinery echoed through the air.
Like awakening from a long slumber, the base opened its doors on its own, and countless drones appeared out of nowhere to begin maintenance.
Seeing that, I could only think it was impossible, and I asked how relics from ancient ruins could produce something like this.
“H-How? This base is from decades ago, right? How is this even...”
“Well, Iron Fortress was once the greatest stronghold in East Asia, home to the top guild. Even after the Monster Age gave way to the Constellation Age, it stood as a bastion protecting the world under the Grand Master’s watch.”
“Eek, I had no idea.”
“Well, the Grand Master wasn’t exactly a beloved figure in the Korean government or hunter circles.”
“Oh... right.”
The Grand Master.
Korea’s strongest hunter, a figure of global influence, but he left the country, taking his entire faction with him and plunging Korea into yet another crisis.
A legendary hunter for the history books, but not someone Korea viewed fondly.
So in education, he was mentioned only begrudgingly, without much detail on the power or scale of him and his guild.
“The more they revealed, the dumber they’d look. Watch this. This is the true Iron Fortress. The pinnacle of South Korea—no, Asia’s finest hunters and engineers, forged by the Grand Master’s power and capital.”
“Wow...”
“Originally, everything should’ve been destroyed when he left, but it was too valuable to scrap. So I took ownership and protected it.”
“You managed to keep the government and association away? I figured they’d seize a goldmine like this...”
“After leaving, the Grand Master built new guilds in Europe and Africa, now the top ones there. Since I hold the deed as a member of his guild, touching it would bring those thorns back.”
“Oh... a poisoned chalice, huh.”
Clang!
At that moment, the iron gate blocking our path slid open automatically.
We climbed back into the trailer and entered Iron Fortress proper.
Just seeing thousands of drones buzzing around tidying up made the place feel alive, unlike before.
The trailer headed straight for the largest building at the center, where we parked and got out.
“It looks so different from outside. What’s this? Really?”
From the outside, it looked weathered by time, but inside it was pristine beyond expectation, and a drone floated up to greet us.
No signs of life, yet it felt like stepping into a sci-fi movie’s futuristic city. I couldn’t believe this was built decades ago.
“That’s because the purpose is different. A regular guild building wouldn’t go this far. Iron Fortress was designed as humanity’s last fortress. A cradle of hope to endure even if monsters wiped us out.”
“Ohhh...”
That explained the automation. I found myself admiring it without realizing.
This base was born from human dreams. A place embodying the will and hope to protect the future, even if civilization fell.
A dazzlingly beautiful site, humanity’s utopia. It gave insight into the dreams of the man who built it—the Grand Master.
“This place doesn’t suit someone like me. But it’s just temporary, so no issue.”
“Is that so? Anyway, follow me. I’ll show you the central control room first.”
“Sure~ But why didn’t Ayoung and Guild Master Somi get out? Hmm?”
“Guild business must be keeping them busy. With a mess that big, it’d be weird if it wrapped up quick.”
Fair enough—internal backlash would be huge, and the guild must be in chaos over the Golden Mine Knight issue. Quick resolution would be suspicious.
Since Iron Fortress was empty except for us, no worries, but just in case, I summoned Akaron and asked him to guard the two women before following Baek Gayeon to the central control room.
***
Blue Dragon Guild headquarters.
Currently, Blue Dragon Guild Master Go Cheonsu, the new Seoul Guild Master Oh Kyung-hoon, and Arkades dispatched from Olympus were gathered for an emergency meeting.
The Golden Mine Knight officially becoming a Golden Dragon Knight and recognized as a proper hunter was a massive headache.
They’d long dominated Korea’s hunter world as the Big Three guilds. A new power outside their control was unwelcome.
“What do we do now? Just let it slide?”
“What would you suggest? Start a fight? Against an SS-rank? How do you beat someone who soloed an S-rank monster? Face reality, Guild Master Oh Kyung-hoon.”
Seoul Guild, hit hard by the Singangnam incident from the Golden Mine Knight, gnashed their teeth in rage, but Go Cheonsu assessed coolly.
His constellation, Blue Dragon, was thrilled at the strong foe, spamming ‘Fight!’ messages in his status window, but he kept emotions in check.
“Right now, only Olympus with its SS-rank hunter could handle it. Arkades, any word from your HQ?”
“Yes. ‘Don’t ask questions—just go make peace and ally up. Don’t piss them off.’ They even asked me what gift would be good.”
“Th-This can’t be serious?”
Oh Kyung-hoon couldn’t hold back his fury at Olympus’s response and shot to his feet.
Instead of checking or dealing with the one who caused Singangnam’s devastation, they talked peace and alliances? Unacceptable.
“What’s so unbelievable? In this world, might makes right.”
“Actually, Guild Master Oh, you’re the weird one. You’ve been lapping up the sweet life because of your power, but now suing a stronger Golden Mine Knight? Those sly fox judges will side with you?”
“Let him be. He can’t accept the tables turning.”
“Ever since Singangnam, idiots like this pop up. Old Seoul Guild wasn’t like this... Tsk, President Park at least had responsibility...”
Arkades mocked openly, but Oh Kyung-hoon trembled in humiliation, forced to endure.
Seoul Guild was already ruined—only he remained as S-rank.
Most A-ranks had defected to Blue Dragon and others. Offending them could shatter the guild completely.
Already outcast from the Big Three, he should be grateful just to be invited today.
“Hmm, tensions with Baekya Guild make it tricky for me... Might need to offer compensation.”
“Then let me mediate. They probably don’t want more conflict either.”
‘Damn! Damn! Damn! This humiliation!’
Oh Kyung-hoon swallowed his pride, but rage and hatred boiled inside.
They were the victims—why did these guys and this rotten world side with the Golden Mine Knight? The injustice of power.
A daily injustice for civilians, but Oh Kyung-hoon had never endured it, so his patience snapped.
‘I’ll get revenge! Before we’re fully crushed...!’
But Seoul Guild’s fall had begun.
Post-Singangnam and this agreement, sponsors scattered for survival or signed with other guilds and corps.
Oddballs like Chairman Bae fled abroad or allied with scavengers—Seoul’s foundation had crumbled long ago.
‘I’ll make you all pay. You bastards, this damn world too!’
Before total collapse, Oh Kyung-hoon vowed payback against the Golden Mine Knight, Blue Dragon, and Olympus, quietly opening his phone to contact someone.
***
Iron Fortress, central control room.
[Yoo Seongwon, temporary administrator, welcome. Continuing base management tutorial. Next: Manual for handling internal facility risk levels. Starting with Code Green.]
“Uh, uh. Y-Yeah. Go ahead...”
Right now, Yoo Seongwon sat at the control room computer, following the on-screen program to learn Iron Fortress’s systems.
Around him, all the other knights had emerged to register as official members.
[Knight Akaron shows no vital signs. Registered with unregistered magic stone engine. Knight Akaron’s model number not found in global database of golems, architects, mechanics, robots, drones, or any machines.]
[Iron Fortress management system, I demand correction. We Knight Metal Golem series KMG-001 Akaron are not mere golems, architects, mechanics, robots, or drones. We are ‘knights’ who stake everything to realize our master’s justice.]
[Meaning unclear. Purpose unrecognized. Manufacturer and internals unknown. Temporary administrator, this unit violates Iron Fortress security protocols...]
The mechanic ‘Akaron’ was in a standoff with Iron Fortress—like two AIs from a sci-fi flick clashing over incompatible specs.
Only Yoo Seongwon could resolve it, so he mediated immediately.
“Don’t reject it. The base turns to scrap. Just approve. Akaron’s my summon, register as that. What’s with the tin cans bickering? Sigh~”
[Registering ‘KMG-001 Akaron’ as temporary administrator’s summoned golem. Welcome, Knight Akaron.]
[Correction demanded. I am not a golem.]
“Put up with it—you’re the advanced model. Old ones have compatibility issues no matter what.”
[Understood. As expected of Master, a brilliant lord.]
Akaron, enlightened by Yoo Seongwon’s words, even thumbs-upped happily.
With the commotion settled, Yoo Seongwon returned to his tedious tutorial.
The other knights dispersed to adapt to the new base, bringing a few hours of quiet focus.
“Woooow! This is the legendary Iron Fortress! Mom! It’s insane!”
“Is it worth all that fuss?”
‘Ah, Ayoung and Guild Master Somi are here? Pretty late. Guild stuff, I guess... Huh?’
Turning around, Yoo Seongwon jolted in shock.
Both Ayoung and Guild Master Shin Somi had changed dramatically.
Most striking: Shin Somi’s eyes.
Once wise and beautiful golden irises, now plain black.
Their auras felt drastically weakened too.
“…What happened?”
Sensing something serious, Yoo Seongwon jumped up and approached.
Shin Somi, seeing his alarm, smiled awkwardly and dropped a bombshell.
“Yes. My constellation abandoned me.”
“Me too! Contract terminated! Got dumped! Hehe!”