Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Assault on the Goblin Empire
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“What’s this? A complaint? From the ‘Shin Gangnam Incident Recovery Citizens’ Group’? It’s a lawsuit over compensation for the damages caused during the Shin Gangnam incident.”
“It was bound to happen eventually. Don’t worry about it. I know a good law firm, so we can just…”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll handle it myself.”
“…Mind if I ask how exactly you plan to handle it?”
“What else? I’ll deal with it the same way a broke guy always does.”
Yoo Seongwon calmly replied as he stowed the complaint in his inventory and moved on to the next document.
The rest were mostly catalogs and informational packets from various companies that had come flying in once word got out that Iron Fortress was operational again. Nothing worth paying much attention to.
“So the only thing worth caring about is this one complaint. And even that, I can just ignore. No competitions or bids for the B-rank dungeon we’re heading to, right?”
“Don’t worry. B-ranks are risky enough that if luck’s not on your side, you take losses. No one wants to waste time on bid wars only to end up sending their own Awakeners to die. Honestly, I’m more curious about how you plan to handle that damages lawsuit. You’re not thinking of stepping outside the law, are you?”
“Nah, nothing like that.”
Even if it seemed crooked, Yoo Seongwon was, at heart, a law-abiding citizen.
He paid his taxes, fulfilled his national defense duties, showed up punctually for reserves training, and even recently for the civil defense call-up.
He had plenty of gripes with the higher-ups and the government, but he preferred to follow the rules while grumbling about it.
“So what’s your plan, then?”
“Just handling it like back in my broke days.”
“You’re not the same guy who was an Academia staffer back then, though.”
“Switching up your attitude just because your situation changes would be even more pathetic. Anyway, I’ve got it covered, so don’t worry. Come on, let’s head to that B-rank dungeon already!”
Even as he insisted there was nothing to worry about, it only made Baek Gayeon more anxious.
No matter how insignificant the complaint seemed to a guild or Hunter, it was still a legal action from the Republic of Korea government, which carried its own weight.
And in lawsuits, the real key was mounting a proper defense—ignoring it or pretending it didn’t exist wouldn’t help at all.
“Of course, as an SS-rank Hunter, no ruling with real teeth will come down…”
Even if they slapped him with a prison sentence, no one could dare arrest Yoo Seongwon, so the court would have to factor that in.
But what surprised her more was that the Shin Gangnam backers—who knew better than anyone about guilds and Hunters—had filed this against an SS-rank like Yoo Seongwon.
They’d felt his power firsthand when he single-handedly demolished Shin Gangnam’s barrier. Baek Gayeon couldn’t fathom what their angle was.
“Feels like there’s some scheme here. Trying to freeze his accounts? Even if it goes to prosecutors, this is gonna be a headache…”
Long before the era of Awakeners, the judiciary had never judged cases purely on legal merits—they always weighed power and money on the scales too. They had no choice but to consider an Awakener’s strength.
No one would dispute that Yoo Seongwon, who’d smashed Seoul Guild head-on and toppled Shin Gangnam’s vaunted barrier alone, was an SS-rank Hunter. Even if the law pinned the blame on him, actually punishing him was another question entirely.
“Are they really just after compensation money? They could block bank accounts if they pushed, but that wouldn’t…”
Blocking one of Yoo Seongwon’s personal accounts wouldn’t do squat anyway.
Iron Fortress had its own accounts under the facility’s name, and if push came to shove, he could use ones from allies like her, Shin Somi, or Shin Ayoung. Or just register his knights as Hunters and open separate accounts for them. No real impact.
“Whew… something feels off.”
No matter how she turned it over, there didn’t seem to be much to worry about, but the unease lingered.
If he’d just gone with the law firm she knew well, everything could’ve been squared away cleanly. This felt like borrowing trouble.
“He seems to have a plan, but my gut says it’s not good. Can’t push him on it, though… Whew.”
Baek Gayeon, who’d already dug into Yoo Seongwon’s profile multiple times, knew full well of his disdain for government organizations.
Half-baked advice would just come off like nagging from an old fogey, so all she could do was hope nothing blew up.
***
On top of everything I need to learn about this damn Iron Fortress, now junk mail’s piling up from outside.
I want to level up ASAP! But this massive facility demands I memorize so much crap that it’s a miracle I finally got out today with just me and my knights.
Guild Master Shin Somi—no, wait, Sis now—gave me a worried look, but thanks to clearing that B-rank solo last time, she trusted me enough to let us go.
“But why am I driving? Don’t you guys have riding skills? You ride summons and stuff all the time.”
“We cover it with other skills.”
“Only Your Majesty can handle the iron horse, so we’re truly sorry.”
[They wouldn’t know. They lack the knowledge.]
No dedicated driver hired, and with his team full of anachronistic knights, the wheel had to be taken by Yoo Seongwon, holder of Riding (S+).
“Akaron! What about you? A primitive trailer like this should be no issue, right? You ride hoverbikes.”
[Per Republic of Korea road traffic laws, proxy or auto-driving by mechs lacks authorization. Impossible.]
“…Sigh, fine. You’re one rule-abiding tin can, huh.”
Thanks to the noisy knights, the trailer reached the B-rank dungeon without boredom setting in.
This B-rank they were challenging: the Goblin Empire.
Located on the northern border of North Gyeongsang Province, it was a major headache for the Gyeongsang region.
Goblin armies would periodically march south, threatening Daegu and Ulsan.
“Alright, everyone gather up. Briefing time.”
After parking, Yoo Seongwon assembled his knights and launched straight into the dungeon briefing.
All his knights joined in, even Eldraen in her petite girl form, eyes on the screen.
“B-rank or not, these goblins are no joke.”
The goblin encampments and forward bases around the entrance were on another level from the ramshackle setups in low-rank dungeons.
Uniform weapons and armor they’d produced themselves—not looted—armed them, along with massive wolves for cavalry. Muskets and archaic firearms filled out their organized formations, pointing to a highly advanced civilization for goblins.
“We call ’em goblins for convenience based on looks, but they’re fundamentally different from low-rank ones. With this level of civilization—armies, mages, steam-powered machines—it’s like medieval fantasy mixed with steampunk.”
“Hmm… seems excessive for a B-rank, though? They’re still goblins. Awakeners should handle them fine…”
“The outer forces alone? Yeah, regular troops with mana stone ammo could sweep them. The problem’s inside the dungeon. It’s insane.”
The screen shifted to the dungeon interior.
A massive castle ringed by three towers. Below teemed with factories belching thick black smoke everywhere.
City walls bristled with cannons and anti-air guns, swarming with goblins at work.
Magical light from the three towers enveloped the castle in a barrier, clearly positioned to protect the central keep.
“As you see, the main fortress is shielded by a magic field, and the troops are endless. Drone estimates put the goblin population in this dungeon—no, Goblin Empire city—at around 400,000. Civilians included, but with guns, heavy arms, and rideable mechs like golems, that’s why it’s B-rank.”
Goblins were weak individually, but hunkered in a fortified city with heavy gear, they weren’t mere monsters anymore—you had to brace for a siege.
Sure, a true B-rank powerhouse might overkill it, but factoring unknown gimmicks in the towers and castle bumped the rating up.
“Drones confirmed the boss monster, Goblin Emperor, in the keep with Goblin Royal Guards. Looks like taking it down ends it.”
“Then we smash the barrier with Lady Eldraen’s breath or Captain’s Tyrannical Heaven Sword Style, charge in, and crush them.”
“Hmm… I see it differently, Your Majesty. Killing the emperor alone? They’ll just crown a new one. This feels like the goal is destroying the Goblin Empire—the dungeon itself.”
He’d wanted a quick strike on the head, but Yucheong’s point rang true.
If they wasted time toppling the emperor only for the dungeon not to clear, disaster. So they set the goal: destroy all towers, clear the keep.
“Yeah, details will show inside, but no wonder others avoid it. Honestly, this borders A-rank… but individual troops are weak, so B-rank it is. Can’t imagine failing with this force.”
Setting aside his own SS-rank status, six S-ranks and about eighteen C-ranks made it overkill for B—even A-rank.
“Plus, it’s combat-heavy, no mazes or tricks. Perfect for us!”
“Wise judgment, Your Majesty.”
“And best of all…”
No prying eyes. They could raid freely.
Yoo Seongwon and the knights piled out of the trailer, mounting their rides in formation.
For reference, Yucheong and Jinseok’s were huge warhorses clad in stylish barding.
“Wow, your horses are massive and badass.”
“Hahaha, thanks for the excessive praise, Your Majesty. But they pale next to the one riding the golden dragon.”
‘Saying it’s too big to ride often would be lame, huh?’
Eldraen was indeed a massive, beautiful gold dragon—but too cumbersome outside big battles to ride casually.
Yoo Seongwon realized bigger and prettier wasn’t always better. He half-wanted a normal mount like the other knights, but his pauper instincts made him hold off—worried he’d waste the pricey contract.
[…Master… the goblins… they’ve spotted us.]
“With a huge dragon like this? If they hadn’t, they’d be the problem.”
Kieeeek! Kiiik!
Goblin shrieks echoed from afar.
Yoo Seongwon, atop Eldraen, took a deep breath, aimed Titan’s Stake, and launched a knightly declaration he hadn’t done in ages.
“Been a while, so I’m nervous. Ahem! Thus… Fearless green devils who invade our world! To judge you, I, Golden Dragon Knight Yoo Seongwon, and my honorable subordinates have come! If you value your lives, drop your weapons and flee! Else, you’ll not see tomorrow’s sun! All forces, advance on the dungeon!”
“Yes!”
“For His Majesty’s honor!”
“Let’s gooo!”
No sooner said, the knights charged.
Goblins blocking the path yelled and tried to hold, but it was futile.
Yoo Seongwon watched his knights sweep them without his help, calmly asking Eldraen to head for the entrance.
***
Republic of Korea Hunter Association.
Meanwhile, the Association nursed headaches after Yoo Seongwon openly refused inspection—and now Shin Gangnam’s lawsuit piled on.
Yoo Seongwon was trouble enough, dodging control despite the agreement, but provoking him from Shin Gangnam’s side was another mess. They’d called in staff and even Baek Gayeon from reactivated Iron Fortress for a meeting.
“How is that guy impossible to control? Refusing Association inspection outright…”
“What can I do? Best I can is offer advice by his side. Speaking of, what’s with that lawsuit? Sure, he wrecked Shin Gangnam’s barrier, but no need to tug the lion’s tail when it’s finally calmed.”
She’d never imagined people who groveled to power would boldly challenge the man who solo’d Shin Gangnam and crippled one of the Three Great Guilds.
“Probably Seoul Guild. They’re losing members daily, but sponsors bailing faster—gotta show they’re doing something. Plus, not fully ruined yet, and holdouts with ties to courts and media…”
“Feels too simplistic for a last-ditch desperate move.”
If truly frantic, they’d launch multiple fronts for visibility, not this petty tactic.
Suspecting deeper plots, Baek Gayeon decided to investigate Seoul Guild herself.
“Guess I’ll look into it personally. Bad vibes.”
“Isn’t that guy the priority?”
“Don’t you get priorities? A somewhat uncooperative friend clearing tough B-ranks we can’t handle, versus poking the barely-tamed lion—which is worse?”
“But from Seoul Guild’s perspective…”
Done with the sleazy excuses, Baek Gayeon turned and left the meeting room.
No matter how hard you clean shit, if the shitters outnumber you, the world stays a cesspool.
Having lived decades and grasped that truth, she felt only disappointment toward those unchanged by the SS-rank Hunter mess.