Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Leon Guild (1)
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Our first order of business was buying some clothes to wear in this world.
My old clothes back home had been unwearable for ages, and the dragon robe I had on now was just way too conspicuous.
"This thing's pretty valuable, you know... Woven from spirit beast silk—it doesn't tear easily at all..."
"If you go around like that, the whole world'll be staring at you, Oppa."
"Hmm... Could be fun."
"What're you even saying."
With that, she grabbed my hand and dragged me off to the department store.
A quick peek at the receipt showed an insane amount, but there wasn't a hint of regret in Baek Seol-hwa's eyes.
"But seriously, why buy clothes for this thing? What's so cute about it?"
I mean, fine for me, but shelling out that much cash on this damn lizard?
I asked as the thought crossed my mind, but she just smirked and shrugged.
"It's an eyesore. Didn't you say you were keeping it around?"
"...Thanks."
Looked like I'd have to pay her back ASAP.
We shopped together for the first time in ages, grabbed a meal, and caught up on everything that'd happened.
Her guild was one of the top three giants in the country...
She held a pretty high rank there.
And her main weapon was a spear.
She filled me in on all that, plus a bunch of other random stuff I needed to know.
By the time we got home and were unpacking...
"So, what world were you in, Oppa? Arteria? Asidrin?"
Baek Seol-hwa asked me.
"Murim."
"...? Oh..."
"What kinda reaction is that?"
"Never heard of it. Guess you're the first, then."
I furrowed my brow at that and asked her.
"Returnees besides me?"
"Yeah, like five or so. Our guild master's one too—from Asidrin."
"...For real?"
That woman was a returnee?
The thought had just hit me when the doorbell rang.
Ding-dong—
Baek Seol-hwa tilted her head in confusion.
"...Who could that be?"
"I'll check."
I opened the front door. The presence I'd sensed moments ago was already vanishing into the distance.
I cut off my focus on it and opened the box in front of me.
If it was something shady, I could always chase 'em down later.
Inside the box was a phone in a white case and a note.
"...Huh?"
What the?
I unfolded the note next to the phone. It read:
-It's a cellphone. Opened in Baek Seon-woo's name, so use it freely.
-Leon Guild Master Han Su-hyeon
"...Oh."
Baek Seol-hwa peeked over my shoulder at the phone in the box.
"What's that? What's that?"
Then she freaked out.
"Whoa, top-of-the-line model? And it's got destruction-proof magic, tracking-proof magic... loaded with all kinds of spells. This must've cost a fortune."
"Your boss gave it to me."
"...Guild master?"
"Yeah."
I stared at the rectangular marvel of modern tech in my hand.
Man, those five years without one of these had been boring.
You don't appreciate what you've got till it's gone.
I felt the cool metal under my fingertips and powered it on.
After a short wait, the screen lit up.
It was brand new, except for one number saved in the contacts.
"What's with saving her number."
She'd even given me her business card.
...Whatever. Probably just 'let's stay in touch.'
With that, I fired up the internet without a second thought.
Real-time trending searches jumped right out at me.
-Busan S-rank Gate
-Busan Dragon
-Dragon Appears
-Han Su-hyeon
-Leon Guild Dragon
-...
"...Oh."
Something fun right off the bat.
Han Su-hyeon the Dragon Slayer actually bagged a dragon...
How much you think the dragon corpse'll fetch?
Hatchling scales alone could buy a Gangnam apartment; that's an adult, though—no contest.
Leon Guild was this strong??
Present-day hunters and a community chatting about gate-related incidents.
They were buzzing about yesterday's S-rank gate break.
Gate breaks usually spill the gate's interior environment too, right?
Yeah. That's why North Korea's Hell Gate merged Pyongyang with hell.
Jong-un got dragged to hell lol
Crispy roasted in hellfire
North Korea's basically anarchy now.
Why's Busan fine tho
fr
"...Hmm."
Since it busted out from the inside by force, no full gate break happened, huh.
"...Whatcha looking at?"
Aselin peeked at my screen over my shoulder, eyes wide with curiosity.
I shoved her face away with my palm and muttered.
"Stuff about you."
"What?"
"But nothing about me..."
No one saw me? They were all pretty far off, so maybe...
Still, someone else taking credit for my kill didn't sit right.
Even if it was the woman who'd done me a solid.
"Fine if it's from you, but random credit-stealing? Nah."
I whipped up an anonymous post right away.
That was my kill.
Replies poured in instantly.
What'd you say
Thirsty for attention lol
What kinda low-rent bait hooks people
Don't bite
"...Yeah."
K-interwebs culture at its finest.
That familiar whiff of troll shit.
For real. Dragon's lying right here next to me.
I smirked and posted another. Fish swarmed the bait.
Proof or gtfo
Lmao fr
If true, 10 mil to your account lol
No official word yet, right? Could be legit?
In your dreams
I looked down at them and smirked.
IRL meetup then?
A shit-eating grin spread across my face.
The 10-mil guy was 'NewKing'.
I replied to him, and he shot back right away.
Drop address punk.
"...Nice."
Something I'd always wanted to do.
Meet internet loudmouths IRL and beat their asses.
Top of my post-return bucket list.
Time to check one off.
Jeong Seong-woo, top-tier B-rank hunter.
The New King, famous for his killer battle sense, talent, and streaming career.
After awakeners started popping up, hunters turned gate hunts into content. He was one of 'em.
His floating orb cameras captured him strolling the night streets.
"Alright, today we're gonna smack down some internet edgelord."
He was grinning ear to ear.
How does a guy like this exist, nailing broadcast angles so perfectly?
He'd gotten the address—no running—and we'd done proofs.
No-show? Fine. Hunting the coward down would make good content too.
He's actually going lol
This'll be good
Super curious what he looks like
"Exactly."
Chats were mostly on the same page, but not all 150 viewers agreed.
What if he really slayed the dragon?
"No way. Everyone saw the guild master take it down."
Han Su-hyeon drew her sword, glared at the dragon—next instant, massive impact dropped it.
Had to be her slash.
He was sure after seeing the footage.
"Lemme see... meetup spot's here."
Would the guy show?
He scanned around.
"No mana signature yet. First..."
That's when it happened.
"Hey there."
A guy's voice from behind. Jeong Seong-woo's head snapped around.
Sounded almost playful.
A plain-looking early-20s dude waving at him.
"...You?"
"Yup."
"No mana though..."
What balls does this civvie have?
Hitting a civilian as an awakener? Heavy penalties, multiples if dead—decades in prison minimum.
Better if he'd hid; could've milked that.
"..."
Just scare him a bit.
Key was catharsis for viewers.
Broadcaster's duty.
Jeong Seong-woo pulled a massive hammer from behind him.
"Alright then... lesson ti—"
That instant.
"You started it, right?"
The man vanished.
Next, Jeong Seong-woo's vision went black.
KABOOM—!
Baek Seon-woo's fist smashed into Jeong Seong-woo's face, unleashing a massive explosion of sound.
???
Whoa
What the hell was that
?????
?
The New King's body soared through the air, broadcast live on his stream.
Viewers could only spam question marks.