Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: 드래곤을 유괴하다-111화
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: 38. Something Squirming in the Depths (1)
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All of this started with a personal interview from the Erpan Guild under the CCP.
Q. You're currently on a 26-game winning streak without a single loss. Two days ago, you even took down Cadet Yong Dan-bi, and now there's talk that Cadet Zhou Luxin might be the top first-year.
A. It's not just talk.
Zhou Luxin, the ranking contender with his sharp features, answered with a smile. The Erpan cadets around him looked flustered.
Cadets were expected to show humility in front of the media—a pervasive culture in the Lair. But Zhou Luxin, who had always played the humble card until now, revealed his unfiltered confidence in this interview.
Q. Is there any opponent you feel confident you can beat?
A. Could you flip that question around?
Q. Ah, so is there anyone you think Cadet Zhou Luxin can't beat?
A. Nope. Korea's Yongs. America's Brzenks. Russia's RIL. Japan's three great families... I watched their combat footage. All boring.
Q. It's refreshing to see such confidence.
A. Honestly, no one seems like they can breach my 'bastion.'
A. Yong Tae-ha? I'm confident I won't take a single hit from him.
The cadets glanced at Zhou Luxin with uneasy eyes once more. Professor Ha Yoon gasped from the back, and the Erpan Guild guardian let out a deep sigh as a bonus.
Q. Any last words?
Zhou Luxin pulled out a single red thread, yanked it, and snapped it. That was the end of the interview.
After the interview wrapped up, Professor Ha Yoon urgently called Zhou Luxin aside for a scolding.
"Zhou Luxin! What the hell are you doing? The whole world is watching, and you're acting like that?"
"I'm sick of the fake humility, Professor."
"What?"
"I want to say my piece too."
Ha Yoon furrowed her brow but tried to calmly persuade him. But Zhou Luxin was stubborn. She sighed.
Zhou Luxin had said "I too." Ha Yoon immediately knew who had influenced him.
Right after the interview.
SNS exploded with angry posts from cadets publicly insulted as "boring."
These cadets' reactions spread like wildfire across internet portals, news articles, and communities—prime entertainment. Suddenly arrogant Zhou Luxin. And the fury of the cadets he insulted.
Spectators started wondering what would happen next.
But the Yong family, including Yoo Yeoreum, issued no statement.
For three whole days.
They poked when others stayed silent. Now that others were poking, they went quiet. Fans of Yeoreum's straightforward style felt disappointed. Her haters called her a coward.
But three days later, a video dropped, flipping the narrative.
Erpan Guild affiliate. Ranking contender. Jang Suyeong.
She specialized in Flow Wave-style combat arts. Using bizarre mana flows to deflect attacks, find openings, and control the entire fight with her rhythm.
A style that could go long against anyone—even professors.
And against aggressive, dominant styles like Yeoreum's, she had a favorable matchup.
Yet Jang Suyeong was combat-ineffective in just 5 seconds.
Yeoreum's 「Kar-Gurakwa Upright Combat Art」 destabilized nearby mana through the dragon heart's pulse. Jang Suyeong's flow collapsed.
Jang Suyeong was no match for Yeoreum.
It was only natural, in a way. Even against Lingling, Yeoreum had hidden 70% of her power until she got angry. A fact unknown to others.
But once victory was clear, Yeoreum started acting strangely.
With her HP bar empty, one flick to the forehead would end it. But Yeoreum didn't finish the downed Jang Suyeong.
Squatting down, Yeoreum placed both hands on Jang Suyeong's forehead... then suddenly pressed her lips to it.
Then came a loud smack♥ kiss sound.
Of course, the 「Goddess of Sparring Statue」's influence blocked it like a barrier—no actual lip contact. Just a realistic sound.
Then, with Jang Suyeong's flowing blood, Yeoreum wrote "JR" on her cheek.
And slapped her cheek for the finishing blow.
Jang Suyeong dissolved into light and vanished. Yeoreum cackled, then flipped off the camera with two fingers.
And that was the video.
...Which is why Yoo Ji-tae was summoned to the Academic Affairs Office.
Entering the meeting room in Academic Affairs, five or six guardians and staff greeted him. All wore serious expressions, but their eyes betrayed excitement.
The Erpan Guild guardian, 'Lun,' snapped at Yoo Ji-tae in displeasure.
"What kind of education is this? Humiliating an opponent like that in personal sparring time?"
Yoo Ji-tae didn't respond.
In truth, right after Zhou Luxin's reckless interview, Yeoreum had asked him. "Can I beat the shit out of and troll the Erpan guys if I meet them?" He'd said go ahead. She finds joy in unfiltered behavior.
"Answer me, Guardian Yoo Ji-tae!"
"……."
"N-now, now. Lun. Calm down. This meeting is to decide on disciplining Cadet Yeoreum."
The staff rambled on. Lun fumed. The meeting dragged.
Yoo Ji-tae listened silently.
He didn't mind Yeoreum's humiliation. If she enjoyed it, he didn't care what others thought.
Conversely, if she stepped out of line, he'd let her take responsibility. She'd gone beyond necessary with the mockery. If it became an issue, she'd own it.
So if fair discipline came, he'd accept it.
But unexpectedly, voices from the witnesses defended Yeoreum.
"May I speak?"
"Ah, yes. Guardian Yong Cheol-jun. Go ahead."
"Discipline seems a bit harsh..."
He was from the Yong family.
"I admit part of Cadet Yeoreum's actions were excessive, but we should follow regulations."
"Listen, Guardian Yong Cheol-jun! Article 2, Clause 4 explicitly bans excessive profanity and verbal abuse!"
"Did she use excessive profanity or abuse? It looked like just returning what Cadet Zhou Luxin dished out."
"If you're gonna do it, do it to Zhou Luxin herself—why on Cadet Jang Suyeong?!"
"What, collective responsibility?"
"Damn it, protecting her because she's Korean too?"
"Watch your words. My parents are Chinese."
Yong Cheol-jun said flatly. He was adopted too.
Zhou Luxin's interview had incensed many cadets.
The Japanese magic noble family guardian and the Russian RIL guardian who joined as witnesses sided with Yeoreum.
So no discipline was issued.
"……."
But Yoo Ji-tae wasn't pleased. Guardians aren't philanthropists. They don't help without gain. Veteran supers are like soldiers—they love numbers games more than businessmen.
As a regressor, he could clearly see what they wanted.
The next day.
As Yoo Ji-tae walked with Yeoreum, Yong Cheol-jun showed up in the classroom with Yong Tae-ha and Yong Dan-bi.
"Huh?"
"Gasp……."
As star cadets, the classroom cadets stared in surprise.
"Hello. First time visiting like this. I'm Yong Cheol-jun."
"Yoo Ji-tae."
What's with these guys? Yeoreum eyed him. He shook his head.
"Hello, Cadet Yeoreum."
"……?"
"Greet them too."
Yong Tae-ha and Yong Dan-bi awkwardly said hi.
"What brings a busy person here?"
"Ah, right. To the point. If you haven't formed a four-man party for the raid quest, how about Cadet Yeoreum teams up with the Yong family?"
It was about the assignment posted yesterday.
B+-rank underground rift raid.
Up to 100 cadets. Raid in three days. Cadets must register in minimum four-man parties.
Top competition cadets had all applied. Good land draws crowds—time for land grabs. So, alliance proposal.
"Do you have a raid plan?"
The regressor had concerns.
"No plan yet. We'll make it after forming the team."
"Curious about the rough plan."
"As always, max rewards. Shortest time. Max kills. Top rewards. We promise Cadet Yeoreum that."
"Points are individual performance-based, right? Position split?"
"Probably 2 front guards, 1 supporter, 1 sharp shooter. If Cadet Yeoreum helps. Even front guard, we'll put Tae-ha upfront. No worries for her safety."
Standard explanation so far.
Sounded considerate, even worried for Yeoreum's safety. But Yoo Ji-tae noted the lack of a plan.
"If it's four people moving together with a proper plan, we'll consider positively."
Yong Cheol-jun's eye twitched.
As expected. A family obsessed with cadet scores and rankings wouldn't propose this out of pure goodwill.
"As you know, Guardian Yoo Ji-tae, raids don't always go as planned. Might need to split sometimes. Can't force situations."
Sounded humble, but to Yoo Ji-tae, obvious excuse.
The regressor was naive in relationships but knew humans facing desire well.
"If separate position ops are policy, that's a problem."
"I get the concern, but it won't happen."
"Shortest time, max kills, top rewards—that means positions get weighed by need. Outside, you'd sacrifice one or two for more monster parts."
Yong Cheol-jun laughed heartily and shook his head.
"Haha! Lived a sheltered life? We're not that ruthless. The Yong family."
"Then, one question."
"Sure."
"Planning to use Yeoreum as a sacrificial lamb?"
So he asked directly.
Scales Eye (SS)
Eyes that discern good/evil, truth/false, like/dislike.
The archdemon's seal formed in Yoo Ji-tae's eyes.
The truth would show in the answer.
"……."
Yong Cheol-jun was the Yong family's masterpiece. A third-numbering ranker in the world top 300s.
One of Korea's top 100 supers, at the tail end.
He couldn't see the seal, but instinctively sensed something off and shut his mouth.
"...That's an uncomfortable question. How do you see the Yong family to ask that?"
"Answer first. Planning to use Yeoreum as a sacrificial lamb?"
"……."
"Say no if not."
Cold sweat beaded on Yong Cheol-jun's forehead.
A strong urge screamed not to answer.
"N-no. 'Sacrificial lamb' is too much. Why so hostile? I helped you yesterday too. Fellow Koreans working hard together."
He somehow muddled through.
Yoo Ji-tae paused. The intent to exploit, wrapped in denial, was obvious.
"But treating someone like a thief is uncomfortable."
"You here to play word games?"
"...What?"
"Just answer. Stop dodging."
"……!"
The sudden edge silenced Yong Cheol-jun.
Yong Tae-ha and Yong Dan-bi looked back and forth in shock.
"Y-your word choice is harsh for a young guy without life experience."
Despite bold words, Yong Cheol-jun couldn't get mad.
Actually, no anger rose. Strangely, it faded. For someone who spoke even to the family head, this unfamiliar discomfort nailed his gut like a spike.
"Last question. Planning to use her as a sacrificial lamb?"
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