Chapter 175
Chapter 175
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: 40. Master of Myths (1)
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“Really, I’m telling you. The continents are about to connect soon. Whether you believe me or not won’t change a thing.”
Youngwoo said this as he gazed up at the sky, which the embers had thoroughly churned into chaos.
Now that he knew the dungeon reward was an armor catalog, it was time to summon the chairman.
(Special Clause) [Expensive Droplet of Sweat]
–Dogo will procure one catalog of the type you select within two days.
–If the deadline is missed, the head office will pay 100 million karma as a penalty.
The special condition from the previous advertising contract: catalog procurement.
And if this clause wasn’t fulfilled, he’d receive 100 million karma as liquidated damages.
No matter the outcome, it was a contract where Youngwoo couldn’t lose.
“You’re not too uncomfortable right now, are you?”
“…Why?”
“Because I need to call someone. No one’s around, and the timing’s perfect.”
At Youngwoo’s words, Jeonggu reflexively furrowed his brow.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Who’re you calling in this weather?”
Even as he grumbled, Jeonggu had a gut feeling.
The person this troublemaker was calling wasn’t just anyone ordinary.
But he never dreamed that person might not even be human.
“Chairman! I’m invoking the special clause now! Dogo……!”
“Chairman?”
As Youngwoo shouted some mad nonsense at the sky, fear washed over Jeonggu’s face.
He knew from experience now that everything this guy said came true.
So the “chairman” he’d just called out to must be real.
‘Just who is this chairman that he’s coming down from the sky? Wait, no way…….’
Jeonggu realized something a beat too late.
Last time, hadn’t the changer squad descended from the sky?
So naturally, this time too.
‘That so-called chairman isn’t human either.’
The moment Jeonggu grasped the situation and turned to say something to Youngwoo—
Kaboom!
The sky suddenly turned pitch-black crimson, instantly halting the anomalous weather across the area.
Just like when a nighttime dungeon appeared.
‘Ah, so even a chairman like him can control the landing zone’s weather.’
Having dared to test the head of the advertisers, Youngwoo looked around in admiration.
Within what was probably the 3-kilometer radius Dogo had set as his landing zone, there wasn’t a single ember or even a whisper of wind.
“Wh-what is it? Someone’s coming?”
Even Jeonggu, clueless about ‘outer space,’ sensed something incredible was approaching and looked up at the sky.
And soon.
Kwaaaak!
The center of the crimson sky split wide open with a crack, and a colossal anchor—Dogo’s signature—shot down.
Whoooosh, kabang!
“Whoa, shit!”
The massive anchor crashing into the heart of the ruined Gwangjin District exuded an uncanny chill that raised goosebumps.
Clang!
Then the airship connected to the anchor by chains slowly descended, its underbelly already open this time.
“Chairman!”
Youngwoo waved as he approached the anchor’s landing spot, and finally, Dogo emerged leisurely from within the enormous sarcophagus.
—Jeong Youngwoo07. Still alive, I see.
Dogo, who had clearly watched the entire dungeon ordeal, pretended otherwise.
Youngwoo placed a hand lightly on the Orphan Slayer at his waist in response.
“Yes, thanks to you, Chairman.”
He glanced at the chairman’s majestic airship—impressive no matter how many times he saw it—before reciting his next line.
“I’ve finally started to ‘speak.’ Do you happen to know why?”
It referred to being able to shape the meaning of “Dogo” in a transcendent language.
Dogo chuckled silently from within his thick armor.
Or rather, that’s how Youngwoo felt it.
—Your existence is rapidly ascending. As proof, you can now forge a single word.
After saying this, Dogo added one more thing.
—Cleverly chosen, as expected.
“…Pardon? You mean the word?”
At Youngwoo’s question, Dogo nodded silently.
—Even your subconscious craves “Dogo.”
“Ah…….”
The cunning pest, Jeong Youngwoo, tilted his head inwardly even in this momentous scene.
Wasn’t the chairman using this for promotion?
After all, if he was the creator of the weapon brand Dogo, he’d be a salesman to the bone.
‘Even my subconscious wants Dogo……? Sounds good, but isn’t that line too rehearsed?’
As Youngwoo shot him a sly glance, Dogo pointed at his ad model with a finger clad in iron plate.
—Special clause. Request it.
“Right, of course. I’ve taken too much of your time, Chairman. But first.”
Click.
Youngwoo stepped back, reached out, and grabbed someone’s arm.
Thud!
“Wha…….”
It was none other than his biological father, Kim Jeonggu.
“I figured you should greet the chairman. This is my father, Kim Jeonggu.”
Youngwoo yanked him forward with force, and Jeonggu could only be dragged out pathetically.
“Dad, say hi. This is the chairman paying my ad fees.”
“Ah. H-hello. I’m Kim Jeonggu…. Is Youngwoo doing well?”
Jeonggu blurted out whatever came to mind in his fluster, and Dogo stared at him intently for a moment.
Shh.
Jeonggu met the gaze head-on, then quickly averted his eyes upon seeing the spaceship the chairman had arrived in.
‘What the hell is this guy? No eye slits in the helmet. He blind?’
And finally.
—Special clause.
Dogo ordered Youngwoo to proceed once more.
“Yes, Chairman. The catalog I request is…….”
Youngwoo hesitated until the last second, but there was only one he needed.
“Weapon catalog. I just got the armor one. Now I can walk around shirtless all the time.”
At this, Dogo showed pleasure for the first time.
—Good.
Pleased by the news, perhaps.
Dogo, who’d seemed ready to leave immediately, lingered a bit.
—All business concluded?
“Ah……!”
Given Dogo’s status and personality, Youngwoo couldn’t complain if he vanished right then.
For him to check once more was a huge favor.
“If you allow, I have two more questions.”
—Speak. I’ll grant you “one span.”
One span. Earth time: one minute.
Youngwoo used this precious time first for tax advice.
“I’m switching from simplified taxpayer to general tomorrow. How much should I prepare in taxes?”
It might seem trivial to ask a cosmic CEO, but it was crucial.
In this world, taxes were absolute.
Even a cosmic blue-chip stock like Korea’s Supreme Swordsman would vanish instantly for unpaid taxes.
And Dogo surely knew this well.
—Name the existence. Entrust your affairs to them.
As expected, the chairman had the answer.
Just…
‘Name an existence…? So, name the tax accountant I should use?’
With his limited cosmic experience, the only name Youngwoo knew was… the broker Kubu.
‘Might have to slip Kubu some kickback for this.’
Time was running short.
Youngwoo uttered the name that came to mind.
“Kubu… Guardian of Kubu, I’ll go with Kubu.”
—Good. Next?
How much time left?
The chairman didn’t kindly display a timer, so Youngwoo had to gauge it by feel.
“Orphan Slayer!”
—…?
“Why’d you give me the Orphan Slayer? You must have other mythical gear, Chairman.”
The Besedel royal family’s ultimate weapon, Orphan Slayer.
Why did Dogo have this sword?
And why give this demonic blade to Youngwoo?
“Was that an uncomfortable question?”
At Youngwoo’s cautious query, Dogo seemed momentarily speechless.
Then.
Shh.
He glanced back at his sarcophagus and muttered.
—Next.
No intent to answer, so take another question instead.
Beside them, Jeonggu—who’d been holding his breath—blurted out without thinking.
“How much tax do you pay, Chairman? You must pay some, right? Maybe fudge a little.”
“You……!”
Youngwoo jolted at the unexpected interruption, but it was a question he was curious about too.
Did a pan-galactic corporation’s world even have taxes?
“You pay… taxes?”
As Youngwoo formally picked up Jeonggu’s question, Dogo drew his massive blade.
Shwaaaaa!
Jeonggu freaked out and flattened himself on the ground.
“Uwaaack! Chairman! Sorry! How dare a lowly worm like me……!”
But Dogo.
—The only way to escape the sacred duty of taxation is to transcend death.
After leaving that bizarre line, he scattered into the air.
Flash!
He’d teleported into the airship.
Youngwoo stood dazed for a second, then hurriedly waved goodbye.
“Chairman! Safe travels……!”
Tatat!
As Youngwoo sprinted toward the airship like a kid chasing a bird, Negig galloped after him from behind.
-Kweeeee!
And astonishingly, then.
Fwaaash!
Dogo’s wedge pattern blazed along Negig’s path in a splendid trail.
The beast had its own ceremonial function built-in.
Korea’s Supreme Swordsman dashing after the chairman’s airship, Orphan Slayer raised high. And beside him, the black iron steed scattering wedge motifs.
“…….”
Jeonggu, still prone on the ground with just his head raised, felt his mind reeling at the surreal sight.
“What the hell is this world coming to?”
And by then.
“Chaaaairman!”
After Youngwoo’s heartfelt send-off, the colossal airship blotting one side of the sky rocketed upward like a shooting star.
Shwooooosh!
Then.
Pop!
As if nothing had happened, the spot where the airship had been was spotless.
“…Phew.”
Jeonggu finally let out a sigh of relief.
Youngwoo, back close by, gripped his shoulder and tried to remove the cape.
Rustle!
“Wh-what? What the hell, you lunatic!”
“Oh, right. You’d die if I took this off, wouldn’t you, Dad?”
Youngwoo yanked his hand back as if he’d genuinely forgotten.
“Almost blew 2,000 just like that.”
Jeonggu broke into cold sweats amid the rekindling ember typhoon.
“What was that? Why’d you snatch the clothes back?”
Youngwoo scratched his chin.
“Business done, so I was gonna store it in the catalog.”
Then he unfurled today’s biggest haul: the armor catalog.
Flash!
[Armor Catalog]
〔20〕
「Collection Effect Stage 1 unlocked.」
「Collection Effect Stage 2 unlocked.」