Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: 43. Black Rain (4)
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Coordinate Locator.
To Yeong-woo, it was as good as something he'd bought for ten million karma, but the effect of this trade might hold value far exceeding ten million.
Because it had let everyone in the room know one thing.
That Jeong Yeong-woo wasn't stingy toward those who helped him.
"Th-thank you."
Dongdaemun First Sword Jang Jeong-ho bowed deeply, showing the top of his head to Yeong-woo.
Then he held out the locator with both hands, politely.
Swoosh.
"It's yours now, Yeong-woo."
"Thanks."
As Yeong-woo reached out to take the locator, the Popu Tenta carrying him took a step forward.
Thud!
"......!"
Jang Jeong-ho flinched at that, but thanks to it, Yeong-woo could take the locator with just a slight bend of his upper body.
Thud.
It was cold.
The Coordinate Locator was a thin square metal slab, like a card.
About the size of a palm, a little smaller.
That's how Jang Jeong-ho had been able to carry it in his pocket.
"But... do you know how to use it?"
Jang Jeong-ho, who'd handed it over, asked Yeong-woo.
After buying this item from the merchant, he'd tried all sorts of things to activate it himself but couldn't make it work at all.
On the other hand.
"Oh, how to use it?"
The moment Yeong-woo took hold of the metal slab, he knew right away.
The way to activate this thing was simply.
'I just have to hold it. Does it activate automatically only when coordinates can be utilized?'
Fwaaah!
Already, a reticle and coordinates were visible in Yeong-woo's vision.
〔|l||I-Earth-482-183-4239-06〕
The coordinates appeared over the reticle in the center of his vision, updating as Yeong-woo shifted his gaze.
'No way it works with Clairvoyance too.'
「Clairvoyance」 - Mutated Earring
【Amplifies vision up to 5x maximum】
As Yeong-woo turned his head outside the lobby and amplified his vision, the tiny reticle dot expanded into thin crosshairs, displaying new coordinates.
'My god.'
The Coordinate Locator was compatible even with Clairvoyance, which increased visual magnification.
'This means I can fire from pretty far away.'
And above all.
"......"
The very fact that coordinates were displaying in his vision right now implied the laser cannon was nearly complete.
No, even if not fully complete, it should be ready to input coordinates and fire a test shot.
Since the locator, which hadn't worked at all for Jang Jeong-ho, had activated immediately for him.
Swoosh.
As Yeong-woo looked up at the sky, Jeong-gu sidled over and asked in a quiet voice.
"...What? What's it this time?"
"Seems like they've assembled quite a few laser cannons."
"What? How do you know?"
Yeong-woo placed the Coordinate Locator in Jeong-gu's hand.
"It only works for me."
"......?"
Just as expected, no coordinates appeared for Jeong-gu, and Yeong-woo took it back.
"Whether it's the laser cannon or whatever, it only activates if you have equipment that needs coordinates."
"Then it's junk for most people? Selling this for money..."
"But for me, it's irreplaceable gear."
After saying that, Yeong-woo scanned Kim Jeong-gu up and down, just like Jang Jeong-ho—no real baggage to speak of.
"By the way, where's your dad?"
"Huh?"
"Not collecting funds? Why are you here?"
Swoosh.
Yeong-woo now reflexively directed his bastard sword.
And with him mounted atop the massive Popu Tenta, the intimidation was immense.
"W-what are you talking about? It's underway right now."
As Jeong-gu said this, he glanced toward Jo Sang-ik on the other side.
Thanks to personnel sent from Gwanak's Seoul National University side, the collection was still in progress at this hour.
"But ten million... thinking about paying it myself, it's a huge sum. If I keep taking money from them going forward, those guys won't just sit still."
This time, thanks to the 'Dragon Shock,' they'd all handed over the money without much resistance, but would it keep going like that?
They were the First Swords, top dogs of their regions, after all. Wouldn't they start thinking of pooling that protection money instead for a coup?
"Be careful. There's no such thing as an eternal top dog in this world."
As Jeong-gu cautioned out of concern, Yeong-woo's gaze turned to the First Swords in the room.
More precisely, to the coordinates hovering above their heads.
"So we can't get complacent—we have to keep pushing forward. Stronger firepower, tougher bodies."
"...Is that how you use 'don't get complacent'?"
While the two exchanged banter, a man laden with bulging backpacks appeared from across from the hotel.
He was none other than.
『Mapo First Sword』
Mapo First Sword Yang Woo-taek.
"Whoa."
Woo-taek gave an awkward smile at the First Swords crowded in the hotel lobby, then waved toward Yeong-woo.
He'd brought the promised money.
With this, thirty million collected for now.
-Kikkit!
Before Yeong-woo could even give the order, the Golden Goblin darted out and swept the backpacks Yang Woo-taek carried into the subspace pouch.
Just moments ago, Yeong-woo's cash holdings had barely topped one million karma, but now they ballooned at a ferocious rate.
* Available Karma: 31,274,500
'Now just Eunpyeong left.'
Once Eunpyeong First Sword brought the promised money as agreed, and his father's district Dobong's collection wrapped up safely, he'd secure about fifty million karma by end of day.
'Then no big issues with the codex acquisition tax.'
Essentially the price of Yeong-woo's own life.
Would they even know the circumstances?
"......"
Yeong-woo glanced at the First Swords murmuring about the Coordinate Locator, then felt a vibration on the outside of his thigh.
"What is it."
He reached into his pocket, and there was the narrative compass 'Frightened Cat,' eyes wide open, meowing.
It meant a threatening presence had appeared nearby.
"......?"
An inexplicable phenomenon for Yeong-woo.
He'd already taken down the dragon that appeared in Seoul today, and even if some unprocessed mutant was lurking somewhere, it wouldn't be strong enough to trigger the cat.
It couldn't be a malfunction of the compass either... so something was wrong, whatever it was.
"Something's coming."
"What? What are you talking about?"
Leaving Jeong-gu with twitching eyebrows behind, Yeong-woo ordered Popu to carry him out of the lobby.
-Thud!
Popu, following orders, carried him out the hotel's front doors, and the rest of the First Swords followed in pursuit.
"Yeong-woo, what's going on all of a sudden?"
"What is it... no way, a launch test right now?"
The top fighters from each region stepped out of the lobby, tilting their heads variously.
And soon.
"...Gasp."
"My god."
"Wh-what is that......?"
Each one gaped, hands drifting toward their scabbards.
Because even from right in front of the hotel, it was clearly visible.
Rumble......!
The sky over Gwangjin District beyond the Han River to the east was pitch black.
Not just the sky—even the ground and all space in Gwangjin were shrouded in gloom.
And the reason was.
Roooar!
A mad downpour of black rain pouring from the blackened sky.
"The rain... it's black?"
Seongbuk First Sword Lee Yu-bin made a grim face.
She'd seen firsthand how, when the dragon appeared today, an abnormal weather event like that had struck a specific area.
"Y-Yeong-woo, looks like......"
As Yu-bin instinctively sought Joseon First Sword Jeong Yeong-woo's opinion, she spotted Yongsan First Sword Kim Do-ha already behind his back.
"There was another dragon......? You can handle that too, right, Yeong-woo?"
Kim Do-ha brazenly trying to hide in the shadow of Joseon First Sword.
Yeong-woo smiled at Do-ha with unusual benevolence.
"Of course. By your terms, what I got today was protection money, wasn't it? If I've taken the money, I have to deliver the value."
The moment Yeong-woo said this, Jang Jeong-ho's eyes widened as he pointed toward Gwangjin.
"No? Doesn't that feel like it's getting closer?"
Just as he said—the storm clouds and black rain blanketing Gwangjin's sky were slowly expanding their domain.
'Whatever it is, it's coming this way.'
Swoosh.
Yeong-woo signaled Negugru to approach, and Jeong-gu, sword already drawn, asked in a tense voice.
"Wh-what are you planning?"
"Doesn't seem like a dragon for some reason... Anyway, we have to see what it is."
If it had been a dragonkin opponent, he'd have started by finding someone to receive the Archrival mark, like with Im Gwang-ho.
But this one had appeared on the land without warning.
Click.
As Yeong-woo mounted Negugru again, Songpa First Sword Oh Yeon-hui approached, her crescent blade lowered.
"I'll go too. You're not the only First Sword, Yeong-woo."
"Yeah. More people to fight with is good for me."
Yeong-woo didn't dissuade the others from joining.
If the laser cannon wasn't complete yet, they'd need to make up for the lacking firepower with numbers, right?
'I can't even tell if there's a generator up there yet. Request bombardment first—if no response, blow the whistle.'
With his plan in mind, Yeong-woo spurred Negugru toward Gwangjin.
Taat!
Oh Yeon-hui chased right after, and the rest of the First Swords followed in order of bravery.
Naturally, dead last was Yongsan First Sword Kim Do-ha.
Tatat!
Nine First Swords sortied, Yeong-woo included.
Though most were moving on the sole belief that Joseon First Sword Jeong Yeong-woo would handle it somehow.
"Seoul always mobs up like this?"
Yangju First Sword Choi Jong-seon asked Lee Yu-bin running right beside him.
Yu-bin chuckled softly as she replied.
"It happens sometimes since that guy showed up."
The guy she meant was, naturally, Jeong Yeong-woo.
And right then.
Roooar!
Yeong-woo, leading the pack, halted Negugru.
Cheongdam Bridge, linking Gangnam and Gwangjin, was finally in sight ahead.
The problem, though.
Roooar......!
About seventy percent of Cheongdam Bridge was already engulfed in the black downpour.
'No matter how I look at it, it's abnormal weather. Can I take these people in there?'
Yeong-woo wasn't immune to all abnormal weather either, so he couldn't act rashly.
What he came up with was.
'I have to drop golden rain on Gangnam anyway, so if that thing spreads here, use the orb.'
The hidden effect of golden rain: abnormal weather nullification.
"Time to prep the rain."
At Yeong-woo's words, the Golden Goblin rummaged in the pouch and pulled out a golden orb.
-Kit!
And around then.
Rumble......!
Thunder from within the pitch-black clouds sounded as close as right overhead.
Thud, tatat!
Irregular footsteps began echoing from inside the darkness shrouding Cheongdam Bridge.
"Hm......?"
"Uh."
All eyes naturally turned to the bridge.
Most figured it was monster footsteps, but Yeong-woo disagreed.
-Myaaong.
The Frightened Cat, eyes still bulging, was staring not at the bridge but beyond the storm clouds above it.
And above all.
Thud... tatat!
The rhythm of those footsteps felt oddly familiar.
"People... sounds like people?"
Realizing something, Yeong-woo spurred Negugru alone toward the bridge, when Jeong-gu's shout came from behind.
"B-be careful! Yeong-woo......!"
And nearly simultaneously.
...Thud!
From within the black downpour that had swallowed nearly ninety percent of Cheongdam Bridge, a small-statured person limped out.
Tatat.
None other than.
"O-oh......!"
Eunpyeong First Sword Kim Hyeong-gyu, face lighting up with near-tears joy at the sight of Jeong Yeong-woo.
The newbie who'd joined the Seoul Federation after the First Swords' meeting in Paju.
"Yeong-woo!"
Hyeong-gyu spread his arms toward Yeong-woo, looking as if he'd been soaked in ink.
Yeong-woo spotted the two-handed greatsword in his right hand, snapped in half.
"Who did this?"
Pointing at the broken blade, Yeong-woo asked, and Eunpyeong First Sword shuddered violently as he passed by Negugru.
As if he had to flee from something.
"S-sorry."
"...For what?"
"Too strong... they took all the money."
"What did they take? No way, my ten million?"
At the dreadful news, Yeong-woo's ears perked up, and by then, the rainwater that had fully consumed Cheongdam Bridge began pouring down on Yeong-woo and Negugru.
Roooar......!
Instantly, strength drained from his whole body, nausea churning in his gut.
'What the—this rain has a debuff.'
And then.
Thud!
"......?"
Thud!
A massively heavy footfall echoed from deep within the darkened Cheongdam Bridge.
Unmistakably not human.
Yeong-woo slowly drew the bastard sword from his waist, gradually backing Negugru up.
He didn't want to collapse the bridge mid-fight atop it.
'Looks like we'll fight in Gangnam this time.'
Small mercy: this area was park land, so as long as the battle didn't drag on, nearby residences wouldn't get wrecked.
Thud!
The footfall sounded much closer now.
Then soon.
Clang!
With a weighty metallic crash, a massive iron mace slammed down at the bridge's end.
"What the......"
Seeing the mace's size, Yeong-woo instantly sensed the opponent's body was enormous.
And indeed.
Thuuud!
Its owners emerged, revealing gigantic flesh.
-Kruk.
Before Yeong-woo stood two yakshas, each over five meters tall.
"Huh? Yakshas?"
Yeong-woo's eyes widened at the monsters.
As he recalled, North Korea's dictator Kim Jong-un was set to return as a Golden Yaksha.
So the mutants he'd bring along would naturally be.
'...Yakshas, right.'
The moment Yeong-woo's thoughts reached there, the item in the second yaksha's left hand caught his eye.
"Hey, isn't that my money bag?"
Brushing aside rain with his hand, Yeong-woo pointed his bastard sword at the item, and the targeted yaksha glared at him with vicious eyes.
-Kruk.
"Kruk this, you bastard."
Thud!
Yeong-woo gritted his teeth, raising the bastard sword threateningly.
Meanwhile, with his other hand, he activated the golden orb the Golden Goblin held up.
Ten million karma held hostage before his eyes had him urgent, but he couldn't fight a losing battle.
Shuuuuaaa!
Soon, the orb touching Yeong-woo traced a golden trajectory skyward, and only now did he point the bastard sword alternately at the two yakshas, as if he'd live.
"Put that money down nicely. Even then, I won't spare your lives."
Right on cue.
Boom boom boom!
The golden orb exploded in the sky, beginning to push back the black rain.