Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: No Hyoman's End
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“……So. You haven’t seen Lucifer since then?”
“Yeah. But how do you know about that? There weren’t any witnesses.”
I shrugged.
“That’s just what you think. So, your goal right now is to find Lucifer?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“First, I eat a bunch of strong guys and gain the power to beat Lucifer in a fight.”
Just from his thoughts alone, it was clear he had some grasp of Lucifer’s strength.
‘If he can sense the difference in power levels, No Hyoman’s no ordinary guy either.’
Even though he’d grown strong enough to take on large monsters solo, he was still thinking about getting even stronger.
After finishing the conversation, I asked him,
“No Hyoman, your plan is never going to succeed.”
“We’ll see about that once I try.”
“……If that’s the case, you’d have to eat me too. Think you can?”
No Hyoman shook his head.
“Nah, doesn’t seem possible right now.”
“You’re not lying, huh?”
“A true soldier doesn’t lie.”
“Damn. Then what’s all this about fooling Kim Juncheol up until now?”
“……”
I could understand his resentment toward Kim Juncheol. How much hardship and pain must he have endured just to survive in the special forces with his limited smarts?
He must’ve taken plenty of abuse from his superior, Kim Juncheol.
It was the kind of stress every Korean guy would know all too well.
“Anyway, got any last words before you die?”
“……Weren’t you going to let me live?”
“Of course not. I just wanted to hear what I needed to know.”
“Heh heh….”
“Think about it. I never once said I’d let you live.”
No Hyoman’s eyes changed. The sharp glare filled with resentment and hatred softened as it slowly dropped.
He slowly knelt down.
Thud.
“……Kim Cheonjae, can’t you just let me go this one time? I have a mission I absolutely have to complete.”
“Would you let me go if I were you? When you’re talking about eating other people.”
“Th-that’s just a step toward catching Lucifer.”
“So you’re becoming a demon to catch a demon?”
“……”
“And if I let you live now, you’ll come after me again later. You think I’m crazy enough to do that?”
There was no good or evil in his head. He’d do anything, no holds barred, just to take down his target: Lucifer.
“I promise. From now on, I won’t attack people. I’ll just fight monsters and get stronger.”
“I don’t buy it.”
“I’m a man who always keeps his promises.”
“But didn’t you do that in Mebania? Spreading the virus on the sly and reporting to Kim Juncheol like nothing happened.”
“Lies and promises are different.”
“If you turn a promise into a lie, you won’t keep that either.”
My words shut his mouth tight.
He had nothing to say. It was his own actions, after all.
I nodded to Ares. Taking my signal, Ares lightly placed the spear blade above No Hyoman’s neck.
“Please.”
“Save your pleas for the gods.”
“Please let me make up for my mistakes.”
“……”
After hesitating for a moment, I drew my finger from top to bottom. Ares swung the spear accordingly, slicing No Hyoman’s neck.
Swish-.
The spear blade, swung lightly, was coated in blood. Then, with a dull thud, No Hyoman’s head hit the ground.
Thud.
I looked down at him and lit a cigarette.
It was bad enough that he stank of rot as a modified zombie, but now the room filled with the nauseating stench of his spoiled, bloody reek.
“Whew….”
[Player ‘Kim Cheonjae’ has eliminated a key NPC in the main storyline.]
[Kim Cheonjae’s story progression is recorded in the entire server’s ‘Book of the Lion.’]
[All players will now play the game following the changed progression.]
I exhaled a long stream of cigarette smoke as I checked the system window. It meant other players would follow the story I’d altered.
A strange feeling washed over me.
On one hand, it felt good.
Like I was changing this world.
[Congratulations on completing the quest ‘Operation Officer No Hyoman is a son of a bitch!’]
[A hidden quest completion reward is granted to ‘Kim Cheonjae.’]
[System Message]
[You have acquired the title ‘One Step Closer to the Truth!’]
[Summon Level +1 increase!]
[Summon Level ‘11’ achieved]
[Subordinates’ attack power, defense, and health slightly increase.]
* * * * *
By the time I finished my cigarette, Ma Jeongwoo and Lina came to my room. They looked like hell too—must’ve fought other modified zombies. Covered in black blood, reeking of decay.
Ma Jeongwoo sneezed and vented his frustration.
-Achoo!
“Argh! There were three zombie bastards in my room. Fucking bullshit, swear!”
Lina wrinkled her nose and continued.
“Mine too! There were four in mine. Look, my skirt’s soaked in zombie blood.”
I grinned at them.
“You guys did good.”
Thud thud thud thud thud!
The sound of many footsteps rushing over. Skeleton soldiers arrived one or two at a time where we were. Their bodies sizzled and smoked as the zombie blood burned off with crackling sounds.
Looks like they’d taken out a fair number of zombies too. Once all the skeleton soldiers arrived, Park Gyuhwan and Gawain followed behind.
They’d probably been last, directing the troops.
I praised them, then headed out of the auction house.
Staying here longer was just a waste of time. I could leave the rest to the merchant of Daekyung City.
Outside the auction house, a crowd of players stood waiting in front.
They must’ve been blocked from entering by the line of demon summons I’d placed.
I ordered the summons to clear a path and spoke to the players there.
“There are modified zombies that attacked inside, so it’s still a bloodbath. Come back once it’s cleaned up.”
-What?! Modified zombies showed up here?
-Huh? Was that system message for real earlier? Something about the Book of the Lion changing.
-Th-then, is that guy Kim Cheonjae, the one who changed this game’s story?
They all stared at me with disbelieving eyes. I didn’t answer and just walked past.
Lina unnecessarily slapped another player’s shoulder hard and said,
“That’s Kim Cheonjae.”
‘Don’t go blabbing useless crap….’
Once out of Daekyung City, I asked Lina,
“What’re you planning to do from here?”
“Huh?”
“You going to the tenth round?”
“……Once the group gathers.”
“Then let me make a suggestion. If you head to the fifth round now, there’s a Korean player druid who was with us before.”
Lina tilted her head.
“Druid?”
“Yeah, there’ll be a woman who reacts right away when you mention our names. Team up with her, run the rounds again, and head to the tenth.”
“……Why me?”
“A strong group. When we face Lucifer later, she’ll be a powerful ally to help you.”
With that, I left. How Lina acted now that she’d lost her group was up to her.
Of course, following my advice was the best plan for survival….
* * * * *
Back in the ruined village, I went to find Kim Juncheol.
I briefed him on everything that had happened, then told him about No Hyoman’s plans.
“……I see. I never imagined the operations officer was thinking like that.”
“You can hear the rest straight from him. No Hyoman, come in.”
The modified zombie No Hyoman entered the bunker. He stood before Kim Juncheol with his head bowed low.
In the bunker’s small room—devoid even of white noise—the three of us faced each other.
I made a zipping motion with my fingers.
[‘Operations Officer No Hyoman’s’ mute mode is released.]
[Conversation is now possible from this point.]
Kim Juncheol’s eyes widened as he asked,
“Is that really No Hyoman?”
I told No Hyoman,
“From now on, answer every question from Major Kim Juncheol with the truth.”
As soon as the order dropped, he replied,
“It’s No Hyoman….”
“Is everything Kim Cheonjae said true?”
No Hyoman clamped his mouth shut, trying not to answer. But he couldn’t defy his summoner’s order. His lips slowly parted.
“Y-yes…. It is.”
Kim Juncheol’s eyes reddened.
“Operations officer!”
“……Yes.”
“Have you hated me, resented me, despised me all this time?”
“……Yes.”
“Since the day we first met?”
“……Yes.”
Kim Juncheol ground his teeth and let out a long sigh before continuing.
“I see. Thanks for your hard work serving under me all this time.”
“……”
“I. Un. Der. Stand. I can’t fully grasp everything you’ve been through from your past, but one thing’s for sure. Every day must’ve felt like walking on thin ice.”
“……?!”
“I may not understand all your feelings, but this much I know.”
No Hyoman looked up at Kim Juncheol. He seemed thrown off by the completely unexpected response.
I quietly listened to their exchange.
“I went through the same thing as you—lieutenant, captain, major days.”
“……”
“When I think back on the humiliations and injustices from my superiors then, I get why you acted that way.”
“……”
“The last thing I want to say is this one thing.”
Kim Juncheol straightened up and saluted No Hyoman.
“Dis! Missed! Thanks for the hard work under me. In your next life, find a good superior—not someone like me.”
No Hyoman’s hands trembled. He looked like he wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come.
The conversation I’d allowed was only answers to Kim Juncheol’s questions.
Sticking to that limit, his mouth wouldn’t open easily.
“No Hyoman, from now on you can con-”
Just as I was about to order the conversation limit lifted,
No Hyoman suddenly shouted the salute response.
“Dis! Missed! No!”
[No.]
It was the best response No Hyoman could give Kim Juncheol. That one phrase carried layers of meaning.
His reddened eyes stared clearly at Kim Juncheol.
As Kim Juncheol returned the salute and lowered his hand,
Something I never expected happened.
[System Error Code:69]
[Access denied.]
[Due to system error, 1 summon under ‘Kim Cheonjae’ is canceled.]
The modified zombie No Hyoman’s body suddenly melted into the ground and vanished.
I hadn’t issued any cancel command, but it was forcibly released.
“……Mr. Kim Cheonjae.”
Kim Juncheol looked at me.
“Yes.”
I looked back at him.
“Thank you. I don’t know how you did it, but thanks to you, I got to talk with the late Captain No Hyoman.”
“……No problem.”
I didn’t know how he felt, but I was bitter. I’d lost a growth-type summon to a sudden error.
Kim Juncheol turned away and said to me,
“Then…. I’ll go prepare the next operation.”
“……Yes. I’ll be off too.”
“When will you return?”
With my back to the door as I answered,
“Hard to pin down an exact day this time.”
“Will it take long?”
“Probably.”
“……Understood. Then I’ll wrap up the tasks you requested before that.”
I nodded in affirmation. Then headed out of the bunker.
Step. Step. Step. Step.
Walking the cold corridor on the way out.
A system message appeared above my head.
[System error compensation reward granted!]
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