Chapter 75
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Shattering the Moon (1)
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Artorium, a Hunter-exclusive cafe in Gangnam.
I was scheduled to meet Sanarae here.
I'd wondered why we had to meet at a cafe exclusively for Hunters, but my question was soon answered.
Behind the counter, at the end of a secretly hidden passage, was a spacious room.
“Hello.”
The space was dimly lit.
Sanarae greeted me, her chin resting on one hand.
I sat down on the plush sofa across from her and spoke.
“I never would have guessed a cafe had a place like this.”
“Not too bad, is it? The room was constructed using barrier stones and magic protection stones. A few A-rank Hunters would have a hard time trying to spy or eavesdrop on us.”
“Doesn't it have a separate rental fee?”
“Yes, 500,000 won an hour.”
Just as I'd expect from Artorium. The 50,000 won Americano wasn't the only expensive thing here.
Still, considering it was the rental fee for a private space that allowed no interference, it didn't seem that expensive.
A brief, subtle silence fell between us.
Sanarae took a sip of her herbal tea before getting straight to the point.
“So, about wanting to take down the Samwol Guild?”
“It's exactly as it sounds. I want to take down the Samwol Guild and Yu Wolha.”
“I see.”
Sanarae glanced at me with her jet-black eyes.
“A personal grudge?”
A personal grudge.
To be honest, at first, I hesitated to completely destroy the arena.
It would be more accurate to say I lacked the resolve to make a big scene.
My plan was to quietly get the gnome out without causing any trouble.
But not anymore.
“There are several reasons, but a personal grudge is a big part of it.”
There was no reason to voice every emotion boiling inside me.
So that was all I said.
“I like that you're not spouting nonsense about justice or anything.”
Sanarae's voice softened.
“I have no personal feelings toward Yu Wolha.”
“But you do have issues to resolve with the Samwol Group. For instance, the mass-produced suit business.”
At my words, Sanarae's eyes narrowed.
“How did you know?”
“I have my own sources.”
The predecessor to the Samwol Guild.
The Samwol Group, led by Yu Wolha's father, Chairman Yu Geonha.
Recently, there had been friction between the Sanarae Guild and the Samwol Group.
The Samwol Group had been subtly encroaching on the mass-produced suit business, which Sanarae had monopolized.
This wasn't easy information to come by.
However, I had a useful source of information named Ju Jisan.
“Isn't that why you readily agreed to my request from the start? Placing Hunter Jeong Sowon by my side and backing me so I could enter the arena—wasn't it all to find a weakness in the Samwol Group?”
Sanarae silently tilted her teacup.
Then she spoke softly.
“It's true that Samwol has been meddling in my business. Apart from that, they've been crossing the line more often recently. Especially since Yu Wolha became the de facto guild master of the Samwol Guild...”
An emotion flickered in her jet-black eyes.
“That's right. Just because this is our world doesn't mean anything goes. He's crossing the line too much.”
That was why she had agreed to my request, despite the considerable risks involved.
Even though it was an issue that could easily escalate into a political war between guilds.
“But let me make one thing clear. I had no particular intention of using you, Hanul.”
But Sanarae shook her head.
“I can't say there wasn't some intent, but I didn't help you with an explicit goal in mind. If I wanted you to create a specific situation, I would have given you orders long ago.”
That was a rather unexpected answer, and I couldn't help but be a little surprised.
“It's more like the situation and timing just happened to align.”
“Thank you.”
In any case.
Regardless of her true intentions, I wouldn't have made it this far without her help.
When I spoke with sincerity, Sanarae smiled slightly and waved her hand.
“No need for thanks. The next banquet is in two days, right? I think that's what Sowon told me.”
“Yes.”
Two days later.
I plan to deal with the trash lurking in the shadows.
“Two days... good. The timing is perfect.”
“Timing?”
“Yes.”
Suddenly, Sanarae's eyes lit up.
“Let me ask one more thing.”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to completely ruin Yu Wolha, make it impossible for him to recover? Or everyone involved, including him?”
I thought quietly.
About what I wanted, what I intended to do.
The answer came quickly.
“Not just Yu Wolha. I want to destroy the entire arena he runs. And every person involved with it.”
“I see. Sowon was right, after all.”
Jeong Sowon? Did she tell her something about me besides her regular reports?
Before I could ask, Sanarae nodded.
“Alright, I have a good idea.”
“A good idea?”
“Yes. You don't have to do anything special. I'll take care of the rest.”
This was another unexpected answer.
I thought I'd have to take some action that involved considerable risk.
But Sanarae just smiled and added.
“You've already set the stage perfectly, Hanul.”
* * *
Two days passed.
The banquet proceeded as scheduled, just like any other.
The difference from the last banquet was that the amount of money Hunters bet on me was overwhelmingly high.
And.
- Now, before we begin the banquet! It's one of our frequent events. Time to see our ugly little dwarf!
They were holding an event with the gnome, something they hadn't done at the last banquet.
The announcer's booming voice rang out.
This time, however, the crowd's reaction was lukewarm.
“Boo! Forget that potato sack and bring out Gono!”
“Dammit, stop wasting time and show us our Goblin Evangelist!”
“This is getting old! Stop pandering to the operator and start the main event!”
The arena's audience had already shifted all their attention from Yu Wolha to me and Gono.
I could picture Yu Wolha barely suppressing his rage.
But I didn't smile.
“What are you doing? Get out there, now!”
“...Eek.”
In the dark hallway of the waiting room.
I saw the gnome.
He was being practically dragged along, clutching a small hammer.
And in the moment our eyes met as we passed each other.
“...?!”
For a brief instant, the gnome's eyes widened.
He had recognized me, even though I was wearing a mask.
That I was the human who had taken him two days ago.
“...”
The current 'Kim Uhyeon' couldn't acknowledge him.
So I remained silent.
My lips were sealed, but I stared at him with clear eyes.
I will save you, no matter what.
Hoping that my resolve would reach him.
* * *
After the 'event' ended.
After the bloodied gnome was dragged away by a Hunter.
The main matches began.
The cheers that greeted me and Gono were much louder than before.
But the fights themselves were much the same.
Whether the opponent was a werewolf pumped full of cocktails, a salamander with a crushed and modified skull, or a kobold warrior fitted with various mechanical devices.
*Thwack!*
“Grrrrl...”
They all fell to Gono's club.
And just like that, we were on a 10-win streak.
“Waaaaah! Gono is insane!”
“Ha, I should've bet on him when he was the underdog. Even winning a 5-streak bet doesn't pay much now...!”
“Hey, today's matches were way tougher than last time, weren't they? How is he one-shotting everything, regardless of class?!”
Amid the cheers, the announcer's excited voice echoed.
- Victoryyyy! Another one-shot! The massive werewolf goes down in a single blow! With this, the invincible goblin, Gono, and Kim Uhyeon have achieved the daunting 10-win streak!
Again, there was no celebration.
Instead, I scanned the status window that appeared before me.
[You have met the prerequisites to clear the Special Quest, 「Flowing Warrior's Blood」.]
Only one condition remained.
Equip Gono with an item and have him fight two more battles.
- Now, Kim Uhyeon! Please wait in the waiting room for a moment. The operator will be down shortly to award you your prize money!
To clear that condition, I took Gono to the waiting room.
Three minutes later, I returned to the stage and spoke.
“Forget the prize money. Bring out the next opponent.”
- What? All the Hunters who signed up today have already...
“There's still someone left. The management.”
My voice swept across the bustling banquet hall.
The cheering Hunters and the announcer fell silent at once.
- What?
The announcer asked dumbly.
I wasn't looking at him.
Instead, I stared at Yu Wolha, who was looking down at me in silence.
“I don't need a Hall of Fame or any of that. I came here for entertainment in the first place.”
I added, "But this is so dull it's putting me to sleep."
The massive banquet hall fell dead silent.
And as expected.
Yu Wolha took the bait.
As if he had been waiting for it.
A short laugh—*hahaha*—rang out.
“Indeed, Kim Uhyeon. Just as expected from someone backed by the Sanarae Guild. Your audacity is quite something.”
“...”
“I was prepared, just in case. I didn't think you'd be satisfied with just this.”
What a joke.
Every opponent I faced was Minotaur-class or higher from a few days ago.
He had been hoping Gono and I would be eliminated before a situation like this could arise.
“As for the management, it's really just me and one vice-operator who assists me. I had the vice-operator on standby.”
“I appreciate the swiftness.”
“Yes. Announcer, let's begin immediately.”
- What? B-But Kim Uhyeon and Gono just finished a match. They need at least a short break...
“Announcer. Didn't Kim Uhyeon just call for the next match?”
The announcer flinched.
- Ah, r-right. My apologies, Operator. Well, since Kim Uhyeon has requested a match against the management instead of prize money, we will begin the next round immediately...! I don't know how long it's been since the last time with the Cerberus. He is an A-rank Hunter from the Samwol Guild and the vice-operator of this banquet hall. Hunter Im Juntae!
*Rumble.*
With the announcer's call, a steel cage opened, and a man with a square jaw walked out from the darkness.
But as soon as he appeared, the atmosphere changed.
“Booo, get lost, you golem master bastard!”
“Trying to pull some dirty tricks again!”
“Don't spoil the mood! Fight fair and square!”
I had a rough idea why.
That guy's ability isn't taming.
Im Juntae, one of the Samwol Guild's strategy team leaders, was a fairly famous golem master.
His golem wasn't a tamed creature but a doll crafted from inorganic materials.
This was where the discrepancy arose.
'It's like bringing a robot dog to a dogfight.'
So, to the spectators, it couldn't help but seem unfair.
And it really was unfair.
“Man, you really know how to cross the line in all sorts of ways, pal.”
Im Juntae sneered, his tone belying his stoic face.
“I don't know what grudge you have against our vice-guild master, but you should go cry to your mommy. Whether you're rolling in money or not, you need to know when to stop messing around. In this business, you can lose your head in an instant for acting like that.”
*Thump!*
At the same time, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from behind him.
A golem that looked like it was made of solid rocks pieced together emerged from the darkness.
It stood three meters tall, a massive creature on par with an ogre.
“I'll give you ten seconds. Forfeit if you don't want to see that goblin turned into a bloody pulp. I see you've put some kind of armor on it this time, but it's useless. It's not like items work on monsters anyway.”
Im Juntae said, crossing his arms.
Instead of answering, I asked a question.
“Golems can repair themselves even after taking a fair bit of damage, right?”
“You know your stuff. They repair themselves even when they're broken. They aren't inefficient like monsters, so they don't feel pain either.”
“Fascinating.”
“Hahahaha, of course, of course. Tearing the limbs off those fearless tamed monsters with it is the most fun you can have.”
A grin spread across Im Juntae's face.
Was he always this disgusting of a bastard? To the public, he was seen as a stoic Hunter who got things done.
And the announcer raised his hand.
- Now, let the match between Kim Uhyeon and Hunter Im Juntae begin—!
As his hand fell.
[Flapping of the Carrion Crow (A)]
With a gust of wind, the small figure beside me vanished.
And then.
In the empty space right next to the golem, a club-wielding goblin appeared.
The golem's head and Im Juntae's head turned slightly at the same time.
*Craaack!*
The airborne goblin's club slammed squarely into the golem's head.
- ?
No one understood.
What had just happened.
The sequence of events had been too fast for the naked eye to follow.
*Crack, crack, crackle!*
Cracks spiderwebbed across the stone golem.
*Crumble.*
In an instant, it broke in two and collapsed.
“...Huh?”
A deflated sound escaped Im Juntae.
He was frozen in an awkward pose, his finger pointed at me, about to give a command.
“I have one more question.”
I asked the man.
“What happens if I grind it into dust? Can it still repair itself then?”
“...What...”
*Crumble, crunch, crumble!*
The half-destroyed golem began to break down into smaller and smaller pieces.
Boulders became fist-sized rocks, and those rocks turned into fine dust that began to scatter.
“I asked you a question.”
I repeated softly.
“What happens?”