Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: A Returner's Day (2)
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Lee Sang-hyun lay on the clean, fluffy hotel bed, searching through everything that had happened over the past twelve years.
That's when he discovered that Seoul, South Korea, was the safest place on Earth.
'Thanks to the safe zone, they managed to preserve the city with minimal damage. That must be why so many people have gathered there.'
Currently, Seoul had the highest population concentration on the planet. It had surpassed ten million and was approaching fifty million residents. Including the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, the greater metropolitan area exceeded one hundred million.
'With that many people, the infrastructure must have improved accordingly.'
The virtuous cycle sparked by the safe zone was more than enough to transform Seoul into the greatest city on Earth.
However, skyrocketing housing prices had made foreigners outnumber locals, which was listed as Seoul's main issue.
'...If I had money, I'd want to live in Seoul too. It's far better than living in constant anxiety over when a tower might appear.'
Lee Sang-hyun nodded in understanding and searched for more articles.
"......"
Twelve years had passed, so there were plenty of intriguing topics.
How the world had changed since the towers appeared, the emergence of the Strongest 7, the discovery of nectar, how nectar enabled tower management, the underground towers spawning colossal beasts—countless subjects piqued his interest and filled the twelve-year gap.
"Hmm."
Lee Sang-hyun set his smartphone aside for a moment and thought.
'What I need to do right now... First, I should get a proper weapon. These cheap ones won't hold up for long.'
The two swords he'd taken from Choi Tae-seong's office were Grade 3 (★★★).
They were decent artifacts by general standards, but rather shabby for Lee Sang-hyun's use.
Especially compared to the Grade 5 gear wielded by the Strongest 7—it felt sorely inadequate.
'For now, I should check out the underground tower with the colossal beast. They say it drops multiple Grade 4 artifacts or higher.'
Having decided on his immediate task, Lee Sang-hyun turned off the lights and went to sleep.
"......"
Perhaps from trudging across barren lands for so long, a pleasant drowsiness washed over him.
With three First Players at Grade 3 and himself reaching Grade 3, Choi Tae-seong was confident it would work.
'I've even prepared artifacts to block mental attacks this time...! No matter how impressive you are... You won't pull off any tricks this round!!'
Factoring in the artifacts, their force could even subdue a Grade 4 Player.
"Over here!!"
The culprit who had robbed his office and humiliated him twice was in Pangyo, outside Seoul. Casually enjoying breakfast, no less.
"I'll kill you... I'll definitely kill you...!!"
The Black Hunter, whose clothes had been stripped off in disgrace, seethed with vengeful fury.
Crunch!!
His ferocious glare was far from ordinary.
Confirming no underground tower with a colossal beast lurked beneath Seoul, Lee Sang-hyun turned his attention to Gyeonggi Province.
He spotted one in Pangyo and headed straight there.
'...Gotta eat one last time. Who knows when I'll get another chance.'
Craving the jjambbong rice and sweet-and-sour pork from yesterday, Lee Sang-hyun entered a Chinese restaurant.
He ordered jjambbong rice, sweet-and-sour pork, and yu lin chicken. Three cans of soda, as usual.
'...Definitely a lot of foreigners.'
The order taker was a foreigner. With tens of millions of foreigners crammed into cramped Seoul alone, Gyeonggi must be overflowing.
Including illegal immigrants, they probably surpassed Korea's old population with ease.
'Hm? Choi Tae-seong again. Numbers have increased—he's serious this time.'
Choi Tae-seong was racing toward Pangyo. At that speed, he'd arrive in about ten minutes.
'What a persistent guy. Still coming after getting burned twice.'
Lee Sang-hyun admired Choi Tae-seong's tenacity while pondering how to deal with him.
"That way!!"
The office robber was inside a Chinese joint called Okhwaru.
"You bastard!!"
The Black Hunter charged without regard for anything. He ignored his summoned allies' attempts to hold him back—this revenge wouldn't wait.
"I'll kill you!!"
Because he wouldn't calm down until he'd chewed that bastard's face off!
But he didn't get far. He staggered, then collapsed face-first onto the ground.
"Sh...it... fa...ck......"
"Wha...t the......"
"You... bitch......"
Next, Choi Tae-seong and the rest of the Black Hunters lost consciousness and crumpled. The grunts were out cold instantly.
"......"
Lee Sang-hyun stepped out of the shop, hoisted them over his shoulder like sacks of rice, and climbed to the rooftop of a nearby villa.
'No wallets this time. Shame.'
Swallowing his faint regret, Lee Sang-hyun arranged their unconscious bodies into poses.
From sun-salute positions to old man stretches, Crayon Shin-chan butt dances, and more—he put genuine effort into the variety.
'This should get the message across. If not, third time's the charm.'
Three times ought to drill in that he wasn't someone to mess with.
Lee Sang-hyun returned in high spirits and savored his jjambbong rice, sweet-and-sour pork, and yu lin chicken.
'Should've ordered chili shrimp too, knowing this would happen.'
The underground tower lay directly beneath Pangyo Station on the Shinbundang Line.
"......"
The entrance and the entire tower were buried under the subway tracks. Unlike typical towers, the entrance was at the top, with the summit at the bottom—as if inverted.
'This'll do.'
Lee Sang-hyun manipulated the moisture in the soil, liquefying the ground layer all the way to the tower entrance.
The earth turned to mush like water and sank in an instant.
'Let's go.'
He leaped down in one go. The entrance was thirty meters below.
Thud.
The underground tower's entrance was vast and ominous. It reeked of deep-seated hatred, sending chills down the spine.
Of course, Lee Sang-hyun felt no fear and stepped inside.
Kerberos's Tower sealed the colossal beast Kerberos. Hence, its structure was simple.
Stairs along the slopes, marble pillars, floors etched with strange murals and script—that was it.
'Looks like a coliseum.'
It resembled the Roman Colosseum, only on a scale that made the original seem miniature. No human could have built it.
Lee Sang-hyun descended the stairs.
Thump... Thump...
Kerberos was bound by iron chains.
Yet its massive heartbeat shook the space, as if on the verge of awakening.
'100 meters... No, 200 meters?'
Kerberos dwarfed every monster Earth had seen.
And it resembled a dragon.
'...Maybe a lesser dragonkin.'
Lee Sang-hyun pegged it as lesser dragonkin due to the lack of wings.
True, earth dragons existed without them, but this still didn't feel like a true dragon.
Thump... Thump...
Lee Sang-hyun halted his approach and gripped his sword.
'Center of the abdomen. Can't pierce straight through, but the heart's within reach.'
Kerberos's heart was in the center of its belly, not its chest.
Swish.
Lee Sang-hyun aimed his sword at Kerberos, pulling the hilt back so the tip pointed at the heart. A thrusting stance.
Thump... Thump!! Thoomp...!
Sensing danger? Kerberos's heartbeat accelerated.
'End it in one strike.'
Lee Sang-hyun channeled mana into his sword.
Vmmm!!
The mana overflowed, scattering energy in all directions.
Tremendous power at a glance.
'Here I go.'
With preparations complete, Lee Sang-hyun charged. At that moment, Kerberos opened its eyes.
Flaaash!!
A barrier deployed next—but too late.
By the time the ferocious whoosh hit the shield, the sword aura had already pierced through.
Spluuurt!!!
The blue sword aura shredded scales, shattered ribs, and struck the heart in one breath.
"GRRAAAAAARRRRGGGHHH?!!"
The agony-filled roar shook the tower. But it didn't die instantly. True to a colossal beast, it endured.
'Tch.'
Lee Sang-hyun tossed the shattered sword and drew a new one from his subspace.
"Gr... aa... aa... AHH... A...!!"
Kerberos's yellow eyes glared at Lee Sang-hyun, brimming with murderous intent, pain, and hatred.
Crack! Craaack!!
The meaningless chains shattered pathetically. Soon, its colossal body would stretch and ravage the world.
Whish!!
But from the moment its heart was yielded, victory was sealed. Lee Sang-hyun swung his second sword with full force, severing Kerberos's neck.
Slash!!
"?!!"
No dramatic reversal. Kerberos, expending power to seal its heart wound, couldn't block such overwhelming force.
"Gr... uh... uh... uhh......"
Half-decapitated, Kerberos staggered.
The scream leaked from its severed throat, thick blood cascading like a waterfall.
Tremble!!
Terror of death spread through its body. Even a 200-meter behemoth was but a lamb before oblivion.
"Gr... uh......"
Still, Kerberos thrashed. Its mere movements were threat enough.
'It's over.'
Futile. Lee Sang-hyun watched its end from a safe distance.
'Strong? Weak? Kinda ambiguous.'
In raw potential, Kerberos matched or exceeded Steno.
But sealed, its actual difficulty fell short.
'Anyway, tower cleared. Hope Kerberos's treasure includes a sword.'
At last, the colossal beast Kerberos collapsed.
Ruuuumble!!
The deafening crash rocked the tower.
Far sturdier than any sword he'd used before—not bad at all.
"Just right."
Thoroughly satisfied, Lee Sang-hyun eyed Kerberos's corpse.
Kerberos's treasure extended beyond the sword; the beast itself was a massive haul.
From its tough scales to flesh, blood, bones, horns, eyes, heart, tendons—the works. Hand it to a "corpse disposal team," and billions would roll in easily.
'...Pity, but gotta destroy it. Too much attention otherwise.'
But Lee Sang-hyun chose destruction.
With black tower raids ramping up, drawing the Strongest 7's—who managed them—gaze would be trouble.
Selling the corpse might not attract notice, but he couldn't ignore the risk.
Thus, he left the colossal beast Kerberos and exited the underground tower.
Rumble...
The tower collapsed with a roar, forming a massive sinkhole beneath Pangyo Station's Shinbundang Line.
But no casualties.
"Wh-what?!"
"What the hell?!"
"The ground collapsed!!"
"A t-tower?!"
"Run! It's crumbling!!"
"Aaaah...!!"
Lee Sang-hyun slipped through the panicked crowd and checked his smartphone.
'Japan's black tower is in Tokyo. Busan to Nagoya route, then onward.'
Japan's black tower stood in Tokyo.
In the imperial palace grounds—the sanctuary housing Kaguya, Dragon Shrine Maiden surpassing the heavenly kings as Japan's supreme powerhouse.