Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Necromancer of the Sword Clan
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"Don't worry. I have no intention of killing you. Just come back to my house with me."
Shin Yu-hyun said with a smile.
He had no plans to hand Izar over to the World Superhuman Hunter Association. For now, he intended to take him back to the clan.
If he delivered Izar to the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan, Shin Yu-hyun's standing within the clan would rise. The information Izar possessed would hold tremendous value.
"You filthy human scum! Just kill me! You won't be able to get anything out of me!"
Izar spat with clear hostility.
He seemed to have realized what they might do to him if they took him alive.
Better to die than suffer such humiliation while alive.
"That's just your opinion."
Shin Yu-hyun gave a faint smile.
The Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan had the Black Shadow Squad, an intelligence unit directly under the Clan Leader.
They would surely be able to pry open Izar's mouth.
All that remained was to deliver Izar safely to his father.
With Izar tightly bound, Shin Yu-hyun was about to call over Dia, who was poking at Nam Yeon-ah's cheek on the ground, and Ka-mang-i, rolling around beside her.
At that moment.
His vision shook like static noise, and dizziness began to overwhelm him.
Shin Yu-hyun dropped to one knee and collapsed in place.
System messages scrolled up before his eyes.
The piercing tinnitus ringing in his head suddenly vanished.
A profound silence descended in an instant.
Right then.
'Not yet.'
A sweet voice melted into his mind.
And a message appeared before his eyes.
A chill ran down Shin Yu-hyun's spine.
'The Indescribable Goddess of Darkness?'
Before returning to the past, during his confrontation with Barbatos, an enigmatic entity had sent him a system message.
When it appeared, saying she had taken an interest in him, his unique skill Limit Mana Overdrive had evolved.
After delivering the final blow to Barbatos and opening his eyes, a blinding white world had unfolded before him.
Then he witnessed the Immortal King's vision and inherited his legacy.
The Indescribable Goddess of Darkness must have arranged it all.
But that was an event from about ten years in the future.
'How does she know about me now?'
This was ten years in the past.
She might know the future Shin Yu-hyun from ten years ahead, but there was no way she should know about him now.
Yet why did she know him at this moment?
That wasn't the only issue.
"H-Hiiik!"
Izar, beside him, trembled in terror, his face drained of color.
He bowed his head frantically and began muttering incomprehensible words.
"Y-Yes, I understand! I offer my life to you!"
With that, Izar clenched his teeth hard.
Krunch! Crumble...
Bound by the Dark Soul Chain, Izar's body began turning to pitch-black ash from his toes, scattering in the wind.
"Kaaaaaaaack!"
Izar screamed in agony as his body was ground away from the feet upward.
The pain climbed his ankles, shins, and knees.
Overwhelmed, foam bubbled from his mouth as he collapsed.
Even then, his legs turned to black ash and vanished.
Writhing in torment as his entire body disintegrated, Izar soon became nothing but scattered ash.
'Damn...'
Shin Yu-hyun's face showed shock at the sight.
Izar, who had feared no death and spat defiance, claiming no information could be extracted— who would have thought he'd choose suicide like this!
'So it was her after all.'
Shin Yu-hyun furrowed his brow slightly.
It seemed the Indescribable Goddess of Darkness had intervened in the system, whispering some secret command to Izar.
That must have driven him to suicide in fear.
'A gift?'
A gift from an existence even a 4-star Unique boss like Izar feared, whose identity was unknown.
It made him uneasy, not knowing what it might be.
Zzzzzing!
A black rift like a dimensional tear opened before Shin Yu-hyun's eyes, revealing an ornate small jewel box.
'What is this?'
Stunned by the unexpected gift, Shin Yu-hyun stared blankly.
He never imagined receiving a secret key to meet the Indescribable Goddess of Darkness.
'Come see me once I reach 6-star?'
It seemed that was her intention.
Meeting her could yield all sorts of valuable information.
But the Indescribable Goddess of Darkness was dangerous.
A single word from her had driven Izar to suicide.
Still.
'If it's for information, I have no choice.'
The value of the knowledge she held far surpassed Izar's.
It was worth the risk if he could obtain it from her.
And he just needed to grow strong enough to withstand her threats.
With the Indescribable Goddess of Darkness gone, the system returned to normal.
Messages confirming the dungeon clear appeared before his eyes.
'It's a shame I couldn't capture Izar alive.'
He regretted not extracting the information Izar held.
But if he met the goddess later, he could obtain far more crucial intel.
'Not a bad trade.'
Moreover, the system recognized Izar's suicide as Shin Yu-hyun's kill, granting the rewards.
He had gained everything possible.
Plus, Izar—who had brutally murdered Lee Sang-hyuk—had died writhing in agony.
That was payment enough.
"Let's rest for a bit."
Shin Yu-hyun sat and took a short break.
"Is that really true?"
Lee Sung-jae, HR Manager at the Korean branch of the World Hunter Association, looked at Shin Yu-hyun in astonishment.
He was conducting an individual interview with Shin Yu-hyun, who had returned from the unconfirmed dungeon gate.
Six out of eight survey team members dead!
"A sudden incident occurred the moment we entered the dungeon gate. Our group got separated completely."
Shin Yu-hyun explained everything that happened during the unconfirmed dungeon survey to Lee Sung-jae.
He had already aligned his story with Nam Yeon-ah.
They separated from the survey team right upon entry and never linked up with Lee Ji-soo, Lee Jae-kang, or Choi Seung-chul.
They'd assume the magic beasts got them.
'Can't reveal those guys yet.'
Lee Ji-soo and her group were assassins hired by Namdu Group's heir, Nam Min-hyuk.
What if he exposed that?
Nam Min-hyuk wouldn't stay quiet.
He'd move to silence Nam Yeon-ah at all costs.
And there was no proof they were assassins.
It could backfire, casting suspicion that Shin Yu-hyun and Nam Yeon-ah killed them.
Especially with Nam Min-hyuk stirring things up that way.
Better to claim they never met, for a smoother future.
'Have to fool Nam Min-hyuk.'
He wasn't stupid; he'd suspect, but soon conclude it was an unfortunate accident in the unpredictable unconfirmed dungeon.
"A 4-star Unique magic beast in a 3-star dungeon."
Manager Lee Sung-jae looked grave.
This was the first time a Unique boss higher than the dungeon's rank had appeared.
And the casualties were devastating: six of eight survey members dead.
"That's exactly what happened in the dungeon."
"I see. It's a relief at least you two made it back."
"Thanks to Kang Yu-chan and Kim Woo-sung."
The mid-4-star Hunters Kang Yu-chan and Kim Woo-sung.
Shin Yu-hyun said he survived thanks to their efforts.
Though they perished in the fierce battle with the 4-star Unique magic beast Izar, their sacrifice allowed him and Nam Yeon-ah to live.
"Understood. The Association will contact you soon regarding compensation."
"Yes."
Shin Yu-hyun nodded at Manager Lee Sung-jae's words.
The individual interview ended.
"Then I'll head out first. I won't forget this favor."
After their individual interviews and reports, Nam Yeon-ah spoke as she boarded a luxury limousine in front of the Association lobby. Escorts from the Namdu Group Artifact Research Institute had arrived.
Not just the limo—five female Hunters for her protection as well.
All 4-star Superhumans, they had guarded the institute for five years as security and bodyguards—trustworthy personnel.
"Yes. Stay cautious, just in case. Who knows how they'll react."
"I'll hole up in the research institute for a while. What can they do if I'm developing a new artifact?"
Nam Yeon-ah smiled at Shin Yu-hyun's concern. If Nam Min-hyuk learned she was alive, he'd keep plotting assassinations.
So he'd try luring her out of the high-security Artifact Research Institute, where no one could touch her.
"Take care going back."
"You too, Yu-hyun."
With that, the limousine carrying Nam Yeon-ah departed.
'Guess I can only watch for now.'
Namdu Group was a renowned conglomerate in Korea, famous for crafting Superhuman gear.
He couldn't recklessly touch heir Nam Min-hyuk without evidence.
Thus, Nam Yeon-ah would gather intel on him from within the group.
With solid proof, they could corner him.
Moments later, a black car pulled up before Shin Yu-hyun.