Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Unleash the Hounds (1)
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“...”
A deathly silence.
An old man with a deeply distorted expression stared intently at Yujin.
“Hoholhol. Yujin—what in the world are you doing right now?”
A terrifying killing intent emanated from the old man’s eerily gleaming eyes.
“Th-that’s... It’s not that...”
Yujin, trembling, desperately poured mana into the black chalice he had shoved into the center of the formation.
But no matter how much mana he poured in...
“Why... why is there no reaction...”
“...Sigh.”
The white-haired old man, Cheon Do-yoon, stroked his beard and let out a deep sigh.
“If the other Executors had seen this, how they would have mocked the Owls...”
“N-no, sir! It’s, it’s just...”
“Yujin.”
*Snap.*
A light flick of his fingers.
*Fwish!*
“Ugh!”
In the blink of an eye, a black feather shot past, grazing Yujin's neck.
Red blood trickled down his collarbone.
Yujin pressed a hand to his bleeding neck, looking up at Cheon Do-yoon with eyes full of fear.
“E-Executor.”
“Do not disappoint me any further.”
“...Kuh. Yes, sir.”
He bit his lip and bowed his head.
"Tsk, the mood is ruined. Yujin. I shall take my leave now."
Cheon Do-yoon clicked his tongue and turned away.
“The rest of you Administrators may leave as well.”
“Kuk... kukuk.”
“Hohoho!”
The mysterious figures in black robes surrounding them burst into mocking laughter as they looked at Yujin.
*Flap!*
Soon, all the figures in black robes had vanished.
“...Ah, ugh.”
Left alone, Yujin clenched his fists tightly.
“Aaaaaaaarrrrgggh!!!!!!!”
A scream filled with fury echoed through the dark mountains.
“Fuck!!! Fuck!! Fuuuuuuuuuck!!!!!”
*Rat-a-tat! Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!!!*
As he thrashed about as if having a seizure, black feathers materialized in the air and swept through the surroundings like machine-gun fire.
“*Gasp!* *Gasp!*”
Yujin turned his head, his eyes bloodshot.
*Step, step.*
He walked into the observatory building.
“S-Sir Yujin.”
In the basement, nearly fifty of his subordinates were trembling, their eyes filled with terror.
“...That bastard.”
A certain person naturally came to Yujin’s mind.
A young man with slightly drooping eyes and a gentle demeanor.
“Where’s the guy I sent to kill that bastard?”
“W-well.”
“We’ve... lost contact with him.”
“...”
Losing contact meant the mission had failed.
“...Find him.”
“Sir?”
“I said find that son of a bitch, you useless bastards!!!!!”
Yujin’s furious roar thundered through the basement.
* * *
A week had passed since he visited the new gate that appeared in Mok-dong.
During that time, Oh-jin hadn’t entered any other gates, quietly holing up in his house.
There were two reasons for this.
One was, of course, to hide from the Heukseonghoe, who would be frantically searching for him.
The other was—
“*Hsss.*”
to get accustomed to the explosive growth of his mana and physical body after reaching 3-Star.
“*Chahat!*”
On the rooftop of the house he was renting.
Beads of sweat flew through the shabby space, which was covered in mold and dark stains.
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
The spear strikes were a blur of dazzling speed.
A series of thrusts, slashes, and drags flowed through the air as naturally as water.
“*Heup!*”
He kicked off the ground lightly, jumping nearly fifteen meters into the air, then grabbed his ankles with both hands and performed an aerial backflip.
An acrobatic feat an ordinary person wouldn’t even dare to attempt.
No, even for a decent Awakened, jumping nearly fifteen meters from a standstill was no easy task.
—Of course.
for Oh-jin, whose physical specs had improved even further upon reaching 3-Star, it was nothing more than a simple warm-up.
“*Hoo.*”
*Thud!*
Landing gracefully on the ground, Oh-jin looked down at his sweat-drenched body.
“This Lyra Stigma really is broken...”
He had been pushing his body relentlessly for over three hours since dawn, yet aside from some sweat, he didn’t feel tired at all.
Even among Awakened, unless they had a physically specialized Stigma like Taurus, there would be no other 3-Star who could match his raw physical abilities.
‘Higher ranks might be a different story, though.’
Regardless of their Stigma, an Awakened’s physical abilities improve as their Star rank increases.
Of course, for physically specialized Stigmas, the degree of improvement is much greater compared to others.
‘Conversely, healing-specialized Stigmas like Aquarius have a smaller increase in physical abilities.’
To be more specific, even within the same physical specialization, power types like Taurus focus on strength, while speed types like Scorpio focus on agility.
‘What makes the Lyra Stigma so broken is that it grants physical abilities on that level despite not being a physical specialization.’
The ability of the Lyra Stigma was lightning.
If one had to classify it, it would be a supernatural ability specialization, not a physical one, yet its physical prowess was strong enough to slap Taurus left and right.
To use a gaming analogy, it was like a mage character having a body strong enough to beat a warrior to a pulp with their staff.
“The balance team would have had a fit.”
Oh-jin chuckled and leaned his spear against the wall.
He’d had enough physical training; now it was time to practice his Stigma skills.
“Skill window.”
*Fwoosh.*
As if in response to his quiet words, a blue window appeared before his eyes.
【Stigma of Lyra】
◆Skill List
① 《Noejeon Lv3》
② 《Changnoe Lv2》
③ 《Naknoe Lv1》
He currently possessed three skills.
‘I need to focus my training on Noejeon.’
That was the conclusion he’d reached after training each skill over the past week.
‘The core skill of the Lyra Stigma is Noejeon.’
Changnoe and Naknoe were merely skills derived from Noejeon; the foundation of the Stigma was the 《Noejeon》 skill itself.
‘If I just level up the Noejeon skill, the others will naturally follow.’
He closed his eyes and focused the mana in his left chest.
*Crackle!* *Crackle-crackle!!!*
Intense sparks flew as blue lightning flared to life.
The amount of lightning was noticeably greater than when he was a 2-Star.
He controlled the lightning, gathering it into a sphere.
The basketball-sized sphere of lightning flashed fiercely.
“Looking at it like this, the difference is huge.”
While his total mana had increased upon reaching 3-Star, the increase in the amount of mana he could use at once was even more significant.
‘My mana reserves were already overflowing back when I was a 2-Star, anyway.’
In terms of sheer mana capacity, he wouldn't lose out even when compared to 6-Star or 7-Star Awakened.
‘No.’
He might even have more.
“...There was even a time when my mana didn’t decrease no matter how much I used.”
Did it just not decrease? It actually increased.
He recalled the battle with the slime giant, when his Stigma’s mana had exploded after he unleashed dozens, even hundreds, of 《Changnoe》 in a row.
‘I don’t know why that happened, but...’
A few days ago, he had tested to see if the same phenomenon would occur, but his mana had depleted normally, just like always.
That strange phenomenon where using mana actually increased it had only happened that one time.
‘...I’ll think about that later.’
Thinking about it now wouldn’t reveal the cause, nor could he replicate the phenomenon.
“For now.”
Focusing the lightning that wreathed his body into his fists and feet, he practiced some light hand-to-hand combat.
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
“*Heup!*”
Though he called it hand-to-hand combat, he hadn’t formally learned it, nor did he have a skill for it, so his movements were clumsy.
‘Still, it’s better than not practicing at all.’
Right now, it was nothing more than flailing his arms and legs in the air, but he figured he would improve with practice.
*Crackle!! Crackle-crackle!!*
Anyway, the core of his training wasn’t the hand-to-hand combat, but freely focusing the lightning on any part of his body.
Compared to his clumsy combat skills, his ability to control the lightning was improving at a tangibly rapid pace.
“*Chahat!*”
Finally, he picked up the spear he had leaned against the wall and channeled lightning into it.
The spearhead, wreathed in blue lightning, sliced sharply through the air.
“...Hmm.”
After about thirty more minutes of training.
*Thud.*
Oh-jin lowered his spear to the ground, frowning in dissatisfaction.
‘Something about this doesn’t feel right.’
*Tsk.*
He clicked his tongue as he looked down at the spear in his hand.
“...This is a good weapon, but.”
The spear Lee Shin-hyeok had used was light and sharp, but since the shaft was made of wood, it interfered with his use of lightning.
‘And just using a spear feels a bit lacking.’
He kept feeling that a single spear wasn't enough to properly utilize his lightning skills.
In the last battle, after embedding his spear in the giant’s back, hadn’t he been forced to fight bare-handed because he had no other weapon?
‘It’s not like I’m going to become a master of spearmanship from some martial arts novel.’
The only reason he was decent with a spear was because he had inherited Lee Shin-hyeok’s skill.
‘I should get some new equipment soon.’
It wasn’t an immediate need.
Improving his skill proficiency was more urgent than getting new gear.
“Guess I should head back.”
He lifted his sweat-soaked shirt and went down the stairs.
“Hm?”
As he descended the stairs, he saw Ha-eun.
She was leaning on her crutches, smoking by an open window.
“Smoking again?”
“I only have a few a day, kid.”
“I told you to just smoke inside. Don’t come all the way out here.”
“It smells.”
“Then don’t smoke.”
“Can’t do that.”
“Crazy chainsmoker.”
Shaking his head, he walked past her and continued down the stairs.
Their home was less than twenty steps away, so she could easily get there on her own.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“Wait until your big sis is done, you brat.”
“How could you say something so horrible to a non-smoker?”
“If you don’t like it, you can smoke too. Now that you’re an Awakened, your body can heal the toxins from cigarettes on its own.”
“It’s a waste of money.”
“Fuck.”
I shouldn't have said anything.
Ha-eun muttered under her breath and shook her head.
“Hurry up and finish.”
He stopped beside the stairs and waited for her to finish her cigarette.
*Tssss.*
Fumbling for the ashtray, Ha-eun stubbed out her cigarette.
“Done with your training?”
“Yeah.”
“Ugh, fuck, you reek of sweat. Go wash up, you punk.”
“Hey, you’re the one who made me stay.”
“Oh, right. Hehe! Sorry~”
This girl.
“*Heave.*”
She fumbled to reach out, hugged his arm, and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Alright, hurry up and support your sis.”
“Didn’t you say I stink of sweat?”
“Yup. It’s fucking awful. My nose is gonna rot off, you brat.”
Then why are you clinging to me?
“...Sigh.”
Letting out a short sigh, he helped her inside.
After helping Ha-eun onto the bed, he went into the cramped bathroom and filled a basin with water.
*Splash!*
The ice-cold water cooled his heated body.
“Ahh, that’s good.”
He let out a groan like a middle-aged man after a hard day’s work and scrubbed every inch of his body with cheap soap.
*Click.*
When he came out feeling refreshed, he saw Ha-eun sitting on the edge of the bed.
“All clean?”
“Yeah.”
“Come here. Let me check if you washed properly.”
“I’m not a kid.”
“Hurry up, punk.”
Ha-eun patted the spot next to her.
He chuckled and sat down beside her.
“*Sniff, sniff.*”
Ha-eun leaned in close, flaring her nostrils as she sniffed him.
Then, she grinned in satisfaction.
“Hehe! You washed up well, punk!”
“You were acting like a total pervert just now.”
“So what?”
*Poke, poke.*
Ha-eun poked his side with her fingertips and pouted.
“Alright, turn around.”
“Why my back?”
“Just do as your sis says, brat.”
Oh-jin tilted his head but turned around.
*Knead.*
A soft touch landed on his shoulders.
Her fingers, applying just the right amount of pressure, gently worked his back muscles.
“What’s this? Giving me a massage?”
A laugh escaped Oh-jin’s lips.
“What? You got a problem with it?”
“Pfft! No. It’s just nice, that’s all.”
“Shut up, punk.”
Despite her rough words, Ha-eun’s hands slowly moved in circles, massaging his back, and it felt incredibly good.
“Sis, I’m in heaven~!”
This feels so good.
“Feeling good, punk?”
*CRUNCH.*
An intense pain shot through his shoulder, as if it were caught in a hydraulic press.
“Sis, I’m dying!!!”
For real this time!!!!
“Heheheh!! Such a baby!”
Ha-eun cackled as if she found it hilarious.
“Hey, I’m not being a baby!”
Even though she was now only a shadow of her former self, unable to use her Stigma, she was still an Awakened who had once reached 7-Star. The strength in her grip was nothing to laugh at.
“Hehehe, alright, alright, you punk. I’ll be gentle.”
Ha-eun chuckled and went back to massaging his back with just the right amount of pressure, like before.
“All done.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t overdo it, you brat. How many hours have you been running around since dawn?”
“I’m not really overdoing it.”
The Lyra Stigma was so broken that he didn’t feel tired even after training for hours on end.
“There you go, talking back to your sis again.”
Ha-eun lightly pinched his side, then carefully rested her forehead against his back.
“...”
An awkward silence suddenly fell.
“...Hey.”
Carefully.
A voice spread through the air, breaking the awkward silence.
“Yeah?”
“Since becoming an Awakened... have you made a lot of money?”
“A ton.”
He was literally raking it in.
‘I was lucky.’
Being Vega's one and only Apostle, having Lee Shin-hyeok's memories, and even the Heukseonghoe appearing right on cue to be his personal piggy bank.
He was earning money at a ridiculous rate compared to other Awakened.
“...Is that so?”
As if chewing on coarse sand,
her dry voice continued.
“Then we don’t have much time left together like this, do we?”
As if a switch had been flipped.
A cold, stiff air filled the cramped house.
“Yeah.”
Oh-jin nodded slowly.
“Not much time left.”
At this rate—he would soon reach his goal of ten billion won.
‘When that happens.’
Everything will be over.
This daily life that felt like it would last forever.
“Hehe! What’s with you getting all serious all of a sudden, punk?”
Song Ha-eun cackled and slapped his back.
*Thwack! Thwack!*
It hurt like hell.
*Bzzzzzz!!*
Just then, the smartphone on the shelf began to vibrate.
“What’s that? A call?”
“Yeah. One second.”
He looked at the smartphone screen and saw the name ‘Team Leader Han Jun-man’.
*Click.*
He opened the front door, stepped outside, and answered the call.
-Ah, is now a good time to talk?
“Yes. I was actually about to contact you myself.”
He had been planning to call to gather information on the Heukseonghoe and to sell the Stigma Stones and Relics he’d taken from them. The timing was perfect.
-That’s great. I was also calling because I have something to discuss with you, Mr. Oh-jin.
“What is it?”
-An urgent request has come in.
A request.
The timing wasn't great, as he hadn’t yet figured out a countermeasure for the Heukseonghoe.
It would be wise to lay low until Vega could manifest again.
“I’m sorry. I’m not really in a position to take on requests right now...”
-The pay is two billion won.
“Woof!! Woof woof!! Grrrrr! Arf!!!”
-Excuse me?
“I’m heading to the Association right now. We can discuss the details there.”
His first time out in a week.