Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Monster Subjugation (5)
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"Phew."
Before tracking Choi Jong-cheol by his scent.
Oh-jin quickly organized his thoughts.
"A 6-Star Awakened of Aquarius, was it?"
From what he'd briefly looked up later, Choi Jong-cheol was a fairly influential Awakened within the Starlight Lake Guild.
Of course, not so influential that he could mess with Jingnyeoseong's Apostle and get away with it.
'Even if his Stigma isn't specialized for combat, a two-rank difference won't be easy.'
Fundamentally, a difference in 'Stars' meant a deficit in physical specs.
The gap widened as the Star-rank increased, so the difference between a 4-Star and a 6-Star was not something to be ignored.
However.
'If it's me.'
Oh-jin's eyes glinted sharply.
Any other Awakened would have scoffed, wondering how a mere 4-Star could possibly face a 6-Star.
'I can definitely win.'
He was confident he could overcome the two-rank gap and defeat him.
No.
Could he just *defeat* him?
He was sure he could overwhelmingly crush him.
"Still, I can't be careless."
He recalled Choi Jong-cheol's confident face.
No matter how stupid the guy was, he wouldn't wear such an expression without some basis for it.
'He's got something.'
He didn't know what it was yet.
But it was clear he was hiding an ace up his sleeve.
Something powerful enough to issue a grand warning to Polaris's Apostle.
'In that case.'
If he's hiding something.
Then I need to get some solid 'insurance' on my side.
"Vega."
He channeled his magic into the necklace.
*Shing.*
Soon, Vega appeared in a halo of silver light.
[Hmm. Did you not say you would refrain from summoning me during the subjugation operation?]
"There's someone I need to take care of, and it's not a monster."
[What?]
Vega's eyes widened.
"The lecher, Choi Jong-cheol."
[Lecher…?]
"In my past life, he was a famous criminal who sexually assaulted over three hundred women."
[Such a vile man!]
Vega's expression twisted fiercely.
"He doesn't start his activities in earnest for about another year. But I plan to deal with him before that."
[I see. So you mean to eliminate a future evil in advance.]
Vega nodded as if she understood.
But only for a moment.
Her expression hardened slightly.
[However… is there no other way than to kill him? To hold him accountable for a crime he has not yet committed, even if he is a seed of future evil, does not seem right.]
She had a point.
The logic 'I have to kill him now because he'll become a bad guy in the future' was nonsensical.
'In that case.'
Let's add some more details to the story.
"According to his testimony after he was caught in my past life, he'd been doing it for quite a long time."
[Which means….]
"He's not just some 'seed of future evil.'"
He was already 'evil' itself, an entity that needed to be eliminated.
[Hmm. Then he must be dealt with immediately.]
Vega nodded and crossed her arms.
She seemed to have accepted it for now.
But her expression showed she wasn't entirely pleased.
'Well, yeah.'
It was like pointing at a random person on the street and saying, 'That guy's actually evil, so we have to kill him.' Of course she would feel some resistance.
'This is different from the Lee Shin-hyeok situation.'
Unlike then, Choi Jong-cheol was someone they 'had to go and kill.'
Even if she understood it intellectually, she was bound to feel an instinctual aversion.
Testimony without evidence has its limits.
In that case.
'I'll just have to create the evidence.'
Of course, creating evidence right this second was impossible.
'But I can make as much as I want later.'
He could fabricate evidence beforehand and then use his authority as a Special Agent to investigate Choi Jong-cheol's home, or even pin some existing unsolved crimes on him.
This was that kind of world.
There was a countless number of unsolved crimes.
'Anyway.'
That was something to think about later.
For now, it was enough to get Vega to 'accept' it, however half-heartedly.
"Shall we go, then?"
[Very well.]
Vega climbed onto his head and grabbed his hair like a handle.
*Thwang!*
He shot up into the air using his wire shooter.
-*Swoooosh!*
He flew between buildings, chasing the scent.
Just as the scent of Choi Jong-cheol, etched into his mind, grew stronger.
'Found him.'
He spotted Choi Jong-cheol in the distance.
Despite having just lost his colleagues in a monster attack, the man was sitting casually on the rubble of a building, looking quite composed.
'Should I launch a surprise attack?'
Normally, he would have struck from behind without hesitation.
But not knowing what the man was hiding, he could end up being the one ambushed.
'For now, I should feel him out and draw out his hand.'
Oh-jin scanned his surroundings and landed in front of Choi Jong-cheol.
"Oh?"
Choi Jong-cheol's eyes widened as he looked at the suddenly appearing Oh-jin.
"What brings you here?"
he asked, his eyes twinkling with interest.
"What brings me here?"
Oh-jin's eyes shone coldly.
"Are you really asking because you don't know?"
"Yes? What is it that I don't know?"
Choi Jong-cheol frowned, looking completely bewildered.
Oh-jin watched his reaction and swallowed a bitter smile.
'Well, he must be damn confused.'
From Choi Jong-cheol's perspective, it was only natural to be confused when someone suddenly appeared and started accusing him like this.
'What can I do?'
Even if it was a bit forced, he had to make the man a sinner right here and now to deceive Vega.
Conscious of Vega floating beside his shoulder, Oh-jin spoke.
"Choi Jong-cheol."
He raised his spear and aimed it at him.
"I know everything you're hiding."
"...What did you say?"
Choi Jong-cheol's expression stiffened.
Oh-jin ignored his reaction and glared at him with blazing eyes.
*Thump!*
He stomped his foot hard and shouted.
"Are you going to cowardly deny it?!"
"......!"
Choi Jong-cheol flinched and took a step back.
Oh-jin sharply observed his expression while thinking of what to say next.
'Now he'll probably respond with something like, 'What am I denying?''
He could easily predict that much.
And, of course, what he himself had to say after that.
'I've known since you approached my sister with lecherous intent, something along those lines.'
That was something that actually happened, so there was no need to fabricate evidence later.
'Hiding a lie within the truth.'
The foundation of any good con.
Now then.
Struggle all you want.
With just my words, I'll turn you into the worst criminal imaginab—
"━How did you know?"
"I've known since you targeted my sister's bod… huh?"
What?
"I was sure I'd hidden it thoroughly so no one would find out... Just where did the information leak from?"
What the hell is this guy talking about.
[You fiend!]
*Crackle! Cracrackle!*
Vega shot up into the air amidst a flash of blue sparks.
[Is how you were caught really the important thing right now?!]
She clenched her fists, her body trembling with rage.
"Kugh!"
"Hngh! W-what is this…!"
A dizzying pressure crushed the surroundings.
'This is insane.'
*Shudder.*
His legs trembled as if he'd been thrown out into sub-zero weather in his underwear.
It was hard to even breathe.
[I may be ignorant of the human world, but even I know how horrendous and wicked your deeds are!]
Vega, truly enraged, glared at Choi Jong-cheol, her golden eyes blazing fiercely.
*RUUUUMBLE!!*
Once again, a massive aura whipped through the area.
"Ve, ga…!"
Oh-jin desperately squeezed out her name, trying to stop her.
It was obvious that unleashing such immense power in a place that wasn't a Sanctuary would result in severe restrictions.
[…My apologies, my child.]
Vega withdrew the oppressive aura and continued.
[To be honest, I felt a sense of resistance to your words.]
Hearing you suddenly speak of eliminating a future evil, I found myself frowning despite myself.
Even though I knew you were a 'Regressor'.
Even though I knew you were the one and only being who had personally experienced that calamitous future.
I could not bring myself to trust your words completely.
[I, who should believe in and support you more than anyone… I ended up doubting you until I could confirm it with my own two eyes.]
Vega flew over and caressed Oh-jin's cheek with her small hand as she continued.
[Please forgive this foolish Constellation.]
"Uh…."
Well, the thing is.
'What is this situation?'
Oh-jin looked back at Choi Jong-cheol, bewildered.
He had expected the man to deny it, asking what nonsense he was spouting, but instead, he'd affirmed it, leaving Oh-jin at a loss for how to react.
'How did I know?'
What was there to know?
"Hah! Hah! W-what is that thing?"
Choi Jong-cheol gasped for breath, glaring at Vega floating beside Oh-jin.
"A guardian spirit…?"
Could a guardian spirit emit an aura of this magnitude?
Choi Jong-cheol chewed his lip, his expression one of confusion.
A rookie Awakened who hadn't even been active for half a year couldn't possibly have obtained such a spirit on his own. It was logical to assume he received it from someone else.
"Haha! So this is what it means to be the precious Apostle of Jingnyeoseong?"
He probably got it from one of those bootlickers who couldn't wait to curry favor with Jingnyeoseong's Apostle, just like the Starlight Lake Guild he'd been a part of.
*-Grit.*
Choi Jong-cheol ground his teeth fiercely.
"Don't you think... Don't you think it's just so unfair?"
One person loses everything just for getting on some punk's bad side.
While another lives in luxury just because they met the right Constellation.
-When the Black Star covers the night sky. This unfair world will meet its end.
Suddenly.
The words Ashad Khan had uttered came to mind.
At the time, he had thought it was nothing more than an ominous prayer.
"Yes, you were right."
Choi Jong-cheol raised the black orb in his hand high.
He stared at Oh-jin with blazing eyes.
"Following the will of the Black Star━I will execute that brat!!"
*Wooooong!!*
A black light erupted from the orb in his hand.
A sinister, billowing energy traveled up Choi Jong-cheol's arm and reached his head.
"H-heheheheh!!"
This isn't revenge.
This is merely a 'holy war' to create a better world.
"Come, monsters!!!"
*Thududududu!!*
The earth trembled.
At his command, dozens of monsters surrounded them.
"Hahahahat!! I don't know how you found out I'm a member of the Heukseonghoe! But you'll pay a steep price for coming here alone and unafraid!!!"
"......"
Oh-jin looked around at the surrounding monsters, his lips sealed shut.
'Ah, fuck.'
He had only intended to frame Choi Jong-cheol as a criminal so he could kill him in front of Vega without raising suspicion.
But.
'Choi Jong-cheol is part of the Heukseonghoe?'
And he was controlling monsters, too?
'What in the world is this situation.'
Someone please explain.