Chapter 25. Curse
The carriage came to a brief halt in front of the inner castle gate. Ji-hyuk cracked open only the window, showing his face and hero badge. The gate soon swung open, and the carriage passed through. Naturally, it stopped at the nearby station by the entrance. Unless you were imperial royalty, walking was the law inside the capital's inner citadel—even the Valkan Duke couldn't dodge that one.
Ji-hyuk stepped down and started walking. He headed straight for the Honor Hall. A beautifully tended garden lined the path, keeping things from getting dull. The hero took in the neatly trimmed flowers and trees as he approached the imposing structure. He bounded up the towering marble stairs without breaking a sweat.
The building was propped up by dozens of fluted columns spaced at regular intervals, holding the roof aloft. It felt like staring at a single majestic temple.
Ji-hyuk gave a casual nod to the massive statue at the entrance—sword drawn and at the ready—before stepping inside. As he made for the counter, a staffer who'd clearly gotten the heads-up hurried over to guide the hero.
"How many are here already?"
"Three, sir. Four including Your Excellency."
"...Yeah?"
The Honor Hall had two conference rooms inside. One was a grand hall for over a hundred, the other a smaller one for thirty or fewer. Naturally, the staffer led Ji-hyuk to the small one. He guided him right to the door, bowed crisply, and headed back to the office.
Ji-hyuk flicked a quick glance at the retreating back before throwing open the double doors with both hands and striding in.
Even the "small" conference room was damn spacious. A massive round table dominated the center, ringed by about thirty chairs. True to the staffer's word, three people were already there. Two sat, one stood by the window with hands clasped behind his back. All eyes snapped to Ji-hyuk as he entered.
An awkward silence settled in. Nobody knew him, so they weren't chatty. Not that he gave a shit about small talk either. Ji-hyuk picked a seat at random and sat. The scrape of chairs was the only sound echoing through the vast room.
He sized up the two seated and the one standing. He recognized all three faces, but only one name stuck: the female orc sprawled sideways in her chair, boots propped cockily on the table. A-rank hero Zrashuja. He wasn't sure if she was still B or back to A, but that arrogant pose screamed low-end A-rank. Even accounting for orcs' foul tempers, no plain B-rank would pull that shit. They'd get smashed flat.
Of course, Ji-hyuk could pulverize the bitch right now if he wanted, but hero society wasn't exactly sane, so he held back. A flash of that infamous temper—the one dubbed the Incarnation of Fire in his 14th loop—nearly surged up. Back then, he'd have clocked her on sight for the attitude.
Fucking cunt, who the hell puts her feet up like that?
...Naturally, he kept it to fantasy, smashing her face four or five times in his head without acting.
Time passed, and heroes trickled in one by one. Acquaintances exchanged light greetings. But the underlying tension only ratcheted up, thick as blood in the air.
Soon a very familiar face poked in: hero Gunda. He'd gotten the summons for his first meeting after his recent promotion, apparently. He looked amped up, but unlike Ji-hyuk's easy confidence, the newbie tension was obvious. He was already prime bait for hazing.
The ugly orc kid started it, tone dripping arrogance.
"Hey, you. Yeah, you. First time here?"
"Uh? Oh... yeah."
"Then go stand over there."
The orc jabbed a finger at the corner. Naive Gunda actually shuffled over and stood there like it was protocol. The other heroes snickered.
That's when Ji-hyuk shot to his feet. Eyes locked on him. He strode straight to Gunda.
"...Huh? Hero Kang Ji-hyuk...!"
Spotting a friendly face in this viper pit clearly thrilled him. Ji-hyuk gave a quick nod, grabbed Gunda's arm, and towed him back to the seat beside his own.
Ji-hyuk couldn't stomach a brave guy like Gunda getting punked by these dipshits. Predictably, the mood soured fast—hostile stares everywhere. The orc who'd started it was the loudest.
"Ah... you're that Kang Ji-hyuk punk?"
Kang Ji-hyuk. Every hero here had heard the name at least three or four times. The unprecedented genius with S-rank basically guaranteed. Of course they were curious. The human kid whose rumors filled the halls was right there among them.
Ji-hyuk just stared at the jabbering orc, lips sealed.
"Look at this cocky fucker."
The orc chuckled, pointing and sweeping his gaze around for backup. Nobody bit. Their eyes all said, Go on, test him yourself.
Only then did the orc realize he'd stepped in shit. But backing down? His orc pride wouldn't allow it.
"What's a nobody like you butting in for?"
"Nobody? ...Ah, thought some orc brat was playing kids' games and dragged you out of it. My bad."
Ji-hyuk smirked mockingly. As the air turned ugly, Gunda jumped in to defuse.
"Hero Kang Ji-hyuk, it's fine. I got this."
"Nah, chill. It's cool."
Gunda felt weird having Ji-hyuk step up like it was his fight. But damn, it felt reassuring, like he'd summoned an army. ...A strange vibe.
The orc finally snapped at "kids' games." He slammed the table and lurched up.
"You cock-sucking shit. Heroes hype you up, and you think you're hot shit? ...You know who I am?"
Ji-hyuk grinned crookedly.
"How the fuck would I know some scrub? ...So what? Gonna swing?"
That did it. The orc lunged, fist rocketing at Ji-hyuk.
Arrogant little prick.
Ji-hyuk slipped the punch effortlessly and drove his own fist into the orc's face.
Thud! The orc tumbled across the table. But the big lug rolled like a fox and sprang back up, nose a bloody pulp.
Ptooey. He spat blood and clenched his fists again like it was nothing.
That's when the lizardman—arms crossed, watching—rumbled in.
"Enough. Meeting's starting soon."
"Fuck off. One punch ain't ending this, asshole."
"...What'd you say, you prick?"
The lizardman sneered.
"Dumbass with a tiny dick—you don't even know he went easy. That's why you get smacked around."
"...What?"
"Cut it off if it's useless, moron. ...Or you need me to beat sense into you?"
Raaaaagh! The orc gnashed his teeth, glared murder at Ji-hyuk, then stormed out in a huff.
Only then did Ji-hyuk sit back down. Gunda stiffened in the heavy atmosphere—it was all alien to him. Heroes not using honorifics? Unthinkable.
Don't they respect each other? What's the difference from damn mercenaries then...!
"Don't stress too much."
Ji-hyuk flashed Gunda a kind smile. It felt off to him. ...Probably from their history of trying to kill each other. Still, this changed his view a ton. If roles reversed, would he have stepped up for Ji-hyuk? ...Honestly, doubtful.
Gunda wondered if Kang Ji-hyuk might actually be the better man. ...No, he'd known deep down but ignored it. Shame burned in his narrow-minded gut.
The minor uproar died, and the mood settled heavy again. Thanks to the dumb orc, everyone had a rough gauge of Ji-hyuk's skill. ...Better than expected. The orc's punch was solid—power, speed, no flaws. But that human? Near-perfect dodge and counter. Hard to believe for a human.
A-rank lizardman hero Maljaru couldn't peel his eyes off Ji-hyuk. Rumors checked out, at least—not total bullshit. Young as he looked, with that talent? Bright future ahead.
As they mulled his prowess, the door burst open again. This time, a real heavyweight: S-rank hero Byorgon.
Byorgon was a troll. Taller than an orc by a head, body massively bulkier. Combine that frame with troll regen? Terrifying.
...Funny thing: he wasn't a tank or DPS. He was a healer. The legendary tanky healer was this guy, Byorgon. Ji-hyuk figured even if his lower half got hacked off, he'd reattach it and shrug.
Troll regen plus top-tier heals? Limbs were a joke to him.
He claimed the head seat like it was his by right. Only S-rank here—no contribution debates needed. The troll snapped off both armrests with casual grips—too cramped for his bulk otherwise. He plopped down, clasped hands lightly on the table. That alone dominated the room. Pure S-rank presence.
Byorgon swept his gaze over the seated heroes and rumbled in his heavy voice that the meeting was starting.
The two staffers by the window hustled, placing a sheet in front of each hero. One sleazy fuck groped a female staffer's ass on the way. She placed Ji-hyuk's politely before him.
He skimmed the densely packed text. Four agenda items. One jumped out: the Crow Legion.
The demon cult's army was often called the Crow Legion. They worshipped crows as demon avatars, wore crow masks—even on their faces. Like plague doctor masks back on Earth.
Anyway, they'd raided villages, stirred shit even inside cities, then vanished clean. The requesting count suspected ties to a gang boss, per the report's end.
Source: mid-continent city, Pesonomia.
Ji-hyuk's eyes blazed. No way he'd see this here. He'd take it—
The reason he'd barely missed it in loop 14? He hadn't made this regular meeting. Luck favored him this 15th loop; everything clicked perfectly.
Mid-continent Pesonomia. Crow Legion.
...And one name chained up naturally: the cursed human.
Ji-hyuk's mind raced too hard; the meeting droned past his ears.