Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: Murim Alliance Lord's Summons
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It wasn't all that strange for the Murim Alliance Lord to be looking for him. Soo-hyuk had received offers from various guilds from the start, and Murim had been one of them.
However, the timing made it different—especially since it was the Alliance Lord personally seeking him out.
'...Does she know?'
The current Murim Alliance Lord was Namgung Hwa-young.
Five years ago, she had succeeded Jin Do-ha as the next Alliance Lord.
Exceptional skill and character. Her ranking. And the backing of the Namgung Clan.
......Yeah.
With the backing of the Namgung Clan, she had become the Murim Alliance Lord.
The current Alliance Lord was the daughter of that Namgung Clan Lord who had stabbed him and Kim Il-su in the back.
'Damn old man.'
Thinking of the Namgung Clan Lord soured his mood instantly.
He'd always acted like such a good guy. In the end, he was just another greedy bastard blinded by ambition.
The deeper his thoughts went, the more his stomach churned.
He wanted to rush over right now, grab that geezer by the throat, chop off his limbs, and demand answers.
Why did he do it? Had he ever felt even a shred of remorse toward them?
But.
'Not yet? Really, still not?'
Crackle, crackle—
As if answering his own question, sparks flew from his fingertips.
The more he proved to himself that he'd climbed back up this far, the deeper his dilemmas grew.
Soo-hyuk had swiftly returned to where he'd once been.
But reaching the same level didn't mean he was as strong as before.
He had various means to overcome lightning now, but his level and stats were still markedly inferior to back then.
Moreover, with twenty years passed, the current players' standards had risen several tiers higher.
Could he really win against Murim?
'...A head-on fight is impossible.'
Few could manage that.
Only two came to mind immediately. Unless it was the Heavenly Demon or an Archmage, no player could face Murim alone.
But how much longer would it take to reach that point?
He'd planned to climb the stairs steadily, but thinking of Hwang Gyu-seong's face made him anxious.
'Si-woo and Ye-ryeong too.'
And Hyo-min as well.
No one knew when something like that could happen again with Gyu-seong.
They were still fighting, and Soo-hyuk wanted to help as soon as possible.
Grip—
Unable to decide, he clenched his fist tightly.
Wondering if there was more, he scrolled down through the messages.
He'd hoped for something about Murim, but it was still about Cheongryang.
This was from the morning, so had they not found her yet? It wasn't like they even needed to search—with the kit, she could just reply.
The last message was from just a few hours ago.
What was she sorry for?
Just in case, he tried calling, but no answer. An ominous feeling crept in.
"...What the hell."
Neither Unhyang nor Cheongryang were responding.
Something had happened in the chaotic past few days. Realizing that, he stood up—just as someone knocked on the door.
Knock knock knock—
"Lee Soo-hyuk, you in there?"
A familiar voice. Soo-hyuk grabbed the mask by the bed, put it on, and rose.
Creeeak—
Opening the door revealed the visitor waiting outside.
It was Jaunyeop.
A man from Shinryeonseong. The one who'd once led the charge to capture Unhyang had come looking for Soo-hyuk.
"How'd you find this place?"
"Asked your team leader. What've you been up to? No contact at all."
"Team leader?"
Come to think of it, there were messages from John Tail too.
Whatever it was, if he'd given out the dorm location, it wasn't minor.
"Is this about my manager?"
"If you mean Unhyang, yeah."
"Related to your side?"
Jaunyeop nodded and stepped inside, closing the door behind him as if it were a sensitive matter.
"She's gone back to Shinryeonseong."
Shinryeonseong.
The place Unhyang had originally been from—the one she'd desperately fled.
And she'd returned there of her own accord?
"What happened?"
"I don't know the details. How my senior managed to get her to come back on her own..."
Suddenly, Unhyang's messages flashed in his mind.
Cheongryang.
She'd clearly fought with Cheongryang and said she'd vanished after.
No way?
"My guess is, if things stay like this, she'll never come back..."
Jaunyeop couldn't finish.
Crackle—
Soo-hyuk's eyes had turned golden, glaring at him.
"Spill every detail."
And those eyes were unmistakably furious.
"Are you saying Unhyang might die?"
Around the time Soo-hyuk had just woken up.
"What did I tell you?"
Kim Ye-ryeong climbed the high sand dune overlooking the inter-guild battle arena with a smug grin.
"This guy's totally posing up high again, right?"
"Got it. Save the bragging for later—quiet down now."
Jin Ha-ryeong turned to Ye-ryeong and Si-woo as they arrived.
From their words, it didn't seem coincidental. And there was only one reason they'd seek her out.
"That again?"
"Easy if you help."
"Already did. Not intentionally, though."
She meant the clash between Murim and the Blue Zone alliance.
That collision must have cost many lives, which wasn't bad for Si-woo or Ye-ryeong's positions.
But.
"I know. But they all survived, didn't they? Jin Do-ha and Kim Il-su too."
All the ones they wanted lived. With the leadership intact, they'd regain their power eventually.
"You let them go on purpose?"
Jin Ha-ryeong had spared most there, including Jin Do-ha and Kim Il-su.
Some called it her limit or their resilience, but Si-woo didn't buy it.
"Why? Realizing your little brother's precious after all?"
"Don't bring that up lightly."
"Then?"
"Stick to the point. No."
Ye-ryeong's face darkened instantly. As if expecting it, Si-woo nodded.
"Figured you'd say that."
"Then how about leaving? Seeing cowards like you makes me sick."
This was exactly their relationship with Jin Ha-ryeong.
They could meet and talk, but no real camaraderie.
Of course, some might say just surviving a meeting with the Heavenly Demon was a win.
But.
"Because you'll need their power someday?"
Si-woo didn't back down.
Retreating now wouldn't satisfy his desperate wish to find his friend and exact revenge.
"What about us?"
"What?"
"When that day you wait for comes, you might remember this moment."
The moment those words ended.
Ting—
Jin Ha-ryeong's sword was suddenly at Si-woo's throat.
A slight cut drew blood. Si-woo didn't flinch.
"Ye-ryeong."
"Yeah?"
"Put it away. It's just a threat."
Just as her sword was at his throat, one was pressed to Jin Ha-ryeong's too.
As if saying she could slit it anytime.
Tinkle—
Ice shards fell from Jin Ha-ryeong's blade. Frigid air spread, their breaths visible.
Jin Ha-ryeong's gaze unchanged, but Ye-ryeong glared like a snarling beast.
After a pause, Ye-ryeong sheathed her blade first at Jin Ha-ryeong's throat. Never intending to strike, Jin Ha-ryeong did the same.
"Don't talk nonsense."
"Sorry. Got heated for a sec."
She brushed it off, but it stung inside.
'That didn't work either.'
This was her last card. Knowing what Jin Ha-ryeong had been searching for lately, she'd played it.
After much deliberation, it failed.
If even this didn't get her help, it was truly hopeless.
"...Ye-ryeong. Let's go."
They couldn't fight her here—that'd be suicide.
And words wouldn't sway the Heavenly Demon.
As the two turned to leave.
Jin Ha-ryeong's telepathic message whispered in Si-woo's ear.
Si-woo, who'd just stepped off, turned back. Not wanting to show it, she avoided his gaze.
The two moved to the village, disguising their faces with items.
In a quiet cafe, Ye-ryeong ordered a warm, sweet drink to soothe her boiling frustration.
Once calmed a bit, she grumbled.
"That bastard got no pride? Gets slapped first and doesn't even think of revenge?"
"If he does, he'll do it alone. Not with us."
"...Yeah?"
With vain hope gone like smoke, rational judgment returned.
Right. The odds of Jin Ha-ryeong helping were always low. Less than ten percent—just clinging to faint hope. No need for deep disappointment.
"Well, inter-guild battles are over, so he'll start soon. He won't just let it slide, even without teaming up."
"...Think he'll kill Kim Il-su?"
"Doubt it goes that far. Heavenly Demon doesn't want war."
Whether Kim Il-su or Jin Do-ha, killing top players from each world sparks war.
And Jin Ha-ryeong absolutely didn't want that.
"Really can't tell. What's in that head of hers..."
Those who don't know the Heavenly Demon call her the world's greatest demon.
But the more Si-woo learned, the more he sensed she had a different face from what the world knew.
Besides.
That telepathic message.
It sounded like rejection at first, but not quite.
Jin Ha-ryeong wasn't one to beat around the bush—if no, she'd draw her sword.
'And why telepathy specifically?'
Ye-ryeong hadn't heard. It was only to Si-woo.
Deepening thoughts furrowed his brow.
'Does she have someone in mind?'
