Chapter 239
Chapter 239
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 239
Chapter Title: Tense Standoff
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A tense standoff dragged on.
Lee Won-jae and Adolf stood glaring at each other.
Neither had made the first move, nor bared any killing intent or released their energy.
But Baek Jo-min, caught between them, knew.
It wouldn't be strange if one of them drew their sword right now.
Pop-.
Like air leaking from a balloon swollen to the bursting point, a small sneer escaped Lee Won-jae's lips.
Adolf's eye twitched.
"What's so funny?"
"It's not funny."
"Then?"
"It's just pathetic."
It was no surprise. From that prior sneer, Adolf had already sensed that the man looked down on him.
"Want to fight?"
"No reason I can't."
"I met hyung-nim later than you did."
There was only one person in the world Lee Won-jae called hyung-nim.
Kim Il-su.
The guild master of Blue Zone and one of the top players in the Tower.
He was also the man Adolf had served for a long time.
"But I'm the one sitting in the vice guild master seat, not you."
"Stop beating around the bush. What are you trying to say?"
"Playing dumb, huh."
Right.
Adolf understood Lee Won-jae's words perfectly.
Lee Won-jae was saying he held the vice guild master position because he was superior in skill.
And knowing that, Adolf couldn't hold back.
"Want to test it?"
Crack-.
His finger joints popped as tendons bulged in an instant.
Lee Won-jae watched for a moment before clicking his tongue again.
"The hierarchy's a mess."
"You saying that, Vice Guild Master?"
"Me? ...Well, fair point."
He didn't deny it. Seeing him no longer even bother hiding it, Adolf's eyes flashed.
"You really planning to cross the line?"
"Where's the line right now? With hyung-nim gone, isn't it mine to draw?"
Step. Lee Won-jae took a step closer.
"The Guardian raid's still got time left..."
"Truly-."
"Ah, I'm not saying fight."
Lee Won-jae, who had approached closely after drawing his sword, sheathed it and raised both palms.
A gesture that he had no intention to fight.
The atmosphere, ready to explode hotly at any moment, cooled instantly like cold water had been poured on it. Not just Adolf, but even Baek Jo-min tilted his head in confusion.
"You want my seat, right?"
"......"
"If you want to trick me, at least answer. Silence isn't a denial."
Lee Won-jae chuckled as if he'd expected it, then placed a hand on Adolf's shoulder.
"Here, take it."
"......What scheme is this?"
"No scheme. Just handing over what's extra. Once I take hyung-nim's spot, that is."
Adolf's brow furrowed.
It wasn't entirely empty talk. If that moment came, the vice guild master title would mean nothing to Lee Won-jae anymore.
Who sat there wouldn't matter then.
But.
"You're asking to join hands."
As history's many rebellions showed, that seat would naturally go to Lee Won-jae's right-hand man.
"Yeah."
Grinning as if Adolf finally got it. For a moment, Adolf felt the urge to smash his fist into that smug face.
Because he sensed the lowly intent to use him lurking beneath it.
It was obvious. He hadn't even tried to hide it from the start.
To Lee Won-jae, Adolf had one use.
"You want to know that person's location."
Just a tool to find Lee Hyo-min.
"Lee Hyo-min?"
"......!"
The name dropped openly made Adolf glance around warily.
Baek Jo-min right beside him wore the same shocked expression. It was an old name by now, but no one in Blue Zone didn't know Lee Hyo-min.
Blue Eyes. The legendary predecessor to Blue Zone.
Lee Hyo-min was one of those legends.
"Why so surprised? You thought you could hide it forever?"
"......I never hid it."
"No. You did. Despicably so."
"If that secret gets out, blood winds will blow through the Tower."
"I know. That's your excuse. But we'll see when it happens."
Thwack-.
Adolf roughly slapped away the hand on his shoulder and glared at Lee Won-jae.
"I'm not like you."
"'You'? To the vice guild master."
"Planning to find Lee Hyo-min and control Kim Ye-ryeong?"
Flinch-.
Baek Jo-min, standing close, trembled slightly. Adolf's gaze flicked to him briefly before returning.
"Dream on."
"Adolf."
"I won't dance in your palm, Vice Guild Master."
Whoosh. Adolf spun around and spat his words like chewed gristle.
"Go jerk off alone."
"Look at that loyal bastard."
Lee Won-jae clicked his tongue, watching Adolf's retreating back. Adolf stormed off with furious strides.
Caught in between, Baek Jo-min belatedly felt Lee Won-jae's gaze.
"Lucky you."
Lee Won-jae smiled and patted Baek Jo-min's shoulder. Baek Jo-min stood frozen, watching him walk away.
The two vanished in opposite directions.
Left alone, Baek Jo-min let out a long-held breath.
"Whew, thought I was busted."
The mutter came out thin and high, unlike before.
Confirming no one around, Baek Jo-min brought his hand to his face.
Riiip-.
The human skin mask peeled off like a shell.
Crack, creak-.
His entire skeleton twisted next.
Shoulders narrowed, height shrank by a handspan. The suddenly loose clothes sagged at the shoulders.
Long hair fluttered in the sunlight.
The face hidden beneath Baek Jo-min's was Ye-ryeong's.
"So that's how it is?"
The days of hardship had paid off.
'Some unexpected punk made things easier.'
With Kim Il-su away tackling the Guardian in Blue Zone, she'd been on high alert.
Then an unforeseen variable appeared.
Jeong Chan-young.
Not even on the rankings, he even used sloppy martial arts.
It was natural to suspect him. Even outside this timing, anyone would sense something off.
As if advertising 'suspect me' with his whole body.
'Must've confused them more because of it.'
Both Adolf and Lee Won-jae, knowing about Ye-ryeong, would've been thrown off.
A stealth and infiltration specialist slipping in so sloppily? Unthinkable.
But from the vibe, both already seemed convinced he was Kim Ye-ryeong.
That was her chance.
With all attention on him, Ye-ryeong escaped suspicion.
"Ughhh-."
Stretching her stiff body, Ye-ryeong looked around.
Two opposite directions.
The one who knew Lee Hyo-min's location. And the one actively hunting her.
Chasing which would make finding Hyo-min easier?
"Gotta find her before Si-woo moves..."
If not, she'd face a scolding. Like, 'what were you doing while I slaved away?'
She had to judge wisely.
The operation's success hinged on which side she picked.
"Hmm......"
Eyes scrunched in thought, Ye-ryeong nodded.
"Alright."
Shimmer-.
Her body gradually turned transparent as she made her choice.
"This way."
Blue House bordered close to demon territory.
The two forces hadn't crossed into each other's domains in ages. Not just demons—humans hadn't crossed that forest in a long time either.
Demons lived in the forest.
Nearly a neutral zone, but no one claimed it as human land.
"......Chilling."
Entering the forest, Dylan gripped his shield tighter.
Hours in already. Time passed long, but slow pace meant not much distance covered.
"Boring."
"Thought we'd fight right away."
A few in the rear boasted bravado.
Wonder if they knew their fearful voices trembled.
Unable to recruit Jeong Chan-young, Dylan brought one more companion. Party totaled six.
"Why's nothing here?"
"No demons, not even a single ant."
No exaggeration in the last remark.
Truly, not an ant in this forest.
Bracing for demon ambushes, Dylan up front and all kept senses wide open.
Rankers' senses far surpassed ordinary animals. A leaf rustle, an ant's presence—they'd catch it all.
And their senses screamed.
No lifeforms in this forest at all.
That fact terrified even more.
'What about those demons on the frames?'
Before entering, Adolf showed everyone three demon corpses.
Demons that escaped the forest into their territory, he said. The ones you'd hunt ahead.
Dylan had scoffed inwardly then.
Weaklings like that? Could slaughter a horde.
But in the forest, no demons, not even traces.
"Something's off."
The party sensed the anomaly.
Not situational danger, but instinctual warning.
The honed senses of players who'd fought monsters and trials aplenty rang alarms.
But before the alarms fully blared.
Rustle-.
Far off.
A foreign presence amid the trees.
The party's sharpened gazes turned there. What stood was a human-like figure with bronze skin and twin spots on its face.
No.
Not human.
"Th-there!"
First demon faced since entering.
"Finally one!"
"Damn, this hard to spot?!"
Finding the demon, the party grew frantic.
Just one.
And this trial aimed to hunt as many demons as possible.
Snap-.
The demon they spotted turned and fled deep into the woods.
Speed so blinding, no time for calm judgment.
"It's running!"
"Catch it quick!"
"W-wait!"
Dylan reached out toward his charging party.
But despite his call, they were already chasing.
Couldn't lag or split. With odd unease, Dylan followed.
Why?
Of all times, right now, pursuing the first demon encountered.
"Any of you fought demons before?"
"But at least, we won't underestimate them enough to fight among ourselves first."
That guy's words resurfaced, heightening the anxiety.