Chapter 261
Chapter 261
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 261
Chapter Title: Arachnia
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Thwack-!
The head of the masked man pressing a knife to Suhyuk's throat snapped back.
The jaw-struck assailant staggered, wildly swinging his blade. But in an instant, as if all strength had fled his body, he crumpled to the floor.
"Eek!"
Gilot yelped in terror.
The other masked men tried to react, but Suhyuk was faster.
Crash-!
Another masked man's head slammed into the wall. The assailants flailed about, unable to pinpoint Suhyuk's position.
"Where is he?!"
"On the ceiling!"
Suhyuk was already clinging to the ceiling.
Two masked men remained.
The moment one swung his knife at Suhyuk, who hung upside down from above...
Boom-!
"...!!!"
"Urk!"
Lightning bolts shot from both of Suhyuk's hands pierced the shoulders of the two masked men.
One staggered from the shock and lost consciousness. The last one clung desperately to the spear embedded in his shoulder, barely holding onto awareness.
The instant he tried to yank it out and counterattack...
Crack-!
"...!"
Suhyuk dropped from the ceiling, smashing his fist into the final man's jaw.
Thud.
All four masked men lay sprawled on the ground.
Gilot, slumped on the floor, rubbed his eyes.
He wondered what had just happened.
It had all ended in a blink. His gaze shifted from the subdued assailants to Suhyuk.
'What... what kind of person is he?'
Dark Map guild members all received the same training. As information brokers, they memorized the names and faces of every notable ranker.
But none of them matched this level of skill.
To overwhelm Dark Map's elite guards this quickly—he had to be a high ranker.
'Did I miss a high ranker? Or is he disguising his face with some trick?'
Gulp.
Gilot swallowed nervously.
He pictured Suhyuk—who had glanced back at him—smashing his skull.
Gilot was a ranker himself, but he couldn't imagine beating opponents who had stumped Dark Map's top guards.
A moment later, Suhyuk spoke to the terrified Gilot.
"Are you staff here?"
"Y-Yes? Oh, yes!"
Gilot shot to his feet.
He had no idea why Suhyuk was asking again.
But since he wasn't killing him outright, there might be a way to survive.
"Whatever you need, just say the word! I'll do everything I can to h-help..."
"Not you."
Suhyuk nodded toward Gilot's back.
"Him."
"...?"
Gilot's head creaked around.
His eyes widened. Behind him loomed a massive masked figure, head taller than an average adult man's.
The giant ignored Gilot and stared at Suhyuk.
"Follow me."
"You know who I'm looking for?"
The masked man nodded.
"The Guild Master wants you."
He glanced at Gilot.
"You too. Come."
Gilot thought to himself.
I'm screwed.
Click-clack, click-clack.
Click-clack.
Footsteps echoed rhythmically down the wide corridor. Suhyuk and Gilot trailed slowly behind the masked man.
They had been walking for over ten minutes. The exterior looked like it could collapse any moment, but the interior was a fortress.
'How far does this go?'
Gilot's heart pounded relentlessly as he followed.
He assumed the masked man knew of his betrayal.
'No way the guild forgives me for tipping off an intruder.'
Should he bolt at the first chance?
Or grovel before the Guild Master and beg forgiveness?
Neither felt like a path to survival. His trembling legs threatened to give out.
"Gilot, right?"
Gilot jumped at the masked man's question.
"Y-Yes!"
Instinct told him this guide dwarfed the foes Suhyuk had dispatched.
He was the Guild Master's direct subordinate—an executive in the vast Dark Map organization.
"Impressions of headquarters?"
"I-Impressions?"
"This path. It's a maze, but every guild member must memorize it."
Thump.
Gilot felt his heart sink.
'I haven't memorized a thing...'
He was usually sharp.
Just being here proved his smarts. But now, his mind was consumed with survival.
"W-Well..."
"Too hard?"
Gilot hesitated, then answered.
"...I'm sorry."
He could lie to dodge the moment, but lies always unraveled.
A small issue could balloon from deceit.
The masked man glanced at Suhyuk next.
"And you?"
"It's all twisted up with formations from the start. Memorize what?"
The masked man halted.
The air shifted instantly.
"How did you know?"
"Smelled someone I know."
This formation was Jinwoon's handiwork. His scent lingered in the mana.
"Did you memorize the path?"
Suhyuk countered.
"And if I did, what then?"
Gilot blinked in confusion at their exchange.
Then realization hit, sending chills down his spine.
'He shouldn't memorize it.'
This led to the Guild Master. The question wasn't hope—it was a prelude to elimination.
A lie might have cost his head.
Suhyuk and the masked man stared each other down. The masked man's killing intent faded as he shook his head and resumed walking silently.
They arrived at a room marked with a spider emblem.
"So this is where it was leading."
Suhyuk sighed upon entering.
"All that winding just to come this far?"
A glint flashed in the masked man's eyes.
But it wasn't a question for him to answer. He stepped back instead.
"Both of you, go in."
Creeeak.
The door opened before anyone touched it.
The interior was pitch black, impossible to peer into. Gilot hesitated.
'In there...'
Sat Dark Map's Guild Master.
He never dreamed he'd meet her on his first day. Normally, he'd dance for joy—but not now.
Step.
Suhyuk strode through the open door. Gilot, after a moment's agonized thought and a glare from the masked man, followed.
Thud.
The door sealed behind them.
Gilot snapped alert, shaking off his startle.
He couldn't stay on edge forever. His fate hinged on composure here.
'But why me?'
In the dim room, Gilot pondered.
Suhyuk made sense, but what reason did the Guild Master have to summon him?
If she wanted him dead, it would've happened already. If sparing him, no need to bring him here.
She wanted something else.
Fwoosh.
Torches flared to life, illuminating the room.
Gilot gasped.
Giant spiders clung to the walls everywhere, dozens of glowing eyes fixed on them. Each bore deadly venom.
"You were looking for me?"
A seductive voice echoed from the room's center.
A woman lounged cross-legged atop a massive spider's body.
Her silky black bob and catlike eyes paired with black leather garb. She seemed a beautiful spider personified.
'That's our Guild Master.'
Gulp.
Gender unknown, name a mystery.
Just facing her made Gilot tremble. Learning her identity might cost his life.
"You knew who I was when you came?"
"Arachnia."
Suhyuk named her outright.
"Right?"
"...Pardon?"
Dark Map's Guild Master, Arachnia, narrowed her eyes at Suhyuk.
Her gaze evoked cat or spider—piercing to the core.
Normally, yes.
Dark Map gripped all Tower intel; Arachnia knew every thread of causality.
But...
"And you? Do you know me?"
"...No."
Arachnia answered Suhyuk's question, then mused.
How long since she'd admitted ignorance? Eons, and nothing came to mind.
"If you don't know me, why summon me?"
"Exactly because I don't. No one escapes my knowledge."
Propping her chin, legs crossed, Arachnia eyed Suhyuk up and down.
She'd watched him fight via her spiders.
Instant fascination.
Not his skill—but her ignorance of such a player.
And him seeking her out.
"What are you, exactly?"
"I need information."
"Information?"
"Does it depend on who I am—what info I can get?"
Arachnia's eyes sparkled at Suhyuk's question.
'Well, aren't you bold?'
She'd called from curiosity. Ignorance was lost profit, her creed.
A summons to exploit. Yet he brazenly revealed his intent to use her.
Supreme confidence.
Lick.
Arachnia wet her lips.
"Of course. Might makes right for intel. But little one?"
Swish, rustle, hiss.
The spiders mobilized as one.
"If you're not worth it, big sis here'll be in trouble."
"Eek!"
Gilot shrieked, surrounded.
Arachnia's threat was no bluff. She'd kill or spare based on Suhyuk's identity.
And she could.
Arachnia had elevated Dark Map to the Tower's top info guild.
Click.
Footsteps rang out clearly, as if deliberate.
Gilot sensed the oddity.
The door was shut.
"I didn't come alone, fearless as I am."
Suhyuk stepped aside.
Then, the person who'd entered with him appeared in Arachnia's view.
Her intrigued expression shattered, eyes quaking.
"...S-Sis?"