Chapter 190
Chapter 190
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Toward Seong Mountain, Nowon-gu Breakthrough Operation (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
0.
“Alright…… all done.”
Shin Tae-yeop finally set down the quill pen infused with mana.
“Shishishishishi……?!”
Shyrak, now grown to the size of a tombstone, blinked its eyes cutely and barked. Shin Tae-yeop chuckled.
“You remember too?”
“Shi.”
“Makes sense. You’ve got a bit of Skaesari’s memories.”
With a reverent gesture, Shin Tae-yeop lifted the finished product.
It was a pair of pure white cotton gloves.
Meticulously drawn on the backs of the gloves was a magic circle.
“Help me out…… Valerin.”
Valerin, Shin Tae-yeop’s magic mentor.
This was the magic tool he always carried. And this magic circle was one of the spells he had taught Shin Tae-yeop.
- You’ll learn what kind of magic it is when your life hangs in the balance.
He still didn’t know what it did…… but since it came from Valerin, it had to be something incredible.
- Take care of this world.
He hadn’t been able to keep Valerin’s dying words that day.
No…… it’s not over yet.
[Dawn of the Whole World]…… If he could just bring back Do Ye-jin.
- I promised Jung Cheol we’d get a happy ending together.
Shin Tae-yeop took a deep breath, then shot to his feet with a grin.
He extinguished the candle.
Slipped the gloves onto both hands.
Left the room and headed straight to the National Cemetery.
At the graves of his old squadmates.
Where he had left the world’s hardest promise to keep.
“Alright, I’m off.”
1.
“The Holy Grail of Ikilas.”
Deep within the Surak Mountain Shrine.
At the center of the depths stood an altar. On this Altar of Ascension lay one of Ikilas’s treasures.
“It’s beautiful no matter how many times I see it.”
More transparent than anything else.
Colder than any object…… the source of absolute zero, the Holy Grail of Ikilas.
“If we just fill it with blood…….”
Hwang Ga-in fiddled with the black strands of her hair, then frustration boiled over and she yanked at them hard.
Ah…… so damn annoying.
She wanted to rip out every last one of these nauseating things.
「It won’t be long now. Just two more people’s blood, and it’s done.」
From the shrine’s darkness emerged a boy in pure white.
Saito Nan……
A swell of affection rose in her.
Hwang Ga-in’s beloved son. The mark of the first true love she’d ever received since birth.
「Then Mother can achieve true transcendence too. Shedding all the flaws of her human days.」
And trailing behind Saito Nan came someone else.
That’s……?
Hwang Ga-in let out a hollow laugh. A face she hadn’t seen in ages.
“What the hell, it’s Im Ga-hee?”
Neat black hime-cut hair.
Contrasting with a white priestess robe. She gave off the vibe of a sheltered heiress from some chaebol family.
“Feels like forever since I last saw you?”
And strapped to her back.
Her unique weapon shaped like a reincarnation cartwheel: [Han Hakpo: Torturnal].
“Where’ve you been all this time?”
“I’m sorry.”
“What’s with that robotic tone? Cut it out. You’re better off yapping like a crazy bitch.”
“I’m sorry.”
What the……?
Hwang Ga-in felt a chilling dissonance from Im Ga-hee’s mechanical responses.
“Sai? What’s wrong with her?”
Back in the day, at a compliment like that, Im Ga-hee should’ve been squirming all over like a perv, face flushed red.
Now her eyes, complexion, and voice were all just empty.
「Song Chan-un found her hidden away while I was asleep. She was like this when we dug her up.」
“Hidden? Why the hell would that bastard do that?”
「No need to dwell on it. Song Chan-un’s already dead.」
Weird. Why hide her?
Saito Nan was also Im Ga-hee’s contracted divine spirit. Song Chan-un, that inscrutable guy, what was he thinking…….
Whatever.
Only two people she could trust from the start.
Her lover, Choi Sin-yul, and her son, Saito Nan.
Shaking off the thoughts, Hwang Ga-in pointed her folding fan at Im Ga-hee.
“So what? She’s gonna stay a zombie like this?”
「I could restore her. But I think I’ll leave her like this.」
“Why?”
Heh…… Saito Nan flashed his signature icy smile.
「The old Im Ga-hee was too flighty. This is perfect…… Anyway, Mother.」
“Yeah~?”
Hwang Ga-in was happiest when Saito Nan called her “Mother.”
“What’s up? Can’t sleep? Want a lullaby?”
「Don’t need that crap. I found something fun. Thought you’d wanna see it with me.」
Saito Nan raised the glowing orb cradled in both hands.
A tremendous energy that made her tremble.
A chill that could freeze the world.
「Here, touch this [Ice Wheel Ring]. You’ll see right away.」
[Ice Wheel Ring]. It was the physical manifestation of the Northern God Saito Nan’s divinity as an orb.
No way…… is this his idea of filial piety?
Hwang Ga-in smiled softly and reached for the orb……
Wha───────?
……And the next instant, she beheld a grand illusory world.
Seated on a throne of eternal frost, commanding the world. All humanity prostrated at her feet.
A new world……
The world Hwang Ga-in had longed for. Everyone equally chained and controlled.
No one to blame.
No one discriminated against.
Everything…… life and death alike, equal for all.
Then, from the crowd, a striking beauty of a girl stepped forward.
Do Ye-jin……?
Do Ye-jin dared point at Hwang Ga-in’s face, then sneered in contempt.
- Hey, hey, check out that face.
The prostrated masses lifted their heads one by one, bursting into loud laughter.
- Holy shit……
- Is that even human……?
- That your girlfriend……?
- Girlfriend? That? Looks more like a boyfriend……
These fuckers…… what did they just say?
Hwang Ga-in shot up from the throne in rage, then froze.
My body feels heavy……?
What? What? She looked down at her hands in panic…… and saw them buried in ugly fat.
“No.”
Insane.
Familiar hands.
From long ago…… before the world ended, Hwang Ga-in’s hands.
“No. No. No.”
She frantically groped her face with those hands. The sagging jowls…… the flabby cheeks…… all tangible.
“No, no, no, no, no! NO!”
That’s not me.
‘That’ isn’t me anymore.
I’ve changed.
I’ve changed by his grace.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO───────!”
She tore at her face’s flesh and skin with her nails…… but only ripping pain assaulted her.
Her face didn’t change.
Watching the scene…… Do Ye-jin clutched her stomach, doubled over in hysterics.
“Hwang Ga-in.”
That bitch…… that fucking bitch……
“Hwang Ga-in.”
A bitch born with everything…… no way she knows this pain, that goddamn bitch……
“Hwang Ga-in.”
The moment that majestic voice rang out.
The illusion gripping her senses melted away like snow……
Dark.
This is…… the shrine’s altar.
I’m back……?
Regaining her wits, she saw Choi Sin-yul gripping her wrist.
“What’s wrong with you……? Saito Nan, what the hell did you just do.”
And.
Saito Nan cradling the [Ice Wheel Ring] in both hands, and Im Ga-hee aiming her <Torturnal> at Choi Sin-yul.
「Just showed her a future vision. Nothing fancy.」
“You’re gonna play innocent now?”
「What answer are you hoping for, Choi Sin-yul? She’s got baggage if you’re using her like that.」
Hands, my hands…… Hwang Ga-in stared blankly at her palms.
Pale and slender.
Fingers scented with elegance.
Mirror……
This damn mirror.
Where is it? She snatched the hard-won mirror with trembling hands and peered in.
「Or are you jealous seeing me alone with Mother?」
Just like that, exactly.
Refined beauty in every feature.
Hair half black, half white. Black eye and white eye.
「Heh heh heh heh, don’t worry. I don’t care what you do with Mother.」
Only then did Hwang Ga-in mutter lowly in a sharp voice.
“Both of you, stop. Before I lose it.”
Choi Sin-yul clamped his mouth shut in dissatisfaction, and Saito Nan wore a cute sneer.
“On second thought, with Sai awake, no reason to wait…… Im Ga-hee.”
“Yes.”
“Prepare the mountain sacrifice ritual. Bring them all to the altar. Every last one.”
Do Ye-jin……
I have to end that little shit.
Extract every bit of info she has first.
“Do Ye-jin…… that fucking bitch too, don’t miss her. Got it?”
2.
“Load ’em all into the carriages!”
The <Association> headquarters buzzed with departure preparations.
“We’re heading out to the eastern gate in 15 minutes!”
“Roger that, roger!”
At the main gate, Shin Tae-yeop linked up with the 1st Hunting Squad members.
Heo Cheon-gyeom.
Park Ji-won.
Ryu Hyun-ji.
All in crisp <Association> uniforms. Leather coats, leather boots, and hunting fedoras to boot.
The once-scattered 1st Hunting Squad had reunited to rescue Do Ye-jin.
“T-Tae…… Tae-yeop oppa……!”
The cute mushroom-haired girl, Ryu Hyun-ji, spotted him first and waved.
“Huh……?”
Weird. For a split second, Michelle’s smile overlapped with the stutterer…… They really do look alike now that I see it.
Petite build, timid personality.
Eyes rolling wildly during talks.
But…… he shook his head, shoving Michelle from his mind.
Sis is doing fine, right?
We’ll meet again someday…… I’ll survive hard too.
“W-Will…… Ye-jin be okay? Aren’t we…… too late?”
Ryu Hyun-ji was on the verge of tears.
Her master was like that…… but her familiar Black & White started growling at Shyrak the moment they met.
「Here. Here. Fresh meat reeking of creation.」
“Shiiiiirrrrraaaaaaaakkk!”
Was it a showdown for the squad’s mascot spot? Shin Tae-yeop chuckled and shook his head.
“Not late. They’d never dream we’d get here this fast.”
“R-Really……?”
“Ah, fuck, this is so frustrating. Why worry so much.”
Spitting those words came Heo Cheon-gyeom.
“Ryu Hyun-ji, don’t you know tough nuts live long?”
“……?”
“Do Ye-jin’s a total tough nut. Legend among tough nuts.”
To an outsider, it might look like he was dissing Do Ye-jin.
That signature delinquent…… thug vibe of his.
Spiky hair jutting up.
Sharp eyes, mouth always set in a scowl.
Looks rough…… but he’s solid deep down. Loyal to his comrades above all.
“T-That’s too much! Ye-Ye-jin has so many…… good qualities!”
“Nah~ Strip the tough nut from Do Ye-jin, nothing left.”
“Wha……?”
As Ryu Hyun-ji was stunned speechless.
Park Ji-won gasped, confessing solemnly.
“Admit it, admit it~!”
Heo Cheon-gyeom and Park Ji-won locked eyes and cackled.
“Black & White.”
Ryu Hyun-ji’s gaze turned chillingly vacant as she commanded.
“Kill them both. Rip out their throats.”
“……?!”
Black & White gaped, then charged the boys.
「Some • thing • to • eat.」
「Some • thing • to • eat.」
“Eek, ack! Stop! Spare us! Please stop! It’s a joke!”
Was Ryu Hyun-ji always like this?
Ha…… Shin Tae-yeop watched the chaos with a laugh, but a pang hit his chest.
If Do Ye-jin were here……
For a moment, her phantom overlapped the scene. ‘What’d you punks just say? You’re all dead! Get over here?!’ Something like that.
“Shirak. Shiark…….”
The world blurred white for a second.
When he snapped back, the whole squad stared at him.
“What…… why’s he crying now?”
“O-Oppa……?”
“Heo Cheon-gyeom’s trash-talking Do Ye-jin must’ve hurt his feelings.”
Park Ji-won shook his head helplessly, and Heo Cheon-gyeom grabbed his collar.
“Fuck, unbelievable. Park Ji-won, you’re an accomplice too, you shit!”
Me…… crying?
Shin Tae-yeop quickly wiped his eyes with his glove backs.
She’s not dead yet.
No need to cry…… just get her back.
Muttering inwardly, he made the excuse.
“Pulled an all-nighter…… eyes hurt, that’s all.”
“All aboard the carriages!”
That’s when Acting Staff Sergeant Seo Hwa-yoon’s voice rang out.
“We’re moving to the eastern gate in formation order!”
The 1st Hunting Squad exchanged glances.
Maybe.
This could be their last casual chat.
“There’s an old 1st Hunting Squad tradition.”
“……?”
“Dreamline. Sharing dreams before an expedition.”
If someone dies.
Someone left carries on their dream.
“Fuckin’ lame.”
Heo Cheon-gyeom recoiled before he could finish.
“Too cringey. Pass.”
“Hyung, movie cliché. The vow-then-wipeout pattern.”
Shut up, kid.
I didn’t start this.
“Uncle Baek-jun started it first.”
“…….”
“…………?”
“……………….”
“Ooh! That’s badass! Let’s do it! Twice!”
Heo Cheon-gyeom, who’d trained swordsmanship under Kim Baek-jun, spouted bullshit he didn’t mean.
“N-No……!”
Ryu Hyun-ji slammed the brakes on the playful mood.
“W-We do this…… after we’re all together…… later!”
“Later?”
Heo Cheon-gyeom and Park Ji-won tilted their heads in turn.
“Noona, we’re all here now.”
“No……! Ye-jin, Ye-jin’s not here!”
“……………!”
“L-Let’s do it together…… when Ye-jin comes! Okay?”
Silence fell for a beat.
Park Ji-won smirked, Heo Cheon-gyeom shrugged, and their longswords clinked.
“Yeah…… right.”
Shin Tae-yeop chuckled and extended his hand.
“Then let’s promise one last time.”
“……?”
“Bring back that tough nut Do Ye-jin…… then we all do Dreamline together.”
Brief silence again.
Then Ryu Hyun-ji…… Park Ji-won next, and finally Heo Cheon-gyeom piled their hands on.
“Shishishishi!”
To make a promise that might never be kept.