Chapter 230
Chapter 230
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 230
Chapter Title: 2nd Epilogue 02 - Journey of 30,000 Miles to Find Dad (2)
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2.
“Do you even know what it means to head south?”
Before heading off to negotiate with the Star Messenger at the national cemetery, Shin Tae-yeop had asked this.
“Um…….”
“Um……?”
“Um…… There’s gotta be the Han River, right……?”
A moment of silence.
Shyraki burst into giggles.
Finally, Shin Tae-yeop shook his head in disbelief, and Do Ye-jin scrunched up her face.
“What…… What is it? Spit it out!”
“You’re too complacent! Way too complacent! With that kind of mindset, you’ll just end up screaming your last breath if you head down there.”
Shin Tae-yeop rummaged in his coat pocket and pulled out a parchment scroll.
“Take a look at this.”
He unfurled it with a rustle in front of the graveyard, securing the corners with stones.
“It’s a map of New Seoul Special City.”
“I know that much!”
“The north…… well, above the Han River, had two Paradise Zones in Seodaemun-gu and Nowon-gu. The south has two as well.”
The southwestern Gwanak-gu.
And the southeastern Songpa-gu.
Shin Tae-yeop traced his finger along the Han River, then twisted it at the end, toward Gwangjin-gu.
“The Southern Boundary Line stretches all along the Han River. It doesn’t include the far-right Gwangjin-gu.”
“……!”
“Pay attention to this. Songpa-gu had already conquered up to this Gwangjin-gu by the time we started clashing with Nowon-gu.”
As Shin Tae-yeop lowered his voice, Do Ye-jin’s eyes grew serious.
It was definitely worth noting.
After conquering Gangnam-gu, the Nightmare Zone right next to their own Paradise, they’d taken down a second Nightmare Zone that quickly.
No, wait a minute.
This wasn’t just noteworthy…… this was insanely impressive. Shin Tae-yeop continued.
“According to Gong Min-young, the group here is called the [Blood Clan]…… She said they’re one of the top contenders in the Seoul Uprising.”
“……!”
“They’ve surely got not just Lead Hunters but tons of incredible ability users stationed there.”
Shin Tae-yeop pointed to the southernmost Paradise Zone in Seoul, Gwanak-gu.
“But Gwanak-gu won’t be a pushover either. They haven’t fallen yet against a top contender like Songpa-gu.”
That made sense.
If the power gap had been as overwhelming as with Seodaemun-gu and Nowon-gu, they’d have been wiped out long ago.
It wouldn’t be easy at all.
No, there were bound to be monstrous beings south of the Han River.
“This is the place you’re trying to go to right now. You sure you’re okay with that?”
3.
“Wh…… What do you mean, you’re going…… where……?”
1st Hunting Squad dormitory.
The moment Do Ye-jin dropped her bombshell, those were the only words Ryu Hyun-ji could muster.
“I’m heading south. Past the boundary line.”
Do Ye-jin’s tone carried an air of, isn’t that obvious?
“Why……?”
“’Cause Dad’s waiting for me.”
Ryu Hyun-ji shook her head wildly, her voice trembling, as Black & White chimed in.
“That’s not what I’m asking!”
「No way. No way. No way. No way.」
「Guess she’s too dumb to get it. Heh heh.」
“Why…… why are you going alone? Do you have any idea how dangerous it is! Do you even know what’s down south?!”
Ryu Hyun-ji didn’t know the details either.
But it sure as hell wasn’t some kids’ playground. There were two Paradise Zones like Nowon-gu, after all.
“Can I ask you something?”
From the corner, Yi Ha-ram asked flatly while silently sharpening Park Ji-won’s tri-fold sword on a whetstone.
“Say you go south. What’re you planning to do once you get there alone?”
“Go find Dad!”
“What about the end of the Nightmare Zone or whatever? Before that. There are two Paradise Zones there.”
Do Ye-jin flashed a smile, as if to say she knew that full well.
“I know. I’m gonna meet the Lead Hunters.”
“What?”
“Not every Lead Hunter has to be a bad guy, right? Maybe…… someone’ll even help me out.”
“You’re insane?”
As she said it, she realized.
Her words had come out sharper than intended. Yi Ha-ram let out a sigh, as if making excuses.
“Look at me. Look at Nowon-gu. You think there’s any normal people there?”
“…….”
“You don’t get it. You don’t know a damn thing!”
Yi Ha-ram had finally made it here.
To a real Paradise Zone at last…… She had no intention of crawling back into that chaos herself.
“If you knew how lucky you all were…… you’d drop that bullshit fantasy and just get some sleep.”
To back up Yi Ha-ram’s scolding, Ryu Hyun-ji jumped right in.
“Y-Yeah! It’s gonna be crawling with bad guys! You’ll get caught again! Going alone is suicide!”
It wasn’t Do Ye-jin who countered, but Shin Tae-yeop.
“Well, I see it a bit differently.”
“Oppa?”
“Lead Hunters aren’t idiots. I don’t know if they’re good or bad…… but they definitely won’t just kill Do Ye-jin or anything.”
Ryu Hyun-ji was floored by Shin Tae-yeop’s certainty.
“D-Don’t you remember what happened in Nowon-gu?”
“The situation down there’s different from Nowon-gu. They’re in the middle of a war. They’ll think about using her first before killing her, right?”
Shin Tae-yeop pondered how to explain, then snapped his fingers.
“Picture this. We’re about to storm Nowon-gu, and some monster like Choi Il-sul shows up from the south.”
“……?”
“Would they kill her right away ’cause she’s dangerous?”
“……!”
“Nah. They’d try to pull her to their side first, somehow. Me and Uncle Choi Uk? That’s exactly what we’d do.”
Th…… That……
Ryu Hyun-ji was at a loss for words.
Put out the fire in front of you first…… She couldn’t argue with that.
“Long story short…… even if that idiot heads down alone, it might not be that dangerous.”
“……!”
“Just play the three-way tug-of-war right.”
But.
She couldn’t accept it.
Do Ye-jin thumped her chest and let out a hi laugh.
“Don’t worry so much! I’ve gotten really strong, you know.”
Accepting it meant.
Sending Do Ye-jin far away, with no guarantee of seeing her again.
“No matter…… how strong you’ve gotten……! You still won’t be as strong as Uncle Baek-jun!”
That’s why she was angry.
Lacking the words, anger was all she could put behind her voice.
“What’re you gonna do going alone to a place full of guys like Uncle Baek-jun!”
“…….”
“We can all go together later! Right?! All of us from the <Association>!”
At that, a tragic smile slowly formed on Do Ye-jin’s lips.
“I’d love to go together.”
“……?!”
“But going together means all-out war……? How many more people have to die protecting me then?”
Do Ye-jin’s sad smile said it all.
I’m a target.
Protecting a target like me means countless more sacrifices. You might die too.
That was the real goal.
Use the other Paradise Zones to conquer the Nightmare while wrapping up the [Age of Predation] properly.
Without harm coming to Seodaemun-gu.
“Whatever. No point trying to stop her. Runaway girl’s off on her journey of 30,000 miles to find Dad.”
Shin Tae-yeop scratched Shyraki’s neck and grinned.
“I, the great Shin Tae-yeop, will make sure she gets there safe. Don’t worry too much, Hyun-ji.”
Shin Tae-yeop…… She glared resentfully at those eyes, but Do Ye-jin rebelliously tilted her head.
“What~? What am I, a kid?”
“You must’ve forgotten ’cause you’re always yapping in banmal, but you’re three years younger than me, missy? You punk!”
“Hmph, idiot. For a girl, it’s not physical age that matters. It’s mental age.”
“Look at you showing off! If a mental age test said you were three, your parents would be bawling and thanking God, you moron!”
“Hey! You done talking?!”
“Eek! Coming at me with fists first is proof your mental age is low! What are you, some wild animal?”
That boisterous, affectionate commotion was cut short by a sudden splashing sound.
“This is…… so weird…….”
It was tears.
Ryu Hyun-ji’s tears.
“We just…… got back together…… not even a week ago…… why do we have to…… split up again……?”
“…….”
“Did you…… get sick of me……? The people in the <Association>…… now everyone…….”
“Hyun-ji…….”
“N-No……! I…… I don’t wanna…… be apart…….”
Do Ye-jin reached out carefully, but Ryu Hyun-ji roughly shook off her hand and bolted out of the room.
A heavy silence settled inside.
Only the sound of Yi Ha-ram’s whetstone scraping the blade grated on their nerves. Finally, Shin Tae-yeop spoke.
“I didn’t think it’d be easy…… What now?”
“…….”
“Wait till she comes around?”
Do Ye-jin stared blankly at the door Ryu Hyun-ji had left open. The girl sadly shook her head.
“No…… Let’s get ready. We leave at dawn as planned, quietly.”
Shin Tae-yeop glanced at Yi Ha-ram. She met his gaze while sharpening the blade, then sighed.
“Count me out. I finally…… want to live like a human.”
4.
「Karlen…… did that……?」
First Librarian Tantareska was quite shocked by the oracle from the Main God.
No, if it was like Karlen, then it was very Karlen……
Karlen had long ago lost to Tantareska in the First Librarian selection and failed to promote.
「I shall keep silent on this per Mother’s will…… but did you see what I told you?」
No oracle came.
How strange…… Even the Lord of Insight, the Mother of Truth, ponders things sometimes?
「………….」
It wasn’t unreasonable.
The resurrection of the dead…… One of the Genesis God’s first powers had returned. The implications were huge.
「……………………….」
She waited a long time, but there was no response. In the end, Tantareska bowed and withdrew.
「Aritabair…… May all be as the Mother of Truth wills.」
No sooner had she finished the prayer.
The dazzling stellar mist swirling around Tantareska cleared.
Tantareska stood.
Her refined features exuded elegance, and the Western-style clerical coat draped over her shoulders lent her an air of dignity.
“Then…….”
No Star Messenger was more immaculate in attire or conduct, yet none held themselves with greater nobility.
First Librarian, Tantareska.
As such a Tantareska stepped out onto the grand cathedral balcony, she spotted a girl returning from a hunt.
“You look tired.”
At Tantareska’s words, the girl looked up briefly, then deliberately ignored her and quickened her pace.
“…….”
The girl’s beauty was peerless among humans.
Her long hair braided into a half-up style.
The simple hunter’s garb suited her slender frame, but her sharply refined eyes and serene gait made her like a living painting.
Girlish, huh……
Tantareska mulled over the word and smiled quietly.
Why?
Because all that burned in the girl’s eyes now was hatred. That was no girlish emotion.
[Lv : 257]
Her soul’s rank was far from girlish too.
Not surprising. The girl was one of the two Apostles in this Songpa-gu.
Dark Star, Lui In-yeon.
An Apostle chosen as the Bow God by the Lord of Absolutes…… But the real fun came next.
“I just received an oracle. You might get your revenge soon.”
Revenge…… The moment Tantareska said it, the girl halted abruptly.
“The one who slaughtered your blood kin and fulfilled their desires.”
Tantareska’s tone was as calm as ever, but the girl’s fingers gripping her national bow trembled wildly, unlike usual.
“You’ll soon meet the daughter of the [Nameless Demigod].”
“Yeah?”
“Whether you believe it is entirely up to you.”
The girl, chosen by the Absolute Lui In-yeon, was named Park Hye-rim.
Of all people.
She was the last blood relative of Berkenxia’s previous successor.
This is getting interesting……
The grudge between her father and brother, now carrying over to that daughter and this little sister.
“But it never hurts to prepare in advance.”
“……!”
“Just as that demigod pierced your family’s hearts, be ready to pierce the daughter’s.”