The Source of Magi (★)
The black orbs inside the bag.
A total of 23, they were the core energy sources known as the Source of Magi to the ma-in.
Stolen from the Seven Deadly Sins by the Blue Dragon.
But before delving into the Source of Magi, there was something that needed addressing first.
"The Seven Deadly Sin of Envy has descended?"
"Yes. Pride summoned Envy."
No wonder things felt off.
The Seven Deadly Sins remained a massive threat. At this point in time, how many hunters could even stand against an apostle of the apocalypse?
Maybe none.
"Hold on—if Pride summoned Envy... that means Envy can summon the other Seven Deadly Sins too."
"Correct. In fact, Envy intended to summon the entire Seven Deadly Sins."
Lucifer narrowed his eyes at the Blue Dragon's explanation.
"But a full descent right now should be impossible. The System wouldn't allow it."
"Yes, so that's why..."
The Blue Dragon glanced at the Source of Magi in the backpack.
"They joined forces with the ma-in to bypass the System's restrictions. With a massive amount of magi, it's not impossible."
Which meant these Sources of Magi had fallen into our hands.
"So, what can we do with these...?"
"First and foremost, summon a Seven Deadly Sin."
Summon a Seven Deadly Sin directly.
Just like with the demon Belial before.
If we could catch it, the rewards would be enormous.
But only if we catch it...
Still, it was too risky right now.
There was the prerequisite that we could definitely take it down. If it escaped, that would be a catastrophe in itself.
Plus, the Sin of Envy could crash the party at any moment.
The Blue Dragon shrugged.
"Of course, summoning with just the Source of Magi alone is impossible. We're not Seven Deadly Sins, after all."
"But it's not entirely impossible. If we process it properly."
Lucifer nodded, his gaze shifting backward. Cheon Iryeong, who was hunting monsters, sensed it and tilted her head.
"It's best to capture the Seven Deadly Sins in advance. They'll all show up eventually anyway."
Gabriel seemed to agree.
"What about the side effects when one descends?"
"That should be fine."
"Since one has already descended, it shouldn't matter."
The apostles handled the discussion among themselves.
It felt like having competent subordinates. Good thing the third apostle, Blue Dragon, had blended in seamlessly.
Alright then...
Build up enough power, then go hunt the Seven Deadly Sins.
That direction seemed solid.
No problems.
No problems at all.
But man, the scale's gotten way too big.
My dream was just to buy a decent building and retire.
But now an apostle of the apocalypse trying to destroy the world had shown up. If left alone, the world would plunge into chaos—it was obvious.
...Deal with the Sin of Envy first, then think.
That was when it happened.
Ding-a-ling—
An emergency message arrived on my smartphone. It had been sent to every registered hunter in the Hunter Association.
Seoul city center: SS-rank Gate appearance in 24 hours.
Emergency support requested.
The Bulmyeol guild members, standing a bit apart, received messages too. Theirs seemed to have extra details.
"So it finally came."
"Apocalypse Temple two days ago, SS-rank Gate tomorrow?"
"They're happening simultaneously worldwide."
"The world's really going to hell. Non-stop incidents."
Simultaneous outbreaks worldwide.
This wasn't good.
The apostles' faces said as much—they knew it was coming. The Blue Dragon smiled and snapped his fingers.
"On the bright side, it's a chance for massive experience and great rewards. It'll greatly aid Master's growth."
I looked up at the gloomy sky. The clouds the Blue Dragon had parted earlier had reformed.
"Clearing is one thing, but the Seven Deadly Sins are the problem."
Lucifer said worriedly.
But that part should be fine.
We had three apostles now.
One of them Myth-rank.
"If they show, we take them down."
The advantage was ours.
It was the Seven Deadly Sins who should be afraid.
"They'll have to show up."
To reclaim the Source of Magi, they'd move.
Sa Choiheon hurried along, fully armed to the teeth.
Returner Ho Young.
Where the one who fled from Mumyeong was headed was obvious.
There's only one place for someone returning home.
A spot far from the city center.
A village now in ruins.
Once home to many, but most perished in a past dungeon break.
Back when the Hunter Association and guilds weren't established.
"......"
The returner stood there alone.
The house where his family once lived.
The reason he'd clung to survival so desperately.
Nothing remained now.
Sa Choiheon approached Ho Young slowly.
Step, step.
He placed the white chrysanthemums at the doorstep.
Closed his eyes briefly in silent prayer.
Ho Young said nothing. In the heavy silence, Sa Choiheon spoke first.
"A good person. Did everything to save others until the end."
Not fabricated words.
Fate was curious—he knew the man.
Ho Young's gaze turned to Sa Choiheon. A faint sadness flickered in his sunken eyes, but only briefly.
Boom—!
Ho Young swung a fist at Sa Choiheon without warning. Sa Choiheon drew his sword in an instant to block, but was sent flying back.
Not a reckless punch.
A punch acknowledging Sa Choiheon's strength.
Ho Young charged wordlessly.
Clang—!
Fist met blade, sparks flying.
Convincing Ho Young was simple. The madman didn't listen to words, but his principles weren't complex.
Boom! Crash!
Clash with full force. Collide wills head-on. That was enough.
He understood others through battle.
One punch over a hundred words.
BOOM—!
The ground tore open, abandoned buildings crumbling into debris. The fierce battle raged on.
Damn strong. At this stage, maybe on par with an apostle of the apocalypse.
And Ho Young wasn't even serious.
Even as a returner with top items and skills, surpassing Ho Young now was nearly impossible for Sa Choiheon.
He needed a bit more time to overtake him.
Still, Sa Choiheon swung his sword with all he had. It was necessary to convince Ho Young.
Crash! Boom! Bang!
Absurd power.
He couldn't help thinking it every swing.
Mumyeong, who made such a powerhouse flee.
How the hell did he do it?
The fight lasted over an hour.
And finally.
BOOM!
Earth erupted high. That was the end. Sa Choiheon lay sprawled on the ground.
"Huff... huff..."
No more fighting possible. Ho Young approached the fallen Sa Choiheon.
Extended a hand.
"I've confirmed your will. Tenacious persistence for your ideals. Fearless attitude toward death. You're usable. Pass."
A pass.
In the previous regression, it was a fail.
Something had changed.
Sa Choiheon grabbed Ho Young's hand and stood. His body ached everywhere.
"Sa Choiheon."
"Is that so. I've discarded my name."
"...?"
Sa Choiheon stared at Ho Young.
"Why?"
"No name?"
"Yes."
What nonsense is this?
First time for this. He clearly had the name Ho Young.
...Did losing to Mumyeong do this?
"A failure who fled to save his own skin doesn't need a name."
Seemed like it.
Ho Young's gaze returned to his old home.
Half-collapsed from the fight. But the chrysanthemums at the door remained intact.
Ho Young could sense it.
How his family died. Traces of the attacking monsters still vivid.
"I wondered."
Ho Young continued calmly.
"If my family was alive. Waiting for me. Remembered me. Had to check, even if it meant cowardly fleeing."
Drifting through 42 dimensions, living centuries, he never gave up because of a home to return to.
"Feared my sudden disappearance caused them pain."
The hope of reunion someday.
That brought him here.
"If so, I wanted to make them happy enough to repay it all... Shame it didn't happen."
Not said for Sa Choiheon.
Just to convince himself.
"No more regrets."
Ho Young turned away sadly.
Sa Choiheon stopped him with words.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"To die. My life isn't mine. Just wanted to see my family one last time. Gave thanks, but he won't be satisfied."
Nonsensical to outsiders.
But clearly about Mumyeong.
What the...
Sa Choiheon rubbed his temple.
First time for this too.
He squeezed out words.
"Then... I owe you my life too."
"Different."
"How's it different?"
"Different."
Damn, no reasoning with him.
Let him go like this?
...Who knows what trouble he'd cause.
Might pick a fight since we didn't kill him.
Tutorial's endgame.
SS-rank Gates appearing.
Minimize variables.
After deliberation, Sa Choiheon spoke.
"The one you mean—wears a black robe? Has apostles?"
"Yes. You know him?"
"Well. Wait a sec."
Sa Choiheon called Mumyeong on his terminal. Lucifer answered.
Ho Young's eyebrow rose at Lucifer's voice.
Sa Choiheon spoke quickly before the call cut.
"Ran into a returner by chance. Says he owes Mumyeong his life. Wants to go back and die. Asking Mumyeong's opinion."
Quick-witted Lucifer caught on.
"......"
Brief silence.
Ho Young's eyes fixed on the terminal.
How much time passed?
Crackle, static.
A voice emerged from the terminal.
Neutral, featureless tone.
Undoubtedly Mumyeong.
Click.
Call ended.
"......"
Sa Choiheon looked at Ho Young.
Ho Young stood frozen, a wry smile on his face.
"Means he can kill trash like me anytime."
But he seemed pleased.
Some misunderstanding.
Sa Choiheon didn't correct it.
"Right, as Mumyeong said. And that Mumyeong fights for humanity. If you're interested..."
"Sa Choiheon, right? One question. What do you think killed my family?"
Ho Young interrupted, but it didn't matter. It was what Sa Choiheon wanted to say.
Simple answer.
The culprit behind it all was clear.
"The System."
All past incidents.
Humanity's downfall.
Coming disasters.
The apocalypse crafted by this world's System.
"I see. Not a fitting target for revenge."
Ho Young looked up at the sky. The moon faintly glowed in the night.
"But better than nothing."
With that, Ho Young walked away. Without looking back, he said to Sa Choiheon.
"Tell Mumyeong this: I'll repay the favor. Remember the name Ho Young."
His name slipped back casually. Ho Young kicked off and vanished.
Crazy bastard...
Totally self-centered.
Sa Choiheon clicked his tongue, watching the spot Ho Young left.
Convincing Ho Young was never easy. He ignored words from anyone he didn't acknowledge.
No matter how logical or reasonable.
Had to earn his 'satisfactory' rating, not just pass.
That's what made Ho Young persuadable then.
But Mumyeong had broken that stubbornness. Must've been shocked facing him.
Ho Young's moving early.
Good news for humanity. Whatever butterfly effects, they'd see.
Have I done all preparations?
Only the SS-rank Gate raid tomorrow left.
High chance the Seven Deadly Sins appear.
Reason he hadn't told Mumyeong about the Sins: SS-rank Gate imminent.
If a Sin fought Mumyeong overseas now...
The Gate raid could fail.
Couldn't explain without regression knowledge.
Sa Choiheon bit his lip.
Someday...
To help Mumyeong avert humanity's end, he'd reveal his regression eventually.
But not yet.
The power of a Myth-rank apostle was on another level.
Rumble—!
A fierce storm blasted monsters skyward. The ground swirled like a flood, lightning crashing endlessly.
The Blue Dragon commanded it all while explaining.
"I control weather and elements. Can't share vision like my seniors, but I move fast."
Transform into Blue Dragon, fly anywhere swiftly.
That part appealed most. Jeju Island was basic now; other countries too.
"Kuk, sorry for calling you a crow."
"I'll work on becoming a giant pigeon."
Lucifer and Gabriel burned with pointless rivalry. Blue Dragon waved it off.
"No, no. Compared to my seniors' true power, I'm not even at your toes. And you two handle more important tasks. No need to compare."
"This guy... I like him."
"Speaks nicely."
"Thank you for the kind words. Just speaking from the heart."
With Blue Dragon joining, combat power soared. Mood improved too.
Maybe the buffer between bickering Gabriel and Lucifer.
Thud thud thud—!
Then, Bulmyeol's helicopter arrived from the opposite side. Unlike our stormy chaos, their side was clear and sunny.
"Everyone okay?!"
Bulmyeol's Yoo Jihun waved. I nodded. With Blue Dragon, mobility was no issue.
"See you tomorrow for the SS-rank Gate raid!"
"Good work!"
"Mumyeong, you were the best!"
Guild members leaned out, waving enthusiastically.
The helicopter departed Jeju Island.
Wait, all five?
They left Cheon Iryeong behind.
Exhausted like yesterday, collapsed in the tent from Gabriel and Lucifer's crash course.
Should be fine.
Blue Dragon's here.
On vacation anyway.
"Today's level-ups are done, but we're not finished. Need to hunt Jeju's monsters for max rewards."
I raised the Flawless Soul Lantern.
A Seven Deadly Sin would appear at the SS-rank Gate.
Maybe overseas ma-in too.
All Sources of Magi here.
No skipping.
"Given humanity's current level, Master must participate."
Blue Dragon said.
SS-rank Gates in major cities worldwide.
Failure meant uncontrollable damage.
"Can't be helped."
Seoul had the building bought from Sa Choiheon hunter. Had to raid regardless.
My task was clear.
Prep max items, perfectly clear the SS-rank Gate.
"Let's go."
At my word, the three apostles soared into the sky. As their attacks shook the earth.
Shaaa—!
Massive souls gathered atop the Flawless Soul Lantern.
The hunt continued past midnight.
The next morning dawned.
The day of reckoning.
"Let's go."
I mounted Blue Dragon with the apostles.
"Cheon Iryeong, up. SS-rank Gate raid."
"Huh? A-already morning?"
"Time to head out. Review divine power en route."
Feels bustling.
【Departing. Hold on tight.】
Blue Dragon pierced the gloomy sky, soaring refreshingly above the clouds.
Preparations complete.
Before, we were dragged along.
Now, our turn to lure the Seven Deadly Sins to the Gate.