Chapter 138: Geumwa Clan (5)
Chapter 138: Geumwa Clan (5)
The Awakeners from the Association had been prepared for significant sacrifices.
The Geumwa Clan was primarily composed of mages, and their leader, Kim Gi-joon, was a renowned S-Rank Awakener and an exceptionally talented mage. It was only natural to assume that if a battle broke out, his powerful spells would result in casualties.
Their anxiety had only intensified when it looked like the clan would barricade themselves behind thick iron doors.
However, the Knight had shattered those doors in a single strike with his warhammer, clearing the path. Following that, Laysia and the Knight charged in, systematically taking down the Geumwa Clan members.
Thanks to them, the Association’s Awakeners were able to carry out the operation with ease and safety. The Geumwa Clan members were forced to focus all their attention on the Knight and Laysia, and their carefully constructed defensive formations were utterly demolished.
Watching the two of them charge upward without a moment's rest, the Association’s Awakeners felt their morale soar, riding the momentum of the assault.
The battle, which they thought would drag on, was over in just over an hour.
Seeing Kim Gi-joon’s handsome face battered and bruised as he was bound, the Association’s Awakeners couldn't help but let out hollow laughs. His nose was broken, blood streamed from both nostrils, and his face was covered in dark bruises. His right eyelid was swollen shut, and he was completely unconscious.
"Who would have thought that guy would end up in such a state?"
"Seriously. By the way, what was with those Geumwa Clan members exploding earlier?"
To them, it was their first time witnessing Dark Magic. The sight of human bodies detonating, sending bone fragments flying in every direction and causing immense collateral damage, had been horrifying.
While Han Shin and Laysia were busy punching holes through the floors to fight their way up, the Association’s Awakeners had safely entered through the stairs, allowing them to close in without suffering major losses.
During the process, they had witnessed Kim Gi-joon attempting to kill Han Shin using a Living Bomb. Even for experienced Awakeners, it was a sight shocking enough to make them shudder instinctively.
The Association’s Awakeners finished rounding up the remaining Geumwa Clan members, binding them and providing emergency first aid to the injured as they cleared the scene.
"Those crazy bastards... what the hell is this...?"
Harsh words spilled automatically from the mouth of the first Association Awakener to break through a firmly locked door.
The room was filled to the brim with the carcasses of all kinds of monsters.
It wasn't that there hadn't been attempts to research how to utilize monster remains. In fact, such research had been ongoing for a very long time. For nearly twenty years since the first Portals appeared, studies and experiments had been conducted, only to conclude that they were utterly useless.
They provided no help in making Awakeners stronger, nor did they have any medicinal properties. By now, almost no one even bothered trying to do anything with monster carcasses.
Logically, there was no reason to collect them like this. The fact that the Geumwa Clan had smuggled and stockpiled such a massive quantity was proof that something was deeply wrong.
"When did they even smuggle all this out?"
The Association’s Awakeners looked around the room with expressions of disgust. The fact that this many monster carcasses had been moved right under their noses was a serious matter that needed to be addressed.
A report was immediately sent to Park Min-woo.
"We need to check if other clans are doing this as well."
Park Min-woo nodded in agreement. He felt that once this incident was settled, a full-scale investigation of all clans would be necessary.
Meanwhile, Han Shin and Laysia stood before the bound and unconscious Kim Gi-joon. Even though the man was subdued, Han Shin couldn't shake a nagging feeling. There was no reason to keep staring at the unconscious Kim Gi-joon, yet something felt off—something was bothering him.
The unpleasant, repulsive sensation he felt hadn't diminished much.
Trembling under the gaze of Han Shin and Laysia was the golden necklace around Kim Gi-joon’s neck.
Raulo, a demon under Mammon currently residing within the Ego Artifact, was in a bind. He hadn't expected Kim Gi-joon to be suppressed by Han Shin so instantly. If demons turned into Ego Artifacts could exert their power and reclaim a physical body without any penalties, everyone would have crossed over to this world.
As it stood, Raulo was powerless.
'If I'm caught, I'm dead...'
This was the first time in his life that Raulo, a Count-level demon, had felt such anxiety. He had volunteered for this mission out of the sheer boredom of being trapped in Nippur for thirty years and a burning desire to climb higher in rank.
Having participated in the research to create Ego Artifacts, he had been fairly confident. It was possible to regain a physical body, and since the artifact was designed to block Dark Mana from leaking out, he believed it would appear as a normal artifact to others, ensuring his safety.
Knowing how obsessed Earth's Awakeners were with artifacts, he had banked on human greed. He never expected to encounter Followers of the Benevolent God so quickly.
Han Shin, currently in his persona as the Knight, was unable to speak. With so many Association Awakeners watching, it was difficult to say anything without risking his identity. Even though he wanted to convey to Laysia that something felt wrong, it wasn't easy.
After some thought, Han Shin decided to search Kim Gi-joon’s body on his own initiative.
'This guy has something on him.'
As he stepped closer and reached out to search the man, Han Shin felt a surge of hostility and revulsion that rose up against his will. He slowly moved his hand toward the golden chain peeking out from Kim Gi-joon’s collar.
"Mmm..."
The revulsion was so strong that even Han Shin, who was trying to remain silent, let out a low groan. He reached down and forcefully ripped the golden metal necklace from Kim Gi-joon’s neck.
It was a necklace set with a blue gemstone.
The moment he held it in his right hand, Han Shin felt an overwhelming urge to hurl the necklace away immediately. Instead, he gripped it even tighter.
'This is the problem.'
Han Shin was certain this was the source. Whether it was a cursed artifact or something else, he surmised that this object had corrupted Kim Gi-joon and influenced the rest of the Geumwa Clan.
Laysia, standing beside him, reached the same conclusion. She felt the exact same sensation as Han Shin.
The nearby Association Awakeners were slightly taken aback by the Knight’s rough behavior.
"Is there... a problem?"
Since the Knight hadn't uttered a single word until now, the staff member assumed it would be useless to ask, but the question slipped out anyway.
When the silver helmet turned toward him, the Association employee flinched involuntarily and swallowed hard. Even to another Awakener, the Knight’s combat prowess was awe-inspiring, and they naturally felt a sense of intimidation alongside their respect.
Han Shin hadn't intended to project such an aura, but in the eyes of others, he had already become a figure of that magnitude.
'Uh... what should I do about this...'
Han Shin was in a bit of a predicament. His noona, Kang Yujin, was outside, and the situation was too awkward to call her in just to talk.
'Wait... I can't stay silent forever, can I?'
He had refrained from speaking primarily for his own safety, but he was now confident enough in his own strength. He had, after all, single-handedly taken down Kim Gi-joon, a leader of a large clan and one of the top-tier mages.
"I believe this necklace is the problem."
The Knight, who hadn't said a word until now, finally spoke.
No one had been able to confirm his gender, though they had guessed he was male based on his physique. When the voice of a young man flowed out, the eyes of every Association staff member nearby widened in shock.
It was the first time they had heard the Knight’s voice, and for a moment, they wondered if they had misheard. But the Knight had clearly answered the question.
"I-is that so?"
The employee was so startled that he stammered, his tongue tripping over his words.
Park Min-woo came rushing over after hearing that the Knight had spoken and that the artifact Kim Gi-joon possessed was suspicious.
Raulo felt as if his heart were pounding, even though he lacked a physical body.
'How did he find out?'
The Knight’s words sounded more like a suspicion than a certainty, but Raulo never imagined things would come to this. He had stayed as quiet as possible, suppressing his Demonic Energy to mimic a normal artifact...
But the silver knight holding him had no intention of letting go.
'Still, if I can just get into the hands of another human...'
Raulo believed that as long as he could get away from Han Shin, he could find a way to turn things around.
However, Han Shin had no intention of letting that happen.
"Is this artifact the problem?" Park Min-woo asked.
"Yes."
"It seems to be what corrupted the people here. It's dangerous for anyone else to handle, so we will take it and investigate it ourselves."
Normally, such a request would have been flatly denied, but Park Min-woo agreed because he believed Wolyeong’s claim that the Knight was an Otherworlder who had come to help Earth.
"Yes, please do. We're counting on you."
In truth, from the Association’s perspective, they were essentially being carried through this operation. They had been completely unaware of what was happening until they received the tip from Wolyeong. Upon raiding the Geumwa Clan, they had found evidence of smuggled monster carcasses and the use of foul magic.
Believing that these powerful Awakeners from another world would naturally have more knowledge regarding demons, they decided to leave it in their hands.