Chapter 472: A Single Mistake (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 472: A Single Mistake (1)
He walked forward.
Leading the way, Kang Min-ho felt like his heart was going to burst.
'He killed someone. And he did it so casually, too.'
The recent turn of events replayed in his mind.
The moment Go Sang-ho bared his murderous intent, Roman Dmitry had blown his head off without a single shred of hesitation.
It was downright shocking.
Although violence had ruled society since the Great Chaos, committing murder so casually was an entirely different matter. It wasn't that Kang Min-ho had never killed anyone before. Conflicts between Hunters were matters of life and death, and he had driven his blade through the heart of an enemy attacking him with lethal intent. But that was true self-defense. It was entirely different from blowing off the head of an opponent who had already lost the ability to fight back.
'But can I really say this is Lord Roman Dmitry's fault? No. His response was extreme, but he had more than enough justification to kill Go Sang-ho.'
He reviewed the situation.
Go Sang-ho had used unreleased information to trespass, and when his legs were severed as a consequence, he had screamed and spat out death threats. It was a dilemma. Go Sang-ho's words were mere threats, but they weren't something that could be ignored. Just as he had threatened, he surely would have mobilized the forces of Red Moon. In a situation where they were targeting each other's lives, what had just happened technically fell within the realm of self-defense.
Therefore, it was simply a matter of timing.
Normally, a killing occurred when a conflict escalated to its absolute peak, but Roman Dmitry operated one step outside the bounds of common sense.
'I can't call Lord Roman Dmitry an evil man just because of that killing. Red Moon was the one who crossed the line, and in this era of the Great Chaos, it's only natural to hold people accountable with their lives. In truth, the only reason others don't go that far is because they can't handle the aftermath. Besides, though it's only been a few days, the Roman Dmitry I've experienced has been perfectly reasonable. He defeated the Soldier Ants as part of our deal, and he even gave me the expensive byproducts, keeping my monthly living expenses in mind.'
He caught his breath.
Perhaps, he simply wanted to believe in Roman Dmitry.
If there was nothing to gain from him, Kang Min-ho would have taken a step back. But in this chaotic world, unconditionally avoiding danger was not the right path. He wanted to try trusting him. If Roman Dmitry was the one who could lead him to a Shelter, he had to cling to his side tenaciously, if only for the sake of his only daughter.
He organized his thoughts.
Having chosen to accompany Roman Dmitry, the immediate problem he faced was the conflict with Red Moon, the giant guild of Incheon.
'If he's the type to blow off Go Sang-ho's head just because he bared his murderous intent, Lord Roman Dmitry will never compromise with Red Moon. The same goes for Red Moon. Their Guild Master is an extremely aggressive man, and there's no way he'll overlook Go Sang-ho's death, if only for the guild's reputation. If I guide Lord Roman Dmitry to Red Moon's headquarters like this, it's a given that one of them will end up dead.'
A single individual versus an entire organization.
The outcome seemed obvious.
Realizing he couldn't guarantee Roman Dmitry's safety, Kang Min-ho stopped in his tracks.
He turned around and spoke.
"...I have something to say."
* * *
It was a strange feeling.
Roman Dmitry looked younger than him, but speaking his mind to the man was no easy task. It wasn't just because of his martial prowess. His natural, commanding tone and the overwhelming charisma he exuded without even trying forced Kang Min-ho to accept that Roman stood on an entirely different level.
Perhaps that was why.
In this situation where he was about to bring up realistic problems, Kang Min-ho felt his voice tremble in spite of himself.
"No matter how much I think about it, this isn't right. Our opponent is Red Moon. They have over a hundred Hunters, and their Guild Master is a skilled individual who achieved B-rank years ago. Dealing with the Guild Master alone would be overwhelming, so marching into their headquarters by yourself is nothing short of suicide."
"..."
There was no reply.
Encouraged by Roman's calm gaze, which seemed to urge him to continue, Kang Min-ho added.
"I understand what happened. Go Sang-ho trespassed and threatened you, Lord Roman, so it's only natural that he paid the price. But from now on, we need to think realistically. There is only one way to ward off Red Moon's threat. You must seek shelter with the Incheon Government. I don't mean you should join them. Right now, the Incheon Government wants to recruit you, so they won't reject a proposal to form a temporary cooperative relationship."
Kim Jun-hyeok.
He was a highly capable man.
Even if Red Moon acted aggressively, he had the ability to smooth things over somehow.
"People say the Central Government and local governments are separate entities, but that's not the case when a Great Disaster isn't striking. I will be your witness. A witness to prove that killing Go Sang-ho was self-defense. If the Incheon Government ties Red Moon's hands with legal issues, even Red Moon won't be able to touch you while you're under the government's protection. Once you secure your immediate safety, if you still haven't changed your mind, you can slowly prepare for war against Red Moon. If you gather friendly forces and choose the right timing, you'll have a good chance of winning."
Kang Min-ho stood at a crossroads.
Testifying.
He had spoken of it to Roman Dmitry as if it were nothing, but in truth, testifying in a dispute against Red Moon was no different from making them his enemy. They would surely target Kang Min-ho for acting as a witness.
He might face death threats, but Kang Min-ho decided it was worth the risk.
He swallowed hard.
He had said everything he could.
No matter how Roman Dmitry received it, the choice was no longer his to make.
Kang Min-ho's proposal was not born out of pure goodwill.
It was goodwill with a clear, calculated purpose.
Seeing Kang Min-ho's eyes burning with desire, Roman Dmitry let out a faint smile.
'Amusing.'
That look in his eyes was familiar.
Through this new connection made in his current life, the memories of his past lives, buried deep within his heart, vividly came rushing back.
* * *
Two past lives.
When he had first lived as Roman Dmitry, his past life had not held fond memories for him.
The absolute rock bottom.
A father who forced him to fight.
In a life drenched in blood, the young boy had no choice but to grow into a demon just to survive.
But now, it was different.
To Roman Dmitry, who had welcomed yet another new life, his past lives were no longer memories of pure pain.
'It was the same in my past life. I met people filled with desire, and because of them, I was able to live a human life.'
Chris, Kevin.
Valentino, Fabius.
Edwin Hector, Daniel Cairo, and so on.
They had all expressed their desires when facing Roman Dmitry.
Chris's desire to become the greatest sword, Kevin's desire to escape the slums, Valentino's desire for possession—confronting their desires, Roman Dmitry won their loyalty in exchange for fulfilling them. At first, it was a simple transaction. But because transactions based on desire forged solid relationships of trust, he had accepted those he deemed necessary for his new life, one by one.
And they had filled his past life.
Roman Dmitry had lived as a human, and thus, he had been able to calmly accept his final three years when he could do nothing.
'I want people who thirst for life. The kind of people who don't despair at the bottom of life, but tenaciously claw their way up the cliff. Those who helplessly watch the sky fall cannot walk alongside me.'
Desire was the driving force of life.
Therefore, he did not dislike people like Kang Min-ho.
The intense desire that reminded him of his past life showed him the direction of how to live moving forward.
Roman Dmitry spoke.
"From the moment I decided to live this new life, I resolved to build my own domain that no one would dare encroach upon. This incident is merely the beginning. Your words make sense, but I have no desire to live in peace with those who show me hostility. So, make your choice."
His presence swelled.
Looking at Kang Min-ho, he clearly imprinted upon the man exactly what kind of existence he was facing.
"If you are worried about your safety because of what is about to happen, step back. You were never obligated to do this from the start. But if you guide me to Red Moon's headquarters and endure that danger—if you say you will live for me from now on—then I will fulfill the desire you long for. By my side, you will be able to live the life you want."
Kang Min-ho's eyes widened.
It was an unexpected statement.
He couldn't answer hastily.
He had never once thought of living for anyone other than his daughter, yet he felt his heart pounding wildly.
It was pure instinct.
With this man...
...if he stayed with this man, he felt like he could achieve things he had only ever dreamed of.
Not just entering a Shelter with his daughter, but so much more.
"...I will go with you. If you fulfill the desire I long for, I am willing to lay down my life."
A verbal answer.
It was enough.
As always, accepting someone did not require many conditions.
Roman Dmitry spoke.
"Guide me to Red Moon's headquarters. From this moment on, you will learn exactly what kind of existence I am."
* * *
The Guild Master of Red Moon.
Cha Dong-cheol was looking down at downtown Incheon through his window.
'It has already been five years since I fled Seoul. Back then, I had nothing, but I am different now.'
Five years ago.
Having been promoted to B-rank, Cha Dong-cheol's pride as a Peak Hunter knew no bounds. He went around picking fights everywhere until he met a certain man. He hadn't known back then. He hadn't known that even among Peak Hunters, A-rank and B-rank were entirely different realms. In that day's fight, Cha Dong-cheol lost one of his eyes. Believing he could no longer survive in Seoul, he left for Incheon.
His choice back then had drawn mockery.
Since high-ranking Hunters were barely acknowledged outside of Seoul, people sneered at Cha Dong-cheol, saying he had fallen to rock bottom. He spent the last five years enduring that humiliation. Attracted by his title as a Peak Hunter, the Hunters of Incheon had flocked to him, and now, Red Moon had become a giant guild boasting over a hundred Hunters.
His right eye throbbed.
It would be soon.
Once he was promoted to A-rank, Cha Dong-cheol would seek out the one who made him like this and exact a brutal revenge.
'Murderous Ghost. You might have forgotten me, but I have not forgotten you. Just wait. I will come for you soon.'
Murderous Ghost.
Among the few A-rank Hunters in South Korea, he was known as the most aggressive.
Cha Dong-cheol had hit a wall the day he met him.
Murderous Ghost was born with the ability of an Inheritor, and Cha Dong-cheol had witnessed firsthand what happened when the top 0.01% of special existences were also blessed with innate talent. It was truly overwhelming swordsmanship. Cha Dong-cheol had been brought to his knees by attacks that hacked away at his flesh, and his opponent had gouged out his eye with a sword, calling it the price.
Five years had passed.
Now was different from back then.
Cha Dong-cheol had strived to rise to A-rank, and a year ago, an immense stroke of luck had found him.
'The Memory Stone. An item that allows even those not born with an Inheritance Ability to cross the Boundary of Dimensions. Through the Memory Stone, I obtained an Inheritance Ability. Once I am promoted to A-rank and lead Red Moon to attack Murderous Ghost, no matter how strong he is, he won't be able to handle an entire group led by me all on his own.'
A laugh escaped his lips.
It was a stroke of heavenly luck.
Obtaining the Memory Stone, an artifact that couldn't be bought even with a fortune, was surely heaven's will for him to take his revenge on Murderous Ghost.
Clench.
Rumble.
As he clenched his fist, mana boiled over.
Intense power.
He wanted to take the promotion exam as soon as possible.
The moment the birth of a new A-rank Hunter was announced, Red Moon's fame would spread not just in Incheon, but all the way to Seoul.
Just as he was swelling with hope, a voice threw cold water on his mood.
"Guild Master! We have a problem!"
It was his subordinate.
Seeing the man's frantic face, Cha Dong-cheol frowned.
"What is it?"
"The unidentified individual we were trying to recruit has come to the guild. But..."
"But?"
"He said he killed Go Sang-ho."
"What?!"
He sprang up, leaping from his seat.
Go Sang-ho's death.
That was absolutely unacceptable news, and it sent a surge of fury rushing through Cha Dong-cheol.
