Chapter 77

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Translator: Ebonarch

Chapter: 77

Chapter Title: Everest's Sentinel

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Mount Everest, located in Nepal.

The world's highest peak had always been a place of extreme climate changes in the past, but now that mana had emerged, it was incomparable.

Rumble!

Sudden fierce winds whipped up in the clear weather.

Winds strong enough to hurl massive boulders flew relentlessly around the summit, while bone-chilling cold that could freeze body heat and mana alike settled in coldly.

Among the regions altered by mana, this was one of the most extreme. Amid the harsh high mountain's fury, an incongruous sound intruded.

Creeeak—

A brown rocking chair swaying slowly back and forth with the wind.

Beside it lay a pristine white longbow, and draped over it was an elderly woman in a white top hat and coat, leaning back comfortably.

Her single braid of snow-white hair and eyes gently closed. The old woman, Ha Baek-yeon, who was enjoying the brutal high-altitude environment like a resort, spoke into her wireless earbuds.

"I tried flushing them out to find their main body, but they fled to the Dream Demon's hideout. So I just killed them all."

-You killed them all? How many were there?

"Thirty-four. Fourteen A-ranks and the rest B-ranks. Pretty sizable group."

Ma Gwang-su's face twisted in disbelief at Ha Baek-yeon's casual recounting.

'Dream Demons that can create hideouts must have some years on them. Anyone hearing this would think she only took out small fry.'

If word got out, it would be a massive uproar as a large-scale purge.

Any other hero would announce it for fame, but Ha Baek-yeon seemed utterly disinterested.

She didn't care for such things, and as a Summit Climber, those demons were trivial to kill anytime.

-So no evidence worth mentioning?

"Pretty much. You think the ones using demons wouldn't prepare for that? Their tails are probably all snipped already."

-Tch. Nothing ever comes easy.

Protecting contacts from each workshop had succeeded, but without addressing the root—the means to pressure the Valmut family—the issue remained unresolved.

Ha Baek-yeon chuckled at Ma Gwang-su frowning while gripping his phone.

"Smooth out that scowl. More wrinkles on that mug and I won't wanna look."

-......Don't look then.

"Not looking—it's just there."

Whoosh!

From Everest's summit, where visibility was less than a foot, she pierced straight through thousands of kilometers to Babel on the artificial island in the North Pacific.

Ma Gwang-su glared irritably in her direction at that superhuman vision—no, ability beyond comprehension—before sighing.

-One favor.

"Watch over that kid?"

-......Yeah. Now that they know you interfered, they won't touch the workshops, but they might hound him more obsessively.

Targeting workshops was, from the Valmut family's view, a simple, moderate solution.

But with Ha Baek-yeon blocking that, they'd likely pivot to the true culprit: Lee Se-hun.

'Not just Babel—anywhere outside. Gotta stay vigilant.'

He had his own tasks, so he couldn't guard personally. Best option: ask the ever-seeing Ha Baek-yeon.

"Hmm......"

Stroking her chin at Ma Gwang-su's grave expression, she replied.

"Can't do it."

-What?

"I could've kept an eye casually before...... but no spare time now."

Ma Gwang-su's face hardened at her calm answer. Anyone could lack leisure due to circumstances, but a Summit Climber? Different story.

-Something happen?

"The Black Sea's starting to stir bit by bit. Not certain...... but something might go down."

True to her moniker Farsight Master, Ha Baek-yeon saw the whole world, but not omnisciently.

The Myriad Demons' Mire blanketing Antarctica. Powerful demons like the Ten Evils. Six demon realms scattered worldwide.

Among them, the one called the Black Sea was slowly advancing north from the Antarctic Ocean.

"Africa's been fishy lately too—plenty to handle. I'll check if I can, but no promises."

-......Nothing for it then.

Everyone had priorities.

Ma Gwang-su himself would prioritize a doppelganger's location ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠if known, so he let go of regrets.

Ha Baek-yeon glanced elsewhere with a smirk at his resignation.

"Don't fret too much. Things are getting fun now."

-How so?

"Wait and see. I'll keep watching the workshops, so set up that meeting with my grandnephew as promised."

She hung up after that, leaving Ma Gwang-su scowling. Ha Baek-yeon chuckled at him, then abruptly shifted her gaze.

"Hmm. An A-rank."

A back alley in a Chinese city. A demon cautiously emerging from a manhole.

Confirming it on her hit list, Ha Baek-yeon reached for the bowstring of her white longbow while reclined.

Twang—

She lightly plucked the string ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with her index finger.

But the blue arrow it launched tore through surrounding gales, vanished beyond the horizon, and precisely struck the demon's crown.

Splat!

The demon vanished in a spray of blood. Ha Baek-yeon, eyes still closed, leaned back in her chair.

Creeeak—

And beneath the sunny high mountains, cleared of blizzard, the rocker swayed gently.

Breaking news flooded sites worldwide.

The mass-produced armament market dominated Valmut's trading volume in the armament industry. Now, they'd surrendered to small and mid-sized workshops.

People were stunned by the unbelievable news, and those catching up naturally swarmed Ryu Eun-ha's review video—the spark of it all.

Nearly 100 million views in under a week.

Follow-ups all topped ten million, her earnestly reviewing armaments by chomping them like food sparking massive buzz.

Far from calming, the frenzy grew. Checking reactions, Lee Se-hun looked uneasy.

'Expected some hype...... but not this explosive.'

Ryu Eun-ha's hidden talent unknown pre-regression. 'Maybe have her keep mukbanging for cash?' As he idly pondered,

"This is insane......"

Leah, peeking over his shoulder, gawked at phone news wide-eyed.

"Not some corner store—how'd Valmut get shredded overnight? This ain't fake, right?"

"Surf the net five seconds and it's everywhere. What, no news?"

Leah pouted, chin on his shoulder at his jab.

"Some nasty-tempered junior lives where I do, nagging me to hurry enchant dev for sword aura mass-production. No time for news. Sorry I'm so clueless~"

Dark circles heavy under her eyes from nonstop work lately. Glancing, Lee Se-hun muttered flatly.

"Can't hack it? Say so."

"......Not can't—time and budget laughably short for the task. Big difference!"

Solving a armament conundrum that crushed dozens of firms and researchers—how could he be so oblivious?

Lee Se-hun stared incredulously at her indignant outburst.

"What'd I say? I said prep's done, make it quick. Whining over that......"

Not like he'd threatened lockdown if unfinished in months—what's the issue?

Leah grinned at his genuine bafflement.

"Our junior should go solo business later. Nah, folks'll rage-quit and die, leaving you alone naturally. Hahaha."

Ignoring her weird rant from exhaustion, Lee Se-hun pulled out a credit card he'd brought.

"Here."

"What's this?"

"Budget short, right? About 12 billion in there—buy what you need."

Contract deposits from workshops for blueprints.

Sales profits delayed by initial investment, but ample for their research.

"......"

Leah blankly stared at the card, then seriously.

"Love you, boss."

"Yeah yeah. Quit yapping and get to work."

"Yessir!"

She dashed off politely to her messy corner of the lecture hall. Lee Se-hun watched bemused, then back to his phone.

'Suspicion of backers emerging now.'

Not one or two—superior versions to all Valmut mass-productions appearing at once? Odd not to suspect.

'On surface, Prof. Kim In-cheol's the hub...... so Ludwig takes most heat.'

He and Kim were close, but who sane would peg a freshman for all blueprints?

Most would assume Ludwig secretly backed artisans for the mass-market takeover.

'With Summit Climber involvement assumed, most back off...... but UD Group? Unclear.'

UD's head, Jürgen Kruger—wealthiest tycoon, fellow Summit Climber—wouldn't yield easily.

Tied by blood to Valmut too, likely pressure from angles.

'Key: what Valmut says about me.'

He'd deliberately exposed his hand only to Valmut.

To exploit hasty moves, and gauge UD ties.

'True allies? Recruit me. Otherwise, hide.'

Awkward to declare, but knowing the truth, none would underestimate.

UD, even Valmut, would kidnap over kill to exploit.

'If they don't tell UD...... best cut them fully.'

Summit Climbers in play: three.

His backers: Ascendant Emperor Ludwig, Farsight Master Ha Baek-yeon. Valmut ally: unknown Jürgen.

Ha Baek-yeon only guarded workshops—no further meddling. Effectively even.

'With UD aid, Valmut stays composed......'

How to force their hand off?

As Lee ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Se-hun pondered, his news site refreshed with a bulletin.

"......Huh?"

In Michael Valmut's lab.

Sitting at his desk, Michael muttered blankly.

"UD Group's pulling out entirely. Pilgrimage Church jumping in was the knockout."

"......"

"Even outing Lee Se-hun as backer, they'll cut ties and court him over ganging up. Yeah, that's it."

Recounting family intel calmly, he eyed his eldest son Pierre, standing silent.

"Damage from this? Too vast to list. Even your grandfather's reconsidering handing me patriarch."

"......"

"Your uncle's thrilled now. Thought he'd rot underground forever—sudden chance."

Michael gazed at his nameplate calmly.

Vice Head of Borsippa Department. How much effort for this seat, and the path to head?

His hand caressed it, reminiscing.

Crack!

It smashed into Pierre's face, shattering.

Drip.

Blood soaked his face, dripping from chin.

A normal man? Brain mush. Pierre stopped at torn forehead.

But Michael scowled deeper at the shallow wound, speaking again.

"Pierre."

"......Yes."

"Forget your succession. My lifelong promised patriarch seat's vanishing thanks to your idiocy."

His eyes held murderous rage beyond anger. Pierre replied quietly.

"My apologies."

Unfazed despite gash and blood. Michael steadied his breath at the composure, asking.

"You prepped something, hence the gall. Speak."

"Contacted the Puppeteer."

"......"

Michael's eyes widened at Pierre's words.

One of Ten Evils—incomparable to their hired demons.

His expression turned deadly serious.

"Price?"

"Beyond fee, wants the kid's corpse."

"With that talent, won't hand over...... Accept if we research first. Timeline?"

Pierre's eyes gleamed at Michael's query.

"Next practical exam."