Chapter 213
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: The Seventh Royal Class
"Lies."
Charlie knew Lee Yong-un well enough to recognize that his words weren't lies.
And even if it had been a lie, Charlie was not the type to voice such a thing—but this time was different.
In his great shock, the word slipped out again without him realizing it.
"If it's a lie, then drop it."
Charlie was famous for his ironclad control over his expressions, yet even he found Lee Yong-un's words utterly shocking.
His next thoughts rejected everything Lee Yong-un said, even though he knew Yong-un wouldn't lie.
It was a measure of just how shocking those words were.
But.
"It's not a lie. If we don't prepare, this world will be swallowed by the demon realm before we can even respond."
Lee Yong-un's voice rang clear and steady as he stated the truth without a flicker of emotion.
"Hah."
A forced smile twisted across Charlie's face.
"Don't talk nonsense. We've already established a GHO branch there, and we're collecting all information on it. There's no sign of anything like that, so I have no reason to grant your request. Go home."
"Then I'll have to mobilize every ounce of power I can."
"Who would listen to a ranked hunter? Do as you please. But if you use the GHO name, you won't escape our iron fist."
Ranked hunter.
Lee Yong-un nodded slowly at the words.
"I suppose I would do the same."
As regrettable as it was, everything Charlie said was true.
Even if he had uncovered information about the Demon King's descent.
And even if he warned countless hunters based on that intel, how many would actually heed it and gather?
"You're not a Royal Class ruling the world and basking in hunters' respect. Who would listen to you? You're just the fourth-ranked hunter. Even the number one, the War God, couldn't pull it off."
At Charlie's firm tone, Lee Yong-un suddenly let out a snort of laughter.
"Is that so."
"So go home. Be grateful I spared you the embarrassment."
"Then I'll just have to become a Royal Class."
At Lee Yong-un's latest impossible suggestion, Charlie laughed this time.
"Give it a try. If you can. If it were that easy, anyone could be a Royal Class..."
It was right then, as he was sharply criticizing Lee Yong-un.
Mid-sentence, Lee Yong-un silently pulled the TV remote from beside the sofa with telekinesis and turned on the television.
Charlie stopped speaking at the odd behavior.
"What are you—"
And in that instant, as he moved to criticize it.
The breaking news on the screen made Charlie's mouth fall open wider and wider.
The screen switched, revealing three Royal Classes.
The fourth Royal Class, Spellor.
The fifth, Ignito.
And the sixth, the Mercenary King.
Broadcast stations worldwide aired the unprecedented gathering of three Royal Classes as breaking news, beaming their faces across the globe.
Drag.
In disbelief, Charlie shoved his chair back and shot to his feet.
He rushed to the window and looked down at the base of the building where he stood—the GHO US headquarters where the Royal Classes were gathered.
The seething crowds, the flashing cameras visible even from here.
And atop the stage in the center, the fourth Royal Class Spellor unfolding a paper to begin his speech.
"Hup!"
Charlie had to clamp a hand over his mouth.
Click.
The TV shut off, and Lee Yong-un's voice turned toward the stunned, flustered Charlie.
"I've become a Royal Class. Does that mean I can do it now?"
How had this happened?
Even Lee Yong-un, with his vast information and power, hadn't easily earned the Royal Class title through journeys to meet existing Royals.
There were many paths, but the name "Royal Class" was notoriously hard to claim.
Yet facing the imminent Demon King descent—a threat on the verge of eruption—Lee Yong-un had one idea.
To leverage the Royal Classes who had agreed to help him become one, just like now.
The Royal Class was the world's bestowed title of king.
But if three kings—half of the world's acknowledged rulers—directly appointed another?
Wouldn't that place him among their ranks already?
His small idea had swiftly become reality, proving its potential.
"The world is already calling me a Royal Class. What will you do?"
Every channel blared news of the new seventh Royal Class: Korean hunter Lee Yong-un.
Even the cold, skeptical Charlie couldn't ignore it.
Grind.
Teeth ground in Charlie's mouth.
He wanted to reject Lee Yong-un's Royal status somehow.
But the ascension, forged by Lee Yong-un's method and endorsed by Royal Classes, was already a done deal.
And even if he refused, the world would surely recognize him as one.
The influence of three Royals—bearing immense authority, honor, and power—was undeniable.
"Is it certain?"
Charlie, glaring at Lee Yong-un, returned to his desk and picked up the receiver.
Lee Yong-un nodded silently in response.
He was no longer just a ranked hunter.
He had become a monster even GHO couldn't handle.
[Yes! Vice Director! Do you have orders?]
Thus, Charlie had no choice but to grant Lee Yong-un's request.
"Issue hunter mobilization orders to the three new branches right now."
Charlie was planting a dam named "hunters" in GHO's name against the massive flood of the Demon King descent, on the brink of breaching.
After finishing with Charlie, Lee Yong-un immediately ascended the stage with the three Royal Classes and completed the swift Royal Class promotion ceremony.
In return for their aid, he joined the second Royal Class's alliance, Dream's Light Union.
Of course, their willingness to do something so outrageous wasn't solely for the alliance.
It stemmed from his decryption of the Demon King's rune script—something even Dream's Light couldn't achieve—and resolving their long-standing wish.
"A meeting in two days. See you then."
That was the main reason for their enthusiastic support.
With mountains of work still ahead, Ignito winked at Lee Yong-un as he prepared to rush back to Korea.
Spellor, standing beside him, placed a hand on Lee Yong-un's shoulder.
"You're family to us now. Looking forward to working with you."
Whoosh.
True to their self-assured Royal flair, Ignito and Spellor vanished in flames after their piece, leaving with Ignito's inferno.
"Two days. Don't forget."
The Mercenary King flashed a smirk at Lee Yong-un before leaping away massively and disappearing.
Lee Yong-un nodded faintly at the void left by the fleeing Royals.
'Looks like the rune decryption isn't finished.'
Realizing why they'd vanished so hastily, he turned to the reporters still lingering.
And murmured softly.
"Dance of Shadows."
Shwaa.
Thus, Lee Yong-un melted into the lengthening shadows, concluding the flashy Royal Class ceremony.
The seventh Royal Class.
Light of the Sword.
Etching the new name—"Sword's Light," contrasting his old moniker Sword Demon—upon the world before vanishing from the spot.
Back at the Ghost Demon Soul Extermination house, all the ghost souls gathered around Lee Yong-un.
He gazed intently at the sixth ghost soul, Sung-min, among them.
Sung-min was the only non-combatant among the ghost souls.
Yet the reason he became one was thanks to the god-like entity.
No—a mysterious being that toyed with the world, whom they thought was a god.
'Man.'
It had borrowed Sung-min's body to provide indispensable intel as a ghost soul of Ghost Demon Soul Extermination and chart the path ahead.
Though its divine power had vanished, potentially disqualifying Sung-min as a ghost soul, he dispelled Lee Yong-un's doubts instantly.
Because even after Man departed, Sung-min still possessed the same divine power as before.
And that wasn't all.
Sung-min had often skipped training due to his role as a divine vessel, but with no more offerings needed, he trained with the others—transforming from a non-combatant into a proper ghost soul like the rest.
"Well done."
Fresh scars marked Sung-min's body, more than ever before.
His so-called divine demonic energy had grown considerably from the harsh training.
Lee Yong-un quietly turned to Myung-su.
Myung-su bowed his head silently.
A flicker of helpless emotion crossed his face.
"You did well too."
Lee Yong-un patted Myung-su's shoulder.
Myung-su clenched his fist and bowed deeper in response.
Lee Yong-un surveyed them all and stated why he'd gathered the ghost souls.
"Cheon-il of the first ghost soul, Barum of the fifth, Sung-min of the sixth. All other ghost souls, summon the Demon Dragon Corps and from this moment, control entry into the house."
No ghost soul could mistake the meaning of Lee Yong-un's command; they all dropped to one knee.
"Yes, Sovereign."
Thud. Thud.
With little time left, Lee Yong-un headed straight into the Ghost Demon Soul Extermination house.
Cheon-il, Barum, and Sung-min followed him inside.
Boom.
The firmly sealed doors of Ghost Demon Soul Extermination.
Before them, all ghost souls stood guard with sharp killing intent, holding their positions.
Subtly emanating unyielding demonic energy ready to subdue any intruder in an instant.
Sealing the house as per Lee Yong-un's orders.
"It's finally starting..."
Myung-su, atop the roof, gazed down at his feet.
The Demon Cry that had tormented Ghost Demon Soul Extermination for so long.
Lee Yong-un's declaration of war was about to begin, heralded by the vast demonic energy emanating from within the house.
Once inside, Lee Yong-un's first act was to order the three ghost souls he'd brought to guard him.
An abrupt command, but the ghost souls harbored no doubts toward their Sovereign's words.
As Lee Yong-un sat cross-legged, the three began vigilant watch like those outside.
And then.
Whoosh!
Just as when he'd met Sheiks, Lee Yong-un raised his ultimate intent, diving not into Count Ratari's memories.
But slowly focusing his mind into Sheiks' grim recollections.
Shwaaa.
"......"
Darkness unfolded before his closed eyes.
The vanished time within Sheiks' memories.
He awoke in the event of Sheiks' first entry into the Demon King's castle.
Ignoring the rank-and-file demons distancing themselves from the bloodied Sheiks, Lee Yong-un approached him.
As he reached out toward Sheiks, cradling the chieftain's head and shedding tears.
"Annoying."
From amid the receding demons, another Sheiks appeared.
"I don't care for one-sided farewells."
Sheiks had tried to leave by shattering Count Ratari's memories.
But he hadn't anticipated this.
That Lee Yong-un would enter not Ratari's, but Sheiks' own memories.
"You can't escape now, even if you try. Sheiks Napirrola."
Sheiks' full name echoed; his face twisted in a frown.
But only briefly.
"Hah, I figured we'd meet soon, but not this fast? Ghost Sword Demon."
Lee Yong-un's old martial world name slipped from Sheiks' lips.
As suspected.
But this was one of the scenarios he'd foreseen.
"No time, so let's get to it."
Like during the soul possession ritual, Lee Yong-un erupted his ultimate intent once more, restarting the stalled event's energy flow.
His hand, glowing with violet ultimate intent, extended toward Sheiks.
Swoosh. Thud!
He'd expected fervent defense.
But what was this?
"Surprised?"
Until Lee Yong-un's hand touched Sheiks' head, he offered no resistance.
Lee Yong-un's expression hardened at Sheiks' smile, yielding to the soul possession.
"Do it. It's what I want."
At Sheiks' bold response, Lee Yong-un hesitated briefly.
But soon softened his face, condensing the erupted ultimate intent while glaring at Sheiks.
"Planning to endure with the Shadow Clan's mental fortitude?"
"I was caught off guard then. This time will be different."
Soul possession preparations complete.
Sheiks smiled confidently and shouted.
"Let's see who devours the other's everything first. Will you become me, or I you? Aren't you curious, human chosen by him!"
Lee Yong-un met Sheiks' gaze squarely and unleashed the soul possession without hesitation.
Into one of Sheiks' ancient memories.
The war of two mind-spirits had begun.
A battle of who would consume and be consumed first!
Whoosh!
Their renewed clash was on the verge of erupting.