Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Birth of the General Ghosts
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Yong-un's force-building efforts kicked off in earnest the very next day.
The Unwoo Guild members, who were to become the second Demon Shadow Assassination Squad, received his guidance from morning roll call straight through late morning.
The teachings weren't much different from those he'd given the Demon Extermination Squad that had become the Demon Shadow Assassination Squad.
Red Slaughter Demonic Art.
It was the origin of the crimson demonic energy Yong-un wielded, the first technique that had transformed the Demon Extermination Squad into the Demon Shadow Assassination Squad.
He began teaching it to every member of the Unwoo Guild.
Of course, instructing novices without any foundation wasn't easy, but since he'd done it once before, Yong-un patiently led the guild members along.
As expected, the Unwoo Guild members weren't all that different from the Demon Extermination Squad.
Most couldn't even perceive ordinary demonic energy, let alone the crimson demonic energy that formed the foundation of the Red Slaughter Demonic Art.
But.
Where there are crowds of people, standout students always emerge.
Among the more than twenty recruits, a few could sense demonic energy from day one.
The tank known as Kim Jang-han, Myung-un, and Guild Master Kim Jin-cheol.
Only these three advanced to sensing and resonating with demonic energy.
What a relief.
Unlike the Demon Extermination Squad with over a hundred members, this group was just twenty strong. He'd worried what to do if no standouts appeared.
But with three top students emerging like this, he was grateful.
'No need to take the long road.'
As soon as the first day's lesson ended, Yong-un called these three aside.
And just like with the Demon Extermination Squad, he bestowed titles upon them.
"From now on, you are General Ghosts."
It was a title Yong-un coined to distinguish ranks.
Yet in the martial world, it transcended mere use within the Demon Extermination Squad, becoming a name that struck terror across the entire realm the moment the Demon Shadow Assassination Squad rose.
A signature title of the Heavenly Demon Cult, one that instilled fear in enemies the instant it was uttered.
But this was reality now.
These new General Ghosts had no idea of the power their title held.
Yet Yong-un was confident.
The Unwoo Guild, destined to become the second Demon Shadow Assassination Squad, would one day etch the terror of "General Ghosts" not just across Korea, but the entire world.
With that, Yong-un wrapped up the morning lessons by dismissing the panting recruits, ending his new morning schedule.
Afternoon brought training his disciple, Sword Tiger.
After a light lunch, Yong-un headed straight home to begin.
Teaching Sword Tiger was on another level entirely from the morning guild session.
The moment he saw his eagerly awaiting disciple, Yong-un placed a hand on Sword Tiger's wrist and infused demonic energy into his body.
He forcibly circulated it through every meridian in a Small Heavenly Cycle.
As the unfamiliar yet peculiar sensation ended, Sword Tiger immediately asked,
"What on earth did you just do? My fatigue vanished, and my body feels so light!"
A near-peak martial artist who couldn't even perform a Small Heavenly Cycle.
Yong-un shook his head unwittingly at this reality where martial common sense didn't apply, even at peak realm.
"So that's how it was."
Releasing Sword Tiger's wrist, Yong-un pointed his index finger at the man's dantian.
"Is there a problem?"
"You could call it that. I don't know how you built up that much energy in your dantian without knowing Small Heavenly Cycle, but there's already enough there to reach super-peak. You just don't know how to use it properly."
The amount of mana in Sword Tiger's dantian was plenty by modern terms.
Yet the simple reason he hadn't reached super-peak like Sword Dragon or Golden Cat was a lack of experience and enlightenment.
That was the gap between Sword Dragon and Golden Cat on one side, and Sword Tiger on the other.
The difference between properly wielding vast mana and not knowing how.
It had become an insurmountable wall for Sword Tiger, keeping him at a hopeless distance.
A barrier that had stalled his true growth even after a decade.
"Heh."
But at Sword Tiger's abnormal state, Yong-un let slip the smile he'd been holding back.
"It sounds like bad news from what you're saying... but why are you laughing?"
Did Sword Tiger mistake it for mockery?
He drooped his head with a sullen expression.
"Who said it's bad?"
"Then it's good?"
"Better than good. Cultivating inner energy is something time handles no matter how much I teach, but enlightenment has nothing to do with time."
"So that means..."
"For us with no time to waste, it's perfect."
Yong-un smiled and patted Sword Tiger's shoulder.
The man's slumped shoulders gradually lifted.
"Then I can really compete for S-rank next time?"
"If you follow my lead well, absolutely."
"What do I need to do?"
"Whatever I say. Do that, and you'll reach super-peak by the end of today."
Sword Tiger's face lit up.
He didn't know what peak and super-peak truly meant.
But he knew for sure he'd grow stronger than now, so he let out an inner cheer of joy.
"Haa..."
Then, in an excited tone, he asked Yong-un,
"Does that mean I can use Yoo-gi-ji-gyeok right away too?"
"My arts aren't tied to super-peak. You could use it even without reaching it. Provided you put in the effort, of course."
Sword Tiger's joyful voice dipped a little.
"I see... That's fine. It doesn't matter."
But the dip was brief.
Clenching his fist as if vowing, Sword Tiger shouted and nodded vigorously.
"If it means getting stronger and using Yoo-gi-ji-gyeok, I'll put in bone-grinding effort!"
Grind.
The sound of his teeth gnashing echoed in his mouth.
How long had he been stagnant?
Sword Tiger had relentlessly raided gates in pursuit of strength.
But a few years back, he'd realized no matter how many gates he cleared, his power wouldn't grow.
Sensing the gravity, he'd tried everything, but his stalled strength plunged him into deep despair.
From despair to emptiness, that's when the opportunity arrived for Sword Tiger.
The golden chance he'd desperately wished and waited for.
"Believe in me!"
How could he refuse?
How could he slack off?
When he could surpass Sword Dragon and Golden Cat, how could he not strive?
Yong-un smiled faintly at Sword Tiger, who dropped to his knees and bowed like in prostration.
'Desperation.'
It shone so clearly in him—the very reason Yong-un had decided to claim him as his own and raise him as a disciple.
He couldn't help smiling.
"Rise."
Yong-un suppressed his smile, helping Sword Tiger to his feet.
Then, gripping his shoulder, he spoke softly.
"Strive to be the best. If you strive endlessly, I swear on my life: I'll make you, who belongs to me, the very best."
At Yong-un's words, Sword Tiger reddened his eyes and bowed his head.
"Yes, Master!"
The Republic of Korea Hunter Management Agency.
In a lab deep underground, hundreds of researchers bustled about.
On the floor above, with a clear view of the lab, Minister Baek Myung-hee and GHO's Damon stood watching intently.
"Thank you for your help."
Minister Baek bowed to Damon.
Damon waved it off and bowed in return.
"No, no. If anything, GHO should be thanking you. It wasn't an easy decision."
In the center of the researchers, a pitch-black sword slowly descended.
It slid gradually into an ornate wooden case before them.
"Slowly! A bit more to the right! Yes! Right there!"
Among the many researchers, those in unfamiliar attire—not Korean hunter researchers—issued commands in English.
True to their smarts, the team maneuvered the machinery precisely, positioning the jet-black sword inside the case.
And.
Click!
The lid snapped shut, fully enclosing the sword.
"Phew..."
"It's done."
"Good work, everyone."
Only then did the researchers exhale in unison.
As if they'd just handled a nuclear bomb transport op.
Four researchers marked with "GHO" on their backs lifted the case steadily.
They raised thumbs up toward the glass window above.
"Clear."
The mission complete signal came, and Damon flashed a bright smile.
"Once the marquis's weapon reaches GHO, support will arrive immediately."
"Thank you. We can finally breathe."
"We'll provide top-tier support so Minister Baek doesn't regret her choice. It's the deputy director's orders—you'll be satisfied."
"Please pass on my regards to the deputy director."
Baek Myung-hee smiled brightly in return.
Damon smiled back, offered a light handshake, then stepped out to make a call.
"Finally over."
Perhaps from tensing too much.
Minister Baek staggered, steadying herself against the glass with a sigh.
It had been a gamble, worth a shot whether it worked or not.
But it succeeded, and GHO responded in kind.
In exchange for the weapon, they'd aid Korea until the marquis-level demon appeared.
Of course, as an unprecedented move, it was kept secret from the world.
A lifelong secret to keep until the marquis-level demon surfaced—but still.
An escape from this perilously dangerous situation.
"That weapon was beyond our tech anyway."
Despite losing the chance to study the world's unique ultimate weapon, Minister Baek smiled.
Now they could safeguard Korea's crisis.
"Yeah, that's enough."
Thinking of the incoming support, Minister Baek released her hand from the glass.
Afternoon training with Sword Tiger wrapped up.
And Sword Tiger's realm advanced from peak to super-peak.
The lighter body and bolstered inner energy power.
To Sword Tiger, thirsting for strength, it was an incomparable gift.
"See you tomorrow!"
The middle-aged man Sword Tiger bounded away like a young boy.
Eager to test his reborn, surging power.
Knowing that feeling well, Yong-un smiled and signaled the end of the afternoon session.
Sword Tiger bolted from the spot like a shot.
"I'll be pretty busy for a while."
He gazed at the sunset sky.
He'd planned afternoons until dusk, but it ended sooner than expected, leaving a bit of time.
Yong-un headed for the front door, thinking of spending it with his awkward family.
But right then.
Thump.
As Yong-un gripped the door handle, his heart pounded.
"What is this?"
At the unfamiliar heartbeat, he released the handle.
His gaze shifted to the familiar energy he sensed moving.
A black sedan at the alley's end sped into view.
Thump.
The black sedan whooshed past.
Gazing at it, Yong-un's heart pounded again.
"Are you calling me?"
The sedan was now out of sight, but it had captured his full attention.
Releasing the handle, Yong-un's form vanished from the spot.
Inside the luxury limousine.
A large wooden case sat on the central table, where drinks or fruit should be.
Among the five people watching it intently.
Damon, in the head seat, eyed the driver.
"How much longer?"
To his question, the white driver responded,
"About thirty minutes."
"Thirty minutes... Should've taken the chopper."
Damon clicked his tongue regretfully.
"Thirty minutes feels eternal. I'm dying to open it."
Damon's eyes gleamed fixed on the case.
The 'marquis's weapon' unseen by the world yet.
It made his heart race.
Anxiously, Damon bit his nail.
His guard beside him asked,
"You mentioned helicopter support earlier—why decline?"
Damon scowled at the question.
"Are you mad? A marquis-level demon lives here. What if it tracks the weapon?"
"It'd... follow, obviously."
Imagining it, the guard shuddered.
"If it just follows, you're lucky. In a chopper? We'd plummet from the sky. Some demons have laser mages."
Damon spat out his nail.
Then tapped the case.
"Ground travel gives options unlike airborne. That's why the car."
"Ah, got it."
The guard nodded in understanding.
Damon had explained kindly, but his eyes on the guard weren't friendly.
"Tch tch, so dumb."
Shaking his head, Damon tapped the case again.
"The world moves by brains, not brute force. Smart civilians' minds, not just strong hunters."
Spouting nonsense, Damon grinned again.
Unable to wipe the smile, eager to unveil the marquis's weapon.
"Once at GHO lab, we'll disassemble you pronto. Reveal your secrets to us, heh heh haha!"
Damon laughed maniacally, slapping the case.
Then.
Did he hit too hard?
Ziiing! Whirr! Whirr!
The case shuddered, emitting strange noises.
"Wh-what?!"
Damon yanked his hand back in shock.
Whirr! Whirr! Whirr!
He gaped at his guards.
The guards stared gravely at the case and keyed their radios.
"Code One! Code One!"
"Code One?"
Damon's face paled at the radio call.
Code phrases for situations—Code One was the worst.
"What Code One? It's just the sword resonating!"
Damon yelled, but a nearby guard shouted back,
"Stay still!"
"You yelling at me?!"
"You're a civilian—you can't see it! Know what's filling this limo?"
"What?!"
"Black demonic mana leaking from the case has saturated the interior!"
Damon's expression hardened.
"What?"
He knew what that meant.
A demon's weapon emitting dark mana?
It meant more than resonance—the owner was nearby.
The marquis-level demon confrontation he'd dreaded...
Was coming.
"R-run!"
The moment Damon screamed.
Bam!
A huge thud from the limo's roof, ceiling dipping down.
Bang! Bang bang!
Guards fired their guns in unison.
But as a bulletproof vehicle, bullets didn't pierce the roof.
"Damn it."
But only for a moment.
A hand shrouded in black demonic mana thrust through the roof bullets couldn't breach.
It grabbed part of the ceiling and ripped it clean off.
Riiip!
"Eeeek!"
Overwhelming force made everyone inside scream.
And atop the torn roof, the Code One culprit revealed itself.