Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Victory in Defeat
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The reporters' efforts were truly commendable.
As if they had anticipated Yong-un's eventual arrival at the Unwoo Guild, the journalists were already swarming in front of the guild office.
The driver, aware that the white van would draw a crowd upon arrival, parked it in a corner and asked,
"What should we do? If we go like this, the reporters will mob us, and it could get messy."
But the one he needed to worry about was no ordinary person—he was a top-ranked monster beyond common sense.
"Open the door."
"But..."
"He'll have a way. Open it."
At Myung-su's words, the driver nodded and opened the door next to Yong-un.
Yong-un stepped out, and the Sword Tiger moved to follow.
"You stay here."
"Pardon?"
"Do you think you can slip past those reporters' eyes—not just the ones out front, but all of them waiting at the entrance?"
He seemed to think it would be easy once they got past the front line.
But hearing they had staked out the very entrance, the Sword Tiger planted his raised rear back down on the seat.
"Wait here. I'll be back in ten minutes."
Yong-un turned quietly.
And with no sound or sign, his figure vanished from the spot.
"How does he plan to slip inside through those closed windows without the reporters noticing?"
Unable to contain his curiosity, the driver asked Myung-su.
But Myung-su was just as clueless about the method.
"What seems impossible by our standards is child's play for Yong-un."
"Does he squeeze through the gaps in the closed window frames?"
Before long, the driver's imagination veered into bizarre territory, beyond all reason.
= = =
Word of Yong-un's return to Korea had drawn every member of the Unwoo Guild to the office.
Yet with some still unconscious, the mood inside remained somber.
As they all hung their heads, listening to the reporters' murmurs outside, a voice suddenly spoke from the sofa where the guild members sat—no warning, no presence.
"I figured you'd be like this."
"Yong-un!"
Jang-gwi himself, Guild Master Jin-cheol, along with tanker Jang-hun and the other three members, shot to their feet.
"Sit down. This won't take long."
"Yes, sir..."
At Yong-un's command, they half-rose and sank back into their seats.
"Six of you went down?"
"Yes."
"Good work."
"Pardon?"
The Night Slaughter Society's assassins had struck suddenly, taking out six guild members—including Myung-un.
Praise in such dire straits?
Every guild member stared at Yong-un with wide eyes.
"I've heard those Night Slaughter assassins are no joke. They could've crushed nobodies like you without breaking a sweat."
That's why six ended up in the hospital.
The guild members bowed their heads.
"For the first time, I'm impressed. You nobodies not only survived an assault from real-deal Night Slaughter killers—you didn't get wiped out."
One by one, the guild members lifted their gazes at Yong-un's words.
"Now you get it, right? Why I made you train like that, and why I said it would help you."
Yong-un had never seen their fight.
Yet he spoke as if he had witnessed every moment.
But somehow...
The guild members nodded, as if struck by sudden realization.
"Jang-gwi."
"Yes!"
"Yes."
The Jang-gwi Yong-un had named—Guild Master Jin-cheol and tanker Jang-hun—looked up.
"You two must truly understand. How does it feel to reap the rewards of pushing past your limits?"
Jin-cheol and Jang-hun exchanged glances.
Then they bowed their heads in reply.
"It was manageable."
"At first, we thought you meant fighting the assassins head-on. But it was about endurance—physical and mental."
The terse response from the stoic Jang-hun, and Jin-cheol's guild-master poise.
Yong-un nodded, satisfied with their answers.
"In a bloody war, fighting to protect what's precious—that's all it takes."
Yong-un rose from his seat.
"Secure your stamina and spirit. With those solid, you'll become yakshas who know no defeat."
The guild members, including the two Jang-gwi, gazed up at him.
'Good.'
The gloom in their eyes had largely faded.
And in its place burned a fighting spirit they hadn't even noticed.
"Master those two things. I'll teach you how to fight and win."
Yong-un's words struck their hearts.
The despair of defeat began to shift dramatically.
From the frustration of losing comrades...
To the slow, steady pride of conquering the towering Night Slaughter Society.
"You didn't lose. You won."
His final words flipped their belief in defeat on its head—in an instant, fueled by the word "victory" and surging excitement.
The cold atmosphere ignited into fervor.
Yong-un smirked, then called out to the guild members lost in thought.
"Nothing beats acting on a realization right away."
With that, his figure vanished.
"Victory..."
Yong-un, who had ignited their fire, was gone.
But their passion only blazed hotter.
Whoosh.
Starting with Jang-gwi Jin-cheol, Jang-gwi Jang-hun sprang up.
And without a word, they bolted toward the firmly shut outer door.
"Wh-what the?"
The reporters staked out front panicked as the door flew open.
But only for a moment.
Jin-cheol and Jang-hun charged out, followed by the remaining three members—all barreling past the journalists into the street.
"Grab your cameras! Something's happening!"
"Follow them!"
p>
"Cameraman, move it!"
Intrigued by the bizarre behavior, the reporters snatched up their gear and gave chase.
= = =
Rumble rumble rumble.
"What the heck?"
The driver, watching from the van, pointed at the sudden stampede.
"Did something happen?"
As the flustered driver opened the door to check,
"Nothing happened. Let's go."
Yong-un's voice came from the back seat—without a sound or sign.
"Eek!"
The door hadn't opened, yet there he sat, as if he'd never left.
Myung-su gave a faint smile at the driver's ghost-struck startle.
"I told you—he's beyond our wildest imagination."
He patted the driver's frozen shoulder.
"Drive."
"Y-yes, sir..."
Still chilled, the driver started the engine.
At Myung-su's order, he floored it toward their original destination: the Hunter Management Agency.
But as he drove, Myung-su couldn't shake a nagging thought.
'Why aren't the Special Inspector or Sword Tiger fazed?'
The driver pondered the mystery all the way to the agency.
= = =
Business at the Hunter Management Agency was straightforward.
A new S-rank Hunter license from the World Hunter Organization—GHO—followed by a brief interview with the reporters Minister Baek Myung-hee had arranged.
But the schedule wasn't over.
Next up: the highlight—a state dinner with the president.
Yet Yong-un wanted nothing more to do with it. He ordered the Sword Tiger,
Go alone.
The Sword Tiger hated it too, but orders were orders. He left with the waiting aide.
"All pomp and circumstance."
The pointless formalities were finally done.
His nature screamed to smash it all and bolt, but what could he do?
To build power in this world, even empty rituals had to be endured.
With everything wrapped up, he sighed and headed out.
"Could I have a quick word?"
As he stepped outside, Minister Baek Myung-hee called to him.
But Yong-un wanted no more interruptions. His tone sharpened.
"I turned down this world's emperor. Unless you're above the president, no talk."
Minister Baek gave a wry smile.
His refusal was crystal clear—no holding him back.
But that applied only to her. Myung-su was different.
"Yong-un, I have something for you. Just a few minutes?"
It was Myung-su, after all—the one who'd helped him countless times.
He'd ignore the minister, but a request from Myung-su? Yong-un shook his head and turned.
"I have much left to do. Haven't even checked on my family. Make it quick."
"Sorry. Here it is."
Myung-su, who knew Yong-un best, bowed slightly and handed over a small box.
"What's this?"
"A cell phone."
"Cell phone?"
He opened the box.
Inside lay a rectangular object small enough for one hand.
"Yes. We prepared it for you, in case you're worried about your family."
Mid-conversation, Myung-su pulled out his own phone and dialed.
Yong-un's phone rang.
Ring ring ring. Ring ring ring.
Staring in wonder at the tiny device, Yong-un listened to the bell.
"Now, no need to rush to them in person. If something's wrong, just call."
Yong-un examined the phone closely.
He'd seen others use these "cell phones" to speak across distances many times.
After this incident, he'd resolved to get one upon returning to Korea.
To reach his family faster than anyone if danger struck.
"Thank you."
Surprised by the gift, Yong-un gave a slight bow to Myung-su.
"It's nothing. I pre-loaded all your family's numbers. Call anytime."
"You've helped me again."
From chartering a private jet with family intel to this—tools to protect them.
Yong-un etched Myung-su's grace deeper into his heart and bowed once more.
"No need for that..."
Flustered by the gesture, Myung-su waved him off.
But Yong-un, truly grateful, pocketed the phone and said,
"I'll repay this favor."
"The minister has something to say."
Gift accepted, Yong-un looked up at her.
"What is it?"
"You can repay it right now."
Why bring up Myung-su's grace?
But the thought passed.
The minister pushed Myung-su forward.
"You've taken Sword Tiger as a disciple. Made him top-ranked strong. So... take Myung-su too."
"M-Madam Minister?"
Shocked, Myung-su glanced at her, embarrassed.
"It'll help. Myung-su's vital to our Hunter Management Agency."
Sheepish, Myung-su fidgeted.
But Yong-un's next words changed his expression.
"Your will matters most. Given his favors and our bond—no reason to refuse."
"Pardon?"
His eyes widened at the unexpected reply.
"Will you be my disciple?"
The dream question straight from Yong-un's lips.
Myung-su shouted as if waiting.
"Yes! I want to! I want to grow strong!"
Smirk.
"Follow me."
Myung-su nodded firmly and fell in step behind.
Jin-cheol, Unwoo Guild's master, had once spoken of three keys to building power.
Wealth to sustain and grow the force.
Information faster than rivals.
And power to elevate it higher, stronger.
Of Yong-un's plans, the final piece—power—was drawing near.
From the Demon Shadow Killing Ghost Corps he'd forged as the Sword Demon.
Beyond Jang-gwi, the two generals who flanked the Heavenly Demon were manifesting—not just in the martial world, but reality.
Shaking the Heavenly Demon Cult and the martial realm...
The Shadow Demon and Demon Phantom General.
Now poised to shake the entire world.