Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: The Guild's New Protector
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The battle with the Yasal Society had ended far quicker than anticipated.
In a way, it felt like a confluence of various connections and sheer luck had made it all too easy.
The master connected to the Yasal Society.
The Yasal Society leader, who shared a deep bond with that master.
The leader's burdened heart over his position.
Even the minister's efforts to keep the secret of clearing the Bupyeong Demon Gate.
All these factors combined, allowing Yong-un to luckily capture the Yasal leader and his elite assassins in one fell swoop.
And the situation born of that luck turned into a massive gain for Yong-un.
A chance to swallow the colossal Yasal Society whole.
"Interesting."
Lying on the roof of the Ghost Killing Soul Annihilation headquarters, Yong-un grinned.
"Supreme One!"
Just as he was basking in how smoothly things had gone, Jeong-won—who should have been at the Demon Dragon Squad's base—called out to him from below.
"Master..."
"Tell him to come up."
Yong-un had already sensed the visitor's presence, so he answered without even looking.
Jeong-won nodded mid-sentence.
"Understood!"
Yong-un smiled at the delight in Jeong-won's voice.
Soon after, a familiar, booming voice echoed out.
"Supreme One! I've brought him!"
The man he'd ordered to fetch and then completely forgotten about.
Ho-gun had dragged in who appeared to be the head of the Mercenary Lords, just as commanded.
Yong-un sat up and looked down at Ho-gun and the man.
The man's eyes were wide and teary, making it easy to guess what methods Ho-gun had used.
"Like master, like disciple."
He'd thought Ho-gun would at least use a somewhat clever approach.
Seemed Yong-un had misjudged him.
Tsking his tongue at Ho-gun's brainless actions—no different from Jeong-won's—Yong-un shook his head.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. And who might you be?"
Perhaps from seeing Ho-gun's behavior toward Yong-un.
The man, who seemed to be the leader, trembled and bowed his head.
"I-I run the Sa-dang branch of the Mercenary Lords... the b-base leader."
Yong-un smacked his forehead.
He'd said bring the top boss, and he'd fetched a branch leader instead.
And it had taken this long to do even that?
His head starting to ache, Yong-un asked Ho-gun.
"How'd you bring him?"
Ho-gun apparently took the question as an invitation to recount his heroic tale.
He puffed out his chest proudly and shouted.
"I thought about it long and hard."
Oh, really?
"Snatch one of the staff and pretend to be him to find the boss?"
With a different face? Yeah, that'd go over well.
"But then I figured the size difference might give it away."
Size difference? What about the face?
"So maybe register as a mercenary another way?"
That was at least a decent idea.
That's why he'd sent Ho-gun, whose info wasn't known.
"But then I realized it'd just end with me working some job, so I scrapped it."
"Sigh... So what did you do?"
A sigh escaped him naturally.
But as he learned later, this wasn't even the part worth sighing over.
Ho-gun's heroic tale continued.
"I just stormed in. Beat up the toughest-looking guy, and turns out it was this one."
In the end, he'd just brute-forced it.
How had someone with a brain like that even learned martial arts?
Ho-gun was a reminder of just how crucial talent was.
"A whole day of thinking led to the best method. Hahaha!"
Yong-un's fist clenched on instinct.
But he took a deep breath and calmed his anger.
'It happens.'
Ho-gun had spent his whole life on Seodal Mountain, he said.
If he'd trained in martial arts his entire life with no dealings with people, it made sense. Yong-un nodded to himself.
Forcing a smile, he said,
"G-Good work. Take him back."
"Pardon? Isn't this guy what you needed?"
"It's all wrapped up. Just warn him not to blab and send him off."
"Yes, sir! Understood, Supreme One! Come on. This might take a while."
At Ho-gun dragging off the Mercenary Lords branch leader, Yong-un shook his head helplessly.
Afterward, he thought to himself.
Next time he assigned Ho-gun a task, he had to send someone with a functioning brain along.
= = =
Originally, he'd planned to use Ho-gun to gather intel and dismantle the Yasal Society from there.
But since things had resolved easily, he sent Ho-gun back to his post.
A position he'd already decided on for Ho-gun after choosing to bring him under his wing.
Protector of Unwoo Guild.
"Is this the place?"
The Shadow Demon Assassins had formed the framework, but their power was still lacking.
He'd always said it.
What was his had to be the best.
"Yes."
Unwoo Guild had no intention of settling as Korea's top guild.
In Yong-un's mind, Unwoo Guild's limit was the world's best.
He hadn't been satisfied with being the strongest in the Heavenly Demon Cult.
At the very least, his forces had to instill fear in other powers outside his own.
Just like the Shadow Demon Assassins, who had spread terror as the "Blood Ghosts" beyond the Heavenly Demon Cult across the entire martial world.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Kim Jin-cheol, guild master of Unwoo Guild."
Jin-cheol, who would lead the Shadow Demon Assassins, approached Ho-gun and bowed.
Ho-gun glanced at Jin-cheol, then at Yong-un.
"Do as you like."
Yong-un shook his head at Ho-gun's expectant gaze.
"Yes."
"If you need... anything..."
Sensing the shift in Ho-gun's eyes, Jin-cheol looked uneasy.
It didn't last.
Bam!!
Ho-gun's fist, infused with pure energy, came crashing down on Jin-cheol's crown without warning.
Now, Ho-gun had gained new enlightenment, enough to match Sword Tiger evenly.
That was why Yong-un was so pleased with him.
Another powerhouse unknown to the world.
A perfect martial artist with more internal energy than Sword Tiger and superior control. How could Yong-un not be thrilled to have him?
'I like him.'
Ho-gun was a martial artist to his bones.
A hardcore fighter who started with a spar to gauge his future affiliation.
"How's that?"
Pure energy scattered everywhere, releasing a clear, refreshing scent.
"Kuhahaha, the Supreme One truly is amazing."
Ho-gun grinned down at Jin-cheol, his fist halted mid-air.
His eyes met Jin-cheol's contorted face, and the red demonic energy flowing over his raised fists.
In that brief moment of perfect ambush, Jin-cheol had fluidly summoned his red demonic energy to defend. Ho-gun was genuinely impressed.
"I heard you were a magic hunter, but damn, I could believe you're a martial hunter."
Realizing it was just a test, Jin-cheol wiped cold sweat and withdrew his energy.
"Should I say thanks?"
Yong-un chuckled at Jin-cheol's words.
"Don't worry. Ho-gun won't meddle in guild affairs. If you need him for something, just ask. He won't refuse."
At Yong-un's words, Jin-cheol lowered his raised hands, his hostility fading.
"What should we call the position?"
"Protector. Call him Protector Ho-gun."
"Pleased to meet you, Protector Ho-gun."
This time, Jin-cheol just offered a hand, no bow.
Even after witnessing Ho-gun's power firsthand, Jin-cheol showed no intimidation.
Ho-gun grinned in true satisfaction at the man's bold demeanor.
He firmly grasped Jin-cheol's hand.
"Likewise. Good to meet you, Jin-cheol."
Ho-gun knew his own strategic weaknesses all too well.
But if Jin-cheol covered for that, Ho-gun's raw power, channeled through Jin-cheol's brains, would create an unbeatable force—one that could withstand any Yasal Society revival or ambush.
Nodding at the satisfying lineup, Yong-un approved.
Jin-cheol then gave Yong-un a puzzled look.
"Wouldn't the Demon Dragon Squad be better? With the Supreme One as protector, we'd be plenty strong. Joining them would boost our forces immensely, giving you even greater—"
Smart Jin-cheol had apparently been scheming even now.
Seemingly to optimize the team, he made a suggestion—not quite a suggestion.
Yong-un met his eyes.
"Jin-cheol."
"Yes, Supreme One."
Jin-cheol bowed at the lowered tone.
"Did someone above me question my decisions?"
"N-No, sir. My apologies."
Quick on the uptake, Jin-cheol got the point.
During the Yasal operation, he'd offered advice and forgotten something crucial.
Who Yong-un was. What kind of man he was.
'I... judged the Supreme One's orders...'
That was the stance of a traitor, not a subordinate—trying to bend Yong-un to his will.
Bowing deeply, Jin-cheol clenched his fist and shouted.
"I've overstepped. My deepest apologies."
"Lesson learned, then. Only give advice when I ask. I need loyal subordinates who stake their lives on my commands—not ones scheming to manipulate me."
"Forgive me, Supreme One!"
Jin-cheol dropped to his knees, head bowed low.
And he realized.
Even in the Yasal op, he hadn't moved Yong-un to his will.
He'd just placed one puzzle piece into the perfect framework Yong-un had already laid out.
At Jin-cheol's sincere apology, Yong-un smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're smart. You get what I'm saying."
"Yes, Supreme One!"
Jin-cheol truly understood now.
He was a chess piece moving effectively on the flawless board Yong-un had set.
Raising his head to meet Yong-un's gaze, he shouted with a smile.
"Thank you for the reminder, Supreme One!"
So what if he was a chess piece?
The man before him was a vessel vast enough to reshape the world.
'I'll become the best.'
Just leaving a single footprint in the Supreme One's path satisfied Jin-cheol.
From a local guild master doomed to die on dispatch.
To a national top-guild leader.
He'd followed one step so far, and already he was nearing the dream of a lifetime.
How could he not be content?
'No, I'm excited!'
Where would the Supreme One's footsteps end?
Jin-cheol hoped to stand there beside him, renewing his vow in his heart.
To follow the Supreme One for life.
= = =
After brief greetings with Unwoo Guild, Yong-un headed home, Ho-gun following.
Having heard the prior events from Jin-cheol, Ho-gun smiled at Yong-un.
"Impressive."
"What is?"
"Even with Yasal breathing down your neck, you didn't move house. You judged you could protect your family while handling them all."
Ho-gun was stunned, seeing Yong-un's family home for the first time.
Seodal Mountain had massive formations barring entry to all but the permitted.
Of course, Yong-un was exempt, but top defenses still existed.
Yet Yong-un's home had none of that.
"That how it looks?"
It was fair to think he trusted his own skills that much.
Yong-un chuckled and opened the front door.
Stepping inside, he beckoned Ho-gun.
"Come in."
"Pardon? I can enter?"
Invited into the Supreme One's home.
Ho-gun stepped toward the door, thrilled.
Thud!
That was when it happened.
As he pushed through the doorway, Ho-gun's vision flipped, and his body naturally stepped back outside.
"Huh?"
It was weird.
He'd clearly placed one foot inside, then his body, then another step.
Yet the final step took him back outside.
"Been up a while. Installed it when the Yasal guys put the family at risk. Even if that super assassin pushed back the master, he couldn't have entered."
"Ah... so that's why..."
"Got it? I don't gamble with my family's lives. I'd stake my own neck first."
Ho-gun's face went blank.
He'd thought Yong-un cold and ironclad.
Yet here he was, smiling warmly at thoughts of family—a side opposite to what Ho-gun knew.
"Now you seem human."
"So I didn't before?"
"Think about it, Supreme One. After all you've done, how could anyone see you as human? Ask the Demon Dragon Squad, Unwoo Guild, Ghost Killing Soul Annihilation—they'd all say the same."
"Hah."
Yong-un chuckled.
Ho-gun pointed sharply at him.
"You bleed?"
"Cut the jokes. Train hard starting tomorrow."
"Yes!"
Smile fading, Yong-un gazed at the clearing sky.
"Things'll get busy. Unlike the martial world, power struggles aren't everything here."
His eyes caught the distant edge of a gate in the sky.
Humanity's greatest threat, spewing monsters and demons.
Ho-gun, spotting the gate too, clenched his fist with a grin.
"Yes. I'll follow you, Supreme One."
The title "Supreme One" rang like a return to the martial world.
'Supreme One...'
With a small smile, Yong-un headed into the house where his family waited.