Chapter 16
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Change (2)
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9 PM.
Immediately after parting ways with Kang Seoyul, Yuhwa returned to the guild and now stared blankly into space.
Shinwoo a spy for the Seekers of Truth
Yuhwa's secretary, Kim Shinwoo.
Kang Seoyul had said he was a villain from the Seekers of Truth.
Even if it came from Kang Seoyul, who knew about the doppelgnger,
and the Seekers of Truth, it was a difficult claim to believe.
Kim Shinwoo was a founding member of the Bihon Guild.
He had worked as a secretary since her father led the guild, and he was one of the people Yuhwa trusted most.
For a man like that to be a traitor was simply unbelievable.
But now, Yuhwa's faith was wavering.
I dont know.
After all, these were Kang Seoyuls words.
Just as when hed claimed he would bring in the doppelgnger, he had been overflowing with confidence.
Kim Shinwoo. His real name is Pyo Ilchan.
He had spoken calmly, in a clear voice.
To quietly leak confidential information from a position that would never arouse suspicion. He invested twenty years of his life for this. The Seekers of Truth are a frightening bunch.
He laid out the information about Kim Shinwoo and the Seekers of Truth.
Of course, even with my track record of catching the doppelgnger, it must be hard to suspect a colleague youve spent twenty years with.
He had spoken in a torrent, as if to leave no room for rebuttal.
If you believe even a little of what I said, sound him out the next time you see him. Pyo Ilchan, Seekers of Truth. The doppelgnger confessed. Add whatever reasons you like. If he still plays dumb, then do this
Knock, knock
It was then that Yuhwa was shaken from her thoughts.
Ms. Yuhwa. I've brought the report.
Her secretary, Kim Shinwoo, entered the guildmaster's office.
Pulled from her reverie, Yuhwa looked at him with a complicated expression.
Ms. Yuhwa?
Sensing something was amiss, Kim Shinwoo called out to her with a curious expression.
Mr. Shinwoo.
Yes.
A myriad of thoughts flooded Yuhwas mind. Kim Shinwoo, with whom shed spent twelve years before becoming guildmaster and eight years after, versus Kang Seoyul, whom shed met only three days ago.
She wanted to believe Kim Shinwoo.
But
There was definitely something about Kang Seoyul.
His information network, which had found the doppelgnger when they couldn't even find a clue.
His decisiveness, which led to immediate action.
He was clearly no ordinary person.
And he was calling Kim Shinwoo a traitor.
He must have some basis for it.
It was only natural that Yuhwas heart would be swayed.
Right. Im just sounding him out, thats all. There must be some kind of mistake.
Yuhwa took a deep breath inwardly, calming her mind.
If she was going to do this, she had to be sure.
Guildmaster?
Kim Shinwoo called out to her again, puzzled by her prolonged silence after addressing him.
Mr. Shinwoo. No
Yuhwas expression turned cold. She put on the icy mask she only wore when negotiating with rival guilds.
Pyo Ilchan.
Yuhwas voice echoed low.
But there was no change in Kim Shinwoos expression.
Pyo Ilchan?
His face and gestures conveyed genuine confusion.
At that, Yuhwa felt a small sense of relief.
I knew it. It was some kind of misunderstanding.
If Kim Shinwoo really were Pyo Ilchan, a villain who had lived as a spy for twenty years
There was no way his expression wouldn't change at such an abrupt summons.
But her suspicions werent a hundred percent gone.
To put the remaining 0.1% of doubt to rest, Yuhwa pressed on.
The doppelgnger confessed. That youre a member of the Seekers of Truth. And that youre likely a traitor.
A confession from the doppelgnger.
This was Kang Seoyuls scenario.
He seems to believe his absurd capture was orchestrated by someone. Something about taking everyone down with him.
Yuhwa continued, maintaining her expression.
He said the massacre within the Bihon Guild was also a preparation to slowly discredit me and place you in the guildmasters seat. Funny, isnt it?
In response to Yuhwas cold smile, Kim Shinwoos eyes remained filled with bewilderment.
Ms. Yuhwa do you truly believe such nonsense?
His eyes, filled with the same trust that had supported her for twenty years.
Yuhwa bit her lower lip.
If that expression was an act
No. It cant be.
Yuhwa decided to say just one more thing.
Theres no use playing dumb. The doppelgnger told me everything, all sorts of things, about how much anger he holds for you.
The last thing Kang Seoyul had told her.
He said to use this if you feigned ignorance. That you would give up on your own if I said it What was it again? Oh, right.
Yuhwa let the words leave her lips.
El Perze Enen Dorma. He said you'd give up if I said this. How about it?
!
In that instant, Kim Shinwoos face hardened.
His pupils trembled minutely.
His lips quivered in shock.
Ha.
It was then.
That piece of trash. He really did spill everything.
Kim Shinwoosno, Pyo Ilchansexpression completely changed.
How dare he leak the organization's information? A useless piece of junk who can do nothing but change his face?
Mr. Shin woo?
The colleague she had been with for twenty years was making a face she had never seen before.
Twelve years in this garbage guild! Eight years under a snot-nosed brat of a guildmaster! I suffered for twenty long years! All because of that piece of trash!
Yuhwas eyes trembled.
This was the moment Kang Seoyuls words became reality.
Well, fine. After I eliminate you, eliminate the doppelgnger, and eliminate everyone else who knows about this.
The once-gentle man's face twisted into a vile sneer.
Ill just take over the guild slowly.
Pyo Ilchan took a ring out of his pocket.
So, Yuhwa. For my sake. For our great cause, youll have to die.
The next moment, the inside of the guildmaster's office was plunged into darkness.
Even if things had gone according to plan, you were scheduled to die in six months anyway, so don't feel too bad.
Simultaneously, Pyo Ilchans figure blended into the darkness.
Is this your true ability?
Yuhwas expression regained its composure.
What do you think? Amazing, right?
Yes. Its amazing. A visual seal no, my sense of touch is gone too. Thankfully, my hearing is still intact.
Desperately steadying her reeling mind,
she drew upon her mana.
Its useless! No matter how strong you are, nothing can defeat me in here!
The cry of a man came from behind Yuhwa.
Kuhaha!
And the sound was getting closer.
With her sight and touch sealed, Yuhwa had no choice but to rely on her hearing to fight.
Spear.
Using her mana, Yuhwa created a small spear.
Yuhwas trait was Materialization.
The power to create objects from mana.
Ziiiing
Die!
Hearing the mans shriek at close range, Yuhwa moved the mana spear.
Puuuush!
Keoheok! You, you!
In the complete opposite direction of the sound.
H-how?
Yuhwa answered as she calmly retrieved the spear.
Its certainly a difficult ability to counter on first sight. Sealing vision and touch to make one focus on hearing, only for the hearing to be reversed. Its quite a nasty ability.
You, you!
The mans voice trembled with panic.
If I hadn't been told about this ability beforehand, I would have been helpless too.
Told beforehand?
Yes.
Yuhwas expression contorted.
With sorrow, with rage, with a sense of betrayal.
It was an indescribable expression.
That, that cant be a doppelgnger couldnt possibly know about my ability!
I know. Just how on earth did he know about this ability?
The one who had told Yuhwa about Pyo Ilchans ability was, of course, Kang Seoyul.
Really. How does he know all this?
In the end, he had been right.
Yuhwa smiled bitterly and drew upon her mana.
Why did you betray us? Why did you do it? Asking things like that would be meaningless, wouldnt it?
W-wait. Theres a reason. Ill explain everything now. Okay? For old times sake
With a heavy heart, Yuhwa spoke as if on the verge of tears.
Thank you for everything until now. Mr. Shinwoo.
Yuhwas mana flared explosively.
***
Im alive because of you. Thank you.
Midnight, just past twelve.
I was on the phone with Yuhwa.
What about Pyo Ilchan?
I killed him.
Yuhwas voice was utterly cold.
I couldnt let it be known that a top executive of the Bihon Guild was a villain from the Seekers of Truth.
But I knew.
She wasnt truly cold; she was only pretending to be.
Itll be hard to hide a murder that happened inside the guild.
Well, what can I do? Ill have to live with it. Its a hundred, a thousand times better than the news spreading that Bihon Guilds Kim Shinwoo was a member of the Seekers of Truth.
Youre right about that.
Getting involved with the Seekers of Truth would be the end of the Bihon Guild.
Anyway, Ill take care of things on this end, so dont worry too much.
What must she be feeling right now?
What would it feel like to find out a colleague youd worked with for twenty years was a traitor?
I couldnt even imagine.
Well then, Im sorry, but Im going to rest for today. Im tired.
Yes. Get some rest.
Yuhwa probably wouldnt be able to sleep tonight.
Shed lie alone in her bed, clutching the teddy bear her father gave her as a child, and cry her eyes out all night.
Because thats the kind of woman Yuhwa was.
Ah. And lets meet soon to decide on my reward for this. I dont think its something to decide over the phone.
A woman who was endlessly strong when with others,
but endlessly fragile when alone.
Yes. Lets talk again when things have settled down a bit.
Thank you. Truly.
Before the call ended,
Yuhwas weak voice echoed ever so faintly.
How bitter.
In any case, the worm in the lion's heartthe worst of traitorswas dealt with safely.
That was enough.
***
Time flew by.
Before I knew it, it was Saturday.
In other words, today was the day to conquer the ruin.
Carrying the large case containing the Gauntlets of the Fierce Tiger, I headed for the ruins on the outskirts of Seoul.
A city laid to waste five years ago by the attack of a disaster-class monster.
The ruin I was looking for was here.
There was a description of how the entrance to the ruin, which had been buried underground, was faintly revealed when the buildings collapsed.
Will I be able to find it today?
I hope so.
I began to search the area, focusing on the fragments of buildings embedded in the ground.
Not here.
Not this one either.
After about two hours and dozens of false starts
Found it!
I had finally found a trace. The entrance to the ruin.
I was lucky.
Honestly, I thought Id be searching until tomorrow.
Lucky me.
Well, well.
Things are going smoothly.
I picked up the metal carrier I had set aside in a corner and entered the ruin.
The structure of this ruin is very simple. No, should I say ordinary?
There are traps.
There are monsters.
There is a guardian.
There is treasure.
Its completely ordinary like that.
The difficulty of clearing this place solo is roughly A-rank.
And Im a bottom-feeder, below F-rank.
In short, this is how it is.
If I step on a trap?
Ill die.
If I meet a monster?
Ill be its meal.
If I meet the guardian?
Dead in a minute.
Truly fantastic.
Of course, I didnt come into this ruin alone because I have a death wish.
Traps?
I just have to not step on them.
Monsters?
I just have to not encounter them.
Guardian?
Ill pass.
Theres a way for everything.
A method that only I, who knows the structure of this ruin inside and out, can use.
Though its a method I cant use in other ruins.
This method can only be used in this ruin.
The Golden Sanctuary.
Why?
Because honestly, I dont know much about other ruins.
Where things are, what monsters appear, what the boss is.
I have that level of knowledge, but I dont remember the structure of other places down to every detail like I do for the Golden Sanctuary.
I only remember it because the Golden Sanctuary is a ruin that serves as the backdrop for a main scenario in the middle of the story,
and a lot of volume and description was invested in it.
Anyway, the important thing is that clearing this ruin is not a difficult task for me.
Thats why I didnt ask Yuhwa for equipment support in advance.
I didnt think I would need it.
Well, in short, its like a bonus stage.
Then Ill clear it quickly and go rest huh?
Thump, thump, thump!
Thats what I used to think.
Kuaaaang!
Huh?
A giant tiger, its red eyes blazing with killing intent, charged toward me.
At least, until I saw this ruins guardian.
Why are you showing up here?