Chapter 92
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: The Four Guardian Gods (2)
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The next morning.
The cadets who had left for the additional exam returned, and the school trip officially began.
We were now traveling by bus.
"Seoyul. Where's Geumho?"
One of my classmates asked me.
"He seemed really tired, so I left him at the dorm to rest."
The truth was, I had no choice but to leave him behind because of Baekho.
If I brought Geumho, Baekho would follow. And then I'd have to explain Baekho to the other cadets and instructors. I couldn't think of any way to do that.
"Really?"
"Is Geumho not feeling well?"
"Is he okay?"
"Didn't you push him too hard at Monster Park?"
My lie sent everyone into a frenzy of questions. Geumho's popularity was really something else.
"He's just exhausted from using too much mana since the exam. No need to worry."
"That's a relief."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
They were acting as if it were their own problem.
Well, it just showed how much they cared about Geumho, so I didn't feel bad about it.
"Oh, by the way, tell us what happened with Siyeon yesterday."
Once the topic of Geumho was over, the conversation naturally shifted to me.
"Me too! I was dying of curiosity!"
"Get Ha Siyeon over here! We're holding a hearing!"
Ha Siyeon was dragged forward, looking completely worn out.
"What is it noooow? I told you, nothing happened."
As expected, it looked like she'd been grilled in her room last night.
"Come on. How could a guy and a girl go out alone and have *nothing* happen?"
"The accused, Ha Siyeon, will state the truth!"
Their energy was off the charts.
This was going to take a while.
Just as I'd predicted, the topic of Siyeon and me went on for quite a long time.
For a full thirty minutes, no less.
"How was the additional exam?"
"Mm. It was manageable."
Everyone broke off into small groups again, chatting amongst themselves.
"Phew."
Finally out of the spotlight, I let out a small sigh.
I already had enough on my mind. Why was everyone so determined to give me a hard time?
I sighed again and checked my smartphone.
[Meiden]
[Kid. I looked into it. Just as I thought, this old geezer stinks to high heaven.]
I reread the messages I'd exchanged with Meiden this morning.
[You could basically say he's the real power in Australia. Connections, fundsit all flows to him.]
Meiden's information network was incredible.
The information was so vast and precise, it was hard to believe she'd gathered it all in just one night.
[First, about that Four Guardian Gods equipment you mentioned. There's no record of how it was used after he acquired it.]
[A massive amount of funding is being poured into his lab, but the spending records for that are also unclear.]
[Which means there's a high probability he's conducting illegal experiments.]
But unfortunately, it was all circumstantial. There was no concrete evidence.
[If we just had proof, we could get the World Transcendent Federation involved immediately.]
But even with proof, there was another problem.
[No. From what I can see, it's highly likely someone in the Transcendent Federation is backing the Beast Master.]
[There's no way he could have run these experiments for ten years without getting caught otherwise.]
[Especially not with an experiment that's consuming such a massive amount of funds.]
The Beast Master couldn't have pulled this off alone.
There had to be someone behind him.
[Tsk. Can't argue with that.]
[The Transcendent Federation has its own rotten roots.]
[Okay. I'll look into that side of things as well.]
Investigating the higher-ups was Meiden's specialty.
[Yes. Then I'll do some investigating on my end, too.]
That meant I would have to handle the fieldwork.
[Investigating? What are you going to do? Infiltrate the old man's lab?]
[Yes. That's the plan. I happen to have a friend who specializes in infiltration.]
[You have a friend like that?]
[I do.]
I did.
A top agent specializing in infiltration and stealth. A friend named Hermit.
The only problem was meeting him, but if my hunch was right, that wouldn't be much of an issue either.
Because I'd be able to meet him where we were headed.
[Anyway, I'll figure something out on my end, so don't worry too much.]
[Right. Knowing you, you won't do anything reckless. I'm counting on you.]
[I'll contact you again later.]
The messages ended there.
"We're here. Get ready to disembark."
Just then, Instructor Pi Jinho announced our arrival.
***
We had arrived at a famous history museum in Australia.
Normally, a museum visit would be just another boring stop that everyone hated. But in this world, things were a little different.
"Whoa. Look at this. It's the shed skin of the serpent that swallowed the world. They say you'll turn to stone if you touch it."
"This thing here is insane, too. The hand-blade of a hell mantis. It boasts a hardness that nothing can cut."
The exhibits in this world's museums were all things that would make a transcendent's eyes go wide.
Typically, they displayed remnants of ancient monsters or special items made from those remnants.
"Huh? There's the Ancient Relics zone."
"Ooh! I wonder what they have in Australia."
And most museums had 'Ancient Relics' on display.
That's right. They were filled with Ancient Relics.
"..."
I scanned the Ancient Relics with eyes full of greed.
If I could, I'd grab them right now and devour their traits.
CCTVs, guides, cadets, instructors... If no one was around, I definitely would have.
"This is awesome. I've never seen an option like this before."
*I see. The option must be totally broken.*
"I'd have no other wishes if I could use something like this."
Listening to my friends' exclamations, I inwardly chanted for patience.
This wasn't the time to be distracted by Ancient Relics. I had to remember my purpose for coming here.
"Hoo."
I managed to push my greed to the back of my mind.
"Instructor. I need to use the restroom for a moment."
Instructor Pi Jinho nodded.
I quickly turned and headed for the restroom.
No, I only pretended to head for the restroom.
"It should be this way."
Then, instead of the restroom, I made my way to the special exhibition hall.
Found it.
[Special Exhibition Hall]
This was where they kept the rarest of the museum's valuables.
Entry was restricted; you had to apply and receive permission to get in.
I stood at the entrance and cleared my throat.
"Hermit."
I didn't know if he was here or not.
But if my guess was correct, there was a high chance Hermit would be here.
He would be preparing to infiltrate the special exhibition hall.
Or he might have spotted us and was already circling nearby.
"Follow me to the restroom. There won't be any CCTVs there."
With that, I walked to a nearby restroom.
Right after I arrived in the restroom.
"...I was being particularly careful with my concealment today."
Hermit's voice sounded out.
So Hermit was here after all.
"It's not hard to detect you when I already know you're here, no matter how well you hide."
Of course, that was a complete lie.
What did I know about careful concealment versus careless concealment?
I couldn't detect either.
"...You knew?"
Darkness shimmered in the empty air and began to form a human shape.
"How did you know I was here?"
Hermit, now fully materialized, asked with a slightly surprised expression.
"The other day, you said you had one troublesome task left."
"Yes."
When we met the other day, he'd said he had some annoying business left in Australia.
"For you to call something 'troublesome,' the only thing I could think of was swiping the Siren's Tear from this place."
The Siren's Tear was another key item for the national raid.
That Siren's Tear was still openly displayed in the Australian museum, and Hermit had mentioned having leftover business.
It wasn't hard to deduce that Hermit's job was to steal the Siren's Tear.
"...You truly see through everything."
Hermit shook his head as if he couldn't be surprised anymore.
"More importantly, there's something I need to ask of you."
"...A favor?"
"Yes. I need you to conduct an infiltration and investigation."
Hermit gave a wry smile.
"Infiltration and investigation are my specialties, but unfortunately, I'm not in a position to act freely..."
"You mean you'll be suspected if you act on your own?"
"Yes."
All of Hermit's actions were controlled by Unknown.
In that situation, it would be difficult for him to grant my request.
"Then just report it. Say you've found a place that requires an infiltration and investigation."
"What kind of report...?"
Then he just needed to get permission from Unknown.
"I've acquired information that an experiment is being conducted to control a link in the system known as 'monsters.' I believe the data from this experiment would be of great help to Lord Unknown. What do you think, Maestro?"
"!"
I grinned.
"If you say it like that, they'll definitely approve the infiltration."
As long as Unknown's goal was the complete analysis of the system, there was no way Maestro would refuse Hermit's proposal.
"If he hesitates, just say one day should be enough. He'll probably approve it immediately."
***
After that, Hermit said he would contact Maestro and disappeared.
Leaving word that he would come to my lodgings tonight and that we should meet at that secluded park, he vanished.
I was 99.999% sure he'd get approval.
They might be suspicious, but as soon as Hermit brought back the Beast Master's research records, that suspicion would melt away like snow.
There was no problem at all.
With this, it was only a matter of time before I got information on the Beast Master's lab.
After all, no barrier in this world could stop Hermit's infiltration.
"Hoo."
After finishing the day's schedule and returning to my dorm, I took a quick shower and headed to the quiet park nearby.
"Geumho~"
At my call, the world's cutest catno, tiger-catcame trudging out.
"...Nyaang."
He looked utterly exhausted.
To put it in perspective, he had the face of a man who'd been lying on the couch on his day off, only to be subjected to a three-hour combo of his wife's nagging and pestering.
"Nyaaong~"
Behind him, a pure white cat followed, looking as happy as could be.
No metaphor needed for that one; her bright expression looked like she was carrying all the happiness in the world.
...How could their expressions be so completely opposite?
"Did you two have fun?"
At my question, Geumho hesitated for a moment before nodding.
Then he leaped up and snuggled into my arms.
Perhaps missing my embrace, he buried his face in my chest and let out a sweet cry.
"Did you miss your Hyeong?"
He rubbed his face against me again as if to say, "Isn't it obvious?" Ah, so healing.
*Glare*
Baekho was staring daggers at us. Her previously happy expression was gone, replaced by a look of pure jealousy as she glared holes through me.
It was a look that said, *Should I kill him?*
...Honestly, it was a little scary.
*Hey Baekho, if you mess with me for no reason, Geumho will start to hate you.*
I protested with my eyes.
Did my silent protest get through to her?
Baekho turned her head slightly, sighed, and hesitated for a moment.
*Leap.*
Then she, too, jumped into my arms.
Aha.
*So since it's come to this, you're going to use my arms as a way to get close to Geumho?*
Not a bad call.
I chuckled and held out a hand to receive Baekho.
The moment Baekho landed in my arms.
"Ugh!"
I felt a massive impact on my body and started to fall backward.
This wasn't being struck with force; it felt like I was being crushed by sheer weight!
*Thud*
"Agh. That hurts..."
Sprawled on the ground, I winced, feeling a pain in my chest.
"Baekho, you... why are you so heavy?"
The weight on my chest was definitely not a cat's. It felt like at least 100 kilograms.
"Nyang~?"
Baekho cried as if she didn't know what I was talking about.
But her expression said, *All according to plan.*
"...Forget it. I'm not even going to bother."
It was the same when she swatted my hand yesterday. Unlike Geumho's, Baekho's cat transformation seemed to be incomplete.
Her weight and strength were only partially reduced.
I pushed Baekho aside for now and got to my feet.
I dusted the dirt off my clothes and checked myself over. Thankfully, everything seemed fine.
Was I imagining things? It looked like Baekho clicked her tongue when she saw I was unharmed.
"You sly little thing..."
She looked so much like a fox that I muttered it without thinking.
"...Grrrr."
At that moment, Geumho let out a ferocious growl.
There was only one person who could provoke such a reaction from Geumho.
He's here.
"Hermit."
At my call, darkness began to coalesce in the air.
"It seems we can proceed with the mission immediately."
Hermit materialized with a graceful smile.
It was a very dependable smile.
***
The next day, at lunch.
"I have returned."
Hermit's investigation was unbelievably fast.
From pinpointing the lab's exact location to infiltrating it, it took him less than a day.
I didn't know the exact location and had only given him a few speculative leads based on Meiden's information, but I never expected him to be this fast.
I was truly grateful that Hermit was on my side.
"Here are the copied experiment logs."
"Good work."
I took the documents he handed me and looked them over.
"It was quite an interesting experiment. These are certainly results that Maestro would appreciate."
[Commencing experiments on the modification and improvement of monsters for military use.]
And then I was certain.
My guess had been correct.
[...Furthermore, it has been determined that systemic and genetic modifications alone are insufficient to command a multitude of monsters.]
The Beast Master was the root of it all.
[Project direction changed to attempt the rebirth of the 'Four Guardian Gods,' said to possess the power to command monsters.]
The worst disaster of Part 1.
I now had a chance to stop the Great Monster Rampage.