Utopia (2)
Pahur, who had failed the 6th-floor trial three times, had said that here he was among the top challengers. Perhaps because of that, the challengers in their home base didn't seem all that impressive. The locals apparently didn't see it that way.
"Man, you've got some real guts. Saved us the trouble of hunting you down."
"Mr. Shin, don't get cocky. Even if half the info from the hospital is true, this guy's terrifying. Team Leader Lee Do-sung didn't stand a chance."
"Old man, you know me. Don't worry. And I always knew that prick Lee Do-sung would get his someday. No skills, just boozing it up with the bosses."
Among the hundred or so who had come out to the rooftop to greet him, one stood out with his flashy confidence. Early twenties. Name: Shin Sang-hyun.
"Gotta ask outta pure curiosity—how many floors have you cleared to act this cocky?"
Shin Sang-hyun stepped forward from the crowd on his own and asked Choi Yun-seok point-blank. Yun-seok, seeing no reason to engage, stayed silent.
But it seemed self-aggrandizement was the goal from the start. Without being asked, he started rambling.
"Ugh, this is why losers suck. They don't know their place. I'm Shin Sang-hyun, 10th-floor challenger. And unlike that Team Leader Lee Do-sung, I'm from Exploration, not Adventure."
Eye of Truth confirmed it: 10th-floor challenger and Exploration origin were both true.
Yun-seok's brow furrowed. 10th floor was way higher than expected, but more importantly, the gear dangling off Shin Sang-hyun looked like it came straight from the Tower of Heaven.
Can you bring your gear from the 10th floor?}
Different from the sword he'd taken from the hospital challenger. That was a modern cold weapon. Shin's was different. Archaic at a glance, and above all, mana pulsed from the equipment.
"Ha, fuck. Not mute, so why the silent treatment? Boring as shit. Anyway, point is, you're fucked, asshole."
His flippant attitude belied three floors higher than Yun-seok. Armed with Tower gear to boot. Even if Exploration was easier than Duel, that gap wasn't negligible.
But soon enough, who'd be in real trouble would be clear.
Whirrr!
As Yun-seok infused his drawn sword with Blood Demon Qi, Shin smirked and leveled his spear.
"Sword aura? Not bad, basics at least. Aura Spear."
Chanting the command, a hazy light enveloped Shin's spear. He'd learned to reinforce weapons with mana, like Yun-seok's Blood Demon Qi.
"What're you all standing around for? Buff me up already!"
At Shin's shout, the challengers raced to chant commands.
"Gigantification!"
"Flame Spirit's Blessing!"
"Strength!"
They'd gathered for this, it seemed. Dozens of buffs stacked on him amid their cries.
Shin giggled like he was high. And that was his last act.
SLASHED IN TWO
His body, over 3 meters tall and radiating colorful auras from stacked buffs, split clean in half.
The onlookers' eyes filled with question marks. Was this real?
Thud.
Under their stares, Shin's halved body and spear slid to the ground. A truly pathetic end.
"……."
If he'd gripped his spear and focused instead of laughing in his power high, he might've blocked once. If he'd pulled unused gear or skills after, it might've turned into a real fight.
Pointless hypotheticals. Whatever his true skill, Shin had underestimated and let his guard down against Yun-seok. Yun-seok hadn't missed the opening, pouring everything in.
Hummm!
A chill silence colder than the night air settled.
Then, suddenly, fragmented light particles rose from the bisected corpse—specifically, from Shin's shattered gear, ascending skyward.
Gear from there doesn't stay here?}
Hypnotic and beautiful, yet spine-chilling for a challenger like Yun-seok. The particles floated up and vanished from sight.
"……."
Yun-seok lowered his gaze from the sky. The rooftop crowd scattered in panic the instant Shin died screaming.
Yun-seok didn't chase. No one could leave without his permission anyway. No need to rush.
Time until return: 21:42:13
Plenty of time left.
Yun-seok wrapped his unconscious parents in Blood Demon Qi, levitating them to trail behind. Minimal consumption, but constant focus was annoying. No better option, though. Couldn't leave them unattended.
His side was safest.
Step. Step.
Yun-seok descended floor by floor, scanning slowly. Lights on everywhere, but dead silent. No panic, no haste. He knew where they'd be.
As expected, the 1st floor entrance held about 300 people.
"He's here! The m-monster's here!"
"Do something! Block him!"
Half civilians, half challengers. The highest rank was a civilian—a balding middle-aged man stepping forward as chaos peaked at Yun-seok's arrival.
"I'm Han Jung-hyuk, Minister of the Korean Challenger Management Bureau. You're Choi Yun-seok, right?"
Calm even now. Real or feigned, he seemed composed on the surface. Maybe he hadn't grasped it yet, having only heard reports, not seen the slaughter firsthand.
"……."
Yun-seok just stared. Face familiar from TV. Used to be some other minister; who'd have thought he was running this shady op in secret.
Highest operational head, then. Passion for late-night work aside, he'd answer for everything.
"I heard you made our agents confess their sins."
With Yun-seok's silent gaze, Han tensed inwardly but forced words out.
"Let's cut the crap. What do you want?"
Having gotten real-time reports, Han genuinely couldn't fathom Yun-seok's motives. Revenge for hurting his parents? That'd make sense. But he'd forced confessions from agents only, judging solely them.
People act for self-interest. So what benefit did this give Yun-seok?
Han figured knowing that would smooth things over.
Foolishly.
"The guilty die. The innocent live."
"……?"
"That's the only thing I want from you all."
The scariest madmen have convictions, or so they say? Han was speechless. No compromise in Yun-seok's flat tone.
Han blurted desperately.
"Hurting your parents was our mistake. We'll call everything so far water under the bridge. No retaliation after. Want a position? It's yours. Leave the country? We won't stop you. So let's end this."
Generous, if kept. Erasing all Yun-seok had done.
But Yun-seok scoffed. Who decided when to stop?
"So you've sinned that much? Is that why you're scared of me?"
Han flinched at the question, then replied as if insulted.
"...Mind your baseless slander. I rose here on integrity alone."
"Then no need to fear me."
With that, Yun-seok stepped forward like it was settled. Han paled and shouted hastily.
"W-wait!"
"……?"
"But these people might be different. Some may have sinned once. But they have families, friends. Must there be blood?"
As said: the deserving die, others live. Families and friends don't factor.
"……."
As Yun-seok seemed ready to swing, Han dropped the emotional appeal.
"Mr. Choi, we might all look like villains to you. No, I admit some are. But without us, Korea falls into dire peril!"
Yun-seok stared, wondering what nonsense this was.
Thinking he'd piqued interest, Han raised his voice.
"Who stops the constant invaders without us? Who handles crimes by new unregistered challengers? Challengers are key to future national dynamics. Without us, Korea suffers massive diplomatic losses. The people bear that!"
Politician through and through—flowery words with zeal.
Yun-seok almost laughed at "challengers are key to future national dynamics." Ironic, running it like this despite knowing.
"Is that your excuse for kidnapping my parents?"
Han nodded.
"It was forceful, I admit. But invaders grow stronger; greater chaos looms. So I, Han Jung-hyuk, chose greater good over petty morals. To protect the nation! Save more lives! Is that wrong?"
If Yun-seok hadn't seen the hospital himself, maybe. But it was all pretty bullshit. Greater good over morals? Just squeezing rich families for cash?
Absurd.
"Enough."
Boom!
Yun-seok collapsed the entrance completely. Couldn't seal with Shaman's Law anymore, so physical block.
By Shaman's Law, all beings within the domain cannot speak falsehoods.
Long-winded, but Han's claim boiled down to them being necessary evils.
Soon, it'd be clear: true necessary evil, or social cancer to excise ASAP?
Yun-seok already sensed the answer.