Moreover, this person showed not a shred of mana—truly an ordinary human that anyone could recognize. For soone like that to suddenly walk into [Faith]'s reception room, the company's representative didn't harbor much suspicion toward the guest at first.
Visitor? Could it be that the person from the trading company we had an appointnt with today has already arrived?Uh... y, yes. That's right. It is.
Since the visitor had already been verified at the first-floor reception, the representative of [Faith] fully trusted them as a foreign buyer. And now, having found soone who had traveled all the way just to purchase goods from Korea—
“Oh, welco! I’m really glad to see you. It must have been exhausting coming all the way here!”
A prompt welco greeting.
“Did you manage to eat well on the plane? Hahaha.”
The [Faith] guild was small, so the division of work among employees was pretty haphazard. Moreover, based on what the front desk attendant explained, the white man was actually one of the guild’s top custors, buying the most items. Naturally, the guild’s representative didn’t hesitate to step forward eagerly. Then, he brought up a certain topic in the air.
“I didn’t expect to et a new representative all of a sudden. Wow, your Korean is truly excellent!”
When a foreign resident (alien) from another region respects their culture, it’s only natural that anyone would feel pleased.
Freckled skin. And sand-colored blond hair, as if all the pignt had drained away.
For reference, this exotic-looking visitor had already spoken their first words in fluent Korean. Honestly, with that pronunciation, it was as if they could blow on a hot soup and declare “I love you, Love Relay!” right on the spot. Because of this, the [Faith] side didn’t feel wary at all; on the contrary, they began the reception with a rather favorable impression of the visitor.
“How many years did you study to beco so fluent in a foreign language? Do you happen to have a Korean ancestor or sothing?”
“My mother did.”
“W, wow. I can’t believe that’s real! Hahaha.”
Ice-breaking. Small talk. Or, more simply, you could call it casual chatter.
“Then first, let bring you a refreshing drink, and I’ll also deliver the [Lesser Frostweed] samples collected this quarter right away.”
“Samples?”
“Yes, yes. It’s still in the storage since it’s early, but if I ask the staff, they can bring it right away.”
The man, whose flashy watch stood out, maintained a friendly deanor for a while. Since the Dungeon Shock, [Frost weed] had mostly appeared in South Korea’s Gangwon region. Of course, this specialty item was mainly used for money laundering, but that didn’t an he needed to turn away soone willing to pay a premium for it.
‘We need to plug the hole in the safe as soon as possible—even a single day sooner. We can’t miss any chance to make more money!’
ey laundering, but that didn't an he needed to turn away soone willing to pay a premium for it.
'We need to plug the hole in the safe as soon as possible—even a single day sooner. We can't miss any chance to make more money!'
Moreover, there was recently talk of creating an artificial [Frostweed] forest in Saudi Arabia...
'Demand is high. Let's sell it at a high price.'
Haha.
The representative of the [Faith] guild wore a subtle smile. What followed, no matter how briefly summarized, was nothing but boasting: statents like, "Although the quantity of [Frostweed] in our country is limited, its quality is still the best in the world," and "Korea, especially, has a more advanced distribution and storage system than other [Frostweed] producing regions, making freshness incomparable," and so on.
Tuk.
It was then. A mysterious foreign buyer suddenly gestured and interrupted the conversation.
"Wait a mont. But let's put off checking the samples for now."
"Yes?"
Wait a mont. But let’s put off checking the samples for now.
Yes?
First, there’s sothing I want to ask.
Huh? Ah, yes, yes. Please, ask anything.
How much annual revenue does a guild of this size typically generate?
The questions were seemingly unrelated.
'What is it?'
Profit. Of course, it’s a common trait in this society to focus on money, but to ask this right off the bat when we’ve just t—who would’ve thought? Money can be a private matter, and, after all, we’re eting each other for business purposes.
That's an unusual question......
Is it difficult to answer? Then, would it be impossible to know how much Hunter Choi Jin earns in a year?
“That’s an unusual question……”
“Is it difficult to answer? Then, would it be impossible to know how much Hunter Choi Jin earns in a year?”
“Uh, huh? Ah~ Choi Jin! You an our guild’s star player, right?”
Could it be that his nephew recently awakened or sothing? As questions about the hunting industry kept pouring in, the representative wearing a watch reluctantly responded.
“Honestly, not all Awakened earn an enormous amount.”
“Hmm.”
“First of all, A-rank Gates aren’t as common as people think, and hunters often reinvest billions into potions or equipnt, so the liquidity of their assets is quite low.”
“That’s right.”
“Sure enough, it’s hard to act like a wealthy person when you’re young. Compared to your company’s annual revenue, it’s probably nothing, right?”
It feels a bit awkward to state the exact amount right away.
“But they’d at least be making hundreds of millions, right?”
“Ah, well, of course.”
“Then, what can A-rank hunters do with the money they earn?”
For a while, the conversation continued in a strange way. But since the ice was already broken, Representative Kim continued speaking smoothly.
“Ah~ well, even Awakened... in the end, when they make money, everyone ends up buying cars and houses...”
Houses. Cars. And depending on human interests, so splurge on gourt food, hobbies, security systems, and luxury goods. When asked where the money earned by Awakened goes, one Korean began listing examples without pause. Specifically, it was the representative of [Faith], wearing a Swiss platinum watch on his wrist. Even though you can now check the ti with just a tap on a phone, this person, who hadn't abandoned analog, was the one steering the conversation.
“Hmm? Why are you looking at like that?”
onversation.
“Hmm? Why are you looking at like that?”
On top of that, the reason they poured hundreds of millions into such accessories was simply because they looked good.
Soone in the room paused to think. Before coming here, they had resolved to stay composed no matter what. Who would have known that such a trivial detail would be the trigger? The Western guest sitting on the sofa grew increasingly uneasy each ti their eyes t another’s wristwatch. To think that soone had indulged in such luxury while effortlessly treating another person as a servant—it was unsettling.
‘And on top of that, to maintain that kind of life, they even went so far as to take more people.’
After finishing his thought, he was the first to speak up.
“Sotis, you feel like the brothers I’ve lost.”
“Yes?”
“You think just like the people from my hotown.”
And the strange events continued.
You think just like the people from my hotown.
And the strange events continued.
Ah, of all things, the glass just fell. Sir! I'll go get a new one quickly...
Click.
Huh?
The guild master's right-hand employee tried to leave the room, giving so excuse. But suddenly, the doorknob wouldn't turn, as if it had frozen in place. A supernatural phenonon straight out of a horror movie. More precisely, it was a [Telekinesis] ability, created for just a mont using a tiny speck of mana.
Don't you leave either. I've seen it all in Choi Jinhee's mories—how you always had a hand in everything.
The representatives of the Faith guild did the one thing they absolutely shouldn't have. Above all, they gave the mage plenty of ti.
What, what did you say?
"What, what did you say?"
While everyone stood around chatting idly, the mage had finished preparing all the magic.
'Wait a minute... but why have I been feeling so nauseous all of a sudden...'
Sothing unimaginable in the era before the Dungeon Shock: the sheer thrill of shivering from just one person's life force. Ordinary people froze in place, gripped by an indescribable eeriness. The man seated on the sofa spoke up instead.
"You two have never awakened, have you?"
Co to think of it, his tone had naturally shifted sowhere along the way.
"So you have no idea how good the mutants' hearing is in this era. You can't grasp it without experiencing it yourself."
But then, he wondered why sentences like that suddenly ca up.
"I've been trying since earlier, but I just can't make a rational decision..."
At that mont, a few images flashed through his mind: the vampiric mutant whose prominent teeth showed strikingly
"I've been trying since earlier, but I just can't make a rational decision..."
At that mont, a few images flashed through his mind: the vampiric mutant whose prominent teeth showed strikingly whenever they smiled, and among those with similar hairstyles, the acquaintances he might finally be able to distinguish.
'The true friend I've acknowledged in my heart.'
Those very people had fallen victim to the ones right in front of him.
Money, money, money. Truly obsessed with money. And because of those pathetic fools who had completely lost their minds over it.
Tak!
What happened next was over in an instant. The freckled visitor only glanced over, yet suddenly, the CCTV in the corner of the room snapped and fell completely.
"As expected, 11 years just doesn't add up."
For reference, the study the male mage suddenly brought up was a relatively recent precedent regarding sentencing for the cri of incitent to murder.
As expected, 11 years just doesn't add up.
For reference, the study the male mage suddenly brought up was a relatively recent precedent regarding sentencing for the cri of incitent to murder.
“You guys ssed with 70 years of my friend’s life.”
That was the last human voice in the reception room. Imdiately after, the sound of fairly heavy objects crashing to the floor echoed throughout.
***
[YTV Desk. We bring you the morning news.]
[The executives of Faith, the top guild in Chuncheon, have still not been found four days after being reported missing.]
[However, while searching for the executives, including company CEO Sung-ssi, the police detected another suspicious detail.]
[In a notebook found at the investigation site, there were indications of embezzlent amounting to tens of billions of won.]
[Based on this, investigators are considering the possibility that the missing individuals may have intentionally fled...]
How much ti had passed since then?
“Kim Giryeo-ssi!”
For reference, that mage reappeared a full five days later.
“So, you ca after hearing the news, as expected.”
“Yes.”
“Then, perhaps you’ve heard that story as well?”
“Yes...”
“And do you also know why all the foreigners seed to be missing their hands?”
And do you also know why all the foreigners seed to be missing their hands?
Kim Giryeo had completely dispelled the illusion, and now his voice had returned. However, even though it had been quite a while since they last t, one Earthling didn't seem particularly pleased to see the mage.
Um, this might be a rude question.
Go ahead.
It's just that your tone a mont ago made suspicious. Could the news that's been coming out so far be the result of sothing bad you did, Kim Giryeo-ssi...
After all, the other party had suddenly been absent for a full five days during this critical period.
'Could it be that he even went abroad during that ti?'
Surprisingly, there was no need to stew over it alone. When the Earthling asked a question, the person standing beside her leaned forward and gave a well-spoken answer.
Yes.
e her leaned forward and gave a well-spoken answer.
“Yes.”
“...!”
“I kidnapped all the main perpetrators of the incident and got the full details of what happened directly from them.”
“Really?”
“And after I got all the information, I killed them both. To be honest, I didn’t want to, but since three people were entangled in the [Knight’s Oath]...”
The law-abiding citizen beside him hung their head, unsure of what to do. The other party had committed acts so egregious that they were nearly indefensible. Recognizing this, Seonwoo Yeon couldn’t help but feel a complex mix of emotions.
“Besides, the perpetrators were brainwashed and even made to turn themselves in. The bodies had been found clumsily, so the culprits were going to be identified anyway.”
“That’s right. I found a crucial scene on a black box near the Seoul site.”
“Ah, so making them turn themselves in was pointless. That actually counts as a mitigating factor here.”
“Did the culprits use any items?”
“They ambushed the victims on their way ho using status-altering and explosive artifacts.”
“That’s standard procedure. And in that case, using a weapon would increase the sentence.”
“Thank goodness.”
But the blonde side maintained a comparatively calm and composed deanor.
“Well, then, no one can be wronged by this, right? I solved everything with my magical powers.”
“…”
“This is what a wizard is.”
This is what a wizard is.
Snap.
Moreover, he didn't usually do this. Kim Giryeo even gave a thumbs-up, performing a gesture unique to this planet.
There are things a wizard can't do in this world.
But the peace lasted only briefly. The blonde man abruptly stopped speaking, as if sothing had caught in his throat. After a long pause, he completely changed the topic of conversation.
By the way, where's Choi Jin? She didn't co here, did she?
Try heading over to the smoking area.
For reference, it was essential to inform this person of how things had unfolded.
Oh. That's right. She really is.
A few minutes later, Kim Giryeo arrived at the nearby smoking area and encountered the familiar Awakened. Moreover, he wasn't one to waste ti.
Hunter Choi Jin. I need to talk to you for a mont.
"You're free now! You don't have to be bound by the [Knight's Oath] anymore. You can break free from Faith's grip and leave your life as a slave behind. I've already checked all the procedures and handled everything properly." Kim Giryeo rattled off these words as soon as his eyes t Choi Jin's.
Yes?
It was truly a bewildering announcent. Yet, for so reason, even though Choi Jin could feel for herself that the artifact's effect had ended, she didn't seem particularly happy.
....
Her younger sibling was already dead. She had lost everything that truly mattered. What aning could any of this have now?
....
ve now.
"...."
By now, even tears seed unwilling to co. Choi Jin gave a small nod with her dry, weary eyes, and after waiting a mont longer, she finally spoke.
"Our Jinhee......"
The first words were about her dead sister.
"Back when she was alive... you have no idea how much I broke a sweat trying to make her watch her words."
"I understand."
"The fortunate thing is that, since I was her older sister and kept insisting, she surprisingly kept her promises. That ans she was thorough in keeping secrets."
"Really?"
"When you brought up the [Knight's Oath] before, I acted prickly because I was afraid it would be broken."
“When you brought up the [Knight's Oath] before, I acted prickly because I was afraid it would be broken.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
There was no need to apologize for such old matters. Just as the Archmage was thinking this, Choi Jin paused briefly after her final remark, then finally posed a new question.
“But... may I ask you just one thing?”
“Of course.”
“Looking back slowly on everything that’s happened so far... it seems clear that you have so kind of extrely rare skill, don’t you?”
The mage nodded.
“Then... have you perhaps figured this out too? I’m really curious why my younger sister suddenly spilled that information...”
Then... have you perhaps figured this out too? I'm really curious why my younger sister suddenly spilled that information...
The knight's oath?
As I just ntioned, she had kept secrets well until now. So why did it happen this year?
For reference, it probably wouldn't be particularly good to know, but since the surviving family mber is asking, there's no real choice.
It was for the wedding, I think.
Today, he wore the sa color outfit as Choi Jin. The dark-clad alien began to explain calmly.
Hunter Jinhee believed that her older sister couldn't get married because of her.
Yes?
And to make matters worse, the Faith side also disapproved of your love life...
But at this point, an unexpected, sharp shout returned.
"And to make matters worse, the Faith side also disapproved of your love life..."
But at this point, an unexpected, sharp shout returned.
"No way!"
It was Choi Jin's venomous rant.
"There's no way I couldn't get married because of her! I just chose not to! Honestly, with the salary the company offers, anyone could easily start a family!"
"You're raising your voice all of a sudden..."
"And what does the company have to do with it? Even so, there was nothing my sister needed to worry about!"
"Hunter."
"Anyway, I broke up with that employee quickly because our values didn't match. Really. For a truly trivial reason..."
What followed were tears falling in drops, along with breaths that completely choked her throat.
“Anyway, I broke up with that employee quickly because our values didn’t match. Really. For a truly trivial reason…”
What followed were tears falling in drops, along with breaths that completely choked her throat.
“Jinhee, it wasn’t because of you…”
Choi Jin was heartbroken, and Seonwoo Yeon, watching from afar, wore a similarly sorrowful expression. Only the alien of a different origin didn’t match the mood at all.
Tak.
Kim Giryeo checked his phone’s clock. He even regarded the sea of tears right before him as sowhat unnecessary. After all, he had other important matters to attend to.
‘What ti does it start?’
The place where they had all gathered was none other than a funeral hall in Seoul. And today was the day the funeral proceedings for the A-rank hunter, which had been postponed for several days, would finally take place. This was because the murder-for-hire case orchestrated by the Faith guild had finally co to a complete resolution.
Author's Thoughts
Hi, from now on, I will update this novel 3 chapters/week. Thank you for all your support so far:)
User Comments
0 comments from readers