Chapter 58: Search (5)

Right after leaving the room, the Phantom retraced its steps and exited the City Hall building. Its destination was a nearby commercial building.

Han-seong switched the Phantom to standby mode, then tightly closed his eyes before opening them again.

‘…I’m tired.’

The current time was 10:30 PM.

Since waking up at dawn, he hadn’t eaten anything except potions. But strangely, he didn’t feel hungry.

Han-seong knew the reason.

Because there was something he had to do.

[Activating skill.]

[Remote: Detection]

He thoroughly searched the area around where Seok-hwan had mentioned. He used Precise Observation as well, combing through meticulously, and time passed quickly.

Eventually, as it passed midnight.

Struggling to hold back a yawn that was about to burst out, he used Detection again. The coordinates were an abandoned building almost touching the entrance to Gyeryongsan.

There were around twenty survivors. Among them, someone suddenly caught his eye.

[Name]: Jeong Ye-jin

[Owned Skills]:

▷Meditation

▷Mana Detection

Magic Shield

“A Mage…?”

His eyes widened slightly.

This was the first Mage he had seen besides himself since the Upheaval. Moreover, still at level 1 – could it be they had never fought zombies?

He had doubts, but soon understood.

‘Well, if they were captured by the militia right after the Upheaval, it’s possible.’

Especially since they don’t have any combat skills.

After finishing his analysis, Han-seong continued checking the information of others. Then, when he reached the last one.

He couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

He had to. The name that appeared before him was very familiar to Han-seong.

[Name]: Jung Hyun-sook

▷Singing (+Melody of Blessing)

▷Composition (+Spirit Score)

Amplification, Song of Purification

Jung Hyun-sook. His mother’s name.

The moment he saw this, his drowsiness completely vanished.

However, he still didn’t know. He couldn’t rule out the possibility of it being someone with the same name. Han-seong tried to calm his trembling heart as he used Precise Observation.

To confirm the person’s face.

[Activating Precise Observation.]

[Vision is shared.]

A quiet darkness had settled in the interior.

Children of various ages, from early to late teens, were sleeping. And beside them, the only adult was sleeping as well.

A middle-aged woman in her mid-50s.

The moment he confirmed the woman’s face.

“Ah, aah…!”

Han-seong’s body trembled.

It was indeed his mother. She was safe. Along with a strong sense of relief, the tension throughout his body completely relaxed. Through his blurry vision, he could see his mother’s face.

A wrinkled face. Thin arms and legs.

A face that had aged much more than when he last saw her 10 years ago. Seeing this, all sorts of emotions welled up.

“Hic! Hnngh!”

Soon, endless self-reproach enveloped his body.

He deeply regretted the years he had spent shut up in his room. Not even making a single phone call while denying reality all that time.

“Mother…”

After silently sobbing like that for a while.

Han-seong wiped away his tears with the back of his hand.

Then he tried to regain his composure amidst the swirling vortex of regret.

‘…Calm down. Get a grip.’

As much as he wanted to go rescue his mother right away, he couldn’t move rashly. After all, he had only found his mother so far.

‘I still need to find Father and Yuna.’

He thoroughly searched other areas as soon as the skill cooldown ended. Despite spending considerable time, there were no other results.

Meaning they weren’t nearby.

Then there’s a high chance they’re being held at another militia base. After all, there’s no rule saying they have to keep families together.

‘The surest way is to meet Mother and ask about their whereabouts.’

But there was a problem with this method.

If he just sent the Phantom alone, would his mother even recognize him? Not only would the voice be different, but the only proof of identity was the family photo.

Moreover, it’s a reunion after 10 years.

And then a son with paralyzed lower body suddenly appears perfectly fine? If Han-seong were in that situation, he would be suspicious first.

‘If not that, then…’

There’s also the option of using the Return Stone.

The Phantom has a Return Stone, and using it would allow bringing his mother to the base.

However, this was a last resort. As mentioned earlier, he hadn’t found his father and Yuna yet.

‘If Father and Yuna are captured by the militia, and Mother’s disappearance is discovered…’

Who knows what treatment the two of them might receive.

Indeed, the best method is to find all family members and bring them back at once. Having made his decision, Han-seong used the Mark skill on his mother.

[Remote: Mark]

[Target: Jung Hyun-sook]

[Precise Observation activates.]

With this, he could now monitor his mother’s every move. Next, he turned his attention to the coordinates between the militia and vigilante areas.

Hundreds of red dots and a square dot at their center. This was the Champion monster.

‘The Wolf King.’

In fact, it hadn’t been on his mind at all.

Han-seong’s top priority was finding his family. But as it passed midnight, the situation changed. It had started moving.

The way it spread its minions widely while moving looked like it was trying to expand its territory. And this is where a problem arose.

‘It seems like it will soon clash with the militia…’

This was a prediction based on the Wolf King’s movement path. Looking at this fact alone, it didn’t matter whether the militia suffered damage or not.

However, the problem was that his father and Yuna might be somewhere in the militia’s base.

Han-seong used Detection.

[Name]: Wolf King

[Owned Skills]: Roar, Killing Intent Emission, Gigantification, Devour, Physical Damage Absorption, Wolf Summon, Lightning Speed, Area Slash, Crush, Resurrection, Rapid Recovery

[Weakness]: Silver Weapon, Divine Power, Fire

[Weak Spot]: Five Hearts

The Wolf King’s information that appeared before him.

It seems it hasn’t leveled up since becoming Champion grade. After carefully examining all the information, Han-seong quickly made a decision.

‘I’ll eliminate it.’

Before it grows any further.

To prevent his father and Yuna from getting caught up in the battle. Therefore, Han-seong resolved to go all out from the start, without underestimating or letting his guard down.

‘The Collector and Vampire Tree.’

He’ll dispatch both to Daejeon.

On top of that, he’ll pour out skills through the Phantom, and even unleash the stored Magic Spear. Surely this should be enough to subjugate it without much difficulty.

In other words, the Wolf King wasn’t really a problem.

‘The real issue is what comes after.’

Searching the militia’s base to find his family. It’s too much to do alone.

The militia’s base was vast, and at a glance, over a thousand survivors were scattered in groups of ten to twenty.

Faced with this unexpected obstacle, Han-seong furrowed his brow.

However, his contemplation didn’t last long. He found a solution unexpectedly close by.

“Ah, right. There’s the vigilante group.”

A group with hundreds of combat personnel.

If he could gain their cooperation, searching the militia’s base would become much easier.

Maybe it would even be possible to bring back all the detained citizens. He recalled what he had overheard from Ye-eun and Sang-min earlier.

‘They said their father and younger sister were captured.’

Surely it wasn’t just them.

There was a high chance that family members, friends, or neighbors of others in the vigilante group were also detained at the militia’s base.

So if he persuades them well, it shouldn’t be difficult to gain their cooperation. It would also be good to use them for subjugating the Wolf King.

“I’ll have to visit again tomorrow.”

Han-seong stared intently at the Daejeon City Hall building visible through the Phantom’s vision. Meanwhile, he was forming a concrete plan in his mind.

And so the night deepened.

The next morning.

Han-seong sent the Phantom to the vigilante group’s headquarters.

He requested to meet Seok-hwan, and before long, he was able to face the three people he had spoken with yesterday again.

“I have something to tell you all.”

Through the Phantom, he explained the plan he had devised last night. Everything from subjugating the Wolf King to rescuing the citizens detained by the militia.

After a considerable amount of time had passed, the three people who had listened looked at the Phantom with blank expressions.

“…What did you just say?”

“I proposed that we work together to subjugate the Wolf King and rescue the citizens detained by the militia.”

“S-suddenly saying such things…”

“The Wolf King intends to expand its activity range by leading its minions. According to my observations last night, this is likely its target area.”

Han-seong moved the Phantom in front of the map.

Then he marked on the map the Wolf King’s movements he had observed yesterday. Including the estimated range of the territory it was trying to expand.

Seok-hwan’s eyes widened.

“That place is…!”

It was understandable.

The place he pointed to was downtown, just 3km away from the vigilante group’s headquarters.

Han-seong continued speaking.

“Now is also the opportunity to rescue the citizens detained at the militia’s base. Their main forces are currently in Nonsan.”

This too was the result of last night’s observation.

Even tanks and armored vehicles had mostly moved to Nonsan, with only three or four remaining.

“So we must subjugate the Wolf King and occupy the militia’s base before then.”

“I understand that, but fighting it again is…”

Seok-hwan closed his mouth.

Wrinkled eyes. A hint of fear showed through his aged gaze. Meanwhile, Sang-min, who had been listening to the conversation, shook his head.

“We haven’t even recovered from the damage of the last battle. Right now, we only have about ten high-level Hunters capable of immediate combat.”

“Subjugating the Wolf King and attacking the militia in this situation is insane!”

Ye-eun also took Sang-min’s side.

Ah, come to think of it, there’s something I didn’t mention.

Han-seong corrected part of his answer.

“I will handle the Wolf King.”

“What? Wh-what do you mean…”

“So all you need to do is evacuate the citizens captured at the militia’s base.”

The moment he added the words he had forgotten.

A sense of silence hung in the room. After a while, Ye-eun spoke with narrowed eyes.

“…Alright. I’ll admit it. That you’re strong and have many unusual skills.”

A voice lower than usual.

Her usual smiling expression had completely disappeared as well. With a serious face, she warned the Phantom:

“But a Champion monster is on a different level from Elite monsters. It’s impossible to take down such a monster alone…”

“It’s possible. I’ve fought one before.”

“You’ve fought one before?”

Ye-eun asked back in disbelief.

Han-seong nodded the Phantom’s head. Then he looked around at everyone and said:

“Let me introduce myself again. I’m a level 43 Mage, known as the Mage of Fire Thunder on information boards and such.”

Surprise, bewilderment, and confusion.

Looking at their various expressions, Han-seong openly revealed all the forces at his disposal.

Including the fact that he had subjugated the Vampiric Tree, a Champion-grade monster, in the past. However, Sang-min and Ye-eun’s reactions were cold.

“That’s nonsense. Ridiculous.”

“You expect us to believe that…”

Eyes full of disbelief.

On the other hand, Han-seong wasn’t flustered. Rather, he spoke calmly as if he had anticipated this situation.

“Then I’ll prove it.”

“Prove it? How?”

“I’ll show you me defeating the level 25 Elite monster, ‘Corrupted Mud Giant’, at Daejeon University, alone.”

“H-how do you even know about that…”

Ignoring Ye-eun’s surprised expression.

Han-seong raised the Phantom’s body. To prove the words he had just uttered.

On a bright morning with the sun fully risen.

The Phantom boarded a bus heading to Daejeon University along with Seok-hwan, Sang-min, and Ye-eun. Additionally, twenty vigilante members joined them.

Just as they were about to depart.

“Stop! Halt!”

Some people appeared blocking the front of the bus.

It turned out to be the three Hunters they had encountered in the corridor yesterday. They had heard from somewhere and immediately confronted Sang-min.

“Mr. Yoon! What’s this sudden talk about?”

“Going to subjugate the Mud Giant…”

“Didn’t we agree to eliminate that one later?”

Listening to their story, it seems the three Hunters had fought the Mud Giant in the past.

However, like with the Moving Statue this time, they had retreated without fully defeating it, so they had promised a revenge match someday in the distant future.

“If that’s the case, take us with you.”

“That’s right. We need to repay our debt from last time.”

“My joints may be a bit creaky, but I can still fight plenty, so let’s go together.”

The Hunters forcibly boarded the bus.

Sang-min made a troubled expression before looking at Han-seong. As if asking if it was okay to bring them along.

“Yes, I don’t particularly mind.”

After all, it just meant more spectators.

Once permission was granted, the bus carrying everyone headed straight for Daejeon University. Meanwhile, Sang-min explained the situation to the Hunters.

“This subjugation isn’t our job.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Then who…”

“It’s the Mage of Fire Thunder.”

“Well, he’s still self-proclaimed for now.”

Ye-eun shrugged her shoulders.

At those words, the three Hunters looked at the Phantom with wide eyes. It seems they had heard about the Moving Statue subjugation from Sang-min yesterday.

How much time passed like that?

“We’re almost at our destination.”

And shortly after, the bus stopped.

A hill about 500 meters away from Daejeon University. From here, the view of the campus was clear.

At the center of the school was a particularly eye-catching monster – a giant over 6 meters tall, covered in pitch-black mud.

“Let’s start with a briefing.”

This dawn, Han-seong had already used Detection to gather information on it. So without hesitation, he began describing the giant’s information.

“Its name is Corrupted Mud Giant. Level 25. Its skills are Swamp Creation, Charge, Digging, Stomp, Wild Roar, and Division.”

First, the skills it possessed.

Meanwhile, the three Hunters who said they had faced it before muttered in surprise.

“Oh, now that I hear it, it’s certainly…”

“It did create a swamp, didn’t it?”

“And it suddenly charged at us too.”

They weren’t the only ones surprised.

Ye-eun and Sang-min also seemed to have fought the Mud Giant before, as they looked at the Phantom with wide eyes.

Han-seong continued speaking.

“Its weaknesses are magic, water attribute skills, and spirit magic. Its weak spot is the mud heart in its lower abdomen.”

“Y-you can know all that?”

“How on earth…”

As the explanation continued, people’s jaws dropped. They looked at the Phantom with half-doubting faces, and Han-seong casually replied.

“I have a skill that makes it possible.”

“No, how many skills have you learned?”

“Many.”

With that curt answer as the finale.

He raised the Phantom’s arm.

“Then I’ll begin.”

Pretending to chant a spell.

He took out the Magic Spear stored in the bracelet. Five spears reminiscent of missiles moved outside the window.

[Deploying Magic Spear.]

[Currently Loaded: 5]

[Deployment Quantity: 5]

Next, he specified the coordinates.

Where the Mud Giant was. And including its minions nearby. After finishing designating coordinates to hit them all appropriately.

[Coordinates specified.]

[Magic Spear: Javelin]

Woooong! Kwang!

With a sound like tearing through the air.

The five spears raced through the sky at an incredible speed.

Breaking the sound barrier, they quickly passed through Cheonan and entered Sejong.

Five seconds before the spears would fall.

“Now.”

Han-seong’s hand pointed at the Mud Giant.

And at that moment, five spears fell from the sky in sequence.

Kwaaaang! Bang! Kwaaang!

Spears pouring down on the giant’s head.

When they hit the target, the special effect Meteor Fall activated, causing a secondary explosion.

The impact was so severe that part of the university buildings collapsed. Faced with this overwhelming destructive power, people could only stare blankly.

Some time later.

[Subjugation successful.]

[Elite Monster: Corrupted Mud Giant]

[Rewards will be distributed based on contribution.]

[Reward]: 2,600 Coins

“It’s over.”

“Huh? What do you mean…”

Ye-eun, startled back to her senses, moved her lips. But her words didn’t continue. Just then, the dust settled, and the interior of the university became visible.

And what was revealed there was─.

─Nothing at all.

No Mud Giant, no monsters, not even buildings.

Just a huge crater remained, as if a meteorite had fallen.

Meanwhile, the members observing the battlefield through binoculars shouted as if screaming.

“T-target! Subjugation confirmed!”

“Loot drop confirmed as well!”

Shortly after, the loot was stored in the inventory, and people still stared blankly at the huge crater with dazed expressions.

Then someone spoke up.

“…The Mage of Fire Thunder.”

It’s unclear who muttered it.

But from the moment that name was mentioned, people’s gazes changed in an instant.

Surprise turned to fear. Bewilderment to reverence.

Ignoring the countless gazes pouring towards the Phantom, Han-seong turned to Seok-hwan.

“Speaking as someone who has faced a Champion monster, they must be subjugated as early as possible. Their forces grow with each passing day.”

“That may be true, but…”

“If you don’t want to cooperate, that’s fine. But in that case, I’ll rescue my family alone, then leave Daejeon immediately.”

Han-seong’s words were sincere.

If he couldn’t get help from the vigilante group, he planned to make rescuing his family the top priority, regardless of the Wolf King or anything else.

He didn’t care even if Daejeon turned into a wasteland as a result.

Meanwhile, Seok-hwan’s expression hardened.

Not just him. Sang-min and Ye-eun, and even the other Hunters and members all darkened their expressions as if on cue.

“So please make your decision.”

Right now. He spoke in a low voice, almost whispering. The vigilante group exchanged glances, and soon Seok-hwan opened his mouth.

“…Can you give us a moment?”

“Yes. But I can’t wait long.”

Han-seong moved the Phantom back.

It was to allow the vigilante group to talk comfortably. And after about 5 minutes had passed, the vigilante group’s discussion ended.

Soon after, Seok-hwan came to the Phantom.

With the answer he wanted.

“We will cooperate with you, brother.”

At those words, Han-seong silently smiled.

Some time later, the group returned to headquarters and gathered all available combat personnel. Thus, the vigilante group began preparing for the operation.