Part 1 Chapter 4 (24)

7:00 PM. Yeouido C Hotel Lounge.

To get straight to the point, Deokbae died.

And then he came back to life. Deokbae, whose body had burst apart, leaving only his Core, was revived thanks to my resurrection spell. Unfortunately, his hair did not revive.

“I didn’t know that if you die and come back to life, all the mana you’ve accumulated would disappear…. I didn’t know that.”

New knowledge was gained. He had grown from D-rank to C-rank, but he still needed to accumulate a lot of mana to grow to B-rank. However, after dying once by Gaeul, all the mana accumulated in his body was extinguished.

Was it that his realm (level) was maintained, but the accumulated mana (experience points) disappeared? Gaeul repeatedly bowed her head and apologized to the revived Deokbae.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know he’d die from that….”

“…….”

Deokbae closed his eyes. A swaying Tentacle drew a ‘C’ shape and bowed its head to Deokbae.

It was none other than Gaeul’s Tentacles that had shattered Deokbae’s body. The difference in pure physical strength alone was between S-rank and C-rank. The punch Deokbae threw with his pure strength was much weaker than Gaeul’s slight touch with her Tentacles.

“More importantly….”

Jihwa, whose body my gaze touched, flinched. He was also one of only three monstrous humans in Seoul. He had clearly witnessed with his own eyes how subordinate No. 2 had died and come back to life.

“I will work harder….”

Jihwa touched the back of his hand with a resigned expression. It was now the time when darkness began to fall over the streets. He still had the mission of observing the movements of the Heroes.

“The gift is well-packaged, right?”

“Yes. I’ve put everything you mentioned inside. Now we just need to close the lid.”

Architect, who was about to lock it, turned his head with a pale face. Having seen the contents of the gift box, he had already thrown up the contents of his stomach a long time ago.

“Is this something civilized people would do…?”

“Did you forget that a massacre was about to happen in Seoul? And these. They were the ones who tried to cause that massacre.”

When I tapped the marble box, a dull yet clear sound echoed.

“We’re just returning what we received. Is there a problem?”

“No. Haa. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Architect shook his head repeatedly.

“Your face is cute, but your actions are terrible.”

Even Architect, who had already seen all sorts of ugliness in Seoul, was disgusted. No matter how much Seonui Cheol pretended to be calm, he wouldn’t be able to help but be surprised when he saw it.

“But are you only sending this? What if they don’t look?”

“That’s why I’m thinking of sending this along too.”

I took out a USB and shook it.

“Since we’re giving a big gift anyway, I thought I’d include a video message too.”

* * *

A little later.

The packaging was complete. All that remained was the time to deliver the package.

Pondering when would be best, I gathered the Azure Syndicate executives, asked them about the time, and set the execution time.

8 PM. If there’s no movement from the Hero side until then, I’ll deliver the box to New Seoul. I will.

The reason I specifically chose 8 PM is because that’s when news channels are bustling with broadcasts. A terror attack on the rooftop of the government building. It’s a perfect incident to broadcast as breaking news.

“Are you really sure?”

Gaeul asks cautiously. She seemed quite worried about me going to deliver it myself, leaving the other organization members behind.

Gwanggeom Heo Yun-hwan. He is in New Seoul.

“It’s fine. I’ll just drop it off from afar and come right back.”

I patted the handle on top of the box. The box, infused with mana, became sturdy enough not to break even if dropped from the air.

“Or do you want to come with me? You could just ride on my back or be carried.”

At my suggestion, Gaeul shook her head sharply.

“No. If I go to New Seoul, I feel like my resolve will weaken.”

“Even just seeing it from afar-“

Gaeul resolutely crossed her Tentacles in an ‘X’ shape.

“Alright. I’ll be back quickly instead.”

“We’ll be training hard here too, so don’t worry.”

Beep. It’s 10 minutes to 8 PM.

The alarm on my smartwatch rang. I turned off the alarm and spread my wings. A burning blue flame was faintly visible in the darkness.

“I’ll be back!”

I gripped the box and soared high into the sky. To a height where I was eye-level with the rooftop of the 63 Building. I ascended even higher into the sky.

Swaaaash!

My body shot up into the sky like a rocket. The clouds slowly began to clear, and cold frost began to touch my skin. I passed by birds flying in the night, pierced through the clouds, and continued to climb higher.

Silence. The surrounding temperature was extremely low, as if it would freeze solid at any moment. If I hadn’t sent mana to my smartwatch and the gift box, they would have frozen and burst or malfunctioned by now.

Beep. Fortunately, the functions worked normally even at this height.

– Altimeter, 20km.

“Will this be enough…?”

I’d like to put more distance between us if I could, but there’s no need to be that cautious. For now, it’s just a matter of saying hello and coming back. It’d be even better if I’m not caught.

“Then….”

I glided leisurely downwards little by little. The direction was south. After flying through the night sky for several minutes like that, I arrived at the pre-set target location.

New Seoul. Altimeter, 1km.

“Hoo.”

Tick. Tock. Tick.

The second hand of the analog clock on the screen moved. 47, 48, 49.

50. I plummeted towards the surface.

51. I brushed past the clouds. The frictional heat melted the frost on the surface of the box.

52. Instantly, I pierced through the clouds and approached the surface. The target location came into view.

53. I slowed down and stopped in mid-air. My feet gently touched the rooftop of the New Seoul Government Building, the target location.

54. A shockwave swept through the surroundings. I gently placed the box on the building’s rooftop. By using mana to minimize the recoil from the descent, only a strong gust of wind was created.

55. The box was placed on the building’s rooftop.

The mana movements in the surroundings were unusual.

56. I bent my knees. My wings were also slightly folded, ready to take flight.

57. I powerfully pushed off the rooftop and leaped, spraying mana vertically into the air. At the same time, I flapped my wings, rapidly soaring into the sky.

58. I sprayed mana even more frantically.

Suddenly, a golden light shimmered in the distance.

“Tch!”

59. A bullet of light was fired towards my heart. I moved my hand and struck away the light bullet.

60. The tip of the hour hand pointed to 8. I remained suspended in mid-air.

“As expected, I was caught.”

I enhanced my vision with mana. From the balcony of what was presumed to be the Association’s headquarters, a man holding a beer can was pointing a finger at me.

Fortunately, the opponent didn’t seem to intend any further restraint; he was just staring intently at me. He was frowning, as if he couldn’t see clearly.

Suddenly, our gazes met. Gwanggeom’s eyes filled with shock.

“As expected. He knows.”

Judging by his expression, he seemed to already know what kind of being I was. In the original work, I could only grasp the situation, so I couldn’t be sure, but now that I’m facing him, I understand.

Gwanggeom clearly recognized the existence of the Dark Legion, the Seven Executives.

While Gwanggeom was flustered, I raised my hand and waved slightly.

“Hello?”

My intention wouldn’t be conveyed to him, but I noticed Gwanggeom dropping the squid leg he had in his mouth. Come to think of it, that old man was a heavy drinker.

“I’ll come to see you soon.”

I immediately soared into the air and evaded. At the same time, alarms began to blare loudly throughout New Seoul.

Waaaaah—–!

Approximately 10 seconds passed from entering the radar range installed in the city center, throwing the gift, and escaping. If Gwanggeom hadn’t noticed, I would have come and gone without being detected by the radar.

As expected, Gwanggeom. The strongest Hero in South Korea, and at the same time, the one who holds humanity’s greatest achievement that no one knows about.

Spirit Slayer.

I paid my respects to him and left New Seoul.

* * *

“Your Excellency! Take cover!”

The Chief of Security hastily opened the office door and entered. Seonui Cheol was calmly working with a relaxed expression.

“A monster alarm after a long time. Where is it?”

“It’s right above us!”

“……?”

Seonui Cheol adjusted his glasses. He was momentarily confused.

“The monster’s appearance location, detected by the giant monster radar, is here, the government building!”

“Are you joking with me right now? Where could there be a monster reaction in such a peaceful place as this?”

“Mr. President.”

A shadow emerged from the darkness. The Chief of Security hastily straightened his posture and showed his respect.

“Cheongsong-nim.”

A figure in a black suit, with their entire body covered by a mask. The President’s confidant, whose voice was even modulated so that no one could tell if they were male or female. They merely called themselves Cheongsong (淸松).

Presumably an A-rank ability user. At Seonui Cheol’s nod, the Chief of Security bowed and left the office.

“There’s something like this on the rooftop.”

Cheongsong moved their shadow. At the same time, on the lid of the marble box within the shadow, words scratched as if by sharp claws were engraved.

Seonui Cheol

Dick

Three centimeters

When Seonui Cheol confirmed it, Cheongsong turned their head and chuckled softly. Seonui Cheol pointed at the box with a sullen face.

“Open it.”

“It’s dangerous. We should get support from the Association to inspect it, and the public’s sentiment….”

“This is an unbearable insult. This is a challenge to me. It’s spreading false rumors and deceiving the people!”

Cheongsong didn’t reply and broke the lock. The lock was easily shattered, as if there was no intention of locking it securely in the first place.

Flinch. As the lock was broken and the box lid slightly lifted, a strong scent of blood wafted out. Seonui Cheol’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Open it.”

“…….”

Cheongsong opened the lid. Inside, heads of people all too familiar to them were neatly stacked. All of them had the same Pine Tree emblem on their necks.

“……Ugh.”

The strong smell of blood filled the office. As Cheongsong quickly closed the lid, Seonui Cheol raised his hand to stop them.

“There’s something inside.”

“Huh?”

“There’s something in Yooishin’s mouth.”

In that brief moment, Seonui Cheol didn’t miss it. Cheongsong opened the lid again and checked the heads.

“Indeed.”

Among the countless heads, some burned and their faces distorted, there was one head that was remarkably clean. A small USB was held in the mouth of Robin Yooishin, whose lower cross-section was cleanly severed.

Cheongsong took out the USB.

“Of course there’d be something inside, right?”

As Seonui Cheol took it and approached the wall-mounted TV, Cheongsong put the box back into their shadow.

“I will go to Daejeon to investigate.”

“Indeed.”

Seonui Cheol plugged the USB into the TV. Inside the USB, accessed via external input, there were only two video files.

1.avi

2.avi

The videos, simply labeled with numbers, were clearly meant to be watched in order.

Beep.

Seonui Cheol turned off the TV and checked his smartwatch. A familiar face was waiting for the connection on the screen.

“What’s going on!”

– This is Jang Hujeong, Undersecretary of the Countermeasures Department. The monster appearance alert issued today at 20:00:05 has been confirmed as a system error. A search of the area near the government building, the reported location, found no traces of any monsters.

Cheongsong, in the shadows, patted their own shoulder. Seonui Cheol clicked his tongue once and then instructed the Undersecretary.

“Correct it immediately so the public isn’t confused. Also, put out breaking news on public broadcast channels.”

– Understood. I will proceed as instructed.

The connection was cut. Seonui Cheol turned the TV back on and sat on the sofa.

Click. Cheongsong locked the door and approached Seonui Cheol. They handed Seonui Cheol one earphone.

“Just in case. Be careful.”

Seonui Cheol put the wireless earphone in his ear. Cheongsong operated the TV to adjust the sound so it wouldn’t leak out of the earphone.

Click. When the screen was pressed, the video played.

1.avi.

In the video, numerous monitors were lined up. Seonui Cheol immediately realized where it was.

“It’s the Dongjak Station office.”

The monitors displayed closed-circuit footage covering the entire station. And in that video, the brutal scene of Pine Tree Unit Heroes aiming guns at and murdering Seoul’s refugees with knives was captured exactly as it happened.

Seonui Cheol fast-forwarded the video. A short time, just over 10 minutes. The murderers shown in that video now remained only as heads, contained intact within the box.

The meaning of the video was simple.

“I know what you did. Is that it?”

Seonui Cheol ran his finger over the scar below his left eye.

“Play number 1.”

Static. The video switched. This time, it was a video of nothing but darkness.

Just as he thought he’d played the wrong one, light shone. There were Heroes, gagged and bound hand and foot. Every one of them glared at the camera, burning with fighting spirit.

Nine missing Heroes were alive. Seonui Cheol gripped the armrest of the chair tightly.

The light went out, and an unknown coughing sound was heard. When the screen turned, a man filled the screen. He was presumed to be the one holding the camera.

– I, I am Lee Giseong, a C-rank Hero belonging to the Hero Association of South Korea. We have learned the truth about this Seoul Reclamation Operation. There are still countless people living underground in Seoul. And to kill all those people, President Seonui Cheol….

Beep.

Seonui Cheol turned off the TV. He lay back on the sofa and closed his eyes.

“Contact Daejeon.”

Cheongsong bowed. The shadow swallowed the box again.

“Contact Daejeon and find out the identities of those bastards who sent that box.”

Seonui Cheol gave the order to Cheongsong. Cheongsong’s body disappeared from the office.

“Whoever they are….”

Seonui Cheol tapped his smartwatch. The one connecting was his best hunting dog, whose leash he held.

Gwanggeom.

“Don’t think you can touch me and breathe and live on this land.”

His eyes, sharp as a snake’s, glinted.

* * *

8:08 PM. 63 Building Rooftop.

The night wind was cold.

I folded my wings and stepped onto the railing of the 63 Building’s rooftop.

“Hoo, ha.”

I took a deep breath. The back of my left hand, which had struck away the light bullet, was still red.

“It doesn’t hurt, but.”

In that one second. I simulated a battle with Gwanggeom in my mind.

As a human, a draw; as a monstrous human, a narrow victory (辛勝). This is only if Gwanggeom attacks with full power, but in a 1:1 fight, I can definitely win.

“However.”

He’s an old man who retired at the time of the original work, but he’s an ally who provides great help to the protagonist by standing with the Association. At the same time, he was also a necessary hurdle to overcome to reach the true ending.

“Necessarily.”

With Cheon Gaeul also becoming a monstrous human, the Cube collapsed for unknown reasons.

There are too many things to resolve to struggle alone.

Cheon Gaeul said. That someone would appear someday to solve problems with me.

“The protagonist.”

As one of the main heroines in the original work, she might have instinctively spoken of the original protagonist. Five years later, on March 1, 2025. The eccentric commander who settled his life in America and came to Korea, which was on the verge of collapse.

He would be a great help if he came here, but it would take too long until then.

“There’s no need to wait.”

Cheon Gaeul wouldn’t know. But thanks to Cheon Gaeul, I was able to formulate my future plans and be confident in them.

Someone who can see from the same perspective as me. Someone who will unconditionally cooperate when they learn the truth. Someone with power comparable to, though not as great as, the Azure Flame Phoenix. I need the help of such a person.

Spirit.

Naturally, it’s still unknown where the Spirits brainwashed as Dark Legion executives are.

Just as Phoenix was hidden in magma, it was highly likely that they too were sleeping somewhere in a desert or jungle.

But there’s just one. One executive whose whereabouts are clear based on the original work.

The 6th enemy executive to appear according to the original work.

A water-attribute Spirit, killed and sealed by Gwanggeom.

Rusalka of the Snowy Night (雪夜).

To awaken the Spirit in Korea,

Gwanggeom Heo Yun-hwan,

I will kill him.